episode #42 - Wreck of the Robot

episode #42 / Air Date: 12/14/66 (episode #13 of 2nd season)
written by Barney Slater; Directed by Nathan Juran

An eerie tone pervades some scenes in this episode, so it's at least a bit beyond the usual slapstick. A new set of aliens appear and they want the robot. These are creepy-looking dudes, dressed in black, complete with top hats (for a similar visual, see also the episode of the eighties Twilight Zone show, The Shadow Man). We see only three of them. The eeriness is offset, however, by hammy behavior from not only Smith, but from the Robot as well - "My number is up; I've had it..." the Robot says.

The Robot also states that it is not programmed for emotion, but doesn't explain his highly emotional state here. The Robot worries, frets, moans and also states it is unhappy - no emotion Still, there are the creepy aliens - they speak with these raspy voices, as if just from the other side of the grave. The Robot does get taken apart here. This sets up a genuinely amusing scene when Don uses the Robot's head to play a trick on Dr. Smith; as usual, Smith's outrage is priceless

The gist of this is that all the machinery begins to go haywire or break down; it turns out that the aliens have constructed a machine to control other machines in their bid to take over Earth... - Earth? Why Earth? Then, a few moments after this revelation, John voices the possibility of danger to the whole universe...! Yeah, OK... that makes more sense. At the end of the loopy threat, it's further suggested that the Robot is more than just a machine. BoG's Score: 5.5 out of 10
Epilogue Tag: During a heatwave, Penny is alone with Debbie the chimp when some strange-looking faceless golden alien appears from behind a rock... freeze frame!