User Reviews

This first season produced most of the best "Lost In Space" episodes, and this is one of the best of the first season's episodes.

Dr.Smith enrages John and Don when his carelessness almost costs Don his life. It is also revealed in this opening scene that Dr. Smith's lack of attending to the hydroponic garden caused it to die from neglect.

Feeling that everyone is against him, Smith decides that there is no alternative for him but to leave. He departs, armed with only a laser rifle and a jacket. Will is upset about his leaving, but Don is all to happy to be rid of him.

Jonathan Harris' excellent acting once again takes center stage. He is wonderful as the frightened, helpless, lonely Dr. Smith forced to encounter the planet's environment alone.

Feeling sorry for him, Will sets out after him and finds him. A bond is forged between the 2 as they search for a suitable new home for Dr. Smith. They find that home in the wreck of an old spaceship that contains what is later referred to as a thought machine that makes wishes come true. The scenes between Will and Dr. Smith showcase the two talented actors.

It's fun to watch Smith revel in the new discovery, getting what he wants. Eventually, Smith gets lonely and decides to return to the others.

Smith returns to the Jupiter 2 with the thought machine, feeling that the gift of the machine would make the Robinsons welcome him back into their fold.

The thought machine becomes a source of discontent. The family ends up goofing off instead of doing needed work. In one particularly well-done scene, Penny and Will argue over who should be allowed to use the machine to get what they want. Penny ends up tricking Will to get what she wants.

Instead of helping them, the family doesn't want to do anything else but use the thought machine to get what they want.

In the end, John Robinson orders Smith to get rid of the machine. Instead of doing that, Smith decides to return to the alien shipwreck and live alone with his machine. When Smith wishes for a servant, an alien appears and demands the return of his machine. Smith won't give it back, and instead runs in a panic to the Jupiter 2 for protection. John orders Smith to give the alien his machine. To make sure that he does, John, Don, and Will accompany Smith.

All-in-all, it's a well acted story. It also shows the Robinsons arguing and being selfish, which is nicely different from the usual.

A flaw in the story comes at the beginning, where John is mad at Dr. Smith because the hydroponic garden that was Smith's responsibility that week died from neglect. An important thing like their food in a hydroponic garden that is clearly visible just outside the Jupiter 2 and nobody noticed that it wasn't being attended to? Come on! Are we to believe that the intelligent John, Don, and the rest would trust Dr. Smith to take care of their food supply without supervision? Common sense tells you not to do that. If the line was added in for dramatic effect, it falls on its face due to credibility.

I'm also not sure why it was necessary to have Will go with John, Don, and Dr. Smith to return the machine, but I'll forgive the few flaws in the story.

In an early episode of Lost in space, Jonathan Harris as Dr. Smith exclaim to the robot, "Well aren't you a many splendored thing?" In this episode, Smith must face his own greed as he asks for far too much when Will comes across a strange-looking cap that grants wishes. The greed factor also affects the remainder of the crew as they go overboard on asking for ridiculous things against the advice of patriarch John Robinson. But this does not come to a head until Smith becomes far too demanding in his desire for servitude and an evil looking alien creature appears to make it clear that he will not get his wish. The episode had started with Smith's incompetence destroying a valuable piece of equipment and his laissez-faire attitude towards the whole incident. Smith, basically exiled, leaves the camp, and after Will goes off to look for him, they discover what looks like the remains of an old spacecraft. It is here where will discovers the funny-looking cap (which of course Smith uses as an insult towards his yong-pal), and in spite of some initial treats, the gifts go too far out of hand.

This is a moral giving episode, a reminder to the young audience who tuned in week after week the evils of wanting too much and expecting it irregardless of the consequences. It certainly could also be of value to the adults as well as we see here with pretty much everybody except Guy Williams' character. The only thing about the episode that really leaves no conclusion is what caused Smith to depart the Jupiter II in the first place. had they confronted him about the trouble that he caused (some deliberate, some accidental), perhaps Smith would have made an effort to change. It is obvious at this point that his evil agenda is pretty much over and all it is about now is him surviving with the help of the others. His character is less selfish and nefarious, and it is apparent that what was meant to be a short-term part would now become the dominant role. Still, it is a good episode with many memorable moments and of course a valued lesson that still applies more than 50 years later.

Warning don't read unless seen episode.

This episode is an honorable mention in my book, it's a simple morality tale about greed and its consequences. This episode also predates the notion of the replecators from the "Star Trek" franchise. When I saw the episode, I thought it was an awesome concept, whatever you think of the machine will immediately replicate it for you, like say if I think of having a Nintendo Switch and several good games with it those things will appear.

It's just interesting seeing some of the Robertson family including party member Don whom are people that are always on the straight and narrow, walk astray for once, it just goes to show that no one is truly immune to this negative characteristic it's something that can affect anyone.

One moment that was a bit humorous was seeing both Will and Penny fight over using the machine. But then Penny she tricks Will to walk away from the machine, I just thought it was interesting seeing Penny outwit Will. And of course, we see some time with the machine has made some of them become irresponsible in carrying out their duties. Really like the speech that John gives about what greed is doing to the family which is true, what's happening to the family isn't unlike what always occurs working in the corporate world where it's never a friendly work environment as everyone is just out for themselves and to get anyone else.

However we see that there is a catch and goes with the old saying it's too good to be true; each of the items from that machine wished have somewhat of a shelf life as we see Judy's dress is in ruins, fruit wished for is rotten, and so forth but those things show the essence of greed as it really brings nothing to fulfill desires, it just makes you more empty.

It was good and slightly funny to see Dr. Smith just indulge in the use of the machine to indulge his usual petty desires. However, he's about to learn that hard way that too much of anything is never healthy.

Rating: 3 and a half stars

Dr. Smith and Will discover an alien device in a wrecked spaceship. This device appears to grant wishes to whomever wears the pointed cap. How far can this go?

Why this episode is rated so high by me is because it shows the infamous greed and selfishness of Smith, but also how it can corrupt the Robinsons and their treatment of one another. That isn't seen too often on this show.

Also the alien on the show is pretty impressive-looking.

Another of the classic black and white episode, with both heart and humor!

Wasn't Dr Smith supposed to have been working in the hydroponic garden that day? This episode is one of at least two, in which Prof Robinson poses that question to Smith. In this case, it made me laugh. Smith had just caused an explosion by carelessly dropping a fuel cell. Why would anyone want him to work in the hydroponic garden, if that was their main food source? Of course, an excuse was needed to remove Smith from the camp, so he would discover the "wish machine." When Smith brings the machine.to the Jupiter 2, everyone seems to forget why they were so upset with him in the first place. Interesting events follow, most notably strong evidence of the friendship between Smith and Will Robinson. There are two other scenes which I particularly like. Prof Robinson scolds Penny for using deception to gain control of the machine. Penny thought she was cute, and her father put her in her place. I loved it! Now, for someone who really is cute. Judy gets a new dress, and new hair style, from the machine. When the machine malfunctions, the dress and hair style fall apart. Judy was so upset, and for no reason. She was a thousand times more beautiful and sexy with her hair all messed up! Oh, yes. Back to the review! The moral of the story is that everyone is capable of greed, not only Dr Smith.

Wish Upon a Star is a Season One Gem. Pretty close to perfect.

One of the very best Lost In Space episodes. This one has everything: Dr. Smith being greedy and selfish; the bond between Dr. Smith and Will; excellent balance with the entire cast; Prof Robinson teaching moments; some real interaction between Judy and Don; great Si-fi horror special effects; excellent camera work; a menacing alien and great music.

Dr. Smith's laziness and crooked behavior get him kicked out. He takes up camp in the wreckage of an abandoned alien ship where he and Will discover a hull-shaped helmet-type artifact that can materialize all his wishes. Dr. Smith is living it up until he gets too greedy and is terrorized by an alien. Other members also use the artifact for selfish reasons, which add a nice realistic touch.