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{{Episodes |
PictureName=J2LiftOff.jpg |
Title=The Reluctant Stowaway |
ProdNo=8501 |
Season= [[Episodes - Season 1|1]] |
AirDate=9/15/1965 |
Writers=[[S. Bar David]] |
Director=[[Tony Leader]] |


PrincipleCast={{{Principle Cast}}} |
{{Episodes | Title=The Reluctant Stowaway
| PictureName=NoPhoto.jpg
| ProdNo=8501
| Season=[[Episodes - Season 1|1]]
| AirDate=09/15/1965
| Writers=
[[S. Bar David]]


SupportingCast=TV Announcer ([[Don Forbes]]), General ([[Hal Torey]]), [[Sergeant Rogers]] ([[Hoke Howell]]), President ([[Ford Rainey]]), Security Guard ([[Brett Parker]]), Inspector ([[Tom Allen]]), Alpha Control Technician ([[Fred Crane]]) |
|
| Director=
[[Tony Leader]]


|
| SupportingCast=
[[Ford Rainey]] as [[President]]


Precededby=''none'' |
| 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 sneaked aboard the ship to sabotage it.


| Plot = On October 16, 1997, the Robinson family launches into deep space to [[colonization|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 [[The Robot|B-9 Environmental Control robot]].
[[Fred Crane]] as [[Alpha Control Technician]]


Unknown to the Robinsons or Alpha Control, one of the team members, Colonel (Dr.) Zachary Smith, is in reality an operative for a [[terrorism|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 is caught on board by a guard, but catches the guard unaware with a sharp blow to the neck; the guard is dead, and Smith shoves him through a temporarily-open disposal hatch, where the guard's body lands in a dumpster. Smith leaves the ship.
[[Don Forbes]] as [[TV Announcer]]


Minutes before launch, Smith boards with the Robinson family, and proceeds below to check on the Robot, seeing a technician working on it again, and then turning it off and stowing the power pack. After the tech advises him to hurry and climbs to the upper deck, Smith quickly sets to work (while the crew is entering their [[freezing tube]]s for their long sleep) to make sure the sabotage program is in effect, attaches the power pack, then is about to climb up when he remembers to activate the robot ("Robot Power On"), and thus is too late as the hatches close in front of him.


Smith straps in below and the ship launches. Once well out of the [[Earth]]'s [[atmosphere]], he flips the Robot Power switch to in between off and on and then climbs to the upper deck; the robot leaves the pedestal to flip the switch to "on" - to avoid the damage an "incompleted circuit" would cause. Smith does not know the robot is back on.
[[Hal Torey]] as [[General]]


Smith tries the [[radio]] and shorts out the panel, then the ship veers into a [[meteor]] field - Smith hears the incoming radio discussing an extra 200 pounds of weight aboard. He fires a [[laser]] at Don's freezing tube and it opens. Don tumbles out, Smith revives him, and Don steers the ship out of the meteor field, then awakens the family at Smith's objection. Maureen reacts badly to reanimation, and Smith attends to her.


As they discuss what to do (return to Earth or proceed - Don warns they are way off course), and Don notes it is nearly eight hours from lift-off, Smith notices the robot power is on, and goes to the lower deck and tries prying the power pack off. He trips over a corner, and just then, Don turns off the artificial gravity to repair a piece of equipment. As the gravity comes back on, Smith lands unceremoniously on the deck, and hurries to finally remove the power pack, just as it turns to precisely eight hours, but Will has come down and sees Smith doing the act. Smith contrives that Will has a virus on his tongue and quarantines him, then goes updeck to tell John and Maureen that they must return to Earth to deal with Will's virus.
[[Tom Allen]] as [[Inspector]]


Curious, Will reattaches the power pack, and the robot begins the rampage of destruction. Although Smith is hollering "abort" at the robot, nobody seems to pick up on that later, and only through the combined efforts of John, Don and Smith is the robot stopped. However, the damage to guidance caused the ship to go into [[hyperdrive]], and it flies off into the unknown, rapidly leaving tracking range by controllers on the [[Moon]]. The flight director notifies the [[president]] of the nation.
|
| 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.
| 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.


The ''Jupiter 2'' wanders through space, as Don tries to ascertain their location, and he and John are sure the inertial guidance antenna, located on the hull over the upper deck, is damaged. Don feels he should do the EVA (NASA parlance for space walk) as he is qualified, but John says Don's place is with the ship; John goes out to fix it, but his relative inexperience with zero G has him stumbling and running into the ship, and then his line breaks. Maureen goes out to shoot a line, but it misses John.
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.


| Notes=
October 16, 1997
| Followedby=[[The Derelict]]}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reluctant Stowaway, The}}
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."
|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.
 
| Precededby=[[No Place to Hide]]
| Followedby=[[The Derelict]]}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reluctant Stowaway, The}}

Latest revision as of 17:13, 14 May 2023

The Reluctant Stowaway
NoPhoto.jpg
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)

Judy Robinson (Marta Kristen)

Penny Robinson (Angela Cartwright)

Will Robinson (Billy Mumy)

Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris)

Robot B-9 (Bob May Dick Tufeld (voice))

Supporting Cast: Ford Rainey as President


Fred Crane as Alpha Control Technician


Don Forbes as TV Announcer


Hal Torey as General


Tom Allen as Inspector

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."

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