Lost In Space proved that classic 60s sitcoms could thrive off of a modern-day dramatic upgrade for the times. The Netflix sci-fi series gives a gorgeous, updated take on the Robinson family's journey to find Alpha Centauri while also flipping the past iterations of the story on its head.
Even the greatest televisual offerings can become infested with plot holes, however. Lost In Space has developed a considerable number of unexplained mysteries throughout its three seasons. Audiences are often left intrigued by these unanswered questions, which are unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.
SAR's Jupiter 2 Attack
Possessing no known origins, the alien Robots are a constant threat throughout the show's three seasons. Season One's finale, entitled "Danger, Will Robinson" sees their leader SAR target the Jupiter 2 after Doctor Smith brings one of their alien engines onboard.
With the Resolute also operated by another of these alien engines, it seems somewhat odd that SAR doesn't also invade the colony ship until the following year's finale. Furthermore, the Robots' engine starts to infect the Jupiter 2's navigational systems in a way not seen on board the Resolute. With the latter ship also powered by the same type of machine, it seems unlikely that its crew wouldn't face similar struggles.
Will's Alien Sounds
Considered by fans as Lost In Space's most likable character, Will Robinson possesses a kind soul throughout the sci-fi series. In the third season, he not only discovers the location where the Robots were created but also learns of an unearthly sound that affects their programming. Will plays recordings of this strange noise to deter the advancing robots onboard the Resolute, which causes them to briefly deactivate. However, despite being of the same species, Will's Robot remains unaffected.
Will's Robot friend runs on the same programming as the other extra-terrestrial beings and is close to Will when these sounds are heard, meaning it is extremely unlikely that he would be safe from these odd soundwaves. As Netflix has confirmed no plans for a fourth season, this glaring plot hole is not expected to be resolved anytime soon.
The Fully Functional Ship
Extremely fast and capable of withstanding some especially harsh climates, the Jupiter 2 is an incredibly advanced spacecraft. This is evidenced in the show's first episode, "Impact," which sees the trusty ship able to withstand being frozen beneath a cold lake. This plot point creates a clear contradiction with the family's actions, however, as they decide to leave Jupiter 2.
The Robinsons' decision is unwise, considering that the ship is shown to be fully functional despite the water breaching its interior. By leaving the ship, these usually intelligent characters unnecessarily risk freezing to death when they could have stayed warm inside their spacecraft. Abandoning Jupiter 2 also results in Judy becoming stuck under the ice, which could have been avoided had they remained indoors.
Doctor Smith Locates Will's Robot
One of the main focuses of Lost In Space is the close connection that forms between Will and his Robot friend, who audiences consider being two of the most intelligent characters. Their friendship takes an unfortunate turn in the episode "Pressurized," as Doctor Smith reactivates Robot after Will sends him off a cliff in the previous installment.
Doctor Smith is nowhere to be seen when Will instructs his friend to walk off the cliff, throwing into question her supposed knowledge of his location. Added to that, the young child also makes no reference to Doctor Smith regarding Robot's whereabouts, making it extremely unlikely that the devious imposter would be able to locate him so quickly.
The Alien Engine
One of the most shocking revelations from Lost In Space's first season concerns the Robots' alien engine. The ninth episode, entitled "Resurrection," confirms that the engine was salvaged from a crashed alien ship, and used for the Resolute's power source. This plot point provides further questions, however, as Maureen seems oddly surprised by this news, considering she was one of the spacecraft's engineers.
The Robinsons' maternal figure helped design the Resolute's safety systems, which should have given her ample knowledge of its mechanical structure. It also seems improbable that Maureen would not question the extreme technological advancements that an alien engine would bring, as any extraterrestrial technology is likely to be considerably more advanced than the human alternatives.
The Rift To Alpha Centauri
The second season of Lost In Space ended with a thrilling finale, which helped set up the recently released third season nicely. This episode, named "Ninety-Seven," shows the Resolute's adult occupants opt to send their kids to Alpha Centauri alone when the Robots invade the ship. Although their decision to protect their children is noble, it makes little sense, as there is no satisfying explanation given for why the parents couldn't abandon the Resolute themselves.
The adult crew concludes that if they open the rift there would be ample time for the Robots to follow them through. However, the parents are later seen happily loading the Resolute's alien engine into their childrens' Jupiter, and sending them to the colony planet. This directly contradicts their previous deduction, as the rift closes a minute later before the Robots can join them, meaning the parents could have traveled with them on the Resolute.
The Helium Balloon
Maureen Robinson comes up with some ingenious ideas throughout Netflix's sci-fi series, but one of her decisions has left audiences a little confused. In the episode "Transmission," the Robinsons' scientific expert constructs a helium balloon to study the alien planet's sun, whilst the remaining colonists build a tower to contact the Resolute. However, with the helium balloon able to reach great heights, it remains unclear why it couldn't also be used to communicate with the colony ship.
If Maureen had taken a radio transmitter along on her journey to observe the sun, it seems likely that she would have been able to contact the Resolute. This would have not only been quicker than the construction of a tower, but it would have also saved considerable manpower. With a helium balloon available to be used, the colonists' tower work is rendered rather futile.
Doctor Smith's Survival
With Doctor Smith demonstrating a manipulative personality throughout Lost In Space, it's no surprise many viewers believe she would be a Slytherin. In the show's second season finale, the fraudster turns good, as she supposedly sacrifices herself in an attempt to stop the Robots. Despite her apparent death, however, she turns up unscathed in the following season.
Doctor Smith's escape from death remains an unresolved mystery. Her demise appears definite in Season Two's final episode, as Maureen witnesses her spacesuit floating lifelessly into the depths of space. With Doctor Smith having been surrounded by Robots with no apparent escape in her supposed final moments, her survival seems nigh-on impossible, making this one of Lost In Space's biggest plot holes.
The Disappearing Horse
Horses feature prominently throughout the sci-fi series' second season, as they offer the Robinsons suitable transport over the dusty planet in "Evolution." A member of this species also provides one of the show's most confusing moments, in the episode "Echoes," which sees Penny and Will decide to hide from Scarecrow in the Resolute's dining room with a distressed horse.
The pair are eventually rescued by John and Maureen Robinson, however upon being reunited the horse mysteriously disappears. Penny and Will are the only human occupants in the canteen throughout this period, and with neither deciding to leave its confines, the horse has no means of escape, leaving the Robinsons' four-legged friend conspicuous by his absence.
SAR's Returning Arm
SAR poses a major antagonistic threat throughout the show's three seasons, with the dastardly alien Robot determined to prevent the Robinsons from reaching Alpha Centauri. The first season finale involves a major fight sequence between Will's Robot and SAR, which ends with the latter losing an arm. However, SAR's fourth arm is inexplicably present in his later appearances.
While it could be possible that SAR built himself another arm between the events of seasons one and two, it would be quite a feat for the Robot to achieve. SAR was left in a bad way following his battle with Will's Robot, and it is therefore somewhat unlikely that he'd have the strength or the resources to construct a new robotic limb.