The Astonishing Transformation of Jack Harkness into the Mysterious Face of Boe in Doctor Who

Summary

Captain Jack Harkness becomes the Face of Boe in Doctor Who, revealed in season 3 as a nickname he used.

The show never explicitly reveals the process of Jack's transformation, but it is implied that it stems from the season 1 finale when Rose Tyler rescues him from certain death.

Jack's evolution into the Face of Boe implies that through immense ageing and evolution, one could eventually become a colossal head, which is specific to his Boekind ancestry.

The Face of Boe, a recurring character in Doctor Who during the Russell T. Davies era, was initially a mystery. A giant, highly intelligent head floating in a tank, the Face formed a strong connection with the Doctor and displayed extensive knowledge of the Doctor's life. It was not until the conclusion of Doctor Who season 3 that the truth was revealed. Captain Jack Harkness, who had been introduced earlier in the series, casually mentioned that "The Face of Boe" was an old nickname of his. This revelation led the Doctor and Martha to realize that the enigmatic Face of Boe was actually Captain Jack from the distant future.

The Series Never Confirmed How Jack Became Boe

Despite never explicitly explaining how Jack Harkness becomes the Face of Boe, the transformation can be traced back to the season 1 finale of Doctor Who. In this episode, Jack is killed by a Dalek but is brought back to life by Rose Tyler, gaining god-like abilities in the process. From then on, Jack is unable to die and withstands numerous deadly situations without harm. Over billions of years, Jack gradually transforms into the Face of Boe, becoming unrecognizable. Prior to revealing himself as the Face of Boe, Jack discusses his immortality with the Doctor, clarifying that while he continues to age, it is at a much slower rate compared to normal humans. The Doctor admits to being unfamiliar with this kind of being and suggests that given enough time, a humanoid could evolve into a massive head, as depicted in Doctor Who mythology. It is possible that this transformation is specific to Jack's Boekind heritage, which may have minor differences from humans.

Russell T. Davies has consistently refrained from definitively confirming the speculation that Jack Harkness and the Face of Boe are one and the same. However, John Barrowman and other members of the cast have acknowledged this connection as part of the show's storyline. Despite the enthusiasm from both the cast and fans for this narrative arc, Doctor Who has intentionally chosen not to officially establish Jack's Boe identity, wanting to preserve the intrigue surrounding it. While it is suggested that prolonged existence may lead to the loss of one's physical form, Jack acquires various additional abilities over time, including heightened intelligence and telepathic communication. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that Jack, like other males from extraterrestrial worlds, has exhibited the rare phenomenon of male pregnancy.

Several Theories Could Explain Jack's Face Of Boe Transformation

There are various fan theories surrounding the origins of Jack's transformation into the Face of Boe. One theory suggests a connection between the Headless Monks and Dorian, the disembodied blue head enclosed in a box. Considering Jack's adventurous nature, it's not implausible to speculate that he too may have undergone decapitation at some point in his life, and continued to survive with only his head intact. Another theory stems from a dialogue in the episode "Gridlock" featuring David Tennant's 10th Doctor, where Brannigan mentions a woman whose head swelled to a colossal size after inhaling exhaust fumes for 20 minutes. It is possible that Harkness had a similar encounter, with the unusual effects not being classified as an injury and hence remaining unhealed.

Eventually, undoubtedly, the Face of Boe meets his end, appearing to succumb to a combination of old age and exhaustion after bestowing his energy to save New New York in "Gridlock." However, the reason behind Captain Jack's sudden mortality is left unaddressed. The Doctor characterizes Jack as a fixed point in time, implying that he should never cease to exist. It is possible that the effects of the Heart of the TARDIS had a finite lifespan, and after billions of years, Jack finally regained his capacity to perish. Another possibility is that the Face of Boe, having grown in power throughout his lifetime, employed his psychic abilities to transfer the TARDIS' energy and aid in the rescue of New New York.

How Being The Face Of Boe Reframes Jack Harkness Story

The concept of immortality is a recurring theme in Doctor Who, playing a crucial role in the lives of various characters, including the Doctor who constantly regenerates. Immortality is extensively explored in Jack Harkness' storyline, particularly in season 4 of Torchwood, when humanity as a whole loses the ability to die. However, the most significant moment for Jack is the revelation of the Face of Boe. This revelation illustrates that prolonged existence in the Doctor Who universe ultimately leads to an evolution that renders one unrecognizable as human.

Behind The Scenes Of The Face Of Boe

Jack, a character in Doctor Who, is among the many immortals within the series. However, none of them live to be as ancient as the Face of Boe. The Face of Boe's lifespan surpasses even that of the Doctor, who has only existed for a few millennia in comparison to the billions of years accumulated by the Face of Boe before his demise. Jack's identification as the Face of Boe shifts his narrative from a time-traveling human primarily serving as comic relief to a being in the universe of equal significance to the Doctor. This revelation emphasizes that in the fantastical realm of Doctor Who, nothing remains eternal, not even the Man Who Could Not Die.

The revelation that Jack and the Face of Boe could potentially be the same being was a huge hit among fans. However, it wasn't just the viewers who were thrilled by Jack Harkness becoming the Face of Boe on Doctor Who. David Tennant and John Barrowman, both avid fans of the show prior to being cast, were incredibly excited when they discovered this fact. According to Barrowman, during an interview with Pop Culture Zoo in 2008, "I was beyond excited. David Tennant and I literally jumped up and screamed. It was one of the most exhilarating moments we experienced while filming that season of Doctor Who. It was absolutely incredible." Incorporating beloved characters into unexpected situations from the early days of the Doctor Who revival has become a recurring theme for the series.

Originally considered too expensive, the Face of Boe almost didn't become an iconic character in Doctor Who. In the early appearances of the show, the Face of Boe was not of great importance to the plot. Neill Gorton, the FX guru, and the Millennium FX team were responsible for creating monsters, animatronics, and set pieces at that time. They played a pivotal role in making the Face of Boe a significant part of Doctor Who.

During the opening of the Doctor Who museum exhibit in Glasgow in 2010, Gorton spoke with the press and shared insights about working on the series. The exhibit showcased the Face of Boe, which became a perfect illustration for Gorton's explanation. Initially, the Face of Boe was just a "throwaway line in the script," and there were suggestions to replace it with something less expensive, like removing the "five-foot face in a giant tank of gas." Despite this, Gorton vehemently opposed the idea.

Gorton advocated for the survival of the Face of Boe despite script cuts. He presented an illustrated idea for the character to Russell T. Davies, who was pleased with the concept. Consequently, the Face of Boe gained significance in the plot and appeared in several episodes as the series progressed. Thanks to individuals like Gorton, loyal fans of Doctor Who can attribute the continued existence of their cherished characters.