Hold onto your sonic screwdrivers, because the Doctor Who universe is about to get a major shake-up! The iconic Sea Devils are no more—at least, not by that name. In the upcoming spin-off The War Between The Land And The Sea, these classic villains are rebranding themselves as 'Homo Aqua,' and showrunner Russell T Davies is here to explain why. But here's where it gets controversial: Davies claims it's 'racist' to call them Sea Devils. Yes, you read that right—racist. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about political correctness; it’s about redefining who the real monsters are in the Doctor Who universe.
In a recent interview with Radio Times, Davies revealed that the term 'Sea Devil' is being retired because, as viewers will discover, it’s a derogatory label. Instead, the sea-dwelling race will be referred to as Homo Aqua, a name they’ve chosen for themselves. Davies also emphasized that fans should avoid calling them monsters, as the series will paint humans as the true antagonists. This bold narrative shift ties into the show’s sci-fi exploration of climate change, set to debut on the BBC in the UK later this year and internationally on Disney+ at a later date.
Davies shared that this idea was at the heart of his pitch when he returned to Doctor Who in 2021. 'I had this idea separately first,' he explained, 'but weirdly, it needs the Doctor Who setting. If I just pitched it cold—'There’s a race of creatures that live in the sea'—people would say, 'Really? You sure?' The pre-existence of the Sea Devils takes all the problems out of it.' The Sea Devils first appeared in the 1972 Jon Pertwee-era serial The Sea Devils and later returned in the 1984 Peter Davison story Warriors of the Deep, where they teamed up with their reptilian allies, the Silurians, to reclaim Earth from humanity.
Fan reactions to the name change have been mixed. Some point out that even the Silurians referred to their aquatic counterparts as Sea Devils, while others question the use of 'homo,' a genus specific to great apes (mammals, not reptiles). Is this a step toward inclusivity, or is it an unnecessary rewrite of established lore? Davies is no stranger to controversial changes, having previously altered the portrayal of Davros, the creator of the Daleks, by removing his wheelchair-like device. 'Time and society and culture and taste have moved on,' Davies explained. 'There’s a problem with the Davros of old in that he’s a wheelchair user who’s evil. Associating disability with evil is a long-standing issue, and Doctor Who has to evolve with the world.'
Speaking of evolution, the show itself is undergoing some changes. Last week, the BBC confirmed that the co-funding deal with Disney is officially off the table. Instead, a single episode, written by Davies and funded by the BBC, is set for Christmas 2026. This one-off special is expected to tie up loose ends, including the cliffhanger involving Billie Piper, before the show ventures into a new era.
So, what do you think? Is the 'Homo Aqua' rebrand a necessary update, or is it a step too far? And does Doctor Who have a responsibility to reflect modern values, even if it means rewriting its own history? Let us know in the comments—this is one debate that’s sure to make waves!
