10 Things Doctor Who Fans Can Thank Steven Moffat For

10. He Introduced Us To The Great Jack Harkness

Technically Jack is a creation of Russell T Davies but since Steven Moffat had the honour of writing his debut story, The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, he can be given credit to some aspects of the character. After all, Jack does possess the hallmarks of some of Moffat's other characters. What Jack essentially is, though, is a parody of every generic protagonist in science fiction history. Cheesy good looks, hand-to-hand combat skills, all the big high-tech weaponry and he's even flirty with the ladies (or anything that moves, and probably even things that don't). By all means, he shouldn't be in Doctor Who at all. He should be in his own generic sci-fi show. But that's exactly the point - that's why Jack and the Doctor one-upping each other and bantering throughout their first encounter is so fun to watch. It's a commentary about how the Doctor is an old-fashioned hero of the old era of sci-fi interacting with the kind of hero all the €œhip€ new kids are in to. That's why the Doctor is referred to as €œMr Spock€ in these episodes. But as the story continues, it tells us that the Doctor is as relevant as ever, even proving that he is more effective in a pinch and just as sexually viable (apparently), despite only having a screwdriver at his disposal. It's how you use it, after all. It puts all those sex metaphors into perspective, doesn't it? Since Doctor Who is a family show, it's important to have a character like Jack Harkness. There are kids all over the world who probably just found out about their sexuality. Isn't it good that they have a character like Jack Harness to comfort them in the midst of their confusion? As suck, Jack Harkness became an integral part in defining Doctor Who's 21st century identity. Let's hope he returns soon.