Except for the occasional good idea ("Here, I'll carry that. You need your trigger hand free.").

and he was the one that pointed out that the timing of the children's messages coincided with Britain's school times.

I was leery because So Not In The Mood for downer stories right now, but I watched COE anyway and... I thought it was brilliant. I suspect I won't ever watch it again, but it just seemed to hit all the right notes. I was particularly impressed with Peter Capaldi's performance (how he's aged since Neverwhere).

I've gotten hooked, in spite of my fondness for the Arthurian myth and the show's problematic relationship thereunto. The actors are so, so pretty.

I like it too, Calli! Arthur is really just damn delicious. Also, I love how everything involving Tony Head is all Serious Business, and everything with the youngsters is, like, Camelot 90210.

Hello from Europe!

And though the fact that I'm posting from Europe may contradict this, I would like to mention that my displeasure with Children of Earth isn't because (or just because) I'm an insane Ianto fan.

I thought the last couple of episodes took an interesting story and then pounded the characters and the viewers with "darkness" because RTD wanted to feel like he was being daring. I was actually much more unhappy with the scenes of what happened to Jack's grandson, because I thought the way it was handled was sickening and cruel. There's a good way to do that kind of story, like in "The Fires of Pompeii" with the Doctor and Donna.

Children of Earth was just mean, and if RTD or anyone else would like to tell me that I didn't enjoy it because I'm not grown-up enough to handle drama, they can kiss my ample white ass.

You'd think I'd learn to stop reading RTD quotes. And yet.

What got me about Children of Earth was that in killing Ianto and Steven and having Jack leave effectively killed the Torchwood we know and love. If it comes back, it won't be the same show. I honestly don't know how they can come back.

I was under the impression that after the combined Companions adventure on Dr. Who, that Mickey and Martha would be joining the team, so this gutting of the team was doubly shocking for me.

I said this earlier but I just can't get over the writing choices in CoE. Why kill Clem instead of him being the instrument of alien death? Similarly, why did they write Martha out like that (she's on her honeymoon let's not disturb her). If aliens seeking 10% of kids isn't a reason to cancel a honeymoon, I don't know what is.

why did they write Martha out like that

The actress wasn't available.

If aliens seeking 10% of kids isn't a reason to cancel a honeymoon, I don't know what is.

Law and Order: UK on ITV with Jamie Bamber, baby. Don't know what happened with the Micky idea, if they ever intended to follow that one up.

Dana pinged it for me and I haven't even read a quote from RTD about being grown up enough to handle drama.

But I did read a quote posted here (in Minearverse, I think) from Joss about how the great worshippers of Joss might want to look away (ostensibly from Dollhouse, I think) because they are about to get a snout full of something they won't like.

I don't need my artists to stay the same. As in my previous post, I can shuffle away of my own accord when they change direction but that doesn't mean I'll have a spring in my shuffle.

Media is built in the backs of people like me who enjoy something and want more off it. I'm okay when a 'provider' either stops enjoying what they are doing, or runs out of coherent ideas (Lost, I'm looking at you). But when it seems like a mean-spirited jab, just for the sake of seeing how the masses will writhe, it makes me sad.

If you want to do a different thing...kill off the old thing, or just make clear your intentions...and I'll be right behind you...or in the hall. But please, don't spit at me for liking your stuff.

I must really be in a mood. I can't actually tell how much of this is personal projection and how much really applies to Torchwood (and Robin Hood, etc.).

Why kill Clem instead of him being the instrument of alien death?

They had to show that the wavelength was powerful enough to kill, that it wasn't just in Clem's head.

Also, Jack's grandson could have lived, and the daughter still wouldn't forgive him because he risked his grandson not knowing if he would live, and he had to face the idea that he would trade someone he loved if necessary.