REVIEW: Lost In Space, Season 2 Episode Four 'Scarecrow'
REVIEW: Lost In Space, Season 2 Episode Four 'Scarecrow'
One of the most interesting aspects of this series is the alien robot series. Both aliens and robots have been popular staples of science-fiction, but it's rare to see them combined into one entity. Usually it is one or the other, with robots being a purely human creation. Even the Cybermen in Doctor Who are humans on either Mondas, Telos, Earth or a parallel world converted into being like them. Lost In Space, however, introduces us to aliens who happen to be robots, and it's one of the coolest parts of the first season.
In the opening moments of this episode, we are given quite a twist regarding the supposed natural disaster that caused a group of human civilians to leave the Earth, with plans to create a human settlement on Alpha Centauri. It turns out that this disaster was caused by an alien ship belonging to an alien robot which crashed on the planet, and the Resolute was later built around that ship. This means that the Resolute can only be piloted by an alien robot, which is why they kept its pilot - nicknamed 'Scarecrow' - onboard despite the problems it has caused. It's a really effective twist that ties the alien robot species further into the mythos of the show. It means they have a greater importance within the narrative rather than simply being a random species causing havoc for the human settlers.
Will Robinson (Maxwell Jenkins) believes he can communicate with Scarecrow, due to his experiences with his robot friend from the first season, and manages to convince Adler (JJ Field) to allow him to talk to it face to face. This scene paints Scarecrow in a much more sympathetic light; rather than the brutish monster it had previously been portrayed as, here we are led to see him more as a being lashing out at anger, because of the cruelty bestowed on him to try and make him talk. Adler has literally been sending electric jolts into the poor thing to try and force communication, so you can see why it doesn't want to help pilot the ship. I always like it when characters are shown in a more morally grey area, as it feels deeper and more three dimensional than simply portraying somebody as good or evil. Everybody has shades in real life.
This episode also sees us get to witness John (Toby Stephens), Judy (Taylor Russell) and Don (Ignacio Serricchio) reunite with the rest of the human colony, and this part of the episode really made me feel sorry for Judy. She's gone through all that extra experience with her time stranded with the rest of the Robinson family, where she has had to cater to their medical needs, but as soon as she is with the others that experience counts for nothing and she's thrown onto basic intern duties. It's so relatable seeing her reduced to simply fetching medicine rather than doing the things that she has got the skills for, as it's something that frustrates me when it comes to the film and television industry which I want to get into. Like Judy, I developed experience with the more practical elements of my industry within my university course, but it seems when applying for those jobs none of it really matters. They expect you to gain the experience first within a professional working environment, even though you need to get the experience first in order to have it in the first place.
Their trip to the planet below where the Resolute is currently orbiting brings us the return of Victor Dhar (Raza Jaffrey) from the first season, and it's good to see him back. He's somebody who has an interesting relationship with the Robinsons and isn't afraid to challenge them, but still remains a useful ally for the family despite of his own reservations about their secrecy. This is one of the strengths of having the Robinsons back with the crew of the Resolute, as it allows for us to see more of these dynamics outside of the core Robinsons family interacting with one another.
It certainly doesn't turn out to be a good day for John Robinson, who finds himself trapped inside a well on the planet whilst investigating for a water source to fuel the Resolute. The idea of water that rots metal is quite a unique concept, and the scenes which lead to John being trapped inside have a wonderful intensity to them. There's a great sense of danger here, and it feels like John Robinson could truly die, even if it seems somewhat unlikely that they would make further Lost In Space episodes without him.
Back on the Resolute, we finally get to see Doctor Smith (Parker Posey) arrested for her crimes. Her tampering with the records and CCTV doesn't seem to go as she hoped, given that she is instantly recognised as Jessica Harris. It's a good scene for showing just how cunning this Doctor Smith is, tricking her interrogator into touching the alien leaf that sends a poisonous toxin into his system and forces him into a coma. She prepares for every eventuality, and it's a delight to watch.
The closing scene of this episode teases Will being reunited with his robot friend (Brian Steele). The robot, it's revealed, is on the same planet where John is trapped, and it's going to be great to see him finally back with Will Robinson. His friendship with Will was without a doubt the best part of the first season, as it contained so much heart and warmth, with some very real Spielbergian vibes. By this point in the season the robot's return to Will has been teased for so long that it can't come soon enough.
Overall, 'Scarecrow' is a stunning episode of Lost In Space's second season. It starts with a killer twist, and ends with a reveal regarding the robot's location that has been a long time coming. Will continues to be the most interesting of the Robinsons in the show, and I think it's definitely time that he gets his reunion with his robot friend that he deserves.
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