Time Merchant is a very good episode and one of the better Season Three episodes.
This is a Dr. Smith, Will and The Robot AND Prof Robinson episode!
Will's experiment accidentally transports a Time Merchant (Chronos) into a cave with him and Dr. Smith.
Dr. Smith, Will, The Robot and Prof Robinson are transported to the Time Merchants location where he controls time and can send people back in time. Dr. Smith sends himself back to earth on the day of the Jupiter Two lift-off with the plan of staying back on earth.
However, Dr. Smith learns that his added weight did cause them to get knocked off course but actually prevented the Robinsons and Major West from being destroyed by an un-charted asteroid. In a moment of decency, Dr. Smith cannot bare to let that happen and boards the Jupiter Two.
There are many aspects to like about Time Merchant, a few negatives and a major opportunity that was missed.
The positives:
The plot/ concept is excellent; Dr. Smith shows a full range of emotions; excellent action scenes with Prof Robinson; excellent props; most of the comedy works; excellent scenes with Dr. Smith and The Robot back on earth; some great zingers by Dr. Smith.
The Negatives:
A fair amount of "camp" wise-guy remarks sneak in with Chronos, including using a famous Oliver Hardy quote on Prof Robinson (I guess he was Stan Laurel)! And an unfortunate off-color joke about a "winch" by one of the officers on earth.
Major Opportunity Missed:
Prof Robinson and Will see that Dr. Smith originally being trapped on the Jupiter Two saved their lives. And more importantly, Prof Robinson seeing Dr. Smith admitting he was weak but still making sure he and The Robot boarded the Jupiter to save everyone's lives, when he could have been the selfish Dr. Smith and stayed on earth.
That could have been used as a dramatic ending to redeem much of what Dr. Smith has done in the past. And provide a logical explanation of why they would put up with his behavior for the remaining episodes. For continuity, Dr. Smith could keep reminding everyone of his heroics every time he messed things up.
Instead we get a casual dud ending with some goofy back-ground music.
This is a Dr. Smith, Will and The Robot AND Prof Robinson episode!
Will's experiment accidentally transports a Time Merchant (Chronos) into a cave with him and Dr. Smith.
Dr. Smith, Will, The Robot and Prof Robinson are transported to the Time Merchants location where he controls time and can send people back in time. Dr. Smith sends himself back to earth on the day of the Jupiter Two lift-off with the plan of staying back on earth.
However, Dr. Smith learns that his added weight did cause them to get knocked off course but actually prevented the Robinsons and Major West from being destroyed by an un-charted asteroid. In a moment of decency, Dr. Smith cannot bare to let that happen and boards the Jupiter Two.
There are many aspects to like about Time Merchant, a few negatives and a major opportunity that was missed.
The positives:
The plot/ concept is excellent; Dr. Smith shows a full range of emotions; excellent action scenes with Prof Robinson; excellent props; most of the comedy works; excellent scenes with Dr. Smith and The Robot back on earth; some great zingers by Dr. Smith.
The Negatives:
A fair amount of "camp" wise-guy remarks sneak in with Chronos, including using a famous Oliver Hardy quote on Prof Robinson (I guess he was Stan Laurel)! And an unfortunate off-color joke about a "winch" by one of the officers on earth.
Major Opportunity Missed:
Prof Robinson and Will see that Dr. Smith originally being trapped on the Jupiter Two saved their lives. And more importantly, Prof Robinson seeing Dr. Smith admitting he was weak but still making sure he and The Robot boarded the Jupiter to save everyone's lives, when he could have been the selfish Dr. Smith and stayed on earth.
That could have been used as a dramatic ending to redeem much of what Dr. Smith has done in the past. And provide a logical explanation of why they would put up with his behavior for the remaining episodes. For continuity, Dr. Smith could keep reminding everyone of his heroics every time he messed things up.
Instead we get a casual dud ending with some goofy back-ground music.
