Doctor Who Spinoff The War Between the Land and Sea Promises “Punch”

Despite current challenges, the upcoming series promises to be impactful, according to its creator, Russell T Davies. “The War Between the Land and the Sea” centers on a conflict between humanity and the Sea Devils – a race of human-like creatures who live in the deep ocean (and prefer to be called “Homo Aqua”). These creatures first appeared in the classic Doctor Who series in the 1970s. Davies explains that the new miniseries will directly address the political and environmental issues that would be important to such a civilization.

Davies explained to Empire Magazine that he aimed to demonstrate the full scope and power of this universe with his work. He wanted to showcase its incredible potential and impact.

Davies explained that the show feels very current and relevant to what’s happening now, especially with water companies prioritizing profits over people. He added that, given the show is about water, it’s important to address these issues directly.

As conflict grows between humans and the Sea Devils, Barclay (Russell Tovey) and Salt (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) begin to develop a bond of trust and understanding. Jemma Redgrave also appears in the series, returning as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, the head of UNIT, from Doctor Who.

The War Between the Land and the Sea Tries to Overcome Doctor Who’s Recent Controversies

The new Doctor Who adventure, The War Between the Land and the Sea, is available on BBC iPlayer and Disney+, but its release comes at a difficult moment for the show. Russell Davies originally planned it as the beginning of a larger, connected universe for Doctor Who, similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Unfortunately, due to recent changes, it will now be the final project created through the partnership between the BBC and Disney.

Disney’s investment in Doctor Who hasn’t performed as well as they’d anticipated. While the show moved to Disney+ as its exclusive streaming home outside the UK—starting with specials featuring David Tennant and Catherine Tate—demand for star Ncuti Gatwa and delays in decision-making from Disney and the BBC created a challenge. This ultimately led to a last-minute change to the Doctor Who Season 2 finale, bringing back Billie Piper, who previously played Rose Tyler, with a potential storyline hinting she might become the next Doctor.

After a period of uncertainty and rumors about its future, it was confirmed in October that Doctor Who would return in 2026 with a special holiday episode. Russell Davies will be bringing the show back, and plans for the next full series will be announced soon to keep the Doctor’s adventures going.

The War Between the Land and the Seas will premiere on the BBC’s iPlayer and Disney+ on Dec. 7.

Read More

2025-11-17 22:09