Torchwood: Children of Earth tenth anniversary – A reminder that Captain Jack should come back
It’s been a long time since we last saw Captain Jack on-screen in Torchwood. Is it time for him to return to our television screens?
A decade ago, Torchwood returned for a third outing – the five-part limited series Children of Earth. A series that’s widely considered to be one of the finest stories to come out of the Doctor Who universe and, I would argue, one of the best pieces of science-fiction ever made.
It was truly an astonishing achievement and it sent the British public into a tense frenzy. I vividly recall the fog of nervous excitement each day would bring that week. The creative choice to directly link time with fiction ramped up anticipation and word of mouth – it really was event television in every sense of the word.
After the cataclysmic and heartbreaking Day Five, the final episode that wrought trauma upon the UK, panicked questions on the fate of the franchise began to manifest intensely. Captain Jack Harkness is a special character that so many adored and never tired of. It’s fair to say we all needed more.
We did eventually get more in the form of Torchwood: Miracle Day, a US/UK co-production that aired a couple of years later. Many choose to ignore this chapter in Torchwood history. Personally, I believe it would be considered a masterpiece, like Children of Earth, if it was shaved to five episodes and set in the UK. It would have solved the two most egregious problems in my view: pacing and pointless Americanization.
But, alas, that was the death of Torchwood on television with the property living on via Big Finish audios. Ten years on since what many consider the real end of Torchwood, it’s a categorical reminder that Captain Jack should return to the Doctor Who fold. As, let’s face the unfortunate truth of the matter – Torchwood on TV is as dead as the dodo. (The flightless bird, not the annoying companion of the First Doctor.)
Captain Jack’s experience in Torchwood would still make him a great ally for the Doctor.
(Image credit: Torchwood/BBC.
Image obtained from: official Torchwood website.)
Why Captain Jack needs to come back
Captain Jack’s friendship with the Doctor may well be one of the best and most entertaining relationships in Doctor Who’s history. Certainly in New Who’s history anyway. Their similarities and differences bounce off each other delightfully, eventually forming an unwavering bond with a firm sense of love, respect, loyalty and camaraderie. He’d fit right in and him meeting the Doctor as a woman is an opportunity too good to pass up.
Out of all New Who characters that could feasibly return like Mickey, Martha and possibly Bill, Captain Jack makes the most sense to bring back, as he’s more accessible from a narrative perspective. He can journey the universe – albeit a tad more ineptly than the Doctor – and head an alien defense organisation. From a character point of view, there’s far more potential and sense of unfinished business compared with more traditional companion characters. Audience wise, he’s easily Doctor Who’s most recognizable and widely loved out of the franchise’s cache of side characters.
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This leads us nicely to my idea of Captain Jack fulfilling a Brigadier-like role for modern audiences. I think this would work as it would be a logical progression for the character. Much like UNIT, have Torchwood operating within the Doctor Who universe and have them assist the Doctor in various instances. It would flesh out Earth better, would naturally re-introduce Captain Jack and would offer the Doctor a great friend to consistently rely on outside the confines of the TARDIS.
This isn’t the only point of interest when talking about Captain Jack’s return though – his immortality would make for a great thematic parallel with the Doctor. It could also be used as a feature in plots in a number of morbidly creative ways.
Finally, Chris Chibnall has set out to craft characters from divergent backgrounds to explore moral lessons and highlight social struggles. Ryan’s African heritage, Yasmin’s religious background and Graham reconciling being a widower and a grandfather. Captain Jack’s sexuality could be another avenue for representation, being the most iconic LGBT character in Doctor Who history.
Next. The Legacy of Time – Doctor Who’s biggest crossover event ever – is out now!. dark
What do you think? Is it time for Captain Jack to return to Doctor Who once more? Or do you think the character has had his time on the TV series? Which former companion do you think would benefit from a return appearance? Let us know in the comments below.