Does anyone else think that Michael is being a little short-sighted as to the safety of taking that raft off the island? I would understand if he didn't have a kid and had nothing to lose, but Walt is depending on him. They have no idea where they are, and the Pacific Ocean is so huge! How could they possibly bring anough supplies to last? And I know Michael is in construction, but that doesn't make him an expert on building boats. The raft could fall apart a week into their journey. And he's risking his kid's life as well.

Do you think this shows Michael's lack of experience parenting, or is he just plain desperate? Any thoughts?

I'm voting for "desparate." How many times and in how many different ways have we heard Michael say something along the lines of, "I can't raise my kid on this island"? Desparate. And maybe since he's a "new" father, he's focusing on something that he believes he can control in order to be a good parent.

Yeah, I agree with you, LostKa. I think he's desperate. He wants to get off the island because he knows it's not safe for his son. Maybe he thinks that the chances of them surviving on the island, are about the same as the chances of them effectively using the raft. I can't blame him, though. If I had a child, I wouldn't want them to grow up on that island either.

I think whatever he knows about himself or Walt and what he feels about the island scare him more than going out on the raft. Trying to leave could be his parental instincts kicking in actually.

Does anyone else think that Michael is being a little short-sighted as to the safety of taking that raft off the island? I would understand if he didn't have a kid and had nothing to lose, but Walt is depending on him. They have no idea where they are, and the Pacific Ocean is so huge! How could they possibly bring anough supplies to last? And I know Michael is in construction, but that doesn't make him an expert on building boats. The raft could fall apart a week into their journey. And he's risking his kid's life as well.

Do you think this shows Michael's lack of experience parenting, or is he just plain desperate? Any thoughts?


I personally think that Michael's devotion to building the raft is really an excuse of a sort to ease the guilt that he feels for having been a bad Father (on the island as well as prior to the Lost incident... even though it wasn't really his fault).

The raft allows him to focus on something that he KNOWS he can do.

You can see whenever Michael interacts with Walt... it's not very smooth. Michael is always hesitant because he doesn't know what being a Father is like... Being a Father without a Mother to help him make decisions in Walt's future is a difficult thing to bear.

Michael is always hesitant because he doesn't know what being a Father is like... Being a Father without a Mother to help him make decisions in Walt's future is a difficult thing to bear.


Plus he's got the added bonus of suddenly being a father, to an already grown child.* If he'd been there from the beginning, Walt would have had no expectations (as he was an infant), and they would have developed together.* This way, Walt already knows what a parent does, but Michael's never done it.*

I think whatever he knows about himself or Walt and what he feels about the island scare him more than going out on the raft.* Trying to leave could be his parental instincts kicking in actually.


That's true...I guess that maybe this just shows his finer instincts haven't quite kicked in yet. I still can't get over the risks of going. They just seem unfathomable to me! Food, water, distance....etc.

I know that Michael has some construction experience, but does that make him a shipbuilder? Know I know a raft is different than a boat, but still, has it been revealed that Mike has any Nautical knowledge or any other seafaring skills?
And if certain theories regarding the Island and it's "Location" are correct, if Micheal and who ever goes with him out on that raft will NEVER be rescued by anyone, and more likely will die out there in the ocean.
Walt probably knows this, and probably one of the reasons he burned the first raft.
I have a feeling the second raft won't fare any better... :lol2:

Does anyone else think that Michael is being a little short-sighted as to the safety of taking that raft off the island? I would understand if he didn't have a kid and had nothing to lose, but Walt is depending on him. ...

Walt is definitely NOT depending on Michael. Remember, he burned the first raft because, he told Locke, he likes the Island.

Michael is probably more desperate than short-sighted. He does have the construction experience so he's probably confident that the raft will hold up.

Well, "Born to Run" sure turned this around. Michael's reaction was great when Walt told him that he burnt the first raft because he didn't want to go. And now Walt is the one insisting on going because he's more afraid of opening the hatch. Wonder which will be the deadly experience? Or maybe both.

Staying on the island, or getting his son on the raft with him - Michael is in a tough spot. I think the
poor guy is desperate. Jin's Dad was a fisherman, right? Maybe it's Jin who "drew" the plans for
the boat....

I'm so scared for them! But judging by how Walt responded with the grave 'yes, we do' when Michael said 'we don't have to leave,' maybe getting off the island is the safe option. Seems like there's something on the island out to get them on next week's episode; and Walt knows something about it? Also his reaction to the hatch was a bit disturbing,. Hopefully Walt's "powers" will help them out on the raft. Who knows?

Yeah, I agree with you, LostKa. I think he's desperate. He wants to get off the island because he knows it's not safe for his son. Maybe he thinks that the chances of them surviving on the island, are about the same as the chances of them effectively using the raft. I can't blame him, though. If I had a child, I wouldn't want them to grow up on that island either.


Being a parent I have to say that the choice between staying on the island and going on the raft is the proverbial 'between a rock and a hard place'. In favor of the island - at least it is large and if one place becomes unsafe there are other places to move to. There are guns to defend against the bears. The monster is a big negative for staying on the island.
As far as the raft, whatever you need or think you need has to be taken with you and a lot of supplies can NOT be replenished on the ocean. The ocean is an immense place and they could float around for weeks before being found (if ever) plus they don't know for sure where they are. There will be Michael and 2 other adults but what happens if someone gets really sick or hurt somehow? Being out in the sun can have an affect on the brain (know there is a shelter of sorts on the raft but will it hold all of them?) Will they sleep in shifts so someone is always awake? What if a storm with huge waves comes up?
I could go on but I think you get my idea.


I'm so scared for them! But judging by how Walt responded with the grave 'yes, we do' when Michael said 'we don't have to leave,' maybe getting off the island is the safe option. Seems like there's something on the island out to get them on next week's episode; and Walt knows something about it? Also his reaction to the hatch was a bit disturbing,. Hopefully Walt's "powers" will help them out on the raft. Who knows?


And doesn't that throw a 'monkey wrench' into the whole debate over island or ocean which is safer!?

And doesn't that throw a 'monkey wrench' into the whole debate over island or ocean which is safer!?

You're right about that. It does change the debate. It also makes me wonder if Michael was working off intuition the entire time. Michael was so sure that the island wasn't safe. It took Walt longer to come to that conclusion. Hmmm...perhaps the question of Michael having some kind of power is changed by this also.

You're right about that.* It does change the debate.* It also makes me wonder if Michael was working off intuition the entire time.* Michael was so sure that the island wasn't safe.* It took Walt longer to come to that conclusion.* Hmmm...perhaps the question of Michael having some kind of power is changed by this also.


Don't know if Michael has some kind of powers but do believe us ladies aren't the only ones with intuition! Also love your avie - is that a from a photo you took yourself or one you found? Where is the location? Looks South Pacific.

You're right about that.* It does change the debate.* It also makes me wonder if Michael was working off intuition the entire time.* Michael was so sure that the island wasn't safe.* It took Walt longer to come to that conclusion.* Hmmm...perhaps the question of Michael having some kind of power is changed by this also.


Maybe a combo of father guilt and his "intuition" motivated Michael?* I'm wondering why no one has mentioned that Walt had to give up Vincent in order to go on the raft.* The show hasn't really addressed this yet.* I loved the scenes with Shannon, Walt and Vincent, but I'm wondering if Michael and Walt ever discussed it?* Did Michael consider how it would affect Walt, so shortly after losing his mom, meeting Michael, a plane crash, scary island activities and now he has to go out on a raft and leave his best friend behind.

Go back Vincent, go back ......* *:'(

Well.. It doesn't seem like they even discussed it... And wouldn't it be likely that Walt sensed that Vincent would be in danger out at sea?? I mean, given his ability to sense things...??

Probably, but I'm curious if they will address this in season 2. I would like to see flashbacks to island life in season 1, that answer some of these burning questions.

Probably, but I'm curious if they will address this in season 2. I would like to see flashbacks to island life in season 1, that answer some of these burning questions.


A flashback probably isn't even necessary. I would be happy with a conversation. I really think that Walt took Boone's death hard though. I think he related to Shannon. He saw her anger and knew that it was a reaction to her pain. I'm sure Michael must have told Walt at some point he wouldn't be able to take Vincent. I just have a feeling that it was Walt's idea to leave him with Shannon.