SERIES PREMIERE: The concept of taking a tacky sci-fi series from a previous generation, and revamping it for a new era, worked great with Battlestar: Galactica. And in theory, it makes sense to try it with Lost in Space, an even older, arguably almost as tacky sci-fi series from the mid-Sixties. The original Lost in Space starred Bill Mumy as the youngest of three Robinson children whose parents had taken them on a mission to colonize outer space, along with pilot Don West, weasly stowaway Doctor Smith, and an arm-twirling, alarm-sounding Robot (“Danger, Will Robinson!”). Mumy has a clever cameo in this new version, but the revisions are even more noteworthy. This time around, the women have all the best roles: The character known as Doctor Smith is now a conniving woman, played by Parker Posey, and the Robinson parent in charge now is the mother, played by Deadwood veteran Molly Parker. Of the kids, Will, now played by Maxwell Jenkins, is written and played like a haunted boy from The Sixth Sense, while the new Penny, Mina Sundwall, is given the best lines. This new series’ best reinvention of all is the robot, which is much more sinister and scary-looking – but the first season, ten episodes worth, tries too hard and does too little. There’s a strong reliance on flashbacks, as in Lost, to reveal character – but this show spends more time looking backward than going forward. It looks fabulous, and there’s no faulting the special effects or the set design. But the writers really need to do better in Season 2, if Lost in Space is to get anywhere. For a full review, see Ed Bark's Uncle Barky's Bytes.