The Doctor may be galavanting through time and space, but his absence will leave Earth facing a formidable challenge in a new five-part *Doctor Who
spinoff series titled *The War Between the Land and the Sea*.
Showrunner Russell T. Davies, who spearheaded the show's revival in 2005, unveiled the exciting news during the *Doctor Who
panel at Hall H of San Diego Comic-Con. He explained that the spinoff would explore the consequences of the Doctor's absence, focusing on how humanity copes without his intervention.
The threat? The return of the Sea Devils, a classic *Doctor Who
enemy from the 1970s. These water-dwelling creatures, awakened in 2024, will be enraged by humanity's ecological devastation of Earth's oceans. Their response? To declare "war, on an epic scale" against the human race.
With the Doctor unavailable, the burden of dealing with this aquatic invasion falls upon UNIT, the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce. Jemma Redgrave will reprise her role as UNIT leader Kate Lethbridge-Stewart from the most recent season, alongside Alexander Devrient, returning as Colonel Ibrahim.
However, the series will also introduce two new leading characters, played by Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, both of whom have previously appeared in *Doctor Who*. While Davies jokingly dismissed comparisons to their past roles, he hinted at a compelling story featuring these new faces.
The spinoff will be directed by Dylan Holmes-Williams, responsible for two of last season's most impactful episodes: "73 Yards" and "Dot and Bubble." The latter episode, particularly resonated with fans, prompting a question about Ncuti Gatwa's tearful scene at the end. Gatwa, the first Black actor to play the Doctor, acknowledged the scene's significance, stating that it explored the confusion and discrimination faced by the Doctor as a person of color.
While *The War Between the Land and the Sea
won't premiere until later this year, the anticipation for the Doctor's next adventure is already high. Fans were given a glimpse of the upcoming *Doctor Who* Christmas special, featuring a teaser for *Bridgerton* star Nicola Coughlan's guest appearance.
With the Doctor's absence and the rising threat of the Sea Devils, the *Doctor Who
universe is poised for a dramatic and exciting new chapter. The spinoff promises a thrilling exploration of Earth's resilience against alien invasion and the consequences of humanity's actions on the environment.