Contingencies on Contingencies is the seventh episode of the third season of Netflix's Lost in Space. It premiered on Netflix on December 1, 2021.
Summary[]
The Robinsons race to get help for Will, warn the colonists and activate a secret defense system. Vijay tags along with Penny on a risky outing.
Plot[]
Arrival[]
The Jupiter 2 crew arrive at Alpha Centauri and are delighted to find that everything looks fine and there is no sign of alien vessels. Judy reports that Will is holding stable, so they come in for a landing. Maureeen stares at the beautiful sights as they descend and Alpha Centauri's radio control reports that they are clear for landing. "Welcome home, Robinsons," she tells them as the vessel makes its final approach.
Dr. Smith visits Judy, saying that before she goes out, she needs to know if they're good. "We're bracing for an alien attack, Will's in critical condition," Judy points out, asking if she's seriously worried about being arrested. "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst," replies Dr. Smith and Judy tells her that they talked and agreed to let karma handle it, that everyone gets what they deserve in the end. Judy and the others begin the process of wheeling Will to medical. John, however, stops the Robot, telling him that most of the colonists have never seen an alien robot and so they don't want to scare them. They rush Will to medical, Don and Smith getting stopped because they're not family. The rest are also stopped past a certain point, as they haven't undergone decontamination. Judy is worried, but the nurse promises that Will is going to make it. They all hug, Maureen saying that they need to warn the others about the Robots. Judy remains behind to get treatment for her shoulder.
Dr. Smith wanders the halls and discovers Captain Radic, whose warming process is scheduled to complete in about 22 hours. She commanders a vessel as "Zoe Smith," ordering it to navigate her to home. John and Maureen exit the hospital and are greeted by Victor. They begin the process of explaining what's going on, and meanwhile Penny spots and prepares to greet Vijay, only to be suddenly embraced by Liam Tufeld, carrying a bouquet of flowers. He apologizes for not staying with her, saying that he should have been there for her in her time of crisis, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Vijay tells her that it's great that she made it and that he hopes her brother's okay. She thanks him, saying there's something they both should know.
Alpha Centauri's chancellor finishes listening to John and Maureen's briefing, wondering why the Robots aren't there already. John agrees that it's confusing, saying that nevertheless he'd rather be right and ready than wrong and dead. Victor agrees that the Robinsons are almost always accurate. The chancellor mutters that everything they believed about how they got there was a lie. Maureen asks if the colony has a defense system, but she says she wasn't aware they needed one until now, that their priority has been getting basic services running. She says they'll have to find another way. Back at the hospital, Judy and Penny wait outside Will's room. Penny is shocked to learn that Will is getting an artificial heart, but Judy says that she knew kids back on Earth who got artificial lungs and never got a beat. She tells Penny that a heart isn't determined by what it's made of and Will won't let that change. Penny wonders how they can possibly defeat SAR if even Will couldn't.
The secret defense system[]
John and Maureen discuss strategy. Maureen spots something odd, saying that the colony's energy numbers are not adding up, that the settlement is making way more energy than it needs. "Where do you keep your prisoners?" wonders John. They pay a visit to Hastings. He tells Maureen that they ignored him for a year, asking why they're suddenly interested in chatting. John explains that they think the chancellor is being kept in the dark about the defense system. Hastings replies that one man's darkness is another man's light. Maureen tells him that the Robots know the location of Alpha Centauri, saying that any secrets he was hoping to take the grave will be taken today unless he helps them. He agrees that they did prepare a system of EMFs to defend the colony against unforeseen aggression. He says he'll provide the keys so long as they explain that the accusations against him are a misunderstanding, and his authority is restored. "Men like you, contingencies on contingencies," replies John. He says there would be someone else with access and they can find that out, while he sits and rots. Hastings says normally he would be correct, but he removed all their permission keys. "I'm the only one left alive on the planet who can save everyone," he tells John.
Elsewhere, the Robot monitors a report that prisoner 001, Alistair Hastings, is being transported. "Danger," he says, his lights going red. Hastings moves into a residential area, offering John something to drink. John tells him all he wants is access to the defense system. Hastings says that he admires military men like him. "I don't fight for men like you," John says. "Grant Kelly, rising from the ashes," comments Hastings. John hears a noise outside and tells Hastings to stay. John surveys the area, calling for the Robot. There is a thumping and, inside, the Robot closes in Hastings. "No, I'm sorry," he tells him, but John heads back inside to find Hastings dead on the floor, a piece of paper clutched in his hand with a set of words - "passport, grocery, trash, laundry, letter, present, home." Dr. Smith, riding through the wilderness, gets an alert on her computer about a dangerous Robot.
John tells Maureen that they'll divide and conquer. He'll take a team of Chariots to try to contain the Robot. Maureen agrees that she'll stay back to try to get the defense system activated some other way. John hands her the piece of paper and they start to go their separate ways. Maureen, however, tells John that something feels wrong, asking just what SAR is waiting for. "Maybe he's planning," suggests John, saying the Robots will hit them differently and they need to be ready. Grant, Judy and Penny show up, asking what's going on. Maureen asks if they noticed anything different about the Robot. "Maybe it wasn't him," suggests Grant, and Penny explains that there was a few minutes where it seemed like the Robot was possessed by something, manipulated remotely like a puppet by SAR. "And you didn't think to tell us?" wonders Maureen and Grant says there was a lot going on. Penny says that it should be Will who goes to look for the Robot, but Maureen says it's not an option. Grant offers to help Maureen with anything he can.
A nurse comes out, telling Maureen that the operation was a success and Will is in recovery and she can see him. Maureen asks Grant to meet her later at the Ops Center. As Victor and John ride in a Chariot, Victor says that John has surprised him, that he always defended the Robot and said he was developing human traits. "Being more human isn't necessarily proof of humanity," replies John. He says that the Robot was more dependable when he was more like a machine. He orders the others to spread into search zones.
VBAS[]
Judy and Penny discuss the Robot, Penny saying they need him on their side. Judy isn't so sure, but Penny says they absolutely must find the Robot before John. "We're gonna need some help," agrees Judy. Maureen visits Will. He asks where everyone is, if they're okay. Maureen tells him they're all on Alpha Centauri. He asks about the Robot and Maureen tells him simply that he's there too. Will says that SAR knows where to find them and she tells him they're working on it. He says that he thought he could change SAR and save everyone, but he failed. She tells him to listen to her, that he didn't fail, that they will figure it out. She explains about the defense system. She tells him the most important thing is for him to rest. He tells her there's something else he has to do.
Dr. Smith arrives at "home," the computer telling her she's reached her destination. It's a secluded area by a lake. She looks around, taking it all in. She hears footsteps and turns around to see the Robot, his lights red. She tells him he caused quite a stir in town. She asks if he wants to talk, but he just whirs. She suggests she could help him, saying she understands how it feels to desperately want to be good, but sometimes need to be bad, to be backed into a corner. As he approaches her, she begs him to help. He simply walks away.
Maureen, Sebastian and Grant consider the list on the piece of paper from Hastings. Victor says it sounds like a list of chores, but Maureen replies that it must be an access code of some sort. She says she'll type it in, but Grant tells her it won't work, that it's a VBAC, or Voice Biometric Authentication System. He asks to speak with her. Taking her aside, he tells her that his journey wasn't an exploratory one to Alpha Centauri, but to explore something else: a small group of scientists who discovered a rift opening and closing in space. It was from the alien engines, the cover story of the Fortuna created so they could explore what was on the other side of the rift. Nobody else could know, not even mission control, hence the scrubbing of the hard drives. Their communication was always encrypted by a VBAS, a series of words sent to a server. Maureen asks if he's saying that the only way to activate the defense system is with the voice of a man no longer even breathing. "Yeah," agrees Grant.
Judy and Penny go to Don, who tells them that he's an officer now and won't engage in illicit behavior. Judy says that if Robot's hiding, who better to help them than someone that has had practice with that. "So now that you need a smuggler, there's no judgment?" comments Don. Penny tells him he doesn't have to come if he doesn't want to, if he wants to just let them go out alone. "Okay," he agrees, telling them there's about a trillion places where you can hide things, but only a few within 20 miles that you can hide a seven-foot robot. They hear a clunk, and Penny says they weere only just kidding. Vijay appears, saying that he wasn't trying to eavesdrop. He says that if SAR knows where they are, then they should talk. Judy tells him they don't have time to talk. He says he just doesn't want anyone to get hurt, saying that if they're doing this, he's going with them. "Alright, let's go," agrees Judy and Vijay says if his father finds out, he'll kill him.
Wake up a man[]
As John and Victor continue, Victor asks what happens if the Robot resists capture. John says to cross the bridge when they come to it. Victor asks if he remembers when they met, how he tried to take his family away on his own. He thought it was the right thing to do, but John's forgiveness allowed him to make amends. He tells John it's human to make mistakes and lose control, but the most human thing to do is forgive. John asks if he thinks he should forgive the Robot. "No, I think you should forgive yourself," he tells him. John says that Will walked into danger because he took the eye off the ball, but Victor says that they all survived a year without them, that they're not kids anymore. "They should be!" shouts John. "We've taken their childhood away from them." They get a signal of the Robot at the top of the dam. Meanwhile, Penny, Judy, Don and Vijay spot the Robot's light. Judy says they'll never make it in time. Don says that with the road being long and winding, they can beat the Chariots there if they go by foot, that he can get them inside the dam.
Amanda Adler arrives to visit Will with her children Willem and Henry, whom he had asked to see. He starts to introduce himself, but Amanda tells him they already know, that they've heard stories from the other kids. He tells them there's a story they haven't heard, one he promised their father he'd tell. He tells them that something not a lot of people know is that their father also had a robot friend like him, Scarecrow. He tells them that Scarecrow helped everyone to get away safely, that their father's a hero. They thank him, Amanda telling the two that they should let Will recover. She tells Will she wishes he was still there, that they could use a few more heroes. Will leans back, sighing, then seems to realize something. He radios Maureen, saying there's someone she needs to talk to.
Maureen shows Amanda the list of code-words. She asks why they would think Ben would have access to the defense system. Maureen tells her that Hastings said he was the only one left alive that could help them and she thinks the other one he was referring to was her husband. She says she never heard Ben read the words on the list. Maureen says that he must have said each of them and they just need old voicemails or home videos, anything that would have those words. Amanda agrees to see what she can find. Elsewhere, the others continue their trek, Penny asking Judy if she thinks it's weird for Maureen to have Grant back. "Not any weirder than it is for me," Judy tells her. Penny then starts talking about her boyfriend troubles. Meanwhile, Don and Vijay chat, Don wondering why he's with him and not Penny. Vijay says that maybe he and Penny are better as just friends. Don tells him that relationships are like smuggling, that you have to find out what the person wants, and if you know how to get it from them.
They arrive at the dam, Don saying to leave it to him to get inside. Downstairs, the Robot cuts his way in. Meanwhile, Don uses a code to get them in, explaining that he has the code to the wine cellar. He says he'll whoop them if he catches them breaking in to party. Maureen and Grant study the recordings of Ben, finding the code words they need. Grant asks Maureen why she didn't tell him about Judy. She says she tried, but that NASA told her it would be a cruel distraction to tell someone who might not be able to return for decades. He shoots back that the Maureen he knew would have found a way around the rules, had she wanted to. She laughs, saying he was barely interested in a committed relationship, much less a family. "What would it have changed?" she asks. He says for her it was twenty years ago, but for him, yesterday. "Go to sleep a boy, wake up a man." She counters that it only took a year for to feel like Will did the same thing. He tells her she's done an incredible job with all her kids. She says she didn't do it on her own, that his mother was always there, and John. "Seems like a good man," agrees Grant. Maureen tells him that it takes getting lost to find out what you have.
They're coming[]
Don's group takes an elevator, Judy saying it's Penny who needs to talk to the Robot. "Why me?" wonders Penny and Judy says she's spent the most time with him after Will. The elevator stops abruptly, apparently stuck on something. They get off, see marks on the wall and hear crashing. Don realizes that they're hearing more than one Robot. "They haven't been waiting to attack. They're already here," realizes Penny. Judy tries to signal, but Don says the walls are too thick. He says they're only ones who know what's really going on, that the Robots are saboteurs. The defense system needs the power from the dam. Judy says they have to stop them, now, charging forward.
Maureen takes Sebastian's station, playing the code words to activate the defense system. It works and a tower activates, beaming energy into the sky. Others continue to activate in sequence, forming a grid. The computer reports that the defense system is online, with administrator mode activated. Everyone cheers and applauds. Back at the dam, the group investigates and sees the Robots are taking out the turbines. Don looks at a control panel, saying he's looking for a fair fight. Penny says that she's okay with not fighting. Don tells them that the turbines have a governor that controls the speed of the blades and if it fails, they spin too fast, causing them to explode. This would be bad for the Robots. Judy asks if she has this straight, that he wants to stop the Robots from destroying the turbine by destroying the turbine. He tells her there's three and he's pretty sure the defense system can be powered by two. He admits that it's a risk, but says that it's better than the alternative. Vijay says they'd have to swim pretty deep to even reach the governor. "Not me, we," he says. He starts stripping down, but Judy preempts him, saying she'll do it. He says he can, but she asks if he's checked the test results, that she's the only one qualified. She says she's done it before and Penny points out she almost died doing it. Don says it's okay to do it for family. "Don, what do you think you are?" she asks him. Judy starts stripping down, promising to be right back, over Penny's protests.
Meanwhile, John and Victor enter the dam facility. Seeing Judy and the Robots on the monitors, John tells Victor to call Maureen and tell her what they're up against. He says he's going to help Judy. The turbines start to slow down and Maureen tries to take Victor's call as one of the operators tells her that she needs to take a look. Judy moves to dive in, but finds herself face-to-face with one of the Robots. As Penny says they have to do something, the Robot shows up. "Help, family," he tells Penny. At the operations center, the report comes in that now only one turbine is running. Maureen pleads for John to come in. John arrives, pulling Judy to safety. Robot faces off against the other Robots, shattering a tank and causing the facility to flood.
The group enters the room. John says they should be careful, but Don tells him it's okay, that it was a different Robot that attacked Hastings. Judy agrees that they were trying to frame him and Penny says it almost worked. John steps forward as the Robot's lights change back to the blue color. He asks if that was all the Robots that were there. "Yes, John Robinson," agrees the Robot. They start heading back, Penny asking Vijay if he's glad he came. He says he's not, that he's not a smuggler and can't give her what she wants, that he's someone who does and says everything right. He says it's stupid, but they're just friends, and he tried be okay with that, but it's hard for him. He says she's amazing and strange, but frustrating because she's more special than she gives herself credit for. He says she doesn't have to be with him, but it's crazy for her to be with Liam. She doesn't need to be with someone who has to be the hero because she's the hero. He says it's a shame she hasn't figured that out yet. She tells him she's not the person he thinks she is, that she wishes she was. She tells him she doesn't want him to be disappointed when he realizes it too. He asks her to promise him that when she realizes he was right, he gets to say "I told you so."
Back at her "home," Dr. Smith gets a notice on her wrist monitor - "all clear." She scans her ID chip and it asks her where she'd like to navigate. She picks up a needle. "Work," she says. Maureen tells John to get back safely, saying they'll keep their eyes in their sky. Sebastian tells her he's doing what he can, but he needs the third turbine to hold on. She tells him to shut down everything else in the colony if need be. Suddenly, the lights in the control center go dark. Maureen begs Sebastian to tell her it was him. "It wasn't me," he says. "Third turbine is down." In Will's room, the backup generator goes online. "Oh no," he realizes, as Sebastian reports that the defense system is offline. A woman says that there's an energy spike outside the atmosphere and an automated voice reports tracking an unidentified object. "They're coming," says Maureen.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Molly Parker as Maureen Robinson
- Toby Stephens as John Robinson
- Maxwell Jenkins as Will Robinson
- Taylor Russell as Judy Robinson
- Mina Sundwall as Penny Robinson
- Ignacio Serricchio as Don West
- Brian Steele as The Robot, SAR and Other robots
and
- Parker Posey as "Dr. Smith"
Guest starring[]
- Russell Hornsby as Grant Kelly
- JJ Feild as Ben Adler (voice and recordings)
- Ajay Friese as Vijay Dhar
- Raza Jeffrey as Victor Dhar
- Douglas Hodge as Alistair Hastings (first identified as Alistair Hastings)
- Charles Vandervaart as Liam Tufeld
- Nevis Unipan as Samantha
- Amelia Burstyn as Diane
- Viv Leacock as Reese
- Aria Demaris as Izabel Azevedo
- Amitai Marmorstein as Sebastian
- Theresa Wong as Doctor
- Natalie Trent as Amanda Adler
- Patrice Jefferson
- Shaun Parkes as Captain Radic
- Daesha Usman
- Veenu Sandhu as Prisha Dhar
- Treymont Levy
- John JJ Miller as Willem Adler
- Nathan Parrott as Henry Adler
- Zehra Fazal as Jupiter / Resolute computer voice
Special Appearance by[]
- June Lockhart as the Voice of Alpha Control
Gallery[]
Still images[]
Trivia[]
- This episode features a special appearance by June Lockhart as the Voice of Alpha Control. June Lockhart played Maureen Robinson in the original Lost in Space.