Torchwood: Captain Jack Gets His Own Show

On the basis of the first couple of episodes, it seems a strong probability that the person Gwen will start having an affair with is Jack. (Another possibility is Owen, with whom she has so far had a sparring relationship). If her affair does turn out to be with Jack, it will of course in one way be disappointing for a queer audience. Since if Jack becomes very firmly enmeshed in a heterosexual relationship, it's likely that the man-fancying side of him may remain a question of a few jokes and flirtatious remarks.

In another way, however, the prospect of having a bisexual male lead character who is in a serious romantic relationship with a woman could be very interesting. Given that bisexuals are generally pegged as flighty and untrustworthy, it would make things particularly interesting that Gwen, and not Jack, was the one cheating on a partner. The sight of a bisexual male character in a serious relationship with a woman could also help to challenge a prevailing idea in our culture: that ‘bisexual' for men really means ‘gay'.

A Gwen-and-Jack affair would also add John Barrowman to the small, but growing ranks of television actors who are openly gay, but who are cast in romantic roles opposite women. In the UK, these ranks have included actors Ben Daniels, Jeremy Sheffield, and Jake Maskall. In the US, actor
T. R. Knight, who plays the straight Dr. George O'Malley on Grey's Anatomy, has recently also come out as gay.

In his interview with AfterElton in May, Barrowman talked about his frustration with the limitations of the ‘gay actor' tag: “I'm not a gay actor. I'm an actor, who is gay. And I'm adamant about that, because what [that tag] does is it pigeonholes us. And people look at us as just being ‘A Gay Actor', whereas... I'm an actor who is gay, but I can play other parts.” The more openly gay actors who are cast, and who are accepted by an audience, in non-homosexual roles, the harder it will become to pigeonhole them.

Whatever romantic developments may remain in store for Captain Jack on Torchwood, there will be the advantage that he is not the sidekick but the lead of the show. His resulting screentime will offer an almost unprecedented opportunity for a male bisexual character who is a fully fleshed out individual.

In recent interviews, Barrowman has talked about some of the issues that may be plaguing Jack over the course of the series. His resentment at the Doctor and Rose for abandoning him. His anxieties and questions over his past (he was a Time Agent before he was a con man, but he left the organization when he found out that two years of his memory had been removed).

There is an advantage for queer viewers in having a bisexual character whose sexuality is explored - but also in having a queer character who isn't seen purely in terms of his sexuality. Captain Jack is a man with a complex, mysterious past, and a demanding, volatile present involving a hugely responsible job. He is a man who would be interesting no matter what his sexuality. In terms of queer representation, that could be Torchwood's biggest breakthrough yet.

Watch Torchwood in the UK on BBC3 at 10pm on Sundays,
or in repeats on BBC2 at 9pm on Wednesdays.
Get more info at the official site.