The Story & the Engine

"We must feed it. It is always hungry."

Writer: Inua Ellams

Format: TV

Broadcast: 12 May 2025

Series: 15.05

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

In Lagos, the mysterious Barber reigns supreme. The Doctor discovers a world where stories have power, but can he stop the Spider and its deadly web of revenge?

Verdict

The Story & the Engine was another excellent episode to continue along the fifteenth series of Doctor Who! Season 2 of RTD2 continues to shine here as this has been a sublime five episode run so far. I can’t quite believe we’re nearly at the end because it really does feel like we’re just getting started. I thought heading to 2019 was good and I like how we’re nearing 2025 ahead of the ominous date of 24 May and the start of the finale. The Doctor heading to Lagos in Nigeria was fun and whilst we’ve known this was coming, I was quite surprised by how extensive this incarnation’s time in the city had been. He was treated in the markets as a regular which was good and I liked how he recognised some old friends. I’m not usually a big fan of unseen adventures for the Doctor, but I think the prequel short story of What I Did on My Holidays by Omo Esoso really helped things. I felt like I was joining a world I already knew and I think the symmetry of the artwork for the illustrations was also a welcomed aid. I liked them a lot. The Doctor’s comments to Belinda in the TARDIS about being accepted in Lagos at Omo’s barbershop was important and it was powerful for him to acknowledge being black in this incarnation. Here he felt accepted and whilst the TARDIS typically did his hair, he went to the barbershop for the camaraderie and the culture. He was accepted and that was lovely. Belinda provided a pass to getting home which was good and I was initially worried that she wouldn’t be featuring much in the episode! Thankfully the TARDIS alarms linked to the barbershop meant she wouldn’t take long to get out. I thought the barbershop housing some of the missing people in Lagos was intriguing and right from the off the atmosphere within was a little off. That changed altogether when the mysterious Barber emerged. The barbershop was under new management and Omo’s reaction told the Doctor something was very wrong indeed. I really liked the concept of the barbershop being in both Lagos and outer space as it felt like a version of the TARDIS with the doorway being hugely significant and passing from one place to another. The Doctor recognising Abby was intriguing and I loved the mystery there. The concept of the visual aid for the stories that were being told by those receiving the haircut was fascinating but it really helped! I’m not sure if I’m reading too much into it but the opening titles starting there really makes me think that the Doctor and Belinda are still trapped within the fictional world seen in Lux. Have they really escaped? It could just be a clever special effects quirk and choice which I love, but I get the feeling it means more. The stare off between the Doctor and the Barber was sensational in its intensity and I loved how the aura of the latter just completely diminished when the Doctor quashed his identity. He claimed to be numerous gods at once, but the Doctor had met them all and they were not him. His role as a once mortal but now someone perpetuating the story of the gods was fascinating and I think there could be even more to explore with him. I love the idea and the Doctor actually having to protect the idea of gods despite his ongoing battles against so many of them was intriguing. But their importance to humanity is difficult to argue against much to my atheist annoyance. They are so deep rooted in history and mythology so for them to just be taken away would be catastrophic. I thought the structure of the Nexus and the spider on it looked impressive and the idea worked very well. The Barber being kicked out of his own creation was a fitting motive as he just wanted them all to end. I thought Omo wanting the Doctor to come and be the one feeding the Story Engine was pretty sad and the anger showcased by the Doctor was tremendous. It was absolutely warranted. It was nice though that they came around to a better understanding at the end of the episode. The Doctor using Belinda’s ordinary life and her dedication to being a nurse was a shining moment and I’m honestly such a big fan of hers. She’s so incredibly likeable and very mature. I love her as companion. Her little interaction in the episode with Polly seemingly making a return from Space Babies was strange, and the way it was referenced later in the story at the end with the Doctor mentioning different stories leaking out was really interesting! What’s the link? I can’t wait to find out. The Doctor being an endless story and bonding them all within was just a marvellous concept. I loved the flashbacks to so many Doctors, but the cameo of the Fugitive Doctor was a show stealer! Alluding to that part of his life was so unexpected and a great moment. No wonder he didn’t recognise Abby right away! I thought how she came around and mapped his hair to the source of ending things was good but the Doctor feeling his head for the way to go was a comical image. Overall though, a fantastic episode and making a story where stories are so important is brilliant. The kindness shown to the Barber once he returned to mortality was a nice way to end. The series continues to shine!

Rating: 9/10