‘Lost in Space’ Recap: ‘Shell Game’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

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

The finest stories out there, are the ones that offer up consequences for their characters actions. Because by adding cause and effect into a particular tale, there’s now depth and gravity present within said story and it also allows for the characters to grow since they are learning from their missteps. But while it is nice to see people learn from their mistakes, the real benefit of plopping this into a story, is the sheer fact that it allows for some juicy drama to take place as well. Because sometimes consequences come about when a plan filled with good intentions backfires, forcing the protagonists to react on the fly, or they come forth when a nasty villain is spurned, and it just so happens that the latter of those scenarios came into play in the next episode of Lost in Space.
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For ‘Shell Game’ featured an angry Mister Hastings, one who realized that once the ship returned to Alpha Centauri, his shady dealings would be put on full display by the Robinsons and that would likely be the end of his career. Which meant, extreme measures had to be taken to keep the narrative on his side and he opted to try and kill Maureen and John. But not in violent or psychotic fashion, because Hastings is a wuss when all is said and done. No instead, he opted to use the situation to his advantage, and while John was off to haul his wife back to the ship, since her repair pod was low on fuel, Hastings locked out John’s codes and ordered the Resolute into a faster orbit cycle so that the two of them would be left behind on this gas giant in an apparent ‘accident’.

Yet while Hastings actions were slimy in their own right, he wasn’t the only baddie that was salty from being spurned by the Robinson family. For Smith felt a desire to settle the score as well after John’s dressing down of her and she got her chance once Adler and Hastings went to work on solving a new problem; the whereabouts of Scarecrow and the Robot. Because clearly Will and his family were hiding the robotic duo and that motivated Smith to step in and help to try and outwit the family and garner a measure of revenge and this led to quite the cat and mouse game. One that quickly frankly, Smith was far more successful at playing since she was able to keep one step ahead of the family’s plans, seemingly ruining any chance of getting Scarecrow to a safe place where he could be potentially healed.

Which meant that the Robinson kids had to come up with some new plans, the kind that no one would expect in order to save their new robotic friend, because a trip to the planet below would save Scarecrow’s life, and the little shell game that was born out of this need worked like a charm. Because a wild ride in a Chariot, through the halls of the Resolute, did enough to keep security forces away from the Jupiter 2, which is where Will and Scarecrow and the Robot were headed. But Adler unfortunately figured out Will’s plan and was waiting for him inside the J2, and while he tried to go through with harming the Robot, seeing it stand up for its friend and recalling every kind act it’s done, motivated a change of heart within Adler. The kind that allowed for him to show kindness for a change and he launched the ship with Scarecrow aboard, in order to honor the Robot’s wishes.

Yet while that was a brave and bold act on Adler’s part, this episode ends with some seriously dark clouds hanging over the story. For the Robot is now Hastings’ prisoner, meaning it is going to suffer. Plus, John and Maureen are going to have to figure out their next moves in silence. Because while they’re back aboard the ship, Hastings has declared them dead and any reveal of their presence could lead to trouble and well, that’s a heck of a way to setup the season two finale. Because it’s going to be a race against time to get Will back on the board the ship with Hastings preparing to depart and of course, it may take an incredible miracle to save the Robot from a horrible fate and this really was a stellar episode for certain. Because it truly moved at a breakneck and thrilling pace and it was wonderful to see the kids play the hero and well, hopefully this new sense of resolve and unity from the Robinson family continues. Because Hastings is ready to stop at nothing to get what he wants, and it will take everything they’ve got to stop him. Until next time.

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