The War Between the Land and the Sea has sacrificed one key character – and here’s why it’s the right call

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Warning: Major spoilers ahead for The War Between the Land and the Sea episode 3.

The recent story arc, ‘The War Between the Land and the Sea,’ has dramatically altered things for a particular Doctor Who character. Though it’s a sad development, it was ultimately the best choice for the story.

The Doctor Who spin-off has quickly become successful, particularly by giving Kate Lethbridge-Stewart a compelling character arc. The dramatic events in episode 3 have significantly heightened the emotional impact of her story.

Kate Lethbridge-Stewart first appeared in Doctor Who as played by Beverley Cressman. The character was later updated by Chris Chibnall in the 2012 episode ‘The Power of Three,’ with Jemma Redgrave taking on the role. Since then, she’s become a regular fixture in the Doctor Who universe and now leads UNIT. But after thirteen years, how much do we really know about her?

Even though Kate Stewart has been a part of Doctor Who for a long time, she remains a surprisingly mysterious character. We know very little about her personal life, focusing almost entirely on her role as the head of UNIT and her connection to her father, the Brigadier.

It’s understandable why Kate has often been a supporting character – Doctor Who seasons are short, and the focus needs to be on the Doctor’s relationship with their companion, not the details of UNIT’s staff. However, it’s really satisfying to finally see her get a chance to be central to the story, even if it means another character takes a backseat.

The romance between Kate and Colonel Ibrahim (Alexander Devrient) wasn’t universally popular, but the early episodes revealed a more complex side of UNIT’s leader. We saw her struggling to balance her personal relationship with her professional duties, and clearly considering the challenges posed by their age gap and difference in authority.

Episode 3 shows Kate really struggling after the start of the war. She’s completely drained and worn out, but pushes herself to keep working even though she desperately needs sleep, while Barclay and his team carry out their underwater mission. It’s only when Christofer notices how much she’s suffering and insists she go home and rest that she finally does.

After building a strong connection, that relationship was suddenly and heartbreakingly taken away by Christofer’s unexpected death. He was killed by an assassin who was actually targeting Kate, making this one of the most impactful deaths in Doctor Who’s extended universe in years, and really emphasizing the serious danger facing everyone in this new series.

I was disappointed that after being absent from Doctor Who for a while, Kate’s return in ‘The War Between’ focused so much on her personal life. However, the death of Christofer creates a compelling storyline – Kate must now navigate a global crisis while privately dealing with immense grief. That emotional complexity is a really strong foundation for future episodes.

She’s dealing with difficult and stubborn world leaders, all while struggling with the guilt of surviving when others didn’t. She knows the attack was intended for her, and she’s deeply traumatized by watching the man she loved – the one person who truly understood her – die. Now, it looks like we’ll see her torn between doing what’s best for everyone and seeking personal revenge.

Since Christofer’s passing, Redgrave has demonstrated a remarkable growth as an actress, surpassing her previous work, and I’m looking forward to seeing her continue to evolve.

For over ten years, Kate Stewart has been defined by her father’s legacy in Doctor Who. It’s great to finally see her step out of his shadow and become a strong character in her own right. That development alone makes the story worthwhile – and it was worth waiting for.

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.

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Authors

Louise Griffin

Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor at TopMob, where she writes 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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2025-12-15 01:35