The dramatic finale of the Doctor Who spin-off, The War Between the Land and Sea, has landed on BBC iPlayer, concluding a five-part series that promised much but stumbled in one critical area. The UNIT-focused limited series, which pitted humanity against the resurgent Aquakind, built a compelling narrative around climate crisis and pollution, only to see its most powerful character diminished by a rushed romantic plot.
A Strong Start Drowned by Narrative Choices
Premiering in late 2025, the series launched with a potent, larger-than-life allegory for environmental harm. The story introduced Salt (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), the formidable representative of Homo Aqua, who selects everyman Barclay (Russell Tovey) as humanity's spokesperson. Early episodes were praised for their stark portrayal of issues like ocean plastic and polluted waterways, with Salt standing out as a headstrong, principled negotiator of sharp intelligence.
By the third episode, Salt had successfully forced world leaders to accelerate pollution clean-up and convinced delegates, including Barclay, to journey to the ocean's depths for further talks. This, however, proved to be the narrative's high-water mark.
Where Salt Lost Her Agency
The turning point came when deep-sea negotiations were violently sabotaged. In the aftermath, Salt made the fateful decision to save Barclay's life, an act for which she was immediately exiled by her own people. From this moment, the character's trajectory shifted dramatically. Her formidable will and determination seemed to evaporate, replaced largely by a focus on her burgeoning romance with Barclay.
This shift felt particularly jarring given the careful construction of Salt as a master strategist in the series' first half. The nuanced, twisting negotiations that explored global injustice were abandoned for a sped-up love story that lacked sufficient development. The finale saw Salt accept her outcast status with little fight, passively waiting for Barclay to find her, her spirit broken after a genocidal attack on Aquakind.
A Devastating, Narrowed Conclusion
The series conclusion depicted a devastating victory for the antagonists and a subdued, furious surrender by the remaining seafolk. While Russell Tovey delivered a standout performance as a heartbroken Barclay, and there were powerful moments showing the anguish of Aquakind, the ending felt lacklustre. The grand, global-scale crisis narrowed to a focus on two individuals, with Barclay undergoing an 'accord' to become amphibian for their watery reunion.
While the romantic subplot showed moxie, it ultimately sacrificed well-earned character depth and the compelling, plot-rich political thriller the show initially promised. The finale, available now in full on BBC iPlayer, leaves a sense of missed potential, proving that even a series with a powerful message can be undermined by character inconsistency.
