1.10: Out of Time

[pyan]

Coolhand, you should be doing this professionally Better than any review I read in the papers.

[Coolhand]

Thank you.
Aw shucks, I've gone all shy now.

[Dr.Jackson]

Never mind fans being split on this episode, I was split on this!

I thought that the time-travel thing was a good way for the writers to make a comment on the differences that have emerged in society in the last 50 years, mainly the attitudes towards promiscuity, considering that the writers appear to be obsessed with sex.
That being said, I do think that it was an integral part of this weeks episode, rather than the annoyance it has been in the previous ones. It showed a truer account that the post-war era was not just all austerity as many people would imagine, and that there was some amount of 'free love' before the 60's.
The displacement that was more difficult for John to overcome, made worse by the fact that he had seen the end of his legacy, was particularly poignant. It gave Jack a character to sympathise with, and at the same time, be envious of, since John could commit suicide and Jack couldn't. Both had the same sense of lonliness, the same despair at being in a time they didn't belong, knowing that they couldn't return to their own time.
It was a difficult scene to watch, although apparently it was a laugh to film!!

In ther negative column for this episode, the facts that have already been mentioned, such as sticking them in a hostel to fend for themselves, Gwen taking Emma home, and then out to a club!
Leaving John in the middle of the city without checking on him was a bit irresponsible as well.
What could go wrong leaving temporaly displaced people alone in an unfamiliar environment?!

The writing is getting better, certainly if this is an example of what is to come. However, there are still aspects they need to thinik about, otherwise they'll have to put up warnings at the start of the episodes:
'WARNING: TREAD CAREFULLY - UNCOVERED PLOT HOLES!'

[Lenny]

Another episode I was, and am, indifferent to.

It had a good idea behind it, and was well executed, but it just didn't grip me.

Tosh and Ianto took back seats here - it's usual for Ianto to, but not really Tosh.

*SPOLIERS FROM SERIES 1 & 2*

To draw again from 2.12: Fragments - poor Owen! Two women who have broken his heart. The first goes and gets herself killed by an alien on her brain, and the second flies out of his life just like that.

Gwen still hasn't hardened enough to merit PC Andy's comment in 2.11, and showed a sort of motherly instinct for Emma. The beret suited her too.

And I agree with above that the Jack and John scene was touching.

But... meh. Wasn't the best, and wasn't the worst, it was just an episode.