‘Lost in Space’ Recap: ‘Ninety-Seven’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM. YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

There really is no better moment in regard to television, than when a season finale, one that you think you’ve figured out; surprises you in ways you never thought possible. Because it simply means that the writer’s room and everyone involved in a particular series, really wanted to go the extra mile and deliver unto the audience an incredible story. And that’s why the season two finale of Lost in Space was such an enjoyable venture. Because ‘Ninety-Seven’ found ways to truly surprise and stun the audience and that is no small feat when one considers that this particular finale, made a point to manipulate the viewer in all the right ways.
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Because this tale opens up in a manner that reflected everything, we loved about season one of the show. For there was heroism present, since Ben Adler gave his life in the hopes of setting things right between, he and Scarecrow. And while that is stunning in its own right, as is the appearance of a boatload of angry robots, heroism and the greater good are key elements to this series, which is why all of this felt like the norm. As did Victor’s choice to go back and save Will at great cost, and the plan to stop the robot army was also fairly by the numbers since it went off without a hitch and positioned the Resolute to return to Alpha Centauri with minimal fuss.

But the aftermath of that brief battle with the Robot platoon is where this episode took quite the shocking turn. Because it wasn’t long before everyone came to discover that an armada of Robot ships were on their way and heading to Alpha Centauri wasn’t an option simply because these reinforcements would follow the ship into the rift. And with no chance of winning this fight once the enemy fleet arrived at their galactic doorstep, a tough choice had to be made, one that came forth via Judy. For she figured out a way for some of the family lines to live on, by loading a Jupiter with every last child aboard the Resolute. That way, they could safely travel to Alpha Centauri and live on, and while that sounds like a death sentence for everyone else, there was a risky option on the table to keep them alive. For they would abandon ship in the remaining Jupiter fleet and scatter to the solar winds and hope for the best.

It was a plan that was definitely of sound logic, but a few complications made it a tough one to execute. For the army already aboard the ship was able to break free of its constraints, prompting early launches and a desperate gambit from John and Maureen to destroy the Resolute in the hopes of stopping them and this was… where the final surprises came into play. Because Smith sacrificed herself in the hopes of saving lives, something no one thought she was capable of. And the majority of the colonists are indeed now lost in space since their host vessel is gone and, and of course, the final destination of the evacuation Jupiter brought about more questions than answers. For the old girl found the Fortuna, the ship that was captained by Judy’s father and thought to be lost, and well, the uncertain nature of this finale leaves one hungry for more.

Because one has to wonder how on earth the Robinson family will be reunited. After all, the evacuation ship is light years away from Alpha Centauri, which will make the hunt for said vessel an incredible undertaking. Plus, there’s the whole matter of the Jupiter fleet being able to survive the oncoming Robot assault and well, all of these loose ends, and the endless possibilities when it comes to discovery of the Fortuna are going to make the wait for season three a painful one. Because this series is finally finding its stride, and it’s also discovering how to find the balance between fluffy and gritty storytelling. So, hopefully Netflix finally gives a third season a green light because this series continues to deliver, and it would be a shame to leave a cliffhanger this delightful, unresolved. Until next season.

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