Why Did ‘Lost in Space’ Change So Drastically in Season 2?
The original version of Lost in Space began as a gripping sci-fi adventure, following a family stranded in the cosmos as they battled for survival against alien threats and the unknown. But by its second season, it had transformed into something very, very different. What happened? How did a show with so much promise end up with so many silly episodes in its later seasons?
The answer might surprise you. It wasn’t just bad writing or creative fatigue; the culprit might just be, believe it or not, Batman.
When Lost in Space premiered in 1965, it was a fairly serious science fiction drama. The first season, filmed in black and white, followed the Robinson Family: Professor John Robinson (Guy Williams), his wife Maureen (June Lockhart), and their kids Judy (Marta Kristen), Penny (Angela Cartwright), and Will (Bill Mumy), along with pilot Don West (Mark Goddard), as they navigated the dangers of space after being sabotaged by the scheming Dr. Zachary Smith.
The first season had its share of action, suspense and even moral dilemmas. While it wasn’t 2001: A Space Odyssey or even Star Trek, it was solid family science fiction.
And then, something changed.
On set for the Season 2 episode “Treasures of the Lost Planet” are Bill Mumy, Albert Salmi, Guy Williams and Mark Goddard. ©20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection
In January 1966, Batman, starring Adam West and Burt Ward, burst onto the scene. Airing on the same Bat-day and Bat-time as Lost in Space, Batman was a massive hit, and its campy, over-the-top tone became a cultural phenomenon. Suddenly, every network wanted a piece of that colorful, kid-friendly action. If you remember shows like Captain Nice or Mr. Terrific, you know the era. Lost in Space was no exception.
The success of Batman directly influenced Lost in Space to shift its tone. Irwin Allen and the rest of the show’s creative team made the decision to ditch the serious science fiction and double down on campy humor. The result? Along with transitioning from black & white to color, the show became less about the Robinson family’s survival and more about the antics of Dr. Smith, Will Robinson, and the Robot.
Episodes like “The Great Vegetable Rebellion,” where a giant talking carrot named Tybo hatches a plan to turn the Robinson family into trees and Dr. Smith into a stalk of celery, became more the norm. Many diehard Lost in Space fans have pointed to that particular episode as a real low point, a symbol of the show’s descent into silliness.
Guy Williams and Jonathan Harris. ©20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection
The shift didn’t just affect the tone; it also, sadly, sidelined one of the show’s key characters: John Robinson, played by the extremely talented Guy Williams. Williams didn’t have the same campy flair as Jonathan Harris, who absolutely thrived with the show’s new direction. This led to John Robinson being pushed to the background while Dr. Smith took center stage. It’s a shame, because episodes like “Follow the Leader” and “The Anti-Matter Man” proved that Guy could shine when given the chance. But those moments became fewer and farther between as the show leaned harder into its new identity.
Talking to journalist Allen Rich in 1966, Guy acknowledged some discontent by saying, “Not only myself, but others too, feel that if our characters are strengthened and we have more to do, that, combined with Harris’ comedy, will make for a better show.”
So, was Batman solely to blame for Lost in Space’s decline? Not entirely. Jonathan Harris’s scene-stealing performance and the creative team’s willingness to cater to his antics certainly played their part. However, the pressure to compete with Batman undeniably accelerated the show’s transformation. What started out as a promising science fiction drama became a campy, kid-focused comedy. And while that might have worked for Batman, it left Lost in Space feeling a bit … lost.
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