We Just Got the Best Doctor Who Story in 8 Years (& the Doctor Isn’t Even In It)

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The new Doctor Who series is surprisingly good! While the collaboration between Disney and the BBC hasn’t quite drawn the audience numbers hoped for, showrunner Russell T. Davies delivered a compelling season. Unfortunately, Ncuti Gatwa’s time as the Doctor will only last for two seasons, ending his run sooner than many fans expected. This comes at a difficult time for the show, as Doctor Who has been facing declining viewership for the past ten years, making it a challenging period for the iconic sci-fi series.

The collaboration between Disney and the BBC has concluded, leaving the future of Doctor Who uncertain. However, one last spin-off is still coming – the first in nine years, and it’s benefiting from Disney’s financial backing. Titled The War Between the Land and the Sea, it stars Jemma Redgrave, Russell Tovey, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and features the classic Sea Devils, now officially known as “Homo Aqua” to reflect modern sensitivities. Surprisingly, many are calling it the best Doctor Who story in years.

The War Between the Land and the Sea is a Fantastic Doctor Who Story

According to the history of Doctor Who, the Homo Aqua were the first intelligent beings to develop on Earth. Their origins are described differently at times – sometimes they evolved before the moon formed, and other times before the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. Whatever the case, a major prehistoric disaster caused them to enter a long hibernation, and they’ve been sleeping deep under the ocean for millions, or even billions, of years. In the story The War Between the Land and the Sea, the Homo Aqua wake up and reappear in large numbers.

The Doctor is nowhere to be found, not even the version played by David Tennant who is currently living on Earth. Instead, Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, played by Jemma Redgrave, is leading UNIT in an effort to create a peace treaty between humans and the Homo Aqua before a global war breaks out. Russell Tovey plays Barclay Pierre-Dupont, an ordinary person who unexpectedly becomes humanity’s ambassador to the Homo Aqua, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw portrays “Salt,” who appears to be the leader of these creatures.

Recent years of Doctor Who have included some strong episodes. Chris Chibnall’s run featured memorable stories like “Rosa” and “Fugitive of the Judoon,” and “Wild Blue Yonder” was particularly scary. However, these successes were often eclipsed by the controversial “Timeless Child” storyline. The current era starring Ncuti Gatwa hasn’t been as well-received, largely because of its complicated, ongoing plotlines. In contrast, the first two episodes of The War Between the Land and the Sea are captivating. Critics have pointed out that focusing on characters other than the Doctor actually makes the story more compelling.

The War Between the Land and the Sea Isn’t Subtle, But It’s Good

Russell T. Davies is known for being outspoken about his beliefs, and his play, The War Between the Land and the Sea, continues that tradition. The central conflict revolves around pollution and the clash between humans and the aquatic species, Homo Aqua. In a powerful moment, the character Barclay addresses both groups, lamenting humanity’s destruction of the planet and our refusal to heed the warnings of younger generations. The play is emotionally direct and makes its message very clear.

Surprisingly, this isn’t a weakness of the story. The War Between the Land and the Sea is actually quite endearing because it’s so straightforward and avoids unnecessary complexity. Barclay feels like a relatable, ordinary person, and the story cleverly integrates the need for civilian involvement into Doctor Who’s existing mythology. It establishes that UNIT protocols actually require a civilian observer on every mission – a smart explanation for why the Doctor always has companions along for the ride. And it works better than you might expect.

I’m so excited! The first two episodes of The War Between the Land and the Sea are already out here in the U.K., and more are coming over the next couple of weeks. We don’t have a date for everywhere else yet – Disney+ just says it’ll be worldwide sometime in 2026. But honestly, if you’re a Doctor Who fan like me, you need to watch this. It genuinely feels like the show we’ve been waiting for after all these years – much closer to what Doctor Who should be than anything we’ve gotten for the last eight years.

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2025-12-08 16:10