Another thought about "Torchwood: Border Princes"...

[fajrdrako]

I was thinking about James in Torchwood: Border Princes, and was thinking how familiar certain aspects of his story seemed. Couldn't quite grasp what I was trying to remember. It particularly concerned his departure/death.

Then it came to me: the Doctor Who episodes episode "The Family of Blood". James did exactly what the Doctor did, and vice versa. James didn't want to become himself again - whatever his "self" was as a Border Prince - because the only life and consciousness he could remember was that of James Mayer. Just as John Smith didn't want to become the Doctor again, because for him it was like a death - all he could remember being was John Smith, the human.

And like the Doctor, James was in love with a human woman he wanted to stay with. Unlike Joan, though, Gwen will forget James.

Mr. Dine is in the role of Martha, knowing what James has to do and helping him to do it. Even though James doesn't understand and doesn't want to change.

I like the theme.

I was also thinking that we never get James' cover story. Presumably he infiltrated Torchwood the same way John Smith moved into the school - everyone always thought he'd always been there. For all we know, James just joined Torchwood moments or hours before the story started. The other characters wouldn't know the difference.

Perhaps you can tell: I was intrigued by James.