Analysing Torchwood - Part Three

[clarrisani]

Onwards we go, into Gwen's first real day at work. It's fascinating doing this, actually, because I've been picking up on things I've never noticed before. Anyway, lets continue looking at Gwen, Jack, Ianto and Rhys...

Anaylysing Torchwood - Part Three

Comments

[flowright]

Very interesting read.

I would add two things. Gwen is becoming more shocked as she learns about her co-workers
I think Jack body language is very interesting in that scene.
For one I don't remember him answering Gwen's question. He opens his mouth as to say something and then change his mind and keep it for himself. I would speculate that at this point he's already seeing Ianto, maybe not as someone he loves, but as his switch off.
It goes with what we have seen on screen, even if Jack doesn't love Ianto yet he can't shut his piehole and keep sharing glimpse of himself when he's speaking with Ianto. Sure, he's kind of joking, but we don't see him joke that way with the other members of the team.
When Gwen shows Jack the reports, he is at first intrigued and confused by what she has done
Ironically, For all the researches, Gwen has done she can't use the information she extracted from Cary's emails. It's Jack and Toshiko who point out that they should probably start to look where Cary is working.

[clarrisani]

Jack didn't answer the question, no. Like you said, he was going to say something, but allows the others to answer for him. And there is a lot of debate regarding when Jack and Ianto starting sleeping together, but many think it was "The Keep Killing Suzie". I'll come to that later.

Also, the thing about Gwen's investigation is very true. Gwen did do a profile on her which allowed her to connect emotionally with Carys, but she didn't learn anything truly vital about her that could assist with the investigation.

[flowright]

but many think it was "The Keep Killing Suzie". I'll come to that later.

I think it was the general consensus but for a minority (as can prove a bunch of fanfic written after cyberwoman) before fragments was aired.
After fragments many crossed the line.
The argument that Ianto would never physically betrayed Lisa is a bit childish in my POV. Ianto isn't living a fairy tale, or a twillight novel. Abstinance is not a quality is my eyes and does not render him more nobel. Sometimes sex is just sex (and most of the time of course it's not, because feelings always invite themselves at the party).
If Ianto did sleep with Jack as soon as he filed the position of teaboy, it would not diminished him, it would just make him human (how long can a 22/23 years old male can go without sex anyway ? )

*sorry if I came up strong it's not toward you*

[ceindreadh]

The argument that Ianto would never physically betrayed Lisa is a bit childish in my POV
Ianto was willing to do anything to save Lisa. Whoring himself out to Jack would have been just another item on the list.
Personally though, I believe he would have avoided it as long as possible, not so much out of loyalty to Lisa, but more so because he might feel that it'd be easier to keep Jack interested if he didn't put out straight away.

[maxine_mirkwood]

One tiny point from the dinner scene that always amuses me is that Ianto is the only person apart from Tosh using chop sticks to eat (and quite proficiently too). Typical of Ianto to be picky about exactly the right accessories for the task at hand. :-)

[clarrisani]

Alternatively, it may be the Naoko and Gareth are the only ones that can use them, lol.

Given how long the team have supposedly been having Chinese, you'd expect they'd all know how to use chopsticks. I guess not.

[maxine_mirkwood]

Alternatively, it may be the Naoko and Gareth are the only ones that can use them, lol.

Well this is possibly true... but rather less fun. I just love my picky, perfectionist Ianto. :-)

Given how long the team have supposedly been having Chinese, you'd expect they'd all know how to use chopsticks. I guess not.

You would but some people never try, I guess.

[fide_et_spe]

I always find Gwen quite pompous in this episode, I hate the way she patronises them about relationships, she may as well have said "ha ha sad losers" also the comment at the table about them eating, it is so rude and obnoxious. I don't like Jack's reply though, or something about the acting, not sure, it just doesn't work.

I remember thinking there was something between Jack and Ianto in that ep. It was the "I don't care" comment, Also Jack's non response to Gwen's partner question. Of course even without Fragments we know there was some flirting, but Fragments shows that Ianto knows the answers, as you point out, both re the sexuality and the background.

I really don't like this episode that much, I think it is one of the weakest, but possibly just because of the cheap device of the sex alien, and the cheap innuendo that ensues. Your analysis is interesting, I think you are kinder to them than I would be!

[clarrisani]

I don't mind "Day One" because of some of the little moments (rat jam!), but it definitely is not a favourite of mine from S1. Partly because of the fact it is so Gwen heavy, the fact the sex alien is a little... odd, and you can see the actors still growing into their roles. I'm not sure which episode was filmed first in S1, but its never episode one.

[slns7552]

I haven't liked Gwen from the beginning. I think she's patronizing, obnoxious, rude and very self absorbed. The fact that we have been told that she represents us and is the heart of Torchwood at the same time that she cheats on her boyfriend, is condecending to the others, always there acting like she's the only one with heart when we know she isn't (Tosh with Mary, Tommy and Owen, her loyalty to Jack, Ianto with Lisa and Jack, Owen with Katie, Diane, his care of his occasional living patients) and the way she constantly disrespects Jack (I know, she's supposedly keeping him on his toes and making him think but to me, she borders on insubordination and disrespect far more often)really turns me against her. I never understood Jack's fascination with her. I hope some day that will be explained.

[xandra_ptv]

oh i love analyzing Torchwood. Gwen really never comes off as the person they tried to sell her as, in this one she just ends up looking narcissistic. She also found herself getting into a reoccurring pattern where Jack saves her from herself, that happened in 1x01 by accident, 1x02 by circumstance, and comes up in 1x03 because she wholeheartedly throws herself into it, I fell because the focus was on Owen a bit to long. lol. Oh and to have the epilogue with Jack at the end again.