Someone finally got a clue...

[blucougar]

I don't think there is anything in this that could be construed as spoilers, but I've put this behind a cut just to be safe. Also, if you don't appreciate comments that don't reflect like diamonds in the sun off Teflon Gwen, then you might prefer not to read on. This is not an anti-Gwen rant, but she does get a mention towards the end, and I can't bring myself to be polite about it.

Rant behind the cut

In the original publicity releases for the new series of Torchwood, the character listing included one Oswald Jones, pedophile. There was, justifiably, a considerable uproar about the inclusion of an unrepentant pseudo-celebrity pedophile character in the plot, and giving such a character the surname of 'Jones'. It seemed the ultimate slap in the face to all Ianto fans.

It also seemed to me that good ol' Rusty was taking his predeliction for the child abuse plot device to worrying new heights. It was especially disturbing that he described the aspect of the show's plot that included this character as 'exciting'. Exciting is one word I will never equate with pedophilia, no matter how it's intended.

Now, however, the character has apparently been changed from being a pedophile to a child killer. No less heinous, but somewhat more palatable than a pedophile. Better still, the name has now apparently been changed from Jones to Danes. Amazing how much difference two little letters can make.

Don't get me wrong. I'm still undecided about how much I'm looking forward to "Miracle Day". I hold grave fears that Captain Jack Harkness will be relegated to being the show's stock-standard 'eye candy', whilst the plot focuses primarily around Bazooka Cooper, the teflon tart of Torchwood. It certainly seems to be what Russell T Davies has been aiming for all along.

I will watch it (when it eventually reaches Australian televisions), but it will be with severe trepidation.

On the bright side, with the exception of Jack, there are no characters left that I have invested in emotionally, and therefore I don't give a rat's arse if the entire cast gets obliterated by the end of the show. Fortunately, my one reason for still watching plays a character who can't die (at least, not until some time after the year Five Billion, apparently).

Unfortunately, the one character that I would very much like to see killed off (because it is LONG overdue) will undoubtedly survive.

Comments

[taffimai]

Are you sure he's no longer a pedophile? My understanding was that he raped and killed children, and is still a pedophile but they've stopped using that as a talking point because the pedophilia is not the point of the show and they kept getting derailed by interviewers when it was a talking point.

Also, they changed the name because "Oswald Jones" failed to clear legal, not out of any sense of obligation to Ianto fans. I can try to find the reference if you like.

(Note: Icon is being used because this is the only one I have on dreamwidth, not out of a desire to be confrontational.)

[aviv_b_artwork]

And of course the child killer/pedophile will be redeemed by saving the world.

sarcasm alert/
Oddly enough, I keep reading comments from people who are adamant that 'geez, just cause he's a child predator - he can still be good otherwise.' And yet, I've been told by these same folks that one doesn't get cookies for doing the right thing. (I wonder where they hid the child-f'cker saves the world cookie exclusion clause.) And calling Gwen a Teflon Tart (you know already I'm not a supporter of this view) well all I can say is NO COOKIES FOR YOU.

Now, I don't want to upset you, but I have my suspicions as to whether the character who cannot die will actually be alive at the end of the show. Because he's all that stands between Gwen and world domination. Just saying.

[geminia]

Fortunately, my one reason for still watching plays a character who can't die (at least, not until some time after the year Five Billion, apparently).

I know what you mean, though, I don't buy the whole Face of Boe thing, so I figure he was probably still out there even in the year 100 trillion.

I was so thrilled to find a show where I didn't have to worry about my favorite character being killed off for once (I've found being my favorite seemed to be a death sentence in most cases).

Honestly, with the possible exception of Tosh, I never had any emotional attachment to any of the others in the main cast, so they could've killed them all in EW and started with a new team in CoE and I'd have been just fine with it.

That said, I am not happy with the way they have treated Jack for pretty much the entire run of the show, but the things they did to him in CoE were inexcusable, so I really hope he fairs better in this series.

I feel better knowing Jane Espenson and others will be writing some of the episodes rather than it being all RTD this time.

I wish I could believe Gwen's head was on the proverbial chopping block, but I don't see that ever happening unless Eve decides to quit, so I'm hoping Jane and some of the other writers might actually be able to write her in a way that I don't cringe every time I see her (and I do like Eve Myles, so I wish I didn't have to dislike her character so much).

[thraceadams]

I'm glad they changed his name regardless of the reason and I'm glad they are finally downplaying the whole pedophile/child killer whatever part - I thought that was in extreme distaste...but that's just me. I don't plan on watching the show but it will not surprise me in the least if at the end of the day Gwen is alive and with Jack.

just my two cents

[phoebe-and-t.livejournal.com]

First off, I have to admit that I wouldn't be watching even if I had Starz...All the people I liked have been killed off (characters) or fired (actors). There isn't anyone left for me to root for except Rhys and he's pretty much only there to be a Gwen cheerleader or a Jack obstacle.

I have no problem with someone that has killed a person being the hero of a show, a child molester is a whole 'nother thing. Killing can sometimes be explained or even justified...sex with child - not a chance. RTD seems from interviews I've read to be a fairly out-of-touch and extremely self-important individual.