Captain Jack Harkness

This article is about the Torchwood episode. For the character played by John Barrowman, see Jack Harkness. For other uses, see Jack Harkness (disambiguation).
12 "Captain Jack Harkness"
Torchwood episode
Cast
Starring
Others
Production
Writer Catherine Tregenna
Director Ashley Way
Script editor Brian Minchin
Producer Richard Stokes
Chris Chibnall (co-producer)
Executive producer(s) Russell T Davies
Julie Gardner
Production code 1.12
Series Series 1
Length 50 mins
Originally broadcast 1 January 2007
Chronology
← Preceded by Followed by →
"Combat" "End of Days"

"Captain Jack Harkness" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Torchwood, which was broadcast on 1 January 2007. It is the twelfth episode of the first series. In 2008 it was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form.[1]

Plot

While investigating an abandoned dance hall, Jack Harkness and Tosh find themselves having slipped through time and stuck in 1941, where the dance hall is being used for service personnel. Jack meets the real Captain Jack Harkness, the man whose identity Jack took after his death, which Jack learns will be the following day at a training exercise. Jack and Tosh recognize that they must find a way to open the Cardiff Rift from the present day in order to get back, and Tosh begins to work out ways of leaving the necessary equations to the rest of the Torchwood team. Jack manages to talk to Captain Harkness, and learns that the officer is attracted to him, though such demonstration in that setting and during those years, is socially unacceptable. The two talk more, Jack asking if the Captain would like to go elsewhere, but he refuses, acknowledging that Jack has obliquely told him that his remaining time on Earth is limited.

In the present, the rest of the team come to realize Jack and Tosh are missing in time from photographs taken during the dance, and also determine that the Rift is the only way to bring them back, though Ianto believes it to be too dangerous. As they investigate the dance hall, they meet its proprietor, Bilis Manger. Unknown to them, Bilis is also present at the dance hall at 1941 and has attempted to alter and change the messages that Tosh is leaving for the Torchwood team. After finding the Rift key that Jack placed in a clock in Bilis' office and Tosh's equations, Owen is prepared to take the chance to open the Rift. Ianto holds him at gunpoint to try to stop it, but Owen refuses, and proceeds to open the Rift. As the dance in 1941 winds down, Captain Harkness invites Jack to dance with him, shocking the other partygoers. During the dance, the Rift opens. Jack says his goodbyes to the Captain, giving him a passionate kiss before he and Tosh step through the Rift. Bilis is also pulled through the rift. In the present, they are met by Gwen and return to Torchwood, where Jack and Tosh share a toast to the late Captain Jack Harkness.

Continuity

Music

The songs "My Melancholy Baby" (when George dances with Toshiko), "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover" (during the air raid) and "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" (when Jack dances with his namesake) are performed in this episode sung by Melissa Moore. The latter also featured in "The Empty Child", the Doctor Who episode which introduced Captain Jack Harkness. An instrumental version of "Take the A Train" is also played. In the Torchwood Series 1 DVD extras, John Barrowman sings the song "Anything Goes" with the band live on the set providing music, adding Torchwood-specific references.

Broadcast

This episode was first shown as a double-bill with "End of Days". The two episodes' end credits were merged and shown at the end of the second episode. They were first shown on the same day as the first broadcast of "Invasion of the Bane", the first episode of the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures. However, during repeats (and broadcast on BBC HD), they showed the 'next time' trailers. This did not happen on the first day of transmission.

Reception

"Captain Jack Harkness" was nominated for the 2008 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "2008 Hugo Nomination List". Denvention 3: The 66th World Science Fiction Convention. World Science Fiction Society. 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
  2. "Fragments"
  3. "Exit Wounds"

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Torchwood