I think the whole lack of a powerful "weapon" thing is just a plot device to set up "Danger Will Robinson" moments when general lazer/gun availability would solve the issue in seconds.
If any thing watching this (just finished Episode Six) just shows how inept,contrived and stupid the plotting is.The "pass the pistol" game was just annoying,particularly when huge huge crocodile/ bear monsters start crawling out of the woods to eat people and then ,in the next episode, the same people think wandering off to take a dip in the river is a good idea, without rearming themelves ?????!!!!!!!!
I am really struggling with this given that the colonists were given a battery of aptitude tests to pass before they were allowed to leave the Earth,I guess IQs must have dropped through the floor to judge by their behaviours or they ALL brided their way on to the ship.
And just about EVERYTHING about the science they attempt to pass of as being credible is so ill concieved or wrong, deliberately so just to set up the next crisis, I could weep. I don't mind Sci fi or fantasy that does daft things with the laws of physics and nature to make an entertaining show but here its so poorly done I end up just shaking my head in disbelief.
I've got to be honest there is hardly a character I care if they live or die, unfortunately due to the predictability of the scripting I guess they all make it to the end (including the chicken?) . The kids all get on my nerves, West is a total dick, the dad is totally dickless and the mother , well I've got to say if I was given the choice of living with her on another planet or staying to die on a doomed Earth, I might just take the Earth option. Smith just as hugely annoying as the rest of them. but somehow shes the most belivable character.
If it wasn't for the excellent VFX and some good moments I doubt I would slog this out until the end, but having read some of the posts here it looks like this is a PREQUEL (!!!!!) anyway, so it was always going to stink as much as the farting gas used to fuel the space ships ( which , unbelievably they actual got right about as a possible rocket fuel for the future if they mix it with liquid oxygen, though I doubt your average space eel would want to chow down on it,but some very rare bacteria might).