‘Lost in Space’ Recap: ‘Contingencies on Contingencies’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 307 of ‘Lost in Space’. To revisit Episode 306, ‘Final Transmission’, click here.
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We like to believe that when we get through an incredible crisis in our lives, the kind that has left us terrified and afraid, that life will quickly go back to normal, and it makes sense as to why we hold to this. After all, the crisis is over, peace surrounds us… so our brains and emotions should quickly readjust. But sadly, we quickly come to learn that we need time to heal and process everything that just happened before life is ‘normal’ once again and that can lead to ugly moments for certain. Ones that see us indulge in dark thoughts and actions unfortunately, and that dark side to peace after chaos is top of mind today, simply because it was one of the central themes of the penultimate episode of Lost in Space on Netflix.

For when we catch up with the Robinson family in ‘Contingencies on Contingencies’, they’ve arrived at Alpha Centauri at last and it doesn’t take long for Will to be healed with a new heart and once the family discovers that SAR’s fleet didn’t make the journey… they’re able to relax for a moment and appreciate their situation. Because finally… they’re home and they don’t have to constantly fight. Which is precisely when the theme in question, takes the center stage. Because regardless of the peace they’re enjoying, John and Maureen are waiting anxiously for SAR to arrive and for a fight to ensue, and that worry and the surprise discovery of a defense grid, leads them to speak with Hastings and ask for his help in activating it and their paranoia and desire to enact a sense of safety, is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this theme. 

Because Hastings dies shortly after being released from prison and John and the majority of the colonists believe that the Robinson Robot has gone rogue or come under the influence of SAR and that immediately sends John down a dark road. Wherein he doesn’t trust the robot in the slightest and believes that he will have to act violently against it. Making it clear that the family is still in survival mode and unable to let go of the horrors they’ve experienced over the past couple of years and well, this lesson does a fine job of showing us the dark side in question. Since we watched so many of the family members assume the worst and prepare to make horrible choices to save the people of Alpha Centauri, through the hunt for the robot. But while that hammered home the central theme, this series did have more to offer regarding it.

For Penny and Judy and Don… weren’t sold on Robot being the problem here. In fact, this felt like a ruse of sorts, and they used their comfortability with chaos to hypothesize that perhaps the Robot was being proactive to a threat and thankfully, their guess was right. Since they came to learn that SAR arrived before the Jupiter 2 and snuck his forces into the infrastructure of the colony… such as the dam. That way the defense grid would be easily disabled, and the robots could attack. And while Robot saved the day and sent SAR’s forces into the water… the damage was done, and the defense grid was indeed disabled. Leading to the arrival of the Robot Army and leaving the colonists in a terrified place. For the battle they feared is about to come to fruition and there are no guarantees that humanity will survive the day. 

Which means once again, we are left with a stunning cliffhanger to tide us over, one that was set up… by a brilliant tale. Since this one really did show us hard it is to adjust from survival mode and how that can break us and help us if the opportunity is right and that really did add gravity and depth to this story, one that also… really did do a phenomenal job of setting the stage for the show’s series finale. Because the grand showdown between man and machine is on the horizon and hanging heavy over everything, and this particular fight will shape the future of both species and that means we must continue the journey post haste, so we can see how this incredible adventure through the stars comes to a close. Until next time.

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