# "Lost in Space" backstory: Who was Dr. Smith working for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 24, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334 "2005-01-24T01:05:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/1 "2005-01-24T01:05:42Z")
In _Lost in Space,_ both the 1965-1968 TV series and the 1998 movie, Dr. Smith was never meant to be part of the crew of the Jupiter II; he sneaked onto the ship meaning to sabotoge it and somehow couldn’t get out before the launch. But for whom was he going to sabotage it? Who was he working for? In 1965 that would have been a no-brainer, the Russians would sabotage any American project. But the movie was made after the Cold War ended. There’s a scene at the beginning where Major Don West has a space battle with some kind of enemy, but who it is, is never made clear. Rather an important detail to leave out. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/2 "2005-01-24T01:11:06Z")
He was working for the _gay_ Commies. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/3 "2005-01-24T04:01:51Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > He was working for the _gay_ Commies. Oh, the pain! The pain! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/4 "2005-01-24T04:54:02Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > Oh, the pain! The pain! Yeah, that crappy Iron Curtain personal lubricant! Might as well be Super Glue! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/5 "2005-01-24T05:04:17Z")
Mutant terrorists. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/6 "2005-01-24T05:50:43Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > Mutant terrorists. Seriously. God… you’re reminding me all over again what an elephant sized load of poo that movie was. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/7 "2005-01-24T06:49:15Z")
I couldn’t remember the details, so I did a search, and found the answer. > [@](#): > > **Smith was an agent for an unnamed foreign country** who is busy sabotaging the Robinsons’ spaceship prior to launch when he gets trapped on board. His dastardly handiwork causes the ship to spiral off course and crash-land on a desert planet. Found on this [page](http://www.lostinspacetv.com/news/history1.html), of [this](http://www.lostinspacetv.com/) site. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/8 "2005-01-24T13:06:32Z")
Another thing that always bothered me about LIS (TV) version: In later episodes it’s made clear Dr. Smith is not an M.D. but a doctor of “environmental psychology” – but in the first episode he’s the doctor who gives the Robinsons their final medical checkup before putting them in suspended animation. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/9 "2005-01-24T13:14:35Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Another thing that always bothered me about LIS (TV) version: In later episodes it’s made clear Dr. Smith is not an M.D. but a doctor of “environmental psychology” – but in the first episode he’s the doctor who gives the Robinsons their final medical checkup before putting them in suspended animation. Probably because they expected them to end up as vegetables. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/10 "2005-01-24T16:34:03Z")
I saw an interview with Jonathan Harris shortly before he died, and he was a delight. “People keep asking me if I’m British,” he said, “and I tell them, ‘no I’m just _affected_.’” He said the producers gave him free rein to camp it up to the hilt midway through Season One, and he ran with it. Always thought they should have cast Paul Reubens as Dr. Smith in the film version. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/11 "2005-01-24T22:58:39Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > He said the producers gave him free rein to camp it up to the hilt midway through Season One, and he ran with it. All the Boy Scouts who ever lived couldn’t have camped it up any more. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/12 "2005-01-25T01:31:00Z")
In the movie, he worked for a group called The Sedition. Don’t know much abou it, just the name. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/13 "2005-01-25T01:40:07Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I saw an interview with Jonathan Harris shortly before he died, and he was a delight. “People keep asking me if I’m British,” he said, “and I tell them, ‘no I’m just _affected_.’” He said the producers gave him free rein to camp it up to the hilt midway through Season One, and he ran with it. > > Always thought they should have cast Paul Reubens as Dr. Smith in the film version. Harris was a wonderful person who vastly enjoyed creating the Dr. Smith character. The [adult Bill Mumy](http://www.billmumy.com/BMWillandSmith98.jpg) continued to be fairly close to him and delivered [moving eulogy](http://www.billmumy.com/november_2002.htm) at his funeral. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/14 "2005-01-25T04:52:17Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I saw an interview with Jonathan Harris shortly before he died, and he was a delight. “People keep asking me if I’m British,” he said, “and I tell them, ‘no I’m just _affected_.’” He does indeed have a very unique voice. I was amused to instantly recognize him when watching both Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/15 "2005-01-25T08:00:58Z")
> [@Odinoneeye](#): > > In the movie, he worked for a group called The Sedition. > > Don’t know much abou it, just the name. The full name was the “Global Sedition.” And I _think_ (but I’m not sure) that they were supposed to be mutants, or genetically engineered, or something. Matt LeBlanc calls them something that sounds like “Gen Techs” during the dogfight. (A search on google seems to back this up.) So, maybe there’s some kind of “Exo Squad” genetic war going on in the backstory. You know, all kidding aside, _Lost in Space_ really wasn’t half bad. Ranchoth (“Gen Tech,” eh? Almost as good as “Bioroid”) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/16 "2005-01-25T08:04:08Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > You know, all kidding aside, _Lost in Space_ really wasn’t half bad. Er, the _movie_, that is. I can’t speak for the series. (The only episode I’ve ever seen had a silver space Mexican in it. Yikes.) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/17 "2005-01-25T08:41:53Z")
> [@](#): > > You know, all kidding aside, Lost in Space really wasn’t half bad. Yes, I’d say it was hovering up around 75 to 80% bad. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/18 "2005-01-25T14:34:41Z")
What the people who made the movie didn’t understand was that the TV show was so great because it never took itself seriously for a minute—it was almost a parody of _Star Trek_, which was sooooo pompous. _Lost in Space_ (the TV show) was cheesy, good-natured camp: aliens with zippers down their backs, June Lockhart cooking chocolate cake in the backyard _on an asteroid_, Dr. Smith and the Robot doing their Laurel & Hardy routines; each villain more ridiculous than the last (hillbillies! teen hippies! evil carrots!). Loved that show. ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/19 "2005-01-25T16:40:19Z")
I’ve never seen an episode. I wish TV Land would dump their crappy eighties sitcom motif and show some more vintage fare. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334/20 "2005-01-25T17:04:21Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > He said the producers gave him free rein to camp it up to the hilt midway through Season One, and he ran with it. I always wondered about his transition from the evil Dr. Smith in the black-and-white shows to the ridiculous Dr. Smith in the color shows. Thanks! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-space-backstory-who-was-dr-smith-working-for/286334.md?page=2)