Slow, mysterious music begins playing in the clip below as Captain Jack Harkness utters the word, “Torchwood,” the name of the secret alien-hunting agency he runs.

To which Captain John Hart replies: “Oh. Not Excalibur? Blizzard? Bikini Cops?”

In mocking its own name (an anagram of companion show Doctor Who), Torchwood acknowledges the contradicting feelings of the show, a serious, dark drama that is at the same time a humorous, action-packed, sex-filled thriller. With guns pointed at each other’s head, Jack and John proceed to comment on each other’s “weight,” “hair,” and clothing, amiable small talk that seems out of place in such a situation. Likewise, when “murder” rehab is thrown in with the usual “drink, drugs, sex” rehab, Jack merely laughs and asks, “You clean now?” Juxtapositions like these help Torchwood multicast to several niche audiences— exactly what a cable channel like BBC America strives to do.

BBC America, after all, also embodies a contradiction, claiming to be both American and British. The paratext behind this clip attempts to blend these identities together. Notably, Torchwood, a British import, is headed by Jack, an “American” captain played by Scottish actor John Barrowman. Meanwhile, John, his “British” partner in this clip, is played by American actor James Marsters. Their identities are further complicated by the fact that in the show, neither of them is even from Earth.

Although Torchwood has become decently popular in its own rights, it still rides the coattails of Doctor Who. Not only does it benefit the network to reference their more popular show, but fans expect these tie-ins. Yet, even in dropping these references, Torchwood separates itself from Doctor Who, more explicitly courting gay men. The time loop jargon is paired with John being a “wife.” The familiar time agency watch becomes phallic imagery when Jack boasts that John’s is “smaller,” to which John replies that his “lasts much longer.”

At the same time, BBC America is multicasting to the stereotypical science fiction audience: straight men. The clip begins with Jack and John, having just waged an action-packed fight, pointing guns at each other. They then share a beer like old friends, a typically masculine activity. Even when Toshiko—who John calls “pretty little friend”—admits John would make a great wife, the writers draw straight men back in with the admission that Tosh finds John “cute,” bringing heterosexual romance back into the picture while still inviting gay men and straight women to admire John.

As a cable channel, BBC America has greater leeway in showing violence and sexual content. Torchwood takes advantage of this with Jack and John’s destructive fighting/flirting, providing “edge” for BBC America. Although this “edge” deviates from the family-friendly content of Doctor Who and Star Trek: TNG reruns, it could potentially attract a new audience, particularly gay and young men, while retaining ties to the mass appeal of Doctor Who. Overly blurring identities, however, could result in inconsistent characterization or overly niche material and end up alienating viewers—not the kind of alien you want in science fiction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKycI5MTfGg
(1:32-4:19)