Wednesday 15 April 2020

Review: Lost in Space (Netflix Series)


Starring: Toby Stephens, Molly Parker, Maxwell Jenkins, Taylor Russell, Mina Sundwall, Ignacio Serricchio and Parker Posey
Director: Various
Maturity Rating: 7+
Studio: Legendary Television, Synthesis Entertainment, Netflix (distributor)
Release: 2018 - 2021 (announced third and final season)
Runtime: 2 (seasons) x 10 episodes, 50+ minutes each


Estranged father. Unscrupulous impersonator. Smuggler. Those are among the personas of the characters featured in this space-faring adventure. Veered off course from their path to Alpha Centauri to start anew. All trapped in the same planet together with a mysterious but powerful and possibly dangerous robot. All lost in space. If you like what you have read so far, proceed.

A remake of the 60s TV series and a movie last decade, Lost in Space is science fiction about colonists leaving behind a devastated Earth (and dark secrets) to start new lives in Alpha Centauri, light-years away. The series centres on the Robinsons, a family of five - John, the father who is a former Navy SEAL; Maureen, a brilliant engineer mother; Judy, an adopted daughter who is a doctor with high principles; Penny, a daughter with developing teenage issues; and a son, Will, with some confidence issue.

On the way to their new home, something happened to their ship, The Resolute, and the colonists ended up stranded on a mysterious planet. It will take the whole season to unravel what happened onboard The Resolute (and all the backgrounds of the lead characters) so be patient. The series is riddled in mysteries - something to expect when everyone is lost in a part of space that nobody knows about. Besides that, the Robinson family is living proof that Murphy's law exists. Everything that can go wrong will go wrong. Along the way, Will saves and befriends an alien robot that will eventually be referred to as... “Robot” who will popularise the phrase "Danger, Will Robinson."

With sci-fi series, one can expect computer-generated graphics and Lost in Space do not disappoint. CGI aliens, robots, spaceships, and the works can be found here. In fact, some of the visuals are on par with the big-budget movies out there.

Review continues after the trailer of season 2:


The entire series regulars are given opportunities to shine and character development is well mapped out with a convincing cast. The weakest link of the family, Penny, a happy go lucky, middle child that rarely has the survival skills that her family has, has moments that make her parents proud. Even Robot that plays a pivotal role has some memorable moments.

Lost in Space is nice, clean fun with all the right ingredients minus the violence. Heck, even some Star Trek episodes are too violent in comparison. However, I am always against serials that leave the audience hanging and Lost in Space is no exception. In fact, the series is guilty of that on many occasions, sometimes from episode to episode and worse of all at the end of seasons. Well, nothing is perfect.

Balanced with the right thrills and twists when things are not what they seem, every episode has just the amount of content to keep you in your seat. I would not say at the edge of your seat but it keeps you glued to the screen for more. All that plus a strong family theme and there is good in even the worst person, Lost in Space is an all-rounder. Highly recommended.


Note: Netflix had recently announced the third and final season will air sometime in 2021.

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