It has been said that there’s something worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. The art of storytelling keeps the memory of people, places and events alive. What if someone tries to end that tradition, and life itself?
This week, the Doctor faces that problem in a barber shop in Nigeria, run by someone who’s more than he seems.

SPOILERS BELOW

“The Story and the Engine” has an interesting structure. Most of the action takes place at the shop owned by Omo, while there are brief scenes in the TARDIS and an open market. The main point is that there are always customers at the barber shop because the Barber won’t let them leave, He’s not there to cut hair. He’s there to hear stories…for a reason.

The story opens with Omo (Sule Rimi) recalling how his village was threatened by a fire, until a man in a blue box saved everyone. He’s telling this to three customers whose hair suddenly grows. Something else is keeping them there.
The Doctor happens to know Omo, and decides to visit his shop in Lagos, Nigeria in 2019. Also, Lagos has a lot of communication dishes, Maybe he’ll get a line on how to get Belinda back home.

On his way there, he comes across some missing person posters. Also, no one is nearby the shop, waiting to go inside. Once he does get there, and meets three of the “missing” customers, he thinks something is strange.

He still gets his haircut from Omo, and talks about Belinda. He also notices his story comes to life at a nearby window.
That’s due to the Barber taking over the place from Omo. The Barber (Ariyon Bakare) wants stories, and the one the Doctor gave has a valuable effect. He is later joined by Abby (Michelle Asante), who provides food for the trapped customers.

Belinda is at the Tardis, but something is setting off loud alarms. It’s not long until she heads to the barber shop and gets trapped.
Then the Barber reveals himself as a god with many names from Anansi to Dionysis and Loki. He is basically the God of Stories, and his shop is really in Lagos but also in space on top of a spider. His skills as a story teller made the other gods stronger. He wound up collecting stories in order to be recognized…and maybe be like the gods he serves.

The barber shop is actually on top of a spider in space while also existing in Lagos. The stories help power the engine in the spider, getting the Barber closer to his goal to be the new God of Stories> to do that, he must get rid of the old ones. It also means destroying the connections humans have had for eons.
Abby thinks the Barber would be a better god…because she’s his daughter. She’s mad at the Doctor for deliberating losing on a bet to avoid marrying her.
Just as well, since it was when he was a she, the Fugitive Doctor to be precise. Seeing Jo Martin in a cameo was great, and hopefully the BBC should consider bringing her back. It would be a great addition to her Big Finish stories.

Eventually, the Doctor and Belinda find the Story Engine which is a heart surrounding a brain. He even connects with it…with his own sixty year story that still hasn’t ended. That’s because of his six-word story (“I’m born. I die. I’m born”). Eventually the Barber frees Omo, Abby and the customers to establish a new life somehow. Maybe someone can take over the barber shop.

This was slightly different compared to last week, but the themes remain the same. Certain gods are using mortals for their own motives (and yes, that might include Mrs. Flood) and the Doctor has to fight them off. Is the Barber similar to Conrad, both wanting recognition in their own ways? It’s too bad the angle of stories affecting society didn’t include the marketplace, but it was still a solid episode.

What’s the next stop? How about a song contest set in deep space?
That’s right, an alien version of Eurovision on the same night it takes place in Europe.
However, the fate of the Earth may be affected by who wins.