The War Between the Land and the Sea episode 2 ending explained: What did Salt do?

by

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for The War Between the Land and the Sea episodes 1-2.

The new Doctor Who spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, is finally here, and it’s already given fans a lot to think about before the next episode airs next week.

The second episode of the five-part series, “Plastic Apocalypse,” depicted a world in crisis, with plastic falling like rain. Salt and the team reversed the situation, making humans experience the daily reality of plastic pollution in our oceans and rivers.

The new series, The War Between, has featured characters played by Russell Tovey (Barclay) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Salt), who have developed a surprising bond.

With the stakes rising for humanity at the end of episode 2, “The Plastic Apocalypse,” here’s a recap of everything that’s unfolded, along with insights from Jemma Redgrave (who plays Kate Stewart) and Alexander Devrient (Colonel Christofer Ibrahim).

The War Between the Land and the Sea episode 2 ending explained: What did Salt just do?

At the end of episode 2, Salt and the Sea Devils collect all the plastic pollution from the oceans and rivers, and make it rain down on Earth’s cities. This powerfully demonstrates the daily reality the Sea Devils face and forces humans to directly experience the consequences of their pollution.

The first two episodes of the new series center around talks between humans and the Homo Aqua, a species that recently emerged from the ocean. The Homo Aqua are understandably furious about the condition of the seas, especially after humans killed two of their people. They’re also grieving the loss of Salt’s children and many others who died due to water pollution.

During talks held at the Empress Hall, which featured a massive water tank, Salt took charge for the Sea Devils and insisted that Barclay be made humanity’s ambassador. However, Barclay lacks political experience, so UNIT has been giving him lines to say during the negotiations – though he doesn’t always follow the script perfectly!

After the second episode, the two species talked about how polluted the water is. Humans pledged to cut pollution by half by 2065, but Salt, representing the water-dwelling species, found that unacceptable. She insisted they shouldn’t have to live with that level of pollution for even one more day.

When Barclay relays that humans desperately want clean oceans and rivers, Salt decides to fulfill their wish – by removing all the plastic from the water and dumping it onto the streets. Kate Lethbridge Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) begs her to reconsider, but Salt retorts that they are simply dealing with the consequences of humanity’s actions: “We are cleaning up your mess.”

It’s not yet known how Salt managed to do this, but it might be related to the unique connection – possibly telepathic – she shares with other Homo Aqua.

With people being killed by falling debris in the streets, a state of emergency is declared, and conflict erupts.

Why was Barclay chosen as ambassador?

Salt selected Barclay as an ambassador because she perceived a genuine kindness in him, unlike the other politicians and leaders involved in the talks. Early in the series, after the Homo Aqua died, Barclay made the sign of the cross over their bodies as a gesture of respect.

Although the show doesn’t say this directly, it’s possible Salt selected Barclay specifically because he wasn’t very experienced.

As established in the first episode, he joined the UNIT mission by accident – a clerical error had mistakenly assigned him as a substitute for a more experienced candidate. It’s possible this inexperience actually benefits Homo Aqua’s plans.

You know, maybe she is being honest – she really could have chosen Barclay just because he’s a genuinely nice guy. Honestly, who knows? We’ll just have to wait and see how things play out, like with any good movie!

How do Homo Aqua communicate?

The Homo Aqua species clearly communicates telepathically, and Salt can send and receive messages incredibly quickly using this ability.

The cause of this phenomenon is still unknown, but UNIT believes it might be due to a vast network of algae threads – or even the water itself – connecting different organisms in the ocean. This could potentially create a collective consciousness, similar to a hive mind.

It’s also possible the pearls found in the Homo Aqua’s necks serve as a way for them to communicate with each other.

What will happen next?

The latest episode ended with a huge surprise, making it obvious that humanity is dealing with a really serious problem. According to Devrient, upcoming episodes suggest this could cause major disagreements and even fighting between people.

People will explore every possible solution, he said. It’s fascinating to watch how different individuals respond when facing a crisis and what matters most to them in those situations.

These different perspectives could either blend seamlessly into a unified message, or they might clash. If they clash, it creates a tense and unpleasant atmosphere.

He promised more excitement, unexpected plot twists, and incredible action sequences. The production team went all out for this installment, and it really shows in the film’s impressive visuals and scale.

Actress Kate Stewart Redgrave shared that the upcoming episodes will be full of suspense and increasing danger. She described it as a thrilling ride, encouraging viewers to keep watching as the story becomes even more intense and exciting.

Redgrave shared that they were deeply touched and incredibly proud of the final episode, calling it a remarkable piece of work.

Dylan Holmes Williams is a truly gifted director. He brought incredible scripts to life in ways I never could have envisioned, showcasing his strong cinematic vision. I’m really proud of the work, and I hope audiences love it too.

The War Between the Land and the Sea continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 14th December.

Okay, so I just discovered this film called The War Between the Land and the Sea, and it looks amazing. You absolutely have to check it out! I’m adding it to my watchlist using the TopMob app – seriously, download it if you’re a TV and movie buff like me. They give you daily recommendations and cool features, it’s a game changer!

Read More

2025-12-08 01:35