Torchwood: Captain Jack Harkness

Jack: "It's not my name, it's his. I took his. But I didn't realize he was so hot."

Jack goes back into the past, and falls in love with himself. A new and interesting take on narcissism.

From the start, we could tell that this was a time period that meant a lot to Jack; there was such joy on his face, and familiarity as well. He told Tosh that his experiences in WWII were when he was a con man. Would that be before he met the Doctor and Rose, or after? What is Jack's real name? Tosh asked him, but he didn't tell her. Will we ever know?

Anyway. Since the real Jack Harkness (I'll call him Captain Harkness to differentiate him from our lead character) was involved with a woman and living in 1941, I'm guessing he was bi or closeted, and his strong attraction for our Jack brought him out, so to speak. That dance and that kiss had a powerful effect on Captain Harkness. He seemed to be experiencing a moment of genuine joy and self-acceptance ... the day before he died. Better than not at all, I suppose. Our Jack's philosophy is live for today, for tomorrow you may die. For Captain Harkness, that was literally true. Of course, our Jack can't die. Maybe he needs another philosophy.

That was some incredibly sexy kiss. John Barrowman can screen kiss like nobody's business. But wouldn't two men dancing together in front of a bunch of GIs raise some eyebrows in 1941? Yes, everyone on the dance floor was staring at them, but no one reacted. Maybe it was the "tomorrow we die" spirit and the shock of seeing the Rift open. But I kept thinking of that woman who called Tosh a racial slur; it just seems like someone would freak. The romantic in me is glad it didn't happen, though. Like I said, that was some kiss.

As Jack was falling in love with his doppelganger and bonding with Tosh, Owen and Ianto came to blows. Owen wanted to open the Rift to find Diane, his Lost Love. Ianto was all rational and trying to keep Owen from destroying the world, and let me point out that Ianto also lost his lover recently and had clearly learned from his earlier stupidity. Ianto showed true loyalty toward Jack, too. And shot Owen. Too late, but still.

What Owen did to the Rift brought Jack and Tosh back to the present. The wonderfully named time-traveler Bilis Manger was never explained, though, and whatever it was that he wanted from changing Tosh's equation, he got it. He was smiling. This can't be good.

Bits and pieces:

-- According to "Everything Changes," Captain Jack Harkness, American volunteer RAF, 133 Squadron, disappeared on January 21, 1941. Jack introduced himself as Captain James Harper. I wonder if JH are Jack's real initials?

-- Why didn't Jack know what his namesake looked like? He certainly knew a lot about the real Captain Harkness, since he was impersonating him for so long. Yes, this was way before photo IDs, but you'd think Jack would have seen at least one photograph.

-- Okay, one more. If Captain Harkness disappeared in 1941 and our Jack took his name and used it, then Captain Jack Harkness *didn't* disappear in 1941; there should have been reports *afterward.* Right?

-- Jack told Captain Harkness about talking his best friend into signing up when they were very young, and being caught over enemy lines, where his friend was tortured to death. Jack said the enemy were the worst possible creatures, but they let Jack go.

-- The half a formula here and half a formula there was too obvious a McGuffin, but okay.

-- Tosh was on her way to her grandfather's 88th birthday, so she was (conveniently) in a party dress. Her determination to fix the situation and get the formula to Torchwood was commendable; she even bled for it. She also showed a lot of friendship and compassion for Jack.

-- Tosh's laptop battery died awfully quickly. Even mine doesn't go that fast.

-- Bilis Manger had a Polaroid camera. When did they come out? Did Bilis bring it from another time?

-- Jack told Captain Harkness that he had no one right now. But isn't he canoodling with Ianto? Is that just a casual sort of thing for Jack, sleeping with one of his employees?

-- Nice crossover touch: there were "Vote Saxon" posters on the Ritz in the present day sequences. I wonder if I missed some earlier in the season?

Quotes:

Tosh: "Pearl Harbor, Jack."
Jack: "Doesn't happen 'til the end of the year."
Tosh: "Granddad stayed in London, but he was persecuted. If I stay stuck here, what will happen to me?"
Jack: "I'll take care of you."
He would, too.

Owen: "I'm tired of being in awe of the Rift. I'm tired of living with Jack's secrets. We don't even know who he is."

Owen: "You're just a tea boy."
Ianto: "I'm much more than that. Jack needs me."
Owen: "In your dreams, Ianto. In your sad, wet dreams where you're his part-time shag, maybe."
Notice how when Owen says something offensive to his workmates, he always implies that they're sexually unattractive to make them feel bad about themselves. He's done it to Tosh and Gwen, too. I don't think he's done it to Jack. But then again, it wouldn't work on Jack.

Tosh: "He would have been so proud that you took his name. Because here you are, saving the world."

Three out of four stars,

Billie
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Billie Doux loves good television and spends way too much time writing about it.

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