Lost in Space (TV Series) The Derelict (1965) User Reviews

Well done episode, good sets and special effects

[rjd0309 · 8/10 · 7 May 2014]

In January 1965, the pilot episode, "No Place To Hide", was filmed, largely in the Mohave Desert. CBS network executives, as well as story editor Tony Wilson, thought that the series needed another cast member - - a 'troublemaker' character, who would create conflict and thus be the catalyst for new stories.

The character of Dr. Smith was thus created to be this troublemaker. And hey, as long as we're tinkering with the cast, let's add a cool- looking robot to the crew. It's a science-fiction show, after all, and every good sci-fi series ought to have a robot, shouldn't it?

Four of the first five episodes -- The Reluctant Stowaway, Island in the Sky, There Were Giants in the Earth, The Hungry Sea -- were created by intercutting footage from the original pilot episode with newly-filmed scenes featuring Dr. Smith and the robot.

But "The Derelict" is unusual in that it was written so as to take advantage of an existing film set from "Fantastic Voyage", a major motion picture that was being filmed at Twentieth Century Fox studios in mid-1965, at the same time that Lost In Space was being filmed at the same studio.

This is one of the finest examples of the cost-conscious nature of producer Irwin Allen. Some have called him 'cheap' -- and he was -- but it was a great idea to re-use the Brain Set from "Fantastic Voyage" as the interior of the derelict spacecraft. Under-lit and seen mostly in shadow, the Brain Set made for a wonderfully creepy set for this episode, and was probably a more-expensive set than this series would normally have been able to afford.

Origin of the Will-Smith Team

[learningwithmrsmith · 6/10 · 26 March 2022]

I am mildly enjoying this series from my childhood with a casual infrequency. The glaring problem is the writing is at the level of a child's comic book from the 40s, feel free to judge your own level of interest.

These early episodes seem different from what I remember, but I can see the LiS I'm familiar with coming into focus. I'm not sure these black and white episodes were a part of the UHF repeats I grew up on, but the stark black and white is impressive.

The positives: the acting is consistently good; all involved seem to be taking these silly stories seriously; the hilariously over-acting evil Dr. Smith; and the best props, sets, and costumes available in the mid 60s.

A couple of significant moments here for those who share my memories of this show. This is the first misadventure for Will Robinson and Dr. Smith as a team. When Will crosses his little arms while shaking his head at the cowardly Dr. Smith I remembered that same moment in every episode from my youth. There's another moment when Dr. Smith says "Never fear..." with the exact inflection I remember. He does not finish it off with "Smith is here." This full five-word phrase was very popular for a while at Central Elementary.

The star of this episode is the alien craft featured in the second half of the show. These big metallic prongs open and close at key moments. These black and white images have a sublime beauty that stands out today, 60 years later. They should have done more with this ship and less with the Robinson parents' floundering space walk in the first half.

Still a bit clunky, but still promising

[BrandtSponseller · 7/10 · 25 August 2006]

"Lost in Space" episode 2, The Derelict, picks up right where episode 1 left off, as it ended on a cliffhanger with Professor John Robinson (Guy Williams) stuck floating in space, disconnected from the Jupiter 2, the Robinson's ship.

The wonky science is in full charge here, as John is able to propel himself through space in all kinds of odd ways of his own accord, and he manages to stay just close enough to the ship that rescue is still a strong possibility. To create more suspense, the writers add a comet into the dilemma, with all kinds of fantasized qualities and developments, such as the heat of the comet, and John and Maureen Robinson (June Lockhart) passing out from its effects yet remaining almost magnetically (or should that be magically?) attached to the side of the ship. Creator Irwin Allen stated that he wanted entertainment, excitement and suspense at the sacrifice of logic and other properties, but as in the first episode, director Alexander Singer stretches things a bit to the point of awkwardness.

But also like the first episode, Singer and the cast do character development and dynamics well. Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris), the villain of the show who ended up as a reluctant stowaway in the first episode, is confronted more strongly, but shortly afterward, the "Lost in Space" crew happens upon a large, mysterious spaceship.

Most of the episode then deals with this ship. It's a good idea, and provides plenty of mystery and a surprising change of pace, but there are also problems. At one point, Singer draws out an exploration segment to a point where it seems like he's trying to kill some time, and the aliens eventually encountered are more comically ridiculous than anything else.

Still, the personal dynamics, when the script and Singer remember them with the crew aboard the alien ship are a highlight, and the final scene is intriguing, functioning again like an effective cliffhanger.

One Of The Best Scored Hours Of TV Ever

[StuOz · 7 February 2015]

The Jupiter 2 encounters a derelict spacecraft in space.

With the exception of the Land Of The Giants pilot episode of 1968, I can't think of another hour of TV where the musical score was so totally vital to the hour. I would even go as far as saying, if you don't like the music of The Derelict...you will not be on the same page as this episode!

There is almost a non-stop parade of music in the whole 50 minutes, normally a TV episode has just one composer but The Derelict required three composers (Richard LaSalle, Hans J. Salter and Herman Stein) because just so much music was required.

Also good to listen to are the Dick Tufeld narrations at the beginning and end of the hour.

Jonathan Harris as Dr Smith is in top form, the effects are outstanding and The Derelict contains the crew's first close encounter with space aliens.

This is the 2001 of TV space adventure, slow but filled with wonder, music and mind-blowing images.

Ep 1: The Retuctant Stowaway and Ep 2: The Derelict together form a 100 minute space adventure that is even more pleasing than Star Wars and 2001 put together.

I can't speak highly enough about this hour.

Different missions for different minions.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 6 April 2020]

From one crisis to another, beginning the serialized space opera to be continued each week as we quickly learn in the second episode of "Lost in Space". We know that each cliffhanger will turn out safely for those in peril, and we wonder just how they will survive each crisis. From being stranded out in space without a rope, papa Guy Williams manages to make it in thanks to wife June Lockhart. But with the scheming Dr. Smith determined to return to Earth, it seems that the goals of the Robinson family to reach the planet Alpha Centuri may not be successful as he tries to manipulate the robot to do his evil bidding. however, every time it seems that he is about to succeed in a scheme, some new crisis arises, and in this episode, it is the presence of a huge space station sucking the Jupiter 2 in that threatens everybody's survival. As Dr. Smith, Major West and Commamder Robinson explore the mysterious vehicle, Will finds a way to get away from the babysitting robot and encounters a creature that looks like a defective roller coaster chair. Of course, along comes Dr. Smith to ruin it all, and becomes a battle of time to get out of this dangerous oraphus.

One thing that is noticeable is the budget that is put into the great art direction for the ship and the other places that the Robinsons and others encounter during their journey. The vessel that they are pulled into is mysterious in many ways that are never explained, and it is well set up to be as creepy as it is exotic. more evidence points to the fact that the scenes dealers in the show will be doctor Smith, Will and the robot, although we have not yet gotten to the comic bits that will make this a memorable space comedy as opposed to a space soap opera. Jonathan Harris obviously had many tricks up his acting sleeve to make the character of Smith less villainous and more of a comic old buffoon because he knew that's what would make the character memorable in retrospect. Young Billy mumy also has a few tricks up his sleeve that will make the chemistry between him and Harris more prevalent in the show down the road. Even when he looks at Smith in disgust for his scheming, you can tell that a bond is forming, and that brings the audience in deeper to see what will happen as the saga continues.

Not bad, but not up to the best of "Lost In Space" either

[BaseballRaysFan · 7/10 · 31 December 2010]

This is an episode that starts off awkwardly, ends up awkwardly, but has a great middle.

It begins with Maureen going out of the Jupiter Two to shoot a rocket gun to her husband, John Robinson, whose line has snapped. John was out there to fix a scanner that is atop the Jupiter 2 and got damaged. The rescue scene works wonderfully and the special effects are quite good.

Right after that, however, Don informs John that a Comet is coming and that he has 3 or 4 minutes to get back inside the Jupiter 2 so that they can escape the comet's heat. In a totally illogical and clunky scene, John says that the 3 of 4 minutes should be enough time to fix the scanner. He ignores Don's pleas that the repair can wait and risks everyone's lives, especially his and Maureen's, to fix a scanner!

After an illogical beginning, the episode improves. There is a nice scene where John catches Dr. Smith tampering with the robot and tells Smith that he's to be treated as a stowaway.

They pick up a signal from an alien space ship. Our forever logical Dr. Smith immediately concludes that this must be a spaceship operated by his "buddies", Aeolus 14-Umbra. Incidentally, Aeolus was a king of the winds in ancient Greek mythology. At the orders of the mythological Greek gods, Aeolus would unleash the terrible winds and cause devastating storms.

The Jupiter 2 gets caught in the tractor beam of the alien ship and is drawn inside. The alien spaceship is well designed, and definitely has an alien "feel" to it. This is the part of the episode that rocks. I love the set where Don and John are at some controls that reveal an intergalactic map. Very nice overhead projections of space photos.

We get treated to an eerie set when Will, who sneaks out of the Jupiter 2, encounters one of the alien beings. There is a delightful scene between Will and Dr. Smith in which Smith ruins the entire communication Will had been trying to make with the alien, thus irritating the aliens who start a pursuit.

The episode then meanders back to being illogical. The now hostile aliens begin a clunky-looking pursuit. The creatures, shaped more-or-less like bears, emit electrical discharge. In one scene, if you look closely enough, you can actually see the tennis shoes of a crewman who is pushing one of the alien "beings".

At the end, John Robinson uses his laser rifle to force open the doors of the alien ship so that they can make a last-second escape. Why a laser rifle would accomplish that is beyond me, but that's how it ends.

All-in-all, not the worst of "Lost In Space" by any means, but not the best and definitely a let-down from the first episode.

Wandering aimlessly through space

[asalerno10 · 7/10 · 14 June 2022]

The Robinson's ship runs into a gigantic mother ship, it attracts them like a magnet to its interior. Dr. Smith is convinced that it is a foreign ship belonging to the spies he serves. But when he finds that it is inhabited by strange creatures, he only manages to attack them, which causes the aliens to chase them, fortunately they manage to get out of it in time. The episode is very good, maybe a little slow but correct. The interior of the ship is simple but gloomy and gloomy in appearance.

fine music and visuals

[chrisart7 · 9/10 · 10 October 2008]

Many like to cite (justifiably so) the music of John Williams (principly from episodes one, three, and seven) as one of the great assets of "Lost in Space," but episode two, "The Derelict," boasts a fine score from the often overlooked Herman Stein. No stock music here; he wrote this beautiful programme music particularly for this episode, and it considerably heightens the dramatic qualities of many scenes, along with much of the almost 'noir' lighting. One can tell that Stein was well acquainted with the dissonance of Stravinsky, Bartok and the like, and put his knowledge of classical composition and orchestration to good use.

Many of the scenes are almost like a silent movie: music and visuals with little or no dialog characterise long stretches in the narrative, and with fine results. The acting is average but adequate, with the exception of Jonathan Harris whose sinister portrayal of Dr. Smith (not at all the camp incarnation that would later become world famous) is a marvel to behold. His modulation of voice and expression makes him by far the most compelling character in these early episodes. The second half of "The Derelict" is unquestionably an early inspiration for Ridley Scott's "Alien" film (1979) with its semi-organic alien spaceship interiors.

A fine sophomore effort in a series that quickly degenerated into a silly competitor with "Batman," originally aired at the same time on a rival network in the United States.

It hardly gets any better than this..9.7..

[jimbotc2006 · 10/10 · 26 September 2012]

Really, really out of this world, superb and magnificent stuff. This classic seems to actually get a semi-bad rap quite often, and I find it rather amazing that I find myself having to defend the SECOND episode of the series so much. The usual comment is that it is "too slow in parts." Oh, my..what in the world do you want?!? Like Robert says, this one is totally 'five out of five stars'..just like the other fabulous first five best episodes of the series. It is a complete, moving, and interstellar epic. This would be the only one of the first five to not really have (hardly any) original footage from the original pilot, "No Place To Hide." They apparently decided to add an entire episode in there to stretch the fabulous epic out some more. Perhaps this is the reason why a bit of it may appear as 'filler' or "slow," in the words I have seen rather often. To that I would answer that the pacing is just perfect throughout. This one is set up absolutely beautifully. This episode is very eerie and downright spooky a lot. The tense, exciting, and stellar ending more than makes up for any given "slower" periods..periods very nicely building up the atmosphere. This whole episode is a great atmospheric story..and that does not even count the great, great, great incidental background music scores from Herman Stein (who would return again), and whoever else may have helped with the music here (Hans J. Salter?).

There were several just purely 'simple' scenes here..warm scenes..beautiful scenes..sad scenes..scenes to introduce us more to the characters and invite us to get to know more of their personalities and relationships.

Of course, the Jupiter 2 spaceship encounter with the massive, mysterious spacecraft is completely epic and fantastic stuff. And one of those very simple and quaint scenes that I speak of, is just fabulous to me (they all are actually)..but this one tends to bring a tear to my eye..which can definitely happen a lot in these B&W episodes, by the way. Before the encounter with the huge derelict, at the upper deck control console, we have the first 'real' exchange between the handsome Major West and the lovely Ms. Judy Robinson. I cannot recall the entire conversation right now, but Major West talks about Judy should be getting sleepy, and asking her something about if she would like to go home. Judy's last line of the exchange is, "I never did like school"..as the Herman Stein beautiful "family theme" music begins for the very first time. Right there, that music, is some of my very, very favorite of all, always used in the very sentimental and sadder moments. As the music is playing, and immediately following, the scene segues to hearing a tape recording coming from inside Ms. Penny's cabin below decks. Her father opens her sliding door, listens for a moment, and asks, "Shakespeare?"

I absolutely, absolutely love those little, simple scene..and every other scene contained within this story. There is no way this story should receive less than five stars (in Robert's older grading system it is a 9.5). "The Derelict," in fact, is a 9.7 for me. I think this may be Robert's second favorite episode of the whole shebang. It is just about there for me as well, and we both LOVE the music scores here.

One additional note..this is the first of the next four episodes where we do not see the usual "Written by" in the opening credits. Instead, we see "Teleplay by" and "Story by." This is obviously because the story for the entire first five (pilot) episodes was from Shimon Wincelberg. However, a different writer did write the screenplay or in between "Teleplay" for each. The great Peter Packer, who would go on to write more episodes of LOST IN SPACE than anybody else, is here already for his very first contribution..and the episode is directed by 'one-director-wonder' Alex Singer. A lot of these very early episodes were directed by 'one-shot' directors, interestingly enough.

A continuing B&W epic for the ages..

LosT~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~jim~~~~~~~~~

iN

SpacE

The Derelict is a Gem

[bigfrankie-43464 · 10/10 · 23 November 2022]

The Derelict is awesome.

The special effects, sound effects, the music, the various situations, the dialog, the flow of the story- everything is top-notch.

The enormous alien ship that pulls the Jupiter Two in is incredible. Amazing for 1965 TV!

There is great suspense when Prof Robinson is in peril. Dr. Smith continues his ruthless ways as they encounter alien bubble creatures.

A very interesting note: the scene where Dr. Smith blasts the bubble creature, when Will is attempting to talk to it, will come back to bite him in Season Two during the great "Prisoners of Space" episode, when he is on trail.

So dull it hurts

[planthater · 5/10 · 1 August 2023]

I'm just not warming to this series; after the first episode I was deadly bored to say the least, the second episode doesn't get any better: the characters just stand around and grimace all the time, to somehow demonstrate dynamism, which just comes across as embarrassing. The "action" is practically non-existent, many scenes are drawn out endlessly and pointlessly, and Mama and Papa Robinson seem like the ultimate American bourgeois couple with their well-behaved offspring in tow, not to mention the doctor and the tin robot. I'm very disappointed, I really expected more from it, my time is too good for that!

A good example of how effective low-budget TV sci-fi could be

[jamesrupert2014 · 8/10 · 2 May 2022]

After surviving a close encounter with a blazing comet, the Jupitar 2 is pulled into an enormous alien spaceship and encounter strange, bubble-like alien lifeforms. This is one of the better episodes of the classic '60s show, playing with the classic sci-fi trope of the 'abandoned (or is it?) alien ship' and throwing in some nice special effects (notably the spacewalk scenes). A great episode to contrast the outrageous camp of the last two seasons.

really good sci-fi!

[SystemGirls · 9/10 · 18 April 2021]

Even with a few little science problems, this is really good sci-fi! This one might be boring for some people but it is one of the best sci-fi episodes of the series. Here, we see Maureen Robinson rescue her husband John, but then they both get stuck outside the ship. Later, after some family moments, the family finds and explores a vast alien spaceship! The first aliens of the series are some of the best- nonverbal and nonhumanoid. It feels artistic and actually alien with a sense of mystery. The message of communication even with a sad result is very powerful. This episode also takes time to develop the characters like Penny and Will, and even shows a little bit of Judy/Don! They have so much chemistry! Not only are the characters and the story so good but so are the special effects which still look amazing! And the music is beautiful! This is a very good episode that shows the promise of the series, again showing the innocence of Will compared to the drama of the adults. The episode has a focus of making mistakes... John's mistake puts him in danger, while Dr. Smith is mistaken by thinking the ship is from Earth, and Will sneaks out and disobeys, but he does the right thing talking to the alien until Dr. Smith ruins it and it shows that actions have consequences. A message of understanding is also there when they try to uncover what the alien technology means and communicate with the aliens, it also shows the different opinions of the family. Really nice space exploration and family episode!