The Robinsons have been reunited with the other colonists, but drama is never far away

The reset button having been hit at the end of Episode 3, John is assigned to help out with a well down on the planet, and Dr Smith continues to remove anyone who threatens her plans. Because it’s Lost in Space, the well that John (Toby Stephens) is working on collapses. Don West is greeted by a punch in the face and Will discovers this his robot has been on the planet all the time. But most significantly we discover that another robot (dubbed Scarecrow) made contact with Earth some time before the escape to the stars.

In Run, it’s a case of ‘Ding dong bell, John is in the well’ and he’s not in great shape. He’s unlikely to last until the rescue ship arrives, and it’s up to Judy to run 15 miles outside if the perimeter fence, pursued by giant, indigenous lizard beasts – it’s a good job that she’s the State and Field Champion for Running. What’s effective is John and Judy’s flashbacks to key moments in their respective lives (reminiscent of survival movie 127 Hours) when the other spurred them on to be the best person possible. Yes, of course she gets there in the nick of time, but it’s a huge emotional moment. The sub-plot with Maureen, Will and Adler looking for Robot is less engaging, but establishes a key plot point.

Finally, in Severed, the true extent of the metal-eating virus comes to the fore as it begins corroding sections of the Resolute. Penny and Vijay are on the trail of Smith, going through her garbage to find a vital clue, and end up trapped in a garbage disposal unit with the walls closing in – yes, we know what you did there! But that’s just half the problem, because it’s Lost in Space, and Penny, Vijay, Smith and teacher Mr Jackson are soon trapped in a ‘no way out’ scenario that results in them being shot out into space.

Verdict: As a family-friendly big budget drama, this is an impressive show that continues to astound with its visual effects, but it feels stuck with a ‘disaster of the week’ which is getting samey very quickly. 6/10

Nick Joy