{"id":387110,"date":"2026-04-19T10:22:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T10:22:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/387110\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T10:22:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T10:22:11","slug":"lost-in-space-reboot-thrives-with-controversial-dr-smith-gender-swap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/387110\/","title":{"rendered":"Lost in Space Reboot Thrives with Controversial Dr. Smith Gender-Swap"},"content":{"rendered":"

Netflix\u2019s underrated space opera reboot, Lost in Space<\/a>, made one controversial change to the original story, and it helps the show thrive. Cult classic TV shows<\/a> frequently get reboots down the line, and not all of them are as successful. However, Netflix rebooted a 1960s space opera in 2018, and it became a certified hit by transforming the original story.<\/p>\n

The new show featured better production values and a tonal shift from goofy to grounded. However, those changes can\u2019t occur in a vacuum. If the writers had stuck the campy characters from the original into the more serious, grounded storytelling of the Netflix show, it would have felt wrong. At the same time, Lost in Space\u2019s characters<\/a> have to feel familiar enough to appeal to nostalgic fans. <\/p>\n

For the most part, they balanced the old and the new well. Most of them felt like a slightly different version of the original. However, Dr. Smith is the exception. The character changes drastically, and the story is better off for it.<\/p>\n

According to the actor\u2019s 2001 interview with the Television Academy Foundation<\/a>, the late actor Jonathan Harris found Dr. Smith utterly boring, so he began adding comedic elements. The showrunner Irwin Allen allowed him to rewrite the character and dialogue, adding in comedic bits and the iconic alliterative lines. Harris essentially created the comedic version of the villain who \u201ckept the show on the air.\u201d It was perfect.<\/p>\n

However, Netflix chose not to even try to copy Harris\u2019s Dr. Smith from the 60s, which allowed the perfectly bingeable sci-fi show<\/a> to thrive. Nobody could have replicated the comedic and chaotic energy of Harris\u2019s version, and any attempt would have failed horribly. Plus, it would have felt hokey and cheesy alongside the new version of the Robinson family. So, they did a complete overhaul.<\/p>\n

Parker Posey Is The Backbone Of The Lost In Space Reboot<\/p>\n

\"Dr.
\n Dr. Smith Netflix’s Lost in Space reboot Parker Posey<\/p>\n

Controversially, the Netflix original show<\/a> gender-swapped Dr. Smith, casting Parker Posey in the role, but that was the absolute best choice they made when rebooting Lost in Space. Parker Posey is a powerhouse actor who plays realistic but truly despicable villains extremely well, which is the best description of the character. <\/p>\n

The new version of Dr. Smith, who is secretly June Harris<\/a>, is terrifying because she\u2019s so realistic. Every scary trait of hers exists in real life, and she doesn\u2019t have the over-the-top, cartoonish humor to shield that sinisterness. The character is significantly darker, and she has an actual motivation for everything she does. She never seems evil just for the sake of being evil.<\/p>\n

One moment, Dr. Smith\u2019s redemption feels possible, and the next, Lost in Space reminds the audience that she\u2019s a murderer who will do absolutely anything to survive. Her more lovable moments show her helping the Robinsons, but this is actually manipulative. The character does only positive things if they benefit her. This behavior creates a very visceral repulsion. Even Posey\u2019s little smirks or posturing elicit ire. <\/p>\n

Best Parker Posey Antagonist Roles<\/p>\n

Superman Returns<\/p>\n

Kitty Kowalski<\/p>\n

Lost in Space<\/p>\n

Dr. Smith\/June Harris<\/p>\n

Dazed and Confused<\/p>\n

Darla<\/p>\n

The White Lotus season 3<\/p>\n

Victoria Ratliff<\/p>\n

Ultimately, Lost in Space needed Posey\u2019s Dr. Smith, as she is a great foil for the Robinsons. Posey\u2019s character elicits venomous hate, while the family is dysfunctional but lovable. The children\u2019s innocence contrasts with Dr. Smith\u2019s jadedness. This is even more noteworthy since the most important protagonists are the kids, not the parents. The family\u2019s unity, even when the relationships are strained, is the opposite of Dr. Smith\u2019s completely selfish actions. <\/p>\n

The Robinsons show, episode after episode, that they come together to survive, while the villain betrays and murders others to get by. Her deception makes it easier to accept their earnestness. It\u2019s less challenging to forgive the Robinsons when they make mistakes or selfish decisions because at least they aren\u2019t as bad as Dr. Smith. <\/p>\n

Parker Posey was the perfect casting for the top-notch TV villain<\/a>, even if the gender-swapping might have ruffled some feathers. Her character held the reboot together in the same way Harris\u2019s character held the original together. Without Posey, Netflix\u2019s Lost in Space reboot just wouldn\u2019t have been the same.<\/p>\n

\"0372446_poster_w780.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Release Date<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t2018 – 2021-00-00<\/p>\n

Network<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNetflix<\/p>\n

Showrunner<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBurk Sharpless<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Molly Parker<\/p>\n

\n Maureen Robinson\n <\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Toby Stephens<\/p>\n

\n John Robinson\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Netflix\u2019s underrated space opera reboot, Lost in Space, made one controversial change to the original story, and it…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":387111,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[156,111,139,69,437],"class_list":["post-387110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-entertainment","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=387110"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387110\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/387111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=387110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=387110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=387110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}