The Reluctant Stowaway
| The Reluctant Stowaway | |
| |
| Prod No: | 8501 |
|---|---|
| Season: | 1 |
| Air Date: | 09/15/1965 |
| Writers: | S. Bar David |
| Director: | Tony Leader |
| Principal Cast: | John Robinson (Guy Williams)
Maureen Robinson (June Lockhart) Penny Robinson (Angela Cartwright) Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris) Robot B-9 (Bob May Dick Tufeld (voice)) |
| Supporting Cast: | Ford Rainey as President |
| Preceded By: | No Place to Hide |
| Followed By: | The Derelict |
The Reluctant Stowaway is an episode of Lost In Space.
Synopsis
On October 16, 1997, the Robinson family launches into deep space to colonize a planet around the star Alpha Centauri. Unknown to the Robinsons and Alpha Control, an agent of a terrorist entity called Aeolis 14 Umbra has snuck aboard the ship to sabotage it.
Plot
On October 16, 1997, the Robinson family launches into deep space to colonize a planet around the star Alpha Centauri. The Robinsons have been selected because of their mixture of intelligence, stability and pioneer resourcefulness. The Robinsons are: Professor John Robinson, Doctor Maureen Robinson, their children Judy, Penny and Will. Also, with them, is the pilot, Major Donald West. Also among them is the latest in cybernetic designs… a model B-9 Environmental Control robot.
Unknown to the Robinsons or Alpha Control, one of the team members, Colonel (Dr.) Zachary Smith, is in reality an operative for a terroristic entity called Aeolus 14 Umbra. He has been planted there to sabotage the Jupiter 2.
Several hours before the launch, Smith sneaks aboard and programs the robot to activate at launch plus eight hours and destroy several key systems of the spacecraft, including life support, propulsion and guidance. Smith turns off the robot and leaves the ship. Because a switch has been inadverdantly left on, the robot activates and turns on the switch to avoid the damage an "imcompleted circuit" would cause.
Notes
I was just 4 years old when this episode aired originally, so I doubt if I actually saw it on its original air date. However, I've seen it several times since then. Every time I see it, I get goose-bumps. This whole concept is still very exciting to me. I keep hoping for the day it becomes reality, but it doesn't seem likely in my lifetime.
This was done extremely well. I think most of the first season of Lost in Space stacks up quite well as Sci-Fi.
Some narration from the episode conveys some of the excitement.
October 16, 1997
This is the beginning. This is the day. You are watching the unfolding of one of history's great adventures: Man's colonization of space, beyond the stars.
"This is Alpha Control. Zero-minus one hour and fifteen minutes and holding."
Ladies and gentlemen, today, the first of what may be as many as ten million families per year is setting out on its epic voyage into man's newest frontier for colonization: deep space.
Reaching out to other worlds from our desperately overcrowded planet, a series of Deep Thrust Telescopic probes has conclusively established a planet orbiting the star Alpha Centauri as the only one within range of our technology able to furnish ideal conditions for human existance. Even now, the family chosen for this incredible adventure is preparing to take their final pre-liftoff physical tests. The Robinson family was selected from over two million volunteers for it unique balance of scientific achievement, emotional stability and pioneer resourcefulness. They will spend the five and a half years of their voyage frozen into a state of suspended animation, which will terminate automatically as the spaceship enters the atmosphere of the new planet.
Here now is the Jupiter II... the culmination of nearly forty years of intensive research and the most sophisticated piece of hardware ever devised by the mind of man... bold in concept, brilliant in execution, this most delicate, yet most colossal of instruments makes possible man's thrust into deep space."