Torchwood is the British show about alien hunters in the middle of Wales that is enjoying success in the USA recently. BBCAmerica is now showing the second season here in the US, the first episode aired on January 26th, just 10 days after being shown in the UK. The show has become the highest rated show of all time on BBCAmerica. It’s been dubbed as “brilliantly conceived” by the Hollywood Reporter.

Torchwood is a spin- off of the cult show “Doctor Who“, and was created following the popularity of the character Captain Jack, not to be confused with the pirate of a similar name. Captain Jack Harkness is openly bisexual, and famously gave “Doctor Who’s” ninth incarnation his first gay kiss. The dashing Harkness is played by American actor John Barrowman, who is openly gay himself.

John Barrowman was born in Scotland, before his family immigrated to the US when he was 8 years old. He began his career in theatre, and has acted in several large productions in both New York and London. He also auditioned for the role of Will on the hit show “Will and Grace”, but it was decided that John was too “straight-acting”. This all turned out for the best though, as ever since his debut as Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who, his career has never looked brighter. John Barrowman is a larger than life American export, he has a larger than life personality and sense of humour. “This is Torchwood, and these are my shiny teeth,” John smiles in his show’s out-takes, responding to a comedy sketch of Captain Jack on the comedy sketch show “Dead Ringers’”. The sketch show parodied Captain Jack’s walk, and a grinning Barrowman copies the elaborated walk, and bumps it up a couple more notches! John is more than happy with how both the show and Captain Jack have been received by the public,”I’m an openly gay man playing an omnisexual hero, who is loved both sides of the Atlantic! How can I not be proud of that?”

Torchwood has had another American actor join the cast this season, James Marsters, better known for his role as Spike in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. James plays Captain John, a mysterious figure from Captain Jack’s past. Captain John is a villain oddly reminiscent of Spike, but that could just be the British accent Marsters once again adopts. Captain John appears in the first episode of the new season, “Kiss kiss bang bang”, which sees Marsters acting out a sexually charged kiss and fight scene with Barrowman.

“John was so professional about the kiss that I got relaxed really fast.” Marsters told Torchwood’s official magazine. Alas, Marsters has competition for Captain Jack in the form of Ianto, the male secretary of Torchwood. In a toe curlingly pleasing scene, Captain Jack asks Ianto out to dinner.

The show seems to be setting the tone for a Torchwood’s characters are all refreshingly relaxed about their sexuality’s, and various characters displayed bisexual leanings during season one. “We thought the US audience might have a problem with some of the sexuality,” Barrowman comments about the shows launch in the US, “but in fact it’s like a breath of fresh air for them, and so they welcomed us with open arms.”

Captain Jack Harkness has been somewhat of a pivotal figure on TV. Doctor Who in which Captain Jack first appeared is a family show watched by young children. A child in the UK was quoted as saying that he didn’t care that Captain Jack kissed girls or boys, just that he was a great superhero. The truth is that children and adults alike love and accept Captain Jack. “Torchwood is proof that Americans do want to see intelligent television,” says Barrowman. Season one was noticeably darker. The show is faster this season, with more humour, punchy dialogue and more insight into the characters. From what I’ve seen so far, the show is definitely hitting the ground running.

Both images sourced from www.bbc.co.uk.

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