By Owen Quinn author Photos copyright BBC/Disney
So the sonic bomb devastates the ocean cavern killing Sea Devils and humans alike. Salt grabs Barclay and saves him by propelling them to the surface. Kate is still being shot at and even her UNIT soldiers who come to save her are also targets. The question is, who hired an assassin? Was it one of the people in the war meeting last episode and what exactly is severance?
This kicks off with Barclay going on the run from the government with Salt as a world wide message from Salt is broadcast, claiming they have killed the human delegates as a warning to all humans. We know it’s a fake but Barclay and Salt turn fugitives as she is now a prisoner of war.
Sea Devil ambassador, Tide, arrives, demanding the return of Salt. She will answer for the crime of saving a human while her own kind died all around her. She will be banished and forever swim alone in the oceans as per Sea Devil law.
Now, again, I’m getting a pedestrian vibe and frowning at what exactly has happened. By the way, in the review for episode three, I suggested former companions of the Doctor should have been part of the team to go to the ocean floor. Given everyone died, I take that back.
Tide tells the grieving Kate Stewart that their plans to clean the oceans will be done within five years or else. Wait a minute, didn’t the Sea Devils clean the oceans in episode 2 even returning the Titanic? So that was only a partial demonstration? I’m feeling a little bit of lazy scriptwriting as in how the 14th Doctor managed to regenerate his clothes? Like how did the Rani bigenerate when it was a myth that only has happened to the Doctor? I’m confused now. I shouldn’t be confused this far in. I should be seeing an endgame. Tide also threatens that they have the power to turn everything to rust if Salt is not returned to them to face punishment. Again, if the Sea Devils have such power then why the hell are they making threats and not just crippling humanity so they can reclaim the world as their own? By the way, Tide, Dry is such a crap name for a planet. I’m quite sure that wasn’t the name of it when you guys ruled.
We may have gotten a little glimpse into why Salt is acting as she is. She sees humanity as burning on land but they have mapped the stars and gone to the moon. Neither Silurians nor Sea Devils achieved this. Does she see something more in humanity than her brethren? Is there hidden greatness in normality? And is she looking to make babies with Barclay? A new hybrid species that contains the best of both worlds that will shape the future of Earth? They give in to their passion but I don’t know if they have actually had sex with each other. It’s a dirty warehouse and it’s cold so was it nothing more than a making out session? I had to chuckle at the sentence. “You taste of salt”. Those of you with a similar toilet humour will laugh too. So did Salt put herself into a position where she would get up close and personal with a species that intrigues her and may be the saviour of both species?
I also got shades of Sound of Drums as Barclay’s ex wife leads troops to capture her former husband and Salt.
Kate shows her strength when she learns Salt is innocent and has been deep faked by shadows unknown. The American General orders Salt to be shot as they only need her body. You can feel her channeling the Doctor as she risks a bloodbath to protect Salt from being murdered. American soldiers are ready to fire on British soldiers and vice versa. While this is exciting, it is Salt that stops this massacre and flees into the Thames, leaving Barclay behind.
I have to say the ending with Barclay shouting he will find her and that she will never swim alone is cringeworthy. Kate stands out here because she is a woman grieving and on the verge of exhaustion but she finds the strength to continue and fight for Salt and the world.
I feel like this is going in a pedestrian direction instead of something new and exciting. All I can think of is the Aquaman joke about him fucking fish. Is that what I’m supposed to think because I really think I should be rooting for Barclay, Kate and Salt. Gemma Redgrave has never been better as Kate but there’s something not sitting right with me. This is the penultimate episode and I feel like I’m at the beginning again, not sure what is going on.
The Time Warriors and Beyond 