Lost in Space - Netflix Series

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Danger! Danger Will Robinson! a memorial line across a number of generations and for many a familiar dad joke that was probably something that occurred for too often. A great family show first screened in 1965 and then again and again over the years. It was a cult classic that explored sci-fi and futuristic tech. Lost in Space made Robots cool before they were a thing and along side the Jetsons was probably what made people originally fall in love with the concept of owning a robot, but was Lost in Space worth a reboot?

That was the question I first asked myself when I heard Netflix was going to reboot this series and I immediately face palmed, then I thought hang on! I'm a dad now, this will give me new purpose in life and a new wave of dad jokes to act out on my kids.

But Netflix's reboot of a cult classic was not really anything like the original, it did take the characters or well some of them and the story line. I think a lot of viewers were left amazed and I was too until a little Googling showed up that the original also followed the same path. There is a book written in 1812 called Swiss Family Robinson. It was nothing like the 1965 series but had some similarity.

The other homage to the original which is cool but crap is that Netflix has only arranged for 3 seasons of the series, which means the next series is the last. Why is that? Because the original 1965 only lasted 3 seasons before being cancelled. It's competition was Star Trek which had a far better story line and bigger budget. People fell in love with Space exploration and these two films were the start of it.

The other thing that this new series changes is the robot, I was first taken aback by it but have grown to love it and am focused more on what Will and the robot get upto then anything else. You'll notice that the robot takes an odd new form. Which is pretty cool. In this film adaptation the robot is a sentient being or an alien that unbeknownst to us at the start destroys the mother ship which causes the Jupiter that the Robinson's are on to drift off course.

Similar to the original it was Dr Smith that programed the robot to destroy the ship 8hrs into take off but his added weight throws the ship off chart. His actions actually save the crew as is later explained in the series.

We also learn that there are more than one robot out there and they're nasty, for whatever reason it is they don't like humans (it is explained in the series but I won't provide a spolier) Will manages to rescue a robot that is dieing and he befriend him. The robot learns to talk and say, yup. You guessed it Danger Will Robinson

There were some odd audience reactions like the fact that Judy is black, Judy appears to have two white parents but we learn Judy is from a previous marriage. I don't know how this is even an issue, how is it even important to anything. You add a back story and people lose their shit? Carefactor? Can't people just watch the bloody show.

There wasn't even as big of a back lash that Dr Smith is not male in this series they switch the character to be a woman. I think that was a wise decision it provided more of a sinister, likable, odd character. They also went full dark in this by giving the character acute on chronic mental health issues who manages to steal someone's identity to get onto the ship. Switching between wanting to kill everyone to saving everyone. The complex personality of the character delves deep into personality disorders and its a great rendition and addition to the series. Smith is an awesome character.

I didn't think I was going to like this series but I sat down to watch the first episode because I didn't have anything else on. I ended up staying and now devastated that there are only 3 seasons. Worse series get more, but no doubt all the great Sci fi films come with big costs and enormous world's to build which is why there aren't that many really really good outta this world type.

I'm looking forward to the final season which was supposed to be screened last year but due to COVID pushed back to this year and I can't wait for the season finale. 1960s fans never got to see the Robinson's make it back to Earth, I hope Netflix doesn't follow this trend and gives us the ending we all want.

Spoiler alert, the original involved time travel and I believe so does the book. That might be a clue in where season 3 takes us, back in time where it all began. Will anything different occur or will they remain the course?

Either way, Lost in Space the Netflix series was an interstellar hit and I'd recommend it to anyone.

Have you seen it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.