Water Under the Bridge

Episode 1x5: White Rabbit
Directed by: Kevin Hooks
Written by: Christian Tayler
Airdate: 10-20-04

Summary: Jack runs around chasing his dead father.  Meanwhile, someone stole the last of the water.
Centric: Jack

Review:
I'm not sure which of the writers have a thing for Alice in Wonderland, but the references are scattered throughout the series.  I mean, I get it, the island being this place where nothing is at it seems, full of strange characters and unexplainable things--but, I suppose I've never been an Alice fan.  Ah, well...

This episode is Jack heavy.  And while I do like Jack, it really has a lot of Jack running around the jungle and, well, running around the jungle.  I get it, though, I do.  Jack's chasing his dead father's ghost.  The purpose of the whole episode is that Jack can't accept the role of leadership until he's dealt with his father's death.  In a way, he doesn't really deal with his father issues until the very end of the series but I suppose this episode can be marked as progress.  Anyway, an interesting note is that once he's brought back to his father's coffin, and seemingly accepted his father's death, he's able to find water and bring it back to camp, also in time to step up into his role as leader.  It's a nice piece of storytelling--a set piece for Jack in a sense, and it also holds strands of the EPIC HEROIC QUEST often found in literature.  Jack is, of course, the classic flawed hero.  My only issue is that while Jack is running around, chasing his white rabbit, nothing really happens.  Maybe it's because I know what happens, maybe because there's no sense of danger when Jack is obviously not going to get killed off this early on, but Jack's struggle in the jungle isn't that captivating.

I should mention his conversation with Locke.  It's interesting that it takes five episodes to set up the two sides--Jack, a man of science and logic against (though sometimes with) Locke who is a man of faith and intuition.  They are two halves of a whole and it's a running theme throughout the series.  It's interesting how much of a spiritual like entity Locke is--shows up, tells Jack to deal with his crap, believe in the island, and get back to where he's needed.  Then Locke disappears for the rest of the episode.  Obviously, Locke doesn't convince Jack to be a believer yet but at least it gives him the kick in the pants to finish his quest.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch, they're almost out of water and there's a manhunt for who took the rest of it.  Kate and Sayid take the lead with Jack gone.  Investigations are always fun.  The scene where Sawyer is accused of taking the water is interesting--there is definitely some underlining tension between Kate and Sawyer there.  Just wanted to note that.  Anyway, the main thing is that this small group of people can't really work well without someone leading them, telling them what to do.  I suppose it's a comment on human nature and how every man for himself, or ungoverned chaos, doesn't really work.

I need to comment on Boone, because he's such a tool in this episode.  I'm not sure why he has such an issue with Jack at the beginning, nor am I sure why he just didn't tell anyone he took the water.  Either way, it does knock him down a few notches in the other survivors and makes an interesting contrast to the already villainous Sawyer.  Actually, I'd say that Sawyer admitting he doesn't really like being hated almost humanizes him--though the guy has a long way to go. 

Also, there are some softer moments between Charlie and Claire.  I suppose their not only to show their growing bond but also to lighten the episode some.  They're very sweet and I kind of miss a time when Claire was just a sweet pregnant girl and not a harping baby mama or crazy nutjob.

Flashbacks:
I don't know what happened to the writer's with their fathers but everyone on this show has daddy issues and this episode sets it up.  First of all, Christian is just a horrible person all the way around.  I don't know why they even try to redeem him later--he's just a jerk.  To tell your kid that he'll never be as good as you are, nor try at what comes natural to him because he's destine to fail, well, that just completely sucks.  I'm not sure if it's ever explicitly figured out why Christian is a major douche but he is and it's no wonder Jack has so many issues.  But, I suppose if Christian had told Jack he loved him every once in a while, Jack wouldn't be on the island trying to eventually save the world.

Also, we get hints of the rift that happened between Jack and Christian and the fact that they couldn't work it out before Christian drank himself to death.  The flashbacks nicely line up with the episode by showing that Christian had died but Jack never got a chance to bury his father properly and make his peace with it--hence not being able to fully lead because he hasn't dealt with his issues.  Nice work writers, I really enjoy that the early episode flashbacks actually related to what was going on on the island. 

One thing I wonder--what about Jack's mom?  We don't really get to see much of her and they never really explain the relationship between Christian and Jack's mom.  Are they married still? Can't be a healthy marriage because Christian goes off and has Claire.  Plus, why is she so pissy towards Jack?  I mean, Christian is the one that screwed up.  I don't know, I've always wondered about her and if Jack didn't just have daddy issues.

The Little Things:
*Kate's a Gemini--but not for the reason Claire lists.
*Sawyer as a reader starts here--I like that they gave him that hobby.
*Locke still seems absolutely giddy to accept his new role as dude willing to go into the jungle and be bad-ass.  I never noticed how subtle Terry O'Quinn's performance is (was).
*It's ironic that Sawyer gives Kate the marshal's badge when she was the marshal's prisoner.
*Locke's "what if we came here for a reason" line has been used in just about every promo and tribute video I've ever seen for the show.
*The first time the Life and Death theme is played. 

Favorite Quotes:

SAWYER: You're in my light, sticks.
SHANNON: Lightsticks? What the hell is that supposed to...?
SAWYER: Light, comma, sticks.

LOCKE: Because a leader can't lead until he knows where he's going. 

JACK: [off camera, at first] Leave him alone! It's been six days and we're all still waiting. Waiting for someone to come. But what if they don't? We have to stop waiting. We need to start figuring things out. A woman died this morning just going for a swim and he tried to save her, and now you're about to crucify him? We can't do this. Everyman for himself is not going to work. It's time to start organizing. We need to figure out how we're going to survive here. Now, I found water. Fresh water, up in the valley. I'll take a group in at first light. If you don't want to go come then find another way to contribute. Last week most of us were strangers, but we're all here now. And god knows how long we're going to be here. But if we can't live together, we're going to die alone.

SAWYER: So, how does it feel?
BOONE: How does what feel?
SAWYER: Taking my place at the top of everyone's most hated list. Sucks, don't it?

Unanswered Questions:
*Why was smokey impersonating Christian--hence leading Jack to water?  Especially, since smokey liked to kill off the survivors.  The unclarity of smokey's, and Jacob's for that matter,  motives sometimes makes the story harder to interpret.  Granted, I wish the writer's hadn't even told us it was smokey, I prefer thinking it was just Christian's ghost or a hullicination. 

*What happened to the body in the casket?  It's not that relevant but, really, did it fall out?  Did the other's take it?  Did the Oceanic people just place in an empty coffin to placate Jack?  I guess I don't need an answer but why even put that bit in there if nothing is going to come out of it? 

Grade: B It's a solid episode, it's nice that Jack doesn't stay the reluctant hero for a long time but the montages of Jack running through the jungle slow the episode down.  At least the mystery of who stole the water brings some tension into the episode. 

Trivia:
Uh, haven't found anything that interesting to share.  I can always update again later. 

Lostpedia 1x5

Lord of the Files

Episode 1x4:Walkabout
Directed by: Jack Bender
Written by: David Fury
Airdate: 10-13-04

Summary: Locke hunts boar.  The fuselage burns.
Centric: Locke

Review:
John Locke was an English philosopher in case you didn't know.  One cool layer about Lost is that it's always had its ties to allegory and if you did your homework, which I know many did, you could uncover the deeper meaning--sometimes implied or not implied by the writers.  I don't know what the philosopher John Locke preached.  I could look it up, but I'm lazy and there are other, better places to find the connections between philosopher John Locke and Lostie John Locke.

That said, I'm going to be upfront.  Locke has never been a favorite character of mine.  I have more of an appreciation for him now then I did when the show started, but I can't say that I've ever been compelled by him--not in the way I'm interested in other characters.  I will, however, mention that it should be noted that Terry O'Quinn gives one of the most brilliant performances in this show as Locke.  Despite not caring for a character, I can't help but praise the actor, who always does a fantastic job.

This episode is a lot denser than the previous one, though I've always noticed that Kate episodes tend to be a bit shallower.  Anyway, the interesting thing is how much more you can get out of it the second time around.  I mean, not only is there a ton of hints giving away that Locke may have been in a wheelchair, but the sheer giddiness Locke tries to mask over being all bad-ass and going boar hunting is not someone will notice the first time around.  Again, brilliant writing, directing, and acting all around.  Interestingly, outside of the flashbacks, there isn't THAT much Locke in the episode, with everything else going on.  He pretty much kills a boar and comes back.  But it should be also noted that he was the first one to really "see" the island--thus starting Locke's journey of faith and destiny.

Kate and Michael decide to go with Locke on his little hunt.  Kate's doing so to help out Sayid, and as Jack wisely points out, because Kate doesn't know what to do with herself if she's in one place for too long.  The only thing I'd really like to note about Kate in this episode is the subtle bit of flirting going on between her and Jack.  Because it's there and I think it's cute and I'm a softie at heart for the smaller moments--especially before the triangle convoluted and blown to hell.

Michael is a whole other set of issues.  Okay, you know, on rewatch, Michael just pisses me off more and more.  First of all, there are about 40 other English speaking people on the island and he asks the non English speaking Korean, with whom he share and uncomfortable moment, to watch his boy.  Um, why?  It's a good thing that Sun knows how to speak English because, surely, she would have been confused.  Also, I realize that there's this whole father-son issue thing going on between Michael and Walt but I can't fault Michael completely.  Walt's a pain in the ass.  I just wanna smack that kid.  I can't wait until about half way through this season when they actually bond so we can be done with it.  Also, Michael doesn't add anything more to the trek than Kate does.  At least he begrudgingly tells Locke he did a good job.  I still don't get the hate there other than Locke is pretty damn creepy. 

Meanwhile...
I feel like Kate's episode was more of an extension of the pilot.  This episode, with the symbolic burning of the bodies, and with the lack of food, starts the realization that they have to start fending for themselves.  Granted, it won't be until next episode where they come to the conclusion that they'll have to start working together.

Jack, interestingly, really stays away from the action in this episode.  I take the separation, and the distaste towards doing the burning ceremony, as a way to avoid the leadership role that is being thrust upon him and the fact that a ceremony would mean having to deal with the death of his father--and he is so not ready to do that yet.  So, Jack spends all his time with Rose--in a way, wanting to be alone as she is.   Oh, and Jack's dad appears but more on that later. 

As for the burning ceremony itself--eh.  It's sweet that Claire leads it but I suppose since we never knew anyone who died and because we didn't experience the crash itself, it's hard to identify.  It's a necessary scene, as the survivors would have to mourn not only the dead, as Jack put it in Kate's episode, the death of themselves and their previous lives. 

In yet another plotline (it seems like there are so many in this episode), Boone and Shannon have it out and Shannon gets Charlie to fish.  It's a humorous side piece to the drama going on around it.  While I still find Shannon to be absolutely shallow beyond belief, the fishing scene between Charlie and Hurley is a delight, as well as Charlie's slow realization that Shannon used him to catch the fish. 

Flashbacks:
Don't tell me what I can't do!! Locke's mantra for, like, the entire series.  Also, WTF, Locke was in a wheelchair!!??!?!  Okay, I believe Lost's infamous WTF moments were set up with the creepy French transmission in the pilot.  But the wheelchair reveal is revered as one Lost's most defining moments.  Honestly, I don't remember being that shocked the first time I saw it--more so, like, huh, cool, the island had powers.  People definitely went ballistic over it, though.

Anyway, the point of Locke's flashbacks is to contrast how crappy Locke's life was before he crashed to the his bad-ass life after the crash.  I have to give everyone involved lots of credit for the way it was presented.  I mean the drastic difference between a droning on office life vs life out in the wilderness was incredibly done.  That said, Locke's pathetic life has always been a little too depressing for me.  He's just so pathetic.  The phone call between the phone sex girl and Locke has always made me so uncomfortable that I don't usually watch it.  I think Locke's droll pre-island self is just one reason I never warmed to the character.

I don't know why people love Locke so much, maybe it's because I think everyone, in a way, can relate to Locke.  I mean, there are so many people that are like him--kinda holding that patheticness about them.  I mean, all of the Losties are screwed up wack-jobs, but, before they went crazy with the father issues, Locke was definitely relatable.   Hmm...maybe I just prefer the insane implausibility of everyone else.  

The Little Things:
*While I understand Sayid's dislike of disregarding proper burial, his strong reaction against the body burnings have always rubbed me the wrong way.  Maybe since I'm in the same state of mind as Jack--or maybe because religion isn't a big part of my life.  But, I always wonder, how would they ever figure out what kind of religion everyone was anyway? 
*It's amusing that Rose comments on Jack's bedside manner--something he is definitely not known for.
*Between Hurley attempting to beat the snot out of Sawyer and his attempt at fishing, he certainly is entertaining.  Hurley is and always has been one of my favorite characters. 
*Sun makes toothpaste.  Her awesome knowledge of plants is, well, just plain awesome. 
*Rose names her husband Bernard--and we spend a heck of a lot of time wondering if he's alive or not.
*Kate claims she's climbed a lot worse than that tree.  Makes me wonder...

Favorite Quotes:

CLAIRE: Somebody's in there.
SAYID: Everyone in there's dead.
JACK: Sawyer.
SAWYER: Right behind you, Jackass.

JACK: We don't have time to sort out everybody's god.
CHARLIE: Really, last I heard we were positively made of time.

KATE: If I didn't know any better, I'd say your worried about me, Jack.
JACK: If I didn't know any better, I'd say you have a problem staying in one place for very long, Kate
BOONE: I hate to break it to you—the ocean is not going to take your gold card.


CHARLIE: What? Fishing? My grand-dad used to take me out, taught me everything he knows. Everything he knew, he's dead now, god rest his soul. Yeah, I'm like a … I'm a fishing fiend. I mean England's an island so I just throw it in and … fish.

Unanswered Questions:
You know what I want to know--why were there so many tarps on that plane?  Makes me wonder what was in that cargo...

No, actually, the big unanswered question in this episode is what did Locke see when the smoke monster came to him.  You know, so many people want to know that question.  I suppose I don't really care--or the short answer is the same thing everyone else saw--their life or their destiny or whatever you think the smoke monster represents.  I'm not sure why the question needs an answer.

I suppose another question that can be asked is how did the island heal Locke.  Well, you know, the same way it travels through time and space and does all the other weird crap it does.  The simple answer is that it's a magic island.  Why people need that more defined is beyond me as I believe an actual spelled explanation not only limits the imagination but would be disappointing. 

Grade: A-  That's not really so much a personal grade but the grade it deserves for it's overall execution.  The writing and acting are excellent all the way around and the story has wonderful balance to it.  It also uses the characters well, even if the episode is stuffed.  The only drawback, to me, is the Locke focus, and the uncomfortableness I find in his flashback story. 

Trivia:
*After Randy  confronts Locke about the TPS reports, Locke returns to work, using his adding machine. As the receipt prints, the clicking sound of the smoke monster  can be heard. This makes sense because according to the producer's podcast, the Monster sound was taken from a taxi receipt printer in a NY taxi.
*The original title was going to be Lord of the Files
*John Terry hadn't been cast for Christian yet, so someone else is in the role.  Nadia also hadn't been cast, so the pictures Sayid holds were originally of someone else.

Lostpedia 1x4

Blank Slate

Episode 1x3: Tabula Rasa
Directed by: Jack Bender
Written by: Damon Lindeloff
Airdate: 10-6-04

Summary: The US Marshall exposes Kate's secret.  Kate stares wistfully...
Centric: Kate

Review:
So, we get our first true Kate episode.  Here's my thing about Kate--I feel like the writers, while seeming to love the character, never really knew what to do with her.  Starting out now, she's still a pretty strong character, which I appreciate for a female role, which with her mysterious background makes her interesting at this point.  Even knowing all that's coming after it, I think is one of the few good Kate episodes, as it is early in the series and still trying to establish who these characters are and their new relationships with each other.

That said, this is still a Kate episode and like most of them, I can't really claim that anything really happens in them.  Basically, the Marshall is dying and, in a way, makes his peace with Kate as he does so.  We're also alluded to her mysterious past, as the Marshall deems her completely dangerous.  I still find that amusing, as Kate seems harmless, but I suppose the writers wanted to use that angle to create some drama early on. 

While the plot doesn't really go anywhere, I think I liked the setting up of various character relationships in this one.  First of all, there's Kate with Jack.  I mean, these two seem to hit it off, then Jack's perfect little view of her is shattered when he finds out she's a convict.  I think, also, and something that is explored later, Kate doesn't want Jack to know anything about her past.  She likes the idea of having a blank slate or "Tabula Rasa" as the title suggests.  I have to give her credit for being somewhat intuitive because I think it's clear that she knows Jack wouldn't take well to her past and she'd like him to keep that pedastol ideal of her--because, in a way, she herself would like to be that person.  I also find it amusing that once she gets back she goes straight to Jack to tell him about more creepy island stuff.  One day in and she already considers Jack her BFF.  So, yeah, the tension between these two characters, the innitial gravitation between the two of them vs the reality of their stark difference is already there.  What I really like, though, is Jack's maturity at the end, where he basically lets Kate off the hook by telling her that everyone gets to start over on the island.  Of course, that is a metaphor for all of them,  and a theme of the entire series--second chances, but on a smaller level, it's a nice moment of understanding between Jack and Kate.  It may only last a half dozen episodes but at least it's there.

We've also got the set up of Kate and Sawyer's relationship--really more so than I ever have given thought.  These two seem to gravitate to each other naturally as well, but more so in a two of a kind, outsider type ways.  Sawyer may not be aware of that yet, but Kate, even early on, is the only one who can really deal with him, as she finds him a familiar type.  Also like to point out that she's already got him doing crap for her.  Heh... I find it amusing that she won't off the Marshall herself, she has to have Sawyer do it.

For that matter, the antagonistic relationship between Sawyer and Jack is created here, too.  As Sawyer points out, Jack is a man holding on to civilization while Sawyer has accepted that they've entered 'the wild'.  While Jack will get into more philosophy discussions with Locke--Jack and Sawyer's varying character traits are very much on display.  I do want to say, though, I like that Sawyer had a humanizing moment after shooting the Marshall and missing.  He had been awfully cocky and overly confident up until that point.  His remorse later shows that he's not just an evil hick with a bad attitude but a very layered screwed up man.  (as are all the losties.)

Oh good god, the whole freaking love triangle was established in this episode.  While I do find it interesting and good character development at this point, I will say it does get tiresome the more they drag it out. 

The other Kate issue that is brought up is the fact that she runs---from everything---partly because she enjoys it partly out of necessity.  At the moment, it's a character trait.  Unfortunately, it's an aspect of her character that will become pounded into us and her issue with running becomes soley what the character is about. 

In other news around the island--
Since we start in on centric episodes, the characters take their turns fading into the background.  Like, Boone and Shannon don't really do anything in this episode.

Charlie and Claire begin to bond.  It's cute and sweet in a junior high way.  I like their relationship pre-Aaron, it was always a bit innocent.

There's kinda a b-plot with Michael.  First of all, he accidentally runs into a half naked Sun.  It's kinda funny/weird and there definite signs of showing a Michael-Sun-Jin triangle early on but, for some reason (thankfully) the writers seemed to deviate away from that.  Michael also goes hunting for Walt's dog Vincent.  Locke is the one who actually gets him back and does the nice guy thing and let Michael return the dog to Walt.  I'm not entirely sure why Michael has such issues with Locke--it kinda bugs me.  But a lot about Michael bugs me.

One quick note about Locke--after three episodes, the characters are pretty much all set and presented.  Except for Locke.  No wonder people found him highly intriguing at first--we really didn't know a thing about him or his character up to this point. 

Flashbacks:
The only thing Kate's flashbacks do is establish why she's in Australia.  She's on the run.   That's kinda it.  Oh, and that whatever she did, she's can't be THAT bad of a person if she tried to save the life of the person who turned her in.  She's still a murderer...whatever.  And really, it's a good thing that the show didn't over do the flashbacks at the beginning.  Once you've seen them, on rewatch you can easily sleep through them and not miss anything interesting or important. 

The Little Things:
*When Hurley first learns of Kate, he's very hesitant and somewhat scared of her.  I find it amusing, since I don't think the dynamic really comes back.  And, for that matter, how many times do Kate and Hurley interact on this show?
*Sayid gives a little speech at the beginning of the episode dictating and organizing the rest of the losties.  So, um, why wasn't he named leader at this point?
*In the beginning, Josh Holloway tried to shed his southern accent.  I feel like it's most notable here than anywhere else.  I'm glad the producers asked him to use his natural accent--he doesn't seem as Sawyer without it.
*I completely forgot that season one was full of musical montages at the end.  I really love the song "Wash Away"
*I should have mentioned this in the previous episode, but also a season one trait, revealing the centricity of the next episode by focusing on that character in the last scene.

Favorite Quotes:
SAWYER: Nice stick.
Out of context, it doesn't seem so funny, but it really is..

CHARLIE: What are you making?
LOCKE: Whistle.
CHARLIE: I used some tribal flutes once in a recording session. I'm in a band.

MICHAEL: I'm going to get your dog back as soon as it stops raining. Hey listen to me, I'm going to get your dog back. [The rain stops.] 
It's all about the timing.

JACK: I don't want to know. It doesn't matter, Kate, who we were - what we did before this, before the crash. It doesn't really... 3 days ago we all died. We should all be able to start over.

Unanswered Questions:
It's a Kate episode--rarely do they pertain to the mythology of the show.  Rarely do they ever do anything besides show Kate's relationship with Jack and/or Sawyer.  (And later Aaron).  For the life of me, I didn't have any after this--but then, I'm not that picky about really specific questions.  So, uh, none for now...

Grade: B- Despite the fact that Kate episodes genuinely never add anything significant to the story, the on island story is still captivating this early in.  Really, the only thing that bogs it down is the flashbacks and there are only a few of them. 

Trivia:
*An interesting tidbit, the writers found it implausible that Sawyer would miss the marshal at such a close range--and thus creating Sawyer's vision problems. 
*Kate claims to be a Canadian during her flashback scenes.  Actually, Evangeline Lilly is Canadian.  I'm always amused they let her keep her accent since she's supposed to be American.

Lostpedia 1x3

Monster ate the Pilot (reprise)

Episode 1x2: Pilot pt. 2
Directed by: JJ Abrams
Written by: JJ Abrams, Damon Lindeloff, and Jeffrey Lieber
Airdate: 9-29-04

Summary: Plane crash survivors deal with being on a weirdo island.  And there's a polar bear.
Centric: Kate/Charlie

Review:
Something that I never really noticed until today, while the first episode is mostly action and an introduction to Jack as the main character, the second half the pilot sets up the plot of the series and does a pretty good job of setting up everyone else.  It's definitely more character driven, which Lost always strived to be, and is a nice balance to the first half.  I'm still under the belief that this two-parter, which was originally meant to be one but ended up being broken up over two weeks, has got to be one of the best television pilots in history.  It's pacing, cinematography, plot, and characterization is absolutely excellent.  I'm not sure I can say enough praise about this opening--it's movie like in quality and very grabbing, which is great for television.  No matter where Lost meandered afterwards, it still started with a bang.

I have to give the writers a lot of credit for having a cast so big.  Almost all shows, and Lost does have this happen to it to a degree, get bogged down with a heavy cast.  Looking back, I'm still surprised that they did have a great deal of balance early on. 

While the main plot is essentially a group going to see if the transceiver works, it's really about these people trying to cope with the trauma they just experienced--

So, let's start with Jack.  It's going to be a while before Jack really lets it sink it what's going on and what happened.  He's still very much in leader/survivor/doctor mode.  It's interesting he doesn't get a lot of screen time, since he is the main character of the entire show, but I think it's great that the writers decide to have him step back so that the other characters don't seemed stifled by his presence.  His main concern in this episode is saving the Marshall--whom we'll learn more about in the next episode, so I'll let that be for now.  But really, all he does in this episode is his doctor thing--which may be one of the few times we don't see him trying to take control of everything.

Alright, so people who did not go on the hike-
Well, there's Hurley, who is quickly making his place as the comic relief.  I've always loved Hurley, even from the beginning.  He is the true everyday man of the story.  He is the audience, something that would come in handy to the writers later.

There's Sun and Jin, who demonstrate that they have marital issues.  I've always had a love/hate relationship with these two.  I love the fact that Lost went out on a limb and showed characters of different races/nationalities, and even went to go so far as making them speak only in Korean.  That was always a joy to watch.  I'm not sure if they ever had any real purpose, though, except being true b-characters.  Anyway, this early on, Jin is kinda a jerk and Sun is repressed.  It is a nice touch, though, to add to the complexity of the characters, that Jin is the only one that's being practical and fishing for everyone who's crashed. 

Claire still hasn't done much but at least her baby is fine and it's a cute scene when she feels her baby kick and has a bewildered Jin touch her stomach. 

Michael starts his infamous Walt calling this early on.  Yeah, yeah, there's definitely a father/son issue thing going on here, but knowing where it goes, I find it one of the more annoying aspects of the show at this early stage, right above Boone and Shannon.

And then there's Locke, who just sits and takes it in.  Really, his character doesn't change that much, while everyone else's character evolves around him.  He plays backgammon with Walt and gives us our first light vs. dark reference.  Now, do I think that the writers figured out this early about Jacob and Smokey and the good vs. evil of the story?  No, I'm not naive.  I think the only thing they knew was that the ultimate story would revolve around light vs. dark--and this was a way to set it up.

Alright, so meanwhile, there's a group going through the jungle to get a signal for the transceiver.  I'm not convinced that it takes that many people to go on such a hike, but it's nice character development.  Kate and Charlie I'll get to in their flashbacks.  Boone and Shannon still have no redeeming qualities and I'm not surprised that they were the first ones killed off because there was never any depth to their characters.  They were annoying spoiled brats, whom once dealt with what petty issues they had, really had no more purpose on the island.  Anyway, it was nice, though, to let Shannon be the one to figure out the French transmission. 

Sayid and Sawyer are both layered and complex characters, which ultimately make them more interesting.  First of all, I love that there's an Arab character.  It's nice to see one, especially since this came out not long after 9/11, portrayed as a hero.  Sawyer is a southern jackass.  I used to hate Sawyer back in the day.  I love the character now and so I can appreciate his growth in the earlier seasons, but man I hated him back then.  Anyway, they both still have a lot of mystery to them, which was appealing, unlike Boone and Shannon, whom you pretty much guess all you need to know about them in the first five minutes of meeting them. 

There are two scenes this episode that have always stuck out to me.  The first one being the polar bear sequence.  Not only is it funny, it's a complete WTF?? moment that Lost was often good at.  The mystery of the polar bear was one of the things that intrigued me to the series. 

The other scene is the last one, where they get the creepy French transmission.  It was a scene that set up that Lost wasn't just going to be about a bunch of survivors--there would be a deep mystery involved.  I have to admit, when I first saw that scene, it gave me chills--literally, it freaked me out.  But I was also hooked.  After the first episode, I figured I'd give it a few episodes decide if I really wanted to continue, but man, that last scene really made me hold on. 

Flashbacks:
Alright, as usual, the flashbacks help define the characters.  Charlie has a FB first, and basically shows how he's so drug addicted, that even when the plane is crashing, he still needs his fix.  This, of course, makes the character seem much more pathetic, but the hobbit is charming enough that there's sympathy to be felt.  It's a bit of a cliche, the drug addicted rock star, and I'm glad they cast Dom in the role because if they had stuck to their plan, the rock star being an aging, washed out star, then I don't think it would have worked all that well. 

The other flashback belongs to Kate and establishes that she is some sort of criminal.  I remember being intrigued by the idea of a criminal on the loose, set up by the handcuffs, though in hindsight, I find it slightly hard to believe that Kate is all that dangerous---even if she did blow up her dad.  Anyway, we don't learn much about her, which elevates her character to mysterious as well.  Unfortunately, as time goes on, the more we learn about Kate, the less interesting she becomes.

The Little Things:
*I enjoy the quiet moment of Sayid and Hurley bonding over their dislike of Sawyer.  We don't get to see much of them together in this show
*It's weird, in the beginning, I wonder if there was going to be some weird love triangle between Jack-Sayid-Kate.  It's definitely there in the first few episodes.  What else is quite apparent is the chemistry between Josh Holloway and Evangeline Lilly, which I don't think was ever scripted.  I'm not a shipper by any means, but it definitely jumped out on screen and I'm sure it took the writers by surprise.
*It's interesting to me that Kate feels that she needs to tell Jack before she does anything.  It's kinda metaphor for how their relationship will be.
*Walt finds a Spanish comic book.  It doesn't mean anything, but there's a nice bit of continuity with it later.
*I love that Hurley says 'dude' all the time. 
*There's a moment early on where Kate is cleaning herself.  While it's an obvious excuse to get Lilly into her underwear, I think it is interesting that Sun comes to talk to her.  It's a nice contrast of how repressed Sun is at the time, having to stay all buttoned up. 
*If the whole transmission is in French, why are the iteration numbers in English?
*Charlie's last line, 'guys where are we', has been the single most overused line in the course of the show.  Every promo anywhere, used to describe Lost, has used that line. 
*I should really add that the music score and the on location shooting just adds to the awesome atmosphere of the show, not specifically in this episode but in all episodes. 

Favorite Quotes:
SHANNON: My brother. Boone. God's friggin' gift to humanity.

BOONE: That can't be a polar bear.
SAYID and KATE: [at the same time] It's a polar bear.
SHANNON: Yeah, but... Polar bears don't usually live in the jungle.
CHARLIE: Spot on.
SAYID: No, polar bears don't live near this far south.
BOONE: This one does.
SAWYER: Did. It did.
KATE: [to Sawyer] Where did that come from?
SAWYER: Probably Bear Village. How the hell do I know?
KATE: Not the bear. The gun.

Unanswered Questions:
You know, a lot of people ask about the polar bear and it's purpose.  I think it's quite spelled out as to why the polar bear is there.  The real question is, why are they still there?  I mean, polar bears don't live to be THAT old, and it's been a good, what, thirty years since Dharma did their experiments.  So did The Others breed them and keep them alive?  I wouldn't put it past Ben.  I don't really care to know or not know the answer to this one, though. 

Grade: A  It's a nice balance to the first half of the pilot.  The characters are defined a little more and some downright creepy moments make this episode stand out.  Truly a masterpiece. 

Trivia:
*JJ Abrams won an Emmy for the pilot.
*Characters created after pilot script was written--Jin, Sun, Hurley.  Jack, Kate, and Charlie's characters were changed.

Lostpedia 1x2

I call this one "Monster Ate the Pilot"

Alright, so I felt it was time to sit down and rewatch "Lost" from start to finish.  I don't believe I have ever done it through all six years, though I have seen most of the episodes, especially the first few seasons, multiple times.  I'm not sure if it's because of nostalgia or what but I felt like going through it again.  Possibly to see the big picture--or to find that there never was a big picture. 

Anyway... 

Episode 1x1: Pilot pt. 1
Directed by: JJ Abrams
Written by: JJ Abrams, Damon Lindeloff, and Jeffrey Lieber
Airdate: 9-22-04

Summary: Plane crashes on a weird island.
Centric: Jack

Review:
I remember first coming to Lost.  It was the end of my undergrad and I hadn't really been paying much attention to television at that time.  For whatever reason, the early 2000s were nothing but a bursting of new reality shows (which, as a side note, I'm sad to say never really left).  But what I was into at the time, and admit still loving, is/was Lord of the Rings.  Yup, that's right, I started watching Lost because of Lord of the Rings.  Or Dominic Monaghan to be more specific.  LotR had just wrapped up and I was, at the time, not so much now, was following just about every actor in the trilogy.  So, one of the little hobbits was on a new show.  A new show that apparently was getting a lot of buzz.  

So, not that I remember much about it, on Sept. 22nd, 2004, I sat down and watched the pilot of Lost.  There aren't very many shows that I can claim that I watched from the beginning to end.  I do remember my reaction afterwards.  It was simply..."okay, I guess I'll watch."  Lol.  I never expected to actually become addicted to the show.

The opening shot/sequence is absolutely brilliantly done and one of the most fantastic things that I have ever seen on a TV show.  (can't say Ive watched everything...but still...)  The first 8 minutes, depicting the immediate aftermath of the crash, is just engaging.  Every time I watch it, I my eyes are glued to the screen.  I think it carries more weight, now that I know all the characters.  But watching and not knowing anything, I think it's an intriguing and horrific thing to show right off the bat.  It's intense and raw and is probably the best sequence in the history of the show.  I suppose that means the show can never live up to it and, in a way, I suppose the spectacle is never topped, but I believe the epicness is always present. 

It's amusing to me that with the 14 person character cast that only Jack, Kate and (to and extent) Charlie are developed.  Some of them don't talk (Sawyer, Locke).  Others seem to stem from cliches (the pregnant girl-Claire, the bitchy youths-Boone, Shannon, the obligatory cut off foreigners-Jin, Sun)  At least Hurley and Sayid seem to stand out a little bit.  I do realize that one of the beauties of Lost is the slow reveal of who these characters are via flashback, so I can forgive the lack of more in-depth introduction.  Besides, the cast is huge and it would be almost impossible to introduce everyone all at once.  The small snapshots of everyone seem adequate enough to form a first impression. 

So, Jack a doctor and apparently a super-hero, as he's the only one with a clear/level head when helping to save everyone from the wreck.  Everyone is standing around freaking out--as I assume would be the natural reaction to such a thing.  Or maybe just the hero of this story.  We haven't heard about his never ending daddy issues yet but he does cry when telling the tale of how he saved the girl on his first real surgery.  Jack is likable enough at the beginning but seems somewhat generic.  It isn't until the character is taken to crazy limits that I find him more enjoyable. 

Kate is our female hero, who right off the bat, is already smitten with Jack.  I'm not entirely sure why--Matthew Fox isn't going to look that decent until he grows his hair out in season five.  But by that time, Kate's going to know he's crazy.  Ah whatever, if there's one thing to know about Lost, it's that Kate never appears to do anything out of logic or reason.  Anyway, my point is, the writers were attempting the start of an all epic romance here.  Or course that ended up being 'big epic fail' but I thought I'd note that from the beginning it was obvious as to where it was going.  Anyway, while I do like Evangeline Lilly, and find it unfortunate that she never gets anything to do, I find out of the main cast, Kate is the most irrelevant.  I mean, does she actually do anything in this episode?  I suppose she stitches up Jack--but other than that, not much. 

Anyway, the basis of first half of the pilot is the forging friendship of these two characters and their adventures to find the cockpit.  Charlie comes along for the ride as well, but there's no real reason for him to be there--I mean, true, its a plot point later on in the series, but I honestly think they wanted Dom Monaghan on screen as much as they could to market the show. 

The ending sequence is shot almost like a horror film.  I suppose after seeing it a few hundred times, it has since lost the creepiness factor, but the dead people in the cockpit, the rain, the spooky sound effects, and the realization that no one knows where they are since they were of course--all adds up to one hell of an eerie scene.  I'd say this show succeeded in reeling in their audience. 

I could talk about the smoke monster, but I'm not sure if I'm up to it.  Right now, we don't even know it's a smoke monster, it's just strange noises on the island.  I realize it's blasphemous to say, but I find the smoke monster one of the least intriguing aspects of the show and never really cared if it's identity was solved or not.  Oh, and the monster "ate" the pilot.  

Flashbacks:
There's only one FB in this episode and it belongs to Jack.  Takes place right before the plane crashes.  Not much to note, except the entrance of Rose, of the awesome Rose and Bernard couple.  But it starts off the tradition of jumping around in time--slowly revealing the true lives of the characters--which to me, is an awesome storytelling device. 

The Little Things:
*For a show based on a major disaster, I appreciate the small bits of humor we got throughout the episode.  In fact, Lost will be known for having a humorous side. 
*Locke, while not having any lines at all, is the only one to accept the rain fall--hence taking his place as the first believer of the island. 
*I think Kate taking off the dead person's shoes is one of the creepiest moments in the show's history.
*One of my favorite scenes is when they all first hear the monster and stand up.  It's like a nicely choreographed cast shot.

Favorite Quotes:
JACK: Stop! Her head's not tilted far back enough. You're blowing air into her stomach.
BOONE: You sure?
[Jack starts giving her mouth-to-mouth. ]
BOONE: That's exactly what I was doing. I'm a lifeguard. I'm licensed.
JACK: Yeah, well, you need to seriously think about giving that license back.
BOONE: Maybe we should do one of those hole things. You know, stick the pen in the throat?
JACK: Yeah, good idea. You go get me a pen.

JACK: Did you ever … patch a pair of jeans?
KATE: I, uhm, I made the drapes in my apartment.
What I actually find amusing about this exchange is the fact that Kate made her own drapes.  When did she have time to do that between blowing up her dad and being on the run for years...

HURLEY: So, I was just looking inside the fuselage … It's pretty grim in there. You think we should do something about the, uh … [stopping and looking at Walt] b-o-d-y-s?
MICHAEL: What are you spelling, man? "Bodies"?
WALT: B-o-d-i-e-s.


Unanswered Questions:
You know, I thought it'd be interesting to list the questions that should have probably been answered on the show but as I was going through the pilot, I didn't find any that stuck out to me.  I suppose on could ask what Rose thought the monster sounded like but I'm not sure that's all that relevant.  And I believe the answer is the subway--because it sounds just like the New York trains.  

Grade: A  Holds up well even seven years later.  The massive, movie like sequences are still quite fantastic and there's just something fun about going back to the beginning.

Trivia:
*Most expensive pilot shot at the time
*Jack was originally going to be killed off and Michael Keaton was going to play him. I know it can be endlessly debated whether or not this would be a good choice or not but  I'm glad they kept him.
*Kate was originally going to be the main character and her husband would have been one of the tailies.  They made this Rose and Bernard's storyline.  While I find the idea incredibly romantic, I'm glad they didn't go that route knowing how poorly Kate's character ended up being.

I'm under the belief that each episode can be nitpicked apart and because these reviews are mainly for my own opinions on how I felt about watching the episode, I'm adding the lostpedia page for a reference to everything and anything more in-depth.
Lostpedia page: http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Pilot,_Part_1

Blogging, I feel, along with just about every other sort of social networking tool, is entirely self indulgent.  Hence, why I'm writing now.  I'm not writing for you...I'm writing for myself.

Because I miss writing.

Because instead of writing everything down in a journal, I'm doing so on virtual paper.  I suppose I could just create a word document and save it on the computer--but as I said, this is more self-indulgent.  There's always the off hand chance that someone stumbles upon it.  Or I may even post it myself someday.  But for right now, I'd like to keep my thoughts private--as I post out in public.  Funny the way that works, huh.

I had a livejournal...twice...I suppose this is just the same thing, just another website.  And I didn't feel like making another livejournal.  Ah well...

Let's see where this takes me...