MovieChat Forums > Lost in Space (1965) Discussion > Maureen didn't have one storyline!

Maureen didn't have one storyline!

posted 9 years ago by dinkywinky123
14 replies | jump to latest

Poor Maureen. Relegated to cooking the dinner, telling the children to go to bed, or saying to John "don't you think we better find Will?" 

She didn't have one storyline where she was the main character. She didn't meet any aliens or strange people. Did Maureen ever explore any of the planets? I can't recall one scene where she was exploring or discovering anything. Every week Doctor Smith or Will or Penny would find something new or strange but Maureen was back at the Jupiter Two doing the washing!

If the show does get a modern reboot it's possible Maureen will be a stronger character, more pro-active.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] dinkywinky123 9 years ago

Yes, she was in charge when John and Don were away but she didn't get any episode where she was under the control of an alien or an alien tried to trick her in some way. I reckon she was the least used character in the show. Perhaps she was the least interesting which explains why she wasn't that pro-active! A bit boring, I guess.

[–] sevenlilxenos 9 years ago

Hopefully in the reboot she will be more like Carol in TWD, Ripley or Sarah.

[–] Andthatismytwocents 9 years ago

She did carry a laser pistol more then Judy

Penny only once

Blame Irwin Allen

[–] adamdurrance 9 years ago

I don't think any of the females ever drove/flew anything either.

[–] ElRaisuli 9 years ago

"One of Our Dogs Is Missing" is the episode in which she has the most to do. She's in charge while John, Don and Will are away. As always, the episode tilts toward Dr. Smith, but Maureen takes the initiative with regard to investigating the possible danger.

I'm pretty sure that Maureen drove the chariot in "Invaders from the 5th Dimension." She takes over from John at one point.

She also assists Don in regaining control of the Jupiter II and preparing for an emergency landing in "Island in the Sky."

The other episode I can think of where she is more involved is "All That Glitters." As with the earlier episode, she is in charge while John, Don and Will are "away" (filming "The Lost Civilization).

[–] orgorgestud 9 years ago

"One of Our Dogs Is Missing" is a big story line for her, perhaps her largest as already mentioned, yes she does drive the Chariot, at least twice, and a few times is shown recovering/stabilizing or maintaining the flight of the J2, some examples have already been mentioned, but for me a memorable scene shown as a 'flashback' sequence in THE TIME MERCHANT, even though it was never before seen (ie; brand new & filmed specifically for that episode) memorable to me perhaps because it puzzled me at 11yo and still today WHY she would turn control of the J2 over to Smith, he of course screws up and Major West jumps in to recover from the impending doom - just a weird sequence, I mean, a kid wouldn't let someone like Smith have control of the J2 so WHY did she turn it over to him, just outright weird.
Kind of odd she was never shown in the SPACE POD, let alone fly it.
In the first episode, she goes out into space to save John and they both nearly die when they are not able to get back inside the J2.
There is also embarrassing scenes, they include VISIT TO A HOSTILE PLANET where she is depicted as not knowing what a phone is or the one where Smith is a giant and while she's urging him to come back to camp he sneezes on her and blows her on her butt/back.
Everyone, even Judy & the bloop, have more to do through out the show, Maureen was the very least used/featured character - I've often thought it might be due to June Lockhart making IA or some executives angry while filming a early Chariot scene in a water tank & when the water flooded the Chariot she screamed "who do I have to *uck to get out of doing this show!?" in front of the entire cast & crew ... maybe that's why :)

[–] ElRaisuli 9 years ago

I could also swear that there is a third season episode in which we see Judy flying the spacepod alone. Maybe I'm imagining it. It might be in "The Flaming Planet" just because the spacepod gets a real workout in that episode, traveling back and forth between the J2 and the planet.

[–] Andthatismytwocents 9 years ago

To my knowledge NONE of the gals flew the pod let alone were seen in it

Except for Maureen none of the gals went EVA (EVEN WILL DID NOT DO THAT)

Did not know bout the flood thing kinda makes sense

[–] brimfin 9 years ago

In "The Oasis", Dr. Smith has stolen the last working purifier (or whatever it was) for their water conversion unit and then was turned into a giant. Don and John try to confront Smith but he just chases them off. It is Maureen who analyzes that Dr. Smith is frightened and she goes to speak to him by herself and uses psychology on him, telling him he was brave and heroic for eating the untested fruit. He calms down, and then she asks him to return to the ship and tell them where he hid the purifier. He does so, and they are able to get it working again as a result. That's the closest she comes to being a hero in an individual episode, not counting her rescue of John in "The Derelict." Granted they get a rainstorm soon afterward, but they still needed a working water conversion unit.

She shows some leadership skills in both "One of Our Dogs is Missing" and "The Golden Man." In the latter, she is smart enough not to fall for Mr. Keema's request that they turn over their weapons. (But of course, stupid Dr. Smith does it behind her back and then Penny has to save the other alien to make up for it.) In "All that Glitters" she stands up to Officer Bolix very courageously and goes out earlier in the episode to find Penny and shoots at the alien creatures. (Unfortunately, to no avail. But she does turn on the force field when they get back to the ship.)

But overall I agree with your original point. Maureen was criminally underused in the series.

[–] Scarecrow-88 8 years ago

Good examples. One of Our Dogs is Missing immediately came to mind when I saw this thread's title.

--
"Get the cheese to sickbay."

[–] Geezer-geez 8 years ago

It would have been GREAT to have an episode where John was injured, knocked out, or sick with a fever, Don was away, and it was up to Maureen to be the protective Mama Bear! Having to deal with an alien threat using Her skills.
But alas, 1960's cornball kiddie fairy-tale stories were all we got. This show could have lasted another couple of years if they had only included a FEW "adult" storylines.

[–] monstermayhem32 8 years ago

It is too bad maureen didnt get a storyline of her own.

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (2751) a year ago

Really so unfair.