WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for the reboot of Lost in Space, steaming now on Netflix.


The Robinsons are confronted by a series of ticking clocks from the moment they crash on a distant planet in the opening moments of Lost in Space, whether it's because of a depleting oxygen supply, plummeting temperatures or the imminent departure of the colony ship The Resolute. But just when it appears as if they've cleared one obstacle, and beaten one deadline, other, more daunting ones appear in their path. That certainly doesn't change in the Season 1 finale, appropriate titled, "Danger, Will Robinson."

Netflix's reimagining of the 1960s sci-fi adventure is set in a near-future in which Earth, faced with environmental and political instability, sends its best and brightest to colonize a distant planet in Alpha Centauri. But it turns out that humanity is only capable of interstellar travel because of an engine stolen from an alien spacecraft that crashed in Canada. And during the 24th mission to the new colony, those aliens send a deadly robot to reclaim what's theirs. The Robinsons and other colonists abandon The Resolute and become marooned on a planet light years from their destination, able to hear broadcasts from the mother ship but unable to respond.

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However, they're not alone, as the robot's vessel also crashes, leaving it badly damaged and with no memory of its purpose. But an act of kindness by Will Robinson (Maxwell Jenkins) saves Robot from certain destruction, thereby turning it into his family's greatest ally -- and threat. It's one Parker Posey's manipulative Dr. Smith hopes to turn to her advantage.

John Robinson & Don West

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Marooned on a planet made increasingly unstable by its proximity to a black hole, the Alpha Centauri colonists have multiple Jupiter vessels but virtually no fuel. With The Resolute about to depart, or else risk being drawn into the black hole, the colonists pin their hopes on a plan by Dr. Maureen Robinson (Molly Parker): to strip down a Jupiter to its essential parts, and use the remaining fuel to launch John Robinson (Toby Stephens) and Don West (Ignacio Serricchio) into space to make contact with the mother ship and get help for the colonists.

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Of course, it doesn't go according to plan, and the Jupiter explodes, but only after John and Don eject, and find temporary safety on what remains of the hull, with dwindling oxygen. In the meantime, however, Will realizes the colonists can use the Jupiters' waste converters to transform an immense deposits of dung left in a nearby cave by enormous bat-like creatures into fuel. "So if we'd just waited a couple of hours, we wouldn't be here," Don observes, when hearing the news via Morse Code from Will.

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The Robinsons & Dr. Smith

LOST IN SPACE

Knowing that she'll be punished for the murder of a crew member if she returns to The Resolute, Parker Posey's Dr. Smith devises a scheme to gain control of Robot, which will serve as her defender. It's an intricate long con that requires her to manipulate more than a few colonists, and forcing Will into a position where he orders Robot to walk off a cliff, for the safety of his family and the colonists. Naturally, Dr. Smith is there to pick up the pieces (literally) and turn Robot to her side.

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With Robot reassembled, reactivated and under her command, Dr. Smith strikes a deal with Maureen to escape the planet aboard Jupiter 2, and even make a slight detour to rescue John and Don. However, when the ship's computer notifies them they have insufficient fuel to save the stranded pair, Maureen puts her own scheme into action: She mentioned earlier that the Jupiter's central hub is the safest place on the ship, so when she threatens to crash the vessel into the planet, Robot responds by moving Dr. Smith to safety. Once in the hub, Dr. Smith and Robot are sealed within, at least temporarily.

Robot Vs. Robot

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They do escape, of course, leading to a showdown between Maureen and Robot that leaves the latter damaged, and intent on harming the Robinsons. That is, until it's joined by another killer robot, which apparently located the Jupiter 2 by the signature from the engine of Robot's damaged ship, now strapped to the bottom of the Robinsons' SUV-like Chariot.

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With Will endangered by the newcomer, Robot returns to form, saving the boy, patching his damaged spacesuit and then battling his alien compatriot until they both go tumbling into space. We'd add "never to be seen again," except we know that's probably not the case, as this season ends on a cliffhanger.

Will's Big Moment

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Plagued by self-doubt and the realization that he didn't actually pass the rigid stress requirements for the colony program (his mother pulled some strings to forge his records), Will finally shows what he's capable of by climbing out onto the hull of the Jupiter 2 to manually close the damaged cargo hold door, saving his mother and sisters in the process. But as he's returning, he slips and begins to drift into space, only to be saved by his father, who's tethered to the ship's harpoon. But how?

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Maureen's first attempt to reach John and Don with the ship's harpoon fell short, and considering she and the children were preoccupied with saving their own lives, there's only one other possibility: Dr. Smith, who demonstrates she has a conscience after all. Or at least something that passes for one.

Truly Lost in Space

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Reunited aboard the Jupiter 2, the Robinsons seemed to have few remaining options, until John spots The Resolute, which remained in orbit longer than it was supposed to, in hopes of giving the family one more chance. With their rescue imminent, fate hurls one more enormous obstacle in their path, as the alien engine from Robot's ship begins to integrate with the Jupiter 2, and takes control. In the blink of an eye, the vessel jumps light years away, to what looks like a binary star system.

Will immediately recognizes it from the picture Robot drew earlier in the dirt. What might have been mistaken for the figure eight was actually a representation of its home galaxy. As Robot might say, "Danger, Will Robinson!"


Steaming now on Netflix, the 10-episode first season of Lost in Space stars Toby Stephens, Molly Parker, Maxwell Jenkins, Taylor Russell, Mina Sundwall, Ignacio Serricchio and Parker Posey.