Lost in Space Episode 35: The Prisoners of Space

General Information

Director: Nathan Juran

Writer: Barney Slater

Cast: Guy Williams, June Lockhart, Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Billy Mumy, Angela Cartwright, Jonathan Harris, and Dawson Palmer

Composer: None (Stock Music)

Air Date: 10/19/1966

Production #: 9506

 

Overview

Accused of committing criminal acts in outer space, the Robinsons and Major West are teleported to another planet and forced to testify before an alien jury.lost-in-space-the-prisoners-of-space Upon further investigation, Judge Iko of the Galactic Tribunal discovers the true culprit of the crimes in question.

By paying homage to “The Derelict” and “The Reluctant Stowaway” from season one, “The Prisoners of Space” will appeal to fans of the early Lost in Space episodes. Especially worth praising are the alien court sequences, which center on Dr. Smith’s sabotage of the Jupiter 2.

 

Pros

lost-in-space-the-prisoners-of-spaceThroughout the trial, an ominous fog effect is used to enhance the spooky, mysterious nature of the alien creatures lurking in the background—a terrifying display that works to heighten, if only on a subconscious level, the apprehension that viewers may experience upon watching Will, Major West, and Professor Robinson defend themselves against accusations of a heinous variety.

 

Cons

In contrast to the bubble creatures of “The Derelict,” Judge Iko employs vocal sounds rather than electrical impulses when communicating with humans—alost-in-space-the-prisoners-of-space discontinuity that writer Barney Slater fails to address.

Fearing that Dr. Smith will incriminate himself if required to testify for the Galactic Tribunal, Will and the Robot assist the reluctant saboteur in carrying out his escape plan. In doing so, however, both characters endanger the welfare of the entire Robinson family—now falsely accused as a result of Dr. Smith’s conduct.

 

Analysis

(Spoilers beyond this point)

lost-in-space-the-prisoners-of-spaceIn the penultimate scene, the Robinsons sign a petition to spare Dr. Smith the punishment that he deserves—a resolution that, though anticlimactic, serves as a testament to the kind and forgiving qualities of the Robinson family.

 

Concluding Comments

“The Prisoners of Space” is a haunting, atmospheric episode of Lost in Space. Fans of the sci-fi/horror crossover genre may therefore enjoy this entry, which contains an assortment of grotesque alien monsters.

 

Overall Quality: 9/10

 

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Categories: Season Two, Lost in Space

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2 thoughts on “Lost in Space Episode 35: The Prisoners of Space”

  1. This is my number six ranked episode for the classic down home, cozy and fun, colored mid season..my second favorite season of the series, despite its much maligned and unwarranted status.. :-]

  2. Here is a popular episode on the season, and indeed, it is one of the top ten. Again, the humor is not over-the-top yet, but some fun bits are in play. The whole story idea is cool, and the old B&W footage from way back in episode number one and episode number two is a very cool flashback memory..

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