I'm still not getting, as I asked in my post above, what it is you think Ianto is addicted to? Or is that not part of your addiction metaphor?
And in my view, bringing in how those around the addict must act in order to save the addict stretches the metaphor way beyond the boundary of useful for analyzing this episdoe. For one thing, none of the actions of the others in helping pick up Ianto after he hits rock-bottom is shown in this or any other episode. At best, it is implied that they do. Plus, it's not like they had to struggle with Ianto's "addiction" over a period of time and come to the eventual painful realization that they just had to step back and let Ianto fall. By the time they realized what was going on Ianto was already smuck in the middle of his fall.
For another thing, what you are describing applies to circumstances other than addiction -- I know from personal experience that it applies to depression as well, ie, there's nothing the people around a depressed person can do until the person suffering from depression decides to get help themselves. I do think that Jack, at least, realized that Ianto had to come to face the painful truth that Lisa could not be saved on his own, and that is why he sent Ianto in by himself with the order to execute Lisa. And that may have similarities to the process of a person stepping back from someone with an addiction to let that person realize that he needs help. I guess what I'm having problem with is that you seem to be saying that just because the process is similar, Ianto therefore must be addicted. Or is that not what you're saying? Am I misunderstanding you somehow?
no subject
And in my view, bringing in how those around the addict must act in order to save the addict stretches the metaphor way beyond the boundary of useful for analyzing this episdoe. For one thing, none of the actions of the others in helping pick up Ianto after he hits rock-bottom is shown in this or any other episode. At best, it is implied that they do. Plus, it's not like they had to struggle with Ianto's "addiction" over a period of time and come to the eventual painful realization that they just had to step back and let Ianto fall. By the time they realized what was going on Ianto was already smuck in the middle of his fall.
For another thing, what you are describing applies to circumstances other than addiction -- I know from personal experience that it applies to depression as well, ie, there's nothing the people around a depressed person can do until the person suffering from depression decides to get help themselves. I do think that Jack, at least, realized that Ianto had to come to face the painful truth that Lisa could not be saved on his own, and that is why he sent Ianto in by himself with the order to execute Lisa. And that may have similarities to the process of a person stepping back from someone with an addiction to let that person realize that he needs help. I guess what I'm having problem with is that you seem to be saying that just because the process is similar, Ianto therefore must be addicted. Or is that not what you're saying? Am I misunderstanding you somehow?