ABC's Lost Episode Preview: Season 2, Episode 2 Adrift

Next Episode:
Wednesday, Sept. 28, 9/8c
"Adrift"
With the abduction of Walt fresh on their minds and their raft destroyed, Michael, Sawyer and Jin fight for their lives and discover a new predator in the roiling ocean. Meanwhile on land, Locke must descend into the hatch when one castaway goes missing inside.

Quick thoughts on Season 2, Episode 1 Man of Science, Man of Faith

Season 2 has officially begun. The first episode was extremely good. Most of my friends I've talked to about it feel the same way I do about the beginning. . .it was weird and even a bit creepy.

When I first learned the title of the episode, I figured it was going to be Jack against Locke. But I'm not so sure of that anymore (could the man of science and man of faith both be Jack?). Could certainly be taken that way based on some of the dialogue from the episode.

We know whats in the hatch. Good question to have answered. Unfortunately, just like the end of Exodus 2, we've been left with even more questions. Why is what's in the hatch there? How long has it been there? What is it doing there? Is it related to the "monster"? And these are only questions about the hatch. . .still don't know anything about the people who were on the raft. Guess we just have to wait another week before learning some answers and, more than likely, getting a whole new set of questions about the raft people.

Episode 4: Walkabout

Expandable Content:

1. ABC Episode Guide

   We are in Locke's dream as the show opens and it's moments after the crash. As his eye opens, we see the experience from his perspective. Chaos rages around him as he very cautiously looks down to his feet. We see him wiggle his big toe — Good, everything works.
   
   Back in real time, Locke's dream is interrupted by Vincent barking. In fact, he's waking up the entire camp. He won't stop barking at the fuselage and when Jack and the others listen closely they can hear something rummaging around in there. But that can't be, everything in there is…dead. Sawyer? Nope, he's right behind Jack. When they shine a flashlight inside, two glowing eyes shine right back at them. Uh oh…
   
   Three squealing beasts charge out of the wreckage and tear through the camp. As they disappear back into the jungle, Locke is able to determine what they are —Wild Boars. They've been attracted by the bodies that have been baking in the fuselage for the last 4 days. Something has to be done. Bury them? They wouldn't stay buried, not for long anyway. Jack makes the only call he can — The bodies have to be burned.
   
   But, as usual, just as one problem is solved, another rears its ugly head. They're out of food. It's all gone. And just as panic begins to set in, Locke steps forward with his own brand of problem solving. They can hunt the boars. What are they supposed to hunt with? The case of knives Locke checked into the luggage compartment. "Who is this guy?"
   
   In FLASHBACK Locke gets a cryptic phone call from someone who calls him "Colonel." Of course, he's in the military! But we soon discover that isn't true at all — Locke is just another cubicle jockey with an active imagination.
   
   Back on the island, Michael is getting ready to go with Locke. Walt wants to come, but Michael manages to communicate with Sun well enough to convince her to watch his son until the hunting party returns. Meanwhile, Sayid has a plan to try and locate the source of the French Transmission using homemade antennas to triangulate the signal. Kate agrees to help him and tells Jack of her plan before setting off with Locke and Michael to hunt for boar. Back at the fuselage, Claire is beginning to collect the personal effects of the dead for use in a eulogy during the cremation. She asks Jack to be the one to give it, but he doesn't want the job. Claire decides to do it herself.
   
   Boone remarks to Shannon that one of the survivors, Rose, has been sitting by herself way down the beach. He's pretty sure she hasn't eaten since the crash. When Shannon tells him to butt out, Boone reminds Shannon that she would starve without his help. She vows to show him she can take care of herself.
   
   Deep in the jungle, Locke has found the boar trail. They're close. He sends Michael and Kate out to surround the beast, but it turns on them and charges. Michael is gored in the leg and as Kate helps him up she calls to Locke to see if he is okay. "I'm fine, Helen, I just got the wind knocked out of me." Who is Helen?
   
   In FLASHBACK, we see Locke enjoying an intimate conversation with "Helen" over the phone. He has a surprise for her — he finally saved up the money to go to Australia and take that authentic aboriginal walkabout. And guess what? He bought two tickets. Sadly, we learn that Helen doesn't share the same feelings for Locke as he does for her.
   
   Back on the island, Kate agrees to help Michael limp back to the beach, but Locke is determined to bring down that boar. Kate tells him he can't go out there by alone. Locke disagrees. "Don't tell me what I can't do."
   
   Back on the beach, a hunter of another sort has found her quarry. Shannon flirts with Charlie and mentions how much she would like a fish. Charlie is only too happy to catch her one…as soon as he can learn how to from Hurley.
   
   Jack has made his way over to Rose and tries to get her to open up to him. After some time, she does and tells him that, even though he has not been found, she believes her husband, Bernard is still alive. She agrees to rejoin the others. Meanwhile, back at the fuselage, Claire has found an envelope with Sayid's name on it. He opens it and we find a woman's picture inside. Sayid can't seem to take his eyes off her.
   
   On the way back to the beach, Kate stops to climb a tree and attach the antenna. But when she is up there, she sees the monster knocking down trees in the distance and drops the antenna, breaking it. And the monster…is heading straight for Locke.
   
   On the beach, Sun is teaching Walt about natural substitutes for toothpaste when Michael and Kate return. The others learn that the hunt was unsuccessful and worse still, that Locke is probably dead.
   
   When Jack is making the final preparations to the fuselage, he sees something — wait -someone, off in the forest. When he chases after him, he runs smack into Locke, who has somehow managed to survive his run in with the monster. And that's not all — he brought back a boar with him.
   
   As night falls, the fuselage is ignited and the names of the dead are read in memorial to them. Michael congratulates Locke on the hunt and asks him if he got a look at the monster. Locke tells him he didn't see anything.
   
   But as we get one more glimpse into his past, we learn that Locke is keeping a secret — one that must be seen to be believed.

2. Live Notes

   • Opening shot of Locke's eye
     
   • Of course Jack would assume its Sawyer in the fuselage. . .Sawyers the bad guy and Jack is the hero :/
   • Locke's happy, he can finally do what he came to Australia for
   • Whats so wrong with cremating people in these circumstances?
   • Sayid the electronics expert is at it again
   • Way to treat the kid, Michael. Infer to him that no one else wants anything to do with a kid. . .
   • 4 days and the foods already gone (is this a Lost number reference?)
   • Locke sure is talking like an expert. . .he sure did his homework
   • Why is there always some annoying office manager looking for TPS reports?
   • Jack hits the nail right on the head regarding Kate (I'd say you have a problem staying in any one place for too long)
   • Why does Michael ask Sun to look after Walt? There are other people staying on the beach
   • How come everytime someone wants something done they go to Jack first? Memorial service at the fuselage, checking on Rose, etc. . .No wonder he starts to lose it, can't expect one person to do everything
   • And we see Shannon's main character flaw. . .using other people
   • Walkabout: "is a journey of spiritual renewal where one derives strength from the earth and becomes inseperable from it"
   • "Don't tell me what I can't do!" really is true based on Lockes past vs his present situation
   • First glimpse into Sayid's past
   • ". . .tell Randy off" I wouldn't really consider that confrontation a real win for Locke
   • Face to face with the "monster" and Locke doesn't seem all that afraid
     
   • I think Charlie is hurt that Shannon didn't really like him and only used him so she could try to prove something to Boone (Charlie does have a past of using people too so he's been on both sides)
   • Who is that guy?
     
   • Spoiler (highlight to see) its Jack's father. . .funny how the Island uses him/his image to help Jack (leads him to Locke in this episode and to the caves in a later episode)
   • Did the monster give the boar to Locke or did he actually catch it?
   • Locke seemed caught off guard when Michael congratulated him about killing the boar
   • There's Locke's secret. . .but how does something like that get fixed by a plane crash? The whole mystery of Locke really begins now
     

As we saw in the first episode, this episode's opening shot is of an eye. Locke's eye to be specific. In the telling of Locke's story, we see the first real big mystery of the show (if you don't count how they survived the crash, what's knocking down trees/making noise in the jungle, or how no one has managed to try to kill Sawyer yet). Locke had been confined to a wheelchair for 4 years before the crash. We don't know yet how or why, but I believe that some answers may come in Season 2. So, this helps to explain a bit about why Locke is so accepting of what is going on. He believes that the Island has given him back his ability to use his legs and, I believe, he is willing to do anything the Island wants him to do. Now, whether what he does later in this season is really what the Island wants is a big question. Maybe he's misinterpreting the signs the Island is giving him. Who knows. All I know is that the shows creators have stated he's not a bad guy.

Since the episode is about Locke, I'll explore some things I noticed about him. On the Island, he really seems the "logical" choice to lead the survivors. Not only is he very smart but he also knows how to survive and help others do the same. At least, this is how he is made to look at this point. My personal opinion of him will change later in the season. He also has great faith (probably because of his recent miracle). Locke also is brave. Everyone so far has run from the "monster" but, when Locke was trying to catch the boar, he stood face to face with whatever lurks in the jungle. I really wonder what he sees in this episode (he doesn't look very afraid) compared to what he sees in the season finale (where he definately looks afraid).

Locke's backstory in this episode is also interesting. So he works a typical desk job (even being told to get those TPS reports finished up) but also has an active imagination (the whole colonel reference and playing the board game during his lunch hour). He almost acts younger than he actually is. Anyway, the most fascinating thing I picked up from the office part of his backstory is when he explains what a walkabout really is. Its more than just going out in the wild and trying to survive. . .its about connecting with the Earth (see the Live Notes for the direct quote). Funny that he was denied a "real" walkabout with the company in Australia and now, look where he is. Stranded on an Island, a miracle that no one can really explain has happened to him. . .sounds like he's about as connected to the Earth as could be.

Episode 4 also starts to show a little different side of Jack. For the first time, he's not willing to help (with the memorial service). Also, it became clear to me when watching this, everyone seems to always turn to Jack for just about everything. He doesn't really see himself as a hero (probably because of his father. . .we'll see this in the next Jack-centered episode when he gets beat up as a kid and talks with his dad). All of this extra pressure of trying to be someone that he doesn't believe he is is about to find a way to vent. And that comes in the form of the illusions he sees of his father. They start in this episode and they lead him to Locke (returning with the boar after his encounter with the "monster"). The next episode, this illusion leads Jack to something far greater.

Not very much else goes on in this episode that has a greater connection in the rest of the season. I mean, we do see Shannon take advantage of Charlie, which seems to hurt him (I say in the Live Notes that maybe Charlie sees what its like to be used, since he has used others in his own past). Also, more of a connection between Michael and Sun occurs here when he asks if she could watch Walt (does he, for some reason, see her as a mother figure?).

That's it for the first DVD. Only 5 more to go. . .

Episode 3: Tabula Rasa

Expandable Content:

1. ABC Episode Guide

   In a makeshift infirmary tent, Jack is tending to the Marshal who mutters the same thing over and over through his pain: "Don't trust her…She's dangerous." When Jack asks him who "She" is, the Marshal tells him to look in his Jacket pocket. What he finds there will change things on the island forever. It's a mug shot…of Kate!
   
   The Signal Party is working their way back down the mountain. It's getting dark and some of them want to make camp for the night. Sawyer wants to press on through the jungle at night, but anyone who has seen the last two episodes knows that isn't a very good idea and he is convinced to stay. Sitting around the fire, they discuss what they should tell the others about the French transmission. That information hasn't exactly done a lot for their peace of mind, so in the end they decide not to tell the others anything in order to preserve hope. At least for now…
   
   And speaking of hope, back in the tent Jack is using a great deal of it trying to save the Marshall. Hurley enters, stumbles across Kate's mug shot and asks the question we all want answered: "What do you think she did?" — off which we FLASHBACK to:
   
   Kate, being prodded by a shotgun held by a farmer (Ray) who wants to know what she is doing sleeping in his barn. After a frank exchange, the two find that they can be of service to each other. He needs some help on the farm, she needs a job and a place to stay. She says her name is "Annie."
   
   Back at the Signal Party, Boone lifts the gun from Sawyer and the clip from Sayid as they sleep. They wake up and an argument ensues over who should have the gun, but they can't agree on a trustworthy candidate — until they arrive at Kate. She reluctantly agrees to keep it.
   
   The next morning, Hurley arrives at the infirmary tent to tell Jack the Signal Party has returned. Kate pulls Jack aside and says she has something she wants to tell him…in private. Jack is relieved, assuming that she is going to confide in him. But when they get down to it, Kate tells Jack about the French transmission. He asks if there is anything else she'd like to tell him. She asks if the Marshal has regained consciousness. When Jack tells her he did briefly during the surgery, Kate asks if he said anything to Jack. Jack considers the question for a moment before answering, "No."
   
   The Marshal has taken a turn for the worse. If they don't find some stronger antibiotics, he's not going to make it. Hurley tells him he's looked everywhere…except the fuselage — but that's full of bodies "and they're all…dead."
   
   Jack enters the wreckage and does his best to avoid disturbing the bodies as he makes a desperate search for anything that will help the Marshal. Hearing something rustling behind him, he finds Sawyer combing the fuselage for a different reason — turns out he's doing a little personal shopping. Jack berates him for disrespecting the dead, but Sawyer tells Jack to get with the program. Jack still thinks they are back in civilization while Sawyer realizes they are "in the wild."
   
   At one end of the beach, Charlie is helping Claire collect luggage using a wheelchair from the plane and they begin to form a bond. Meanwhile, Sun presents a suitcase to Jin, but after closer inspection Jin determines it is the wrong one and tells Sun to keep looking. But before she does, he tells her to go and clean up her face, she is embarrassing him. As she turns leave, he tells her he loves her. And the strange thing is that he appears to mean it.
   
   Hurley bumps into Kate at the infirmary tent and tries to play it cool about knowing her secret and in the process notices the gun in her waistband. He is not a smooth liar. And off the gun we FLASHBACK to:
   
   Kate, who decides it's time to move on from the Australian farm. But when she accepts a ride from Ray to the train station, she learns that he is planning on turning her in to the authorities. He saw her picture at the post office and he really needs that reward money. Kate looks in the side mirror to see the Marshal, hot on her heels. In a desperate attempt to get away, Kate jerks the wheel and crashes the truck off the road. Saving the farmer from the truck costs her a chance to escape and she is captured by the Marshal.
   
   Back in real time, while leaning over her body, the Marshal wakes up and lunges at Kate's throat, choking her. Jack has to pull him off of her before it's too late.
   
   Michael struggles to forge bond with Walt — wants to know what the bald told him yesterday. Walt says it's a secret, but when Michael presses the issue, Walt reveals that Locke told him "a miracle happened." Michael wants him to stay away from Locke.
   
   When the rain stops, Michael searches for the dog in jungle. He hears something in the tall grass; something dangerous. He runs as fast as he can to get away from it and runs smack into Sun, who is topless and washing herself. There is an awkward moment between them.
   
   Back on the beach, the Marshal is dying. Loudly. His screams are taking a physical toll on the rest of the group. Sayid asks Jack if anything can be done. Jack says he is doing all he can. The Marshal tells Jack he wants to speak to Kate…alone. While she is in the tent, Hurley tells Jack about the gun he saw in her pants. Jack races back to the infirmary tent before it's too late… "BANG!"
   
   Out of the tent walks…Sawyer! He did what had to be done —what Jack couldn't do. Horrible groans come from the tent again. We go in to find that the Marshal still isn't dead — Sawyer shot him in the chest! He was aiming for the heart, but he missed! It will take hours for him to bleed out and he will suffer horribly. Jack throws an extremely shaken Sawyer out of the tent. And a few moments later…the moans stop for good. Jack emerges and walks past Sawyer without a word.

2. Live Notes

   • Kate. . .dangerous?
     
   • "Hope is a dangerous thing to lose." What does that mean for the Signal group?
   • Kate was actually willing to help the farmer. . .seems a bit out of character (based on the rest of her backstory that hasn't been seen yet)
   • the others were dead, something killed them (the other "others" or french woman's others?)
   • Seems like Jack doesn't really want to believe that Kate could be dangerous. . .just about the only thing going on that Jack doesn't want to get involved with (figuring out whats the deal with Kates past)
   • Haha, Hurley is great, its like he's talking to Charlie Manson or something and is scared out of his mind, even though its just Kate
   • Why would the marshall try to choke/kill Kate? Taking the whole "She's dangerous" thing a bit far
   • And mugshots qualify someone as a murdered?
   • Kate actually trusted the farmer (guessing its her first real trust-based relationship since Tom) and she trusted him one day too long
   • Did Walt make the rain stop?
   • Smooth Michaal, the old "I didn't see anything" line after eyeing Sun up and down a few times
   • "She got to you too". . .again, I'd really like to know more of the backstory between Kate and the marshall, there's more there and her simply being a fugitive he was after
   • Interesting. . .Kate probably could have run and got away after the accident, but instead she saved the farmer
   • $23,000 for the farmer (23 is a "Lost number")
   • "You don't look free to me". . .why is Kate not free?
   • Sorry Sawyer but you're not the killing type, as much as you'd like to be considered a bad-ass, you're not
   • Not the last time I'll be saying this, but Locke is awesome
   • Ah, thats why Kate wasn't free. . .should could never get away from her past
   • Jack says virtually the same thing Ray the farmer said "We should all be able to start over"
   • And cue Hurley's mix
   • "Wash Away" by Joe Purdy
   • Sawyer still shaken up by the whole shooting f*up
   • What's Locke looking for/at?
     

Before I start to comment on the contents of the episode, I'd like to think about the title of the episode. Now that we're done with the entire Pilot, the episode titles really should be observed, because they're all titled for a purpose. The title, Tabula Rasa, refers to a philosophical theory investigated by John Locke (the English philosopher). I find it interesting that while the episode deals with Kate's story, its title is related more to Locke (the one on the island). In simple english, the theory of tabula rasa (wikipedia) states that every person, when they are born, are a "blank slate" and their entire identity is shaped by events that take place in their life. In my notes from the episode, this theory was discussed twice. First by Ray the night before he betrays Kate and second by Jack when he tells Kate he doesn't care about what happened in her past because everyone that survived that crash was given a second chance, a second life. Thats the "obvious" reason for the episode title.

A second meaning to the episode, and I believe this based on the final shot of the episode, which is of Locke (after seeing the other survivors all take steps to making things right. . .the whole "second chance at life" truly starting).

While I don't believe that everyone accepting their fate and taking that second chance at life is the result of Locke, this shot almost tries to show that I think. Locke did find Walt's dog Vincent, but in order to "make things right" he lets Michael take the credit and return Vincent to his son. Other things that make it seem like the world is right: Hurley found his CD player, Boone gave Shannon sunglasses, Jin was gentle with Sun while she was sleeping, Sayid gave Sawyer an apple while he was still regretting what he had done, and Charlie has been helping someone other than himself. I believe that the end of this episode signifies the beginning of the survivors' new lives.

This episode dealt with Kate's past. While it doesn't mean very much at this point in time (being the third episode), after seeing the entire season and the other Kate-centric episodes, we can see that Kate was trying to change. She trusted Ray enough to stay and help him for 3 months. I get the idea from the other Kate episodes that she probably hasn't stayed in one place for that long in a good amount of time. Unfortunately for her, her past did catch up with her, in the form of the marshall.

The first of the really blatently obvious "Lost Numbers" is in this episode. Ray was going to turn in Kate for a $23,000 reward. Even after seeing the whole first season, I'm still pretty much stumped as to what the numbers mean and where JJ and Damon are going with them. But rest assured. . .they turn up pretty much everywhere in the show somehow. Check out that Lost Numbers link if you want to see a blog that pretty much shows every single way that the numbers turn up in the show (some references are definately intentional, like the reward for Kate, while I'm sure that others referenced in that blog were not intentional and therefore hold no deeper meaning to the show).

This episode shows another strange Walt/Island connection (like the polar bear in the comic/jungle). This time, during an argument with his father, it almost seems that Walt made the pouring rain stop. Not the first and not the last time strange things happen when Walt is around.

We also see in this episode the first interaction between Michael and Sun. Doesn't mean much at this point but in a few more episodes we learn more.

Like I say in the notes, Sawyer almost tries too hard to come off as a "bad guy." I mean, he almost tries to make people hate him, he instigates others, plays mind games, etc. But really when it comes down to it, he isn't a bad guy. Yes, he did pull the trigger to try to kill the marshall. I think he really did it because the guy was in pain, not because he couldn't stand hearing the marshall as he was getting worse. However, he wasn't able to effectively kill the marshall and only made the situation worse for Jack and for the marshall. This, like the letter he carries around, really hit him hard. If he would have killed the marshall like he tried, I believe he wouldn't have been as sorry (because, really, he was doing him a favor) but knowing that he caused someone that was already in immense pain even more, that is why he felt so bad. Or at least thats what I'd like to believe (I sound like such a Sawyer-mark).

To wrap it up, a lot of future story-related events are set up in this episode (if I wrote about all of them, it would take up way too much space). I've described what I feel are the most significant in the grand scheme of season 1. I may refer back to this episode as I write later episodes because of all of the character interactions that took place in this episode.

Congrats

Congratulations to J.J. Abrams for winning the Emmy for "Outstanding Director for a Drama Series", Lost * Pilot (Parts 1 and 2).

Also, in even bigger news, congratulations to the cast and crew of Lost for receiving the Emmy for "Outstanding Drama Series."

I, along with other fans of the show, hope these awards are a sign of things to come for the show. Let's see what Season 2 brings us.

Episode 2: Pilot, part 2

Expandable Content:

1. ABC Episode Guide

   Shannon has found her belongings and retrieved a bikini to take advantage of the sun. Boone arrives to tell her that he and the other survivors are going through the wreckage and salvaging everything they can. She makes it clear that she has no intention of helping. What's the point, they're going to be rescued any minute, right?
   
   Jin wades through the tide pools gathering sea urchin. Sun is watching from the beach when Michael arrives to ask her if she has seen his son, Walt. Jin overhears the conversation and chastises Sun for having the top button of her sweater open.
   
   While searching the woods for Vincent, Walt stumbles across something lying on the ground. Michael catches up with him and scolds him for running off without telling him. Michael shows his father what he found — a pair of handcuffs.
   
   And as we're wondering where those cuffs came from, we catch up with Jack, Kate and Charlie who appear to have escaped…whatever was chasing them. Kate asks Charlie what he was doing in the bathroom of the cockpit. Charlie confesses he was throwing up, but we soon learn this isn't true. Charlie left something in the airplane bathroom just before the crash. Something he was desperate to get back.
   
   Back at the beach Sawyer and Sayid are in the middle of a brawl and it's all Jack and the others can do to break them up. Sawyer is convinced that Sayid is a terrorist and responsible for the crash. But when Kate asks if anyone can fix the transceiver, Sayid is the only one who is able to help. How? He was a military communications officer. Sayid goes off to fix the transceiver as Jack is called to tend to a horribly injured survivor who needs an operation to remove the piece of wreckage from his abdomen.
   
   Hurley learns that Sayid saw action in the Gulf War. Not in the Air Force or Marines, but The Republican Guard! He gets the transceiver working, but can't get a signal. He tells Kate he has an idea — If they can climb that mountain they might get a signal at high ground.
   
   Elsewhere, Boone lays into Shannon for being incredibly selfish. She lashes back at him and tells her brother that she is going on the hike to find high ground with the others. Knowing she won't change her mind, Boone goes along to look after his sister. Charlie and Sawyer decide to join the group at the last minute.
   
   As the Signal Party climbs the steep slopes of the mountain, Jack asks Hurley to search the luggage for antibiotics while he looks for a blade he can use to operate. Along the way Jack runs into Michael and tells him he saw Vincent in the jungle earlier.
   
   Walt, wandering alone, without his dog, comes upon Locke placing the pieces on his backgammon board. Walt's curiosity gets the best of him. After teaching Walt the history of backgammon, Locke asks Walt a very creepy question: "Do you want to know a secret?"
   
   Jin, who has been handing out the sea urchin he caught, finds Claire sitting alone writing in her. Soon after swallowing the food she feels her baby kick for the first time since the crash. In the joyful realization, Claire admits that she thinks of the baby as a "He."
   
   Meanwhile the Signal Party is walking through a new stretch of jungle. Just as Sayid and Sawyer are about to go at each other again, they discover that they have bigger problems. Something big is out there and it's coming their way. They all turn to run; all except Sawyer that is who pulls a gun out of his belt and fires at the charging animal until it falls dead at his feet. We get our first good look at what came at them. But there must be some mistake. We're on a tropical island…and that's a polar bear!
   
   Jack begins his operation to remove the piece of metal from the belly of the survivor. Hurley tries to help but faints at the first sight of blood.
   
   Back in the jungle, Sawyer explains that he got the gun off on one of the bodies. And guess what, he took the guy's badge too. There was a US Marshall on the plane and that would suggest a prisoner was being transported. But who was it? As Kate takes the gun apart and divides the pieces among the group we get to see her memory of the crash. And in the process we learn that Kate is keeping quite a secret herself.
   
   In the middle of his primitive surgery, Jack's patient regains consciousness. He is consumed by one question: "Where is she?"
   
   At high ground, the group is finally able to get a signal, but they can't transmit because something else is already transmitting. It's difficult to hear, but…it sounds French. It's a distress signal that has been playing over and over for a very long time. Shannon spent a year "studying" in France and is called upon to translate. But what they learn is more terrifying than anything they could have imagined…

2. Live Notes taken during episode

   • Charlie says he was puking in the bathroom. . .well, he appeared happy when he came out of the bathroom so maybe he enjoys it or something (or he's just an aweful liar)
   • Would he have really flushed his stash?
   • Maggie Grace (Shannon) is very attractive
   • Well, actually, all the girls on this show are
   • I find it funny that Michael always seems to be looking for Walt (not just up to this point but pretty much throughout the whole season)
   • Ah yes, the handcuffs (that Kate picked?)
     
   • 
   • Yeah, Kate has seen them before
   • Hurley didn't deserve that. . .stupid Sawyer
   • "Any survivors?" good question Boone, especially considering they didn't come back with anyone else. . .
   • Sayid is great. . .despite being Middle-Eastern, he's so open to anyone and about his own past, takes a lot to do that in this day and age I think
   • And again, all the girls on this show are babes, especially Kate!
     
   • I wonder if Jack's two, nearly identical (shape, size, angle etc)face scrapes have any significance. . .they almost look too perfect
   • Jin. . .man of few words, fan of slapping Sun's hands
   • Hurley doesn't like fish
   • Hmm. . .a polar bear in the comic book. . .
   • Good job Michael, give up all hope of finding Vincent after 1 day of not really searching
   • Oh Charlie, didn't you ever hear that "Drugs are bad, mmmkay"
   • Sawyer and the note. . .first time (but not the last) we see what makes him tick
   • Locke: "Two players, two sides. One is light, one is dark."
     
   • And Jin shares his first experience with Claire and her baby
   • Hmm. . .a polar bear in the jungle. . .
     
   • "Hurley, dont even think about it. Hurley, HURLEY! DAMMIT!"
   • -Where'd that come from?
     -Probably bear village, how the hell would I know?
   • What's the backstory with Kate and the marshall?
   • In the extra's, the marshall says that they did the take of him getting hit in the head a lot
   • -You spent a year in Paris!
     -Drinking, not studying!
   • Good thing Shannon did come along since she was the only one who knows french, apparently
   • 17294535 is the last itteration
   • "It killed them all". . .sounds peachy!

I didn't find this second part of the pilot as strong as the first part. This one does, however, dive into the past of a few more characters so we have a better idea of who these people are (keeping in mind that the other survivors don't receive the same knowledge). This comes into play in many more episodes later in the season so at this point, its not too big of a deal, but the first two episodes have sort of set the mood in terms of us, the viewers, having a better idea of who these people are than they do.

This episode also introduces us to a few more of the main characters. While Jack, Kate, and Charlie really stole the first episode, I think that Sayid and Sawyer steal this one. Sawyer is shown as almost the bad-guy on the island, in terms of accusing Sayid of destroying the plane only because he's Middle-Eastern and admitting that he has taken things from the bodies (the marshall's gun and badge). However, when he's reading the letter, we can almost see a softer side of him, or at least visually see that whats written really hits him in his core. As the season progresses, Sawyer is a head-strong character that seems to pretty much brush people off, but that letter really means something to him and breaks his inner wall down.

Sayid is an asset to the survivors. He's a very strong character that can take care of himself and also proves that he can contribute to the group in a way no one else can (by fixing or reparing electronics). It may not seem at first that having an electronics expert may be helpful, but throughout the season Sayid proves that his skills are very valuable, even to the point of saving his life. More on that in a few episodes.

I want to talk about the polar bear. Obviously, a polar bear should not be on a south-pacific (?) island. BUT, in the jungle was not the first time that we saw a polar bear in this episode. In the comic book Walt was reading, there was a polar bear. Could the two be related? Hard to say at this point in the series but once they explain a bit more about Walt's backstory, who knows. Maybe he was somehow responsible for "spawning" a polar bear on the island.

To wrap things up, the french transmission. In this day and age, its very tough to believe that a message being transmitted on Earth could be playing for 16 years and no one has ever picked it up. Now, I'm not saying that the plane crash took them to some strange planet or a parallel universe or anything. I'm guessing that the writers just made the transmission play for that long because it shows how very little hope there actually is about anyone coming to get them. The context of the message, with the french woman saying that something killed everyone really brings up a lot of questions at this point. Obviously, most will assume she was talking about the "monster" or whatever is knocking trees down and making loud sounds in the jungle. But what if she was talking about something else? I don't want to write anything more about that at this point because it is discussed in greater detail in a later episode.

ABC's Lost Episode Preview: Season 2, Episode 1 Man of Science, Man of Faith

Taken from ABC's 'Lost' website

Next Episode: SEASON PREMIERE
Wednesday, Sept. 21, 9/8c
"Man of Science, Man of Faith"
In the season premiere, one of the castaways is chosen to descend into the mysterious hatch, and Shannon stumbles upon a shockingly familiar face in the jungle.

Reminder

Just a reminder to anyone reading. Season 2 of LOST begins in 6 days (Sept 21), on ABC at 9et.

I'll do my best in the meantime to make this blog a little more viewer-friendly in IE and also post my notes from a few more episodes. Yesterday (Sept 14) and today are mostly shot because I'm in the process of maybe getting a job. Hopefully by Friday though I'll have some spare time (and a new set of 7.1 speakers) so I can really enjoy watching and blogging more of Season 1.

Episode 1: Pilot, part 1

Expandable Content:

1. ABC Episode Guide:

   A man awakes in a jungle. He is bruised and bloody, and doesn't know where he is. A yellow Labrador Retriever watches him from the trees, then suddenly runs off. He forces himself up and winces in pain, leaning against a tree. He checks his jacket pocket and finds a small bottle of vodka. Recognition of where he is begins to float across his face. He winces back the pain and begins to run through the trees, reaching a beautiful beach.
   
   He hears sounds — people screaming. He wanders around a bend and finds what has brought him here — a plane crash, survivors in shock. A man trapped beneath wreckage. A woman not breathing. A pregnant woman screaming for help. He runs to help those he can, and rallies the others to help him. One of these strangers asks his name: "Jack."
   
   After the initial shock of the crash has settled a little, Jack digs through the scattered luggage and finds a sewing kit. He goes off into the woods to check his own injuries, where he meets a young woman. He enlists her help in stitching a laceration on his back closed, and he explains that he is a doctor.
   
   Back at the crash site, the survivors do their best to make themselves comfortable. Sayid introduces himself to Charlie, and gets Charlie to help build a bonfire, for the rescuers to see. Hurley gathers together the food from the plane, and distributes it amongst the survivors. Michael checks on the welfare of his son, Walt. And Jack has returned to the beach with his new friend, Kate. Jack explains to her that if they can find the front of the plane, they may be able to radio for help with a transceiver. Kate says she saw smoke coming from the jungle — and tells Jack if he's going to look for it, she's coming with him. Just as Jack is about to argue, the group hears a sound from inside the trees — a loud, terrifying, monstrous howl that goes on and on. The tops of the trees shake, and eventually whatever is making the sound goes away, leaving the survivors marooned, exhausted — and now terrified.
   
   The next day, Jack and Kate tell the survivors that they are going to look for the rest of the fuselage. Charlie invites himself along for the trip, and the three head off. On the way, Kate realizes that she knows Charlie from somewhere, but can't place him. Charlie gleefully announces that he's the bassist for Drive Shaft, which pleases Kate. As the trio works their way across a valley and re-enters the jungle, the sky darkens, and a rainstorm strikes from out of nowhere. Back at the crash site, everyone rushes for cover as the strange sounds from the jungle begin again.
   
   Jack, Kate and Charlie find the wreckage in the jungle. They see no signs of survivors as they climb up into the fuselage towards the cockpit. After breaking their way in, they find the Pilot still strapped to his seat. As Kate and Jack search for the fuselage, the seemingly-dead Pilot wakes up. After they give him some water, they tell the pilot "at least 48" of the passengers have survived, and it's been sixteen hours since the crash. The Pilot then tells them they lost their radio six hours into the flight, and couldn't be seen by anyone. They turned around to head to Fiji, and by the time they hit turbulence and crashed, they were a thousand miles off-course. The rescuers are looking in the wrong place.
   
   The Pilot shows them where the transceiver is kept, and as he tries to get it to work, and Kate finds Charlie in the bathroom for some reason, the strange sounds are heard again — this time just outside the fuselage. They try to catch a glimpse of whatever is making the sound through the cockpit windows, and when the Pilot crawls out to take a look, he is snatched up by the mysterious force. The fuselage is then knocked to the ground, and Charlie, Jack and Kate try and make a run for it.
   
   The three survivors run for their lives, with whatever-it-is hot on their heels. Charlie falls, and when Jack goes back to help him, Kate finds herself alone in the jungle, terrified. Charlie comes upon her suddenly, and the rain stops just as quickly as it began. They go back looking for Jack, and find him a little ways back, along with the body of the Pilot — hanging from the top of a tree above them. They stand there, wondering what could do something like that.

2. Live Notes taken during episode:

   • opening shot of Jack's eye
     
   • Whats up with the dog (Vincent)?
   • Vodka bottle: is Jack developing a drinking problem like father (foreshadow)?
   • Funny how at first glance beach is clean and then, 5 feet away around the bushes its a war zone
   • Shannon just standing screaming, rather than actively looking (for Boone I would guess), shows a lot about her needy character
   • Locke helps move landing gear so Jack can pull man out (in the extra's, Terry O'Quinn said that during the filming of the pilot he didnt even know that before the crash Locke was confined to a wheel chair)
   • Charlie still high (I just find his reaction funny when piece of plane falls right behind him after huge explosion)
     
   • Boone sort of set up as dumb (lifeguard that cant perform CPR, takes Jack literally and finds a ton of pens)
   • When Kate stumbles upon where Jack is, she's coming from the jungle, holding her wrist (like she just broke out of handcuffs)
   • Sawyer looks so different in the first few episodes compared to at the end of the season (character growing/changing?)
   • Naveen Andrews (Sayid) sounds nothing like his character in real life (middle eastern on show, irish/english real life)
   • Jacks tatoo's (5 is from party of five i believe, but can also tie in with Jack's spinal surgery, 5 seconds of fear story)
     
   • Kate likes to play weak (can't stitch, thinks she would run, etc) but thats not what she's actually like
   • Shannon is a bitch. . .
   • Hurley is nice (gives Claire extra food), doesnt think ahead though (food supply runs out in short time)
   • 40,000 ft. . .when tail ripped off wouldnt that have killed everyone due to temperature?
   • Jack and Kate moment (first time either truly smiles I think), followed by first "monster" encounter
   • No wonder Jack blacked out when plane was going down. . .was drinking in Sydney and on plane
   • Woman on beach: monster sound familiar, she's from the Bronx though
   • Kate/Locke interaction: she doesnt seem to be as friendly as Locke is
     
   • Charlie wants to help. . .but not really
   • "I am in Driveshaft". . .too bad they've been broken up for a while
   • Charlie likes to think Driveshaft is still going places
   • Vincent in middle of jungle
   • Locke welcomes the rain, accepts what the Island gives him
     
   • Pilot is an actor from another JJ Abrams show, Alias
   • Charlie in the bathroom. . .thats his way of "helping" (himself) while still on drugs
   • Originally Jack was supposed to be killed, not the pilot
   • Kate uses Jacks 5 seconds of fear advice
   • After that, Kate takes on a more "leader-like" role (as was originally planned after Jack died)

Looking back in retrospective, after seeing the entire first season, this first episode really sets the tone for the show. It has some backstory/flashbacks, great character interaction and also leaves a lot of questions unanswered (fans of this show got used to it. . .but that doesn't mean we like it).

The episode starts off with a shot of Jack's eye, which JJ and Damon seem to like to do. Many of the episodes in the first season begin with a close-up of someones eye. What could it mean? Normally, whoevers eye is shown, the episode focuses on their backstory. Maybe the eye symbolizes seeing into the soul or shows how the islanders are really all unique although they're all in the same place now.

One interesting note I picked up while watching the extra's DVD is that in this pilot episode, JJ and Damon originally killed Jack off (the airline pilot got offed instead). This would have led to Kate being the lead character then. Knowing this, I wonder if they completely re-worked her character or not. I say this because, before Jack, Kate, and Charlie were running from the monster, Kate seemed like a weak character, but after she thought Jack was dead, she becomes more of a leader, insisting to Charlie that they go back and look for Jack. Just interesting to me. . .not sure if it was intentional or not.

Lastly, something I remember about this episode from the first time I saw it. Vincent, the dog. I thought that there was something strange about him when he appears the two times in this episode. Almost like he's watching over Jack, making sure he's OK. While this may sound like a good thing, when I first watched it I thought that there was something, I don't know, evil about it. I'm probably reading way too far into it, but what if what Walt said ("Is that Vincent" after seeing trees fall down and the loud "monster" sounds) was true? What if the Island (I capitalize Island because I believe it is a cast member as well) could transform beings? I don't want to sound too far out there, but it's just a gut feeling that there's more to Vincent that the first season doesn't show.

Introduction Part 2

This is how I'm going to do things around here, since its my blog, after all. I'm going to have regular writing that shows up when you load the page, such as this explanatory paragraph. I am also going to have what I call "Expandable Content." Through the magic of JavaScript, the bold-faced items will allow you to click on them and expand automagically, giving you content that would normally make the page too long to want to read, contain spoilers, etc. . .pretty much anything that you might not want to see when the page first loads.

Also, since I own the DVD's, I will periodically take screen-captures from the show and post them in the blog. They might show up in the expandable content, they might not.

A note about my Live Notes. As I watch the episode, I blog it. In other words, these are just my thoughts as the show is going on. Forgive bad spellings, bad grammar, spoilers, or the fact I may reference episodes/character/situations that occur after the current episode. After I'm done taking notes on the episode, I'll go back over the notes and do my best to organize them, make sense of what I was writing, and then post a more formal section, in paragraph form, about each episode and what happens/why I think something is significant/what my theories are.

So, without further rambling, I present the first true posting of The-Hatch.

Introduction

My name is Joe and this is my blog about LOST, the hit ABC TV show. I will be posting my observations, my opinions, and my thoughts about the show and its mysteries. Please forgive the crudity of this blog as it is today, 10 Sept 2005. I'm still working on the style sheet. Once I have that done, the real posting will start. Also of note. If you are using Internet Explorer to view this page, please note that I do NOT debug using that browser. IE does not appear to comprehend the style sheet being used on this page. The text will all be there so if all you care about is what I say, you're fine (in which case you should just subscribe to the atom/rss feed here or click on the Feedburner button in the sidebar, which will work for both Atom and RSS feeds). If you want to view the blog as I intend it to be viewed however, I would advise you to click on either the Opera (my personal web browser recomendation) or Firefox graphics that can be found in the right hand column.

Season 1 Episodes

Episode 1: Pilot, Part 1
Episode 2: Pilot, Part 2
Episode 3: Tabula Rasa
Episode 4: Walkabout
Episode 5: White Rabbit
Episode 6: House of the Rising Sun
Episode 7: The Moth
Episode 8: Confidence Man
Episode 9: Solitary
Episode 10: Raised by Another
Episode 11: All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues
Episode 12: Whatever the Case May Be
Episode 13: Hearts and Minds
Episode 14: Special
Episode 15: Homecoming
Episode 16: Outlaws
Episode 17: . . .In Translation
Episode 18: Numbers
Episode 19: Deus Ex Machina
Episode 20: Do No Harm
Episode 21: The Greater Good
Episode 22: Born to Run
Episode 23: Exodus, Part 1
Episode 24: Exodus, Part 2