Blast Off Into Space

Color has arrived!!!

Dr. Smith builds a monument to himself, while the Robinsons need to "Blast Off into Space" due to the planet falling apart.

The reason it is falling apart is a prospector is mining "Cosmonium". You know it is dangerous, because he has a hand-made sign in his mine that says "dangerous", although he is the only one down there (i.e. Batman is creeping in). Perhaps a minor point, but there was no need for that idiotic sign (and a few other "Batman-type" nods).

Otherwise, this is a very good episode, with a good balance of comedy, suspense and some great action. Dr. Smith is at his greedy best, but does not dominate every scene.

There is also a great balance of outside scenes, The Chariot and the spaceship and of course the Blast Off.

Okay..I am back.

Here we go..the blessed and glorious (in all-living color) Season Two kick-off episode. Many will put this one as the 'weakest' of the season openers (if you will) but not me. Yes..I rank this one ahead of "Condemned Of Space. And why wouldn't I? I boast of how much I love colored Season Two, and although it may not be as overall as 'exciting' as "Condemned Of Space," "Blast Off Into Space" gets my vote as a few notches higher. Why, you might ask. Well, the reasons are obvious. Being so utterly close to and recently removed from lovable B&W Season One, it still has a Season One feel to it. They are still on the lost and forsaken and barren planet. The kids (Penny and William in particular) are still quite young. Dr. Smith is not overly 'over the top' with an "effeminate" (to coin Robert's phrase) characterization, like he is in later Season Three episodes..and the story is very solid.

Basically, this is still an episode to love (if you are a big B&W fan), of course. Just like "Condemned Of Space" and "Visit To A Hostile Planet," there is really nothing not to like so far in the anniversary season. All three are pretty much devoid of pitfalls and drawbacks.

I have seen fans share their dislike for Mr. Nerim and his mule, for being too 'earth-like,' or something. Who cares? Maybe it is because I love a good western-style episode, or because I love Strother Martin's appearances in THE BIG VALLEY (or whatever else), but I like him and his characterization of the old miner just fine. His donkey was just an added interest. Actually, Mr. Nerim was an extremely likable old chum. It is odd and very rare, however, that the main guest star was done and gone pretty much at the midpoint of the story.

The new background incidental music guest scores from Leith Stevens were not exactly 'stellar' or a big favorite of mine, but it (the music) works just fine for the story. It was a big plus to bring on a guest composer for such a huge occasion as a season premier..especially the first colored episode premier. This was big!

How big was it? Well, "Blast Off Into Space" is my #7-ranked episode on the season..slightly above "Condemned Of Space," yet slightly below "Visit To A Hostile Planet." Wait! Who is trying to compare episodes from 'across the seasons?' That is never a good idea, and never an easy thing to do. :-]

Here is a very interesting bit of trivia you may not know. This is the one and the only episode where the guest star's character's name is listed in the opening credits, instead of saying "Guest Star." What I mean is, instead of reading "Guest Star Strother Martin," the opening credit reads "Strother Martin as Nerim." This is totally a one-of-a-kind occurrence.

So far, the illustrious Peter Packer has helmed all three anniversary episodes. That streak ends tomorrow..

LosT~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~jim~~~~~~~~~

iN

SpacE.

In this first episode of the second season color comes to the series. The Robinsons have studies that predict that the planet will collapse shortly and prepare to leave it, at that precise moment a space miner appears, he convinces Dr. Smith to give him part of the neutronium that the Robinsons use as fuel, assuring him that the planet is not about to explode, in exchange it offers a supposedly valuable liquid. Accidentally this liquid is poured on a stone statue and it comes to life chasing Smith and Will, finally once rescued by Professor Robinson, the group manages to make the Jupiter II take off just as the planet collapses. A very good start to the season, how well everything is seen in the series at night, in season 1 there were many moments that took place during the darkness of the night which provided an atmosphere of danger and suspense, it's a shame that in this season those moments disappeared as well as the use of the chariot.

Space miner Nerim (familiar character actor Strother Martin) has undermined Priplanus (the planet on which the Robinsons spent much of the first season) to a point where it has become unstable and faces imminent destruction. The second season opener (now in colour) pretty much follows a trajectory similar to a number of first season episodes: an eccentric 'character' appears, Smith sees an opportunity to profit at the expense of some or all of the Robinsons, the price he/they would have to pay is revealed, the problem is solved. This episode ends with some fun apocalyptic imagery as the Jupitar 2 barely lifts off in time to avoid being immolated. While their anxiousness to depart the exploding planet is understandable, the Robinsons seem to give little thought their adopted world's various, now doomed, denizens, including the little princess from 'The Lost Civilization', Penny's invisible friend Mr. Nobody, and Debbie the Bloop's entire species. The subplot about the life-endowing elixir that Nerim uses to entice the always avaricious Smith feels like a glommed-on attempt to wedge in a 'monster-of-the-week' (which is pretty silly). While the show is replete with implausibilities, one of the greatest is the Robinson's continuing acceptance of Smith.