Third Season Episodes - The Space Primevals (episode 64)

The Robinson family is endangered by a primeval tribe under the control of a mammoth computer. 

Explosive gasses from a volcano prevent the Robinsons' takeoff from a crumbling planet. Don and Dr. Smith are in the Chariot, bound for a huge volcano with enough explosives to cap its activity .The trip is rough, and Smith is sorry he came when he finds himself staring into the face of an aborigine. Don and Smith are brought before a huge computer able to address them through the lips of Rangah. The machine pronounces Don and Smith a danger - the very volcano they would cap burns with the flame of its people's life-force.

They are placed in a cave to await their fate. In the morning John uses the Pod to search for them. At the same time, Will and the Robot hike to the spot where the Chariot's last signal was heard. Don and Smith, meanwhile, awaken and begin to tunnel below the machine with the intention of blowing it up. Instead, they collapse the tunnel, and Don falls into a pit.

By now, Will has radioed his father in the Space Pod. The Robot has joined the painted primevals in a dance before the machine. Will is to keep them diverted while John finds the entrapped pair. Don and Smith, nearly expiring, put aside old quarrels and make peace with each other . Outside, John encounters a giant primeval lizard. He dispatches it with his laser. He is detected and though the Robot tries to distract the primitives by flashing lightning from his claws, the machine roars out a command that brings John before it.

John quickly strikes up a bargain -the Robot will match skills with the machine for the lives of Don and Dr .Smith. While the Robot holds everyone spellbound by causing a native to disappear inch by inch, John enters the cave and rescues the sinking Don and Smith. With a dazzling beam, the machine reduces the Robot in size. It is about to do the same thing to the others, when avast eruption shorts its circuits. John detonates the explosive and destroys the mountain. When all is quiet, the machine restores the Robot to normal size and lets the others free.

Jonathan Harris Comment

I enjoyed the episode Space Primevals. I remember one scene with Mark Goddard when we were tied together in a cave and there was an earthquake all sorts of debris was falling on top of us. A very interesting episode!

Mark Goddard Comment

Space Primevals is one of my favorite episodes. In this episode Smith and West become friends for a little while at least. Me, and Jonathan were trapped in a cave, and we formed a bond for the first time throughout the series. Smith, even inscribed our friendship in a stone bolder. Or, should I say a paper mache one!

Bob May Comment

My Robot crew needed to come up with an idea for some markings to add to the Robot to make him primitive looking for a dance scene in this episode. We thought and thought about it and I came up with the idea of an eye shape for the bubble. If you look closely to the episode you will notice the eye shape on the front of the Robot. This eye shape I came up with is that of the CBS logo.

Ray Dutczak Comment

Space Primevals is a wonderful episode. I love this episode for the fact that Smith and West do become friends. The cave scene with them both is fantastic! Dr Smith does save the Majors life and pulls him to safety after the Major says" let go and save yourself"! The cave scene is my favorite from the series. Who would have thought that the Major and Dr Smith would become short lived freinds.In Primevals we get to see the full mockup of the Space Pod in all of it's glory. We also get too see the Robot perform magic, which is a first. The story, acting, and directing is some of the very best from the three year run and Space Primevals is one of my favorite third season episodes.

A few tidbits:

Bill Mumy's third season opening credit clip comes from this episode.

Blooper - Bob May's legs are clearly seen as he steps onto a platform in the alien camp.

Recycled - John shoots a dinosaur from Irwin Allens The Lost World.

Filming