Torchwood #12: Captain Jack Harkness

Torchwood Team; 

• Captain Jack

• Gwen

• Owen

• Tosh

• Ianto

Notable Characters; 

• Captain Jack Harkness- The man who Jack stole his identity from

• Bilis- Mysterious caretaker 

Detailed Plot;

Captain Jack Harkness was an outstanding penultimate episode of the season and has really set up the finale well. It was certainly an episode full of shocks, intrigue and mystery! I also really liked how this Torchwood episode was mostly set in the past which, without the access to time travel, was really well done! 

It begins similarly to Combat with the usual introduction with an added brief recap of Out of Time and Comat itself and how they each affected Owen. As the episode begins the SUV is seen rushing through outskirt streets at high speed. Jack and Tosh arrive at their destination, the Ritz dancehall. Seen on the door was a 'Vote Saxon' poster which was good confirming that the events here were very close to those of The Sound of Drums. From the hall music reportedly spoiled out which led to complaints. It was said to be 1940s style. Jack jokingly danced with Tosh in the deserted building before the pair heard genuine music and people as they were searching around. Jack figured it was temporal shift but as they left the building it was more than that. No SUV in sight, Tosh presumed it stolen. But Jack confirmed that it was them who had been stolen. They'd travelled back through time to 1941! 

Back in modern day and at the hub there was a ruff alert. Ianto tried phoning Jack and Tosh but their phones were dead. Jack seemed pleased that he was in the WWII period and was fascinated to be back after The Empty Child. Owen seemed to have an idea by the rift alert, he talked to Ianto about his love for Dianne and shockingly it seemed he wanted to open the rift to bring her back. Back in time and a man liked Tosh and they danced. 

Gwen went to the dancehall in search of the unreachable members and she saw the SUV. She presumed them to be inside. She shouts Jack's name and it seems he can briefly, vaguely hear her. Tosh now grew tired of dancing and Jack broke it up, but the soldier was angered and shoved Jack before pinging him. A captain pulled an apology out from him for the impromptu time travellers and revealed his name. Captain Jack Harkness. This was a great shock. How did he have the same name as Jack? Who was he? Abruptly a photo was taken of the pair then another along with the seemed hall owner. Back at the hub and Ianto was searching the computer for answers and he came across the 60+ year old photo. They now knew were Jack and Tosh were. In the past. 

Jack introduced himself as Captain James Harper. This was all very intriguing! Tosh, like myself, wanted to know who he was and ultimately who Jack really was. Jack explained how he took the name of Captain Jack Harkness after he died, a death Jack knew was imminent in the time where they were. 

With rift distortion and Owen attempting to open the rift, it was established that the equations needed were split in time. Half were at the hub, while the other half was with Tosh in 1941. Tosh, hoping of somehow getting the equations back to the hub, wrote down the equations from her laptop but the battery was minimal. She just about got down what she needed before the battery died. Bilis, the manager, walked in on Tosh and Jack and a laptop. But Tosh closed it and held it safe. It seemed Bilis was a mystery, and Tosh noticed a camera that seemed slightly out of its time, not quite invented yet. As the pair leave the room a file is seen in Bilis' draw. It was labelled 'Torchwood.' The mystery deepened, who was he? 

Back at the dancehall in modern day, and Gwen was outside before being approached by the caretaker. The caretaker though was Bilis! He somehow had access between 1941 and present day! It was excellent. Meanwhile in the past, Jack explained how he'd served in the war, but he ignored the question of his name before he took on the Harkness alias. Concurrently, Gwen was being shown around the hall by Bilis. I was extremely intrigued as to who he was! 

Jack explained how the real Jack Harkness was due to die. This really established a lot more about Jack but at the same time allowed us to know and understand him even less. Gwen, talking to Ianto at the hub who wasseeing the   photos from 1941, via headset explained the caretaker. Ianto described how he was the same man as seen in 1941. He had access to the rift and Ianto wanted Gwen safe and told her to leave. Owen wanted to keep Bilis in their sights but Gwen left for her safety. 

Tosh now photographed the equations in the hope of somehow sending them to the future. Bilis though approached her, he was somehow easily jumping through time. Owen now though had had enough and took things into his own initiative. He was going to attempt to get them out of the past. He wanted to open the rift. This sparked a bitter argument between Owen and Ianto as the latter followed Jack's instructions and demanded it not be tampered with. This lead to argument and the question of whether it was really about Dianne. More bickering ensued and Owen mocked Lisa and what she had with Ianto in and prior to Cyberwomen. Luckily for Ianto, the rift manipulator had a piece missing. It couldn't be opened. 

The real Captain Jack Harkness talked his goodbye to his girlfriend, but Jack knew he was going to die. Tomorrow. Jack made the real Captain go to Nancy, and kiss her goodbye. This led to Nancy declaring her love for him and this made Harkness scared. The two captains, talking about being scared, led to the Jack we know recalling the death of his best friend and how he was forced to watch. The real Harkness talked of a boy in a plane reporting but how it was shot and how all that was heard through the radio were his screams. 

Tosh meanwhile planned on leaving the photos to stay through time and Gwen could receive them in the future. They were taking the slow path as the Doctor once mentioned. Owen meanwhile planned on going to the hall to find Bilis in search of answers. He searched around his office. Gwen though was looking around outside and found the equation photo Tosh had taken. But not all the info was quite fitted on to the photograph. Back in 1941 and the pulsating air siren was heard. Bombs were to be dropped, and they were. Jack and Tosh were stuck in the middle of a Cardiff blitz!

Back in Bilis' office and Owen found his answer. Tosh though was determined to finish her message with all the vital information. She needed something that would last, so she cut her hand open and used blood. A courageous, determined act. 

Owen had found a safe. After gaining entry, it was locked. No answers found after all. Or so it seemed. Within the office were many clocks or time pieces and they all seemed to alarm at the same time. A light went off in Owen's head, he opened up a grandfather clock and within was part of the rift manipulator. How Bilis had it I didn't know, but when leaving and passing Gwen, Owen was secretive about it. He wanted to open the rift. Gwen was now going to continue the search of the hall and was determined to find the answers. She could hear echoes of where Jack and Tosh were stuck. 

With the all clear alarm heard in 1941, good news came to Gwen as well as she'd found the blood written rift equations, but there wasn't enough. A brief flashback was seen of Bilis running out vital digits. He didn't want Torchwood saved. 

Returning to 1941 and Jack didn't want the real Harkness to leave his women alone. He described how he had nobody, so told him to cherish the girl he has. Owen now was determined to open the rift, he wanted to find more information in the hope of it opening. He intended to open the Torchwood safe. One that seemed secretive and only Jack went within. Owen found within, along with previous episode's relics, the blueprints of the rift manipulator. Ianto though was determined to prevent the rift from opening. He believed it may be a trap set up by Bilis. He could be right. Owen though explained how he was tired of secrets and in a struggle with Ianto came on top after kicking him when down.

Jack talked to Tosh about the real Captain's death and it seemed sad. Straight back to modern day and Ianto was determined to follow Jack's orders. He pointed at Owen with a gun to stop him from opening the rift. Jack explained to Tosh what we already knew from season 27 of Doctor Who- Jack was a conman. He talked about Rose and how she resurrected him in The Parting of the Ways. He described how he felt he was being kept for something, but didn't know of what. 

Now determined to open the rift and seemingly not scared by Ianto's threat, he'd hoped the equation information they had would be enough to open it. Ianto shot Owen in the shoulder! But Owen continued and the manipulator sprang into action. It was working. The rift was open.

Again back to 1941 and the original Captain Jack returned from Nancy to the conman Jack we all know and love. They danced, and despite the odd looks from people watching on, they held the floor to themselves. There was a spark no doubt. Something more? They were about to kiss but a blue light appeared and it was entry back to the present. Jack said he had to go, but quickly walked back and passionately kissed the man who's identity he stole. Emotional, Jack left back to the future with Tosh. They'd escaped 1941. 

However, Bilis still loomed and his mystery wasn't over. Gwen was seen outside the hall to welcome them back. Owen though was seen operating on himself and retrieving the bullet Ianto shot at him. But had Owen done the right thing? It seemed so as there was no apparent threat from anything from the rift. Tosh was talking to Jack and claimed how the real Captain would be proud of Jack taking his name and saving the world countless times using it. 

My analysis; 

Overall, I thought this was a magnificent episode. Again sticking to the high standard so far set in Torchwood and really exploring the character of Captain Jack and his origins. I liked how Tosh and Ianto had larger roles than they usually do. I really liked the time shifts seen in the episode with the setting constantly shifting between 1941 and the present. The mystery of Bilis was also great, and going from the 'Next Time' trailer it's obvious his involvement isn't over. I look forward to seeing who he is, and what his motives are. I also hope that the next episode is of great standard, and I can say with confidence I think it will be. It's the finale, it better be! 

Rating; 10/10 with ease.