Reaction Time: "...In Translation"

"Everyone gets a new life on this island, Shannon. Maybe it's time to start yours."

Though Sayid and Shannon (stupid freaking Shannon)'s relationship is hardly the focal point of this episode, her conversation with Locke does harken to the theme of the episode. It's about seeing how the island has changed the lives of everyone who has arrived here. Locke can walk. Walt and Michael repaired their relationship. And Sun and Jin, the epitomy of the episode, have started their relationship over - where it goes is anyone's guess.

(And REALLY Sayid?! Nadia to freaking Shannon?!)

WALT BURNED THE RAFT?! Wait, that wasn't totally surprising. But still - whoa.

Fine, back to Sun and Jin. I love their story, for all it's complications and love and details involved.

This episode provided answers to a few things from "House of the Rising Sun", including how Jin got the dog he presented to Sun as an apology for all the hours he's working. We also see how he got covered in blood - it wasn't working as an assassin as (I, at least) had previously assumed. Instead he beat the man up, to save him from being killed.

Side Note: Hurley?! Another cross between the survivors seen in the flashbacks - when Jin is delivering the message for Sun's father, we see Hurley on the television that the daughter is watching, smiling as he gets into a car. Dear Writers - when are we getting a Hurley flashback episode?? Oh, and his CD player dying was very depressing. :(

And Jin's father is alive....this show is permeated with Daddy issues. Sun was ready to leave when Jin was trying to rebuild their relationship. In his eyes, it's now too late...she ruined what he was trying to accomplish. I don't want their relationship over.

"You speak English? Didn't see that coming..." bahahahaha Hurley.

"Boat." Nice one, Jin.

Reaction Time: "Hearts and Minds"

"What we are doing here is far more important. Right now - this is our priority."

Woo! An episode focused around pretty boy Boone...and unfortunately that also means we get a healthy helping of Shannon. Dammit. The twist ending regarding their relationship? That was a good one. It did it's job to sufficiently creep me out. Now, does it serve any purpose to the show? If not, then ewww.

Also, THANKS A LOT FOR GETTING MY HOPES UP. Shannon was dead and mutilated! But ohhhh no, she's not dead. It's just a hallucination. Grrrr.

But we are back at the hatch (wait, is that the hatch? Or am I referring to the wrong thing?) that Locke and Boone discovered two episodes back. I like Locke's incorporation of Michelangelo into the mythology surrounding the show (yes, everything mentioned on this show contributes to the mythology). We are starting to see Locke separate himself away from the rest of the survivors as he delves deeper into the island - and I don't mean his trips into the jungle. He's becoming more and more part of the island in ways we don't quite understand. The other survivors see it too - Boone recognizes it, even in his drug-addled state. Charlie puts his faith with him too, above all else, because he sees the spiritual connection that Locke has going on.

And now he's trying to pass along this same connection to Boone. Boone's admittance of "relief" to seeing Shannon die was a little shocking, I must say. But I guess if he's carried his demons for awhile, it would be nice to finally be rid of them...but how is this going to affect him and his relationship with Locke (and therefore the island)?

The compass is not defective. We just don't know enough about the island yet...

"You just said something mean, didn't you?" - yeah, I love Hurley. His interactions with Jin were refreshing. I'm glad the creators are balancing these heavier storyline episodes with some light character building interactions.

This is the second (?) time we've seen characters crossing paths before the plane crash. Sun and Jin were waiting in line at the airport when Jack was arguing to get his father's coffin onto the flight ("House of the Rising Sun"), and now we see that Sawyer was at the police station in Sydney while Boone was arguing with the cops. What the heck did Sawyer do, and why was he there?? I thought he'd been in the states - when/why is he in Australia?

Reaction Time: "Pilot", "Tabula Rasa", "Walkabout", "White Rabbit", "House of the Rising Sun", "The Moth", "Confidence Man"

The last post is only now about 4 minutes old, but I'm ready to get into this.

Not to mention I've had Episode 9 - "Solitary" - on pause for about an hour now, and I would really like to find out more about this Danielle Rousseau person sooner than later. And I have 8 tabs of LOST speculation and interviews open currently, and would really like to close a few of them so it looks like I'm actually working today.

(You can stop laughing at me now. Occasionally it DOES happen.)

I don't really want to go in-depth to episodes I've already watched, because I'm not ready for rewatching. That will slow me down more - this is already using up valuable time.

But to keep in line with this project, here's some thoughts over the first 8 episodes (or 7 if you prefer to think of the Pilot as one really long episode):



PILOT (Parts 1 & 2) - S1E01/02

Claire is adorable. I automatically love Charlie because I love Dominic Monaghan. Does Shannon die later in the series? Can someone kill her now so I don't have to wait? Boone is cuuuute (oh, am I supposed to be judging the series based on the story? Ehh, maybe later when I know more than "oh haay, a plane crashed, wtf?!")
WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT MONSTER THAT ATE THE PILOT?! Is Godzilla one of the 1500 characters?? I didn't see him listed in the opening credits.
Ok, Charlie does drugs. That was a given.
Watching this episode after seeing the Season 5 finale gives me a lot of insight that no one else had when the series first began. Seeing Jack describe to Kate about his first solo surgery means a lot more when you know how important a role it plays later in the series.
Oh, and the flashbacks to the plane splitting up - whoa. Way to give me fears for my trip to NYC in two weeks.
A polar bear. Huh. Ok. Please tell me we eventually find out why there's a polar bear on an island.
French transmission...16 years...oh fuck. This spells trouble (for the next 6 years - mwuahaha).
"Guys, where are we?"

That's a good summary, right?


TABULA RASA - S1E03

Poor Hurley does awkward so well around Kate.
I love the dog.
I kind of want to punch Kate for getting Ray hurt. He was a nice old man, even if he did try to trade her in for money. But hey, she lied to him. I give him props.
The drama with the Marshal was intense.
What's the meaning behind the episode title? Not sure if I found that out.
Nice foreshadowing of Locke - I just wish I hadn't know that particular twist. It would've made the next episode much more impactful. You'd think I'd be able to avoid that particular spoiler for 5 years. Thanks a lot people.


WALKABOUT - S1E04

Ok. I went into this episode with a lot of high hopes. I'd been told it was one of the best of the series, because of the twist ending. Even knowing what the twist was, I still loved it. I find Locke endlessly fascinating, for the fact that he's so quiet and seemingly so in-tune with the island. The ending scene where Locke argues to be let on the walkabout was tear-worthy.
Again, it's interesting to watch these episodes having watched the finale of Season 5. I know Rose finds her husband, which makes me wonder how that happens and where he is.


WHITE RABBIT - S1E05

This episode was the first one to really leave me with a lot of questions and confusion. Where is Jack's dad's body?! What's the history there - why did Jack have to track his father down to Australia? Why does Locke seem to have an understanding with the island, and have such faith in it that it will provide Jack with answers?! WHY IS JACK SEEING HIS DEAD DADDY?! So much confusion on this island. Gah.
"I looked into the eye of this island and what I saw was beautiful."
"Live together, die alone."
Aaaand, scene.


HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN - S1E06

Surprisingly, this might be my favorite episode thus far. I loved the insight into Sun and Jin's complicated relationship. All we've seen from them thus far is a quite isolation, so to see their past explains a lot about their interactions on the island.
Charlie and his guitar. Interesting and truly touching moment.
I'm led to believe that "Adam and Eve" is another mystery that fans are still seaking an answer to.
SUN SPEAKS ENGLISH. Another good revelation.


THE MOTH - S1E07

Who knocked out Sayid?! That's what I left this episode with.
Oh, and I liked the moth metaphor. Good job John Locke.


CONFIDENCE MAN - S1E08

Can you tell I'm done writing yet? Fine, last one.
I couldn't watch the torture scene. Audio was perfectly fine for me.
Again, seen the sequence Sawyer described to Kate - when he first wrote the letter to the real Sawyer. Obviously important to the character's story, but again it's interesting to see how the singular event plays a role in the future. Even as a child this impacts the entire storyline of the series.
That was a hot kiss from Kate and Sawyer. Right, not important.


Ok, I'm going back to watching now. Hopefully these blurbs are sufficient enough.