Lost in Space Episode 44: The Golden Man

General Information

Director: Don Richardson

Writer: Barney Slater

Cast: Guy Williams, June Lockhart, Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Billy Mumy, Angela Cartwright, Jonathan Harris, Dennis Patrick, Ron Gans, and Bill Troy

Composer: None (Stock Music)

Air Date: 12/28/1966

Production #: 9515

 

Overview

While investigating a spaceship, Penny encounters a belligerent, uncouth alien with the visage of a frog. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Keema (Dennis Patrick)—a charming, attractive humanoid sporting golden skin and clothes—arrives at the Jupiter lost-in-space-the-golden-man2 to request assistance in his upcoming battle with the frog alien. Though Dr. Smith, Judy, and Maureen agree to accommodate their new guest, Penny remains skeptical of Keema’s true intentions.

“The Golden Man” contains a worthwhile lesson on evaluating the substance of a man’s character. Lost in Space fans should therefore applaud this episode, low production values notwithstanding.

 

Pros

lost-in-space-the-golden-manSimilar to “My Friend, Mr. Nobody” from season one, “The Golden Man” deserves praise for giving Penny—an often underutilized and misunderstood character—the protagonist role. Notably, by trusting the frog alien in spite of his rough exterior, Penny sets a laudable example for her family to follow—an essential factor in the unraveling of Keema’s deception.

 

Cons

Even by the typical standards of Lost in Space, the props and special effects featured in “The Golden Man” border on absurd. The beach ball mines thatlost-in-space-the-golden-man surround Judy in one scene, for example, fail to evoke the air of tension that should stem from a life-threatening scenario.

Also problematic are the faces of Keema (in his real form) and the frog man, which resemble latex masks acquired from a Halloween store—hardly sufficient for depicting the attributes of two grotesque, misshapen aliens with large and disproportionate heads.

 

Analysis

lost-in-space-the-golden-manOperating on the premise that one should never judge a book by its cover, “The Golden Man” provides an important message for viewers of a young and impressionable age group.

 

Concluding Comments

A flawed but emotionally stirring episode, “The Golden Man” will appeal to Lost in Space enthusiasts of a sensitive nature. Especially poignant are Penny’s interactions with the frog alien, which indicate that quality friends can come in the most unlikely of packages.

 

Overall Quality: 6/10

 

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Categories: Season Two, Lost in Space

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4 thoughts on “Lost in Space Episode 44: The Golden Man”

  1. This is my number fourteen 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. The trio of mid-season impressive and more serious storylines concludes with one of the LOST IN SPACE episodes with an obvious moral to the story. This is just a classic example of the series. This is also the episode known for its classic use of props, including beach balls and Christmas lights. All in all, it is a very solid and serious adventure highlighting the women and Dr. Smith, once again.

  3. This is my favorite episode of Lost in Space even with the continuous uninteresting monologue of the coward Dr. Smith. The moral is to judge a person by the content of their character not how good they look or by self-serving flattery.

  4. One of my favorite episodes of Lost In Space! I always liked the Frog Alien
    over the Golden Man! Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder!!!

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