The first reviews for the new Whoniverse spin off The War Between the Land and the Sea have arrived and early reactions suggest a dark emotional and politically charged sci fi drama that hits harder than expected.
The series opens with humanity on the defensive as an ancient ocean dwelling species rises from the deep and demands justice for centuries of environmental destruction and broken promises.
The tension between the surface world and the aquatic civilization builds quickly creating a backdrop that blends climate anxiety global politics and personal identity into one sweeping high stakes narrative.
At the center of it all is Russell Tovey as Barclay a UNIT staffer who finds himself dragged into a conflict that challenges everything he believes about loyalty survival and the blurred lines between friend and enemy.
Tovey’s casting has generated significant buzz because he brings not only star power but also a long history of queer visibility in mainstream television and film.
He first made an international impact in the supernatural drama Being Human before moving into the groundbreaking HBO series Looking where his performance helped cement the show as a touchstone for modern queer storytelling.
His years of stage work including the original production of The History Boys and his reputation for emotional nuance give Barclay a humanity that anchors the series even in its most chaotic moments.
Critics have praised how the show uses genre elements to explore themes of justice responsibility and the consequences of ignoring marginalized voices whether on land or under the sea.
The villains are not simple monsters but complex beings shaped by centuries of exploitation making the central conflict feel more like a moral reckoning than a traditional sci fi battle.
Reviewers also note that the series carries an unmistakable queer energy through its casting its subtext and its insistence on showing the cost of living between worlds that demand conflicting loyalties.
Tovey’s Barclay embodies this tension perfectly as a man caught between institutions governments and personal convictions all while trying to understand whether humanity deserves the mercy it is begging for.
The production design has earned strong praise for its moody underwater environments eerie sonic textures and sweeping visual effects that create a sense of mythic scale.
Gugu Mbatha Raw’s portrayal of Salt the leader of the aquatic faction has been highlighted as powerful commanding and layered giving the show a formidable emotional counterweight to Barclay’s internal struggle.
The early episodes suggest a series that is not afraid to ask difficult questions about ecological responsibility trauma and the thin line between resistance and revenge.
For queer viewers the inclusion of Russell Tovey in such a prominent role feels especially meaningful because his presence signals a continued broadening of representation within large franchise style storytelling.
The War Between the Land and the Sea looks poised to become one of the most talked about genre releases of the season by offering a story that is both socially conscious and rich with character driven drama.
If the rest of the season continues the trajectory set by its opening episodes it may emerge as one of the most compelling additions to the expanding Whoniverse in years.
📷 IG: @ bbc / iconmagazine / russeltovey