Netflix greenlights new "Lost in Space"

[Skipper]

Parker Posey Talks About 'Oh, the Pain' of Playing the Iconic Doctor Smith on Lost in Space

 

[bigglesworth]

After a quick search, apparently NASA and SpaceX, at the very least.

The engines would still need an oxidizer. Within an atmosphere they might be able to get by as the engines may work as a turbojet but once the're out in space they'd need LOX or similar agent.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

By the end of the first season, the show does seem to have metaphorically painted Parker Posey's character into a corner. I'm not at all sure how she can be developed much further given that she doesn't appear to have any skills other than inventively lying through her teeth in order to avoid punishment.

 

[Jadeb]

they're spending way too much time on "interpersonal trivialities."

I think that's the heart of the show, and one of the parts I liked best. But, admittedly, it's a journey. You've finished the season?

I think it was a terrible mistake to characterize the woman as a wash-up in the start... because I really don't see the plausibility in her cleverness being able to insert herself into the Resolute survivor group in a reasonable way where she can "catch up" and find a way to be useful. Since the original Dr. Smith was a major component to the original series, the implication is that this new one isn't going to be knocked off or marginalized. The original Dr. Smith was always scheming, willing to sacrifice everyone else for his own interests if it came down to it. So somehow this new Dr. Smith is going to continue that legacy. If they're not careful, it'll get old pretty quickly. Need to have a careful balance on when/how she exercises her opportunism that will put others in jeopardy. The way they're doing it so far, like her mental games with Angela... it's not going to work for the long haul.

I don't know that she needs to become useful. One of the things I thought was clever is that at the end

Spoiler

the family is stuck with her -- just them and her. I don't think her continued presence hinges on her becoming less bad, but on the Robinsons' fundamental goodness. They're just too decent to abandon her or shoot her out an airlock. Though I do expect the writers will continue to peel away at the onion with Smith. We already got a touch of that in the finale.

 

[BillJ]

A woman who was a total washout in her previous life. Just not believable what she's pulling off.

She's a con artist. One got into the White House, why is she so hard to buy?

 

[Reverend]

Personally I just can't shake how out of place "Dr. Smith" seems on this show. Nothing against the performance, writing or even the concept of a con artist bluffing their way onto an interstellar colony ship (she was busted pretty quickly after all) but it all seems too random and just a little contrived. It's as if her sole reason for being on the show is to create interpersonal conflict.

Now there's been a number of similar characters in the genre over the years (Baltar and Kerr Avon leap to mind) but their inclusion felt a lot more organic, as did their ongoing presence. It'd be different if "Smith" had been hired to infiltrate the colony group or something, but she just stumbles (literally) into one unlikely situation after another. She needs a more clearly defined motivation beyond just surviving from one moment to the next.

 

[Mudd]

Just like the original, the show's turning out to be about Will, the Robot and Doctor Smith.

Posey's great in this part. She's got the character that the audience has to wonder about whenever she's not on screen.

Smith is a little bit of a commentary on this utopian little "colony" that a bunch of privileged control freaks are building on Alpha Centauri, as well. Have to love that.

I just finished the one where Maureen goes up in a balloon while giant Gila monsters attack the survivors. The show is turning out to be quite excellent.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

No, I think journeys to ACentauri were already happening before the strike. But something happened for them to want to speed the process up, and there's a mysterious bit in the last ep(>) where two high ups in the shipping company are overheard by Smith.

Spoiler

Basically Earth I think did a coverup with the meteor strike and the engine that makes the Resolute able to travel the way it does was part stolen technology from the alien robots.

One of the suits even mentions "we were always worried they'd come back for it" and they were worried that they'd want their things back.

I hope we find out more about this.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Parker Posey Talks About 'Oh, the Pain' of Playing the Iconic Doctor Smith on Lost in Space

Thank you for posting that.

 

[Photoman15]

She's a con artist. One got into the White House, why is she so hard to buy?

Yep. Without a birth certificate (sealed) or college grades (sealed), et al. Obama did get in to the White House.

 

[Skipper]

Yep. Without a birth certificate (sealed) or college grades (sealed), et al. Obama did get in to the White House.

...what..?

 

[Spot261]

Yes, a violent, sexist, racist gangster is in the White House, but the issue is still about the black guy.....

 

[Amaris]

Just like the original, the show's turning out to be about Will, the Robot and Doctor Smith.

Posey's great in this part. She's got the character that the audience has to wonder about whenever she's not on screen.

Smith is a little bit of a commentary on this utopian little "colony" that a bunch of privileged control freaks are building on Alpha Centauri, as well. Have to love that.

I just finished the one where Maureen goes up in a balloon while giant Gila monsters attack the survivors. The show is turning out to be quite excellent.

Indeed, I'm a big fan of the criminally interesting, and Posey's "Smith" character is great at keeping me watching.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Spoiler: Alien tech

I assume the alien star drive is part AI, which makes its seizure and use by humans tantamount to kidnapping and forced enslavement. No wonder the robots were trying to rescue it. I'm also wondering if it can do a Krell-like IQ uplift on Smith.

 

[DimesDan]

My thoughts: On the whole, it was ok, was pretty by the numbers with one problem after another after another and sorting it in the very nick of time with some nice character moments.

The splicing of the relevant past scenes to add some "weight" to the no-name scenes reminded me of a similar technique in Defying Gravity.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Spoiler: Alien tech

I assume the alien star drive is part AI, which makes its seizure and use by humans tantamount to kidnapping and forced enslavement. No wonder the robots were trying to rescue it. I'm also wondering if it can do a Krell-like IQ uplift on Smith.

Noooo I don't think this Smith needs to get smarter. But am loving Parker Posey

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Noooo I don't think this Smith needs to get smarter. But am loving Parker Posey

She has no useful skills. They might as well keep her locked up and perhaps supervise her performing menial tasks. If she had useful skills and didn't act so obviously batshit crazy, perhaps they'd start to trust her - for good or ill.

 

[BillJ]

Yep. Without a birth certificate (sealed) or college grades (sealed), et al.

Did you require those things of Der Gropenfuhrer?

 

[Skipper]

Did you require those things of Der Gropenfuhrer?

Trump is the right skin color.

 

[Mudd]

Yep. Without a birth certificate (sealed) or college grades (sealed), et al. Obama did get in to the White House.