Checking in from the West Coast with my Lost review.
And the teasing and non-answers continue.
The good: Sawyer being so very Han Solo even while wounded. Go, I'veGotaCunningPlan!Sawyer! Yay for another Jack Man!Crying session. Hurley finding the food. Desmond isn't really a nutter. Kate finding the gun stash. Finally *something* happening in the hatch.
The bad: Another boring and rather pointless backstory. Did nothing for me. I did other stuff while it was on - something I've never done during Lost! Katey Segal, do not collect Emmy, do not pass GO. We were so close to Jack saying what happened to Sarah and then - nah! Because we have to save it for another backstory. And we have to wait to find out how Locke was paralyzed. Jack just letting Desmond go. He's only got answers, dude! *sigh* Maybe he can stumble into Danielle's lair and be her new love slave.
The meh: Because I was mildly spoiled and specced, Ana Lucia's true status was no surprise to me. At least Sawyer (who is really the smartest guy on the island lately since he's the only one bothering to question appearances and form conclusions), was suspicious, just not in time.
I don't really get Jack's behavior here through the whole episode. I love him despite (or because of) the whole Testy Manbitch thing (TM
ficangel?) This whole 'faith vs science' thing is starting to be like the 'beach vs. cave' thing -- a totally arbitrary way to split camps that seems like life and death to the characters and a big fat 'Wha?' to the audience. I don't buy that Jack would act like that -- why not push the damn button and sort it out later? Why make it this big 'blue wire/red wire' moment except for the sake of TV drama? It's just spackling the show's themes into the drama in a very slapdash way. Why wouldn't Jack admit he'd met Desmond? What's the big deal? Then he'd have to admit to the existence of miracles or at least coincidence? Or dredge up memories of how he lost Sarah? Maybe it involved pushing a button. *snerk* Oh, I'm not knocking the Man!Crying but I hate them sitting on things like this. I actually really wanted a Jack flashback right then. Becuse, unlike going into the hatch, that's when he WOULD be thinking about Sarah.
Up in the air: Ana Lucia. Too early to call. So far nothing we haven't already seen from MR 20 times before.
My grade: Hovering between 2.5 and 3 stars. I'm tough! I admit it!
Next week: Jin speaks perfect English? Jack sees Kate in the shower. Oh, the Jaters must be going nuts! LOL. I expect an avalanche of Jate shower porn. *dammit, Sawyer, get your ass to the hatch!* And will there also be Desmond/Calvin slash now, heh?
ETA: I think one of my main problems is that they're forcing the Locke/Jack showdown too soon. Over a button. It just doesn't carry the drama it should. And it's all theoretical what the button does at this point anyway. I just can't see them going toe to toe over this, and not right now. So far we're getting Jack challenging Locke at every turn and vice versa but I was expecting more of a gradual build up of hostility and then a big blowout. I'm already tired of this petty back and forth bickering. Plus, we're not only getting that from Locke and Jack but from Michael and Sawyer. ENOUGH BICKERING! It's getting on my nerves. I get enough of that in RL, thanks. ;-D
Right now Locke vs. Jack doesn't feel like the big ideological battle they mean it to be. There's not enough at stake, not enough weight. No one else has taken sides. It's just the two of them pissing on each other. It's just a personal clash and I'd like it to be about more than that. They much too obviously are forcing it to be 'faith vs. science' but I'm not feeling it yet.
And the closed locations are starting to get to me too. I'm already tired of the hatch, especially since we've seen the same scene three times now. Last week, the raft scene went on too long and focused on the wrong things. It should have been more OMG, SHARK! and less "No, it's your fault." I want life and death drama, not petty name calling. OK, tonight the raftaways portion would have been nice and dramatic but I should stop reading any press because I knew exactly how that was going to play out. Adebisi hitting Sawyer in the opening minutes, was shocking though. Made me jump!
ETA #2: Someone who agrees with me
And the teasing and non-answers continue.
The good: Sawyer being so very Han Solo even while wounded. Go, I'veGotaCunningPlan!Sawyer! Yay for another Jack Man!Crying session. Hurley finding the food. Desmond isn't really a nutter. Kate finding the gun stash. Finally *something* happening in the hatch.
The bad: Another boring and rather pointless backstory. Did nothing for me. I did other stuff while it was on - something I've never done during Lost! Katey Segal, do not collect Emmy, do not pass GO. We were so close to Jack saying what happened to Sarah and then - nah! Because we have to save it for another backstory. And we have to wait to find out how Locke was paralyzed. Jack just letting Desmond go. He's only got answers, dude! *sigh* Maybe he can stumble into Danielle's lair and be her new love slave.
The meh: Because I was mildly spoiled and specced, Ana Lucia's true status was no surprise to me. At least Sawyer (who is really the smartest guy on the island lately since he's the only one bothering to question appearances and form conclusions), was suspicious, just not in time.
I don't really get Jack's behavior here through the whole episode. I love him despite (or because of) the whole Testy Manbitch thing (TM
ficangel?) This whole 'faith vs science' thing is starting to be like the 'beach vs. cave' thing -- a totally arbitrary way to split camps that seems like life and death to the characters and a big fat 'Wha?' to the audience. I don't buy that Jack would act like that -- why not push the damn button and sort it out later? Why make it this big 'blue wire/red wire' moment except for the sake of TV drama? It's just spackling the show's themes into the drama in a very slapdash way. Why wouldn't Jack admit he'd met Desmond? What's the big deal? Then he'd have to admit to the existence of miracles or at least coincidence? Or dredge up memories of how he lost Sarah? Maybe it involved pushing a button. *snerk* Oh, I'm not knocking the Man!Crying but I hate them sitting on things like this. I actually really wanted a Jack flashback right then. Becuse, unlike going into the hatch, that's when he WOULD be thinking about Sarah. Up in the air: Ana Lucia. Too early to call. So far nothing we haven't already seen from MR 20 times before.
My grade: Hovering between 2.5 and 3 stars. I'm tough! I admit it!
Next week: Jin speaks perfect English? Jack sees Kate in the shower. Oh, the Jaters must be going nuts! LOL. I expect an avalanche of Jate shower porn. *dammit, Sawyer, get your ass to the hatch!* And will there also be Desmond/Calvin slash now, heh?
ETA: I think one of my main problems is that they're forcing the Locke/Jack showdown too soon. Over a button. It just doesn't carry the drama it should. And it's all theoretical what the button does at this point anyway. I just can't see them going toe to toe over this, and not right now. So far we're getting Jack challenging Locke at every turn and vice versa but I was expecting more of a gradual build up of hostility and then a big blowout. I'm already tired of this petty back and forth bickering. Plus, we're not only getting that from Locke and Jack but from Michael and Sawyer. ENOUGH BICKERING! It's getting on my nerves. I get enough of that in RL, thanks. ;-D
Right now Locke vs. Jack doesn't feel like the big ideological battle they mean it to be. There's not enough at stake, not enough weight. No one else has taken sides. It's just the two of them pissing on each other. It's just a personal clash and I'd like it to be about more than that. They much too obviously are forcing it to be 'faith vs. science' but I'm not feeling it yet.
And the closed locations are starting to get to me too. I'm already tired of the hatch, especially since we've seen the same scene three times now. Last week, the raft scene went on too long and focused on the wrong things. It should have been more OMG, SHARK! and less "No, it's your fault." I want life and death drama, not petty name calling. OK, tonight the raftaways portion would have been nice and dramatic but I should stop reading any press because I knew exactly how that was going to play out. Adebisi hitting Sawyer in the opening minutes, was shocking though. Made me jump!
ETA #2: Someone who agrees with me
- Current Mood:
contemplative
- Current Music:Strangelove - Depeche Mode
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Comments
Because I was mildly spoiled and specced, Ana Lucia's true status was no surprise to me.
This proves to me that I need to continue avoiding spoilers, because I was rather surprised. In fact, I didn't even know this was a Locke episode until it aired.
I really didn't expect Jack to push the button. Seems out of character. And I thought Sayid or someone else would just push it out of frustration from waiting. Stupid button. Walt was right: button's bad. *executes the execute button*
And will there also be Desmond/Calvin slash now, heh?
Only if Calvin was pretty. :)
Maybe we'll get a picture of Calvin and he'll have lovely golden curls or something.
Button, button, who's got the button? What is it next week, Hurley ep? I'm going to play a new game. Each week I'm going to guess that the flashbackee paralyzed Locke.
I think Jin speaking English will be some kind of dream/fantasy/not real thing.
As for Jack, I think he's having another breakdown, like the one he had when he went after Ethan and the one after Boone died. He's beyond terrified because this guy he met before just happens to be in the hatch. And while it plays weird, I can kind of get that, especially from Mr. Logical Jack.
Yes, Jin's English will probably be like the Shannon bondage - a side effect of wacky head paste or something.
I think Jack would be everyone's safety over the whole 'faith vs. science' debate. I'm sure Jack haters had a field day with this ep. I love him but I was getting kind of tired of his making everything about that tonight.
I dunno, for some reason the whole situation with the hatch, Desmond, the countdown, and the button reminds me of this.
B.F. Skinner, who was mentioned in the film, was a behavioral scientist who - oh god, it's been so long - wanted to raise children and boxes and see how they turned out. Something along those lines, if I recall that at all correctly.
But when I'm kind of meh on an episode I'm not making with the theories right away. I have to spend a bit more time wondering why the characters were acting like that and what I want from the show at this point.
Yeah, said Jater checking in from the Westcoast as well. Normally I'd be jumping up and down about such a development, but I'm just not "feeling it". :(
Your review pretty much summed it up for me. What's missing? I WANT to feel something, dammit! *sob* I'm not getting the LOST high like I used to... *sniff*
Sawyer was hot and badass... love that. Jack was all over the emotional range, but somehow, I feel like some cohesive, integral part of the storytelling is missing... can't put my finger on it. Meh. I hope it starts to pick up a little.
Couldn't have said it better myself:
The whole 'faith vs science' thing is starting to be like the 'beach vs. cave' thing -- a totally arbitrary way to split camps that seems like life and death to the characters and a big fat 'Wha?' to the audience. I don't buy that Jack would act like that -- why not push the damn button and sort it out later? Why make it this big 'blue wire/red wire' moment except for the sake of TV drama?
It's always so weird when you get done watching an ep and are rather meh and go online and find people saying it's so amazing. So THANK YOU for joining me in my West Coast cynicism.
Not that I want to be cynical. But yeah, something is just off. They're asking us to take too much on faith, I guess. LOL. ;-D
Hey. We deserve it. *Sticks tongue out immaturely*
naggingmonitoring Locke to get busy with Kate. Oy, the man needs to loosen up!and:
OMGWTFJIN?!?!?!.
holy shit. i seriously swore VERY loudly. i.m thinking it is one of those wacky paste-y things. but. still. OMGWTFJINENGLISH?!?!?
Yeah, I don't think the Jin thing will end up being real. We're onto you guys! ;-D
As for Sawyer getting hurt - that feeds my hurt/comfort kink so even though it's not fair, not at all, it just makes me want to go comfort him. But yeah, they probably should lay off, esp. with Jack not able to take care of him!
Adebisi was just too creepy. I almost shit in my pants when he thrust that knife at Sawyer and then just casually went out of frame. I don't know how Jin managed to escape from that mofo.
And I agree with you: ENOUGH BICKERING!!!!! AND GET THE FUCK OUT OF THAT HATCH, FOR CHIRST SAKE!
Adebisi would put the fear of god in anyone. Man is formidable - even if you never watched Oz. (Which I did!)
I am thoroughly over the hatch at this point. Let the showering and snacking commence, however! ;-D
What would Sawyer think when he saw all those books?!
Yes, I'm glad there isn't one HIM. I suppose. I mean, I don't mind *what* the show does in a way, as long as it works. The whole juxtaposition of Boone dying and Claire giving birth in the same episode was rather cheesy but I loved that episode so much I absolutely cut them some slack there.
I don't mind island magic, as long as it doesn't give us sloppy storytelling. Ultimately for me, this show is about the characters and not the island and that's why I'm feeling less than thrilled because the island is kind of the star right now.
As to letting Desmond go and leaving Desmond alone to scamper around the hatch like a schizophrenic squirrel, the only defense that I can offer is that these people are really bad soldiers. Even month and a half is not enough to erase all those civilian instincts, so if Desmond is not proving himself to be an immediate threat and Jack is already shaken to begin with, he's probably going to flash back to how badly the Sawyer torture session went because they were moving recklessly and let Desmond go on his way. If Desmond's behavior was more of someone scared than someone hostile and he couldn't explain why he needed to push the button other than the video telling him to, then it was probably best to just take the risk of letting him roam and avoid a Lord of the Flies situation.
I just read an interesting post that this ep was about tilting the balance to Locke's side, therefore Jack had to be an uptight manbitch for a full hour to get us to sympathize with Locke more, since, presumably, we've previously all been on Jack's side what with *his* daddy issues and all. Interesting point and the ep *did* feel heavyhanded to me. I missed the natural flow of things without sticky writers' hands in there forcing events in a certain direction.
The whole showdown over the button was silly. What are they going to do when something really important needs to be decided? It's getting to be like all those apocalypses on Buffy. After a while, it's like crying wolf, dramatically and we won't care because they've already blown their wad.
But I'm hoping the island-heavy plotting will be out of the way soon and more (good) characterization can come back in.
(Meta post to follow soon.)
that film, creepy - total flashback to elementary school.
the thing that freaked me out the most about this entire episode was English speaking Jin (which shouldn't suprise me as Daniel Dae Kim is actually English speaking)
oh, and YAY for Sayid (even though he was horribly underused)
We shall see what the deal is with Jin. It would really strain believability that he's been faking all along through times of such trauma and stress and near-death.
You know I'm not the world's biggest fan of Sayid but the show has really done him a disservice, shuffling him off to the side since oh, midseason last year. I didn't like his last backstory either, poor guy. I don't think he has fans in the writers' room, maybe. Any theories?
But yeah, they were behaving like a bunch of babies...which one of us wouldn't have gone all The Ring-like and reached through our screens to either push the damn thing or slap the hell outta Jack and Locke?
I'm getting tired of our castaways...I want either a claire flashback where she's partying it up or something, or one from the 'others'...And what the hell about Sun? Has anyone even seen her in awhile? Doesn't she miss her hubby?
I'm not sure that Locke was trying to make it a teamwork thing. I think he's swallowed the island/dharma Kool-Aid and is willing to blindly follow the rules and he doesn't want anyone to disobey. I wasn't getting a real fraternal feeling from him there.
The whole standoff over the button was silly, frankly. I still love these characters, but yeah, I wouldn't mind some Sun shining in again! ;-D
"I don't buy that Jack would act like that -- why not push the damn button and sort it out later?"
I think that's the conclusion he finally reached in the end; just push it already and he's got 108 more minutes to evaluate the situation. But he hesitated because it was *Locke* who was telling him to do it, and his pride was holding him back. Jack gets nothing but sympathy from me after last night's episode.
I'm sorry! I just don't care all that much about the island mysteries. I want more character stuff! And not these pointless backstories! *sigh*
Soon, I hope, it will all be clicking again for me and we can squee together!
I still love Jack liek whoa but he was being kind of a pain in the ass, LOL. But when he broke down, of course that really got to me. Foxy always brings the angst! ;-D
Hovering between 2.5 and 3 stars. I'm tough! I admit it!
*smacks head against the wall* So am I, dammit. It's just that we have so many freakin' expectations for this show... *sigh*
I think one of my main problems is that they're forcing the Locke/Jack showdown too soon.
Ditto. It doesn't feel right cramming it into the first few eps--it feels rushed, where it could be fleshed out over a longer period of time. It also feels like mid-season two material. For the season final, even. Not to say that I'm not enjoying the debate now, it's just sorta...not fitting in the way I thought it would.
ITA - they should be saving the big guns for later on. We'll see. Now that I've ranted and moaned I feel better and more hopeful. That always seems to be the case.
So far?
Not so much.