almost as winsome and likable as Judy Garland's original Dorothy

See, iconic as the movie is, and much as I like it, I always think of it as an adaptation. And an adaptation that did some ghastly ghastly things - I mean, Jeebus, Glinda is such a fucking nightmare of squeaky saccharine pink awfulness, whereas in the books she's cool and dignified and has gorgeous clothes. (I really like what Wicked, in both its incarnations, does with Movie!Glinda.)

Actually, I rather preferred the movie Return to Oz, just for the faithfulness to canon imagery - because all that Art Nouveau artwork is so gorgeous and distinctive. But of course TWoO movie is a bright shiny thing all on its own too, an icon of campness and a familiar part of Christmases for generations of kids. So - yeah. I'm all over the ruby slippers like a rash. (Or rather, they're all over my feet right now atfg.)

Um. Yeah, so - I remain modestly optimistic that I might enjoy this show.

Torchwood finale - yeah, it's a bit of a mess, narrative-wise, and the last minute Big Bad is clumsy and WTF-ish...but I really liked Bilis Manger - I more than slightly expected him to be The Master when it aired, and was a bit sorry that he was just Random Creepy Guy. 'Cause he was very OldSkool Doctor Who. I liked all the things going horribly wrong with the Rift - the Roman soldier, the plague etc etc. I liked the Torchwood team cracking up even more than normal, and the whole business with poor Rhys (bless him - I do heart Rhys to pieces) and Gwen's raw grief was well done.

Big Sacrificial Hero Guy Jack - yeah. I had mixed feelings about it. I rather wish he'd kissed Gwen before he 'died', so that when she kissed his still dead Snow White corpse there'd have been some vague handwavey justification for his revivification...but it was not to be, apparently. But, oh, I did enjoy his Big Gay Stroppy Jesus scene, and something about all of that (and rewatching the series) made me really enjoy Owen. Who is so clearly jealous as hell (on whatever level) about Ianto's closeness with Jack. I did enjoy all the sniping.

Next season, I'm hoping that Toshiko gets some more character development, that Rhys and Gwen's ex-partner and the newish female police chief (or whatever she was) continue to get little bits of storyline. And I'm hoping that the writers pull their socks up, figure out what tone/balance of tones they actually want, and bring out more of the good stuff.

I am a trifle nervous about casting and storyline decisions I've already heard about...but remain hopeful.

there's some great character stuff. Everything surrounding Rhys' death, Owen's eviction from Torchwood, Owen shooting Jack, everyone's reaction to Jack's resurrection.

I agree. It's just that the monster at the end really pulled me out of it all.

(Also, everyone's reaction to Abadon's arrival: "Um, Jack, please to fix? okthxbye")

But everything else up to that was pretty awesome. I had a difficult time focusing on the resurrection, because of the lameness that had immediately preceded it. Also, due to last season's Dr. Who, I knew he'd come out of it anyway.

All emotions that Gwen had regarding protecting and mourning Rhys were so painful and raw. God. Eve Myles really hit that out of the park, IMHO.

I'm enjoying Torchwood, but my eyes are getting a little sore from all the rolling they're doing. The characterizations don't seem consistent, really. Well... okay, I guess I mean Jack's characterization. Although I love him, naturally.

By the way, hi! Since I finally have TV, I've decided to venture back. Well, and I saw Tin Man and wanted to share. Speaking of eye-rolling.

I also felt like they had neat ideas that they totally threw away -- I suppose they might come back to the Not!Munchkins, for instance. And Zero's first wife, although I think that has more to do with interest in the actor than any intrinsic interest in the character.

Complaints: "There's no place like the O.Z." is so much a line written for the ads that I wish they'd just put it in the ads and left it out of the show. Also, that last reaction shot of D.G. looking at Azkebiffle just looked like they'd taken out her brain. (I had a student whose name started with A and had a z in it last year, so now I cannot remember the wicked witch's name).

Also, who said they could film my third-grade Oz fanfiction?

Azkebiffle?

I need to get a dog so I can name it Azkebiffle. I love that word, and want to say it a lot. Extra bonus points for being able to shout it throughout the neighborhood as I look for the dog when it has slipped its leash.

I liked the Jack-Ianto kiss, but I'd call it more "Hi, honey, I missed you" than snogging.

Also, due to last season's Dr. Who, I knew he'd come out of it anyway.

Ah! 'Cause of course my viewing experience was different, timelinewise, and the whole Big Lame Demon Monster O'Doom thing happened not long after the Doctor had been face-to-face with what was apparently the Ur-Satan, or something, in The Satan Pit.

I think the idea was that Abaddun/Abaggun/Awhateverthefuckhisnamewas was supposed to be connected with said Satan thing? Somehow? Or something? I did like the way that it tied in with Suzie's creepy message to Jack about something that was coming for him. But fx-wise...yeah. Not so much with the goodness.

Where was the kiss? How do I miss these things?

Fred Pete - that's how I saw that kiss too.

Also, Abadon is clearly a cousin of the Disco Demon from Angel. What was that demons's name?

Fay - the look of Tin Man is great. And I loved that the ancient Wicked Witch infected DG's sister with her evilness and her monkey bats.

Emily - when Jack comes out of the morgue he greets everyone and kisses Ianto.

Where was the kiss? How do I miss these things?

At the end! When Jack was back alive, and Tosh rushed up to hug him, and Ianto looked kind of stunned, and Jack just reached out and kissed him. *happy sigh*