Richard Thomas (The Waltons) stars as David Robinson, in this amazing tale of a family looking for adventure but only to find themselves marooned on a deserted island. Having no means of provision or shelter they struggled to survive against pirates, natives, wild animals and Mother Nature. A story of adventure, love, heartbreak, happiness and human drama, The Adventures Of Swiss Family Robinson is a great adventure for the whole family. Book 1, Episode 1 David Robinson finds the comfortable life as chief clerk in his father-in-law's shipping firm tedious. He accepts the offer to open a new branch in Canton, China and embarks with his wife Elizabeth, and children Ernst, Joanna and Christina and the family dog, Bruno, on the sailing voyage. But things turn sour when aboard the ship they encounter Parsons, an old sea-dog who believes the family has treasure hidden in their cabin. And the storm places all the passengers on board in great peril.Book 1, Episode 2 After surviving the storm, the family, alongside Billy the cabin boy, climb up on the deck of the listing ship only to discover they have been stranded on a reef, with the rest of the crew and passengers gone… They work together to make a raft and reach nearby land, taking with them useful items from the ship, including chickens and Bruno. There are mixed reactions given that the island feels like a paradise and deserted. But they soon discover they aren't alone.Book 1, Episode 3 David, Ernst and Billy encounter their first unexpected adventure – and are reunited with relieved members of the family. Emily Chen is discovered hiding on the island. However, as soon as she is fed and clothed, she resumes her snobbish demeanour. The family settles into life on the island and attempts to find a site for their new home. And David is intrigued with the notion of the family gaining new skills to survive on a desert island – but Elizabeth doesn't share the same sentiment. Book 2, Episode 1It has been one month since the shipwreck. The family are still struggling with living off the land but have been hard at work growing crops, keeping chickens, rearing wild pigs and a goat. But prompted by activity of the island's volcano, they are planning to escape. Parsons and Ben have set up home in a cave on an island nearby and Parsons is bent on revenge.Book 2, Episode 2With the arrival of a native tribe, The King threatens the family for violating the sacred island with their presence. Meanwhile, the petulant Emily has wandered into the rain forest and has been captured by Parsons and Ben who are in turn captured by the King's brother. Parsons makes a deal with the brother to recapture the King and take over the treehouse.Book 2, Episode 3The reasons for the King's presence is that he is ill and has arrived on the island for closure and to make peace with his ancestors. After falling into a deep coma, the shaman enters the brother's Dream time to try and save Christina. The other children fall into a deep sleep and experience dangerous Dream time themselves. Parsons renews his attack on the tree house. Book 3, Episode 1The family are still battling against the forces of Mother nature (and often themselves), and are looking forward to celebrating their first harvest on the Fourth of July. But unknown to anyone, a ship is heading towards the island. She is ‘The Viper’, a notorious pirate ship captained by the unsavoury and infamous rascal Samuel Scaggs and his ex-convict partner, Bonnie Mary. Book 3, Episode 2Ernst finds himself a prisoner on The Viper. And Parsons informs Scaggs of the Robinson family who are surprised at night and overrun by the pirates. Parsons convinces Scaggs that David killed his brother during their fateful and aborted voyage to Canton. Scaggs decides to hold a trial, with himself as judge, jury and hangman, intrigued with a role reversal having been on the other end of justice.Book 3, Episode 3Ernst escapes imprisonment on the pirate ship and almost rescues the family but is quickly overcome. Scaggs finds David guilty and sentences him to hang. Elizabeth attempts to convince Scaggs to let David live. But others implement contingent plans for the family and their friends to survive. Book 4, Episode 1The family continues their life on the island, now wiser after the pirate attack. They decide to build a fort on a hill which is a perfect lookout – and also for them to defend themselves in the event of any more attacks. While searching for driftwood, Ernst sees a native girl arrive alone in a canoe. She is tired and distressed. Whilst trying to befriend her, a war canoe appears on the horizon heading for the island.Book 4, Episode 2The family revive the girl and discover she is a princess, Moya, the daughter of the native King. Moya tells the family that her father has been killed in a tribal war and she has run away because her life is in danger. The family welcome Moya to their home. Ernst quickly becomes infatuated with the girl. But unknown to the family, the shaman has stayed behind from the war party and is determined to seek revenge.Book 4, Episode 3Moya continues to settle into life with the Robinsons but the shaman, casts his dark spell, placing Moya into great danger as she dives to search the submerged wreck. She is rescued by David, but shortly after, the family are alarmed to see another war canoe arrive. They flee to their newly-built fort. But can they succeed in defending themselves against another attack? Book 5, Episode 1It has been approximately six months since the Robinsons have been stranded on the island. The family celebrate their first harvest. All seems peaceful but while out hunting, Joanna and Ernst discover animal spoor of a seemingly large ape-like creature. David is keen to investigate but Elizabeth is concerned for her family's safety.Book 5, Episode 2Billy has run away and becomes lost in the hills, finding himself ill in a cave with a gorilla. Ernst, David and Bruno leave to search for him. Christina is captured by Ben and Parsons, who take her back to their island. Parsons is convinced the Robinsons have a treasure hoard and persuades Ben they should go after it.Book 5, Episode 3After falling ill while searching for Billy, David's health is looking grave. Billy, who is also ill but desperately hungry, eats some leaves the gorilla has brought as food, which seem to cure his sickness. The family are unexpectedly reunited and have learned a valuable lesson and all resolve to pay attention to it in the future realising it is central to their survival. Book 6, Episode 1Monsoon winds and rain have destroyed the family's crops and set their animals free. Tensions run high between family members now that they're faced with the prospect of having to restock and once more go hunting for food. Ernst in particular is angry with David for seeming to have given up on the daily ritual of lighting the beacon as if he has given up hope of being saved. During a hunting trip Ernst, Emily and Billy hear a ghostly sound amidst the trees.Book 6, Episode 2Following the strange sounds during their hunting expedition, a ghostly figure of an old man appears to Christina and terrifies her. When the old man appears to Ernst, he gives chase, only to be captured and held prisoner in a cave.Book 6, Episode 3Ernst discovers the true identity of the strange old man. His name is “Raven Jones”, a mythical and legendary pirate who escaped hanging and went missing years ago. Driven mad by years of solitude, Jones is paranoid that the Robinsons are searching for an imagined horde of treasure, hidden somewhere on the island. Parsons gets wind of the ‘treasure’ and goes after Raven Jones, who proves to be an inspiration to the Robinson family and especially David who comes to realise that he must never lose hope for the Robinsons and their friends to be rescued. Book 7, Episode 1Christmas is approaching and sentiments are mixed, with each member of the family reflecting on the life they once had back in Boston. The family improvise the making of gifts and preparations. Whilst searching for treasure, Joanna sees pirates and tries to get home but is captured by Parsons and Ben.Book 7, Episode 2After the unexpected return of the pirates, Parsons offers Scaggs – the Pirate Captain, the treasure map and Joanna, in return for a passage. David forms an unlikely alliance with Ben and rescues Joanna but things get worse when David, Joanna and Ben fall into a deep crevice in a cave and are unable to climb out.Book 7, Episode 3Ben is caught in a net which whisks him up to the roof of the cave. The pirates soon discover a hidden tunnel deep within the labyrinth. David and Joanna save the day and Joanna persuades David to consider young Ben joining the family as he has clearly severed ties with Parsons.Book 8, Episode 1 Ben is now a member of the family group but David is concerned that he and Joanna are becoming very close. He tries various means to keep them apart, despite Elizabeth's view that the more he tries, the more the young couple will seek each other. When Billy overhears Ben declaring his love to Joanna, he tells Christina, who lets it slip at the dinner table. An outraged David banishes Ben. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is reaching the final stages of her pregnancy.Book 8, Episode 2While searching waterfalls and fast flowing rivers, Billy and Christina's raft falls apart. Having gained dry land the youngsters are confronted by a large wild dog. Ben rescues them and takes them safely home. David is grateful but still angry. Ben persuades Joanna to leave with him and David sets off in pursuit of Ben's cave. Joanna gets lost in the caves and Ben and David must work together to find her.Book 8, Episode 3While David and Ben search for Joanna, back at the tree house Elizabeth starts to give birth. Emily is forced to act as midwife. After rescuing Joanna, David and Ben see a ship on the horizon. Ernst is dispatched to light the beacon. David and Ben return home to find the baby well, but Elizabeth has a fever. Book 9, Episode 1It's been sixteen months since the Robinsons first landed on the island and the family is preparing for the forthcoming marriage of Ben and Joanna. But unknown to the family, Parsons and Bonnie Mary arrive back on the island in their pirate ship, the Viper. Parsons is bent on revenge.Book 9, Episode 2After the tree house is set on fire and the family are about to be overrun, an armed merchant ship comes into view, heading for the island. Fearing for her ship, Mary decides to leave. And Parsons refuses to leave until he gets his revenge. Mary leaves him to fend for himself. The merchantman is owned by Elizabeth's father, Oscar who arranged the voyage to search for his family. Kwang Sen, the Chinese merchant to whom Emily is betrothed, is also on board. The Robinsons and all inhabitants of the desert island set sail back to Boston.Book 9, Episode 3As the family arrives back in Boston, they find that modern society might not be as welcoming as they remember and struggle to settle back into their old lifestyle – missing the routines and freedom of the natural world. David's future in the so called ‘civilised’ world is put in jeopardy when he is unexpectedly arrested and put on trial. Book 10, Episode 1 After the trial the family expect life to return to normal, but they feel uncomfortable having been used to the freedom of the island. Billy, as an orphaned black boy, is looked down upon by society and ex-seaman Ben is also ostracised by Boston society as beneath them. To the family's horror, David remains in prison.Book 10, Episode 2The family have discovered that Kwang Sen, who has his own vendetta against the family, has hired a top lawyer to issue proceedings and have the trial reopened. The family finds their lives beginning to fall apart. Ben feels uncomfortable working for Oscar, and Oscar wants to get rid of him. Billy feels redundant and runs away. And Ernst and Emily struggle with their seemingly hopeless love.Book 10, Episode 3The trial goes on and things are looking hopeless. Against all the odds David is able to prove his innocence and is acquitted with the help of Elizabeth, who is an effective witness on the stand. Amidst all the celebration David reveals that he has been approached to return to his beloved island home and to bring with him settlers to colonize the family's island paradise.
