Torchwood: the snogging scene in "Countrycide"..

[fajrdrako]

Snogging: an interesting topic, on Torchwood. No, I don't mean the almost-snog at the tree between Gwen and Owen, I mean the conversation Gwen initiates at the campsite: "Who'd you last snog?" That's a delightful scene in terms of characterization.

Just in initiating it, Gwen reveals a lot about herself: her role at Torchwood (according to Jack) was to humanize the others, and she's doing it like a Girl Guide leader, setting up games (I'm crediting her with the basketball game in "Cyberwoman"), recreational outings (talk about going to the football game), and conversational games.

But this particular game reveals a lot about her: curiosity, a fascination with sex, a fascination with people's lives, recklessness, indiscretion, and a real desire for intimacy in friendships without much tact. This brings to mind her comments in "Day One", where she was fishing for information about their private lives, saying, "I don't want to be rude, but... well, maybe I do."

So: snogging. Tosh's answer reveals her crush on Owen, her shyness, her defensiveness about it, her good memory... I wonder, why Owen? Why would he attract a girl as shy as Tosh? Maybe because they both have phenomenal intelligence, something they don't share with a lot of the population; and it's scientifically-oriented genius at that. They're both geeks. His aggression might frighten her in a way that bypasses her shyness, turns her on.

Owen's answer is calculated to embarrass Gwen and put her at a disadvantage - which she might have anticipated, and pretty much earned. All part of his seduction technique. (Jack lures; Owen attacks.) And Gwen, who loves risk and challenge, loves this.

So is Owen telling the truth? In the time since "Cyberwoman", has he picked no one up in bars? Maybe without the pheromone spray, he doesn't bother. Maybe he's lying because his goal is to get Gwen. How long has it been between "Cyberwoman" and "Countrycide"? are there any indications?

Gwen's answer is meant to sound innocent, even respectable, since kissing the man you live with is only to be expected. But it is an answer that hides her attraction to both Owen and Jack, and perhaps her hankering for sexual excitement that reveals itself in numerous ways including her reaction to the sex alien. Owen can see this, and almost immediately hones in on it as her weakness, in the tree scene.

Jack's answer is meant to deflect, obviously. "Are we including non-human life-forms?" It's amusing and outrageous - very Jack-like. It also does the opposite of what Owen's answer was meant to do, it avoids embarrassment to Ianto, who is presumably the last person Jack kissed. It also brings to mind the two times we have seen Jack kiss aliens: Carys when possessed, and the Doctor in "The Parting of the Ways". Owen witnessed the kiss for Carys, if he wants to think about it. I think we can assumed that when he calls Jack "sick" and "disgusting", his real reaction is envy. Owen wants to be cool. Jack is cooler than cool, and casual about it. He can outclass Owen in any sexual contest without even trying, including outrageousness. Jack himself would think that wasn't the point - it isn't a competition - but that doesn't stop Owen from making it a contest. Maybe he wants to prove he can seduce Gwen before Jack does, not knowing that Jack wouldn't do so.

Ianto cuts the conversation entirely by talking about Lisa, but essentially he's lying too - or so I interpret it - his conversation being directed at Jack. He knows Jack kissed him. Does Ianto think the intent was to revive him, or take advantage of him? What does their long stare mean? I could imagine many interpretations, my current favourite being:
Ianto: Are you trying to confuse me?
Jack: No. Think for yourself.

Comments

[sacreddesire.livejournal.com]

See that's one of the reasons I hate Ianto. He seems to ruin every good thing that goes on. I don't see it as him lying, because I see no "relationship" or whatever between him and Jack.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Fair enough, though I don't see him as being destructive... I see him, as so many of them are, as a good, troubled person trying to make sense of life. I think he loves Jack, and I can certainly relate to that! Of the many relationships surrounding Jack, the one with Ianto is not my favourite, but I find it fascinating in its ramifications.

And become Jack loves them all, I can't resist loving them all myself. Possibly it is because I identify with him; possibly it is because I admire his talent for caring, compassion and forgiveness.

[sacreddesire.livejournal.com]

I liked Ianto until the whole Lisa thing happened. He betrayed them and I'm not ok with things like that.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, Ianto betrayed them, but Jack forgave him and I can too. He has since proved his loyalty and courage. I'm a lot more uncomfortable with his betrayal of jack in "End of Days", but I think I've sorted that out in my head now.