Doctor Who: 10 "Loose End" Characters We Want Tied Up

8. Captain Jack Harkness

Why? Er, "Fan-favourite" seems to be an understatement, and he was deliberately left open.Why not? "Miracle Day" may have taken him a bridge too far.... Captain Jack is to "Doctor Who" the way Patrick Troughton was to anniversary specials - A totally different take on the same character. To those who don't know, 2nd Doctor Patrick Troughton often stole the show when he turned up in the 3/5/2 Doctors stories - but he simply wasn't the man who was the lead in "Doctor Who" from 1966-69 - He showed up to parties cuddlier and funnier, and brought none of the brooding and severity he'd graced the part with when necessary. Similarly, when Captain Jack turns up on Doctor Who, the sexual selfishness and grave mannerisms that coloured Torchwood get smoothed over for Fun n' Flirty Jack (tm)! And rightfully so - The Jack who showed up with Eccleston was just the right mix of irreverent and business - It's a shame he got left behind.... Because he got hardened into the Torchwood gig, and then suddenly became a cartoon version of himself when he turned up in "Utopia" in series 3 (Go on, imagine Wile E Coyote grabbing the two wires and getting electocuted instead of Jack - it's not a stretch). He showed up to help again in "The Stolen Earth" and had the briefest of cameos in "The End of Time". After that....well..... Torchwood went places that arguably did the character no favours (well, other than sexually). Anyone wondering why Jack's not back this year need only ponder the conversation he and 11 could potentially have: 11: "So....Look at us! The old crew, I should just salute you! How's the ole gang?"Jack: "I don't know. I watched Ianto die in my arms. All this life, and time...and I felt so helpless. I've denied myself family, and with good reason - I can't even stop to feel when I have to kill one of them. I look at Gwen, and that beautiful child....."(11 quietly leaves to go ANYWHERE else....) But that's no reason to close the door on Jack entirely. There's been so much experimentation with the format of "Doctor Who" recently, you could have Jack and the Doctor run into each other and never even have Jack find out who he talked to. Or have Jack conduct an investigation and have the Doctor on the periphery, just out of Jack's contact. If anything, it'd fit the one episode shot nature of the show lately - Jack's established, you can drop him into a situation and save a LOT of time that'd otherwise be spent selling us a new character. John Barrowman's (rather visible) letdown at not being involved in the 50th anniversary shows that he truly hasn't forsaken the role or fanbase that helped put him firmly on the map. There's (unending) life in the old dog yet, and I'd rather we revisit that Jack who charmed his way towards Rose's Union Jack and traded quips with 10 than see him slog through another chore like "Miracle Day". He clearly has other stories, I'd rather they were told on "Doctor Who". Likelihood we'll see him again:5/10