Torchwood: Countrycide: (S1, E6)

"I hate the countryside."

Countrycide, Season One, Episode Six

("Torchwood investigates a series of gruesome deaths in the Brecon Beacons, only to confront a terrifying enemy.")

What I Liked

* A great opening sequence--very scary, but with a victim who isn't stupid or cliched (she brings the baseball bat with her, for example).

* Getting Torchwood out of the Hub, and even out of Cardiff. I know filming on location is expensive, but a show that stays in one setting too long can start to feel claustrophobic or repetitive. According to the commentary, the beautiful, haunting darkened-cloud skies were naturally there.

* Owen's hatred of the country. "What's that awful smell?" he asks. "Grass," Gwen replies.

* A story that has nothing at all to do with aliens--again, a surprising and original twist in the Whoniverse.

* Seeing Gwen & Owen hook up at the end--another big twist, taking the show down a darker path and giving an "episode of the week" larger implications.

What I'm Not Sure About

* Owen is just plain mean to Tosh (talking about making out with Gwen in front of her, for example). Why's a nice girl like her crushing on a jerk like him?

* Jack's saying that he was once a professional torturer--this has never been referenced again and seems out of place with his being a con man and time cop. Was he making it up?

What I Didn't Like

* Gwen giving up her gun while in a stand-off: listen lady, they're cannibalistic serial killers. Wouldn't you rather take your chances in a gun battle than be slowly tortured and eaten alive?

* The ending, with Jack crashing through the wall guns-a-blazing and shooting down all the bad guys. It was a little too Hollywood action movie for an episode that had been all about gruesome horror. Not that it wasn't cool--just, out of place and the wrong tone.

COMMENTARY

By: Andy Goddard (Director), Gareth David-Lloyd (Ianto), and Chris Chibnall (Writer)

Tone: Director-focussed, somewhat technical, but balanced discussion of pros and cons

Interesting bits:

* Gareth David-Lloyd regretted eating several of the roadside stand burgers.

* The scenes prior to the SUV being stolen were supposed to take place around a campfire, but apparently getting permits and ensuring the safety of the actors was too expensive and difficult. It's a bad sign for t.v. when simple campfires become logistical nightmares.

* A reference to "The Harkinator" debate: what I talked about above, with Jack turning into super killing machine.

Torchwood Declassified: "The Country Club"

* Discussion of the episode as being intended to drive Gwen & Owen together

* A feature on making the gory special effects--and how there are tone limits, even for late-night T.V.

* Discussion among the crew over the ending: some thought Jack should have been very stealthy and emotionless, while other's like the big finish with his face full of rage.

Deleted Scenes

* A different edit of Jack crashing into the barn and going gun crazy.

* A brief aftermath shot of a wounded Gwen walking towards emergency vehicles. Jack says the place will probably become a shrine to monsters.

* Gwen and Rhys sitting at home after everything that happened--it's awkward and uncomfortable, and Gwen pretends she's been called in to Torchwood so that she can leave.