The Galaxy Gift

The Galaxy Gift is a strong finish to Season Two.

The opening is utter nonsense, but quickly turns into an excellent story when Mr. Arcon (legendary John Carradine) is established.

The "Saticons", from "Wreck of The Robot" are back and desire a powerful amulet that Mr. Arcon has but gives to Penny as a test of her character.

Dr. Smith is determined to return to earth and eventually does return to a fake San Francisco Chinatown, along with Penny and The Robot.

It is nice to see Debbie The Bloop return for a fair amount of time. The story revolves more around Dr. Smith and Penny, with fair balance between the others (except for Prof Robinson and Major West).

One negative is Dr. Smith's insistence that the Saticon's fake San Francisco Chinatown is the real place. No matter how much he wanted to believe it, it is hard to swallow that the man who always seems to question aliens, believes in this easy to doubt fake location, despite clear evidence it is fake.

Other that that stupidity, Dr. Smith is a more like the late Season One Dr. Smith than the buffoonish Season Two Dr. Smith.

Lost in Space started out as a serious "science fiction" show. Dr Smith was evil, and the Robot was powerful. However, after the first season, the show was a goofy comedy, sometimes morality plays, but mostly extremely dated. "Professor" Guy Williams is macho and handsome, "Doctor" Maureen Robinson is helpful, and "Major" Don West is a military pilot. They all proved to be nothing but a 1960s suburban family/associates with no business, never mind skills, to be sent as colonists across the galaxy. The Jupiter 2 has more excess junk that makes no sense to have aboard than the SS Minnow had in Gilligan's Island. I loved the show as a child, but now it is just campy.

Carradine was probably the most prolific of all the guest stars. Most of the others weren't big stars. Carradine is good as Arcon. His enemies, the Saticons, are reminiscent of the trio of aliens from Wreck of the Robot. The story deviates from the norm, in that most of the action is between Dr Smith and Penny (rather than Will). There is a scene between Arcon, Maureen and Judy. Arcon tells Judy not to shout. She replies: "I'm not shouting!" She was so cute! She made my heart skip a beat! Oh, I'm digressing. The episode is well done, and has a noticeably different dynamic from most other episodes.

Meanwhile in a menacing unknown planet to relief a little bit the little Robinson's Penny and Will together the trickster Dr. Smith and the rust bucket Robot are in rehearsal process of a play, out of the blue appears a nasty alien from Saticon planet Mr. Arcon running for their stalkers aiming for get his protector belt, Arcon off the bat sympathizes for Penny's kindness and deliver his belt to her for a while, hereinafter the chasers Saticons enforce Penny to hand over the powerful belt-device, otherwise the whole family will suffer as a result, as promptly Penny refuses, so they start a blizzard in an upcoming decrease process of temperature.

As expected the cheater Dr. Smith lurking around sneakily to enter in contact with the bleak Saticons aiming for a bargain o a possible returning to earth if he allowed a green belt, at once they offer a machine of molecular particles that will transfer him back to earth, nonetheless both are bluffing actually no one have any intention to accomplish the oath, whoever will believe the scoundrel Smith anyway, well the outcome comes fast for both in a bogus manner.

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 2025 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5.

It is a battle of the aliens all over a magic belt. The alien Saticons will return Smith to earth if he hands over the item in question.

It is alien John Carradine (yes, that John Carradine) Vs the graveyard-voiced Saticons who all wish to own the galaxy gift magic belt...and will do ANYTHING to get it!

Despite the simple costume, those Saticons are very chilling and 60% of the credit must go to the under-rated and under-used (in Hollywood) voice artist Mr Jim Mills. In this century, Hollywood can spend millions of dollars on expensive alien make up in sci-fic block busters, but we all know it is pretend, but you can't do a good pretend out-of-this-world voice. The computers can't do that yet. A good voice comes from this thing called human talent with experience. So take note of The Galaxy Gift, Mr Hollywood.