But our world doesn't face an alien threat that has actually harmed humanity
That we know about, which seems to be the point: Torchwood works in secret. The ability of the humans (or perhaps just the British people?) to rationalize away the alien seems to rival even that of Sunnydale, at least in new Who.
But that doesn't respond to my question, which is whether a secret governmental organization that routinely ignores the civil liberties of the British subjects (such as they might be under the unwritten constitution) and answers only to the Sovereign (if even to her) is constitutional (and I honestly don't know, because the whole concept of an unwritten constitution makes no sense to me). If not, the organization is illegal, and its members are criminals. No?
But my reading was always that H.I.M. Victoria was overstepping her authority.
The show makes perfect sense to me--as an illustration as to how dangerous secret organizations without proper democratic oversight can be. Gwen's mission, and everything else alongside it, seems to follow naturally from that premise. Indeed, the show has struck me as being surprisingly thematically consistent in portraying its characters in this light (with some odd interludes, like "Small Worlds"). So I wouldn't call anything about the show "ludicrous."
Which is a breath of fresh air after so many shows which seem to glorify organizations like Torchwood....
no subject
That we know about, which seems to be the point: Torchwood works in secret. The ability of the humans (or perhaps just the British people?) to rationalize away the alien seems to rival even that of Sunnydale, at least in new Who.
But that doesn't respond to my question, which is whether a secret governmental organization that routinely ignores the civil liberties of the British subjects (such as they might be under the unwritten constitution) and answers only to the Sovereign (if even to her) is constitutional (and I honestly don't know, because the whole concept of an unwritten constitution makes no sense to me). If not, the organization is illegal, and its members are criminals. No?
But my reading was always that H.I.M. Victoria was overstepping her authority.
The show makes perfect sense to me--as an illustration as to how dangerous secret organizations without proper democratic oversight can be. Gwen's mission, and everything else alongside it, seems to follow naturally from that premise. Indeed, the show has struck me as being surprisingly thematically consistent in portraying its characters in this light (with some odd interludes, like "Small Worlds"). So I wouldn't call anything about the show "ludicrous."
Which is a breath of fresh air after so many shows which seem to glorify organizations like Torchwood....