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Later in the second season, the
episode "The Colonists"
also offers us an example of a strong female leader of a nation: Noble Niolani arrives on
the planet the Robinsons are inhabiting and proceeds to disable the elaborate radio relay
stations the Robinsons are trying to get up and running. (Note the early appearance of
this episode’s "battle of the sexes" theme: Will casts doubt on Judy and
Penny’s ability to work their radio relay station, a sentiment to which the Robot
responds by stating, "They are intelligent and highly trained." Will bites back
with: "I know, but you know girls . . .") Sure enough, a minor glitch does occur in
the Robinson girls’ radio work: Judy forgets to place the battery in the radio relay
station! This error is corrected, but not for long: Noble Niolani’s first radio
station conquest is the girls’ station; she blows up their unit’s system and
spirits the girls off to her camp, where she begins instructing them regarding the natural
superiority of the female and the natural inferiority of the male. (Note that, as in the
third season episode "The Promised Planet," Penny Robinson is characterized as
being psychologically malleable: indeed, it seems our Penny can be brainwashed quite
easily!) A catfight between Brynhilda and Noble
Niolani would be a glorious sight to behold! Two female warriors duking it out, for
themselves and for their nations—one a blonde, Nordic fighter with ruddy cheeks
and a substantial build . . . the other a slender, lithe combatant in a form-fitting black
suit and a deadly piece of headgear. Who would win the fray? Frankly, it’s
not an easy question. Noble Niolani stands alone; she is involved with no man
(unless one counts Smith in his short-lived role as Niolani’s "consort").
Surely, her slender build would help her effect some cat-like moves that could help her in
a physical fight, whereas Brynhilda might be weighted down by her girth and furs.
"Hearken to this!!"
What two ladies of the Lost in Space world pronounce this bold directive? You
guessed it: Brynhilda the Valkyrie and Noble Niolani, a highly ranked leader of the Condor
nation of female warriors. While dramatizing Dr. Smith's original play about Norse
mythology, Will, Penny, and Dr. Smith accidentally conjure up the Norse god Thor’s
gloves and hammer. First Dr. Smith and then Will are spirited away to Valhalla by
Brynhilda, on her white winged horse. With these events, the second season episode "The Space
Vikings" begins.
And is Brynhilda’s independence akin to
that of Niolani? At first glance, it might seem that Brynhilda is merely Thor’s
"helpmeet," rather than a fiercely independent woman like Niolani. But during
the give-and-take of Thor and Hildie’s discussions, spats, feasting, and singing in
Valhalla, we can see that Brynhilda is really the power behind Thor’s throne.
Indeed, it is Brynhilda who has to create and orchestrate new challenges for Thor to meet
. . . to help bolster his own sense of masculinity. Thus, Brynhilda is better able
to manipulate and control men than is Noble Niolani.
Add
this to the fact that Niolani is defeated when the Robinsons blow up the
Condor nation's purification arch, and we can see that the winner
of a catfight between Brynhilda and Niolani would be Brynhilda.
