Our journey through Season 2 continues as we arrive on the planet Xeros, home to the ‘Space Museum’. But not all is as it should be and there is a mystery to be solved. What are your thoughts on this story - is it a one episode wonder followed by three episode of running around, or are you a champion of the underdog like Vicki and the Xerons?
Watch all four episodes on iPlayer:
Rate the story out of 10 and let us know your thoughts below:
I give this a solid 3.5/5. It’s an interesting idea that is done well, for the most part, but is kinda let down by a slow start.
I like that this tries to use time travel in the narrative in a new way. I just feel like it does not really stick the landing. I gave it a 3/5 when I last saw it.
This, for me, is an above-average story. Just.
The concept of jumping the time-track and allowing the TARDIS crew to see the future is an interesting one. I like the fact that they keep that thread running throughout the story and the crew are continually questioning their actions in a way that they normally wouldn’t.
The main story is a bit bog standard and it isn’t helped by some weak performances from the guest cast. The main cast, however, are on top form and seem to be having a lot of fun. I always love that image of Hartnell popping his head out of a Dalek.
I think the ideas on display are excellent. I do agree with the consensus re: episode 1 being rather fantastic. It’s eerie and really rather clever. The remaining three episodes do unfortunately devolve into a paint-by-numbers runaround and are a little underwhelming. Still, the Moroks being somewhat rubbish is kind of the point. It’s a militaristic empire that is very much in decline. Being in charge of the museum is a dead end assignment. Nobody cares. It’s actually a rather neat critique of imperialism. The biggest problem is that the Xerons themsleves are so dull.
I absolutely agree. Hartnell’s cheeky little moments are always a joy. This one is a corker!
It’s alright.
Trying something different, that I always like.
But it doesn’t quite add up to an actual coherent story in the end where the “timey-wimey stuff” is concerned.
Vicki is the MVP of this story, I’ve already forgotten about Susan at this point 
A 3/5 
for being ambitious 
Well I have always really enjoyed this one. I know it is one of the less popular stories, but it’s always been one of my favourite Hartnell stories. Something about it just tickles my brain in just the right way
Clever ideas and cheeky Doctor, perchance?
The Space Museum: a strong 5/10
This one suffers a similar fate as An Unearthly Child: the first episode is a marvellous timey-wimey classic, boldly playing around with the show’s format and ambitiously trying to do new things, while the remaining three are slow, forgettable, and very by-the-numbers.
The museum setting is quite underwhelming. The guest characters are both forgettable and played by several wooden actors, spouting very clunky and exposition-filled dialogue and looking like discount Star Trek aliens. Interestingly, two of the Xeron characters are played by Peter Craze, the younger brother of Ben Jackson actor Michael Craze, and Jeremy Bulloch, the original Boba Fett actor in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
The regulars are delightful, and Hartnell is superb here in how he takes the lead and brings out his more serious sides, especially while facing the Morok leader in Part 2. Ian is a James Bond-ish hero, and his chemistry with Barbara and Vicki is wonderful. Vicki herself gets a few good moments helping to raise a revolution.
Parts 2-4 sort of forget the compelling and thrilling timey-wimey space mystery of the opening episode and resort to the usual warring faction plot, with sneaking and hiding around corridors. It’s not very inspiring or interesting, and mostly dull.
I’ve always loved the first episode of this - it’s so weird and utterly Doctor Who and it would be great if that atmosphere could have been maintained across the whole story. I do think, much like the three caveman episodes of An Unearthly Child, the rest of the story is underrated. Vicki, in particular, is awesome stirring her little rebellion but I have to concede that the Xerons are a pretty lifeless bunch and the Moroks (although this is much of the point) are utterly inept.
But like all Doctor Who, I’m glad this story exists because there are enough little gems within it to keep me entertained - the Doctor in the Dalek; the Doctor messing with the Morok’s mind probe device; Ian unravelling Barbara’s cardigan.
One interesting thing is that the original writer of The Space Museum, Glyn Jones, wasn’t very happy about the edits that were done to the script, as the edits apparently cut out most of the humor in the serial.
He’s pretty scathing throughout the commentary on the DVD. His attitude isn’t helped either by Peter Purves being moderator but being very critical about the story himself which really turned me against him a bit. I remember feeling that poor Maureen O’Brien kept getting ignored especially as it’s a good story for Vicki.
I would really like to like this story, but it is really just average to me at best. A Space Museum is an interesting setting that could enable a lot of different types of stories. I agree with those that have said that the first installment is the strongest part, but ultimately the other parts feel a tad bit generic, a not particularly interesting specimen of the “running through corridors” variety. I think that the Doctor comparing where he is from to a beach of walruses is funny, and consistent with what we learn about the Time Lords later.
I love The Space Museum. Fun all the way through
Apologies to @ChrisStokes but I feel I must share his video review of The Space Museum - a well-balanced piece on what the story is trying to do and maybe not quite succeeding at.
I’d also forgotten Rob Shearman’s defence of the story on the DVD so may did that out for a rewatch.
No worries Delta, thanks for the share. I’ve forgotten most of what I said in that so will have to take a look myself!
Gotta say, thanks to @deltaandthebannermen for sharing and to @ChrisStokes for a superbly balanced account. Possibly my favourite review of this story to date. I find myself in loud agreement. I also do enjoy (as I said above somewhere) the critique of Imperialism (there’s quite a strong poke at so called “British” attitudes towards Empire that’s remarkably cutting for something broadcast in 1965). Nonetheless, you are spot on that it isn’t so much that the joke isn’t funny but that it can’t be sustained for three whole episodes (especially as it relies on insipid characterisation). Anyway, a great watch. Thank you!
Thanks @realdoctor - really kind of you to say!
An interesting story, that does some weird time travel stuff, which is a definite plus and raises some philosophical conundrums. It’s got some really fun moments (the doctor in the dalek, Vicki’s joyful ‘Revolution!’), and pretty good performances from the main cast, I especially liked Vicki’s role here. But the plot is unfortunately very boring, I think, so it’s a pretty mid story for me.