episode #9 - The Oasis

episode #9 / Air Date: 11/10/65
written by Peter Packer; Directed by Sutton Roley

This episode returns, somewhat, to the issue of the planet's eccentric orbit around its sun: the area is beset by an intense heat wave and the group encounters a water shortage. Everyone becomes on edge and fitful. The episode may also mark the point when the series shifted to the more comical tone which it is known for, almost always revolving around the antics of Dr. Smith. It's still an odd mix at this point: the overall story is serious - the dilemma of finding water & food for survival purposes - but there are many inserted moments of all-out comedy. To wit: John & Don find out that their 24-gallon supply of water has suddenly dwindled to only 2 gallons; this is serious; the next minute, they find Smith showering with the stolen water, singing songs with the Robot (the Robot's operatic voice is truly funny here).
The group is furious with Smith but his attitude is quite clueless; he seems incapable of seeing beyond his immediate needs. With him, it's all about immediate gratification, as if he were an overgrown young teen. In their search for water, the group finds some fruit in an oasis, but they need to test it before trying it. Smith sees the fruit on a table and eats some before someone sees him doing this. This is serious - the food could very well be poisonous to humans. Smith now reveals another facet of himself - outright paranoia; he's convinced that the others tricked him into eating the fruit, as revenge for his use of the water - his outrage is the early sample of Smith histrionics. Maureen terms him an "injustice collector" - an interesting observation.

It's Maureen who has the most intriguing role in this episode, rare in future episodes; she becomes the bridge between the outcast Smith and the rest of the group, showing a bit more compassion for Smith as a mother figure. Smith wanders away, perhaps to die alone somewhere, and here it takes another comical turn. John now compares Smith to a "bull elephant" - an animal that goes off to die alone. The side effect of eating the fruit reveals itself to be growth, affecting the pituitary gland: Smith grows to 20 feet in height (Debbie the chimp also grows to gorilla size). Now Smith is 3 times as annoying - but it bogs down in the final act with slow & silly scenes, such as Smith's sneezes causing wind drafts. BoG's Score: 5 out of 10

NOTE: I wonder about the large pond we saw in a previous episode - My Friend, Mr. Nobody - the one Penny retreated to. Did it dry up in this episode? Here's a detailed blog on it: http://scifimusings.blogspot.com/

Epilogue Tag: Smith is lazing away as usual when, to his dismay, a weird-looking alien gadget approaches... freeze frame!