2.07 The Space Museum

[whatinthewho]

First Doctor with Ian, Barbara and Vicki
Follows on from Season One, Planet of Giants, The Dalek Invasion of Earth, The Rescue, The Romans, The Web Planet and The Crusade

Comments

[blogger_who]

Oh the Space Museum, the story that vies with Planet of Giants for the contender as my least favorite Hartnell story. Mervyn Pinfield's direction just doesn't do it for me and while he also directed the Sensorites at least there the plot was strong enough that I feel that it's better than his two other stories. I appreciate the spectacle of the first episode and I realize that he was a pioneer, but this one just seems ponderous and long. Having the characters talk a lot about changing things and even having the resolution to the story happen while the travelers are locked in a room talking seems like a bad move even back in the 60's. Funny enough, though, this is the first Hartnell story that I ever saw when my family were on a vacation in another part of the US and the local station there was on the 60's even though our own station had just finished showing The Awakening. I remember this because although we set the VCR to tape Frontios and Resurrection of the Daleks while we were gone a power outtage kept it from happening and I didn

[whatinthewho]

This one is a real mix, isn't it - some lovely moments and character details tangled up in such a dull and uninspiring story. The concept is so strong and there is so much potential that I can't help wondering what it might have been like with the script tightened up and a director better able to extract the best from his actors and sets.

I really don't see much of a future for the Xerons no matter how they reproduce, I've got to be honest. More power to them for wanting to try, I suppose, but still.