REVIEW: Lost In Space, Season 2 Episode Three 'Echoes'

 REVIEW: Lost In Space, Season 2 Episode Three 'Echoes'

The end of the previous episode suggested things were moving at a rollicking pace. The Robinsons had escaped their latest remote planet, made contact with the Resolute and it seemed they were going to be a part of civilisation again. Things were looking up for the Robinsons, and after their series of misadventures it was about time.

Of course, things can never be that easy though. For when they dock with the Resolute, it's clear things are not quite as they seem. There's a sinister energy to these scenes where they wander around the deserted colony ship, even before the evil robot shows up. This sense of isolation does a neat job at establishing that something has gone very wrong here, and that it won't be the welcome home party the Robinsons were expecting. 

Something that seems to happen a lot in these stories where a place is deserted is the introduction of a character who was left behind - and this episode of Lost In Space is no different. For Judy (Taylor Russell) meets a young girl named Samantha (Nevis Unipan), who got separated from her parents during the commotion of the alien robot's attack. It makes sense, as it gives the protagonist somebody to talk to - especially when in this case the narrative sees our protagonists split up - whilst also giving someone who can deliver exposition for the events which led up to these circumstances. The episode deals with this very well, and manages to avoid these scenes feeling too exposition-heavy. 

Meanwhile, in the Resolute's canteen, Will (Maxwell Jenkins) and Penny (Mina Sundwall) find themselves face to face with a horse. A bizarre development, admittedly (although very reminiscent of the Doctor Who episode 'The Girl In The Fireplace') , but it helps us learn more about the character of Penny. We discover how she faked her interest in horses because of her mother Maureen's (Molly Parker) own love of them, and because she didn't feel she had as close a connection to her mother as the other family members. Will and Maureen shared the interest in science, but in her eyes Penny had nothing. This makes perfect sense for Penny's character, as we previously saw how she felt she wasn't appreciated by her mother, so of course she'd do something like this. It adds a new dimension to her character, whilst also not feeling a million miles away from what we'd already been shown before.

Another character we discover further information about this week is Doctor Smith (Parker Posey). This episode gives us a series of flashbacks throughout, which show us how 'Doctor Smith' June Harris's mother Sheila Harris (Angela Cartwright) was gravely ill, and how posing as 'Doctor Smith' gave her a sense of power and stability which she didn't have before. This is a great move as it allows us to sympathise with Doctor Smith more as a character, and understand why she made these decisions. She also seems somewhat remorseful for some of the actions she has taken, which could suggest a full redemption may be on the cards.

Despite all of that, she's clearly still not ready to own up to her mistakes however, as Doctor Smith spends the majority of the episode trying to clear her name. She even goes to the extent of changing the real Doctor Smith's details on the system so that she shows as the 'real' Doctor 'Zoe Smith', and taking Doctor Zachary Smith (Bill Mumy) out of suspended sleep to take a swab of his DNA and replace it with her own. It shows her sheer determination and the lengths she will go to in order to continue living this fake life. She's clearly not ready to let it go yet; she's no longer the same woman, and has now fully embodied the 'Doctor Smith' persona. The Robinsons do eventually come into contact with another member of the Resolute, as Advanced Systems Director Ben Adler (JJ Feild) makes his return, after previously having appeared in the first season of the show. He tells the Robinsons that the evil robot is known as the 'Scarecrow', and that it had been contained on the Resolute all along. This was a twist I did not see coming, and it goes some way to changing the perception of the Resolute as this safe haven for the Robinsons to return to. Suddenly it becomes every bit as dangerous as the remote planets they have found themselves stranded on, and it creates this gripping vibe that nowhere is truly safe for this family. When you're with the Robinsons, things can go wrong at any moment. Overall, 'Echoes' is another incredible edition of Lost In Space's second season. It gives us a great example of the typical 'isolation' story, which has long been a staple of science fiction, whilst adding a new sympathetic angle to Doctor Smith. It's clear things are not going to get any easier for the Robinsons, and I look forward to seeing what scrapes they find themselves in next.

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What are your thoughts on the third episode of Lost In Space's second season? Let me know in the comments section.