Lost: Season 3, Episode 6 Review: I Do

I Do
Original Airdate: November 8, 2006
Writers: Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse
Director: Tucker Gates

Thus ends the now infamous “mini-season”. The sting of this has diminished as the hiatus and remainder of the season passed and shouldn’t be an issue to those watching Lost on DVDs and in syndication. While I didn’t hate these episodes, there wasn’t one that had the punch of past great episodes. I can also understand fan frustration that their brief taste of “Lost” since coming back from summer hiatus hardly featured 2/3rds of the cast. Considering these were the only episodes fans would have for three months, it left a bad taste in the fans’ collective mouth. In retrospect, it would’ve been better to wait until January like “24” has, and luckily they learned their lesson and won’t air new episodes until February 2008.

So the episode delves into Kate’s psychology, her habit of not standing by the men she loves and how she is now supporting Sawyer and Jack. The most problematic element of Kate’s character is that the men in her life define her. With Jack and Sawyer, their characters can survive and be defined without Kate. The big question Kate’s fans ask isn’t how will she redeem herself for her crimes, but who will she pick? The writing and press have encouraged that, causing some shippers not to acknowledge that unless they never leave the island, Kate will be at best on the run for the rest of her life with whomever she chooses.

Kate is a fugitive. In a way, her character is like Desmond, who too also runs away from whatever he has in life, regardless of how important it is to him. He does it out of cowardice; she does similarly, but she is afraid specifically of what punishment she’ll face for her crimes.

Perhaps The Others had always planned for Kate and Sawyer to have sex. Kate’s easily escapable cage, the revealing clothes they give Kate, the bond formed while defying The Others; it all leads to bringing them together. Unless there are some Dharma condoms or birth control pills (those are probably the only things that don’t have a Dharma equivalent), Kate is at risk of getting pregnant. Besides Sun, who is married, any other woman who we’ve seen have sex on the island died before pregnancy could be an issue.

The Others must have thought that seeing Sawyer and Kate together could turn Jack. However, Jack has pushed the “live together, die alone” mantra constantly and he needs to help and to save people, not to mention the power Jack wields as the only guy who can help Ben. If he can free those two and leave himself for The Others to do as they want, so be it. So holding Ben hostage until his friends are free is bold, but expected (unless you’re one of The Others).

It’s important to remember that coming into this episode only Sawyer knew that they are on Hydra Island. So unless they have access to a boat or are mermaids as Sawyer said, they can’t escape. This partially explains Sawyer’s look of defiant resignation when Pickett has the gun pointed at him.

Probably the biggest part of this episode that could’ve slipped past our ears if it wasn’t for diligent viewers is “Jacob’s list”. In “Live Together, Die Alone” it could’ve been surmised that Ben was the powerful leader or that he made up the concept of “Him” to solidify it. However, Pickett’s throwaway line suggests that Ben is acting beyond Jacob’s wishes for his own needs and that there is someone, Jacob, higher up in the ranks. That Ben isn’t punished begs the question as to why Jacob isn’t doing anything about it.

Alex’s status in The Others’ society is given a bit more development. It appears that Ben sees himself as a father figure to her. It makes sense for her to be so rebellious towards The Others’ operations and for it to be tolerated if she’s the boss’ “daughter”. Not to mention the added push this will have when Rousseau finds out.

Outside of Kate’s flashbacks and The Others, the only thing of notice was Eko’s funeral. It would make sense that Locke would want to avoid another funeral on the beach and give them an opportunity to break the news of his death in a way they can control. We must remember that it has been only over a week since Michael killed Ana-Lucia and Libby.

Eko’s “Jesus Stick” offers Locke one bit of parting advice, “Lift up your eyes and look North”, with the scripture passage “John, 3:05” serving almost as a direct address to Locke (and it’s worth noting that Eko died in episode 3X05). This, like many of the cryptic things on Lost, is up for speculation, and will likely play a big role in the next few episodes.

Frustratingly underused is Nathon Fillion of “Firefly” fame as Kate’s husband Kevin. He serves little more than as a set piece, the perfect husband Kate can’t have because of her past. Perhaps he wasn’t interested in playing a major or recurring character on another sci-fi/fantasy show or at least one that was filmed a five hour plane ride from LA. Nonetheless, it would’ve been nice if he could’ve done something substantial. Another actor I enjoy, Clancy Brown, had only two episodes on “Lost”, and he was memorable in both. Why couldn’t they give Captain Mal a little more?

Now that we can look back on these six episodes, it makes their errors more forgivable. This arc was introductory, much like the time before Claire was kidnapped in season one and the merging of the survivors in season two. It wasn’t meant to be an arc the way a full season is and that poor advertising had a negative effect on fan reaction. What was originally thought of as the show heading towards collapse turned into a bumpy start before Lost’s groove was regained.

Overall Score: 7/10