So, before I forget, I'm trying to work out some idea of what is going on with Jack/Ianto that I realistically believe versus: oh, they are dating and shagging and living happily ever after la la la la.


Just now reading the whole Captain's Log (and I really miss being in London where I can actually access the Torchwood site) for Season One makes me think that the whole Ianto propositioning Jack was entirely out of nowhere if they're interacting a lot offscreen, Jack trying to pay more attention to Ianto off work etc. So there's clearly some kind of friendly attachment, and you know, Jack is hot, Jack likes hot people, ok then sex. That is, I can see how Ianto would say: let's have sex because I find you attractive and you find me attractive and this world is crazy yet let's still remain on the same emotional commitment level of friends.

But it would be more than that, right? I mean, we see that Ianto doesn't really connect with anyone at work besides Jack: he's at least (at least) a bit cool with Owen from everything we've seen. Judging by a Season 2 email to Gwen, it's all sarcastic and doesn't have the tone of: well let's confide in each other, talk it out, I see your concerns, etc. It's not what you would say to a friend really. But then, I don't think Ianto's the type to go for Gwen's emotional sympathy towards everyone. So that leaves Tosh, and I think while they're friendlier than Owen and Gwen, they're both not the easy, outgoing type to really be hitting it off. Back to Jack: Jack is trying to be with Ianto, Jack's life is Torchwood like Ianto, and Jack is Jack. Jack is the centre of all of them.

So I figure when Jack dies, Ianto loses Jack and everything that means, and then he comes back with The Kiss. But then he leaves again. But before he leaves, everything that's happened just forces Ianto to elevate his say "affection" for Jack to the next level so there's some season of emotional attachment. Like love I guess. So in all, you've got such a quick sequence of emotionally tramatic events that of course Ianto's not going to be well adjusted about Jack now.

And everything we have seen of Ianto for Season Two is distancing himself from Jack, it's questioning Jack's attachment to himself, to the team. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was full of him wondering about the other people in Jack's life: "Are you going back to him?" "What kind of partners?" "Why are we helping him?" (off the top of my head) It's all sounds jealous, and it all sounds bitter.

And I think that's where one-liner Ianto is. He's mad, he's bitter, he doesn't trust Jack at all, but he's still as emotionally invested in him as ever. Like the date scene: Ianto doesn't react with happiness or cheerfulness. His response is completelly sarcastic. And when he says yes, it's quick, it's confused, but it's not happy. It's all: what am I to him, what is he playing at (completely emo, I know, but it's the best I can describe what I'm seeing). And when he responds to Gwen and says: oh well he would never tell me something that important, it's like he's affirming that he isn't much to Jack. That he's not special.

But he doesn't express it. He doesn't emote his frustration like Gwen and he doesn't push for more. So I don't know, I think he's complex but he's also so sad.

As for Jack, I think Jack realized that he felt some real form of attachment to this people that was just the ephermal connections he lives with while waiting for the Doctor, he realized this and that's why he didn't stay with the Doctor. And I think knowing this, he wants to change from that guy that can go from person to person and just be superficially there to some with real bonds.

And I think that's why he goes to Gwen because she's warm, she's expressive, she cares, she's so human and that's what he wants to feel, the passion of real emotion. But I think ultimately he doesn't see himself as the man to make her happy (or satisfied at least) like Rhys might, and he's not going to step-up and say something against the engagement.

As for Ianto, if nothing else, Ianto is special in that he needs Jack more, but Ianto is also special in that they have a history, an already romantic history. And I do think he deeply cares about Ianto, feels concern for him. And I think Jack's also trying to get to that place where they're something more, he's trying, but I don't know that Ianto can get there anymore.