Lost In Space (1965)

From Mental Block

Lost in Space is an American science fiction television series, created and produced by Irwin Allen, which originally aired between 1965 and 1968. The series was inspired by the 1812 novel The Swiss Family Robinson and a comic book published by Gold Key Comics titled Space Family Robinson. The series follows the adventures of the Robinsons, a pioneering family of space colonists who struggle to survive in the depths of space. The show ran for 83 episodes over three seasons; the first season (29 hour-long episodes) was filmed in black and white, and the 54 hour-long episodes of Seasons 2 and 3 were filmed in color.

Plot[edit | edit source]

On October 16, 1997, the United States is gearing up to colonize space. The Jupiter 2, a futuristic saucer-shaped spacecraft, stands on its launch pad undergoing final preparations. Its mission is to take a single family on a five-and-a-half-year journey to an Earthlike planet orbiting the star Alpha Centauri.

The Robinson family consists of Professor John Robinson (Guy Williams), his wife Maureen (June Lockhart), and their three children: Judy (Marta Kristen); Penny (Angela Cartwright); and Will (Billy Mumy). The family is accompanied by U.S. Space Corps Major Donald West (Mark Goddard). The Robinsons and Major West are to be cryogenically frozen for the voyage, and they are set to be unfrozen when the spacecraft approaches its destination.

Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris), Alpha Control's doctor, is revealed to be a saboteur working on behalf of an unnamed nation. After disposing of a guard who catches him aboard the spacecraft, Smith reprograms the Jupiter 2's B-9 environmental control robot (voiced by Dick Tufeld) to destroy critical systems on the spaceship eight hours after launch. Smith becomes trapped aboard at launch, however, and his extra weight throws the Jupiter 2 off course, causing it to encounter asteroids. This, plus the robot's rampage, causes the ship to prematurely engage its hyperdrive, and the expedition becomes hopelessly lost in the infinite depths of outer space. Smith's selfish actions and laziness frequently endanger the expedition, but his role assumes less sinister overtones in later parts of the series.

Attack of the Monster Plants (Season 1, Episode 14)[edit | edit source]

Judy is hypnotized by a gigantic flower, which captures and clones her. Her clone then attempts to steal the deutronium fuel they've been drilling.

The Keeper, Part 1 (Season 1, Episode 16)[edit | edit source]

A humanoid alien who calls himself "The Keeper" rescues Dr. Smith from a creature before capturing it. He tells the Robinsons that he is traveling the galaxy collecting specimens for his alien zoo, and it quickly becomes clear that he intends to add some or all of the castaways to his collection. Dr. Smith tries and fails to bargain with The Keeper, who then hypnotizes Will and Penny into joining him on his spaceship.

Follow the Leader (Season 1, Episode 29)[edit | edit source]

John is possessed by a ghost named Canto (Gregory Morton), who had been trapped in a cave for ages. Under Canto's influence, John begins to repair the Jupiter 2 so that it can return to Earth. Knowing that Canto's hold over John continues to grow, the Robinsons decide that they must expel Canto from his body even if it means remaining lost in space forever.

Wild Adventure (Season 2, Episode 2)[edit | edit source]

The Jupiter 2, now back in space, is running perilously low on fuel. A beautiful green-skinned space siren (Vitina Marcus) hypnotized Dr. Smith into leaving the spaceship. Can the Robinsons rescue him before their ship runs out of fuel?

The Dream Monster (Season 2, Episode 14)[edit | edit source]

An alien drains the Robinson family's 'good' emotions so that he can transfer them to the android he has created, turning them into dull, angry shadows of their former selves. Major West and Dr. Smith team up to save them and turn them back to normal.

Space Beauty (Season 3, Episode 21)[edit | edit source]

Space showman Farnum B returns, telling the Robinsons that he is working on behalf of a galaxy-wide beauty pageant and is interested in entering Judy as a contestant. Judy refuses, but Dr. Smith tricks her into signing the necessary paperwork. The contest turns out to be a bride search, with the 'winner' becoming betrothed to an evil dictator made out of fire. Judy is chosen as the winner, and when the Robinsons attempt to fight back, the dictator freezes them in place and hypnotizes Judy into coming with him.