Time for you to get Lost…in Space

Netflix certainly doesn’t need any free advertising, but that’s exactly what they’re going to get from me today.

I was five years old when Lost in Space debuted on television in 1965.  Even though the first season was in black and white, you couldn’t have put together a show more suited to keep kids glued to their TV’s.  A cool spaceship, the Jupiter 2, a wise-ass robot, laser guns (12 years before Star Wars and a year before Star Trek), alien monsters (the Cyclops), not to mention the Chariot.  And John Robinson flying around in the jet pack!

The show was created by Irwin Allen who also brought us classics like, “The Time Tunnel” and “Land of the Giants”.  Can you imagine being a little boy growing up in his house?

Guy Williams (Zorro), June Lockhart (Lassie) and Angela Cartright (Make Room for Daddy) were already television veterans by the time the show came on the air.  In the original pilot, is was supposed to be 1997.  Of course, in reality, we failed to live up to the expectations of science fiction.  I remember 1997 as being pretty dull, actually.

Early trivia questions.  Who was the actor that played the Robot (Robot B-9 officially) and who was the person who voiced the Robot?  “Danger Will Robinson” was one of television’s earliest catch phrases.  And who wrote the theme music to the original series?  The answers later.

The show ran for three years and yes, was campy, and yes, became ridiculous.  But again, to a boy who was 5 when it started and 8 when it ended, you see through all of that.  Waiting each week for a new insult of the Robot by Dr. Smith was something for a 5 year old to look forward to, such as, “You Nefarius Nimcompoop!”

I just finished watching the 10 episode reboot of Lost in Space on Netflix.  For anyone who was a fan of the original show, please have no misconceptions about comparisons from one show to another.  There are barely any at all.  Regardless, the new show stands very well on its own.  Or should I say flies well on its own.

The villain in this series, Dr. Smith, is now female, as opposed to Jonathan Harris, who played the original.  Judy, the eldest Robinson daughter, is bi-racial, and only Maureen’s daughter as husband John came into the picture a bit later.  When the show begins Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are not on exactly the best of terms.  There is not just one Jupiter spaceship, but many.  And the robot, well, he’s not their robot, but an alien and he’s hands down the star of the series so far.  And there are no laser guns.  Barely any weapons of any kind.  That’s a nice change.  Actually, most of the changes are positive.  Parker Posey as Dr. Smith was a questionable choice.  On many episodes she wanders about like a female “Dude” from The Big Lebowski.

There are tremendous special effects, but the new series does not rely on them.  The cast is stellar, especially the parents, and the kids are not as annoying as they are on most series,  in particular Will.

Trivia Answers.  Okay Bob May was the actor inside the Robot shell during the series.  And Dick Tufeld played the voice of the Robot.  John Williams, of Jaws and Star Wars fame, composed the original theme, yes, 10 years before Jaws reached the screen.

Even if you weren’t a fan or the original series, even if you’re not particularly a science fiction fan, give this show a try.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised.  It will make you forget the film version starring William Hurt.

If you don’t watch, I just may need to call you a, “Bubble-headed Booby”.