The War Between the Land and Sea, Episode 4 Review & Recap – The Witch of the Waterfall

Diplomacy efforts have failed

The episode begins with a quick glimpse of Salt saving Barclay from the explosion, putting her lips to his to provide him with air as she swims them up to the surface.

But the main action is back on land with UNIT turning up to protect Kate Lethbridge-Stewart from the unknown enemy who tried to kill her. Shirley Anne Bingham has taken command of UNIT in the control room and all guns are blazing.

UNIT successfully kill the solo shooter, and then there’s a major incident for Kate to deal with – no time for grief: military sources are assuming that the underwater explosion has killed all the diplomats.

This is read out on the news, and we see Barclay’s family react which is heart-breaking. THIS is why Russell puts so much time into expanding these characters in the small moments. Those scenes are essential for any emotional connection during times like this.

Prisoner of war

Shown on screens across the world is a fake video message from Salt claiming responsibility for the explosion and the deaths of the ambassadors. It’s clearly fake to us, the viewer, but for some reason Shirley has to ask if it’s a deepfake outloud – immediately – without any clues.

Barclay and Salt come to the surface and are picked up by UNIT. Barclay tells Shirley and Kate over video exactly what happened – that Ted brought the bomb and killed everyone – but Kate tells him Salt is now a prisoner of war and he cannot talk to her.

At UNIT, Shirley is talking with Kate and they’ve identified the gun for hire who killed Ibrahim. This is such a fantastic storyline for Kate’s character, who has always needed a bit of depth. Now, from the look on her face ten minutes into The War Between the Land and Sea, episode 4, whoever it is has fucked up.

Who Are The Institute in The War Between the Land and the Sea?

The Prime Minister is furious, talking with the American and French generals – Kieth is not in the room. They claim to have no involvement in the assassination attempt on Kate’s life, but do confirm the link between the assassin and a group called “The Institute”.

The Institute seems to be a far-right organisation of billionaires who believe in The Great Replacement Theory – a conspiracy theory about white people being replaced by people of colour. They have the same fears about the Sea Devils/Homo Aqua replacing humanity.

Looks like we know who Russell T Davies has decided will be the real enemy in this series!

The generals show the Prime Minister evidence that Keith has links to The Institute – which is bad for the Prime Minister as he’s openly friends with the man and he’s the government’s largest donor.

Whatever “Severance” is, it seems that is not responsible for the assassination attempt – but these could all be lies by the generals, to keep the Prime Minister on their side. The Prime Minister gives the American general permission to “sort it,” which means shoot Keith in the chest twice, at his home – which happens immediately.

Barclay-bloody-Pierre-stupid-name-Dupont!

Salt – in her metal box – is lowered from a helicopter onto a lorry and is to be taken to UNIT Tower. Barclay knows the driver, as he was the driver’s boss, and he takes the keys to the lorry.

He then reverses and stops suddenly, so the box falls into the water and Salt escapes – Barclay then runs and jumps into the water too.

Kate’s very cross, saying angrily: “Barclay-bloody-Pierre-stupid-name-Dupont!” – I have no idea how the actress kept a straight face!

Shirley updates Kate on the Institute being taken down by the Americans (so they’re not the main villains? Potentially a huge distraction manufactured by the American/French generals?) Kate orders someone to investigate Keith’s assassination and then it’s Red Alert as nine lifeforms incoming.

Why are you all insane?

Kate takes up position as the Ambassador and stands before the Sea Devils in the diplomacy room. Considering humans just bombed them, the Sea Devils seem less concerned with this (after an explanation from Kate which was basically saying humans let their emotions get the better of them).

Instead, this new ambassador (called Tide) wants to know where Salt is. Not for her safety, but so they might punish her for saving the life of a human when others of her own kind died. 

Tide demands that Salt is returned to the sea, so that they might deal with her. He also demands that the changes to the way people do things on land change in five years. The threat is they will weaponise the air, to make all things rust and turn to dust if these things are not done.

A quick moment with the American general sitting with the Prime Minister reveals that he wants to use this Severance on Salt. Potentially it is a method of killing all Sea Devils in the ocean? Or would it change their DNA? If an evil plan is anything, I am guessing genocide.

I like glass!

Barclay and Salt surface and hide out in an abandoned building. Salt is fascinated by glass, and seems to be having fun, and the two flirt. Of course.

Look, if this is some kind of romance/love story, I don’t understand where it came from. From the moment they saw each other, there seemed to be a connection, but I don’t see how – unless we’re being fed a love at first sight storyline.

However, I am sure that their adventures from this moment on could lead to something as they are going through a trial together. This naturally brings people together, so I’d get that. But everything up to this point has been a bit forced.

Salt and Barclay sit by a fire and talk. It’s interesting – she seems to be impressed by some aspects of humanity, such as their searching of the stars. She also reveals that she would “swim alone” if she went back to the sea.

Salt then kisses Barclay – this time, an actual kiss, making her body heat warmer for him. Of course this is the way this story was going. He then “regulates” his body for her and CUT SCENE.

Blimey.

You Taste of Salt

After Barclay finds love, we have a very emotional sequence with Kate who is grieving her loss. I wonder if she will pull herself together for long enough to see how to fix this mess, because then she can rest and grieve once the work is done.

Post-naughtiness, Barclay and Salt snuggle under a sheet on some pallets. She wonders if there is anyone he can trust to help, but he’s not sure. Salt mentions Kate, and they agree she is a “good soul” but is the head of UNIT really an option to them?

So, Barclay brainstorms. North Wales? He’s got some army contacts there, and from there they could contact Kate. Salt seems excited by this idea, and wants to be the “witch of the waterfall” in North Wales.

But how to get there?

They steal a phone of some poor guy in the street and use that to call Kirby, who then gets Barbara on the phone and Barclay asks for her car. However, some UNIT soldiers are with Barbara and they track his movements.

You will never swim alone

The American general, however, also has soldiers on the ground ready to intercept Barclay and Salt – he wants Salt. I assume, to test this Severance thing.

We learn that UNIT knows for certain that the video of Salt claiming responsibility is 100% a deepfake, so now UNIT will be on her side.

We then get a fabulous scene with Barclay and Salt surrounded by UNIT soldiers on one side and army soldiers on the other – both pointing guns. Kate orders UNIT to point guns at the British Army and to fire on her command. She wants things to go her way, but that might not be the way to do it.

Sleep-deprived, grieving, and stressed, Kate might be seriously struggling at this moment.

To prevent casualties and to escape, Salt screeches which emits a frequency that hurts every human’s ears, causing them to put down their weapons. She then jumps into the sea off the bridge. Barclay shouts “You will never swim alone” as she goes.

What Next?

And that ends our recap and review of The War Between the Land and Sea, episode 4, The Witch of the Waterfall. This was an epic escalation, but I feel like we’re missing so many answers considering there is only one episode to come next week.

Sure, the story moved forwards, but it feels like the premise of the show doesn’t quite match what we’re getting. It’s good, I’m enjoying it, but there are so many moving parts – too many for such short episodes and only five of them.

If this was like Torchwood: Miracle Day, with ten episodes, it might work better. But I am sure there wasn’t the budget for that. In which case, surely the best idea would have been to reduce the scope of the story?

Nothing more on this until we see the finale next week, as I could be completely wrong and everything ends in a satisfying way!