The word canon seems to have become interchangeable with continuity for some people. Torchwood is unquestionably an official spin-off from Doctor Who. Unlike the dubious K-9 series which was not commissioned by the BBC.
However, whether the events from Torchwood fit in with the current Doctor Who continuity (post-The Big Bang) is questionable.
It's interesting to hear a positive opinion of Miracle Day, perhaps away from all the hype of it?
I personally thought it was a pretty poor effort, though nowhere near as bad as so many people suggest it is. The last two episodes were quite strong, but it really could all have been told in five episodes. And though I shan't spoil it for you, there was a distinct development in the tenth episode that I really didn't like.
In regards to canon, it's always been pretty loose with Doctor Who anyway. But there are references across the whole four series...
- The Doctor's hand which was cut off in DW2: The Christmas Invasion appears in the first series of Torchwood numerous times. Jack takes it with him when he leaves at the end of the series. The hand goes on to be important to The Master's plan in DW3: The Sound of Drums/Last of the Timelords, and again when it grows into the Metacrisis Doctor with Donna Noble, and remains in the parallel world with Rose Tyler in DW4: Journey's End.
- The TARDIS is heard at the end of the first series, leading into the event of DW3: Utopia.
- The three story arcs from Doctor Who's first three series are referenced in the first series. There is a reference to 'Bad Wolf; a reference to 'Vote Saxon' and of course Series 2 having the whole Torchwood arc. The Battle of Canary Wharf from Series 2 is mentioned several times over, with it being significant to the events of TW1: Cyberwoman. The Cybermen are seen in the form of the Cyberwoman, and also in a blueprint at the hub.
- A less direct link is the appearance of Abaddon in TW1: End of Days. He is described as the son of The Beast, alluding to the Satanic being in DW2: The Satan Pit.
- The second series finale of Torchwood makes numerous references to Doctor Who content. TW2: Fragments sees an appearance from UNIT, whilst TW2: Exit Wounds includes the appearance of a Hoix which appeared in DW2: Love & Monsters and DW5: The Pandorica Opens, as well as referencing Toshiko's appearance in DW1: Aliens of London via the "space pig".
- UNIT are an established presence in Torchwood, with various references to them. They play a sort-of significant role in TW2: Fragments, and have a representative in TW3: Children of Earth.
- An article about Margaret Slitheen is seen in the first series of Torchwood, referencing the character from DW1: Aliens of London/World War Three and DW1: Boom Town.
- As a whole, the series of Torchwood adheres to the continuity of a space-time rift being situated in Cardiff, according to DW1: The Unquiet Dead and DW1: Boom Town. It also sticks with the formation and history of the Torchwood Institute founded by Queen Victoria in DW2: Tooth and Claw.
- For the most part, Torchwood also sticks to the continuity of Jack's immortality which was set up in DW1: The Parting of the Ways. This was controversially cast aside in the final episode of TW4: Miracle Day.
- In reflection, DW1: The Parting of the Ways referred to Torchwood, and made a suggestion that Canary Wharf (Torchwood One) would go on to become the Great Cobalt Pyramid.
- The species from which the star-poet alien in The Sarah Jane Adventures: Invasion of the Bane derives makes a second appearance, in TW1: Greeks Bearing Gifts.
- An episode of TW4: Miracle Day makes reference to the Trickster's Brigade - a threat identified by The Doctor in DW4: Turn Left. In turn, The Trickster behind this brigade is a recurring adversary in The Sarah Jane Adventures, appearing in the first three series and the unfilmed Series 5 finale.
- Some time after travelling with The Doctor in DW3, Martha joins Torchwood for the space of three episodes in the second series.
- In the wake of the events in DW4: The Stolen Earth/Journey's End according to Dr. Patanjali there have been suicides from people who were driven mad by the scale of the universe.
- The Silurians, Huon particles and the Racnoss are mentioned in TW4: Miracle Day's final episode.
- There are many references and mentions to The Doctor thoughout the four series. The most significant and notable was mentions of him in TW3: Children of Earth when Gwen addressed a video camera saying that The Doctor must sometimes look at Earth and turn away in shame.
- Captain Jack has been most recently referenced in the sixth series finale episode of DW6: The Wedding of River Song.
Although the references have faded over time, they have been present throughout Torchwood from its first to last episodes. I believe Series 7 has been the first of Doctor Who not to make a single reference to Torchwood or a Torchwood character at all.
Quoted by virtue of this being the most important post in the thread, which, mystifyingly, has been entirely ignored.
The reapers would have turned up and laid waste to BBC Wales and we'd all be sat around waiting for Billie Piper to walk in front of a car to restore the natural course of history.
Actually, this is what genuinely did happen when RTD didn't bring back Dr. Who - it's just that none of us have any memory of because Billie eventually did the right thing (for info, yes, it was Chris Evans driving but that's a coincidence) and our accepted linear course of space-time was restored.
Unfortunately, in the alternative reality, somebody had returned 90 missing Dr. Who episodes from Africa which were discovered in Nelson Mandela's house.
You win some, you lose some. That's how the space-time of the universe rolls.
The reapers would have turned up and laid waste to BBC Wales and we'd all be sat around waiting for Billie Piper to walk in front of a car to restore the natural course of history.
Actually, this is what genuinely did happen when RTD didn't bring back Dr. Who - it's just that none of us have any memory of because Billie eventually did the right thing (for info, yes, it was Chris Evans driving but that's a coincidence) and our accepted linear course of space-time was restored.
Unfortunately, in the alternative reality, somebody had returned 90 missing Dr. Who episodes from Africa which were discovered in Nelson Mandela's house.
You win some, you lose some. That's how the space-time of the universe rolls.
Comments
However, whether the events from Torchwood fit in with the current Doctor Who continuity (post-The Big Bang) is questionable.
Quoted by virtue of this being the most important post in the thread, which, mystifyingly, has been entirely ignored.
Nice to hear UNIT mentioned in the final episode as well.
The reapers would have turned up and laid waste to BBC Wales and we'd all be sat around waiting for Billie Piper to walk in front of a car to restore the natural course of history.
Actually, this is what genuinely did happen when RTD didn't bring back Dr. Who - it's just that none of us have any memory of because Billie eventually did the right thing (for info, yes, it was Chris Evans driving but that's a coincidence) and our accepted linear course of space-time was restored.
Unfortunately, in the alternative reality, somebody had returned 90 missing Dr. Who episodes from Africa which were discovered in Nelson Mandela's house.
You win some, you lose some. That's how the space-time of the universe rolls.
Wrong thread mate
The cast were brilliant, especially Lauren Ambrose! I expected the Americans to put me off but they are probably what I most enjoyed about series.
Although I'm not sure if Miracle Day is Torchwood canon