Big Finish continues to carry the torch for ‘Torchwood’. Though the cult favorite ‘Doctor Who’ spin-off jumped the shark in later seasons, Big Finish has returned to earlier, better times with its original audio dramas, with the original TV actors reprising their roles, including John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness), Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), Gareth David-Lloyd (Ianto Jones), Kai Owen (Rhys Williams), Burn Gorman (Owen Harper), Naoko Mori (Toshiko Sato) and Tom Price (Andy Davidson) as well as others. Now a little-seen but fondly-recalled guest star is returning. James Marsters will reprise his role as Captain John Hart, a renegade time master and the former partner and lover of Captain Jack. Captain John first appeared in the second season episode ‘Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang’ and resurfaced in the two-parter ‘Fragments’ and ‘Exit Wounds’. He has also been featured in a comic strip in ‘Torchwood’ magazine.
Marsters is, of course, best known for playing villain-turned-ally Spike the vampire on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and its spin-off ‘Angel’. While he has worked steadily in various films and TV series, he tends to favor genre projects like ‘Smallville’, ‘Caprica’, ‘Warehouse 13’, ‘Witches of East End’ and the upcoming Marvel adaptation ‘Runaways’.
Captain John returns for the ominously titled audio drama ‘The Death of Captain Jack’, which is described this way:
“Captain Jack is finally dying, and it’s time for his oldest friend to visit his deathbed. King John has come to tell him a story. The story of the life he should have had.
“It’s the story of Alexander the Great, sinking ships, falling empires, robot dinosaurs, and alien invasions. It’s a story of love, royal weddings, murder, mass murder, genocide, and very tight trousers.
“It’s the story of the life of Captain John and it’s the story of Torchwood. Be careful what you wish for.”
Producer James Goss enthusiastically stated:
“The Death of Captain Jack is just naughty! It was a joy to get James Marsters back in, and, once again, Captain John romps through Torchwood like a demented clown. [Writer] David Llewellyn has given us a peek into a world we really shouldn’t see – one where John steals Jack’s timeline and creates havoc.
“If you’ve ever wondered what Torchwood would be like with Captain John at the helm, wonder no more. Nothing from the world of Torchwood emerges unspoiled – and that includes Queen Victoria, and Ianto’s dress sense!”
A 2009 ‘Torchwood’ BBC audiobook, ‘In The Shadows,’ mentioned a world in which Captain John took control of Torchwood 3 and became romantically involved with Ianto Jones.
‘The Death of Captain Jack’ also stars Barrowman, David-Lloyd, Owen and Samuel Barnett as Norton Folgate and Rowena Cooper as Queen Victoria.
You can get a sample of the Big Finish audio adventure below:
‘The Death of Captain Jack’ is part of Big Finish’s new monthly range and will be available in March 2018. It is available for pre-order now for $7.99 on download or $12.94 on CD. Each CD comes with a digital download code which works with the Big Finish app. Or you can save a lot by ordering a bundle, 19–24 monthly stories for $45 on download or $64.75 on CD.
Are you excited to hear James Marsters back as Captain/King John?
Source: Radio Times
