With Netflix’s Lost in Space we got a modern re-telling of the woes of the Swiss Family Robinson. The show was an immediate hit with fans and critics alike…. So much so that when over a year elapsed without word of Season 2, fans got worried. Those fears were thankfully unfounded, and Lost in Space Season 2 arrived just in time for Christmas on December 24th. When it did, it came chocked full of references to the original Star Wars trilogy. [Warning: Article contains spoilers for Lost in Space Season 2.]
First and foremost, and most obviously, was the nod to the iconic trash compactor scene of the original Star Wars. Just as Han, Luke, Leia and Chewie found themselves in peril between closing compactor walls, so too did Penny and VJ in Lost in Space season 2. Penny, hell bent on exposing Dr. Smith, led VJ into the compactor to find evidence of Smith’s nefarious deeds. Of course, someone turns the compactor on, and the Star Wars comparisons began in earnest. This time, however, the scene ends a bit more comically – VJ simply exits the compactor to shut it off.
Lost in Space Season 2 pays homage to Star Wars
Other scenes are a bit more subtle but nonetheless reminiscent of the show’s science fiction predecessor. I doubt Star Wars fans viewing Lost in Space Season 2 could think of anything other than the Death Star trench when the Robinsons discover a similar trench circumventing the water planet on which they’d made a temporary home. And, like in the climax of Return of the Jedi, we see the Jupiter 2 blasting away from the crumbling Resolute as the Millennium Falcon did from the Death Star.
There are plenty more similarities, too. First, there’s smuggler-turned-reluctant hero Don West (the Han Solo of Lost in Space Season 2). There’s even some similarity to Rogue One as a former enemy droid (Scarecrow) sacrifices itself to save its new friends (like K-2SO did for Cassian and Jyn).
The series’ second season was compelling and exciting in its own right. The multiple Star Wars references? Icing on the cake.
Lost in Space Season 2, as well as Season 1, is now streaming on Netflix.