lost in space reboot: season 2
Jan. 16th, 2020 08:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sidewaysProbably better known as "that show with the really sweet robot design".
So, I quite enjoyed the first season of the rebooted Lost in Space series on Netflix. My prior knowledge of the franchise mostly came from two novels for middle grade kids I picked up out of the library as a youngster, so there was little sentimentality to either help or hinder; I don't mind contrived, schlocky action and drama; and I have a serious soft spot for pathos anchored heavily in family bonds and interspecies friendships. I also really loved the cast of casually competent women, their take on Dr Smith (INCREDIBLE), and Debbie the chicken.
It wasn't a good show, exactly. But it was fun, and it had some decent potential.
Would that I could tell you season 2 lived up to that potential.
It's... look, it's still fun. I didn't suffer. The scenery and special effects are still stunning, and they got me to tear up at least once. Penny got some solid screentime too, which I really appreciated. I'm fond of Penny.
It's just not anything new. It in fact so closely matches the pattern of the first season that towards the end I found myself making more incredulous groaning noises than anything thrilled, and I am a very generous and willing audience when it comes to being thrilled by this show. It's not like I'm asking for a lot here, people.
The biggest disappointment is also one of the show's biggest pulls: I loved the decision to make Robot an alien entity in s1. Again, so much potential! Immediately it opens up all my favourite sci-fi plot hooks and themes - where did these beings come from, how sentient are they, did someone build them and if so who and why, how can two species communicate, What Defines Personhood? They fumbled around with it a bit clumsily in s1, but between the foundations that were laid and the season's cliffhanger ending, I had real hope they were going to whip out the awesome plot they were building towards.
If that plot exists, I'm still waiting for it to manifest. There was something of a limp flail in its direction here and there, but it was the kind of limp flail that bounces off the wall and smacks you in the face more often than it does anything productive. And those delicious alien robot themes? Yikes. Someone please sit the writers down with some seminal sci-fi texts that explore personhood in a meaningful fashion because they could use some pointers.
It's a shame because the production values ARE impressive, and the acting IS good, and the robot design IS seriously gorgeous. And if you have time to kill and a fondness for all things space adventure, you could do worse than sitting down with Lost in Space.
It just could have been so much better.
So, I quite enjoyed the first season of the rebooted Lost in Space series on Netflix. My prior knowledge of the franchise mostly came from two novels for middle grade kids I picked up out of the library as a youngster, so there was little sentimentality to either help or hinder; I don't mind contrived, schlocky action and drama; and I have a serious soft spot for pathos anchored heavily in family bonds and interspecies friendships. I also really loved the cast of casually competent women, their take on Dr Smith (INCREDIBLE), and Debbie the chicken.
It wasn't a good show, exactly. But it was fun, and it had some decent potential.
Would that I could tell you season 2 lived up to that potential.
It's... look, it's still fun. I didn't suffer. The scenery and special effects are still stunning, and they got me to tear up at least once. Penny got some solid screentime too, which I really appreciated. I'm fond of Penny.
It's just not anything new. It in fact so closely matches the pattern of the first season that towards the end I found myself making more incredulous groaning noises than anything thrilled, and I am a very generous and willing audience when it comes to being thrilled by this show. It's not like I'm asking for a lot here, people.
The biggest disappointment is also one of the show's biggest pulls: I loved the decision to make Robot an alien entity in s1. Again, so much potential! Immediately it opens up all my favourite sci-fi plot hooks and themes - where did these beings come from, how sentient are they, did someone build them and if so who and why, how can two species communicate, What Defines Personhood? They fumbled around with it a bit clumsily in s1, but between the foundations that were laid and the season's cliffhanger ending, I had real hope they were going to whip out the awesome plot they were building towards.
If that plot exists, I'm still waiting for it to manifest. There was something of a limp flail in its direction here and there, but it was the kind of limp flail that bounces off the wall and smacks you in the face more often than it does anything productive. And those delicious alien robot themes? Yikes. Someone please sit the writers down with some seminal sci-fi texts that explore personhood in a meaningful fashion because they could use some pointers.
It's a shame because the production values ARE impressive, and the acting IS good, and the robot design IS seriously gorgeous. And if you have time to kill and a fondness for all things space adventure, you could do worse than sitting down with Lost in Space.
It just could have been so much better.
no subject
Date: 2020-01-16 03:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-18 12:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-18 02:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-18 03:31 am (UTC)I feel like Maureen is your kind of character c:
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Date: 2020-01-18 03:33 am (UTC)It's awesome to hear there's a character I'd like! I will check it out tomorrow.