REVIEW: Lost In Space, Season 2 Episode Eight 'Unknown'

 REVIEW: Lost In Space, Season 2 Episode Eight 'Unknown'

Where we last left the Robinsons, the family were planning a mutiny. Unhappy with Captain Kamal's (Sakina Jaffrey) decision to leave a load of the ship's crew behind on the planet and head for Alpha Centauri, they decided it was time to seize control of the colony ship. The Robinsons were about to become the voices of space command. 

Unsurprisingly Maureen Robinson (Molly Parker) makes for one amazing captain. Molly Parker imbues her with so much authority here as she takes control, and it's kind of a shame that the episode ends with Kamal back in charge. I would have loved to have seen more of Maureen calling the shots. I think she works really well as the leader of the space crew, and I hope they return to that idea at some point. 

I did find myself agreeing a little with Kamal however. She points out the Resolute wasn't made to withstand the outer atmosphere of these planets - which, after all, is why they use the Jupiter spacecrafts. You can therefore see where she's coming from in regards to not wanting to sacrifice the ship. If they lose the Resolute, then they've effectively lost their base of operations. You'd have thought it would have just made more sense to bring the Resolute close to the planet, and then send the individual Jupiters down to collect what they need.

It's nice to see the Robinsons get their hands dirty a little, all the same. Usually they more or less play by the books, despite shady actions they may have taken in their past, so it's good to see a story that challenges this 'do-good' attitude. This is especially true in the case of Penny (Mina Sundwall), who breaks Don West (Ignacio Serricchio) out of prison. I do feel they could have done a little more with this, as it's remarkably easy to free him from his cell. He's not even stopped by any guards, and the others on the Resolute don't seem to care less. You kind of wonder what the point was in the writers having him be arrested previously in the season in the first place.

Penny is also reunited with Will (Maxwell Jenkins) and his alien robot friend (Brian Steele). This part of Penny's story in this episode is much more satisfying, as she's shown to be a little wary of the robot. She points out he's changed, and I like how it's the little things that lead her to this conclusion, like the fact that the robot now moves in front of Will rather than behind. It's the kind of little things that you'd notice about the behaviour of someone you know well, and it makes Penny seem closer to her mother, who possesses a similar eye for observation. The season seems to be going somewhere interesting with the robot too, when it realises its 'friend' is in danger, and the friend turns out to be the other alien robot 'Scarecrow'. When Will says the robot has to pilot the ship to Alpha Centauri, the robot refuses, which is an intriguing development as it poses so many questions about the robot's current motives. Is he as trustworthy as he was before, or has he in fact changed? 

I'd certainly still trust the robot over Hastings (Douglas Hodge) though. God, that guy's a nasty piece of work. The way he opens the airlocks so that Maureen's plan would fail, and Maureen and Will would be sent back to Earth when they find out Maureen tampered with Will's results so he could join them on the journey to Alpha Centauri is just pure evil. He's the one character in this show that makes you want to boo and hiss. Douglas Hodge does a fantastic job at playing him though. He delivers so much threat and menace in his performance, and feels like the perfect casting for the role. 

Talking of antagonists, it seems like Doctor Smith (Parker Posey) is getting something of a redemption. She tries to warn Maureen about Hastings only to find the doors have been sealed, and is unable to reach her in time before the airlock is opened. What's devastating is that despite her efforts, because of her past John (Toby Stephens), who instructed her to warn Maureen doesn't believe her. No matter how hard she's tried, and no matter how much she wanted to succeed, she still won't be believed, and that's the ultimate tragedy of someone who has committed so much bad trying to turn over a new leaf. Actions speak louder than words, and you have to succeed in those actions in order for others to buy into your change. 

Overall, 'Unknown' isn't quite as strong as previous entries in the second season. It's still a good episode, but events seem to resolve themselves a little too easy here, which is unusual given how much past episodes have thrown numerous obstacles in the characters' way. At times it doesn't feel like there's enough of a challenge for those involved, although there's some interesting developments regarding the robot, and Doctor Smith's redemption arc is an engaging watch. Lost In Space may have been stronger in previous instalments but there's always one thing you can guarantee from this series, and that's that it always provides for an entertaining night's viewing. 

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