Doctor Who, Captain Jack, and Jamie Bamber..

[fajrdrako]

I was just reading the cover article of the August 2006 issue of Out magazine, which has Jamie Bamber on the cover. As far as Battlestar Galactica goes, the article by Matthew Green is mostly without substance - it says that both Katee Sackhoff and Jamie Bamber are gorgeous (true), and that the show ought to have some gay characters, which is also true, and that in future they might have some, but they haven't yet. Right. Insubstantial news, vague quotes, pretty pictures. It does say that the upcoming show Heroes will have gay characters, which is probably good news, and another reason to watch it.

I was interested in a few paragraphs towards the end of the article, as it starts to discuss SF television in more general terms:

The queerest rebellion in sci-fi TV is undoubtedly the latest incarnation of the British classic Doctor Who, which recently aired its first season on the Sci Fi Channel, starring Christopher Eccleston and written by Queer as Folk creator Russell T. Davies. The third season of the series is now in production in Wales.

"There's very classically and traditionally a strong gay fan base for Doctor Who," Davies told the New York Times recently. In the first season of the new Who, the Doctor and his assistant, Rose (played by Billie Piper), join forces with Captain Jack Harkness, a 51st century bisexual time traveler played by out actor John Barrowman. Handsome and debonair, and as comfortable with his clothes off as with them on, Jack is at ease seducing both male and female characters.

As a sort of omnisexual James Bond of the future, Captain Jack is getting his own spin-off series created by Davies. Called Torchwood (an anagram of "Doctor Who"), the show is billed as sci-fi for adults, and it promises not to shy away from the sex as Jack and company explore alien phenomena in modern-day Britain.

Comments

[omnivorously.livejournal.com]

Will you be keeping an eye on the Torchwood thing? Does it seem certain, not just a nice idea? Be sure to let us know, it sounds way cool! And I don't pay attention to TV shows unless I'm reading about them, anyway.

[(Anonymous)]

Well, Torchwood is definitely in production and will start airing in the UK in October. Season 2 of Doctor Who has quite a bit about Torchwood (the institution) as part of the story. Whether it will ever appear in Canada or the US I don't know, but since Doctor Who has been successful on CBC I suspect we'll get it, probably after season 2 Doctor Who. In any case - yes, I'm watching closely, and will keep you informed - I can hardly wait for it! More Captain Jack - yes! "Way cool" sums it up.

[omnivorously.livejournal.com]

Thanks for letting me know!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I am impatiently waiting for it!

[lilithlotr.livejournal.com]

I just wish that didn't have the corollary that they're toning him down in Doctor Who!

My #9 and #10 action figures (both in Chris' leather jacket) and Rose (and K-9) arrived last week. Now I just need Jack, and I can play...

[lilithlotr.livejournal.com]

I couldn't remotely afford them, but I try not to think about that!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I can't afford them, I know that, but I don't think I can control myself...

[lilithlotr.livejournal.com]

The main problem with the Regenerations set (Doctors #9 and 10 both in Chris' costume) is that they didn't make it over here - so you have to get them from the UK.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So far, I haven't found any Doctor Who merchandise in Canada except one large (and rather ugly) model Dalek for $52. Not tempting. Everything I'm finding is rather easily ordered from the UK, for a price. It's so easy to order things online, if only I had the money!

[lilithlotr.livejournal.com]

I was planning to get as much as possible from Gene and avoid the shipping, but even he didn't have it!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh no! That's terrible! And too bad overseas shipping costs so much. If only they had this stuff at Wal-Mart.... May I pout?

Edited to correct code...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I just wish that didn't have the corollary that they're toning him down in Doctor Who!

Even toned down when it comes to his sexuality, Captain Jack is a step livelier than any other character I can think of on TV.

My #9 and #10 action figures (both in Chris' leather jacket) and Rose (and K-9) arrived last week.

Eee! I am so envious of your wonderful toys! And I love that leather jacket.

[amberite.livejournal.com]

Heh; it's Doctor Who. The old show was fairly anti-sex; in the new one, they actually do deal honestly with sexuality, they just don't put it onscreen.

I find it refreshing from both angles, actually. It takes more maturity than I've ever seen before in television, to put queer people in without saying "Look! Point point! Over there! Queer people!" and to put relationships in without doing the screen equivalent of chanting "in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

I can certainly trust RTD to make a show with a stronger focus on sexuality that doesn't get juvenile about it, but it's fine with me that Doctor Who is not that show. Different angles; different focus. :-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The old show was fairly anti-sex

Which is a large part of the reason I didn't like it or watch it.

n the new one, they actually do deal honestly with sexuality, they just don't put it onscreen.

Exactly! And they do deal (to a surprising degree) with feelings and affections and even some rather sophistcated relationships, though it's subtle. Well, usually subtle. Captain Jack wasn't so subtle. (and no complaints there from me!)

It takes more maturity than I've ever seen before in television, to put queer people in without saying "Look! Point point! Over there! Queer people!"

It was just there, not even a big deal, just the way it was. Casual and nonchalant. I loved that.

I can certainly trust RTD to make a show with a stronger focus on sexuality that doesn't get juvenile about it, but it's fine with me that Doctor Who is not that show.

It could have been awkward. Instead, it was convicing and natural in a way I've never seen sexuality handled on television before. Without the outward trappings amd overt declarations, we got the feelings and their consequences directly.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Heh; it's Doctor Who. The old show was fairly anti-sex; in the new one, they actually do deal honestly with sexuality, they just don't put it onscreen.

I think you're forgetting that it was made primarily as a children's TV series, for an era when children were generally rather less worldly-wise and sexualised than nowadays.

[amberite.livejournal.com]

Aware of that, actually; I just didn't feel the need to explain that, or the various other forces and pressures involved in TV of that era. :-)

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

I think it's something a lot of commentators forget, though. The new series have been made to appeal to adults more, too. (I stopped watching during the latter part of the Colin Baker era and the Sylvester McCoy incarnation because theseries had become too juvenile, too child-oriented.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I never watched the old shows because they seemed (to me) flat and shallow. Now I am perhaps more willing to give them the benefit of the doubt - but don't quite have the courage to watch the old shows!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think you're forgetting that it was made primarily as a children's TV series

Yes, but the interesting thing is that it is still intended as a show for children, and yet is so artfully written that it has all sorts of depth and subtext and complexity of relationships (including sexual relationships) without containing anything that would squick a child. I just wish more shows could do this so artfully.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

As said, children are now far more knowing and less naïve than they were. Popular culture is now highly - I would say excessively - sexualised in all aspects. Dr Who is a pretty intelligent and responsible offering, but kids' magazines, marketing, & c, pushes them out of childhood into tacky consumerism in which sexuality is yet another arena for the market to cash in on. I have friends who live in Norway, where commercial advertising aimed at children isn't allowed; they say their children are allowed to be children for longer, not turned into mini-adults.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I am absolutely not in favour of consumerism, however it is expressed. I think Norway has the right idea.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Doctor Who, Captain Jack, and Jamie Bamber

::contemplates your subject line and swoons::

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Happy thoughts!

[star-momma.livejournal.com]

Ooooo, I'm totally in for watching Captain Jack make out with hot boys ;)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Join the queue. Really!

[isagel.livejournal.com]

a sort of omnisexual James Bond of the future

Well, doesn't that sum him up just perfectly? I can't believe how much I'm looking forward to Torchwood. Though how I'll get my hands on it is another matter, since it now looks like I soon may only have access to dial-up internet. *sigh*

I'm so glad I discovered Captain Jack at this juncture, though. He's the best distraction from my currently disastrous rl that I could possibly hope for.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I can't believe how much I'm looking forward to Torchwood.

Me too. I almost afraid it won't life up to expectations, and yet - with Barrowman and Davies both involved - my expectations seem to be perfectly warranted. It's just a matter of waiting. Impatiently but not unhappily.

You're maybe losing your fast internet connection? What a pain. I could discreetly mail you pirated copies as necessary - but that's hardy quick either, given international mails.

I'm so glad I discovered Captain Jack at this juncture, though. He's the best distraction from my currently disastrous rl that I could possibly hope for.

He is delightfully distracting, isn't he? I'm sorry you're having a difficult time, but it's all the more reason to be thankful for him and the possibilities he offers. I'm working on a Captain Jack story - or two or six.