Doctor Who: 10 Problems With Revolution Of The Daleks

9. Jack's Absent Powers

Revolution Of The Daleks Drone
BBC Studios

Seeing Captain Jack back in action was one of the highlights of the episode, but something was distinctly missing from his character - his powers.

Last seen on screen in the Whoniverse in 2011's Torchwood: Miracle Day, a major part of Captain Jack's character is his inability to die. Miracle Day played with these powers by removing them entirely, but by the end of the series, Jack's immortality was restored to him.

Throughout Revolution, Jack's immortality was alluded to but never used - not even against the Daleks, who first killed him back in 2005's The Parting of the Ways.

Either killing and resurrecting beloved characters is now seen to be too dark for Doctor Who by the BBC or the showrunner, or there weren't any stakes in this episode. Jack's survival tactics were crucial to his escape and defeat of the Daleks in 2008's Journey's End, so it seems strange that his specific powers aren't needed here.

We know from 2009's Torchwood: Children of Earth that Jack can regenerate when blown up, so it would have been more fitting for him to have 'sacrificed' himself to blow up the Dalek saucer. Dying and resurrecting during the space-jail breakout would have also been an excellent introduction to his character for new audiences, as well as showing how dangerous the facility was.

Alternatively, Jack being exterminated would have given us some more screen time where Graham and Ryan were on their own against the Daleks. This much-needed character development would have reinforced their decision to leave together at the end of the episode.

Regardless, the absence of Jack's immortality in an episode full of exterminations seems very strange.

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Eden Luke McIntyre is a Scottish writer, editor and script consultant, with an MA in TV Fiction Writing. He writes content for TV, radio, stage, and online, and was appointed as a BBC Writers Room Scottish Voice in early 2020. Eden can usually be found rambling about Doctor Who, The Beatles, and obscure things that no one cares about.