To the Last Man

[xela]

I just watched "To the Last Man", the episode of Torchwood that aired last week in the UK.

It made me cry.

That's rather more intensity than I expect of Torchwood. Which is not a bad thing: it's a fantastic episode. Probably not a good first episode if you don't know the show; it's very character driven, focusing on one of the ensemble, and I think not knowing her backstory would diminish the experience. But it did leave me a little shell-shocked.

Comments

[jered]

We just watched it too; it was a good episode. Did you find it particularly more moving than, say, "Out of Time" from last season, though?

The ability to have such amazing but transient characters seems to have led "Torchwood" and "Doctor Who" to trend toward the emotional; I suppose the opportunity for time travel allows for ample opportunities for stories of loss. It brings to mind Faulkner's famous quote, "the human heart in conflict with itself [..] alone can make good writing because only that is worth writing about, worth the agony and the sweat".

If you want something to bring tears to your eyes, go read all of Faulkner's (short) Nobel prize speech linked above. In the shadow of the atomic bomb, he reminded us that fear is the basest of drivers, and unless we overcome it we will never prevail. This is something of which perhaps our government should be reminded.

[yakshaver.livejournal.com]

"Out of Time" was touching, but not for me so heartwrenching as "To the Last Man."

Thank you for reminding me of Faulkner's Nobel speech. I must have been 18 or 19 when I read it; I was impressed but I think too young to really get it.

[jdulac.livejournal.com]

How are you getting the preview? We have to wait until next week...

[jered]

If I had to guess, I'd say "the magic of BitTorrent". BBC America is airing in the US one week late, but BBCA is not available in HD. Since the show is 16:9, that means BBCA gives you about 350 lines of resolution -- and giant advertising "bugs" which are not used in the UK. Boo.