A boy in a silver jumpsuit stands beside a tall robot with a glowing dome and raised claw arms on a red alien plain, a flying-saucer spaceship behind them.

Original artwork, not a still

The Robot

Danger, Will Robinson!

— Lost in Space  ·  1965

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

A mechanical guardian with a heart: the warning is also the Robot's affection for Will. The line escaped the show to become everyday shorthand for any looming problem, ideally delivered in a flat metallic voice with the arms waving. It is also a minor misquote story, because many people recall the Robot shouting just 'Danger!' while the full line with Will's name is what fans quote.

Context reviewed

In context

Spoilers for Lost in SpaceShow the scene

The Robot of Lost in Space, the Robinson family's environmental control robot, watches over young Will Robinson, and the catchphrase originated with the series when the Robot warned Will about an impending threat. The 1965 Robot was a prop suit worn by actor Bob May, with Dick Tufeld providing the voice, and it was designed by Robert Kinoshita, who also designed Robby the Robot for Forbidden Planet. The line lived on for decades: the 1998 film used it as its advertising slogan, and its official website was named after it.

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