episode #39 - Curse of Cousin Smith

episode #39 / Air Date: 11/16/66 (episode #10 of 2nd season)
written by Barney Slater; Directed by Justin Addiss

The Smith (Henry Jones) of the episode's title parachutes onto the planet; he really is Dr. Smith's cousin. It's episodes such as this that take a dip into all-out absurdity and cause some viewers to theorize that this is all some fevered dream of one of the space castaways, as all attempts at injecting even the minimum of realism is thrown out the window. Jeremiah Smith (Jones) terrifies Dr. Smith and with good reason: he's there to off Dr. Smith and thereby inherit an aunt's fortune. It doesn't help the episode that Jones as the other Smith is even more annoying than Z. Smith who, as played by Jonathan Harris, does have some comical moments. As played by Henry Jones, J. Smith is just a chore to listen to.

The other problem here is that such episodes as this weaken the entire concept of the series. The Robinsons, after all, are stuck on the planet, marooned in outer space, unable to get home or to their objective, Alpha Centauri. Yet, characters like this other Smith come and go as they please, as if the rest of Earth has far superior spacecraft technology to the poor Robinsons - which doesn't make any sense. Even worse, the episode never even bothers to show Cousin Smith leaving, though he is of course nowhere to be seen in future episodes. Cousin Smith, btw, has a gambling problem and is as defective as Dr. Smith. On top of all this, this episode is simply a bore, though it's capped by the spectacle of a gambling machine chasing the Smiths. Someone, wake me up..! BoG's Score: 2 out of 10

Epilogue Tag: Smith is ordered to work by John; Smith and Will are at some mining site when a ship appears overhead; suddenly, they are fired upon..! Freeze frame!