Facebook Recap for "Torchwood: Children of Earth": Day 4

Okay that last part about killing Tara and still getting crap was hilarious. Oh and the Witness Protection Program.

This season had so many plotholes and incredibly dumb plot to begin with. It focused so much on the political side of things too. The aliens coming back was interesting, but why they came back was such a letdown.

Then they kill my favorite character and leave Gwen and the whiner. 

I am finding the facebook summaries very entertaining.

Love the last one where Joss Whedon gives his warning.  Killing Tara off was not appreciated by me, nor was killing off Ianto.  

So funny. Ianto is definitely not dead.

"To make a bad day worse, spend it wishing for the impossible." - Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes

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Ianto: (Sounding quite upset, introspective, withdrawn)  They all were.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. Which I will bite down on, until after tomorrow night. 

I too appreciated the commentary from 'Joss' above. I'm logging out before I say something I'll regret in the light of day.

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.

Bonsoir.
Louis de Pointe du Lac

Never had much attraction to JB/Capt Jack, and DGL / Ianto bares a small likeness to my brother so that killed any sex appeal Janto held for me. Fandom can go explode all over RTD for all its worth. Have fun. I've been mad at him ever since the Christmas Invasion. PM --wait, you know who she was -- Harriet Jones was right and the blatantly sexist way the Doctor removed her from power...grrrrr...then when she does get proven right she gets killed off for her efforts! Forget Donna Noble as saviour of the universe, she would not have gotten there without Harriet Jones! ok rant over.

However, I do want to go on record before I see Day 5, that if Agent Johnson redeems herself and joints the good guys/Torchwood at the end I will be royally pissed. I've been waiting 4 days and heading into a 5th and I so want someone to slap, punch, stab, shoot, (not necessarily in that order) and kill this uber b**** so bad. Oh and Lois can have a go at Bridget Spears too. Thought for sure Spears was going to expose Lois. Can now live with Torchwood being the open secret that it had become. Loved the fear in the eyes/theme music when she announces to PM that she's with Torchwood. Now Lois joining TW I could live with. She'd be excellent in the role of everyday Jane /"Rose Tyler" companion figure thrown into the wild adventures of alien fighter defender of earth that Gwen was originally to be.

Have enjoyed this series. Gwen is really a bit more relaxed/less harsh around the edges. Nothing to really tear into and rip apart / complain about.

So the questions are : Just how the heck is Rhys to know if/when to release the blackmail footage to world? What was the connection between 456 and Clem ? Remnant ? only assoicate that word with carpet. And what's with the vomiting? enough!

My stab in the dark generalized guesses / predictions for Day 5. Which if I'm right would be spoilerish. What spoilers I do know I'll keep out.

Old scientist in hazmat suit is alive and will be needed to solve mystery / save world. Forbisher, PM Green and/or some members of cabinet will be exposed for being the bastards that they are and karma being a bitch will equal their horrible deaths (please please please). Agent Johnson will see the evil of her ways and redeem herself *rolls eyes / gack* Lives/dies toss up and along as she does not end up as a possible member of TW series 4 (if there is ever such a thing) I'm ok. Lois will have to battle Bridget to save the day and lives to be possible future TW member. If she dies I will hunt down RTD...Tosh was bad enough....

I'm not sure i really get ianto and jack's relationship.

day 1, ianto seemed to have a stroke every time someone mentioned "couple" and jack said he hated that word.

also, i was watching 'extended look at torchwood' (that behind the scenes commentary thing) and john barrowman said something to the extent of jack having a problem with wanting to tell ianto things because that would mean they are committed and a couple.

so in conclusion......what the hell were jack and ianto? *lost as hell*

First off once again loved the facebook recap. And the whole Joss Whedon talking to Russel T. Davies. So funny!

As for Ianto getting killed off I was quite upset, but then my mom brought up that Jack Harkness is like Jack Bauer (24) in that he can't have anyone close to him because it'll end up in heartbreak.

Can't wait for tonights episode!

This is definitely the end of Torchwood, for me and for a lot of people as well...

I love those recaps btw...

well done! :) loved Joss's coments.

personally still in denial about Ianto. I've come up with a number of rewrites where he lives which is not making it easy to accept he's gone - which he is :(

imo he died 'cause RTD wanted to show sh*t happens. Ianto stood by Jack, who was standing up to the 456 at Ianto's prompting/request/reminder-that-that's-what's awesome about Jack and so he died....gotta go and do more rewrites :-}

wish I was at SD Comic-con would love to be there for the TW/DW panel. RTD is not gonna know what him...ah, ta be a fly on the wall.

Magnificent episode, as usual! We finally get to see how much power the 456 really have. Oh, and if I were RTD I'd follow Joss Whedon's advice. Joining the Witness Relocation Program is the best thing for him now, before the fangirls and -boys get to him.

What is up with RTD though? He's killing off most of the cast! I hope he finds a way to bring Ianto back for next season (if there is a next season).  Maybe the Doctor should pay him a visit and his companion use the TARDIS thing again? That way they'd both be immortal! :D