Lost in Space Episode 67: Flight Into the Future

General Information

Director: Sobey Martin

Writer: Peter Packer

Cast: Guy Williams, June Lockhart, Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Billy Mumy, Angela Cartwright, Jonathan Harris, Lou Gallo, and Don Eitner

Composer: None (Stock Music)

Air Date: 10/25/1967

Production #: 1507

 

Overview

Upon traveling 270 years into the future and arriving on a mysterious planet, Will and Dr. Smith discover a statue dedicated to the Robot. Following lost-in-space-flight-into-the-futurethe space pod to the planet, Professor Robinson and Major West quickly uncover the explanation for a supposed lapse in time.

“Flight Into the Future” benefits from a serious, atmospheric tone to complement the ominous tropes featured in several key sequences. There are times, however, when logical inconsistencies weaken the credibility of Peter Packer’s premise.

 

Pros

lost-in-space-flight-into-the-futureWhile exploring a cave, Will and Dr. Smith encounter a human female sporting retro-futuristic attire. In spite of being mistaken for Judy, the woman turns out to be a distant granddaughter of Will’s eldest sibling—a surreal display that strengthens the concept of Will, Dr. Smith, and the Robot becoming anachronisms in a world maintained by their descendants.

 

Cons

After landing on the planet, Will and Dr. Smith locate what appears to be the Jupiter 2 in a state of extreme disrepair. Though potentially unsettling,lost-in-space-flight-into-the-future the same narrative device had been employed to a more haunting effect in “The Cave of the Wizards” from season two.

In a later scene, Horatio Smith (a space historian wearing a recycled outfit from Destination Moon) reveals himself to be the great-great-great-great grandson of Dr. Smith. Despite having no children in the present, Dr. Smith fails to react incredulously toward Horatio’s claim.

 

Analysis

lost-in-space-flight-into-the-futureSimilar to “Spectre of the Gun” from Star Trek: The Original Series, “Flight Into the Future” highlights the importance of trusting one’s instincts when confronted with dubious circumstances.

 

Concluding Comments

For its intriguing use of an ostensible time travel story, “Flight Into the Future” should be commended by fans of this series. Worth noting in particular is the futuristic journey of Will and Dr. Smith, which parallels the final act of Stephen Hopkins’ Lost in Space movie.

 

Overall Quality: 7/10

 

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Categories: Season Three, Lost in Space

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3 thoughts on “Lost in Space Episode 67: Flight Into the Future”

  1. I remember this episode fondly, exclusively for the retro-futuristic design elements that you mentioned. The show didn’t usually look like that so it sticks in my memory. As mediocre as this episode is, I think it works better than the flight into the (actual) future featured in the 90’s LIS movie.

  2. This is my number three ranked episode for the psychedelic and far out, all over the place, highly inconsistent and relatively overrated, shortest final colored season..

  3. Here is an episode that has steadily climbed through the Season Three rankings for me over the years, where it now sits in the lofty number three spot, trailing only “Visit To A Hostile Planet” and “The Anti-Matter Man” (on the season). This is quite an interesting mystery-type story that has a lot of good things going on. For the most part, this fine Peter Packer installment is played quite straight. The music here is all classic Johnny Williams and maybe some Herman Stein, as well. Miss Judy looks quite good in a unique out-of-her-regular-uniform costume.

    The most disappointing thing is the sudden and abrupt ending/finish to the story. Maybe a two-part episode was called for here..

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