The story line is not much - a phalanx of tiny robots induct the Robinson's robot as their majestic leader - but as this episode progresses the action becomes less about the threat of these pint-sized robots and more a stage for some of the funniest moments in the entire series. In the second act, Dr. Smith and the Robot go through some kind of literal personality exchange, meaning the Robot speaks with Dr. Smith's voice and mannerisms, and Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris) assumes the Robot's personality. This gives Harris ample opportunity to employ physical comedy to wave his arms frantically, shouting "Warning! Warning!" in the Robot's voice, and perform other crazy shenanigans and word play that is richly comedic. The tongue-in-cheek dialogues between Harris-as-Robot and the other characters allows writer Barney Slater and director Seymour Robbie to play the lunacy as completely straight, employing a consistent spoofing tone as the real Robot, now decked out in a crown and imperial robes and outfitted with Dr. Smith's cunning and overbearing megalomania, plots to steal the Jupiter 2 and launch a reign of terror across the galaxy. Many of the second season episodes were attempts at humor that failed. This one is memorably daft.
Review of The Mechanical Men
