Harkness Test is an internet meme and fictional morality guideline used to determine whether a non-human fictional character is capable of giving informed consent in romantic or sexual situations. The meme became widely popular in online fandoms, especially among sci-fi, fantasy, furry, anime, and gaming communities. It is named after Captain Jack Harkness from the TV series Doctor Who and its spin-off Torchwood.
What Is the Harkness Test?
The meme presents three fictional “rules” used to judge whether a non-human creature passes the so-called test:
- Does the character possess human-level intelligence or higher?
- Can the character communicate clearly through language or another understandable method?
- Is the character sexually mature for its own species?
If all three conditions are met, internet users jokingly claim the creature “passes the Harkness Test.”
The meme is usually discussed humorously rather than seriously, though it often appears in debates about fictional relationships involving aliens, monsters, anthropomorphic animals, robots, or fantasy beings.
Origin of the Meme
The concept is inspired by Captain Jack Harkness, a character known for flirting with humans and non-human species throughout the series. Online fandoms associated the character with a fictional ethical checklist regarding interspecies relationships.
The earliest known graphic related to the Harkness Test appeared on FurAffinity in January 2013. The meme later spread through platforms like Imgur, Reddit, Tumblr, and fandom communities.
How the Meme Spread Online
The meme quickly became an exploitable image format. Users edited the original chart to evaluate different fictional characters and creatures from movies, cartoons, anime, comics, and games. Variations appeared in communities connected to:
- My Little Pony
- Pokémon
- Zootopia
- Sci-fi fandoms
- Monster girl communities
- Alien and fantasy discussions
Several parody versions also emerged, including alien-themed and fantasy creature adaptations.
In 2019, the meme experienced renewed popularity after a video by Plague of Gripes discussed Pokémon relationships, bringing the term back into mainstream internet discussions.
Also Read: Thragg and Viltrumites Comic Panel
| Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Meme Name | Harkness Test |
| Type | Internet Meme / Exploitable Image Macro |
| Origin | Doctor Who fandom and online communities |
| Named After | Captain Jack Harkness |
| First Known Appearance | 2013 |
| Main Criteria | Intelligence, communication ability, species maturity |
| Popular Platforms | Reddit, Tumblr, Imgur, FurAffinity, Know Your Meme |
| Common Subjects | Aliens, fantasy creatures, anthropomorphic characters, robots |
| Meme Style | Humorous fictional morality guideline |
| Popularity Resurgence | 2019 after Plague of Gripes discussions |
| Status | Confirmed meme on Know Your Meme |
Also Read: Jimmy Jr. Dancing to Dracula Meme Meaning and Origin
Why the Harkness Test Became Popular
The meme became popular because it combines:
- Internet humor
- Sci-fi culture
- Fandom debates
- Fictional ethics
- Exploitable image templates
It also reflects how internet communities often create humorous “rule systems” around fictional worlds and characters. Reddit discussions show that many users still reference the Harkness Test in debates involving anthropomorphic characters, aliens, robots, and fantasy creatures.
The Harkness Test is an internet meme guideline used to jokingly determine whether a fictional non-human character can consent to a relationship.
Captain Jack Harkness is a character from Doctor Who and Torchwood known for flirting with multiple alien species.
The meme first appeared online in 2013 and spread through fandom websites and social media platforms.
