Follow the Leader

Truly a great episode, and like another reviewer, when I saw this as a child in the 70s, I was absolutely terrified.

It's likely this is far too intense for 5 year olds even now. John Robinson's sudden turn from kind reasonable father/husband to barely controlled fury is alone extremely frightening, and that's just one aspect to it.

It's certainly true that Guy Williams' talent was criminally underused throughout the series. However, that's part of what makes this episode so effective. After watching a whole season of a kind father who's very slow to anger and never loses control, it's shocking because how well Williams plays it. And you also suddenly notice how physically imposing and powerful he is...

As a reviewer noted, the ending to Return of the Jedi is indeed quite similar to the ending here.

As an adult watching this, I couldn't help but laugh that the Robot somehow figured out that John was possessed. Quite a capable environmental robot!

An alien spirit, Canto, possesses John Robinson.

When seen in my 1970s childhood this episode scared the hell out of me. I don't have the same reaction as an adult today...but I still love Follow The Leader.

The voice artist for Canto - Gregory Morton - would have to be the most under-rated and under-used voice artist in Hollywood history!

I can think of many 1960s sci-fi TV hours that would have been given a lift if Morton was employed.

An so ends the 29 episode season one. The first 17 episodes were mostly outstanding, the ones that came after were mostly good, and just two stinkers (The Oasis, A Change Of Space) in the whole 29 episode run. Not bad at all.

This is my second favorite episode in the show, one of the things that make it unique is the fact that this episode is focused on John Robertson. Which to me I think is great as John in the show gets sidelined a bit much. This episode was dark and unique for its kind as it divulges into sci-fi horror. Really like the plotline which is a bit similar to Mario Bava's "Planet of the Vampires" and this episode was on the same time as that movie; as that film was about evil alien entities taking possession of a crew. It sorts of touches upon the father/head of the household archetypes but flips it upside down.

I really like Guy Williams performance as a man under possession and constantly conflicting with this evil alien warlord Kanto. Also like the set layout and pieces with Kanto's lair which look good obviously inspired by the ruins of Mayans and Egypt, as it really has an aura of mystery as they suggest an alien civilization that existed thousands of years ago. Let alone the fact most of this episode takes place at night, which gives this episode an ominous evil atmosphere.

It's scary seeing how John can just turn on a dime, at times I'm afraid he might hurt a family member or two. It's suspenseful and almost a little sad as we see Kanto is just making his relationships and life with his family in ruins along with his soul. Really liked that one psychological evaluation scene with Doctor Smith and John, the doc is clearly out of his depth in both the Psychology field and exorcism field, what happens in the end I found blackly funny as Kanto reveal himself to Smith and Smith as usual does the Shaggy and Scooby, in other words run away.

One of the highlights no doubt is the fight between Don and John/Kanto which I thought was fun, it's sort of that fan wish come true as some of us have always wonder which character would win. The swordfight between Don and John/Kanto is good/decent, it's true that it looks a bit rough and not fancifully choregraphed but that's because the fight is somewhat realistic, which I didn't mind, it actually makes sense as Don hasn't had to fight with a regular sword. Thought that one sword that John/Kanto wielded was rather unique as it's basically an electric coil which I thought was interesting.

Also, like Will in this episode as we once again see the endless extent of his courage, in this episode it is surprising when we discover he truly is willing to die at the price of saving a family member which I thought was really touching and deep.

Can John or even any of the family save his soul from this alien demon, you'll just have to wait and find out.

Rating: 4 stars

Watched this episode last night. First time seeing it since I was a kid in the 60s. I remember this episode, and especially the mask, scared the heck out of me back in the day. Still sets an eerie mood, which the black and white photography only enhances.

Great showcase for Guy Williams who was sadly underutilized in general. Gets to show his acting chops and fighting skills as a menacing version of Professor Robinson.

While I enjoyed seeing this again very much, it was a bittersweet experience knowing the show would rarely come close to such heights again.

Guy Williams ended up retiring in Argentina. I can understand how he could become disillusioned with Hollywood, watching Zorro get canceled over studio disputes and then being given a show with so much potential, only to be made second fiddle as LIS became the Will, Dr. Smith and Robot show.

John Robinson is possessed by a malevolent alien spirit who can refuel the Jupitar 2 for its own nefarious ends. Guy Williams gets center stage as he toggles back and forth between his usual 'dad' and Canto of Quasti, a megalomaniacal extracorporeal spirit (and voice) who has partially taken over the Robinson patriarch's body. Leaving aside the simplistic lead-in (yet again, someone falls into a pit and discovers relics of an ancient civilisation that hold a deadly secret), this is a pretty good episode, with the whole cast given an opportunity to develop their characters. Viewers can decide if the parallels with 'Return of the Jedi' are as significant as some commentators imply. This, the final episode of season one (and the last in black and white), is an upturn in the generally downward trajectory of the series as it degenerated into the campy 'Will-Smith-Robot hour'.