Appearances
Harriet Jones is introduced in the 2005 episode "Aliens of London" as a backbench MP for the fictional constituency of Flydale North. Jones' political party is not stated, although she describes herself as not one of the "babes", "just a faithful back-bencher." She is caught up in events investigated by the Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) and his companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) in London when an alien spacecraft crash-lands and the Cabinet is infiltrated by aliens named the Slitheen. She finds herself trapped with the Doctor and Rose inside 10 Downing Street and as the only elected representative present gives the Doctor the order to launch a harpoon missile, destroying the building but killing the Slitheen who were about to trigger nuclear war. The Doctor tells Rose that Jones is destined to be elected as Prime Minister for three successive terms and be the architect of a period known as Britain's 'Golden Age'.
The character returns in 2005 Christmas special "The Christmas Invasion", set several months later when the character is indeed now Prime Minister. Jones oversees the launch of the Guinevere Space Probe which is captured by an invading Sycorax spaceship. Although the invasion is averted by the Doctor (now David Tennant) Jones orders the covert Torchwood organisation to destroy the retreating Sycorax ship, arguing that there will come a time when the Doctor cannot protect Earth and so she must do what she can to defend it. The Doctor reacts furiously and tells her that he can bring her down with just six words: "Don't you think she looks tired?" In the episode's dénouement, Jones faces rumours of ill-health and a vote of no confidence. In "Doomsday" it is mentioned by Pete Tyler that Harriet Jones is President of his alternate universe. The Doctor tells Pete to keep an eye on her. In the 2007 episode "The Sound of Drums" it is stated that the Master, running for Prime Minister under the alias Mr Saxon, appeared right after Harriet Jones' downfall.
The character appears for the final time in the 2008 episode "The Stolen Earth" where it is revealed she has continued to work in defence of earth. Despite being deposed by the Doctor, she maintains that she was correct in not abdicating responsibility for Earth's protection to him. As the Earth surrenders to an invading army of Dalek warships, Jones broadcasts using a sentient "subwave" network which searches out those who can communicate with the Doctor. The network was created for a time when — as Jones had predicted — the Doctor would fail to protect the Earth in a time of crisis. With the aid of Torchwood Three (led by Jack Harkness (John Barrowman)) and Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) Jones amplifies the sub-wave signal broadcast from her own home, thereby allowing the Doctor to return to Earth at the expense of her own location becoming visible to the Daleks. As a trio of Daleks approach her she proclaims defiantly that they will fail as they know nothing of humanity, before she is killed by them. Rose informs the Doctor of Jones' sacrifice in the following episode, "Journey's End".
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Famous quotes containing the word appearances:
“It is doubtless wise, when a reform is introduced, to try to persuade the British public that it is not a reform at all; but appearances must be kept up to some extent at least.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“The appearances of goodness and merit often meet with a greater reward from the world than goodness and merit themselves.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)