So explain to me... (Part one)

[laligin]

In a desperate attempt to improve my Torchwood-writing, and because I have a fanfic100 claim on the entire Torchwood team, not just those members I like/understand/have a million plot ideas for, I'm asking you for help.

Explain to me, please, as politely as you can manage (I'm not here for a fight), exactly why Gwen is a good/useful/likeable character.

Because I don't quite get it. Up to... oh... about Small Worlds (episode 5) I quite liked her. Beyond that...

So, anyway. Gwen fans. I need you to tell me why she's a vital part of the team, and why I'd actually enjoy writing her if I got it right, so I can stop coming up with excuses for her absence in my fic. (Seriously. I don't really give her a starring role (or even a mildly vital role) at any point. I feel guilty.)

Help?

(Also, convince me Jack/Gwen can work.)

Comments

[laligin.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your comments. :)

But I'm getting a lot of the "Gwen is the heart of Torchwood" - and that's something the creators of the show keep telling us, though we don't really see it - and I can understand why you'd say that, if you look at the first three episodes. Beyond that she stops playing that role. She preaches to them occasionally, but she fails to practice her own compassion etc, and her actions very much betray her words.

I'm intrigued as to why people continue to like her even when she starts slipping. Can you give me more reasons from later on in the series? :)

[miss-harper01.livejournal.com]

i also like Gwen because she doesn't take any shit from any of the team, she will fight her corner no matter what and she will always do what she thinks is right

[laligin.livejournal.com]

I can kind of see that being an admirable point - except that it backfires on her so much.

The only member of the team who really gives her any trouble is Owen - and she sleeps with him, rather than "not taking any shit"... By doing that she gives him (and Jack) far more ammunition to use against her. It's this point that drives her in the last couple of episodes - I do think that it's partly guilt that makes her so desperate to bring Rhys back, and she prevents Jack from stopping them opening the Rift when he mentions the whole Owen business. That's her not putting up with being insulted - Gwen chooses to smack him rather than admit he has a point...

And her always fighting for what she thinks is right is all very well if she's right - if she's wrong (for example, Suzie) then she appears stubborn and foolish. She seems less open to other people's ideas and opinions, and more convinced that she knows best, even though she's still new to Torchwood.

Beyond the second episode, I can't help finding these traits of hers to be increasingly negative instead of the positive things they were to begin with...