The War Between the Land and the Sea stars break down “risky” romance reveal in new Doctor Who spin-off

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*Warning: 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, has been full of surprises, and recently revealed a romantic connection fans have been anticipating for a while.

Following a developing connection between them in Doctor Who season 15, the beginning of ‘The War Between’ confirms a romantic relationship between Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) and Colonel Ibrahim (Alexander Devrient). We also see a look at their life together, including the challenges they face as a couple.

We talked about the stark contrast in how the two characters viewed the situation, which was a compelling part of the story. This difference in perspective is clear throughout the script and episodes, particularly in the writing by Pete McTighe and Russell T Davies, and it really highlights their differing feelings about the relationship and what each of them envisions for the future.

There’s a crucial moment in episode 2 involving Colonel Ibrahim’s father. Kate remarks on his wisdom, and Ibrahim suggests she meet him, which Kate likely sees as impossible. However, she’s too busy at that moment to even consider it – they simply don’t have time for a personal connection. It’s also challenging because Kate is very focused on her work, and it dominates her life.

Devrient also explained that they included small hints throughout the seasons of Doctor Who. Honestly, she and Jemma weren’t sure if those hints would lead anywhere, so at first, they were cautious about revealing too much.

Working within UNIT involves a clear hierarchy, which is a significant factor here. The age difference between the individuals is also important. These, along with other issues, make this a potentially difficult and dangerous relationship.

Ultimately, inspired by Russell’s writing, we decided to fully embrace the connection between these two characters. There’s a genuine purity and beauty in their stoicism, respect, loyalty, and discipline – a bond they can’t deny. We wanted to explore what that looks like when everything is falling apart around them.

As Devrient notes, the connection becomes clear when a global crisis unfolds: the Sea Devils – creatures also called Homo Aqua in related stories – rise from the oceans and make their existence known to everyone.

Salt, the leader (played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw), surprisingly chooses Russell Tovey’s character, Barclay, to be Earth’s ambassador, even though he doesn’t have much experience. Together, they must work to prevent a catastrophic war that threatens to destroy the world.

As for what’s next?

Devrient predicted people will explore every possible solution. He finds it fascinating to observe how different individuals respond when faced with a crisis, and what motivates each of them.

These different perspectives could either blend seamlessly into a unified voice, or clash with each other. If they clash, it creates a tense and unpleasant atmosphere.

He promised more excitement, unexpected plot developments, and spectacular action sequences. The production team went all out on this one, and it really shows in how great it looks.

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

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2025-12-08 01:37