Nothing Here But Love for Rhiannon Davies
I rarely participate in online meme-things (normally because I find them a few months too late) but I jumped into the Whoniverse Love Meme for some of my favorite less-appreciated characters. (Jack and Ianto don't need me, let's be honest.) Donna is my favorite Doctor Who character possibly ever, so I started with her. Donna doesn't get nearly enough love.
But later captjharknesstw and I bonded a bit over Rhiannon. RHIANNON IS THE SHIZNIT PEOPLE.
IN THE SPIRIT OF UNAPPRECIATED CHARACTER LOVE I WILL TELL YOU ALL WHY I LOVE RHIANNON.
LET ME COUNT THE WAYS.
Ok, I'm not seriously counting anything. But Rhiannon does happen to frequently occupy the favorite Torchwood character spot. She just got better every minute she was on screen. (There will be COE spoilers here...because duh. But I WILL FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE.)
First, Ianto, her weird, suit-wearing, London-living, awkward James-Bond-wannabe little brother shows up, and Rhinanon is all, "Oh, look! It's a unicorn my brother and it's not Christmas! What're you doing here?" in her awesome way, clearly guilting Ianto a little bit. On purpose. (IANTO IS CLEARLY CRAP AT THIS FAMILY EMOTIONAL COMMUNICATION THING. RHI GUILTS BECAUSE SHE CARES.)
Then she basically tells Ianto about his relationship with Jack (because Rhi is clearly one of those socially connected people, a skill I totally admire) and demands answers, and while Ianto is CRAWLING UNDER THE TABLE she supports him by being totally nonchalant about the whole thing. "Oh you're gay? Or possibly bi? No, I don't care about that part! Why didn't you communicate with your older sister occasionally???"
Then she is totes Mama Bear with her kids. They are speaking in unison, so they get to stay home and play videogames, dammit. You can bond later.
THEN SHE SMUGGLES A LAPTOP AND HER CAR TO IANTO'S SECRET-SPY DROP-OFF LOCATION. BECAUSE RHIANNON IS SMART AND SHE KNOWS WHEN TO LISTEN.
Ok, with me so far? Rhiannon is an awesome big sister, a good mom, and a sharp cookie. She's also shown to be pretty comfortable in her life, which is shown as a direct contrast to Ianto's carefully groomed veneer. But Rhi doesn't care. She's got her hubby and her kids and she's satisfied.
BUT THEN.
She is basically watching a dozen or so kids without the house erupting into utter chaos, she figures out that they're all pointing to London (with her husband). And when she gets the call from Ianto to protect her kids? RHIANNON IS GOING TO PROTECT ALL THE KIDS. Gwen shows up and Rhiannon doesn't even hesitate. She will not abandon other children by favoring her own. She will not break down and mourn when she doesn't have time. (Her husband will literally protect her family bodily. Go Johnny!)
Rhiannon is this awesome older sister and mother, and I've developed such theories and head-canon about her and Ianto and Johnny and David and Mica. At this point, if I see her name on a fic, I WILL READ IT. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH RHI LOVE.
Disclaim that I wrote this in one draft while doing a whole bunch of other things, so I might have been a little excessive on the caps and the italics. Hopefully I'll get around to doing some quality meta analysis at some point. Either way. RHIANNON DAVIES. BAMF.
But later captjharknesstw and I bonded a bit over Rhiannon. RHIANNON IS THE SHIZNIT PEOPLE.
IN THE SPIRIT OF UNAPPRECIATED CHARACTER LOVE I WILL TELL YOU ALL WHY I LOVE RHIANNON.
LET ME COUNT THE WAYS.
Ok, I'm not seriously counting anything. But Rhiannon does happen to frequently occupy the favorite Torchwood character spot. She just got better every minute she was on screen. (There will be COE spoilers here...because duh. But I WILL FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE.)
First, Ianto, her weird, suit-wearing, London-living, awkward James-Bond-wannabe little brother shows up, and Rhinanon is all, "Oh, look! It's a unicorn my brother and it's not Christmas! What're you doing here?" in her awesome way, clearly guilting Ianto a little bit. On purpose. (IANTO IS CLEARLY CRAP AT THIS FAMILY EMOTIONAL COMMUNICATION THING. RHI GUILTS BECAUSE SHE CARES.)
Then she basically tells Ianto about his relationship with Jack (because Rhi is clearly one of those socially connected people, a skill I totally admire) and demands answers, and while Ianto is CRAWLING UNDER THE TABLE she supports him by being totally nonchalant about the whole thing. "Oh you're gay? Or possibly bi? No, I don't care about that part! Why didn't you communicate with your older sister occasionally???"
Then she is totes Mama Bear with her kids. They are speaking in unison, so they get to stay home and play videogames, dammit. You can bond later.
THEN SHE SMUGGLES A LAPTOP AND HER CAR TO IANTO'S SECRET-SPY DROP-OFF LOCATION. BECAUSE RHIANNON IS SMART AND SHE KNOWS WHEN TO LISTEN.
Ok, with me so far? Rhiannon is an awesome big sister, a good mom, and a sharp cookie. She's also shown to be pretty comfortable in her life, which is shown as a direct contrast to Ianto's carefully groomed veneer. But Rhi doesn't care. She's got her hubby and her kids and she's satisfied.
BUT THEN.
She is basically watching a dozen or so kids without the house erupting into utter chaos, she figures out that they're all pointing to London (with her husband). And when she gets the call from Ianto to protect her kids? RHIANNON IS GOING TO PROTECT ALL THE KIDS. Gwen shows up and Rhiannon doesn't even hesitate. She will not abandon other children by favoring her own. She will not break down and mourn when she doesn't have time. (Her husband will literally protect her family bodily. Go Johnny!)
Rhiannon is this awesome older sister and mother, and I've developed such theories and head-canon about her and Ianto and Johnny and David and Mica. At this point, if I see her name on a fic, I WILL READ IT. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH RHI LOVE.
Disclaim that I wrote this in one draft while doing a whole bunch of other things, so I might have been a little excessive on the caps and the italics. Hopefully I'll get around to doing some quality meta analysis at some point. Either way. RHIANNON DAVIES. BAMF.