Exclusive: Torchwood's Jaw-Dropping Comeback After 12 Years Finally Unveiled in Doctor Who

WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Doctor Who: Redacted Season 2

Summary

In Doctor Who: Redacted Season 2, the current status of Torchwood is unveiled, showing that all of its hubs have been shut down and the organization is now obsolete.

During their visit to Torchwood Two in Glasgow, Abby and Shawna come across an enigmatic elderly man who is hosting an extraterrestrial being that has been alive for a hundred years.

Torchwood is unlikely to make an appearance in Doctor Who Season 14, but there are rumors of a revival in RTD's new Doctor Who era through UNIT.

Doctor Who has finally revealed what happened to Torchwood after their last TV appearance 12 years ago. The adult-oriented spinoff of Doctor Who aired from 2006 to 2011, ending abruptly with Torchwood: Miracle Day, a co-production between the UK and US. Despite hopes that the BBC's deal with Starz would bring more Torchwood content, it never materialized, despite the efforts of John Barrowman, the actor who played Captain Jack Harkness. However, audio production company Big Finish has breathed new life into Torchwood with an ongoing series. Now, after a 12-year hiatus, there is finally something new from Torchwood on the BBC.

Doctor Who: Redacted Season 2 Brings Back Torchwood (With A Twist)

In addition to the hubs in London and Cardiff, Torchwood had previously established a third hub situated in Glasgow, covering three out of the four major cities in the United Kingdom. In Doctor Who: Redacted season 2, the focus turns to Torchwood Two located in Glasgow, where Abby and Shawna, hosts of a conspiracy theory podcast, embark on a mission to uncover more information. However, Torchwood Glasgow, much like its London and Cardiff counterparts, is no longer operational, having fallen victim to a mysterious thief who is now selling the stolen extraterrestrial artifacts on the black market.

What Redacted Reveals About Torchwood After Miracle Day

During their time in Glasgow, Abby and Shawna cross paths with the enigmatic Archie, who appears to have single-handedly operated Torchwood Two. Archie had initially been mentioned in the pilot episode of Torchwood, titled "Everything Changes," wherein Captain Jack described him as an exceedingly peculiar individual. Shawna and Abby come to fully comprehend the extent of his peculiarity when they uncover his incredible age, surpassing a century, and realize that his body serves as a vessel for an unusual extraterrestrial life form. Strongly hinted at is the notion that it was this diminutive alien entity, not its Glaswegian host, who had truly overseen the operations of Torchwood Two.

Torchwood: Miracle Day left Captain Jack and Gwen Cooper as the sole survivors of the defunct organization. Despite hopes of Torchwood's revival after the events of Miracle Day, it seems that possibility has vanished. Seeing the deteriorated state of Torchwood Two encountered by Abby and Shawna, it appears that the organization has ceased to exist. It is plausible that the Grand Serpent (played by Craig Parkinson) thwarted any efforts to resurrect Torchwood, just as he did with UNIT in Doctor Who: Flux.

The original Torchwood House from the David Tennant era of Doctor Who, which inspired Queen Victoria to establish the institution, is a National Trust heritage site. When Abby and Shauna, a new couple, visit the former grand residence of the MacLeish family, they discover that it also serves as a venue for weddings. It is a significant departure from the werewolf attack witnessed in Doctor Who season 2 and an even more substantial departure from the non-monogamous escapades of Captain Jack's Torchwood. Interestingly, the tearoom at Torchwood House is managed by an enigmatic woman named Morag Stewart, whose name intriguingly connects to UNIT.

Will Torchwood Be Back For Doctor Who Season 14?

Given the unlikelihood of John Barrowman's Captain Jack making a return to Doctor Who anytime soon, it seems highly improbable that Torchwood will have a presence in season 14. Indications from Doctor Who: Redacted strongly suggest that the Torchwood Institute is now defunct, with only a few former operatives still aware of its existence. Speculation emerged in early 2023 that Eve Myles might reprise her role as Gwen Cooper from Torchwood in either Doctor Who season 14 or the long-awaited UNIT spinoff series. This path certainly appears to be the more plausible option for a Torchwood revival in RTD's new era of Doctor Who.

RTD, the creator of Torchwood, may consider revisiting the concept of a spinoff show focused on investigating aliens on Earth for the Disney+ era. However, the mature themes of sex and violence in Torchwood may not be suitable for the Walt Disney Corporation, known for their preference for family-friendly content. As an alternative, a UNIT spinoff that caters to a wider audience might be a safer choice. It is highly possible that Gwen Cooper, the former Torchwood agent, has been recruited by Kate Stewart (played by Jemma Redgrave) after the events of Miracle Day, indicating her potential involvement in Doctor Who's future.