Gwen too

[msjaybee.livejournal.com]

I was wondering, which TV/film character is Gwen most like?  She reminds me of the repellent know-it-all villian Paul Robinson from the Aussie soap Neighbours, out for all he can get, never minding who gets hurt in the process.  Who does our Torchwood Tart most remind you of, which bad guy/gal could replace her and no-one would notice?  Let me know!

Comments

[dr-doomsduck.livejournal.com]

Not sure if it counts, but she always reminds me of Eragon, who is the main character of the Inheritance cycle. He's about as subtle as a brick wall, has a distinct lack of care for anyone who isn't in the inner circle, nigh invincible and a very obvious author avatar.

[littleatem.livejournal.com]

She reminds me of an employee I have to work with. He is 'special' so he doesn't get in trouble when he's gone for long periods of time. He's allowed a soda break where he can drink for 15 minutes on the clock (he'll take an hour or more if no one catches him). He claims he helps people to their car, but he simply pushes the cart outside and then stands back and lets the customer do the work. He also lets other employees do all the work and then turns to the supervisors for praise even though he didn't do a d*mn thing. The supervisors are wrapped around his pudgy fingers and I would really like to lock him in a room with dear Mrs. Cooper/Williams/Cooper and take out all the oxygen. Always wondered why I didn't like Gwen, then the pieces fell into place.

[dr-doomsduck.livejournal.com]

Jesus Christ! There are real people like Gwen out there? I thought she was just a horror of fiction, you know, like the monster under the bed.

[stlscape.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, yes. There really are. Sadly, they're not all works of fiction.

[kassy2.livejournal.com]

Well....you have to admit.....it is "special"- special does not = "good" or even "likable"
When I worked in this line I used to say "just because you are mentally handicapped (we called an implement for digging a spade in those days) does NOT mean I have to like you"
Respect is not only a two way street it also has to be earned.
Hitting me over the head with a chair is not the way to earn my respect!

[mscatmoon.livejournal.com]

Funny you should ask that. I was just thinking today that Gwen reminded me a little of Dr. Smith from "Lost in Space." Selfish, not caring for anyone but themselves. Only Gwen isn't cowardly like him, but that's because she's too stupid to be scared. She's not as smart as him either. But they're both the kinda people you just want to smack across the face, hard. Honestly though, there's no one worse than her. If there is, I never want to see that person.

[stlscape.livejournal.com]

Frankly, if I had to choose between them, I'd pick Dr. Smith as someone I had to spend time with over Gwen...and I *really* don't like Dr. Smith.

[mscatmoon.livejournal.com]

Me too, and I just figured out why! It's been awhile since I saw that series, but as I recall Dr. Smith didn't try to pretend to be something he wasn't. You pretty much got what you saw. Gwen on the other hand, is a phony, pretending to be kinder, superior, smarter, etc... than everyone else, while being the opposite. He was pretty arrogant at times, but I think he was really supposed to be a genius -- unlike Gwen who just thought she was.

[stlscape.livejournal.com]

I think you've hit the nail on the head.

Dr. Smith wasn't the most pleasant of characters, but at least he acted in a consistent manner, and he made no bones about what he thought of other people. With Gwen, you never knew what you were going to get, other than it wouldn't be anything you could rely on, and that you shouldn't take it at face value.

[kassy2.livejournal.com]

I think you are right- I forgot all about him! I often used to wonder why they put the character in the series in the first place, he just used to irritate the hell out of me. I could have done without the robot as well. If I never hear "Warning Will Robinson. Danger" again it will be too soon.
So there are a number of similarities- Annoying, unnecessary, irritating, superfluous..........
The biggest difference is that the character did not get to be the main star of the series because...oh, I don't know, maybe the people that ran the show had their brains in their heads instead of up the arses??

[mscatmoon.livejournal.com]

Actually, I remember seeing a piece on TV about Lost In Space, where they said his character was supposed to have a very small role, but Jonathan Harris played the character so well that it became popular and so they expanded his role.

[aeshna-cyanea.livejournal.com]

Looking at the TVTropes Creator's Pet page (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CreatorsPet) has reminded me of Neelix from Star Trek: Voyager. The quote from SF Debris really says it all, and points out one of his similarities with Gwen:
SF Debris: Whatever you might say about George Lucas, when audiences said they didn't like Jar Jar, he dialed the character down to a few cameos throughout the rest of the films. When the Voyager producers were told that the audience didn't like Neelix, they decided to get rid of Neelix's beautiful, smart, competent ex-girlfriend, and let him hang around to remind the audience of how much they hate you, personally.

[kamiandcat.livejournal.com]

TBH I can't think of a single fictional character that comes even close to Gwennie-Poo.
It's the totally insane mix of being a cheating-lying-uncaring-coldhearted-bitch and the-bleeding-heart-of-Torchwood-aka-the-fans-role-model, no at least half self respecting writer out there would go and create a character like this. You can make somebody kind and loving or you can make a character one hell of an evil bitch, both can end up as a fan favorite, but you can't have both in one character.

[estarcollector.livejournal.com]

She reminds me a bit of Ginny Weasely in the last few Harry Potter books...I used to like Ginny, and then the shy kid I thought I knew turned into a gorgeous super-witch (given that she comes from a family not often called attractive, that's a double-what). Suddenly she was every girl I hated in school...Gwen's the same way. I recognized her uber-Sue-ness from the start; unlike Ginny, she never had a chance with me.

[littleatem.livejournal.com]

I agree. When did Ginny get a hold of the love potion? That's what I want to know. She was so sweet at first (even if she was a little love-struck) but then she became future-Mrs.Potter and I'm flipping through the book trying to find any hints of interest from Harry that happened before she started 'dating' Harry.

[antopazas.livejournal.com]

I think the problem with Ginny is a quite different one then the situation with Gwen.
First of all, I don't like the older Ginny either, but I think her changes can be explained with her growing up.
When we meet her at first, she is 10 years old, and when she becomes bolder/prettier/etc. she is 14. She is simply turning from a child into a woman.
BUT we never see that change really happening, we hear from people that she is good at Quidditch, that she knows some awesome curses, that guys like her. Rowling uses 'telling' instead of 'showing', and as a consequence a lot of readers dislike Ginny.

The problem with Gwen is that she NEVER grows up and into her new role.
She starts of as a rather normal, if equipped with some giant flaws, character. And she could actually grow into a great woman trough her experiences at Torchwood, but she never does. She keeps all her flaws, in some circumstances they even get magnified, she learns nothing out of her mistakes, and she still is supposed to be the best character on screen because Russell loves her. Sigh...

[littleatem.livejournal.com]

I see your point. I also agree Ginny isn't on the same level as Gwen, but I still think that the dramatic change in Ginny was too fast because I know I'm not the only reader who was flipping through the book to see where Harry began really 'noticing' her. The movies also didn't improve that point because there wasn't a lot of talk about her, and all of a sudden she's dating Harry.

I have to say this for Gwennie though, it takes a great talent to be a talentless b*tch and still be able to survive for so long. RTD must keep her in his room for 'inspiration'. (now please excuse me while I go bleach my brain of that image.)

[antopazas.livejournal.com]

Oh, eewww.. Think I need to bleach my brain too.. It’s just impossible to understand how a gay man can be so in love with his female characters (Rose, Gwen). Does he have some kind of Oedipus complex?

And okay, you are right, Ginny’s change happened way to fast. There was a part of me that expected her to get over her little girl crush on Harry (instead she married him. Eeew.) and to be more open because Ron says in Chamber of Secrets that she does talk when Harry isn’t around. But I never expected her to become the girl that stomped into Grimmauld Place in the beginning of book five.

[xandra-ptv.livejournal.com]

Cameron from House. It's the same "your bad but I can change you", "You need me", "I'm seemed like I am so good and caring but I only care about myself and you." delusion that made me dislike them so.

Oh and Cordelia in Angel after season 2. She was great when she knew she was a bitch and embraced it, but in S3 she started to forget that.

I think part of the motivation of them thinking they are entitled to date the boss, or be his number one because there may or may not be flirting.

Other note: My sister is just like Gwen. And I love what this says about her that she hates Gwen too.

[jennifer (from livejournal.com)]

Veruca Salt from Charlie in the Chocolate Factory. Especially hate when she's yelling and getting on a high horse without knowing ANYTHING