User Reviews

Desiring to learn the secrets of Dr. Quest's latest invention, the para-power ray gun, Dr. Zin sends a robot spy to check it out. Dr. Zin's unmanned ship lands near the Quest compound. Upon investigation, Dr. Quest and Race find a mysterious orb. They place it in a storage building for latter examination and go about their usual nightly routine. But, as they will soon discover, the mysterious orb is far from routine.

Even if you are only familiar with Jonny Quest on the most casual of levels, I'm confident that The Robot Spy would likely be the episode that most people would recognize. The image of the giant, indestructible, spider-legged mechanical creature is an iconic memory for many of us who grew up in the 60s. It's even prominently featured in the opening credits. Beyond the images, The Robot Spy's status as one of the best Jonny Quest episodes is well deserved. There's plenty of action, mystery, and suspense - what more could you ask for? The first time the robot hits a guard with one of the tentacles - wow! How cool was that? I enjoyed this episode as a child and still find it entertaining. I'm not sure at this point whether it's my favorite episode or not, I'll have to get through the other 18 or so episodes to make that call. But I have no doubt that it will end up in my top five.

This is my favorite episode in the original Jonny Quest series. A flying object lands very close to the Quest compound late in the evening and the curious Dr. Quest takes it to a warehouse in order to study it in the morning. It is a giant robotic spider sent by arch-enemy Dr. Zin that is designed to gather the intellectual property of the latest Quest invention, the para-power ray gun. What makes the Jonny Quest series so attractive to young people is that although Jonny and his friend Hadji are boys, the are an integral part of the team. When Dr. Quest issues orders they respond as adults and have technical expertise in their own right. That is the case here, when the robot spy is about to depart with the secrets, Dr. Quest tells each of them what to do and there is no hesitation in carrying out his instructions. There is tension and some technical jargon, but well within the level of understanding of all people with an interest in technology. This was a great series and well ahead of its time, an animated science fiction series that appeared in prime time.