Netflix greenlights new "Lost in Space"

[Candlelight]

Haven't posted here in a while but thought I'd dive back in.

I enjoyed the series. It wasn't perfect but it was a damn sight better than Discovery. Some things I noticed:
(I'm not a fan of the original series so I don't know what is a homage and what isn't)

I liked how there was more than one Jupiter in the show. By my count there were 106 Jupiters aboard the Resolute based on visual observations. Did not all of them eject at the start or were most destroyed? Having only a few dozen survivors from a dozen soft-landing vessels means a large majority of the colonists were either killed or never ejected from the Resolute (which, as it turns out may have been the safest thing to do).

What happened to the robot aboard the Resolute? It's implied the alien ship crashed with the other Jupiter's so clearly activating the wormhole drive wasn't expected, but at the same time did the Robot that attacked them eject himself? Or was he eventually taken down? And the alien ship from episode 10, was that another vessel, or did the ship that crashed regenerate itself like the robot?

The lifecycle of the planet is bizarre. How has the star not exhausted all it's hydrogen and gone supernova yet? I find it odd that a planet in such a vicinity to a black hole hasn't either been swallowed or ejected from the solar system, or simply broken up into smaller pieces. The extinction level event would've rendered the planet uninhabitable for hundreds of thousands of years; I can't see how the line of dialogue about "rationing their food until the danger has passed in case we have to land again" made any sense.

Why did the Robinsons leave with Jupiter 11's chariot? Wouldn't it have made more sense to have taken Jupiter 4's, especially considering Jupiter 4 was destroyed and Jupiter 11 was still there! And if Jupiter 4 was still ascending how the hell did the cockpit module reach orbit?

The storytelling was generally well done. Some things surprised me, like the end of episode 8, but otherwise I was pretty much guessing most of what was gonna happen before it happened.

The characters were all likeable. I'm glad they dropped the "i'm trapped in ice" flashbacks after a couple of episodes for Judy. Penny was arguably the best character.

I look forward to the second season. I don't know how they're gonna play Smith next year. Her character was just annoying an unnecessary, and it would great if they could write her out. But honestly now that everyone in the fleet knows she's a bad ass I can't see how the character can continue to serve on the ship, especially once they recover the Robot, we we know they will.

Kill off Smith and the show will be stronger. It's just a leftover from the original series that the show doesn't need. Maybe if they'd been done in the same vein as Gaias Baltar from NuBSG the character might've been more likeable or had the legs to go more seasons but as it stands Parker Posey is wasting her time.

 

[Candlelight]

They were watching a promotional video for the Alpha Centauri colony which showed a row of Jupiter ships all parked near each other like some kind of flying RVs which is essentially what they are. Anyway that looked so utopian and nice but I can't shake the feeling it's a lot darker then what they show.

For one thing people like Don are not allowed to land there and live but it's fine to use them to haul your stuff from Earth and anyway he has a nice side job bringing them all their vices with his smuggling. But it seems he won't be allowed to live there and that was based on how disgruntled he was with them and dialog.

So I get the feeling it's all really stinky what they are doing and for all we know there isn't a colony at all but something darker.

I got that vibe too. For all we know they made a deal with the aliens to deliver smart humans for experiments, and the first 23 missions all suffered the same fate. Then again it sounded like Don had been on previous missions and he's a smart cookie and would've spotted stuff like that, so perhaps not.

 

[Tallguy]

That's legally as much damage as they could inflict.

You're a monster.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

I got that vibe too. For all we know they made a deal with the aliens to deliver smart humans for experiments, and the first 23 missions all suffered the same fate. Then again it sounded like Don had been on previous missions and he's a smart cookie and would've spotted stuff like that, so perhaps not.

If they made a deal with the aliens why are they pissed at the humans for stealing their engine?

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

If they made a deal with the aliens why are they pissed at the humans for stealing their engine?

There could be more than one alien species.

 

[Reverend]

I got that vibe too. For all we know they made a deal with the aliens to deliver smart humans for experiments, and the first 23 missions all suffered the same fate. Then again it sounded like Don had been on previous missions and he's a smart cookie and would've spotted stuff like that, so perhaps not.

Also, who is he smuggling for if all the humans have all had their brains sucked out? Somehow I doubt alien robot overlords are into contraband booze.

The colony is probably just the regular variety of disappointing, not the "it's a cook book!" kind.

 

[Australis]

Finished the series today. I enjoyed it.

Not quite as much as the 1999 movie, though

HERETIC!! Burn the witch!!

 

[Tallguy]

There's still the dangling thread of "What did Maureen do?"

 

[Markonian]

Just finished the show. Watched the movie as a child and as such was excited about the reboot. I love it! Storytelling, effects and characters are top notch. Love the team-making and less dystopian approach, providing a balance to other series I’m watching.

“Smith” is my favorite character. She’s extremely intelligent for being able to manipulate people on the spot. She’s got a motivation and while definitely villainous, Smith is not evil.

The designs are cool. Will building the Chariot model would make a great in-universe merchandising ad.

There's still the dangling thread of "What did Maureen do?"

Oh, what? From what episode?

 

[Redfern]

crazy thought here...

Spoiler

We see the "artifact" from the derelict start to "wire" itself into the Jupiter's systems, thus giving the (previously just) orbital craft FTL capability.

If the show get a second season, I can see how this artifact might use available resources (namely, Jupiter hardware) to construct a new pilot/guardian, one possibly programmed with a backup of the Robot that finally chose to protect Will, and by extension, his family, by sacrificing itself. In other words, we could eventually get something "vaguely" resembling the brewery vat bodied 'bot that we old fogies remember and adore. The eerie lens with the starscape screensaver would be mounted atop like the distinctive "bubble" of the Kinoshita design.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

There's still the dangling thread of "What did Maureen do?"

Simple. She traded information for Will to pass his fitness test for the colony, but given there's 80 year olds and the like on the other ships I really do wonder if all that is a load of tosh and this so called colony is just for the "good people" the wealthy and well off.

 

[BillJ]

Finished the last episode last night. Very well done season. Here's hoping they get a season two.

 

[Romulan_spy]

They were watching a promotional video for the Alpha Centauri colony which showed a row of Jupiter ships all parked near each other like some kind of flying RVs which is essentially what they are. Anyway that looked so utopian and nice but I can't shake the feeling it's a lot darker then what they show.

For one thing people like Don are not allowed to land there and live but it's fine to use them to haul your stuff from Earth and anyway he has a nice side job bringing them all their vices with his smuggling. But it seems he won't be allowed to live there and that was based on how disgruntled he was with them and dialog.

So I get the feeling it's all really stinky what they are doing and for all we know there isn't a colony at all but something darker.

I don't think there is anything super sinister going on. I do think that the new colony on AC is super elitist. Only the smartest, best educated and respectable upper class folks are allowed to migrate to the colony which is why blue collar Don and "Dr Smith" would not be allowed there. Presumably, the authorities on Earth are hoping to build a utopia on AC by only sending the "best" humans there. However, in one episode, one of the characters does mention how humans are the same everywhere and the colony faces similar problems that Earth faces. So I don't think the colony is the utopia that Earth makes it out to be. It most likely has problems of crime and such just like on Earth.

 

[Jadeb]

From a practical standpoint, I think the scenario they've established for leaving the Earth isn't far off what it would really be like. Unless you've got skills, money or influence, you're probably not going. Or at least you'd be at the far back of the line.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

From a practical standpoint, I think the scenario they've established for leaving the Earth isn't far off what it would really be like. Unless you've got skills, money or influence, you're probably not going. Or at least you'd be at the far back of the line.

That is the reality of it but it does sound terribly unfair and dooms a huge section of the population.

 

[Jadeb]

That is the reality of it but it does sound terribly unfair and dooms a huge section of the population.

Well, the Earth doesn't seem to be dying, at least not quickly. It just sucks. And a large chunk of the world's population already lives in horrible conditions and abject poverty, yet we allow that to continue.

The more things change ...

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

It‘s always the question when you can just save a select few.
The other option would be to have a lottery.
But the truth is, you want a bunch of capable decision makers, communicators, scientists, engineers, doctors, and so on on such an endeavor.
If you give every person on Earth an equal chance to win a seat on the space ship, you will send a bunch of poor people without qualification.
You could train many of them but that might take years...
At some point the individual has to step aside to help make sure the mission is a success.

 

[Tallguy]

That is the reality of it but it does sound terribly unfair and dooms a huge section of the population.

A huge section of the population is doomed in any variation of the scenario. Who goes? Who stays? What makes it fair? I suppose a lottery of some sort. But then you'd better make sure that you train the winners in medicine and engineering (at least). Do you still take a "Smith"?

I didn't think of it at the time, but Maureen can't be the only person who bought passage for someone who didn't make the cut. That's more unfair than the supposedly merit based system in place. (And yes, I think that whatever part of her soul that she decided to sell is going to be important. It has to be something valuable and something that she was trusted with / created.)

Some pieces of information we have: Firearms are forbidden on the new colony. ("We forbad them weapons, but they soon began to fashion their own.") Alcohol is also -- illegal? Just not available? Not as good? So a black market has cropped up. And Don (not the MOST unbiased source) thinks that the society on AC is shaping up to be just like Earth. (Really - that covers a lot of ground, doesn't it? Just like Montreal or just like --insert place that you don't want to live here--?)

There does seem to be the attitude from both Maureen and Harris' sister that they are washing their hands of "us". Jessica (it's Jessica, right?) gives away all of her stuff and wants to leave any guilt about her sister behind her. Maureen needs the kids but doesn't care about the legalities of a divorce because if the other person doesn't exist anymore then why bother?

I am kind of reminded of an old Doctor Who story where all the Elites ran off to space and left the Earth to die only to be confronted with the human race who fought their way through the disaster.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

A huge section of the population is doomed in any variation of the scenario. Who goes? Who stays? What makes it fair? I suppose a lottery of some sort. But then you'd better make sure that you train the winners in medicine and engineering (at least). Do you still take a "Smith"?

I didn't think of it at the time, but Maureen can't be the only person who bought passage for someone who didn't make the cut. That's more unfair than the supposedly merit based system in place. (And yes, I think that whatever part of her soul that she decided to sell is going to be important. It has to be something valuable and something that she was trusted with / created.)

Some pieces of information we have: Firearms are forbidden on the new colony. ("We forbad them weapons, but they soon began to fashion their own.") Alcohol is also -- illegal? Just not available? Not as good? So a black market has cropped up. And Don (not the MOST unbiased source) thinks that the society on AC is shaping up to be just like Earth. (Really - that covers a lot of ground, doesn't it? Just like Montreal or just like --insert place that you don't want to live here--?)

There does seem to be the attitude from both Maureen and Harris' sister that they are washing their hands of "us". Jessica (it's Jessica, right?) gives away all of her stuff and wants to leave any guilt about her sister behind her. Maureen needs the kids but doesn't care about the legalities of a divorce because if the other person doesn't exist anymore then why bother?

I am kind of reminded of an old Doctor Who story where all the Elites ran off to space and left the Earth to die only to be confronted with the human race who fought their way through the disaster.

Sums up how I feel about this part of the storyline perfectly.

if you ever find the name of that Dr Who story please add it here.

 

[Tallguy]

Ark in Space. Then you get to meet the survivors in The Sontaran Experiment. It's not a huge plot point it's just mentioned.