Review of Torchwood’s Second Season Premiere

But this is Torchwood, where no one is just gay, straight or bisexual. Torchwood creator Davies says his characters have moved beyond standard definitions of sexuality – they’re omnisexual – and don’t worry about the gender of their partners. Indeed, Ianto isn’t the only person in whom Jack is interested.

Shortly after he first returns from his mysterious disappearance, Jack tells Gwen, “What kept me fighting was coming back to you.” This builds on a sexual chemistry between the two that occasionally surfaced during the first season.

Later Jack learns that Gwen is engaged to her boyfriend, Rhys, on whom she cheated with Owen in the first season. He is taken aback by the news and Gwen clearly hopes he’ll object and make his own romantic feelings about her clear. Instead, he only congratulates her. Later, when Gwen believes she is about to die in order to save Cardiff, she says, “Tell Jack … tell Jack I – .” It’s obvious she wanted Jack to know she loved him, but before she can get the words out, he arrives and saves her life.

And even though Captain John turns out to be every bit as bad as Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (at least Spike pre-chip-implant), his feelings for Jack appear to be quite genuine. Jealous of the younger and better-looking Ianto, he refers to him as “eye candy” and warns him away from Jack.

He also tells Gwen she should give up on Jack as well, advising, “He won’t stay with you. He and I shared something.” Then later, after killing Jack, John touches his lips tenderly in a gesture meant to communicate that despite murdering his former lover, he did truly love him. John’s just the sort of fellow who puts commerce before romance.

Of course, at the very end of the episode, that murderous interlude doesn’t keep John from sharing one final kiss with Jack (who is immortal, by the way, much to John’s surprise) before being banished from earth by his onetime love.

Like I said, Torchwood’s a very gay … well, omnisexual series.

And while there is nothing inherently wrong in being “omnisexual” (or just plain slutty, depending on one’s point-of-view), Jack’s potential interest in so many different partners might be frustrating for those hoping for a great same-sex pairing akin to Buffy and Angel in Buffy or Carrie and Mr. Big in Sex and the City. After all, if Jack loves everybody, will he every truly love any one in particular?

In addition to romantic sparks flying with Ianto, Gwen, and Captain John, last season Captain Jack also had a passionate (if very brief), doomed romance with his own namesake, Captain Jack Harkness (Matt Rippy). While unabashedly romantic and providing one of the most heartfelt same-sex kisses ever seen on television, the brief relationship again highlighted Captain Jack’s mercurial romantic impulses.

While that might make for dramatic television, it could potentially frustrate gay viewers hoping for something more.

But don’t despair. Reviews and plot synopses of upcoming episodes provide clues that the Jack and Ianto pairing (Jainto? Iack?) does gain steam. There is at least another kiss between the two and one episode hinges on Jack’s love of Ianto. And things could get even more complicated for Torchwood’s same-sex pairings as it appears Captain John returns for at least one more episode as well.

One other item of note: In the final moments of “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” another small clue to Jack’s backstoryback story is revealed. And it’s one that promises to further demonstrate that gay men are capable of all sorts of love.

Torchwood airs on Saturdays at 9 p.m. on BBC America