10 Best Episodes of Doctor Who Spinoff Torchwood, Ranked

Though it launched after the successful 2005 revival of Doctor Who, the show Torchwood quickly gained a reputation for episodes that were just as impactful and memorable as those in the original series. Captain Jack Harkness, played by John Barrowman, first appeared alongside the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) and Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) in Doctor Who‘s first season. He seemingly died during a Dalek invasion in the episode “The Parting of the Ways,” but Rose, having absorbed the energy of the Time Vortex, brought him back to life. Unbeknownst to her, this act made him immortal, paving the way for him to lead his own spin-off series, Torchwood.

Running from 2006 to 2011, Torchwood followed Jack Harkness and his team as they investigated alien threats and strange objects appearing in Cardiff through a tear in space and time—a place the Doctor sometimes visits. The show was a hit with adult and teen viewers, offering more complex and realistic storylines than Doctor Who. Although ratings decreased over time and recent accusations against John Barrowman have impacted its reputation, Torchwood still boasts some of the most compelling stories in the Doctor Who universe and deserves to be remembered.

10) “Captain Jack Harkness” (Season 1, Episode 12)

I remember being completely blown away by that episode of Torchwood! It’s when Jack and Toshiko accidentally traveled back to 1941 and met the original Captain Jack Harkness – the man our Jack actually took his name from. It was so sad learning how the first Jack died during the war, and how our Jack ended up taking his place. Beyond the time travel, it was a really powerful episode that beautifully dealt with themes of love, loss, and what it means to be human, and it was the first time we really started to understand Jack’s complicated past. It was both fascinating and incredibly heartbreaking to see a glimpse of what made him who he is.

9) “Something Borrowed” (Season 2, Episode 9)

Season 2 of Torchwood took the show in bolder and stranger directions, and episode 9, “Something Borrowed,” is a prime example. The episode kicks off with Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) discovering she’s pregnant on her wedding day – and the father is an alien she encountered the night before. The Torchwood team quickly realizes the alien mother will stop at nothing to reclaim her child, leading to chaotic and funny interruptions during the wedding ceremony. With a mix of clever humor, surprising plot turns, unsettling visuals, and a fast pace, “Something Borrowed” wasn’t everyone’s favorite, but it perfectly captures the spirit of Torchwood.

8) “The Categories of Life” (Season 4, Episode 5)

The third and fourth seasons of Torchwood moved away from standalone adventures, instead focusing on longer, multi-episode storylines. Season 4, in particular, revolved around the events of “Miracle Day,” where death mysteriously stopped happening. Episode 5, “The Categories of Life,” powerfully illustrates the disturbing consequences of this new reality. The episode follows Vera Juarez as she investigates a camp where people are wrongly declared legally dead and then incinerated. When she tries to hold the camp leader accountable, he brutally locks her inside an incinerator and kills her, all while being filmed as evidence. It’s a dark, emotionally difficult episode to watch, but it brilliantly exposes the darkest aspects of human behavior.

7) “Reset” (Season 2, Episode 6)

At the conclusion of Torchwood‘s first season, Jack travels with the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) to the very end of the universe, and their battle against the Master (John Simm) creates a lasting connection. Later, Martha reappears in Torchwood‘s second season, joining the team to investigate deaths linked to mysterious drug trials at a company called Pharm. This episode was a memorable cameo for Freema Agyeman and also featured the death of Owen Harper (Burn Gorman), which allowed the actor to deliver some of his strongest work as the character was brought back to life. The episode, titled “Reset,” told a gripping and suspenseful story, making it one of the most unforgettable installments of Torchwood.

6) “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” (Season 2, Episode 1)

Russell T. Davies was excellent at building a season-long story that culminated in a satisfying finale, and he did this particularly well in Torchwood season 2. Captain John Hart (James Marsters) was a prime example; he first appeared in the premiere episode, “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang,” before eventually becoming an ally. The episode introduced Hart as a fellow time traveler and old friend of Jack, but it quickly became clear he was manipulating the Torchwood team in search of a stolen diamond. “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” was a fast-paced, exciting episode filled with strong character development – everything you’d hope for in a season opener – and cleverly set up storylines for the rest of the season.

5) “Immortal Sins” (Season 4, Episode 7)

Okay, so Torchwood Series 4 definitely got a lot of flak, and a lot of people thought it was the beginning of the end. But honestly, some of those episodes were brilliant. Take “Immortal Sins,” for example. It was a real standout. It started peeling back the layers of the ‘Miracle’ by taking us way back to 1920s New York, and it was fascinating. We see Jack meet this Italian immigrant, Angelo Colasanto, and he starts to share the truth about his immortality with him – but it goes horribly wrong. Someone abuses that knowledge, Jack’s blood gets brutally harvested, and that’s how the Three Families really get started. It felt like a return to the stuff we loved from the first two seasons, really fleshed out the ‘Miracle Day’ storyline, and gave us some much-needed backstory on Jack himself, which I always appreciated.

4) “Fragments” (Season 2, Episode 12)

Exploring Jack Harkness’s past was always enjoyable, but the second-to-last episode of Torchwood season 2, “Fragments,” delved into the histories of the rest of the team. Trapped under debris after triggering an explosion, each member experiences flashbacks to their life before joining Torchwood. These stories are deeply moving and reveal heartbreaking details: Jack’s previous team was betrayed and killed by their leader after a prophetic vision, Owen joined after the tragic death of his fiancée at the hands of an alien, Tosh sought freedom from UNIT after stealing classified tech, and Ianto hoped to restore his Cyberwoman girlfriend to her former self. This episode served as a powerful and emotional prelude to the season’s explosive finale.

3) “Everything Changes” (Season 1, Episode 1)

Torchwood’s success really hinged on its first episode, “Everything Changes.” It brilliantly introduced viewers to Jack Harkness and his team through the perspective of Gwen, a Cardiff police officer who discovers their secret work with the Resurrection Glove. Intrigued and drawn into their extraordinary world, she eventually joins the team, replacing Suzie Costello. The episode was polished, exciting, and mature, boasting high production quality and a strong cast – a fantastic launch that set the stage for the series’ future storylines.

2) “Exit Wounds” (Season 2, Episode 13)

Following the episode “Fragments,” the second season of Torchwood ended with “Exit Wounds,” bringing back Jack’s brother, Gray (Lachlan Nieboer), who was presumed dead. Gray, along with John Hart, created dangerous traps for the Torchwood team, determined to get revenge on Jack. These challenges tragically led to the deaths of Owen and Tosh. “Exit Wounds” was a pivotal episode for Torchwood, marking the end of its multi-episode story format and the case-of-the-week style. It was a deeply emotional story that honored the show’s history and featured outstanding performances from John Barrowman, Naoko Mori, Gareth David-Lloyd, and others. It’s an episode that will stay with Doctor Who and Torchwood fans forever.

1) Torchwood: Children of Earth (Season 3)

Let’s consider Torchwood‘s five-part third season as one extended episode, because Children of Earth is truly exceptional. This season unfolded over five days, with each episode revealing the arrival of aliens who demanded 10% of the world’s children. The British government shockingly considered complying with this demand, even willing to sacrifice millions of children – a decision that put them in direct conflict with the Torchwood team. Children of Earth stands out for its realistic and relatable story, making it all the more frightening and emotionally impactful. Filled with deaths, unexpected pregnancies, selfless sacrifices, major plot twists, intense drama, and powerful acting, it perfectly captures everything that made Torchwood so special and has fueled calls for the show to return.

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2025-11-21 22:44