LOST: The show continues to weave its six-degrees-of-separation thing -- now the flashbacks are more dramatically interacting. Every week that goes by the fan-theory that the island is some kind of purgatory -- everyone on the plane died, but these people have to work through their spiritual issues before they can move on -- becomes more plausible. Of course that is not really an answer at all -- as Brad said to me, then why does purgatory involve a monster and a hatch? And a note on casting: the actress playing Juliette played Dr. Carry Weaver's first girlfriend on ER (a social worker psychologist), adding to the sexy girls-handcuffed together tension. Or maybe that was just me being juvenile. Wouldn't be the first time. I have one big technical fan-geek complaint about the episode, but I need to save that for the comments so as not to spoil anything.
This series is basically just a vehicle for good stories -- it is a short story collection wrapped up in a sci-fi frame, just as Chaucer has each pilgrim tell his story as part of their religious pilgrimage.
The smoke monster picked Eko way off the ground and smashed him into the upper part of a tree. Locke and co climbed over the Other's fence by using a tree. So how is it that the fence protects against the monster -- Juliette is right on the other side of the fence and it is hard to understand why the thing cannot jump over the fence and kill her or at least reach over the fence and grab her. Maybe the others control the thing and it is all misdirection, and maybe it never wanted to kill her, but still.
ReplyDeleteGeoff, I see your point with the smoke monster thing but maybe it's just not that bright, or the field that the fence puts out irritates it enough that it doesn't want to go over. Is it me, or was the flash of light it emmitted something now?
ReplyDeleteThe handcuff fight was far more one-sided than thier "chained jungle heat" promo led us to believe. I snickered at the fact that they also fell into a mudpit during thier escape. I was wondering if they were going to run through a pillow fight or spanking machine to complete the juvenille guy fantasy trifecta.
I still don't buy the "it's purgatory" thing. I feel like it's some kind of reality knot that, the closer you get to it, the more tightly it pulls things together and the more weird coincedences happen. I've kind of given up on trying to figure out what the big "get" is, because there's a part of me that's worried that no matter what happens or what it'll be I'll be disappointed.
So, my crackpot theory isn't even really a crackpot theory... just an observation- all of the flashbacks this season have involved character's relationships with their estranged parents. What I can't figure out is why thematically are we seeing that now, instead of in season one or season two? (There were parent flashbacks, but not as many) It certainly adds a great layer to all of the characters.
ReplyDeleteThatcher- I really like the idea of a "reality knot". And Geoff's observation about the flashbacks interacting is good too- Desmond, Locke's father, etc.
Oh durn. I wish there was an edit button. Just wanted to say, I am going to be totally pissed if Jack, Sayid, Kate and Juliette just go back and live with everyone in beach huts. Come on! There's a whole air conditioned town they can go live in!!
ReplyDeletemitch: Yes, I can't understand why someone didn't so much as suggest moving to the village.
ReplyDeleteAnother great episode though; any time there's crazy sci-fi stuff I'm especially happy.
Mitch and James -- yeah Sara was yelling and screaming at the end of the episode about that. I wonder what will become of the camp? If the live in air conditioned houses the premise has really changed, but hey, lost can get away with anything.
ReplyDeleteI posted the complaint about leaving the houses on another forum and seemed to be the only one who found it strange - it could be booby-trapped and they would be easily contained by the Others in a space that the Others know intimately seemed the common response. It was also suggested that their little village is probably located where it is because it easily escapes notice - which wouldn't appeal to people who are wanting to be found.
ReplyDeleteStill strikes me as strange, though.
oh like Sayid couldn't change the access code to the fence, thereby preventing any returning OTHERS from entering...
ReplyDeletebut whatever. LOST is always so full of plot holes I've given up taking them seriously, and use them purely for MST3K-like commentary while watching.
Also Mitch: Sayid's flashback this season had nothing to do with parental figures at all...
speaking of Sayid: of all the characters he' the most interesting to me, the most potential for being truly badass and whilst he's psychologically f'd up from his past as an Iraqui interrogator, at least it's not daddy or mommy issues (zzzzzzz) and something that would truly be worth exploring. Not to mention if they make him more heroic on the show, somethign I think american audiences could stand having in their living rooms as I'm quite sick of all the white-people love triangles.
The actress playing Juliette also was in a rather steamy love scene with Angelina Jolie in Gia, adding, as you say, to the tension.
ReplyDelete