Lost
...In
Translation
original airdate: 02-23-05
This episode should work better than it does. After all,
it follows most of the formula used in last week’s
outstanding episode. For example, the present time and flashback
segments feature multiple scenes that enable better storytelling.
And there is a secondary present time plot. Last week it
was Charlie dealing with Ethan’s death whereas this
week it’s Sayid and Shannon dealing with their potential
romance.
There’s even an end twist that many fans probably
saw coming (cue up the Family Guy episode at the
Indian casino with the host named “Sees You Coming.”).
Last week it was the idea that Hibbs was setting up Sawyer.
This week it’s the real source of the fire.
But
alas, this episode just doesn’t work as well. Given
the same quality of acting and direction, the problem must
be the storytelling. Exactly right on two counts.
First
there is the present time story about the fire destroying
the raft. It just makes no sense for Michael and Sawyer
to blame Jinn instantly. Sure, Michael could act blindly
out of emotion. But Sawyer is smarter than that. And frankly
it’s just silly to think that Jinn’s dislike
of Michael would outweigh his desire to escape the island
just like most of the others (the other crash survivors,
not The Others. Though the survivors are about as mysteriously
absent as The Others. Can’t ABC afford extras?)
Why
does it take Locke at the end to make people realize the
obvious? And Sun’s “surprise” really has
little audience impact at this point since some of the islanders
already knew their secret. It just seems a little silly.
Second,
the flashbacks retread too much of the Jinn Sun story. Sure
there is new material and different perspectives that paint
Jinn in a much different light (almost sympathetic). Last
week’s straightforward continuation of Sawyer’s
history worked much better. And Jinn’s decision at
the end seemed wrong, especially after the scene with his
father (another “Sees You Coming” scene, but
still kind of nice). It was hard to believe that Jinn would
make that choice regarding Sun.
That
being said, any hour of LOST is still a treat,
and there were some especially good moments involving the
ever amusing Hurley and the ever enigmatic Locke. But lest
we forget, cue the special news graphic: Portal Watch, Day
4...(did they give up?!)
Kudos
to the writers for poking fun at the musical montage endings
that have cropped up too much of late here as well as the
last season of Angel. But before a fan or reviewer
reached the actual point of puking, there was a sly (though
contrived) twist that suggests the islanders relatively
carefree days in the sun are about to be over. And if the
preview for next week’s episode is any indication,
buckle up for a wild ride.
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