Captain Jack Harkness (Torchwood episode)

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12 "Captain Jack Harkness"
Torchwood episode
Cast
Starring
Others
Production
Directed byAshley Way
Written by Catherine Tregenna
Script editor Brian Minchin
Produced by Richard Stokes
Chris Chibnall (co-producer)
Executive producer(s) Russell T Davies
Julie Gardner
Music by Murray Gold
Ben Foster
Production code1.12
Series Series 1
Running time50 mins
First broadcast1 January 2007 (2007-01-01)
Chronology
 Preceded by
"Combat"
Followed by 
"End of Days"
List of Torchwood episodes

"Captain Jack Harkness" is the twelfth episode of the first series of the British science fiction television series Torchwood , which was originally broadcast on the digital television channel BBC Three on 1 January 2007.

Contents

In the episode, the alien hunters Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and Toshiko Sato (Naoko Mori) are brought back in time to a Cardiff dance hall in 1941. Jack discovers the man he took his name from (Matt Rippy), while Tosh looks for a way of sending a message to her Torchwood teammates to bring her and Jack back to the 21st century.

In 2008 "Captain Jack Harkness" was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form. [1]

Plot

While investigating an abandoned dance hall, Jack Harkness and Toshiko find themselves having slipped through time and are stuck in 1941, where the dance hall is being used for service personnel. Jack meets the real Captain Jack Harkness, the man whose identity Jack took after his death, which Jack learns will be the following day at a training exercise. Jack and Toshiko recognise that they must find a way to open the Cardiff Rift from the present day in order to get back, and Toshiko begins to work out ways of leaving the necessary equations to the rest of the Torchwood team. Jack learns that the Captain is attracted to him. The two talk some more, with Jack asking if the Captain would like to go elsewhere, but he refuses, acknowledging that Jack has obliquely told him that his remaining time on Earth is limited.

In the present, the rest of the team come to realise Jack and Toshiko are missing in time from photographs taken during the dance, and also determine that the Rift is the only way to bring them back, though Ianto believes it to be too dangerous. As they investigate the dance hall, they meet its proprietor, Bilis Manger. Unknown to them, Bilis is also present at the dance hall in 1941 and has attempted to alter and change the messages that Toshiko is leaving for Torchwood. After finding a missing part of a device used to open the Rift and Toshiko's equations, Owen is prepared to take the chance to open the Rift. Ianto holds him at gunpoint to try to stop it, but Owen refuses, and proceeds to open the Rift. As the dance in 1941 winds down, Captain Harkness invites Jack to dance with him. During the dance, the Rift opens. Jack says his goodbyes to the Captain, giving him a passionate kiss before he and Tosh step through the Rift. They return to Torchwood, where they share a toast to the late Captain Jack Harkness.

Continuity

Music

The songs "My Melancholy Baby" (when George dances with Toshiko), "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover" (during the air raid) and "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" (when Jack dances with his namesake) are performed in this episode sung by Melissa Moore. The latter also featured in "The Empty Child", the Doctor Who episode which introduced Captain Jack Harkness. An instrumental version of "Take the A Train" is also played. In the Torchwood Series 1 DVD extras, John Barrowman sings the song "Anything Goes" with the band live on the set providing music, adding Torchwood-specific references.

Broadcast

This episode was first shown as a double-bill with "End of Days". The two episodes' end credits were merged and shown at the end of the second episode. They were first shown on the same day as the first broadcast of "Invasion of the Bane", the first episode of the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures . However, during repeats (and broadcast on BBC HD), they showed the 'next time' trailers. This did not happen on the first day of transmission.

Reception

"Captain Jack Harkness" was nominated for the 2008 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 "2008 Hugo Nomination List". Denvention 3: The 66th World Science Fiction Convention. World Science Fiction Society. 2008. Archived from the original on 21 December 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
  2. "Camouflage and markings of North American P-51 Mustang, Part 1". 28 April 2013.
  3. "Fragments"
  4. "Exit Wounds"