The Incentive Review

Hmmm....

Historically, the second episode of the season isn't really as great as the premiere.  Most of them are mediocre.  Unfortunately, this one falls into that catagory.  I mean, I understand that the first few episodes this season will focus on why Andy is manager.  Fine, I can deal with that.  Especially, if they follow through and spread the love.  But, an episode about Andy is still an episode about Andy.  What I liked about the premiere is that it did such a great job of spreading the love.  Everyone got a bit in it and it held together well as an ensemble piece.  This was was more so about Andy, which does put me on guard a little bit.  Because, ultimately, when the show was about Michael Scott, it was about Michael Scott, and that's what brought it down.  And it's been refreshing, yeah, I know, I said it, with out Michael Scott around.  So, I hope that the writers stick to their original intentions so that Andy does not become the sole focus of the show. 

I feel like this episode was written as if to explain why Andy was made manager.  Did that really need to be answered?  I would have taken it on faith that someone wanted to see if Andy had what it took.  I didn't really need an episode about it.  But in a way, I understand why they went that way. 

On the positive side, at least the show still feels fresh.  Really, there were some nice moments and I did laugh out loud.  The other great thing is that they're not over using James Spader--which was also a fear of mine.  No, he comes in, does his five minutes, and leaves, which I'm glad.  And I think that once the season gets on its own feet, which is hopefully doesn't take all season, I think that Spader in smaller doses than what we have now will be just fine.   I almost feel like Spader is being used as training wheels on a bran new bike.  So, huh, maybe this baby has a few more years in it after all.

Also, I want to point out how this show is just not going to work if Jim (John) ever leaves.  I mean, he's the one that really got things going and made things happen.  It very much reminded me of the Jim/Michael dynamic that used to be, though I'd say Michael could function on his own, where Andy definitely needs help.  I did like the scene at the end between Jim and Andy though--and I hope there's more of that.  I can handle Jim not wanting to be manager if he's used well and truly the gears that keeps the office going.  Anyway, my point is that Jim is being used so well and so I hope that it continues like that--though I'm slightly in fear of what they'll do to him, cause I know these writers and have been burned before.  We'll see....

Kinda an in-between thought, what is going on with Dwight.  I understand him being pissed about the job, etc, but he's just acting weird.  I feel like there's little effort into writing Dwight.  I'm wondering if the writers aren't sure what to do with him.  I don't know, part of me wonders if Rainn really will bow out after this year.  :/ 

Okay, a few issues I had with the episode.  First of all, the editing, cause this show has major problems with it.  I'm guessing that this episode was longer and the cut stuff out.  I mean, I feel like the first ten minutes set everything up but then, didn't really go anywhere.  I mean, I guess it went to the butt tattoo, but I was hoping it'd be something a little more than that.  Ah well...

But more so, there was supposedly two subplots in this episode, though you wouldn't really notice.  First of all, what was up with Darryl and his ex?  What was the purpose of even having her there.  I'm guessing she's more relevant later on?  I think?  I have no idea cause it didn't go anywhere.  Then there was the Pam/Angela walking thing.  Set up only for a joke in the tag?  That was disappointing.  Especially when I heard rumor there was going to be a Pam/Dwight storyline.  I mean, there might still be one down the road.  But, I was disappointed overall. 

Grade: C.  I mean, there were definitely some funny moments but it was still all about Andy. 

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Episode 1x8: Confidence Man
Directed by: Tucker Gates
Written by: Damon Lindelof
Airdate: 11-10-04

Summary: Sawyer pretends to have Shannon's inhalers.  Charlie and Claire share fake peanut butter.
Centric: Sawyer

Review: 
I have to state that I didn't like Sawyer during season one.  In fact, it took me a long time for Sawyer to grow on me.  I'd say somewhere during season three I warmed up and maybe didn't full on like the guy until season four.  Looking back, I can say now, I love the character--really one of the greatest characters Lost had on the show.  Funny how times changes.  Anyway, this episode I liked when it first aired.  I got, even at the time, that this was supposed to humanize Sawyer a bit.  Didn't make me like him any more.  I think, however, I appreciate this episode more than I did back then.  As a piece of writing, the script is absolutely fantastic.  The symmitry of the flashbacks and on island story alone is something that I have to applaud. 

The plot itself is pretty straight forward, which is rare for Lost.  But it's not so much the plot but the characters that make this (and ultimately Lost) interesting.  It's a great character study into one of the more complex characters on the show.  The purpose was to de-villain Sawyer and, in a way, put a twist on other characters such as Jack and Sayid.  Really, I feel like this episode also marks a turning point in the series, but more on that in a second.

Okay, so Sawyer's this con man who essentially hates himself for ending up being what he hated the most.  A lot of season one moments point to Sawyer being suicidal, not really caring if he lives or dies.  And in a way, pushing Jack and Sayid to nearly kill him was a part of that.  I mean, it's not so much that he's a bad guy, we'll learn later in the series that he isn't, it's just that he's so screwed up and that he holds on to so much self hatred, he's not only become narcessistic, but feels he's got nothing to live for.  It's a fantastic place to start a character arc and throughout the series, we get the rise and fall of Sawyer, which is pretty awesome overall.  (it also mirrors Jack fall and rise arc--seriously, I could write a thesis on how these two have similar roles on the show.) 

So, really, the episode is about that--how Sawyer needs to push everyone's buttons out of self hatred.  The ironic part is that he's conning not only everyone else about Shannon's medicine but himself in the process, convincing himself he's just as bad as the original Sawyer.  (which, no, no, no...no one is THAT evil.)  I think the other fascinating thing is not just showing how Sawyer has layers to him but how everyone reacts to him as well.  I think this episode Sawyer being a pain brings out everyone's true natures. 

Let's start with Jack.  Up until this point, Jack is pretty much the hero, good guy, etc.  But Sawyer gets under his skin like no one else.  Maybe it's cause of Kate, which it is somewhat.  Maybe it's because Sawyer won't fall into the good little survivor line.  Maybe cause Sawyer is a lost cause that Jack can't 'fix'.  Whatever it is, Sawyer embodies just about everything that Jack doesn't like and because of that, Jack is pushed to reach a darker part of himself.  One that allows his conscious to torture someone.  Jack's no saint, and I think this episode shows that pretty well.  He bypasses reason because of emotion and Sawyer nearly dies for it.  Not exactly the 'cool' leader one should be.  And it's funny how his flaws in leadership get brought up later.  So, the hero has flaws just like the villain has a heart.  I like the twist here.

Also, there's that scene where Sawyer tells Jack to let him die because he'd let Jack die--  Well, Sawyer pretty much wants to die at this point, so of course he's gonna be rude.  But Jack doesn't, mostly because his need to fix everything overrides his actions at times.  And I do think that by season five perhaps, Sawyer wouldn't just sit there and watch someone die.  But that scene shows the fundamental differences between the two men at this point. 

Okay, so then there's Sayid.  I really do believe they started writing the characters differently after this episode.  I mean, you could argue that the survivors are finally becoming themselves and not the survival/hero mode you original meet them in, and I will say that I think at this point the writers have finally found the characters, but there is a difference in how the characters are presented after this episode.  Anyway, Sayid up until this point, Sayid was rational and logical, being the leading man in getting everyone off the island.  Sawyer's refusal to be helpful pushes him down that dark, emotional path that Sayid doesn't like to go and spends his entire life trying to run from.  We get into Sayid's pysche more in the next episode but it was truly a 'whoa' moment when he actually began torturing Sawyer.

And then there's Kate.  Here's my thing.  I actually like the idea behind Kate when she was first written--that she was a strong character and was going to be the female lead and she needed to find her husband.  Whatever the idea was for her character back in the pilot, that stayed with the character until, say, about his episode.  Because after this episode, Kate stops being a strong, independent character, her IQ seems to drop, and she seems to be around soley to be the object of Sawyer and Jack.  While the triangle was an interesting idea, I feel like in the long run, it damaged Kate's character.  But I suppose that's a point I'll leave for later when it's more relevant.

At this point, I think this is where I actually find the triangle an interesting character study.  I mean, there is a natural chemistry between Kate and Sawyer and I think the two of them understand each other in a way that Kate and Jack don't seem to be on the same ground.  Sawyer, I believe, did part of his little con over the inhalers not just because he wanted everyone to hate him, but also because he really did want a kiss from Kate.  Not only would that stick it to Jack, but I do believe he was attracted to her right from the beginning.  But also, for someone like Sawyer, it's a big deal for him to open up to anyone, and this girl did just that.  She can get under his skin and see through his tough guy lies--and that is huge.  It's part of the reason he starts to fall in love with her.  And Sawyer genuinely falling in love starts him on the path of redemption.  So, yeah, it's kinda cool--

As for Kate, I can't say I really got it the first time I watched it, because I wasn't sure how anyone could relate to Sawyer off the bat, but she does feel something for him, especially after she kisses him.  Because they do have a connection, despite her not wanting to acknowledge that it's there.  Because the two of them are a lot a like.  And he's symbolic of a lot of unresolved issues that she's got to deal with.  So, yeah, there was potential here for there to be an intriguing love triangle between the three characters.  It's just unfortunate that they started ruining Kate's character so that no one cared anymore.

One small note about Kate and Sayid.  It was pointed out to me recently that Kate and Sayid have the most mature relationship at the beginning of the series.  And they did.  They both acted intelligent and worked to do what was best for the survivors in a mature manner.  No one was belittling, or crazy, or abused, etc.  I suppose I never would have bought them as a romantic couple, but it was a nice angle since so many of the relationships/friendships on this show are juvinile.  It's a shame that after this episode, because Sayid leaves, Kate and Sayid never share that same level of friendship again.  Ah, what would have been.

Okay, so, there is a b-plot here, amazingly.  And it's really beautiful and sweet.  I mean, here's how you write a real love story.  Not one where the two characters should be together because their main characters or where they're so screwed up they have their first kiss while one is being tortured and tied to a tree.  Charlie and Claire, laughing, talking, genuinely getting along, flirting, everything.  And the fake peanut butter--which is a little weird, but overall, the fact that he goes through all the trouble to make her safe is quite romantic.  They really are an adorable couple at the beginning of the series and one you can not only really buy as a romantic couple, but one that you want to root for.  It really puts the whole triangle into perspective as to how nutty it is.  

Flashbacks:
The flashbacks do well to tell Sawyer's history.  I mean, we get that he's a con man, but the cool part is that you're supposed to think that he was the one whom the letter was written.  The twist at the end being that he wrote the letter and became the person he hated.  A very nicely done piece of writing there.  I'm not sure if the flashback to island stuff is paralleled as nicely again.  A few things I'd like to mention. 

For one, we get to see Sawyer having a heart, when he can't do what was done to him.  The little boy showing up was symbolic and also lets us know that Sawyer isn't completely evil.  Just very screwed up.

The thing that brings this whole thing down a little--the actual con itself.  I'm hard pressed to believe that anyone with half a brain would fall for the scheme.  I mean, there are that stupid of people out there, but it still seems like a stretch to me.  Also, I hate to say it, but the acting is just a bit over the top--the actress in particular.  It's almost like it's a parody of itself.  I can't help but groan every time she groans for Sawyer at the beginning or when all that money falls out of the briefcase.  It's a little forced.

I also can't help but feel that the sex scene, along with the naked Sawyer at the beginning, was put in there for the female fans.  And they tend to do this a lot with Sawyer.  I feel like, *shrug*, Josh Holloway is a good looking guy but eh, doesn't do much for me.  And I really am more interesting in just about everything else before Sawyer with his shirt off...

The Little Things:
*I'm not sure why Sawyer thinks that the stuff he stole from everyone is now his.  :P
*Boone and Shannon are used mostly as a plot device in this episode.  Unfortunately, they're used this way until the end of their respective purpose on the show.
*Do Australians not like peanut butter?  I've never gotten that line.
*Locke bugs me in this episode.  Why pin it on Sawyer?  And why does Sayid so easily agree to that line of thinking?  I call foul on this one.
*I really wonder what Kate wanted to put at the end of her line 'if you do this' to Jack.  Because he does do it.  And not much happens--
*You know who wins in this episode?  Sun.  She totally rocks.  Not only does she use a plant to solve the problems, she does it without violence.  This is why it's a shame there wasn't a woman running things.  So many problems would have been solved, lol.
*However, why didn't Sun just tell Jin what she was doing?  Seems like a little bit of unnecessary tension to me. 

Favorite Quotes:
HURLEY: Wow, man. That was awesome. I mean, that was like a -- Jedi moment.

SAWYER: Baby, I am tied to a tree in a jungle of mystery. I just got tortured by a damn spinal surgeon and a gen-u-ine I-raqi. Of course, I'm serious. 

Unanswered Questions:
Do I have any?  Not really, we're not really into the mythology stuff yet.  Maybe wondering what happened to Sawyer once he left that one dude's money on the floor of his mark.  But since he's still living, it's not really important.

Grade: A- This episode loses a point or two for the lack of logic in the flashbacks and for Sayid's overreaction.  But the script is wonderful and the characterization is fantastic. 

Lostpedia

You All Everybody

Episode 1x7: The Moth
Directed by: Jack Bender
Written by: Jennifer Johnson and Paul Dini
Airdate: 11-3-04

Summary: Charlie has to dig Jack out of a cave in.  Sayid tries to triangulate a signal to get...uh...a signal.  
Centric: Charlie

Review:
Alright, let's talk about Charlie for a moment, shall we?  For the most part, I like to watch the show for what it is and not delve to deeply into the influences of the writers but Charlie's character, I'm going to.  The Lost writers drew from a tone of things, most of them quite obvious, but one of the major ones, and a novel I absolutely love, is The Stand.  I'll probably go more into that when we get to season six and they pretty much use the same ending as Stephen King's famous novel.  But anyway, for the most part, I'd say plot was what the mostly stole from The Stand.  Most of the characters are different.  Except for in the case of Charlie, who the writers have admitted was supposed to be A Larry Underwood.  I mean, it's the same, classic, cliche, drug addicted rock star finds redemption, etc, etc. 

Here's the thing...Larry Underwood is a fantastic character.  I mean, yeah, the guy starts out as a total douche but it's a cover for a ton of insecurities, which throughout the novel he slowly sheds until he finally becomes the man he wants to be just in time to sacrifice himself for all of human kind.  (actually, Charlie shares with Larry that both their deaths were somewhat unnecessary but whatever...)  My point is, that Larry Underwood's character arc is a great coming of age story, of a boy becoming a man, of how people can stay stagnant and immature until they've found their greater purpose.  Sure, he's still that one hit wonder rock star but there's so much more to the character than that, both flaws and strengths.

The problem with Charlie is that, with maybe the exception of this episode and the end of season three, there's nothing more to Charlie than his ex junkie rock star persona.  There's no depth, there's no arc.  They attempt it a little with Claire and Aaron but I'll get to that failing later on.  Charlie becomes a one-note character, and sure that stems from bad writing, but it also comes from the fact that they solve most of Charlie's issues in this episode

Okay, so the idea of the moth and it's struggle to become free is kinda a metaphor for most of our losties, not just Charlie.  And, it'll go along nicely with the no pain no gain mantra that gets repeated throughout the series.  And the metaphor is so blatant here.  I mean, Charlie literally crawls out of the ground.  He's reborn and on his way to being a better, non drug addicted person.

It's a good episode, even if the metaphor is pounded into you.  But my problem is that the writers kinda went, now what? after this episode.  It's a shame because the basis for the character held so much promise.  I suppose, also, that with so many other good characters, someone was going to fall through the cracks and Charlie was the most obvious choice.  His story just isn't interesting after this, which is a shame because there could have been more potential here.  Or maybe not.  Hard to say. 

One cool thing I'd like to point out, that's not really relevant, just fun.  The Stand was Stephen King's modern adaption of Lord of the Rings, and the name Underwood is a nod to the names of Hobbits.  And, of course, Dom played a hobbit in LotR.  I love circularity like that.

I should mention Locke and his Yoda-ness of the episode.  I don't know, I don't have much to comment on.  Locke can pull it off here, but I always had the impression that Locke was bs'ing his way through these master of the mind, jedi mind trick stuff.  Eh. 

Alright, so Jack gets trapped in a cave in.  *shrugs*  I suppose it was here to feature the caves (as well as stand for Charlie's metaphor)  Also, everyone who wasn't important to the plot got to haul rocks, lol.  The moment between Jack and Charlie in the caves is nice--though, Jack gets a lot of flack in this episode for treating Charlie like dirt.  Did he?  I kinda fail to see it.  He may have been nicer but it's Jack and beside manor isn't his strong suit.    Hurley was kinda mean to Charlie moreso than Jack.  But then they hugged and made up and all was right in the world. 

So, on to the b-plot of trying to get off the island. 

Sayid's doing something technical again.  What amuses me is that they're going out of their way to figure out how to find the transmission when I suppose they could start actually looking around the island.  OMG, they might actually find something useful, like the radio tower or New Otherton.  But can't jump ahead that quickly.  hence, Sayid getting whacked on the head.  I wish it'd been an other that did that.  Locke being the one to do it just rings false somehow. 

Anyway, the interesting part of the subplot is--how Shannon doesn't screw up the bottle rocket.  No...can't be that...

Actually, it's the Kate/Sawyer/Jack stuff.  First of all, while there were smaller hints in the last episode, here's the beginning of Sawyer wanting to bang Kate.  I refuse to believe it's anything more than primal at this point.  But he's still a jerk and, well, it's not going to end well at this point.  There are two points I'd like to make, though--the first being that Kate is rather bitchy to him in this episode.  I mean overly so.  I mean, overly so in the way that you know she'll eventually come around--and see through his little charade.  But, even though he's been a complete ass, he hasn't done anything to her personally and nothing at all in this episode, so why is she overly sensitive to everything?  Actually, I know the answer to that but still, I want to say, chill out!  The other point is the conversation Kate and Sawyer have about Jack.  I do believe Sawyer has a point about he and Jack not being that different from each other--it's true and I think it's one of the cooler aspects of the show, how these two men go through mirroring arcs.  It's a shame that it's often deluded by Kate's presence. 

As for the Kate/Jack side of this episode, which there's a lot of actually, despite the break-up, they're still BFFs--if Kate's freak out over his possible death wasn't enough, she goes a bit crazy trying to move those rocks.  Hell, she even made him a sling, how cute is that?  I still say the rift between them is contrived but gotta give Sawyer an in somehow, right?

So, I think that's it.  Not enough Hurley as of late.  But a lot of the cast that's usually annoying doesn't do that much.

Flashbacks:
I hate to say it but Charlie's flashbacks have got to be some of the most boring and cliche backstories of any character.  Thankfully, there isn't a lot of them.  I'm not sure why they decided to put the religious angle there, definitely wasn't a part of the Larry Underwood mold, but I kinda wish they hadn't.  It seems like such overkill--a good catholic boy who succumbs to drugs, sex, and rock'n'roll.  *rolls eyes*

The other thing that kinda bugs me about Charlie's backstory is that his path to drug addiction just doesn't ring true.  I mean, he starts because his brother was a jerk and already using, so he feels he has to as well to keep up?  Or that he's hit rock bottom so what the hell?  I feel like they try to paint Charlie so much as the good boy, it's hard to believe that he'd actually start using himself. 

In addition, this episode brings up an issue I have with a lot of the flashbacks--that the person isn't responsible for their own bad choices, someone else is.  I realize this started more with Jack but I can let it go if it's one character--not all of them, which it eventually ends up being.  In this case, Charlie's brother Liam is the source of all Charlie's issues.  Not Charlie himself.  This I find a little hard to swallow.  And, in fact, I actually think Liam's story may be more interesting than Charlie's--I mean, the guy does get his life turned around, so what's the story there? 

So, anyway, my overall point is that the flashbacks don't really do Charlie any favors and despite the growth on island, which kinda gets destroyed anyway, Charlie comes off as a less sympathetic character than he was to begin with. 

At least getting to see You All Everybody performed live was fun. 

The Little Things:
*Sawyer waving as Jack vacates his old tent is absolutely priceless.
*I wasn't aware, until a little while ago, that the actor who plays Liam is actually American.  Now that I know, I kinda can tell he struggles with the accent.
*It's interesting that this early on, Boone and Shannon already get a lot of sideline stuff.  (As well as Claire, but I think she was always meant to be a minor character.)
*Firework smugglers.  Really?
*I'm noticing a trend that I didn't so much before, each episode has a plotline that sets up the next week's centricity.  (for a while anyway)
*Yay for Sun slowly breaking out of her battered wife role.  Man, it probably was too hot to be wearing that sweater thing all the time.
*I'm hard pressed to believe that Charlie's meek little voice caused that big of a cave in--but what do I know?
*Kate believes the crashed for no reason.  Oh, Kate.  Someday you'll wish you were right about that.
*Oh, hey, the beginning of the Scott/Steve joke.  I was always amused by it. 
*Again, Kate and Sawyer with an unnecessary recap of the episode so far.  GAH!  These episodes are pretty straight forward--we don't need this!
*Yay, the beginning of Hurley/Charlie love!

Favorite Quotes:
KATE: I take better pictures than that. Smaller, too, if you want something for your wallet.

All of the lyrics to You All Everybody

Huh, serious lack of good lines in this one.  Locke's speech about The Moth and struggle is nice and profound, though not memorable enough to quote here.  The Kate/Sawyer exchange with the bottle rocket was nice too but that was more about body language than actual words.
 
Unanswered Questions:
There really isn't any mythology in this episode to question.  Though, what if Jack HAD died in that cave in?  Or, would it have been more interesting to have an Other hit Sayid. 

Grade: B- For a Charlie episode, it's not bad.  I like the overall plot and message, even if it was heavy handed--and I liked the transmitter side plot.  It's just slow in places, namely Charlie running around the jungle and the amount of rock digging they do.  Also, once you've seen the flashbacks, there's really no need to ever go back and see them again--unless it's You All Everybody live. 

Lostpedia

Could You Repeat that in English?

Episode 1x6: House of the Rising Sun
Directed by: Michael Zinberg
Written by: Javier Grillo-Marxauch
Airdate:10-27-04

Summary: Jin beats up Michael for a watch.  Charlie stands on a beehive.  Jack and Kate break-up for the first time but not the last time.
Centric: Sun (and Jin)

Review:
Side note, Lost premiered seven years ago today.  I can't believe it's been that long.

Anyway, it's our first Sun/Jin episode.  I'm not a huge fan of these episodes, mostly because they never end up bringing a whole lot of relevance to the show, but this one I do like.

I don't miss the days when Jin was a bit of douche.  And I feel like him beating up Michael, especially in front of Walt, is almost out of character for how he's portrayed not only in the future but in the flashbacks as well.  Jin's actually a pretty good guy, so to see him all pissed off and angry is somewhat unsettling.  At this point, as well, I feel like we've still got these stereotypes of the characters.

I read somewhere that both the actors weren't all that fond of how the Asians were being portrayed and I can't say I blame them.  I don't like really like cruel husband/battered wife angle that's used here and at least Sun and Jin get to branch out a bit.  Despite the clicheness used in the making of this episode, I actually like the plot.

The cool part is the miscommunication and not only how Michael doesn't understand why he's being beaten but how the Koreans are distant/cut off from the others because their lack of knowing English.  It was a cool aspect to play and I'm glad the writers took a chance on having two characters primarily speak another language.  I feel like it works well and, especially in these early episodes, it shows how these people are still strangers, how they stick with what they know, and how easily we as a society can alienate from each other.  A big part of the first season was learning to cope with not only surviving a disaster but learning to live with those you're stuck with and becoming a part of society instead of distancing yourself from it.  I give the writers props for that one.

Another aspect of the A-Plot I liked is that Michael and Walt are starting to bond.  It's a slow process but I'm so glad that we get these little moments, such as Michael knowing Walt's birthday, because to keep the tension between the two of them would become insufferable.  (granted, Michael's Walt call did become unbearable, so I guess be careful for what you wish for.)

Okay, so major plot twist here, Sun speaks English.  It might have been a bigger moment had they not ruined it in the flashbacks.  I'm glad, though, that they had one of them speaking English so that it wouldn't be impossible for them to communicate with everyone else.  Anyway, I'm not sure if there's much to talk about regarding Sun and Jin's on island relationship.  She stands by him even though he's coming off as a jerk over a meaningless item.  It's kinda black and white and while the plotline of why is intriguing, I feel like there's not any overall depth on the Sun/Jin side of the episode.  (though, the Michael/Walt does bring out the father/son issues as well as bringing up the racism card.)

Also, this also hints at the Michael/Sun possible romance but, again, I'm so glad that didn't really go anywhere.  Then again, this episode kinda hinted at Kate and Sayid, too, which was weird.  Makes me wonder how they would tie it up had they only had 13 episodes. 

Okay, b-plot #1: Tension over the caves and Jack and Kate take a break part 1.

First of all, about the caves, I didn't really notice it the first time I saw the show, but something that has stuck out to me on rewatch is that all these issues over the caves seem irrelevant.  I mean, why can't they have people taking turns going to the beach to keep the light going and staying in the caves?  Jack does have a point, that the caves are a natural shelter.  I'm not sure why they all decided it had to be one or the other, though it's obvious, the writers just wanted some tension within the group.  I will admit, it does seem a little forced and Sayid's little temper tantrum about it seems a little over the top as well.

Anyway, about those bodies they found.  I have to wonder what (who) the writers intended for them to be.  I mean, after 2000 years, I'm pretty sure the clothes wouldn't still be there and I'm hard pressed to believe that Jack would be THAT bad at identifying the corpses.  I don't know, I just feel like the real answer was sorta a let down (not that I really ever needed and answer to the question).  I just figured that the original idea behind them would have been more interesting than what we ended up getting.  Or, maybe they didn't know at all.  But I assure you, they didn't know it'd be MiB and Mother.


What I don't understand is Kate.  Like usual.  I get her character doesn't do "taco night", which is kinda what moving into the caves is equivalent to.  I get that she's a runner and wants off the island right away to run...to where?  I don't know.  That's the thing about Kate.  Why does she do the things she does?  And it's obvious, by the ending montage, that Kate misses Jack and Jack misses Kate but it seems so contrived when there's really no issue there at all.  I mean, they act like they've completely broken up when there hasn't been anything to break up.  So--brings me to the point that I feel like the romance would have been completely organic at this point and they should have let it play out.  They still could have had their triangle, etc, but at this point it just seems like pointless drama.

And because you can have Jack and Kate drama without mentioning Sawyer, I have to ask--why is Sawyer so interested in where Kate's staying at this point?  It seems a little premature for him to be asking about it.  Though, I feel like it's hitting the audience over the head as to where they planned to go with it.  *groans*

Anyway, b-plot #2: Charlie, Locke, and the beehive.  This entire subplot is really just set up for the Charlie centric next episode.  Locke is still coming off as weirdo mystery man, though at least this early in, he's attempting to do Charlie a favor.  The whole purpose is to show that Locke knows Charlie is a drug addict and wants Charlie to decide for himself to stop using.  I don't feel like there's much to say at this point since the next episode covers the real issues here.  But Charlie does get the awesome lines of the episode and he is on his way to recovery.  Also, I love that Charlie gets his guitar back because, well, I like guitars.  Anyway, on the plus side, this is a step for Charlie's growth, which this early in I think is still entertaining.  The negative side, Charlie growing up so fast means there's nothing for him to do later on--but that's season two.

Flashbacks:
The one thing I have to criticize the show for, it's the overuse of flashbacks and how they don't really stand up over time like the rest of the show does.  But, I have to say, I do like and appreciate these first Sun/Jin flashbakcs more than I did when the show first aired.  I suppose I've grown to enjoy Sun and Jin more than I used to.  I kinda love their first flashbacks, showing how much they were in love with each other.  They're so sweet and beautiful and I don't really care what you may say happened between point A and B, I feel like the on island Sun and Jin are just different people all around.  But, I suppose, in a sense, they find their way back to who they once were.  Maybe that's the point...

Anyway, one thing I didn't like...Sun's dad being apart of the Korean mafia or something.  Really?  Does he have to be an overbearing douche who hates Jin for no real reason, even if we don't even see him in this episode?  I suppose the use of external issues putting pressure on their marriage instead of internal issues made it possible for them to reconcile eventually but I'm not sure how realistic that is.

Granted, what about this show is realistic?

Anyway, the flashbacks are very well done in this episode.  (and how awesome is that that they're all in Korean?)  The ending was sweet as well, when she can't leave him at the airport.  You can convince me that Sun and Jin's relationship ended up being any healthier than the silly triangle but I think their moments of love and affection ring truer at times. 

The Little Things:
*First mention of Jack's tattoos.  I mean, okay, I feel like it's obvious that they belong to Matthew Fox.  The writers should have dropped it at this.  Why is it so unusual for a doctor to have tattoos?  Why did anyone think that the audience would care what they meant?  There are some mysteries that are should always remain mysterious--the tattoos were one of them.
*The show has done some rather violent things but Jin beating up Michael in front of Walt has always been at the top of the most uncomfortable list.  I always want to fast forward.
*Jack and Kate ripping off their shirts because of the bees seems like gratitous nudity overkill.  Humorously so.  I mean, on a show about a bunch of people stranded on an island, I'm sure there are much better ways of getting your actors to take off their shirts.
*Well, now we know who the skeletons really belong to.  Granted, I'm still not fond of the answer.
*Why did the writers feel the need to have Sawyer recap the episode so far?  It seemed so unnecessary and somewhat insulting as the situation wasn't that difficult to understand.
*I still feel like it's Sayid, not Jack, who's doing a lot of the leading of the group.  I suppose this dynamic, and the slight shift of Sayid's character, doesn't really happen until Solitary.
*Willie Nelson asks us is this where we want to be.  We get it writers.  We do...

Favorite Quotes:
CHARLIE: If you guys are finished verbally copulating we should get a move on.

KATE: Hey, Charlie. Ask Jack about his tattoos.
CHARLIE: Oh, you guys have an inside joke. How absolutely wonderful for you both.

KATE: It was, um, it was full of bees.
CHARLIE: I'd have thought C's, actually.

WALT: You don't know anything about me.
MICHAEL: I know a lot about you.
WALT: Yeah?
MICHAEL: Yeah.
WALT: When's my birthday?
MICHAEL: August 24th. When's mine?
MICHAEL: I know you can't understand a word, and normally I'm not the talking out loud type, but since I have a captive audience, I hope for your sake you pay attention. I'm not exactly having the best month of my life. I barely knew my son, and now, I gotta be his daddy. And then to top if off, I have a deranged Korean guy trying to kill me and for what?! Look, I get it, right [takes the watch out of his pocket]. It's the watch. Mine broke and I found this in the wreckage, and I figured, "hey, why let a $20,000 dollar watch go to waste"? Which is ridiculous since time doesn't matter on a damn Island!

Unanswered Questions:
The major unanswered question of this episode actually got answered, even if I didn't like the answer.  So, I suppose I should ask, what were the writers originally intending with those caves?

More importantly though, why was Kate so hellbent on staying on the beach?  I'm still not sure I fully understand that. 

Grade: B+  It really is a fantastic episode.  The main plot is incredibly intriguing, with a decent twist at the end.  The contrived drama over the caves brings it down a little and Locke/Charlie storyline drags a little since it'll be the focus of the next episode.  But one of the few S1-3 episodes where I don't feel like fast-forwarding through all the flashbacks.

Lostpedia guide for trivia, etc: Lostpedia

The List Review

I was very apprehensive about this season.  Very.  Based on all the speculation before hand.  I'm still a little iffy about the season as a whole but at least this episode gave it promise. 

First of all, this episode kinda felt like was a midseason episode and not the premiere.  Though, I could see this as the second episode to last year's finale.  The weird part is that season seven started with an air of finality to it.  This year felt like every other mid-series beginning.  Makes me wonder about the future of the show. 

Anyway, right off the bat, James Spader.  Groan.  I hope he isn't in it too much.  I find him rather annoying.   I don't like that he's got a preconcieved notion of everyone.  He comes off as a snob and he seems as though he's trying to be intellectual but it comes off as pretentious.  Maybe that's the point?  I don't know, I don't want to see a lot of him. 

So, they made Andy manager.  Really?  I mean...really?  It's interesting though--that one, they've totally, totally made him the new Michael Scott.  And two, he was endearing enough and not *manager* enough to really bother me.  In fact, Spader felt more like the *manager* to me.  Andy was kinda the buffer.  And, there is a vast difference between Michael Scott being the center of the show and Andy still being another character.  Granted, Andy did get a little more screen time, which I did feel bogged it down some, but his sweetness kinda balanced it out.  It'll be interesting.  And as long as they keep away from the Andy/Erin romance, I think it'll be just fine.

I really loved Jim and Pam in this episode.  Jim still seemed like Jim to me and though he didn't have much to do, he was featured often and I'll always take that.  Pam, just, aw, Pam.  I love her so much.  I love pregnant Pam.  I love how emotional she got.  I hope they have some good pregnancy story lines that they didn't give to her in season six.  Also, the tag, beautiful.  A sweet underscored JAM moment, something that was greatly missing in season seven and to an extent season six.  I kinda hope that they can keep that up and that Jenna's absence doesn't mar it too much. 

I didn't miss Michael.  I didn't miss Steve Carell.  I think his leaving did give everyone else a little more spotlight time and I enjoyed that.  The b cast all got some good moments and hopefully the trend will continue.  Oh, and Angela's pregnancy was definitely underscored.  Maybe she's faking.  Ha! I hope.  I'm not sure I'm excited about that one. 

Grade: B.  Solid B.  Not much of an epic premiere and Spader's gonna be a pain but the elements of the show are still there and it can still be funny, sweet, and endearing.