Show_premise Land_of_the_Giants

the travelers trapped in giant zoo.

set fifteen years in future, in year 1983, series tells tale of crew , passengers of sub-orbital transport ship named spindrift. in pilot episode, spindrift en route los angeles london, on ultra fast sub-orbital flight. beyond earth s boundary space, spindrift encounters magnetic space storm, , dragged through space warp mysterious planet twelve times larger on earth, inhabitants earthlings nickname giants. spindrift crash-lands, , damage renders inoperable.

very little known home planet of giants. partially because spindrift crew seldom leave area spaceship crashes in opening episode. 2 other (unidentified) giant societies ever seen, in episodes land of lost , secret city of limbo.

no name ever established mysterious planet, inhabitants seem know of earth, venus , mars, referring them name in 1 episode. planet located never made clear. in episode on clear night can see earth, captain steve burton (gary conway) claims have seen earth through set of infrared goggles invented giants, implying 2 planets indeed separate worlds, near enough able see 1 other. established method earth people may reach giants planet high-altitude flight, passing through 1 giant calls dimension lock (a term meaning obscure).

although various episodes establish @ least 6 other flights have landed on planet, no episode confirms ever returning earth. first mention of other visitors earth in episode 2, ghost town, in ship said have crashed long ago without survivors. in episode 4, underground, earth ship described crashing 3 years previously, again no survivors.

several episodes show crews surviving initial crash, killed later. episode brainwash has crew of little people surviving long enough build radio station can communicate earth. killed shortly after that. episodes golden cage , lost ones show there have been few survivors of other crashes. spindrift crew seems have survived long party intact.

one continent, or hemisphere, dominated authoritarian government tolerates full freedoms within capitalist system, not tolerate effort effect political change. political situation on other continents not known, although @ least 1 overseas land has despotic ruler. air traffic control tells venture out sea should turn back, nothing beyond sea has been explored nor there current contact; whether official government line or truth not known.

culturally, giant society closely resembles contemporary united states of 1968 (in various episodes has police force, private hospitals, prisons, state governor, radio , television services, zoo, jazz clubs, racetrack - , giants speak english, drive american cars, attend vaudeville-style theatres, , play chess). earth people find able cope, , efforts around facilitated ubiquity of large drains leading directly interior rooms pavement, in outside wall of buildings. giant government has offered reward capture of small earth people (whom giants call little people).

in spite of authoritarianism, there several dissident movements @ work either other dissenters (such earth people) or actively working unseat ruling party. government has established sid, special investigations department, deal assorted dissidents takes lead in dealing earth people. giant technology resembles mid-20th century earth, inconsistently: more advanced in episodes (e.g. cloning, cybernetics, force fields, magnetic stunners, androids, , teleporters) , behind in others (no microelectronics, hearing aids, or manned space flight).

the little people s objectives are: (1) survival, obtaining food , avoiding capture giants or attacks animals, such cats , dogs; , (2) repair of spacecraft, can attempt return earth. largely manage survive of sympathizers , stealth, making of small size, plus ingenuity in using technology s superior of giants.

they not achieve second objective, primary systems of craft severely damaged, although in episodes (including flight plan ) burton implies lack of fuel prevents ship lifting off. secondary systems insufficient enable them achieve sub-orbital flight required. unable use giant technology, bulky , less advanced; in 1 episode experimental nuclear reactor, provided engineering student, produces dangerous side effects , prone overloading. cannot trust giants, in episode ( target: earth ) offer little people ride home in exchange technical assistance space program, double-cross them.

they aided in first goal, , @ least hindered in second, leadership of captain burton. behaves leader, , protector passengers , crew, , leadership has rescued them difficulties. burton tries keep giants ever reaching earth. in episode brainwash, giant police officer ashim (warren stevens) says maybe can find home planet of these little people. may tiny world, rich beyond our dreams. in several episodes, burton puts keeping giants away earth above need people home. @ end of episodes, destroys devices spindrift earth enable giants journey there too.

episodes have giants capturing 1 of passengers or crew, rest having effect rescue. earth people avoid capture of time, because spaceship hidden in wood (in several episodes, described giants park) outside city limits. form alliances individual giants common beneficial purpose.

the show had no proper conclusion humans attempts return earth, , final episode, graveyard of fools, universal tale have taken place anytime in second season. penultimate episode, wild journey (guest starring bruce dern), has steve , dan using alien technology travel in time earth few hours before ill-fated flight. in storyline lifted lost in space episode time merchant, attempt alter timeline succeed in ensuring events of first episode, crash, take place (footage pilot, spindrift becomes lost, included in episode), creating twilight zone-style twist ending, impression of recurring cycle of inevitable events. episode have been more effective final episode of season, mirroring irwin allen s earlier series time tunnel, in events of final episode return characters starting point in pilot episode, rendezvous yesterday ; , land of giants makes more sense wild journey switched graveyard of fools in reruns.

the first season comprised regular 26 episodes, season 2 left 1 episode short, having 25 episodes, leaving impression graveyard of fools not intended final episode of season. show comprises 51 episodes (or 52 episodes including unaired pilot).