Sharon Williams is a minor character on Land of the Lost. She was played by actress Brooke Bundy.
Appearance and Personality[]
Sharon Williams was the Zarn's research assistant. It is unclear what she was exactly, whether she was truly sentient or merely an automaton under control of the Zarn. She was apparently an android, but because she continued to speak to Rick Marshall even after her android body was destroyed, this would indicate that she has an existence apart from it. She was, as the Zarn described her, "sensitive to thought." She was able to access Rick Marshall's memories and, assuming the guise of an attractive human female, created a false background and passed herself off as a student from Rick's old high school and neighborhood. She also picked up memories taken from Holly Marshall.
Background[]
The Zarn claims that Sharon Williams is his research assistant. Since the Zarn has stated that he sends "her to the human being planets where I cannot go," this would indicate that she has some history with the Zarn and was not spontaneously created for the sole purpose of spying on the Marshalls. She apparently occupies (but does not require) an android body resembling a human female. Whether this android body was capable of assuming other forms is unknown. It is also possible that the Zarn creates other android bodies for her depending on the circumstances.
Drawing on the memories of Rick Marshall, she created a false background in which she grew up on the same street as Rick Marshall, went to the same school and knew many of the same people. (Curiously, Rick Marshall never becomes suspicious of her claims, despite their alleged proximity growing up without ever encountering each other.) She also tells a story in which she, as a young girl, had her white dress ruined by the muddy paws of a neighbor's dog, a tale she gleaned from the memories of Holly Marshall, who had an identical experience.
Her android body was a flawed imitation of a human being with noticeable imperfections. Holly Marshall observed that she does not perspire, or even acknowledge high temperatures that are uncomfortable for humans. Holly also noted that her hands were cold, despite the intense heat of the day, indicating that she does not generate the heat of a normal human body.
Apparently, her work of spying on the Marshalls was completed and the Zarn came to High Bluff to fetch his assistant. Rick Marshall followed them back to the Mist Marsh and demanded her release. The Zarn then exposed his ruse to a disbelieving Rick Marshall, explaining that Sharon was merely a spy to investigate the Marshalls on his behalf. As the Zarn is too sensitive to emotion to move among humans, he sends Sharon to infiltrate the population for him. Sharon, the Zarn explains, is "sensitive to thought but not emotion," making her able to move among humans without having to endure the cacophony of emotions that would surely overwhelm the Zarn.
Unable to convince Rick Marshall that Sharon Williams was not a human being, he allowed Rick to attempt to take her. Sharon resisted and removed herself a short distance away, where she self-destructed, leaving only a few mechanical pieces, including a mechanized hand, in her place. The Zarn then sadistically ridicules Rick Marshall's disappointment and humiliation.
It is unknown what exactly Sharon Williams is or was, but what is extremely telling is the fact that she continued to speak to Rick Marshall even after her android body was destroyed. This would indicate that, whatever she is, her existence doesn't depend upon her android body and that this body was merely an extension she could act through. Despite her continued existence after her body was destroyed, the Zarn's research assistance is never heard from nor mentioned again in subsequent appearances of the Zarn. It may be that she was, in fact, destroyed with her android body and that the voice heard by Rick Marshall was the Zarn, who can perfectly imitate anyone's voice.
Episode(s)[]
Trivia[]
- When the Zarn explains that Sharon Williams is his research assistant who ventures into human populations on his behalf, he alludes to "human being planets." This would indicate that the Zarn knows of other inhabited planets. It is never made clear if these "human being `planets" are truly populated by human beings. It may be that they are alien races, and the Zarn simply makes no distinction.
- Despite the Zarn's assertion that the Sharon is his "research assistant" and not his prisoner, it is never clear how much autonomy Sharon truly possesses. There are times when she appears to be simply an automaton that the Zarn controls, but the Zarn's description suggests she is an independent entity who assists the Zarn.
- Rick Marshall's inability to even question Sharon's contrived backstory is curious. She claims to have grown up on the same street, went to the same school, knew many of the same people, but never encountered or even heard of one another. Perhaps, in addition to being able to read the thoughts and memories of humans, she can induce others to accept her background story, making nigh-impossible parallelisms seem as merely remarkable coincidences.
- Sharon apparently does have some telepathic ability. In addition to being able to glean the memories of her subjects to create a complex backstory, she was able to somehow communicate her findings to the Zarn without speaking to him. Or perhaps her android body was transmitting this information to the Zarn, even as she was collecting it.