Jack Harkness (Captain Jack Harkness): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Individual|
{{Infobox Individual
individual name= Captain Jack Harkness |
|image         = Captain Jack Harkness 1941 1.jpg
alias= |
|species      = Human
image= [[Image:Captain Jack Harkness 1941_1.jpg|250px]] |
|origin        = [[Earth]]
race= [[Human]] |
|job          = Group Captain
home planet=[[Earth]] |
|affiliation  = Royal Air Force
home era= [[1941]]|
|death date    = [[21 January]] [[1941]]
appearances= [[TW]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (Torchwood story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]'' |
|first mention cs = Everything Changes (TV story)
actor= [[Matt Rippy]] |
|only cs        = Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)
}}
|actor        = Matt Rippy
'''Captain Jack Harkness''' was a young [[United States|American]] serving as an [[RAF]] Group Captain stationed in [[Cardiff (Whoniverse)|Cardiff]] with the [[133rd Squadron]]. He had a brief though intense affair with [[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]], the man from the future who had appropriated his name.
|clip          = Captain Jack Kisses Captain Jack Captain Jack Harkness Torchwood
}}{{you may|Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)|n1=the companion of the Doctor|n2=the television story}}
Captain '''Jack Harkness''' was an [[United States|American]] serving as an [[RAF]] Group Captain, stationed in [[Cardiff]] with the famous [[133 Squadron]]. He had a brief, intense affair with the ex-[[Time Agent]] "[[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]]", a man who had appropriated his name.


==Biography==
== Biography ==
While based in the [[World War II]] time period ([[DW]]: ''[[The Empty Child]]'', ''[[The Doctor Dances]]''), Captain Jack Harkness had taken the name and assumed identity of an American airman who he knew would die in battle on [[21st January]] [[1941]]. Jack hadn't known anything about the other Jack as a person, even what he looked like, until, transported from the [[21st century]] to 1941 with [[Toshiko Sato]], they met each other. In 1941 again, the future Jack adopted the name [[Captain James Harper]].
While based in the [[World War II]] time period, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Empty Child (TV story)|The Empty Child]]'', ''[[The Doctor Dances (TV story)|The Doctor Dances]]'') Captain Jack Harkness took the name and identity of an American airman he knew would die in battle on [[21 January]] [[1941]]. Jack hadn't known anything about the other Jack as a person, or even what he looked like until he was transported from the [[21st century]] to 1941 with [[Toshiko Sato]] and they met each other. In 1941 again, the future Jack adopted the name; Captain James Harper.


Jack was [[homosexual|gay]] but trapped in a heterosexual relationship, he found himself going out to dance with his girlfriend [[Nancy Floyd]] at a Cardiff nightclub called [[The Ritz]]. Distressed at the idea that his Nancy might actually be in love with him, he felt unhappy about leading her on. He also bore the pain of listening on the radio as a trainee pilot, [[Albert Richards]], died when a [[Germany|German]] [[Messerschmitt]] shot him down on [[14th May]] 1940. ([[TW]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (Torchwood story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]'', [[Torchwood website]])
Due to Jack being a homosexual trapped in a heterosexual relationship, he became distressed at the idea that his girlfriend [[Nancy Floyd]] might actually be in love with him. On the night of [[20 January]] 1941, he went out to dance with Nancy at a Cardiff nightclub called [[the Ritz]] but was unhappy about leading her on.


On the night of [[20th January]] 1941, Jack and "Harper" met. The two men felt an immediate attraction. Both had experience of war and of close friends having died by it, though Jack had to overcome the fear and reluctance over moving the relationship to a sexual level. For his part, "James" knew Jack would die the next day.
[[File:Cjh1941 girlfriend.jpg|left|thumb|Jack & [[Nancy Floyd|Nancy]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]'')]]
Later that night, Jack and "Harper" met. The two men felt an immediate attraction. Both had experience of war and of close friends having died in it. Jack had to overcome the fear and reluctance over moving the relationship to a romantic level. Jack also demonstrated a strong compassion for others, backing up "Harper"'s story about [[Toshiko Sato]] working as a code-breaker for the government when she nearly fell victim to anti-Japanese prejudice. For his part, "James" knew Jack would die the next day.


[[Image:Harkness_Ritz.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Captain Jack Harkness, [[Bilis Manger]], "[[Jack Harkness|Captain James Harper]]" and [[Toshiko Sato]] at [[the Ritz]] ([[Torchwood.org.uk]])]]
Jack eventually struck up the courage to dance with "James" in front of a party of servicemen and their guests. As the [[Cardiff Space-Time Rift|Cardiff rift]] transported "James" and Toshiko back to their own time, the two men [[kiss]]ed passionately, leaving both in tears.


Jack eventually struck up the courage to dance with "Jack" in front of a party of servicemen and their guests. As the [[Cardiff rift]] transported "James" and Toshiko back to their own time, the two men kissed passionately, leaving both in tears.
The next day, [[21 January]] 1941, during a training exercise Jack was taking part in, German aircraft appeared. Captain Jack Harkness died in the surprise attack but managed to save the lives of all of the men under his command.


The next day, [[21st January]], during a training exercise, Jack and other RAF flyers, German aircraft appeared. Captain Jack Harkness died in air combat protecting Cardiff from a bombing raid. ([[TW]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (Torchwood story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]'', [[Torchwood.org.uk]])
Back in the 21st century, Tosh comforted Torchwood's Jack by telling him that 1941's Captain Jack would be proud that he took his name, carrying it on to save the world. ([[TV]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]'')
 
{{NameSort}}
Back in the present day, [[Toshiko Sato]] comforted Torchwood's Jack by telling him that 1941's Captain Jack would be proud that he took his name, carrying it on as he saves the world. ([[TW]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (Torchwood story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]'')
 
==Notes==
While she set out to find out more about [[Torchwood 3]] and its leader, [[Gwen Cooper]] made inquiries, only the name of the 51st century Captain Jack, who "went missing" in 1941 appeared on the police database. The database seemd to have no information about the original Jack, who had ''died'' in 1941. ([[TW]]: ''[[Everything Changes]]'')
 
:The 51st century Jack must have done a thorough job of covering his tracks.''
 
==Behind the Scenes==
1941's Captain Jack is identified as of the same rank as the future Jack. This could reflect a misunderstanding of the RAF rank structure by the ''[[Torchwood]]'' production team, since he only commanded a squadron, and Group Captains are never addressed or referred to as "Captain".
 
==External link==
*[http://www.torchwood.org.uk/html/realjack/ In-universe Torchwood file on the original Captain Jack Harkness]


[[Category:20th century individuals|Harkness, Captain Jack]]
[[Category:20th century individuals|Harkness, Captain Jack]]
[[Category:Human military officers|Harkness, Captain Jack]]
[[Category:RAF pilots]]
[[Category:Non-heterosexual individuals]]

Latest revision as of 01:46, 27 June 2024

Captain Jack Harkness was an American serving as an RAF Group Captain, stationed in Cardiff with the famous 133 Squadron. He had a brief, intense affair with the ex-Time Agent "Captain Jack Harkness", a man who had appropriated his name.

Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]

While based in the World War II time period, (TV: The Empty Child, The Doctor Dances) Captain Jack Harkness took the name and identity of an American airman he knew would die in battle on 21 January 1941. Jack hadn't known anything about the other Jack as a person, or even what he looked like until he was transported from the 21st century to 1941 with Toshiko Sato and they met each other. In 1941 again, the future Jack adopted the name; Captain James Harper.

Due to Jack being a homosexual trapped in a heterosexual relationship, he became distressed at the idea that his girlfriend Nancy Floyd might actually be in love with him. On the night of 20 January 1941, he went out to dance with Nancy at a Cardiff nightclub called the Ritz but was unhappy about leading her on.

Later that night, Jack and "Harper" met. The two men felt an immediate attraction. Both had experience of war and of close friends having died in it. Jack had to overcome the fear and reluctance over moving the relationship to a romantic level. Jack also demonstrated a strong compassion for others, backing up "Harper"'s story about Toshiko Sato working as a code-breaker for the government when she nearly fell victim to anti-Japanese prejudice. For his part, "James" knew Jack would die the next day.

Jack eventually struck up the courage to dance with "James" in front of a party of servicemen and their guests. As the Cardiff rift transported "James" and Toshiko back to their own time, the two men kissed passionately, leaving both in tears.

The next day, 21 January 1941, during a training exercise Jack was taking part in, German aircraft appeared. Captain Jack Harkness died in the surprise attack but managed to save the lives of all of the men under his command.

Back in the 21st century, Tosh comforted Torchwood's Jack by telling him that 1941's Captain Jack would be proud that he took his name, carrying it on to save the world. (TV: Captain Jack Harkness)