Netflix’s LOST IN SPACE: Parker Posey Plays the Ultimate Dr. Smith
Parker Posey as Dr. Zoe Smith © Netflix
With season three of Netflix’s LOST IN SPACE in production, it’s a great time to gush about one of science fiction’s greatest female villains of all time: Dr. Zoe Smith (Parker Posey).
Parker Posey’s stellar performance in WAITING FOR GUFFMAN—Christopher Guest’s 1996 legendary mockumentary—made me an instant fan. So when the news broke that she’d be playing the role of Dr. Smith in Netflix’s reboot of Irwin Allen’s classic sci-fi TV series, my head exploded with fireworks. For me, it was the perfect casting of all time.
LOST IN SPACE is a futuristic take on the novel The Swiss Family Robinson by author Johann David Wyss. The Netflix version is a space survival tale and follows the Robinson family—Maureen, John, Judy, Penny, and Will—as they escape a climate-breakdown ravaged Earth to seek a new life on Alpha Centauri. Here’s a description courtesy of IMDB.com:
After crash-landing on an alien planet, the Robinson family fight against all odds to survive and escape, but they're surrounded by hidden dangers.
One of the “hidden dangers” is—and always has been—Dr. Smith. Having watched the first LOST IN SPACE in my youth, I became a longtime fan of the original Dr. Smith. The renowned actor Jonathan Harris brought so much verve and even nuance to the role that it was clear why his Dr. Smith became the show’s breakout character.
Dr. Smith’s outrageous exclamations might have made us wince at times, but they were certainly clever. Then there was his unforgettable signature line, “The pain, the pain.” Who doesn’t still quote that angsty phrase in times of desperate need?!
Fast forward to 2018. Showrunner Zack Estrin and his team have rebooted the titular 1965 series for Netflix. They also reimagined the show’s lead villain with spectacular finesse. How did they accomplish this feat? Read on and find out.
Dr. Smith’s genderbending goodness takes flight on the Jupiter 2
© Netflix
The new Dr. Smith is a woman, which is terrific for female geeks like me. As much affection as I have for Jonathan Harris’ Dr. Smith, he couldn’t deliver the gender representation I crave in my SFF shows. Not only is Netflix’s LOST IN SPACE a remarkable improvement on the original—the special effects alone are a marvel—all the female characters have better character development as well as way more to do in the show than laundry.
It’s also refreshing to be able to enjoy a female villain in a mainstream science fiction story who’s close to me in age. Dr. Smith’s survival goals are also relatable. Many women are trying to survive something, even if it’s just as a marginalized gender in a cis man’s world.
Dr. Smith’s dark origin story
© Netflix
Dr. Smith has a disturbing and dysfunctional relationship with her sister, Jessica Harris (Selma Blair). This motivation alone makes for a more nuanced villain than Harris’ character in the original series. Harris’ Dr. Smith mainly cooked up schemes to make money, which made little sense when he didn’t have any place to spend it.
In contrast, Dr. Zoe Smith is a criminal in deep survival mode. She’s consumed with finding a safe refuge where she can permanently hide from the authorities. Therefore, she calculates her every decision based on her ultimate goals—staying alive and preserving her freedom.
If acting selfishly will save Dr. Smith’s ass, she’ll make villainous choices, but if helping others (usually the Robinsons) is the best chess move, she’ll do that, too. She’ll betray the Robinsons and other characters if she believes it will help her survive, even at the expense of losing her found family. That’s some deep characterization and also a tragic state of affairs.
Dr. Zoe Smith: A master of deception
© Netflix
Parker Posey’s Dr. Smith is shockingly deceptive, and her deception evolves in unexpected ways. For one thing, she takes on the persona of a mental health therapist. As someone with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, I was beside myself with glee watching a female villain ingratiate herself with the Robinsons by anointing herself as their family therapist. For those unfamiliar with the job, it requires a tremendous amount of emotional discipline, compassion, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to ethical practices. Dr. Smith, of course, created her own warped version.
To wit: she completely, utterly lies about her background and experience. She offers therapy sessions left and right and never reviews the limits of confidentiality. Dr. Smith also manipulates her “clients” in a way that would make Lucifer proud. She uses the information gained in her “therapy” sessions to further her own underhanded agenda, which sometimes results in people getting physically and emotionally hurt. It. Is. Just. So. Wrong. But it’s also highly entertaining. Watching her subvert the role of a therapist for her evil master plan is nothing short of, “Holy shit!”
Or maybe, “Danger, Will Robinson!”
Netflix’s Lost In Space: Release Date, Cast, and Plot—What to Expect?
In 2021, we can hope to view the third and final season of Netflix’s LOST IN SPACE. We’ll be reunited with the Robinsons and their extended Jupiter 2 family. Robot will no doubt continue to evolve. The mystery of Judy Robinson’s birth father will likely unfold. Maybe the crew will even host a Don West Appreciation Day!
There’s lots to love about Parker Posey’s Dr. Zoe Smith and season 3 will no doubt feature more of her diabolical schemes. Additionally, there’s a looming question on the horizon. By the series’ end, will Dr. Smith find redemption or totally succumb to the dark side? Difficult to predict, but either way, we’ll have fun going along on the wild ride.
