The War Between the Land and the Sea delivered the most unexpected finale on December 21. The Doctor Who spin-off created by Russell T Davies introduced Homo Aqua to the viewers. Russell Tovey plays Barclay Pierre-Dupont, a UNIT worker who becomes humanity's ambassador. The mini-series explores escalating conflicts between underwater beings and humans.
The War Between the Land and the Sea features elements of ocean pollution and the climate crisis. Barcley formed a team with Salt, the Homo Aqua ambassador. His journey took an unpredictable turn in the concluding episode. The transformation he went through left viewers stunned.
The War Between the Land and the Sea raises questions about the mysterious Accord system. Barclay's physical evolution became too apparent, and the finale revealed the truth behind his changes.
The unpredictable Accord program
Salt whispered a single word to Barclay before disappearing underwater. That word was actually 'Accord' and provided no reasoning behind it.
She only told him to send it as a message, and UNIT secretly sent this word to the Homo Aqua. The Accord represented a hope for harmonious coexistence between the species. It provided a path for aquatic beings and humans to coexist. Kate Lethbridge-Steward received an urgent message near the conclusion.
Barclay's doctor hinted that his brain scans were a priority. The scans displayed unusual changes happening inside his head. It indicated that something was shifting from within his body.
Barclay's physical transformation in The War Between the Land and the Sea
The War Between the Land and the Sea displayed Barclay experiencing unexpected symptoms. He suffered consistent headaches throughout. Unusual whistling sounds enveloped his ears, and rashes formed around his neck.
His legs ached continuously, indicating that these were not just random health issues. Barcley felt an overwhelming pull towards the coastal body. Every night, he drove to the coast without anyone knowing. He swam in the sea searching for Salt. And water provided him relief from the unsettling feeling. His breathing improved near the ocean, and the symptoms indicated his body was transforming.
The final reunion sequence in The War Between the Land and the Sea
At one instance, Kate saved Barclay from protesters and took him to the shore. David Bowie's Heroes played as the sequence was shown. Barclay called out to Salt one last time, and in that moment, gills appeared on his neck.
He could breathe underwater, just like Salt, and the transformation took days of gradual changes. He turned into Homo Amphibia, and Barclay took him to the ocean. They swam away to start a new life together, and Kate witnessed them vanish beneath the surface.
Speculation behind the transformation in The War Between the Land and the Sea
The War Between the Land and the Sea suggested that a biological trigger caused the transformation. A brain chemistry mutation activated the change, and scans revealed that these factors unfolded over weeks.
The changes appeared intentional and required specific genetic compatibility. Not everyone could experience this change. Barclay possessed eccentric qualities, making him the right fit. His connection with Salt also triggered the transformation. Homo Aqua possess empathetic abilities, allowing them to sense emotions in other living beings. This explains why Salt chose Barcaly, and why the process turned him into a bridge between the two worlds.
The Accord is a bridge between two worlds
The show presented the Accord as humanity's hope for peace. It would create hybrids that fit both worlds and serve as ambassadors. The program aimed to build trust, but the Severance virus interrupted these plans. Salt went on to revoke the Accord after the genocide, and only Barclay concluded his transformation. He became the sole example of what could happen.
Unanswered mysteries in the show
There are still several questions that remain around The Accord. How did the technology work? Is there a chance of reversal? The War Between the Land and the Sea left these mysteries shrouded in darkness, and the show focused on the emotional angle of the plot.
The War Between the Land and the Sea demonstrated compelling storytelling through Barclay's transformation into a bridge between the show's two major worlds.