Torchwood - Exit Wounds, the Jack/Ianto story

[tencrush]

Okay, I have to admit, I was totally spoiled for this episode, I knew Jack was going to be buried for 2000 years, and I have to conclude that knowing this fact totally made me get my hopes up. I figured that there would be repercussions from the 2000 year thing. I didn't know what those repercussions might be, but I figured Jack/Ianto would either be OVER, or we'd get some sort of on-screen confirmation that this is more than a fuckbuddy thing for Jack. And yes, I KNOW what Jack said in TTLM, and I KNOW there's been lots of hints about how Jack feels about Ianto, but hints can only really carry a story for so long. So yes, personally, I was disappointed there wasn't much going on on the shipping front.

Ianto was very upset, that was blatantly obvious, about Jack being missing, that was played well and it was abundantly clear how happy he was to have Jack back. But, again, I didn't really see much from Jack about where he stands with Ianto. (Have you read the Captain's blog for Adrift, by the way? They seem to be SHOVING it down the Americans' throats, but that's half-canon, aimed at one specific audience, why just there? Why can't we be shown any clarity on screen, seriously?)

Sure, they're not majorly affectionate with each other, and I didn't expect Ianto to fall into Jack's arms like Gwen did, that would have been completely OOC. But I would have liked to have seen a scene akin to the Gwen/Rhys thing on the sofa, just to let us know whether these two crazy kids are still together. As an aside, I think that scene WAS probably filmed and cut, and I think those two crazy kids ARE still together. I just don't think, on the whole, the writing has done a great job of proving that to me throughout the season, and especially not in this episode. Sorry, dudes, but that was a bit fail.

Comments

[eandh99.livejournal.com]

On the upside, they decided NOT to kill Ianto in Reset, which had been the original plan, so at least there still is a relationship. You do have to build the Jack/Ianto relationship out of little bits of body language mostly. In the beginning of KKBB, Jack kisses John enthusiastically on the mouth -- in Exit Wounds he pointedly turns away, he makes it abundantly clear that he has nothing left for John. What I saw at the very end of Exit Wounds was Jack who'd been crying all night and looked like hell, Ianto literally holding himself together and fighting tears, and Gwen in her own (shallow? certainly not as profound as Jack's)distress demanding reassurance from Jack. In both of those three-way hugs Gwen throws herself at Jack and Jack reaches for Ianto, and for me that illustrates their relationship.

[tencrush]

No, you have to build JACK's end of the relationship out of body language and not much else. Ianto's position is clear.

I'd never heard of this Reset plan, where did you hear that? As far as I'm aware, Ianto was set to die before S2, but never since then.

[eandh99.livejournal.com]

Interview in Torchwood magazine, but it's been discussed lots of places. Even with Ianto, it's more what he does than what he says.

[rowanswhimsy.livejournal.com]

3: Burn Gorman (Owen Harper) - the actor talks about the life (and death) of his character, and reflects on the past two years. He reveals that it was Russell T Davies' idea to 'kill' off a main character; although originally it was intended that Ianto would die (the Jack/Ianto 'shippers won't like that little revelation...) Later on his discusses other acting roles, with have included the likes of "Bleak House" and "Fred Clause", and his desire to return to the stage.

From Torchwood TV on 3/20/08 here: http://torchwoodtv.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html

Not having read the article, though, is it made clear that BG is referring to this series and not S1?

[louiex.livejournal.com]

*leaps in*

In both of those three-way hugs Gwen throws herself at Jack and Jack reaches for Ianto, and for me that illustrates their relationship.

Yes. Yes that's exactly it! You said it perfectly~