TW 2x12 and the canon it creates and conflicts with....

[donutsweeper]

I *liked* this episode.

But it gave me many head-scratching issues with canon.  Owen's age, for one and his years working in the field and whatnot are all wonky given he supposedly died at age 27.  But, not surprisingly, I'm going to look at the issues brought up with Jack (a lot of this I mentioned in torchwood_meta, which is an incredible comm and everyone should participate in the discussion there) but anyway:

We know Jack was killed on Ellis Island in 1892. According to Utopia "...shot through the heart, and then I woke up. Thought that was kind of strange." So we can assume that's his first death he's aware of. Therefore the first part of the flashback presented in this episode must occur after Ellis Island. It takes about three weeks to sail across the Atlantic in those days (judging from the ship manifests from 1892 which list departures and arrivals). But suddenly, he's in Cardiff, waiting by the rift for the Doctor? And had been living there (and dying there) for at least 6 months and it is still the 1890's  (we know that because Tarot Card Girl said he'd have to wait through the change of two centuries). When did he return to Wales? And why? Why would he have left in the first place? And do you really believe that Jack would be so careless to spill so many secrets around in bars that Torchwood could have overheard? The man's been a Time Agent and conman. He'd know how to keep things closer to the vest than that. And there is also the little matter of his instant believing of what Tarot Card Girl told him, wouldn't he have found the timing of her proclamation a little suspicious?

It also appears he's stayed working for TW3 the whole time since his "recruitment", but he wasn't in the WWI picture of the TW3 team that took Tommy. We've been told he fought (and died) in WWI and WWII- would the Torchwood Institute we've seen in this episode really have allowed him to leave to fight? Especially since they didn't seem to trust him- even the typed and early computer notes about him seem to imply he was barely trusted and continually spied upon.

He tells Ianto he's from the 51st century: just comes straight out and blithers on about 51st century hormones. There is also apparently a massive file (if not entire drawer of files) about him somewhere. Yet no one in "Day One" has a clue about his background.

And... apparently he's been using the name Captain Jack Harkness this whole time? That would have made the real Jack's WWII experiences a little complicated. And why would have the information about Jack's 1941 London blitz disappearance still be in the records for Gwen to find in "Everything Changes?"

We can also look at Jack's healing ability.  He comes back from the dead while still impaled by the bottle (however unlike his reanimation after being shot by Susie and Owen he does not reabsorb the blood from the bottle injury).  He does not heal instantly from Owen's punch, but does from the Weevil bite.  Inconsistencies within the same episode.  *sigh*

I'm not sure where I'm going with any of these comments, and I might add more to it later, but it's just some random canon issues I'm trying to wrap my mind around.

Comments

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

as well it should

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

It's difficult not to think of dispantsia along with Jack.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I have no problems with the two being always intermingled

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Which is probably why people think I'm so twisted, considering I talk about Jack so much.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

there are other things to talk about?

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Not really.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Not as interesting anyway.

Unless it's JB+someone else

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Yep, JB is about the only other subject of interest.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

and I have no problems with that

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I think I've had about one conversation at work that didn't eventually lead back to JB and/or TW.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

meanwhile I don't think I've ever had more than a handful of non-LJ conversations that led there

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I know I haven't ever since I got into TW.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

stupid real world friends and acquaintances that have no clue about the wonders of TW and JB

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

They must be converted!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I have tried and tried and tried

*hangs head in shame*

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I'm still convinced my brother can be converted. I just need to show him that Jack/Ianto scene...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I wish you luck. I've pretty much given up here

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

At least I've converted a few people at work, even if I can't convince anyone else.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

good for you. I've lent my dvds (DW S1- Empty Child/Doctor Dances) out only to have someone actually say "Eh, I don't see the appeal"

*sob*

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

*shakes head* That's just wrong.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I KNOW! I was speechless. Just what kind of retort is possible to that?

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

"So you're blind, then? Well you should've told me."

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

or "I'm sorry, I thought you were intelligent. my mistake!"

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

LOL...there's so many, but it's difficult to think of them when you're completely dumbstruck.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I know- the brain is just frozen thinking.. WTF?