Shipping Jack Harkness For Dummies

[storyinmypocket]

Otherwise entitled: Why Reading Quite a Lot of Torchwood Fanfic Makes Me Want to Bash My Head Against Things, and My God, Does Canon Have to Do It, Too?

Comments

[kawaiispinel]

AMEN. Have all the cookies. EVER. (Especially for including Sam.)

I'm not even actively INVOLVED in Torchwood fandom and I understand this crucial fact. IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT. *flails*

♥!

[storyinmypocket]

♥

And how could I not include Sam? DP/R has sold me on that relationship to an unhealthy degree.

[starletfallen]

...I fucking love you.

*snogs*

Why is it SO FUCKING HARD for whiny shippers to get their heads around this?

[storyinmypocket]

♥ *snogs returned, with interest*

I don't know, but it makes me risk head trauma every time I read fic. *grr*

[lionessvalenti]

The only thing here I really disagree with is the Jack being "forced" into monogamous relationships. I don't really think he's against them. It might not be something that happens a lot, but I do believe he's capable of only, for all intensive purposes, being with one person, and doing so willingly. Now, if he had to only be in love with the person he was being monogamous with there's going to be some issues, because it's not happening in a million years. Though I suppose some people might considering that still being non-monogamous

[storyinmypocket]

My feelings on Jack and monogamy are mixed at best, because I really can't see Jack being the kind of person who thinks sexual exclusivity is totally the way to go. I tend to see him reacting in a "You can if you want to but... why?" sort of way, for all that he's had plenty of time to get used to the monogamy-centric culture he's found himself in.

If he really felt someone was worth it, I'm sure he could be in an exclusive relationship, but I don't think it would feel natural to him. It would very definitely be a compromise on his part. He might well be willing to make it, considering he knows how most 20th and 21st century people prioritize that kind of thing... But the traditional monogamous relationship model does expect a certain level of emotional monogamy, not just physical, and that is completely beyond him.

Personally, I found it interesting how he was completely supportive of Gwen and Rhys being together before they got engaged, but as soon as there's a ring on Gwen's finger, enter Jack the Jealous Asshole. Not because he

[lionessvalenti]

Even though all the exact opinion don't exactly line up (can that actually happen with any two people? Like, ever?), we are definitely on the same page. I have my ships that I like and my ships that I don't like as much (especially with Jack, he canonly is in love with everyone, yet I actively ship him in two pairings. It's kind of unfair), but in the purest canon sense of the phrase "OTP", it doesn't exist with Jack. It'd be like OT7 with room for more.

but the idea that once he's picked his One and Only, he'll completely lose interest in everyone else. Just... NO.Your phrasing there is so on the money. Because those fics, it's not just "Jack's OMG ONE TRUE LOVE", it's also the wonderful privilege that whomever he's shipped with was chosen by him. It always seems to lack a mutual interest sort of feeling. Like Jack just walks down the street and decides who gets to be with him tonight. It not only compromises the characters Jack is with, but it makes Jack look like a prick. Kind of like John in the bar, deciding who should leave and

[storyinmypocket]

*grumblemutter stupid screening settings* ...Right, that's fixed.

And YES. From RPing in a game with an excellent Jack player, I've concluded that Jack isn't really the OTP sort. He's just the 'plus Jack' in any other OTP/OT3/OTwhatever you could imagine.

In canon, Doctor/Rose... PLUS JACK. In my game, Suzie/Tosh... PLUS JACK. Gene/Sam/Annie.... PLUS JACK.

And let us never forget: Ianto/Coffee (totally an OTP)... PLUS JACK.

Jack is flexible like that.

Because those fics, it's not just "Jack's OMG ONE TRUE LOVE", it's also the wonderful privilege that whomever he's shipped with was chosen by him. It always seems to lack a mutual interest sort of feeling. Like Jack just walks down the street and decides who gets to be with him tonight. It not only compromises the characters Jack is with, but it makes Jack look like a prick.

OH GOD YES.

But Jack is irresistible! Jack has an Aura of Smooth! Who wouldn't want Jack to hand-pick them? (Not the fangirls, at any rate... Hell, probably not me, either, for all that I've given in to the

[martyfan]

So very YES. The only reason I can see Jack acting monogamous (acting, not actually feeling) is if he had to do it to blend in, and given that he wears WWII-era clothing wherever he goes and flirts with everybody regardless of time period or place, I'd say blending in is not his top priority.

[storyinmypocket]

Meh. I think if he really fell for someone he might try, for their sake, but it wouldn't feel natural for him at all.

I wouldn't say he's incapable of monogamy, but he'd be very, very BAD at it.

[varymydays]

Hallelujah!

No questions. Only massive agreement. I wish the rest of the fandom would GET IT. I feel like this should be linked somewhere where all can see and understand!

[storyinmypocket]

Hey, I actually made this an OMG PUBLIC POST. So it could be freely linked.

Alas, it seems I'm just Not Awesome Enough for linkage. Bah.

[smithnjones]

I'd link it somewhere if I had somewhere to link it. XD But I'm not really a part of any Torchwood comms or... anything.

Pretend like this is my journal. >>