The Tenth Doctor and Captain Jack...

[fajrdrako]

Though Doctor Who "The End of Time, part 2" had many great scenes, one of my favourites was the scene with Captain Jack. Okay, okay, anyone here who is surprised by that probably has me confused with another person. I love Jack. I particularly love Jack with the Doctor. I was horrified by the way Ten has consistently treated Jack, and I love Jack all the more for loving the Doctor truly, deeply, loyally and consistently throughout all.

So when I watched "The End of Time, part 2" I loved the moment in which, according to Russell T Davies, the Doctor's intent is to convey to Jack, "I forgive you." But I had to think about that. What was the Doctor forgiving Jack for?

Things Jack has done for the Doctor: Made him laugh, supported him loyally, fought for him, died for him in battle against the Daleks (not knowing the death wouldn't take), searched and waiter for him for about 140 years, kept his hand safe and returned it to him, endured a year in chains being abused by the Master for the Doctor's sake, and then came at a call - as he did at every call - to fight the Daleks for him.

What has the Doctor done for Jack? Nine transformed him into an aimless shyster to a hero, loved him, challenged him, supported him, let him die for him. Ten ran from him, avoided him, rejected him, and told him he was 'wrong' when they were struggling for survival in "Utopia". He told Jack he was a constant, and that's wrong. Jack accused the Doctor of prejudice. The Doctor looked thoughtful, but didn't answer.

I decided that "I forgive you" was a continuation of that conversation. The Doctor's answer to Jack. "I forgive you for being different, impossibly different, a breach in the laws of time."

But more than that: Jack's current problem is pain and guilt. He's alone and hurting because he can't get over the loss of Ianto and of Stephen, and he can't forgive himself for what he had to do.

I'd like to think the Doctor saw that and, knowing how Jack loves him, forgave him in order for Jack to be able to forgive himself. Which worked: Jack smiled, and approached Alonso. Life goes on. Jack is free again.

On a more metaphysical level, Jack needed absolution and the Doctor gave it to him. No one else could.

I do hope Steven Moffat wants to write about Jack again sometime.