Although this episode’s overall rating was somewhat lower than the previous three episodes of this series, there was plenty of critical acclaim for Inua Ellams’ “bizarre”, “very fun”, and “important” contribution to Doctor Who. When the Doctor lands the TARDIS in Lagos, Nigeria, he discovers that his favourite barbershop has been taken over by the mysterious Barber, who is using the stories of his customers to power a machine of his own creation. Several members of the society were delighted by the unique nature of this episode: “Finally, after four episodes of deja vu, we have an episode that feels completely different from everything we’ve seen in this series,” exclaimed one member (8/10). Another member appreciated “the episode’s willingness to tell a very different, authentically non-Western story, written from a Nigerian perspective, rather than putting diverse characters in a typical Who story. It genuinely felt like we were inhabiting a different world to the London-focused RTD1 universe, and it made Earth feel bigger and richer than we’ve generally seen before.” “One of the most distinctive Who stories we’ve had for a while, with deeply layered meditations on storytelling and Black heritage,” added a third. In short, the episode successfully drew from West African mythos to tell stories from a new culture and to celebrate the power of storytelling, while still keeping with the spirit of Doctor Who. Besides: “What could be more Doctor Who than a barbershop that’s simultaneously in Lagos and on the back of a giant spider?”

Not all responses were positive, however. The most scathing review (4/10) described the plot as “incomprehensible” even after a rewatch, expressing their difficulty in following the Barber’s backstory and understanding why the destruction of the gods would be so terrible for humankind. Some responses, despite being considerably more positive overall, agreed that “the plot doesn’t always hold together” and “could have been explained more clearly”. Other criticisms included the amount of exposition, the slightly “rushed and confused” conclusion, and Belinda’s relative lack of involvement in the story – to quote one member, she had “very little to do, just following the Doctor around at the end rather than actively playing a part in the resolution.” Finally, while many members were delighted by the surprise return of Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor, they were nevertheless disappointed that her appearance was so brief – “Surely she deserves much more than mere cameos by now?” lamented one member.

The Story & the Engine received 7 responses and an average rating of 6.78. Would The Interstellar Song Contest reach a higher score?