I agree. Even though most of this comment sounds like I am arguing, I do actually agree-- I tend to think that with Torchwood, any cohesiveness in characterization is accidental.
Personally, with the above caveat, I don't see the onscreen depiction of Jack/Ianto as too much of a problem, because we've seen primarily work-related interaction. But we know they do spend time together out of working hours-- they have to-- and to me that is where the Captain's Blog fits in.
In fact, to be honest, I tend to see the Jack/Ianto relationship much the same way the Captain's Blog describes-- yes, down to Jack being free to cling to Ianto for a few hours. I don't think that interpretation has been negated by anything we've shown onscreen, but unfortunately it hasn't truly been supported either.
I'd like very much to see it. I would have loved something after Out of the Rain, when instead Jack was ominous and oblivious. Or Exit Wounds, which had Gwen/Rhys and a complete absence of Jack and Ianto.
There are many hints as to what their relationship is or isn't. The date scene and Jack's nervousness, the dynamics of the flirting in Sleeper, the convo in TtLM, the fondness of the forehead-kiss in Adam, the "it's not like that, me and Jack" in DitD, the dance in SB... I like this list quite a bit, but in the grand scheme of things they're really just hints. We've gotten no real glimpse at what Jack and Ianto do when they're not onscreen, except have sex.
It wouldn't be so noticable or problematic if Gwen didn't get coupley, domestic scenes with Rhys. That's the problem, IMO. I'm glad Torchwood isn't just about the main characters romantic exploits, but... there are two main relationships, and when it comes to getting a look at the team's personal lives, it's only the same-sex couple that's getting ignored. It's why it seems like it's being presented as superificial.
I'm not sure whether that's what they were going for or not. Maybe it was, or maybe they just aren't willing to show the softer moments. It does make it very frustrating, as I'm sure you're aware.
You're right, too, that a great deal of the problem is that TPTB haven't decided what to do with Jack, but I think it's also they haven't figured out what to do with Ianto. We haven't even seen his flat! He got his own personal episode and we found out more about him in Gwen's wedding episode! In Fragments, they fleshed out his backstory primarily with things we already knew. So, yeah, one ambiguous person in a couple is fine, especially if it's a character like Jack. But two is kind of ridiculous.
I hope that made some sense! I admit to being a fan of Jack/Ianto, so I hope this doesn't sound too biased or skewed.
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Personally, with the above caveat, I don't see the onscreen depiction of Jack/Ianto as too much of a problem, because we've seen primarily work-related interaction. But we know they do spend time together out of working hours-- they have to-- and to me that is where the Captain's Blog fits in.
In fact, to be honest, I tend to see the Jack/Ianto relationship much the same way the Captain's Blog describes-- yes, down to Jack being free to cling to Ianto for a few hours. I don't think that interpretation has been negated by anything we've shown onscreen, but unfortunately it hasn't truly been supported either.
I'd like very much to see it. I would have loved something after Out of the Rain, when instead Jack was ominous and oblivious. Or Exit Wounds, which had Gwen/Rhys and a complete absence of Jack and Ianto.
There are many hints as to what their relationship is or isn't. The date scene and Jack's nervousness, the dynamics of the flirting in Sleeper, the convo in TtLM, the fondness of the forehead-kiss in Adam, the "it's not like that, me and Jack" in DitD, the dance in SB... I like this list quite a bit, but in the grand scheme of things they're really just hints. We've gotten no real glimpse at what Jack and Ianto do when they're not onscreen, except have sex.
It wouldn't be so noticable or problematic if Gwen didn't get coupley, domestic scenes with Rhys. That's the problem, IMO. I'm glad Torchwood isn't just about the main characters romantic exploits, but... there are two main relationships, and when it comes to getting a look at the team's personal lives, it's only the same-sex couple that's getting ignored. It's why it seems like it's being presented as superificial.
I'm not sure whether that's what they were going for or not. Maybe it was, or maybe they just aren't willing to show the softer moments. It does make it very frustrating, as I'm sure you're aware.
You're right, too, that a great deal of the problem is that TPTB haven't decided what to do with Jack, but I think it's also they haven't figured out what to do with Ianto. We haven't even seen his flat! He got his own personal episode and we found out more about him in Gwen's wedding episode! In Fragments, they fleshed out his backstory primarily with things we already knew. So, yeah, one ambiguous person in a couple is fine, especially if it's a character like Jack. But two is kind of ridiculous.
I hope that made some sense! I admit to being a fan of Jack/Ianto, so I hope this doesn't sound too biased or skewed.