Lost In Space S1 E8: Trajectory

"You Robinsons are such a little tribe of fixer-uppers." -Dr. Smith-

Lost In Space, Season One, Episode 8, Trajectory is an interesting title choice because I keep asking myself if the series is on the right trajectory. I'm still uncertain.

While I've been committed to seeing the Netflix series through to its end (what self-respecting Lost In Space or science fiction fan wouldn't?), it remains far less compelling than the richly woven series The Expanse (2015-2018?) (now cancelled by SyFy) or the hyper intense engagement of Colony (2016-present) (Season Four still to be determined). And yet, as of this writing, the successful Netflix Lost In Space has been renewed for Season Two. Netflix, please pick up The Expanse!



Trajectory sees the collective Jupiter survivors make plans to reach the Resolute with what little fuel remains.

Maureen Robinson works around the clock ensuring the weight is right for a single pilot to make the trip to the station.

Unfortunately John Robinson has been the test subject and repeated simulations find Maureen declaring him dead at every turn, "You're dead."



The Resolute is aware of the singularity/black hole and is leaving orbit in 24 hours.

The lost survivors have 24 hours to reach the station and escape a planet that is malignant. So time is running out.

Don West comes into play and essentially the Trajectory story is like one long plot thread to reach the ultimate conclusion that Don West is your series' pilot.



In effect, this first season is bringing together characters in a more gradual fashion to inevitably reach the intended end of a family lost in space plus three. The series will consolidate the group that was formally established out of the gate with the classic series. The original series brought the ensemble together beginning with S1, E1, The Reluctant Stowaway (1965).

Despite his devil may care attitude in some ways this West character does have his moments even if he is considerably different from the original series hero. In fact I like all of the characters in fits and starts and at seemingly alternate moments throughout this Lost In Space. While these are good actors, chemistry and writing are still playing a factor for me at this time. I've yet to fall in love with this lot in the way I did with the cast of the classic.



And for all the praise she has received in the spot of the Dr. Smith role, Parker Posey, eight episodes in, is not good enough in what is a major part in the series. This writer has difficulty buying her shtick. It's not a female thing, because, as I've noted, I loved Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica (2003-2009). Posey is just not delivering in the part for me. I'm still waiting for it to click, but I feel like the performance is labored and searching and she is entirely too obvious. That's not to say Jonathan Harris wasn't himself clearly a con because he was. Everyone in the family knew he was a snake, but the chemistry worked between them perhaps coupled with the naiveté of the era. The Robinsons in this new iteration of Lost In Space should be very aware of June Harris/ Dr. Smith as a snake too, but the whole dynamic isn't clicking yet. We'll see where it goes.



With her identity fully revealed by the arrival of Trajectory, there seems to be no logical reason she should be called anything but June Harris going forward so I'm not sure of the need to even mention the name Dr. Smith ever again which seems peculiar. But Lost In Space should have a Dr. Smith, but things are indeed different here. Don West and the Robinsons all know Harris stole the access card off the real Dr. Z. Smith. So it will be interesting to see how her treatment and name is handled going forward, but something feels off about the whole thing for me.

Robot doesn't appear in this episode, but is referred to by West as an alien Robot. The conventional wisdom at the point of Trajectory is that it is definitively an alien intelligence slash Robot. Again, a very different variation on the original series Robot.



Each actor seems entirely capable of filling their respective roles on Lost In Space. Molly Parker (Deadwood) as Maureen Robinson, Toby Stephens (Black Sails, 13 Hours) as John Robinson, Taylor Russell (Falling Skies) as Judy Robinson, Maxwell Jenkins (Sense 8) as Will Robinson, Mina Sundwall as Penny Robinson, Ignacio Serricchio as Don West and Parker Posey as Dr. Smith/ June Harris. These are solid performers.

Mina may be my favorite of the bunch, a real highlight. Like the unfortunate delegation of story time for original Penny actress Angela Cartwright, we'll see if Sundwall gets her chance to shine a bit more in the future a la S1, E1, My Friend, Mr. Nobody (1965) from the original series.



These are all fine actors working on this new series, but collectively with the scripts in hand it's all falling a bit flat. Though I feel that is something that could improve with the right modifications for its now confirmed second season.

The fact is this is a new series attempting to chart its course and its trajectory as a family working together in the hands of a serviceable story. Indubitably the original Robinson clan was remarkably well cast. It was television gold with that group and they simply connected with chemistry to spare. Sadly, that seems to be missing here. The fact there is this LOST-styled ensemble swirling about the family feels more like a distraction to what the trajectory should really be for this series and that may change in the future.



I've said it before, Lost In Space is about the Robinsons and at the moment, while just fair to good in its storytelling, the writing could be better, the chemistry to help sell the show is a little lost and hopefully they can right the trajectory and finish strong with just two episodes remaining until next season.

Rome wasn't built in a day, especially with ten episodes, just ask Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994).

Clearly Lost In Space looks terrific, but doesn't always feel like Lost In Space and to some degree that's disappointing.



Writer: Katherine Collins/ Kari Drake. Director: Stephen Surjik (Person Of Interest).

 

Lost In Space S1 E7: Pressurized

Is this fanatic of the original Lost In Space (1965-1968) getting lost in the new 2018 Netflix version of the series? That discovery continues.

The pressure is on for the survivors of the downed Jupiters as the planet continues to grow unstable in Lost In Space, Season One, Episode 7, Pressurized.




A good deal of excitement is generated in an action sequence involving the Chariots making for a lively adventure installment.

Two alternating stories comprise the Chariot-heavy entry. One centers on Judy and the other on her parents.

Penny bonds with Will and works to console his loss of Robot following his brave decision to terminate its unpredictability in the final shots of Eulogy, a loss that one expects to be fairly ephemeral.



The separation from Will opens the door to June Harris, aka Dr. Smith, as the opportunity presents itself to revive Robot under her command. This is a sticky area as Robot is at once listening and learning, whilst also an alien intelligence. This does appear to present some contradictory functionality. 

There are certainly aspects to the series to enjoy and Lost In Space is navigating a lot in its short ten episode run. It's attempting to establish itself and its characters and do so in a generally thoughtful, family-friendly way, but this Lost In Space has a very different feel to it.



As first season runs go Lost In Space is decent. It's not necessarily unforgettable, but there's a lot to appreciate and if the series has a chance to grow and mature it may achieve greater things. It's still early with a third of the episodes remaining.

Fans of the original series Lost In Space cannot help but make comparisons. I asked a non-sci-fi friend to give me their impressions of the show without the baggage I carried with me and they had a generally positive experience viewing it and related to the characters, but agreed it was hardly essential viewing.



I keep asking myself if I like these characters and if they are infused with the same charms that the original cast brought to the show 50 years ago. I keep drawing an inconclusive on that question. There are some I am enjoying more than others, but a definitive answer to that remains open.

Pressurized gives another bit of original Lost In Space tribute to fans revealing in the entry that Dr. Smith is actually June Harris. You wouldn't be much of a fan if you didn't notice the creators have given the Dr. Smith character the last name of the actor who originally portrayed the one and only Dr. Zachary Smith, Jonathan Harris. Not only is respect paid to the late, great Jonathan Harris here, but June Harris even gets the first initial of his first name for the new show.



This is an awfully nice tribute to an actor who truly played an instrumental role in making a name for Lost In Space. Harris even once upon a time created much of his own dialogue for the original series. Sometimes I think the writers could use some help with that here. Note the lack of quotable dialogue to open each of my reviews.

Also for those who missed his appearance in E1 Impact, Judy holds the Dr. Smith picture badge in her hand at the beginning of Pressurized with actor Bill Mumy's face on it. Mumy, who appeared in Impact, once played the young Will Smith. Obtained by Don West, both he and Judy are well aware that Dr. Smith isn't who she says she is based on the ID badge in their possession.



Also, for a nice bit of internal geek fun, there is a scene whereby Will is pining away for Robot with Penny and he is building a small replica of his old friend from the package parts of a Chariot model. The model is of a Chariot from this new series. How long before us geeks get our hands on one of those? Personally, as fast and sleek as this new vehicle is, and it really is showcased and highlighted in Pressurized, I do love and prefer the original and have my own 1:24 scale model of it by Moebius. It's a keeper. Still, you have to commend the series for unabashedly showing off its toys.

The episode concentrated on family members under pressure particularly the dynamic between a struggling John and Maureen in a tar pit. While I suspect much is still unresolved it was good to see this series bring them closer. Unlike the old series, any kind of romantic connection has been significantly absent until now.



Penny, too, showed a good deal of heart for young Will. Mina Sundwall is a real highlight for me as Penny, but she's had little chance to shine for very long.

Maxwell Jenkins hasn't showed quite the commanding presence as Will Robinson as portrayed so colorfully by old bill Mumy on the classic series back in the day, but he has his moments. Mumy was a genuine charmer as Will Robinson. Jenkins, here, is much more subtle with the personality traits and that is refreshing as an approach. He's a nice kid and a genuinely sweet one to this point.



Judy is somewhere between those years of being a kid and a young woman and she is certainly a confident figure like her mother here on the series. Judy has had her psychological set backs but continues to adapt and navigate those challenges whilst in the unknown of space and those aspects are played well. Like the other young cast members, Taylor Russell as Judy is mostly a delight in the series.

The Robinsons are dealing with a lot including an unexpected detour and they are doing their best to hold it all together.



Meanwhile, Dr. Smith, Parker Posey in a rather stealthy, sociopathic, seditious performance, subtly weaves her plans together for reviving Robot. It is all handled quite gradually and holds a lot of promise. We know one Robinson who will be happy for its return, but how will the alien intelligence of Robot be affected following Dr. Smith's hands following its bio-mechanical rebirth. And how will it respond to Will knowing he was the impetus for his untimely demise despite Will's initial intervention to save it in Impact.

There's just three episodes left and Lost In Space, despite reservations, continues to keep me looking forward even if I'm feeling the series isn't nearly as compelling as recent programs like Colony (2016-present). Yet, I'm returning. That's a good sign particularly for a demanding science fiction fan with the weight of history regarding the franchise on his mind. Thus in the pantheon of great science fiction where would this Lost In Space fall? Stay tuned.



Writer: Vivian Lee. Director: Tim Southam (Colony).