Yahoo News Our verdict on Netflix's Lost In Space revival
Please note: this is a spoiler-free review.
Coming later this month to streaming is new Netflix Original, Lost In Space. Well, not that original as it's a "dramatic and modern reimagining" of the classic US science fiction series from the '60s, but you get the idea.
Some of you might even also recall the 1998 feature-length movie starring Friends' Matt LeBlanc, the now Oscar-winning Gary Oldman and Heather Graham. (If not, apologies for reminding you of that particular abomination.)
Thankfully, Lost In Space showrunner Zack Estrin (formerly executive producer on Prison Break) has managed to avoid all the mistakes of the '90s film in the new small-screen version.
Set just 30 years in the future, the Robinson family is among those selected to make a new life for themselves on a planet millions of miles away. But they are quickly torn off course en route to their new home and must build alliances and work together to survive in a dangerous alien environment, light years from their original destination.
We're plonked straight into the action as the Robinsons find themselves marooned on this uncharted planet. There's no preamble here, it's all bells and whistles and spaceships from the get-go.
Through flashbacks, however, we begin to learn just how they got there and the shady reasons why some of the other colonists arrived there too. These flashbacks complement the ongoing peril (and there's a lot of it – the show is pretty relentless) faced by the Robinsons and the others who've landed, and add layer upon a layer of intrigue and twists.
The cast, which the show pretty much hinges on, put in stellar performances for the most part. Robinson matriarch Maureen, played by House of Cards' Molly Parker, leads the pack with her strength, warmth and humour, and you'll be very much on her side in comparison to the slightly-less engaging dad, John Robinson.
Played by English actor Toby Stephens, John is a seasoned combat veteran who, it's fair to say, has not been the best father; as a result, he's a little one-note in these opening eps. Stephens has shone previously in BBC Two's fantastic-but-short-lived Vexed and up against Brosnan's Bond in Die Another Day but, so far, he's not been given the chance to show off his considerable comedic skills or much charm.
Fingers crossed this changes as the season progresses or the tough-guy persona might get tiring come the finale.
The Robinson kids are surprisingly and pleasingly brilliant. In the sci-fi genre, children don't usually come off very well, but the trio of youngsters Taylor Russell, Mina Sundwall and Max Jenkins, as Judy, Penny and Will respectively, not only get great material but they all handle it superbly. (Sundwall, in particular, gets the most sassy laughs.)
Outside of the family are two characters who are certainly not as clean-cut as the Robinsons. Ignacio Serricchio (Bones) is terrific as Don West – hugely likeable, with something dark bubbling under – and works terrifically with partner-in-crime, the gender-swapped Dr Smith – an outstanding Parker Posey. She's a scene-stealer as soon as Posey reveals her identity; there's so much going on with Dr Smith, but we'll leave it there for the time being.
And then there's the robot – an iconic part of the '60s TV show. This time around, and without giving anything away, this part of the reimagining is simply exhilarating. Like a number of characters in this version of Lost In Space, there's so much more beneath the surface (spoilers prevent us from elaborating).
Director Neil Marshall, known for his fine work on movies such as Dog Soldiers and The Descent (and also attached to Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen) and his TV work on Game of Thrones, brings cinematic scale and genuine jeopardy throughout, while the technical and visual sides of the productions are hugely impressive.
As you would expect, Lost In Space is FX-heavy and it doesn't disappointment – the alien landscapes are staggeringly believable. And, with the calibre of Oscar-winning costume designer Angus Strathie on board, quality shines through on every level.
On the evidence of the opening episodes, Lost In Space looks like it has enough ingenuity and talent both in front and behind the camera to guarantee viewers will be binge-watching in their droves. Netflix has been getting some flak for a few of its original releases recently, but this is going to bring back some goodwill for the streaming service in true blockbuster style.
If they continue to get it right, Lost In Space could run for light years.
Lost In Space is available on Netflix from April 13.
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