I was looking forward to this much hyped episode and I hate to admit it but I was disappointed. I enjoyed the look of the episode but I wanted a) more singing (I, like Walter's mother, love musicals) and b) I don't like being hit over the head by things (I get it that Peter leaving has broken Walter's heart.) I wanted to like the noir-ish aspects of the episode but I found the cellphones and computers a bit jarring. When Astrid broke into a song from A Chorus Line I so wanted a line of of hospital staff to appear behind her doing a kick step (didn't happen) And why does Walter see the Observer's as dangerous. Walter has always thought of them as the ones who saved Peter and himself (the story of falling into the frozen lake was true after a fashion). No, in this drug induced fantasy he fears them. I don't think so. I was glad to see Water is regretting some of the decisions he and William Bell made in regards to experimenting on children. And yes as Peter tells Olivia, Walter has done a lot of bad things, but again this is something we already knew.
I suppose I am so disappointed because I had such high hopes. Fringe has been so off the wall from day one that I just knew they'd do this up right. But it felt to much like filler. Like a brief respite before the big, bad season finale starts. I thought many of the "singers" did a great job. I wish Broyles and Astrid had both been given a longer time to sing. They each have wonderful voices. I was hoping for a Peter and Olivia duet (in their case it might have been The Impossible Dream) And what is it with Willy Wonka lately. Seems like music from the original Gene Wilder film is popping up in a lot of places. And couldn't you just see the Observers singing "Someone to Watch over Me"?
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
HGTV Design Star
Right now I am obsessed with HGTV's Design Star. I started watching Color Splash and found out that David Bromstad had been the winner of the first season of Design Star. I found that all the episodes of season one are available as free podcasts from Itunes. So I downloaded all episodes and watched the whole thing (almost in one sitting) It was wonderful. Even knowing the ultimate winner, I still enjoyed every episode. So I started looking for the other seasons. Itunes has season three and season four as tv series downloads so I forked over my money (well Heath's money, it is his Itune account) and got both seasons. Loved them. I think I liked season 3 more than season 4. I liked both Jennifer and Matt from that season. I would have preferred Matt to win, but you can't have everything. And I really did not care for Antonio in season 4. He's designs were not really to my taste. I really liked Dan. And thanks to HGTV I hope to be able to watch all of season 2. They have it as streaming video on their website.(Or had, last time I checked it seems to be down--will try again later) And now I find out that season 5 is coming. I as so happy. Something to look forward to this summer. I am finding HGTV a great source of fun and entertaining programming. And as reality tv seems to be taking over most of tv at least on Design Star the "Star" does seem to be the design. Now I have a lot of Color Splash to watch while waiting for the new season of Design Star.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Fringe--White Tulip
Last night's episode of Fringe dealt with one of my favorite fictional concepts, time travel. I have always loved the idea of time travel. In an aside, Dean Koontz book Lightning is a great time travel book. Now back to Fringe. The episode starts with people on a train. The lights in the car start to flicker and then go out and then a man just appears in the middle of the aisle. The man is sweating and seems in some pain. He exits the train bumping into a young pick pocket who was hanging around on the platform panhandling. The kid enters the train car to find every person dead.
We then see Walter writing a letter. I am slow because I only realized he was left handed a couple of episodes ago. While he is writing the phone rings. It is Peter and he begs Walter to pick up the phone, even explaining to him how to turn the phone on. Peter is very kind to his father these days. Walter listens to Peter but does not pick up the phone. Peter tells him to get his kit together that he will pick him up fifteen minutes, that Olivia needs them on a train, and he knows how much Walter loves trains. Walter smiles at that last remark. Walter finishes his letter and puts in an envelope and addresses it to Peter. He then puts the envelope in this pocket.
At the train Walter is mystified by the deaths. He says it is as if they all had heart attacks at the same time. Peter discovered that all of the phones, laptops and mp3 players on board were drained of energy. An FBI agent finds Walter's letter to Peter laying in the aisle. Walter sees it and retrieves it before Peter can see it.
Using CTV footage Olivia and Agent Broyles are able to trace the unknown man as he leaves the train station. They see him enter a restaurant. When they go to the restaurant one of the waitresses immediately recognizes the man as one of the regulars. She finds his credit card receipt and it gives them a name, Alistair Peck. They get an address and go to Peck's residence. There are boards covered with formulae which even Walter has trouble following. He said if he had several years and lots of assistance he might could understand what was being worked on. However, he does know that what Peck was attempting was time travel. While they are looking around Peck's home he returns and demands that they leave. When weapons are drawn he does something and then vanishes and we are back where we started. He winks into existence on the train again. He exits the train running into the same kid. This time he tells him "I'm sorry you have to go through this again".
Olivia, Peter, Broyles and Walter are back at the train. Almost same scenario but this time they find out about Peck's work at MIT. They talk to a colleague who tells them Peck was working on time travel. She gives them three volumes that Peck had written on the subject. Walter reads these volumes very fast and figures out that Peck is a genius and very close to cracking time travel if he hasn't done so already. And he realizes that time travel would eat up a lot of energy (like maybe, a whole train car of the stuff). He then hypothesizes that maybe Peck has traveled in time alright, and that they, the Fringe group, may have done the same thing many times. Walter is brilliant and so sad. You just want him to give that letter to Peter so they can start healing.
They discover that Peck is back in his lab at MIT (dead bodies outside as proof of his time travel). Walter convinces the others to let him go into the lab to talk to Peck. Earlier Olivia has realized that Peck was trying to go back in time because his fiancee had been killed in an automobile accident and that he had been trying to go back and save her. Walter having more than a passing knowledge of grief and what it can lead you to do, wants to talk to Peck alone. He goes in with a wire and does talk to Peck. Then he unplugs the wire and talks to Peck about Peter and about what he did. He tells him that if he does make it back to his fiancee and save her he will see all the people who died each time he looks at her. Walter tells him that he had never believed in God until after rescuing Peter from the other reality. And now he thinks God is punishing him. He said he asked God for a sign, a white tulip, to prove that he is forgiven. Peck says it isn't tulip season and even in tulip season white tulips are rare. Walter says that his why he asked for that sign. The others figure Walter turning off the wire is a bad sign and rush the room. Peck travels back in time and this time he does make it back to the day his fiancee died. He runs to get to her car. He smiles at her and they are hit by another car. You see the colleague of Peck from the earlier scene. She has found a letter to her from Peck. Inside this letter is another letter addressed to Walter, sealed and stamped. Her letter asks that she mail this letter on a certain day. Today is that day. Another person asks her why she doesn't open the letter before she mails it. She said that Peck sealed it so she is mailing it as he asked. We see Walter writing his letter to Peter. He finishes it. No phone call from Peter this time. He seals it and addresses it and then walks over and throws it into the fire. Peter arrives home and asks Walter it he is alright. Walter tells him he is fine. Then Walter sorts through the mail and finds the envelope from Peck. He opens it and inside is a drawing of a white tulip. Nothing else. Water looks surprised and less sad.
I love this show. I can't wait for next week's episode. I think the shape-shifters are back.
We then see Walter writing a letter. I am slow because I only realized he was left handed a couple of episodes ago. While he is writing the phone rings. It is Peter and he begs Walter to pick up the phone, even explaining to him how to turn the phone on. Peter is very kind to his father these days. Walter listens to Peter but does not pick up the phone. Peter tells him to get his kit together that he will pick him up fifteen minutes, that Olivia needs them on a train, and he knows how much Walter loves trains. Walter smiles at that last remark. Walter finishes his letter and puts in an envelope and addresses it to Peter. He then puts the envelope in this pocket.
At the train Walter is mystified by the deaths. He says it is as if they all had heart attacks at the same time. Peter discovered that all of the phones, laptops and mp3 players on board were drained of energy. An FBI agent finds Walter's letter to Peter laying in the aisle. Walter sees it and retrieves it before Peter can see it.
Using CTV footage Olivia and Agent Broyles are able to trace the unknown man as he leaves the train station. They see him enter a restaurant. When they go to the restaurant one of the waitresses immediately recognizes the man as one of the regulars. She finds his credit card receipt and it gives them a name, Alistair Peck. They get an address and go to Peck's residence. There are boards covered with formulae which even Walter has trouble following. He said if he had several years and lots of assistance he might could understand what was being worked on. However, he does know that what Peck was attempting was time travel. While they are looking around Peck's home he returns and demands that they leave. When weapons are drawn he does something and then vanishes and we are back where we started. He winks into existence on the train again. He exits the train running into the same kid. This time he tells him "I'm sorry you have to go through this again".
Olivia, Peter, Broyles and Walter are back at the train. Almost same scenario but this time they find out about Peck's work at MIT. They talk to a colleague who tells them Peck was working on time travel. She gives them three volumes that Peck had written on the subject. Walter reads these volumes very fast and figures out that Peck is a genius and very close to cracking time travel if he hasn't done so already. And he realizes that time travel would eat up a lot of energy (like maybe, a whole train car of the stuff). He then hypothesizes that maybe Peck has traveled in time alright, and that they, the Fringe group, may have done the same thing many times. Walter is brilliant and so sad. You just want him to give that letter to Peter so they can start healing.
They discover that Peck is back in his lab at MIT (dead bodies outside as proof of his time travel). Walter convinces the others to let him go into the lab to talk to Peck. Earlier Olivia has realized that Peck was trying to go back in time because his fiancee had been killed in an automobile accident and that he had been trying to go back and save her. Walter having more than a passing knowledge of grief and what it can lead you to do, wants to talk to Peck alone. He goes in with a wire and does talk to Peck. Then he unplugs the wire and talks to Peck about Peter and about what he did. He tells him that if he does make it back to his fiancee and save her he will see all the people who died each time he looks at her. Walter tells him that he had never believed in God until after rescuing Peter from the other reality. And now he thinks God is punishing him. He said he asked God for a sign, a white tulip, to prove that he is forgiven. Peck says it isn't tulip season and even in tulip season white tulips are rare. Walter says that his why he asked for that sign. The others figure Walter turning off the wire is a bad sign and rush the room. Peck travels back in time and this time he does make it back to the day his fiancee died. He runs to get to her car. He smiles at her and they are hit by another car. You see the colleague of Peck from the earlier scene. She has found a letter to her from Peck. Inside this letter is another letter addressed to Walter, sealed and stamped. Her letter asks that she mail this letter on a certain day. Today is that day. Another person asks her why she doesn't open the letter before she mails it. She said that Peck sealed it so she is mailing it as he asked. We see Walter writing his letter to Peter. He finishes it. No phone call from Peter this time. He seals it and addresses it and then walks over and throws it into the fire. Peter arrives home and asks Walter it he is alright. Walter tells him he is fine. Then Walter sorts through the mail and finds the envelope from Peck. He opens it and inside is a drawing of a white tulip. Nothing else. Water looks surprised and less sad.
I love this show. I can't wait for next week's episode. I think the shape-shifters are back.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Fringe and the Clue
Olivia in the lab with the revolver was an interesting episode to follow the heart breaking Peter. Olivia (the episode not the woman) starts in a coffee shop with a very ill gentleman talking to a lawyer about his illness which he thinks was brought on my something in the area around where he grew up. When he asks the lawyer if she remembers any of the kids they knew growing up I realized he had probably grown up in Florida. The lawyer who is very concerned for the guy comes up with one name from her past. The man touches her on the hand and you just know that is not good. Sure enough minutes after leaving the man the lawyer is covered in sores and lesions and has passed out in her car at an intersection. When Fringe is contacted they (well Walter) figures out that she was advanced cancer. Only the woman did not have cancer when she left her office.
Olivia who is still having trouble sleeping has a visit in the night from bowling alley guy who brings a Clue game (hence the episode title) for them to play. Are they telling us that like "Lost" Fringe is one of those series where you are always looking at the clues but never really seeing the whole puzzle. Figured that out in episode one, but thanks.
This episode once more shows how much harm was done by the experiments Walter and William conducted on children in Jacksonville and other places. I hope we do really see some good come from these because we have seen a lot of bad. Olivia has that ability to see objects and people from the other side but what other abilities were Walter and William trying to create? This is an always interesting show.
Can't wait to see how it all plays out.
Olivia who is still having trouble sleeping has a visit in the night from bowling alley guy who brings a Clue game (hence the episode title) for them to play. Are they telling us that like "Lost" Fringe is one of those series where you are always looking at the clues but never really seeing the whole puzzle. Figured that out in episode one, but thanks.
This episode once more shows how much harm was done by the experiments Walter and William conducted on children in Jacksonville and other places. I hope we do really see some good come from these because we have seen a lot of bad. Olivia has that ability to see objects and people from the other side but what other abilities were Walter and William trying to create? This is an always interesting show.
Can't wait to see how it all plays out.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Modern Family (Television grows up)
When I saw that ABC was showing a new sitcom, last fall, called Modern Family I thought, how lame. But something about the ads for the new show made me give it a try. The fact that it appeared just before the new Courtney Cox sitcom probably didn't hurt either. So I watched Modern Family and thought "okay, I could watch another episode". Now one episode was all I needed of the Cox sitcom to decide it wasn't for me. Sorry, Courtney.So I tuned in to the next episode of Modern Family and the next, but it was the fourth and really the fifth episodes which made me a fan. The fourth episode called The Incident had Shelley Long (Cheers) as Mitchell and Claire's mother and Jay's ex. She comes to visit Mitchell and see his new baby Lily. But really she is looking for forgiveness for "the incident". At Jay and Gloria's wedding she got drunk and basically ruined the reception. Gloria recalled that at her first wedding in Columbia men had rushed in and assassinated the judge conducting the wedding, but felt her wedding to Jay was much worse. His mother tells Mitchell that she needs closure because she has meet a man but can not be intimate with him until she clears her conscience. Mitchell seems to have a history of cleaning up after Mom. Claire who sided with her Dad in the divorce does not get seem nearly as happy to see her mother. And after a couple of minutes you understand why. DeDe (Claire's mother) is hyper-critical of Claire. Her hair is too long (though it seems to be the same length as DeDe's. She questions Claire's parenting skills in front of Claire's children. She doesn't like Claire's blouse, etc. Claire in an aside to the camera said that as children we often have this voice in our head telling us we aren't good enough, well hers was outside driving her to school. Anyway, Claire agrees to let her mother come to dinner to try and get Jay and Gloria to forgive her. Claire also has her daughter invite her boyfriend Dylan to the family dinner. Mitchell goes to get Jay to approve the visit from DeDe. Jay tells him he wants to get it all behind him as well but that he wouldn't be able to get Gloria to go if she knew DeDe would be there. So Jay tells him they will show up but that he will act like he didn't know that DeDe would be there.
The night turns into the kind of disaster you would expect (almost) and the almost is what raises this show above the average sitcom. DeDe apologies to Gloria and Jay. Gloria accepts the apology which DeDe did not expect. So DeDe starts hitting Gloria, who hits back. Finally they are separated and Jay tells her that their marriage was over long before he meet Gloria. That she, DeDe had been the one who left. No one can seem to understand what is going on except Haley's boyfriend Dylan. Showing more maturity that most of the adults he says that he can understand why DeDe doesnt' want to leave this great family. He said he knew that Haley was pretty but it was her confidence that had really attracted him. He said she got the confidence because she knew that her family truly loved her. The adults look ashamed and then decide that Dylan is a great kid and ask him to sing. The song is funny and very teenaged boy mostly talking about wanting to have sex with his girlfriend. The parents decide maybe he isn't as perfect as they thought. But the episode goes off with each member singing Dylan's song (which is one of those tunes that gets stuck in your head)
The fifth episode is called Coal Digger and is the funniest episode to this point. (Actually this episode, Fizbo and My Funky Valentine are the three best episodes so far in season 1, imho) This episode had Manny and Luke getting into a fight at school. The school calls the parents to come. After the principal has problems figuring out the family tree it turns out the fight started when Manny kept calling Luke his nephew. The principal tells the parents (and grandparents) to get the matter settled at home. Jay and Gloria are hosting the whole family at a BBQ so Jay and Phil show their different parenting skills. Phil trys to get the boys to be friends. Jay thumps them on the head and tells them that in this family that love each other. They kids start playing together. Later when discussing where their problems with each other started Luke said he made fun of Manny because his mother had been a coal digger. Luke says he heard this mother say that. The always helpful Phil says it was probably gold digger. So now Gloria is mad at Claire. Phil tries to apologize for Claire but Gloria isn't interested. So finally Claire and Gloria talk and Claire explains that when she first met Gloria that she had been afraid that the much younger, very beautiful Gloria was just after her Dad's money. She asks Gloria to forgive her. Gloria says she will on one condition that Claire jump into the swimming pool with her clothes on. Claire says she won't so Gloria says she will not forgive her. So Claire goes to the pool with everyone else trouping along. She shows her willingness to jump thinking that Gloria will cut her a break, but no, Gloria is waiting for her to get wet. So finally Claire jumps in. Then when she swims over asking for help to get out Jay pushes Gloria into the pool. Then he pushes Phil in and then Luke and Manny push Jay in and go into the pool together. Mitchell picks up Alex and jumps into the pool and Cam cannonballs into the pool. It is a wonderful beautiful family moment.
I love this show. Long may these families light up our lives.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Amazing Race and the Lesbians
Now I was not one of the people who watched The Amazing Race from the beginning. In fact I didn't watch any episodes until season 14. Since then I have gone back and watched all seasons of the show. I have always been very pleased that The Amazing Race has been open and honest about having Gay, Lesbian and Bi-sexual competitors. From the first season on, almost every season has had an individual or a couple who fit one of these categories. And I can only think of one instance where one person acted uncomfortable when he found out that two of his fellow competitors were a couple (I'm thinking of season 4 when Chuck looked affronted by Reichen and Chip discussing how they were married--and with Chuck it was only a look, he did not say anything)
Now forward to season 16 and suddenly a dating couple are being targeted in what almost seems like a homophobic attack by another couple. Carol and Brandy are dating. Yes, they are open about this fact. Caite (of Caite and Brent) has from the very beginning referred to Carol and Brandy not by name but as the Lesbians and usually the Mean Lesbians. She has said numerous times how much she hates the mean lesbians. Now I realize this is just a game but she seems to have a serious problem. I am suddenly reminded of the song from South Pacific "You've got to be carefully taught". That song was about racism but I think the same would hold true for a hate towards those whose sexual orientation is not heterosexual. I think Caite has been taught from childhood to hate things and people whom she doesn't understand. She was told that she was pretty and that being pretty would let her get away with a lot (and so far that has been the case). She seems unaware of how shrill and unattractive she can be. The episode that stand out for me was when each team had to load all the coconuts and take by cart to another place. 3 teams goofed and left one of the coconuts behind but only Caite whined about why was this happening to them and then starts to cry. And Brent just says he is going to quit. Bad things happen all the time (much worse than losing a tv race). Caite seems to be one of those people who think life should just be easy for them. She knows that video of her at the beauty pageant is on Youtube, so why is is surprised when others know about it. If she had laughed about it with the others and told how she was so frightened to be put on the spot in the pageant she would have gotten most of the others over on her side and made friends. Instead she decided to be affronted that someone would have mentioned such a thing. Caite I hope you learn to laugh at yourself and i hope you learn not to judge people by their sexual orientation or ethnicity. And as for The Amazing Race I am disappointed that you kept all the cuts in with Caite talking about the mean lesbians. I thought better of you. I have found your show competitive but not usually mean spirited. I hope on future races you spend more time checking on contestants IQs and less worrying about filling your "model" quota. I would like you to have more average joes and jills and fewer (as in no more) people from other reality shows.
Now forward to season 16 and suddenly a dating couple are being targeted in what almost seems like a homophobic attack by another couple. Carol and Brandy are dating. Yes, they are open about this fact. Caite (of Caite and Brent) has from the very beginning referred to Carol and Brandy not by name but as the Lesbians and usually the Mean Lesbians. She has said numerous times how much she hates the mean lesbians. Now I realize this is just a game but she seems to have a serious problem. I am suddenly reminded of the song from South Pacific "You've got to be carefully taught". That song was about racism but I think the same would hold true for a hate towards those whose sexual orientation is not heterosexual. I think Caite has been taught from childhood to hate things and people whom she doesn't understand. She was told that she was pretty and that being pretty would let her get away with a lot (and so far that has been the case). She seems unaware of how shrill and unattractive she can be. The episode that stand out for me was when each team had to load all the coconuts and take by cart to another place. 3 teams goofed and left one of the coconuts behind but only Caite whined about why was this happening to them and then starts to cry. And Brent just says he is going to quit. Bad things happen all the time (much worse than losing a tv race). Caite seems to be one of those people who think life should just be easy for them. She knows that video of her at the beauty pageant is on Youtube, so why is is surprised when others know about it. If she had laughed about it with the others and told how she was so frightened to be put on the spot in the pageant she would have gotten most of the others over on her side and made friends. Instead she decided to be affronted that someone would have mentioned such a thing. Caite I hope you learn to laugh at yourself and i hope you learn not to judge people by their sexual orientation or ethnicity. And as for The Amazing Race I am disappointed that you kept all the cuts in with Caite talking about the mean lesbians. I thought better of you. I have found your show competitive but not usually mean spirited. I hope on future races you spend more time checking on contestants IQs and less worrying about filling your "model" quota. I would like you to have more average joes and jills and fewer (as in no more) people from other reality shows.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Fringe John Noble's noble turn
After weeks off the air Fringe returned last night with one of the best episodes of the series and John Noble (Walter Bishop) was terrific. This episode simply titled "Peter" is where we get answers about not only Dr. Bishop's son Peter, but, perhaps more importantly, about Walter himself. The few glimpses which we have been given of Walter before his brain surgery (Season 2 episode 10 Grey Matters) show us a very arrogate man who seems to place science above all other pursuits. Walter is that man, or rather was that man, but he was also a father and that is at the heart of this episode and consequently the series. Because in this incredible episode we find out how the fractures in our dimensions began.
In our reality Peter was a very sick boy. It is 1985, which if memory serves (gravestone from last season) would make Peter 7 years old. He has some sort of genetic abnormality which is making him waste away. Walter and his wife, Elizabeth or Liz as he calls her, are consumed with fears for Peter's health. Walter is trying to find a cure for Peter and he is using any means necessary including using a window he has created which sees into the alternative universe. Using his window, which he has shown to the military, he watches his alternative self (he calls it Waternate to his assistant Carla) trying to find a cure for his son Peter. Our Walter is called home by Liz saying Peter is asking for him. He returns home to have Peter performing his coin trick for him just before Peter dies. Walter and Elizabeth are devastated. Nina Sharp is at the funeral and she tells Walter that William wishes he could be there. Seems Bell is in Europe. (Aside--I am beginning to dislike William Bell a lot) Walter brushes her aside and leaves the cemetery with Elizabeth. Then Walter wakes Liz and tells her he needs to show her something. He has been to his lab and brought the window back. He places the window in Peter's room and shows Liz the alternative Peter who is still alive. Liz is amazed and wants Walter to leave it on she she can watch Peter. Walter tells her that he has shown her this image so she would know that in another world Peter was alive and that she must think of him like that. He takes the window back to his lab where he continues to watch Walternate. Carla does not understand why. She even questions whether he realizes his Peter is dead. Walter in his best disdainful manner lets her know how foolish that idea is. He is still watching because he hopes Walternate will find the cure which he could not. And Walternate does find the cure only he doesn't realize it. Walternate is interrupted by one of the Watchers, August, who keeps him from realizing what has happened.
There is a scene where the Watchers discuss August's tragic mistake and how to rectify it. The Watchers say Peter is important, so he must be saved. They tell August that he will have a change to undo the damage. (Icy lake comes to mind)
Walter creates the cure for Peter and decides that he must take it to AU Peter. Carla can not believe that he would even consider doing such a thing. She tells him there are lines which must never be crossed. She tells him he isn't God. He seems to disagree. I actually think that he is so consumed by his need to save Peter that he can no longer think rationally. He takes his device, which he had told the military would not work, to Reiden Lake, famous from the last episode of season 1. He sets up the machine on the ice and checks that he has the medicine and is about to activate the device when Carla and Nina show up. They are intend on stopping Walter. Nina says William Bell wants him to stop. Walter laughs at this and tell Nina that Bell has pleaded with Walter to try this very thing not once but twice and no for altruistic reasons either. Nina seems shocked, but she tries to stop Walter. She tackles him after he opens the door but he gets though and closes the door (on her arm--now we know how she really lost her arm). Walter now realizes that in his fall he has broken the bottle of medicine. (Plot point, I do understand why this was done, but really. Broken bottle. I would have put that precious liquid in something a tank couldn't smash) Walter is shaken. He stands looking at the bottle and seeing the death of this universes Peter. Then he realizes what he must do. Walter walks off the ice to toward the cabin where Peter is. He finds Peter who is very sick and prepares to take him to his universe where he can save him. It doesn't seem to occur to him that he could just leave the correct formula for Walternate. Anyway, Elizabeth walks in and Walter has to pretend to he her Walter. He convinces her to stay at the cabin while he takes Peter to his lab for the cure. Elizabeth tells him to bring Peter back to her. Walter promises that he will and I for one believe that he really intends to do that.
Walter and Peter return to the lake where Walter activates the device that returns them to our universe. The ice under them cracks and Walter and Peter are plunged into the icy water. Cue August, the Watcher, just as Walter has told Peter time and again. A man jumps in and saves them from there watery graves. Walter comes to as August is driving them back to Cambridge. He tells Walter that Carla and Nina have left to get medical attention for Nina. He asks Walter if he can drive. He tells Walter that Peter is near death and that he must not let this happen as Peter is very important. Peter must live. I wonder when we will find out what that means? The Watcher gets out of the car and disappears. Walter drives to his lab and starts Peter on the serum. Elizabeth arrives at the lab because Walter did not come home the night before. She sees Peter. Walter explains that he is from the AU and that he must be returned when he is well. Elizabeth gathers Peter into her arms and you just know that isn't going to happen. Back to the present time, Walter asks Agent Dunham what she is going to do know that she knows the truth. She tells him she doesn't know.
I can not wait for the next episode. John Noble rules!
In our reality Peter was a very sick boy. It is 1985, which if memory serves (gravestone from last season) would make Peter 7 years old. He has some sort of genetic abnormality which is making him waste away. Walter and his wife, Elizabeth or Liz as he calls her, are consumed with fears for Peter's health. Walter is trying to find a cure for Peter and he is using any means necessary including using a window he has created which sees into the alternative universe. Using his window, which he has shown to the military, he watches his alternative self (he calls it Waternate to his assistant Carla) trying to find a cure for his son Peter. Our Walter is called home by Liz saying Peter is asking for him. He returns home to have Peter performing his coin trick for him just before Peter dies. Walter and Elizabeth are devastated. Nina Sharp is at the funeral and she tells Walter that William wishes he could be there. Seems Bell is in Europe. (Aside--I am beginning to dislike William Bell a lot) Walter brushes her aside and leaves the cemetery with Elizabeth. Then Walter wakes Liz and tells her he needs to show her something. He has been to his lab and brought the window back. He places the window in Peter's room and shows Liz the alternative Peter who is still alive. Liz is amazed and wants Walter to leave it on she she can watch Peter. Walter tells her that he has shown her this image so she would know that in another world Peter was alive and that she must think of him like that. He takes the window back to his lab where he continues to watch Walternate. Carla does not understand why. She even questions whether he realizes his Peter is dead. Walter in his best disdainful manner lets her know how foolish that idea is. He is still watching because he hopes Walternate will find the cure which he could not. And Walternate does find the cure only he doesn't realize it. Walternate is interrupted by one of the Watchers, August, who keeps him from realizing what has happened.
There is a scene where the Watchers discuss August's tragic mistake and how to rectify it. The Watchers say Peter is important, so he must be saved. They tell August that he will have a change to undo the damage. (Icy lake comes to mind)
Walter creates the cure for Peter and decides that he must take it to AU Peter. Carla can not believe that he would even consider doing such a thing. She tells him there are lines which must never be crossed. She tells him he isn't God. He seems to disagree. I actually think that he is so consumed by his need to save Peter that he can no longer think rationally. He takes his device, which he had told the military would not work, to Reiden Lake, famous from the last episode of season 1. He sets up the machine on the ice and checks that he has the medicine and is about to activate the device when Carla and Nina show up. They are intend on stopping Walter. Nina says William Bell wants him to stop. Walter laughs at this and tell Nina that Bell has pleaded with Walter to try this very thing not once but twice and no for altruistic reasons either. Nina seems shocked, but she tries to stop Walter. She tackles him after he opens the door but he gets though and closes the door (on her arm--now we know how she really lost her arm). Walter now realizes that in his fall he has broken the bottle of medicine. (Plot point, I do understand why this was done, but really. Broken bottle. I would have put that precious liquid in something a tank couldn't smash) Walter is shaken. He stands looking at the bottle and seeing the death of this universes Peter. Then he realizes what he must do. Walter walks off the ice to toward the cabin where Peter is. He finds Peter who is very sick and prepares to take him to his universe where he can save him. It doesn't seem to occur to him that he could just leave the correct formula for Walternate. Anyway, Elizabeth walks in and Walter has to pretend to he her Walter. He convinces her to stay at the cabin while he takes Peter to his lab for the cure. Elizabeth tells him to bring Peter back to her. Walter promises that he will and I for one believe that he really intends to do that.
Walter and Peter return to the lake where Walter activates the device that returns them to our universe. The ice under them cracks and Walter and Peter are plunged into the icy water. Cue August, the Watcher, just as Walter has told Peter time and again. A man jumps in and saves them from there watery graves. Walter comes to as August is driving them back to Cambridge. He tells Walter that Carla and Nina have left to get medical attention for Nina. He asks Walter if he can drive. He tells Walter that Peter is near death and that he must not let this happen as Peter is very important. Peter must live. I wonder when we will find out what that means? The Watcher gets out of the car and disappears. Walter drives to his lab and starts Peter on the serum. Elizabeth arrives at the lab because Walter did not come home the night before. She sees Peter. Walter explains that he is from the AU and that he must be returned when he is well. Elizabeth gathers Peter into her arms and you just know that isn't going to happen. Back to the present time, Walter asks Agent Dunham what she is going to do know that she knows the truth. She tells him she doesn't know.
I can not wait for the next episode. John Noble rules!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Fringe The Return
I am so excited. Fringe returns with new episodes tonight. Tonight's episode is called Peter and will allow Walter to explain (if he can) how he ended up taking the Peter from the alternative universe to replace his dead son. I love the Walter character but he has a lot to atone for and Peter's kidnapping is only one of those things. But the last episode before this long break, "Jacksonville" really set up the ground work for the rest of the season.
"Jacksonville" begin with an architect in New York City getting a cup of coffee. An earth tremor causes him to discuss the fact that there have been several of these tremors in the last few days. Then there is a more violent quake and all hell breaks out. The Fringe team gets the call and head to New York. Olivia mentions that the building looks rearranged (ding, ding--that's a clue) Once they go inside the special effects people really earn their bucks. What the Fringe team finds inside is bodies literally inside walls, inside other bodies. It is an astonishing scene. They find one man still alive. Walter questions him about what happened on 9/11. He tells him the buildings destroyed on 9/11 were the White House and Pentagon. This proves Walter's theory that the building is a place where the alternative universe and our universe have collided and a building from the AU (alt. universe) is trying to inhabit the same space (never a good idea). The man dies but not before asking that someone calls his wife. The police on hand say the man is not married but he is wearing a wedding ring. Then something moves beneath the death man's shirt. Walter moves the shirt aside and there is another head sticking out the man's chest. The same face on each head. This version of the man also dies and Walter closes the eyes of each of the dead men.
Walter sends the body (bodies) back to the lab and Astrid who has survived a lot says she can not help Walter with that body. Walter sends her to look through objects removed from the building looking for anomalies. She finds a Richard Nixon silver dollar which Walterterms disturbing. Then she finds a double decker car. This car reminds Walter of something and then he remembers an experiment he and William Bell conducted in which they sent a car to the other universe. Then a few hours later a car from that universe appeared in our universe. So Walter now knows what is going to happen. A building from our universe is going be pulled into the other universe with everyone inside. Walter has an idea of how to figure out which building. To do this he wants to take Olivia back to Jacksonville where he and Bell first experimented on her and the other children. Peter doesn't want her to go but she agrees and they all go back to Jacksonville. The "school" has been stuff down and locked up for all these years. Olivia finds herself looking back to a very disturbing time in her life. This is a different Walter. He thinks that reminding Olivia of her past will bring back the ability she possessed at that time of telling which objects were from the AU. It doesn't work. Olivia or Olive as she was then was a child and more easily frightened than the grown Olivia. Walter seems to like the trip down memory lane. Back to a time when he literally had all this marbles. The trip is less pleasant for Olivia.
Walter decides to give Olivia a dose of the drugs he used on her as a child to try and take her back to that ability. It works to a certain extent. Olivia sees herself as a child but she comes out of drugged state angry at Walter and still unable to distinguish between objects from the two universes.
In New York the dogs have begun to howl (a sign that the building is getting ready to be pulled across). The Fringe team heads back to New York and to Massive Dynamics to try and help them locate the building. Peter suggests that the building will need to be the same mass as the building that appeared in our universe. This gives them a starting point but time is running out. Olivia is upset because she feels she as let the team down. She finds Peter and they talk. She tells him she is frightened. He tells her not to be and leans in as if to kiss her when she suddenly realizes that being frightened might be just what she needs. She runs to the roof and sees the building in the distance that is sparkling. She heads for it telling Broyles and he has the building evacuated. Olivia arrives just in time to save the door man. They are almost pulled into the vortex which takes the building into the AU.
As the episode ends the Fringe team are back in Cambridge. Olivia and Peter are going out for a drink. When Olivia arrives she notices that Peter is shimmering like the building. She immediately realizes what this means. Walter seeing her face realizes that she knows his secret. When Peter, who doesn't notice, goes to get this coat, Walter begs her not to tell Peter.
Great episode. Can not wait to hear Walter's explanation tonight.
"Jacksonville" begin with an architect in New York City getting a cup of coffee. An earth tremor causes him to discuss the fact that there have been several of these tremors in the last few days. Then there is a more violent quake and all hell breaks out. The Fringe team gets the call and head to New York. Olivia mentions that the building looks rearranged (ding, ding--that's a clue) Once they go inside the special effects people really earn their bucks. What the Fringe team finds inside is bodies literally inside walls, inside other bodies. It is an astonishing scene. They find one man still alive. Walter questions him about what happened on 9/11. He tells him the buildings destroyed on 9/11 were the White House and Pentagon. This proves Walter's theory that the building is a place where the alternative universe and our universe have collided and a building from the AU (alt. universe) is trying to inhabit the same space (never a good idea). The man dies but not before asking that someone calls his wife. The police on hand say the man is not married but he is wearing a wedding ring. Then something moves beneath the death man's shirt. Walter moves the shirt aside and there is another head sticking out the man's chest. The same face on each head. This version of the man also dies and Walter closes the eyes of each of the dead men.
Walter sends the body (bodies) back to the lab and Astrid who has survived a lot says she can not help Walter with that body. Walter sends her to look through objects removed from the building looking for anomalies. She finds a Richard Nixon silver dollar which Walterterms disturbing. Then she finds a double decker car. This car reminds Walter of something and then he remembers an experiment he and William Bell conducted in which they sent a car to the other universe. Then a few hours later a car from that universe appeared in our universe. So Walter now knows what is going to happen. A building from our universe is going be pulled into the other universe with everyone inside. Walter has an idea of how to figure out which building. To do this he wants to take Olivia back to Jacksonville where he and Bell first experimented on her and the other children. Peter doesn't want her to go but she agrees and they all go back to Jacksonville. The "school" has been stuff down and locked up for all these years. Olivia finds herself looking back to a very disturbing time in her life. This is a different Walter. He thinks that reminding Olivia of her past will bring back the ability she possessed at that time of telling which objects were from the AU. It doesn't work. Olivia or Olive as she was then was a child and more easily frightened than the grown Olivia. Walter seems to like the trip down memory lane. Back to a time when he literally had all this marbles. The trip is less pleasant for Olivia.
Walter decides to give Olivia a dose of the drugs he used on her as a child to try and take her back to that ability. It works to a certain extent. Olivia sees herself as a child but she comes out of drugged state angry at Walter and still unable to distinguish between objects from the two universes.
In New York the dogs have begun to howl (a sign that the building is getting ready to be pulled across). The Fringe team heads back to New York and to Massive Dynamics to try and help them locate the building. Peter suggests that the building will need to be the same mass as the building that appeared in our universe. This gives them a starting point but time is running out. Olivia is upset because she feels she as let the team down. She finds Peter and they talk. She tells him she is frightened. He tells her not to be and leans in as if to kiss her when she suddenly realizes that being frightened might be just what she needs. She runs to the roof and sees the building in the distance that is sparkling. She heads for it telling Broyles and he has the building evacuated. Olivia arrives just in time to save the door man. They are almost pulled into the vortex which takes the building into the AU.
As the episode ends the Fringe team are back in Cambridge. Olivia and Peter are going out for a drink. When Olivia arrives she notices that Peter is shimmering like the building. She immediately realizes what this means. Walter seeing her face realizes that she knows his secret. When Peter, who doesn't notice, goes to get this coat, Walter begs her not to tell Peter.
Great episode. Can not wait to hear Walter's explanation tonight.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
HGTV and the broadening of the American mind
I have become obsessed with HGTv in the last few months. For several months I have loved House Hunters and House Hunters International. I will admit the International part is what first caught my eye. I have always had the travel bug and the idea of living abroad has surfaced from time to time. I am such a homebody that I realize that I am very unlikely to ever live outside the US so I live vicariously through these other people. I also came to realize that these shows quite often had gay couples on. I thought this was really great. They didn't seem to pat themselves on the back saying "look we have gay content", it was like it was just normal. And then I realized that that was exactly what it was, normal. While a big part of the US might oppose gay marriage, HGTv was quite willing to say see these people are the norm, get used to it. I think the fact that a lot of HGTv content comes from Canada may have helped with this. Canada, who has gay marriage, is ahead of the US in this area. Most of the world is ahead of the US in this area. Soon it will be just us and Uganda left on this side of the fence.
HGTv has several shows hosted by openly gay people, Color Splash hosted by David Bromstad,
Curb Appeal and the Block hosted by John Gibbing. And once again no big deal is made about the hosts sexuality. Why should there be? One doesn't see John Doe who is heterosexual will be starring in XYZ this fall, but the gay John Doe will be starring ... appears all the time. Why at this time in history do we still feel the need to do this. Well, obviously not all of us do. Oh well, maybe one day soon the US will be a open minded as HGTv. I hope I live so long.
HGTv has several shows hosted by openly gay people, Color Splash hosted by David Bromstad,
Curb Appeal and the Block hosted by John Gibbing. And once again no big deal is made about the hosts sexuality. Why should there be? One doesn't see John Doe who is heterosexual will be starring in XYZ this fall, but the gay John Doe will be starring ... appears all the time. Why at this time in history do we still feel the need to do this. Well, obviously not all of us do. Oh well, maybe one day soon the US will be a open minded as HGTv. I hope I live so long.
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Fringe of Fringe
Most of my blogs of late have been, well, let's face it, downers. So for something slightly more upbeat, I think I will muse about last night's (Jan. 28th) episode of Fringe. This Fox network show is great. I have watched it from the beginning. I like all of the main characters. Dr. Walter Bishop is one of my favorite tv characters of all time. If you aren't watching the show give it a try. Dr. Bishop is a genius who even with part of his brain gone (long story for another day) be is still way beyond any other scientist poking about on the tube. He'd even beat Mr. Spock in an IQ test (that is also another story for another day, Leonard Nimoy fans, I'm talking to you). But in last night's episode Dr. Bishop got to give us a glimpse (and it was just a glimpse) of his past. It seems our Dr. Bishop's father was also a genius. He worked for the Nazi's and was called Bishoff. But Walter says his father was really sending his findings to the Americans via German novels which he used to hide his notes. Walter thinks he still owns the novels but finds that while he was in the mental hosptial (yes, you got it ... another day) his son, Peter, sold the grandfather's books. Peter says he needed the money but FBI Agent Olivia Dunham suspects and gets Peter to admit he really sold the books because he was mad at his father. Now Walter is a nice dotty genius now days but the few glimpses we have had into his past show that that has not always been the case. Walter could be driven and obsessed with his work. We do know something which Peter does not, that his father once risked the world to save his (Peter's life) and he really did not succeed. Well, not entirely. :) Looks like another story for another day. Any way on last nights episode some one has figured out how to kill certain people in a room full of people with a poison gas. Walter remembers that his father was working on something like this but did not have enough knowledge of DNA at that time (1930 and 40s) to be able to fully use the knowledge. Now someone is using his father's findings and is killing people. The first death's are at a wedding. One family is targeted. The fact that the family is Jewish makes it seem more cold blooded. Walter, Peter and Olivia do find the killer but secrets are left untold. Like how did a hundred something year old Nazi end up in US in 2010 looking like a thirty-some year old. Oh those Nazi's and their secrets. Can't wait for next week.
Welcome 2010
2009 is gone but not forgotten. It ended on a dark note for my family. My dear brother-in-law died on December 22. He had been ill for only a few weeks. We knew he had serious health problems but no one thought the end would come so soon. I saw him the day he died. In fact we talked quite a lot that morning. He seemed to be remembering things from his past and the memories were not always pleasant. He told me about a lady he had known who had been ill for a very long time. He said people said she was so brave for fighting so hard. He said he had just felt sorry for her. I think Louis was telling me that we wasn't going to fight his cancer.
When Louis found out about the cancer his first thought was for his wife (my sister) Shirley. He and Shirley met when he was home on leave from the Navy. He was nineteen and she was eighteen. The fell deeply in love and decided to marry. I remember my mother crying and begging Shirley to reconsider. My mother thought Shirley was too young. I was five and did not really understand what was going on, but I knew that my mother just did not cry, so this had to be bad. But Shirley and Louis had made up their minds and they married. They were married 48 years when he died.
Shirley and Louis had two children. Sheila Joy, whom they called Joy and fourteen years later a son, Michael. Joy is married and has three children, Heath, Savannah and Lucas. Joy is in charge of the Anniston, Alabama court system. Michael was a college professor, with just a few pages left on his dissertation for his PhD. when he was killed in an automobile accident just before his twenty-ninth birthday.
Louis spend his last days planning for Shirley's future. He sold all his "toys", tractors, guns, etc. He got house plans for a new house and had signed the paperwork with a builder to build her a new house close to most of her family. Then and only then did he let himself be put in the hospital. Three weeks later he died.
Louis was a strong, loving man who never really recovered from his son's death. I think he would have been more willing to fit for life if Michael had still been with him. Louis loved his family, his work, and his animals. He always had cats.
My beloved cat, Big Kitty, died in early December. Big Kitty was 19 years old. I thought he would be with me forever. I miss him everyday. I still haven't been able to get rid of his litter box. I still call out to him as I come home like I always did.
I like to imagine that Louis, Michael and Big Kitty are all together, along with my mother and father and my friend Mary, my aunt Eunice, ... will you get the idea. I don't know what exists beyond this realm but I hope I will see them all again. That is how I can welcome a new year.
When Louis found out about the cancer his first thought was for his wife (my sister) Shirley. He and Shirley met when he was home on leave from the Navy. He was nineteen and she was eighteen. The fell deeply in love and decided to marry. I remember my mother crying and begging Shirley to reconsider. My mother thought Shirley was too young. I was five and did not really understand what was going on, but I knew that my mother just did not cry, so this had to be bad. But Shirley and Louis had made up their minds and they married. They were married 48 years when he died.
Shirley and Louis had two children. Sheila Joy, whom they called Joy and fourteen years later a son, Michael. Joy is married and has three children, Heath, Savannah and Lucas. Joy is in charge of the Anniston, Alabama court system. Michael was a college professor, with just a few pages left on his dissertation for his PhD. when he was killed in an automobile accident just before his twenty-ninth birthday.
Louis spend his last days planning for Shirley's future. He sold all his "toys", tractors, guns, etc. He got house plans for a new house and had signed the paperwork with a builder to build her a new house close to most of her family. Then and only then did he let himself be put in the hospital. Three weeks later he died.
Louis was a strong, loving man who never really recovered from his son's death. I think he would have been more willing to fit for life if Michael had still been with him. Louis loved his family, his work, and his animals. He always had cats.
My beloved cat, Big Kitty, died in early December. Big Kitty was 19 years old. I thought he would be with me forever. I miss him everyday. I still haven't been able to get rid of his litter box. I still call out to him as I come home like I always did.
I like to imagine that Louis, Michael and Big Kitty are all together, along with my mother and father and my friend Mary, my aunt Eunice, ... will you get the idea. I don't know what exists beyond this realm but I hope I will see them all again. That is how I can welcome a new year.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Maggie Norman
Maggie is a rescue dog. My friend Pat saw her on the Montgomery,Alabama Humane Society website in 2000 and fell in love at first sight. Maggie was a stray who had been found on the streets of Montgomery. She was hesitate at first when Pat brought her home to Jacksonville but very soon she was queen of the house. Maggie is very outgoing. She loves other animals and all people, especially children. She is more than nine years old now but still often acts like a puppy. She is wonderful. Maggie makes you happy just by being around her. She is just so beautiful. Dogs like Maggie just need someone like Pat. Someone who will love and protect them and feed them and walk them (I think we all secretly want that). Maggie is lucky. She found Pat, but think how many animals are not so fortunate. If you are looking for a pet please consider looking at your local animal shelter. So many animals are being abandoned these days. If you don't feel able to give an animal the love and attention they need, please consider giving a donation to the animal shelter or Humane Society in your area. Maggie and I thank you very much.
www.hsus.org/
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Michael Louis Bell
Michael would have been 30 on August 31sth 2009. But Michael was killed in a car accident on the 17th of August 2008. Michael was my only nephew. He was my sister's only son. Michael came along as a change of life baby. My sister had a daughter Joy was was fourteen when Michael was born. As a child Michael was precocious. He always acted like a grown up. He spent most of his early years around adults so he talked like he was thirty when he was four. It was very funny.
Michael had a musical gift. He loved music and could play almost any instrument he tried. He was a music major in college and started out as a band director in a middle school. He did this for a few years but he never liked the fact that music just was never considered important in schools while sports was king. So he started on a master's degree and got a job at Troy State University as an online course developer. He was almost through with his Ph.D when he died. He had left Troy State and was working for an online University at the time of his death.
Michael was bright. He was caring. He was savvy to the ways of the world. He was fun to talk to. And I really think he was a good man. Death is no respecter of persons, we are told. Death came in the shape of a rain drenched highway on a Sunday afternoon. Death was announced by an Alabama State Trouper who came to my sister's house that Sunday night to tell them the news. I got the phone call from my brother a few minutes later. I still remember the numbness that hit me. I could not understand what he was saying. The words were just words. How could mere words explain something like this. I have suffered through other deaths. But somehow this death is the one I have had the most trouble with. It still doesn't seem real. I still miss Michael. I think of things I'd like to say to him. He loved this time of year. He loved JSU football. He would have been making his plans to follow the team on their road trips.
Michael would have loved Twitter. He was a techno wiz. He knew everything (well, it seemed that way) about computers and all their accessories. He loved technology and he loved life. Now he is twenty-eight forever. Happy birthday Michael.
Michael had a musical gift. He loved music and could play almost any instrument he tried. He was a music major in college and started out as a band director in a middle school. He did this for a few years but he never liked the fact that music just was never considered important in schools while sports was king. So he started on a master's degree and got a job at Troy State University as an online course developer. He was almost through with his Ph.D when he died. He had left Troy State and was working for an online University at the time of his death.
Michael was bright. He was caring. He was savvy to the ways of the world. He was fun to talk to. And I really think he was a good man. Death is no respecter of persons, we are told. Death came in the shape of a rain drenched highway on a Sunday afternoon. Death was announced by an Alabama State Trouper who came to my sister's house that Sunday night to tell them the news. I got the phone call from my brother a few minutes later. I still remember the numbness that hit me. I could not understand what he was saying. The words were just words. How could mere words explain something like this. I have suffered through other deaths. But somehow this death is the one I have had the most trouble with. It still doesn't seem real. I still miss Michael. I think of things I'd like to say to him. He loved this time of year. He loved JSU football. He would have been making his plans to follow the team on their road trips.
Michael would have loved Twitter. He was a techno wiz. He knew everything (well, it seemed that way) about computers and all their accessories. He loved technology and he loved life. Now he is twenty-eight forever. Happy birthday Michael.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Mary Dothard Cooper
I knew Mary from Oct. 1990 until her death on Dec. 8, 2003. She was first my co-worker, then my friend, and finally my boss. She was an extraordinary human being. She was one of the most intelligent people I have ever known. She had a veracious appetite for knowledge. She read all the time. She read for fun. She read for self-improvement. She read like most people breathe -- reading was life to her. She always had books she was trying to get me to read. She was always passing on books she had read to others. Mary was a librarian and the Director of the Meadows Library but reading was separate. She would have read had she been an accountant or a lawyer.
Mary was a wife and a mother. She was a professional educator who loved what she did. She was open to change and encouraged thinking outside the box.
Mary was a good person. She was almost Zen in her outlook on things. She could take a breath and think a situation through before she spoke. She could and would see the other person's point of view. She was wonderful in tense situations. She would bring a rational viewpoint to even the most heated discussion. She could lead by just showing the way. She did not micromanage. She trusted the people who worked for her and made them want to do their best.
I miss Mary. We could use someone with all her gifts today. I will always miss her. I hope she knows how much we all loved her and how large a hole she left in our lives.
Mary was a wife and a mother. She was a professional educator who loved what she did. She was open to change and encouraged thinking outside the box.
Mary was a good person. She was almost Zen in her outlook on things. She could take a breath and think a situation through before she spoke. She could and would see the other person's point of view. She was wonderful in tense situations. She would bring a rational viewpoint to even the most heated discussion. She could lead by just showing the way. She did not micromanage. She trusted the people who worked for her and made them want to do their best.
I miss Mary. We could use someone with all her gifts today. I will always miss her. I hope she knows how much we all loved her and how large a hole she left in our lives.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Barbara's birthday
My former sister-in-law and friend Barbara has a birthday today. I will not say how old she is because you would never believe me. She looks wonderful. She was a kind lady who has not always had an easy life. But she does not let life beat her down. She rises from the ashes like the Phoenix.
Now Barbara has a wonderful husband, Ken Morgan. He has been there for her and helped her survive some very trying times.
I hope that Barbara and I will always be friends. I feel like she is my sister. I'm lucky enough to have made three trips to Europe with her. Barbara, Shirley (one of my sisters) and I made our first trip to Europe together back in the nineties. Then the three of us made another trip in which we stayed a week after the tour group and wandered around on our own. We had a marvelous time. We traveled by train from Glasgow to York and then spend a few days getting more acquainted with that great town.
Then we took the train on down to London. That was fun a well. We saw shows and did a lot of shopping.
A couple of years later Barbara and I decided to go to London on our own. We even went to Paris for a day by the Chunnel Tunnel. We also took a train to Sheffield and saw Kenneth Branagh in Richard III. Very great performance.
I have been back to London one more time without Barbara and I missed her. She is great to travel with. She is very accommodating. I hope some time in the future we will be able to travel together again.
Happy Birthday Barbara!
Now Barbara has a wonderful husband, Ken Morgan. He has been there for her and helped her survive some very trying times.
I hope that Barbara and I will always be friends. I feel like she is my sister. I'm lucky enough to have made three trips to Europe with her. Barbara, Shirley (one of my sisters) and I made our first trip to Europe together back in the nineties. Then the three of us made another trip in which we stayed a week after the tour group and wandered around on our own. We had a marvelous time. We traveled by train from Glasgow to York and then spend a few days getting more acquainted with that great town.
Then we took the train on down to London. That was fun a well. We saw shows and did a lot of shopping.
A couple of years later Barbara and I decided to go to London on our own. We even went to Paris for a day by the Chunnel Tunnel. We also took a train to Sheffield and saw Kenneth Branagh in Richard III. Very great performance.
I have been back to London one more time without Barbara and I missed her. She is great to travel with. She is very accommodating. I hope some time in the future we will be able to travel together again.
Happy Birthday Barbara!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Torchwood Children of Earth Perspective (Spoilers)
I have now seen all of Torchwood Children of Earth and I have written synopses of each episode. Because I was reading spoilers before I watched each episode I put my self though much more angst that was necessary. Not that Children of Earth was not wrenching. The first three episodes of this series are among my favorites of all seasons. Four and Five are among the best written episodes since JMS finished season 4 of Bablyon-5. But Day Four and Day Five are almost very difficult to watch.
I have watched the growth of the Captain Jack Harkness character since he appeared in the first season of the new Doctor Who. And the character of Jack has matured more than most tv characters, possibly because he has lived many more lives than most. In the last two episodes of this mini-series Jack loses his world, but if I can be forgiven the religious overtones, he gains his soul. I realize that at the end of Day Five he does not see it that way but I do. I did not immediately upon watching realize this. This came to be later. Jack had much in his life to regret and much to atone for but his sacrifices in this season, and to a certain extend in the last, have gone far to evening the scales. Since Jack can't die he ends up suffering through everyone else's deaths. He has watched men and women he loved die. He has probably watched his children die. In this series he watches a grandson die. Jack will continue to suffer for these deaths and all the ones who have come before and all the ones who will come after for a very long time.
Russell T. Davies has been castigated on websites, in blogs and in online chat groups for this season of Torchwood. It would seem that even though we have been told repeatedly that Torchwood is dangerous and very few Torchwood workers ever grow old we still have a hard time understanding that characters on Torchwood that we like are going to die. Ianto's death was a shock to me. I admit that I should have seen it coming. There were pointers. In the third radio play The Dead Line Ianto talks to a comatose Jack about the fact that he, Ianto, will die and Jack will go on without him. There were many signs but I like almost all the fandom did not see or maybe did not wish to see what was coming.
Ianto Jones was a great character and Garth David-Lloyd did a great job portraying him. The character had known heartbreak. He had a rough childhood. But he refused to quite. He did not give up on love even after what happened to Lisa. He forgave Jack for his involvement in Lisa's death. And what had began as a flirtation had become a love affair for them both. Ianto Jones you will be missed.
I have watched the growth of the Captain Jack Harkness character since he appeared in the first season of the new Doctor Who. And the character of Jack has matured more than most tv characters, possibly because he has lived many more lives than most. In the last two episodes of this mini-series Jack loses his world, but if I can be forgiven the religious overtones, he gains his soul. I realize that at the end of Day Five he does not see it that way but I do. I did not immediately upon watching realize this. This came to be later. Jack had much in his life to regret and much to atone for but his sacrifices in this season, and to a certain extend in the last, have gone far to evening the scales. Since Jack can't die he ends up suffering through everyone else's deaths. He has watched men and women he loved die. He has probably watched his children die. In this series he watches a grandson die. Jack will continue to suffer for these deaths and all the ones who have come before and all the ones who will come after for a very long time.
Russell T. Davies has been castigated on websites, in blogs and in online chat groups for this season of Torchwood. It would seem that even though we have been told repeatedly that Torchwood is dangerous and very few Torchwood workers ever grow old we still have a hard time understanding that characters on Torchwood that we like are going to die. Ianto's death was a shock to me. I admit that I should have seen it coming. There were pointers. In the third radio play The Dead Line Ianto talks to a comatose Jack about the fact that he, Ianto, will die and Jack will go on without him. There were many signs but I like almost all the fandom did not see or maybe did not wish to see what was coming.
Ianto Jones was a great character and Garth David-Lloyd did a great job portraying him. The character had known heartbreak. He had a rough childhood. But he refused to quite. He did not give up on love even after what happened to Lisa. He forgave Jack for his involvement in Lisa's death. And what had began as a flirtation had become a love affair for them both. Ianto Jones you will be missed.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Torchwood Children of Earth Day 5 (Spoilers)
I'm not sure I have the stomach to do a full blow by blow of this episode. I starts with a Unit agent going back to Thames House and asking the 456 why they need the children. He finds out that the children are used as drugs for this species. Everyone watching in is sickened by this.
Then Forbisher comes to where Jack and Gwen are in the morgue. Jack asks him to take Gwen back to Wales and to let Ianto's sister know about his death. Then Jack is arrested and taken to a cell. Lois is across the hall from him and calls out to him. She asks what they can do now. He does not answer. He has been told that his daughter and grandson will be released.
The woman releases Alice and Stephen and shows Alice the footage from Thames House of the alien child.
The Prime Minister goes on television and tells the public to send their children back to school and that they will be given inoculations at noon the next day.
He then calls Forbisher into his office and tells him and his daughters will be given inoculations at noon on television to convince the other parents that it is safe. Forbisher says but there are no inoculations. The Prime Minister says that after the public realizes what has happened to their children they will be able to see that the government officials also lost children. Forbisher begs for his daughters but is denied.
Forbisher has his secretary get something for him. He uses a number. She does not want to do it but he insists. She returns with a box, very obviously a gun, and gives it to him. He kisses her on the cheek and leaves.
Then we see children in schools and army trucks start to arrive. Then it cuts to Forbisher's secretary coming to visit Lois in jail. She starts telling Lois how she meet Forbisher 30 years before. While she is talking we see Forbisher arrive home. He kisses his wife and hugs his daughters and sends them all upstairs. He goes up after them with a gun behind his back. He closes the door and we heard three shots in quick succession and then one more.
The soldiers begin going to schools and marching the children out. Some mothers show up and try to get their children. The children are loaded on buses. Some of the children are crying.
Gwen, Rhys and PC Andy go to Ianto's sister's house and tell her about his death. Then Gwen tells them they have to get the kids away. Rhys who was left outside as a lookout sees the trucks coming into the housing project. He runs to warn the others.
Jack's daughter and son are with the woman who kidnapped them. She says they will be safe. She tells Alice what is going on. Alice tells her that they need Jack Harkness. Men arrive at the jail and break Jack out. Then he is seen on the roof of a building still handcuffed as a helicopter lands.
In Wales, Gwen and Ianto's sister are getting coats on all the children and telling them to be quiet. Rhys, Ianto's sister and Gwen take the children out the back and down a hill to an old warehouse. Ianto's brother-in-law and some of their neighbors take on the troops in a fist fight. PC Andy joins them. PC Andy and the others are subdued.
Jack is brought to the place where Alice is being held. He is asked if he can save the children. He gets to work on the computers.
Gwen promises Rhys that she will not abort their child. She also records her message about how the world is ending.
Jack asks about how MacDonald died. He is shown the recording and he listens to the sound. An idea occurs to him. The scientist from Thames House who was brought along with Jack says that they must use the same method the 456 used. Jack realizes he means using the children. Then he tells Jack they must use one child who as he puts it will be fried to send the signal. Jack is horrified. His daughter who is next to him says no Dad you can't. The others are saying it is the only way to save millions. Finally Jack nods. The guards go and get Stephen. Alice tries to stop them. They bring Stephen back to the room with Jack. He stops struggling when he sees Jack. Jack looks so fragile. They place Stephen in the center of the room and Jack begins to send the signal. Stephen begins to emit a high pitched scream. Soon all the children are doing the same thing. We see the 456 reacting. Then they explode and then the light goes up and into the clouds giving the impression that the 456's ship was destroyed as well. Stephen falls. Alice runs to him but he is dead. Jack is crying. Later Alice is trying to leave but Jack is waiting for her. She turns back and reenters the same room refusing to talk to him. Jack gets up and leaves.
The Prime Minister says that things worked out luckily for Britain. He will say that the rounding up of the children was all the US's idea. Forbisher's secretary tells him that she had been to visit Lois and that she got instructions on how to wear the Torchwood contact lenses. She has been recording all his conversations. The woman MP says that she will see that Lois is released and that she will be taking over a lot of the PMs duties. He looks shell shocked but realizes there is nothing he can do.
Six months later Rhys and a very pregnant Gwen have travel out to meet Jack. Gwen gives him his vortex manipulator. He tells her he has been traveling but the world is empty. Gwen tells him that what happened was not his fault. He doesn't believe her. He says he has a way to leave the planet. Gwen asks him to stay for her but he says he can not. He transports away leaving Gwen in tears. Rhys comes to her and leads her away.
End of part five.
Then Forbisher comes to where Jack and Gwen are in the morgue. Jack asks him to take Gwen back to Wales and to let Ianto's sister know about his death. Then Jack is arrested and taken to a cell. Lois is across the hall from him and calls out to him. She asks what they can do now. He does not answer. He has been told that his daughter and grandson will be released.
The woman releases Alice and Stephen and shows Alice the footage from Thames House of the alien child.
The Prime Minister goes on television and tells the public to send their children back to school and that they will be given inoculations at noon the next day.
He then calls Forbisher into his office and tells him and his daughters will be given inoculations at noon on television to convince the other parents that it is safe. Forbisher says but there are no inoculations. The Prime Minister says that after the public realizes what has happened to their children they will be able to see that the government officials also lost children. Forbisher begs for his daughters but is denied.
Forbisher has his secretary get something for him. He uses a number. She does not want to do it but he insists. She returns with a box, very obviously a gun, and gives it to him. He kisses her on the cheek and leaves.
Then we see children in schools and army trucks start to arrive. Then it cuts to Forbisher's secretary coming to visit Lois in jail. She starts telling Lois how she meet Forbisher 30 years before. While she is talking we see Forbisher arrive home. He kisses his wife and hugs his daughters and sends them all upstairs. He goes up after them with a gun behind his back. He closes the door and we heard three shots in quick succession and then one more.
The soldiers begin going to schools and marching the children out. Some mothers show up and try to get their children. The children are loaded on buses. Some of the children are crying.
Gwen, Rhys and PC Andy go to Ianto's sister's house and tell her about his death. Then Gwen tells them they have to get the kids away. Rhys who was left outside as a lookout sees the trucks coming into the housing project. He runs to warn the others.
Jack's daughter and son are with the woman who kidnapped them. She says they will be safe. She tells Alice what is going on. Alice tells her that they need Jack Harkness. Men arrive at the jail and break Jack out. Then he is seen on the roof of a building still handcuffed as a helicopter lands.
In Wales, Gwen and Ianto's sister are getting coats on all the children and telling them to be quiet. Rhys, Ianto's sister and Gwen take the children out the back and down a hill to an old warehouse. Ianto's brother-in-law and some of their neighbors take on the troops in a fist fight. PC Andy joins them. PC Andy and the others are subdued.
Jack is brought to the place where Alice is being held. He is asked if he can save the children. He gets to work on the computers.
Gwen promises Rhys that she will not abort their child. She also records her message about how the world is ending.
Jack asks about how MacDonald died. He is shown the recording and he listens to the sound. An idea occurs to him. The scientist from Thames House who was brought along with Jack says that they must use the same method the 456 used. Jack realizes he means using the children. Then he tells Jack they must use one child who as he puts it will be fried to send the signal. Jack is horrified. His daughter who is next to him says no Dad you can't. The others are saying it is the only way to save millions. Finally Jack nods. The guards go and get Stephen. Alice tries to stop them. They bring Stephen back to the room with Jack. He stops struggling when he sees Jack. Jack looks so fragile. They place Stephen in the center of the room and Jack begins to send the signal. Stephen begins to emit a high pitched scream. Soon all the children are doing the same thing. We see the 456 reacting. Then they explode and then the light goes up and into the clouds giving the impression that the 456's ship was destroyed as well. Stephen falls. Alice runs to him but he is dead. Jack is crying. Later Alice is trying to leave but Jack is waiting for her. She turns back and reenters the same room refusing to talk to him. Jack gets up and leaves.
The Prime Minister says that things worked out luckily for Britain. He will say that the rounding up of the children was all the US's idea. Forbisher's secretary tells him that she had been to visit Lois and that she got instructions on how to wear the Torchwood contact lenses. She has been recording all his conversations. The woman MP says that she will see that Lois is released and that she will be taking over a lot of the PMs duties. He looks shell shocked but realizes there is nothing he can do.
Six months later Rhys and a very pregnant Gwen have travel out to meet Jack. Gwen gives him his vortex manipulator. He tells her he has been traveling but the world is empty. Gwen tells him that what happened was not his fault. He doesn't believe her. He says he has a way to leave the planet. Gwen asks him to stay for her but he says he can not. He transports away leaving Gwen in tears. Rhys comes to her and leads her away.
End of part five.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Torchwood Children of Earth Day 4 (big mama spoilers)
Okay, fasten your seat belts, you're in for a bumpy ride. Last nights Torchwood was gut wrenching. The episode starts with a flash back to 1965 in Scotland. Captain Jack has been called in to oversee the handing over of 12 children to the 456. It isn't spelled out explicitly but it seems to be a government operation. When Jack asks why they need him for this he is told it is because he doesn't care. This seems to take him by surprise. You see Jack pick up the children from an orphanage and tell them they are going on an adventure. He drives them on a bus to the coordinates and has them follow him off the bus. When a light appears ahead he tells the children to walk into the light. 11 do so, 1 stands back by Jack. He asks if it is safe. Jack tells him it is and he starts after the others. Then there is light and noise and the 12th child is running off onto the moor. The light vanishes and the children are gone.
MacDonald listening to Jack's story is reliving the whole experience. He tells Jack that he Jack is in every nightmare he has ever had. Jack says he is sorry. MacDonald pulls a gun away from Gwen and shoots Jack. Ianto goes and cradles Jack's body while Gwen goes to MacDonald and takes the gun away from him. When Jack comes back to life MacDonald runs off and Gwen follows him. She convinces him to come back. He says how ironic that the man who sent him and his friends to die can not die himself.
Captain Jack's daughter and grandson are taken to the same base where he was kept after the explosion. Alice tells the woman placing them in a cell that she better watch out that her father is not a man to mess with.
Back at Hub2 MacDonald asks why he and his friends were chosen in 1965. Jack says because they wouldn't be missed. Jack says that the one consolation was that the deal seemed to have worked. The 456 were gone for 44 years. MacDonald ask why was he left behind. Gwen guesses that maybe he was too close to puberty for whatever the 456 needed the children for.
Gwen notices that the government meeting that Lois is attending is starting and they all listen in and record the meeting. Forbisher is asking what the 456 really need. He asks for clarification. The 456 notices the camera and asks who is watching. The 456 say that a remnant is watching. MacDonald thinks they are talking about him. Gwen says no it is the camera in the room. Forbisher tells the 456 that the prime minister is watching by link. The 456 tells them to send the camera into their glass room. The camera man is placed in a Hasmat suit and send in. He takes his camera. The monitor picks up three heart beats and they tell the cameraman to get closer. He sees a child hooked into some sort of apparatus. This is one of the children from 1965. The camera man is brought out. Forbisher says this is unacceptable. The 456 say they do not harm the children, they feel no pain. The 456 say they have one day to give them 10% of all the Earth's children.
The UN official is very upset to find that the UK had dealing with the 456 in the past and kept it a secret. They demand the files.
Ianto tells Jack that this knowledge must have been eating away at him. Ianto says he should have told him. Ianto says that he has only ever seen the surface of Jack. Jack says that is all there is. Ianto says no that that is what Jack wants them to think. Jack leaves to call Forbisher. He tells Ianto that Forbisher has his daughter and grandson. He tells Forbisher that he will work with him if he releases Alice and her son. Forbisher refuses. Then he is summoned to the Prime Minister's meeting room.
The Torchwood crew watch the meeting. The Prime Minister asks for an alternative offer to make to the 456. They want to know how many children will be offered to them. They want to know how many can be given without anyone noticing. They discuss giving up failed asylum seekers children. They ask Forbisher to go back to Thames House and offer the 456 60 units (children) from Britain. Forbisher calls his wife and tells her that he loves her and their daughters. His wife doesn't answer until he has hung up. She is crying.
The Prime Minister is watching as Forbisher makes his offer to the 456. One child for every million people on earth. The 456 say that is not acceptable. They say 325,000. All the children in the UK start saying 325,000. The children from other countries say other numbers. Those are the number of children needed from each country.
A man tells the prime minister that it is worth considering doing as asked because the earth is over populated and that would be one way of slowing the growth. He says he is thinking of a way to spin this to the public. Politics as usual no matter what crisis.
The woman in charge of the group after Torchwood decides to go to London to try and find Jack.
The Prime Minister asks for practical solutions to this problem. Forbisher says he can transport the children and that he has school rosters. They discuss how to go about choosing. They fight among themselves. They do not wish their children or grandchildren to be in the groups. The Prime Minister says that the children and grandchildren of everyone around the table will be safe. A woman says what about nieces and nephews. So she says they should choose who will be most useful in the future to the country to be spared. The lest fortunate will be the ones who's children will be given up. The distaste is palpable but but no one will speak against this idea.
Gwen says they have enough evidence recorded to take down the government. Jack says they can use it to force their way into Thames House. He and Ianto take off for Thames House.
Ianto makes a call to his sister. He tells her that he loves her and that she must not let the children out of her sight. He says that all the people listening in should know that their children are not safe. He tells them to tell every parent they know. Gwen sends Rhys away with a laptop. The woman is still trying to find Jack. They figure out where the Hub2 is and head that way.
Forbisher says they need a cover story for getting the children. He suggests saying that the the children need an inoculation to keep the 456 from speaking though them. Then when the children disappear they will say that the 456 double crossed them and took the children. Ass covering time for the government.
Ianto calls Gwen and says that he and Jack have arrived. The baddies zero in on the Hub2. Jack and Ianto march into Thames house. Gwen asks Lois to tell the government that Torchwood is at the door to help. Lois raises her hand and asks to speak. She is hushed but she will not shut up. She tells them that she is working for Torchwood. She tells them that Torchwood has been recording all the meetings unless they do what Torchwood says the recordings will be made public.
The bad guys reach the Hub2. They enter and order Gwen to the floor. She says we have been expecting you. She asks them to take her to Alice and Stephen Carter. The woman says they will be in the next cell. Gwen says no she has a better idea.
Lois tells the government to let Jack take charge. Gwen tells the woman that Rhys has all the recordings and will distribute them unless they do as she says.
Ianto and Jack enter the room with the 456. Jack tells them that he was there in 1965 and that he will not let it happen again. The 456 says they yielded in the past that that they will yield again. Jack says he will go public and let all 6 million on earth take on the 456. He says the human race in defense of their children will fight to the death.
The 456 says that humans adapt to death. The 456 release a virus into the building.
They say all will die. This is to show their resolve. Ianto and Jack try to shot out the glass in the tank. The bullets will not break the glass. They release a high pitched noise. MacDonald reacts. He is screaming.
Jack says he must get Ianto out of the building. Ianto says it is too late. Jack begs for Ianto's life. MacDonald dies. Ianto cradled in Jack's arms dies. Jack dies. All the people in Thames House are seen trying to escape and the falling over dead. The 456 say tomorrow your people will deliver the children.
The Prime Minister tells Forbisher to put a plan into action but which plan to turn over the children or to fight.
Gwen is taken to a morgue where she is directed to two bodies. She first uncovers Jack and then Ianto. Jack awakens and puts his arms around Gwen as she cries over Ianto's body. She says there is nothing we can do.
End of part four
MacDonald listening to Jack's story is reliving the whole experience. He tells Jack that he Jack is in every nightmare he has ever had. Jack says he is sorry. MacDonald pulls a gun away from Gwen and shoots Jack. Ianto goes and cradles Jack's body while Gwen goes to MacDonald and takes the gun away from him. When Jack comes back to life MacDonald runs off and Gwen follows him. She convinces him to come back. He says how ironic that the man who sent him and his friends to die can not die himself.
Captain Jack's daughter and grandson are taken to the same base where he was kept after the explosion. Alice tells the woman placing them in a cell that she better watch out that her father is not a man to mess with.
Back at Hub2 MacDonald asks why he and his friends were chosen in 1965. Jack says because they wouldn't be missed. Jack says that the one consolation was that the deal seemed to have worked. The 456 were gone for 44 years. MacDonald ask why was he left behind. Gwen guesses that maybe he was too close to puberty for whatever the 456 needed the children for.
Gwen notices that the government meeting that Lois is attending is starting and they all listen in and record the meeting. Forbisher is asking what the 456 really need. He asks for clarification. The 456 notices the camera and asks who is watching. The 456 say that a remnant is watching. MacDonald thinks they are talking about him. Gwen says no it is the camera in the room. Forbisher tells the 456 that the prime minister is watching by link. The 456 tells them to send the camera into their glass room. The camera man is placed in a Hasmat suit and send in. He takes his camera. The monitor picks up three heart beats and they tell the cameraman to get closer. He sees a child hooked into some sort of apparatus. This is one of the children from 1965. The camera man is brought out. Forbisher says this is unacceptable. The 456 say they do not harm the children, they feel no pain. The 456 say they have one day to give them 10% of all the Earth's children.
The UN official is very upset to find that the UK had dealing with the 456 in the past and kept it a secret. They demand the files.
Ianto tells Jack that this knowledge must have been eating away at him. Ianto says he should have told him. Ianto says that he has only ever seen the surface of Jack. Jack says that is all there is. Ianto says no that that is what Jack wants them to think. Jack leaves to call Forbisher. He tells Ianto that Forbisher has his daughter and grandson. He tells Forbisher that he will work with him if he releases Alice and her son. Forbisher refuses. Then he is summoned to the Prime Minister's meeting room.
The Torchwood crew watch the meeting. The Prime Minister asks for an alternative offer to make to the 456. They want to know how many children will be offered to them. They want to know how many can be given without anyone noticing. They discuss giving up failed asylum seekers children. They ask Forbisher to go back to Thames House and offer the 456 60 units (children) from Britain. Forbisher calls his wife and tells her that he loves her and their daughters. His wife doesn't answer until he has hung up. She is crying.
The Prime Minister is watching as Forbisher makes his offer to the 456. One child for every million people on earth. The 456 say that is not acceptable. They say 325,000. All the children in the UK start saying 325,000. The children from other countries say other numbers. Those are the number of children needed from each country.
A man tells the prime minister that it is worth considering doing as asked because the earth is over populated and that would be one way of slowing the growth. He says he is thinking of a way to spin this to the public. Politics as usual no matter what crisis.
The woman in charge of the group after Torchwood decides to go to London to try and find Jack.
The Prime Minister asks for practical solutions to this problem. Forbisher says he can transport the children and that he has school rosters. They discuss how to go about choosing. They fight among themselves. They do not wish their children or grandchildren to be in the groups. The Prime Minister says that the children and grandchildren of everyone around the table will be safe. A woman says what about nieces and nephews. So she says they should choose who will be most useful in the future to the country to be spared. The lest fortunate will be the ones who's children will be given up. The distaste is palpable but but no one will speak against this idea.
Gwen says they have enough evidence recorded to take down the government. Jack says they can use it to force their way into Thames House. He and Ianto take off for Thames House.
Ianto makes a call to his sister. He tells her that he loves her and that she must not let the children out of her sight. He says that all the people listening in should know that their children are not safe. He tells them to tell every parent they know. Gwen sends Rhys away with a laptop. The woman is still trying to find Jack. They figure out where the Hub2 is and head that way.
Forbisher says they need a cover story for getting the children. He suggests saying that the the children need an inoculation to keep the 456 from speaking though them. Then when the children disappear they will say that the 456 double crossed them and took the children. Ass covering time for the government.
Ianto calls Gwen and says that he and Jack have arrived. The baddies zero in on the Hub2. Jack and Ianto march into Thames house. Gwen asks Lois to tell the government that Torchwood is at the door to help. Lois raises her hand and asks to speak. She is hushed but she will not shut up. She tells them that she is working for Torchwood. She tells them that Torchwood has been recording all the meetings unless they do what Torchwood says the recordings will be made public.
The bad guys reach the Hub2. They enter and order Gwen to the floor. She says we have been expecting you. She asks them to take her to Alice and Stephen Carter. The woman says they will be in the next cell. Gwen says no she has a better idea.
Lois tells the government to let Jack take charge. Gwen tells the woman that Rhys has all the recordings and will distribute them unless they do as she says.
Ianto and Jack enter the room with the 456. Jack tells them that he was there in 1965 and that he will not let it happen again. The 456 says they yielded in the past that that they will yield again. Jack says he will go public and let all 6 million on earth take on the 456. He says the human race in defense of their children will fight to the death.
The 456 says that humans adapt to death. The 456 release a virus into the building.
They say all will die. This is to show their resolve. Ianto and Jack try to shot out the glass in the tank. The bullets will not break the glass. They release a high pitched noise. MacDonald reacts. He is screaming.
Jack says he must get Ianto out of the building. Ianto says it is too late. Jack begs for Ianto's life. MacDonald dies. Ianto cradled in Jack's arms dies. Jack dies. All the people in Thames House are seen trying to escape and the falling over dead. The 456 say tomorrow your people will deliver the children.
The Prime Minister tells Forbisher to put a plan into action but which plan to turn over the children or to fight.
Gwen is taken to a morgue where she is directed to two bodies. She first uncovers Jack and then Ianto. Jack awakens and puts his arms around Gwen as she cries over Ianto's body. She says there is nothing we can do.
End of part four
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Torchwood children of earth Day 3 Spoilers
Day three of Torchwood Children of earth starts with the Torchwood gang moving into an abandoned warehouse. Rhys calls it Hub2.
Gwen decides that since they are being treated as criminals that they act like so they go on a crime spree. Jack steals a sports car. Gwen steals a laptop. They all get credit cards and other items which they need to refurnish the new Hub. Pretty soon they are up and going. Gwen is send to talk to Lois again. She tries to convince Lois to wear the Torchwood contact lenses which will allow Torchwood to see what she sees. Lois is not keen on this and who could blame her.
Back in Hub2 Ianto asks Jack if he thinks he will ever be killed. Jack says that the doctor says he is a fixed point in time so he thinks that means that no he can not be killed. Ianto says so Jack will watch him grow old and die and he will just go on. Jack says yes. Ianto then says that should make the most of the time they have. But before they can make some new memories Ianto finds that Mr. MacDonald has been arrested and sends Gwen to spring him. Then Jack has him retrieve pictures of the other people that Forbisher had killed. He wants to see what they looked like in 1965. Turns out he recognizes them. Then Jack takes off leaving a puzzled Ianto.
Jack's daughter is still trying to call her Dad. Finally she borrows another phone and calls the police to find out if Jack was involved in the explosion. They transfer to the bad guys and she gets spooked and hangs up. But CCTV footage shows the baddies where she lives. She realizes something is wrong and she and her son try to get away but are captured just as the children all start pointing toward London.
Gwen calls Andy to help her get Mr. MacDonald out of jail and he agrees to help her. She manages to get him out and brings him back to the Hub2.
Jack finds Forbisher's house and steals a cell phone. He then calls Forbisher and tells him he is going to come forward with what he knows about the 456. Forbisher tells him he has his daughter and grandson. Jack says he can get Forbisher's wive and daughters. Forbisher says but you won't because you are a better men than me.
The 456 appear in the glass room tell Forbisher they wish to speak to the world.
He arranges to have other representatives from countries come. The Prime Minister says that Forbisher will be the point man and he will take a back seat. You feel it is less to do with trust he has in Forbisher and more to do with covering his own backside.
Lois puts in her contacts and Torchwood can see into the meeting with the 456. Forbisher asks what the 456 want and they say the children. They want 10% of the earth's children.
Jack arrives back at the Hub and MacDonald realizes that he has seen Jack before. Jack was the man who came and got the kids from the orphanage in 1965. Gwen assumes he is mistaken about what Jack was doing. But Jack says know he was there and he gave those children to the 456 as a gift.
TaTa. End of Episode 3. Can not wait until tomorrow.
Gwen decides that since they are being treated as criminals that they act like so they go on a crime spree. Jack steals a sports car. Gwen steals a laptop. They all get credit cards and other items which they need to refurnish the new Hub. Pretty soon they are up and going. Gwen is send to talk to Lois again. She tries to convince Lois to wear the Torchwood contact lenses which will allow Torchwood to see what she sees. Lois is not keen on this and who could blame her.
Back in Hub2 Ianto asks Jack if he thinks he will ever be killed. Jack says that the doctor says he is a fixed point in time so he thinks that means that no he can not be killed. Ianto says so Jack will watch him grow old and die and he will just go on. Jack says yes. Ianto then says that should make the most of the time they have. But before they can make some new memories Ianto finds that Mr. MacDonald has been arrested and sends Gwen to spring him. Then Jack has him retrieve pictures of the other people that Forbisher had killed. He wants to see what they looked like in 1965. Turns out he recognizes them. Then Jack takes off leaving a puzzled Ianto.
Jack's daughter is still trying to call her Dad. Finally she borrows another phone and calls the police to find out if Jack was involved in the explosion. They transfer to the bad guys and she gets spooked and hangs up. But CCTV footage shows the baddies where she lives. She realizes something is wrong and she and her son try to get away but are captured just as the children all start pointing toward London.
Gwen calls Andy to help her get Mr. MacDonald out of jail and he agrees to help her. She manages to get him out and brings him back to the Hub2.
Jack finds Forbisher's house and steals a cell phone. He then calls Forbisher and tells him he is going to come forward with what he knows about the 456. Forbisher tells him he has his daughter and grandson. Jack says he can get Forbisher's wive and daughters. Forbisher says but you won't because you are a better men than me.
The 456 appear in the glass room tell Forbisher they wish to speak to the world.
He arranges to have other representatives from countries come. The Prime Minister says that Forbisher will be the point man and he will take a back seat. You feel it is less to do with trust he has in Forbisher and more to do with covering his own backside.
Lois puts in her contacts and Torchwood can see into the meeting with the 456. Forbisher asks what the 456 want and they say the children. They want 10% of the earth's children.
Jack arrives back at the Hub and MacDonald realizes that he has seen Jack before. Jack was the man who came and got the kids from the orphanage in 1965. Gwen assumes he is mistaken about what Jack was doing. But Jack says know he was there and he gave those children to the 456 as a gift.
TaTa. End of Episode 3. Can not wait until tomorrow.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Torchwood children of earth Day 2 (spoilers)
Torchwood children of earth episode two was a doozey. The one who planted the bomb in Jack realize that he is not an ordinary man so they pick up the pieces (glad we don't see any more than an arm at this time) and place them in a cell. Sure enough Jack begins to regenerate but it seems a slow and very painful process. Ianto has seen the people take Jack's body away and gets a license number off the vehicle so he can find Jack.
Gwen and Rhys are on the run and head for London on the back of a lorry (truck for us Americans) full of potatoes. In this very unromantic setting Gwen finally tells Rhys she is pregnant and he is very happy but also very worried. Gwen explains that they can't stop just because they are going to be parents. She is right but you feel for Rhys.
Ianto's sister's house is searched but Ianto manages to get a message to his sister asking her to meet him where his father had broken his leg. It turns out to be a park and you figure there are a lot more to that story but you really don't have time for it now.
Jack's daughter tries to call him but just gets his voice mail.
Ianto's brother-in-law and some of his neighbors cause a disturbance which lets Ianto's sister drive away to meet Ianto. She brings him a laptop computer which he needs so he can locate Jack. While they talk the children in the park give their next message. "We are coming tomorrow."
Jack has come back from the dead and recreated his body but he is chained naked in a cell. But this is not enough for the woman who had been trying to kill him so she pours concrete over him.
Gwen and Rhys make it to London and she calls John Frobisher's office. As we know Frobisher is the one who put the hit on Torchwood. So when Gwen calls Lois who is new in Forbisher's office recognizes the name and arranges a meeting at a Cafe. Lois meets them and explains that he boss is the one who is trying go kill all the Torchwood folks. Lois is caught in all this and does not really know who to trust but does know that she didn't sign on to have people killed. She does know where Jack is being held and she gives Gwen a blueprint of the building and tells her that the body of the doctor killed in episode one is to be released to a funeral home and when this will take place.
Gwen and Rhys meet up with the funeral home van and place the worker in a coffin and leave him on the side of the road. They make it into the base and locate Jack's cell only to find him encased in concrete. They run into a fire fight and when Gwen runs out of bullets it seems they are about to die but when the concrete behind them explodes giving them a chance to escape through the whole in the wall that Ianto has created in taking Jack out in his concrete suit. Gwen and Rhys jump aboard the machinery that Ianto is driving and they head out with the bad guys after them. Gwen has Rhys drive a lorry into the road way and as the baddies arrive she shoots out the gas tank making the lorry explode.
After their escape Ianto drives to a quarry where he drops the hunk of concrete from the top. Then he joins Rhys and Gwen in his sisters car and they drive to the bottom. A naked Jack awakens and come and joins the others. Now if only episode 3 gets here soon.
Gwen and Rhys are on the run and head for London on the back of a lorry (truck for us Americans) full of potatoes. In this very unromantic setting Gwen finally tells Rhys she is pregnant and he is very happy but also very worried. Gwen explains that they can't stop just because they are going to be parents. She is right but you feel for Rhys.
Ianto's sister's house is searched but Ianto manages to get a message to his sister asking her to meet him where his father had broken his leg. It turns out to be a park and you figure there are a lot more to that story but you really don't have time for it now.
Jack's daughter tries to call him but just gets his voice mail.
Ianto's brother-in-law and some of his neighbors cause a disturbance which lets Ianto's sister drive away to meet Ianto. She brings him a laptop computer which he needs so he can locate Jack. While they talk the children in the park give their next message. "We are coming tomorrow."
Jack has come back from the dead and recreated his body but he is chained naked in a cell. But this is not enough for the woman who had been trying to kill him so she pours concrete over him.
Gwen and Rhys make it to London and she calls John Frobisher's office. As we know Frobisher is the one who put the hit on Torchwood. So when Gwen calls Lois who is new in Forbisher's office recognizes the name and arranges a meeting at a Cafe. Lois meets them and explains that he boss is the one who is trying go kill all the Torchwood folks. Lois is caught in all this and does not really know who to trust but does know that she didn't sign on to have people killed. She does know where Jack is being held and she gives Gwen a blueprint of the building and tells her that the body of the doctor killed in episode one is to be released to a funeral home and when this will take place.
Gwen and Rhys meet up with the funeral home van and place the worker in a coffin and leave him on the side of the road. They make it into the base and locate Jack's cell only to find him encased in concrete. They run into a fire fight and when Gwen runs out of bullets it seems they are about to die but when the concrete behind them explodes giving them a chance to escape through the whole in the wall that Ianto has created in taking Jack out in his concrete suit. Gwen and Rhys jump aboard the machinery that Ianto is driving and they head out with the bad guys after them. Gwen has Rhys drive a lorry into the road way and as the baddies arrive she shoots out the gas tank making the lorry explode.
After their escape Ianto drives to a quarry where he drops the hunk of concrete from the top. Then he joins Rhys and Gwen in his sisters car and they drive to the bottom. A naked Jack awakens and come and joins the others. Now if only episode 3 gets here soon.
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