by @Rachel68620

Torchwood: Outside the Government beyond the police  Tracking Down Alien life on Earth and arming the human race against the future.  The 21st century is when everything changes and you’ve got to be ready.
-Captain Jack Harkness Series 1 opening monologue-

I’ve tried to write this article for the last few days.  I had that opening monologue kicking around my head as a way to start it and then couldn’t come up with anything to write.  I quickly came to the realization that it’s very hard for me to put into words what it is about Torchwood I love.  I know why I started watching, it’s because of one  character, Captain Jack Harkness. It as if Jack recruits you the viewer in the same way he does the character of Gwen Cooper.

You first meet Jack when he appears in the first series of the Russell T. Davies relaunched Doctor Who from 2005.  And on first meeting you really don’t think much of him, well you’re not supposed to anyway.  But due to the charismatic animal that is John Barrowman one finds themselves falling in love with Jack.   

I would be the first to admit that’s why I started watching Torchwood.  I loved Jack in the relaunched Doctor Who Series from 2005.  Jack was just so much fun.  And I wanted to know what had happened to him since the end of the season.(series)  I remember being really upset when I discovered Jack had been left behind and wouldn’t be joining the Tenth Doctor on his adventures with Rose. 

But then they announced Torchwood.  Jack was the centerpiece and what a band of misfits he had with him.  Talk about your flawed characters.  And while yes, it is your alien of the week, the depth brought to the story telling by Russell T. Davies, Chris Chibnall and company makes you keep coming back for more.

I’m not going to lie to anyone, a basic knowledge of Doctor Who and Jack especially would help.  But luckily it’s not necessary.  Because Jack pretty much explains to you, through Gwen and his team, what happened to him and why he is the way he is.  There’s something for everyone.  There’s aliens of all shapes and sizes.  There’s time travel.  There’s sex…. Well that at times can be a bit of a deterrent.  And again, not going to lie, the first series you can clearly tell they are trying to find their stride.  But once they do the show is amazing.

Some highlights from the first series include Small Worlds, it’s just a beautifully written episode and you get a glimpse into Jack’s past.  Out of Time is also beautiful for it’s story and character development especially with Owen.  Cause up until that point I wanted to drop kick Owen down a dark hole and leave him there.  Then there’s my favorite episode of Season (series) One.  Captain Jack Harkness where you find out just how much of a fraud our Jack really is.  The last episode of Season one is wonderful and actually sets up things not only in Torchwood but Doctor Who as well.

Now if you can make it onto Season (series) Two of Torchwood you get a real treat if you’re a Buffy fan.  James Marsters plays Captain John Hart.  One of Jack’s old co-workers, shall we say.  The interplay between John Barrowman and Marsters is even more fun to watch than it was between Marsters and  David Borneaz in my opinion. 

Highlights from this season(series) include Kiss Kiss Bang Bang where you meet Captain John Hart.  There is also Reset and Dead Man Walking, because the Doctor’s former companion Martha Jones pays Torchwood a visit.  The best of the season, in my opinion is Fragments because you learn how each team member came to be on the team.  The end of this season(series) is sad.  Some could say it foreshadows the tone of things to come.

Now Children of Earth, which was the five part consecutive third Season(series), is just pure genius.  It’s really then that you realize Jack’s opening monologue from Season(series) 2 is correct:

" Torchwood: outside the government, beyond the police. Fighting for the future on behalf of the human race. The 21st Century is when everything changes — and Torchwood is ready."

It is in Children of Earththat you realize Jack’s past coming back to bite him is really bad.  Everyone turns against Torchwood and they have to figure out a way to save the day.  Which of course they do but not without great cost not only to the team but to Jack as well.  It’s the cost to Jack that I find truly heartbreaking.  But it’s also great on an adventure level as well.  You find yourself wondering if they actually will be able to save the day.

Torchwood is just a really fun ride once it gets going.  The characters are compelling enough to make you want to come back each week and see what kind of trouble Jack is going to have to get them out of.

In case you do want to see Jack’s episodes of Doctor Who here is a list in storyline order.

The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances (Doctor Who Series 1)
Boomtown (DW Series 1)
Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways (DW Series 1)
Torchwood Series 1
Utopia (DW Series 3)
Sound of Drums (DW Series 3)
Last of the Time lords (DW Series 3)
Torchwood Series 2
Stolen Earth/Journey’s End (DW Series 4)
Torchwood: Children of Earth
End of Time parts 1&2 (DW specials)(David Tennant’s last appearance as the Doctor)