The new BBC series 'The War Between The Land and The Sea', a spin-off from Doctor Who, premiered on December 7, 2025, but viewers quickly complained about poor sound mixing. Created by Russell T Davies, the five-part drama explores an ancient aquatic species emerging from the ocean, triggering a global crisis handled by UNIT. While some praised its engaging story and performances, audio issues overshadowed the debut for many.
Series Overview
'The War Between The Land and The Sea' is a five-part BBC drama created by Russell T Davies, known for 'It's A Sin' and previous Doctor Who episodes. Set in the Whoniverse but without the Doctor, the series follows UNIT as they respond to the emergence of the ancient Homo Aqua, or Sea Devils, from the ocean. This triggers an international crisis involving themes of climate change and global conflict. The show aims to be accessible to newcomers, with Davies noting its tougher tone due to the absence of the Doctor's 'safety net'.
The premiere aired on BBC One at 8:30pm on Sunday, December 7, 2025, with the first two episodes available on iPlayer. Subsequent episodes are scheduled for December 14 (episodes three and four at 9:20pm) and December 21 (finale). Key cast includes Russell Tovey as Barclay, the reluctant spokesperson for humanity; Gugu Mbatha-Raw as the enigmatic leader Salt; Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart; Ruth Madeley as Shirley; and Alexander Devrient as Ibrahim.
Viewer Reactions and Audio Issues
Minutes into the debut, viewers flooded social media with complaints about the sound mix. Many reported dialogue being drowned out by background music, forcing them to increase volume, enable subtitles, or struggle to follow key scenes. One viewer posted: 'Why is the background music drowning out the dialogue? I can't hear a b****y thing!' Another said: 'I cannot understand what anyone is saying.' A third noted: 'The sound mix is iffy... the dialogue is so lost in the mix - we’ve had to triple the volume.'
Critical Reception
Early reviews highlight the series' strengths. A Metro critic, after viewing the first two episodes, praised its return to Davies' high writing standards, with rich character development and socio-political commentary on environmental issues. Performances, especially Mbatha-Raw's nuanced portrayal of Salt, were lauded, alongside impressive production values like grand sets and epic concepts. While some awkward moments persist, the review suggests the show delivers thrilling, relevant storytelling in the Doctor Who tradition, though its finale will determine long-term success.
This debut marks the first major Whoniverse spin-off since Torchwood ended in 2011, blending accessibility with deeper themes for fans and new audiences alike.