I loved the writing in this one. It was by James Moran, who also did the very good "Captain's Blog" on the BBCA website.
My interpretation of Jack in this one: He had to go into 'soldier' mode, because his greatest concern is survival and freedom of the earth - anything to stop enemy invasion. So he had to be tough. But he doesn't feel tough, which is why he asked Ianto if he was scary enough. It was part bluff, in a way, but a sincere bluff - Jack does whatever he has to do, and hopes that threats work before the torture gets serious.
I see it as very similar to "Cyberwoman", where Jack sees what a threat the Cyberwoman is, but Ianto still sees the woman within the metal. In "Sleeper", Beth really was an innocent victim of the aliens - but she was already doomed, long since, and too dangerous to live. Which she figured out.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2008-07-25 12:54 pm (UTC)My interpretation of Jack in this one: He had to go into 'soldier' mode, because his greatest concern is survival and freedom of the earth - anything to stop enemy invasion. So he had to be tough. But he doesn't feel tough, which is why he asked Ianto if he was scary enough. It was part bluff, in a way, but a sincere bluff - Jack does whatever he has to do, and hopes that threats work before the torture gets serious.
I see it as very similar to "Cyberwoman", where Jack sees what a threat the Cyberwoman is, but Ianto still sees the woman within the metal. In "Sleeper", Beth really was an innocent victim of the aliens - but she was already doomed, long since, and too dangerous to live. Which she figured out.
I hope we see the Sleepers again.