#maybe i’m giving the writers too much credit and powder is supposed to be super mentally healthy

[thisyearsgirl3]

i can't stop thinking about powder in the parallel universe.

she's the girl of all time to me. like she has cute little space buns and a generally normal demeanor, but she also keeps the bombs that killed her sister in a drawer inside her workshop. she’s a genius who could easily win the innovators contest, but she helps ekko with his project instead. she's squandering her potential and everyone knows it, she knows it, and she's made peace with it. she likes her life as is, she lives her life for her family. she internalized every self-sacrificing habit from vi. she's guilty all the time. she turns her anxiety inwards and makes a memorial of herself. she's a little sister thrust into the role of a big sister thrust into the role of a parent. she's too young (vi was younger.) she's too old (vi will never get older.)

she never tells ekko about the hex crystals.

[darkestwolfx]

TAG - S2E18 ‘Grandma Tourismo’ Review

Well…

What an episode.

As much as I missed the rest of the brother’s today, I did like having an episode that finally focused on Grandma a little more. Since we’ve seen less of this version of her – apart from as a supporting character – it was nice to have that development.

So, things we learnt in this episode are going first;

1. Grandma’s name is Sally. Sally Tracy. Well, someone had to name her I suppose. I was wondering when the time would come around for a name reveal, since she’s always just been called “Grandma”.

2. The boys do still play snooker in this verse! Where the hell they keep that table I’ve no clue.

3. Scott cares a lot about his hair… Hmm, like we hadn’t worked that out. P.S. I still want to know about this Virgil and Gordon hairdryer situation.

4. Grandma once travelled the world. The money must have come from her side of the family then, because we know Jeff’s dad was a farmer/agriculturalist.

5. Grandma can also fly and it seems, taught her son.

One thing I picked up on this week, though was strange and I think ITV have either missed a trick or very belatedly decided to inform us of a complete shake up.

So (I’m not going to dare go into full territory on this because the debate is long and varies depending on your view), in TOS, there was always some contentment as to Virgil and John’s ages and question as to who was older, for many reasons. Personally, I’ve always worked with John being the second child and Virgil the third. (That doesn’t mean you can’t have it the other way, if that’s how you work!)

However, the ITV series has led us to believe from the first episode and onwards, that they are working with John being older than Virgil, other thing which seems confirmed by the ages they gave for the brothers on their website;

Scott: 23, John: 22, Virgil: 21, Gordon: 19, Alan: 14.

So from this, we can all assume they meant John to be older – and I think a lot of us writers over on ff – have been working and writing with that. However, in this episode we hear the line,

“You’re braver than I am, big brother.”

From John. Which kind of throws Gordon’s spanner into the wrench. I would quite appreciate ITV sorting that out for us.

Moving swiftly on...

I have to interject and say that I just love the dice with the niffy Thunderbird Two logo on - thank you, Fischler, they are a far sight better than your logoed jumpsuits. A new good luck charm maybe?

A shopping trip. And not just any shopping trip. A complete restock of the island just Virgil and Grandma. Not to mention, John was certainly worried.

I think Virgil did a very good job at hiding his sarcasm.

“Let’s do some shopping.”

“This is going to be so much fun.”

Of course, we have to remember he said that before he saw the list. Like this shot at the end, you can just see him, tired and be forced into finishing what they started, skim-reading and desperately questioning why everyone needs so much. Then we get to piano strings of course - any idea who those might be for, Virge?

Even so, I think he’s glad when John interrupts. It saved him from having to spend all morning looking at tracksuits.

Something that made me laugh was the Manager of the shop running after them when they left the shop. Why would you think International Rescue were going to steal from you? Especially if we take from Grandma,

“Hey!”

”Put it on our tab.”

That they shop there a lot?

It did make me chuckle though, so it’s kind of okay.

Of course, we know Virgil can’t be in two places at the same time. Still, I think we can all recognise that look the boys get about their ships.

I’m still trying to work out how he’ll feel about the very minor scratches to the paintwork! Still, John was right, in fairness to Grandma, for something big an heavy - 406 tonnes apparently - which she’d never flown before she didn’t do bad at all.

And we have to give credit to those moves across the quarry. International Rescue, risking life and limb.

I’m also very appreciative of the design to the remote piloting graphics. They look very nice. Virgil is certainly skilled at it too, for I can’t imagine its easy to fly a ship you’re not in.

I think John ends up worrying too much. I’m actually surprised none of these brothers ever have panic or heart attacks from their line of work and the amount of worry and stress they must encounter (especially for each other). But then again, I’ll just put it how Virgil did;

“It’s my job, Grandma.”

I think his brothers would all agree. When they’re not left worrying.

Poor, poor Virgil. All that heavy lifting! He kept shifting those rocks for nothing. I really felt for him when he thought it was over.

But then of course we have Grandma to save the day!

And obviously, the crew were doubtful about that;

“Well don’t you worry, I’ll be there any minute. You tell the others.“ “FAB. My Grandma says don’t worry. She’s coming to pick us up.” “You’re Grandma?”

And you can just see the look on Virgil’s face - I like to think it says, ‘you don’t know my Grandma - yet.’

And that led to one of my favourite moments of this episode, the brother’s joint:

“You?”

Another moment I quite enjoyed was our lovely ending. We got to see International Rescue hang around long enough to get some thanks for once in the TAG verse, but that meant we also got to see this;

Virgil was not expecting that. Bless him though, the way his shoulders dropped in the final moments when he realises - No shower, just shopping.

Of course this is me, so I cannot help myself when it comes to a little scenery.

This was a shot I particularly liked;

But this is one that I think Virgil could appreciate too: I mean, look at his face;

So, I’m going to leave everyone with a little game/task – whatever you like.

These were the items I managed to pull from the clearly extensive shopping list. Let’s see if we can match them to the right brother, I think a few are easy;

Multi-vitamins, snooker cues, apple pie, bagels, lemon squeezer, pillow case, anti-rust spray, extra cable. super shine, toilet paper, hairspray, Hawaiian shirts, plant food, protein powder, celery crunch bars, toothpaste, piano strings, fire extinguishers, tanning lotion, tofu.

And yes, pictures have returned!

Episode transcript link to follow shortly.