Torchwood Meta: For Different Values of Love by cupidsbow

[cupidsbow]

You've probably all noticed that I've been watching Torchwood and reading the fanfic lately. What you probably haven't yet realised is that I think I've... um... sort of... fallen into fannish love

Comments

[starstealingirl]

OMG YES THANK YOU FOR SAYING THIS.

One of the things that attracted me to Jack/Ianto in the first place are the ensuing (mis)communications that have to take place between them, since one member of the couple comes from a different culture and time, and clearly has differing views of sex/gender/relationships than the other. I'm not usually into canon relationships, but I think the show really fails to adequately explore the complex dynamic between the two men, and I wanted to see what other writers do with it. Being a polyamorous (though currently sad and single) creature myself, I was excited about the possibility of exploring a relationship that isn't all monogamous OTPs and domesticity.

And for the most part, yes, I have found that the majority of fanfic writers try to wish that aspect of their relationship away, and rewrite them as monogamous and domestic. Which I clearly don't understand-- there are a lot of less complicated characters out in fandom world to play with. Why not revel in the complexity of these two, and use the pairing as a way to play with/question what we think we know about love and relationships?

[tigercheetah]

But on the other hand, I think some fic writers see Ianto as being comfortable with poly relationships because it suits them, not because there's any evidence for it. The idea that Jack sleeps around whilst Ianto is mostly faithful isn't something they want to think about because it makes them uncomfortable and the relationship one sided. There's no evidence in either the tv series, the official books or in interviews that Ianto is a character who'd be part of a poly relationship. I'm ok with the idea that Ianto started sleeping with Jack whilst Lisa was still alive because Ianto wasn't able to be a lover to Lisa once she'd been partially converted. He was affectively her carer.

I also think that Jack is less secure in his relationships with people than he often makes out. When he looks at Gwen and Rhys, he totally understands why Gwen needs Rhys in her life and that he can offer her stability in a way Jack can't. Jack thinks it's a good idea for Gwen to be commited to Rhys, so he must surely see a benefit in that type of relationship.

I agree that the series is very ambiguous when it comes to Jack and Ianto though and hopefully things will be made more clear in series 3.