In “Mind Games,” Shung (Tom Allard) becomes obsessed
with Christa (Shannon Day), and uses his crystal blade and a stolen “peace”
pendant to control her mind.
This mind-control comes
at an unfortunate time, however, as Annie Porter (Jenny Drugan) is spending
time with Christa, learning to survive in the jungle and use a bow-and-arrow.
The Porters rally to save Christa, even as Shung
takes control of her mind…
“Mind Games” is another fun, though not
inspired, episode of the 1990s Land of the Lost. Annie, Tasha and Christa have a sleep-over
while the “boys” re-shingle the tree-house roof, and once more Shung makes
trouble.
For some reason, this week Shung is obsessed
with Christa -- though I can’t blame him -- and sets about making her his
slave. Christa struggles to break free
of his influence, even as he tells her “I own you…I am your master now!”
Why does Shung care, one might ask. Good question.
The episode also concerns Annie’s training to survive in the land of the lost,
which is a good idea given the circumstances.
She could end up like Holly or Christa -- alone in a hostile world -- and so
it makes sense that she should be trained in using a bow and arrow. The only sexist thing about this plot-line is
that no one suggests Kevin learn to take care of himself in the same way. It’s just assumed that he is capable of doing so.
Two other moments stand out in “Mind Games.”
In the first, Christa swings on a vine and performs a spot-on Tarzan yell. She swoops in to
save Stink quite adroitly, but the yell -- and the vine -- represent clear Tarzan
allusions. The reference fits since
Christa is a human child raised alone in the wild.
Secondly, the end of the episode finds Mr.
Porter playing a 1990s hand-held video game unit.
This toy represents yet another modern luxury in
this iteration of the Land of the Lost.
The Marshalls had virtually no such modern items in the 1970s version of
the show, but the Porters have a boom-box, a video game console, a car, a video
camera and more.
This wealth of conveniences makes the new show seem more like an extended
camping trip than a legitimate stranding in another pocket universe. I just hope, at some point, the series acknowledges
that the car will run out of gas, and the video camera and video game unit will
run out of battery power…
Next week: “Flight to Freedom.”
John, nice review. The 1991 LOTL was written down to the children viewers, unlike our 1974 LOTL which was written for the whole family to view.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about the Porters never seem stranded like the Marshalls. They might as well have been driving a large Winnebago camper instead of a SUV because it is just a camping trip.
SGB