episode #79 - Fugitives in Space

episode #79 / Air Date: 1/31/68 (episode #20 of 3rd season)
written by Robert Hamner; Directed by Ezra Stone

In Quadrant 5 of the prison planet Destructon, prisoner Creech (Michael Conrad) tries his umpteenth escape - this time he makes it all the way to the planet the Robinsons are on; an exchange of apparel implicates Smith and then Don in Creech's escape. The warden (Tol Avery) seems like one of those severe establishment types who thinks even looking at a fugitive is grounds for a life sentence and regards things like trials as formalities. Of course, Smith doesn't help matters by accusing Don, while Creech refuses to squeal.

Smith and Don, along with the recaptured Creech, are sentenced to life at hard labor in Quadrant 6, despite the efforts of the Robot (programmed with tapes on intergalactic law). Implausibly, the Robot comes up with a breakout plan using a fake cake - an explosive one - but this fails, prompting Creech to proceed with his latest escape plan. This involves making their way through a mine field. Also, Creech isn't the most civilized alien to be stuck with.
The memorable thing about this one is Creech, who looks like a fugitive from the Planet of the Apes film (1968), albeit an albino version. Conrad, a tall actor, was imposing and lent a caustic, snarly personality to his alien character, more energetic than the usual absurd, tiresome guest characters. There were a few facts revealed of a more dark humor than the norm: Creech is a Koloran who can regenerate after being killed - he's been killed about a dozen times and has been trying to escape for about 283 years; the warden, the greatest in the galaxy, has been at his job for 500 years! This and the set design all suggested a literal eternal hell for the prison scenes (very suggestive to a young viewer). BoG's Score: 7 out of 10

Lost in Trivia: of the regulars, only Smith, Don, Will and the Robot appear in this episode