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Merucha
merucha
12 July 2009 @ 10:09 pm
I'm So Sorry, James Moran  
Once in a while, I run up against the crazy side of life. In this case, against the crazy side of fandom. I didn't expect it, because the one and only fandom I've ever ever assayed -- many years ago, when the world was young -- didn't stick much, and I left after a couple of years out of sheer boredom, so I'd never realized how massively invested some people are with their favorite shows.  

My reaction to CoE was to declare myself an AU writer. In my world, Ianto is alive and the third series didn't happen. Others has been to go on a rampage against poor James Moran, who seems to be one of the most accessible people in the world, and who really wants to engage with the fans.  I am disappointed, and a bit pissed off, and I think RTD is a nihilist with the soul of a schoolyard bully, and I would want to tell him a thing or two, except that I don't think he would care about my opinion. But launching an all out internet attack on the writers or the actors? Jesus. That's taking all of this too far.

Being a fan is supposed to be enjoyable. It gives you the chance to play in a nice playground, take the characters in directions the writers never thought of, experiment with your own writing, enjoy other people's experiments. But it is playing with fiction.  With his talent, Gareth will go on to a good solid acting career. John will still be John and we will be enjoying his madness for years to come. Ianto and Jack remain, any way you want them.

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[identity profile] tanarian.livejournal.com on July 14th, 2009 06:24 pm (UTC)
Oh no! Now I feel guilty about what I posted! Although it never occurred to me to blame James for anything - I figured he had to go along with what had been determined as the story arc. My ire was directed purely at RTD. Did I go too far, though? I might fantasise about meeting RTD and demoralising him with a few trenchant comments but I know damn well but if the opportunity arose I would just mutter darkly under my breath. I have had the message 'you will be polite in public' dinned into me too thoroughly, I think.

I was enormously invested in Torchwood. Or rather the characters of Jack and Ianto. I would watch John and Gareth if they acted together again like a shot because they worked. I was a little surprised at just how devastated I felt when I learned that Ianto had been killed off. It's probably because I wrote the character and quite literally lived inside his skin and had done so for three years. It felt as if a part of me had been destroyed, which felt... odd.

I still don't think it was necessary to kill him off. Jack was already fated to kill his grandson so we have the tragic element in place. I'm betting RTD believed that Jack had to be completely destroyed for his own gameplan and I genuinely worry about what he has in store for Jack in the final DW special.

I'm glad he's gone to the US (although I feel deeply sorry for the American fans!) and a - very spiteful - part of me sort of hopes that he doesn't have it as easy as I think he believes it will be. I worry like hell that Gareth won't be able to continue with his career as I notice he hasn't flourished like the other actors in the series. I don't want to lose someone as talented as he is before I get every last wonderful acting gem out of him!

[identity profile] merucha.livejournal.com on July 14th, 2009 06:32 pm (UTC)
No, No, No!!! I don't remember what you posted as a personal attack; it was commentary based on your disappointment. I called RTD "a nihilist with the soul of a schoolyard bully", which wasn't exactly positive! I think that was what horrible was the personal attacks on Moran; he didn't deserve them.

And, like you, I worry a little about Gareth's career, but I think, on the whole, he might do very well. He's not as well known as either Eve or John, so he won't jump into another starring role, but I think he will slowly continue to build up a career. And with another stroke of luck, he might land in a good series and off he goes!

And didn't you know? Series 3 DID NOT HAPPEN.