Since the frankly abysmal two-part finale that ended Ncuti’s run as the 15^th Doctor and the conclusion of the Whoniverse on Disney+, there have been mutterings about how long the show can last and what, if anything, could change its dire direction. However, with pre-release reviews of the RTD2-era’s only spin-off coming with general positivity, there very well might be some light at the end of the tunnel.

So, is The War Between the Land and the Sea (TWBTLATS) the Whoniverse’s saviour, or will it spell the final nail in the coffin in a two-year failed venture? Honestly, the answer is that TWBTLATS is neither.

When a fearsome and ancient species emerges from the ocean, dramatically revealing themselves to humanity, an international crisis is triggered. With the entire population at risk, UNIT step into action as the land and sea wage war.

IMDB Synopsis

Setting itself as a spinoff more adult than the parent show, TWBTLATS offers up a political thriller between humanity, UNIT and a newly designed version of a fan-favourite Classic Series monster, The Sea Devils.

To this effect, the story gets off to a good start in its opening episode, Homo aqua. As an introduction to the series, it focuses on its protagonist, Barclay, a logistics man at UNIT who has been thrust into the world of aliens and monsters after being mistaken for a journalist.

During this episode, he makes for a great narrative device, as his status as a newcomer to the more secretive sections of UNIT gives him the perfect opportunity to naturally introduce the many familiar characters from Doctor Who to new and returning audience members alike.  

It is also clear from the first episode that the series is well directed. Dylan Holmes Williams does a stellar job throughout both already aired episodes, managing the tense and dramatic moments despite the show’s uneven pacing. Although, this perhaps isn’t a surprise to those who know of his previous work on Doctor Who, which are highlights in their respective seasons. Moreover, the costumes and the new designs of the Sea Devil feel in keeping with a more modern, adult version of the show.

Although there is a lot of promise in its introduction and directing, problems from the main show eventually manage to worm their way into this production. The most glaring of these issues comes from the handling (or lack thereof) of its political themes.  Environmentalism and the need to curtail pollution are undoubtedly some of the most important issues facing our society; however, this story handles the issues with all the subtlety of a hurled dustbin to the face. It feels, at times, as though the show is talking down to its audience, often resorting to having Barclay shout out these very obvious problems in a way that is heavy-handed, especially in a show aimed at adults.  

There is also an issue with the show’s pacing, especially in the second episode, Plastic Apocalypse. Despite its tense start with the discovery of a dead Sea Devil, the show has grown more akin to a courtroom drama. Much of the second episode’s runtime is spent with Barclay, UNIT and the Sea Devils debating an armistice. While this certainly has potential, the show’s writing isn’t strong enough to hold interest. It lacks both the subtlety and strong character interplay to pull it off, and as a result, the story gets bogged down by line after line of uninteresting dialogue when it would be better to build up threat elsewhere.