Devils and Miracles - Spoilers

[sariagray]

I re-watched Miracle Day today. Just because I could. And I had some other thoughts that are completely meaningless.

I would like to see what these 4-5-6 Amendments to the Constitution look like. This is, perhaps, because I’m a nerd. But I would like it. Also, 4-5-6 Level? I mean, it’s okay that not everything has “4-5-6” in the name. It also reminds me of how I jump whenever I see a 4-5-6 code at work. But I think that’s just my own insanity.

I think Dr Juarez is wearing dresses because she is in DC and in the midst of a high-level case (and therefore has to attend meetings/”parties”/etc). She is in scrubs for her introduction, when they’re bringing Rex in, so I’m thinking she goes to these events and then stops back because of an emergency or overwhelming need to check on her patients?

 

So, I listened to The Devil and Daniel Webster Miss Carew this afternoon. Yeah. About that radio play. I won't give a synopsis, because...well, I'm lazy. There. I said it.

I will say this: hearing the music and Ianto again was absolutely lovely.

However. The voice-acting seemed so forced to me. This is partially the nature of the beast, of course, but it just felt so completely unnatural. Which was a bit heart-breaking.

I did enjoy the Ianto&Gwen interactions, and felt that Rhys and Gwen were still lovely together.

I totally thought Fitzroy was The Wire Part II, and...Jack's line about snagging the sonic screwdriver was a lot funny. At least to me.

In terms of plot, I'm a little confused, though. Well, not plot, actually. But...the Hub gets its electricity from...a utility company? I know Torchwood fails at being a secret, but isn't that highly suspicious? I mean, I imagine the Hub uses a LOT of electricity, so....

I enjoyed the throwback lines. "There's a lot of things you can do with a Swiss Army knife" and "Lovin' that 40s..." gramophone, was it? I can't remember. Anyway. Yes. That was fun. And I will stand firm in my belief that "Very clever, these medics" is a tribute to Owen. Gwen's voice when she says it...*sob*

So, it's very much like any Faustian tale. But with aliens. I happen to like Faustian tales, but this one just didn't deliver much for me. The team didn't really do much of anything, and too much time was spent with Miss Carew hemming and hawing about ageism. Which is a legit thing, don't get me wrong, but it dragged.

In all, it was nice. It wasn't fantastic, mostly as it just felt so fake to me, but it wasn't bad, either. I'll listen to the other ones, that's certain.

Comments

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

My own, personal, theory is that yes, they get the electricity via the utility companies and it then gets amplified by alien tech - hence Jack then decides to add that alien power source into the mix - the bills go to the Tourist Office :D

(just finished listening to it and loved the Penny Farthing line... now there's an image and the Sonic Screwdriver too)

[sariagray.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that's a possibility. But even still...any level of power going to a place that doesn't technically exist would presumably raise some eyebrows!

The Penny Farthing bit was hilarious! And Jack with a Sonic Screwdriver spells trouble!

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

Well, the Tourist Office (or whatever other cover they used was the billing address) would use a certain amount of power and they'd just pay for that - and that is a place that officially exists, no link to Torchwood (until Owen orders pizza)

[xrai-namere.livejournal.com]

I'm didn't pay much attention to the other stuff, but the electricity thing in TW threw me too. Sooper sekrit operations like them usually make a huge deal about being off the grid, and they don't even have a generator to back up the main one? WTF?

[sariagray.livejournal.com]

Apparently, the backup generator died, because I could SWEAR that they had one before. Or, you know, five. Because wasn't there a backup generator in Cyberwoman mentioned? And in other episodes?

[xrai-namere.livejournal.com]

They definitely have to have one. I'm thinking Cyberwoman too, Ianto definitely mentioned they have a generator. And considering the fact there's a still a bit of lighting whenever the Hub goes into shutdown, there should definitely be a back up. (I mean, come on, how can they NOT have a back up?)

[sariagray.livejournal.com]

Well, like I replied to a comment above, even if they didn't...any amount of electricity going to a place that doesn't exist? That'd be highly suspicious. And I think they mentioned a generator in Sleeper, too. Maybe it's...broken? *Sigh*

[xrai-namere.livejournal.com]

With this inconsistency, we can definitely tell this is Classic Torchwood, lol.
Maybe the explosions in Exit Wounds exploded it somehow. *shrugs*

[lawsontl.livejournal.com]

Yes, thank you! I was, as always, sitting there going "Hellloo? Canon?" At least Gwen acknowledges that Ianto would've been the one to fix it.

[51stcenturyfox.livejournal.com]

They could just harness the rift machine deal as a generator! It's just sitting there like a giant furnace capacitating flux or whatever it does when it's not being opened. Anyway, my theory is, without Tosh, no one knows how to work the controls.

I've heard about half of the play but had to go to work so the rest is waiting for later. :)

[sariagray.livejournal.com]

I like and support your Tosh-related theory.

Jack: Ianto! What does this big button do?
Ianto: It was a Tosh thing.
Jack: Oh, well, call the utility company and set up an account. I'm tired of sitting in the dark!

Bah, work gets in the way of Torchwood far too often, I think. I hope you enjoy it! The play, that is, not work.

[eldarwannabe.livejournal.com]

They siphon off ~secret~ energy off the top. Like leeches, but better looking.

Honestly, I thought it would make more sense if they were panicking about the internet. Because they might have a satellite hook-up, but they don't host the WHOLE INTERNET, so if it went down, they would still be stuck. They would also lose CCTV and cell phone service. It's like the one thing the radio play had them focus on is the one thing they probably could have dealt with on their own. SMOOTH, TORCHWOOD.

(Of course, it was implied that the magical not-a-virus-virus was going to take ALL the energy, from EVERYWHERE. Which includes Torchwood? IDK.)

[sariagray.livejournal.com]

Actually, Torchwood is the internet. DIDN'T YOU KNOW!? They are watching you right now.

But you're right. They are worried about electricity when it's the signals they should be focused on. Downed communications, no way to contact people. Their AC should still work, though. ;)

OMNOMNOMNOM ELECTRICITY.

[eldarwannabe.livejournal.com]

They're watching me?????? HI IANTO! *waves*

Considering how much they depend on communications (see: "Mobiles, landlines, tin cans with bits of string...") you think they would be more worried.

BUT IF THE AC IS WORKING THAN WE ARE ALL GOOD, I GUESS.

[sariagray.livejournal.com]

I think he's waving back, though a tad warily. Jack is laughing at him.

But they are TORCHWOOD! They are READY! *Whistles innocently* They have no reason to be worried about such trivial things as COMMUNICATION!

AC IS SO IMPORTANT. IT IS HARD TO
WALK IN SEXY SLO-MO WHEN YOU ARE MELTING.

(Besides, when the AC busts, Jack spends all his time trying to convince Ianto to fan him and feed him chilled grapes. Ianto is Not Amused by this)

[eldarwannabe.livejournal.com]

I LIKE YOUR HEAD-CANON AND WOULD LIKE TO LIVE THERE WITH YOU.

And the sexy slo-mo is so important when rushing off to save the world! The AC is critical to the process!!!

[sariagray.livejournal.com]

I WILL CLEAN OUT THE GUEST ROOM AND FLUFF THE PILLOWS.

I want Jack on a chaise lounge. I mean, I want to SEE Jack on a chaise lounge. Not...that...I mean...

Sexy slo-mo walking is integral to alien capture. AS LONG AS THERE IS AC, THE ALIENS WILL NOT WIN!

(This should be one of those "Loose lips sink ships" or "When you ride alone, you ride with Hitler" slogans).

[eldarwannabe.livejournal.com]

I WILL BRING POPCORN AND GUMMY BEARS.

Someone needs to manip Jack onto a chaise lounge yesterday.

And then make a stylized 40s-style poster with an AC and the Torchwood team VICTORIOUS.

[sariagray.livejournal.com]

I wish I had skills! I need both of those things STAT!

AND OMG NOW I WANT GUMMY BEARS SO BAD! SO BAD.

If I lay on a chaise lounge, do you think I can convince Ianto to fan me and feed me chilled gummy bears?! I think it is worth my time and effort!

[eldarwannabe.livejournal.com]

I feel like fandom needs a graphic artist on call at all times. Like now, "QUICK! EMERGENCY! TO THE PHOTOSHOP-MOBILE!"

If you arrange yourself strategically on a chaise lounge, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! \o/ (CHILLED GUMMY BEARS SOUND AMAZING RIGHT NOW.)

[sariagray.livejournal.com]

You inspired iconage! *Points* It was easiest - not that anyone will understand it at all. And it's kind of crap, actually.

Yes! This needs to happen. We can shine a Torchwood symbol in the sky! They need a slogan. Our fandom needs this!

"Quick - a fangirl is crying! We need to use a manip!"

I WILL ARRANGE STRATEGICALLY. SEE THE ARTFUL DRAPING OF MY SHAWL? AND THE CASUAL WAY I WAVE MY ORNATE CIGARETTE HOLDER? I AM FILLED WITH ENNUI. FEED ME CHILLED GUMMY BEARS NOW OR I WILL WILT AWAY.

[eldarwannabe.livejournal.com]

I LOVE THAT ICON LIKE STAR CLUSTERS AND RAINBOWS.

A Torchwood-signal! It's perfect! We can use to Torchwood "T!" OR JACK'S MANPAIN FACE FOR DIRE EMERGENCIES. I am bad with sloganage though. *ponders*

YOU ARE SO ARTFULLY ARRANGED. IANTO WILL BE HELPLESS BEFORE YOU. THE GUMMY BEARS ARE YOURS FRO THE GENTLE NIBBLING.

[sariagray.livejournal.com]

WAIT. THE ICON SHOULD HAVE STAR CLUSTERS AND RAINBOWS. WHY DID I NOT CONSIDER THIS?!

Jack's manpain face! YES! It needs it. I am, too. I am sure something will come to us at ridiculous o'clock in the morning. :D

THIS IMAGE IS FOREVER IN MY HEAD. I LIKE THIS A LOT. How do I gently nibble gummy bears, though? I WILL NEED TO PRACTICE!

[eldarwannabe.livejournal.com]

Everything is better with star clusters and rainbows!!

Jacks's manpain face projected into the skyyyyyy. IT WILL BE EPIC. Ridiculous o'clock in the morning is the time when all the good ideas come. :D

START WITH THE GUMMY HEADS AND MOVE DOWNWARDS. NIBBLE GENTLY, WITH OCCASIONAL PAUSES TO SIGH.

(I'm listening to the radio show right now. JUST HAD THE J/I MOMENT.)

[sariagray.livejournal.com]

I AM TOO. I JUST HEARD IT AND SQUEALED. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT AND I AM HAPPIEST.

[eldarwannabe.livejournal.com]

I AM SITTING IN MY CLASSROOM (class starts at 10) AND HAD A HUGE SILLY GRIN ON MY FACE AND OH THAT MESSAGE IS SO SAD! *wibble*

[lawsontl.livejournal.com]

Um, they weren't 456 amendments to the Constitution. You can't ratify amendments without a Constitutional convention, and that would be pretty hard to pull off while trying to hide the existence of the cause for those amendments :)

I believe it was the 456 Regulations :)

[sariagray.livejournal.com]

I swear Rex says something about amending the Constitution. And I agree, it'd be a pain. Which is what caught my eye. Well, ear, really.

Nope, you're right. I just checked. 456 Amendments to US CODE. This is what I get for watching early in the morning. :)

Duh.

[eldarwannabe.livejournal.com]

WAIT. It's 456 Amendments to US Code 3184

WHICH IS APPARENTLY THE CODE FOR EXTRADITION OF FOREIGN NATIONALS (or something)

I..I think that actually might make sense in context of the episode. *tilts head*

[sariagray.livejournal.com]

No wonder I was so confused. ;)

[lawsontl.livejournal.com]

I didn't catch that part. My quote was from Esther! LOL

[neeems.livejournal.com]

(Hey-o!)

Overall, I enjoyed the audio play a lot, except for the plot (but well, Torchwood wouldn't be the same without its huuuge plot holes, right?). It made me nostalgic in a good way. The music! The banter! (see? Ianto makes everything sound better) Still better than MD, imo. That's a reminder of the show I (used to) love.

[sariagray.livejournal.com]

It was definitely nostalgia-inducing! I just...normally, I don't notice the plot holes until later, because I'm wrapped up in the story. This time, though? Eh. I look forward to today's, though!