The Hungry Sea

The Hungry Sea is another Gem. It is the last of the initial five episodes that uses a heavy dose of the pilot.

The special effects are spectacular: The journey back and forth over the sea is really amazing. There is plenty of conflict between the Robinsons and the planet, as well as some between Prof Robinson and Major West. Which makes perfect sense considering the situation. The heat, the cold, the dire situation, the great acting, make this one of the very best episodes of Lost in Space.

Dr. Smith again has a minimal role since he is back at the Jupiter 2. But his dialog with The Robot back at the Jupiter 2 is outstanding.

The Hungry Sea was my favorite episode of LIS. It was what the series should have been based on. Guy Williams(John Robinson) was the main focus of this show and it was much more serious and adventurous. There was a blooper in this show however. When the crew in the chariot thought Don West went overboard in the ocean, they did not realize he was just hanging over the side. How could they not see him hanging over the side when the chariot is made of glass windows all around? Anyway it was my favorite episode and I still to this day can watch season one and be entertained. Seasons 2-3 got to campy and went downhill because of DR. Smith IMO.

The production did not want to throw away the film material of the first pilot of the series and cleverly turned it into an episode where to justify the absence of Dr. Smith in the scenes of The Robinsons, they made him refuse to travel with them and stay with the robot in the Jupiter II. The story is full of adventures and shows the adventures of the Robinsons when, escaping from an approaching polar wave, they head aboard the chariot to the south of the planet, first crossing a frozen river but later, when passing through a climate of extreme heat, they must return. To the ship crossing this time through the turbulent waters of the river that has thawed. Because this episode is edited with scenes from the unaired pilot to which new scenes were added, continuity errors are perceived several times, for example after the temperature rises to extreme heat and the family has taken off their coats, On their return to the ship they are seen again with their parkas on. A brief scene from the episode Island In The Sky is also repeated where Dr. Smith sees the Robinsons return safely through a hatch in the ship. When Smith was already wearing his final uniform, we see him again with the Robinsons' overalls. First episodes.

The Robinsons battle heat, frost and a deadly sea.

These opening five episodes of Lost In Space are just some of the greatest TV ever made. The whole cast once again shines in this hour, Guy Williams is outstanding as John Robinson.

The Robot has a very mechanical-man-way-of-talking but his dialogue totally shines thanks to the talents of voice artist Dick Tufeld and episode writer William Welch.

The John Williams score is outstanding.

Welch was known for scripting straight faced episodes of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Time Tunnel and Land Of The Giants...this talented writer was probably too straight for later episodes of Lost In Space. But he did return to the series about four more times (see season three's The Space Creature).

This is an honorable mention in my book, this was a different kind of episode as it plays out like a Disaster film thriller, which is kind if ironic considering Irwin Alien is the king of that genre later. But I like that it was something different for this show and the sci-fi genre at the time because here the Robertson's are up against the elements which truly are a tougher force because it's a force that it beyond your own control.

Each sticky situation they go though is practically different challenges and we are in suspense the whole way, wondering how the Roberson's are going to get though this. Like when they drive to cross a lake, god forbid they run into any thin ice. Or even seeing how they had to deal with the blazing hot sun, which I'll admit made me hot just looking at them.

Even like a little of that subplot with Doctor Smith which gives us a little good insight into his character. We see this whole thing could be an opportunity to have the Robertson's crossed out, however there is just one huge problem; Smith isn't going to last long without them. Sure, he has the Robot but there are limits to what he can do, let alone isn't the best company. It really shows good does exist in Smith as he does try to warn the family about upcoming danger, showing he capable of caring. Ok, this is mainly for himself but at the same time you do sense there is a tiny bit that isn't just for him.

Can the Robertson's survive the elements you'll have to wait and find out.

Rating: 3 and a half stars.