Robot (Netflix)

"Danger, Will Robinson."

- The Robot's most iconic line, said often throughout Lost in Space

Robot is a main character on Netflix's Lost in Space. He develops a bond with Will Robinson, becoming his servant and later his friend. He is an amalgam of shapeshifting alien metal and organic thought patterns.

The intelligently built extraterrestrial

First Appearance on Resolute

We first meet the Robot on the ship, Resolute, where it is attacking humans.

Meeting Will Robinson

After Will Robinson is separated from his father and wanders into the forest, he comes across the Robot's ship and its lower half. Will climbs a tree to get away from the unknown creature (the lower half of the Robot) and finds the upper half on the tree limb. The Robot is initially hostile towards Will (with his face lights colored red), but soon seems to lose energy and is "dying." A fire springs up all around Will and the robot and without hope, Will uses a string saw to cut the limb allowing the upper and lower halves of the Robot to be reunited. Moments later a fully connected Robot climbs up the tree, takes Will into his arms and carries him to safety.

Once safely away, the Robot and Will assess one another. Robot holds out his 3 fingered limb to Will and scans the boy. He then morphs into a Human hybrid, so as to not be as threatening toward Will. His face lights have also turned blue at this time indicating a more passive temperament.

MV5BODYwMTQwZDMtMzlkYi00NTI3LWIxZmItNTAwODIyMTkzMzIyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyODExNTExMTM@ — The Robot takes on a human-like appearance in an effort to not scare Will.

Saving Judy

The Robot then appears at the top of the hill walking down to the sunken Jupiter 2 ship with the Robinson family frantically working on freeing Judy from the ice. John, initially assuming the Robot has hostile intent, holds a knife guarding his family. Will runs down exclaiming it is ok and the Robot will not hurt them. He then asks the Robot if he will help his trapped sister. The Robot holds his hands over the hole the family has dug and heats the surrounding ice (presumably with what were once hand lasers) Once fully melted he reaches in and pulls Judy out, freeing her from the ice. Once the family is huddled together, hugging Judy, Will asks for another favor. He asks if the Robot can do something to keep them from freezing. Again, the Robot holds out his hands and keeps the Robinson family warm all night long (mentioned earlier, the temperature will be at least -60).

Helping the Robinsons

The following morning, the Robot goes to the frozen ice and heating its body descends to the Jupiter 2. Working together, pumps are put in place and water levels lower throughout the ship. The Robot works to dry the top levels of the family's ship. At one point, John walks to the Robot and questions what it is. Later, John and Maureen head off to look for survivors of other Jupiter ships. John, not wanting to leave the Robot on the ship only with his daughters, invites Will to join him and his mother. When Maureen questions this, John says,"You don't get one without the other." Maureen indicates that she trusts the Robot because it saved her son and daughter and is helping with the ship. Behaviors which help build trust.

While exploring, John hears a strange sound on the radio that Will recognized from his time spent in the forest. It is a sound coming from the Robot's downed ship. Maureen implores her son to have the Robot lead them back to the ship despite John's reservations. Once at the ship, Maureen and John enter. During this waiting period Will finds a baseball in his backpack (apparently placed there by his dad) and teaches the Robot to play catch. It goes well until the ball rolls under a piece of metal. Will struggling to get it is assisted by the Robot, who tries to move the metal arch. When he touches the metal, something happens. First, Robot's face turns to red lights and Will (also touching the metal) seems to establish a psychic link with it and sees through the Robots eyes, its attack on the Resolute. (This is probably the reason why Will can command Robot) At the same time, Maureen and John inside the ship are presented with a map of the stars and learn they are no longer in the Milky Way galaxy. When the Robot releases his touch of the metal, the map disappears and the psychic link is severed. Will afraid of what he saw runs away. The Robot follows after him. Will struggles to reconcile the images he saw with his apparent friend and protector determining that the Robot is no longer like that because he has no memory before the two met. Will asks the Robot to lift it's left hand and then right hand. Then he asks him to turn around and walk forward (which would lead him off a cliff). The Robot without hesitation complies, but Will stops him at the last moment, asking him to come back to him. As the Robot does, it kneels in front of Will in a tender moment.

MV5BZTRkMzEwYjYtYWFhYy00YTczLWJlZTktMGQwYmRjMWE3OTNlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzQ0MDUyMzg@ — Will and the Robot share a tender moment after a psychic episode.

The Robot and Will reunite with John and Maureen and tell them they were exploring the surrounding area. As the family begins the journey back, a hail storm of metal (or stone) begins. The Robot lifts his arm above Will's head in an effort to keep him from getting hit. The family runs to a large rock that offers some cover. John and Maureen shield Will between them sharing a knowing glance, when Penny's radio signal finally reaches them. She tells them she cannot locate them due to the storm, but Maureen tells her to look for the light. The Robot has positioned himself above the family on the rock and emits a signal light from side to side. Once Penny arrives in the Chariot, the family scrambles in and the Robot walks to the back and climbs on.

June Harris is rescued as the family returns to their ship, after she has left Don West. Once the family and June arrive back safely, June recognizes the Robot as the one who attacked the Resolute, but Will assures her that he is completely safe.

Turnabout

Will is eventually forced to admit the truth to his father, that he has learned that it was the Robot who was responsible for the attack on the Resolute. Additionally, the other colonists of the 24th Mission learn of the Robot, prompting a difficult decision. John has Will create a memorial of stones for those lost in the attack. He then takes the Robot to the top of a cliff and has him walk off, disabling him. ("Eulogy")

"Dr. Smith," ever-resourceful and ever-manipulative, witnesses this scene and decides to claim the Robot as her own. She rescues his mangled form and manages to recover him, then uses him to try to manipulate Maureen Robinson. ("Resurrection") Eventually, the Jupiter 2 is launched back into space after Maureen manages to escape, but Dr. Smith tries to use the Robot against her and Will when another of the alien robots attacks. Ultimately, however, the Robot shows a true loyalty and friendship to Will, protecting him from the other Robot and allowing their escape, but the alien drive from the Robot's species is activated, sending the Jupiter 2 into a realm unknown. ("Danger, Will Robinson")

Separate but connected

The Robinsons were stranded on a water planet. Although Will and the Robot were apart the entire time, the two remained connected, the Robot experienced visions of everything which happened to Will. He saw his life on the planet and the Robinsons, along with "Dr. Smith" and Don West. He watched from afar as they turned the Jupiter 2 into a sailing boat, which traversed the ocean of the planet in order to reach an electrical storm, which they used to recharge the vessel's batteries and escape from the planet. While on the planet, they discovered strange glyphs which matched those on the Robot and his ship. ("Shipwrecked," "Precipice")

The Robinsons tracked a signal from the Resolute, which was in orbit around an amber planet. There, they discovered another robot named Scarecrow rampaging throughout the ship, but managed to contain him. Will Robinson then got a flash and realized that his own robot was on the planet below. ("Scareccrow")

With the help of one of the vessel's crew named Ben Adler and his mom Maureen, Will traveled to the planet to search for the Robot. He succeeded in finding him, but first they had to face off an attack by the SAR, Second Alien Robot. Will was overjoyed when he was finally reunited with his own Robot. ("Severed")

A Robot who can mourn

The Robot Grieves — The Robot and Will, mourning the death of a horse

Due to the effects of a rust virus which was spreading on the planet, the group was forced to travel on horses, something which was definitely a new experience for the Robot. Upon first seeing one, he was startled, believing it to be a threat, but Will told him that they were actually friends and showed him one to calm one down when upset. He also explained the use a bit to the Robot, explaining that it wouldn't hurt. He said that the horses were friends and the Robot agreed "Friend, Will Robinson."

As they continued their journey, they came across a herd of bison-like animals, which forced them stop and find an alternate route. Will gave the Robot an apple and had him feed it to the horse in order to bond. The Robot then tried to remove the horse's bit, saying that it was a friend, but Will told him that while he might think he was helping, the horse needed the bit. It didn't know any better and would just wander off without it. As they continued, they got caught in a stamped, which badly injured Will's horse, Gypsy.

The Robot stopped and comforted the horse, surprising Ben Adler, who was wary of anthropomorphizing the Robot. Will comforted the horse too, explaining to the Robot that it wasn't like him and couldn't simply be repaired. The horse died and the Robot created a memorial of rocks, similar to what Will had done back on the unknown planet. He then collected the horse's bridle, something to remember it by. Adler was stunned by the display, wary of believing that a creature like the Robot could mourn. ("Evolution")

Saving a friend

Lost_in_Space_2x08_Robot_Refuses_Will_Robinson — Lost in Space 2x08 Robot Refuses Will Robinson

"No, Will Robinson."

The Robot was brought back to the Resolute the idea being that he would transfer the alien engine from the Jupiter 2 back to the Resolute in order to send them to Alpha Centauri. When Will reunited with his sister Penny, she thought that the Robot seemed rather different, but he wasn't quite willing to listen to her. It turned out, however, that the Robot was no longer quite listening to everything that Will was saying either. When Will tried to get him to help with rescuing Don West and Ava, who had been trapped in airlock by the devious Hastings, he just kept walking, saying "Danger... friend." He led the group to a room where Scarecrow, the robot from before, was being kept inside a box, badly damaged and tortured by members of the ship's crew with electrical sticks. The Robot went on the attack and freed Scarecrow. He then started to walk away as Scarecrow went limp in his arms. Will begged him to stay, that they needed him to get home, but his stunning reply was "No, Will Robinson." ("Unknown")

Will decided to help Robot save Scarecrow, as the Robot had done so much to help them to do so. However, in order to do so, he and his family had to play a shell game with the crew of the Resolute in order to get the Robot and Scarecrow to a thunderstorm on the amber planet, where Scarecrow would be able to recover. They put the elaborate plan into motion and were largely successful. However, Ben Adler correctly anticipated Will's actions and was waiting for him at the Jupiter spacecraft he planned to use in order to get down to the planet. He summoned other members of the vessel's crew, who began shocking the Robot into submission. As they did, the Robot pleaded "Help. Friend." and "Help, Ben Adler." Ben Adler had longed for a connection with the robots and the Robot's message got through and he decided to help. He aided Will to get Scarecrow on board, but in order to do so, they had to leave the Robot behind and at the mercy of the vessel's crew and Hastings, who had arrived on the scene. Will watched in despair and shock as the doors of the Jupiter closed, and the Robot was left to its fate. ("Shell Game")

Ninety-Seven

Hastings Tortures the Robot — Hastings torturing the chained-up Robot

Hastings and the crew chained up the Robot and subjected it torture, demanding that it activate the engine and take the vessel to Alpha Centauri. He was joined "Dr. Smith," whose allegiances remained unclear. He pushed his machine to the redline, but the Robot had only one response: "Will Robinson." Meanwhile, Will's father John Robinson had staged a daring breakout from his captivity. Meanwhile, his wife Maureen and daughters Judy and Penny also arrived and it was Maureen who had the pleasure of knocking out Hastings with a shock prod. They freed the Robot, though Penny worried they might be too late. "Can you hear me?" asked John and light returned to the Robot's face.

Meanwhile, on the amber planet, Will and Adler succeeded in saving Scarecrow, but their actions resulted in a new complication. Their presence was detected by another group of alien robots, who launched an attack on the Resolute. Worse, an entire fleet of alien robots began converging on the vessel. Judy came up with a plan to place 97 children in a Jupiter spacecraft and put the engine on it to get them to safety on Alpha Centauri. Will convinced the Robot to help and got him to transfer the engine. However, the attacking robots made their way for the vessel, led by the THAR. The Robot, detecting this, left on installing the engine to try to help, but Scarecrow returned from the planet and fought off THAR long enough to allow to escape. They engaged the engine and traversed the rift. Will asked the Robot if he knew that Scarecrow would be there, but the Robot just stared back. Will suggested that perhaps he had just hoped that Scarecrow would be there, asking him if he knew what hope was. "Yes, Will Robinson," replied the Robot. The group then realized that wherever they were, it was not Alpha Centauri. The Robot had followed a human radar signature, but the signature he had followed was not that of Alpha Centauri, but rather that of the Fortuna, a lost vessel captained by Judy Robinson's biological father Grant Kelly. ("Ninety-Seven")

Physical appearance

2016-09-21 - Kevin Burns - LIS-M - Changes - Robot & Dr Smith

Unlike previous iterations of the robot, the new robot is very different to its predecessors. Whereas the robot from the 1965 series and the one from the 1990s film traversed terrain on treads, this new robot possesses a full humanoid stature, capable of walking with two legs. He can transform his two arms into four and he possesses powerful energy weapons, which are fired from the palms of his hands. His face is a translucent material filled with millions of multicolored lights, an echo to the original "bubble-head" incarnation.

Kevin Burns stated that the robot looks different for a reason, that the appearance reflects the world we are living rather than any sort of "political correctness" and that things change, evolve, and grow.

Personality

Lost_in_Space_Boy’s_Best_Friend_HD_Netflix — Lost in Space Boy’s Best Friend HD Netflix

The Robot is not unlike a child. At first when seen, he is hostile, but over time he protects Will and helps him, primarily just because he is told to - he wants to help as repayment for Will saving his 'life'. He learns things at amazing speed, often just by looking at a new event once.

He is protective of Will, and eventually more of the family, and slowly responds to them more and not just Will himself. During him being connected to 'Dr. Smith' he almost seems entirely distant and uncaring, only listening to her, until something makes him change - and then change again when he sees his friend in danger. "Friend. Will Robinson."

When an animal he later cares for dies, he is shown mourning - grieving for it, displaying deep sorrow and regret - an animal or human trait, which many thought impossible of a mere machine. And he can also show great hatred.

He may not understand things perfectly, but he understands enough to have emotion, a need to protect, help and survive.

He seems to display emotion and thought through the many lights seen on his face.

Although initially loyal only to Will Robinson, and later briefly to Dr. Smith, his experiences begin to change him. When the robot Scarecrow is injured, he refuses Will's request to pilot the Resolute to Alpha Centauri until they have helped Scarecrow, telling him, "No, Will Robinson." ("Unknown")

Skills & abilities

Netflix Robot Attack Form — The Robot in his many-limbed attacking form

He possesses the ability to produce strong heat from his body, enough to melt ice. ("Impact")

He is also, as is seen throughout the series, to learn new things nearly instantly. When simply observing John hammering metal rods into the ground for the sensor net and is allowed to help, the Robot simply pushes it down 'like a toothpick'.

The Robot also grows to care, in its own way, not for just Will, but for others, wanting to help and protects its friends - and 'family'. Despite many seeing him as a threat, which he evidently is, he doesn't attack anyone unless provoked. He is both an advanced machine but like a child learning new things - just much faster than a child would.

The Robot also has immense strength - it can bend titanium with little effort, carry things almost as heavy, if not heavier, than itself, and it can deal with hostile animals with ease, either using it's energy weaponry to shoot and 'melt' them, or just tear their jaws or bodies apart.

When angered or enraged, he transforms into a many-limbed form capable of withstanding most attacks and dealing out punishing damage. ("Eulogy")

Design

The design of the robot is explored in the featurette "Designing the Robot" from the Season 1 home video release. Kevin Burns describes the robot as a protector, but also a child in that it's learning to be a human. Executive producer Zack Estrin stated that it designing the Robot, it had to be a number of things, including intimidating, but also having a soul and something people could connect to and be afraid of. To create the Robot, some of the greatest mechanical and creature designers from film and television were assembled. Matt Sazama described the process as being a big challenge, in terms of finding their own version compared with the original series robot. The Robot's glowing "face" was inspired by the lights of the original Robot.