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Okay, so, sadly...I still can't discuss the MASSIVE OMGSQUEE from last night for, as best put by the Mountie and ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
greensilver, reasons that don't bear explaining at this juncture. So instead I will talk about what I do (and don't) like about the way the 'ship issues are being handled.
Okay, so, I actually like the way Jack/Gwen was handled from the Gwen side. I...liked it a lot. Because, here's the thing, from how I saw it I never doubted that she loves Rhys, that she repeatedly chooses Rhys, and most of all that she does not think of Rhys as second best to Jack, just different from Jack. And if circumstances were different, or Jack didn't have the particular issues he has that throw barriers up, or if they'd met at a different time? She probably would have chosen him, yes. And that causes her some longing and pangs. That's pretty human. I don't believe there is one person who is 'right' for anyone. Knowing two people at the same time who could be when you are monogamous? Kinda stings. I have to say, well done show, for not making me think Rhys is getting the short end of the stick here anymore, because I don't think he is (this opinion subject to change depending on the show itself).
Jack? Um...I'm having issues with Jack right now, and not nice ones. Remember how I said I wanted more from the show, some kind of markers for the J/I relationship? I got them. From Ianto. I was fine right up to the dance. Which, okay, I loved because hey, Ianto and Jack slow dancing! But Ianto's adorable little cough when he cuts in and the way he's sort of melting into Jack right there? Um, yeah. Combined with the other bits and bobs from this season and episode I have, at the moment tipped over to believing that in canon Ianto is actually in love with Jack. Which makes me kind of want to smack Jack in the head with a two by four. Hard. Not because he may not return those feelings (and I am not convinced he doesn't yet), or because he has feelings for Gwen (see above re: two people at the same time). But because based on what the show has given us so far? It really feels...not like Jack is choosing Ianto in any way, but that Ianto is just sort of...there for him. And that? Is not cool. People are not consolation prizes, Jack. They really, really aren't. If Ianto is just what he does when what he really wants to do isn't available to him? And there are actual feelings of the love sort on Ianto's side? YOU BREAK UP WITH HIM. You let him find someone who does appreciate and choose his awesome. And if Jack is actually in that relationship? Then he needs to do something, say something, that indicates Ianto is not a second best leftover prize to him. And none of this bullshit couched in 'people I have loved' or 'all of you'. Ianto. Ianto specifically, you dick.
The thing that irritated me about that dance (even though I was like, AWWWW THEY ARE DANCING), it isn't that he had a moment with Gwen before. Or even that he looked back. It's that...okay, when they flash to Gwen...she is, even after sharing the same intensity of that moment with Jack? She is with Rhys. She is entirely present for him after she's walked away from Jack. Jack? Not so fucking much for Ianto. And that makes him a bit of a selfish asshole.
And, okay...I get that Jack's issues run way, way deeper than Gwen here. He's mourning the kind of life he can't have, the life he obviously tried to have at some point (angsty wedding pictures in a box, yay!), and I don't begrudge him that. It's got to be hard. Really hard. Oddly enough, Jack's dickish behavor this season (in more than one context) has actually bonded me closer to the character than I ever have been. I...sort of love him on more than just a shallow 'Yay! Jack!' level right now. Which makes it easier to be dissapointed in him. And I am right now. Dissapointed. Because if he doesn't watch it, his issues are going to end up hurting way more than just him...again. And while I find that fascinating, and I do kind of want to hug him for them? It doesn't make him very likeable.
Does this make it sound like I'm unhappy with the show? I'm really, really not. I'm worried about the characters in real ways. That's..actually a good sign for me in terms of where I am with it. So. Just. Don't break Ianto's heart, okay? I...that's like kicking puppies. Please don't be a puppy kicker, Jack. There's still plenty of room here for the entire above post to be kicked aside by canon. Gwen could up and screw up what she's got with Rhys, in ways and for reasons that would piss me off. Jack could demonstrate that he is actually present in his relationship with Ianto. Ianto could have just been feeling sentimental at that wedding, and is on the same page with Jack regarding what they have, or I'm just reading him wrong. This is just where I'm left after this episode.
And, okay, mostly? Shape shifting aliens who randomly impregnate people and CRACK SO MUCH CRACK OMG, that had me rolling, and that thing I'm not talking about. Contrary to the meat of this post, and my tendency to have Deep Thoughts About Shallow Things, I spent most of that episode falling off the couch laughing at the sheer cracky GLEE of it. Just wanted to make that clear.
greensilver, reasons that don't bear explaining at this juncture. So instead I will talk about what I do (and don't) like about the way the 'ship issues are being handled. Okay, so, I actually like the way Jack/Gwen was handled from the Gwen side. I...liked it a lot. Because, here's the thing, from how I saw it I never doubted that she loves Rhys, that she repeatedly chooses Rhys, and most of all that she does not think of Rhys as second best to Jack, just different from Jack. And if circumstances were different, or Jack didn't have the particular issues he has that throw barriers up, or if they'd met at a different time? She probably would have chosen him, yes. And that causes her some longing and pangs. That's pretty human. I don't believe there is one person who is 'right' for anyone. Knowing two people at the same time who could be when you are monogamous? Kinda stings. I have to say, well done show, for not making me think Rhys is getting the short end of the stick here anymore, because I don't think he is (this opinion subject to change depending on the show itself).
Jack? Um...I'm having issues with Jack right now, and not nice ones. Remember how I said I wanted more from the show, some kind of markers for the J/I relationship? I got them. From Ianto. I was fine right up to the dance. Which, okay, I loved because hey, Ianto and Jack slow dancing! But Ianto's adorable little cough when he cuts in and the way he's sort of melting into Jack right there? Um, yeah. Combined with the other bits and bobs from this season and episode I have, at the moment tipped over to believing that in canon Ianto is actually in love with Jack. Which makes me kind of want to smack Jack in the head with a two by four. Hard. Not because he may not return those feelings (and I am not convinced he doesn't yet), or because he has feelings for Gwen (see above re: two people at the same time). But because based on what the show has given us so far? It really feels...not like Jack is choosing Ianto in any way, but that Ianto is just sort of...there for him. And that? Is not cool. People are not consolation prizes, Jack. They really, really aren't. If Ianto is just what he does when what he really wants to do isn't available to him? And there are actual feelings of the love sort on Ianto's side? YOU BREAK UP WITH HIM. You let him find someone who does appreciate and choose his awesome. And if Jack is actually in that relationship? Then he needs to do something, say something, that indicates Ianto is not a second best leftover prize to him. And none of this bullshit couched in 'people I have loved' or 'all of you'. Ianto. Ianto specifically, you dick.
The thing that irritated me about that dance (even though I was like, AWWWW THEY ARE DANCING), it isn't that he had a moment with Gwen before. Or even that he looked back. It's that...okay, when they flash to Gwen...she is, even after sharing the same intensity of that moment with Jack? She is with Rhys. She is entirely present for him after she's walked away from Jack. Jack? Not so fucking much for Ianto. And that makes him a bit of a selfish asshole.
And, okay...I get that Jack's issues run way, way deeper than Gwen here. He's mourning the kind of life he can't have, the life he obviously tried to have at some point (angsty wedding pictures in a box, yay!), and I don't begrudge him that. It's got to be hard. Really hard. Oddly enough, Jack's dickish behavor this season (in more than one context) has actually bonded me closer to the character than I ever have been. I...sort of love him on more than just a shallow 'Yay! Jack!' level right now. Which makes it easier to be dissapointed in him. And I am right now. Dissapointed. Because if he doesn't watch it, his issues are going to end up hurting way more than just him...again. And while I find that fascinating, and I do kind of want to hug him for them? It doesn't make him very likeable.
Does this make it sound like I'm unhappy with the show? I'm really, really not. I'm worried about the characters in real ways. That's..actually a good sign for me in terms of where I am with it. So. Just. Don't break Ianto's heart, okay? I...that's like kicking puppies. Please don't be a puppy kicker, Jack. There's still plenty of room here for the entire above post to be kicked aside by canon. Gwen could up and screw up what she's got with Rhys, in ways and for reasons that would piss me off. Jack could demonstrate that he is actually present in his relationship with Ianto. Ianto could have just been feeling sentimental at that wedding, and is on the same page with Jack regarding what they have, or I'm just reading him wrong. This is just where I'm left after this episode.
And, okay, mostly? Shape shifting aliens who randomly impregnate people and CRACK SO MUCH CRACK OMG, that had me rolling, and that thing I'm not talking about. Contrary to the meat of this post, and my tendency to have Deep Thoughts About Shallow Things, I spent most of that episode falling off the couch laughing at the sheer cracky GLEE of it. Just wanted to make that clear.
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