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= [[File:Captain Jack Harkness 1941_1.jpg|250px]]
|origin        = [[Earth]]
|species=[[Human]]
|job          = Group Captain
|home planet=[[Earth]]  
|affiliation  = Royal Air Force
|home era= [[20th century]]
|death date    = [[21 January]] [[1941]]
|appearances= [[TW]]: ''[[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 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 [[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 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, 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 but trapped in a heterosexual relationship. He went out to dance with his girlfriend [[Nancy Floyd]] at a Cardiff nightclub called [[The Ritz]].
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.
[[File:Cjh1941_girlfriend.jpg |left|thumb|Jack & [[Nancy Floyd|Nancy]]. ([[TW]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness]]'')]]
Distressed at the idea Nancy might actually be in love with him, he was unhappy about leading her on. He also bore the pain of having listened on the radio as a trainee pilot, [[Albert Richards]], died when a [[Germany|German]] [[Wikipedia:Messerschmitt|Messerschmitt]] shot him down on [[14 May]] 1940. ([[TW]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness]]'', [[WEB]]: ''[[Torchwood website]]'')


On the night of [[20 January]] 1941, 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 sexual 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.
[[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.


[[File:Harkness_Ritz.jpg|right|thumb|Captain Jack Harkness, [[Bilis Manger]], "[[Jack Harkness|Captain James Harper]]" and [[Toshiko Sato]] at [[the Ritz]] ([[WEB]]: ''[[Torchwood website|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 "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.


The next day, [[21 January]] 1941, during a training exercise Jack was taking part in, German aircraft appeared. Captain Jack Harkness died in air combat protecting Cardiff from a bombing raid. ([[TW]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness]]'', [[WEB]]: ''[[Torchwood website|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 to save the world. ([[TW]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness]]'')
== Notes ==
When she set out to find out more about [[Torchwood Three]] and its leader, [[Gwen Cooper]] got a collegue to access records and make inquiries within the police database. The only Jack Harkness on record was an American pilot, who "went missing" in 1941. ([[TW]]: ''[[Everything Changes]]'')
It is safe to assume these records referred to the original Jack, and the lack of information regarding his death was explained by 51st Century Jack when he admitted to Toshiko he had falsified records when adopting his identity. ([[TW]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness]]'')
:''Although the new Jack is still using this alias when experiencing WWII for the second time, when stuck in the 20th Century, it is likely the police have no records for him due to his involvement with Torchwood.''
== 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 (TV series)|Torchwood]]'' production team; Group Captains are never addressed or referred to as "Captain".
[[Category:20th century individuals|Harkness, Captain Jack]]
[[Category:20th century individuals|Harkness, Captain Jack]]
[[Category:Human air force officers|Harkness, Captain Jack]]
[[Category:RAF pilots]]
[[Category:Human pilots|Harkness]]
[[Category:Non-heterosexual individuals]]
[[Category:LGBT individuals|Harkness, Jack]]

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)