The past year has been challenging for Doctor Who. The show lost a promising new lead in Ncuti Gatwa and also parted ways with its co-production partner, Disney. Although Billie Piper’s potential return as The Doctor generated some buzz, the series’ future remains uncertain as fans await its next season in 2026.
There’s some positive news to share as the year ends, coming from the newest series related to the main show. While viewers in the United States won’t be able to watch The War Between the Land and the Sea on Disney+ until 2026, it’s already getting a good reception in the UK.
The War Between The Land And The Sea Had A Strong Debut In The UK
The first two episodes of the new BBC One series, The War Between the Land and the Sea, drew impressive ratings in the UK. Episode 1 was watched by 2.8 million viewers, and Episode 2 by 2.1 million. According to Polygon, these numbers are better than many recent episodes of Doctor Who and even surpassed the viewership for the finale of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity which aired at the same time.
The recent Doctor Who season finale, “The Reality War,” had 2.2 million viewers overnight, as reported by Radio Times. While that was a strong number, the first episode of the new series, The War Between the Land and the Sea, actually performed even better. Hopefully, the show can keep up this positive trend in future episodes!
Russell T. Davies Has Praised The Spinoff Quite A Bit
It’s always been a challenge to create a successful Doctor Who spin-off that feels satisfying without the Doctor as the main character. When the Doctor isn’t there, these shows can feel incomplete, which is likely why Russell T. Davies took a unique approach with The War Between the Land and the Sea.
More On Doctor Who
I’m disappointed that Doctor Who isn’t currently airing, but a new project starring two beloved companions is coming soon to keep fans entertained.
Given the show’s strong audience numbers, which suggest people are really enjoying it, I’m curious to see how that will influence future episodes of Doctor Who. Russell Davies has said he hasn’t started writing the 2026 Christmas special yet, but he does have a general idea of what it will be about.
If the new episode, ‘The War Between the Land and the Sea,’ is successful, will Russell T Davies change his plans for the Christmas special? Many fans, including myself, are hoping he will. We need more than just celebrity appearances to build excitement for Doctor Who again. Hopefully, this episode marks the beginning of a really strong year for the show, especially after 2025 proved to be a bit disappointing.
Disney+ offers streaming access to popular franchises like Marvel, Star Wars, and the latest seasons of Doctor Who. You can start watching with their ad-supported plan for as little as $11.99 per month. For an ad-free experience, it’s $18.99 a month, or you can save 16% by paying $189.99 for a full year. Check out the deal now!
As of now, there’s no confirmed US release date for The War Between the Land and the Sea, but it’s expected to eventually stream on Disney+. I’m really looking forward to watching it, and I hope its success leads to more short-form series within the Doctor Who world.
Read More
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- 7 Home Alone Moments That Still Make No Sense (And #2 Is a Plot Hole)
- Stephen Colbert Jokes This Could Be Next Job After Late Show Canceled
- DCU Nightwing Contender Addresses Casting Rumors & Reveals His Other Dream DC Role [Exclusive]
- Is XRP ETF the New Stock Market Rockstar? Find Out Why Everyone’s Obsessed!
- 10 X-Men Batman Could Beat (Ranked By How Hard It’d Be)
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- James Gunn & Zack Snyder’s $102 Million Remake Arrives Soon on Netflix
- Ben Napier & Erin Napier Share Surprising Birthday Rule for Their Kids
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s Mega Dimension Offers Level 100+ Threats, Launches on December 10th for $30
2025-12-10 07:08