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2023 marks the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who and the return of Russell T. Davies as the series showrunner, both of which have caused a resurgence of fan interest in the sci-fi classic. While there is plenty of content in the original show, with nearly 900 episodes between the classic series and the revival, the spin-offs are also worth watching. The most notable of these is Torchwood, which follows Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and his team operating out of Cardiff as they manage alien invaders and even the occasional time traveler that gets overlooked by the Doctor.
The series asks what happens when the Doctor doesn't arrive to save the day, showing how exceptional many human beings are in their own right, with the skills and bravery to face these threats on their own.
Created by Russell T. Davies with significant input from Chris Chibnall, Torchwood hits the best sci-fi elements of Doctor Who with a more adult perspective, highlighting relationship drama and moral quandaries that are too mature for the original show.
Where Can I Watch Torchwood?
For those in the US, Torchwood is available to stream on HBO Max, either through its own system or as a channel from Prime Video. In the UK, it can be streamed on Sky TV and the BBC iPlayer. For those who would rather buy the series, it can be purchased on Apple TV, Amazon, Vudu, or Google Play for $1.99 ($2.99 HD) per episode or as a full season for a discounted price.
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Is Torchwood Available On Amazon Prime?
Amazon is an excellent source for Torchwood content, with options to stream the series through the HBO Max Channel, purchase individual episodes on Prime Video, or even buy the full series on DVD and Blu-ray. All four seasons are available under each of these options, with the physical copies listed at just over $50.
Where Can I Watch Torchwood Season 1?
Season 1 of Torchwood is available to stream on HBO Max (US), Sky TV (UK), or BBC iPlayer (UK). The first season follows Gwen Cooper as she integrates into the Torchwood 3 team, finding her place as the heart of a team that tends toward ruthlessness. Across 13 hour-long episodes, each member of the team must face their vulnerabilities as time and space begin to fall apart.
Those who want to purchase the full first season have a wide range of options. On Amazon, a physical copy of season 1 is available for $19.29 (DVD) or $24.82 (Multiformat). Digital copies of the full season can be found for $24.99 (SD) or $37.99 (HD) on Apple TV, Google Play, Prime Video, or Vudu.
How Is The Torchwood Timeline Connected To Doctor Who?
Although Torchwood can be watched entirely separately from Doctor Who, there are critical connections between the two series, particularly when it comes to the shows' timelines. Captain Jack Harkness was introduced in season one of Doctor Who, and in the finale, he was granted immortality before being stranded in the year 200,100. He managed to return to Earth in the mid-19th century, where he then joined Torchwood while he waited for the Doctor to return. While not as convoluted as other Doctor Who timelines, the connections between the shows after this point do require some explanation.
The first season of Torchwood aired between seasons 2 and 3 of Doctor Who, but should be seen as mostly concurrent with the third season, with the finale of season one of Torchwood directly preceding season 3, episode 11 of Doctor Who, "Utopia."
Season 2 of Torchwood then appears to play out mostly concurrently with season 4 of Doctor Who, leading up to The Torchwood Team (post-season 2 finale) appearing in the season 4 finale of Doctor Who. The two shows then completely separated for Torchwood 3 and 4 and Doctor Who seasons 5 through 11. It's unclear precisely what point in the Torchwood timeline Jack was at when he briefly returned to Doctor Who in season 12.
Will There Be A Season 5 Of Torchwood?
Recently, rumors have emerged that a televised fifth season of Torchwood might be on the horizon, thanks to Russell T. Davies's desire to expand the Doctor Who franchise into an MCU-like shared universe. However, there are many obstacles to this, including the repeated controversy surrounding John Barrowman.
However, there is still hope! Torchwood was never technically canceled, and a fifth season was released in 2017 as an audio-drama, titled Torchwood: Aliens Among Us. Jack Harkness also returned to Doctor Who in 2021 and mentioned fellow Torchwood agent Gwen Cooper. Eve Myles posted to Twitter in December 2022 that she had not been approached about a reboot, but it is entirely possible that more Torchwood will come in the near future as part of the "lots of content" Davies promised fans in Doctor Who Magazine.