Torchwood: Reflections on Jack and the Doctor and the future...

[fajrdrako]

There are thoughts about Captain Jack I've been incubating for a while without ever having a chance to express them. So, I'm rushing to put down a few thoughts before things get too busy today....

1. Jack and the Doctor
Does Jack have abandonment issues, with regard to the Doctor? Yes, of course he does. Under the circumstances, who wouldn't? But....

There has been a long-held assumption in fandom that Jack was, or has been, or is, angry with the Doctor for abandoning him. Various factors, including comments by John Barrowman, have reinforced this, and I think it has been taken for granted among fans. When they meet again, will Jack hit the Doctor, or kiss him?

I see no evidence of this underlying anger in the canon. As he sees the TARDIS leave without him in "Parting of the Ways", Jack is devastated rather than angry. Distressed. Bewildered. His attitude in Torchwood would back this up - he's looking for "the right kind of doctor" to tell him what happened, and it's "the right kind of doctor" that might have been the subject of his Bilis-inspired visions, if he had any.

Anyway, it seems to me that whatever reactions of anger Jack may have had, were ephemeral and his significant reaction has been consistent faith: "Never doubted him, never will."

And this is underscored with his clear expression on hearing the TARDIS in the Hub: incredulity, hope, and happiness. No ambiguity there. The Doctor has come for him at last, and he's happy about it.

In a tangential topic, but also related to Jack and the Doctor, boji (and I hope I'm citing the right fan here!) was commenting on the fan video-footage that has been around, showing scenes from the filming of what appears to be the finals Jack scenes in Doctor Who series three.

Now, personally, I can't handle spoilers. I looked at the photos. I downloaded the footage. And while downloading I played it, and covered my eyes, because I couldn't stand seeing spoilers of such amazing scenes, and then peeked because I couldn't stand not seeing it. And I was left both sorry and not-sorry that I peeked. But my basic reaction... besides not wanting to know ahead of time... was squee.

So I was surprised to see that boji thought the Doctor in this sequence seemed aloof. I had exactly the opposite reaction. Of course I only saw it in between-the-fingers snippets, but - I saw what I saw. Aloof? Not at all. Rather the contrary.

But of course... we won't know till we know.

2. Jack and his Immortality Issues
puritybrown was talking a few weeks ago about Jack's Immortality, and whether that will be resolved. Whether, in fact, the Doctor would or could remove Jack's Immortality and make him mortal again.

Personally I think it's a case where what's done can't be undone, and the Doctor can't do that, and couldn't do that even if he sweet-talked the Time Vortex or the TARDIS into trying. And Rose is gone, even assuming she could undo what she did in the first place. Which is not to say that things couldn't change....

But I don't see it as a bilateral choice. Jack is clearly unhappy to be immortal, and often wants to die - but I'm not sure if, given the choice, he would actually choose death. He has a strong sense of honour and purpose in the 21st century: he really does think (I believe) that he can save the world, and that in itself might be enough to keep him in it. I think (but can't yet prove) that the situation at the end of "End of Days" leaves us with a happier, stronger Jack who has come to terms with a lot of things. So he can, and I think will, come to terms with his own immortality.

And this is something the Doctor could help him with, if only just by example.

3. Jack: Depressed, or flirtatious?
puritybrown was relating this to Jack's immortality, i.e., he was unhappy because he was immortal. I think he is unhappy for other reasons: he lost his sense of place in space and time, he's looking for purpose, he's faced hardship, betrayal, and abandonment, he's seen too many people he love die, at least one of them by torture - he's a caring person, and this weighs heavily on him. He doesn't wear responsibility easily or well, but he takes it seriously.

But I don't see his joie de vivre as lost or broken, just dampened.

4. Jack and his Timeline.
How long has Jack been at Torchwood? Or in the 20th century? I don't know if we'll ever get a definitive answer to this, but I still believe he popped back and forth in time on numerous occasions and it is impossible to say - even more so than with the Doctor - how the sightings of Jack at different times follow chronologically. With the Doctor, in fact, we can judge some of the chronology by checking which regeneration we're dealing with. Can't do that with Jack, unless you're looking at which Doctor he's with.

I think we will get an answer to the question of how he got off the Game Station. I hope it's a clever one.

5. Jack and the Torchwood Team - I see Jack's relationship with his people at Torchwood as being a central theme of series one. How they perceive him, how he perceives them, what issues they have to deal with, and how they do it. In the end of "End of Days" I see this as resolved in love and forgiveness both ways round. And coffee. Definitely coffee. Not to mention those hugs and kisses, or forgiveness and tears in the case of Owen.

So have they really gelled as a team now? I think so, I hope so.

More pertinently: what individual issues will be important in series two? Right after that reconciliation scene, Jack left them. We don't know for how long, but long enough for them to issue missing persons posters. What changes will that make in their attitudes?

As I see it, the more important issues are the personal ones. Each character has a specific personal relationship with Jack now. Gwen's attitude to Jack is laced with unresolved sexual tension; where does that leave her with Rhys, and their relationship so newly reaffirmed? She told Rhys she'd be right back home, and then spent several days in the morgue with Jack.

Ianto's relationship with Jack is both enhanced and complicated with sex and love - no less so since "End of Days" encompassed quarrel and reconciliation between them. Jack's departure is bound to affect Ianto. I'm sure Ianto loves Jack, and just as sure that he has no idea where he stands with him.

Owen: well, there's a lot of baggage there, and for all I think we'll have a sweeter and gentler Owen, there only so far a leopard can change his spots.

Toshiko's relationship with Jack seems the least complicated: respect and friendship. I hope something interesting happens with her. I want action!Tosh back, as in "Countrycide".

We know Toshiko met the Doctor. It seems likely that Ianto at least saw him when he was at Canary Wharf. Does this have anything to do with their ending up at Torchwood Cardiff with Jack?

Comments

Re: Part 1

[myfavouriteplum.livejournal.com]

"The Doctor is a different archetype entirely, the Immortal - he changes, he learns constantly, he has non-human knowledge and wisdom, but he remains alone because everyone else dies."

Yes, I think you're right about the Doctor being another archetype. I should rewatch 'School Reunion'. Some episodes of the second series I even watched before the first series, and my memory has failed me.
And yes, one should be careful with metaphors.

"I interpreted it as more, or at least potentially more, because of the wife's reaction, and because of his line about happiness, which I thought indicated Jack really meant something to him. I don't think Jack's feelings, or Porter's, were entirely made clear. "

I think Porter does feel more than he shows, because of the happiness line. Because he writes that particular song with Jack in mind--as a tenor or as a lover or as both? And because he does seem to care about Jack, about Jack's career. 'Night and Day' always strikes me as a song about obsession, but not about love, though. This whole thing may begin more like an obsession than love, but the borderline between these two is never clear.
Jack's feelings are more unclear. No, no one cares about his happiness because 'he's just an actor'. (Even Porter thinks so, no matter how much an obsession Jack is for him. Porter knows the illusion will end sooner or later, and Jack'll come back to what he really is all along--just another actor.) They only expected him to play his role, in life as well. He's only a symbol in this story, a pretty face, nearly nameless, only a temptation in Porter's marriage with Linda. (No matter how many Boris there are in Russia, there're certainly more Jack in the world, and Boris is a lover, not a one night stand.)I didn't feel bad for Jack because I don't think he will care that much. He's glad he can show his gratitude and have some fun himself. And he seems to be heterosexual or at first sight. The story isn't told in his angle, so we can only see this much. But yes, it's a great pity that Porter and he parted so soon. During that song, we see so much potential between them.
And why does the character have to be called Jack? I can't help thinking he's CJH himself, sometimes...

Re: Part 1

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I should rewatch 'School Reunion'.

Me too, if only because I like it, and it's been a while now since I've seen it. I like the contrast between the cold side of the Doctor (with Mr. Finch) and his warm side (with Sarah Jane, whom he is so very glad to see).

Because he writes that particular song with Jack in mind--as a tenor or as a lover or as both? And because he does seem to care about Jack, about Jack's career. 'Night and Day' always strikes me as a song about obsession, but not about love, though.

Yes, and if the obsession had been directed towards Jack, I don't think Porter would have given him up so easily. Or perhaps by categorizing it as an obsession, it was easier for him to give it up - something he was better off without?

Jack'll come back to what he really is all along--just another actor.

Sadly, yes. I thought Jack deserved better.

hy does the character have to be called Jack? I can't help thinking he's CJH himself, sometimes...

It's fun to imagine so. John Barrowman was Jack in "Jack and the Beanstalk" as well. A shame that his "Shark Attack" character was only a Peter, not a Jack!

Re: Part 1

[coneyislandbaby]

*dies*

The fact seems to be that JB can't get away from playing characters named Peter or Jack.

In Who/TW - Jack.
De-Lovely - Jack.

In Central Park West (where I first discovered him) - Peter.
In Titans - Peter.

Don't people think he can play characters with different names?

*vastly amused*

Re: Part 1

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, when you've got a good name, why not stick with it?

Most amusing.