10 Huge Questions After Doctor Who: Legend Of The Sea Devils
7. What Was The Sea Devils' Plan?
Marsissus’ plan is to flood the Earth by moving the poles, thus destroying all "Land Parasites" and taking back ownership of planet Earth. It’s a far cry from the Sea Devils who once entertained the notion of living side by side with humans, at least until they were betrayed thanks to the men in suits.
Yes, the Doctor is aware that this isn’t usual Sea Devil behaviour, but the blind obedience of the rest of Marsissus’ kind brings to the table a form of inverted colonialism. The story could hardly be called progressive and one is left wondering if the Sea Devils return is just part of the departing showrunner’s fanboy bucket list.
The mood of the piece fits into Chibnall’s less optimistic view of humanity, compared to both Steven Moffat and Russell T Davies, and even though the racist plan is thwarted at the end, there is no sense of any moral victory. Peter Davison’s disturbing ‘there should have been another way’ (after the Sea Devils and Silurians are wiped out in Warriors of the Deep) is on another level compared to the 13th Doctor’s all too gentle disapproval of Ji-Hun for killing a Sea Devil in revenge.