REVIEW: ‘The War Between The Land And The Sea’ Episode 5 — “The End Of The War”

The War Between the Land and the Sea Episode 5 is written and created by Russell T. Davies and directed by Dylan Holmes Williams. The show stars Russell Tovey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Jemma Redgrave. The war reaches its most brutal stages, racing towards its conclusion, whilst Barclay and Salt are worlds apart.

This episode begins drastically, striking at people’s hearts with a disturbing escalation of the war. It shows how negotiations have crumbled and the hostilities have gone beyond anything seen before. Throughout The War Between the Land and the Sea Episode 5, there is a sense of sadness, horror, and hopelessness.

The humans are losing, with an ominous sensation of impending doom. The political commentary returns, switching back to climate change. The actions Homo Aqua takes are effectively what humanity is doing to itself, just sped up. But there is still the political intrigue, as Severance makes its final moments count.

The War Between the Land and the Sea Episode 5 starts off slow and uncertain.

The first half of the episode moves very slowly. The way forward is seemingly lost, and Salt is so far away that it seems like the episode isn’t sure what to do from here. But there are still those determined to try to make peace. UNIT, bogged down by bureaucracy and political oversight, decides to go rogue. This is a powerful moment, seeing the shadowy organisation stand up for the planet whilst refusing to follow orders from pitiful politicians. This is what you would expect from a set of people with the authority of the Doctor, not the Earth.

But unfortunately, the team doesn’t even get the chance to do anything, thanks to an absolutely brutal twist that ends the war ferociously. It makes the show even sadder as a devastating twist takes hold. It tragically splits the two races, rather than trying to broker peace. It’s a haunting ending that leaves you shocked and numb. It never feels like a win, nor a satisfying conclusion, because that conclusion isn’t coming.

There are flashes of what happens to those responsible, but these are presented as premonitions, and it doesn’t feel as cathartic as it could. The last moments have a tiny flicker of hope and reconnection, but even that is born out of tragedy.

Barclay, Kate, and everyone are still reeling from Christofer’s death.

The characters spend much of The War Between the Land and the Sea Episode 5 shellshocked and broken. Kate Lethridge-Stewart (Redgrave) is still reeling from Christofer’s death. She’s not just distraught, she’s angry, and that’s making her do things she’d never usually do.

A nastiness bleeds out of her, showing that she’s not quite in her right mind. The actions have broken Kate, but she can’t let that be known. In public and in front of everyone, she holds firm and looks both inspirational and tough. They don’t realise she’s dosed up to the eyeballs.

Likewise, Barclay (Tovey) is also suffering the side effects of what he’s been through. It’s a reminder that he’s not the Doctor, and going to the bottom of the ocean affects his body. But it’s his heart that hurts. The dialogue and performances are, again, phenomenal. Tovey superbly plays a man who just doesn’t care as much anymore. He’s seen amazing things, and now only wants to be with Salt (Mbatha-Raw) again.

Every speech is perfectly written and delivered even better.

There are several speeches in this episode, all of which are perfectly written and delivered even better. Davies is exceptional at revealing history about characters with very few words. Each conversation is emotive and foreboding, too. Barclay tries to get to grips with the fact that his life can never be the same again. He’s so famous, so divisive.

This episode is an intriguing investigation into instant celebrities, people who are suddenly thrust into stardom and infamy without warning or preparation. As the hero of the story, his involvement in the end of the war is heartbreaking, and he doesn’t even know why. It’s both direct and yet so beyond his control. The end of his story may be happy for him, but it comes after so much hurt.

As for Salt, it’s disappointing to get so little of her. After seeing so many sides of her, she returns to being as mysterious and profound as ever. Her speech in the final moments is filmed with so much sorrow that it’s hard to watch. She began the show with a presence, instilling fear and demanding respect. So to see her shrink and be small is incredibly distressing.

The War Between the Land and the Sea Episode 5 ends things on a conflicted note.

The visual production can rarely be criticised. Homo Aqua has looked spectacular throughout the series. The intricacy in their design is stunning, from their fins and gills to the armor they wear. The cinematography is gorgeous, especially when pointed at the ocean. It shows its expanse, the mystery, and the power within. The music and sound had been flawless for five episodes, but the ending takes a peculiar turn.

David Bowie’s “Heroes” plays over the final scenes. The song’s lyrics are highly relevant, but it’s a little awkward and plays over the whole ending. The dialogue is drowned out, forcing the audience to figure out through visuals. Given how key dialogue is to this entire show, the ending feels unclear and less effective.

The War Between the Land and the Sea Episode 5 is such a conflicted conclusion. In many ways, the message that Davies gets across is important, and the darkness helps convey it. The war is lost, for us too. The time for action has passed; it’s just the aftermath that comes last. It’s pessimistic and angry. That numb pain that runs through the episode is due to the terrific performances.

But it’s so bleak, even with the final moment. So many character arcs don’t really feel finished, and there’s not really a satisfying closing moment. Another episode may have been helpful to give Davies more time to fully finish this remarkable idea. The war is won, but it doesn’t feel like a victory.

The War Between the Land and the Sea Episode 5 is available on BBC iPlayer and on Disney+ in 2026.

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