I think that they are trying to say that there's a difference between the sickness and an actual Smokey impersonation.
I think they're going for the idea that we all have a dark and a light side, that we all have the potential to be good or evil and that those people Blackshirt "claims" are people whose dark side will take over. I'm fine with all of that, except with the finality of it all. The apparent belief by the Temple Others that once you have been "claimed" there's no going back for you. That you no longer have a choice to be good or evil.
Another problem is that on the flip side, there seems to be no finality to being "claimed" by the light side. If we go by Ben being any sort of an example, I presume he wasn't "claimed" by the dark side, since no one tried to get him to take a poison pill. So, he was saved by the waters of the Temple, he was not "claimed" by the dark and yet he apparently didn't have a bright light growing inside of him that would engulf his heart and make him good forever. KWIM?
I don't mind a show that has internal rules that are not based on proven, scientific reality, but I hope that those rules have an internal consistency. When it doesn't make logical sense within the parameters and the reality the show has created for itself, then it's hard to be engaged by it.
I'm hoping that Jack and company find a way to "cure" this sickness, or better yet that the characters (Sayid and Claire) prove, through their actions, that even if you're "claimed" by the dark side, your free will still exists and allows you to choose light, regardless of the claims the dark makes upon you.
I forgot to say before that I did like Josh Holloway's portrayal of subdued grief. Very good performance.
I think that they are trying to say that there's a difference between the sickness and an actual Smokey impersonation.
I think they're going for the idea that we all have a dark and a light side, that we all have the potential to be good or evil and that those people Blackshirt "claims" are people whose dark side will take over. I'm fine with all of that, except with the finality of it all. The apparent belief by the Temple Others that once you have been "claimed" there's no going back for you. That you no longer have a choice to be good or evil.
Another problem is that on the flip side, there seems to be no finality to being "claimed" by the light side. If we go by Ben being any sort of an example, I presume he wasn't "claimed" by the dark side, since no one tried to get him to take a poison pill. So, he was saved by the waters of the Temple, he was not "claimed" by the dark and yet he apparently didn't have a bright light growing inside of him that would engulf his heart and make him good forever. KWIM?
I don't mind a show that has internal rules that are not based on proven, scientific reality, but I hope that those rules have an internal consistency. When it doesn't make logical sense within the parameters and the reality the show has created for itself, then it's hard to be engaged by it.
I forgot to say before that I did like Josh Holloway's portrayal of subdued grief. Very good performance.
I know that the sickness is supposed to be distinct from the Smokey impersonations, I just don't care. Even if they are trying to retroactively resolve the whole "sickness" issue they raised in the early seasons, it seems very contrived to me -- maybe because, as you say, CL, there is no internal consistency, maybe because I just don't see the causality.
Sayid is mortally wounded. Dead Jacob tells Hurley that Jack can't help Sayid and they must take him to the temple. But then at the temple Sayid apparently falls prey to "infection," which can hardly be the outcome Jacob had in mind, can it?
At the temple, Sayid seemingly is brought back to life but dies after he's held under water for the prescribed amount of time. The others declare him dead. Miles looks at him funny while he's lying there. Does Miles sense something? Then a bit later Sayid revives. Has Smokey somehow invaded the temple without anyone noticing? Can he infect people without being there? Does the brackish water have anything to do with it? Is Sayid's infection due to his own inner darkness? If so, why would Robert, seemingly a decent person, and Claire, clearly a good person, be infected? Or is Claire actually infected? And how does it "spread?" Like a negative attitude spreads?
And that whole thing about Sayid needing to take the pill willingly for it to work -- why? Why would his being willing be a factor, when he would be taking it willingly under false circumstances, thinking that it is medicine rather than poison? How would that be free will?
The whole thing just seems shark-jumpy and lazy to me, substituting "infection" as a mover of the story in place of human motivations and, I fear, the solutions to the mysteries of the island. And I too am bothered by the seeming finality of it -- once you are infected, ie your dark side takes over, death is the only appropriate end for you -- no chance at redemption for you. Maybe as times goes by and I see other episodes I'll change my opinion, but at this point I am not a fan of the infection storyline.
ETA: Okay, I thought of something that might make more sense of the temple part. Maybe the note from Jacob inside the Ankh said, "This guy comes to you having done something really bad (shooting Ben). You have to revive him at my Healing Spring. If you don't, he'll come back as an Infected Guy because of his inner darkness." Even with that explanation, though, it wouldn't explain how or why the French team and Claire all got infected, if in fact Claire did get infected, which I honestly can't see having happened since she didn't seem to have much, if any, inner darkness.
ETA 2: Agree that Josh Holloway did a fine job with his scene on the pier.
9! Another great episode. This definitely had a strong season one vibe to it. Kate was back to kicking-*** both on and off the Island. I was afraid she was going after Sawyer for romantic reasons, but was relieved and happy she was trying to continue looking for Claire. Speaking of which, I also really enjoyed the Kate/Claire scenes.
Sayid storyline threw me for a loop, in a good way. At first I thought he was ok, the it turns out he was "infected". Then I thought he needed to take the pill, and it turns out it was poison. Definitely not predictable to ne. I loved it!
Yay, Island Claire has reemerged! Fascinated by the return of the sickness/darkness growing inside.
Can't wait for next week, again!!!
Could it be that the poison pill was meant to kill the "infection" only and not to kill Sayid. It is not intended for use by 'normal' people.
I CAN RESIST JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ... EXCEPT TEMPTATION
3. Kate-based snoozefest. Little story advancement. Continued Jack-Kate-Sawyer triangle (that should have stopped by season 3).
What a concept, fly into LAX, get hijacked in a cab, then become hijackers bff....YAWN.
Throw in cameos for characters that haven't been seen in seasons, yet thus far, don't add squat to the story. Except for the "ZOMG!?! ITS ETHAN!?! or ART?? or kids/stewardess...etc."
THREE! Come on writers, not much time left, why waste it on Kate?
I gave it a 10. I was tempted to give it a nine, but every time in the past I have docked points from a Horowitz & Kitsis episode, in retrospect I have found out that I was the stupid one...so 9 --> 10. I think they gave us a lot of answers.
Edit to add: And it was really, really fun to watch. I couldn't believe an hour had passed by the end of the episode.
I'm reserving my rating until a few days has passed, and I can watch it again. I rated the premiere with only a 9 last week, and after a few days passed of thinking about it 24/7 I realized it was a spot on 10.
I think tonite will fall somewhere between a 7-9. I really loved seeing Kate and Claire together in the alt timeline. At first I thought it was ridiculous that Claire agreed to get back in the taxi with Kate, and then I remembered that Claire has no one and given their strong relationship in the original timeline, their immediate bond in the alt really does make sense. Plus, they often don't let the female relationships get a lot of screen time, and this has been a loss.
I'm also LOVING Jack in this episode. He's not too cocky, but not too gullible either. Striking just the right balance between faith and reason. He just might pull off this hero role after all. Realizing his main trust issue stems from not being able to trust himself is a huge admission and step forward.
And thank God for Miles. That comment about Hurley taking over the leadership position had me and the family rolling. Good thing we have Miles since Sawyer is consumed with grief and probably won't be rolling out any good one-liners for a few more episodes.
I'm getting a little frustrated with The Others secrecy. They are starting to seem dumb, and I wonder if they have any idea what the hell is going on. Or maybe I just want very badly for them to be wrong about Sayid and Claire (mostly Sayid). I was so sure that Sayid was "saved" last week after all that baptismal imagery! I hate that they just didn't explain what the "sickness" is, because now I have to go at least another week worrying about Sayid.
Quote:
Originally Posted by God's tom
I liked the part where Kate got the mechanic to remove her cuffs! (Was I the only one thinking Kris Kristopherson?)
No not at all. I got a little Mr. Friendly vibe off him too. Who is that actor anyway? I know him but I can't place him.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gupwalla
That kind of episode is: one that unwinds us from the finale and premiere, and starts getting pieces into position for the next batch of story threads. I think this episode handled that card-shuffling far better than some other efforts over the years. The characters had good motivations for going running all through the jungle (for once! actually for three times, since Sawyer, Kate, and Jin all had believable reasons to run).
Good point. They always have to have these musical chairs episodes, getting characters to split up so they can come back together later, and this was the first time that everyone's reason for breaking off made sense to me.
I give WKD a solid B-. And I mean that as a positive, given the kind of episode it is.
That kind of episode is: one that unwinds us from the finale and premiere, and starts getting pieces into position for the next batch of story threads. I think this episode handled that card-shuffling far better than some other efforts over the years. The characters had good motivations for going running all through the jungle (for once! actually for three times, since Sawyer, Kate, and Jin all had believable reasons to run). And each story beat had a nice emotional moment to punch it up.
There has been a lot of fan angst over the years for the show's lack of sufficient "grief" time when a major character dies, so it's nice to see a good Sawyer meltdown -- especially one so well acted as Josh's pier scene tonight.
I'm liking Jack this season...that bomb must have knocked some sense into him.
Not a real standout episode, but a solid move-the-pieces "comma" so everyone can get into position and take a deep breath for what is to come.
I gave this eppy a 7, mostly because I think when the writers jump us thru emotional hoops (Sayid's dying, not, dead, not,ok let's kill him)they undermine our emotional bond with the character and story arc, bringing us out of the story to focus on the storytellers. Too heavy-handed. I agree with previous posts that it's nonsensical that Jacob would direct him to the temple pool to be saved, he's on the list, he's been touched by Jacob---WTH is up with him now being 'claimed' and perceived as needing to be poisoned?? The rest was good for me, for the reasons others have stated above. I didn't feel Kate was chasing after Sawyer in a 'shipper' way. She's loved him, she has a strong bond with him and that feels natural to me. Also her guilt in pulling Juliet and him into her journey with Jack and the bomb feels right to me. Their scenes on the dock were very moving.
and
and 