Lost in Space (TV Series) The Great Vegetable Rebellion (1968) User Reviews

Carrot and stick

[benkidlington · 5/10 · 18 November 2010]

An episode that has gone down in history as one of the most notorious of the entire show, it's not actually the absolute worst though. I'd say there are a number of series two episodes that are quite a bit worse than this one.

Certainly the episode is remembered most for the life-size talking carrot named Tybo, played by Stanley Adams (who also played Cyrano Jones in the Star Trek:TOS episode "The Trouble with Tribbles").

At least we have an underlying sci-fi concept here, in that the possibility of intelligent, vegetable-based life forms is examined. But of course not in any seriously scientific way - after all this is Lost in Space! Parts of the episode are quite enjoyable, although it does drag a bit in the middle.

Yet again, Dr Smith drives the action by sneaking off in the shuttle pod down to the planet of vegetation, against the wishes of the rest of the crew. Meanwhile it's party-time on the Jupiter 2 as the Robot's birthday is celebrated. Although I'm thinking since the Robinson's have been in outer-space for so long, where (not) on Earth did they get those excellent 60s paper decorations, party blowers and hats from? I quite like them! After the party's over, John Robinson again does the right (or perhaps wrong) thing by yet again going out of his way to rescue Smith from yet another scrape of his own making. Much hacking and slashing through the planetary jungle occurs, causing cries of pain from the lesser plants throughout the episode.

Smith gets turned into a stick of celery and becomes a real tree-hugger, whilst the Robinsons get trapped in a kind of pleasant greenhouse-like jail by the uncompromising Tybo, who also wishes to transform them all into lifeforms of the vegetable kingdom.

It also looks as if part of a set from "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" is re-used here, which jars quite a bit compared to the Jungle scenes.

Penny sleeps through most of the episode but at least Judy gets a few lines in this one.

There's also a completely forgettable sidekick called Willoughby and a dancing, feral plant rather reminiscent of a life form seen in the preceding episode.

Overall though, a must-watch for any real LIS fan, and rightly or wrongly an episode which defines the more outlandish aspects of the show.

"Oh, the pain, the pain"

[jamesrupert2014 · 5/10 · 21 January 2022]

Needing to rescue Dr. Smith, the Robinsons land on a planet covered with plant life that can feel pain (and scream accordingly), which is ruled by Tybo (Stanley Adams) a giant talking carrot with the power to change animal life-forms into botanical beings. By the third season, Irwin Allen's space-series was becoming increasingly tongue-in-cheek but reached the pinnacle of 'camp' in this, its penultimate episode. Clearly intended to be a comic, kid-oriented outing (lots of Robot and Dr. Smith banter), 'The Great Vegetable Rebellion' is neither particularly clever nor humorous and is likely remembered primarily for its ludicrous characters and imagery. Its only saving graces are some better than usual special effects (notably when John Robinson touches Tybo's force field) and the giant carrot costume (which, as far as I know, even notoriously frugal Irwin Allen couldn't figure out to re-use in one of his other series). Awful but essential viewing for fans (or detractors) of the series or for diehard Allen aficionados searching for the double feature to highlight the producer's colourful taste in cheese: 'TGVR' would pair perfectly with 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea's' infamous 'leprechaun episode'.

Moisture! I need moisture!

[gcanfield-29727 · 6/10 · 4 March 2020]

I have the entire series on DVD. In interviews, the cast members trash this episode. I disagree. Yes, the episode is quite silly-but so were a few other episodes. Dr. Smith has some of his best lines here. For example, Prof. Robinson says: "Smith, do you read me?" Smith replies: "I read you with abundant clarity, Professor." He also calls the robot an insensitive clump. All this, and Stanley Adams as a giant carrot. What's not to like?

Goddard Got A Laugh...Nobody Else Did

[StuOz · 6 December 2016]

The Robinsons and Smith find a talking carrot monster.

Whenever science fiction fans wish to attack Lost In Space this episode is always mentioned in the conversation. According to Jonathan Harris (Smith), this second last episode of LIS came about because the writer, Peter Packer, did not have another idea in his head. After three seasons of scripting the series, Packer just ran out of ideas.

Cast members report that they could not hold back laughter during this adventure and you will see Mark Godddard (Don) turning away from the camera for no reason (looking at nothing) because he just could not look at the carrot monster without laughing.

Guy Williams (John) and June Lockhart (Maureen) got in trouble with the producer for holding up filming by laughing all the time.

This hour is as bad as people say but worth a look for Goddard's above mentioned acting.

The Famous Great Vegetable Rebellion!

[bigfrankie-43464 · 1/10 · 6 January 2023]

The Great Vegetable Rebellion is famous for being the worst episode of Lost In Space. And this idiotic mess deserves that title! Watch this only so can say you did!

This does have one bright spot- the first few minutes during The Robot's Birthday Party. That is actually very enjoyable!

But, be warned, once The Robot's Birthday Party is over, it is painful to watch.

As has been noted elsewhere, the episode's writer's creative well had run dry and the cast knew going into this it was going to be a mess.

It is truly idiotic beyond comprehension. The alien villain is a giant goofy looking human carrot! Dr. Smith is turned into a stick of celery. I could go on...Oh, The Pain. The Pain.

😂 HILARIOUS CAMP CLASSIC EPISODE

[floridacalisurferboy · 10/10 · 31 August 2022]

☺UNFORGETTABLE T. V. 📺 This LOST IN SPACE camp classic episode once seen is never forgotten. Imagine a jungle filled with plants and vegetables that feel pain when you cut thru them... A giant carrot man who turns humans into trees and plants... A puple headed helper with a lettuce heart... Dr. Smith turned into a human stalk of celery while the purple headed guy nibbles on him... A CAST of stars who were penalized by the producer because they couldn't keep a straight face while filming their scenes so multiple expensive retakes were necessary... Moments are so funny you gotta love them... The carrot man has to water himself with a gas pump style watering device that measures his water intake... Judy has to talk Smith into letting her dry up his celery juices... John and Don threatened to be changed into oak trees... A MUST SEE EPISODE TOO ENTERTAINING TO MISS... (Try watching it uncut on bluray or xumo tv) 😊😊😊

THERE WERE WORSE EPISODES THAN THIS

[asalerno10 · 6/10 · 28 May 2022]

This episode has earned the fame of being the worst episode of the entire series, especially for the ridiculous villain in a carrot suit. It is true that the episode is not good, but in my opinion The Questing Best, Princess of Space, Castles in Space were worse than this one. Here the Robinsons descend on a plant planet, the environment is jungle so they have no other way to advance than to make their way cutting plants with a machete, it is a bit sad to hear the lament of the plants when they die, the leader is a man carrot that imprisons them for committing crimes against plants by cutting them, another characteristic of the episode has to do with the danger that earthlings run when they stop moving as they begin to take root and can end up becoming vegetables.

"Jungle Warfare"

[profh-1 · 6/10 · 1 June 2022]

There's an idea, that if an actor takes something completely serious, and acts like they believe it, the audience will, too. Most of this episode is an example of that. Even Jonathan Harris toned it down for once. The only scene where he really over-acted as usual was the "Keep moving, keep moving!" bit.

I like that this is one of the few episodes where everybody got something to do, and this wound up as one of Judy's best stories! I'd have loved to see her & Will interact more as they did here.

I loved how The Robot said, "Personally, I would rather leave him here." But then he gets fooled again. Naturally, Smith decides to do something "nice", but OF COURSE, has an ulterior motive for it.

I can't believe Tybo built that hothouse and the equipment under it. It seems to me, Tybo almost HAS to be the result of some unknown alien scientific experiment, perhaps one that went wrong and the makers either abandoned it, or were turned into mulch by their creations. As with many of even the sillier stories (like, yes, "The Questing Beast" and "Space Vikings"), there's a serious moral for any kids watching this. Let people be who they are! DON'T spend all your time trying to change them. This is very important, nowadays.

You know, it could be that Tybo was the result of some scientist changing a plant into what he is now... and as a result, he took that, and made it his own mission in life. (Once again, I find myself putting more thought in than the original writers.)

I really love the Willoughby character in this. It may be the most laid-back, reasonable, likable character James Millhollin ever played. (He was such a rat on BATMAN, even his criminal client tried to kill him!) I had a thought, if this was DOCTOR WHO, where the regular cast changed on a regular basis, imagine if at the end of this one, Smith had been left behind as he kept saying he wanted to be... and Willoughby took HIS place! He would have been so much more intelligent and helpful.

In production order, ""Fugitives In Space" and "Space Beauty" (my vote for THE WORST one) were next. But in my re-ordered viewing, there's only ONE left after this... "Junkyard In Space". Funny enough, I could imagine them offering the Junkman a lift to another planet once he evolved into a better person by the end. Perhaps a season 4 opener where he'd be along, then stay behind on whatever planet they landed on next.

Lost in Space - The Great Vegetable Rebellion

[Scarecrow-88 · 16 September 2018]

Watching "The Great Vegetable Rebellion" as an adult besides the Talking Carrot chasing Dr. Smith who eventually transitioning to a Giant Stalk of Celery, I pondered quite perplexingly at the idea of Tybo (the aforementioned talking carrot) constructing and engineering a hydrostatic station underground, complete with pressure valve and mechanical shutdown box, among other large interconnecting tubes seemingly conducting waterworks and environmental control on the planet. Peter Packer wrote this. He might not have been the only creative mind behind this recognized and celebrated sci-fi television abomination, but besides his name listed as writer Don Richardson (who has directed very good LiS episodes) gets the credit as director: this is the kind of goofy enterprise that might leave a lasting blight on resumes of filmmakers in the television business. Of course, "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" wasn't without its problems thanks to Irwin Allen and his creative team, but it is no wonder "Lost in Space" wasn't renewed for another season considering the last two episodes were this and "Junkyard in Space". I felt while watching this that the LiS team was creatively in the toilet, simply running on empty. But I honestly asked myself how adults could inexplicably direct and write this without contemplating the reaction to it: even if for kids, a walking, talking carrot holding the Robinsons prisoner while "receiving moisture" from a painted gas station pump is quite a surreal dumpster fire that even Packer and Richardson had to figure would be considered so entirely ludicrous! Because of all of this, the episode has received a cult following: the show's second and third season (the first isn't without its turds: just watch "The Space Croppers" or "Ghost in Space" as examples) had plenty of dreck, causing jaw-dropping reaction. The excuse was that this was a sci-fi show meant for kids specifically, so when you watch "The Questing Beast" or "The Space Vikings" that is to be kept in mind. Disabling your intellect and jettisoning any sense of serious critique is the best way to even consume such gobbledy-gook. So when you contemplate just why Tybo (Stanley Adams, doing all that he can while his face is colored orange, hobbling around in that giant carrot costume) would leave such an important hydrostatic station directly underneath a prison with an entrance metal door or allow Willoughby (James Millhollin) to be involved with any of the "animal kingdom" considering his easy nature and fallibility towards being influenced it must be kept in mind that such attempts to reason with material so ridiculous could be considered a waste of time and energy. Plant life moaning and aching aloud as machetes tear into vegetation as Tybo barks towards the "killers" for doing so, with Dr. Smith clasping to a tree, waxing poetic about the vegetable kingdom, while covered in green (face also painted the same color), "The Great Vegetable Rebellion" earns its stripes as a bizarre trip, completely going off the cliff, crashing and burning...a hot mess that remains so iconic because of its defies-words subject matter and overall presentation. Besides the planet content, Robot celebrates a birthday with the Robinson family having cake and drink on the Jupiter 2, having to land on when Smith feels guilty for not having a present, taking the Space Pod to the surface, doing so even after he was told there wasn't enough fuel for liftoff if they had to come after him. Robot and Smith's "buddy" back-and-forth is entertaining as always complete with the retort when Robot wants a hug, "Don't buddy me, you booby."

Will bosses around Judy, telling her they need to leave the ship, and later orders her to stay with Smith and Willoughby...since when is he in charge? Will and Judy even fall into a pit as a plant monster (!) chases after them, rescued by rope thanks to Robot. Penny collapses due to "weakness" from the heat when imprisoned with her parents and Don, gradually turning into a flower/plant. John and Don trying to reason with Tybo as he speaks excitedly about turning them into trees is an actual conversation. And you wonder why the actors had a hard time holding in their laughter...