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

[crabby-lioness.livejournal.com]

I don't know if Jack is unhappy with his immortality per se. It seems more the case that he is unhappy because he doesn't understand where his immortality comes from.

As for that question, it came from TARDIS/Rose. Rose is gone, but the TARDIS remains.

[whatagoodboy71.livejournal.com]

Random...er, thing?

"Rose is gone, but the TARDIS remains" would make a fantastic icon.

*looks around for icon-making skills*

I must have misplaced them. Damn and blast!

/not so much of a point comment.

(Sorry. Too much tea today.)

[becky-h.livejournal.com]

I really don't have a lot to say to most of this, but I will say I think Jack's love of life and love of love is still very much present and I don't think he's been hopping back and forth through time a lot. Maybe some, but I think he's primarily been with Torchwood, with one identity for an extended period of time.

His immortality issues - agreed. I don't think enough distinction's made between "Jack's hurt by seeing pain and loss and death" and "Jack's hurt by being immortal." Jack loves life. Being tired of loss isn't the same as being tired of being alive. Mostly he wants the Doctor and he wants answers, IMO.

I. Am not sure the DOctor's going to be able to give Jack all the answers he's looking for. What happened? Maybe. Why it happened? I'm really not so sure. Interesting theory, and a tangent, that was put forth by my husband is that at some future date the Doctor's going to run out of regenerations and Jack's going to save him.

Since that'd be something Rose WOULD save him for - even as bad wolf.

[boji.livejournal.com]

Quickly wanted to say that you did cite the right fan *g* I think that, in part, my reading of aloof comes from Tennant's lighter/less intense portrayal of the Doctor than Eccles' interpretation. Or to put it a different way, Tennant rarely lets that intensity out (the gentleness and focus that comes into play when he talks to the Face of Boe comes to mind as one memorable occasion when he does) and that makes him difficult to read.

It's a personal thing.

I do think that the scene in question probably pivots in the dialogue/monologue Jack delivers. With his back to camera none of us could lip-read, so we're waiting on that.
Seriously hoping you're right and I'm just pointlessly skittish or negative.

Will be back to comment on immortality after some more thought.

[arcane-author.livejournal.com]

A fantastic sum-up of the things we obsessive fans really wish to know.

lol, I'm now dealing with the debate whether or not to wander over to where that video is... I'm so desperate to know yet I'm damn sure I'll regret it. I suppose I'll just be happy with the knowledge it's good, hehe! :D

[becky-h.livejournal.com]

And to clarify - save him as in 'with the magical healing kiss'/time vortex/immortality. Then again my husband's insane and finds the idea of Jack pouring his immortality into the Doctor to save him and then dying appealing. ...I should really make him write fic.

[siranan.livejournal.com]

I really agree with some of your points here. I mean, of course Jack's changed since Doctor/Rose/TARDIS life, but it's not all bad. Also, although he was abandoned, he could either have chosen to become bitter and twisted about it, or get over it - and he's not stupid. Though, got to say, I do hope there is a little more flirty!Jack in S2 - it's just so much fun.

And I really hope they sort out the timeline thing too, it's starting to intrigue me, and I'll be v. upset of it's left unresolved!

Great post xxxx

[ladykoori.livejournal.com]

Oh, you bring up lots of interesting things. I doubt we get all the answers but I'm hopeful we'll get some. I guess we just have to wait to June when Jack's episodes air.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

This is a fascinating analysis. I'm in the middle of a massive 'Jack back-story' series, and this has given me definite food for thought. I've long been convinced that the darker Jack we see in Torchwood is a result of the years he's spent waiting for the Doctor to come back. I agree that he's not angry exactly, but he's got to be at least a little hurt - I hope they address that.

I thought:

He doesn't wear responsibility easily or well, but he takes it seriously.

was a particularly interesting and accurate way of putting it. Hmmm...much food for thought...

[rivier.livejournal.com]

Interesting, interesting, as ever!

One tiny thing amongst the many intriguing points you raise - and I'm still deeply happy with the fact that most of these will almost certainly never be resolved in canon, I suspect. Torchwood is consistent in loving its loose threads and ordinary, realistic, broken narratives. Nothing tied up in bows, or at least not in bows that can't be unlaced!

You said, Jack is clearly unhappy to be immortal, and often wants to die. That's something I don't personally get at all from the canon, though it is a hugely popular theme now in fanon - eleven million ways Ianto comes in in the morning and finds Jack spread out in a raspberry-jam-fest all over his own desk, etc...

I see him as unhappy that he doesn't understand what happened and, as importantly, why such a profound and potent thing happened to him. We know that the loss of knowledge in the years stolen by the Time Agency was eating away at him, before he rose from death on the Gamestation. I see that great gaping hole in knowledge as being the thing that now makes him restless. And he's intrigued by the reality of death, what it means - those urgent questions he fires at the last of Suzie's victims in Everything Changes.

But I don't get the impression either that he hates immortality, or that he wants to be dead. He does feel that immortality is blunting the edge of his enjoyment of life, maybe that it somehow stops him being truly alive. Hence his comments to Gwen at the end of Cybergirl. But otherwise, his inability to die is an asset in this first great extra-terrestrial battle on Earth, and I think his conversation with Tosh about accepting this has happened to him for a purpose, means that he embraces at least some sense of having a destiny that matters to him to live up to, if you like. It means, for instance, that he knows he can walk out to battle with Abbadon and at least have a reasonable hope of defeating him, somthing no mortal human would have.

And when he helps John to die - his warnings about the darkness and nothing ahead, are they the things that someone 'half in love with easeful Death' would really say? Even if what he's trying to do is prevent John's suicide, he just doesn't seem to have any attraction to that idea of oblivion.

I think the ignorance he has to live with drives him mad at times, and that immortality can be jading. But I don't think, for me, that translates into Jack carrying it as a curse and praying for release, as John did. He's no Mawdryn, yet.

[aoife-8.livejournal.com]

I've been mulling over the question of what the underlying themes in Torchwood are myself over the last week, having recently re-watched the first seven eps on DVD. And now the dust has settled and I can look at the series objectively I think the underlying themes running through almost every episode in series 1 are abandonment, betrayal, deceit and death. Very grim, really! I can find examples of at least 2 of the above in every single episode.

I'm hoping the themes that emerge in Series 2 are lighter - faithfulness, redemption and love, maybe?

[myfavouriteplum.livejournal.com]

About the left-behind Jack in POTW, I remember the recapper at televisionwithoutpity said something like:
'the look on his face, it's not fear, it's not being stranded, it's not anything but love. And being left behind. 'And I'll add one more: it's not anger. Even there's anger, he seems more angry with himself than angry with the Doctor and Rose. There're many kinds of love. Jack's love towards the Doctor and Rose is an unselfish one.
And the incredulity on Jack's face when he first heard the TARDIS in 'End of Days', is nearly painful to watch for me.
Sometimes I think Ten and Jack can be easier friends than Nine and Jack. This round they're more equals, and have more things in common. But as a slash pairing, they have a little too much in common. They are two narcissists in greatcoat...

Sex in the 20th Century must have been a problem for Jack. In his Time Agent/conman days, when he visited this century, he could leave at any time. There were no consequences, and even if there were, he wouldn't stay long enough to actually see them. There were rules, which were not for him, a traveller only passing by. But when he goes the slow path, sex won't be some place as safe as before.(And this couldn't be good for his mental balances.)During a large part of the 20th century, the two sexes were still at war; there were all kinds of battles, but only one kind of peace, which was monogamy. And the love between the same sex, was taboo. God, this is depressing for someone omnisexual. He may have had some frustrated experiences, may have hurt quite a few people and himself. Poor guy. No wonder why he chooses Ianto, since our emo tea boy seems as broken as him. You can't break something already broken, can you? Well, that's the question.
And it's a problem for the writers: how to write someone omnisexual(and a bit of a slut) in our time, without him hurting anyone, without him being ridiculous, and...without him losing his omnisexuality. I don't blame them for their failures. It's mission impossible.

[myfavouriteplum.livejournal.com]

"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?"

Yeah, except Owen(and Suzie), they all have connections to the Doctor. It looks as if Jack is collecting the pieces about the Doctor...