The First Doctor Who Spinoff in 9 Years Releases Today (But US Viewers Will Have to Wait to Watch It)

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It’s been quite a while since Doctor Who has had a separate series. The Sarah Jane Adventures ended in 2011 after the tragic loss of its lead actress, Elisabeth Sladen. Torchwood wasn’t formally cancelled, but it concluded when its creator, Russell T. Davies, had to return to the UK for personal reasons. Although Steven Moffat supported a spinoff called Class during his time running the show, it wasn’t successful enough to continue.

A new Doctor Who spinoff called The War Between the Land and the Sea is now available to watch in the U.K. The first two episodes will be released simultaneously on BBC iPlayer and BBC One at 8:30pm GMT on Sunday, December 7th. Starring Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, the series follows a special UNIT team working to stop a war between humans and the Sea Devils. Jemma Redgrave also returns as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, a long-time ally of the Doctor.

The War Between the Land and the Sea Won’t Be Out in the US Until Next Year

Originally created as part of a collaboration between the BBC and Disney+, The War Between the Land and the Sea is now owned by Disney for international release. Because Disney is currently prioritizing other shows, like Season 2 of Percy Jackson, the Doctor Who spinoff won’t be available outside of the UK until 2026.

The new Doctor Who spinoff is launching during a challenging period for the series. While Russell Davies’ return as head writer was hoped to revitalize the show (even with Disney’s investment), it hasn’t quite had the impact expected. Interestingly, The War Between the Land and the Sea is receiving positive reviews – something the main Doctor Who relaunch didn’t achieve. Critics are praising its realistic and mature storytelling, a quality the franchise hasn’t seen in years. As Isobel Lewis of The iPaper notes, focusing on other characters actually raises the stakes.

For fans of Doctor Who, The War Between the Land and the Sea seems like a must-see episode. If the early reviews are accurate, it’s a strong addition to the Doctor Who universe (often called the “Whoniverse” by the BBC). While it’s sad to see this era end, it’s a great send-off as Doctor Who moves from Disney+. Viewers in the UK can watch it today, and everyone else will need to wait for Disney to announce when it will be available in their region.

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2025-12-07 16:40