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Parents' Guide to

Lost in Space

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Remake of 1960s sci-fi series is classic fun; some violence.

TV Netflix Science Fiction 2018
Lost in Space Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 11+

Based on 53 parent reviews

MAMMA BEAR 1
MAMMA BEAR 1 Parent of 12-year-old
November 8, 2022
age 10+

GREAT, FUN, SUSPENSEFUL SERIES! LOVE IT!!!👍👍👍❤

I LOVED this series, and only wished it lasted longer. The characters, you fall in love with, and the suspense is mostly nonstop. I adore Robot, but some of the enemy robots, and bat creatures in one small scene, MAY scare younger kids, depending on what they've already been permitted to watch. We don't watch scary movies, or romantic, as my son is only 12, but all the other parents in school let their kids watch anything, so depending on that you know if your kids scare easily or not. This series has EVERYTHING, laughter and fun, sadness, love, all the family dynamics and more! The family is constantly in perilous situations, so it stays exciting in every episode, so it was a complete disappointment this only has three seasons. They should do a spinoff with the ending of this one, and start whole new adventures!! You won't be disappointed, it's great. Mushy talking scenes rarely, but necessary to know the characters relationships. Great values, which is RARE NOWADAYS. FAMILY VALUES of staying together as a family, no matter how difficult circumstances are. Helping, and trusting each other. Giving people forgiveness and a second chance. One scene during the first season, I believe, where a man gets crushed under a vehicle, bleeds, dies. And, I won't spoil things by saying a character gets stabbed by the enemy robots, but so fast you don't see it really. No blood and gore. Some dishonesty, BUT they learn it always comes back to you in the end, and only hurts you. So, as I've said, it is so well written, and fun, and exciting, I loved it. Watch it!
Boba Fatt
Boba Fatt Adult
February 5, 2022
age 8+

Fast-Paced Sci Fi Fun for the Whole Family

This show is about a super-smart, brave, resourceful family surviving one unforeseen calamity after another and finding their way out of it. The language is mild and the action is not overly graphic. It is 3 seasons long and *spoiler alert* it has a very satisfying ending.
See all 53 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on the TV series of the same name that ran for three seasons in the 1960s, LOST IN SPACE is set in a future reality when space colonization has begun, and the Robinson family is among those selected to leave Earth and make a new home on a faraway planet. But when John (Toby Stephens), Maureen (Molly Parker), and their children -- Judy (Taylor Russell), Penny (Mina Sundwall), and Will (Max Jenkins) -- run into some problems in transit and wind up crashing on a threatening new planet, it takes everything they have to keep safe. Meanwhile, stranded with the Robinsons are the duplicitous Dr. Smith (Parker Posey) and the charming Don West (Ignacio Serricchio), both of whom have agendas of their own -- which may or may not conflict with those of the Robinsons. Warning, Will Robinson: Everything is not as it seems in your strange new home.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (53 ):
Kids say (77 ):

Zippy, zesty, and full of classic cliffhanger-style suspense, this remake of the 1960s series of the same name is much better than it has to be. One of the things this series gets right (and the original never did) is the sheer grandeur of space travel. Will, newly crash-landed on a mysterious planet, perches atop an icy hill and looks at the enormous snowy mountains that surround him, letting out one breathy "Wow." And we feel it too: the horror of being lost in a strange place, the thrill of leaving everything safe and secure to explore new frontiers. These characters feel, act, and sound like actual people, which makes watching them struggle through otherworldly trials quite the thrill.

The new Lost in Space has also made a number of pivotal character shifts that are an improvement on both the original and the 1998 movie remake of it: Penny and Judy are younger, and John and Maureen are given meaty backstories of their own instead of being asked to play heroic stereotypes, and Parker Posey makes a terrific gender-flipped Dr. Smith (though fans of the original may miss Jonathan Harris' camp-classic delivery of his trademark tongue-twisting insults). There's an awful lot of sci-fi clichés -- if you were wondering if they might try something to get out of danger that's crazy but just might work, you would be correct -- but this remake is lots of fun, and a great whole-family viewing choice for sci-fi fans.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about remakes and nostalgia. Why make a new show that essentially reproduces a TV show that was popular when many of today's parents were kids? Do you think it's harder or easier than creating new characters, new themes, new stories? Is it safer to remake a once popular movie or TV series?

  • What is science fiction? Does it invariably involve space travel? When did the genre arise, and what about that particular era made writers want to speculate on the future and what might happen? Is this a futuristic series? Which elements of it seem futuristic and which seem in line with present capabilities?

  • How do the characters in Lost in Space demonstrate courage and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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