It's time for nostalgia for those wonderful days when John Barrowman and his character Captain Jack Harkness became so successful as part of the cult series that they even got their own spin-off (or Alien Hunters).
Hoovian fans probably haven't yet forgotten the amazing time traveler Captain Harkness, who burst into the duo of the Ninth Doctor and his companion Rose, continuing to delight viewers in tandem with the Tenth Doctor. In the Torchwood series, Harkness headed an institute studying aliens on Earth. Together with a team of loyal comrades, Harkness investigates events related to alien influence, and, of course, waits for the Doctor's return.
With the arrival of new showrunner Chris Chibnall and Thirteen, Doctor Who began. And so the journalists asked Barrowman the obvious question: is it time to return?
If they want to do it, I will return without hesitation. I have no idea if this will happen. But I always said I was ready. To be honest, Chris Chibnall and the BBC could introduce Jack into the story or bring back Torchwood. In my opinion, it is simply their duty, but I did not say that. Regardless, Captain Jack, Torchwood and Doctor Who have changed my life incredibly.
The actor also commented on the casting of Jodie Whittaker:
I think it's amazing. And I didn't hide it from the very first day. I think the time has come. As I tell fans, in the history of Gallifrey there is no rule that the Doctor must only be male. Glad Chris Chibnall and the BBC did it and it seems to be going as well as it can.
Barrowman is currently reprising his role in the series.
Companion of the First and Second Doctors, sailor, husband of Polly Wright. Became the Doctor's companion after the conflict with WOTAN and the War Machines. Found in episodes from "War Machines" to "Faceless"
Jackie Tyler
Mother of Rose Tyler.
Found in episodes from "Rose" to "The End of Time"
Jackson Lake
A 19th century math teacher who came to believe himself to be an incarnation of the Doctor due to exposure to the Information Stamp, known as "The Other Doctor". Helped the Tenth Doctor in resolving the situation with the Cybermen intervention. First seen in "The Next Doctor"
Kahler-Jex
The scientist who created the cyborg Strelok.
First seen in "A Town Called Mercy"
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Captain Adelaide Brook
Commander of the Bowie 1 base on Mars. She decided to destroy the base due to the infection of her subordinates with the Flow. Her death was a fixed point in time, so even though the Doctor saved her, she committed suicide.
First seen in the series "Waters of Mars"
Captain Henry Avery
Pirate of the 17th century. Was attacked by Siren.
Found in episodes from "Curse of the Black Mark" to "A Good Man Goes to War"
Captain Jack Harkness (real)
An ordinary young American, captain of the Royal Air Force of Great Britain. It was his name that the Time Agent from the 6th century took for himself. After this, they met by chance in 1941. First seen in the series "Captain Jack Harkness"
Captain John Hart
Former professional and sexual partner of Jack Harkness at the Time Agency. I found Gray, Jack's younger brother, but realized too late that he had gone mad. Found in episodes from "Smack-Smack, Bang-Bang" to "Heist in Time"
Captain Zhukov
The commander of a Soviet nuclear submarine that extracted oil on the shelf of the Arctic Ocean.
First seen in the Cold War series
Captain Quill
The captain of the Orient Express is a former soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress.
First seen in the episode "The Mummy on the Orient Express"
Captain Mike Yates
Companion to the Third Doctor, worked at UNIT. Found in episodes from "Terror of the Autons" to "Dimensions in Time"
Captain Hardaker
The captain of the starship Titanic was seriously ill with an unknown disease (he had six months to live).
First seen in the episode "Voyage of the Damned"
Captain Erisa Magambo
An employee of UNIT, she participated in the destruction of a wormhole through which dangerous aliens arrived on earth.
Found in episodes from "Turn Left" to "Planet of the Dead"
Chrissy Jackson
Mother of Maria Jackson. Found in episodes from "Invasion of the Bane" to "The Last of the Sontarans"
Maria Jackson
An ordinary 14-year-old girl, Luke's friend. Found in episodes from "Invasion of the Bane" to "The Last of the Sontarans"
Philippa Jackson (Flip)
Supermarket salesman. Companion of the Sixth Doctor.
The immortal Captain Jack Harkness stood on the roof of the tallest building in Cardiff. The wind blew his hair and stirred the hem of his long coat. No, it was not a coat, but an officer's overcoat from the Second World War. The 21st century is here, and he still wore this overcoat. He loved it very much, and every time it fell into disrepair, he ordered the same one for himself. He grew into this overcoat as well as into this borrowed name, Jack Harkness, which he had long considered his own. He wanted to throw himself down now and stop this endless round dance of years and suffering. But this emergency exit from life was not available to him. He knew that a few minutes after death, he would return to life again, feeling all the pain of the injuries from which he died, and this return to life would be even more painful than death itself. This has happened many times already. Thousands of times he died and came back to life, experiencing unbearable pain. But he would relive it again and again, he would relive it millions of times, just to meet the Doctor again. Time had almost erased from his lips the taste of that one farewell kiss they shared on the day Jack first died. Then they were all ready to die in order to destroy the Dalek armadas. When Jack came to life, the Daleks were finished and the Doctor abandoned him. Then Jack went to the place where the Doctor was supposed to appear sooner or later, but his time funnel manipulator malfunctioned and he was stuck in the 19th century. He remembered. For more than a hundred years, through thousands of deaths, through melancholy and darkness, loneliness and betrayal, through wars and crises of the 20th century, he walked towards the Doctor. The image of the Doctor was his guiding star on this long journey. He thought that on the day he met the Doctor, everything would fall into place, he would receive answers to his questions and meaning would appear, the meaning of his life. And so the Doctor appeared, but he was deadly indifferent to Jack, despite everything Jack did to help him. And at the end of this year, which no one remembered, after they defeated the Master, the Doctor suddenly invited Jack to travel with him. And Jack refused. He refused not only because he was offended by the Doctor’s indifference to him, but also because he was overwhelmed by pride, and he wanted to return to his small group “Torchwood 3”, for which he was what the Doctor was for him, mysterious, an almost omnipotent immortal being. He returned to his team, although they had all already betrayed him once. He thought he was needed here in Cardiff. Oh, how wrong he was. They managed just fine without him. And Gwen Cooper, whom he had almost fallen in love with, was now engaged to Rhys. He loved many over the years. Or did you think he loved you? Even an immortal needs someone to at least temporarily not feel so lonely. He loved Angelo Colossante, Lucia Moretti, the real Jack Harkness, with whom he managed to spend only a few hours before his training flight, from which he was not destined to return. But he loved none of them as much as the Doctor. Jack never forgot about the Doctor. Once upon a time, in another life, he loved John Hart, who suddenly appeared yesterday and reminded Jack of the man he was before meeting the Doctor. But that evening he first met Rose Tyler and thought he fell in love with her. How he now regretted that he had returned back to Cardiff instead of going with the Doctor. How he wanted now to use his time funnel manipulator to immediately find the Doctor and join him, no matter on what terms, just to be near him, just to see him every day. But he could not do this, because it was the kind Doctor who again disabled his manipulator bracelet. He could only continue to live his life in Cardiff, leading his small group, the king in his little fiefdom called Torchwood 3, and wait for the Doctor to appear here again someday. And then he will definitely not miss his chance. The immortal captain Jack Harkness stood on the roof. He often stood here.
This charismatic character, who first appeared in the cult science fiction show Doctor Who, subsequently became a recognizable figure in British pop culture, an object of imitation for people of non-traditional sexual orientation, and a reason for parody and satire. This publication will focus on the restless and magnetically charming Captain Jack.
From the screen to the masses
Considered the Doctor's best companion, Captain Jack Harkness became the main character in the independent project Alien Hunters (Torchwood 2006). The hero he was reincarnated in appeared before the public for the first time in the next episode of Doctor Who under the title “The Empty Child” in 2005. From this moment on, the protagonist became the partner of the 9th Doctor. He is one of the three characters from the legendary series who have a personal spin-off. Despite his personal project, Captain Jack Harkness did not leave the film Doctor Who, continuing to periodically appear in it along with the tenth reincarnation of the main character.
Character development
In the finale of the first season of the recreated Doctor Who project, Captain Jack Harkness becomes absolutely immortal. On our planet, he joins the ranks of agents of the Torchwood 3 Institute, specializing in preventing alien threats, and a century later becomes its leader. In addition to the two TV series, the character appears in several literary works and comics based on two TV shows with his participation. Also, at different times, a certain number of collectible figurines of the hero were released.
By necessity
Captain Jack Harkness became the Doctor's first openly bisexual companion in the history of the project, and it is not surprising that he became a role model for many bisexuals and gays in the UK and around the world. If in the classic version of the show the companions of the main character were mostly beautiful women who attracted the stronger half of humanity to the screen, then the authors of the revived project deliberately introduced Captain Jack Harkness into the film. They justified their decision by the need to equalize the number of men and women so that the modern public would have the opportunity to see beautiful men. This measure was effective; many TV viewers began to watch the project precisely because of the hero John Barrowman.
British Tom Cruise
Actor John Barrowman is positioned as a pivotal figure in the concept of Captain Jack Harkness. The performer told the media that during the preparatory casting period, one of the scriptwriters, Russell T. Davies, and one of the producers, Julie Gardner, emphasized that the character was largely written specifically for him. During the tests, the actor, having entered the character, pronounced phrases in three variations: with his native Scottish accent, English and American. When choosing the best option, the filmmakers settled on the American one. The creators were looking for a performer who would fit the role of “ladies’ favorite” and considered Barrowman a worthy candidate. Later, critics often compared the character of the captain, as embodied by Barrowman, with the outstanding American film actor Tom Cruise.
Charming handsome man
The attractive and handsome John Scott Barrowman was born in Scotland in the largest city of the state, Glasgow. But growing up in Illinois, his family moved there. Thanks to his creative teachers, the boy became interested in music and theatrical art from a young age. Having received a higher education at the University of San Diego, the young man returns to the UK. John begins his creative career by participating in Broadway and West End musicals: “Miss Saigon”, “Matador”, “Sunset Boulevard” and “The Phantom of the Opera”.
Afterwards, the already famous artist is invited to work on British television. The role of Captain Jack Harkness for the actor becomes a springboard to worldwide popularity. The performer, in parallel with filming in two TV series, takes an active part in entertainment programs and television projects. Barrowman does not hide his sexual preferences. In 2006, he entered into a civil marriage with an architect
Characteristics
Captain Jack Harkness is portrayed to the public in most accounts as "deadly handsome", "charming and utterly captivating", with his characterizations including the eloquent phrases "a crafty daredevil", "sane and roguish". In Doctor Who, the hero is presented as a relatively happy-go-lucky character, but in the first season of Torchwood he changes, becoming darker and more moody.
Although Jack wore a variety of clothes in The Doctor, in Torchwood he distinguishes himself with a personal style that has been praised by critics as "an iconic landmark in sci-fi fashion." Almost invariably, the hero is dressed in a black and gray coat of a military cut from the period of the Second World War, black, or less often dark brown boots. His shirts are of the same classic cut in a color spectrum from light blue to green and dark blue, with traditional T-shirts underneath. An invariable part of the captain's wardrobe are suspenders. Several times Jack sported a cloth vest with a watch on a chain in the left pocket. It's no surprise that all of the Captain Jack Harkness films were scrutinized in detail by fashionistas.
In Torchwood
“Torchwood” is positioned by most movie experts as an “adult” offshoot of “Doctor Who,” which touches on somewhat more slippery topics and depicts the everyday work of a secret organization in Britain that faithfully protects the kingdom, or even the entire planet, from the machinations of aliens or travelers time of villains. Having started quite sedately, the series by the second season revealed the optimal proportions of irony and serious moments in the narrative and offered the viewing audience a colorful gallery of characters, led by a charming alien from the distant future, Captain Jack Harkness. At the very moment when the series picked up cosmic speed, the creators began to kill off the main characters one after another; it was painful and unpleasant for fans of the project to watch. As a result, the project was closed, which is a pity, because during the time it was aired, the TV show did not manage to convey all the exciting stories to the viewer. But during its existence, “Torchwood” managed to secure its cult status, photos of Captain Jack Harkness did not leave the editorial pages of the media for a long time, and the character himself was loved by a colossal number of viewers. 12 years ago, this hero was considered revolutionary because he was not ashamed of his non-heteronormativity and was pansexual. By the way, the captain's longest romantic relationship in the series was with Ianto Jones, a man who was part of his crew. Unlike the family-oriented Doctor Who, the show Torchwood is not recommended for children to watch.
Doctor Who and Captain Jack Harkness
As you know, Captain Jack Harkness, to whom the series is dedicated, first appeared as a cameo character in the revived Doctor Who and for some time the companion of the Ninth Doctor. Let's talk about the episodes dedicated to him.
Writers: Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss
Cast: Christopher Eccleston, Billie Piper, John Barrowman, Eve Myles
03. The Unquiet Dead - The Restless Dead
The Doctor and Rose travel to Victorian Cardiff and meet Charles Dickens in person. Moreover, together with him they are forced to investigate the story of corpses that rise from coffins.
Jack Harkness isn't in this episode yet, but it's still not worth missing. Firstly, she appears here in the role of the undertaker's maid, who will later play Gwen in Torchwood. And even the name of her heroine is similar: Gwinnett. However, according to the author of the series, there is no direct blood connection between these characters, but perhaps Gwen became a kind of echo of Gwynnet, thanks to the Rift that exists in Cardiff. I note, by the way, that, playing the maid, Eve Myles looks somehow livelier and more charming than in the role of the Torchwood agent.
9. The Empty Child - Empty child
10. The Doctor Dances - The Doctor dances
In this case, the series form a single story arc, almost like it was with. Of course, then the stories continued for four episodes in a row, but the length of each of them was about 20 minutes. As it were...
London, the height of World War II. An incomprehensible creature is wandering the streets: a child with a gas mask on his face, looking for his mother. And then the charming adventurer Jack Harkness is trying to sell the Time Agents, for whom he mistakes Rose and the Doctor, a spaceship. I can’t help but note, by the way, that already here, despite the fact that, unlike, is considered a family series, there is also a hint of the character’s bisexuality.
From this episode on, the second of the future co-authors of Sherlock found himself in the role of screenwriter - and he also worked in his signature, brilliant and sadistic style. In essence, he made a horror film, and an excellent one at that: no gory details, but every appearance of these creatures with gas masks on their faces gives you goosebumps. At the same time, some scenes with them look almost comical - but the eerie feeling does not go away.
As for Captain Jack, here he appears more frivolous and, it seems, less powerful. At the same time, according to him, he was already a time agent, but he meets the Doctor here for the first time.
In these same episodes, direct references to : Rose mentions Mr. Spock several times. It's funny that this is the first time this reference has appeared in the series, but before that Star Trek references appeared in novels and comics.
11 Boom Town - City Boom
The mayor of Cardiff has decided to build a nuclear power plant - right on the fault, which could lead to the death of the city, or even the entire planet. As the doctor found out, under the guise of the mayor is hiding his old friend - a representative of the Slitheen family, who have already tried to destroy the Earth...
Quite a fascinating episode, moreover, showing the psychology of the enemy - Slitheen’s experiences in the toilet look very touching, even though this episode is played by a doll. There are also humorous moments: what is the cost of trying to escape from the doctor and his screwdriver or dinner in a restaurant.
Note the Nuclear Energy Advisor at the beginning of the episode: he is played by: He also played Gwen Cooper's father in and appeared in the classic, thus appearing in three series of the franchise. This was the first such case.
It’s funny to note in passing that the extras in this episode did not play on the same set as the main cast: they were filmed separately and the shots were combined during processing.
By the way, references to popular culture also appear here: Margaret's intention to use the extrapolator as a cosmic surfboard is, of course, a reference to the Silver Surfer from the comics about.
The two remaining episodes of the season form a kind of arc dedicated to the next attack of the Daleks and, in fact, the rebirth of the doctor. To be honest, this story made less of an impression on me, but perhaps I’ll return to talking about this season.
When compared with other incarnations of the Doctor, Christopher Eccleston played a rather interesting role: at first glance, he looks rude, but then you warm to him - this doctor has a captivating love of life and curiosity, he doesn’t even particularly try to hide his adventurism - and is surprised by the wonders of the universe no less than Rose.