Torchwood: Theories and thoughts after "Fragments"...

[fajrdrako]

One thing I was thinking of on contemplating "Fragments" is that there are so many delightful surprises to me - things that I didn't predict. Words cannot say how much that pleases me, when most television is extremely predictable. So many twists and surprises in their background that I loved, and theories to be garnered from them:

1. Owen's appearance. Owen used to fit the image of a 'real' doctor: suits, authority, respectability and the respect of his peers. Then the events surrounding his fiancée's death threw him so off kilter that he is the one who wears lurid t-shirts, plays video-games at work, and has a snarky (if not rude) comment for every occasion. No sign then that he ran after multiple sex partners or one-night-stands or fuck-buddies.
   
   
2. Owen's outlook. The most amazing thing about Owen: he used to be idealistic. The extremity of his cynicism now simply indicates the extent of his former idealism. Or is the cynicism at least partly false?
   
   Well: depression tends to destroy idealism, optimism and drive, and we are witnessing Owen's fall.
   
   
3. Ianto's meeting with Jack. Ianto was attracted to Jack, and flirting with him, from the start. Setting Jack up, of course; maybe not to seduce him sexually, but to attract him and make Jack think there was a chance of having him, just enough to bait a hook. Only it's one thing for a man to concoct a long-range scheme of deception, quite another to be dealing face to face the with man he is deceiving. I think Ianto liked Jack more than he expected to - and on levels he didn't expect to - and was overwhelmed by the horror of what he was doing. But he did it anyway, of course. He had to. At quite a psychological price. No wonder he was stubborn about the Cyberwoman.
   
   
4. The Two Torchwoods. I was suprised (though pleased) that Jack had severed ties between Torchwood Three and Torchwood One "a long time ago". That is vague enough not to help in guessing exactly when; I suspect New Year's Day, 2000. As soon as he could.
   
   
5. Jack through the centuries. Though Jack knew from Tarot Girl that he would not find the Doctor until after 2000, that doesn't seem to have stopped him from looking. I wonder if his various travels might be to places the thought the Doctor had visited.
   
   Obviously Jack wasn't always in Cardiff. We know he travelled through the US in the 1880s; that he was in India in the early 1900s; that he was in both World War I and World War II; but of course none of these situations is incompatible with working for Torchwood.
   
   
6. Jack and his Torchwood files. I would guess that when Jack took over Torchwood, he took all the files on himself and burned them - except for the photos he wanted to keep for one reason or another. The photos he put in a tin in his desk drawer, to look at when he felt like it.
   
   
7. UNIT and politics. UNIT is very nasty, and that makes me think that something should be done about it. I think the Doctor has already taken the matter in hand by influencing them to hire Martha, who, having saved the world once already, can use her smarts to do what Jack did with Torchwood: rebuild it and reform it with the Geneva Convention in mind. I don't think Martha, at this point, has any idea about any of this.
   
   The UNIT scenes fit nicely with what we saw of the Valiant in "Last of the Time Lords".
   
   
8. UNIT and sex. This gives me a whole new perspective on what Jack had in mind for sex games with Ianto wearing the UNIT cap. Some dom/sub play, perhaps? No wonder Ianto appears more self-confident these days.
   
   
9. What Ianto knows. I had always assumed that Ianto had no idea how old Jack was, or what era he was from. Now we know that Ianto did know about the healing factor, if not the immortality, and if he didn't already know (from Torchwood One) that Jack was from the 51st century, Jack tells him on their second meeting. Pheromones. Hmm. Gotta love those pheromones.
   
   
10. Dark pasts. I am still fascinated that it's Ianto and Tosh who have police records. Who'd have guessed? I would have thought it would be Owen, if anyone.
    
    I've always thought that Ianto seemed unexpectedly immature, even innocent, considering what he'd been through. I now think that this is - not part of his act, but a side effect of his act: that he is suffering from the trauma of Lisa's loss as well as the reintegration of his own personality, finding as he goes a selfhood he can live with. He is clever and adaptable and (once committed) unshakably loyal. But he is also more of a wild card than I had imagined.
    
    
11. I wonder why UNIT owes Jack favours.
    
    
12. Jack's drinking habits. The impression we got in "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances" is that Jack likes to drink, especially in extremis: hypervodkas before execution. And "Fragments" would reinforce that - it appeared to be a drunken brawl that Jack was killed in, in his first flashback scene, and Jack's reaction to Torchwood's heavy-handed techniques to force him to join them seems to have been to return to the pub and get drunk. Makes me suspect that he knows he tends to drink in reaction to stress, and is curbing that. Hydration is a bonus.
    
    This fits too with his relationship with Captain John Hart, a heavy drinker. In "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang", Jack pretends to drink alcohol - but doesn't so much as sip from the bottle.
    
    
13. What did Alex foresee? janne_d had a theory that I love; that when Alex looked into his future-seeing gadget, he saw The Year That Never Was. Of course he would freak. This theory is backed by the visual effect of his gadget, reminiscent of the Gallifreyan watch fob which we saw in that episode. Was this manipulation, or accident? Had Alex fallen to a con job set up by - well, take your pick, Bilis? the Master? - or was it a matter of finding a piece of alien tech he didn't know how to handle or understand?
    
    Alternatively, it could have been a glimpse into an alternate universe that failed to happen because of his death and Jack's taking over Torchwood.
    
    I am reminded of the time-paradoxes in Heroes, where alternate futures come and go.
    
    
14. Masks. With the exception of Gwen, no one at Torchwood is quite what they appear.
    
    
    • Jack, who seemed to be the one with all the personal secrets, seems to have very few now, at least from the Team.
      
    • Toshiko, who seemed quiet and conscientious, is the one with the burden of a prison sentence and a secret deal with Jack.
      
    • Owen, who seemed rebellious and cynical, is burdened with a heart that wants to save everyone and a tragic love as terrible as Ianto's love for Lisa.
      
    • Ianto, who seems so quiet and reserved, is the one who was able to pull a successful con job on Jack - successful, at least, to a point. And then adopted the persona he had assumed permanently, when he fell in love with his mark.
    
    
    
    
    
    

Comments

[gillo]

I find the portrayal of UNIT quite disturbing, because back in the 70s it was a generally benign organisation, multinational, dedicated to fighting threats which conventional forces couldn't deal with. The Brigadier was never a full assistant (as companions were known back in the day) but always on the Doctor's side. It's hard to see what could have turned them into such a brutal and threatening outfit. The treatment of Tosh had very strong Guantanamo Bay overtones, especially the clothes she was forced to wear. Such bright colours as uniform for prisoners are, to the best of my knowledge, unknown in the British prison system.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I find the portrayal of UNIT quite disturbing

And so it is.

back in the 70s it was a generally benign organisation, multinational, dedicated to fighting threats which conventional forces couldn't deal with

Am I right, then, in thinking of it as Doctor Who's equivalent of U.N.C.L.E.? Or Marvel's SHIELD?

Well, SHIELD too in now a semi-fascist organization allied to a dangerous regime. It's a sign of the times.

The Brigadier was ... always on the Doctor's side.

I should hope so!

But that isn't the only transformation. Back in series one, Harriet Jones was a good guy - someone who fought alien menaces at the Doctor's side and helped save the day. Ten ousted her and things got worse. Harold Saxon was elected.

The other day I turned on the radio and they were talking about a place where government-based armed soldiers would knock on people's doors demanding entry - people were terrified. But I'd turned on the radio in mid-item, and I couldn't guess what country they were talking about. The item when on for another minute or so but I never did find out. And it's a sign of the time that I can't even limit my guesses to a handful of possibilities.

It's hard to see what could have turned them into such a brutal and threatening outfit

Corrupt leaders? We've seen this sort of thing happen in Doctor Who before - I'm thinking of "The Long Game", but there are other possibilities.

The treatment of Tosh had very strong Guantanamo Bay overtones

Yes, absolutely. The thought being, "if it can happen there, it can happen here. If it can happen anywhere, it can happen here, if no one stops it." And no one stopped it. Which is why I hope Martha will. (Go, Martha!)

It doesn't seem difficult for me to imagine a UNIT like that working in perfect accord with Yvonne's Torchwood One.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

P.S. In relation to UNIT, I couldn't help thinking of The Professionals and what CI5 might have become without Cowley in charge.

[sizequeen.livejournal.com]

On the Unit Thing: In 2008, I don't think you can present a super secret organization with no governmental oversight as anything but morally gray at the very least. These days, peaople simply don't believe that any military agency that isn't watched closely will act beneificently. We have doubts and it makes sense that that is reflected in New Whoniverse.

[halfspokenwords.livejournal.com]

Much more recently than the seventies, even. 'Battlefield' was, I think, set in the nineties. So whatever happened, it happened in the interim ten years or so. Maybe when the organization changed hands after Brigadier Bambera, since we know that UNIT was still a-okay when she was in charge?

I have to say, I rather wish they'd just left UNIT alone, instead of making everyone as morally ambiguous as Torchwood is. It's a disservice to all the old school UNIT characters-- and to the Doctor, who worked for them, after all! They were the good guys, if a little trigger-happy (though in that way the Brig and Jack are the same sort of companion), and it was always about Geneva first. It really makes me sad.

[cthonus.livejournal.com]

Yes, I thought of Guantanamo the moment I saw the jumpsuits. It wouldn't be entirely impossible for an organisation like UNIT to be taken over by hawks and turned into something entirely less wholesome, especially over a period of almost 40 years.

[urnssadomen.livejournal.com]

Actually, before "the year that never was" started. We saw that American President presented himself as not only the leader of a country but the sole authority figure in UNIT as well. "UNIT is taking over." that's what he said to Saxon. So I would assume the UNIT some what reflected US's recent actions.

Alastair

[the-blue-fenix.livejournal.com]

I find the portrayal of UNIT quite disturbing, because back in the 70s it was a generally benign organisation, multinational, dedicated to fighting threats which conventional forces couldn't deal with. The Brigadier was never a full assistant (as companions were known back in the day) but always on the Doctor's side.

The Brig was never an 'assistant' because he was a power in his own right -- strictly speaking, the Doctor was his assistant. And if anyone had tried to give him an illegal order, he'd have snapped them off at the ankles.

Okay, I'm biased. The Brig is the template of what a worthy human being should be in the series. Also extremely hot in his day. (It's always the self controlled ones who get really interesting when they let go.)

Was I the only one during "Empty Child" who kept waiting and waiting for a ten-or-so year old Alastair to turn out to be one of the children?

[justinej.livejournal.com]

Yeah, wasn't the Brigadier from UNIT and I don't get why they have suddenly become the baddies.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

This doesn't mean the Brigadier was bad - it just means that he didn't have the power to fix things. Was he in charge of UNIT? Was there a coup?

We saw how bad things were in the Year That Never Was.

It will be interesting to see what happened with the Brigadier, and how, and why.

came here from torch_wood comm...

[stopwatch-plz.livejournal.com]

In addition, I have a bit of a... theory.

There's a bit in the Jack/Ianto scene that goes:

Ianto: "When (Canary Wharf) burned, two members of your team scavenged the ruins"

Jack: "We didn't want the equipment getting into the wrong hands"

I reckon that, amongst the "equipment" they took was the cyber conversion unit. They'd definitely not want that getting in the wrong hands (oops!) and would explain how it was in Torchwood3 for Ianto to use. Ok, so that would still mean him getting his half-metal girlfriend across the country and into TW, but it's a start! *lol*

Re: came here from torch_wood comm...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, that's quite brilliant - a wonderful theory!

Now, we would have to assume that Jack didn't know what it was - that he didn't know what it could do. Because once he learned it existed at Torchwood, he wanted it dismantled and destroyed.

But how could Jack know what it was? He has not had first-hand experience with Cybermen, and it makes sense that he would take it for study, especially if it had been dismantled at least partly already. And if Ianto found out where it had gone - the fact that he knew Jack's people had been there in the first place indicates that he was looking into it.

So Ianto found out where it had gone, and that was why Torchwood itself was the only place he could possibly save Lisa and restore her to humanity. It wouldn't be so had to smuggle a woman-sized metal person into the basement, compared to bringing the whole cyber conversion unit from London to Cardiff and getting it down on the Lift. I don't think they take cyber conversion units on the train.

It explains Ianto's desperation - he couldn't just set up shop in some abandoned warehouse, he had to do it at Torchwood and nowhere else would do.

Good call!

[selenityshiroi.livejournal.com]

I have to say, it amazes me that so many are taking the UNIT vilification so badly.

It's pretty obvious that any organisation will look differently depending on perspective. We were seeing it from Tosh's perspective, so of course they looked horrible. From their point of view, even though she was coerced, Tosh managed to be very dangerous to national security and they had to contain her.

If we'd seen a scene of them discussing how dangerous a person like Tosh is (who can break into MoD offices, steal official secrets and develop dangerous weapons...on her own) then maybe some people would be a little calmer about it.

Of course, I think that UNIT ARE being set up as bad guys, but still!

It's like Harriet Jones in the end of The Christmas Invasion. If you look at things from her POV then she was probably right to do what she did (I certainly thought so), but because we look at things from the Doctor's POV she was seen as someone awful from then on.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

If you look at things from her POV then she was probably right to do what she did (I certainly thought so), but because we look at things from the Doctor's POV she was seen as someone awful from then on.

I find that hard to rationalize. Now, I happen to think the Doctor was perfectly right, but his was not the only possible or rational decision, and she was quite right to imagine the possible harm to earth that could have been caused by the Sycorax's survival. The Doctor has the luxury of certainties that she didn't have; and she had been his friend; but he turned on her as on a dime, and deliberately destroyed her career.

Even if her decisions was unquestionably wrong, as the democratically elected Prime Minister of the UK, she had every right to make the decision on behalf of her people - something the Doctor didn't have the right to do.

Couldn't he just have said she was wrong, and they could have argued about it over a cup of tea and cookies?

Here via Torch_wood

[gaycrow.livejournal.com]

I agree with what you've written about Ianto here ... you've made some very good points about Fragments, too.

I'm new to Torchwood (and have never watched Dr Who) so I'm feeling my way around the fandom. Is it okay to friend you? I'd like to keep up with your thoughts about the last few episodes of Series 2.

Re: Here via Torch_wood

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm new to Torchwood (and have never watched Dr Who)

Oh, welcome to the fandom! You have some luscious material ahead of you, if you start watching earlier episodes. When did you start watching? And what drew you to it?

I was new to Doctor Who with series 1 (with the Ninth Doctor) and series 2 and 3 (with the Tenth Doctor), though I saw the 1996 movie and didn't much like it - I only remember the parts of it that I most hated, and which have since been thankfully rendered null and void. So I feel like a newbie too, compared to the hordes who have been watching Doctor Who since the dawn of time and know all the canon.

Is it okay to friend you?

Yes, of course! I'd be delighted. And if you have any questions about Captain Jack Harkness, I would be only too happy to talk about him at length and on the slightest provocation.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

I am still fascinated that it's Ianto and Tosh who have police records. Who'd have guessed?

why is a record for Ianto so surprising? It was for a minor misdemenor, I'd say that is grafitti or shoplifting or maybe drunken and loud out on the street at night. None things I see as being very shocking for a young man (he might have been 15 or 16 or something). Ok, I believe they all now get asbos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-social_behaviour_order) but surely they were not around yet in those days?

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Not very shocking in terms of what he'd done maybe, but not precisely usual - most young men don't have police records after all, and given what we've seen of Ianto in the series so far, he doesn't really seem to be the kind of character that would.

Like fajrdrako said, based on what we'd seen up to the point of Fragments, I would have guessed Owen would be more likely to have been in trouble with the police than Ianto.

[gypsylady.livejournal.com]

A couple of random thoughts that flitted across my mind.

I think the implication is that UNIT has - er - deteriorated since the seventies. I think it's become just another terror-fighting organization using extreme techniques because they can. It would explain why Sarah Jane (in her own who, of course, but it's still part of the canon) doesn't approve of their methods. I am uncomfortable with the discrepancy between what we see of them in Fragments and what we hear about them in the Martha trilogy. It's like two different organizations. I suspect there could be multiple layers of UNIT and they don't necessarily interact as much as you'd imagine they do. Tosh ran afoul of a division specifically tasked to find and shut down the theft and/or misuse of government secret high tech. What I want to know is more about the group she was forced to do it on behalf of. And I would like to know what favors Jack had to call in to get Tosh out.

Owen's memories were the ones that made the most sense in terms of his immediate personality. But it was also the least believable scenario, based on what we now know about Torchwood Cardiff. That took place in London, didn't it? So how was Jack able to get there in time to explain it to Owen. And, leaving that aside, why didn't Jack just retcon Owen...unless he was already stalking Owen for possible employment. And that just doesn't make sense to me.

Ianto's story made me want to cry. I did get the impression, when he said that two of Jack's people scavenged from the ruins of Canary Wharf, that he ought to be able to recognize the two who did it. That makes me think Jack was one of them, as Ianto recognized him so easily. Yet, the way Ianto phrases it implies, to my ears, that it was two people who report to Jack who did it. I thought Suzie and Tosh. And in that case, why didn't he first approach them in his quest for employment? (BTW, he didn't need Torchwood for a cyber-conversion unit. In "Cyberwoman," he explains that he built the one Lisa lives in following her instructions. I think he needed Torchwood for the power to run it without getting caught. I get the impression he already knew the layout of Torchwood Cardiff, probably researched it.)

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

I am uncomfortable with the discrepancy between what we see of them in Fragments and what we hear about them in the Martha trilogy. It's like two different organizations. I suspect there could be multiple layers of UNIT and they don't necessarily interact as much as you'd imagine they do.

I think this would have to be the case, because I really can't see the Doctor arranging for Martha to work anywhere that she might end up complicit in the eradication of civil liberties. The feeling I had was that the prison that Tosh was taken to was probably some place that most members of UNIT didn't even know about.

[onehundredmoons.livejournal.com]

Really interesting analysis, especially point #14. I've been thinking of putting together some thoughts on my journal re: this, along the lines that one of the reasons Jack is "taken" with Gwen (in a platonic way, IMO) is because she's the only one of them who hasn't been completely broken before. I think a lot of us assumed that it was because she has an "outside" life, but now I think her (totally uneventful) past has a lot to do with it, too.

Thanks for the thought-provoking read. :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking of putting together some thoughts on my journal re: this, along the lines that one of the reasons Jack is "taken" with Gwen (in a platonic way, IMO) is because she's the only one of them who hasn't been completely broken before.

I was thinking that too. And as far as we know she has never been seriously traumatized or depressed, and she has not lost a loved one.

Perhaps even more important, Gwen has always been Gwenlike. All the others somewhere along the way have had their lives and personalities transformed by their traumas. Gwen has never gone through that - never had to.

I think her (totally uneventful) past has a lot to do with it, too.

Yes.

And: thanks for the kind words, and you're welcome!

[ladyfiresprite.livejournal.com]

UNIT makes me shudder now. What happened to the days of old when they were fighting in the Doctor's crusade to save the universe? Now, we have the intense corruption of power and (maybe) a bit of fear of what they're really dealing with that has disrupted all that UNIT stands for. It makes me shudder...it really does!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

UNIT is now very, very frightening.

[ladyfiresprite.livejournal.com]

Ianto had AMAZING new perspective for his character in this. He was no longer the serious and quiet "tea boy" we always see. This is who Ianto REALLY is! It was quite interesting and wonderful.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

He was no longer the serious and quiet "tea boy" we always see.

I think this illustrates how much of what we have seen is the Ianto who was caught up in his project to save Lisa, and then, afterwards, traumatized by her loss and trying to rebuild his life. Which is why series 2 Ianto is developing so nicely - showing courage and a skill in action - and my goodness, he has a lot of potential. I'd always seen him as immature and inhibited, but that was because he was hiding himself under so many layers. He's delightfully inventive.

And not as straight as he initially appeared, either.

[ladyfiresprite.livejournal.com]

Yes, I do wonder if we'll ever get a straight answer on what Alex saw in that watch. It looked like the glowing Gallifreyan watch, and I was puzzled. He MUST have seen The Year That Never Was or some sort of even that connected to this. That glowing watch is a very obvious clue to whatever was going on there.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I do wonder if we'll ever get a straight answer on what Alex saw in that watch.

I suspect we will, unless they think the visual connection is all we need.

It's also possible he saw the Cybermen and Daleks from The Battle of Canary Wharf, and thought they had succeded in taking over Earth. But I think, because of the connection to the Master, that The Year that Never Was is more likely.

[astuta.livejournal.com]

I think the history of Owen's past explains Owen reaction in "Ghost machine". I'm re-watching the episodes now that I know more about each character. It's easier to understand why he was so obsessed with the girl murdered, Lizzie. It specially explains why Jack was so riled up about Owen's obsession with the murderer and why he insisted that he had to let it go. I think it hit a nerve in him. I'm now re-watching the first season to see what a difference it makes knowing what I know about each character and their reactions. It's pretty interesting *goes off to watch "Cyberwoman"

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm now re-watching the first season to see what a difference it makes knowing what I know about each character and their reactions.

What an interesting thing to do! Yes, you're right, it does explain a few things about "Ghost Machine", and Owen's need to save and protect if he can - or in that case, pursue a killer for a dead girl's sake.

And most of his cynicism is in memory of his own failure to do the impossible.

[sci-fi40.livejournal.com]

Hi...Everyone's discussions about UNIT got me to thinking that maybe the deterioration of the organization has been planned by RTD for a while. Didn't UNIT get called in to deal with the crashed alien spaceship in the 9th Doctor episode "Aliens of London", and then everyone there get killed? Maybe that was a turning point in the organization, when the former leadership was eliminated leading to a new leadership more connected to the government agenda.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Didn't UNIT get called in to deal with the crashed alien spaceship in the
9th Doctor episode "Aliens of London", and then everyone there get killed?

yes, that sounds right. (Note to self: watch "Aliens of London" again.)

Maybe that was a turning point in the organization, when the former leadership was eliminated leading to a new leadership more connected to the government agenda.

Ooh, nice catch.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

1. Owen insisted on going to Gwen's wedding in a long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans!
8. Damn! That's not un-twisted. XD
9. Jack is always telling the whole team startling facts about himself - like having been pregnant, the alien meat thing, etc - and I get the impression that most of the time they just figure he's bullshitting. I wonder if Ianto has in fact stored those unlikely facts away in his memory for future reference.
12. I had suspected that was the case - that basically, Jack realized that he would tell anyone, anything when he was drinking, and decided to stop. HOW many people did the Torchwood ladies say he'd told all about the Doctor? Also, not drinking gives Jack a little advantage sometimes(like with Captain John in that scene).

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Owen insisted on going to Gwen's wedding in a long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans!

To be fair, Owen didn't really have time to go home and change.
Though I think he enjoyed being the only one there dressed like he was. And the flower was a nice touch.

No, it isn't untwisted, and might be a clue as to what Ianto thinks is 'innovative' and 'avant garde'. Hee! I love those guys.

Yes, the team never reacts much to Jack's random anecdotes - I think they don't know what to make of them so they ignore them or disbelieve them. Not knowing Jack's origins would make a difference. But Ianto, knowing when Jack is from, might well have reason to believe them. Heck, I know fans who don't believe Jack's anecdotes - they think he makes things up - which strikes me as silly. He doesn't need to make things up. He tells stories well, but he isn't a fantasist - he's a raconteur.

that basically, Jack realized that he would tell anyone, anything when he was drinking, and decided to stop.

Yes, exactly. It became important at some point to keep his wits about him. Now he just drinks when someone he loves has died - Estelle and the other Captain Jack. Did he drink champagne at Gwen's wedding? I don't recall. Not much, anyway.

[angelfireeast.livejournal.com]

I don't really have much to add because I think you covered it but I have to say very good post!

12.) Jack drinking or stress drinking may have start with Grey. Jack said he looked for years, maybe after that time he turned to alcohol to easy his pain which lead him to John Hart. John Hart seems to know all about Grey. Just a thought.

7.) I agree, I don't think Martha has any idea how dark UNIT goes and it maybe her role to change UNIT as Jack changed Torchwood. I heard rumors that Doctor and Martha have some tension over UNIT, I wonder if this is why? He knows, she doesn't.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I have to say very good post!

Aww, thank you. I am so pleased to be appreciated. ♥

Jack drinking or stress drinking may have start with Grey.

Yes - good thought.

don't think Martha has any idea how dark UNIT goes

Not yet!

I heard rumors that Doctor and Martha have some tension over UNIT, I wonder if this is why? He knows, she doesn't.

Implying that he finds out after he places her there? That could be a very interesting plotline!

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

The photos he put in a tin in his desk drawer, to look at when he felt like it.

Including his wedding picture. I now tend to think she was Torchwood. Maybe she's in one of the drawers. That must have been a major emotional relationship for him, and yet Estelle still had to be later than that, but maybe he left Estelle before he could watch her age and die and he's been avoiding those kind of relationships since then.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Re Jack's Victorian wife:
I now tend to think she was Torchwood....

Why do you think that?

That must have been a major emotional relationship for him,

Because they married, you mean?

yet Estelle still had to be later than that

By fifty years or so.

I don't know if I'm ready to draw any conclusions about Jack's marriage - it's difficult for me to imagine him married, or monogamous.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

We know he travelled through the US in the 1880s;

Nope- all we know is "Earth 1892. Got in a fight on Ellis Island. Man shot me through the heart. And then I woke up." Ellis Island was the immigration port for the US at that time. He was most likely entering the US then

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I stand corrected. 1890s.

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

Owen and Ianto swapped wardrobes. (With the help of unstable molecules, obvs.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Funny how those unstable molecules come in handy!

I like Ianto in a suit: I think it's a good trade.