In the grand, galloping cavalcade that is Doctor Who, last night’s episode, The Story and the Engine—broadcast May 10, 2025—arrives like a bard’s ballad, rich with poetry and punctuated by the occasional off-key note. Set in the vibrant pulse of Lagos, Nigeria, this tale spins a web of stories within stories, anchored by a barbershop that’s less a salon and more a cosmic crucible.
It’s a visually sumptuous affair, with animation that dances like folklore come to life, and Varada Sethu’s Belinda Chandra proving once again that she’s the companion to watch. Yet, the episode falters in its attempt to nod at the Doctor’s past, with a cameo-laden montage that feels more like a PowerPoint than a punch. Still, Doctor Who remains a show that dares to dream, and this episode, for all its wobbles, is a testament to its enduring spark.
The visuals are a triumph, a kaleidoscope of color and creativity that transforms the barbershop into a mythic stage. Writer Inua Ellams, making his Who debut, draws on his play Barber Shop Chronicles to craft a setting where stories are currency, projected as animated vignettes on the shop’s windows—think West African folklore meets Pixar pizzazz.
The spider god Anansi, reimagined as a cosmic weaver, is a standout, its web shimmering with menace and majesty. Director Makalla McPherson wrings every ounce of magic from the single location, with drawings that burst into life and a heart-brain engine that’s as grotesque as it is gorgeous. It’s a feast for the eyes, proving that Doctor Who can still conjure spectacle on a budget, as noted by Den of Geek’s praise for its “visually sumptuous” execution.
Varada Sethu, as Belinda, is the episode’s beating heart, her nurse’s pragmatism cutting through the Doctor’s flamboyance like a scalpel. Her performance is a masterclass in quiet strength, whether she’s delivering the pivotal line “hurt people hurt people” or navigating the barbershop’s dangers with a steely gaze. Sethu’s chemistry with Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor is electric, their banter a blend of camaraderie and challenge that grounds the episode’s wilder flights. IGN rightly calls her “the heart of this run,” and her role in resolving the crisis underscores her growing importance. Gatwa, meanwhile, is a revelation, his Doctor oscillating between joy and rage as he revels in the Lagos community. His performance, lauded by ScreenRant as “spectacular,” captures a Time Lord who feels at home yet haunted by betrayal.
The episode’s exploration of his Black identity is a refreshing shift, moving beyond the prejudice-focused narratives of Lux to celebrate cultural connection, as Episodic Medium notes. But the script stumbles in its handling of a cameo-heavy sequence, where the Doctor links with the story engine, projecting clips of past Doctors—William Hartnell, Matt Smith, Jodie Whittaker, and a brief Jo Martin as the Fugitive Doctor. It’s meant to be a triumphant nod to the show’s legacy, but it lands like a fan-service slideshow, lacking the emotional heft of, say, Rogue’s similar trick. Radio Times calls it a “never-ending story” moment, but its brevity and narrative disconnect—especially the puzzling Fugitive Doctor cameo—feel like a missed opportunity. ScreenRant questions its logic, noting the Doctor shouldn’t recall Martin’s incarnation.
The plot, involving a mysterious Barber (Ariyon Bakare, oozing charisma) who traps patrons to fuel a vengeful engine with their stories, is ambitious but occasionally muddled. The stakes—erasing gods across history—are grand, yet Newsweek rightly points out that they feel abstract until the midpoint, leaving viewers adrift. Still, the episode’s heart lies in its celebration of storytelling, with the Doctor’s six-word tale—“I’m born; I die; I’m born”—overwhelming the engine in a poetic climax. It’s a bold, if uneven, outing, but Sethu’s radiance and the visual verve make it a cut above.
Ten Interesting Things from The Story and the Engine:
- Animated Folklore: The barbershop’s windows project stories as vibrant animations, blending West African myths with a cartoonish flair that’s pure Who magic.
- Spider God Spectacle: Anansi’s cosmic web, with its glowing strands and giant spider, is a visual knockout, earning GamesRadar+’s praise for its originality.
- Belinda’s Brilliance: Varada Sethu’s Belinda delivers the episode’s emotional core, her “hurt people hurt people” line sparking the resolution, with her chic attire subtly highlighting her poise.
- Gatwa’s Emotional Range: Ncuti Gatwa shines, from joyous community bonding to raw betrayal, making this a defining moment for his Doctor, per Bleeding Cool.
- Barber’s Charisma: Ariyon Bakare’s enigmatic Barber is both sinister and tragic, a layered villain who elevates the episode, as Temple of Geek notes.
- Heart-Brain Engine: The engine, a wooden brain with a glowing blue heart, is a grotesque yet stunning set piece, lauded by Den of Geek for its design.
- Cultural Celebration: The episode’s Lagos setting and focus on Black identity feel joyful, a shift from past race-focused stories, per Episodic Medium.
- Fugitive Doctor Cameo: Jo Martin’s brief appearance as the Fugitive Doctor is thrilling but narratively shaky, raising questions about the Doctor’s memory, per ScreenRant.
- Six-Word Story: The Doctor’s “I’m born; I die; I’m born” defeats the engine, a nod to Hemingway’s rumored six-word tale, as Mashable highlights.
- Mrs. Flood Tease: Anita Dobson’s Mrs. Flood pops up again, her cryptic presence growing tiresome for some, as an IMDb reviewer notes, but still intriguing.