episode #54 - The Colonists

episode #54 / Air Date: 3/15/67 (episode #25 of 2nd season)
written by Peter Packer; Directed by Ezra Stone

The group is split up setting up various little relay stations (why, I'm not sure) when a screeching noise begins - a sonic attack - and the stations are overloaded. This is all a prelude to the arrival of Niolani (Francine York), a domineering agent of a matriarchal empire who is there to pave the way for a ship of colonists. Her method is to enslave all the males, putting them to work erecting a platform for the arriving ship. In her Amazonian society, males are 2nd class citizens or less; her guards/servants are mute blue skinned slaves - altered males, I guess.
This episode is a step up from the usual fare of this time as there is a genuine threat woven into the story and some tension, as well as the whole theme of female superiority/male inferiority. However, the usual dopey conventions of Lost in Space storytelling are also here: Penny, for example, takes her role of superior female a bit too seriously at one point, lording over Will; this is thrown in simply to amuse, not make a point about becoming corrupted by power (there's a reference to a "conditioning machine" but it's not elaborated on). York hams it up somewhat as the femme villain, though her character is more entertaining than the norm.

Smith, of course, takes his usual tack on ingratiating himself to an enemy and seems to turn on the rest of the group. Niolani quickly makes him her consort and he's soon dressed as an artiste-type, then, inexplicably, in the costume of a Roman centurion (running out of costumes?). There's a force field set up and John & Don keep developing escape plans - but, escape to what? They might escape but the females would still be there (we don't see where Judy & Penny usually reside - maybe in the ship). The ending also has the usual farcical tone, with the formerly-imperious Niolani preparing for life as a baby-producing housewife or something .
BoG's Score: 6 out of 10

Lost in Space Trivia: the Robot identifies itself as an M-3 model in this episode

Epilogue Tag:
John & Don give Smith instructions on pressing some buttons as they overhaul their electrical system, but Maureen throws Smith off when she brings him coffee and he presses the wrong ones; there are explosions and a live wire cable threatens to electrocute John... freeze frame!