The Lost World

It is easy, perhaps TOO easy, to heap abuse on this series, very loosely adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fantasy novel. Certainly, Doyle would not have recognized much of it; then again, would he have recognized a majority of the 'Sherlock Holmes' features over the years? And what would he have made of Steven Spielberg's "borrowing" his title for the second "Jurassic Park" film? Ultimately, any production's success or failure shouldn't be judged solely by the fidelity to the original work, but whether or not audiences accept it. Many marvelous adaptations, from the theatrical WAR OF THE WORLDS to television's "The Third Man" have carried over little of the original source material, but have won a place in our hearts, nonetheless.

And this New Line-produced series, filmed in Australia, even at it's most absurd, was always an enjoyable thrill ride, with a very ingratiating cast!

A spin off of a 1998 TV-movie, the series follows the adventures of an early 20th century party of explorers, stranded on a mysterious plateau in South America where multi-dimensional 'rifts' have allowed animals and cultures from past and future to co-exist. Led by brilliant Professor George Challenger (the wonderful Peter McCauley), a bearded, wild-haired scientist who thrives on facing the unknown, the party consists of handsome big game hunter Lord John Roxton (Australian actor/model Will Snow), mysterious benefactress Marguerite Krux (beautiful Australian actress Rachel Blakely), American journalist Ned Malone (Canadian actor David Orth), and elderly scientist, Professor Arthur Summerlee (Michael Sinelnikoff, whose character would 'die' by season's end). The TV-movie introduced a new character to the mix, blond 'native girl', Veronica, whose scientist parents had disappeared eleven years earlier. Portrayed by "Beverly Hills 90210" alumni Jennifer O'Dell, the voluptuous 'savage', scantily dressed, raised the level of sex appeal for the program immediately, and quickly became a fan favorite.

Working out of Veronica's huge tree house (a split-level that Tarzan would have been envious of), the characters would, each week, encounter everything from dinosaurs (created through CGI, and, while not quite 'realistic', still vastly superior to the stop-motion models, puppets, or rear-screen projected lizards of previous "Lost World" adaptations), to sophisticated cultures practicing human sacrifice, to demons and wizards, to nearly any kind of bizarre civilization one might imagine. Glimpses of each character's past allowed the cast to 'grow', and become more interesting, each season, and provided enjoyable subplots; Lord Roxton falls in love with the greedy, but lovely Marguerite, but her past includes espionage and other unsavory activities, so she only gradually accepts his advances; Veronica, drawn to Ned, must deal with his moodiness (WWI had left him emotionally fragile) and his sense of wanderlust. It is a tribute to the writers and talented cast that the subplots never sank into mini-soap operas!

Australian tax laws nearly sabotaged the series' third season; Canadian Orth and American O'Dell were forced to limit their appearances because of their being non-Australians. So Ned Malone was often away on a 'identity-crisis'-fueled quest, and Veronica, whisked away by a runaway balloon, returned later in the season with a pendant her mother had left for her with a distant tribe, and new responsibilities as 'Protector' of the plateau. A new character was introduced, a wise-cracking girl named Finn, from a hundred years in the future, who was transported back to the plateau by a Challenger invention. Portrayed by 24-year old Australian actress Lara Cox, she was a survivor of a radiation-poisoned Earth, and was quickly 'adopted' by the scientist, who made it his mission to prevent her future world from happening.

Despite very respectable ratings, "The Lost World" was canceled after the third season (with a cliffhanger ending to end ALL cliffhanger endings!), because of spiraling production costs. The cast and crew have remained loyal to the series since cancellation, however, and there is still a slight, if dwindling, hope that the show may reappear, either in series format, or as TV-movies.

"The Lost World" may never please Doyle 'purists', but it was certainly a most enjoyable 'guilty pleasure'. I join with it's many other fans in hoping it will return!

you might complain about the fake dinosaurs. But if people took one moment to look behind them to actually view the character interactions. the hate/love relationship between Roxton and Marguerite. Veronicas ongoing quest to find her parents. Malone deciding on his true love. Marguerite and her destiny, challenger and his humanity. And Summerlee the paste which holds the entire show together. please give this show more than just a passing glance. It needs a full and indepth look.

For those of us who love living in fantasy worlds, The Lost World series is all you could ask. The show, not only has action, but a continuing story line, growing relationships between the characters, and both actors and characters that you can care about(a hard to find combination on TV or at the movies). I love "tough women", women who can hold their own and slug it out with the best. Rachel Blakely and Jennifer O'Dell prove to be that and more - You grow to love both, for their faults and blessings. Also a rarity is a show that teaches a worthwhile moral: Being willing to sacrifice self for your friends, family or loved ones is more important than gold and jewels. I only wish there were more episodes to relive the fantasy.

The Lost World is an excellent action/adventure series inspired by the Conan Doyle book of the same name. Unlike the book, the characters here are trapped in the Lost World and struggle weekly against hostile creatures, inhabitants, and against the mysterious force which created the Lost World.

The show, however, is much more than a simple run of the mill science fiction series, although it works quite well that way as well. The characters are complex, well rounded and interesting. Sometimes they struggle with their relationships with each other as much as with their environment. The growing romance, despite the obstacles presented by their vastly different and emotionally scarring backgrounds, between the Roxton and Marguerite characters has become a centerpiece of the show. The character of Challenger, so brutish and one dimensional in the book, has grown and changed over over the course of the series into a fully developed and interesting character while still maintaining his core focus and scientific genius. The addition of the character of Veronica Layton as the explorer's guide and host on the Lost World was an inspired addition. Veronica brings a humanity and nurturing presence and provides the emotional glue that hold the group together.

Altogether, The Lost World is a unique and compelling show which is well worth your time. Only the most superficial of reviews would dismiss this show as nothing more than another science fiction show. The show offers something for everyone and I highly recommend it.

I have to admit when I first say this, I wasn't highly amused, however over time, and with new stories and action sequences and time, it grows on you and you start to enjoy the show and the characters. It has it's moments and then it doesn't, but isn't every show like that? But give it a chance, it's a good show with great potential.