In an effort to find something quick that can be written as part of Daily Doctor Who, we are continuing with Say Something Nice, where I look back at each of the Doctor Who stories and pull out one or two cool things about it.
(Daily Doctor Who #102)
Read the previous entry here. Today, we continue with the second season’s seventh story…
The Space Museum
Featuring the same cast as last time: William Hartnell as the Doctor, William Russell as Ian Chesterton, Jacqueline Hill as Barbara Wright, and Maureen O’Brien as Vicki. Written by Glyn Jones and directed by Mervyn Pinfield. One notable guest star is a young Jeremy Bulloch, who appears again in Doctor Who later on, but also is known for playing Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
Individual episodes are called The Space Museum, The Dimensions of Time, The Search, and The Final Phase.
Say Something Nice…
(Named for Missy–aka the Master–and her catchphrase from her first full appearance in Dark Water).
The Space Museum is the series’ first real toying with the idea of time travel and dimensions as a plot point. The concept and imagery of the Doctor and his friends finding themselves permanently turned into museum exhibits is extremely creepy, and the whole first episode gives the feeling that one is in for a bit of a more developed reprise of The Edge of Destruction.
But because we’re equal-opportunity fans here, we’re not going to only be sycophantically complimentary.
You craven-hearted spineless poltroon!
(Another cry from the Master, but not exactly a catch-phrase, this time from The Deadly Assassin)
Unfortunately, after that first episode, The Space Museum turns into a very routine rebels-fighting-oppressors story that does not do anything particular interesting with either the idea of time and dimensions, or its actual primary plot. It all ends up feeling like a bit of filler before the Daleks show up for the next adventure.
Catch you next time!
Blue Towel Productions 
Man, seeing this as a kid, the whole time out of joint aspect blew my mind. But rewatching as an adult I largely agree with you.
Still, it was cool to see the show step out in this direction
Steps in new directions may themselves make a significant impression, speaking from how easily impressed I could be by Doctor Who when I was a kid. That was how Planet Of Evil started it all for me.