The Anti-Matter Man

This bares less resemblance to the Star Trek season 2 episode episode 4, Mirror Mirror than the season 1 episode 27, The Alternative Factor, where there are two parallel universes connected by a "magnetic corridor" and the two versions of the alien (played by Robert Brown) pass back and forth. One is supposed to be the anti-matter version of the other.

I can see why people choose to link this episode to Mirror, Mirror, it was a far better Star Trek episode than The Alternative Factor.

For this episode, they also throw in that the anti-matter world seems to be a prison world of sorts, with a hint of Superman's Phantom Zone - the anti-matter prisoners talk of being there for a very long time.

One only wishes that more of the LIS episodes were like this one, perhaps there would have been a season 4.

A few observations:

The fire at the opening of the gateway to the anti-matter world was certainly different than the normal "explosion" in front of the camera for the scene change.

I thought it was funny when Will and the Robot first go to the anti-matter world, and the "rocks" start moving, the Robot also raises its arms to cover its "ears" when Will covers his ears.

The "whispered" voice of the Robot sounds a little different than the normal speaking voice.

The "Robot" that Don and Dr. Smith raise up from the ground looked very much like a mock-up, as the real robot suit was probably a lot heavier.

When the "+" Robot was talking to the "-" Robot in its cage, the burning stick on the ground looked to get rather close to the "+" Robot's treads - I wonder if that was intentional.

The Anti-Matter Man has long been considered a favorite Lost in Space episode, by most aficionados and perhaps the best color episode. It is easy to make that case. At minimum, I rank this as one of the very best. It is exceptionally well written and moves at a perfect pace.

The Anti-Matter man highlights Prof Robinson, with The Robot in a strong supporting role.

Prof Robinson is transported to an Anti-Matter World and a battle between the real Prof Robinson and the Anti-Matter Prof Robinson ensues.

The Robot, Will and Dr. Smith also enter the Anti-Matter world, which in addition to the Anti-Matter Prof Robinson contain the Anti-Matter Major West and Anti-Matter Robot.

Although not overly brave, Dr. Smith is not his usual over-the-top coward nor a buffoon- very appropriate for this episode.

If one were to nitpick, The Robot has a couple of "campish" moments that keep this from being perfect, but it still easily Rates as a "10".

This was screenwriter K C. Alison's only contribution to LIS, and that's a shame. This powerful story is one of the most memorable from season three.

A major strength of this story is allowing Guy Williams to take center stage, playing good and evil versions of John Robinson. Not only does he get some good action scenes, he also shows his ability to convey emotions through the smallest of gestures and facial expressions. Mark Goddard likewise plays two roles, and his sinister anti-West is truly creepy, with his five-o'clock shadow and droopy eyellid.

The Will/Smith/Robot troika plays a smaller part than usual. Will has some strong lines when confronting his "dad," and later an emotional scene which triggers the famous "happy family" music cue. The Robot continues his evolution into a metal joke machine, including a scene where he too confronts his "evil twin." Voice man Dick Tufeld must have had fun with this one.

As with the recent "Day at the Zoo" episode, the visual side of "Anti-Matter Man" depends heavily on "limbo sets" - dark, expressionistic vistas lit as needed for maximum effect. The pathway between worlds was about as effective as the LIS special effects could make it: a truly eerie dreamscape with smoking dry ice and glittery gauze.

It's good to see how good LIS could be when the creative team thought outside the box.

Receiving top billing for all three years of the show's run didn't quite bode well for Guy Williams. Most of the episodes, from season two through three, focused on the Dr.Smith/Will/Robot trio, leaving the rest of the cast to have glorified "cameos". However, "The Anti-Matter Man" allowed both Williams and Mark Goddard (Don West) some choice scenes, playing their regular characters and the anti-matter world "opposites".

The episode also allowed for some intriguing set design, especially in the Dali-esquire-looking alternate universe. The installment made effective use of stock music from John Williams, much appropriate for several of the tense scenes.

Jonathan Harris's scene-stealing was kept at a minimum in the installment and that, by itself, makes this one a cut above others in the last year of Irwin Allen's classic.

John Robinson (Guy Williams) enters an anti-matter world.

I agree with the positive reviews this episode is getting here and I might add this is one of Sutton Roley's best and most memorable direction jobs ever! In case you don't his name, he directed everything from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, QM's The Fugitive, QM's The Invaders, The Man From UNCLE, etc. He has this habbit of getting the camera very close to actors and positioning it so you can see up their noses.

The stock music in this hour is very good and well placed with the drama of it all.

The only negative thing I have to say about The Anti-Matter Man is the very human way in which the Robot is portrayed here. His desperate comments like "Oh, I can't waste time explaining it to you" and "You MUST, you MUST (do this)". I am told if LIS got a 4th year the Robot would have become even more human! Help!

But all in all, a wonderful hour of LIS where Guy Williams and Mark Goddard prove that they can do a lot more than fiddle with controls at the Jupiter 2.