episode #11 - Wish Upon a Star

episode #11 / Air Date: 11/24/65
written by Barney Slater; Directed by Sutton Roley

Smith messes up again, almost causing Don's death due to his carelessness. John also takes Smith to task for letting the small garden die. But, they don't kick Smith out; acting on his pride, the haughty Smith elects to leave voluntarily. He's joined later by a worried Will and together they find the skeletal remains of an ancient spacehip. There's a gadget inside these remains which turns out to be a variation of an Alladin's Lamp. Responding to their wishes, the gadget rains a bunch of apples on them. Of course, this seems the ultimate toy for the lazy Smith, but the little thought machine ends up having a detrimental effect on most of the others, as well.

Surprisingly, Smith doesn't keep the thought machine for himself: this was his way to get back into the good graces of the group. There's an unexplained limit to the machine - it can only be used twice a day - and there are other limits: Smith tries to create a 2nd working Jupiter 2 ship but it materializes a toy-sized version. In any event, soon there are quarrels between Will & Penny on who should use the machine and John calls a meeting; he lays it out to all of them: "it sows the seeds of discontent, mistrust and indolence." This scene really showed who is the leader of the group and why.

Smith's gift is no longer wanted; Smith is indignant and returns with the machine to the old derelict where he found it. The real problem for Smith begins when he wishes for a servant (he was not allowed to take the Robot). I didn't get this part when I watched this episode as a kid because I missed the key line of dialog later; what comes after Smith is not some warped version of a servant but apparently the being which created & provided the thought machine - it's not spelled out. Is this a comment on slavery? Maybe. Also, all the material things wished for during the episode deteriorate as we expected - an effective message, especially for kids.
BoG's Score: 7 out of 10

Epilogue Tag: Will sends up another of his little space probes via a balloon but it explodes, raining down on Will, Penny and John... freeze frame!