The Anti-Matter Man

After a string of weak episodes we find a really good one. John Robinson is accidentally transported to an antimatter world and his dopelhanger comes to our world. The plot is much like the season 1 episode Follow the Leader, Guy Williams and Mark Goddard get a chance to shine as their sinister counterparts. The atmosphere is well done, both the corridor that leads to the antimatter world and the cave with the cage where John Robinson is kept prisoner is gloomy and creepy. The Anti Matter Man is among the 3 or 4 best episodes of this third season.

As stated in another review, if the camp element had been weeded out from this episode, it could have stood up with the first eight episodes (and episode 15) of "Lost in Space." As it is, it's on a par with "Follow the Leader", the first season finale which had many great moments and a few campy ones which detracted from its complete effectiveness.

"The Anti-Matter Man" is probably the very best use of recycling (a common occurrence) in this series: the stark, Stravinsky-like stock music was scored by Herman Stein, and was originally from episode two ("The Derelict"); the rubber-suited red alien was an entirely different character in a prior episode, but put to very good (if utilitarian) use here. There are some superb camera bits, too (kudos to the director, Sutton Roley). And stars Guy Williams and Mark Goddard show more range than expected as Prof. Robinson's and Major West's villainous counterparts.

The effects are OK, but quite atmospheric nonetheless.

Anti Matter Man is a wonderful, almost perfect episode. It stands out in an erratic season of episodes. Some of this season had good shows , but it also featured some truly low points ( A day at the zoo, Great vegetable rebellion, to name just 2!) But this episode is superior to any other 3rd season show, Sutton Roley directs assuredly and imaginatively from a script by K.C.Alison ( Robert Hamner and Barney Slater )It is a great pity Roley only did a handful of episodes- everyone he did was good if not great. The story may sound old hat- John Robinson is transported to the anti matter world inhabited by his evil alter-ego, leaving John there in the custody of Don West's alter-ego- the double takes John's place with his family.This episode really is tense, grim and features the comedy scenes in the right proportions and not too often. Several scenes stand out- the evil John virtually clubbing The Robot to pieces, again the evil John stalking Will Robinson through space on an eerie stairway of mist and light, the 2 John's fighting in space amongst a myriad of lights.Dr. Smith, Will and The Robot travel to the anti matter world to find the real John Robinson, their adventures along the way are fascinating.A prime example of the perfect Lost In Space. Check it out.

Guy Williams was fun to watch when he went outside of his John Robinson persona. The story is pretty silly, but it's all good fun. One major problem: there are anti-matter versions of Prof. Robinson, Major West, and even the Robot. Why not an anti-matter Dr. Smith? That would have been quite interesting. Mark Goddard was excellent as the slimy anti-matter West. Again, a fun episode-but there should have been an anti-matter Smith.

Its a good episode of sci fi TV in general, and probably a great episode as compared to the rest of Lost in Space. Though the topic probably already seemed derivative by the time this aired (Star Trek had already aired similarly themed episodes) they still managed to deal with this in an interesting way with cool set design (when I think "Lost in Space" I always think of the "transdimensional walkway"). Though the acting in this episode is often praised, I find it still somewhat too simplistic. If the campiness had been toned down a bit (for instance, why is the robot expressing that he is afraid so often?) I think this would have turned a good sci fi episode into a great one. Though I never expect much scientific accuracy in these shows, I think having the dimensional gateway be just a door with fire surrounding it is a little silly, even for Lost In Space.

However, I still find it to be an iconic LIS episode, and in 40+ years, it still is enjoyable.