Castles in Space

A frozen princess is found.

This episode looks different and it sounds different.

It sounds different because it was scored by the gifted Gerald Fried, a composer best known for Star Trek season two (1967-68), but a guy who did music for everything from The Man From UNCLE (1963) to Dynasty (1981).

It looks different because the regular alien planet set is given a nice paint job.

In childhood what struck me about this hour is that the Robot gets drunk...very funny back then...and I admit to still getting a laugh out of it..."will this dizzy feeling ever leave me?"...."I may have talked too much", says The Robot. Love it.

Since the Robot doesn't eat or drink, who would have thought he could get drunk? Amazing! Seeing the Robot drunk is the most interesting thing about this episode. The story of an ice princess being pursued by a silver-skinned alien was disposable. The ice princess was, at least, nice to look at. The Chavo character was annoying. He wasn't funny, and the character was unlikeable. The "Sloop John B" duet (between Billy Mumy and Marta Kristen) was great! This scene was obviously included as a time-filler. That was fine, though. You had this, and Robot B9 getting drunk. Not much else of interest.

The Robinsons discover first a frozen princess, then an extortionist who plans on kidnapping her to hold for ransom. The episode starts reasonably well (albeit highly derivative of 1951's 'The Thing') and Corinna Tsopei is quite appealing as the silent, frightened princess but then falls off a cliff into vapid silliness as the villainous Chavos (Alberto Monte), a chrome-plated Frito Bandito complete with crossed bandoleers and a silver sombrero, shows up. By now, the show was essentially fluff for the kids, primarily focussing on the 'comic' antics of Smith and The Robot (with Will as straight man) and this episode features the Robot getting drunk (apparently by having tequila poured into his housing) and later suffering from a hangover (and treating it with the classic 'ice bag on the head' routine). Apparently, the character of Chavos was such an offensively over-the-top Mexican stereotype that the episode, which was broadcast around the same time as the vocal criticism of the aforementioned Bandito was heating up, was yanked in some parts of California. The trajectory of this series over three years, from a reasonably adult sci-fi drama to a juvenile 'camp' comedy, may be unique. I loved the show as a kid but it's a bit hard to watch now (especially if I take of the nostalgia glasses). Judy and Will's duet of the folk classic 'Sloop John B' is a highlight (and boosts the castle-less 'Castles in Space' 1 rating point).

The (single) alien bad guy is Chavo, not Pancho...

Those looking for logic in the plot should generally eschew Lost In Space reruns, and this episode is no exception. It hearkens back to the silliness of the second season, and might be viewed negatively by many today for its stereotypical portrayal of Chavo. Perhaps that is why it is often skipped when the series is shown in syndication.

On the plus side, the episode's musical score is quite good, apart from the trite Mexican-style riffs. Those who want to hear Bill Mumy and Marta Kristin's rendition of Sloop John B. can find it in the multi disc Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen set from a few years back.

It is a pity that the few episodes in which Don (Mark Goddard) is given prominence have been quite weak, this is the worst of all. An ice princess without thanks, a villain with a Mexican accent and silver skin. A script lacking in wit. It is worse than the famous The Great Vegetable Rebellion.