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Doctor Who Season 2, featuring Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu as new companion Belinda Chandra, arrived in April 2025 and has completed the first five episodes. The hit TV show continues the journey of the Fifteenth Doctor, who always ensures his presence wherever needed.
The latest episode 5 "The Story & the Engine" is more than just fiction. It dives into rich storytelling and pays tribute to South African culture. Even the Doctor loves the place, especially a barbershop where he was "accepted" like never before.
It starts with Omo telling a story about when he first met the Doctor and how he helped save a forest. The three young men, Rashid, Tune and Obioma are intrigued by Omo's memories as he reminds them that the Doctor will reappear.
They are at the barbershop, where strange lights (green/red) seem to decide their safety. Soon, a barber or a mysterious man takes over the shop and starts feeding off the stories told by the people he’s trapped inside.
This way, Omo and the young men get trapped, and only the Doctor can save them. Meanwhile, Belinda is reminding the Doctor to help her reach home, to which he says he's trying his best.
Keep reading to explore what happened next during this exciting quest.
Doctor Who Season 2 episode 5 recap: The Doctor explores Lagos and Omo's palace
The journey kicks off in Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 5 as the Doctor lands the TARDIS in Lagos, Nigeria to meet Omo and relive the memories. As he and Belinda begin to explore the city, they learn about Omo’s palace and the mysterious disappearances of Omo and his friends.
The Doctor discovers missing persons posters of them and investigates the barbershop, which seems out of place. Inside, Omo explains that the Barber has taken over the shop, trapping the men with a supernatural force tied to storytelling in this episode of Season 2. The Doctor becomes more involved, unraveling the secret of the barber's control over the group.
The Barber's true intentions and the Nexus revealed in Doctor Who Season 2
As the Doctor and Belinda dig deep into this mystery in Season 2 Episode 5, the duo uncover the Barber’s true identity: a godlike figure who has lived many lives, including Anansi, Saga and Loki. The Barber’s creation, the Story Engine is fueled by the power of stories and he seeks revenge on the gods who rejected him.
The Doctor finally understands that the Barber’s goal is to take control of the Nexus, a web-like structure linking ideas and cultures, also seen in the episode. The Barber desires to kill the gods and reshape the world through stories, while initially confusing, becomes a clearer reflection of his anger and need for recognition.
The destruction of the story engine in Doctor Who Season 2 episode 5
As the Doctor Who episode nears its end, the Doctor uses his knowledge and the power of storytelling to disrupt the Story Engine. He references Ernest Hemingway’s six-word story, "I’m born. I die," to unleash a massive surge of energy that causes the Story Engine to self-destruct.
In the end, the Doctor helps the trapped individuals escape and urges the Barber to continue his work with a more constructive focus. Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 5 ends with the Doctor and Belinda leaving the barbershop behind, having saved the day.
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