The final collaboration between the BBC and Disney within the Whoniverse has arrived, and it's a damp squib. 'The War Between the Land and the Sea', a five-part mini-series released on Monday 08 December 2025, is a spin-off that highlights precisely what happens when you remove the Doctor from the equation. The result is a talky, slow-moving drama that struggles to justify its own existence.
A Universe Without Its Heart
This project lands as the BBC-Disney partnership for Doctor Who concludes, an alliance that proved short-lived after the main show failed to capture a global audience on Disney+. With the Tardis parked, this spin-off represents one last joint offering, focusing on the military-scientific organisation UNIT as they face the Sea Devils, now rebranded as the less problematic 'Homo Aqua'.
The absence of the Time Lord is keenly felt. Doctor Who's enduring appeal has never been about high-octane drama or perfect dialogue, but the magnetic, quirky presence of its central hero. Without that anchor, 'The War Between the Land and the Sea' feels adrift, attempting to fill the void with political themes and environmental messaging that come across as simplistic.
Miscast Stars and a Sluggish Pace
The series boasts an impressive cast who feel somewhat wasted. Russell Tovey plays Barclay Pierre-Dupont, a junior UNIT functionary thrust into a top diplomatic role. However, Tovey lacks the nerdy, bureaucratic essence needed to sell the character's accidental promotion.
The real head-scratcher is the casting of Gugu Mbatha-Raw. The acclaimed star of Black Mirror's 'San Junipero' and Apple TV+'s Surface is buried under layers of prosthetics to play Salt, the Sea Devils' ambassador. Confined to a tank and limited to monosyllabic dialogue, her considerable talent is squandered on a role that requires little more than portentous glaring.
Familiar faces from UNIT return, including Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne Bingham. The production values are solid, benefitting from the Disney investment, but the show suffers from a crisis of tone and a glaring lack of action, surprising for a series with 'War' in its title.
Final Thoughts on a Forgettable Chapter
Showrunner Russell T Davies, who previously expanded the universe with Torchwood, aims for a more mature, politically-charged story here. The themes of ocean pollution and political vanity are timely, but their execution is clunky and does little to alleviate the sluggish pace. The release date was reportedly pushed forward, suggesting the BBC was eager to move past this and focus on a post-Disney future for the main show.
That future may involve Billie Piper as the next Doctor, with a Christmas special slated for 2026. By then, the disappointing Disney deal will likely be a distant memory. The same fate almost certainly awaits 'The War Between the Land and the Sea', a forgettable and ultimately bland attempt to stretch the Whoniverse without its most vital component.
