The long-awaited Doctor Who spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, has finally arrived, but unfortunately, it feels like a fish out of water (pun intended). Creator Russell T Davies is back at the helm, this time focusing on the adventures of Unit, rather than the iconic Doctor. The show follows Barclay, an everyman figure played by Russell Tovey, who finds himself thrust into a geopolitical crisis when he's forced to lead a team of humans against an underwater threat known as the Sea Devils.
The premise is undoubtedly unique and offers plenty of potential for exciting set pieces and character development. However, the execution feels like it's stuck in mid-tier Whoniverse territory. The show's tone is inconsistent, veering wildly from cheesy puns to serious moral debates. It's clear that Davies wants to make a point about environmentalism and the need for human unity, but the delivery falls flat.
The character of Salt, played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, feels like an afterthought. Her motivation for wanting Barclay as her human counterpart is predictable and shallow. Meanwhile, Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) seems more like a cardboard cutout than a fully fleshed-out character. It's disappointing that a show with such potential squanders it on convenient plot devices and underdeveloped supporting characters.
The writing often prioritizes cheap emotional moments over genuine storytelling. The usually reliable Jemma Redgrave is reduced to begging Barclay to read from a teleprompter, which feels like a lazy way to keep her character in the spotlight. And let's not forget the patronizing portrayal of Barclay's wife, who embodies all the worst tropes about unreasonable female characters.
Despite its flaws, The War Between the Land and the Sea still manages to be solid entertainment for kids. It has a good chance of winning over teenagers with its promise of excitement and adventure. However, when you have a spin-off series with such potential, it's hard not to feel that Davies missed an opportunity to create something truly special.
In short, The War Between the Land and the Sea is a show that promises much but delivers little. It's time for Davies to take another pass at the title, work on character development, and deliver a more nuanced exploration of its themes. Until then, fans will have to settle for a fishy Doctor Who spin-off that fails to make a lasting impact.
The premise is undoubtedly unique and offers plenty of potential for exciting set pieces and character development. However, the execution feels like it's stuck in mid-tier Whoniverse territory. The show's tone is inconsistent, veering wildly from cheesy puns to serious moral debates. It's clear that Davies wants to make a point about environmentalism and the need for human unity, but the delivery falls flat.
The character of Salt, played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, feels like an afterthought. Her motivation for wanting Barclay as her human counterpart is predictable and shallow. Meanwhile, Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) seems more like a cardboard cutout than a fully fleshed-out character. It's disappointing that a show with such potential squanders it on convenient plot devices and underdeveloped supporting characters.
The writing often prioritizes cheap emotional moments over genuine storytelling. The usually reliable Jemma Redgrave is reduced to begging Barclay to read from a teleprompter, which feels like a lazy way to keep her character in the spotlight. And let's not forget the patronizing portrayal of Barclay's wife, who embodies all the worst tropes about unreasonable female characters.
Despite its flaws, The War Between the Land and the Sea still manages to be solid entertainment for kids. It has a good chance of winning over teenagers with its promise of excitement and adventure. However, when you have a spin-off series with such potential, it's hard not to feel that Davies missed an opportunity to create something truly special.
In short, The War Between the Land and the Sea is a show that promises much but delivers little. It's time for Davies to take another pass at the title, work on character development, and deliver a more nuanced exploration of its themes. Until then, fans will have to settle for a fishy Doctor Who spin-off that fails to make a lasting impact.
I feel like I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one 
. I saw the first ep and it was just...meh 
. I love Russell T Davies, but this one feels like a step back for me. The whole show has this weird tone that's hard to get into. And don't even get me started on the characters 
. I mean, I loved Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Broadchurch, but here she just feels like an extra 
. I think the main issue is that they're trying too hard to be "deep" and it comes across as forced 
. Still, I'll give it another ep or two before deciding if I'm gonna keep watching 
It feels like they took all the exciting parts of Whoniverse and mashed them together into a messy, inconsistent stew 
. I love Russell T Davies as a writer, but this show just doesn't click for me. Barclay's character is so generic and boring, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw's Salt feels like a wasted opportunity 
. The writing is all over the place, too - one minute it's serious and deep, next minute it's cheesy puns and cringeworthy moments 
. It's clear they're trying to make a point about environmentalism, but it comes across as forced and heavy-handed. I'd love to see them go back to the drawing board and try again with more nuanced storytelling 
.
. The characters are all kinda meh, like Salt is just there because Gugu Mbatha-Raw is a star 
.
. It's like they took all the cool stuff from Doctor Who and just slapped it into this show without thinking it through 
.
, but as an adult fan, it's hard to get excited about it 
... great premise but executed poorly 
. dont get me wrong, still enjoyed some bits, especially when its all about Barclay and his team fighting against sea devils 
but character development? meh 
salt feels like a waste of space, kate lethbridge-stewart just felt like another familiar face from old whoniverse 
. Russell T Davies is back and still trying to make a point about environmentalism and unity, but it feels so forced and heavy-handed 
. And what's up with all these new characters? They're like cardboard cutouts with shallow motivations 
. I mean, I get it, kids might enjoy it for the excitement and adventure, but fans deserve better 
. It's like they took a step back from what made Whoniverse great in the first place 
. Maybe another season or two will help iron out some of these issues, but for now, I'm just gonna have to settle for a solid 6/10 
. I mean, it's got all the right ingredients - action, adventure, and a unique premise 
, and Kate Lethbridge-Stewart is basically just a placeholder with no real purpose in the story. It's all a bit too convenient for my taste 
.
. Maybe he'll take another crack at it and really nail the execution next time? 
but u know what killed it for me salt was literally the only interesting character 
, and I'm not sure why they couldn't've made it more subtle. And what's up with all these convenient plot devices? It feels like they're just phoning it in to appease the fans 
. I mean, where's the real tension or conflict? The characters feel like cardboard cutouts too - Barclay's wife is literally just a prop 
. I'm gonna keep an eye on this one, but for now, it's just okay, i guess 