Homo Aqua

"The species that came before us has woken up."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 07 December 2025

Series: The War Between the Land and the Sea 1.01

Featuring: Kate, Barclay

Synopsis

Barclay's ordinary life becomes a world of terror when an ancient species rises from the sea. As UNIT fights for control, the summit on the Thames reveals terrifying secrets.

Verdict

Homo Aqua was a very strong start to The War Between the Land and the Sea! I watched with intrigue and excitement on broadcast alongside a rather less enthusiastic partner of mine. She likened things to Avatar which she's not a fan of but thankfully I thought this was really good and I'm excited for more to come. I'm almost disappointed by the fact it has been released as a double bill because I've had to stop watching now to write this blog! My appetite for the series was wetted this morning in watching the new feature-length version of The Sea Devils and I like how the opening titles in that edition followed suit with how things opened here. It certainly didn't feel like Doctor Who whilst being set in the Whoniverse and I think that's a really good thing. It needs to have a different feel and that was exactly what happened here. I thought Russell Tovey was actually outstanding in the lead role as Barclay and it's fun to see how much his character has changed already. The fact he got to be part of the initial mission to Dragonera by mistake and an admin error still listing him as Together Trevethick's replacement was wonderful and he portrays the humour so well. I thought our reintroduction to the Sea Devils in the form of the updated name of Homo Aqua was surprising in that we started with a corpse (apart from the brief moment before one was shot in the fishing net). I remember seeing the leaks of the updated design for them and feeling like it was pretty questionable, but seeing it in action I thought they were fantastic. The carrying of the staff is also a really good touch that brings some more fear factor to them. I could probably have done with less emphasis on translation in the episode so once Salt emerged for the peace talks I was delighted that this was done away with. No such issues when the TARDIS is around! Barclay touching upon meeting the Doctor briefly when at the UNIT Tower was just enough of a nod to the wider Whoniverse without dwelling on it and even when UNIT took command of the peace talks with Kate at the head it didn't feel like any prior knowledge was required which is good for the first episode of a whole new series. I thought the impact made by General Austin Pierce was sublime and that voice is just booming! I hope his role isn't diminished moving forward by the arrival of Kate, even if she is a welcomed familiar face. It's always fun to see Trinity Wells back and just gives everything that little bit of continuity, but the imagery of the news reports in showcasing the Homo Aqua rising from the depths of the waters all across the world was magnificent. I was so impressed with the visuals here which I don't often mention but they really were striking in the best way. Barclay's family life was good to explore and I'm sure it's not the last of it but his position as a civilian witness is great stuff. He feels like an everyday person and that's exactly what's required here. He was shocked by seeing death and the way the Corporal and Captain were pulled beneath was brutal. It's the only act of defiance we've seen from the Homo Aqua but it said a lot about their capabilities! I like how Barclay's religious crossing of his chest when seeing the Sea Devil corpse was mistook for respect and that meant he was the one Salt wanted to represent humanity in their talks. That took everybody in the diplomatic setup by surprise, including Barclay himself! That 'okay' line at the end of the episode was done perfectly. Overall, a lot of set up but that's always going to happen in a new series like this, but as a veteran fan I'm already well versed in what's happening. A lot of tension and some intriguing politics with some glorious design and imagery. Not bad at all for a series opener! 

Rating: 8/10

The Sea Devils

"Those reptiles, Doctor, were once the rulers of this Earth."

Writer: Malcolm Hulke

Format: TV (Omnibus)

Broadcast: 07 December 2025

Season: 9.03

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

A re-edited, feature-length version of the classic 1972 Doctor Who story that introduced audiences to the formidable aquatic species the Sea Devils. 

Verdict

The Sea Devils was an excellent feature-length special of the famed Season 9 classic adventure! Incredibly, the full onscreen version is one of the final televised serials I have yet to blog but rest assured it's a serial I know very well and one I have very fond memories of from collecting the DVDs in my younger days (back when everything wasn't on iPlayer!). I remember hearing about the return of the Silurians in The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood so buying the Beneath the Surface collection involving this story was a quick necessity to ensure I was caught up on everything Silurians and now Sea Devils. This is something of an instant classic with the Sea Devil design being rather iconic, even if it is a bit rubbish. But I say that out of love and credit must go to the redesign in Legend of the Sea Devils because that upgrade is magnificent. This special edit of the story comes about today ahead of the highly anticipated broadcast of new spinoff The War Between the Land and the Sea and that is something I'm very excited about! I feel like it has creeped up on me and it wasn't really until reading the previews in this month's Doctor Who Magazine that I got very excited about the new series. I'm all for anything new in the Whoniverse so a BBC1 spinoff special is right up my alley! I can't wait to see what is done with UNIT and the Sea Devils and it almost feels like putting a wrong right. It's baffling that with the political involvement in this story that UNIT aren't involve other than baring their name on the passes of the Doctor and Jo. I also love how this story is focused on the Master and from a personal perspective it's seemed an awfully long time since watching a Roger Delgado adventure! He absolutely shines in the facade of prison and after the events of The Daemons he's still very much in control. There was no way the Clangers scene was going to be cut because that's an absolute classic and it put a smile on my face once again here. I think the emergence of the Sea Devils from the sea is wonderful and I think part of why I love the design is the quality of the action figure that Character released. I'm almost certain I had it before actually watching the story so seeing them for the first time again here brought some nostalgia. I was a big fan of the pace in the edit and I think purely in terms of the cut this is the best of what Benjamin Cook has done since The Daleks in Colour. I mean I've loved them all but this feels like it actually improved the story rather than missing bits out. The blending and additional score music was impressive and really helped add to things. I also really appreciated the flashback to Doctor Who and the Silurians when the Doctor was describing his previous encounter with a similar race in the form of their Eocene cousins. It's amusing how the Sea Devil name sticks from the delirious mind of a ship crew member but I do hope that the modern era doesn't do away with it totally. I like how the Sea Devils initially seem willing to cooperate with mankind and take up the Doctor's offer of negotiation for them to inhabit the areas of the planet that humanity cannot, but a political decision often gets in the way and a bombardment of strikes meant there was indeed war between land and sea. I think the base blowing up is almost a shame of a resolution as the Doctor can't negotiate peace once again, but the Master pulling one over on him in escaping and causally waving as he departs in the helicopter is terrific. Where on Earth did he have that mask stashed? Overall, an impressive edit of what is already a stellar serial. A fine new take on the story that has almost certainly extended how long it will be now until I blog the full version! One day. But for now, a marvellous watch.

Rating: 9/10

Slipback

"A voice calling to you from afar."

Writer: Eric Saward

Format: Audio

Broadcast: 25 July-8 August 1985

Series: BBC Radio 01

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

The Sixth Doctor and Peri arrive on a mysterious space liner, where intergalactic policemen are investigating art thefts, a computer is suffering from a split personality and the Captain's disease threatens every living thing on the ship.

Verdict

Slipback was a pretty average audio adventure, but a real joy to listen to given its standing in the history of the Whoniverse. I'm not sure Exploration Earth counts as a firm first radio audio adventure for Doctor Who given its educational intent and it being broadcast for BBC Schools, but this felt like a precursor to Big Finish which is a huge compliment. I was surprised to hear in the opening titles that Eric Saward penned the story as this doesn't exactly feel like something up his alley. It's also fascinating to look back on now at the state of Doctor Who in 1985 with the show going on hiatus for over eighteen months. That really doesn't feel like much of an issue at all now with the recent news that the next new episode will now air for Christmas 2026. The Reality War aired in May this year! And yet here we are having an original audio with the original lead cast to fill the gap. Oh what I'd give for an original audio featuring Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu at the moment! The story itself is not exactly the greatest but it's far from being bad as well. I don't think the format does it any favours as six parts of ten minutes each is not the best in terms of flow. I find the broadcast decision to do two episodes per week odd as well. Why not just do three parts of twenty minutes? That would definitely have been better. I thought some of the cliffhangers were a bit naff and the directing decision to encourage the Doctor and Peri at times to go over the top with their reactions was a little off-putting. It didn't feel natural which was a shame. It was really fun though to listen to Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant in a story recorded in the middle of their on screen run. They're tremendous together for Big Finish but there's no doubting how much younger and authentic they sounded! That was really intriguing for comparison. I thought the Captain made for a good villain in parts but his humour was a little silly in what he represented. I did like the threat of the incurable death though and the Doctor's reaction to that potentially being present was excellent. The Inner Voice was an interesting little element too and the Doctor hearing that even within the TARDIS was quite surprising. The Maston race sounded somewhat average and the Doctor being surprised by their presence because they were wiped out a million years ago was terrific. I do like a mystery like that. The way the Doctor was investigating someone who was meddling with time travel was often forgotten was a bit of a shame as I do like that threat, and the Inner Voice wanting to change history on a scale that was almost unfathomable almost felt too big! The scale in which she wanted to retro-engineer the galaxy's races was huge! I thought the Doctor almost stopping it but it then turning out to actually be the Big Bang with her calculations way off and going back in time too far was audacious to say the least! I wasn't a massive fan of a member of the High Council of the Time Lords interfering, but it did need to be someone in authority to even stop the Doctor from following through with his actions. Imagine if he'd prevented creation! The computer voice was ungodly in terms of annoyance as well. No wonder she wanted a different voice! The Vipod Moor would go on with its journey and creation was not averted. Some stakes for a mere time experiment! Overall, a fascinating listen that just getting to experience it felt better than the actual story. 

Rating: 6/10

Curios

"Shadows are all that remain."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: September 2021

Series: Torchwood Monthly 54

Featuring: Bilis

Synopsis

During World War Two, the Torchwood Archive has been stowed away in a Welsh coal mine along with countless other art treasures. Bilis Manger is among them. And there's something hunting him in the dark. 

Jill has been sent to catalogue the collection. She's on her own, she's in disgrace and there's something hunting her on the slopes of the mountain.

Verdict

Curios was another great audio adventure to continue my way through the monthly Torchwood range at Big Finish! I am a big fan of how well Big Finish have expanded the character life of Bilis Manger because he really is a character with so much potential. It was clear in his on screen appearances in Captain Jack Harkness/End of Days that he had a significant history and connection with Torchwood, and having him within the Torchwood Archive during World War Two just feels right somehow. I love the enigmatic nature of his character and a lot of that is down to Murray Melvin's measured performance. It's really impressive and works just as well on audio. I think having the Torchwood Archive within the depths of a coal mine in Wales is rather interesting to say the least, but it's not exactly the first place anybody would go looking! The exertion it took Jill just to get down into the collection of artefacts with the lift and it being manned was a stark reminder of the lack of technology at the time which was interesting. I was not a fan of Wilf and Brent at all and I fully appreciate that this was the intention, but crikey were they dickheads. The way they tried to assert their supposed male dominance and superiority over Jill was awkward and honestly just sad. The way Jill stood up for herself when she was threatened sexually was excellent and that was quite uncomfortable listen. There was no call for it and it actually had a bit of a lasting impact on my listening experience I think as I really didn't like it. I appreciated the realism though and sadly this is certainly something that would have happened, and probably still does to this day. I thought Jill and Bilis working together within the Torchwood Archive was great and the way she was slowly learning all about him was fascinating stuff. She deduced a lot about him which was impressive and it was quite nice as well for him to be taking a liking to her. Bilis is not exactly a character who has time for a lot of people and that was evidenced early on as he freely admitted to her he had the time, just not the inclination to help her. The threat of the shadows was strong and whilst they might have been contained to the background for a little too long, I liked the mystery behind them. The way Jill worked out that Bilis actually was stuck inside the Torchwood Archive was impressive and even more so was the way she had the intelligence to discover that the shadows were actually created by Bilis himself. They were literally formed from his frustrations and that was a really strong concept! I liked that a lot. I think Bilis becoming stuck because he was also an artefact within the Torchwood Archive collection was amusing, and Jill treating him as the prisoner he was acting like by putting him inside a box to get him out was quite the image! I thought it was intriguing that she was willing to do that despite not knowing whether he really was good or bad, but one thing she was sure on was the fate that was left for Wilf and Brent. They deserved to be left for the shadows whilst they still remained. Overall, a really strong story that explored the history of the Torchwood Archive in a really nice way! And more Bilis is always welcomed.

Rating: 8/10

Field Trip

"Night at the museum."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Comic Strip

Released: October-November 2025

Printed in: DWM 622-623

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor

Synopsis

Coinciding with a school trip at the Museum of Natural Wonder, the Fifteenth Doctor investigates some very strange readings emanating from the collection. A very rare and unexplained artefact is not quite as dead as it seems...

Verdict

Field Trip was a pretty average story to continue the comic strip adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor. I find these shorter page counts to be really detrimental to the comic stories when the length of parts is pretty minimal as it really does feel that by the time a story has started, we're already building towards the cliffhanger which isn't the best way to go in my view. I really do wish we could get an extra two pages per issue as I feel like that would be really positive and helpful for adding depth to a story. I would have liked an explanation here as to why the Doctor was travelling alone as we've just gone from Belinda's debut in this format in His Mad Pranks and now she's nowhere to be seen? That doesn't make much sense to me and I know the placement can easily come around the time of Joy to the World between on screen series, but just a little line to explain would have been welcomed in my view. I think the Museum of Natural Wonder is a superb setting and getting a Doctor Who version of Night at the Museum sounds magnificent on paper. I was a huge fan of those movies as a child so this initially excited me, but it soon became something of a let down. Did my expectations get too high in anticipation? Perhaps, but the second part literally opens in paying homage to the films! One thing that this comic strip story has going for it in a major way was the artwork. The illustrations and colour were nothing short of phenomenal. The likeness for Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor was exemplary and I think the design of the dinosaurs and then the Ossuarian Phalanx were hugely impressive. The vibrancy of the Jurassic Age period being portrayed and then the eery feel of the three-skeletal Phalanx was a strong contrast. Hasan was not a bad character but there's just something about a child filling the companion role that feels lesser than. It almost makes the entire story feel aimed at a younger audience which takes me out of it slightly which is a shame. I don't feel like the comic strip in the pages of DWM has lived up to its potential for a very long time now which is a big shame to say and this is just another example. From the reveal of the three skeletons actually being one creature and one returned that had been around for over two million years, things just felt flat. Professor Bryte looked like she had potential to be a bit of a villain but we just didn't get to spend enough time with her to make that the case. I did love the Doctor's little nod to Invasion of the Dinosaurs when it came to potentially getting UNIT involved and their past dinosaur experience, but the whole heart of stone thing just didn't get going. Hasan was confident and I quite liked that he worked out what the supposed ancient enemy of the Bo'rof-jin actually were. They were the Borophaginae which was fine as a concept, but seeing a three-headed skeleton cower at a schoolboy getting on the floor and barking was just ludicrous. I couldn't buy into that and was actually shaking my head. The Doctor looked on in admiration and I appreciate that Hasan was clever to work it out, but still it just felt so silly. The imagery of the barking creatures with ancient genes was strong to finish on though and the epilogue with the Doctor getting Hasan back to his dad after the trip and off the school coach was a nice touch. Overall, a super setting but a plot that kind of felt flat against a beautiful backdrop of artwork. 

Rating: 5/10

Cass: Previously, Next Time Part 2

"Who is Elvis?"

Writer: James Moran

Format: Audio

Released: January 2023

Series: The Eighth Doctor: The Time War 5.03b

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Alex, Cass

Synopsis

The factory has vanished along with the TARDIS, and the formerly uninhabited planet is now fully populated by people who have been here for thousands of years, people who have never heard of the Time War OR Daleks. Something very strange is going on with time itself – and it's running out, fast.

Verdict 

Previously, Next Time concluded in very strong fashion to complete what was a really strong finale to the Cass series of Eighth Doctor Adventures amidst the Time War! This leaves things back as they were in regards to The Night of the Doctor and the Eighth Doctor's swan song alongside Cass whom he met for the first time (at least so he thought) with the way time was erased and rewritten here. That's such a good running theme throughout the Time War adventures for this incarnation and I'm delighted that this series is not the last in the range. There's still so much potential and I think half of that comes from Alex as a travelling companion also. I wouldn't say he was particularly bad or anything, but I don't feel like he's done an awful lot since Restoration of the Daleks brought this version back to us. Maybe with Cass the focus was rightly on her and he's not exactly a new character as the Doctor's great-grandson, but I hope we get more time to draw attention to him in the next series. I think the move away from time in general here was good and we got to focus more on the people of the previously uninhabited planet. Despite being a part two, this did almost feel like an entirely different story which made for an intriguing listen. I did also leave it a day between listens and I think that did aid in my feeling of the story being broken up. I was happy with my decision. I think the likes of Oshia and Kade really shone and the way the former was almost beginning to accept the truth from the Doctor and his companions was a bit of a shock! I don't care what anyone says, I would never be able to even contemplate that the kind of thing they were saying was true. And yet there was something there for them that made them question that their entire society and species might not actually be supposed to exist! Alex pointing out that they were conversing in English despite the TARDIS being a year away was terrific and I'm glad that was addressed. I also liked learning about the Vellans and Kaledia as bluntly unsubtle Dalek links. That was cleverly done and started to answer some of the questions about the planet and what it resembled. It was certainly very Earthly. I thought the emergence of the Daleks was strong and certainly impactful, but I must admit their presence didn't seem to last as long as it should have. The way that Oshia came to accept the fate of her people was pretty emotional as she knew the Daleks had to be thwarted, but if the Doctor was correct then that would mean herself and her entire people would cease to exist. To have ever existed. And that's exactly what happened with the Doctor utilising the Battle TARDIS and her heartbreakingly disappearing mid-speech. It didn't just stop there though as that reverted things massively bringing the Doctor and Alex back to the TARDIS which was in full working order. Alex asking the Doctor who he was talking to when he was in the middle of his own speech about remembering was great stuff and I like that there's a direction moving forward as despite her being rewritten, they both remembered Cass. I thought that was a nice touch and a fine way to send us into the next instalment of the Eighth Doctor's Time War adventures. Overall, not as strong as the first part but when combined it's still very much a stellar finale! 

Rating: 9/10

Cass: Previously, Next Time Part 1

"This was an uninhabited planet five minutes ago."

Writer: James Moran

Format: Audio

Released: January 2023

Series: The Eighth Doctor: The Time War 5.03a

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Alex, Cass

Synopsis

The Doctor, Cass and Alex land to find out what's causing temporal anomalies with the TARDIS, and come across an uninhabited planet, a mysterious factory, and a weapon so dangerous, it could destroy the Universe. But things go catastrophically wrong...

Verdict

Previously, Next Time started in sublime fashion with this superb opening half of the story! Two synopsises for the series finale means this gets the double blog treatment from me and it feels fitting given how things ended. It felt like this was almost too big of a cliffhanger to just be the halfway point in a story and to keep listening immediately. This hour or so was brilliant in exploring the broken timelines of the Time War and that's been a fantastic theme running through the Eighth Doctor Adventures set during the conflict. I'm a big fan of things and the Daleks getting involved is marvellous. They almost have to at some point when it comes to the Time War because they are after all who the Time Lords are fighting, and their plan here was incredibly audacious to say the least! I like how Cass knows all about the Daleks now from the TARDIS databanks and I just love the idea of her studying up and doing some revision on what she might come up against. It's certainly good companion material to plan ahead like that. I thought the way she sold the Daleks as well as a chilling threat was marvellous and not that it was needed but really showed just what the Daleks meant. And it wasn't good! The way things started with the Doctor, Alex and Cass basically exploding into existence on this uninhabited planet was intriguing and I'm continuing to enjoy playing around with the format of stories amidst the Time War setting. This range does it better than any other I would argue and it shows no signs of letting up. The planet blinking into actually being inhabited in a completely changed history and timeline was something and Cass explaining to the new locals who had an entire existence that was being questioned did sound ludicrous. The way she was putting her case forward that the planet's entire species didn't exist until she awoke again was almost hilarious in how baffling it sounded. Even she had to admit the story wasn't in her favour. The continued absence of Bliss going noticed by the Doctor was fascinating stuff and amidst numerous temporal anomalies and changing and deleted timelines, is there a version where she accompanied the Doctor, Alex and Cass here? I think that's fun to think about. It would certainly change the dynamic! The Daleks building a retcon bomb sounded impressive and the emphatic music that accompanied the Doctor revealing that name was marvellous in it being accompanied by Cass asking if they were supposed to understand what that meant. The concept behind it through the Battle TARDIS was incredible as they planned to basically hack reality. Putting the universe and time altogether in that way is almost incomprehensible to think about but it would be a place where the Daleks righted every wrong on an unimaginable scale. Would there even be anyone else left? The Doctor questioning what the point of the Daleks would be once the universe was conquered was powerful stuff and I was almost left baffled by a Dalek answering that the universe would then be beautiful. I did not know beauty would be in Dalek vocabulary! The bomb going off as the Doctor tried to implode the retcon was intriguing as it sent him and his companions back a year. No TARDIS and nearly no time before the Daleks rewrote everything and became victors of the universe. Some cliffhanger! Overall, an incredible first half of the story. If the second part is anywhere near as good we're onto a classic. 

Cass: Vespertine

"A man who should be dead in a ship that should be lost."

Writer: Lou Morgan

Format: Audio

Released: January 2023

Series: The Eighth Doctor: The Time War 5.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Alex, Cass

Synopsis

It's Cass's first trip in the TARDIS, and the Doctor is determined to make it one to remember. But when they arrive at a research base that shouldn't exist, built above a missing explorer's ship that should never have been found, it seems their visit's going to be memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Because deep beneath the ice, there's more than just a long-lost ship waiting for them...

Verdict

Vespertine was an excellent story to continue my way through the Cass fifth series of Time War era Eighth Doctor Adventures! This firmly served as the first TARDIS trip for Cass which was great and I'm loving that she is getting established as a fully fledged companion. It's clear that she is going to befall the same fate as Bliss when it comes to the Time War and the Eighth Doctor forgetting her, which was played on very nicely here. Alex is very much in on what has been happening and he knows that from what he saw in Hudson Sage's past that the Doctor there was also in the past from the current point in which he is travelling. That is obviously troubling to the Doctor as he would like to know why his memory has been altered and why he forgot ever meeting Sage in the first place. I think this being the first destination for Cass was marvellous and really felt like doing a traditional companion piece despite the Time War setting which was impressive. She had grown up on the story of Hudson Sage as her bedtime ritual so the potential of meeting him here was incredible. He was a hero, so finding out that he might actually have just been a scavenger was obviously detrimental to everything she thought she knew. It changed everything and that must be very tough to come to terms with. But she didn't have much of a choice! I again felt like Alex was something of a backseat companion here and that's not much of a surprise given that Cass is brand new (chronologically speaking!). She fared well for her first trip though, especially with her connection to events. Her immediate recognition of the Vespertine name was marvellous and she couldn't believe that the ship had actually been found at all. It didn't seem to add up with history and the timeline, but that's part of the fun with this setting. Rin was an excellent character in the episode who went through an awful lot emotionally! Her familial connection to Hudson was unexpected in being his great granddaughter, and her actually inadvertently being responsible for killing him was shocking stuff. She was genuinely unaware he was still alive in his wrecked ship and was trying to free him for closure, but she ended up causing things to go massively wrong. The beacon actually being a temporal disruptor was no good and the whole concept of just Sage's part of the deck being time locked was fascinating. That's a very intriguing scale when it comes to the lock and the fact time and history around it underwent consistent change and ageing is really intriguing. The research base itself as a whole was a strong setting and it always felt to fit with the temporally wrong theme. The Doctor pondering on what had gone wrong in Hudson's past to alter timelines was good, but the realisation at the end that he might have been the only one that didn't happen to was fun stuff. He was time locked after all! Overall, a really fascinating adventure and a strong exploration of the Vespertine and Cass's background as a child to really give her depth. A fantastic continuation. 

Rating: 9/10