Moar Children of Earth spoilers
Jul. 22nd, 2009 02:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ivyficI poked around a little and found that there is a com for Children of Earth fic, called, appropriately enough, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
denial_fic. I skimmed through some of the stories last night. It's only been a few weeks since it aired, which means the fic that's out there right now is all slap dash fix it stuff (it was a dream! the Doctor fixes everything!). I mean, it takes an epic to really sort out a mess like the one made by this miniseries. Here's the problem, though. In all the fic I saw, Jack is broken because Ianto died. Now, I know fandom is broken cause Ianto died, but I Jack's lost lovers and teammates before. Lots and lots of them. Often his fault, too. I don't think Ianto really is that important to his character arc in the long run (sorry OTPers!), or if he is, it's only as a cumulative representation of all the lovers and teammates he's lost, especially recently.
No, I think what broke him was killing his own grandson. Which means that if Jack runs to the Doctor to fix this mess, I think the first words out of his mouth would be to save Stephen, not Ianto. I know Jack made that whole "Take all the kids! Just give me Ianto!" speech, but that's typical bombastic Jack. ("What have they done to you my friiiiiiiiend!!!!!") And it's an easy thing to say when you know there's no chance of the alien actually saving Ianto in exchange for all the kids. No, I really think what's driving Jack to run away from everything is that he murdered his own grandson, and what that says about his willingness to cross lines. Yes, it was in the greater good, but I don't think he wants to be the kind of person capable of doing something like that for the greater good.
Which means, of course, that I started coming up with my own post CoE fic that would deal better with Jack's issues (and of course bring Ianto back, cause duh). But I still don't see any way to bring it to an even mildly happy ending, even with Ianto alive. Cause I don't think the Doctor would go back and save Stephen. Even if it didn't cause a paradox. Because the Doctor also is willing to sacrifice what is dear to him for the greater good. Jack, in crossing this line, has become much more like the Doctor. So I don't think the Doctor would help him take it back.
denial_fic. I skimmed through some of the stories last night. It's only been a few weeks since it aired, which means the fic that's out there right now is all slap dash fix it stuff (it was a dream! the Doctor fixes everything!). I mean, it takes an epic to really sort out a mess like the one made by this miniseries. Here's the problem, though. In all the fic I saw, Jack is broken because Ianto died. Now, I know fandom is broken cause Ianto died, but I Jack's lost lovers and teammates before. Lots and lots of them. Often his fault, too. I don't think Ianto really is that important to his character arc in the long run (sorry OTPers!), or if he is, it's only as a cumulative representation of all the lovers and teammates he's lost, especially recently.No, I think what broke him was killing his own grandson. Which means that if Jack runs to the Doctor to fix this mess, I think the first words out of his mouth would be to save Stephen, not Ianto. I know Jack made that whole "Take all the kids! Just give me Ianto!" speech, but that's typical bombastic Jack. ("What have they done to you my friiiiiiiiend!!!!!") And it's an easy thing to say when you know there's no chance of the alien actually saving Ianto in exchange for all the kids. No, I really think what's driving Jack to run away from everything is that he murdered his own grandson, and what that says about his willingness to cross lines. Yes, it was in the greater good, but I don't think he wants to be the kind of person capable of doing something like that for the greater good.
Which means, of course, that I started coming up with my own post CoE fic that would deal better with Jack's issues (and of course bring Ianto back, cause duh). But I still don't see any way to bring it to an even mildly happy ending, even with Ianto alive. Cause I don't think the Doctor would go back and save Stephen. Even if it didn't cause a paradox. Because the Doctor also is willing to sacrifice what is dear to him for the greater good. Jack, in crossing this line, has become much more like the Doctor. So I don't think the Doctor would help him take it back.
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no subject
Date: 2009-07-22 08:49 pm (UTC)it's only as a cumulative representation of all the lovers and teammates he's lost, especially recently.
I think this is the case -- also that OK, he's lost lovers and friends, but Ianto has started to become special in that he's chipped away at Jack's big ol' walls and I think Jack feels more guilt than anything because while he may not love Ianto with a big OTP love, he is well aware that Ianto loves HIM that way.
Plus, he's coming off of the Tosh and Owen thing, then follow that up with Stephen and WOW. And yeah, I think it's Stephen that breaks him for good and all. If it was just Ianto, he'd go back for Gwen, I believe. But he leaves because of what he did to Stephen. Ianto had a choice, Stephen did not.
Please to be writing that fic? I don't care if the ending isn't HAPPYJOYJOY I just want to see what you do.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-23 12:10 am (UTC)I realize, though, to make this work, I need to know a hell of a lot more about British politics than I do. Uh...what party is in power?
no subject
Date: 2009-07-23 12:16 am (UTC)I do think Jack feels guilty that Ianto loved him as he did, but I agree with you. If not for Stephen, he'd've stayed for Gwen. I really see killing Stephen as the thing that makes him realize what he's become.