Analysing Torchwood - Part Five
It took me a while, but I decided to knuckle down and get it over and done with: "Cyberwoman". Unlike the others that just focus on Jack, Ianto, Gwen and Rhys, this time Lisa has been added to the mix as well. I have avoided Owen/Gwen for now, but that will come to play later on, and I will be looking at Estelle in "Small Worlds". After all, Lisa, Estelle and Owen are all key to the developing relationships of the key four I'm looking at.
Anyway, without futher ado:
Analysing Torchwood Part Five
Previously: The team go Ghostbusters in "Ghost Machine"
"Cyberwoman"
Finally! A chance for Ianto to be given his moment to shine, not just fading into the background like he has the episodes previous. We will be able to see just what his role is within not only Torchwood, but also in regards to Jack and Gwen at this point in the series.
The opening sees Ianto entering the Hub, watching the rest of the team playing basketball. He is effectively being ignored, standing within the cage, which represents how cut off and separated he is from the team. He is just standing back and watching, whereas Gwen has joining in on the fun and games, now completely relaxed and enjoying herself, a full member of the team now.
We then get another scene where Jack gives something to Ianto without ever looking at him, Ianto just watching as the team leaves without any of them really paying any attention to him. Ianto, however, seems to have counted on this and no doubt has made sure things were this way. After all, he did have ulterior motives for joining Torchwood Three, as is revealed in this episode.
We see other little moments to show that Gwen has fitted into the team, Jack even offering up a little information about not having been to the rugby and Gwen letting them know that Rhys knows someone who could get them in. The team, it would seem, have welcomed Gwen in, and she is now completely comfortable with them.
Back at the Hub, we are finally given our first introduction to Lisa. It is interesting just how many bolts are on the door, leading to the question - is it to keep the others out and prevent them from finding her, or is it to keep Lisa in? We are given an overall look at just how much of her remains, and the line "one of them survived' tells us that Lisa is the only half-conversion that remains from the battle. Ianto climbing up onto the unit to kiss her is our way of seeing that they were together, although in the background we are briefly shown a photograph of Ianto and Lisa in happier times, only the picture is slightly blurred out.
As Tanizaki studies Lisa for the first time, we slowly see Ianto's possessive side show. He firstly corrects Tanizaki calling Lisa "anything", reminding him that she is human, faint annoyance in his eyes. We also learn in this scene that Ianto was formally of Torchwood One, like Lisa, and was fully aware of what happened with the Cybermen. Ianto also looks at Lisa with great fondness when he says her name, although his voice is filled with pain as he tells Tanizaki what had happened.
We are then given the flashback to London of Ianto dragging Lisa free of the converters, screaming for help that would never come (almost everyone else was dead) as Lisa screams in pain.
When Tanizaki asks about the percentages, Ianto seems a little annoyed. He was no doubt lost in the memory, the emotions, only for Tanizaki to ask a detached question. He listens with interest as Tanizaki gives the breakdown, but cannot watch when Tanizaki touches Lisa's stomach, annoyance again in his eyes.
Tanizaki seems excited about the figures, Ianto again looking frustrated as Tanizaki says parts of Lisa are "awaiting completion". Ianto breaks into Tanizaki's 'fanboying" with the question "can you make her human again", which is Ianto's reason for bringing Tanizaki there and for keeping Lisa alive this long, not to mention his reason for joining Torchwood Three.
However, Tanizaki is still fascinated by the technology, and Ianto's annoyance is now represented in the way that he is standing, arms crossed, hovering by Lisa's side. When Lisa speaks, Ianto is by her side in an instant, his tone changing completely to a kind, nurturing one as his expression becomes open. Lisa, for her part, seems to only have eyes for Ianto, whom she has come to rely heavily on.
There is a moment between them, as Ianto reminds her that he had promised to bring Tanizaki, and Lisa's voice becomes equally fond as she says "and you always keep your promises". There is a history there, a strong bond between them that has kept them together through all this, including Ianto remaining faithful to her despite his attraction to Jack and his knowing Jack is interested. Lisa still is Ianto's number one, especially now that she is in such a vulnerable, defenceless state which pains him to see her in. During their conversation Ianto's hand has come down to hold hers, Lisa seeming to return the hold despite the pain.
It is now that Tanizaki stops treating Lisa as a machine and as a human, his own voice changing to a softer one of a doctor caring for a patient. He asks Ianto permission to question Lisa, Ianto now giving his approval. It is now Lisa that corrects Tanizaki when he refers to Ianto as her "friend", Lisa putting Tanizaki right by telling him Ianto is her "boyfriend", looking toward Ianto and smiling, which wins her a almost bashful look from Ianto who hasn't looked away from her this entire time. We get another little moment, Lisa telling Tanizaki that they had come to the decision to bring him there together.
When Tanizaki asks Lisa about her last memory, we are again given a flashback to Canary Wharf and Lisa screaming. Where the previous flashback had been from Ianto's POV, this one was Lisa's. The image focuses primarily on her, and we can't hear Ianto's screams for help, only Lisa's as the pain would have countered everything else. Ianto is left speechless by her story, barely able to answer Tanizaki's request for somewhere to work.
Upstairs, Ianto once again becomes the protective, worried lover, pacing back and forth just wanting it to be over with so he can know Lisa is all right, although he knows that it will take time. His body language is once again closed off, his face expressionless as he silently wills Tanizaki to get on with it, his eyes rarely leaving Lisa. The fact Lisa is spread out on the autopsy table is almost a foreshadowing of things to come, and can also be read as Lisa already being "dead" as it is open to speculation that Lisa died at Canary Wharf and it is the Cyberman manipulating Ianto with Lisa's memories and false emotions.
Ianto doesn't take the news that Lisa may die well, turning to Tanizaki with a look on his face that clearly reads as denial, shock, protectiveness and faint anger. Tanizaki registers this, which is why he offers Ianto advice. Tanizaki is older, more world wise, whereas despite having seen so much death Ianto is still young and naive in regards to love and relationships. He accepts Tanizaki's advice, although he does not like it. Almost as a representation of his naivety, we see Ianto start chewing on his thumbnail, a very childlike habit that he has fallen back into in this moment as he frets over Lisa, completely helpless at this point in time.
Ianto doesn't move until it becomes clear to him that Lisa's life is at risk, stalking around the autopsy table to try and throw Tanizaki back. We are not shown Tanizaki or Lisa, only Ianto here. He backs off at Tanizaki's insistence to leave him, but Ianto is still not happy with the way things are progressing.
To break up the moment, we are shown the team out having drinks, enthralled by a story from Jack. Owen makes an offhand remark about Ianto, which causes Jack to laugh, none of them aware of what is going back on at the Hub right at that moment, especially Jack. When Jack tells them to take "ten seconds" to finish their drinks, only Gwen rises to Jack's challenge, although he has the unfair advantage given he's drinking water and her beer. Jack seems slightly pleased that someone met his dare, as Tosh and Owen did not.
Back at the Hub Ianto is hovering over Lisa, holding her hand as he waits, unable to do anything. He looks back at Tanizaki who has retreated for now, Ianto making the threat "if she dies because of you". The look in his eyes and the tone of his voice tell us that Ianto will follow through on the threat, and we are given a look at the darker side of him he usually keeps in check for the first time.
When Lisa starts breathing again, she seems to be clearly shocked by the fact. Her first word is Ianto's name, but spoken as a question which mirrors the confusion on her face. Ianto's anger from a moment ago is lost in blatant relief and joy, Ianto touching Lisa in the places where her skin is still natural to sooth her: her abdomen, her hand, her face. When he kisses her Lisa doesn't respond, but she does thank Tanizaki who assures them there is still more for them to do.
Then there comes a warning beep, panic clear on Ianto's face as he races to the computer, keying up the CCTV which shows the team returning. Ianto knows that if they find Lisa, they will no doubt kill her, which leads to him urging Lisa and Tanizaki to rush to pack up and return to the basement. Ianto no doubt was not expecting the team to come back, but still had an alert system just in case, always prepared.
Lisa tells Ianto that she will walk as Ianto goes about preparing to carry her. The fact Ianto seems to be able to carry her, despite the fact she would weigh an incredible amount, is interesting. There are many people under the assumption that Ianto is weak, and this action suggests otherwise. At the same time, we see Lisa seeking out her independence after being incapacitated for so long, and Ianto is scared of her hurting herself after he came so close to losing her again.
Knowing the Lisa is going to walk, Ianto goes about handing her to Tanizaki so that he can go about covering up what had been happening in the autopsy bay. Lisa seems almost overwhelmed by the fact she is alive and breathing, but Ianto doesn't share her joy. He is completely focused now on hiding things away from his team mates, and at the back of his mind he also knows that there is still a long way to go to make Lisa human.
Meanwhile, the team continue on their way back to the Tourist Information Centre of the Hub, seeming to want to prolong their night out before getting back to work. Gwen and Jack exchanged amused looks as they listen to Tosh and Owen argue about driving the SUV, Gwen not happy with the outcome while Jack is genuinely amused. As they are talking, Tosh and Owen are close together, while Jack and Gwen are slightly off to the side, observing rather than joining in, hands in their pockets and more closed to participating while Tosh and Owen are more open.
Having cleaned up the autopsy bay, Ianto rushes to help Tanizaki with Lisa, just as the others enter the Tourism Office. It is only now that Gwen offers her suggestion to Tosh and Owen's fight, and for his part Jack shuts her idea down, falling back into business mode. Gwen gives him the wide-eyed look, hurt by his comment and not wanting him to be angry as she rushes to follow the others into the Hub and is almost closed in the door.
Ianto assures Lisa that he'll come back to her once the others have left the Hub, before he rushes back upstairs. Meanwhile, Jack is once more in Torchwood Leader mode, issuing orders with a casual air - there is no real threat, so no need to rush. Just as he enters his office, Ianto appears at the front of screen, turning aside quickly to adjust his tie, visibly composing himself ready for whatever lies ahead and still separated from the rest of the team who have not noticed his arrival.
Even as he moves through them, neither Gwen nor Owen even look at him despite the fact he moves straight past Gwen, trying to keep his movements small to avoid notice. Jack, however, spots him straight away - Jack always seems to know when Ianto's near - and calls out to him. Ianto instantly goes rigid, and you can see the emotions on his face - has he left something out that could betray him? He shifts slightly from side to side, and you can see he is debating if he should stop and turn, keep walking, or run away.
Before he can decide, however, Jack casually asks for coffee. Only then does Ianto turn toward him, the fixed expression on his face to hide all his emotions. Jack makes the "please" gesture with his hands, winning a small smile from Ianto that vanishes the minute he turns away. Jack is still clueless, and Ianto moves to do as asked, just wanting them to be gone as soon as possible so that he and Tanizaki (who Lisa is about to "upgrade") can continue working on Lisa.
When the power fails, Ianto knows instantly what is wrong and you can see the horror on his face. As the team discuss what could be causing Ianto is planning in his mind how to get back down to the basement and find out what is going on. When the team go to look into the fluctuations Ianto quickly brings their attention to him, keeping a level voice as he explains about some issues he'd been having, Gwen sizing him up and later offering help, while Jack dismisses him to go find out what is happening. Ianto doesn't hesitate, telling Gwen he's right as he rushes for the basement. Gwen, at this point, already seems slightly suspicious whereas Jack has complete faith in Ianto.
Bursting into the basement, Ianto's first concerns are to switch off the power to try and divert the team’s attention away, and then he finds Tanizaki. His first thoughts are there has been an accident, and then he registers what Lisa just told him. Her voice here is notably different to what it was earlier - earlier it had been filled with emotion, now it is a fixed monotone voice of a machine.
Interestingly, Lisa makes a move to comfort Ianto. As he accuses her of killing an "innocent man", she turns toward him and tells him "it's all right", only Ianto knows different. He is shocked by what she has done to the man who effectively saved her, a man he brought into the Hub. Already Ianto knows that this is his fault since he is the one to keep Lisa "alive".
Ianto is panicking about what will happen if the team find them, already going through the scenarios in his mind and knowing that they would both be in serious trouble, including Lisa dead, if the others find out. Again, Lisa seems to try to comfort/protect him by saying "I'll deal with them", something Ianto instantly reacts against. Ianto is struggling between loyalties - to Lisa, and to the team. Despite having tried to distance himself from the Cardiff team, he has developed a loyalty to them, particularly to Jack, which will become be the key problem for him throughout this episode.
Ianto instantly begins trying to work out a logical reason as to why Lisa acted the way she did. Evidently it is completely out of character for the Lisa he knows, so he is placing the blame back on the trauma and cybernetics, trying to keep himself calm, and losing badly. His shock and despair switches to anger as he lashes out at Lisa, who automatically goes on the defensive. Where she had previously been protecting him, you now see in her eyes that Ianto has just become a threat.
She advances on him with the intention on killing him while his back is turned, only to stop when Ianto's anger turns once more to anguish and he reaches for her, touching her face. Once more she reverts back to the calm expression, the threat removed as Ianto manages to compose himself. However, when he says "if you hurt anyone else, I'll..." she questions him, a clear threat in her now strongly cybernetic voice.
Ianto hears the threat, backing off as Lisa sizes him up. Ianto knows that right then that something has changed, as Lisa's manner and stance are now completely different and she has also committed murder. Ianto steps away, focusing himself on Tanizaki and trying to ignore Lisa's threat.
Ianto is barely keeping it together. He is now directly responsible for someone dying, and would still be suffering from post traumatic stress himself after Torchwood One, which makes it even harder. Ianto is a mix of emotions, and we see a flash of anger directed at Lisa briefly who does not see it. Ianto composes himself again as he drags Tanizaki away, and his telling Lisa "everything is going to be okay" is more for himself rather than for her. Lisa watches calmly, and you can hear Ianto making a point of bolting the door closed, and this time it is unquestionable that it is to keep Lisa in rather than the others out.
Interestingly, when Lisa switches on the conversion unit, you see her throw a fleeting look after Ianto. She seems to be in two minds about him, although she seems to know her own purpose.
Back in the main Hub, the alien threat has been identified and dealt with, Jack again in teacher mode as he explains to Gwen exactly what the alien is. When the power goes, only Gwen watches Jack's reaction as he tries to contact Ianto, Ianto pointedly ignoring him as he tries to hide Tanizaki's body, his internal struggle building - he knows Lisa has the converter on again, but can't deal with it. Ianto knows that the game is up, and the game is up and they're going to find her and there's nothing he can do.
Despite the fact something is clearly wrong, Jack is still calm and trusting. He even goes so far as to flirt with Ianto about his "beautiful Welsh vowels", Gwen still continuing to stand by his side and watch him, Ianto still not answering. It's only now that a worried looks begins to flicker across Jack's face, especially when Tosh identifies two heat signals where there should be one. Jack immediately hands out the weapons, believing them to be breached. Gwen decides to go with Owen, Jack allowing it but reminding them that finding Ianto is their top priority.
We also see one of the few times Jack swears when they lose Gwen and Owen's comm signals, as now they are unable to be reached and Ianto is still missing. Jack is clearly currently at a loss with what is going on, a pained look slowly working over his face as it begins to dawn on him who is behind all this, especially when Tosh shows him Ianto bringing Tanizaki into the Hub and Jack realises Ianto may have betrayed them.
When the comms come back online we again hear a father like comment from Jack: "if I don't hear something within 30 seconds I'm coming down there". It's then Gwen who replies and Jack's first thoughts are again for Ianto who is still missing. After Owen tells Jack about the conversion unit, there is a brief look at Jack and it is clear that something has just dawned on him. Cyber conversion units brought down Torchwood One, and there is now a fully functioning unit in their basement - and just who worked for Torchwood One and now works for them?
Tosh can see the realisation on Jack's face, anger and pain reflecting in his eyes, but keeps her mouth shut. When Owen speaks again Jack orders him and Gwen back upstairs - Ianto is no longer the top of Jack's concerns, especially since Jack has realised the betrayal. When Lisa attacks Owen, Gwen instantly reports to Jack using Torchwood code - she has been there long enough to have picked up the basic lingo in case of emergency.
When Jack arrives downstairs, Gwen is already in the conversion unit and Jack is clearly shocked to realise just what Lisa is. Jack brings his gun up and fires, but Ianto attacks him just as he does so that the bullet glances off Lisa's shoulder. Ianto has Jack pinned to the wall, only Jack overpowers him and pushes him into the other side of the doorway, saying "you are fighting the wrong guy". Jack is clearly shocked by Ianto's actions, his face almost pleading Ianto to stop fighting him and instead fight with him, Jack clearly not wanting to believe Ianto is behind this. For his part, Ianto is still clearly conflicted, not wanting Lisa killed but at the same time unable to hurt Jack.
It is then that Gwen screams for them, reminding Jack and Ianto that she is in trouble and causing a flash of panic over both their faces. Ianto can't believe what Lisa has done, and struggles to save Gwen. Jack is at Gwen's side, no doubt looking for a way to free her from her restraints as Ianto realises that Lisa has disabled the off switch and tells Jack to cut the power, Jack relaying the order to Tosh and ignoring her questioning.
Jack checks Owen first before moving to Gwen, Gwen pleading for Jack to get her free. Jack glances quickly at Ianto to make sure he is fine, Ianto clearly shocked by what is happening. Ianto can't help but stare at Gwen, knowing how close to Tanizaki's fate she came and not quite believing it. Jack tells him to stand guard, and this time we can hear the conflict in Jack's voice - he's sure Ianto is behind this, his suspicions confirmed when Ianto apologises to Gwen who is confused. Jack can't take his eyes off Ianto, conflict on his own face, caught between his feelings and trust for Ianto, and knowing he has just betrayed them and put them all in danger. He turns his attention to Gwen, seeing about setting her free.
Jack allows Ianto to take point, with Gwen just behind so he can keep an eye on them as he carries Owen. Gwen is set on looking for Lisa, Ianto seems to be hoping they don't find her, whereas Jack is fighting an internal struggle with himself. There is a world of emotions flickering over his face and he is lost in his thoughts, despite being the only one to have his gun up. Where Gwen and Ianto are looking around for Lisa, Jack's eyes are unseeing and focused forward. He isn't looking for Lisa at all; rather, he is trying to comprehend exactly what is going on.
Gwen and Ianto also seem to be thinking to themselves. Ianto seems to be stunned by what happens, a blank look on his face. Meanwhile, Gwen gives a quick shake of her head, not quite believing what is happening. All three of them snap to attention at the sign of Lisa, Gwen jumping as Jack and Ianto take a step back.
Gwen is still not sure what they are dealing with, having never encountered the Cybermen before. As Jack answers her question, his eye is on Ianto, watching his reaction. Ianto continues to have the blank look on his face, not taking his eyes off Lisa but also not seeming threatened by her. Rather, Ianto takes half a step forward, seeming to want to speak to Lisa but keeping silent. Lisa stares Jack down, glancing to the side at Ianto. Jack spots this, making the connection and shifting closer to Ianto, while Gwen is still trying to work out what is happening and thinking Lisa will attack again.
Gwen is shocked when Jack tells her he doesn't know what to do, Gwen not expecting that of him. Evidently she has come to think that Jack has an answer for everything, so the thought of him not knowing something takes her by surprise. When Lisa moves away, Ianto again takes half a step forward and seems to want to speak, Jack again watching him.
Ianto is slightly relieved when Lisa leaves, knowing that they have more time. Lisa hasn't hurt anyone else, and Jack hasn't tried to shoot Lisa, and the conflict is evident in his voice. Meanwhile, Jack has seen all he needs to see and brings the gun to Ianto's head, arming it. Ianto is caught off by the feel of a barrel at the back of his head (I would be), rage clear in Jack's voice as he orders Ianto to take them to safety. Gwen can't believe what she is seeing and questions Jack, who again dismisses what is said with the line "resisting the urge to shoot" through gritted teeth. He is furious.
By now Jack has clearly worked out just why Ianto tried so hard to make Jack hire him, and Jack has realised that he has fallen for a con. At the same time Jack has allowed himself to develop feelings for Ianto despite himself, which adds to the betrayal.
As they enter the main Hub Ianto seems resigned to his fate, Jack glaring at the back of his head. Jack orders Ianto onto his knees with hands behind his head, and Ianto doesn't fight him. Like Gwen, Tosh can't believe what is doing and like Gwen, Jack dismisses her complaints. He orders Gwen and Tosh to work, Owen still unconscious, so that he can question Ianto in semi-privacy, leaning into him and lowering his voice.
With Ianto is such a submissive, lowered position, Jack is clearly the dominant one here, continuing to hold his gun on Ianto as he is no longer sure that he can trust the man he once seemed to have complete faith in. For his part, Ianto doesn't skirt the truth, not lying anymore about Lisa and for the first time being straight up with Jack - after all, he'd told Jack Lisa had died at Canary Wharf.
Gwen can't help but overhear, shocked by Ianto's confession and for the first real time paying complete attention to the man she has practically been ignoring since she arrived. For his part, Jack reaches forward and catches hold of Ianto's hair, anger thick in his voice, not believing what he is hearing. He only steps back when he asks "what else are you keeping from us", Ianto skilfully avoiding answering that question with an accusation. Ianto reminds them of his role in Torchwood and the fact he is ignored, a pained look flashing over Jack's face as he seems to realise it's true - for all his flirting, Jack never did ask Ianto about himself, and Jack puts his gun away. This is partially his fault, and he knows it.
Meanwhile, Gwen is standing back watching Ianto, a sad yet confused look on her face as she also seems to realise she's ignored Ianto. Meanwhile, Tosh is more interested in Jack's reaction. Jack seems to have closed himself off, arms crossed over his chest, a new conflict seeming to go on as Ianto tells them just who Lisa is, and this time it is Gwen who seems slightly sympathetic.
She asks why Ianto didn't tell them, and Ianto explains Torchwood to her, emphasising her naivety to his own experience - he has, after all, been with Torchwood for over two years, whereas she's only been there a few months, and he has worked for both Torchwood One (who's motto was "if it's alien, it's ours), and Torchwood Three (where's he's witnessed their treatment of aliens prior to Gwen's arrival and her questioning of their tactics). Ianto doesn't seem to be able to comprehend how naive Gwen is, almost glaring at her at the suggestion of them helping him as he points all of the above out.
Gwen seems to pout after Ianto basically scolds her innocence, and Ianto informs them exactly where his loyalties lie at that point in time. Gwen can't seem to believe what she is hearing and you can slowly see her wanting to help Ianto, whereas Jack's defences have slammed up as Ianto pleads with them to save Lisa. Ianto seems to have a case of survivor’s guilt, feeling like he is responsible for what happened to Lisa therefore he must help her.
It's only when Ianto says they need to find a cure that Jack finally speaks up, and again there is pain in his voice and expression. He wants to help Ianto help Lisa, but Jack knows better. The anger is gone although Jack is still upset by Ianto's betrayal. The anger returns at the end of his speech, however, as he seems to spit the word "girlfriend" at Ianto, telling him that there is no exceptions. Jack is not happy at all by this turn of events - after all, he had thought he and Ianto had something and has now just realised why Ianto always held back from his advances.
Ianto's own hope for Lisa is clouding his judgement, something Jack realises as he rubs his head trying to work out how to explain it so not to upset Ianto more, Gwen watching Jack out the corner of her eye. Gwen still doesn't seem to comprehend the scale of what is happening, but you can see it dawning on Ianto's face just what Jack means (Ianto is a Torchwood One survivor, after all, a survivor of a Cyberman invasion) but doesn't want to believe it. Jack himself is talking from experience (nanogins, anyone?) and doesn't want Ianto to make the same mistake, but it isn't until Jack demands that Ianto is going to fight on their side that Ianto reacts negatively.
Ianto is pissed off at the implication that Jack wants him to help stop/kill Lisa, and goes against Jack's orders and stands in a symbol of defiance, bringing them eye to eye. Jack is slightly surprised by this, not quite believing Ianto is going against him when he has been the "loyal solider", his right hand man, in the past.
Because the conversion wasn't completed, Ianto still believes that Lisa can be saved, and Jack points out that Lisa tried to convert Gwen. Ianto and Jack are now in each others person space, staring each other down in a battle of wills, Ianto wanting Jack to help him, while Jack is wanting Ianto to stand by him, most of this conversation taking place silently through their eyes rather than what is being said verbally. Their eyes are begging each other to bend, to see reason, wanting each others support for their own agenda.
Interestingly, when Ianto says that he loves Lisa and asks if Jack can understand that, we are given something unspoken. Ianto knows that Jack often brags about his past lovers, and Ianto seems to think that Jack is incapable of or does not understand the concept of love simply from what he has observed of him. For his part Jack doesn’t' seem to react, but is instead searching Ianto's face, the look in his eyes seeming to soften. When Ianto asks "haven't you ever loved anyone", there seems to be a slight struggle in Jack's eyes, and we see Gwen looking intently at Jack for an answer even as Owen rolls his eyes.
Jack steps closer to Ianto, an almost sad look in his eyes that could say so many things depending on how the viewer wishes to read it. We know that yes, Jack has loved (Estelle, the Doctor, Rose, his wife, and no doubt others), and it has become a fan debate (especially amongst the Jack/Ianto fans) about what Jack's exact feelings for Ianto were at this point as his eyes can almost be read as reflecting his feelings for Ianto, which would explain exactly why Jack was so conflicted over Ianto's betrayal while barely reacted to Owen's later in the series.
It just may be that Ianto's questioning of Jack's ability to love is something that has been rushing around his own mind since Ianto's own realisation of attraction for Jack during their hunt for Myfanwy, and it is a question that always seems to plague him throughout the series as Jack avoids answering by turning the question back around to question Ianto's loyalties.
Jack seems to have picked up on Ianto's reasoning behind the question, but now is not the time for heart-to-hearts that both men usually avoid anyway, and right now it is Ianto's loyalty that is most important, and Jack can see the conflict. He leaves Ianto with a threat, stepping away from him and walking away with one last look - Ianto has now been threatened by both Jack and Lisa, the two people he has conflicting loyalties with, and conflicting emotions for.
Ianto's internal conflict seems to be worsening with Jack's words, and he now seems to be looking for a way to bring about a resolution where no one dies. Ianto knows that Lisa wants to convert the team, and the team what Lisa dead, and he wants a compromise starting with Lisa. It is at that moment that Lisa arrives, having heard Ianto say "she's not a monster" and watching him.
When Ianto moves for Lisa, Gwen instantly senses that he is placing himself in danger and tries to warn him back, only Jack stops her. Jack knows that Ianto is the only one with any real chance of talking Lisa down, and gives him the opportunity to do so.
By now Lisa is almost completely cybotic, the remains of her humanity almost nil which is why she no longer responds to Ianto as she has in their previous encounters. She now sees herself as a Cyberman, telling Jack she is human .2, while Jack tells her she looks like human .1, Ianto looking across at him sharply. At this point in time Jack is trying to reason with her by making her recognise she is human, while at the same time testing how far gone her mind is.
Ianto plays upon what Jack has said, trying to invoke memories from Lisa's human side as she looks at herself. As she speaks Ianto slowly moves closer, telling her that they can help her, now including all of Torchwood rather than just himself. He reminds Lisa of why she was brought there, but Lisa reads what he says from a cybotic viewpoint, which clearly pains Ianto as it seems to dawn on him just how far gone she really is. Again, love is brought up, and Ianto dismisses what Lisa says, faint anger in his eyes - no doubt she overheard his conversation with Jack, which brought her to making this statement.
When Ianto will not agree to her plan, Lisa then proceeds to kill him by grabbing him by the throat and throwing him across the Hub where he lands and hits his head against the concrete. It is only then that Jack moves to attack Lisa, only this time she is armed herself and shoots him with her energy weapons, disarming him. Jack immediately orders the team into evasive manoeuvres so that they can get to the boardroom to regroup, their survival now most important.
As Jack grabs the tool to open the doors, Gwen freezes up, going into a state of fear paralysis as Lisa advances on her. Again this is a clear indication of Gwen's naivety and rookie status within Torchwood - her inability to react accordingly in emergency situations. Owen distracts Lisa to save her, Jack having to pull her away and up the stairs to escape.
The team get snippy at each other from fear, and Jack has to try and calm himself down to bring them back into order and explain his plan. Jack tells them to ignore what Ianto told them about Lisa, and they all agree. When Jack gives them their orders, Gwen is concerned about what Jack himself is going to do rather than herself, but Jack dismisses them and Gwen leaves without question, knowing the urgency of the situation.
When Lisa attacks Jack, Gwen tries to come running to his aide and has to be held back by Owen. Gwen has known for months now that Jack is immortal and should know that he will probably be fine, and yet still almost gets herself killed by coming to his aide. She is still surprised when he gets up, but at least doesn't run again when Lisa again "deletes" him. She is reluctant to follow Owen, looking at the bodies of Jack and Ianto before finally fleeing. However, she makes yet another newbie mistake by drawing Lisa's attention to her and Owen in the autopsy bay by standing in the doorway pointing the torch at Lisa, only moving after Lisa has noticed her and started to follow.
When Jack does come around, his first thoughts are for Ianto who is lying beside him. He pulls Ianto out of the water, cradling him against him. Jack assesses him, knowing that Lisa is around and that the situation is urgent, but realising that Ianto is gone. a look of pain on Jack's face, not wanting to believe it. Without hesitation Jack gives Ianto the kiss of life, literally.
It is clearly not CPR, but rather more like the kiss Jack gave Carys where he channelled some of his own life force into the kiss, which brings Ianto back. Jack instantly pulls back as Ianto breathes again (gasping much like Jack does upon return to life), gesturing for him to be silent. As he pulled away so quick, it may be that Ianto is not aware that Jack was kissing him.
Meanwhile, we have a case of yet another of Rhys' poorly timed phone calls, a phone call that very nearly gets Gwen killed. We are given a flash of Rhys out with his friends, a glimpse of how normal life is outside of Torchwood, no one knowing that a fight for humanity is going on beneath their feet. Rhys has clearly had a couple of drinks, and seems to act like things are good with him and Gwen.
It is unclear if this is for show given Daf is just behind him, or if things have been good between Gwen and Rhys, despite the fact that when Rhys was calling Gwen was making out with Owen, our first real indication of anything between them. However, the viewers easily forgive Gwen here due to the nature of Gwen and Owen hiding in fear of their lives, but we are reminded that Gwen does have a boyfriend even as Ianto's girlfriend is trying to kill them all.
Meanwhile, Jack and Ianto seem to have having a little moment of their own, staring at each other. Jack seems to be assessing that Ianto is okay and relieved that he is alive, as Ianto realises that Jack just saved his life and seeming to notice he is in Jack's arms. The moment is ruined by Lisa's scream of pain as Owen stabs her, Ianto immediately flying to his feet and running to her aide.
He arrives, seeming to think Lisa is dead and assessing the damage, still dazed and confused by his own recent death and return to life, looking up at Owen as the other man explains what happened, Gwen agreeing with him to try to reassure Ianto although her own faint anger at Owen still lingers in her voice.
Ianto's reaction to Lisa has now changed dramatically, as before when Lisa would open her eyes or move Ianto would either stay near her or reason with her, only now he sprung back, eyes wide in fear. He realises now that Lisa is dangerous - she has just attacked him, which is again something his Lisa would not do, and Ianto is now scared of her. Gwen grabs him and literally shoves him up the stairs and out of the autopsy bay, wanting Ianto as far away from Lisa as possible.
As Lisa moves in on them on the invisible lift, Jack assumes the position of protector for his team, while Gwen and Owen hold Ianto to make sure he stays in one place. While everyone's eyes are on Lisa, Ianto's attention remains on Jack, again pleading with Jack for him to help Lisa. Jack orders Gwen and Owen to keep holding Ianto back, Jack again shutting Gwen's questioning down. When Jack sprays Lisa with the BBQ sauce, there is fury in Ianto's eyes as he seems to realise what Jack has just done. Jack apologises to Ianto for what he's about to do, Ianto looking at him sharply and stops struggling, panic on his face as he realises what Jack has done.
When Myfanwy attacks Lisa, Gwen's eyes are wide as she cannot believe what is happening, but she continues to hold Ianto as he screams at them to let him help Lisa. Ianto begs Jack to call Myfanwy off, knowing Jack has control but Jack ignores him. We hear Ianto drop the f-bomb out loud for the one and only time in the entire show (the one other time was silent), Jack looking back at him in surprise, knowing how desperate Ianto is but also set on saving his team. Ianto is in pure anguish as Lisa screams, Jack willing the lift to go faster to get them out of there, away from it all.
When they do reach the surface, Jack is the first off the lift, Ianto the second as Owen and Gwen finally release him. Jack seems to be emotionally drained here, unable to speak about what happened while Ianto is off to the side grieving. Gwen's eyes are on Ianto for a long while, watching to see that he is okay which he is not, before she turns and glares at Jack, and it is clear in her eyes that she did not approve of what he just did.
Then Ianto rounds on Jack, fury burning in his eyes as he steps up and punches Jack out, a punch Jack, or any of them for that matter, was not expecting. Gwen is the one to push Ianto back and he allows her as he fires off another round of accusations at Jack, Jack standing to look at him, clearly shocked by what Ianto just did.
Ianto tells Jacks that one day he will watch Jack suffer and die without trying to save him, which is exactly what Jack just did to Lisa, and there is pure anger in his eyes as he says it. This seems to hurt Jack who makes an advance on Ianto, point blank telling him that he had been given no choice even as Owen and Gwen once more try to keep Jack and Ianto apart and out of attack range. Jack is clearly not happy by this turn of events, back to the group as he is once more caught up in inner conflict, while Ianto is again grieving to the side, the others looking between them.
As Tosh tells them about the timer, you can see Ianto in the background turn, staring at her with wide eyes as Gwen simply looks at Tosh, taking in what she is saying. Ianto reacts quickly, heading for the Tourism entrance just as Tosh finish's speaking, Gwen and Jack both spotting that he is gone at the same time, Jack yelling after him as the team chase him.
Unfortunately for the team, it is a well known fact by most fans that Ianto is in fact the fastest sprinter within the group, managing to stay well ahead of them and making it back inside. Jack yells after him, telling him to stop as Gwen backs Jack up by telling Ianto there is no way Lisa could have survived, but Ianto ignores them, focused completely on getting back to Lisa.
Interestingly, Ianto grabs his gun when he opens the Hub entrance, and there is the question about whether he grabbed it to hold back the team, or if he did so because he now recognises that Lisa is in fact a threat. As the team burst into the office, Ianto places himself between them and the entrance to the Hub, pointing the gun at each of them in turn and putting them onto the defensive, scaring the crap out of Gwen who seems completely sure Ianto would in fact shoot one of them.
Ianto tells them that he has nothing else to lose, which, given the fact he most likely lost everything in Canary Wharf, his father, whom he was particularly close to has past on, and Ianto doesn't seem to be in contact with the rest of his family save for listing his sister as his emergency contact, it may very well be true.
However, Jack does not agree, telling him "there is always something left to lose", and again we can see pain in Jack's eyes. Ianto now has the gun trained completely on Jack because he spoke, and Jack would be speaking from experience given his age. At the same time Ianto still has his own life, which is something Jack, or any of them, do not want Ianto to lose out of his own blind love for the Lisa that was and still is in Ianto's mind.
Ianto keeps his eyes completely on Jack, telling him that he is going back to try and save Lisa, still believing it is possible for her to be saved. Gwen yells at him, and in the moment that Ianto is distracted and turns the gun onto Gwen he takes his eyes off Jack, who jumps at the chance disarms Ianto, something the others could have easily done but only Jack was close enough having been slowly creeping forward waiting for an opportunity.
Once Jack is in control of the situation, you can hear the tone of his voice change dramatically. The pleading look is also now absent from his eyes as he pushes Ianto against the wall and puts a gun to his head, although there is still pain and now a quiet resolve in his eyes. At the same time Ianto's confidence has vanished and he is now on the verge of tears, seeming to think that Jack will not hesitate to kill him.
Jack knows that Ianto had the opportunity to shoot them but didn't take it, and tells Ianto that he is more than willing to kill him if Ianto disobeys him. Immediately after saying that Ianto tries to fight Jack off, telling him to "get off him", which is in fact another sign of defiance but Jack does not shoot him, instead moving back slightly so that Ianto doesn't bump him and cause him to fire, Jack seeming to not want to hurt Ianto at this point in time but rather wanting him to stop and listen, still wanting him to fight on his side and see Lisa for what she has become.
Meanwhile, Gwen is watching Jack cautiously, fear in her eyes as she is scared that Jack will indeed shoot Ianto, but doesn't interfere. We are given a brief shot of what the team can see, and it is clear that they cannot see Jack and Ianto's faces, the inner struggle they are both going through as Jack orders Ianto to kill Lisa, a threat in his voice that causes Ianto to turn back to face him, resignation now clear on Ianto's face but still he tells Jack he won't do it.
Jack knows Ianto is responsible for what has happened, and has selected this as Ianto's punishment - killing Lisa, or at least what is left of her. When Ianto turns to look at him, Jack places a mask on his face of quiet authority, not allowing Ianto to see his own pain which slowly creeps in as Jack continues talking. He no longer has to hold Ianto who is slumped against the wall, and again this moment is between them as Jack tells Ianto "you hid yourself from us", Jack no doubt having believed Ianto was open and honest and now realising that he had been conned, and the thought that Ianto had done this has cut him deeper than anything else as Jack had placed his full faith in Ianto, and given how soon it is since Suzie died, Jack can't believe how two members could do this without him realising.
Realising how on edge Jack is and none of the team believing what is going on, Gwen steps forward to place a hand on Jack's gun arm, trying to calm him down and make him see reason. Jack ignores her, all his attention on Ianto as he tries to make Ianto realise that the Lisa he knew is no more, something Ianto seems to have realised himself but doesn't want to accept. Jack tells him that Ianto's loyalty is to them, and again there is pain and anger on Jack's face, still not believing that Ianto is standing against them.
At those words anger once more creeps onto Ianto's face, and he tells Jack "you can't order me to do that", not believing what Jack is telling him to do and giving Jack a chance to back down. Jack almost snaps, anger now think in his voice as he repeats the order, now adding the threat of killing Ianto as well as Lisa, but still Ianto does not stand down, defiance now clear in his voice and on his face as he reminds Jack that he can't make him, that he still has free will. There is almost a dare in his eyes, telling Jack to go ahead and shoot him, because Jack has no other choice and Jack did say that if Ianto didn't follow his orders he won't hesitate to shoot him, only Jack is hesitating and Ianto knows it.
Then comes a key line: "you like to think you're a hero, but you're the biggest monster of all". Ianto has observed Jack for some time and knows how he operates, and Gwen has in the past shown that she sees what Jack and Torchwood do as unhuman. Ianto is the first person, however, to tell Jack directly to his face that what Jack does is wrong, and it's not because of what Jack is ordering him to do. The line is a slap in the face to Jack, who lets out a long breath and the anger is replaced briefly by shock and hurt, not believing what he has been told, and even as Jack and Ianto compete in a stare down contest you can see Jack regrouping himself, pushing the anger aside.
Despite this, he still orders Ianto down into the Hub, only now he has given him a time frame and tells him that after that the team are coming in. You can hear the tears on Jack's voice now as he steps away from Ianto, clearly wounded by that last exchange. Gwen cannot believe what she is seeing and hearing as Jack and Ianto continue to glare at each other, Jack ordering Ianto to pick up his gun. Ianto looks around for it, glancing quickly at Jack before he does so, now following Jack's orders, resigned to his fate. He glances quickly at the team before heading into the Hub, his last look at Jack as he sets himself for what's ahead.
As Tosh lashes out verbally at Jack at the defence of Ianto, Gwen looks like she can't believe what is happening and is going to be sick. She is no doubt wondering that, if she were in Ianto's shoes, how would she react given she is the only other member of the team to have a partner.
Upon seeing the pizza boxes and realising that the cyber conversion unit is active, Ianto automatically assumes that Lisa is in the process of converting the pizza girl. Upon entering the basement room, he is stunned to find Lisa lying dead in a pool of blood on the floor. When the pizza girl steps out, he comes instantly to his feet and brings the gun up, keeping some distance between them as she tells him she is human and how she transplanted the brain because "he fought so hard for her". Lisa still recognises everything Ianto has done for her, and seems to have done this for him but Ianto is having trouble believing it.
Lisa can see this, so pulls from her memories to find things only Ianto would know to convince him, and you slowly see Ianto believe what has happened but at the same time can't believe Lisa has taken the life of someone else to do this. Ianto is fighting an internal struggle with himself, caught again between his loyalties and feelings. Lisa has done something monstrous, but is reminding him of a time before it all happened, when she was still his Lisa.
When he does hug her, it's almost in goodbye as he immediately steps back with a look of resolve on his face as he points the gun directly at her. Lisa pleads for her life, and you can see that resolve slowly fade. Ianto apologises, but still cannot bring himself to shoot her. As he walks away Lisa tells him "we can be upgraded together", telling us that she is still a cyber despite her memories and her human form, which is no doubt the trigger for the team shooting her.
Ianto is shocked as he turns, and what is left of Lisa dies staring at him in shock. Ianto turns to glare at Jack, a look Jack meets with one of resignation, telling Ianto without words "we had no choice, and I did tell you we were coming". Ianto sees this and doesn't say a word, instead turning back to the Lisa he knew - the one that had been converted, and grieves her as the team look on.
Our next scene is when Ianto enters the Hub again for the first time since the incident, his eyes automatically finding Jack standing in the boardroom watching him, Gwen beside him. Ianto doesn’t' see Gwen as yet again we see another exchange between Jack and Ianto without words, Jack letting him know all is forgiven and that he will look out for him, and Ianto in reply saying he is fine with that.
Gwen is sympathetic, again knowing that could have easily been her, and she looks from Ianto to Jack. She tells Jack "you would never have shot him, not really", no doubt having sensed Jack's feelings for Ianto and observed the hesitation. Jack asks her "wouldn't I?", letting her know that despite everything he will still kill a member of his own team if the situation called for it and there were no other alternatives.
Gwen then turns the question back onto her, asking if Jack would have killed her if she had sided with Ianto, something she had been considering throughout the episode but she herself found herself caught between her loyalty to Jack and her belief in what is right and wrong. Jack closes that questioning down, in his own way telling her he deals with what happened, not could have beens, Jack's eyes not having left Ianto all this time.
Gwen looks down at Ianto who has resumed his task of cleaning the Hub, and again she turns the questioning back to him, asking "will he stay". Once more Jack doesn't answer the question, instead making a slight "who knows" gesture, this no doubt being something he has thought about but knows is only Ianto's decision.
Gwen knows exactly why Ianto did it all, as it is something she would do herself if in the same situation. She sighs, sympathising with him but still not quiet believing what has happened, although now Ianto is on her radar, no longer ignored like he has been.
Then Gwen asks Jack the same question as Ianto, a question that she would also like the answer to "have you ever loved anyone that much?" Jack glances at her out the corner of his eye, not impressed by the question and again deliberately not answering as he looks back down at Ianto. The answer is clearly something he wants to keep to himself, although we do find out the answer in the next episode and the question sets us up nicely for it.
Knowing she won't get an answer, Gwen changes her questioning, wanting some sort of answer from Jack who has dodged everything so far. She turns the question to his immortality, something that is just between them. Finally Jack replies, letting her know that he thought Lisa would kill him for good, and in that moment felt "alive".
Then we have the final shot of the episode, with Jack and Gwen watching in silence as Ianto continues to work, losing himself in his job. We know from the Captain's Blog in the Torchwood Archives that Ianto is suspended for four weeks, and in that time Jack resolves to spend time with him, to undo the mistakes he had made himself which tells us that Jack feels partially responsible for what happened.
"Cyberwoman" is a key episode for Ianto who has gone mostly ignored up until this point. We discover that most of what we knew of him was a lie, and his motivation for joining Torchwood Three as well as him being a Torchwood One survivor. Gwen finally takes notice of him, and his and Jack's relationship also reaches a turning point where they go from the casual flirting and innuendo to Ianto telling Jack that he doesn't know him and Jack resolving to change that.
In terms of Jack, this episode highlights to him that while he is a leader he does still need to get to know his team and not just take them for grant, and for Gwen we see the first inklings of her first affair while Rhys is completely unaware of what is going on in her life.
Next Up: we learn the answer to the question "can Jack love" is "Small Worlds"
Anyway, without futher ado:
Analysing Torchwood Part Five
Previously: The team go Ghostbusters in "Ghost Machine"
"Cyberwoman"
Finally! A chance for Ianto to be given his moment to shine, not just fading into the background like he has the episodes previous. We will be able to see just what his role is within not only Torchwood, but also in regards to Jack and Gwen at this point in the series.
The opening sees Ianto entering the Hub, watching the rest of the team playing basketball. He is effectively being ignored, standing within the cage, which represents how cut off and separated he is from the team. He is just standing back and watching, whereas Gwen has joining in on the fun and games, now completely relaxed and enjoying herself, a full member of the team now.
We then get another scene where Jack gives something to Ianto without ever looking at him, Ianto just watching as the team leaves without any of them really paying any attention to him. Ianto, however, seems to have counted on this and no doubt has made sure things were this way. After all, he did have ulterior motives for joining Torchwood Three, as is revealed in this episode.
We see other little moments to show that Gwen has fitted into the team, Jack even offering up a little information about not having been to the rugby and Gwen letting them know that Rhys knows someone who could get them in. The team, it would seem, have welcomed Gwen in, and she is now completely comfortable with them.
Back at the Hub, we are finally given our first introduction to Lisa. It is interesting just how many bolts are on the door, leading to the question - is it to keep the others out and prevent them from finding her, or is it to keep Lisa in? We are given an overall look at just how much of her remains, and the line "one of them survived' tells us that Lisa is the only half-conversion that remains from the battle. Ianto climbing up onto the unit to kiss her is our way of seeing that they were together, although in the background we are briefly shown a photograph of Ianto and Lisa in happier times, only the picture is slightly blurred out.
As Tanizaki studies Lisa for the first time, we slowly see Ianto's possessive side show. He firstly corrects Tanizaki calling Lisa "anything", reminding him that she is human, faint annoyance in his eyes. We also learn in this scene that Ianto was formally of Torchwood One, like Lisa, and was fully aware of what happened with the Cybermen. Ianto also looks at Lisa with great fondness when he says her name, although his voice is filled with pain as he tells Tanizaki what had happened.
We are then given the flashback to London of Ianto dragging Lisa free of the converters, screaming for help that would never come (almost everyone else was dead) as Lisa screams in pain.
When Tanizaki asks about the percentages, Ianto seems a little annoyed. He was no doubt lost in the memory, the emotions, only for Tanizaki to ask a detached question. He listens with interest as Tanizaki gives the breakdown, but cannot watch when Tanizaki touches Lisa's stomach, annoyance again in his eyes.
Tanizaki seems excited about the figures, Ianto again looking frustrated as Tanizaki says parts of Lisa are "awaiting completion". Ianto breaks into Tanizaki's 'fanboying" with the question "can you make her human again", which is Ianto's reason for bringing Tanizaki there and for keeping Lisa alive this long, not to mention his reason for joining Torchwood Three.
However, Tanizaki is still fascinated by the technology, and Ianto's annoyance is now represented in the way that he is standing, arms crossed, hovering by Lisa's side. When Lisa speaks, Ianto is by her side in an instant, his tone changing completely to a kind, nurturing one as his expression becomes open. Lisa, for her part, seems to only have eyes for Ianto, whom she has come to rely heavily on.
There is a moment between them, as Ianto reminds her that he had promised to bring Tanizaki, and Lisa's voice becomes equally fond as she says "and you always keep your promises". There is a history there, a strong bond between them that has kept them together through all this, including Ianto remaining faithful to her despite his attraction to Jack and his knowing Jack is interested. Lisa still is Ianto's number one, especially now that she is in such a vulnerable, defenceless state which pains him to see her in. During their conversation Ianto's hand has come down to hold hers, Lisa seeming to return the hold despite the pain.
It is now that Tanizaki stops treating Lisa as a machine and as a human, his own voice changing to a softer one of a doctor caring for a patient. He asks Ianto permission to question Lisa, Ianto now giving his approval. It is now Lisa that corrects Tanizaki when he refers to Ianto as her "friend", Lisa putting Tanizaki right by telling him Ianto is her "boyfriend", looking toward Ianto and smiling, which wins her a almost bashful look from Ianto who hasn't looked away from her this entire time. We get another little moment, Lisa telling Tanizaki that they had come to the decision to bring him there together.
When Tanizaki asks Lisa about her last memory, we are again given a flashback to Canary Wharf and Lisa screaming. Where the previous flashback had been from Ianto's POV, this one was Lisa's. The image focuses primarily on her, and we can't hear Ianto's screams for help, only Lisa's as the pain would have countered everything else. Ianto is left speechless by her story, barely able to answer Tanizaki's request for somewhere to work.
Upstairs, Ianto once again becomes the protective, worried lover, pacing back and forth just wanting it to be over with so he can know Lisa is all right, although he knows that it will take time. His body language is once again closed off, his face expressionless as he silently wills Tanizaki to get on with it, his eyes rarely leaving Lisa. The fact Lisa is spread out on the autopsy table is almost a foreshadowing of things to come, and can also be read as Lisa already being "dead" as it is open to speculation that Lisa died at Canary Wharf and it is the Cyberman manipulating Ianto with Lisa's memories and false emotions.
Ianto doesn't take the news that Lisa may die well, turning to Tanizaki with a look on his face that clearly reads as denial, shock, protectiveness and faint anger. Tanizaki registers this, which is why he offers Ianto advice. Tanizaki is older, more world wise, whereas despite having seen so much death Ianto is still young and naive in regards to love and relationships. He accepts Tanizaki's advice, although he does not like it. Almost as a representation of his naivety, we see Ianto start chewing on his thumbnail, a very childlike habit that he has fallen back into in this moment as he frets over Lisa, completely helpless at this point in time.
Ianto doesn't move until it becomes clear to him that Lisa's life is at risk, stalking around the autopsy table to try and throw Tanizaki back. We are not shown Tanizaki or Lisa, only Ianto here. He backs off at Tanizaki's insistence to leave him, but Ianto is still not happy with the way things are progressing.
To break up the moment, we are shown the team out having drinks, enthralled by a story from Jack. Owen makes an offhand remark about Ianto, which causes Jack to laugh, none of them aware of what is going back on at the Hub right at that moment, especially Jack. When Jack tells them to take "ten seconds" to finish their drinks, only Gwen rises to Jack's challenge, although he has the unfair advantage given he's drinking water and her beer. Jack seems slightly pleased that someone met his dare, as Tosh and Owen did not.
Back at the Hub Ianto is hovering over Lisa, holding her hand as he waits, unable to do anything. He looks back at Tanizaki who has retreated for now, Ianto making the threat "if she dies because of you". The look in his eyes and the tone of his voice tell us that Ianto will follow through on the threat, and we are given a look at the darker side of him he usually keeps in check for the first time.
When Lisa starts breathing again, she seems to be clearly shocked by the fact. Her first word is Ianto's name, but spoken as a question which mirrors the confusion on her face. Ianto's anger from a moment ago is lost in blatant relief and joy, Ianto touching Lisa in the places where her skin is still natural to sooth her: her abdomen, her hand, her face. When he kisses her Lisa doesn't respond, but she does thank Tanizaki who assures them there is still more for them to do.
Then there comes a warning beep, panic clear on Ianto's face as he races to the computer, keying up the CCTV which shows the team returning. Ianto knows that if they find Lisa, they will no doubt kill her, which leads to him urging Lisa and Tanizaki to rush to pack up and return to the basement. Ianto no doubt was not expecting the team to come back, but still had an alert system just in case, always prepared.
Lisa tells Ianto that she will walk as Ianto goes about preparing to carry her. The fact Ianto seems to be able to carry her, despite the fact she would weigh an incredible amount, is interesting. There are many people under the assumption that Ianto is weak, and this action suggests otherwise. At the same time, we see Lisa seeking out her independence after being incapacitated for so long, and Ianto is scared of her hurting herself after he came so close to losing her again.
Knowing the Lisa is going to walk, Ianto goes about handing her to Tanizaki so that he can go about covering up what had been happening in the autopsy bay. Lisa seems almost overwhelmed by the fact she is alive and breathing, but Ianto doesn't share her joy. He is completely focused now on hiding things away from his team mates, and at the back of his mind he also knows that there is still a long way to go to make Lisa human.
Meanwhile, the team continue on their way back to the Tourist Information Centre of the Hub, seeming to want to prolong their night out before getting back to work. Gwen and Jack exchanged amused looks as they listen to Tosh and Owen argue about driving the SUV, Gwen not happy with the outcome while Jack is genuinely amused. As they are talking, Tosh and Owen are close together, while Jack and Gwen are slightly off to the side, observing rather than joining in, hands in their pockets and more closed to participating while Tosh and Owen are more open.
Having cleaned up the autopsy bay, Ianto rushes to help Tanizaki with Lisa, just as the others enter the Tourism Office. It is only now that Gwen offers her suggestion to Tosh and Owen's fight, and for his part Jack shuts her idea down, falling back into business mode. Gwen gives him the wide-eyed look, hurt by his comment and not wanting him to be angry as she rushes to follow the others into the Hub and is almost closed in the door.
Ianto assures Lisa that he'll come back to her once the others have left the Hub, before he rushes back upstairs. Meanwhile, Jack is once more in Torchwood Leader mode, issuing orders with a casual air - there is no real threat, so no need to rush. Just as he enters his office, Ianto appears at the front of screen, turning aside quickly to adjust his tie, visibly composing himself ready for whatever lies ahead and still separated from the rest of the team who have not noticed his arrival.
Even as he moves through them, neither Gwen nor Owen even look at him despite the fact he moves straight past Gwen, trying to keep his movements small to avoid notice. Jack, however, spots him straight away - Jack always seems to know when Ianto's near - and calls out to him. Ianto instantly goes rigid, and you can see the emotions on his face - has he left something out that could betray him? He shifts slightly from side to side, and you can see he is debating if he should stop and turn, keep walking, or run away.
Before he can decide, however, Jack casually asks for coffee. Only then does Ianto turn toward him, the fixed expression on his face to hide all his emotions. Jack makes the "please" gesture with his hands, winning a small smile from Ianto that vanishes the minute he turns away. Jack is still clueless, and Ianto moves to do as asked, just wanting them to be gone as soon as possible so that he and Tanizaki (who Lisa is about to "upgrade") can continue working on Lisa.
When the power fails, Ianto knows instantly what is wrong and you can see the horror on his face. As the team discuss what could be causing Ianto is planning in his mind how to get back down to the basement and find out what is going on. When the team go to look into the fluctuations Ianto quickly brings their attention to him, keeping a level voice as he explains about some issues he'd been having, Gwen sizing him up and later offering help, while Jack dismisses him to go find out what is happening. Ianto doesn't hesitate, telling Gwen he's right as he rushes for the basement. Gwen, at this point, already seems slightly suspicious whereas Jack has complete faith in Ianto.
Bursting into the basement, Ianto's first concerns are to switch off the power to try and divert the team’s attention away, and then he finds Tanizaki. His first thoughts are there has been an accident, and then he registers what Lisa just told him. Her voice here is notably different to what it was earlier - earlier it had been filled with emotion, now it is a fixed monotone voice of a machine.
Interestingly, Lisa makes a move to comfort Ianto. As he accuses her of killing an "innocent man", she turns toward him and tells him "it's all right", only Ianto knows different. He is shocked by what she has done to the man who effectively saved her, a man he brought into the Hub. Already Ianto knows that this is his fault since he is the one to keep Lisa "alive".
Ianto is panicking about what will happen if the team find them, already going through the scenarios in his mind and knowing that they would both be in serious trouble, including Lisa dead, if the others find out. Again, Lisa seems to try to comfort/protect him by saying "I'll deal with them", something Ianto instantly reacts against. Ianto is struggling between loyalties - to Lisa, and to the team. Despite having tried to distance himself from the Cardiff team, he has developed a loyalty to them, particularly to Jack, which will become be the key problem for him throughout this episode.
Ianto instantly begins trying to work out a logical reason as to why Lisa acted the way she did. Evidently it is completely out of character for the Lisa he knows, so he is placing the blame back on the trauma and cybernetics, trying to keep himself calm, and losing badly. His shock and despair switches to anger as he lashes out at Lisa, who automatically goes on the defensive. Where she had previously been protecting him, you now see in her eyes that Ianto has just become a threat.
She advances on him with the intention on killing him while his back is turned, only to stop when Ianto's anger turns once more to anguish and he reaches for her, touching her face. Once more she reverts back to the calm expression, the threat removed as Ianto manages to compose himself. However, when he says "if you hurt anyone else, I'll..." she questions him, a clear threat in her now strongly cybernetic voice.
Ianto hears the threat, backing off as Lisa sizes him up. Ianto knows that right then that something has changed, as Lisa's manner and stance are now completely different and she has also committed murder. Ianto steps away, focusing himself on Tanizaki and trying to ignore Lisa's threat.
Ianto is barely keeping it together. He is now directly responsible for someone dying, and would still be suffering from post traumatic stress himself after Torchwood One, which makes it even harder. Ianto is a mix of emotions, and we see a flash of anger directed at Lisa briefly who does not see it. Ianto composes himself again as he drags Tanizaki away, and his telling Lisa "everything is going to be okay" is more for himself rather than for her. Lisa watches calmly, and you can hear Ianto making a point of bolting the door closed, and this time it is unquestionable that it is to keep Lisa in rather than the others out.
Interestingly, when Lisa switches on the conversion unit, you see her throw a fleeting look after Ianto. She seems to be in two minds about him, although she seems to know her own purpose.
Back in the main Hub, the alien threat has been identified and dealt with, Jack again in teacher mode as he explains to Gwen exactly what the alien is. When the power goes, only Gwen watches Jack's reaction as he tries to contact Ianto, Ianto pointedly ignoring him as he tries to hide Tanizaki's body, his internal struggle building - he knows Lisa has the converter on again, but can't deal with it. Ianto knows that the game is up, and the game is up and they're going to find her and there's nothing he can do.
Despite the fact something is clearly wrong, Jack is still calm and trusting. He even goes so far as to flirt with Ianto about his "beautiful Welsh vowels", Gwen still continuing to stand by his side and watch him, Ianto still not answering. It's only now that a worried looks begins to flicker across Jack's face, especially when Tosh identifies two heat signals where there should be one. Jack immediately hands out the weapons, believing them to be breached. Gwen decides to go with Owen, Jack allowing it but reminding them that finding Ianto is their top priority.
We also see one of the few times Jack swears when they lose Gwen and Owen's comm signals, as now they are unable to be reached and Ianto is still missing. Jack is clearly currently at a loss with what is going on, a pained look slowly working over his face as it begins to dawn on him who is behind all this, especially when Tosh shows him Ianto bringing Tanizaki into the Hub and Jack realises Ianto may have betrayed them.
When the comms come back online we again hear a father like comment from Jack: "if I don't hear something within 30 seconds I'm coming down there". It's then Gwen who replies and Jack's first thoughts are again for Ianto who is still missing. After Owen tells Jack about the conversion unit, there is a brief look at Jack and it is clear that something has just dawned on him. Cyber conversion units brought down Torchwood One, and there is now a fully functioning unit in their basement - and just who worked for Torchwood One and now works for them?
Tosh can see the realisation on Jack's face, anger and pain reflecting in his eyes, but keeps her mouth shut. When Owen speaks again Jack orders him and Gwen back upstairs - Ianto is no longer the top of Jack's concerns, especially since Jack has realised the betrayal. When Lisa attacks Owen, Gwen instantly reports to Jack using Torchwood code - she has been there long enough to have picked up the basic lingo in case of emergency.
When Jack arrives downstairs, Gwen is already in the conversion unit and Jack is clearly shocked to realise just what Lisa is. Jack brings his gun up and fires, but Ianto attacks him just as he does so that the bullet glances off Lisa's shoulder. Ianto has Jack pinned to the wall, only Jack overpowers him and pushes him into the other side of the doorway, saying "you are fighting the wrong guy". Jack is clearly shocked by Ianto's actions, his face almost pleading Ianto to stop fighting him and instead fight with him, Jack clearly not wanting to believe Ianto is behind this. For his part, Ianto is still clearly conflicted, not wanting Lisa killed but at the same time unable to hurt Jack.
It is then that Gwen screams for them, reminding Jack and Ianto that she is in trouble and causing a flash of panic over both their faces. Ianto can't believe what Lisa has done, and struggles to save Gwen. Jack is at Gwen's side, no doubt looking for a way to free her from her restraints as Ianto realises that Lisa has disabled the off switch and tells Jack to cut the power, Jack relaying the order to Tosh and ignoring her questioning.
Jack checks Owen first before moving to Gwen, Gwen pleading for Jack to get her free. Jack glances quickly at Ianto to make sure he is fine, Ianto clearly shocked by what is happening. Ianto can't help but stare at Gwen, knowing how close to Tanizaki's fate she came and not quite believing it. Jack tells him to stand guard, and this time we can hear the conflict in Jack's voice - he's sure Ianto is behind this, his suspicions confirmed when Ianto apologises to Gwen who is confused. Jack can't take his eyes off Ianto, conflict on his own face, caught between his feelings and trust for Ianto, and knowing he has just betrayed them and put them all in danger. He turns his attention to Gwen, seeing about setting her free.
Jack allows Ianto to take point, with Gwen just behind so he can keep an eye on them as he carries Owen. Gwen is set on looking for Lisa, Ianto seems to be hoping they don't find her, whereas Jack is fighting an internal struggle with himself. There is a world of emotions flickering over his face and he is lost in his thoughts, despite being the only one to have his gun up. Where Gwen and Ianto are looking around for Lisa, Jack's eyes are unseeing and focused forward. He isn't looking for Lisa at all; rather, he is trying to comprehend exactly what is going on.
Gwen and Ianto also seem to be thinking to themselves. Ianto seems to be stunned by what happens, a blank look on his face. Meanwhile, Gwen gives a quick shake of her head, not quite believing what is happening. All three of them snap to attention at the sign of Lisa, Gwen jumping as Jack and Ianto take a step back.
Gwen is still not sure what they are dealing with, having never encountered the Cybermen before. As Jack answers her question, his eye is on Ianto, watching his reaction. Ianto continues to have the blank look on his face, not taking his eyes off Lisa but also not seeming threatened by her. Rather, Ianto takes half a step forward, seeming to want to speak to Lisa but keeping silent. Lisa stares Jack down, glancing to the side at Ianto. Jack spots this, making the connection and shifting closer to Ianto, while Gwen is still trying to work out what is happening and thinking Lisa will attack again.
Gwen is shocked when Jack tells her he doesn't know what to do, Gwen not expecting that of him. Evidently she has come to think that Jack has an answer for everything, so the thought of him not knowing something takes her by surprise. When Lisa moves away, Ianto again takes half a step forward and seems to want to speak, Jack again watching him.
Ianto is slightly relieved when Lisa leaves, knowing that they have more time. Lisa hasn't hurt anyone else, and Jack hasn't tried to shoot Lisa, and the conflict is evident in his voice. Meanwhile, Jack has seen all he needs to see and brings the gun to Ianto's head, arming it. Ianto is caught off by the feel of a barrel at the back of his head (I would be), rage clear in Jack's voice as he orders Ianto to take them to safety. Gwen can't believe what she is seeing and questions Jack, who again dismisses what is said with the line "resisting the urge to shoot" through gritted teeth. He is furious.
By now Jack has clearly worked out just why Ianto tried so hard to make Jack hire him, and Jack has realised that he has fallen for a con. At the same time Jack has allowed himself to develop feelings for Ianto despite himself, which adds to the betrayal.
As they enter the main Hub Ianto seems resigned to his fate, Jack glaring at the back of his head. Jack orders Ianto onto his knees with hands behind his head, and Ianto doesn't fight him. Like Gwen, Tosh can't believe what is doing and like Gwen, Jack dismisses her complaints. He orders Gwen and Tosh to work, Owen still unconscious, so that he can question Ianto in semi-privacy, leaning into him and lowering his voice.
With Ianto is such a submissive, lowered position, Jack is clearly the dominant one here, continuing to hold his gun on Ianto as he is no longer sure that he can trust the man he once seemed to have complete faith in. For his part, Ianto doesn't skirt the truth, not lying anymore about Lisa and for the first time being straight up with Jack - after all, he'd told Jack Lisa had died at Canary Wharf.
Gwen can't help but overhear, shocked by Ianto's confession and for the first real time paying complete attention to the man she has practically been ignoring since she arrived. For his part, Jack reaches forward and catches hold of Ianto's hair, anger thick in his voice, not believing what he is hearing. He only steps back when he asks "what else are you keeping from us", Ianto skilfully avoiding answering that question with an accusation. Ianto reminds them of his role in Torchwood and the fact he is ignored, a pained look flashing over Jack's face as he seems to realise it's true - for all his flirting, Jack never did ask Ianto about himself, and Jack puts his gun away. This is partially his fault, and he knows it.
Meanwhile, Gwen is standing back watching Ianto, a sad yet confused look on her face as she also seems to realise she's ignored Ianto. Meanwhile, Tosh is more interested in Jack's reaction. Jack seems to have closed himself off, arms crossed over his chest, a new conflict seeming to go on as Ianto tells them just who Lisa is, and this time it is Gwen who seems slightly sympathetic.
She asks why Ianto didn't tell them, and Ianto explains Torchwood to her, emphasising her naivety to his own experience - he has, after all, been with Torchwood for over two years, whereas she's only been there a few months, and he has worked for both Torchwood One (who's motto was "if it's alien, it's ours), and Torchwood Three (where's he's witnessed their treatment of aliens prior to Gwen's arrival and her questioning of their tactics). Ianto doesn't seem to be able to comprehend how naive Gwen is, almost glaring at her at the suggestion of them helping him as he points all of the above out.
Gwen seems to pout after Ianto basically scolds her innocence, and Ianto informs them exactly where his loyalties lie at that point in time. Gwen can't seem to believe what she is hearing and you can slowly see her wanting to help Ianto, whereas Jack's defences have slammed up as Ianto pleads with them to save Lisa. Ianto seems to have a case of survivor’s guilt, feeling like he is responsible for what happened to Lisa therefore he must help her.
It's only when Ianto says they need to find a cure that Jack finally speaks up, and again there is pain in his voice and expression. He wants to help Ianto help Lisa, but Jack knows better. The anger is gone although Jack is still upset by Ianto's betrayal. The anger returns at the end of his speech, however, as he seems to spit the word "girlfriend" at Ianto, telling him that there is no exceptions. Jack is not happy at all by this turn of events - after all, he had thought he and Ianto had something and has now just realised why Ianto always held back from his advances.
Ianto's own hope for Lisa is clouding his judgement, something Jack realises as he rubs his head trying to work out how to explain it so not to upset Ianto more, Gwen watching Jack out the corner of her eye. Gwen still doesn't seem to comprehend the scale of what is happening, but you can see it dawning on Ianto's face just what Jack means (Ianto is a Torchwood One survivor, after all, a survivor of a Cyberman invasion) but doesn't want to believe it. Jack himself is talking from experience (nanogins, anyone?) and doesn't want Ianto to make the same mistake, but it isn't until Jack demands that Ianto is going to fight on their side that Ianto reacts negatively.
Ianto is pissed off at the implication that Jack wants him to help stop/kill Lisa, and goes against Jack's orders and stands in a symbol of defiance, bringing them eye to eye. Jack is slightly surprised by this, not quite believing Ianto is going against him when he has been the "loyal solider", his right hand man, in the past.
Because the conversion wasn't completed, Ianto still believes that Lisa can be saved, and Jack points out that Lisa tried to convert Gwen. Ianto and Jack are now in each others person space, staring each other down in a battle of wills, Ianto wanting Jack to help him, while Jack is wanting Ianto to stand by him, most of this conversation taking place silently through their eyes rather than what is being said verbally. Their eyes are begging each other to bend, to see reason, wanting each others support for their own agenda.
Interestingly, when Ianto says that he loves Lisa and asks if Jack can understand that, we are given something unspoken. Ianto knows that Jack often brags about his past lovers, and Ianto seems to think that Jack is incapable of or does not understand the concept of love simply from what he has observed of him. For his part Jack doesn’t' seem to react, but is instead searching Ianto's face, the look in his eyes seeming to soften. When Ianto asks "haven't you ever loved anyone", there seems to be a slight struggle in Jack's eyes, and we see Gwen looking intently at Jack for an answer even as Owen rolls his eyes.
Jack steps closer to Ianto, an almost sad look in his eyes that could say so many things depending on how the viewer wishes to read it. We know that yes, Jack has loved (Estelle, the Doctor, Rose, his wife, and no doubt others), and it has become a fan debate (especially amongst the Jack/Ianto fans) about what Jack's exact feelings for Ianto were at this point as his eyes can almost be read as reflecting his feelings for Ianto, which would explain exactly why Jack was so conflicted over Ianto's betrayal while barely reacted to Owen's later in the series.
It just may be that Ianto's questioning of Jack's ability to love is something that has been rushing around his own mind since Ianto's own realisation of attraction for Jack during their hunt for Myfanwy, and it is a question that always seems to plague him throughout the series as Jack avoids answering by turning the question back around to question Ianto's loyalties.
Jack seems to have picked up on Ianto's reasoning behind the question, but now is not the time for heart-to-hearts that both men usually avoid anyway, and right now it is Ianto's loyalty that is most important, and Jack can see the conflict. He leaves Ianto with a threat, stepping away from him and walking away with one last look - Ianto has now been threatened by both Jack and Lisa, the two people he has conflicting loyalties with, and conflicting emotions for.
Ianto's internal conflict seems to be worsening with Jack's words, and he now seems to be looking for a way to bring about a resolution where no one dies. Ianto knows that Lisa wants to convert the team, and the team what Lisa dead, and he wants a compromise starting with Lisa. It is at that moment that Lisa arrives, having heard Ianto say "she's not a monster" and watching him.
When Ianto moves for Lisa, Gwen instantly senses that he is placing himself in danger and tries to warn him back, only Jack stops her. Jack knows that Ianto is the only one with any real chance of talking Lisa down, and gives him the opportunity to do so.
By now Lisa is almost completely cybotic, the remains of her humanity almost nil which is why she no longer responds to Ianto as she has in their previous encounters. She now sees herself as a Cyberman, telling Jack she is human .2, while Jack tells her she looks like human .1, Ianto looking across at him sharply. At this point in time Jack is trying to reason with her by making her recognise she is human, while at the same time testing how far gone her mind is.
Ianto plays upon what Jack has said, trying to invoke memories from Lisa's human side as she looks at herself. As she speaks Ianto slowly moves closer, telling her that they can help her, now including all of Torchwood rather than just himself. He reminds Lisa of why she was brought there, but Lisa reads what he says from a cybotic viewpoint, which clearly pains Ianto as it seems to dawn on him just how far gone she really is. Again, love is brought up, and Ianto dismisses what Lisa says, faint anger in his eyes - no doubt she overheard his conversation with Jack, which brought her to making this statement.
When Ianto will not agree to her plan, Lisa then proceeds to kill him by grabbing him by the throat and throwing him across the Hub where he lands and hits his head against the concrete. It is only then that Jack moves to attack Lisa, only this time she is armed herself and shoots him with her energy weapons, disarming him. Jack immediately orders the team into evasive manoeuvres so that they can get to the boardroom to regroup, their survival now most important.
As Jack grabs the tool to open the doors, Gwen freezes up, going into a state of fear paralysis as Lisa advances on her. Again this is a clear indication of Gwen's naivety and rookie status within Torchwood - her inability to react accordingly in emergency situations. Owen distracts Lisa to save her, Jack having to pull her away and up the stairs to escape.
The team get snippy at each other from fear, and Jack has to try and calm himself down to bring them back into order and explain his plan. Jack tells them to ignore what Ianto told them about Lisa, and they all agree. When Jack gives them their orders, Gwen is concerned about what Jack himself is going to do rather than herself, but Jack dismisses them and Gwen leaves without question, knowing the urgency of the situation.
When Lisa attacks Jack, Gwen tries to come running to his aide and has to be held back by Owen. Gwen has known for months now that Jack is immortal and should know that he will probably be fine, and yet still almost gets herself killed by coming to his aide. She is still surprised when he gets up, but at least doesn't run again when Lisa again "deletes" him. She is reluctant to follow Owen, looking at the bodies of Jack and Ianto before finally fleeing. However, she makes yet another newbie mistake by drawing Lisa's attention to her and Owen in the autopsy bay by standing in the doorway pointing the torch at Lisa, only moving after Lisa has noticed her and started to follow.
When Jack does come around, his first thoughts are for Ianto who is lying beside him. He pulls Ianto out of the water, cradling him against him. Jack assesses him, knowing that Lisa is around and that the situation is urgent, but realising that Ianto is gone. a look of pain on Jack's face, not wanting to believe it. Without hesitation Jack gives Ianto the kiss of life, literally.
It is clearly not CPR, but rather more like the kiss Jack gave Carys where he channelled some of his own life force into the kiss, which brings Ianto back. Jack instantly pulls back as Ianto breathes again (gasping much like Jack does upon return to life), gesturing for him to be silent. As he pulled away so quick, it may be that Ianto is not aware that Jack was kissing him.
Meanwhile, we have a case of yet another of Rhys' poorly timed phone calls, a phone call that very nearly gets Gwen killed. We are given a flash of Rhys out with his friends, a glimpse of how normal life is outside of Torchwood, no one knowing that a fight for humanity is going on beneath their feet. Rhys has clearly had a couple of drinks, and seems to act like things are good with him and Gwen.
It is unclear if this is for show given Daf is just behind him, or if things have been good between Gwen and Rhys, despite the fact that when Rhys was calling Gwen was making out with Owen, our first real indication of anything between them. However, the viewers easily forgive Gwen here due to the nature of Gwen and Owen hiding in fear of their lives, but we are reminded that Gwen does have a boyfriend even as Ianto's girlfriend is trying to kill them all.
Meanwhile, Jack and Ianto seem to have having a little moment of their own, staring at each other. Jack seems to be assessing that Ianto is okay and relieved that he is alive, as Ianto realises that Jack just saved his life and seeming to notice he is in Jack's arms. The moment is ruined by Lisa's scream of pain as Owen stabs her, Ianto immediately flying to his feet and running to her aide.
He arrives, seeming to think Lisa is dead and assessing the damage, still dazed and confused by his own recent death and return to life, looking up at Owen as the other man explains what happened, Gwen agreeing with him to try to reassure Ianto although her own faint anger at Owen still lingers in her voice.
Ianto's reaction to Lisa has now changed dramatically, as before when Lisa would open her eyes or move Ianto would either stay near her or reason with her, only now he sprung back, eyes wide in fear. He realises now that Lisa is dangerous - she has just attacked him, which is again something his Lisa would not do, and Ianto is now scared of her. Gwen grabs him and literally shoves him up the stairs and out of the autopsy bay, wanting Ianto as far away from Lisa as possible.
As Lisa moves in on them on the invisible lift, Jack assumes the position of protector for his team, while Gwen and Owen hold Ianto to make sure he stays in one place. While everyone's eyes are on Lisa, Ianto's attention remains on Jack, again pleading with Jack for him to help Lisa. Jack orders Gwen and Owen to keep holding Ianto back, Jack again shutting Gwen's questioning down. When Jack sprays Lisa with the BBQ sauce, there is fury in Ianto's eyes as he seems to realise what Jack has just done. Jack apologises to Ianto for what he's about to do, Ianto looking at him sharply and stops struggling, panic on his face as he realises what Jack has done.
When Myfanwy attacks Lisa, Gwen's eyes are wide as she cannot believe what is happening, but she continues to hold Ianto as he screams at them to let him help Lisa. Ianto begs Jack to call Myfanwy off, knowing Jack has control but Jack ignores him. We hear Ianto drop the f-bomb out loud for the one and only time in the entire show (the one other time was silent), Jack looking back at him in surprise, knowing how desperate Ianto is but also set on saving his team. Ianto is in pure anguish as Lisa screams, Jack willing the lift to go faster to get them out of there, away from it all.
When they do reach the surface, Jack is the first off the lift, Ianto the second as Owen and Gwen finally release him. Jack seems to be emotionally drained here, unable to speak about what happened while Ianto is off to the side grieving. Gwen's eyes are on Ianto for a long while, watching to see that he is okay which he is not, before she turns and glares at Jack, and it is clear in her eyes that she did not approve of what he just did.
Then Ianto rounds on Jack, fury burning in his eyes as he steps up and punches Jack out, a punch Jack, or any of them for that matter, was not expecting. Gwen is the one to push Ianto back and he allows her as he fires off another round of accusations at Jack, Jack standing to look at him, clearly shocked by what Ianto just did.
Ianto tells Jacks that one day he will watch Jack suffer and die without trying to save him, which is exactly what Jack just did to Lisa, and there is pure anger in his eyes as he says it. This seems to hurt Jack who makes an advance on Ianto, point blank telling him that he had been given no choice even as Owen and Gwen once more try to keep Jack and Ianto apart and out of attack range. Jack is clearly not happy by this turn of events, back to the group as he is once more caught up in inner conflict, while Ianto is again grieving to the side, the others looking between them.
As Tosh tells them about the timer, you can see Ianto in the background turn, staring at her with wide eyes as Gwen simply looks at Tosh, taking in what she is saying. Ianto reacts quickly, heading for the Tourism entrance just as Tosh finish's speaking, Gwen and Jack both spotting that he is gone at the same time, Jack yelling after him as the team chase him.
Unfortunately for the team, it is a well known fact by most fans that Ianto is in fact the fastest sprinter within the group, managing to stay well ahead of them and making it back inside. Jack yells after him, telling him to stop as Gwen backs Jack up by telling Ianto there is no way Lisa could have survived, but Ianto ignores them, focused completely on getting back to Lisa.
Interestingly, Ianto grabs his gun when he opens the Hub entrance, and there is the question about whether he grabbed it to hold back the team, or if he did so because he now recognises that Lisa is in fact a threat. As the team burst into the office, Ianto places himself between them and the entrance to the Hub, pointing the gun at each of them in turn and putting them onto the defensive, scaring the crap out of Gwen who seems completely sure Ianto would in fact shoot one of them.
Ianto tells them that he has nothing else to lose, which, given the fact he most likely lost everything in Canary Wharf, his father, whom he was particularly close to has past on, and Ianto doesn't seem to be in contact with the rest of his family save for listing his sister as his emergency contact, it may very well be true.
However, Jack does not agree, telling him "there is always something left to lose", and again we can see pain in Jack's eyes. Ianto now has the gun trained completely on Jack because he spoke, and Jack would be speaking from experience given his age. At the same time Ianto still has his own life, which is something Jack, or any of them, do not want Ianto to lose out of his own blind love for the Lisa that was and still is in Ianto's mind.
Ianto keeps his eyes completely on Jack, telling him that he is going back to try and save Lisa, still believing it is possible for her to be saved. Gwen yells at him, and in the moment that Ianto is distracted and turns the gun onto Gwen he takes his eyes off Jack, who jumps at the chance disarms Ianto, something the others could have easily done but only Jack was close enough having been slowly creeping forward waiting for an opportunity.
Once Jack is in control of the situation, you can hear the tone of his voice change dramatically. The pleading look is also now absent from his eyes as he pushes Ianto against the wall and puts a gun to his head, although there is still pain and now a quiet resolve in his eyes. At the same time Ianto's confidence has vanished and he is now on the verge of tears, seeming to think that Jack will not hesitate to kill him.
Jack knows that Ianto had the opportunity to shoot them but didn't take it, and tells Ianto that he is more than willing to kill him if Ianto disobeys him. Immediately after saying that Ianto tries to fight Jack off, telling him to "get off him", which is in fact another sign of defiance but Jack does not shoot him, instead moving back slightly so that Ianto doesn't bump him and cause him to fire, Jack seeming to not want to hurt Ianto at this point in time but rather wanting him to stop and listen, still wanting him to fight on his side and see Lisa for what she has become.
Meanwhile, Gwen is watching Jack cautiously, fear in her eyes as she is scared that Jack will indeed shoot Ianto, but doesn't interfere. We are given a brief shot of what the team can see, and it is clear that they cannot see Jack and Ianto's faces, the inner struggle they are both going through as Jack orders Ianto to kill Lisa, a threat in his voice that causes Ianto to turn back to face him, resignation now clear on Ianto's face but still he tells Jack he won't do it.
Jack knows Ianto is responsible for what has happened, and has selected this as Ianto's punishment - killing Lisa, or at least what is left of her. When Ianto turns to look at him, Jack places a mask on his face of quiet authority, not allowing Ianto to see his own pain which slowly creeps in as Jack continues talking. He no longer has to hold Ianto who is slumped against the wall, and again this moment is between them as Jack tells Ianto "you hid yourself from us", Jack no doubt having believed Ianto was open and honest and now realising that he had been conned, and the thought that Ianto had done this has cut him deeper than anything else as Jack had placed his full faith in Ianto, and given how soon it is since Suzie died, Jack can't believe how two members could do this without him realising.
Realising how on edge Jack is and none of the team believing what is going on, Gwen steps forward to place a hand on Jack's gun arm, trying to calm him down and make him see reason. Jack ignores her, all his attention on Ianto as he tries to make Ianto realise that the Lisa he knew is no more, something Ianto seems to have realised himself but doesn't want to accept. Jack tells him that Ianto's loyalty is to them, and again there is pain and anger on Jack's face, still not believing that Ianto is standing against them.
At those words anger once more creeps onto Ianto's face, and he tells Jack "you can't order me to do that", not believing what Jack is telling him to do and giving Jack a chance to back down. Jack almost snaps, anger now think in his voice as he repeats the order, now adding the threat of killing Ianto as well as Lisa, but still Ianto does not stand down, defiance now clear in his voice and on his face as he reminds Jack that he can't make him, that he still has free will. There is almost a dare in his eyes, telling Jack to go ahead and shoot him, because Jack has no other choice and Jack did say that if Ianto didn't follow his orders he won't hesitate to shoot him, only Jack is hesitating and Ianto knows it.
Then comes a key line: "you like to think you're a hero, but you're the biggest monster of all". Ianto has observed Jack for some time and knows how he operates, and Gwen has in the past shown that she sees what Jack and Torchwood do as unhuman. Ianto is the first person, however, to tell Jack directly to his face that what Jack does is wrong, and it's not because of what Jack is ordering him to do. The line is a slap in the face to Jack, who lets out a long breath and the anger is replaced briefly by shock and hurt, not believing what he has been told, and even as Jack and Ianto compete in a stare down contest you can see Jack regrouping himself, pushing the anger aside.
Despite this, he still orders Ianto down into the Hub, only now he has given him a time frame and tells him that after that the team are coming in. You can hear the tears on Jack's voice now as he steps away from Ianto, clearly wounded by that last exchange. Gwen cannot believe what she is seeing and hearing as Jack and Ianto continue to glare at each other, Jack ordering Ianto to pick up his gun. Ianto looks around for it, glancing quickly at Jack before he does so, now following Jack's orders, resigned to his fate. He glances quickly at the team before heading into the Hub, his last look at Jack as he sets himself for what's ahead.
As Tosh lashes out verbally at Jack at the defence of Ianto, Gwen looks like she can't believe what is happening and is going to be sick. She is no doubt wondering that, if she were in Ianto's shoes, how would she react given she is the only other member of the team to have a partner.
Upon seeing the pizza boxes and realising that the cyber conversion unit is active, Ianto automatically assumes that Lisa is in the process of converting the pizza girl. Upon entering the basement room, he is stunned to find Lisa lying dead in a pool of blood on the floor. When the pizza girl steps out, he comes instantly to his feet and brings the gun up, keeping some distance between them as she tells him she is human and how she transplanted the brain because "he fought so hard for her". Lisa still recognises everything Ianto has done for her, and seems to have done this for him but Ianto is having trouble believing it.
Lisa can see this, so pulls from her memories to find things only Ianto would know to convince him, and you slowly see Ianto believe what has happened but at the same time can't believe Lisa has taken the life of someone else to do this. Ianto is fighting an internal struggle with himself, caught again between his loyalties and feelings. Lisa has done something monstrous, but is reminding him of a time before it all happened, when she was still his Lisa.
When he does hug her, it's almost in goodbye as he immediately steps back with a look of resolve on his face as he points the gun directly at her. Lisa pleads for her life, and you can see that resolve slowly fade. Ianto apologises, but still cannot bring himself to shoot her. As he walks away Lisa tells him "we can be upgraded together", telling us that she is still a cyber despite her memories and her human form, which is no doubt the trigger for the team shooting her.
Ianto is shocked as he turns, and what is left of Lisa dies staring at him in shock. Ianto turns to glare at Jack, a look Jack meets with one of resignation, telling Ianto without words "we had no choice, and I did tell you we were coming". Ianto sees this and doesn't say a word, instead turning back to the Lisa he knew - the one that had been converted, and grieves her as the team look on.
Our next scene is when Ianto enters the Hub again for the first time since the incident, his eyes automatically finding Jack standing in the boardroom watching him, Gwen beside him. Ianto doesn’t' see Gwen as yet again we see another exchange between Jack and Ianto without words, Jack letting him know all is forgiven and that he will look out for him, and Ianto in reply saying he is fine with that.
Gwen is sympathetic, again knowing that could have easily been her, and she looks from Ianto to Jack. She tells Jack "you would never have shot him, not really", no doubt having sensed Jack's feelings for Ianto and observed the hesitation. Jack asks her "wouldn't I?", letting her know that despite everything he will still kill a member of his own team if the situation called for it and there were no other alternatives.
Gwen then turns the question back onto her, asking if Jack would have killed her if she had sided with Ianto, something she had been considering throughout the episode but she herself found herself caught between her loyalty to Jack and her belief in what is right and wrong. Jack closes that questioning down, in his own way telling her he deals with what happened, not could have beens, Jack's eyes not having left Ianto all this time.
Gwen looks down at Ianto who has resumed his task of cleaning the Hub, and again she turns the questioning back to him, asking "will he stay". Once more Jack doesn't answer the question, instead making a slight "who knows" gesture, this no doubt being something he has thought about but knows is only Ianto's decision.
Gwen knows exactly why Ianto did it all, as it is something she would do herself if in the same situation. She sighs, sympathising with him but still not quiet believing what has happened, although now Ianto is on her radar, no longer ignored like he has been.
Then Gwen asks Jack the same question as Ianto, a question that she would also like the answer to "have you ever loved anyone that much?" Jack glances at her out the corner of his eye, not impressed by the question and again deliberately not answering as he looks back down at Ianto. The answer is clearly something he wants to keep to himself, although we do find out the answer in the next episode and the question sets us up nicely for it.
Knowing she won't get an answer, Gwen changes her questioning, wanting some sort of answer from Jack who has dodged everything so far. She turns the question to his immortality, something that is just between them. Finally Jack replies, letting her know that he thought Lisa would kill him for good, and in that moment felt "alive".
Then we have the final shot of the episode, with Jack and Gwen watching in silence as Ianto continues to work, losing himself in his job. We know from the Captain's Blog in the Torchwood Archives that Ianto is suspended for four weeks, and in that time Jack resolves to spend time with him, to undo the mistakes he had made himself which tells us that Jack feels partially responsible for what happened.
"Cyberwoman" is a key episode for Ianto who has gone mostly ignored up until this point. We discover that most of what we knew of him was a lie, and his motivation for joining Torchwood Three as well as him being a Torchwood One survivor. Gwen finally takes notice of him, and his and Jack's relationship also reaches a turning point where they go from the casual flirting and innuendo to Ianto telling Jack that he doesn't know him and Jack resolving to change that.
In terms of Jack, this episode highlights to him that while he is a leader he does still need to get to know his team and not just take them for grant, and for Gwen we see the first inklings of her first affair while Rhys is completely unaware of what is going on in her life.
Next Up: we learn the answer to the question "can Jack love" is "Small Worlds"