Final Transmission is the sixth episode of the third season of Netflix's Lost in Space. It premiered on Netflix on December 1, 2021.
Summary[]
The story of Don's run-in with SAR leads the Robinsons to an alarming realization. Will sneaks out on a dangerous solo mission.
Plot[]
Developments and firsts[]
Maureen and Judy wheel a crate aboard the Jupiter 2, Judy wondering when they should be worried that nobody else is back yet. Maureen points out that given that the ship got swallowed, the others could be dealing with just about anything. They hear the sound of metal clanking and go to investigate. There is a thud at the airlock, followed by the crackling of electricity. To Maureen and Judy's great relief, it turns out to be the others. Penny wonders just what happened, why everything is covered in snot. Judy explains that it's saliva from the creature. John asks how long until they can launch. Judy says that there's a few more repairs and John says that they should run cold for as long as they can so the Robots don't find them. Maureen hands out assignments, with John having Will go up top with him in the hopes them getting eyes on Don.
Maureen talks with Dr. Smith, saying that Judy told her what she did, helping the kids and even teaching them French. She says that they all survived a year on their own and she has to be grateful for that. Smith says that they all took care of each other. Maureen says that she missed so much, and she was hoping Smith might tell her some things, if there were any developments or firsts that a mother should know about. "Penny's first love triangle," Smith tells her. "Don't worry, it was tame," explaining about Vijay and Liam. She continues that Judy was focused on being a good captain, stepping out of the shadow of her parents and discovering her potential. She realizes that Maureen is more curious about how Judy was with Grant Kelly. Maureen asks if they got along and Smith asks what she was hoping for. Maureen says it has nothing to do with it and Smith agrees that they got along.
Maureen asks about Will, saying that he seems more serious. Smith replies that he has a lot on his mind. "Like what?" asks Maureen and Smith says that it's learning to control his body, that he's all arms and legs now. Elsewhere, John and Will scout the planet, John complimenting Will on his new haircut. John asks if he sees a shadow on Will's chin, if he started shaving. Will says there was one hair, just one, that got really long, that Penny named it "Carl" before she plucked it. John tells Will to listen, saying that he made a promise that he would never split up the family again, but a year ago, that happened. Will tells him he didn't have a choice, but he says that he missed a lot again, that he never got to meet Carl. He promises him that when they get to Alpha Centauri, they'll do regular father-son things. Will agrees it would be nice, saying that they can start small. John asks where he would be if he were Don West. They finally spot him on the binoculars, with no sign of the Robots. Meanwhile, SAR continues to scout the planet.
Don's story[]
Will goes to the the Robot, saying he needs to talk with him. He says if they can get out safely then there's no reason they have to fight SAR today or even tomorrow. He says it's more important than anything that his family gets to Alpha Centauri. "Help, family," agrees the Robot and Will says that when they get there, they can come up with a new plan. John goes to Maureen, asking if he can help her with her work, but she tells him it's a one-person job. "Together again," he tells her, saying it's been a while since they were parents. She says that you never stop, that they were just unemployed for a year. They agree that it's a good job and kiss. John asks Maureen to take a look at something - that Judy pulled all the hard drives from the Fortuna only to find that they were all scrubbed, the only proof of life being the CC cams. Watching a recording of these, the two observe one of the Robots making a scan of Grant Kelly in the same way that SAR scanned Don. "He doesn't try to hurt him," points out Maureen. They wonder just what it could mean.
Don makes his greetings to the rest of the crew. John asks him what took him so long and he outlines the hazards he encountered on the planet. He tells them that the strangest thing that happened was that he encountered a Robot who scanned him, when he had expected to die. John tells him about the recording of Grant Kelly. Maureen says that the timestamp on the video was just a few days before the Christmas Star and this means that first contact was with Grant Kelly, not on Earth. John wonders how the Robots found out anything, given that the Fortuna was scrubbed of its data. Maureen explains that the human body is impacted by its environment and the Robots got all the needed, a map of the universe simply from Grant's body. With the right equipment, you can find everywhere a person has been in their life. Putting it together, they realize that by scanning Don they've gained the location of Alpha Centauri, as he is the only one who's ever been there. "What do we do?" wonders Penny. Judy says that they'll figure it out.
As John continues to question Don, Will walks off. He races to the Chariot ATV and disables its tracking system. He recalls lessons with John and starts to set off, only for the Robot to show up and stop the vehicle. Will tells him he can't protect him forever, but he says he wants to help. "Not with this," Will tells him, saying to stay there and make sure his family is safe, that he has to let him go. Back with the others, John says that they need to launch and give the others a warning. Don asks what good this is, how they can fight off the Robots. Smith shows up, saying that there's nothing wrong with choosing to save yourself, that they can go anywhere. John tells her they're not running away and she walks off. He tells the others that they can put their heads together and come up with another plan. The Robot arrives and Penny thanks him for being there.
Smith visits Will's room and discovers his recording, saying that it's his final transmission and that if somebody's watching, there's a chance things didn't work out the way he hoped they would. She says to herself that he's brave, that she'll give him that. Will continues to race across the planet. "Where are you?" he wonders, saying that he knows SAR can detect this. He puts on some music, saying for SAR to come and get him. SAR picks up on the signal. "Will Robinson," he realizes. Back on the Jupiter, everyone prepares for launch as Don argues that instead of them taking off, it would be better to make sure SAR can't, that he can't attack Alpha Centauri if he can't get there. Don suggests that they drop a Chariot on him, but Maureen tells him they don't have time, that he could launch at any second.
Choose your own programming[]
John says that what doesn't make sense is that if Don got scanned an hour ago, then SAR should have launched already, yet he hasn't. Judy points out that his ship could be damaged also, while Maureen says that he might want something more. "Will, he wants something from Will. He always has." She wonders just where Will is. They start calling for him, only to find Smith. "He's gone," she tells them. "To try and stop SAR." Maureen asks how she knows and she hands her Will's message.
Smith tells her that they can't blame themselves. Maureen walks off. Will's music starts to break up and he hears the alien screeching. He stops the Chariot. Back on the Jupiter 2, John says he's going to find Will, but Maureen points out he's in a Chariot and they'd never catch up on foot. John asks the Robot if knew about it, but Maureen says their only viable option is to launch and start with the air. She powers up the ship, saying the time for hiding is past. Penny asks if Will maybe isn't doing the right thing, noting that he's the only one who can communicate with the Robots. He may be the only one who can end it. "What if he's not?" asks Maureen, saying that when someone thinks they're the only one with answers, they're usually wrong.
The group launches but gets nothing on scans. Judy realizes that Will must have disabled the tracking system. Maureen suggests that they could find SAR using the search beams. "Where are you and what do you want with my son?" she wonders. The Robot has a flashback. He recalls SAR telling him that Will Robinson will come to save him. He says that he won't hurt Will the way he hurt him, that he wants to learn from him. The Robot asks what he wants to learn. "Why you stopped following your programming," SAR replies, saying that Will Robinson did something to him and he needs to know what it is. The Robot indicates the area where a human heart would be and SAR thrashes him, telling him he is weak and that Will Robinson reprogrammed him to follow his orders, that he controls him. "Will Robinson does not control me," replies the Robot. SAR asks why he serves him. The Robot gives no answer.
The heart[]
Will stands before the alien Robots, two of them walking away, leaving only SAR. Will calls it a good start. He tells him that he's Will Robinson. SAR whirs and Will says that when they were in the cave, SAR wanted to know something. He wasn't sure what it was, but he thinks he does now: what happened when he and Robot first met that caused him to start being different. He asks if this is right and SAR whirs again. Will tells him that change can be scary, but it can help you become better than you were before. He asks if SAR understands what programming is. SAR steps forward towards Will. Will asks him if he's asking about the heart, saying that it is actually a form of programming, that can tell us how to act, what to risk and who our friends are. He clutches his chest, saying that both hearts and programming can be broken, that it's what we do afterwards that matters. He tells him there's something he needs to know. He shows him the alien skull, explaining that the robot builders are extinct. He says he doesn't know what happened to them, but whatever they wanted the Robots to do doesn't matter anymore. They can choose their own programming and do whatever they want.
SAR grabs the skull, whirring gently. Will asks if knowing that the builders are gone makes SAR sad, that sometimes hearts can hurt when they're sad. "Not sad" replies SAR. Will asks if he knows how they died. "I killed them," replies SAR, crushing the skull. Will gasps in terror as, on the Jupiter 2, the Robot states "Danger, Will Robinson." They move in for a landing as Will backs away from SAR, asking why he would have done that. "Kill all masters," SAR tells him. "Now kill heart." The group races out of the Jupiter 2 as Will continues backing away from SAR, begging him to listen to him. "No programming," says SAR, and Will tells him he doesn't want to program him. "No masters, no heart," continues SAR and Will shouts for Robot. SAR tells Will that he is free and stabs him right into his chest.
As the others race for Will, he is shown in his transmission, saying that when it all started, they just wanted a fresh start. Not just a new home, but a fresh start with each other. He says that no matter how many times things have gone wrong, he doesn't regret spending the time together. He tells John and Maureen that he loves them and he always tried to be like them. He says that Judy never left his side and Penny always had his back. He tells Don that he was like a brother to him and says that maybe Smith isn't so bad after all. He calls the Robot the best friend he ever had. Robot attacks a couple of the other Robots as Will finishes narrating, "Take care of my family for me. I'm doing this so you all can survive, because you're what matters most to me. You're my family and I love you. I just hope it's enough." The others race up to Will and carry him off back to the Jupiter, as the sound of his heartbeat slow s.
They lay him down on a bed in the Jupiter, removing his suit. John confronts the Robot, telling him he was supposed to stop this from happening. He strikes him, saying that they trusted him. He punches repeatedly, finally breaking down sobbing. Judy says that Will is bleeding too badly and she can't stop it, that she can't perform open-heart surgery on the Jupiter. They needs a real hospital. Judy asks where they could possibly find a hospital in space. "Alpha Centauri," replies Maureen. She says they're going to both warn them about SAR and save Will's life. Judy shouts that he won't survive the trip, but Maureen says they have to try. Judy says that they should use the cryotube, because it will slow down circulation so there's not so much stress on Will's heart. "Do it," agrees Maureen. They prep for launch, Smith telling the Robot that it's time to go, and that she needs him to bury his feelings. She says that whatever he's done in the past doesn't matter, only what he does next. She tells him that getting Will to Alpha Centauri is the only thing that matters. The group places Will in the cryotube. The Robot preps as SAR takes off. John asks if they're going to make it in time and Maureen says they have to. They launch up and away, out of the planet's atmosphere. Both ships fly through the rifts, away to Alpha Centauri.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Toby Stephens as John Robinson
- Molly Parker as Maureen 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 and SAR
- Parker Posey as "Dr. Smith"
Gallery[]
Still images[]
Music[]
- The song Will is playing in the rover is "Tom Sawyer" by Rush.
- The episode's closing credits feature a somber piece instead of the normal music to reflect Will's situation.
Trivia[]
- This episode is notably entirely without any guest cast, featuring only the program's starring cast.