An indestructible package of priceless information.
Dr. Brand had built a robot with artificial intelligence with a personality. The robot was built for deep space to collect information, data that will better inform man of what lies in space. Observation from earth can only get mankind so far, but Brand is eyeing the stars by using a machine made with calculations and intelligence, bits, pieces, bolts, and parts all from his hands and genius. The robot is made "too well", actually, and will, for whatever reason—not long after being lifted safely from the deep space capsule probe it was stored and later studied for its "priceless contents" by Brand and Admiral Nelson—move about the Seaview destroying anything (or one) in its path. Ripping through and pulling apart hatchways, walls, and doors, pulverizing men who are in its way and causing disruption to the Seaview's functioning capabilities (and air conditioning), the robot seems impervious to bullets and retaliation against it seems futile. Nelson does learn its weakness dependency on light for operation. So light will be used as bait. Brand is dead set against Nelson's destroying his machine, convincing him to let the one who built it take to the dismantling process. Brand instead uses a flashlight to reignite the machine from its temporary dormancy (Nelson had lead it to a darkened chamber, closing it in) to get information from it, despite Nelson's wishes for dismantlement. It will be a major mistake as the machine once again walks freely around Seaview, nearly killing Brand in the process. Other casualties and ship damage result.
I'm not sure about the robot's decision to lock a bomb to it, starting it to detonate after 60 seconds, with conveniently Nelson able to use a flashlight to guide it into a torpedo chamber. Why would the robot destroy itself or want to blow up the Seaview? We will never even truly know what was the cause of its rampage as sometime in space (perhaps past the Van Allen Belt), the robot suffered a malfunction that disrupted its central control system. This episode has familiar music from The Day the Earth Stood Still (and used a lot on Lost in Space), as the robot is shown gradually walking the halls and bursting through walls and doors pesky enough to be in its path at the time. Like a lot of robots, the one in this episode favors Gort from Day the Earth particularly in how it walks and has no facial features, body armor of steel, no talking but just action.
The episode does become a bit repetitive with members of the Seaview often trying to find the robot, and the robot shambling about corridors. Nelson and Brand discussing the robot. Brand, sweating profusely and full of dismay at the arising consequences of equipping his robot with "human characteristics" that now have led to the Seaview's troubles, is often debating with Nelson on how to stop it. One thing is certain: Brand's passion is absolute thanks to Michael Constantine's performance. You never doubt Brand's life is devoted to the information in his machine and how it could be beneficial to mankind. But, of course, Nelson has a crew and sub to worry about, so the butting of heads is expected.
Dr. Brand had built a robot with artificial intelligence with a personality. The robot was built for deep space to collect information, data that will better inform man of what lies in space. Observation from earth can only get mankind so far, but Brand is eyeing the stars by using a machine made with calculations and intelligence, bits, pieces, bolts, and parts all from his hands and genius. The robot is made "too well", actually, and will, for whatever reason—not long after being lifted safely from the deep space capsule probe it was stored and later studied for its "priceless contents" by Brand and Admiral Nelson—move about the Seaview destroying anything (or one) in its path. Ripping through and pulling apart hatchways, walls, and doors, pulverizing men who are in its way and causing disruption to the Seaview's functioning capabilities (and air conditioning), the robot seems impervious to bullets and retaliation against it seems futile. Nelson does learn its weakness dependency on light for operation. So light will be used as bait. Brand is dead set against Nelson's destroying his machine, convincing him to let the one who built it take to the dismantling process. Brand instead uses a flashlight to reignite the machine from its temporary dormancy (Nelson had lead it to a darkened chamber, closing it in) to get information from it, despite Nelson's wishes for dismantlement. It will be a major mistake as the machine once again walks freely around Seaview, nearly killing Brand in the process. Other casualties and ship damage result.
I'm not sure about the robot's decision to lock a bomb to it, starting it to detonate after 60 seconds, with conveniently Nelson able to use a flashlight to guide it into a torpedo chamber. Why would the robot destroy itself or want to blow up the Seaview? We will never even truly know what was the cause of its rampage as sometime in space (perhaps past the Van Allen Belt), the robot suffered a malfunction that disrupted its central control system. This episode has familiar music from The Day the Earth Stood Still (and used a lot on Lost in Space), as the robot is shown gradually walking the halls and bursting through walls and doors pesky enough to be in its path at the time. Like a lot of robots, the one in this episode favors Gort from Day the Earth particularly in how it walks and has no facial features, body armor of steel, no talking but just action.
The episode does become a bit repetitive with members of the Seaview often trying to find the robot, and the robot shambling about corridors. Nelson and Brand discussing the robot. Brand, sweating profusely and full of dismay at the arising consequences of equipping his robot with "human characteristics" that now have led to the Seaview's troubles, is often debating with Nelson on how to stop it. One thing is certain: Brand's passion is absolute thanks to Michael Constantine's performance. You never doubt Brand's life is devoted to the information in his machine and how it could be beneficial to mankind. But, of course, Nelson has a crew and sub to worry about, so the butting of heads is expected.
