#so yeah i finished torchwood season 2

[last-ticket-home]

YOU CANT FUCKING DO THAT WHAT WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEYRE DEAD

[kinosansart]

Torchwood Jack and Ianto general doodles

Oh yeah I am back into Torchwood. I think the reason might be been that I recently bought season 2 boxset in Japanese during my Tokyo trip.

I think back then I was too scared/insecure about my artwork not matching the likeness of the actors. But now I am drawing fanart of other live action BL dramas like Sepakoi and Zettai BL and even some Kamen Rider fanart. I think WHY THE HELL NOT?!

Torchwood is a series important to me, I grew up on it. I am acutally NOT a Dr who fan at all.

So I am going to draw some colored comics/doodles basied on my favourite couple: Jack and Ianto.

They have been maybe the earilest gay couple that I was invested in way before BL dramas.

So here is how I am going to draw them, maybe the only change I will do is Jack's hair color because it's a similar color to Ianto's. I know both John and Gareth have the same color/shade of blue eyes but I decided Jack will have a lighter shade of blue compaired to Ianto's.

I MISS THESE TWO! But listening to the Big finish audio dramas/radio dramas I realised that I REALLY LOVE THESE TWO TOGETHER.

Speaking of Audio dramas

Snice I have been listening non stop to Torchwood audio dramas lately. I want to cover them with some doodle comics because they run in my head as I listen to them.

Update: House of the dead is complete with 26 pages of doodles lol, I really WANT TO COMMIT and do the other audio dramas as well. That's the goal of this mini project/dumb idea of mine.

Wish me luck lol.

[gatergirl79]

Saw this on @lemotmo blog and wanted to give it a go. Thank you for making this an open challenge! 

1-How many works do you have on ao3?

82 across multiple fandoms. 

2-What’s your total Ao3 word count?

Incredibly I’ve written 2,162,389 words (god knows how many I’ve written if I counted my old fanfiction dot net stories)

3-What fandoms do you write for?

The ones I have the most works for are…

Supernatural (Destiel, Sabriel, Moosley, Becky/Sam, Balthazar/Jo, Cas/Mick)

Teen Wolf (Sterek, Pydia and Chris/Peter)

Hawaii Five-0 (McDanno)

BBC Sherlock (Johnlock)

Kingsman (Hartwin)

Whitechapel (Jo/Emmerson)

Sons of Anarchy (Tig/Kozik)

Lewis (Lewis/Hathaway)

Torchwood/Doctor Who (Ten/Rose, Janto)

But I have written shorter fics for other fandoms: Cabin Pressure, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, You Me Her, Suits, Game of Thrones, Merlin, Neighbours

4-Top 5 fics by kudos?

Something More Than Human - Teen Wolf: Sterek [1,417]

Samhain: The Scent of Moonlight - Teen Wolf: Sterek [1,349]

What’s Best For Everyone, Isn’t What’s Easy - Teen Wolf: Sterek [807]

Oh, But That One Night - Hawaii Five-0: McDanno [800]

The Internship: Sterek Style - Teen Wolf: Sterek [760]

5-Do you respond to comments?

I try to. Even if it's just a thank you.

6-What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Honestly, I think it might be The Painter, which is kind of a dark gothic fic based on the Chris de Burgh song of the same name.

7-What is the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I can’t even begin to answer that as almost all my fics have happy endings, but I like the endings of 

Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery Ex [BBC Sherlock - Johnlock]

The Way Old Friends Do [Kingsman x Mamma Mia - Hartwin]

8-Do you get hate on your fics?

Uh... I get people complaining about my grammar and spelling, (not as much anymore thankfully) and I did have some write me angry about how I'd written Scott in a Teen Wolf fic,

9-Do you write smut?

Now I do. It took a while for me to get comfortable with it, but now…definitely. Though it is usually in the confines of a fluffy/angst fic

10-Craziest crossover?

I struggled to think of one at first, because my crossover aren’t that crazy, but then I remembered I wrote a fic while on holiday with my family that is…yeah, definitely the craziest one I’ve written. (and probably the worst too)

August: When You’re On The Beach You Steal The Show [BBC Sherlock x Butlins Skyline Gang. Johnlock]

11-Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge. 

12-Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes 

At His Side [Supernatural - Becky/Sam]  in Italian

13-Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No.

14-All time favorite ship?

I don't really have a single favourite ship, because each ship means something different to me. I mean, there's Garashir, who I was shipping before I even knew what shipping was. There's Destiel who introduced me to fandom and fanfiction. Johnlock had me exploring my sexuality and questioning what I thought I knew about myself. while simultaneously leaving me with show-runner trust issue. And Sterek is my comfort ship.

15-What’s a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

God, I have so many WIPs that will likely never get finished. But one that frustrates me is a Marvey fic I have been writing and rewriting since season 3 that I know deep down will never see the light of day.

16-What are your writing strengths?

Honestly, I have no idea. You'd have to ask my readers. Uh....people have complimented my characterisation, so I guess that's a strength, and I think my dialogue is alright.

17-What are your writing weaknesses?

That one is easy, grammar and spelling. I shave always struggled since school where I had to have special help, but I guess either I wasn't paying attention or it just didn't take, because a lot of the grammar rules just aren't in my head. So I tend to get comments complaining about my grammar. Which can be annoying because all they say is its bad but don't tell me how. If I got it wrong the first time, what makes you think I can fix it.

18-Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

Uh, I mean personally I'm fine with it - Unless its a whole paragraph of text. I just copy/paste it into google translate if need be. If its a fantasy language, then I'm screwed.

19-First fandom you wrote in?

Angel but it was on a floppy disk so is unlikely to ever see the light of day.

20-Favorite fic you’ve written?

I have two

You Belong to Me [Supernatural - Sabriel] Because I love to go back and read it.

The Way Old Friends Do [Kingsman x Mamma Mia- Hartwin] because I had so much fun writing it and really missed it when I was done.

Tagging: I'm not tagging anyone in particular. Anyone who sees this, feel free to do it for yourself. Tag me so that I can read it

[stevishabitat]

I started watching with Torchwood, actually. My first ep was Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. I was following James Marsters after finishing Buffy and Angel. So... yeah, that kind of sums up my experience. I didn't know what the hell was going on, but I liked it 🤣🤣🤣

When I finished season 2, I decided to start Doctor Who at the beginning of Eccleston, so I could figure out what had happened to Jack and all of that backstory. Then I went thru chronologically, and finished up the Tennant specials just in time to have to wait a couple of months for the debut of Matt Smith.

What if I started acting like Torchwood was the main show and Doctor Who was the spinoff. Who could legally stop me. “I can’t believe they made a whole show out of that random guy Captain Jack kept mentioning” type beat. “It’s dumb they tried to add an explanation of where Jack went between series 1 and 2, I liked it better with the mystery.”

[max-vandenburg-is-life]

THIS IS SO SAD I SWEAR TEARS ROLLING DOWN MY FACE NOBODY TALK TO ME I CAN'T BELIEVE IT HAPPENED OH MY GOD

[redsector-a]

AO3 Ask Game

I was tagged by @themarshalstale which, thank you so much! I feel like I always get missed on these (I know why, it’s been 84 years since I published anything but still). 1. How many works do you have on ao3?

46 it seems. Which...look I’m slow man so that’s not surprising. lol Also crippling depression does not make for much production, at least for me.

2. What’s your current AO3 wordcount?

309662 according to the stats.

3. How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

So do I could only AO3 or in like life? lol I suppose it should only be on AO3 since this is an AO3 ask game. Hrm. Basically AO3 can be summed up as: Marvel (in several iterations - all Avengers related) Torchwood Highlander But isn’t it more fun to consider my entire fandom life, which, I’m sorry, I’m old so...yeah. Not all of this is was published and beyond that a lot is not available anymore...which is likely for the best. Highlander Star Wars Babylon 5 Ronin Warriors/Samurai Troopers Marvel (again, several iterations also of note Avengers and X-Men both count) Torchwood Star Trek LOTR Stargate (SG-1, SGA) Mortal Kombat I dabbled with the idea of Potter fic but never got past the ideas stage.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1: You rearrange me till I’m sane Clint finds himself spiraling into a deep depression after the Battle of New York...until the Winter Soldier ends up saving him and inadvertently giving him a new purpose – to save the man that the Soldier had once been – Bucky Barnes. Not one to be outdone, the Soldier decides that his new mission is to ensure that Clint remains alive himself. Protecting a blonde man with a self-destructive streak is somehow very familiar to him. Through the back and forth of who is saving whom they cross the country and learn more about themselves and each other – and perhaps find a reason for living. 2: Five Dates Bucky Didn’t Realize He Was on And the One He Planned Himself To say that Bucky was surprised when Clint kissed him was an understatement. But it was nothing compared to the shock he felt when he learned they'd been dating for months without him realizing it.Clint gets whisked away for a mission before they have time to talk and Bucky is left to figure things out on his own - hindsight being 20/20 he can't help but wonder how he missed things the first go around.

3: Puck Luck Bucky Barnes is used to the ups and downs of an NHL season. He's used to the unpredictability of the game, knows that bounces don't always go your way, but that doesn't make a broken hand in the final third of the season any easier to deal with. Especially not when he ends up with an impromptu roommate/personal assistant in the form of one Clint Barton - his agent, Natalia Romanova's (rather attractive) friend he hadn't known existed before his injury.

It's just for six to eight weeks - what could possibly happen in that span of time?

4: Loose Lips Launch Ships

Based on the following prompt: “We go to school together and I think you’re cute and apparently you’re also the pizza delivery guy and my little sibling opened the door screaming hey sibling! you know that kid you’re in love with? you really weren’t kidding when you said his jawline could cut steel holy shit-” Bucky is the pizza delivery guy. Clint's younger (foster) brother has a big mouth.

5: Indelible Bucky Barnes has a pretty decent life – a good job, good friends, a cat that adores him - but something is missing. He’s always found body art to be beautiful and inspiring, and on a whim (and with the hope that maybe he can find what he’s missing) he decides to take the plunge and get a tattoo. That's how he meets Clint Barton. Clint's talented and compassionate and there is an instant spark between the two of them. It's not long before Bucky finds himself wondering and wanting more from the relationship despite the ghosts of the past that crop back up. Because Clint makes him feel normal in a way he truly hasn't for years...

(this was pre-Alpine so I was totally chuffed when canon confirmed Bucky’s status as a crazy cat lady (affectionate).

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not.

I really really really want to do it but I often times don’t end up doing it. There are a few reasons. First, I am akwward AF and bad at interaction adn I feel like just saying thank you would be...not enough? Second - I often times tend to like...turtle (aka retreat into myself) when life gets Too Hard/Busy which happens a lot to me (sigh) and then I miss the vague window in my mind in which it would be okay to respond and then it’s even more weird. I do love and cherish all of them. Like there was one months ago that made me go “hmm...I didn’t think I was going to do a sequel to that fic (You rearrange me till I’m sane), timestamp glimpses sure but a sequel hadn’t come to mind” but then the comment made me think! So...who knows? lol Anyway, I literally have been rereading some in an effort to try and get myself going again. Know that if you have commented, I love you.

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

At the moment? Probably: Look at you look at me Bucky's in love with Clint - problem is he's really not supposed to be. For Winterhawk Week 2019 - Forbidden Love (I really don’t want to give away the spin in the fic but...if you’re familiar with the Secret Avengers Vol 2 run circa 2013ish (aka when SHIELD initially ‘took control of the team’) that’s a bit of a hint as to the spin). Were it done, Torch Song would be up there. ;) Torch Song Clint is sent back in time, via an alien device, to 1938. While he tries to figure out how to get back home, he takes up singing and entertaining to make ends meet and does his best to not disrupt the timeline.Then he meets a 21 year old Bucky Barnes. --- A torch song is a sentimental love song, typically one in which the singer laments an unrequited or lost love, either where one party is oblivious to the existence of the other, where one party has moved on, or where a romantic affair has affected the relationship.

7. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve ever written?

Does *wanting* to write crossovers count? lol I want, so badly, to do more crossovers and fusions (which...are kinda deeper versions of crossovers in a way). The only one I do have posted is a crossover between Highlander and Torchwood -

The Immortal Mr. Jones A series of vignettes (some long, some short) in the life of the newly immortal Ianto Jones. My most ambitions project that I have been working on since late 2011/early 2012 is a fusion of the Avengers with Stephen King’s the Stand. I will get that done at some point *shakes fist*  The Stand, for those who don’t know it, is an epic 1000+ page novel about a flu epidemic (I know) that wipes out over 99% of the population and then two figures representing Good and Evil pull the survivors in two directions for a showdown. So basically it’s a non-powered modern AU set in that universe. It’s a passion and comfort project. lol

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Yes. Well, minor bitching back when I was in a prior fandom because I tagged a pairing in a fic but it was pre-slash and not labeled as pre-slash. I got hate on...I think it was Torch Song? And I’ve gotten hate on tumblr re me and my fic in general as well. Fandom! *jazz hands* Oh! And I’ve also been hit by those reviewers within Winterhawk (among general Clint pairings actually) who like rate you on either number scales or the “meh” scale. Which isn’t hate exactly but...it’s passive aggressive bullshit because I can’t believe none of them realize at this point that the authors can see their bookmarks - you know?

9. Do you write smut?

Yes. Do I write it well? I have no idea. lol

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I am aware of. Well...there was, I think, one of those reposting sites that had a few fics on it but I don’t think it was being passed off as someone else’s? I can’t quite recall. It’s why I have a note on AO3 about reposting my work anyway.

11. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Not entirely, but sort of. Let me explain - I am part of a PBEM game; which for those unfamiliar since it’s a term that was most heavily in use 15-20 years ago, in which you basically do a round robin type writing thing but rather than everyone writing the same characters you write your own characters and you play off what other people have done. Another way of looking at it is  it’s basically DnD without dice and written down rather than done out loud. You also don’t have to all be around at the same time. It’s a lot of fun and yes I have been in it for 20 years even though there aren’t many of us left but they are some of my dearest friends and fabulous writers. Wins all around.  One of the other writers and I have actually toyed with the idea of doing a co-written fic actually, mostly because we work super well together and keep getting ideas for things but can’t really do them as rpgs since the pbem style isn’t used much anymore.

12. What’s your all time favorite ship?

Winterhawk probably. Though, let’s be real - Han & Leia are epic and amazing as are John & Delenn (from Babylon 5).

13. What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Does wanting to expand The Black Stallion books as a wee child count? lol Not much of that was written save for world building ideas but there was a great oral tradition of telling stories to my friends. Otherwise...maybe a tie between Star Wars and Highlander. Star Wars was a love since I was super young but the writing bug didn’t hit me until around the same time Highlander was a thing as well.

14. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written? You rearrange me till I’m sane for sure. Though Torch Song, if it were finished, would be tied I imagine (I suck at picking favorites). Honorable mention to Puck Luck and Indelible. Tagging: I have seen this like a million times (okay 5) so I feel like everyone has been tagged already that I know. But...I guess... @vexbatch @crazycatt71 @heartonfirewrites and @disruptedvice sorry if anyone has been tagged before.

[blaithnne]

One thing I want to know about you: Are there any shows you like, but don't necessarily talk about on your tumblr? No need to name them if you don't want to, just curious. I hope you have a pleasant day.

I have a bunch actually! Most of the things I don’t talk about on main you can find reblogs of on my reblog account, but one that I don’t talk about or reblog much of on either is The Good Place, which is probably my favourite show ever.

Its hilarious, it’s heartwarming, it has such a wonderful message, it’s finale was perfect, it’s character development is incredible, I could honestly ramble about this show for hours.

I also love Brooklyn 99, it’s fucking hilarious, even if season 6 sucked for the most part I’d blame it on the new production crew, and season 7 was an improvement even if it wasn’t as good as 1-5, so I’m hopeful for season 8! And also very curious as to what they’ll do, I really hope the squad doesn’t break up in the finale or anything because that would break me.

OH I’ve been on a miraculous spree recently with the release of Gang of Secrets dragging me back into that one, in general Miraculous is just kind of,,,ok imo? I can’t praise this writing for hours like I can other shows, but I like it’s concept, and it’ll probably be cropping up a bit more on main due to something I’m working on so look out for that I guess lmao

Another show that frequents my reblog account is Doctor Who, I love that show so much man. I think Capaldi’s seasons are my favourite? His doctor is just so funny and I love Moffat’s whimsical take on the Doctor. The latest seasons are nowhere near as good though, I’m honestly glad that Ryan and Graham are gone, like I just didn’t care about them, I felt nothing when they left. Ryan’s writing improved towards the end but it doesn’t make up for the amount of time where he was just so insufferably boring. I’m hopeful for the next season, I’m interested in the new character dynamic of just Yaz and the Doctor, I love Jodie Whitaker and she’s had some awesome moments in the last season, so I just really hope she gets to shine some more. Speaking of Doctor Who I’m midway through Season 2 of Torchwood! It’s pretty good, I like the darker take on the Doctor Who world, even if they have the occasional “I’m 14 and this is deep” moment. Like the sex gas, and Susie going from a realistic well rounded character with good motivations to a comic book villain, but in general it’s pretty good - Ianto and Tosh are so precious I’d kill for them both, and I love how it shifts from weirdly hilarious to serious so fast (like that one scene where it just zooms in on Ianto who very seriously says “life knife”, and the line “gloves tend to come in pairs” LIKE BRUH FROM THE SAME CHARACTER TOO??), I’ve been meaning to finish it but I keep forgetting lmao

I also love Gentleman Jack, it’s so underrated, if you want good lesbian representation then WATCH THIS SHOW!! It’s literally about two real life lesbians living in the 1830s, and the world building is so good, it genuinely feels like the 1800s when you’re watching it it’s so perfect, and the finale killed me it was so cute, but also that ominous moment where that one guy found out about the side plot and I JUST LOVE IT SO MUCCHHH!! I can’t wait for season 2 I’m so hyped

I don’t think I’ve ever posted about She-Ra on main either, but I adore that show, binged it in a day or two a few months back and it’s so good, I’m in love with Scorpio and Catra

This was longer than I meant it to be bc I just ended up rambling about my favourite shows, but yeah, I have a bunch that I just don’t talk about much in tumblr. Not for any particular reason, I just don’t. A lot of them are live action, and I have trouble drawing real life people so that could be part of it, but it’s also sometimes nice to have shows that you don’t think about too much, they’re just there to be enjoyed yanno

[princess-of-the-worlds]

Torchwood and the (Mis)treatment of its Characters of Color

Let’s be honest; despite its decent track record with queer characters, Torchwood has a problem with how it treats its characters of colors, and I say this as a South Asian, bisexual fan of the show. 

For the purposes of this post, I will only be looking at the Torchwood television series (so spoilers for Seasons 1 and 2, Children of Earth, and Miracle Day), and not as Big Finish Torchwood releases since I do not believe myself to be well-versed enough in them to be able to make an accurate post. And also, as much as I love Big Finish for eveything they’re doing, on-screen POC representation is very different from audio POC representation. (And for the purposes of this post, I will not be addressing the mistreatment of Martha Jones, which really, if you think about it, stems from Doctor Who and not Torchwood.)

TLDR; Torchwood has neglected or mistreated its characters of color, given them little or no background, and brutally killed them off, often for shock value.

Let’s start with Suzie Costello. 

Suzie Costello, played by Indira Varma who is a British actress of Indian descent, was promoted alongside the regular cast members in publicity material before “Everything Changes” aired, giving the impression that she would be sticking around for a while or would be a main character. Instead, she was unceremoniously killed off at the end of the first episode and only pops up once more in “They Keep Killing Suzie.” At no point was Suzie acknowledged as a woman of color or given much more background beyond her tumultuous, most likely abusive, relationship with her father.

Next, we get to Toshiko Sato, left as the only person of color on the team after Suzie’s death. 

Wonderful, gorgeous, caring Tosh who, for all intents and purposes, is essentially a walking stereotype. She’s an Asian (Japanese specifically) technology genius who is unlucky at love. Need I say more? (Check out this Teen Vogue article if you’re wondering why that’s a bad thing, or, honestly, just quickly search Google.) And all three of the Tosh-heavy episodes (”Greeks Bearing Gifts,” “To the Last Man,” and “Adam”) feature her being unlucky in love (Mary betraying her, Tommy dying, and Adam manipulating her). Plus, there’s everything with Owen where she pines after him for years only for him to finally recognize that before he dies, and then he, well, dies; that plot arc only ends in death and sadness.

Additionally, we only have limited background for Tosh in comparison to Jack and Gwen (who I guess you could kind of say are the main characters) but even in comparison to Ianto (for whom more background was revealed only because he became a more prominent character in COE.) We know she was born in London, moved to Japan as a child, and at some point moved back before growing up in the United Kingdom. She had a younger brother (mentioned in a deleted scene in “Captain Jack Harkness”) and a grandfather who worked at Bletchley Park (mentioned in “Greeks Bearing Gifts” and “Captain Jack Harkness.”) She also very much loved her family, or at least her mother, enough to commit treason for her, despite her mother only being seen in “End of Days” and “Fragments.” But that’s about it. 

There was so much more Torchwood could have done with Tosh. We could have seen more about her family or her education. We certainly could have seen more about her bisexuality; everything that happened with Mary was not a satisfying resolution. Instead, she was killed off alongside Owen in “Exit Wounds.” Torchwood used the death of a woman of color for shock value, and no matter how effective or emotional that was, it was not excusable. There was so much story left to be told with Toshiko Sato. 

Tosh’s death brought the racial diversity in Torchwood down to zilch.

Next, we have Lisa Hallett.

Now, Lisa Hallett...what do we actually know about her? She worked at Torchwood One, dated Ianto Jones, and loved him enough to maybe fight cyberprogramming for him - this part might be subjective to your own interpretation of “Cyberwoman.” We don’t know anything about her, really, apart from how she is defined and described for a white male main character, which...is problematic enough. I mean, would it have been too much to ask the writers for maybe some further description? I mean, I don’t know. Maybe where exactly she worked in Torchwood London? How she joined? How she met Ianto? If she had any family, any other friends? Why she loved Torchwood and worked there? Heck, a flashback scene featuring a non-cyberized Lisa and Ianto would have been brilliant. Is that too much to have asked of the Torchwood writers? I don’t know.

Then there’s the entire fact that Lisa was turned into a Cyberwoman. Now, I have many problems with how Doctor Who and Torchwood uses its Cybermen, especially regarding its continuous brutalization of black and brown bodies for emotional and shock value (Lisa, Danny Pink, and Bill Potts are only some examples.) It sends a very, very nasty message to these shows’ viewers of color, especially if they’re younger and more impressionable. Plus, the depiction of Lisa in “Cyberwoman” was uncomfortable and unnecessarily sexualized, but this is a whole different essay. But in the end, Lisa Hallett was pumped with bullets many, many times, and her death only added to the emotional pain of a white man.

Now, we come to more minor characters.

Beth Halloran was a human who did not know her true identity as an alien sleeper agent. She had a very interesting and action-packed story arc in “Sleeper” before ending up dead at the hands of Torchwood. She had an emotional struggle between her human identity and her truth as an alien sleeper and chose to help save the world, intentionally ending up dead at the hands of Torchwood. That being said, she was still another character of color who Torchwood had bothered fleshing out who ended up dead.

Next, there’s Dr. Rupesh Patanjali. 

Introduced in COE, he’s a medical doctor who catches Jack and Ianto working on a case and ends up piquing their interest after he makes some shit up. Spoiler alert: he’s an MI-5 plant. We see Gwen attempt to conduct orientation and recruitment with him. He has a fun setup to be a potential new Torchwood member and inside spy, but instead, he lures Jack to the hospital where Jack’s implanted with a bomb. And despite doing his job as requested and doing it rather well, Rupesh Patanjali is shot dead by Agent Johnson that very episode, just like Beth.

Then we have Lois Habiba, arguably the most interesting and fun character introduced in COE. 

She’s a naive newcomer, almost like Gwen, but during her first week working in the Home Office, she finds herself committing treason, conspiring against her boss Frobisher, and helping save the world from an alien invasion. She’s smart, resourceful, and principled, very much like Ianto. Like with a lot of the characters on this list, we know next-to-nothing about her background, which is odd considering her rather major role in COE. And despite being seemingly set up to become a member of Torchwood, we never see her again.

Finally, we come to Miracle Day and its two new characters of color, Rex Matheson and Dr. Vera Juarez. I won’t be getting into too much detail here, especially since MD has its own problems.

Ah, Rex.

Torchwood finally has a man of color for a main character who seems like he could be an interesting foil to Jack (a high-ranking CIA agent with a high bullshit meter), and what do they do...they kill him in his first scene. Oh, and they make him “lightly” homophobic, because that’s always fun. And then he ends up immortal in some kind of bullshit plot hole...I have enough to say there.

Vera, however, was quite interesting. Again, little to no background besides the basic (from San Antonio, had an ex-husband, is a surgeon), but she was still a Latina medical doctor. She had morals and was very stubborn and determined to save people, which is why she insisted into helping Torchwood sneak into the overflow camp. And what did she get for that? She ended up brutually shot in front of her lover Rex, which traumatized them both, and then literally burnt alive. Thrown on top of that? In a quite meta move really, the death of another woman of color was used to incite outrage around the country, and the world, and expose the wrongdoings of the United States government regarding the Miracle. Good stuff? Either way, it came at the cost of the death of one strong woman of color and the further trauma of another man of color.

Plus, there’s everything about how unnecessarily violent and graphic some of the deaths of these characters of color. To put it into perspective, think about how Owen or Ianto or Esther died. (I’m not trying to reduce the values of their deaths; I’m just trying to get you to think about it.)

So yeah, that’s all I have to say about that. Torchwood, you could have done better with your characters of color. (And thank you if you stuck all this way with me.)

TLDR; Torchwood has neglected or mistreated its characters of color, given them little or no background, and brutally killed them off, often for shock value.

[thatlastdanceofchances]

Torchwood: Gooseberry

Sorry I'm a bit late for this one but Gooseberry is up on the Torchwood EU website, with its content warning for addiction.

This one is alright, I guess? How I feel about it varies from day to day and I think it’s mostly because of some choices in the writing of the plot and characters.

It’s hard to explain spoiler-free but let’s give it a try (more thoughts with spoilers below the cut).

For a late season 2 story, there are some big reminders of season 1 Owen. Though the regression in character could be explained by the story line, I don’t feel like the story explores the underlying theme enough to fully justify it.

So, if I accept that the plot explains Owen’s characterisation, it’s a very good story…except I’m not fully convinced by the writing of that plot point.

Still, even without that, it earns three stars because Andy is, as always, great and Caite is a very good character.

And there are some very intense moments that really deliver thanks to both the editing and the acting.

Next month: (yeah, yeah, I know, technically it's this month ;-) ) The Doctor makes their debut in the Torchwood range with Absent Friends!

And as promised, more thoughts/live reactions below the cut.

Owen's fake surprise at being told about the Rift. He really can't be bothered to fake it, can he? lol

Pub quiz!!! I want all the fics!

Owen feeling again is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Really great and intense moment!

It's definitely more of a series 1 or Believe take on Owen: not taking no for an answer, quick to say sorry afterwards with the hope of facing no consequences for his actions and happy to let other people deal with the downfall. I had Believe flashbacks during some of his conversations with Caite.

I like Caite, she's very sympathetic and she likes and respects Andy. Anyone who likes and respects Andy gets brownie points from me.

I want a story from the pathologist's point of view. Please Big Finish...or fanfic writers... I want to know everything about her and her encounters with Torchwood case. I bet she's the one who warns the new recruits never to start an autopsy on Jack. When non-Welsh people are recruited, she creates this whole fake Welsh folk tale as to why.

Inzombia and Kevin. Hit-and-miss, Andy, hit-and-miss.

"I'm really enjoying calling them Kevin". So do I, it turns out. I've changed my mind, it's a great name too. That's why Andy should have joined Torchwood very early, he's great at naming things.

We're nearing the resolution and, as always, Owen is very happy to let other people face the consequences of his own actions. *sighs*

Though I'm not sure why Caite does sacrifice herself. It seems weird to me. What's her motivation for such a drastic solution? Unless it's a trap for something?

...and it's a trap.

Wait, the door was open? They should really improve the security at the Hub!

And, here we go again: another girlfriend - who was using a protagonist - killed at the Hub. Andy might need to switch pub quiz night for "My alien girlfriend - who was using me - got killed at the Hub" club night. Tosh and Ianto are waiting for him with a beer (and apparently trivia about rivers...).

My general feelings about this resolution is, no matter Caite's motivations, Owen was in the wrong. Otherwise, the writing/editing made a very bad job at showing how much Caite had to push him to do all this. Don't get me wrong, I understand why he did it. And the first time he feels something is absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Unfortunately, the way he dealt with the aftermath was...not good to say the least. Then again, it rarely is with addiction.

I really really hope the next Andy and Owen story deals with the consequences of this story. It could be really interesting.

[mintypineapple]

dw ask game 1-36 and 38-100 DON'T ANSWER NUMBER 37 I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT CRYING

DaThanks, anon who is probably @truestoriesaboutme!

CHILDHOOD

1. Did you like DW as a child?

Depends. What do you consider a child? I saw Doctor Who for the first time when I was 16 or 17. Does that count? Let’s say that it does. I did enjoy it.

2. Your age at the time of the revival?

16.

3. First DW episode you ever saw?

An Unearthly Child. I wanted to watch it all in order! Still do! My first New Who episode was “Blink,” as forced upon me by @raisegrate. I did enjoy it.

4. Did you have any of the toys?

I didn’t at the time, but I do now. I have a couple of screwdrivers, a Fourth Doctor, an Ice Warrior, and not-quite-Legos of Doctors 1-11. (-WD)

5. Which DW character did you play on the playground?

N/A.

6. Monster(s) that scared you most as a child?

N/A. Nothing scares me.

7. Joke/story you didn’t get as a kid?

N/A. I get all jokes/stories.

8. DW opinion that has changed since you were a kid?

That the only way to watch it was from the very beginning. I eventually gave in and watched New Who before finishing Classic Who.

9. Who introduced you to DW?

Pretty sure I heard about it initially on a forum I went to called The Douglas Adams Continuum. That’s when I started watching the First Doctor. Again, @raisegrate showed me my first New Who. Eventually, I started watching New Who in its entirety with @catastrofries and they started watching Classic Who with me for @rassilonwatchathon.

10. Did you like Sarah Jane Adventures as a child?

Didn’t even know it existed as a child. But I liked it as an adult.

Read more under the cut. There’s a lot!

DOCTOR

11. Who is your Doctor?

One. He’s the first I saw and I’ve went through some of his more than once, due to the podcast, so he has a special place in my heart.

12. Your favourite Doctor?

It varies depending on the day. I quite like Two, Eleven, and Twelve, though.

13. Least favourite Doctor?

Possibly 5 or 13? More because they don’t get a whole lot to do, than them being bad.

14. Best regeneration?

Technically speaking, there’s something about that first one that is still so good. Emotionally speaking, Two’s regeneration is terrifying and I quite like Twelve’s speech before regenerating.

15. Do you like “Doctor-Lite” episodes?

Yeah! They’re all pretty good! Even “Love and Monsters!” Yeah, I said it! (The end is bad, but the rest is good.)

16. Who is the most human Doctor?

One calls himself human a handful of times. Does that count? If not, definitely Five. He seems the most like a regular guy in a weird situation out of all of them.

17. Best multi-Doctor story?

The Day of the Doctor, for sure.

18. Best Doctor monologue?

Eleven’s speech to young Amy in “The Big Bang.” That episode is just solid all around.

19. What do you think TenToo/MetaCrisis Doctor is doing now?

He’s definitely fucked off somewhere and abandoned Rose. He runs a cat cafe that is definitely a front for something, but no one can quite figure out what.

20. Best Doctor/companion pairing?

One/Barbara, Two/Jamie, Three/Jo, Four/Leela, Five/Tegan, (haven’t seen enough of Six, any of Seven, and I honestly don’t remember the companion for Eight), Nine/Rose (that’s the only option!), Ten/Donna, Eleven/Amy-Rory, Twelve/Clara, Ruth/Thirteen.

COMPANIONS

21. Favourite companion?

Classic Who: This is hard. Jamie? Sarah Jane? Leela? New Who: Donna Noble.

22. Favourite secondary companion?

Not sure what this means exactly... My second favorite? If so, I gave three for favorite Classic Who, so one of them. New Who: Rory.

23. Least favourite companion?

Classic: Ben Jackson or Peri. New: Ryan.

24. Best TARDIS Team?

Classic: Two, Jamie, and Zoe. New: Eleven, Amy, and Rory.

25. Most underrated companion?

I love Steven Taylor. I feel like he doesn’t get mentioned enough.

26. Most overrated companion?

Probably gonna get some hate for this, but Romana II. She’s good and I like her, but I was expecting a lot more. I honestly prefer Romana I.

27. Favourite companion’s family?

I love Rory’s dad.

28. Who should have been a companion but wasn’t?

Kamelion. AM I RIGHT? But seriously, Amelia Rumford from “The Stones of Blood.”

29. Favourite (canon or non-canon) DW universe relationship?

Amy/Rory.

30. Who did you not used to like, but really like now?

I hated Tegan when she first came on, but now I love her.

EPISODES

31. Favourite episode ever?

“Heaven Sent.”

32. Least favourite episode?

“Time-Flight” gave me a literal headache.

33. Which episodes do you skip?

NONE. Of course, I’ve not done any rewatches. YET.

34. Best two-parter?

“The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances” are the first New Who episodes that fully sold me on the show.

35. Historical, present day or futuristic episodes?

Give me the future and make it weird!

36. Episode that will always make you smile?

“The Myth Makers.”

37 HAS BEEN REDACTED.

38. Best run of episodes?

“Vincent and the Doctor” through “Day of the Moon” is pretty solid.

39. Best cliffhanger?

“Vengeance on Varos.” Hands fucking down.

40. Favourite Christmas special?

The answer to question 37. “A Christmas Carol.”

SERIES

41. Classic Who or New Who?

Yes please! (Though New Who will take this a little just because the pace is generally a lot better.)

42. Favourite series?

I’m not sure about Classic (I have a harder time thinking of them as different series), but New is definitely 5.

43. Least favourite series?

11.

44. Which series do you skip?

See 33.

45. Favourite series opening?

“The Eleventh Hour.” It’s just a lot of fun.

46. Favourite series finale?

“The Big Bang.” IT’S A GOOD SERIES.

47. Best series arc?

So I don’t sound repetitive and say Series 5 again, Clara’s arc in her last season is great.

48. Thoughts on series 11/12?

I find it largely boring and not well-written. Though there are some things I like! I love Ruth a bunch.

49. How much of Classic Who have you seen?

I’ve seen from “An Unearthly Child” to “The Two Doctors.” And the movie.

50. Who should have had another series?

Doctor: Nine. Or Eight. Or Ruth. Companion: Kamelion, but done better.

MONSTERS

51. Favourite monster/villain?

I love them Fuzzy Chicken Nuggets. (The Yeti.)

52. Most creative monster?

The Silence are an interesting concept.

53. Monster(s) that scares you most?

OAK AND QUILL from “Fury From the Deep.” Fuck those guys.

54. Monster you think is too easy to defeat?

I hate power level questions. Next.

55. Least favourite monster/villain?

I get really tired of the Daleks sometimes, y’all.

56. Monster you want to return?

Chumblies or quarks.

57. In your opinion, what makes a monster good?

The writing. You can do great things with most of them. Even the ones you dislike. Like, I hate the farting aliens, but they are occasionally used well.

58. Daleks, Cybermen or Weeping Angels?

If I had to pick, I’d say... Cybermen. Daleks are very samey and loud. Weeping Angels get less interesting every time they are used. But there’s a human element to the Cybermen that, when utilized, can be very effective and unsettling.

59. Best Dalek story?

The one where Two rides around on ones he made nice.

60. Best one time villain/monster?

I don’t know what it is, but whatever it is in “Midnight.”

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

61. Torchwood or Sarah Jane Adventures?

SJA is more consistent, but the highs of Torchwood are higher.

62. Favourite Torchwood Team member?

Owen. But like... not season one Owen.

63. Which Torchwood death made you saddest?

See 62.

64. Do you rewatch COE or MD?

I haven’t rewatched anything yet. But I would rewatch COE before MD.

65. Favourite SJA Team member?

Clyde.

66. Mr Smith or K-9?

Mr. Smith is way more interesting. He had a villain arc!

67. Maria or Rani?

Rani.

68. Do you read the comics/novels or listen to Big Finish?

Some. I’m doing them as Patreon bonus episodes for @rassilonwatchathon​. I haven’t done much though.

69. If you do, your favourite additional stories?

“The Chimes of Midnight.” I’ve listened to it twice.

70. Do you like DW analysis (video essays, fan theories, etc)?

I do DW analysis for @rassilonwatchathon AND The Dipp. So yes. My fave is TARDIS Eruditorum, though.

I’LL ANSWER THE REST AT A LATER TIME. I MUST BE WITH MY PEOPLE NOW.

[fand0mfancies]

Came across this on Tumblr a few days ago, it amused me for a couple of hours or more, filling it in, while watching QI.

 Fandom Questions

 1. What was the first fandom you got involved in?

Star Trek: Voyager, I suppose at least for reading. Started writing with Stargate SG-1.

 2. What is your latest fandom?

I dip in and out of lots of fandoms on and off, the most recent ‘pick up’ is Ballam from Eastenders, I don’t watch soaps, but Robron and Ballam both appear a good bit on my tumblr, so I eventually gave in to checking them out via fic and youtube – thank god for youtube, lol! I still don’t watch soaps, but I watch those storylines!

 3. What is the best fandom you’ve ever been involved in?

Gosh, that’s... actually no that’s really easy. Primeval. For anyone not familiar, it’s a ‘silly little dinosaur show’ produced in the UK. It had 4 short seasons, with a somewhat revolving main cast – although they managed to keep 3 of them through all 4 seasons – but the fandom was/is amazing. I made life long friends through the fandom and even though I don’t write much any more I still read some and still talk with those people.

 4. Do you regret getting involved in any fandoms?

I would say no. I can’t say every fandom has always been amazing – ship wars anyone! – but mostly fandom has been a very positive experience in my life.

 5. Which fandoms have your written fanfiction for?

How long have you got... in genuinely no particular order (basically as they came to me) Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Star Trek (TNG, DS9, Voy, Ent & Reboot Movies), Marvel, Kingsman, Person of Interest, Due South, Quantum Leap, Firefly, Buffy/Angel verse, Harry Potter, The Sentinel, Torchwood(/Doctor Who), Hawaii Five-0, Shadowhunters, Sherlock, Primeval, Emmerdale (Robron), NCIS, CSI (Vegas, NY & Miami), White Collar, Empire Records, Bull, Diagnosis Murder, MacGyver (the original), 1-800-Missing, CHAOS, Without a Trace, M*A*S*H, Charmed, Queer as Folk (US), Will & Grace, Bring it On, Nash Bridges, Magnificent 7 (TV series), House, Babylon 5 – I think I got them all... a few of those were one time only deals, but a lot of them have more (anywhere from 2-52 (or more still!) ranging from 100 word drabbles, to thousands of words – hey I’ve been writing fic for 21 years... you tend to amass a lot of fandoms...

 6. List your OTP from each fandom you’ve been involved in.

Oh geez, here we go, lol! Okay...

 Stargate SG-1: Jack O’Neill/Daniel Jackson

Stargate Atlantis: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard

Star Trek: Elim Garak/Julian Bashir, Chakotay/Tom Paris, Jonathan Archer/Malcolm Reed, James Kirk/Spock – I don’t particularly have an ‘otp’ in TNG, the couple I’ve written were Picard/Data, I’ve also dabbled reading Data/Gordi)

Marvel: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

Kingsman: Harry Hart/Eggsy Unwin

Person of Interest: Harold Finch/John Reese

Due South: Benton Fraser/Ray K

Quantum Leap: Sam/Al

Firefly: Malcolm Reynolds/Simon Tam

Buffy/Angel Verse: Buffy/Giles, Angel/Spike, Xander/Spike, Willow/Tara

Harry Potter: Harry/Draco, Harry/Hermione, Harry/Hermione/Draco

The Sentinel: Jim/Blair

Torchwood: Jack/Ianto

Hawaii Five-O: Steve/Danno

Shadowhunters: Magnus/Alec

Sherlock: Sherlock/John, Mycroft/Lestrade

Primeval: Nick Cutter/Stephen Hart, James Lester/Hilary Becker Emmerdale: Robert Sugden/Aaron Dingle

NCIS: Gibbs/DiNozzo CSI: Nick Stokes/David Hodges, Mac/Danny, Horatio/Speed White Collar: Neal/Peter/Elizabeth

Empire Records: Joe/Lucas

Bull: Benny/Jason

Diagnosis Murder: Steve/Jesse

 I’ve left a few out where I don’t have particular OTPs

 7. List your NoTPs from each fandom you’ve been in.

Here we go again... lol!

 Stargate SG-1: Jack/Sam, I just... no. I’ve read a few where it’s a background or secondary pairing, but it always makes me wince a bit. I’ve read a few with Sam/Daniel as a secondary pairing that didn’t make me react that way and I’ve read Sam with other characters, but Jack/Sam just is a nope for me.

Stargate Atlantis: McKay/Keller – no, just no. that was horrible. She treated him like... awfully, trying to change him to suit her, just... no.

Marvel: Contentious, but Tony/Pepper, also Peter Parker/Tony Stark. Maybe because I saw the movies before I ever looked at the comics, but meh.

Due South: Benton Fraser/Ray V – again, contentious, but honestly I think Ray V was kind of a shit friend to Fraser.

Firefly: Anything with Jayne. No really, I just can not stand the character. I spent most of the series wanting to punch him in the face and sometimes you get characters you love to hate, but I just hated him.

Buffy/Angel Verse: Buffy/Spike, Willow/Kennedy

Harry Potter: Ron/Hermione, Ron/Harry, Harry/Ginny... basically, Ron and Ginny should just be loveless hermits who live by themselves. Ok, no, that isn’t fair... but as much as Ron was Harry’s first friend, he was selfish and bitter and Ginny/Harry just... never sat right with me. Ron literally says she spent ‘all summer talking about’ Harry, when she’d met him for all of three seconds. She didn’t know him. It always felt like she fell more in love with the *idea* of Harry Potter, than Harry Potter himself.

Sherlock: Sherlock/Molly, he’d eat her for breakfast. Serious, she’d never survive him.

Primeval: Oliver Leek and anyway. Arg. Creepy little dude is creepy and evil.

NCIS: Ziva/DiNozzo – ugh, just no.

 Again, I’ve left out ones where I don’t have particular NoTPs

 8. How did you get involved in your latest fandom?

Tumblr, god damned bitches posting gifs of pretty boys falling in love, roped me in!

 9. What are the best things about your current fandom?

I dabble in several fandoms at once... but if we go by ‘most recently picked up’ as ‘current’ we’re talking Ballum, which hey, it’s always fun to have an actual canon pairing be my OTP, that’s rare for me, lol.

 10.  Is there a fandom you read fic from but don’t write in?

Well (so far) I haven’t written any Ballum. (I say so far, because I’m a realist, lol). I rarely read in fandoms and not end up writing in them at some point. Although I have probably dabbled in a few I’ve not written for, but if I read it with any sort of consistency, I mostly end up writing it. I am weak!

  Ship Questions for your Current Fandom

 11. Who is your current OTP?

Okay, so that list above, just basically go with that. While I do drop in and hour of fandoms and some I certainly read in more than others, I do tend to go back to fandoms... If we were talking about what I’m mostly focused on writing atm... Steve/Tony, Mycroft/Lestrade, Harry/Draco and Robron are ones I’m currently working on most.

 12. Who is your current OT3?

I’m not currently writing anything that’s OT3 with any real focus. I have a couple of Neal/Peter/Elizabeth WiPs that I will at some point finish, but they aren’t a big focus just now. I did recently read a fabulous Neal/Peter/Elizabeth fic that’s been on my tbr list for ages.

 13. Any NoTPs?

Just... see above, lol!

 14. Go on, who are your BroTPs?

Harry Hart/Merlin, those two are Bro’s until the end and I will fight you on this. Also, Eggsy/Roxy! OMG they are such a BroTP! And Tony/Pepper/Rhodey – I may no like Tony/Pepper as a pairing, but I love them as best friends and of course, our Rhodes, because again, I will fight you on this, they are awesome and Tony needs his best friends!

 15. Is there an obscure ship which you love?

I’m not sure there is. I suppose I’ve read a few fics for some random pairings over the years, but nothing that’s made me really ship-ship them. I like Clint Barton/Bucky Barnes, after seeing it as a secondary pairing in a Steve/Tony fic, but I’ve seen that pop up a few times since, so maybe it won’t stay obscure for long!

 16. Are their any popular ships in your fandom which you dislike?

Jack/Sam, Tony/Pepper, Ron/Hermione, Harry/Ginny, Buffy/Spike – they all seem to be het pairings, oops. But I am mostly a slash fic reader/writer, so I suppose that’s not too surprising.

 17. Who was your first OTP and are they still your favourite?

Jack/Daniel from Stargate SG-1. I still love them. I still read them, although it has been a while since I’ve written them on their own (I have got some SG-1/SGA x-overs where they feature)

 18. What ship have you written the most about?

I’m genuinely not sure... without going and counting (and I’m not going any counting!) I’d guess Jack/Daniel, McKay/Sheppard, Jack/Ianto and Steve/Danno.

 19. Is there a ship which you wished you could get behind, but you just don’t feel them?

No, not that I can think off. I either like it or not. I do occasionally feel bad for not reading a fic if it’s an author I really like, but I don’t read that fandom or pairing, but nothing specific.

 20. Any ships which you surprised yourself by liking?

Robron and Ballum, lol. I do not do soaps!

  Author Questions

 21. What was the first fanfic you ever wrote?

 Stargate SG-1, Jack/Daniel, a story called The Dare, The Disaster, The Almost Happy Ending, And The Very Happy Ending – it was awful. Don’t go looking, lol!

 22. Is there anything you regret writing?

Don’t we all? No, I wouldn’t specifically say so. There are certainly fics, especially older ones, I wish I could have written better, but nothing I’d go, ugh I should never have done that.

 23. Name a fic you’ve written that you’re especially fond of & explain why you like it.

Uh... honestly that’s really hard. I... um... yeah, I don’t know, really. I wrote a nice little flower one in POI that I felt worked rather beautifully. The Language of Flowers. An I wrote an SGA fic for NaNo a few years ago, called A Different Life, but it’s not online, because I didn’t finish it yet and I knew I wasn’t going to finish it any time soon, so I didn’t feel it was fair to leave it up unfinished (there is a reason I don’t read WiP fics and I don’t post them either, because I know how much I hate unfinished WiPs) Edit: After writing this I reminded myself of a POI fic I wrote called Hours of Separation – It’s a Harold/John break up story that I always intended to write a sequel too where I ‘fixed’ them, but I just couldn’t do it. I broke them a little too well. But I really love it actually.

 24. What fic do you desperately need to rewrite or edit?

The afore mentioned A Different Life needs to be edited and finished, lol! Also a Primeval fic with the working title Crypt Keeper (don’t ask) that I worked myself into a bit of a corner on and I figure out how to fix it, but I haven’t done it yet, so it’s still needs fixing and finishing, lol!

 25. What’s your most popular fanfic?

I haven’t the foggiest.

 26. How do you come up with your fanfic titles?

Sometimes, really easily, a quote, a line from the fic, a song title... other times it’s like pulling teeth, hence working titles on things like ‘crypt keeper’ which is a reference to one scene near the very start and has no actual hint of the plot, lol!

 27. What do you hate more: Coming up with titles or writing summaries?

Oh the titles. Summaries you can just copy a few lines from the fic if you are desperate, if you had to post ‘untitled mcshep fic #67’ people would get cranky, lol, hell I’d get cranky!

 28. If someone were to draw a piece of fanart for your story, which story would it be and what would the picture be of?

Oh... I... huh. I mean who wouldn’t love fanart for their stories? Any of them honestly! But if I had to choose just one... I guess something in my Animal Instinct verse, which is Primeval (although I always intended to write other fandoms in the verse) where some people transform into animals, based on their ‘spirit animal’ and some art of the characters with their spirit animal form would be awesome.

 29. Do you have a beta reader? Why/Why not?

Sometimes, look if you’ve read this far, you know I write in a lot of fandoms, lol. In some fandoms it’s easier than others to find beta readers. Also, sometimes if it’s just something short, I won’t bother. But I do try for my longer fics.

 30. What inspires you to write?

That old adage, if you want to read it, sometimes you just have to write it? Spite? Boredom? Honestly sometimes I just have ideas I have to get out of my brain and it’s write or go mad(der)

 31. What’s the nicest thing someone has ever said about your writing?

That it inspired them to write something.

 32. Do you listen to music when you write or does music inspire you? If so, which band or genre of music does it for you?

Sometimes, sometimes I find it distracting when writing because I end up singing along and forgetting what I’m writing, lol! I do sometimes get inspiration from songs, I guess mostly from the lyrics, but no particular band or genre – although I listen to a lot of country music!

 33. Do you write oneshots, multi-chapter fics or huuuuuge epics?

Little from column a, little from column b... littler still from column c...

 34. What’s the word count on your longest fic?

Around 60k, I think.

 35. Do you write drabbles? If so, what do you normally write them about?

I have. Primeval had/has a week drabble challenge, mostly when I’ve written drabbles it’s been for a challenge, with a specific prompt.

 36. What’s your favourite genre to write?

Uh... I mean, my fandoms really span the genres, but I guess sci-fi or crime are probably my favourites.

 37. First person or third person - what do you write in and why?

Third mostly, I have occasionally written in first person, if it felt like the fic needed it.

 38. Do you use established canon characters or do you create OCs?

Little from column a, little from column b... it depends on the fandom and the story. Sometimes you just need more characters, mostly they are minor roles, I don’t tend to write much established character/oc fic

 39. What is your greatest strength as a writer?

Ability to convince myself people will want to read it, lol! No actually to be honest, I love to know people read and like my stuff, but I gave up a long time ago on trying to ‘please’ people with what I write. I write what I want to read.

 40. What do you struggle the most with in your writing?

Focus. The problem with 21 years of fandom history, is well... 21 years of fandom history. A lot of fandoms, a lot of pairings and as I say, I never really ‘leave’ a fandom, I just drop in and out and sometimes that means I’ll write on something consistently for weeks or months and then end up getting distracted by another fandom again and not touch it for weeks or months again. Hence, I don’t post WiP fics, because I know I’m easily distracted and don’t want anyone to suffer my lack of focus but me.

  Fanfiction Questions

 41. List and link to 5 fanfics you are currently reading:

I don’t read WiP fics, so yeah... but 5 I’ve recently read in different fandoms that I’ve really enjoyed

 Turns Out, I Have a Rose Garden by betheflame (Steve Rogers/Tony Stark)

Lucky by china_shop (Neal Caffery/Peter Burke/Elizabeth Burke)

Colors by Quesarasara (Sherlock/John)

Betrayal by Blackghost7 (Gibbs/DiNozzo)

Matchmaker (Part 1 of the Marmalade Series) by HastaLux, Mottlemoth (Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade)

 42. List and link to 5 fanfiction authors who are amazing:

See now this is hard, because... ahh so many...

 FredBassett – Primeval author, her Stephen/Ryan series is epic and brilliant and endless

https://archiveofourown.org/users/fredbassett/pseuds/fredbassett

 Keira Marcos – I know other people will have said her, I don’t care. I love all her stuff, across all the fandoms she writes in

http://keiramarcos.com/

 theapplepielifestyle – her Steve/Tony is amazing. Hands down some of the best I’ve ever read. I will fight you on this.

https://archiveofourown.org/users/theappleppielifestyle/pseuds/theappleppielifestyle

 JillyJames – her Tony DiNozzo is a real life grown up... exactly as he should be considered given he’s a goddamn federal agent!

https://jillyjames.com/

 missbecky – I’ve read pretty much all her Steve/Tony and Harry/Eggsy and it’s awesome.

https://archiveofourown.org/users/missbecky

 Honestly, I could have listed so many more, but, I’m being good!

 43. Is there anyone in your fandom who really inspires you?

Everyone. The thing is, fandom at it’s best is like crack, the more you get, the more you want. The writing, the gifs, the art... it feeds you and makes you want to make more of it, because more of it needs to exist and if that means you need to do it yourself, so be it!

 44. What ship do you feel needs more attention?

ALL OF THEM!

 45. What is your all time favourite fanfic?

Oh hell no, not even, I can not. It took me an hour to narrow down 5 authors, I can not narrow down one fanfic!

 46. If someone was to read one of your fanfics, which fic would you recommend to them and why?

I mean, it depends on what they like... probably the Hour of Separation I mentioned above, if they like the fandom/pairing, or my Animal Instinct stuff.

 47. Archive Of Our Own, Fanfiction.net or Tumblr - where do you prefer to post and why?

Archive of our Own. I haven’t touched ff.net in *years* since they started getting super restrictive about what you could post. I do occasionally post stuff to tumblr, but mostly I now post to AO3. I did have my own site and I’ve yet to upload a lot of stuff to AO3 – one of these... months... that will be a project – but it’s amazing. Seriously, having been in fandom 20+ years, going from having to search all over a million different places and now it’s all in one place, where we’re honestly, spoiled and protected. The kids now have no idea how crazy impossible that once seemed.

 48. Do you leave reviews when you read fanfiction? Why/Why not?

Yes, but not as often as I should. I love AO3s kudos button, so I can sort of say ‘hey I enjoyed this’ without having to comment, because I sort of hate leaving comments just going ‘hey I enjoyed this’ because I always feel like I should say more, like, oh I enjoyed this specific thing, which yes is an unnecessary hang-up, but there ya go.

 49. Do you care if people comment/reblog your writing? Why/why not?

Of course it’s nice to get comments, kudos, reblogs etc. I’m not as attached to them now as I was when I was younger, because I learned along the way that it was more important that I like what I’m writing than that other people do, but it’s still nice to know that something I’ve created is enjoyed.

 50. How did you get into reading and/or writing fanfiction?

I went looking for Star Trek Voyager stuff online, pics etc, waaaaaaay back when! And I came across fanfiction entirely by accident... and I read some – het stuff mostly, then I started watching Stargate SG-1, went looking for fanfiction for that, but was not on board with Jack/Sam, found Jack/Daniel went ‘huh really? That’s weird’ read it... and yeah... 21 years later... lol!

 51. Rant or Gush about one thing you love or hate in the world of fanfiction! Go!

Ship Wars. No seriously, just don’t. Like, who the actual fuck cares. I like my ship, you like your ship. I don’t care if it’s canon or not. I don’t care if it’s popular or not. I don’t read my NoTPs, but I’d never dream of telling someone else not too. Yes I think they are terrible, bad, no good pairings, but that’s *my* opinion. Don’t try to change my mind and I won’t try to change yours. I avoid them like the actual plague. If someone starts that shit around me, I will shut it right down. You are a dick. Go to Jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect £200.

[maybeformepersonally]

@itsmyusualphannie thank you for tagging me, you’re the sweetest (also i maybe got emotional when i saw your post ❤)

Tag 9 people who you want to know better/catch up with and then answer these questions.

3 ships: janto (torchwood), phan (i miss them), and lawlight (death note..... yeah i’m trashy and what about it)

currently reading: um, nothing? sad but true, i don’t even have the motivation to read longfic lately and i have a literal pile of books on my desk that i keep meaning to get to but which i haven’t started yet 😬

last movie: the old guard!! it’s so good, i highly recommend it to everyone!

currently watching: elementary (season 6) and not technically ‘currently watching’ because i binged the entire season, but just finished season 2 of the umbrella academy (amazing, incredible, groundbreaking, 14/10, even better than the first season which is almost unheard of, and the soundtrack SLAPS)

currently craving: the motivation to write and some teriyaki chicken

i’m tagging everyone who wants to do this (i know, i know! but i’ve been absent from the phandom and i’d feel weird tagging people, if you see this and want to do it, go ahead!)

[ilikestopwatches]

hi so i’m a fan of dw + i’ve heard great htings about torchwood so i started watching it last month. i just started miracle day and ngl i kind of don’t want to watch it. like i got a few minutes into the first episode and i’m kind of... not vibing. not because it’s bad but bc i’m the kind of person who doesn’t like shows changing the status quo toooo much, like introducing a bunch of new characters or making the whole world go out of balance. 1/3

which the 1st episode of miracle day definitely seems to do. so then i read the episode descs and idk maybe that was a bad idea but kdsfjd they seem like they’re gonna be bad for my blood pressure lmao. like torchwood going on the run?? it was bad enough in coe when ppl kept trying to kill/arrest the team!! plus like, it’s the last season. i’ve loved the first three seasons and i don’t want to risk my last (well, besides rewatches ofc) experience with torchwood being smthg i didn’t enjoy. 2/3

like i don’t want to risk the ending tainting my love for the show. idk if i’m getting my feelings across very well, but yeah. anyways. so do you think it’d be ok if i just,, didn’t watch the last season? if i just pretended day five was the ending of torchwood? according to ur personal opinion as a torchwood fan. (i’m sending this to a few torchwood blogs i follow coz i wanna make the right decisions dgkjsg) or maybe just, what were your thoughts/feelings on miracle day? tyia! <3 3/3

First of all welcome to the fandom! (I am part of a great discord server - message me if you want to join.)

Miracle day. Where do I start? It is so bad for so many reasons. I love Torchwood for the whole family and kinda cheesy vibes and I love the characters. Also, I feel like by being set in America rather than Wales and having one (villain? Enemy? Idk) for the whole season although it worked with coe this is twice the amount of episodes and to me it just didn't feel like Torchwood. Instead it seemed to be a different shoe which happened to have some Torchwood characters in.

As with any show, it is your experience and you should never 'have to' watch something. I watched miracle day about a year and a half ago and it just wasn't worth it. There were a couple of scenes I liked but when it is (8???) hours long it just isn't worth it.

Instead of watching season 4, I highly recommend big finish audios which are still being made this year and there is such a range of characters and ideas.

To sum up, (way to sound like a school essay - I so wish I did an essay in Torchwood - sorry I'm getting off track) I don't think anyone actually likes miracle day and you aren't missing out on anything. Plenty of people have chosen not to watch it.

(Also, I am highly flattered that you chose me to ask this too. If you ever want to chat with me either through Tumblr messages or anon asks if that makes you feel more comfortable then id love to!)

[laylainalaska]

Torchwood recs

I posted some recs over on DW, so I’m posting them here too! Just FYI, my tastes mostly run to the Owen-Tosh-Ianto triad, when it comes to reading. Though I enjoy all the characters and pairings on the show.

Fanfic Two of Us Are Hung From the Same Twisted Rope by ShastaFirecracker (15K, late season 2) Alien tech leaves Ianto and Owen stuck in one body. This is probably hands down the best bodswap/body-sharing fic I have ever read. It's hilarious and heartbreaking and fantastically well written, Ianto and Owen are perfectly themselves, and the rest of the team is great too. The Jack/Ianto is also super sweet here. Seriously, I cannot rec this enough; I stayed up way too late last night reading it. Welcome to Anger Management by engagemythrusters (2300 words, late season two) Owen drags Ianto out for a drink ... well, Ianto drinks, Owen complains about not being able to drink. It's prickly and angry and really nails their dynamic. Foreign Languages by starfishstar (500 words, pre-series to season 1-ish) A series of drabbles about Jack getting to know the team through different languages. Insightful and nicely characterized. Walking Wounded by cold_feets (5300 words, between seasons, Ianto/Owen, unfinished WIP) So technically this is a never-finished WIP, so yeah. But the style is such that I'm not sure whether you ever could really tack an ending on; it's a series of vignettes about Ianto and Owen getting to know each other and comforting each other and kind of developing a fuckbuddy sort of thing after Jack leaves at the end of season one. And I love the pairing and there's really not much fic for it. (Yeah, so I could read the canon M/M juggernaut pairing that everyone loves and there are a squizillion fics for, or how about I go looking this almost nonexistent rarepair instead!). Inappropriate Workplace Conversations by ShastaFirecracker (2500 words, early season 2) Cute bantery teamfic in which the team speculates about Jack's prowess in bed, and Ianto refuses to confirm or deny allegations. Some sweet, hot Jack/Ianto at the end. Trundling on by Cmdr_Spadge (1200 wds, season one-ish) Slightly AU-ish; Owen and Ianto develop a grudging friendship in season one. Vids Home by winter_jasmine Gorgeous Tosh character study. Affirmation by Butterfly An upbeat, fun Doctor Who/Torchwood vid from back in 2008. Life Is A Song by catnap332 A sweet/sad vid about the team's journey in seasons 1 & 2. The Pioneers by giandujakiss Nice team vid.

[youremyonlyhope]

Spyfall

Yay more Doctor Who! I say as if I haven’t been watching Doctor Who non-stop for this entire week. God I love BBC-America’s Christmas marathon.

So are they all spies? These people being attacked?

Me: Oh I completely forgot I loved the newer opening sequence. I still love it. Dad: Because it’s all warped and psychedelic? Me: Well it’s obviously a homage to the original opening from the 60s with all the shapes - WAIT. PART ONE? WHAT DO YOU MEAN PART ONE?

Yay!  She has a RAZR phone. And it’s blue. That’s adorable. Our TV keeps cutting out words every like 10 seconds and it’s getting annoying. It did this for the whole Doctor Who marathon too, but at least I’d already seen those episodes and knew the gist of the dialogue. This is new so I’m missing everything. Me and my dad are literally going “COME ON!” every 10 seconds because we’re missing dialogue from the sound cutting. I would not have kept driving that car after all that. “I’ve read the files, the Doctor is a man.” “I’ve had an upgrade.” LOVE IT. We’ve got closed captions on now, so even if the sound cuts out we’re ok. “Yeah keep em coming” Love. Adorable. Calling it now. Vor might become a running plot point.

C: UNIT. Even Torchwood Me: They’re both gone. Doctor: All gone. Me: SEE.

I love that they brought up Torchwood though. That show was basically Chibnall’s baby for the first 2 seasons. The TARDIS can’t leave if something is partially inside...  ok it forced it back out. Who is this MI6 friend though? Do we already know them? Am I being stupid? ...This actor looks SO familiar...  “Cozy.” “You mean messy.” “You’re right, I do.” I loved that. Was he in an Adventure in Space and Time? I’m 99.9999999999% sure that’s who he is, but I haven’t seen that in about 2 years so I don’t want to assume.

My brother and dad are having an argument about student loans and whether or not they’ll be forgiven in a few years or if Trump’s gonna get re-elected. I’m glad I put on captions because I literally cannot hear this episode anymore.

93% human? Basically I only took in about half of the the “interview” with the guy because my family was talking over it. They’re going to his birthday party so I guess that’s all that matters. I meant to say it earlier, but the shapes of the aliens look so familiar to me.... I was gonna say they should back themselves against a wall, but that’s where they tend to come out of so... no. Out in the open is probably safer. OH GOD ITS LIT UP. So is it from another dimension? If physical boundaries don’t work? Ok yep it’s Sacha Dhawan. Waris in An Adventure in Space and Time. Very ominous. Obstacles. “Duck down you twits!” - My Dad. These tree things look like DNA... Does it feed off light... So it can teleport people? Sooooo is Yaz... still Yaz?  “They think that she’s Yaz... but she Yaz not.” - My Dad being dumb. Doctor. We’ve learned from Martha that you gotta tell us your sad backstory early on. Please open up. Awww O is like a Doctor fanboy. Love it. I wonder which Doctor he met since I can’t remember him... Multiple earths? So it’s dimensions! Like I said! The suits! Love it. The bowtie! And did I see a flash of red on the inside? I will cry if it’s red on the inside like Twelve and Three. ...Are we supposed to ship O and Yaz? There was a moment earlier of him looking up at her... in a way that seemed... meaningful. And now he’s saying stuff about being unlucky in love. That was very straightforward, Doctor. My dad pointed out that the car is TARDIS  blue. And I wanted to mention this earlier but didn’t think it was important, but Daniel’s blue scarf was kind of TARDISy with the white squares like windows.

...

I LITERALLY JUST SPENT 2 OR 3 MINUTES STRAIGHT JUMPING UP AND DOWN. I LITERALLY KICKED MY BLANKET OFF OF ME AND JUMPED OUT OF MY SEAT. THEN HOPPED AROUND MY LIVING ROOM. MY DAD WAS LAUGHING AT ME.

HE’S THE MASTER. HE IS THE MASTER. OH MY GOD.

I LOVE HIM ALREADY.

I can’t even be mad that he’s sending Yaz, Graham, and Ryan plummeting in a plane and transported the Doctor to the middle of nowhere. I can’t even be mad. Because HE’S THE MASTER!!!!!!!!! I AM BEYOND HAPPY.

Guys. MISSY SURVIVED! SHE LIVED! SHE REGENERATED! THE MASTER IS INDIAN! AHHHHHHHH. SO HAPPY!!!

Earlier in the episode I was like “I really like this actor, I hope this character comes back after it’s all finished.” AND HE WILL! BECAUSE HE’S THE MASTER! YAY!!

I wondered which Doctor he’d met before, and the answer was all of them.

Guys I am very happy right now.

Update: So halfway through the episode I looked up the cast of this episode to see who was playing O, but O wasn’t a character listed in the episode on IMDB. And I was like “that’s annoying, they haven’t updated the full character list yet” so I looked up An Adventure in Space and Time instead and saw his picture and was like “Yep. Same guy.” BUT I’M GLAD HIS CHARACTER WASN’T LISTED IN SPYFALL. I WOULD HAVE BEEN SPOILED HALFWAY THROUGH THE EPISODE IF IT SAID “Sacha Dhawal - O/Master”! Oh my god am I glad that IMDB didn’t update the character list until after it’s aired in America too.

[bunnywand]

so i finished rewatching season 5 of doctor who yday (and honestly?? rly enjoyed it, matt smith isn’t as bad as i’d remembered and there’s probs some of my fav dw episodes in there 😅 but that’s a topic 4 another post!!) and the last episode made me realise s/t that i haven’t rly seen anyone talk abt before?? 😧

bcos in the episode, after the doctor restarts the universe w/ the big bang 2, amy’s parents come back.. and it made me go ?!??! bcos i Literally did Not remember amy had parents?? and it made me realise a Huge difference between moffat’s dw and rtd’s, that i think is a major flaw of moffat’s and one of the reasons his characters are sometimes so.. flat 😖

bcos in rtd’s doctor who, we get 2 see all the companion’s families, and they’re often hugely important and well developed!! with rose, jackie is probably one of the most memorable characters, father’s day is an Amazingly emotional episode w/ pete, and honestly last time i watched army of ghosts/doomsday i cried more at the jackie/pete reunion than the ending of doomsday 😅

and then martha’s family.. aren’t as well developed, but they’re still there in a lot of episodes, and we get 2 see martha interact w/ them and know how important they are 2 her, and w/ donna we get 2 see a lot of her mom in turn left, and obvs wilf is a v popular and important character!! and it just makes all the characters and the show itself so much more well rounded and.. real?? seeing them interact w/ ppl outside of the doctor!!

(side note: this also extends 2 torchwood and sarah jane adventures!! adding gwen’s relationship w/ rhys and her life outside torchwood and her struggles w/ balancing the two makes adds another interesting layer 2 it, and the same w/ rani + maria and their parents in sja!!)

but in moffat’s dw?? like i said, i literally had no memory of amy’s parents being in it, they’re only in a couple of scenes at the end of the big bang, we don’t even learn their names, and maybe i’m wrong but i don’t think they’re ever in it again?? 😧 and maybe i’m just not remembering well, but i don’t remember clara’s parents being significant characters either?? 😕

i think he accidentally solved this problem for a while w/ rory’s dad, bcos he Was a memorable and good character, and bought a fun dynamic 2 the show, but even he wasn’t in it long, and didn’t even get a proper sendoff after rory and amy died?? 😣

and yeah like i said, i think This is one of the major reasons moffat’s characters seem so.. one dimensional, like his show’s lacking that extra human touch, his characters only exist 2 be plot devices for the doctor and we don’t get 2 see them outside of that context much 😫