In Review: Doctor Who (S2 – Ep5) – The Story and The Engine

Synopsis: In The Story and The Engine, a mysterious figure called the Barber rules. The Doctor finds stories hold real power as he confronts the Spider, weaving a vengeful web.

Story

The Story and the Engine takes place in a barber’s shop in Lagos, Nigeria. Whose owner Omo (Sule Rimi) was the Doctor’s friend. However, we find out that Omo has lured the Doctor back to what was once a place of safety and community for him. Only so that he can supply the Barber (Ariyon Bakare) and the Spider with stories. Indeed, we discover that the Barber was once a collector of fables and a servant to the gods. Who he now intends to destroy. And has captured Omo’s friends; Rashid (Stefan Adegbola), Tunde (Jordan Adene), and Obioma (Michael Balogun) to power his story engine with tales. Over and above that, Abi (Michelle Asante) is revealed to be the god Anansi’s daughter. Who the Doctor (in his Fugitive (Jo Martin) incarnation) left at the altar. Ingeniously, Abi shaves a map of the inner story engine onto the Doctor’s head; as female slaves did when escaping their oppressors. Which 15 uses to escape and get to the literal engine’s heart. The Doctor and Belinda disable the engine; and the Doctor appeals to the Barber’s humanity to not destroy mankind’s myths and legends. The Doctor saves the day and touchingly reconciles with Omo.

Acting

Ncuti Gatwa was on fine form here. He was charming from his first scene. Further, Gatwa shared some brilliantly intense scenes with Ariyon Bakare’s Barber. Who showed a spectacular range; from subtly threatening to chillingly menacing. Giving some fantastic exposition as well. Gatwa displayed phenomenal acting at the episode’s climax; as well as nice explosive anger when he told Omo never to speak to him again. Furthermore, Gatwa’s reaction to Abi’s reveal as Anansi’s daughter was nuanced and showed everything the Doctor was feeling. Sule Rimi had a really beautiful moment when he said “I spent too much time in here, and not enough with her” referencing his wife. Also brilliant was his and the Doctor’s reconciliation at the episode’s end. Varada Sethu got a great line when she said “The difference between good and evil is what we do with our pain.” Michelle Asante showed great range in this episode. I loved when she told the story about the free slaves cutting their hair into maps. Asante also got a great line in “A mortal teaching a god life lessons” when she spoke to Belinda. And the scene where Abi said goodbye to the Barber was achingly beautiful.

CGI

The Story and the Engine boasted some jaw dropping CGI. It was a really beautiful touch when the stories the protagonists told were animated on the shop window. The Spider was really well realised too. The FX of it crawling across the world wide web was excellent. There was also a nice effect of the brain engine that controlled the entire shop. Additionally, the CGI of the Barber’s story web from childhood was also well done. I loved the CGI of the various gods that the Barber claimed to be. When he attempted to intimidate the Doctor.

Incidental Music

The Story and the Engine’s incidental music was mind-blowingly brilliant. The music that accompanied 15 entering the deserted street really helped sell that moment’s creeping terror. Over and above that, the theme used when Abi revealed herself to be Anansi’s daughter was terrific. Again, the incidental music used when the Doctor was exploring Lagos really put across its community and culture in a great way. Also, the score that played when the protagonists were telling their stories really made you feel the mystery and strangeness; and that storytelling is a millennia-old tradition.

Overall

The Story and the Engine was a fabulous episode. It had high stakes; drama, humour and a sweet ending. Fascinating it was to see a story set in a world and a culture that up until now the Doctor and the show have never explored. It made me wonder what other adventures might be waiting for the Doctor in Lagos; or in other unexplored cultures and time periods. Brilliant, gripping, touching stuff.