Torchwood: Fragments

I feel about this episode much like I feel about the first in the season, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. It was nicely done, there is nothing much wrong with it from a logical perspective (( minor spoiler )

) but in the end it all added up to a big "meh" for me. I can't even work up the energy to get upset about the portrayal of UNIT which I gather is exciting much of the rest of fandom, but which doesn't actually seem that offensive to me unless you get offended by criticism of the modern approach to counter-terrorism in general (( another minor spoiler )

).

Flashback episodes, especially origin flashback episodes, are the staple of many TV series but, in my opinion, they work best when the flashbacks are restricted to exploring just one character's past allowing that character to actually get fleshed out a bit and work even better when the content of the flashback is relevant in some way to the framing story. Neither is the case here. As such it worked out as four mini-Torchwood episodes and I suspect the lack of internal inconsistencies derives in part because its harder to lose track of plot and character logic in a 10 minute story than it is in a 45 minute one. It does suffer from Torchwood's overall lack of consistency. Tosh and Owen's stories should have been pre-figured in Adam, at the very least, if not in the season 1 finale.

This is an episode of Torchwood where they get very little wrong but, at the end of the day, they don't get a great deal right either.

Resolution post (late again)

1. Find a way to get more exercise

I cycled to the station today.

2. Drink/buy less alcohol.

Alcohol bought: 2 bottles wine.
Alcohol opened: lost count

We bought SiL six bottles of California red as an Easter present. She brought these with her when she visited us last week and then left them with us. Not sure if this was accidental or a hint that she doesn't want us to give her wine.

3. Do list of "before bed" actions pinned to fridge.

Still not doing well on the "tidy" actions - most of the others not relevant during school holidays.

4. Write a grant.

No progress.

5. Write papers for ProMAS, ASE and TPHOLs.

ASE paper (only one remaining) is in final phases before submission

6. Write more fanfiction.

I've written a drabble and a short-story now so I reckon this counts as done.

7. Try a new recipe each week.

Nothing this week, but then nieces and nephews do not good experimental subjects make.