‘Lost in Space’ Recap: ‘Unknown’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

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

Over the course of its two-year run, Lost in Space has done a phenomenal job of examining the brighter side of the human condition. For it really has taken the time to explore the power of family, and how we need to be there for the people that matter in our lives and this uplifting exploration has extended far beyond those two elements as well. For this particular saga has also examined the importance of unity and working together in honest fashion in order to accomplish wonders. But while it’s been nice to enjoy some uplifting storytelling, it was only a matter of time before the darker side of the human condition reared its ugly head on this show and at long last, that came to fruition in the next episode of this fascinating series.
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For ‘Unknown’ finally took the time to allow for Mister Hastings to show his true colors and make his power play in unsettling fashion, but it sure didn’t seem like that was going to be the case at first. Because early on, this looked like it was going to be another uplifting tale. For Maureen and her small band of mutineers were able to take the bridge and key positions around the ship without firing a shot or hurting a person in the slightest. And despite making Captain Kamal as nervous as can be in regard to the plan to save the water and in turn the colonists, she eventually came around to flying into the heart of gas giant in order to collect enough ammonium to clean the water, once she saw that Maureen’s math was sound and that said plan was going to work.

Which brings us to the evil in question in this tale. Because a guy like Hastings, isn’t the kind of person who likes to be proven wrong or betrayed in the slightest when it comes to the carefully laid and outright stupid plans he’s put together. And knowing that Maureen was going to make him look like a moron for finding a better way to solve the problem at hand led him to John and Judy, wherein he revealed that Maureen fudged Will’s test scores to bring him on the mission. And the point of sharing this nugget, was to instill doubt in the mother of this proud family, and make it seem as though she makes poor choices based upon emotion. All in the hopes of getting John or Judy to call her and get her to stand down. But of course, there was no way either of them would buy what Hastings was selling and that’s when he went full psycho.

Because in exchange for a passing grade, Maureen gave Hastings the override codes to the Resolute, something that would and did allow for him to take control of the ship to try and shut down the plan, at the cost of lives of course. Which meant that Maureen had to spring into action to save Don and Ava from a horrible death, and while she was successful; the fact that Hastings was willing to put lives on the line to prove his prowess is terrifying to say the least. Because it means that everyone is expendable in his eyes, and given the opportunity, he’ll kill innocents in the event that it will save his hide. Which made the ending of this episode bittersweet for certain. Because while it is lovely that the plan worked, and that all of the colonists will now be able to travel to Alpha Centauri, they’re headed to paradise with a monster in their midst, one that is starting to toy with the possibility of unleashing his fury.

Yet while all of this made for a fascinating and intense story, there are still other possible problems brewing in the background as well. For Smith’s failure to do the right thing quickly has put her on the outs with John once again, and Smith in a rattled state is never a good thing and of course, it’s clear now that the Robot is having second thoughts about helping Will and humanity for that matter as well. For it stumbled across Scarecrow, as some human soldiers were torturing it, and the ‘bot discovered that its friend was near death. Prompting it to save its pal and shun young Will. If anything, this was one solid episode when all is said and done, and it set the stage for an explosive finale, one where the Robot will need to choose a side and one where the Robinsons and the 24th Colonist Group may have to fight hard against a madman and well, it should be interesting to see how all of this comes to a head as season two comes to a close. Until next time.

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