Doctor Who S2E5 Episode Review

Entering the latter half of the second season of Doctor Who, The Doctor is dealing with a nefarious figure who calls himself The Barber, who is allegedly behind the disappearance of residents around a small Nigerian village.

Doctor Who S2E5

HOLD IT! Before my quick review, ensure you have already watched the episode. Then, come back here when you have.

The episode begins with the TARDIS landed in a small Nigerian village as The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) stops by a barbershop to meet an old friend who goes by the name of Omo Esosa. His visit is causing problems for the TARDIS with Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) in it. Inside, he uncovers a shocking conspiracy where patrons share stories for a terrifying reason.

It didn't take long until The Doctor told a story about Belinda Chandra's life. Because a story told by a time lord is too powerful, The Doctor, Omo, and the others ended up in The Nexus. Alarmed, Belinda steps out from the TARDIS and into the barber shop where The Doctor uncovered a deadly conspiracy inside.

The Barber reveals that he is the one behind the gods The Doctor met a long time ago. The barbershop he operates serves as his ship, which runs on a Story Engine he salvaged to seek vengeance against the gods. His assistant, Abena, is revealed to be the daughter of the god Anansi—the one whom The Doctor shamed a long time ago.

Facing conflicts, Abena is forced to tell her story while cutting The Doctor's hair. With Abena's story done, The Doctor and Belinda are making a daring escape using the map embedded by Abena on The Doctor's head. Pursued by The Barber, they've uncovered The Story Engine and begin sabotaging it.

As The Barber confronted The Doctor, The Doctor delivered his ace up his sleeve; the story of his life. His story is so powerful, the Story Engine is going haywire. The Barber lost the fight. The Doctor, Belinda, Abena, and the patrons fled the barbershop, and the ship exploded. 

Omo thanked The Doctor for his heroism today and gave The Barber a new life and name to start over. As The Doctor and Belinda returned to the TARDIS, The Barber and Abena parted ways.

The episode titled "The Story and The Engine" exemplifies classic Doctor Who storytelling at its finest. From start to finish, it highlights the intense conflict between The Doctor and a revenge-driven barber who has weaponized stories. The plot is filled with gripping suspense, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as unexpected twists unfold.

What's surprising about this episode is the cameo appearance of The Fugitive Doctor, played by Jo Martin. She explains how The Doctor once humiliated Abena many years ago. I'm still uncertain if the story involving The Fugitive Doctor, Abena, and Anansi the Man-Spider has been fully explored. Perhaps the team at Big Finish will create an audio drama featuring these characters. (PLEASE!)

With the duel with The Barber done, it looks like The Doctor and Belinda's homebound quest is nearing its climax.

NEXT TIME: Doctor Who's Got Talent! Who will win the Interstellar Song Contest?