24: Season 5, Episode 2: Day 5: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Review

Day 5: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Original Airdate: January 15, 2006
Writers: Evan Katz
Director: Jon Cassar

It wasn’t going to be easy to follow one of 24’s best premieres, filled with shocking moments, character development and trademark thrills. Although they couldn’t up the ante as they did and had to rely on some contrivances, this episode is still satisfying enough to overlook or forgive them. Producers, knowing that 24 would premiere in the four hour block this year, wanted to craft a beginning of the season arc to fit this special event. This episode brings us midway, and the hostage situation will close it out. There is clearly a bigger plan in store, but it is unclear at this point, since a hostage situation isn’t close to a presidential assassination.

One part that received decent criticism is that of the people unaware of Jack’s survival, only Audrey seems shocked by it. Edgar is more upset that Chloe kept it a secret from him. It doesn’t seem strange to anyone that this has happened. I don’t know how you would feel if someone you believed to be dead wasn’t, but I would expect a bit more shock.

Although we know that Jack would never harm Palmer, it is logical that he would be a prime suspect to those unaware of the deep history of respect they had. Jack faked his death and lived off the radar for a year and a half and Palmer was one of the people who knew about it. Some could argue that Jack’s alibi, being upstate eating breakfast with witnesses at the time of Palmer’s death, is strong, but it’s against videotape.

It’s fitting that Audrey would point out that Buchanan’s assumption is wrong. Of all the people there, she’s the only one who knew Jack personally. Obviously, her relationship with Jack was tumultuous, at least the last twenty-four hours of it. However, between Jack’s death and the eighteen months since then, she has been able to put what Jack did in perspective. While it was questionable, Jack had to do it for the greater good.

Another important person is Chloe. She the last person who knew who isn’t dead or unconscious right now and when she suspected she was in trouble, she called Jack. She is fiercely loyal, willing to be arrested than turn him in. That still doesn’t mean Chloe isn’t a little nervous about the way he operates. Things around Jack tend to be very dangerous; she just saw him murder the man who killed Palmer. It’s given a lighter treatment during the “he’s good at this” scene, but doesn’t ruin the drama.

Derek’s presence allows us to go over the details of Jack’s life for those who are jumping into the show at this point. Viewers unaware of Jack’s past must have similar reactions to Derek’s. Within two hours, he’s seen the man he’s had a grudge against take out several terrorists, knock out an FBI agent and assume his identity, go to the place swarming with people looking for him and create a diversion so they could escape. He knows that Jack is able to handle a deadly situation like this, but that places him in the terminal when the black truck brigade strike.

Considering how packed the premiere was, this episode allows them time to introduce the big bad (at least for the next couple of hours). Why do these terrorists have enough money to bankroll thugs, weaponry and everything else necessary for their attacks, but they can’t afford some decent lighting? Where are you Nathanson? I think Saunders in season three was the only one who used lighting. Anyway, Nathanson triggers the big moment of the episode, mentioning that the next phase starts within the hour (three guesses as to when that point would be).

One thing overlooked in the premiere review was the return of DB Woodside, mostly because it played a bigger part in this episode. Manny Coto joined the 24 team this season and he is apparently good with continuity (I haven’t seen his prior work). This scene really helps connect what happened to Palmer with someone close to him in his personal life, since Novick is with Logan, Sherry is dead and they never wanted Palmer’s kids on the show again. Although it is a bit far fetched that no one would wonder where Wayne went or have anyone in the study inspecting. Those things are forgivable because the scene is so personal, down to the scene where Jack stares at Palmer’s body and you know he is furious.

It is interesting that of all the things Palmer left as clues to what he knew, all Jack found was a last name and an address. Since we don’t know exactly what he knew, how Palmer found this information is still up to speculation. Considering all Wayne looked at was a paragraph, Palmer may have stashed clues throughout this encrypted document, which would allow Wayne to come back later in the season to clarify some of these vague hints.

Aside from the Russian president riding in on a red herring, it was clear that the black truck brigade was not out to attack him or Logan. Some may wonder how taking a small airport terminal hostage is the next stage if an assassination was the first. This is certainly a worthwhile nitpick, but the terrorists’ threats since season four have been deliberately vague initially. Heller’s kidnapping and “trial” were distractions for the override, this hostage situation is likely similar.

Because he was questioning Chevensky away from the terminal, Jack is now in a “Die Hard” situation. John McClane, the trilogy’s protagonist, is a bit similar to Jack, minus the sense of humor. Though I know the outcome of this crisis, I will say that the writers placed themselves in a difficult position, creatively wise. There will be similarities, but they must proceed with caution not to rip off the original action classic. There is still the personal stakes of having Derek in there, after moments earlier believing he had sent him and Diane to safety.

Logan is still a nitwit, refusing to alert security about any threat. He is obsessed with how this will affect his standings in the public eye. This is certainly true for his character, the same man who let Walt go behind his back and plan an execution. Of course, Martha is the only person who knows what is going on, but she is in a position where no one believes anything she says and Walt is making sure that any points she can connect will be nullified.

It’s time for the cynics to roll their eyes with yet another mole storyline. At this point, I think many devoted fans have accepted spies and traitors as a necessary evil for the show. Character wise, it is fitting that it is Walt, because Logan is clueless about reality and Walt was the one who not so subtly suggested killing Jack and went ahead with the plan after Logan half heartedly dismissed it.

Why would the president’s chief of staff conspire with the Russians? It’s not like some low level employee sold out his/her country for some cash; he must’ve known Logan for years to get to this position. Walt appears to be the ultimate mole. 24 usually doesn’t go far to explain why those who went bad did, the worst offender being Nina, but the emphasis they’ve placed on personal drama this season could change that trend.

This wasn’t as strong as the first hour, but the end was a solid first entry to the season, hitting the ground running and amplifying the personal ramifications of these attacks. There are some instances of lazy writing (like how no one noticed who Jack was at the airport), but the rest of the hour was enjoyable enough to forgive it.

Score: 8/10

Lost: Season 2, Episode 11: The Hunting Party Review

The Hunting Party
Original Airdate: January 18, 2006
Writers: Elizabeth Sarnoff and Christina M. Kim
Director: Stephen Williams

Following last week’s superb installment, there was a bit of disappointment. Although Jack’s flashbacks played off well against the current situation, there wasn’t enough forward movement in the plot, especially when they were placed in a position where it was necessary. However, the final moment showed that there may be some significant acceleration of the plot. As they are eleven episodes into the season, this is about the time they introduce the complications that will make up the finale.

At this point, it is worth discussing flashbacks. They are an integral piece of the show, but perhaps we’ve passed the stage when flashbacks are necessary for every episode. Originally, it helped develop these characters, giving us insight that would otherwise be missing on the island part of the story. Now we’re at the point where we have seen at least two flashbacks for most of the primary characters. This is Jack’s fifth. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I think with some of the flashbacks, notably Michael’s in “Adrift”, simply rehash what we already know instead of advancing the character arcs and overall island mythology. It is a little depressing to think that these rich characters only have one worthwhile story of their lives before the island.

That being said, I don’t think Jack’s flashbacks were as worthless as some criticized. It is true that they reiterated Jack’s obsession with saving everyone, but it was appropriate considering the current situation. His constant vigil over the man with the spinal tumor and the hot daughter took its toll on his marriage. Christian has always advised Jack to be detached, but he can’t. Perhaps a good flashback idea would be detailing how Jack became a person who wanted to save everyone.

The flashbacks, although they didn’t reveal anything shocking, work with the telling of Jack’s back story. Since Jack was able to work “a miracle” on Sarah, he now has the added pressure of being a miracle worker. He can’t be faulted for his diligence, but that is what causes his personal life to fall apart. Sarah dealt with it by finding someone else (who has been subject to debate). Jack was unable to fix the man or his marriage, so the idea that he’s going to start an army works with him learning from his past mistakes.

Jack still is unable to deal with his feelings for Kate. Sawyer is clearly in the running, but as far his experiences in this episode, all we see is that he’s jealous of what they’ve been sharing since Sawyer came back. By the end of the episode, he hasn’t found a solution to that dilemma, nor was he supposed to. This triangle is a big part of the series so far.

I was a bit disappointed in the reveal of what caused the disintegration of Jack’s marriage. Judging by the writing, it seems like they were going to have Sarah miscarry Jack’s baby, and the lack of consoling caused the split. This might’ve been too heavy and so it was rewritten as an affair, but a miscarriage would’ve worked better, playing into the Savior complex Jack has.

Michael’s meltdown was certainly expected, as he must be obsessively focused on his son the way Jack focuses on saving people. Although it is interesting that he knocked out Locke in the process. Of all the people, Locke would probably put up the least amount of resistance in Michael’s mission. In fact, he probably would’ve offered some more help. Michael needs it, since. Zeke apparently knew of Michael’s intentions and claimed (rightfully) that Michael wouldn’t find them. This adds weight to the theory that Walt’s IMs were a trap, but why do they want Michael to go out and to where?

Daniel Dae Kim continues to reap the rewards of a really well made arc. He has come a long way from isolating himself from the other castaways. His friendship with Michael is genuine and though he doesn’t know much English, he knows when he hears “Michael” and “Walt” the way it was said that he needs help. Jin’s desire to help them find Michael provides the writers a good opportunity to explore some of the issues of Sun and Jin’s marriage. The experiences they’ve had have taught Jin a lot about how he used to treat Sun. Although they were able to make up for lost time, their relationship still needs work.

A little character moment that resonated was Locke’s referral to Sawyer by his real name, James Ford. This puts to rest the speculation from fans wondering if Sawyer’s real name or his con name was on the flight manifest and how Locke knew Hurley’s real name in “Exodus II” (that still doesn’t mean Hurley didn’t own the box company Locke worked for). We haven’t seen many scenes with Sawyer and Locke, but it is interesting to see the differences between these two men. Sawyer, who picks nicknames for everyone, is a cynic, but Locke is more earnest, almost to the point of naïveté.

Then we have Charlie and Hurley in the hatchelor pad. It fits that they are hanging out talking about music because of Charlie’s career and Hurley’s CD player from season one (hopefully there is a plug outlet in there for him, I know I’d have a hard time without music). Then the conversation shifts to their women troubles. Hurley’s is cuter as he doesn’t have the control issues Charlie has. Charlie’s problems certainly stem from his addiction and recent “break up” with Claire. Locke filling in the role as “Uncle” isn’t making things easier.

The confrontation with The Others appears to be rather significant, but it doesn’t add much. Zeke (or Mr. Friendly as he is credited, but Sawyer’s nickname is better) appears to have some connection with Dharma, as he quoted Hanso to the party. Some believe that Zeke is Mr. Degroot, one of the original professors who started Dharma. It would’ve been nicer to have some type of definitive connection aside from some vague references. Zeke didn’t confirm that Ethan was a part of their group when Jack told them. A look he gave could indicate that he didn’t know Ethan, but merely bluffed. Some criticized the party for not being inquisitive enough (which makes Zeke’s comments on curiosity rather ironic), but judging by the situation, they were completely at Zeke’s mercy. I still would’ve liked someone to say they didn’t have choice about being on the island.

Perhaps there is a misunderstanding between The Others and our Castaways. It is worth noting that despite the obvious strength Zeke and his group yielded, none of the hunting party were seriously injured in the process. In addition, in “Exodus II” the only time they acted out against the raft pack was when Sawyer pulled his gun on them. He made sure they knew that the only reason they were still on the island was because they were allowed. Ethan was clearly a malevolent force, so there still could be some other groups there and Zeke’s Others served to protect those they took.

Of all the people to ask to start an army, why Ana-Lucia? Ana-Lucia has LAPD training, but Sayid was a member of an army, Locke knows a lot about weaponry and Eko is, well, Eko. I can see why he would go to her instead of the other three. We have to remember that Shannon was killed only three days earlier. Therefore, Sayid is still mourning, as we saw during the Charlie and Hurley scene. Locke, while certainly knowledgeable about survivalist techniques, isn’t likely to be one to use it for offensive measures. Finally, Eko isn’t likely to fight anyone following his epiphany and what happened the last time he took on some of the Others. Ana-Lucia makes sense: all the anger she has been feeling needs to be released somehow.

It will be interesting to see how other people react to Jack’s plan. Obviously, not everyone is going to be up for an army, be it because they are unfit for combat or they are opposed to aggression. Such a drastic move (although one that many thought was a long time coming) is going to cause a big rift among the group. If they can avoid having too many “Lord of the Flies” similarities regarding the schism, they could pull it off well for a rousing season finale.

Score: 7/10

24: Season 5, Episode 1: Day 5: 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Review

Day 5: 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Original Airdate: January 15, 2006
Writer: Howard Gordon
Director: Jon Cassar

There was massive hype about the first ten minutes that would “change everything”. Considering how Fox has hyped some of the episodes, fans certainly were justified at being skeptical. Last season there was the hype when Air Force One was shot down, which many saw coming from three episodes away. Thankfully, they learned from that and included some major twists in the episodes opening act, killing off two beloved characters (something surprisingly un-hyped). This definitely changes everything. While 24’s format doesn’t allow much in the way of an episode mourning their loss, Michelle and Palmer’s murders will be felt throughout the season.

24 earned a reputation for being willing to kill off major characters when Nina murdered Teri in season one’s finale, but the last major death was when Sherry died, and that was when she had over served her use. For whatever reason the producers had for not killing anyone since then, it lead viewers into a false sense of security. That was shattered instantly with Palmer’s assassination. His death is also a bit ironic considering the terrorists in season one tried for a whole day to kill him and failed, but these ones succeeded by getting him as he stared out the window, something he constantly did in the first season! I should’ve known Palmer was toast when I saw a picture of Dennis Haysbert in a midseason replacement show. Rest in peace Palmer, you will be dearly missed.

I certainly hope that Reiko Aylesworth (who I don’t think could’ve been any hotter in that outfit) has another job on deck as well. Michelle was a character you could originally write off, as most of her story in season two consisted of doing odd jobs and making googly eyes at Tony. But in time we were paid off with those incredibly riveting hotel episodes that showcased her unrightfully snubbed acting talent. Her love with Tony probably made them the most convincing couple on 24, which makes her death even more shocking. She brought out the best in Tony, eventually getting him to change his mind about going in to help. It is a fitting way for her to die.

These deaths, in addition to rocking the status quo to its core, raise the stakes. Instantly the crisis is in the red and the heroes are decimated. Killing off people on 24 often is to show how much is riding on the terrorists and the counter terrorists achieving their objective missions. In addition, these deaths hit close to home for the survivors. While big threats raise the stakes, the personal factor compels us.

It left a significant impression on Jack. Palmer and Michelle were probably among the few people who could be considered Jack’s friends, especially Palmer. Whenever they had a scene together, their chemistry was fantastic (if only they got to have a scene where they could hang out and watch football). The trust and respect these men had for each other was palpable, so Palmer’s death left a significant mark on him. Thanks to Palmer, Jack is still alive and Jack kept Palmer alive during the first season. Kiefer Sutherland does a fantastic job portraying the rage Jack is going through. We can imagine how much he wants those responsible to pay for what they did.

Another important reason to kill off Palmer, Michelle and seriously harm Tony is to let Chloe know that she is a target and to give Jack a reason to come out of hiding. One of Chloe’s defining features is her undying trust in Jack, and that’s something Jack doesn’t overlook. She is in this jam because of Jack, and he wouldn’t let her die because of him either. It makes sense that he would go out of hiding to help her.

Since Carlos Bernard is back on the lead cast, we can assume he will wake up from the injuries he sustained in the car bomb. His reaction will be as potent as that bomb. Tony is probably going to become the type of character we saw in Jack at the start of season two. Having Michelle leave him knocked him to below rock bottom, so having her murdered is going to bring out the “Death Wish” in him. It’ll be interesting to see how both Tony and Jack’s characters play out this season as far as their grief is concerned.

Jack is in an interesting position as far as his vengeance is concerned. Despite his survival, Jack Bauer’s record still lists him as deceased, so he doesn’t exist legally. This would allow him to exact revenge any way he chooses, as he did when he found out the last man at the yard was the one who killed Palmer. He probably would still blow away anyone responsible for his friends’ murders even if he was still on the radar. This is ultimate rogue for him. However, that will end as the season progresses; there may be a confrontation with the Chinese, who may find out that the person they thought was dead isn’t.

But before he goes rogue, it is weird to find Jack living a quiet life with a family. However, we see that he hasn’t lost much of what made him a master agent, as he quickly pulls a gun when someone knocks on the door. He also has a bag of tricks, filled with an unknown amount of weaponry. Jack is able to call Derek’s bluff when he asks about something that Jack did before they met. Derek doesn’t like him (how many guys like the guy who isn’t their dad who is dating their mother?) but that piece is meant to bring him into harm’s way when Jack has to take him hostage.

We knew that Jack’s calm suburban life would crumble quickly and Derek’s suspicion makes it messy. Of course, Derek’s mother Diana’s trust is a bit misplaced since Jack is there because of a lie. Jack must’ve never thought that he would be involved in his former line of work again, as we might have had last season’s finale been the last episode. However, the deus ex machina of Jack faking his death wasn’t as clean as they hoped.

I certainly don’t blame Derek for freaking out at the sudden change in his mom’s boyfriend. When he woke up, he thought Jack was “Frank”, the guy he’s supposed to hate. Within an hour, he sees what Jack is capable of, and that opinion changes completely. At first, he is rightfully scared, as Jack seemingly kidnaps him because he doesn’t want Derek to go to the police. Both Derek and Diane have right to be worried, as I don’t think Jack has hijacked a helicopter during the time he’s know them.

Chloe has come a long way since we first saw her. Originally, a character some found annoying, she has become an integral piece of the show (and after two seasons, finally admitted to the lead cast!) Now people are using the word “hot” to describe her! Of course, this is vital for the next big 24 love triangle between her, Edgar and Spenser (boo Spenser!) Spenser appears to be this year’s red herring as far as moles are concerned because of his less than cordial attitude towards Edgar, who he enjoys flaunting Chloe in front of.

Logan, who is now president (we don’t know if Keeler died or was just incapacitated following the strike in season four), hasn’t learned much since season four. Logan is obsessed with how he’ll look in the history books and keeping his wife out of the way more than having Palmer’s assassin apprehended and consoling a grieving nation. I'm surprised there wasn’t more action on behalf of Mike Novick or Aaron Pierce, who had meaningful relationships with Palmer, to convince the president otherwise. Regardless, Logan wants to go ahead with his photo op.

Martha Logan, his wife, is an interesting character; although some have cried that this storyline is too familiar of various tacked on personal storylines like Driscoll’s daughter last season. After seeing all four episodes of the premiere, I'm inclined to believe there is more to her than we thought and unlike Maya Driscoll, is directly connected to the conspiracy. Jean Smart is a bit like William Devane was in season four, a higher profile new addition to the cast, so they likely have some big things in store for her. We get the impression that she is unbalanced, but we don’t hear any specific mental disorder she has. Is there something wrong with her, or is the medication she’s taking the cause of her behavior?

It does bring to question why Palmer would want to talk to someone whose credibility would be questioned. Obviously, he wouldn’t want to talk to Logan because Logan was so ungrateful of Palmer’s invaluable help with the warhead (although he gladly took credit for the victory), but didn’t Palmer have any other friends in high places that he could relay whatever he knew to them? This is, of course, speculation because we don’t know what David wanted to tell her. What he knew of the conspiracy could be only appropriate for Martha to hear.

With these new terrorists, new questions arise. The season five prequel told us that someone hacked into Chloe’s system for the files relating to Jack’s “death”, but if they were going to assassinate Palmer and pin it on Jack, why were they chasing him in the prequel? This could be explained later. In addition, why do these terrorists want Jack to come out of hiding? Do they have a personal vendetta against him? Did they find him while planning this strike and in the process found a perfect fall guy? Or are they related to the Chinese? Why are they doing this today, when Logan is set to sign a treaty with Russia? It’ll be interesting to see the answers as this season plays out.

This was a fantastic premiere, possibly the best of the five. Killing off two of the central characters of the first four seasons was risky, but it paid off extremely well. The personal stakes are raised instantly, as is our personal interest. I also think with the new additions to the production staff (David Fury hurrah!) the dialogue has gotten significantly better, allowing more characterization. The writers were able to jump over the hurdle of how to get Jack back without making it contrived flawlessly. This could easily become the best season ever.

Score: 9/10

Lost: Season 2, Episode 10: The 23rd Pslam Review

The 23^rd Psalm
Original Airdate: January 11, 2006
Writers: Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse
Director: Matt Earl Beesley

This episode had a lot riding on it. It is the first episode after a six week hiatus and the season had been criticized for its slow pacing. They seem to be addressing it by having the two sides of the plane merge, in addition to revealing some major parts of the island mythology. In “What Kate Did”, they showed just that; her original crime. Now we get some answers to other questions: what is the story behind the plane and what is the nature of the monster, while profiling the most intriguing of the tailies.

We had reason to suspect Eko had a history of violence, as the producers say everyone on the show has some variation of one, but it may be shocking to know he likely had the most violent of any of them. I read on Entil’s reviews that he compared Eko to Book on Firefly and after this episode, I have to agree. Book, like Eko, was the religious man with the mysterious past, likely connected to violence. Unfortunately, Firefly burned out before they could explore that. Luckily, Lost has been a major hit, allowing them time to do what Firefly couldn’t.

Eko’s struggles draw parallel to Sayid’s. Both men are from societies that, while different, have been ravaged by violence and have been involved in the groups perpetuating it. While Sayid was working for a dictator, Eko found himself recruited by one of the gangs in his homeland. Later, they found a way to leave this violence and try to find a road to redemption, albeit in different ways. For Sayid, it was a conscious decision to escape and let Nadia go free, but fate brought Eko’s chance for redemption. This could’ve been a decent reason to have him in the episode, but he remains absent.

Eko has the second direct connection to the island before being there. The first was Hurley, whose experiences with the numbers lead him to the island. Eko was originally going to be on the plane that crashed in the jungle years before he wound up on Flight 815. That piece of information is a lot to chew on. No one else as far as we know has had an experience like this one. He would’ve been on the island, but for whatever reason, he was kept off until now. Why? Perhaps it has to do with his rebirth as a priest: he wasn’t ready for the island until that point. It does add to the importance of fate and destiny, which course through the show.

It comes full circle for Eko. His story begins when he kills a man so his brother, Yemi, won’t be killed by the Nigerian mob, in addition to sparing Yemi of the guilt of murder. They tear off his crucifix, which his brother picks up. Eko gives up his soul because he has no choice. He grows up a criminal; slashing throats like nothing, whereas his brother becomes a priest in the missionary they inhabited as kids. In the end, his brother dies when the police he alerted shoot him. He takes his place on the plane. He saves Eko in the same literal and spiritual sense that Eko did for his brother when they were younger. This memory coincides with him finding his brother’s body and the crucifix, solidifying his redemption.

It ties in well to the opening segment where Eko talks to Claire about Moses and Aaron. Aaron was Moses’ mouthpiece because Moses wasn’t a good orator. Eko is the Aaron figure, serving to deliver the message that his Yemi can’t. He originally was lost as he found himself involved in drug trafficking and murder, but now the island has set him on the path to be the instrument for his dead brother’s faith.

Charlie’s character has a lot to do in this episode, as his storyline draws a parallel to Eko’s. Both men have some story of them falling while their brother in the end rises. However, Eko’s actions were to spare his brother from living a violent life with hoodlums. Charlie’s heroin addiction doesn’t feel as noble, and he is still unable to accept responsibility for his actions. Charlie is weak and Eko is strong, but both lost faith either way. So in the end, Eko finds some peace with his faith, while Charlie is in a murky area.

Because of his problems, Claire finally decides to kick Charlie out. Through most of the season so far, Claire has questioned Charlie’s role in Aaron’s life and finding out about the statue was the last straw. She certainly has right to, as I've mentioned before. Charlie was more the father figure because he was there for her and they were friends, not because of something deeper. However, shippers are likely to take note with that, I am only saying this is how it stands now, and having them separated delays the reunion longer.

Eko, like Locke, offered treatment for Charlie’s problems. The previously on Lost segment reminded us of when Locke withheld the heroin in order to teach Charlie inner strength (yeah, there was the whole “ask me three times” bit). Eko takes a different strategy. He gives Charlie the Mary statue, untouched, leaving the choice entirely to Charlie. While I do believe that Charlie has been clean, his collection of statues appears to be setting himself up for a showdown. He was awfully jittery when he was hanging with Jin (and as for “He’s Evil”, well I don’t know what to make of that.)

So we finally get a good shot of the monster (or at least part of it), that smoke. Whatever is in it is truly powerful. Some have theorized that they are nano machines working together. That could be possible, but one thing worth noting is what is going on in that smoke. Thanks to the devoted army of Lost fans on the net, we have some screen captures of what was in the smoke, and it was interesting. Among the images: Eko’s brother getting shot, a crucifix and the man Eko shot as a boy. What is it that causes it to display memories, if that is what it really showed? Is the monster scanning him? Is Eko seeing what we are? Eko stared at it without fear, which ties into the episode’s title, as if the smoke is the “shadow of death” and Eko’s faith spares him.

While many have been screaming about the monster, I’m still skeptical that we saw the whole thing. There were those screeching noises similar to the ones Locke’s adding machine made in “Walkabout”, but the horn bellowing is absent. One can look back to Locke’s perceptions of what he saw, one of awe (“Walkabout”) and one of terror (“Exodus II”). Also, when Locke was being dragged, we could hear the sound of a chain being cranked, which would be tough to associate with the mysterious black smoke. It’s quite possible that there could be a monster for all six stations and the clanging thing and the whispers are others.

Many of the characters didn’t get much this episode, but I’m fine with that since it allowed a great focus on those who did. As for those in the background, I’m definitely on the list of shippers for Hurley and Libby. I’m always for the big guy to get with the cute girl. Also, Libby is a clinical psychiatrist and Hurley has been in psych wards. That would likely yield some interesting drama if they decide to mine it. Jin and Sun are the first people excluding Jack to engage Ana-Lucia. She’s still the outcast, but eventually she’ll have to face the rest of the group, especially Sayid.

Kate and Sawyer are definitely heading more towards a real couple, as they share that cutesy moment when he gets his haircut, but we are quickly reminded that Jack is still a part of this dynamic, but he seems to be sidelined. This could be simply because the episode focused so heavily on Eko and Charlie, but we’ll see what happens next when they get a significant amount of screen time.

But the big storyline aside from this one is Michael trying to learn more about where Walt is. Though he tries to convince everyone that he isn’t interested in going AWOL for Walt, he is certainly heading in that direction as we saw Locke training him on the guns (RIP ranch dressing). Locke certainly has reason to want Walt back, as they bonded during the first season. One thing that bothers me is why no one seems to be actively taking care of him. Leaving him alone in the hatch, even with the weapons locked up, is a recipe for disaster. And wouldn’t someone have told him that you can’t use it to communicate?

Then we also have the conversation between him and “Walt” (I’m keeping it in quotations because I’m not sure that Walt is on the other end). I went over several theories in my last review, but this new one I thought of after Jack’s conversation with Michael. Since there were no messages when we saw the screen from Jack’s perspective, it could be in Michael’s head. Michael has had a rough week and his problems are difficult to solve. Therefore, he may be trying to manifest something that can help him solve this problem.

Whatever small problems there were with the logic of Michael’s storyline, this was probably the best episode of the second season to date. The direction is great (the use of yellow and red filters made Eko's flashbacks look like Africa). The sharpest script of the season really gives one of the best actors in the cast time to shine. Adewale Akinnouye Agbaje commands the episode and we see both his brutal and gentle sides, which flow flawlessly. Also the revelation of the monster (or part of it) adds to the intrigue, which may mean the slow burn for the second season may boil over soon.

Score: 9/10

A little update on reviews!

Hello everyone!

It's that time of year. Time for shows (and college students like me) to come back from their Christmas breaks for new episodes. Lost and 24 will be the primary shows I'll review. My review for "The 23rd Psalm" will be up by tomorrow, as will at least the first part of 24's two-hour premiere. Ideally I'll get all 4 reviews up by the weekend, but I can't promise anything. I'm starting up school for the spring semester, so it may be a while.

Take care.

Lost: Season 1, Episode 5: White Rabbit Review

White Rabbit
Original Airdate: October 20, 2004
Writer: Christian Taylor
Director: Kevin Hooks

Now we come to the most important facing our castaways: how do they get the group to function in a way that benefits everyone? At this point, people are still acting in their own interests from draining the water supply to Sawyer using his perks to gain influence. That won’t work for a long term stay. Sun mentions that they need someone to tell them what to do. Their water is now down to about a cup per person and the castaways wake up to a drowning. The people now turn to Jack, who they’ve turned to since the crash, to see what to do. Only Jack is unsure. The constant assistance and the lack of sleep have taken a toll on him. At first, Jack was willing to be a leader for the sake of the survivors, but now his thoughts are on his father, whose detachment created his problems with leadership.

Jack's leadership was something he didn't want. He only got it because he was the first to create organization within the chaos of the crash. His reluctance stems from his daddy issues (the first time we've seen a character with one so far). As a kid, his father told Jack that he didn't have what it takes to be a leader because of his unwillingness to let things go instead of praising his son’s decision to do the right thing. Jack’s stubborn nature is a sharp contrast from his dad’s, who is detached to the point of apathy, largely because of alcoholism and pills. It is this detachment that leads to his downfall.

Jack goes on a bender of sorts himself, disregarding the group to pursue the vision of his father lurking in the jungle. The pursuit puts up his blinders so that he almost dies in the process. But the person to save him is Locke. If there is someone who can come close to deciphering what this is about, it would be Locke, the closest connected person to the island. He doesn’t know everything, or at least doesn’t reveal everything.

Locke and Jack’s conversation in the jungle is the first of many scenes contrasting the differences between the man of science (Jack) and the man of faith (Locke). This moment could’ve been when Locke revealed his secret, but instead he is vague about his epiphany (staring into the eye of the island). Since he is the man of faith, he is more interested in having Jack believe the power the island holds rather than know. Therefore, he leaves Jack to finish his journey so he can lead.

Locke brings up some interesting points, like what if they were all brought there for a reason and what is possible on the island is different from what is possible elsewhere. Fate is a huge part of this show, and it is appropriate that they’re including other castaways’ chance encounters with other castaways before the flight. The next logical question is why did fate bring these people on the island? Of those we’ve seen, the island appears to be bringing out the full potential of the castaways. Locke certainly hopes that it can bring the leader out in Jack, but he doesn’t know how to get him there.

While in the jungle, Jack faces many of his daddy issues that are getting in the way of him leading the group. Jack has to let go of these problems and “lessons” his father taught him to be a leader for the long term. We see this in the flashbacks that he defended his father despite the fact that Jack’s dad wasn’t fit to be the head of surgery. Destroying his father’s empty casket is symbolic of him cutting the control his father once had. Jack’s quest brings him to a source of fresh water and a sustainable shelter, two things they’ll need if they want to stay there for a long time. It is his reward.

Of course, the empty casket offers some more questions. Where is Jack’s father? Was Jack’s father on the island a hallucination? If it was, did stress or sleep deprivation cause it or was the island involved? What's with the white sneakers? Because the answers aren’t clear, Jack can dismiss it as a hallucination (we can’t have him become a believer by episode five).

It is interesting to see this episode knowing that Jack wasn't going to be around after the first hour of the pilot. Because Jack is away from the others, many scenes could've played out with little alteration. However, I do not know at what point in the planning of the series that they decided to keep Jack around, so this could be idle speculation.

Through these early episodes, remnants of the Sayid-Kate-Sawyer triangle are still clear. Sayid and Kate are the two subleaders, and Sawyer is out to subvert that power. Kate's authority is ironic, as she spent her time off the island avoiding authority. Kate's power has come from her time with Jack, whereas Sayid has his professional training to gain influence. He finds fault in the plan to keep the water in one place and knows that they needed to wait until Sawyer went to his stash to confront him. Sawyer has no intention to start a new life as a good person just yet with all the things he has that everyone else wants.

Charlie and Hurley serve as helpers. They know they aren't fit to lead the group and they know to alert those who are taking those roles when things go wrong. Charlie's main concern is for Claire, whose health goes south from the heat and lack of water. Claire’s health scare allows them to realign the Charlie/Claire arc, which almost seemed to be swerving back to Shannon after he caught the fish.

We see a little bit more of Claire’s personal beliefs, as she tells Kate how she "gets" astrology. Since this does tie into her own history, this foundation is very helpful when rewatching season one. Charlie's shoulder tattoo also can be some connection they have. For those unaware, the phrase is taken from The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever". That one line can be interpreted in many ways. As far as the show is concerned, many characters have problems seeing the whole picture, especially Charlie. His bag of heroin is diminishing and it has affected the way he’s acted, which eventually will come to a head.

Boone's ego has been bruised as his attempts at leadership and heroism fail miserably. Unlike Jack, he wants to be a leader, but isn’t. He blames Jack because he got there first, although Boone would've drowned had Jack not saved him. What hurts Boone in the group most is his need to have control. Although he does give Claire some water, his thievery likely caused her to pass out. He wanted to use the water the same way Sawyer uses bug spray, to gain power because they have access to it. However, the analogy doesn’t work considering that water is a necessity and Sawyer is withholding creature comforts.

If Jack’s dad did aside from reveal a lot about Jack, he showed us that Michael is far from being the worst dad on the show. He obviously is inexperienced as he is unable to calmly explain why not to drink ocean water, but hardly telling Walt he doesn’t have what it takes. There is a hint of Sun-Michael drama, but that is overshadowed by Sun-Jin drama. Jin does have feelings for Sun, but he is still angry being stuck with only his wife to converse with, and even that isn’t making him treat her nicely. He does ease up a little bit with the water, though.

Now we’ve reached another important piece of what it’ll take to live on the island, when the immediate aftershock of the crash is fading and now they have to worry about what everyday life on this island will be like. In addition to that, the leader is now facing doubts about his position. They do a good job showing Jack’s emotional growth, emphasizing Jack’s warning that they need to learn to “live together, or we’re gonna die alone” and Locke’s advice that leaders need to know what direction they’re going in if they want that role.

Score: 8/10

Lost: Season 1, Episode 4: Walkabout Review

Walkabout
Original Airdate: October 13, 2004
Writer: David Fury
Director: Jack Bender

I had trouble deciding what to rate this episode. When I first saw this episode (thankfully unspoiled), I originally gave it an eight. Of the episodes Lost made, this one probably got the most discussion aside from the Pilot. This is due to the surprise twist, revealing that Locke was in a wheelchair before the flight. I definitely thought Locke’s back story was excellent, but there were other elements that didn’t please me to that level. However, after rewatching it several times and hearing the DVD commentary (if you don’t have the season 1 DVD, pick it up), I have come to appreciate the episode on a technical level, both in the script and production, so much as to upgrade my original rating.

Terry O’Quinn, as Locke, is one of Lost’s most valuable assets. Up to this point Locke was the most mysterious of the castaways, but it was clear that he had some connection to the island. Hurley, as the voice of the audience, asks “Who is this guy?” It is a question that has intrigued the audience and the delivery lived up to that. We learn about Locke at a pivotal point in his story, as he decides to finally integrate himself in the tribe.

The first problem that allows Locke to step up comes when wild boars invade the camp because of the smell of the rotting corpses. Like last episode, how to deal with the bodies is another step in their shift into island life. Nothing was done about the bodies because they assumed a rescue boat would arrive and take care of that. Now they have corpses cooking in the sun for several days, upsetting the survivors as well as attracting wildlife. Jack knows that the bodies must be burned so as not to attract animals to dug graves (interestingly, no other person who has died has been burned). His attitude is rather callous and offends the spiritual Sayid and Claire, but he doesn’t protest a memorial service for those who died. Knowing what I know, Jack’s behavior isn’t a surprise, but it does raise questions for those who don’t know why he would act this way.

We must remember that only four days have passed since the crash, so surviving is top priority. Their second dilemma comes as their food dwindles to a bag of airplane peanuts and those certainly won’t stay fresh in a tropical environment with no refrigeration. Now Locke has the opportunity to integrate himself into the group. He can solve both food problems and the boars in one fell swoop. Before the crash, Locke lived a life of fantasies and adventures, and now all the information he’s collected about survival can be put to good use.

Claire’s efforts to find information on the literally lost castaways drops a hint about Sayid’s past and his reason for wanting to get off the island. This is the first instance of seeing the soft side of Sayid, which often clashes with the tough Republican Guard Sayid. Some have criticized the producers decision to add scenes to episodes afterward, saying it only adds to the belief that they’re making it up as they go along, but the moment of character development helps and that is what Lost is about.

Claire’s search and preparation of the memorial service also ties into her personal beliefs. As we learn later, Claire is very spiritual, often more towards new age spirituality and this episode helps establish that fact about her character.

Michael’s behavior is consistent for someone who just became a father. We wouldn’t buy it if he suddenly became a good father overnight. He wants to gain Locke’s favor, thereby gaining his son’s, but leaving him with the woman he saw partially naked and as far as he knows, unable to speak English, is a questionable parenting choice. This interaction does show us how resourceful Sun is, creating a toothbrush from some plants.

Shannon and Boone fight again, where once again she’s told she’s useless. Boone challenges her to catch a fish, but what she does is use Charlie’s crush on her (which does throw off the vibes he has towards Claire) to get what she wants. And she thinks she did it. Obviously since it is only night 5 by the end of the episode, the characters are still being established so the arcs will work.

Now that the Marshal has died, Jack is now helping Rose, who has been quiet since she was revived in “Pilot, Part 1”. Her thoughts are on her husband, but unlike Jack, she has faith that her husband is still alive. She is very similar to Locke in this respect.

What really shakes Jack is the odd apparition. It has been five days at this point, and the writers are certainly conscious that this leadership has been taking a toll on Jack, as it will be explored in Jack’s flashbacks.

“Don’t tell me what I can’t do!” It has become an ongoing theme for Lost. It really emphasizes the frustration Locke feels in the wheelchair. Locke’s life before the flight was sad, like a contemporary Willy Loman. He was a loser, deceiving himself, being picked on by bullies at work and having his capability questioned. He had dreams of adventure and destiny, but reality kept him down. But on the island, it all changed. He is healed. It suddenly is very clear why Locke has so much invested in the island.

This is the first time a castaway has had direct contact with the monster without it leading in death. Of course this must’ve been difficult to stage. It’s too early to reveal the monster like just yet. One thing worth noting is that Terry O’Quinn was told that the monster was “the most beautiful thing [he’d] ever seen”. That explanation is awfully vague, as beauty differs. What was it that Locke found beautiful? Why did it spare Locke whereas it killed the pilot? It’s safe to assume that the monster killed the boar for Locke, but like his former disability, he isn’t likely to be sharing what happened with anyone else.

The script is a large reason why this episode is so highly praised among fans. This is thanks to writer David Fury, who had proved himself on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. There are so many things you pick up in the writing that were foretelling of the twist, but we never noticed them because Bender, Fury and O’Quinn thankfully underplay them. Locke was only seen sitting or lying down in the flashbacks. When Randy teases him about going on the Walkabout, we assume he’s doing it because it would be out of Locke’s element, not because he was disabled; Randy even emphasizes the phrase “on foot”. Later in the scene, Locke references a man without legs who was able to climb Everest. When he’s talking to “Helen”, there is a machine by the bed, which the commentary revealed was a device used to stimulate the muscles in his legs.

This revelation, like many on Lost, only brings up more questions, the obvious ones being how Locke was able to walk again and what caused him to be paralyzed initially. He could be in that wheelchair for a multitude of reasons, but they don't have time to detail. What is it about the island that reversed that cause? Such a shocking moment made some to declare this as the defining moment of the season for Lost and all of primetime. It is probably the most indicative episode of what Lost would become aside from the pilot. The Futon Critic dubbed Walkabout as the best television episode of 2004 and although I disagree, it is clear why some people believe that.

Score: 10/10

Lost: Season 1, Episode 3: Tabula Rasa Review

Tabula Rasa
Original Airdate: October 6, 2004
Writer: Damon Lindelof
Director: Jack Bender

After the pilot, the show now settles into its standard format: telling the story of what’s happening on the island while backtracking to reveal more about one character’s history each episode. This element helps the show’s storytelling because the stories aren’t restricted to the island. Evangeline Lilly was one of the breakout stars of the 2004-2005 season. Considering this is her first speaking role makes her performance all the more remarkable. With her character’s mysterious history, it is fitting that she go first. Though Jack would be a logical first choice, the situations on the island make Kate a better choice. When we found out what her identity was, we suddenly wanted to know what she did. This episode doesn’t provide an answer. Rather, they focus on the final chapter of Kate’s life of crime, her capture, leading to her (off screen) extradition to the US via the fateful flight.

As the window of immediate rescue dwindles, the survivors now have to face the possibility of long term life on this island. We know that the show would end when they’re rescued (assuming that’s how it will end), but the castaways don’t know that they will be there for a long time. So how will these people adapt to island life? As we see, some things, like Jack not wanting to kill the Marshal, don’t work on the island as well as it would off.

Jack and Kate were getting on well, so they had to throw a wrench into that system. As the break out leader of the castaways, Jack had to discover Kate’s criminal past soon. Although Jack doesn’t want to know what Kate did, it won’t be quite as easy to let something like that slide between them. There is an uncertainty which must’ve caught his imagination. Locke would be more willing to leave it to mystery. Jack is a man who wants to know: he is a man of science, an element which is integral to his character.

It also introduces the new dynamic of Sawyer turning this twosome into a full blown love triangle. There are several differences between these two men shown in this episode. Where Jack scans the fuselage for medicine, Sawyer looks for personal perks and comfort items. While Jack follows his Hippocratic Oath by not euthanizing the Marshal (certainly a morally questionable action, even if he wanted it), Sawyer helps Kate by shooting the Marshal. Jack isn’t willing to go “into the wild” by keeping the Marshal from experiencing days of agonizing pain ending in death until Sawyer puts him in that position.

Sawyer’s reasoing about Jack’s use of the medicine makes sense. Unfortunately, there is only a finite amount of medicine to use on the island and no way to get more unless some plane dropped a deus ex machina sized box of medical supplies on the beach. This also ties into how the castaways believe when or if rescue will come. Many are starting to realize that they will be there for a while, and they need to be prepared for the next medical emergency, like the eight months pregnant Claire.

Although it would’ve been interesting to have the Marshal stay on the show longer, his death is fitting with the theme of starting over. To wipe the slate clean Kate shouldn’t have that constant reminder of her past. The Marshal isn’t just some cop sent to get her; he is someone who has a history with her. Also, his function in the overall story appears to be of the cat in the cat and mouse game with Kate in her flashbacks. With the death of the Marshal, it becomes clearer that this will be a long term stay.

Kate has done some bad things. However, judging by her attitude, it would be hard to believe that she is drop kick puppies into traffic evil. If she was, she would’ve left Ray to die with his truck instead of lugging him out, giving the Marshall enough time to catch up to her. Despite ratting her out, she is still sympathetic to the farmer’s problems with his mortgage. She wanted her freedom, but didn’t hate him for his decision. This also explains why she didn’t just suffocate the Marshal at some point, or go through with the Marshal’s wish. It would be interesting if there was someone who was a genuinely dangerous criminal on the flight, but that doesn’t seem likely.

Although Kate and Jack get the bulk of the action, our supporting characters still have something to do. Boone’s actions are consistent with someone eager to take on a large role of leadership, but not ready or able to handle it. He’s very much like Jack might’ve been ten years earlier. Boone is out of luck as other characters have taken the leadership roles. Sayid is one of them, as he convinces wisely to keep the news of the transmission secret.

There is more to Walt than we originally thought. There were hints of it as the comic book he read contained a polar bear, who later showed up on the island. As he argued with his dad about Locke and when to look for Vincent, the rain stopped shortly after Michael said he would look when the weather cleared. Perhaps there was more to the wipe of Walt turning the pages of the comic to Walt’s face in “Pilot, Part 2”.

Michael has another moment that appears to be the setting up the romantic angle between him and Sun. However, in the long run, both characters are better off with the storylines directly related to their family. Jin still isn’t winning over fans, but the way he tells Sun to bathe could be taken at least two different ways. There’s little mention of the monster aside from this scene, but the sounds Michael heard didn’t resemble the massive noises we’ve heard before.

Michael, attempting to connect with his son, is jealous about the connection Walt has made with Locke. With his fresh start, Michael hopes to make up for the years he wasn’t in his son’s life and Locke’s involvement is too soon for Michael’s comfort. The fact that they’re already sharing secrets isn’t making it easier. However, Locke isn’t interesting in swooping up Walt for himself, as he gives Michael the opportunity to give Walt his dog.

It is odd how Locke would take such an interest in Walt, to the point of crafting a dog whistle to bring Vincent out. The eerie final shot of Locke watching over the sweet reunion between Walt and Vincent undercuts the montage that preceded it, leaving the audience to ask what this guy’s story is. Some have suspected that Locke is a pedophile, but I disagree. If they were going to go that way, I think the character would’ve been handled differently.

As rescue grows less likely, the castaways now have to face long term life on the island. That means that the castaways have a second chance, a clean slate to make a new identity. Although Jack’s quote fueled the purgatory theory (which has been debunked more times than they’ll ever know), it does work as a metaphor. They have been reborn, but what will they do with that second chance? And considering the human reluctance to forgive in some situations, will it be that easy?

Score: 8/10

Lost: Season 1, Episode 2: Pilot, Part 2 Review

Pilot, Part 2
Original Airdate: September 29, 2004
Story: Jeffrey Lieber, J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof
Writers: J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof
Director: J.J. Abrams

As the last episode focused more on the event of the plane crash along with the introduction of the monster, this episode develops the characters we ran into in the first part. They accomplish this through several combinations of interactions and one major coupling of the group out to see if the transceiver will work. It builds on the foundations we saw in the first hour, showing that there is more to these characters than initially believed.

Of the characters we've met, Hurley is the most likeable. He tries to be helpful and friendly, which allows for some of the lighter moments of the show. What would've been an otherwise serious scene where the Marshall wound starts bleeding is made comic when Hurley slumps over him. Although "the fat guy" is usually a comic figure (or a tough guy), Hurley's humor doesn't come from his weight, but they did have to acknowledge it, via Sawyer's first nickname.

This is the first time we see Jin's skill for fishing, although he still has a way to go to get to the level he is now (episode 34). We also see how protective he is of Sun, demanding she button up the top button of her shirt. Sun defiantly undoes it later, which shows that she is not just some subservient stereotype that she was made up to be in the first half. The writers also wisely excluded the subtitles from them when a non-English speaker was with them. It adds to the wall that these two characters have made.
There is clearly more to Jin than some misogynist with control issues. Although he originally wanted to remain separate from the rest of the tribe, by day 2, he knew he couldn't be alone if they were there for the long term. Therefore, he used his fishing to make peace with them. It gives him a tender moment with Claire, as she feels her baby kicking for the first time since the crash.

Michael is not going to be a candidate for father of the year (but compared to some of the dads we'll see later, Michael's a saint). He loses track of his son, is unable to recall his age and implies that Walt's dog is dead. However, he does care about his son. Walt has been living with his mother, who we find out died recently. Michael is just learning to be a father 10 years after his son’s birth, so I’m cutting him some slack.

Michael's negligence allows Walt to explore, finding the handcuffs, which serve as the catalyst for the main character interactions of the episode. We know these characters have their share of secrets, and having one be criminal and that knowledge public while the identity remains unknown ups the ante. It creates tension between Sayid and Sawyer, as well as revealing a crucial piece of Kate's back story.

Kate being the criminal makes a lot of sense, aside from the shock value. She expressed noticeable concern for the Marshall and the handcuffs when they were found and acted suspicious when Sawyer mentioned he knew there was a Marshall on the plane. When we first saw her, she was limping out of the jungle rubbing her wrists, sore from the cuffs. Her location is very telling: she would want to separate herself from the castaways. It's worth wondering what would've happened to her had Jack not gotten her to fix his wound. Would that have taken her to something the castaways wouldn't find or find sometime later? Despite her criminal past, she doesn't seem entirely dangerous, as she helped the Marshall put on the air mask when he was unconscious.

There are some interesting facts we learn, like Sayid is a former member of the Republican Guard in Iraq (thankfully no soapboxing was done with this). Of course, his appearance causes Sawyer to suspect him of bringing the plane down (a question that hasn’t been asked much since then). Sawyer’s stereotypes also lend a bit to his characterization. However, Sayid isn’t a fanatic, but rather someone who, aside from his fights with Sawyer, acts calmly, and knows technology.

It is fitting that Sawyer's first real scene interacting with the cast is a fight. For the lack of action he had in the first half, he makes up for it in the second. Like Jin, Sawyer isn't initially a likeable character, grating against the other characters, but we can see why he became one: Josh Holloway is charismatic. His remarks antagonize him from the rest of the group, but he’s such a rebel bad boy that we can forgive that. Of course, there is the letter that produces a very un-Sawyer like response out of him, but more about that later.

After being silent for the first hour and a half, we hear Locke speak, in what became a pivotal scene. Backgammon's ancient origins and light vs. dark theme ties into some aspects of Lost. It is also the beginning of Locke and Walt's relationship, which will be a big part of this first season. Also, there is the secret Locke tells Walt. I don't think they ever explicitly say what that is, but we can imply what it was based on something in an upcoming episode.

Charlie's heroin addiction adds to the number of issues facing our castaways. It serves to explain why he really went into the cockpit bathroom and why he bumped into Jack as we saw in the first half of the episode. Charlie's life is much like the second part of the more depressing episodes (or midway through the uplifting ones) of Behind the Music, but is in denial about it.

It is also the beginning of Shannon's arc, where she is told she is useless and her desperate attempts to prove those critics wrong. They do have a point, as Shannon gets some sun while everyone else scours the bags for supplies and relies on trauma to excuse herself from doing anything. She does prove useful by translating the transmission, but she is still reluctant to do it despite being the only one with any practical knowledge of French. It's symbolic that we can still see her bikini underneath her clothes.

This episode shows that there is more to this island than a mysterious monster. Yes, there are polar bears. Polar bears support the theory that this island has been subject to numerous experiments. Then we have the eerie message, which has been playing for sixteen years, that closes the episode. The fact that it is in French adds to the melting pot of the island. Remember that it was only a few hours before that Kate and Charlie were running for their lives from the monster. Now they have more to worry about.

This is a solid continuation of the Pilot, building upon what they laid out first. While those who produce pilots have to go in with the idea that this is likely the only episode that they will do, they assuredly lack closure. Such a rush would've ruined what they established. Luckily, the gamble worked both for the network and for the viewers.

And when did Jack, Kate or Charlie tell Boone the monster ate the pilot? End nitpick for otherwise superbly made pilot.

Score: 8/10

Lost: Season 1, Episode 1: Pilot, Part 1 Review

Pilot, Part 1
Original Airdate: September 22, 2004
Story: Jeffrey Lieber, J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof
Writers: J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof
Director: J.J. Abrams

With one plane crash, forty-eight survivors and an uncountable amount of mysteries, Lost, along with Desperate Housewives (which premiered less than two weeks later), revived ABC, which had been relegated to a joke among the big three. Those made cynical by the way TV works may have been likely to believe this show would've been good, had a strong cult following, but quickly canceled while the rest of the world doesn't notice. That assumption makes Lost one of the biggest surprises of 2004. It also marks a watershed moment for network TV: a shift from the glut of reality shows back to scripted shows, a moment that couldn't have come sooner for those jaded by them.

Pilots are always tricky to do. You have to balance setting up the characters and the problems while simultaneously telling a good story. Lost has the added challenge of introducing 14 characters and to convince the audience that this show wasn’t Survivor, Jurassic Park or even Gilligan’s Island (now deep in the second season, such a comparison is now absurd). Thanks to one of the largest budgets ever allotted to a pilot episode, a well-written script, and great direction, they pull it off fantastically in a production that looks cinematic in scale.

The intensity and urgency grab you from the second that pupil dilates. We feel much like Jack, confused and a little scared. It builds as he runs through the jungle, then stops. The silence adds to the suspense to the plane crash site. Focusing on Jack, we're thrown headfirst into the crisis, but we can still comprehend enough not to be confused. We're given several different reactions: those who are dazed from shock (Charlie), those who panic (Shannon), those desperately looking for someone (Michael) and those who try to help (Jack and Boone). This exhaustive sequence is thrilling; piling on the problems for Jack, never giving us a feeling of safety. Of course, we have to mention the guy who got sucked into the jet engine, which adds to the sense of anything can happen on this island. This sequence is a large reason behind the episode's huge budget, but it pays for itself in what it did for the show as a whole.

One of the most interesting aspects of this episode is what we don't know. Of the cast, only a handful are named. This certainly helps the show avoid the exposition dump common in pilots. Also, we don't need to juggle all fourteen names right now. If we did, some would tune out from information overload. The immediate aftermath of the plane crash would be an implausible place for people to tell each other their life stories. The only people they need to name are the ones heading to the cockpit since that is the big piece of the episode post-crash.

As the crash aftermath subsides, they need to continue a sense of urgency, so the "monster" starts tearing down trees in the jungle. If anything that fans wants to know about, it is this. From what we have in this episode, it sounds like a combination of organic and mechanical sounds (how much fun must it have been to make the monster noises). There is that dominant horn, followed by the chirping that sounds like a machine printing a receipt. Whatever it is, we know immediately why it strikes fear in the people on the island.

An interesting choice in this pilot is that two characters who would become central to the show, Sawyer and Locke, don't do anything significant in this first part. Since they didn't have much to do with the plot in this part, the writers manage to craft in some quick characterizations. Sawyer's lighting of a cigarette made my dad comment that something about him was up to no good. As for Locke, he stares at the shoreline in meditation. When everyone seeks shelter from the rain, Locke embraces it, as if it is cleansing. It's important that they show this mysterious nature as it adds to the speculative nature that fuels this show.

For the other cast members, I remember Daniel Dae Kim from his work on Angel, where he was always in Christian Kane's shadow, and 24, where he didn't have much to do character wise. While we initially see the yet unnamed Jin demand that he and his wife Sun stay together, it doesn't leave a desirable impression. This relationship is definitely a stock relationship: the overbearing husband and the submissive wife who obeys. Many are like that: spoiled brat Shannon, painting her toenails; Hurley, the fat guy serving as comic relief; Boone, the guy who wants to help, but is useless. However, when we look closer through the series, we see that there is far more to them than that.

The diverse cast is refreshing. There is one Latino, three blacks, a Middle Easterner and two Asians. When was the last time you saw two Asians in the lead cast of a primetime show (or how many shows have had even one)? As it is a show whose cast consists of passengers on a plane, it would hard to believe it would be entirely white people. It works for character heavy drama to have people from different walks of life. Co-creators Abrams and Lindelof said that an important piece of this show is to have people who would never interact otherwise become friends on this island.

Watching in retrospect (at this time, the most recently aired episode was the ninth episode of the second season), I caught many hints and foreshadowing of events to come later in the season. Some of these things would be revealed later in the second part of the pilot. I'll talk about those in future reviews. This show takes its time, which is certainly wise in terms of the pilot.

Evangeline Lilly, in her first speaking role, is a true find for the producers. Originally, Jack was going to be the one hanging in the tree at the ending of this episode and the show was going have Kate as the focal point. We could see from her performance in this episode that such an alternative reality Lost could've worked well. In this episode, she gives some looks that hint towards things revealed later and her chemistry with Jack is great from its start, which is a major part of the show. There was that great moment when they've escaped the monster and Kate "lets the fear in" as Jack told her. It is such a great tense moment thanks to her performance.

It is interesting to know that originally Jack was going die early in the pilot (and that Michael Keaton would've played him!) Such a shock would've been true for Lost's format, but it might've been too much for such a packed episode and a series this early in its time. Because he has been such a big part of the show since then, it's hard to imagine that they were able to retool the show so quickly to accommodate that. But judging by the flashback on the plane, he has some issues, which explains the alcohol in his pocket when they land and his speech about fear when Kate stitches him up.

Charlie, played by Hobbit superstar Dominic Monaghan, is the last character to get significant attention in this part. Originally Charlie was supposed to be twenty years older, but considering the fickle nature of the music business, it still works. Since Kate vaguely recalls seeing him and Charlie's explanation that they're still together, Driveshaft has seen brighter days, and they were some time ago.

The only time we're given an exposition explanation isn't to describe the characters, but the situation our castaways are in. With our modern technology, many can wonder why they wouldn't be found within hours, as Shannon assumed. That's why we need the pilot to tell us that the technology that would help them failed and they were planing to land elsewhere and crashed. No one but they know where this plane is.

Lost's pilot is easily one of the best pilot episodes I've ever seen. From the urgency that grabs you instantly to the characters to the unbelievable production, it's hard to match on TV and in some cinema. Some were worried that ABC decided to split this feature length pilot into two episodes, but the first episode was so good (and the retained audience from week to week) that such a concern was rendered useless within weeks. There is so much that going on, so many mysteries and characters, that this bold mission statement of a pilot makes me willing to commit to this show for a long time.

Score: 10/10

Lost: Season 2, Episode 9: What Kate Did Review

What Kate Did
Original Airdate: November 30, 2005
Writers: Stephen Maeda & Craig Wright
Director: Paul Edwards

As Lost is largely based on its mysteries, the writers must decide how long to keep the viewers in the dark before revealing a satisfying answer, along with what hints they’ll drop along the way. This episode details the origin of Kate’s criminal past and, unlike other events like this, the reveal happens in the prologue. The writers know how huge a fanbase Lost has and how much discussion it provokes at watercoolers and on internet forums, so they must be aware of the criticism that this season has progressed slowly. What Kate did is one of the biggest questions among fans (probably the biggest is how Locke became paralyzed). By revealing it, they must’ve hoped that it would ease some worries. The actual crime, even though it is patricide, may be disappointing, but it may be interesting to see in Lost’s long term scope.

Like Jack, Kate’s flashbacks to date have been told in reverse. Now we’re at the beginning with her original crime: killing her sleazy father. It is a rather audacious thing to do for someone who never had any run ins with the law before. The end reason isn’t as obvious as we were lead to expect, which some found hard to believe. Kate was never molested, raped or beaten by Wayne, although he did make some really disgusting, incestuous (even if he didn’t know it) comments to her. She killed him because she found out he was her real father and her mother was too blinded by her “love” to realize what kind of person he was.

Kate, like some on the island, believes in fate. She felt that because her father was a bad man, she could never be a good woman. It is interesting to see the philosophical ideas brought forth on Lost. Kate doesn’t believe in the idea of tabula rasa, a theory developed by the real John Locke (ironically, her first episode was titled “Tabula Rasa”). Are we born with a blank slate, with our personalities formed by our surroundings and experiences, or are we born with some intrinsic blueprint? Kate clearly thinks the first, but that could be disproven.

Both of Kate’s fathers parallel the men she’s interested in on the island. Sgt Austen is similar to Jack as Wayne is similar to Sawyer. She never thought she could be good since Wayne would always be a part of her, yet she is still drawn to Sawyer. This does help her settle her problems with her father, as Wayne appears to channel the catatonic Sawyer. One of the things the writers pointed out in their commentary podcast (which I hope they do often) is that these characters have problems with people off the island, and these unresolved issues spill over to those who are on the island.

We see it on the island, as Kate’s lack of sleep causes her to become unglued. The transference of Wayne to Sawyer’s feverish system could’ve been the result of lack of sleep, much like Jack experienced in “White Rabbit”. She’s trying to figure out her daddy issues by talking to Sawyer, who thankfully wakes up (I’ve missed lively Sawyer) and by kissing Jack, which isn’t magic and just ends awkwardly.

Kate now joins several other characters who have some animal tied into their identity. Walt has the polar bear, Sawyer has the boar, Charlie has the moth and now Kate has the horse. For Kate, this horse represents freedom, as the horse provided Kate a venue to escape from the Marshall. It isn’t a halucination. How did *the* horse find its way to the island? It could be that the horse is involved in one of the Dharma Initiative’s experiments like the shark.

It was great to see the Marshall back on the show. The dynamic they’ve shared in past episodes may be a stock relationship (the criminal and the man who aggressively pursues the criminal), but through the writing and the acting, it is fresh. I would like to know more about him and how this particular case caught his interest, since it brought him, too, to the island.

One subtle clue thrown in the episode that many (including myself) missed the first time was the appearance of Sayid on a TV in Kate’s flashback. This was the scene where she sees Austen at the Army Recruitment center. Some wondered what Sayid would be doing on TV. Considering his time in the Republican Guard, it isn’t too hard to see why. I saw one telling promotional photo from this episode possibly explaining why he would be on TV, but I will avoid discussing it now because the Sayid cameo was even briefer than Hurley’s cameo in “…in Translation”.

Ana-Lucia, after a few high profile episodes, spends most of the episode on the sidelines, brooding over what she did (and making something out of those large sticks.) She is still confused, but is more peaceful than her panicked state which marked most of “Collision”. It’s nice that they didn’t just forget it and have her merge with the tribe. The funeral for Shannon certainly isn’t making her more eager to socialize either.

I’m so glad to see Jin and Sun together and happy (as evidenced by Hurley’s thumbs up and their peaceful walk out of that hut). However, it must be a little awkward for them to be intimate right in the middle of the camp. At least Shannon and Sayid were a ways off. I’m still looking forward to seeing some guy standing near the tent with a shocked expression on his face.

Michael, for lack of asking “what the hell is this” in the last episode gets to explore the hatch, which allows us to learn more about the hatch in return. Michael’s prowess with architecture shows him the blast doors, something no one else had seen and Desmond failed to tell them about. Blast doors certainly elevate the extremity of the incident in the audience’s imagination.

This curiosity leads him and Eko (who must’ve had a bell go off when he heard there was a film) to watch The Orientation video. Locke naively believes that whatever was cut was only a frame or two here and there, but fans knew that there was more missing, especially considering the film lapses at several important junctions, one of which details what the computer must not be used for. It is interesting that Locke is shown this way, and it helps set up the Eko-Locke relationship arc.

The missing segments of the film certainly raise certain questions. Why were these pieces removed from the original film? Who did it? Why is it stored on the other side of the island? The theory that the film was worn down and had to be cut from the film isn’t credible anymore: it would be too much of a coincidence even for Lost. Perhaps it is part of the experiment, if it is more psychological. Would someone try to use it for communication if they didn’t know it from the film?

Before Eko tells Locke about the film, he tells him the story of Josiah and the discovery of what would become the Old Testament. I’m not quite sure how parallel the missing footage is to the Old Testament, but the scene between these two men of faith, one more logical than the other, is critical to these two characters. Locke and Eko seem to be the characters who will get be bitter enemies, or become good friends (perhaps that’s why the Gilgamesh clue was thrown in the last episode).

The ending is particularly interesting considering the twist involving the Walt (or is it?) instant message. So much emphasis was placed on the missing piece of the Orientation film that it is unexpected, but still works in the frame of the show. We must remember that approximately six days have passed since Walt’s abduction, so Michael is still experiencing potent emotions. This moment could be served as a catalyst, as one person pointed out on a message board, for the second part of this season: the search for the lost children. Obviously Michael is not going to ignore it.

There are certainly a lot of questions. Was the person on the other end Walt? Was it a person? Where is the other end of this conversation coming from? If it was Walt, was he writing from another Dharma station or using the same type of power that he used to manifest himself for Shannon? Although Michael didn’t initiate it, would this qualify as something warranting of another incident? Is another incident iminent (probably yes by season’s end)? This was a great cliffhanger to leave the last episode of 2005 (a month and a half wait! Urgh!) Well, at least it gave me time to catch up on my Lost reviews.

Score: 8/10