In “Medicine Man,” the very last episode of Land
of the Lost, old enemies bring their long-standing hatred to an end
with the help of the stranded Marshalls.
It’s another overtly didactic morality tale, and one highly reminiscent
of Star
Trek’s “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield.” Only here, the ending is positive, rather
than a demonstration of the fact that some hatreds simply never die.
In “Medicine
Man,” the Marshalls encounter Lone Wolf (Ned Romero), a Native-American
medicine man who is desperate to get medicine to his sick people. Lone Wolf is being hunted, however, by
Captain Elmo Diggs (Gregory Wolcott), a U.S. cavalry officer who claims that
Lone Wolf stole the medicine that his men need if they hope to survive.
At
first, Lone Wolf and Diggs circle each other with suspicion and racist fears,
but thanks in large part to Jack, who brokers a peace, the two become reluctant
allies. At episode’s end, the
Native-American Medicine Man and soldier ride off together, with one horse,
hoping to return home to their time. Of
course, this ending is indeed a problem in the Land of the Lost
continuity. We know that the land is a
pocket universe -- a circle -- and that there is no escape point, and certainly
none reachable by horse.
The
most disappointing aspect? The episode (and thus the series…) ends with another
terrible song from Will (Wesley Eure), one in which he wistfully “dreams of
home.”
Although “Medicine Man” may seem
preachy, it certainly offers kids a good lesson about the human quality of
mercy…and forgiveness. Still, as a final episode, this installment
disappoints. We see Grumpy one last
time, but it’s been some time since there’s been a good dinosaur story on the
show. Furthermore, we don’t see the
Sleestaks, the Lost City or any other Land of the Lost regular supporting
cast (like Big Alice). The episode thus
feels very contained and small, like a budget-saving effort.
If
made today, of course, there would be a great ending for Land of the Lost. Either the Marshalls would make it back home,
or the show would end on some dynamic cliffhanger. Given the reality of 1970s TV programming,
neither option was likely here. However,
it would have been nice if the series had ended more firmly on the thematic terrain
where it so often exceeded expectations: as an intelligent science fiction
series; one that muses about, in genre terms, the importance of environmental
stewardship and responsibility.
I’ve
now blogged every episode of all three seasons of The Land of the Lost
(1974 – 1976), and I must confess that I’ll miss the amazing sights and
unmistakable sounds of Altrusia. Even
with the addition of the uninspiring third season, the series was a usually pleasure
to watch. Land of the Lost lasted
for something like forty three episodes, and most of the episodes, especially
in the first two years were of a generally high quality. It was a thoughtful series, more often than
not. No other live-action series, I
should note, lasted so long or has attained such a following.
I’ve
said it before but it bears repeating.
Someone really ought to look at what worked about Land of the Lost in the
1970s and update the series for today’s adults.
The same underlying theme (about the environment) would work brilliantly
in today’s context, and an adult science fiction series about a family trapped
in a lost world would make for great, adventurous entertainment.
One
of these days, if I get the chance, I’ll review the 1991 remake of Land
of the Lost, featuring a family known as the Porters. In the meantime, I begin blogging a new series next
week… the live-action Shazam! (1974 – 1976).
Thank you for your entertaining critiques. Land of the Lost was one of my favorite series as a child. Unlike most of the "adult" sci-fi TV of the time it featured monsters, dinosaurs and weird creatures on a regular basis. For the first 2 seasons the stories were intelligent, often exciting and sometimes even scary. I didn't get that with other Saturday morning shows. I knew that something had gone wrong with the 3rd season so I skipped a lot of the episodes.
ReplyDeleteI've only seen part of one episode of the 1991 series. I'm interesting in reading what you'll have to say about that one.
John it was fun while it lasted. Three entertaining seasons of Land Of The Lost which was one of the engaging Saturday morning series from our '70s childhoods. It is truly ripe for a series remake done serious and not like the humorous 2009 movie. "Medicine Man" was a good episode that I believe would have led to the return of these characters in a never made season four. Especially once Lone Wolf and Diggs would find out there is no easy escape from Altrusia. There was no last episode sending the Marshalls home because they assumed a season four would happen.
ReplyDeleteSGB