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“CAPTAIN JACK HARKNESS – BLITZ, KISSES AND A SINISTER SMILE”

Torchwood’s first season edges toward its explosive finale with Captain Jack Harkness, the first part of a two-part story that brings the emotional weight of time travel to the fore, while peeling back some long-awaited layers of its titular character. With an eerie premise, haunting atmosphere, and a moving exploration of identity, this episode stands out as one of the more thoughtful and resonant entries in the season.

We begin with a brilliantly simple conceit: a derelict dance hall in the present, housing a tear in time that sends Jack and Toshiko back to 1941 Cardiff during the Blitz. It’s a well-executed blend of period detail and time travel intrigue, grounding the series' sci-fi trappings in something human and emotional. The dislocation allows the episode to become a rare two-hander for Jack and Tosh, both of whom shine in a quieter, more introspective story that allows the cast to dig deeper.

THE TWO JACKS

It’s in this 1940s setting that we finally meet the real Captain Jack Harkness – the American officer whose name our Jack took. As it turns out, he's not just a convenient alias, but a real, deeply honourable man doomed to die young. His presence gives the story emotional stakes that ripple outward, allowing John Barrowman to give one of his finest performances as Jack struggles with identity, love, and legacy. The slow burn of romantic tension between the two Jacks is beautifully rendered, quietly daring and tender in an era that would never allow them to be together.

The kiss at the episode’s climax – the two men dancing and sharing a final embrace in front of their stunned fellow soldiers – is easily one of Torchwood’s most moving moments. It’s heartfelt, cathartic, and bravely unapologetic, giving Jack a rare chance to express a vulnerability he so often hides behind bravado.

TOSH SHINES THROUGH

Toshiko also gets a great deal to do, both intellectually and emotionally. Her quiet resilience in the face of wartime racism and sexism is played subtly but effectively, and it’s refreshing to see her scientific skills take centre stage again. Her bond with Jack deepens here too, not just as colleagues but as friends sharing an impossible situation. The moment she uses her ingenuity to leave messages for the team in the present is clever and touching, a lovely payoff that underscores her importance to the group.

BILIS MANGER – EVIL WITH A TWINKLE

And then there’s that villain. The late Murray Melvin makes an unforgettable debut as Bilis Manger, a man whose presence defies time and logic. With his spectral eyes and dry whisper, he exudes quiet menace from the moment he appears. What makes Bilis so effective is how little we know about him – he's not a cackling monster or a ranting madman, but a chilling observer pulling strings in the shadows. His ability to move between past and present makes him feel genuinely uncanny, and his manipulation of the team adds an extra layer of danger and mystery.

TENSIONS IN THE HUB

While Jack and Tosh navigate the 1940s, the rest of the team are left in the present trying to bring them back. These scenes help expand the character dynamics in meaningful ways, particularly for Owen and Ianto. Owen’s desperation to open the Rift is driven by unresolved grief over Diane, and for once his recklessness feels less selfish and more tragic. Ianto, meanwhile, refuses to let another catastrophe unfold – a marked shift for his character, who takes real initiative here. Their confrontation reaches breaking point when Ianto actually shoots Owen in a desperate attempt to prevent him from unleashing unknown dangers. It’s a shockingly raw moment that demonstrates just how frayed the team has become under pressure.

GWEN PIECES IT TOGETHER

Meanwhile, Gwen operates as the glue holding the story together. Her attempts to follow clues from the past and evade Bilis’ eerie presence give the story its investigative spine, and her increasing unease helps keep the tension simmering. There’s real payoff to the way the different time strands intersect – from Tosh’s breadcrumbs to Gwen’s modern-day legwork – and the pacing ensures the mystery never drags.

A DANCE BEFORE THE STORM

Though the episode doesn’t end with a bang, it does reach a powerful emotional crescendo. Jack’s final goodbye to the man whose name he took – and whose death he cannot prevent – is a poignant moment of reckoning. It speaks to themes of identity, remembrance, and the cost of survival, all wrapped in a surprisingly gentle, beautifully shot farewell. And with the Rift finally opened, the danger unleashed by Bilis ensures that this calm won’t last – setting the stage for the chaos to come in End of Days.

📝 VERDICT: 77/100

Captain Jack Harkness is one of Torchwood’s finest episodes: emotionally resonant, quietly tense, and steeped in character. It uses time travel not just as a plot device but as a way to explore trauma, legacy, and love. The WWII setting is atmospheric, the character work strong, and Bilis Manger is an inspired villain – spectral, manipulative, and unforgettable. It’s a slow-burning hour of television that prioritises people over spectacle, and it’s all the stronger for it. A haunting, human story that gives Torchwood a rare moment of grace before the storm.