ok. lemme see. first of all, i agree with your final analysis. they don't really know where they want to go with jack. but i don't actually think that the problem is so much with where to go with jack as a romantic lead. the show has quite embraced the concept of the love triangle and seems content with going in that direction. it also allows him to have a serious relationship, while being all happy go lucky.
i also think a lot of people miss the fact that jack is a flirt. he flirts, and is generally harmless. now a days, in our quaint 21st century world, most relationships allow for flirting, and yes, even to the level jack flirts. (of course, my perception of what is allowed in the common relationship may be skewed by the fact that i'm an actor who goes to an insanely liberal new york city college...)
i actually don't think they're trying to please everyone, and i journey's end is no proof to me that they are. the bit with rose is actually the best solution to getting rose off the show. having her choose to stay in the parallel world is more permanent than sending her back there or killing her. (death is not always permanent in science fiction, especially in an episode featuring the five million times dead davros) i think the bit with rose was more of a function of solving a story telling problem more than an attempt to please everyone.
and if anything, i propose the theory that the mentions on the captain's blog are less pandering and more of an attempt to clarify the relationship between jack and ianto is based on more than sex. why bother? because the captain's blog is generally used to clear up the relationships on the show. look at how he talks about the other characters in the blog. i think it's a general clarification process because the relationships are dealt with in subtext.
and the show does show a deeper relationship between jack and ianto. it also shows that jack has deep feelings for gwen too. and that tosh is a daughter figure. and owen, well that's some kind of younger brother/son figure. maybe a nephew type. hard to tell.
you are right tho, there are mad character continuity problems in the show. mostly because the first season is...well...bad. i mean, there i said it. as much as i adore this show, the first season is generally a mess.
but all that aside, cause honestly, i really don't know what exactly i'm trying to say, i guess i'll return to the point at hand: i do agree that the show is not entirely sure where to go with jack. i don't agree that they are trying to please everyone. i do agree that the blogs read like something a squeeing 15 year old fan girl wrote between making out with signed photos of gareth david lloyd and john barrowman.
sorry that was rambling. i really don't know where to start with all this. i hope i made something resembling sense.
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i also think a lot of people miss the fact that jack is a flirt. he flirts, and is generally harmless. now a days, in our quaint 21st century world, most relationships allow for flirting, and yes, even to the level jack flirts. (of course, my perception of what is allowed in the common relationship may be skewed by the fact that i'm an actor who goes to an insanely liberal new york city college...)
i actually don't think they're trying to please everyone, and i journey's end is no proof to me that they are. the bit with rose is actually the best solution to getting rose off the show. having her choose to stay in the parallel world is more permanent than sending her back there or killing her. (death is not always permanent in science fiction, especially in an episode featuring the five million times dead davros) i think the bit with rose was more of a function of solving a story telling problem more than an attempt to please everyone.
and if anything, i propose the theory that the mentions on the captain's blog are less pandering and more of an attempt to clarify the relationship between jack and ianto is based on more than sex. why bother? because the captain's blog is generally used to clear up the relationships on the show. look at how he talks about the other characters in the blog. i think it's a general clarification process because the relationships are dealt with in subtext.
and the show does show a deeper relationship between jack and ianto. it also shows that jack has deep feelings for gwen too. and that tosh is a daughter figure. and owen, well that's some kind of younger brother/son figure. maybe a nephew type. hard to tell.
you are right tho, there are mad character continuity problems in the show. mostly because the first season is...well...bad. i mean, there i said it. as much as i adore this show, the first season is generally a mess.
but all that aside, cause honestly, i really don't know what exactly i'm trying to say, i guess i'll return to the point at hand: i do agree that the show is not entirely sure where to go with jack. i don't agree that they are trying to please everyone. i do agree that the blogs read like something a squeeing 15 year old fan girl wrote between making out with signed photos of gareth david lloyd and john barrowman.
sorry that was rambling. i really don't know where to start with all this. i hope i made something resembling sense.
crazytook