Number : Season 2, 7th serial of 9.

Which One : Stuck in a museum, in space!

Cast : The Doctor : William Hartnell
Ian : William Russell
Barbara : Jacqueline Hill
Vicki : Maureen
Lobos : Richard Shaw
Morok Commander : Ivor Salter
Morok Messenger : Salvin Stewart
Morok Technician : Peter Diamond
Sita : Peter Sanders
Dako : Peter Craze
Tor : Jeremy Bulloch
Third Xeron : Bill Starkey

Written By : Glyn Jones

Produced By : Verity Lambert

First UK Broadcast : 24 April – 15 May 1965.

Length : 4 x 25 minute episodes.

Episodes :
1) “The Space Museum”
2) “The Dimensions of Time”
3) “The Search”
4) “The Final Phase”

Plot : The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki are transported to planet Xeros home of a huge “space” museum, dedicated to various spaceships, weapons and aliens.

They find themselves put on display themselves (as objects of curiosity) and attempt to escape the museum and it’s curators; The Moroks.

Whilst also helping some rebellious Xeron teenagers in their fight against the Morok invaders.

Whats good : It’s an interesting concept piece. The museum is an interesting place, full of weird and wonderful things. The early time “out of sync” plot line is good. The “trying to avoid becoming a museum exhibit” by changing the future sub-strand. The Doctor’s Dalek escape ruse – is quite funny.

Whats bad : Aside from the novelty of the Space Museum and time of sync plotline, the Morok/Xerons repressed society story – isn’t the strongest.

Review With Spoilers : The Space Museum is the seventh serial of season 2 and features the interesting plot device, of a museum in space.

The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki view future premonitions of themselves, put into frozen status by their Morok hosts, where they (themselves) become pieces in the Museum. Before attempting to escape their predicament, by attempting to second guess how to change their own future.

Along the way, the Doctor finds time to help a group of rebellious Xerosian teenagers (including a young future Boba-Fett – Jeremy Bulloch), overcome their oppressive Morok masters.

Hartnell himself, is in fine jovial form here and helps give proceedings a slightly playful edge. His escape from the Xerosians – after being captured, by hiding inside a Dalek prop from the museum; has to be seen to be believed.

“That’s us! That’s not models or pictures. That’s us!” Barbara
“Yes. Exhibits in a Space Museum!” The Doctor.

The first episode is the best of the four and sets up the quartet’s early investigation of the mysterious Museum and the time “out of sync” phenomena. Aswell as, the underlining plot of the quartet attempting to change their futures, to avoid becoming a permanent addition, to the museum.

Subsequent episodes give way to the less interesting Morok/Xeros – oppessor/oppressed plotline, which is not as interesting; or as well conceived – as other serials.

Therefore, the episode sags after the second episode and the follow-up proceedings fail to lift it – bar Hartnell’s good natured turn.

There is also a footnote of the Daleks watching proceedings at the end, which is a lead in – to follow-up story; The Chase.

The Space Museum can best be described, as a promisingly conceived but ultimately flat adventure, which serves only to act as a filler, for better stories – in season 2.

🔵🔵🔵⚪⚪ (3/5)

Old Doctor Who

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