Let me buy you a drink, oh, Russell T Davies...

[tencrush]

There's been a lot of guff on my friendslist about Chibnall's defense of the rape spray incident in Torchwood. If you're not aware of it, the gist being that Chibnall is of the opinion that because TPTB never INTENDED for the pheromone scenario to come across as date rape, those of us who see it that way ARE WRONG.

I think this attitude of authorial intent >>> audience perception is one that's very prevalent among the DW/TW powers that be at the moment, and it's one that bugs me immensely. Russell, for example, I'm sure, didn't INTEND for me to infer from the Doctor's refusal to take Mr. Copper along in the TARDIS in VotD, that the Doctor was holding out for a gullible blonde. But that IS how I saw it, and I'm not alone. And I'm sorry, Russell, because, yes, I'm talking to you, but that's just one of those things that happens. And I can understand why you call us ming mongs, because it's annoying when those sorts of things happen, and I sympathise, I really do, but the problem is, when things like that happen, you should treat is as a learning experience and sit down and evaluate what you're doing wrong. THINK MOAR, WRITE BETTER, that sort of thing. Instead, all we seem to get from you is a big two-fingered salute to the ming mongs who think things and see stuff you didn't mean for us to see. A big DEAL WITH IT, fuck you, here's your rape spray flashback because we're going to hit you about the head with our intent until you shut up.

I, personally, found the on screen portrayal of the relationship between Jack and Ianto in Torchwood ultimately unsatisfying, and, again, I think that's a problem of intent. Here, the problem gets even stickier, because not only does INTENT seem to be justification for glaring sins of omission (Example? Witness the BBCA Captain's Blog for the episode Adrift and the widely quoted quote from Jack "After Gwen had gone home, I just held on to Ianto for a couple of hours, as tightly as I could." Now, see, IF THAT IS YOUR INTENT, to show us a relationship in which that scenario might happen, then SHOW US a relationship in which that scenario does, or could happen. TELLING US your intent in the Captain's Blog doesn't work and just annoys the living crap out of us. YOUR INTENT IS PASTEDE ON.), but, what's worse is nobody seems to be making sure everybody intends the same thing. Remember that piece of A4 paper I suggested when it comes to Torchwood? There's another bit of advice I've got that goes along with it: That page? Make sure everyone's got THE SAME ONE.

Here's what I think you should do, Russell, I think you should THINK MOAR, and I think you should write better. I think you should embrace the vocal fanbase you have and see them, rightly, as the voice of the people. The ming mongs like myself, yeah, we're loud and we're annoying, but we're only SHOUTING AT YOU because we don't think we're being heard. Do you really think that if I met you down the pub, Russell, I would sit you down and should "LOL RUSSELL U RETARD" at you? No. I wouldn't. I'd offer you my constructive opinion on the various and assorted things I think need improving and I'd buy you a drink and praise and credit you for all the things you've done RIGHT. But I don't have that opportunity, so I shout at you loudly on the interwebs, because I KNOW you're reading, despite your declarations to the contrary, and I HOPE SINCERELY that you'll take away maybe 5% of what I'm saying and take it to heart. Because, funnily enough, if you scratch away the other 95% of righteous indignation and frustration, you'll probably be left with a few salient points that reasonably accurately sum up the viewpoints of your audience AS A WHOLE, not just the ming mongs. (I know FOR A FACT that there are normal fans out there who call Owen a rapist. Fans who don't read the internets and who don't vent their opinions anywhere, just normal people who thought Owen used a date rape drug and thought that made him a bit of a twat. TRUFAX, Russell, trufax.)

So that salient 5% point at the moment is this: SHOW ME WHAT IT IS YOU INTEND FOR ME TO SEE. PRETEND I DON'T KNOW YOUR INTENT AND MAKE IT CLEAR IN THE STORYTELLING. WHEN I SEE SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T INTEND, OR I DON'T SEE SOMETHING YOU DID, GO BACK, THINK MOAR, AND WRITE BETTER NEXT TIME. (AND BUY SOME A4 PAPER LIKE I SAID LAST TIME, SERIOUSLY.) We love our big gay shows, Russell, if we didn't, we'd STOP WATCHING AND SHUT THE HELL UP. So listen, learn your lessons, and appreciate that there are people out there who are willing to vocalise them. Do that for me and I'll happily get the drinks in and let you call me a ming mong ALL NIGHT LONG. I think it's kind of sexy.

Comments

[vertrauen.livejournal.com]

HEAR, HEAR.

*claps*

[pontisbright.livejournal.com]

*applauds wildly*

I find it so difficult to resolve my genuine enjoyment of a lot of his output with the smug twattery that comes out of Rusty's gob whenever anyone dares suggest they might have fucked up. Especially since it's perfectly obvious that they DO listen: don't tell me the Owen turnaround of S2 wasn't something they worked for, once they realised they needed to. Same with the Martha referencing and the toned-down Donna in PiC.

Dear Rusty, I actually do like and respect you. The current status of Who seemed unthinkable 5 years ago, and that's a lot to do with you. Props. But that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to expect you to keep trying. Love from Me.

[bandgeek01.livejournal.com]

Very good :-)

Now as a newish fan can someone either message me or send me links to explain the whole There's been a lot of guff on my friendslist about Chibnall's defense of the rape spray incident in Torchwood. thing? Was that from season 1?

I've only seen a few season 1 episodes. Enlightenment would be wonderful.

Nicole

[love-jackianto.livejournal.com]

'THINK MOAR, WRITE BETTER'
If only they would listen.

'Remember that piece of A4 paper I suggested when it comes to Torchwood? There's another bit of advice I've got that goes along with it: That page? Make sure everyone's got THE SAME ONE.'
I wish the writers were on the same page. Maybe than they would decide weather or not Jack wants to sleep with Gwen or just be her friend.

[meleth.livejournal.com]

So I don't watch the Declassifieds, since they keep being RTD talking about all the BRILLIANTLY CLEVER things he's decided to do, and how cool he and the production team are. Is that where he's saying the fans need to stop yelling at him, or does that come out in interviews elsewhere?

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't it be more useful to have this conversation with the producer, though?

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

The pheromone spray scene didn't bother me. I do think it was a mistake, though, because it DID bother a LOT of people. Two years later, it's STILL the main thing some people remember about Season One.

But what are they going to do, run every scene idea past a committee to make sure they didn't accidentally put something stupid in it? Put up a poll on the internet?

It's their show, they're going to do what they want with it. I like it, so I watch it. Nobody is obligated to.

[mslauren2930.livejournal.com]

AMEN!

your post makes me want to go off on why I didn't find the movie "Wedding Crashers" to be all that funny. but then I guess some people have funky definitions of what constitutes rape. whatever. I guess, though, back to TW, this is probably why I've never liked Owen. he starts off manipulating people for sex and really, I'm supposed to like him after that? but then that's just me and that's just one of many reasons why I was never an Owen fan.

[darlys.livejournal.com]

I didn't construe it as date rape but if I had I think I would be more inclined to believe that Owen date raped that chick's boyfriend as she was sitting at the bar giving Owen the look over and then purposely goading him on by being difficult.

[holdingoff.livejournal.com]

bows down.

a big problem with RTD is and always has been that he believes his own press. he really does think he's perfect and as such, will never admit that he's screwed something up even if he does go back and fix it later on. i do find it interesting that chibnall is defending the date rape spray (which after fragments makes me wonder if its distilled jack pheromones) scene which just happens to be in the ONLY episode written by RTD.

i never watch the behind the scenes bits for TW or DW because I don't want to hear RTD or chibnall pat themselves on the back for being "witty" or "clever". for fuck sake, you are writers, you are SUPPOSED to be clever.

and if you don't want people to misinterpret what you are trying to say, then you need to do a better job of saying it. i seem to remember that as one of the first lessons in fiction writing way back in my uni days.