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{{Infobox Individual
{{Infobox Individual
|individual name= Face of Boe
|image      = Face of Boe closeup The End of the World.jpg
|image= [[Image:Face of Boe.jpg|250px]]
|alias       =Mr Derek
|alias= [[Jack Harkness]] (possible)
|species    = Boekind
|race= <ul><li>[[Boekind]]</li><li>[[Human]] (possible)</li></ul>
|origin      =  
|home planet= Unknown, possibly the [[Silver Devastation]] (in the [[Isop galaxy]]); possibly the [[Boeshane Peninsula]]
|child      = Boemina
|home era= Prior to [[200,000]]-[[Far Future]]
|first      = The End of the World (TV story)
|appearances= <ul><li>[[DW]]: ''[[The End of the World]]''</li><li>[[DW]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]''</li><li>[[DW]]: ''[[Gridlock]]''</li><li>
|appearances = {{appears}}
''[[DW]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'' (flashback)</li><li>[[DW]]: ''[[Journey's End]]'' (re-used footage)</li></ul>
|voice actor = Struan Rodger
|actor= [[Struan Rodger]] (voice)
|clip        = The Face of Boe's Last Secret - Doctor Who - Gridlock - BBC
|clip2      = Is Captain Jack The Face of Boe? - Doctor Who - Last of the Time Lords - BBC
}}
}}
The '''Face of Boe''' appeared to be a male [[Boekind]] who was little more than a gigantic [[humanoid]] head. Although he would rarely do more than grunt vocally, he was able to communicate by means of [[telepathy]], and he communicated verbally on at least one occasion.


{{quote|I have seen so much, perhaps too much. I am the last of my kind. As you are the last of yours, Doctor.|Face of Boe.|Gridlock}}
On the integrated planets of [[Cep Cassalon]], the Face was known as "the Creature that God Forgot". ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Legends of the Universe (short story)|Legends of the Universe]]'')


The '''Face of Boe''' was a male-appearing [[Boekind]] whose outward appearance was little more than a gigantic, [[humanoid]]-like head. Although he could only grunt vocally, he was able to communicate by means of [[telepathy]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'')
== Biography ==
The Face of Boe had the distinction of being one of the oldest creatures in the known [[universe]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Bad Wolf (TV story)|Bad Wolf]]'') By the time of his death, he was the oldest creature . ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Judge, Jury and Executioner (short story)|Judge, Jury and Executioner]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[R&J (audio story)|R&J]]'') There was evidence that he was present when the stars of [[Andromeda]] were still nothing but dust. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Legends of the Universe (short story)|Legends of the Universe]]'')


==History==
He was particularly fertile during the [[Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Legends of the Universe (short story)|Legends of the Universe]]'') In [[200,000]], he was featured on [[Bad WolfTV]], in a news story claiming that he had fallen pregnant with [[Boemina]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Long Game (TV story)|The Long Game]]'') He had three sons and three daughters, but all six Boemina lived natural lifespans of forty years and no more. The Face of Boe watched his children die, and stayed watching while the universe forgot they had even existed. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Legends of the Universe (short story)|Legends of the Universe]]'') It was during the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire that [[Boekind]] became all but [[extinct]], whilst the Face of Boe lived on. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Time Traveller's Almanac (reference book)|The Time Traveller's Almanac]]'')
===Earlier history===
{{Quote|Legend says the Face of Boe has lived for billions of years. Isn't that right? And you're not about to give up now.|The Doctor.|Gridlock}}


The Face of Boe had the distinction of being one of the oldest creatures in the known [[universe]]. This caused him to be called on some worlds as "the creature that God forgot". (source?) He was possibly well known by the [[51st century]], since [[Jack Harkness]] commented on the fact that he once saw someone dressed up as the Face of Boe, although Jack had done some [[time travel]] even before he met [[Ninth Doctor|the Doctor]] ([[NSA]]: ''[[The Stealers of Dreams]]'') In [[200,000]], he was featured on [[Bad Wolf TV]], at which point he was pregnant with six children ([[Boemina]]) who died forty years later. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Long Game]]'') In [[200,100]], he was the focus of a question on ''[[The Weakest Link]]'', where he was described as the oldest living creature in the [[Isop galaxy]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Bad Wolf (TV story)|Bad Wolf]]'')
=== Platform One ===
In the year [[5000000000|5 billion (5.5/Apple/26)]], the Face of Boe was the sponsor of an event to safely witness the destruction of the [[Earth]] by the expansion of the [[Sun]]. The hot water in his room on the platform observing the "Earth death" was not working. The event was sabotaged by [[Lady Cassandra]], but the Face was among the survivors. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of the World (TV story)|The End of the World]]'')


===Later history===
=== On New Earth ===
{{quote|Everything has its time. You know that, old friend, better than most.|Face of Boe.|Gridlock}}
By [[5,000,000,023]], the Face was hospitalised in [[Ward 26]] of the [[New New York Hospital|hospital]] run by the [[Sisters of Plenitude]] on [[New Earth (New Earth)|New Earth]]. By this time, he was the last of [[Boekind]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'') He was worshipped in several [[galaxies]], and Novice [[Hame]] believed the Face of Boe had a claim to [[god]]hood. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Escape from New New York (audio story)|Escape from New New York]]'')


In the year [[5,000,000,000|5.5/Apple/26]], the Face of Boe was the sponsor of an event to safely witness the destruction of the [[Earth]] by the expansion of the [[Sun]]. The event was sabotaged by [[Lady Cassandra]], but the Face was among the survivors. ([[DW]]: ''[[The End of the World]]'') By [[5,000,000,023]], the Face was hospitalised in Ward 26 of the hospital run by the [[Sisters of Plenitude]] on [[New Earth]]. Apparently dying of old age, the Face summoned [[Tenth Doctor|the Doctor]] to his ward. When a novice told the Doctor the legend of the Face's last words - a secret which the Face would impart only to one like himself - the Doctor realised that he fit the description of the "wandering traveller". ([[DW]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'')
[[File:The lonely God (NE).jpg|thumb|right|"It's said he'll talk to a wanderer. To the man without a home. The lonely God". ([[TV]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'')]]
Apparently dying of old age, the Face summoned the [[Tenth Doctor]] to his ward. When a Novice told the Doctor the legend of the Face's last words — a secret which the Face would impart only to one like himself — the Doctor realised that he fit the description of the "wanderer [...] the man without a home, the lonely god".


===Death of the Face of Boe and aftermath===
The Face of Boe eventually recovered, saying that although he had grown tired of the universe, the Doctor had shown him a new way of looking at things. The Doctor asked about the message, but the Face told him that it could wait for their third and final meeting, and teleported away. ([[TV]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'')
{{Quote|But know this, Time Lord. You are not alone.|The Face of Boe.|Gridlock}}


The Face of Boe eventually recovered, saying that although he had grown tired of the universe, the Doctor had shown him a new way of looking at things. The Doctor asked about the message, but the Face told him that it could wait for their third and final meeting, and teleported away. ([[DW]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'')
At some point shortly after, he took Novice Hame (his former [[nurse]]) into his service to help her atone for her and her order's crimes.


The Doctor was ultimately reunited with the Face of Boe one last time during his travels with [[Martha Jones]], in the year [[The Far Future|5,000,000,053]]. Boe revealed his last secret with his dying breath after sacrificing himself to save the city of [[New New York]]: "You [the Doctor] are not alone". The Doctor dismissed this, as he still firmly believed himself the last [[Time Lord]].  This was the only time the Face of Boe communicated vocally with his only words out loud being "you are not alone." ([[DW]]: ''[[Gridlock]]'')
When the city of [[New New York]] was struck by a highly infectious and universally fatal virus, the Face of Boe was able to protect her by "shrouding her in his smoke". With the rest of the surface inhabitants of New Earth dead, only they and those in the undercity, which had been sealed off, were left. However, the city did not have enough power to release those trapped in the undercity and would have lost power completely in time. To prevent this, the Face of Boe wired himself into the power grid, using his own life energy to keep the basic functions of the undercity running while Hame tended to him, ensuring he could continue.


When the Doctor later met [[Professor Yana]] ([[the Master]] transformed into a [[Human]]) the Doctor realized the significance of the name "Yana", which stood for "You Are Not Alone". Yana's (false) memories also indicate that he originated in the Silver Devastation. ([[DW]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'').
=== Death ===
Legend said that if the Face of Boe were to die, then the sky would crack asunder. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Legends of the Universe (short story)|Legends of the Universe]]'')


When [[Davros]] reminded the Doctor that every where he went someone died in his name; The Face of Boe was among those who appeared in his flashback. ([[DW]]: ''[[Journey's End]])''
The Doctor was ultimately reunited with the Face of Boe one last time during his travels with [[Martha Jones]], in the year [[5,000,000,053]]. This was the only time the Face of Boe communicated vocally with the Doctor. Boe revealed his last secret with his [[dying]] breath after sacrificing himself to save the city of [[New New York]]: "You [the Doctor] are not alone". The Doctor dismissed this, as he still firmly believed himself the last [[Time Lord]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Gridlock (TV story)|Gridlock]]'')


==Possible origin of the Face of Boe==
=== Legacy ===
After the death of [[Mr. Saxon]], the immortal [[Jack Harkness]] said he lived on the [[Boeshane Peninsula]], where, as the first [[Time Agent]] from that place, he was a poster boy and nicknamed the "Face of Boe". Given that the Doctor had just speculated that Jack might mutate in shape rather than age in the traditional way, this implied that he (Jack) might one day age into the being known as the Face of Boe. ([[DW]]: ''[[Last of the Time Lords]]'')  
A [[Face of Boe's funeral|funeral]] was soon held for the Face of Boe, attended by [[nun]]s. [[River Song]] arrived, hoping to meet him, but found that she had come too late. [[Jack Harkness]] also unknowingly attended, hoping to catch River's attention, but she left too soon. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[R&J (audio story)|R&J]]'')


==Behind the scenes==
When the Doctor later met Professor [[Yana]], who eventually was discovered to be a hidden identity of {{Jacobi}}, the Doctor realised the significance of the name "Yana"; it was an acronym, standing for "You Are Not Alone". ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'')
* In a feature for ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'', [[Russell T Davies]] wrote of a prophecy where the death of the Face of Boe would be heralded by "the heavens opening". When he wrote ''Gridlock'' the following year, he realized after the fact that the Face of Boe's death did indeed cause the heavens to open - his last bit of energy opened the sealed system to free the drivers of New Earth.
 
* Despite the revelation in ''[[Last of the Time Lords]]'', the actual origin of the Face of Boe is still debated, with Davies himself waffling during the commentary for the episode as to whether Jack ''really'' is destined to become the Face of Boe. Producer [[Julie Gardner]], however, has been more assertive in this regard, most recently stating outright at the 2008 San Diego Comic Con that the Face of Boe is Jack Harkness. Similarly, the ''[[Torchwood Declassified]]'' featurette from Torchwood Series 2 has [[John Barrowman]], [[David Tennant]] ''and'' Russell T Davies explicitly stating that the Face of Boe is Jack Harkness. In-universe, however, we only have Captain Jack's testimony.
When [[Davros]] asked the Doctor how many people had died in his name, the Face of Boe was among those the Doctor remembered. ([[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'')
 
== Personality ==
The Face of Boe was a mysterious being, but because of his near-immortal lifespan he was well known throughout the universe. He rarely spoke with his voice, preferring to communicate through [[telepathy]], and when he did use his voice he usually grunted instead of speaking. However he was capable of using actual words, such as when he told the Doctor that he was not the last [[Time Lord]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Gridlock (TV story)|Gridlock]]'')
 
The Face of Boe was a compassionate and selfless being who was willing to give his life for the greater good. He used up all of his remaining life force to save people who were trapped on the Motorway. ([[TV]]: ''[[Gridlock (TV story)|Gridlock]]'') Having lived for billions of years, the Face had grown tired of his unbelievably long life, but after meeting the Doctor for the second time, he stated that the Doctor had taught him to look at the universe differently. ([[TV]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'') However, when the end of his life finally came, he welcomed death. ([[TV]]: ''[[Gridlock (TV story)|Gridlock]]'')
 
== Minor references ==
In [[200,100]], he was the focus of a question on ''[[The Weakest Link]]'', in which he was described as the oldest living creature in the [[Isop Galaxy]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Bad Wolf (TV story)|Bad Wolf]]'')
 
[[Jack Harkness]] commented on the fact that when he was younger on the [[Boeshane Peninsula]], the first person there to join the [[Time Agency]], he was nicknamed the Face of Boe. This led the Doctor and Martha to speculate that Jack, who was [[immortality|immortal]], may in fact have been destined to become the Face of Boe himself. ([[TV]]: ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'')
 
{{manning|c}} referred a "Mr Derek" from the year [[5000000000|five billion]]{{what}}. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[From Wildthyme with Love (novel)|From Wildthyme with Love]]'')
 
== Behind the scenes ==
* In a feature for ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'',{{which}} [[Russell T Davies]] wrote of a prophecy in which the death of the Face of Boe would be heralded by "the heavens opening". When he wrote ''Gridlock'' the following year, he realised after the fact that the Face of Boe's death did indeed cause the heavens to open — his last bit of energy opened the sealed system to free the drivers of New Earth.
* Despite the revelation in ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'', the actual origin of the Face of Boe is still debated, with Davies himself waffling during the commentary for the episode as to whether Jack really is destined to become the Face of Boe. Producer [[Julie Gardner]], however, has been more assertive in this regard, stating outright at the 2008 [[San Diego Comic-Con]] that the Face of Boe is Jack Harkness. Similarly, the ''[[Torchwood Declassified]]'' featurette from ''Torchwood'' [[Series 2 (Torchwood)|series 2]] has [[John Barrowman]], [[David Tennant]] and Russell T Davies stating that they believe the Face of Boe is Jack Harkness. In-universe, however, we only have Captain Jack's testimony. On May 30, 2020, during the ''New Earth'' and ''Gridlock'' #NewNewYork tweetalong on Twitter, Davies officially confirmed that Jack is indeed the Face of Boe,<ref>https://twitter.com/russelldavies63/status/1266815575801696262?s=20</ref> after claiming such an idea as conjecture to hype up Jack's possible death when promoting ''[[Series 4 (Torchwood)|Torchwood: Miracle Day]]''.<ref>[http://io9.com/5818770/what-the-creators-of-torchwood-miracle-day-promise-youll-see io9 - What the Creators of Torchwood: Miracle Day Promise You'll See], 6 July 2011; accessed 4 December 2011</ref>
* [[J. K. Woodward]], who worked on the ''[[Star Trek]]'' [[crossover]] ''[[Assimilation² (comic story)|Assimilation²]]'', released a piece depicting the Face of Boe [[assimilation|assimilated]] by the [[Borg (species)|Borg]].
 
== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist}}


{{Series 1 aliens}}
{{Series 2 aliens}}
{{Series 3 aliens}}
{{Platform One Visitors}}
[[Category:5 Billion CE individuals]]
[[Category:Allies of the Doctor]]
[[Category:Individuals with psychic powers]]
[[Category:Individuals with psychic powers]]
[[Category:Mysterious beings]]
[[Category:Platform One visitors]]
[[Category:Platform One Visitors]]
[[Category:50000001st century individuals]]
 
[[fr:Face de Boe]]
[[it:Faccia di Boe]]
[[ru:Лицо Бо]]
[[Category:2001st century individuals]]
[[Category:Endlings]]
[[Category:Supposed deities]]

Latest revision as of 02:05, 31 August 2024

Face of Boe
Appearances

The Face of Boe appeared to be a male Boekind who was little more than a gigantic humanoid head. Although he would rarely do more than grunt vocally, he was able to communicate by means of telepathy, and he communicated verbally on at least one occasion.

On the integrated planets of Cep Cassalon, the Face was known as "the Creature that God Forgot". (PROSE: Legends of the Universe)

Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Face of Boe had the distinction of being one of the oldest creatures in the known universe. (TV: Bad Wolf) By the time of his death, he was the oldest creature . (PROSE: Judge, Jury and Executioner, AUDIO: R&J) There was evidence that he was present when the stars of Andromeda were still nothing but dust. (PROSE: Legends of the Universe)

He was particularly fertile during the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. (PROSE: Legends of the Universe) In 200,000, he was featured on Bad WolfTV, in a news story claiming that he had fallen pregnant with Boemina. (TV: The Long Game) He had three sons and three daughters, but all six Boemina lived natural lifespans of forty years and no more. The Face of Boe watched his children die, and stayed watching while the universe forgot they had even existed. (PROSE: Legends of the Universe) It was during the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire that Boekind became all but extinct, whilst the Face of Boe lived on. (PROSE: The Time Traveller's Almanac)

Platform One[[edit] | [edit source]]

In the year 5 billion (5.5/Apple/26), the Face of Boe was the sponsor of an event to safely witness the destruction of the Earth by the expansion of the Sun. The hot water in his room on the platform observing the "Earth death" was not working. The event was sabotaged by Lady Cassandra, but the Face was among the survivors. (TV: The End of the World)

On New Earth[[edit] | [edit source]]

By 5,000,000,023, the Face was hospitalised in Ward 26 of the hospital run by the Sisters of Plenitude on New Earth. By this time, he was the last of Boekind. (TV: New Earth) He was worshipped in several galaxies, and Novice Hame believed the Face of Boe had a claim to godhood. (AUDIO: Escape from New New York)

"It's said he'll talk to a wanderer. To the man without a home. The lonely God". (TV: New Earth)

Apparently dying of old age, the Face summoned the Tenth Doctor to his ward. When a Novice told the Doctor the legend of the Face's last words — a secret which the Face would impart only to one like himself — the Doctor realised that he fit the description of the "wanderer [...] the man without a home, the lonely god".

The Face of Boe eventually recovered, saying that although he had grown tired of the universe, the Doctor had shown him a new way of looking at things. The Doctor asked about the message, but the Face told him that it could wait for their third and final meeting, and teleported away. (TV: New Earth)

At some point shortly after, he took Novice Hame (his former nurse) into his service to help her atone for her and her order's crimes.

When the city of New New York was struck by a highly infectious and universally fatal virus, the Face of Boe was able to protect her by "shrouding her in his smoke". With the rest of the surface inhabitants of New Earth dead, only they and those in the undercity, which had been sealed off, were left. However, the city did not have enough power to release those trapped in the undercity and would have lost power completely in time. To prevent this, the Face of Boe wired himself into the power grid, using his own life energy to keep the basic functions of the undercity running while Hame tended to him, ensuring he could continue.

Death[[edit] | [edit source]]

Legend said that if the Face of Boe were to die, then the sky would crack asunder. (PROSE: Legends of the Universe)

The Doctor was ultimately reunited with the Face of Boe one last time during his travels with Martha Jones, in the year 5,000,000,053. This was the only time the Face of Boe communicated vocally with the Doctor. Boe revealed his last secret with his dying breath after sacrificing himself to save the city of New New York: "You [the Doctor] are not alone". The Doctor dismissed this, as he still firmly believed himself the last Time Lord. (TV: Gridlock)

Legacy[[edit] | [edit source]]

A funeral was soon held for the Face of Boe, attended by nuns. River Song arrived, hoping to meet him, but found that she had come too late. Jack Harkness also unknowingly attended, hoping to catch River's attention, but she left too soon. (AUDIO: R&J)

When the Doctor later met Professor Yana, who eventually was discovered to be a hidden identity of the War Master, the Doctor realised the significance of the name "Yana"; it was an acronym, standing for "You Are Not Alone". (TV: Utopia)

When Davros asked the Doctor how many people had died in his name, the Face of Boe was among those the Doctor remembered. (TV: Journey's End)

Personality[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Face of Boe was a mysterious being, but because of his near-immortal lifespan he was well known throughout the universe. He rarely spoke with his voice, preferring to communicate through telepathy, and when he did use his voice he usually grunted instead of speaking. However he was capable of using actual words, such as when he told the Doctor that he was not the last Time Lord. (TV: Gridlock)

The Face of Boe was a compassionate and selfless being who was willing to give his life for the greater good. He used up all of his remaining life force to save people who were trapped on the Motorway. (TV: Gridlock) Having lived for billions of years, the Face had grown tired of his unbelievably long life, but after meeting the Doctor for the second time, he stated that the Doctor had taught him to look at the universe differently. (TV: New Earth) However, when the end of his life finally came, he welcomed death. (TV: Gridlock)

Minor references[[edit] | [edit source]]

In 200,100, he was the focus of a question on The Weakest Link, in which he was described as the oldest living creature in the Isop Galaxy. (TV: Bad Wolf)

Jack Harkness commented on the fact that when he was younger on the Boeshane Peninsula, the first person there to join the Time Agency, he was nicknamed the Face of Boe. This led the Doctor and Martha to speculate that Jack, who was immortal, may in fact have been destined to become the Face of Boe himself. (TV: Last of the Time Lords)

Iris Wildthyme referred a "Mr Derek" from the year five billion[statement unclear]. (PROSE: From Wildthyme with Love)

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • In a feature for Doctor Who Magazine,[which?] Russell T Davies wrote of a prophecy in which the death of the Face of Boe would be heralded by "the heavens opening". When he wrote Gridlock the following year, he realised after the fact that the Face of Boe's death did indeed cause the heavens to open — his last bit of energy opened the sealed system to free the drivers of New Earth.
  • Despite the revelation in Last of the Time Lords, the actual origin of the Face of Boe is still debated, with Davies himself waffling during the commentary for the episode as to whether Jack really is destined to become the Face of Boe. Producer Julie Gardner, however, has been more assertive in this regard, stating outright at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con that the Face of Boe is Jack Harkness. Similarly, the Torchwood Declassified featurette from Torchwood series 2 has John Barrowman, David Tennant and Russell T Davies stating that they believe the Face of Boe is Jack Harkness. In-universe, however, we only have Captain Jack's testimony. On May 30, 2020, during the New Earth and Gridlock #NewNewYork tweetalong on Twitter, Davies officially confirmed that Jack is indeed the Face of Boe,[1] after claiming such an idea as conjecture to hype up Jack's possible death when promoting Torchwood: Miracle Day.[2]
  • J. K. Woodward, who worked on the Star Trek crossover Assimilation², released a piece depicting the Face of Boe assimilated by the Borg.

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ https://twitter.com/russelldavies63/status/1266815575801696262?s=20
  2. ↑ io9 - What the Creators of Torchwood: Miracle Day Promise You'll See, 6 July 2011; accessed 4 December 2011
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