Cheap Lost in Space Collector's Edition (Invaders from Fifth Dimension / The Oasis) (Video) Price

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Customer Reviews of Lost in Space Collector's Edition (Invaders from Fifth Dimension / The Oasis)

Dr. Smith tries out the roles of reluctant hero and giant
I actually missed out on "Star Trek" in the Sixties, at first because it was on opposite "My Three Sons" and "Bewitched," and then because I was living in Japan. When we moved the shows I really missed were "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," the last show I watched before we left the country, and "Lost in Space," which was the inspiration for my first work of fiction (involving the rescue of the Jupiter II: Major West and Judy had finally gotten married, John and Maureen had another baby, and the Keeper was prominently involved in the plot). In those dark days of the late Sixties, decades before videotape and cable television, I had to content myself with having the Viewmaster slides for "Condemned of Space," the third season's premier episode. <
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>This VHS includes episodes eight and nine from the show's first season (1965-66), which began when the spaceship Jupiter II left on a five-year voyage of exploration to a planet in the Alpha Centauri system. Of course, Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris), an enemy spy, sabotaged the control system but did not get off the ship before it took off. Consequently the Space Family Robinson, headed by Zorro (Guy Williams) and Timmy's mom on "Lassie" (June Lockhart), was marooned "Lost in Space." These episodes are mostly interesting because they reflect the period when Smith was turning more and more into the show's comic relief. <
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>Episode 8, "Invaders from the Fifth Dimension" (Written by Shimon Whincelberg, Aired November 3, 1965) has they luminous aliens capturing Dr. Smith so that they can use his brain to replace their burnt out computer. Of course the good doctor suggests they use the brain of Will Robinson (Billy Mumy) instead, and the telepathic aliens are happy to oblige, especially once they equip Smith with a control collar. This episode does stand out in my mind as the first indication that Smith really does care for Will, even if doing the right thing is rather difficult. Plus Major West (Mark Goddard) gets to use the James Bond jetpack, so this is a personal favorite. It goes without saying that the Robot (played by Bob May but voiced by Dick Tufeld) has become a fine foil for Smith by this point. <
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>Episode 9, "The Oasis" (Written by Peter Packer, First aired November 10, 1965) has Dr. Smith making the mistake of eating some alien fruit before it is tested, which turns him into a giant. Convinced the Robinsons are trying to kill him (he cannot fit into the Jupiter II and eating enough to stay alive is going to be really difficult), Smith decides it is him or the Robinsons. Will he succeed and end the show before it is halfway through the first season? Will Penny get to keep Monkey Debbie now that she is the size of a gorilla? Most importantly, what type of fabric is Dr. Smith's clothing made out of that they increase 12 times in size along with him? Stop confusing space opera with science fiction. <
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>These two "Lost in Space" episodes compliment each other in terms of showing the key qualities that were defining Dr. Smith during that first season and also demonstrating how silly the series could be. Smith gets into these absurd situations and everybody else tries to deal with him rationally. I was too young to understand the idea of an actor's contract and was always surprised nobody figure out Smith was the bad guy and should be sent out the airlock on one of those rare occasions when the Jupiter II was up and flying in space (it was really more "Lost on Alien Planets in Space").