honestly, i always loved this episode, i think every young boy wanted to please his father and make him proud, the connection between john and will was always strict but honest, and having guy williams use his sword skills in the end battle was brilliant from his old zorro days, michalek ansara was equally good as usual the villian or bad guy i think as to the attitude towards women, again it was 1965 and this was about men and battle enough said, great episode

The Challenge is my favorite episode because it deals with the most important thing in a son's life and that is his father's faith in him. Professor Robinson is absolutely correct that Will needs to be challenged and regardless if he wins or loses its that he meets it and don't run away from it. All sons greatest need is his father's respect.

People confuse low regard with women with women working within their expertise. Doctor Maureen Robinson was a biochemist. She was shown doing tasks like cooking and washing clothes, but also working withing her expertise, planting and tending the hydroponic garden that helped keep the family alive. Judy was a musician, but often helped with repairing machinery. All the women showed bravery and intelligence throughout the series.In the post "women's lib" world, which BTW was a movement largely constructed by the media, raising the children, cooking, delivering calm, common sense are all lowly and demeaning. The offense isn't a token. People's understanding of the role of women has been warped. In the modern world women are considered men with breasts.

This is kind of a fun one, but it starts to feel long toward the end. It seems like it's going to be a lesson in how quiet, calm, self-assuredness is preferable to chest-thumping bravado, but the spirit of competition gets the better of everyone. The idea of being secure enough in your own masculinity to walk away from a fight is something you'd NEVER see in the hyper-testosterone-driven tv shows of today.
In much the same way, I find it funny how the episode takes token offense at the condescending attitude the aliens' have toward women when most LIS scripts don't have any higher a regard for them.
The cave monster here rates down there with the most uninspired the series ever offered up.
I echo the sentiment of the previous poster re Dr. Smith and the Robut; the show was really onto something here, developing them as perfect foils for each other.***** SPOILER ALERT *****The thing I appreciate the most about this episode is the ambiguity of the final fate of the alien father and son as they challenge the cave monster one last time.

One of my least fav episodes from Season One. While its fun to see a young Kurt Russell, he's acting is stone-ish!! Wooden and stilted, there's no passion. Its like he's reading some dreadful algebraic equation. The Challenge, or The Contest, is pretty lame. And the episode doesnt move!
Best scenes: The hilarious banter between Dr. Smith the Robot.
Bonus: Yes, Russell, too, looks Asian!!!!