Lost
Whatever
The Case May Be
original airdate: 01-05-05
Like this episode, there are two fairly recent movies that
feature a mysterious metal case. One is Pulp Fiction. The
other is Ronin. Pulp Fiction, hailed by
many as a “modern classic”, has so many other
compelling characters and storylines that in the end, what’s
inside the case is neither revealed nor critical to the
success of the film. Ronin, on the other hand,
is a mediocre movie held together by some skilled actors
and a few truly superb car chases. In that movie not finding
out what’s in the case is a let down because it was
ostensibly the raison d’etre for the overall
story. That and the fact that the peripheral storylines,
including the oft-mentioned friendship between the characters
played by Mr. De Niro and Mr. Reno, are only slightly interesting. Unfortunately
this episode of LOST is too much Ronin and not
enough Pulp Fiction. And even though the audience
learns what’s in the mysterious case, it’s a
let down (at least for now).
The
main story starts with Kate and Sawyer finding a waterfall.
While frolicking in the pool at the base of the falls, they
discover a locked metal briefcase. Kate claims it hers,
but Sawyer calls her bluff and soon demonstrates that on
mysterious tropical islands, possession is ten tenths of
the law. In hindsight it makes little sense that Kate relinquishes
the case so easily, given the efforts she later makes to
regain it.
So while
Kate and Sawyer play their odd, flirtatious, game of keep-away,
nothing much happens with the rest of the camp. Sure there’s
a relocation due to a sudden tidal change. And sure, Shannon
and Sayid might be starting a romance as the two team up
to decipher the documents he stole from Rousseau (aka Crazy
French Woman aka Delenn. Oh wait, wrong show…)
But
what we don’t see is follow-up to Boone and Locke’s
discovery. At best the omission is disappointing. At worst
it’s insulting to fans that stick by the show despite
breaks in the schedule. Instead the audience learns that
both Michael and, more surprisingly, Hurley lost their luggage
(“I’ll take attaché cases for $600 Alex…”)
Oh, and that Sun still isn’t speaking English publicly
(which is just stupid and impractical at this point).
There
are also several Kate flashbacks showing her involvement
in a bank heist. There are two twists here. Most viewers
will spot the first a mile away. But the second is slyer.
Both clearly show Kate’s obsession with the contents
of the case. But that strategy backfires when the case is
finally opened and viewers let out a collective “huh?”
The
preview for the next episode surprisingly revealed a lot
of major developments. So maybe the writers decided to give
the audience a breather this week. Or maybe the preview
was a way to say “Um, sorry for the mediocre episode.
See, next week will be exciting. So please keep watching.”
They
shouldn’t worry. Even a mediocre episode of LOST is
better than most TV these days.
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