children of earth
In my humble opinion, Ianto was the 'real' audience-insertion character for a large portion of Torchwood's current audience. Myself, of course, included.
Please don't misunderstand, I actually do love the characters who are still standing - Jack, Gwen, Rhys, even P.C. Andy - and I would like to see Lois come into her own.
I also understand the whole 'Torchwood employees don't live to collect their pensions' aspect, and that Ianto knew that clearly.
There have been numerous canon references to this.
One quite notable one was in 'To the Last Man', when Gwen and Ianto are looking at the old photographs. The script, if my memory serves, goes something like this:
Gwen and Ianto are looking at a photograph of two turn-of-the-century young Torchwood agent/officers.
They are young and beautiful. A man and a woman in period garb.
Gwen: He's a bit of all right.
Ianto: He's the boss. Nothing changes.
Gwen: *giggle*
Ianto: She's all right too. Harriet Derbyshire.
Gwen: Wonder what happened to her.
Ianto: (More serious tone, withdrawing.) She died. A year after that was taken. 26 years old.
Gwen: So young.
Ianto: (Sounding quite upset, introspective, withdrawn) They all were. Nothing changes. Where you goin'?
Gwen: Saint Tailo's Hopsital. And bloody cheer up, would you?
This stuck in my mind, because I was struck so clearly by the trope in play - that Ianto *knew* he'd die young, wouldn't see 30, and that Gwen couldn't understand why he was so gloomy.
I finally figured out the analogy that's been niggling at me. It's tacky as sin, but it's the emotional trope that's been pulling at me, whether it's fair or not. Emotionally for me, Gwen's the fag-hag in the late 80's/early 90's, in the height of the Epidemic. She'll live, while her friends die of a terminal illness that they can't escape. I understand that the analogy isn't fair, but it's what's playing out, and it's how it's been hitting me. It's the kind of immunity she seems to have, and its the hetero-protective bubble she's got around her. That may be non-PC of me, but it clicked when I thought it, so I'm posting it.
The recent radio play, 'The Dead Line', again clearly demonstrated Ianto's understanding of his mortality *and* his perception of his place in Jack's life, as well as throwing a beautiful bone to the Jack/Ianto shippers from *Jack's* side - and it's "canon", along with having a wonderful performance by the principal actors!
I didn't expect Ianto to live forever. I did, however, want at least one more season with him.
And the saddest part is - I think he was killed for unnecessary reasons.
I am grateful for the storytelling, and for the *amazing*, incredible acting performances from everyone involved here.
The level of emotion that the writing here has wrung from me is unequalled, and that is the job of the storyteller - to make me *feel*. They've succeeded, and I appreciate that and am grateful.
The acting has been unequalled from *all* of the principal and secondary cast.
I've loved everyone from the very beginning (though I admit that the relationship between Ianto and Jack has become my primary focus, though it was Jack that drew me in to begin with). That said, I can't *believe* the level of emotion I've felt over this entire storyline. I've laughed, wept, lost sleep (I watched first Brit broadcast) - mourned and rent and gnashed. Over fictional characters.
*That* is a gift from the team who provided it, from the actors to the writers to the directors and producers.
Thank you, my gratitude to you.
Even if I am livid and furious at being denied another season of what I'd wanted to see, when I don't think it was necessary yet, for any of the things you wanted to accomplish, I can appreciate and acknowledge your success in what you *have* provided. N'est pas? I'm selfish, angry, I feel betrayed and unhappy, but I'm not petty and I'm not going to deny that you've created something beautiful and effective even if it wasn't what I *wanted* you to give me.