episode #46 - The Questing Beast

episode #46 / Air Date: 1/11/67 (episode #17 of 2nd season)
written by Carey Wilbur; Directed by Don Richardson

Well, we've had cowboys from space, pirates from space, prospectors... so why not a knight from space? He's Sir something-or-other (Hans Conried), and he's after some dragon-like monster (the beast of the title). The knight is accompanied by a basset hound with glasses; he's been on a quest for 40 years. Will befriends the elderly stumbling knight, while Smith hopes for a way to Earth. Meanwhile, Penny befriends the beast, which turns out to behave and speak like some elderly lady, in spite of its appearance.

By this point, I am quite convinced the writers and directors of this show must have been sampling some mind-altering drugs to come up with these stories. This has a loopy fairy tale quality, though there are a surprising few moments of clarity which address the facts of life for Will: of growing up, of shattering illusions and of Smith finally showing genuine regret when he's caught in another lie. Otherwise, the monster suit and the knight were very silly & an embarrassment - even for this show. BoG's Score: 3 out of 10.

Epilogue Tag: Smith & Will come across another machine like the one from The Android Machine episode; despite what they know of the dangers (and the Robot even warning them of danger), Smith urges Will to try it, to get a present for Penny; the machine fizzles... freeze frame!