The odd kill, who does it hurt?

Warning: This post is rant heavy (and Torchwood heavy I guess)

I am stuck in an endless battle with the Mulberry tree at work (or as it is known in the mother tongue, a moerbei boom, which I realise is a very appropriate name for it since it does in fact instill the urge to hit something). This tree takes up the entire yard and since my car is white, it is not a pleasant experience. I have to hose it down when I get home which means I invariably end up getting wet, then I have to sit around scrubbing at the stains. This tree hates me. This morning I had to stop right under it since both the doctor and the practice manager was there before me...this means not only was it purple when I came out, but birds apparantly attempted nesting on it. Not impressed.

So anyway, lately I've been reading the Torchwood novels, which for all intents and purposes are pretty much just sanctioned fanfiction. I have no idea how this works or how one would become involved in such an endeavour, but it is something sci-fi is particularly fond of (take for example the Star Wars novels which take place post Return of the Jedi and seem to have no real rhyme or reason). Still, my apprehension regarding the validity of their existence notwithstanding, they are well written and I get through them in three hours, not to mention I get a kick out of reading such British things which just remind me of my childhood (so things we say all the time, or my grandparents say, and they don't really use here, which sometimes strikes me as a bit strange seeing as Australia is still technically British as it were), so whatever. Point is, the one I finished last night ('The Twilight Streets') employed an element of the classic plot device I like to refer to as the mind fuck. Now this device is a distant cousin of the dreaded It was all a dream! storyline which should really never be used because all you do is alienate your audience. Let me demonstrate - "It was all a dream?! What was the fucking point of that?! That is three hours of my life I will never get back, you idiot!" This is a well founded argument because what are you doing if not wasting everyone's time? But back to the point. The mind fuck of course refers to that occurrence where someone or something infiltrates our heroes' awareness through some mind/thought/memory control of the highest callibre, so setting up the entire plot, and once the heroes become wise to this action, it is then usually promptly forgotten as part of the resolution. In Torchwood world, I have come across three such situations so far to some degree - in two books and in the episode 'Adam'. Now I have to say, straight from the start the mind fuck storyline gets me offside because as a viewer/reader, you immediately know something isn't right and then you have to sit there waiting for someone to wise up to it, which to me is very frustrating (much like watching Heroes). In particular regards to Torchwood, these mind fuck things make me want to bang my head against a wall because really, in my opinion, a lot of the emotional strength for the Jack and Ianto combination stem from these mind fuck situations, only to be forgotten (completely wasted) when the resolution rolls around and effectively wipes the memories. Jack's complete belief in Ianto in 'Adam', or Ianto's sacrifice in 'The Twilight Streets' are the type of things that should lift the relationship past the indistinct mess it normally occupies. To some extent this also works for the Tosh and Owen situation. But alas, it is not remembered and so I'm sitting there growling numerous variations of "There was progress to be had there! Progress!" while cursing my investment in fictional creations for the millionth time.

Writers will no doubt justify the mind fuck as a way for the audience to learn more about the characters and if it were remembered it would change the characters' dynamic with one another and it'd be awkward. Honestly, can't you find some other way to divulge information about the characters? Some less annoying way? Where things that happen actually matter? In all fairness this is only relevant to the 'Adam' episode, the books did have other things happening and just certain parts of 'The Twilight Streets' were forgotten. All 'Adam' really did was enlighten you of Jack's past, which he could easily have shared with a young Anakin or Luke Skywalker on Tatooine. Not that it isn't interesting, but to make all that progress and then to have them forget it seems like such a waste to me. I realise it is key to the plot, otherwise there'd never be a resolution or whatever, but still. Also, since I'm going on about this already, isn't Jack in general just a little Retcon happy? I mean for someone who went rogue because he had two years of his memory erased, he sure is fine with erasing other people's memories. Which makes one particular part of 'The Twilight Streets' seem a bit laughable to me...Jack as a moral compass? Really? Moral is not exactly the first word that comes to mind.

Testament to all this, my current facebook status reads "Jen gets annoyed with these "memory-failing" story lines" (I have family on facebook, I have to censor myself). Indeed.

On a completely different rambling note, I had to ring Medicare and the woman I spoke to said "My, you are so efficient." Damn straight. Sometimes my polite professionalism scares me. It's like this whole other personality I can adopt when needed. I remember once a teacher from school rang me at work and wouldn't actually believe it was me. I'm damn good at what I do too, if I do say so myself. I realise admin and recepetion are hardly the greatest jobs in the world, a trained monkey could in fact do this job, but I am good at it. Mum's work has tried to recruit me for a full time position twice since finishing school. They're currently trying to entice me again, as they have both the receptionist and PA position going. Lately, I've been thinking I'd be a good PA. I'm organised, I'm efficient, and I'm intuitive. I also love being needed. Like Pepper in Iron Man! I could totally do that. For someone important though, I don't just want to make photocopies, type stuff, and book James' car in for a service. I do that already. And I get paid more. Ah well. Actually, I wish I was less efficient, I wouldn't be so bored at work if I left something on the desk for more than two seconds.

But I digress.

Well, no, not really. You know, knowing how my dad feels about the stuff, I make a point of NOT watching Star Wars, or Torchwood, or Doctor Who, or Serenity, or Lord of the Rings even, when he's at home. And yet, here I am, still being subjected to Pimp my ride, WWE, and Jerry Springer. There is no justice in the world. Oh and now we're watching The Weakest Link. I don't even know anymore.

I swear to god if one more person sends me a mass email and count it as "communication" I am going to send them a virus. Honestly people, pressing "reply all" and sending something that's so fucking old to your entire address book does not constitute as "keeping in touch" ok? Get it through your thick skulls. This appears to be a South African problem, you'd think they'd want to keep me on speaking terms with them if they ever want to see me again. Grumble.

Hey, my Honours form arrived in the mail, signed and perfect. That was fast. So now I have no excuse but to shut up and finish the proposal.

Oh, the obsession for the week! It's going to have to go to another song (I know, that's been happening a lot lately) called 'Polka' by Yves Klein Blue. It's on their myspace over here. It is currently being used in a television car ad, Mitsubishi I think, and it gets stuck in my head. So it's a good thing that I already had it on my iPod. I really like it, definitely grew on me. They've got a bit of that Arctic Monkeys appeal going. And besides, as Butters from The Dresden Files would say - polka will never die!



Now since I've been rambling mostly about Torchwood, I feel it is appropriate to end said rambling with a quote...

Captain John: You have a team! How sweet! Oh, pretty little friend. No blonde though, you need a blonde.
Owen: God, he's worse than Jack.
Captain John: Oh oh do you have a team name? I love team names; go on.
Captain Jack: Torchwood.
Captain John: Oh. Not Excalibur? Blizzard? Bikini Cops? No? Torchwood. Oh dear.

Music: Girls just wanna have fun - The Killers (hmm cover)
Mood: Loathing this headache