Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 5 “The Story and the Engine” is the best episode of Doctor Who I’ve watched in years. I laughed, I cried, and I was taught so much within the thematic and visually sumptuous episode by Nigerian writer Inua Ellams. Even more so, I was left with a curiosity that makes me want to dive deeper into storytellers across different cultures Anansi and Sága. But I was especially intrigued about the Nigerian diaspora, culture, and just anything to do with a country that apparently has over 300 different ethnic groups alone.
This is the kind of TV that I want to see. TV where I might not understand everything that’s going on when it comes to cultural touchstones. But nonetheless I am left with an understanding of the emotional beats and what connects us all: stories. And I’m really looking forward to reading all of the interviews of Ncuti Gatwa talking about this episode but also reading reviews from Nigerian or Black Doctor Who fans that can give me a little bit more perspective to appreciate what I’ve seen or set me straight if the show missed the mark on something.
So let’s talk about Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 5 “The Story & the Engine.”
The Doctor on Finding Belonging
In the years that I’ve been watching Doctor Who, I’ve never seen The Doctor this excited to visit Earth or the weight taken off of their shoulders in this manner. Their lived experience is different now that they look like a Black man. And we’ve seen a little bit of this exploration throughout their tenure as The Doctor, particularly in “Lux.” And I think it’s important to show the reality of living in a Black body in racist spaces. We’re calling it out. In equal measure it’s important to show the joys of living in a Black body and the communities that are present and real in our world. And The Doctor felt like he belonged in Nigeria and was welcomed.
This feeling of belonging in “The Story and the Engine” also allowed us to experience different aspects of Black and African communities. We had The Doctor dress in clothes that were more traditional for the local community, we saw traditional Yoruba greetings of respect, and we got to see the grand adventure of the episode happen in a barbershop, a place of community for the Black community. Even the hair braiding being a guiding hand when The Doctor and Belinda needed a map to the center of this giant ship in the form of a spider, that was purposeful, special, and grounded in actual historical context about braiding that more people need to know about when it comes to our shared history on this planet.
The Doctor and their sense of belonging has become more complex now that they are Black. And the betrayal that they experienced in that barbershop was probably one of the most emotional moments that I have seen for The Doctor in years. Also, it saw Ncuti Gatwa shine in a way that I’ve never seen before. Community is one of the only ways that we can survive in a world that prioritizes whiteness. And I’m saying this as a white passing Latina who understands her privilege. Community is super important to me because of my shared language and heritage when it comes to my ethnicity.
And The Doctor experienced the power of community in a way that his previous regenerations have never done so. There’s power in that feeling of belonging The Doctor saw and felt in Nigeria. And just because it was a little shaken after the events of the barbershop, doesn’t mean it’s gone. The Doctor forgives. But most importantly, just like The Doctor felt seen and like they belonged in Nigeria, “The Story and the Engine” is a powerful message that tells Doctor Who fans that look like Gatwa, “This is your story too. It always has been.”
Belinda’s Role in “The Story and the Engine”
On the surface it doesn’t seem like Belinda had a lot to do in “The Story and the Engine.” The Doctor was in the middle of a story that was unapologetically Black. But it doesn’t mean that Belinda’s presence wasn’t felt within this space. The Doctor was to give this powerful engine traveling through time. And they decided that the most powerful story that they could tell was of the compassion of a nurse. The compassion of Belinda. And it goes to show you how much she has influenced them in the little time that they’ve been together.
I also think that there’s something really important to explore in Belinda when she was stuck in the Tardis. Previous companions have been locked away here, protected from outside forces that threatened the Tardis. And every single one of them has found the courage within themselves to save the day. There’s also the fact that she’s a nurse who solves things. In this episode she had to work through being in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar circumstances and try to find another way. And she did, coming to The Doctor’s aid.
I also think that we’re also more open to listening to others if someone shares similar life experiences. So Belinda played a pivotal role in helping Anansi’s daughter Abena understand that what was going on was wrong and that hurt people hurt people. Abena could break that cycle. She did. And it couldn’t have been possible without Belinda, who highlighted the core message of Doctor Who: violence doesn’t save the day, compassion and whits do.
I’m Confused by a Couple Things…
As much as I loved Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 5 “The Story and the Engine,” I am confused about a couple things. And I understand that that is how the show is shaped. Mysteries are to be solved and some of them take seasons to figure out. At this point, I’m not meant to understand everything. I’m meant to sit down and enjoy the journey while picking up clues along the way. Nevertheless, I feel like I’m missing some things that feel like they should be obvious.
First up, the Fugitive Doctor. I’m going to need someone to sit down and hold my hand and remind me as to where we last saw them or if they’re still alive. Because I’m trying to rack my memory and Google isn’t helping. And this not being able to remember how everything clicks is an understandable problem. Doctor Who has been around for decades and not everyone is a ride-or-die that remembers everything since Episode 1. But with Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor starting a whole new generation for Doctor Who fans and this being branded as Season two, I wonder what they’re going to do with the Fugitive Doctor and how they’re going to explain how this Doctor remembers what the Fugitive Doctor did. But if I’m totally wrong, and you know, let me know.
Then there’s my next question, Mrs. Flood. Who is she? Because we saw her for a small moment when Belinda was leaving the hospital in “The Story and the Engine” and she was met with the older woman that Belinda had saved. Mrs. Flood is everywhere. But she’s everywhere in a way that she isn’t a stranger within those communities. It’s normal for her to be around. And if it’s normal, it means that either there are multiple entities that look like Mrs. Flood that can make an investment of years. Or she’s able to manipulate time and space to make it seem like she’s always been there. Either way, I’m really excited to find out who she is and what mischief she has planned for The Doctor.
Doctor Who airs new episodes every Saturday.
