1. First it was the polar bear in the middle of a pacific ocean island. Haven't heard or seen a peep from any polar bears since. Next it was Locke's miraculously recovering his ability to walk. Hasn't been touched on since. Then it was Locke getting a full frontal on the invisible tree-swaying giant monster. Not only did Locke button up like a clam, denying he'd even seen it, the monster has since disappeared. Then it was Sayed discovering a power line running into the island from the ocean. Hasn't even been mentioned. Then Charlie and Claire get kidnapped by "The Others" (off-camera). When Charlie is rescued, he's conveniently forgotten everything. Then in the anticlimactic climax of the mid-season cliffhanger we get the "shock" of Locke and Boone discovering a small piece of metal buried under some mud. Those hoping to get a glimpse of what they discovered? Well, since for God only knows what reason, they've decided to keep their discovery a secret, you had to stick around for next week's promo to check it out. (And incidentally, this "hatch" which is chock full of detail and shape bears no resemblance to the flat, smooth piece of metal that just so happened to be discovered last episode.) I think the writers intended the jungle vines hanging from various trees to be a metaphor for all the various dangling plot lines. On to the episode...

2. "The Case" actually opened with its strongest scene--Sawyer and Kate affectionately frolicking in a newly-discovered waterfall when they stumble upon the horrifying site of a couple of hideously rotting corpses still strapped into their airline seats submerged at the bottom of the pool. Following in the footsteps of Boone's strategically located dropped flashlight, the seats JUST SO HAPPEN to have an important metal briefcase that Kate desperately desires. From there Kate inexplicably and moronically pretends that she doesn't want the case and tells Sawyer to take it. Kate proceeds to make two violent attempts to take the case back before finally enlisting Jack's help for a third attempt. One might wonder what Kate didn't simply take the case to begin with, especially if this item were so important she was willing to rob banks and shoot people to get it. Here one would also suspect that Kate is a moron. However, as Kate's second flashback episode reveals, she is not just a moron, but also stark-raving, loony toons kookoo for cocoa puffs crazy. Even if it's revealed that little toy airplane has some sort of enormous sentimental value to Kate, the fact that she arranged a violent armed robbery and shot three people just to recover it proves she belongs in a loony bin. And incidentally, this is now the THIRD important personal object that a survivor can be shown silently, mysteriously and meaningfully contemplating over on camera: following in the footsteps of Sawyer's letter and Sayed's photo.

3. Another important development was the continued lobotomy Sayed is undergoing. First he rushes back to the camp (even though he intended never to return because of his shameful act of torture to Sawyer) to warn them of the existence of "the Others". Then her seems obtusely intent on convincing Jack that there are no "Others" afterall and all he heard was the wind. This despite the fact that Ethan PROVES THERE ARE OTHERS!!!!!! At least Sayed and Shannon bonded over her translating notes on the map. And it was pretty cool when she started singing Bobby Darren's "Beyond The Sea" in French at the end. Of course, it would have been cool if her translation actually offered something substantive, but at least we know that the survivors crashed somewhere beyond the sea. Perhaps figuratively, if not literally. BTW, Sayed has so far been the most intelligently written and devloped character. So if they are trying to get him to hook up with the shallow, foolish Shannon, I guess in order for it to be believable, it's necessary to dumb down Sayed as well.

4. The survivors also chalked up Claire as a goner and decided to not look for her. Last episode Jack told Charlie that as soon as the sun was up they were going to go searching for her (this seemed like a great excuse for the cast to branch out in groups and finally start exploring the island 12 episodes in). Instead they decided to hang out in the caves and leave her to fend for herself and whatever dark fate awaited her.* At least Charlie wept for her in a redundant scene that merged the elements of an earlier scene between Jack and Rose and then Charlie and Locke. The writers probably just said take out Locke and Jack and insert Rose and Charlie for the standard bond whilst waxing philosophical and brimming with wisdom scene. Then Charlie cried like a baby. There was a lot of crying this episode. BTW, Kate's flashback and subsequent explanation that the toy plane belonged to "the man I loved, the man I killed" only means that we've got MANY more flashbacks from her coming before we know her backstory. But at least we know she's one crazy moron...

Um, I don't think it's necessary to "dumb down" Sayid to make a romance between him and Shannon more feasible, especially with Shannon's character having actually, you know, DEVELOPED and stuff lately.

We know very little about Shannon outside of the way she acts around Boone (and he's not the nicest guy in the world). It's hardly just to call her foolish or shallow.

OK, we'll say she acting foolish and shallow. And that's being kind. I'd love for her to have some sort of depth-adding back-story. But PLEASE no incest between her and Boone. That's just going too far.

I know! I'm so sick of all the incest theories!

Wait...how is she foolish? And shallow? Please don't cite the whole pedicure after the crash as shallow. We all have different coping mechanisms. I believe she cares so much about her appearance because that's all she has control of.

BTW, Kate's flashback and subsequent explanation that the toy plane belonged to "the man I loved, the man I killed" only means that we've got MANY more flashbacks from her coming before we know her backstory. But at least we know she's one crazy moron...


Ick - more flashbacks of Kate. *Not sure how many more I can take.

Your entire summary is spot on, except that I think Shannon will be revealed to be smart and funny rather than Sayid becoming dumbed-down. *And I think theG's right about her coping mechanism. I don't buy the brother-sister incest, either.

They've been there for awhile now, so coping mechanisms should be running into reality at this point. Shannon was worried about tan lines. Not about them needing to move the beach camp, not about Claire being taken, but about tan lines. That's foolish and shallow in my book. I'd rather see Sayid hook-up with the monster than with Shannon.

Did anybody else wonder why Sawyer didn't take his pants off before jumping into the water? I assume he doesn't wear anything underneath, but it was very sexist to have the woman take off her pants and not the man. Fair is fair, so LET ME SEE SAWYER WITHOUT HIS PANTS ON!

makemelaugh, she had just been insulted by Boone. She seemed truly hurt by him. And why would anyone risk their life searching for Claire, a girl they barely knew?

G: I would say sunning herself on the beach in her bikini while everyone around her is scrambling to salvage items from the plane before they get swept to sea is pretty darn shallow. Her manipulation of Charlie to get him to fish for her (and thinking that's the same as if she got the fish herself) is also pretty darn shallow. Her petulant behavior to her brother, also pretty shallow (and I guess you could say childish instead of foolish). Actually, I think she's the b-word. I know the writers are probably planning some sort of back-story to make her appear more sympathetic and her behavior more understandable, but so far she's shallow and foolish and that's putting it nicely.

I'm not sure where the writers are going with the backstory of Boone and Shannon. Whether Boone is gay. Whether he's protective of her because she suffered some sort of sexual assault or was abused by an ex-boyfriend. Or (worse-case) whether there was incest involved. Or, for that matter, if they're really brother and sister.

It would appear, however, that next episode will shed some light.

I really thought that Shannon was awful before this episode. But it was during this episode, when she agreed to help Sayid, that I really saw her character begin to develop. I think giving her more depth showed that he wasn't just a spoiled brat, and I appreciated it. I'm really looking to her backstory now.

Yes, because Boone is oh-so sweet and kind to her. *And your choice of words isn't the best. *It's not shallow to get someone to catch a fish for you. *She used him, yes, but that was just an unkind thing to do.

I have pretty bad ashtma. *I wouldn't be scrambling to help other people if all I had was eucalyptys. *She wasn't sunning herself then, either.

Foolish: *Lacking or exhibiting a lack of good sense or judgment; silly: foolish remarks.

Shallow: *lacking depth of intellect or knowledge; concerned only with what is obvious.

If last night's episode proved anything, it's that this show is written primarily by men. Kate strips, Shannon strips, Rose does not strip. Meanwhile Jack and Sawyer do the testosterone tango, Sawyer hurls a tornado of rage at an inanimate object , and Boone and Locke form the island's first male's only social club.

The women of the show serve one of two purposes it appears:

1.Motherly affection when the men need a pat on the back

2.sex appeal.

Brains, brawn, and every critical decision/action is performed by the men (find water, catch fish, hunt boar, fix tranceiver, kill pests)

Of course the ONE female on the island that has contributed more than hugs and *** shots just happens to be a low down dirty lying murderer. The rest are either mom reincarnate, selfish brats, diminutive wallflowers, or looney bin liners.

I surmise that Claire was kidnapped because the writers couldn't fathom the thought of a woman performing a task the men could not do themselves.

Water broke? Crap, hit the trapdoor! Never mention her name again. Phew!

It appears this show's only hope of showcasing a strong independant female is either Boone or a lesbian invasion.

I think they are probably setting her up as a product of her environment. And oddly enough, I don't hate her nearly as much as I did in the first episode. No one was mad at Charlie for whining on the beach til Rose got him up and moving. Maybe we'll find out that she and Boone were also traveling with someone else very close to them that didn't make it and that's their big secret. Probably not though.

Wow, love to see everyone jump to conclusions at what is literally the beginning of a story. We're only 12 episodes in people. Yuo can't just assume Shannon is shallow, or that they aren't going to go look for Claire or even that the toy plane isn't important somehow. Maybe it isn't important to YOU, but it sure seems important to Kate, so I guess that's the real mystery.

*sigh* Why is it that when a bunch of informative eps roll though, and then one that leaves you wondering happens, you mush bash it to pieces? If you don't like Kate, whatever, that's cool. But don't just assume you know things that have intentionally been left unanswered...

As for Kate's lying...how many of you have never lied? Especially when you felt it was important to hide something? Granted, even to me, her lying was excessive. But we don't know WHY she lied so stubbornly, either. So, before you go accusing her of just being insane, maybe you should try and think of a reason anyone would lie so much?

....the Emperor had no bikini top, and yet a stunning bikini wax after a few weeks of roughing it....ah, television magic!

8i8

Yes, part of the magic of the island is that the men's beards grow ever more stubbly, but women's leg and armpit hair growth has been permanently arrested. Or maybe Sun found a natural depilatory plant on the island.

Cardie

Yuo can't just assume... that they aren't going to go look for Claire or even that the toy plane isn't important somehow. Maybe it isn't important to YOU, but it sure seems important to Kate, so I guess that's the real mystery.


Yeah, I guess it's better for the crash survivors to wait a few days (or weeks) before going after Claire. They need to give Ethan time to do whatever terrible deeds he plans on without interrupting him. I mean, if they were to go after her now, they might actually stop Ethan and rescue Claire. Better to let her (and her unborn child) suffer.

As far as Kate, hell yeah it's not important to me. Why would it be? It's a toy plane being held by an actor as a prop on a scene they were filming.

As far as meaning something to Kate, obviously it does. So that makes her a moron for giving it up and crazy for committing an armed robbery and shooting multiple people to get it. It might be some super-meaningful memento relating to her dad or boyfriend or husband (who knows? that's for another dozen or so flashbacks to address), but to go around robbing banks and shooting people to get it? (Not to mention apparently prostituting herself out to another criminal as part of her criminal conspiracy.) Then she has some serious psychological issues that require hospitalization. She IS a danger to herself and others.

People take razors on trips... and if all else failed, we know of Locke's gajillion knives and at least one straight razor...

....the Emperor had no bikini top, and yet a stunning bikini wax after a few weeks of roughing it....ah, television magic!

8i8


Oh so true! :) Gotta love TV! But I really do love Shannon and I think a Shannon/Sayid.......or Shayid as we've been calling it on another board is adorable. I love it. I really dont think Shannon is that dumb I mean.......she speaks french doesnt she? And she's apparently a great singer as well! :) lol

MrTibbs-enjoyed reading your post. I agree that Lost does sometimes show that it's written mainly by men. (even my dad commented on how many booty shots there were in this last ep). And could Kate's underwear BE any smaller?

But, I do think the female characters are contributing, or will be soon. Take Sun, for example--she's going to be a HUGE contributor to life on the island with her knowledge of herbal medicine and horticulture. While the writers seem to be acting out their own male fantasies from time to time, I do think they're probably the best writers on TV, and I still trust them to flesh out (no pun intended :laugh:) the female characters throughout the course of the show.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Um, I don't think it's necessary to "dumb down" Sayid to make a romance between him and Shannon more feasible, especially with Shannon's character having actually, you know, DEVELOPED and stuff lately.



Man, let me put it like this: I could have nine Ph.D's and a couple of Nobel prizes. If I've been stranded on an island for a month, hanging out with a girl that looked like Shannon is FAR from the worst thing that could happen. If there's some chemistry there, even better. if she can sing to me in French, boiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnng!!!!

ALRIGHT!! You are so not saying those things!! Here are my responses to some of your opinions:

1.) Okay, I think it would be obvious by now that on this show, not all is as it seems. I will openly admit that at the beginning of the show, I detested Shannon. She really was disgusting to me. Now, though, I think they are starting to show some insight into her character. For one, she did not just sit there and let Boone tell her she was wortheless. All she needed was some motivation and she got to work. Sayid encouraged her a little and that helped convince her. I think that some of her issues may be insecurity and self-esteem. I mean, Boone is the litte 'Boy-Wonder' and mostly everyone else has some purpose, while she doesn't. As for the dumbing down of Sayid, I highly disagree. I think there is a lot to Shannon's character that we have yet to learn and that I am waiting for. This past episode was just a peek into the character that she hides behind her haughty mask and I think that she acts the way she does to cover her insecurities, doubts, and fears, such as the one that they will be stuck on the island forever. Shannon and Sayid are my two favorite characters and I think that Sayid is a good match for her, being that he could encourage her to stop with the foolishness. The coping? I think that that is a correct theory. I, myself, would have been frozen in complete terror. I am really looking forward to what might be revealed about Shannon and Boone's past and I think that everyone needs to drop THE STUPID INCEST THEORY!! I mean, that is just plain sick and I mean that in all seriousness. So, with the end of this part of my message, I would like to say, GO ALL SHANNON AND SAYID SHIPPERS!!! (Shayid!! ;D)

Kate seems really psycho, but as I said before, not all is as it seems, and when she said the man she killed, I am pretty darn sure she did not mean the back robber because she wouldn't have got the airplane by hooking up with him in the first place, DUHOI!! She could have just asked him for the key...I really think that there is more to this and lot's more flashbacks... :-Xblegh....I wish it would focus more on Sayid and Shannon, or Sun, or Michael, or Hurley or someone that I like.

I think that there is a lot to Locke. I think that he may hold the key to their survival and many more things. I think that maybe...he is not as good as he seems. I also think that there may have been some ulterior motive to him helping Charlie and Michael....like, using them to his own devices because I think he E-VILE!!! *:o

The panties thing? I totally agree...i wanted to see more of Sawyer and COULD HER UNDERWEAR GET ANY SMALLER!? REALLY!!

Okay, this was Pen, expressing her adamnat feelings, mostly on Shayid shipping and anyone else who supports Shayid needs to write some fanfics for me to read. I AM ALREADY WRITING MY OWN and I feel lonely being the only one. *:'(

I have pretty bad ashtma. *I wouldn't be scrambling to help other people if all I had was eucalyptys. *She wasn't sunning herself then, either.


I, too, have asthma and I can tell you, it won't set it off to sort clothes, something Shannon passed on doing. There are things she can do that don't require heavy lifting and such.

I will say she seemed flattered if reluctant when Sayid asked for her help and looked pleased when she thought she was being of some help. Of course when he got frustrated she lost confidence and fell back on old behaviors. Self defense mechanism.

Until we know the reason behind Kate's actions and desire for the little plane (if that is all it is) we can't say she is a moron or crazy, just like we can't say Shannon is stupid or shallow (self-centered seems a better term) until we know about her past.

Okay, so, Shannon seemed like a really shallow character at the beginning, but I do, as do alot of people, obviously, think that it is just a way of coping with everything that has happened. I myself would go and hide in a tree or start stalking Charlie, but then I have never been the rich or spoilt type, and I also do not like the sun.

If last night's episode proved anything, it's that this show is written primarily by men.

I must agree...too much of Kate's arse and an almost glimps at Shannon's boobs. Now, where is Sawyer naked?! *goes off into rant land*
But I do dissagree that none of the women have had a significant role as of yet. I mean, Sun seems pretty important, and I gotta love where her character is going, and Shannon's the only one who can speak french! I think it's because there are less female characters being focused on, and Kate is a nutcase so...yeah, we lost her! But Sun rules! I like her! Her and Micheal...they have something going on together.... ;D

And I think that Kate must be suffering from some sort of illness...hey, maybe she's the one on meds! I think she is a pathalogical liar and a bit of a wierdo, but whatever...maybe just a liar. Maybe the plane has a diamond in it or something...hehe, could be! :laugh:

I do have to say, the reason that Kate pretended that she didn't want the case was so Sawyer wouldn't really want to open it. Reverse psychology. Unfortunately for her, but fortunately for the comic relief, he didn't buy it.