Torchwood is a British spin-off TV series created by Russell T. Davies, set in the Doctor Who universe, that ran from 2006 to 2011. This show focuses on the Torchwood Institute, an undercover organization dedicated to investigating and fighting alien threats to Earth.
The show is set in Cardiff, Wales, and it follows “the Torchwood Three”, composed of time traveler Captain Jack Harkness, newcomer and police liaison Gwen Cooper, administrator Ianto Jones, medical officer Owen Harper, and computer specialist Toshiko Sato. This main cast is in charge of investigating extraterrestrial incidents and searching for alien tech to use in case of alien invasions or encounters.
The events of the series take place in tandem with some episodes of Series 3-5 of Doctor Who, interweaving characters and plots into its episodes from this time and with characters from the series making appearances in both series.
Unlike Doctor Who, Torchwood is overt in its exploration of mature content, grittier themes, and darker storylines than its predecessor — especially with topics such as existentialism, the corruption of power, and sexuality in all its aspects, not just in relationships.
One of its most notable differences from Doctor Who is that most of its main cast is portrayed as sexually fluid. Thanks to this, the show is open to exploring gay and bi relationships in a more mature tone, going as far as depicting sex scenes and scenarios. The show’s treatment of bisexuality goes beyond the individual characters and tackles broader themes of diversity and acceptance. It is set in a world where alien encounters are seen as normal, and therefore, the main cast is often confronted with situations that challenge their preconceived notions, identity, and relationships. Through these events, the show is free to explore love, desire, and the fluidity of sexuality in an inclusive and thought-provoking manner.
As we have discovered in Doctor Who, Captain Jack Harkness is a time agent from the 51st century. After the events in the episode “The Parting of the Ways”, he is revived by the power of the TARDIS and becomes immortal. While trying to jump back to the 21st century, he accidentally jumps to Victorian-era London, where he has no choice but to live out his time until he catches up with his then-present 2007 timeline. Jack is depicted as flirtatious, charming, and very open about who he likes.
One of the central relationships explored in Torchwood is that of Jack and Ianto Jones, one of the members of his team. We see their relationship evolve over the course of the show, developing into a romantic and sexual connection, showing that Jack has the capacity to develop emotional intimacy and close connections — showing the development of his arc, as he was first introduced as a very egotistical and self-serving character.
Throughout the show, we see him have men and women (and sometimes aliens) as romantic interests, always portrayed as natural and unapologetic, reinforcing the security of his sexuality.
Although Jack’s sexuality has been discussed in Doctor Who and is one of the more openly bi characters, he is only one of four others whose sexuality is depicted as bi and completely normal in this show.
Toshiko Sato is one of the series’ shiest characters, harboring a secret crush on fellow team member Owen during the first two seasons of the show. She is depicted as tech-savvy, resourceful, and fiercely loyal to those she cares about. Although through most of her run on the show she is depicted as crushing on Owen, Toshiko comes out of her shell and explores her sexuality in season one, episode seven “Greeks Bearing Gifts” with the alien Mary, though in the end, Mary uses her to gain access to Torchwood’s weapons.
Her character development explores her need for deeper connections and her longing for romantic relationships of any kind, which she has difficulty nurturing.
While most of her on-screen relationships are depicted with male characters, her ability to explore her sexuality adds to the diversity and complexity of the human experience depicted in the show, giving her a rich and fully developed background and story.
When asked about her character’s scene with Mary and her depiction of sexuality, Naoko (who portrays Toshiko) stated:
I wanted to make sure…that it wasn’t just a social thing. That it was more about [Tosh] finding an ally. She was vulnerable and lonely, and she found someone she could talk to as a friend. And it just sort of happened to escalate into the sexual domain… it was more about her finding someone who she could be open and close to…who just happens to be blonde and hot!
Owen Harper, another bi character from the main cast, is the medical officer for the Torchwood Institute. He is a talented and skilled doctor with a sharp wit and intellect, but flawed with sometimes questionable morals. He is depicted as a big womanizer but also equally attracted to the same sex, as seen in the first episode of the show, when after spraying a blonde woman with an alien “magic spray”, her boyfriend runs up angrily at Owen, ready for a fight. Owen glances at him, sprays him as well, kisses him, and rides off in a taxi with both.
Throughout the series, Owen’s crushes and relationships are dealt with openly, and although mainly depicted as having flings with women, his previous interactions with the same sex bring complexity and nuance to his sexuality.
Actor Burn Gorman, who plays Owen, mentioned in a Q&A with Radio Times in April of 2020 that even though his character was almost always depicted with women, he liked “anyone who caught his eye”.
In that same Q&A with Radio Times, Gareth David-Lloyd, who interprets Ianto on-screen, said this about his relationship with Captain Jack and how his character’s sexuality was depicted in the series:
[At that time] there was no relationship between a hero and another man on television. And that kiss with Captain Jack was a huge thing because nobody expected it, and it wasn’t a stereotype…That’s what changed everything because people were actually looking at a representation of themselves…it was just a regular relationship.
Lastly, we have the beloved character Ianto Jones, played by actor Gareth David-Lloyd. From the start, Ianto is introduced as the reserved and mysterious archivist of the “Torchwood Three”. While he is mostly involved in cataloging the vast array of weapons and information having to do with aliens, his skills and resourcefulness go far beyond his administrative role.
As the series progresses, we learn a little more about Ianto, but mostly, his budding relationship with Jack. Their relationship dynamic evolves from solely professional to a deep connection that extends traditional boundaries and stereotypes of sexuality. Ianto’s own journey of self-discovery tackles his exploration of his sexuality and identity, as well as his feelings for Jack, as he had previously lost his girlfriend Lisa in a Cybermen attack and feels conflicted with taking on a new relationship.
The way Torchwood tackles Jack and Ianto’s relationship is still praised to this day, as it was tackled with authenticity and sensitivity rather than stereotypical and sensational. Its development is presented with nuance and depth, and highlighted by moments of emotional intimacy and tenderness, along with obstacles like alien invasions and galactic wars that they must face as a united front.
Even after the series ended, the impact that it has left is seen to this day, with character Ianto Jones having a shrine in Cardiff that is still visited by many. Torchwood is hailed as a groundbreaking series for its portrayal of bi characters and LGBT representation due to featuring these relationships with respect and authenticity that reflects the real-world diversity of the human experience, while also helping audiences foster greater understanding and normalizing all aspects of sexuality. It has left a lasting legacy as one of the great sci-fi TV shows with LGBT representation on-screen.