I enjoyed the first season of the Netflix Lost in Space series. It held my attention for 10 episodes and got better as it went along.
I used to watch reruns of Lost in Space when I was a kid. I was a bigger fan of Star Wars, and Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, but I’m a sucker for sci-fi so I checked out the classic 60s series. There is a cheesy charm to the original television series. Family and heart were important parts of that series and I think they captured that with this new version.
Instead of serialized episodes, much like everything else now, the creators have opted for an overarching storyline. You’ll see this was an origin story that places all the characters and parts together by the end of the season.
Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless wrote the show with Zack Estrin (Prison Break) serving a showrunner. Both Sazama and Sharpless have worked on Power Rangers, Gods of Egypt, The Last Witch Hunter, and Dracula Untold.
The characters are interesting, likable and each have their flaws. No one here is perfect but they all have a character arc within this season. The dynamics between family and friends has authenticity.
The children are smart and have depth and react to each other in a real way.
Antagonists are not just causing problems, but presenting valid arguments. I agreed often with the decisions of minor characters, even if they worked against the main crew.
Maureen, played by Molly Parker, is the intelligent resourceful but overprotective mother of the Robinson family. Despite the science failings in this show, Maureen is a great role model for little girls interested in STEM studies.
I detested John Robinson (Toby Stephens) at the beginning of the series, but as he showed his weaknesses he became much more interesting.
Ignacio Serricchio’s Don West was another character I didn’t care for at the beginning but became a favorite near the end.
The most fascinating character by far is Parker Posey’s take on Dr. Smith. Much like the original Dr. Smith, she is a conniving and mercurial character who often causes problems but can also solve them.
I liked the new take on The Robot. Instead of being a one-note entity, this time The Robot is a source of mystery and plays both ally and antagonist. He looks a hell of a lot cooler too.
The special effects, the outfits, and the art direction are top-notch, particularly given this is a television production. I like how they change the color schemes of the lights in the different Jupiter spacecraft. The creatures, spacesuits, set design and vehicles are all superb.
There is a great feeling of exploration and adventure here that is sorely lacking in most series and movies today. I miss that and it was good to see it here.
I think what’s important to recognize is that Lost in Space is aimed at a younger crowd and is the softest sort of science fiction.
Yes, the series could’ve been deeper or darker but that’s not the point. Yes, Lost in Space could have been more scientifically accurate, but that’s also not the point. It’s entertaining first and inspirational second. If you want this series to be something else then you should look elsewhere.
As a science fiction adventure series aimed at the entire family, Lost in Space is a quality production, explores morality issues, is enjoyable and uplifting. This is not high-minded science fiction, but neither was the source material it’s based on.
Dirk Hooper
Dirk Hooper is a professional writer who has done work for many high-profile online magazines, has won the Top Writer Award at Quora for the past two years, and a Moore Award for copywriting in 2017.