1.12: Captain Jack Harkness

Dave

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Transported back to the Blitz, Jack and Tosh find themselves facing a dark secret from Jack's past, one he hoped and believed had been buried for good.

So, Jack is not really Jack. And here was us thinking that he would get to shag himself in this episode. Instead they go for the Gay kiss, but just as they about to be arrested and thrown into prison for homosexuality back in 1940, the Rift re-opens and Jack and Tosh return to the present day.

I thought John Barrowman said that the character was human, but evidence points otherwise. Maybe he is just from the very far future as he originally said in the Doctor Who episode. The discussion about him being a Time Lord with a Tardis on his desk is way off the mark anyway.

Of course, this episode was merely a way of setting up Nilys Manger, the opening of the Rift, and Owen’s insubordination for the final episode.

I didn’t understand some of this episode. I would never have trusted the Nilys Manger character. He was too creepy. With hindsight I can say that easily, but I still wouldn’t have.

I can’t believe that Tosh put that photo on the gas meter and it was still there 66 years later. I know gas companies are lax but they must have replaced it during that time, even if they didn’t clean it.

I also didn’t understand why she had to photograph it anyway. Pen and ink would last just as long, especially inside the plastic sheaf she had. I myself, read two letters written in 1945 yesterday actually. And why did she need to write it in red paint so that it looked like ink? *Baffled*

The best way to do it is the time honoured advert in a newspaper. They even used that in 'Back to the Future'. Tosh needs to get out to the cinema more often! Stop dwelling on Owen and get yourself a bloke!

Or some dancing lessons - she looked like she was being dragged around the floor!
 
So, Jack is not really Jack. And here was us thinking that he would get to shag himself in this episode. Instead they go for the Gay kiss, but just as they about to be arrested and thrown into prison for homosexuality back in 1940, the Rift re-opens and Jack and Tosh return to the present day.

Yes, surely by his interference in the timeline, things would have changed. In the original history, the real Captain Jack wouldn't have been exposed as being gay, but because of Torchwoods Captain Jack, he would be. It's all very confusing.

I thought John Barrowman said that the character was human, but evidence points otherwise. Maybe he is just from the very far future as he originally said in the Doctor Who episode. The discussion about him being a Time Lord with a Tardis on his desk is way off the mark anyway.

The thing about Jack having a TARDIS is a bit off. I read that he is supposed to have a piece of TARDIS coral on his desk, and have noticed a bit of yello coral sitting on a stand. I have no idea where he got it from, or why he is trying to grow a TARDIS on his desk of all places, other than that in 500 years he can start carving his own.
In no way could you say that Jack was or is a Time Lord. He was a con man, that has been made clear. Given the fact that if he was, the Doctor would know.

Anyway, the episode.
I thought that Bilis Manger was a bit slimy and evil at first sight as well, or as John Barrowman describes him 'an evil gay'. It was clear he would be the villain for the last episodes.
As for the equations, surely Tosh had seen Back to the Future! It's been on TV often enough. Send a letter to Torchwood only to be delivered on the day that they disappeared - simple.
 
Tosh and Jack go back in time. Tosh meets evil Quentin Crisp. Jack meets Jack. Both are gay.

Bizarrely enough, for a show that’s big on highlighting gay issues, they really dropped the ball on this one. We could have observed the reactions of the captain’s men as they discover their brave leader is gay. We could have perhaps seen them come to accept him. We could have seem them ostracize him or struggle with the issue. We could have gone back to the 21st century to discover that history had changed and the “Real Jack” had been locked up or discharged dishonourably. It could have been an interesting little riff of differing social attitudes. It could have been a thoughtful exploration of prejudice
Nope.
Quick gay dance, quick gay snog and then vanish in soppy white light, whilst everyone in the room looks on and goes “Ahhhh isn’t that sweet.”
Hogwash
Anyone with any knowledge of that time period knows that the reaction of those in the room would have been extreme shock to say the least. Quite possibly violence. NO WAY would the Captain’s men have flown with him the next day as if nothing had happened. Goodbye squadron, hello Court Martial.
It makes no sense on the part of “Real Jack” either. Even if “Fake” Jack knew “Real Jack” was gonna die and not have to face the consequences, “Real” Jack didn’t know that. But it was “Real Jack” who initiated the dance and kiss. Getting himself locked up for a dude he’s known for what, an hour? He’d at least be a little bit more subtle, surely. A quickie in the officers mess rather than a public dance-floor fumble.
In many ways Torchwood is little more than a mouthpiece for RTD’s social and sexual politics, and it can’t even get THAT right!

I’m going to let them off with the whole “meddling with the past” stuff because this is a Doctor Who spin off and the Doctor does it all the time. (Though he is a professional Time Lord, admittedly)

The rest of the ep is pretty dull. Gwen blunders around accomplishing nothing, and Tosh wanders around being menaced my an evil Quentin Crisp whilst whining “what about ME, what about ME?”
Full marks, however, to Ianto for putting a 9mm round into Owen who was trying to open the rift to get pilot-babe back.

So not that much going on really. Not an appalling episode but not exactly gripping stuff. Oh and apparently Owen is second in command in Torchwood. Bear this in mind because it becomes very very relevant in the final seconds of the next episode. And very very scary
 
interesting interpretation of this episode................

i thought it was just about sex :/
 
so did i, never said anything was wrong with it being about sex


in fact, it could always use a bit more
 
Jack has a TARDIS? When did that happen? where was I ?:eek: : Oh well some thing Jack's going to be in big troble when the Doctor finds out.;)
 

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