Doctor Who Spin-Off The War Between Land and Sea Sets BBC Debut
The War Between Land and Sea, a Doctor Who spin-off, premiered on BBC One to nearly 3 million UK viewers, surpassing the main series' first two seasons. Disney Plus subscribers will have to wait longer for its release.
The highly anticipated Doctor Who spin-off, The War Between Land and Sea, made its debut on BBC One on December 7, drawing in close to 3 million viewers across the UK. This impressive turnout came despite stiff competition from the finale of the hit reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! airing at the same time. The show's second episode also performed strongly, attracting over 2 million viewers. Both episodes outpaced the ratings of the first two seasons of the main Doctor Who series, with the exception of the recent Christmas special, 'Joy to the World.'
New Faces and Familiar Talent
Created by Russell T Davies, The War Between Land and Sea follows Barclay Pierre-Dupont, played by Russell Tovey, a frequent collaborator of Davies. Barclay, a junior officer, unexpectedly finds himself leading critical negotiations between UNIT and a newly discovered species known as Homo aqua. Gugu Mbatha-Raw, known for her role in Loki, stars as Salt, the ambassador for the Homo aqua, also called the Sea Devils. The supporting cast includes Jemma Redgrave, Colin McFarlane, Alexander Devrient, and Ruth Madeley, bringing together a dynamic ensemble for this new chapter in the Doctor Who universe.
A Hero Defined by Empathy
Russell Tovey shared his thoughts on his character in an interview with The Independent, saying,
I hope that many, many people can see themselves in him and then feel inspired to do something – that they see that every man can be the most important man. Barclay is someone who gets chosen because of kindness, because of showing empathy. He's thrust into this terrifying place, out of his depth, but when he's there, he doesn't choose anger or violence. He's calm and peaceful and shows respect to this lifeform that people are othering. It 's such a beautiful message that what he's seen and celebrated for are his sensitivities, for being soft and kind – especially as a man.
Waiting for the US Release
While UK audiences have already experienced the premiere, American viewers on Disney Plus will need to be patient for the show's stateside release. In the meantime, fans can revisit some of the greatest sci-fi TV shows ever made, with Doctor Who itself ranking at number 14 on many lists. The War Between Land and Sea is already making waves, promising a fresh perspective and new adventures in the beloved Doctor Who universe.