Firstly, let's all agree that the original series was constrained severely by rules of the day: Women couldn't be in charge, a mom's job was to feed the kids and resolve issues like "who stole Judy's laser gun". Worse, episodes were formula... every single episode was "Doctor Smith comes up with a plan, plan puts Robinsons at great risk, plan fails, all is forgiven, and next week Doctor Smith comes up with another plan. Ugh.

The 2004 movie was an embarrassment.

This update is well crafted. The talented Neil Marshall sets the tone with his signature setting of a story in a landscape. Further, the modern techniques of backstory flashbacks trusts the audience to keep up with the story while breathing depth into the characters. So by the end of the first episode we are on board not only with humanity's need to find other planets, but the Robinsons' personal struggles, a mystery as to "what went wrong", and the reality of life against the elements. This last bit: humanity's integration to a new world, really shines. Are the dangers in space really going to be a 100 foot tall cyclops, or critters, eels, and just regular wildlife?

This show's acting is superb. The reshuffling of roles is well done, the dialog is pithy and believable (no more "Penny, did you steal your sister's laser gun?") and the post-apocalyptic tone is perfect.