episode #12 - The Raft

episode #12 / Air Date: 12/1/65
written by Peter Packer; Directed by Sobey Martin

John comes up with an alternative fuel to perhaps finally get the ship off the planet. Unfortunately, they don't have enough power to lift off the ship. But, John & Don build a space capsule out of the ship's reactor chamber, big enough for 2 people to fly off in. The plan is for Don to use this and then send back help. Of course, Smith accidentally lifts off in the capsule, along with Will. They soon approach and land on a planet; Smith feels certain it's Earth, even though the surface seems similar to the desert regions of the planet they just left.

Smith & Will start walking - Smith is sure they'll come across a highway soon - and soon run into a weird plant creature, a 'bush creature' - it looks like 2 extras dressed in a bad suit. They also get trapped in a rock enclave where, I guess, they are supposed to take care of some plants - I didn't quite get this. It's a bit goofy, but the main weakness of this one is the reuse of footage from the episode Invaders From the 5th Dimension - all the stuff with Will's parents in the Chariot looking for him again, as well as Don flying around with the jet pack. BoG's Score: 5 out of 10

NOTE: there's also a scene of Will eating some berries that they find in the spot where they're trapped; this is dangerous even on Earth and so seems poorly thought out.

Lost in Trivia: the monster suit in this one was one of those also used in Allen's Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, as a huge sea creature.

Epilogue Tag: John, Don, Will & the Robot go off in the Chariot to set up an extended antenna, leaving Smith with the women at the ship. A meteor shower hits! Freeze frame!