Doctor Who spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea praised by Greenpeace: “Shows like this have a real superpower”

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I recently saw this documentary, ‘The War Between the Land and the Sea,’ and it’s really powerful. Greenpeace actually gave it a shout-out, and they hit the nail on the head – TV, and documentaries like this one, have this amazing ability to get people fired up and actually do something about environmental problems. It’s not just about showing the issues, it’s about inspiring action, and this film really does that.

A recent Doctor Who spin-off directly addressed climate change. The classic monsters, the Sea Devils (now called Homo Aqua), appeared from the ocean to confront humans about the health of our seas and urgently called for action to stop water pollution.

A memorable moment in the second episode featured Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s character, Salt, dramatically collecting all the ocean’s trash and making it rain down on city streets, forcing people to confront the consequences of their pollution.

It’s difficult to grasp the sheer scale of plastic pollution – 460 million tons are made worldwide each year. Similarly, last year in England, rivers and seas were contaminated with sewage for the equivalent of 3.6 million hours. Without visual aids, these numbers are almost impossible to comprehend.

While the natural world and its incredible creatures can’t speak for themselves, shows like this have the power to inspire millions of people to take action and protect them.

After Greenpeace released a video depicting the UK’s plastic waste—shipped to other countries—literally landing on Downing Street, politicians started demanding a worldwide agreement to address plastic pollution.

Russell Tovey, who plays Barclay, has shared his thoughts on what he hopes the show will achieve and how it might inspire people who watch it.

“I would want [viewers] to feel activated and angry,” he recently told TopMob.

I’m hoping this will inspire a new generation to take action. Like David Attenborough’s documentaries, I want this to connect with people on a human level and dramatically show them the urgency of the issues facing our planet, compelling them to realize we need to make a change.

Showrunner Davies was direct, stating that one of the worst things you can tell a writer is, ‘Don’t be preachy.’

For centuries, many religions have relied on delivering messages to their followers, and that approach has proven effective. I don’t need to present myself as superior to point out reality. If I write about the oceans in 2025 and they’re polluted, damaged, and unpleasant, I have to report that honestly. The reason my work seems political is simply because the situation demands it – I have no other option.

The latest Doctor Who special, titled ‘The War Between the Land and the Sea,’ will conclude on December 21st. You can watch it on BBC iPlayer.

Don’t miss The War Between the Land and the Sea! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

Authors

Louise Griffin

Louise Griffin edits the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section at TopMob, writing about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before joining TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro and holds a degree in English Literature.

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2025-12-17 20:37