Doctor Who: The Story & The Engine Review - 8 Ups & 2 Downs
8. UP - The Barber
This is the second week in a row where we have a cracking villain, in this case, the Barber, played by Ariyon Bakare. With his magic clippers and barber's smock, he's that great thing – a Doctor Who villain who takes the everyday and makes it magical and terrifying. It's also the second week in a row in which the Doctor is forced to confront a villain who believes they're owed something.
The Barber believes he's owed the credit for all the work he did spreading the myths and legends of Anansi, Loki, and the other storytelling gods. To the Barber, the gods don't exist without him, and if they won't give him the recognition for his hard work in keeping their stories alive, he'll burn them down.
In an episode all about the power of community and shared mythology, it's tempting to view the Barber as an allegory for entitled fandom. There's a particular type of toxic fan who viciously rounds on their favourite franchise on social media when it's perceived to have rejected them through a casting or storyline choice.
You know the type – the "fans" that want the show to be cancelled to prove that they were right all along...