Tosh and Jack are thrown back in time to World War Two where they encounter the mysterious Bilis Manger and Jack’s namesake, Captain Harkness. It’s time to discuss the eponymous Captain Jack Harkness.
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Oh ths is just a beautiful episode, it made me cry.
My favourite of Torchwood’s time-dispslacement stories.
Really like the back-and-forth in this episode, between Ianto and Owen at his most desperate in the present, and Tosh and Jack in the past, both working around the Rift Manipulator. Bilis might low-key be my favourite Torchwood villain; his attitude, his cunning, his time-travel abilities, and my word, Murray Melvin’s performance just elevates it.
The mood for this one is quite special to me. The highly sentimental and romantic idea of being stuck together during the Blitz, and finding comfort and warmth in each other’s arms. Love in the face of oblivion. Even with just this one episode, the relationship between our Captain Jack and the historical Captain Jack hits on something powerful, especially with the historical context regarding same-sex attraction.
Also, not sure why, but the scene that sticks out to me the most from this is Tosh writing a message for Ianto and Owen in her own blood. It’s one of the small moments that really highlight what makes Torchwood stand out in the larger Whoniverse. Not necessarily just for the blood itself, but that line of thinking where you have to consider the options for what would even make it long enough to deliver the message, even if it literally hurts you in the process… wow.
I think that this is the best episode of the first season of TW. I really like the aesthetics of it, and I think that it is one of Tosh’s best episodes. Jack also has a great episode, and it is one of the few times when they manage to portray serious Jack in a great way. I don’t care as much for Owen and Ianto’s story, but hey, Ianto shoots Owen, and that is great. I am not that great a fan of Bilis Manger, but he is okay…
I think there’s a certain episode in the Second Season of Torchwood which you will like 
Yes! I like that one!
Why do people not talk about this episode more?
To go from the rest of Series One to this is just crazy to me, this is an absolute masterpiece on every level.
Brilliant idea, Bilis is incredible as the antagonist, the animosity building all season actually decided to go somewhere and Jack gets some worldclass character building.
10/10
Last night we watched the Jonathan Creek episode Black Canary and it had Murray Melvin himself in it and (spoilers for Jonathan Creek) he turned out to be the murderer!!
A good episode with some great period details:
It was alright. Didn’t make me that emotional though, I was more interested in Owen and Ianto beating each other up. But Toshiko’s moments were also nice.
I actually didn’t have much to say about this episode when I watched it back in September:
I watched this episode a few days ago! It’s definitely my favorite episode in season 1 of Torchwood, and Jack meeting and having chemistry with his namesake is such a great concept with fabulous execution! I was very excited when I saw the Vote Saxon posters on screen.
I love that this episode was the first time we’d seen “Vote Saxon” posters, months before Series 3 even aired. The whole RTD1 world was so well built in hindsight.
Oh I did not realize that this came out even before series 3. RTD1 really did have a nice long arc.
This is a great character piece with some strong stuff for Jack, Tosh, and Ianto and the eerie presence of Bilis. Adding the real Captain Jack Harkness adds that little extra something that makes this a standout episode. The ending is one of the more memorable and beautiful ones in all of Torchwood.
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 works 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.
You’re welcome to read my full review below (unhidden spoilers):
Excellent. I have not much to say about this one in fear of repeating many talking Points that others have had but:
Bilis Manager is great and the late Murray Melvin does a superb Job!
It’s a very very good Character Piece on Jack.
The Production Design is quite good and so is the Directing honestly.
I am not sure if I think highly of the Plot with Owen & Ianto, as I do with Jack, but it’s still very solid, and you get some great Scenes with Tosh.
Very good overall!
Such a well done piece. The ‘present’ and ‘past’ stories wind around each other very well. Some great acting here too.
Honestly, great episode and exactly the sort of thing I’d like to see more of in Torchwood. Bilis was memorable as well.
Owen sucked, as usual, but there was less of it and Ianto shot him!, which I loved. Needs to happen more often. Ianto was already pretty much at the top, but this solidifies it.
I do like Tosh in this one, too.
Very enjoyable episode, I’m starting to see why people like Jack so much. I’m glad Ianto got his certified badass moment, he said not to mess with the rift, and he meant it, I was a pleasantly surprised when he actually shot Owen though 
, that must have been real cathartic for the Owen haters. Although I found Owen’s angst over his time displaced lover a bit unearned, it doesn’t help that Owen is a fairly unlikeable character, and we only got a single episode with the two of them together, so the argument between Owen and Ianto came off more as a tantrum than anything really compelling. Still a fantastic episode, however.
Either this or Adam is my favorite Torchwood episode.