Customer Reviews

Lost in Space, Vol. 5: The Hungry Sea [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Lost in Space" is one of those shows from the past that is either praised or loathed. I am one individual who has fond memories of the 60's "classic." This episode is, by far, a cut above many of the later episodes which began to place too much focus on the Will/Dr. Smith/Robot formula. Although this first season show features a "softening" of the Smith character, as played by Jonathan Harris, this installment shows the bond between the family members and their efforts to survive a blistering sun, earthquakes, a whirlpool, and an unknown future. Harris has a field day when forced to spend time alone with the Robot who at the time had not developed any "human" qualities. An amusing banter is showcased between the two which adds immensely to the story. The special effects featuring a storm-tossed Chariot are somewhat spectacular for the period. John Williams' score, with "borrowed" cues from Bernard Herrmann, is highly effective. Even the rarely used "Judy" gets to have a juicy line or two. It is too bad that the series lost the quality of this episode in exchange for outlandish and garish plots in the second and third seasons.

"The Hungry Sea", episode No. five of the first season of "Lost in Space" is another of the top class episodes which were created out of material from the original unaired pilot episode and it was a direct follow on storywise to the classic "There Were Giants In The Earth". After this episode the real first season episodes began and while all excellent they did lack with a few exceptions that very exciting quality so evident in these earlier episodes.

"The Hungry Sea", brings to a climax the story of the Robinson's dangerous trek south in the chariot to escape the freezing temperatures currently being experienced as a result of their inhospitable planet's erratic orbit around it's sun. Rarely have so many spectacular special effects come together in one episode as they do here. It is among my personal favourites of this series as the storyline was kept taut, the impending sense of danger was never far from the surface and all the characters were equally given time to develop and contribute to the action at hand. After escaping from the caving in underground city the party resume their travel and cross a huge inland sea which has been completely frozen over. Only after reaching the other side where they see strange examples of vegetation which has been first burnt and then frozen do their suspicions about the rapid changes of the planet's temperature start to form and fear starts to set in. At this stage in the story is introduced an excellent element when Prof. Robinson and Major West (Guy Williams and Mark Goddard, two excellent actors who were consistently terrific through the whole series run), come into direct conflict with each other over their next course of action. This tension and the divided loyalties that arise add a wonderful realistic element to the parties' interactions as the tension and fear over what will happen arises. Warned by a mellowing Dr. Smith back at the spaceship their fears are confirmed and they are just intime to take steps to protect themselves from a rapid increase in temperature beyond anything experienced on Earth. The scenes of the native vegetation around the chariot erupting into flames is still a stunning effect and gives this episode classic status in Sci Fi television. Upon the return journey home the party have to recross the inland sea and find it now a full fledged ocean and here we see another innovation of the chariot which now becomes a vechicle for sea going travel, an device never again used in the series sadly. Here the special effects are second to none as the chariot experiences a wide storm at sea with the whole party almost drowned in a huge whirlpool which looks as frightening today as it did back in the 1960's.

"The Hungry Sea", exhausts the last of the unused footage from the pilot episode and the storylines did become alot tamer after this offering. This episode shows what made "Lost in Space", such sensational viewing as I was growing up. Dr. Smith, now infamous as a comic buffoon is here still a serious and villianous character which suited the series so much better. His
character would have inevitably mellowed as the series progressed living with the Robinsons as he had to but the direction his character took was a terrible mistake and ultimately spoiled the series. There were certainly many excellent episodes later in this first favourite season and even the second and third seasons contained some excellent ones as well but it is these very early episodes of the series that are so fondly remembered by fans. "The Hungry Sea", is definately one of those and I highly recommend it to you as an example of exciting television from the 1960's. Enjoy!

Have seen many times one of the best from the whole series. Good Special effects

Here we go! There making 5 star episodes again! Not as good as episode 3, but pretty damn good!