'Brave New World: Part I' or: Don't Pull a Ianto on Me, "Fringe"

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SPOILERS AHEAD: If you have not seen this past Friday's episode yet, do NOT read this post until you have.

Left Dot Moth. Left Dot Seahorse. Lower Right Dot Leaf.!!!

I'm sure my sister and a few others will know exactly what I just wrote. Fans of the truly best (but most ignored) show on TV, will recognize those as descriptions of three the 24 glyphs that accompany each commercial break. If you are obsessive about such things as I, you have a printed guide and madly write down each week's word and try to fit it into the show's mythology, which is surprisingly large, for a show with only 4 seasons under its belt. Happily, the show has been picked up for next fall. Sadly, it is for a 13-week final season. Beggars can't be choosers, though.

Still, over the past four seasons its fans have come to know and love (and hate and love again) different versions of the same characters reacting to different versions of reality. If nothing else, the show is an astonishing acting challenge for any performer and it's clear to see that the show's brilliant cast is up for anything.  But by playing fast and loose with the time-space continuum, the writers can do anything they want, including the resurrection of a character we never thought we'd see again at the end of last week's show, and the shooting of a character who was just coming into her own. Agent Astrid Farnsworth (played by the very talented Jassica Nicole) started out as a nerdy gopher/cum baby-sitter for the brilliant Walter Bishop, but over the run of the show, both character and actor have really come in to their own. Nicole was particularly effective this season in her interactions between our version of Astrid and the strikingly different 'Asperger's Astrid' of the alternate universe. Walter, who rarely uses her right name (my personal favorite misnomer of his was "Assturd") would be lost without her. And so would we. But in the final scene of the season's penultimate episode, beloved Astrid was shot! I may have gasped. I know I shouted "No!" out loud. Even worse - the previews for next week's season finale didn't show or mention Astrid at all! Those bastards! 

They wouldn't do it, would they? Sure, Abrams and Co. killed Jin and Sun right at the end. But they surely can't kill Astrid! Of course, I never thought Russell T. Davies would kill Ianto on "Torchwood." Just as we thought Ianto (adorable Gareth David-Lloyd) and Jack were happy together, Ianto gets killed at the end of season 4. Rightfully so, Davies reacted to fan displeasure by saying that the story and characters were his to do with whatever he thought best suited the story. If Astrid dies, I will be very unhappy. But if it serves the story, then so be it. And after seeing this week's episode, I think I'd like to offer a hypothesis as to where it all might end up.

The episode started with Peter, Olivia and talk of a nursery. We know from the future-set "Letters of Transit" that Peter has a blonde daughter in Fringe named Henrietta, so we can only assume she is also Olivia's daughter and though Olivia was not in or mentioned in the episode, that all fits nicely with what September told Olivia at the opera-house. More evidence points to Olivia being Herietta's mother in the fact that the Observers cannot read her thoughts as they can with most humans.

The glyphs spelled "POWERS" this week, and Liv used hers twice. First to save the nano-infected Victoria ("No Ordinary Family" villainess Rebecca Mader) and again to take over Peter's body in a fight to the death with the previously elusive madman, David Robert Jones (the effectively creepy Jared Harris).  And now we find that William Bell (Leonard Nimoy) who is dead in one timeline and presumed dead in the current one, is not only alive but actually behind Jones' machinations. But to what end? Personally, I'm hoping Bell's intentions are not nefarious. And given that we know from September that Olivia is going to die (we've already met the guy who will kill her, at least in one timeline), I think (re: hope) it is Bell's intention to ramp up Olivia's Cortexifan-induced powers to heal both universes.

Well, either that or... BOOM!!!!!! Now that's a way to end a show.

If you're not watching "Fringe," you are missing THE smartest, funniest and most entertaining show on television, bar none.

P.S.

Dear Television Academy;

Where is the love for these four rather amazing actors (Anna Torv; John Noble; Joshua Jackson and Jassica Nicole) who consistently deliver high-quality (if not down-right brilliant) performances week after week. Would it kill you throw a nom or two their way? Jeez!

More, anon
Prospero

The Gayest Things You'll See This Week

How could I resist? That's gorgeous gay "Torchwood" star John Barrowman (whom I sometimes refer to as "Mark Harmon Light") showing off his "banana eating" skills in London the other day (via). The same site also posted similar (though less intentionally obvious) pics of one-time hottie Vince Vaughn eating an ice-cream cone and a hot dog. Seems like the good folks at D-Listed have some sort of food obsession...

Of course, were I to meet Barrowman in person, I might be tempted to... no, never mind. Not gonna go there. Put those images out of your head, right this very minute! This isn't that kind of blog (usually).

Still, I'm a major "Torchwood" fan and can't see how Russell Davies is going to resurrect the team, after the end of the last mini-series. Since Barrowman's omnisexual Captain Jack Harkness character is immortal, and almost every member of his team is or has been in love with him at one time or another, I can only hope Jack will call on his good friend Dr. Who to find some resolution to the problem. For you non-geeks out there, "Dr. Who" is a BBC program about an immortal "Time Lord" that started as a cheesy children's Sci-Fi show in the '50's and has evolved into a rather good (or so I'm told) adult Sci-Fi program, resurrected by "Queer As Folk" creator Davies in the Aughts. "Torchwood" is a spin-off of "Dr. Who" (a show I still haven't managed to get into), about a group of government-sanctioned folks (known as the Torchwood Institute) who are charged with with watching over a temporal rift in Cardiff, Wales. The rift allows aliens, alternate universe beings and other supernatural creatures access to the "real" world. It is Torchwood's job to keep this creatures at bay, keeping the rest of us safe from the anarchy their existence might cause.

Anyway, the openly gay (and married) Barrowman is one of the Beeb's hottest stars, and I can't imagine them just abandoning one of their hottest properties without at least a resolution, if not a complete final season. Here's a brief clip:

Whew! Anyway.... Across the Pond, here in the States:

I am not a Reality TV fan. Never have been, never will. I suppose its the writer in me that objects to these shows, which are hardly "reality," in even the broadest sense of the term. Among the worst of the genre is the daytime "Judge" show. You know what I'm talking about. They started with "The People's Court." People agree to let their small-claims cases to be broadcast while a retired judge gets to decide the outcome. I triuy hate these shows and the people who go on them, airing their sometimes very dirty laundry for all the world to see. And I have to ask myself what kind of self-respecting judge would actually take part. in such a circus. Though I must admit that not only do I know someone who went on "Judge Judy," I admire Judge Judy's candor and use of common sense when presiding over the often ridiculous cases set before her.

Today (via) I came across this clip from a show called "Judge Mathis." I hadn't seen this particular program before, but after watching the clip below, I have to say that I have a new-found respect for Judge Mathis, who isn't afraid to say what he thinks about coming out, being gay and what's what.

All I can say is, we're getting closer, gang. Some day, sexual orientation will be a non-issue and we'll finally be able to get on with what really matters.

More, anon.
Prospero

TV Review: "Torchwood: Children of Earth"

I just finished watching all five episodes of the BBC mini-series "Torchwood: Children of Earth" and while I thought it included some of the best ensemble acting ever and featured some of the most heart-wrenchingly human writing in the history of Science Fiction television, I am officially pissed off at series creator Russell T. Davies.

I've talked a little about "Torchwood" before. I love its humor and freshness. I love its frank sexuality, where no one is limited by gender, race or even age (and sometimes even terrestrialism). A spin-off the BBC's long-lived and much-loved "Doctor Who" (created in the 60's and revived by Davies in 2005), "Torchwood" is geared toward adults, while still maintaining the wow-factor geekiness upon which Sci-Fi fans of all ages thrive.

This year, rather than the usual 13 episode season, "Torchwood" ran as a 5 night miniseries, "Children of the Earth." I DVR'd them all and watched them today as part of my own private marathon.

The premise, in a nutshell: At 8;40 GMT, every child on Earth stops and stands or sits still, staring blankly without acknowledging any stimuli at all. Then suddenly, it's over and they go back to being themselves. But at 10:30, they all stop again, only this time speaking in unison: "We. We are. We are coming." Stunned and frightened, people demand answers.

Captain Jack Harkness and the remaining members of his Torchwood team (Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones) are trying to piece together what's happening when their facility is compromised and destroyed, with the aim of killing all of them. Now fugitives on the run, the three (and Gwen's devoted husband, Rhys) must find out who wants them dead, while trying to keep an alien race from simply taking 10% of the world's children to another world for less-than-noble reasons. The subsequent story involves political whitewashing; familial dysfunction; espionage; betrayal and redemption; love; loss and the indomitable Human Spirit.

While the plots of the first two seasons (mostly the first) may have bordered on silly and sometimes seemed soap-opera-ish, "Children of Earth" plays more like a hard-line Sci-Fi drama, complete with political criticism and a strong condemnation of Big-Brother style government. Like all great drama, "Children of Earth" isn't afraid to take a look at the ugly side of the Human Condition. Expertly acted by John Barrowman; Eve Myles; Gareth David-Lloyd and Kai Owen, COE takes on parents' worst fears, lovers' worst pain and children's worst nightmares, surrounds them with questions no one should ever have to ask and delivers the only conclusion it can, no matter how much it may pain both the characters or the audience. This isn't your father's "Doctor Who," kids.

SPOILER ALERT:

The following paragraph, while not divulging specific information, may contain references which those who have not yet watched the miniseries may not want to read.

I have followed "Torchwood" from the beginning and find myself thoroughly invested in the show, so I must admit that I hope "Children of Earth" isn't its end. I imagine it will come back next year, though (like "Desperate Housewives") I think it will pick up again several years in the future. Two and a half seasons are most definitely NOT enough, Mr. Davies, and the fans demand (and deserve) more. If they're smart, they'll do a feature film leading up to the season.

SPOILER ALERT OVER

As always with "Torchwood," I laughed, cried, got angry and felt relief, then cried some more. Superb writing, excellent acting and better-than-average SFX continue to help make "Torchwood" one of the best Sci-Fi programs ever. **** (Four out of For Stars).

Here's the Official Trailer:

More, anon.

Prospero

The Gayest Thing(s) You'll See This Week

Okay - it's been a while since I've posted a "Gayest Thing" item. So, here we have two video clips that may or may not qualify. I'll let you decide.

First, I'm very happy to report that "Torchwood," the BBC's oh-so-gay-friendly Sci-Fi series is finally back with a 5 episode miniseries entitled "Children of Earth." Who cares what the plot is. Openly gay American actor John Barrowman stars as Captain Jack Harkness, an immortal time-traveller who heads up a secret British organization dedicated to saving England (and the world) from creatures, entities and beings who manage to slip through a rift in the time-space continuum which just happens to be located in Wales. Harkness is sort of an omni-sexual being whose past, present and future are all intertwined. Recently, Jack and Torchwood's "go-to" guy Ianto (pronounced "Yanto"), played by Gareth David-Lloyd, have become full-on lovers in the much-delayed and much-anticipated season 3 mini-series "Children of Earth"

Original "Queer as Folk" creator and "Doctor Who" rejuvenator, Russell Davies spun the show off from "Doctor Who" and in doing so, created television's first gay-friendly Sci-Fi show (and introduced U.S. audiences to gorgeous Mark Harmon-ish actor, Barrowman). Original, funny, smart and sexy, "Torchwood" is most defintely one of my favorite Sci-Fi shows.

Below is the trailer for the season three miniseries:

And just because, here (via) is a new mash-up video of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Rick Astley's (go on - I dare you to tell me he isn't gay) "Never Gonna Give You Up." If this isn't gay, my name is Minnie Pearl!

Enjoy!
More, anon.
Prospero

"Torchwood" Returns

And so, back to the silliness. My beloved BBC series "Torchwood" is still several months away, but I know it will be worth the wait. Smart, funny and oh-so-sexy, "Torchwood" may be a spin-off the the Beeb's eternally silly "Dr. Who," but it's so much better.

Created by Russell T. Davies (the man behind the original "Queer As Folk"), "Torchwood" concerns a super-secret British agency which has been put in place to protect HRM's citizens from whatever aliens, demons, ghosties and ghouls might pass through rifts in the space-time continuum. Set in Cardiff, Wales (apparently known as one of the most boring places on Earth), "Torchwood" concerns a band led by the charismatic and enigmatic Captain Jack Harkness (the very yummy and openly gay John Barrowman - who reminds me of none other than former People Magazine's 'Sexiest Man Alive,' Mark Harmon) and his team. Harkness, like Dr. Who, is a Time Lord, immortal and living through time out of sequence. The past, present and future are all one to Jack, who seems to have had more paramours than the great Casanova.

There's Gwen (Eve Myles), a former Cardiff PD who was recruited in the series first ep, and is probably in love with all the members of the team, despite being engaged (and now married) to her hapless spouse, Ryhs (Kai Owen). Then there is Owen (Burn Gorman), a roue who recently became a member of the Living Dead. IT specialist Toshiko (Naoko Mori), has been in love with Owen forever, despite her lesbian daliance with an alien in season 2, though she's apparently kicked the bucket (though with this show, one is never sure). Finally, there is Ianto (Gareth David-Lloyd), the adorable go-to guy who is now Jack's lover (after the only woman he truly loved was turned into a killer cyborg).

Silly, smart and more than a little sexy, "Torchwood" is the BBC's so much better answer to "The X-Files." It may not be the best Sci-Fi on TV ("Fringe" has usurped that title), but it sure is the hottest.

Here is the Season 3 trailer:

More of this, anon.
Prospero