Review: Lost in Space
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After crash-landing on an alien planet, the Robinson family fights against all odds to survive and escape, but they’re surrounded by hidden dangers. Netflix
I’m fighting a virus so no cinema for me but I have been delving into the considerable joys of Netflix.
Santa Clarita Diet is almost too strange and Riverdale is a bit too soapy (sorry friends who love it). Lost in Space, however, is in the Goldilocks zone. Sci-fi but not too nasty, scientifically plausible but not too heavy on details. Lots of heart and visually satisfying.
I shudder to use the words ‘family entertainment’ but that is what this is.
There are frights and edge-of-the-seat moments throughout. At one shock I involuntarily tossed the remote in the air – and my dulled, virusy senses were too slow to catch it. It was not the only time I’ve just in the first few episodes either. I loved the extra tasty cheese of the original but, fainthearted fan that I am, there is a new robot in town and I am wholeheartedly his.
The characters are charmingly flawed and modernly rewritten but they are all there. John Robinson is a soldier and Maureen is in charge of the Jupiter II. They, and their family, are fractured but working on repairing their ties. Judy is wa-ay cooler and more intelligent than in the original and Penny is a badass. Will does not have it all together but like the very best heroes he helps others and he never stops trying … except to have moments of self-doubt where Dr. Smith can poison his thoughts.
BTW Dr. Smith is so very much more evil but only slightly less camp than the original. And played by Parker Posey. Louche and wicked, I just hate her – which means she is doing an excellent job. You’ll have to wait a couple of eps to realize that Don West is Don West (and not the fish Dr. Smith rejects). Sorry, it’s the drugs talking.
I actually let out a little squeal when the robot first said ‘Danger Will Robinson’. I was thrilled that their spaceship still looks like a robot vacuum cleaner but more than that, I will watch the whole season because of the way the writers and director (and special effects crews) have expanded on the original but kept familiar touchstones.
Just so it feels like I’m watching a series and not a binge I’m only watching one (or three) episodes a night but I am already sad that there is only one season. So far. Surely Netflix cannot leave it there when they have managed to create the rarest of all creatures, the unicorn of TV? A family series that nerds, non-nerds, adults and kids can enjoy together – with laughs and thrills?
Feature image: facebook.com/lostinspacenetflix
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