Meat

[annundriel]

This kind of went everywhere. Mostly because my thoughts are still kind of everywhere.

Torchwood - "Meat"

Um. Well, that was an interesting experience. I found myself agreeing with Gwen (to an extent) and wanting to smack Jack upside the head. Usually it's the other way around. Was it opposites day?

I've been thinking about this since I watched it this afternoon and I'm still not completely sure how to explain how I feel about the episode. Well, no, that's not entirely true. I liked the episode. I just didn't like Jack in it.

The thing is, I get that Jack's not really the monogamous type. Which is fine, but in the past he's shown a certain level of affection and care for the well-being and, don't really want to say it but I will, the feelings of the people that he's cared about at the same time as he's being flirtatious and interested in other parties. He's polyamorous. But here...I don't know. It wasn't that he wasn't aware of Ianto, more that he wasn't going to act on his awareness of him. (Which kind of makes me want Ianto to completely ignore him on anything other than a professional level for awhile.)

There were several scenes where you could see one or the other of them in the background and there'd be the chance of eyes meeting, glances catching, but there was never any acknowledgment that there was anything there between them other than two guys that work together.

It was just weird. And, y'know, it probably would have been fine if Jack hadn't gone all crazy about Gwen. But even there...Just because he's whatever he is about Gwen and her normal relationship doesn't mean he has to be all mopey about it. Not when he's got other people.

Anyway.

How about the good stuff? Like IANTO. He just gets better and better. With the snark and the ass-kicking and the suits. Geez. Not only was there that great coat, there was him slightly dressed down at the end. Hello. And what I loved about the physical stuff was that he was so efficient, no frills. Just "Hi, this is me kicking your ass." And the whole, "Pray they survive." Whoa. Oh, and maybe this is a little weird, I loved how terrified he looked before he got his hands free. But then he puts that aside, or uses it, and helps save the day.

Also, I love Tosh. And Owen. Like, a lot. And I like that I can see how Owen's progressed since the pilot. I don't mind Tosh's crush, like it even, but there's a lot of potential for over-doing it there. Even here there was a point where I was just like, "Grab him, Tosh! Just DO IT." But I liked the almost touch and then the hand holding near the end.

There was also the part where Tosh was all, "We could feed the world" and Ianto was all, "And release a single" and I had to rewind it because I surely couldn't have heard that right. Haha. So brilliantly, deliciously deadpan. Also, "Guess who'll have to look after it in the mean time."

And Rhys. I love Rhys. And Rhys loves Gwen. So if he needs Gwen to be happy, then there's just another reason for me to want Jack to keep out of it. Because Rhys is a pretty good guy and he doesn't deserve that crap. And, really, when Gwen came back and said she wasn't drugging him? I was so relieved. I just don't see why they can't let him know about them. People kind of acknowledge the alien stuff that always happens around Christmas. And there was that woman at the beginning of the season with her "bloody Torchwood" and fish eyeballing. So it's not like people are completely unaware of what's going on. And with Gwen's job, wouldn't it be better to have an understanding spouse?

Then there was Jack's whole, "You love him. That makes you vulnerable." To go back to the beginning of this post, maybe that could be seen as part of his behavior, trying to put some distance up because he's discovered...something deeper? Which seems maybe a bit silly what with all that time he had to think about things during the year that wasn't. Only maybe it's different now that he's actually back with the team and Ianto...

I don't know. I really want to know what's going on in his head.

But back to the line...well, "d'uh," what with Gwen basically willing to tear the world apart to bring Rhys back from the dead last season. Love makes you vulnerable and insane, apparently.

Thank you, James Marsden: "Love is patient. Love is kind. Love means slowly losing your mind."

Since I'm quoting it, I might as well take the opportunity to say that if you're looking for a light piece of fluff movie, 27 Dresses is entertaining. And James Marsden...To quote Christina from Ugly Betty, "I'd like to bake him naked and eat him for dessert." It's my new favorite way of expressing appreciation for attractive people.

Comments

[rivier.livejournal.com]

I just agree with every single word you say here, about Jack and all the rest, too. THANK YOU. So I'm going to link to this post if that's OK, since you're a hell of a lot clearer and more coherent about it all than I'm going to be!

[annundriel.livejournal.com]

Haha. That's totally fine. I'm just glad this didn't come across as crazy as I thought it did since it took me forever to pinpoint just what was making me uncomfortable with the episode. Mostly I just come back to "What is Jack doing?"