What did you think? Rate it and then discuss the good and the bad. :)

It was ok nothing shocking well we did get answers to "3 questions" but nothing really important

Let's face it, if, like me, you made the mistake of watching all the previews and read most of the spoilers, you won't discover many interesting stuff in tonight's episode. But eventhough, it was enjoyable ! The others are so... wicked ! :uhh:
It's cool to discover those new characters. Can't wait for next week ! :whitey:

I don't follow spoilers and didn't know anything that was going to happen, and frankly, aside from jacket, this episode was really extremely disappointing :(

Too bad they followed a great episode with a 'meh' one. I was hoping they were buiding something with the Asian woman but it just went nowhere. The Cindy part was nice.

I agree... after such a mind-blowing episode last week, this was really quite anticlimactic. I had hoped they were building to something far cooler with the Achara story. I hope that starting next week, we'll finally get a nice momentum building, because it's felt a bit choppy so far since returning, IMHO - my impression was: decent episode, then one of the best ever, and now this one, which was just okay.

i dont think we've seen the last of the achara character, which gives me hope that they develop her a bit, bc i really liked her. in fact, she was pretty much the only highlite of the episode. everything else you couldve gotten from the previews.

i rated it a 3, bc in my mind 5 is average and that was below average.

2. this is among the worst ever.
we may see more of bai ling but only cuz they didn't tell an effective story to do anything with her in this ep. the fb went nowhere. how much more did u know at the end of the fb's than you did at the start? that bai ling was 'special'??? so that's what the millionth 'special' person we've met


the characters actions made no sense. sawyer let karl go???? ridiculous.

I gave this one an 8. I really wasn't expecting it to be as good as last week's but I guess I was a bit disappointed even still. The fact it was a Jack episode made me like it more than I probably should.

It was fine, nothing spectacular, a solid 6.

Wasn't the best. But I wasn't expecting much going in. We did learn more about The Others which is good. And I really liked the ending. Finally a montage!!!!

I'm giving it a 9.

Nothing special. I liked Sawyer's lines, though. I gave it a 6.

Just because you 'didn't expect much' from an episode doesn't make it worthy of a 9, IMO. Since when should anyone lower their standards for a LOST epi?

I gave it a 2. My parents hated it, the two people I watched it hated it, and I hated it. Easily the worst LOST episode, ever. Even 2x02 with Michael and Sawyer sitting in a raft the entire episode was better than this

I don't follow spoilers and didn't know anything that was going to happen, and frankly, aside from jacket, this episode was really extremely disappointing :(

agreed Penyours, this episode wasn't good anyway, but promising answers to 3 of the biggest questions was pretty much a lie. What answers? If TPTB think that "what does Jack's tattoo mean" is one of the biggest mysteries, they are sorely mistaken.

I gave it a 5... It wasn't bad and it wasn't "outstanding". I think we will see more of the Achara character as well. Liked the moments between Jack and Julliet - VEEEEERY nice! The new woman - her voice drives me insane!! Sounds like she drinks too much coffee and smokes too much! LOL!!

We did questions answered, but my gorsh - did we get a boat load more or what?!?

NOTHING happened, jacks flashback was dull , cindy had no purpose, archara is special, who cares

I thought it could have been better. Like the first episode of 2007, this one seemed to drag on without giving us anything important. It just took too long for us to figure out these "three questions" which I am not so sure were even present. What were the three questions. That is my question. Anyway, this episode deserved an 8, it was good and yet confusing, and somewhat boing.

Answers to three of Lost's biggest mysteries huh? They must have been easter eggs during the commercials because I missed them.


Once again our gang of little geniuses fail to ask the most basic questions of those who may be able to answer. I keep forgetting these people are in a life and death situation stranded on a bizarre island in the middle of nowhere. Apparently, so do they.

And before anyone says, no one would would answer the questions... they should attempt to ask. By not asking, they appear stupid and not concerned about their situation.


Basic, common sense questions they don't ask:
Where are we?
Is it possible to leave this island? If so, how?
What's going on with _____ (enter any number of the bizarre island occurances)?
Who are you people?
What are you people doing here?


Kate and Sawyer fail to ask Carl.
Jack fails to ask Cindy.
Jack fails to ask slingshot pro Alex.
Jack fails to ask Juliet.



Jack says he's going to help Juliet leave but doesn't bother asking any relevant questions.

Sawyer and Kate have Carl who could be a wealth of information but not only fail to question him, Sawyer lets him leave.

Slingshot pro Alex and Jack talk and answer each others questions but does Jack ask any of the previously mentioned questions? No, he just asks about Juliet.

Does Jack ask Cindy how she survived the crash? Nope.

Does Jack ask Juliet what the mark is that they gave her? Nope. He just sensitively touches her stomach, applies aloe and makes the boo boo better.


I also thought the scene where Jack agressively badgers Achira to tattoo him made no sense. Another poorly contrived, poorly written Lost scene I suppose.

Just because you 'didn't expect much' from an episode doesn't make it worthy of a 9, IMO. Since when should anyone lower their standards for a LOST epi?

I gave it a 2. My parents hated it, the two people I watched it hated it, and I hated it. Easily the worst LOST episode, ever. Even 2x02 with Michael and Sawyer sitting in a raft the entire episode was better than this

Just because I wasn't expecting much doesn't mean I didn't like the episode. I really enjoyed the episode even though I know everyone else seems to not like it. I thought the Juliet/Jack stuff was great and i really loved the karl/alex stuff. I did find it boring sometimes but that ending was very well done and it was a great way to finish up. It was a great CHARACTER story and I like that. (most people just like mythology, i like both character stuff and mythology).

That's my opinion, you have yours.

A 7. Not bad, but nothing too special as well. But come on, some of you are comparing tonight's episode to 2x02. It wasn't THAT bad of an episode.

I liked the episode, and if people keep telling me I was wrong, I'm going to like it even better.

I gave it a 9. I guess I'm not in a majority here. But that's fine. I really enjoyed the show. I liked the storyline, for the most part, with Jack. Yes as usual he showed his temper but I believe in his situation (with the Others) I would be showing some temper as well. If some chic who had been serving my drinks on the plane and had clearly gotten kidnapped after crashing on the island walked up to me and said the very weird things that she said...I'd yell in her face too. Of course, Jack has gotten on my nerves a lot but for once since White Rabbit I really did enjoy this Jack episode.

I liked the small answers that we did get in this episode. I, probably being the only one, didn't know what Jack's tattoo said. We found out that Cindy and kids and other people who have been kidnapped are still alive and that they are in the Others' camp now. We found out that there is someone who is almost as high up as Ben. They have a regular system of control besides just Ben in charge of all decisions...though he does overrule apparently.

Overall I really did enjoy this episode.

a 7.

Good: FInally get to see Cindy and the kids from the tail section.

The meaning of Jack's tatoos.

Bad: Flashback almost seemed pointless.

Mid to high seven. It honestly felt kind of rushed. I don't know how else to explain it. It seemed like they could have done much more with the info presented and expanded on it a bit. I know they wanted to tie up the loose ends with the Alcatraz story, so they could get back to the beach and whatnot, but I can't help but think that perhaps they rushed it a bit. Definately not as good as the previous couple of episodes, but not a bad episode by any means.

I wasn't all that impressed this week. That being said, I've got no doom and gloom. Sure, I'm still skeptical about how the show is doing, but the last two episodes were among the best. Every show has off weeks.

One of my good friends who has actually been complaining about lost for over a year now actually called me after this episode just to rub in the fact that it was sub par, and threw in the ratings decline and some new 'cancellation rumours' to rub salt in.

While I'm okay being critical of the show--and believe me, I have a lot to say about this episode and a general trend in Sarnoff and Kim shows in general--I just don't understand the pleasure that some people get from the knowledge that LOST might fail...

of course my friend lives and dies by Joss Whedon and is probably just bitter about "Firefly" so he takes it out on LOST...

Basically...tonight's episode was lame, but it followed up two of the series's finest hours, so who cares. It'll be back next week and maybe it will be awesome again or maybe it'll be another "Whatever the Case May Be".

Can we please just treat for what it is? A bad episode and leave it at that.

Just because I wasn't expecting much doesn't mean I didn't like the episode. I really enjoyed the episode even though I know everyone else seems to not like it. I thought the Juliet/Jack stuff was great and i really loved the karl/alex stuff. I did find it boring sometimes but that ending was very well done and it was a great way to finish up. It was a great CHARACTER story and I like that. (most people just like mythology, i like both character stuff and mythology).

That's my opinion, you have yours.

Sorry, judging by your first post I didn't think you enjoyed the episode.

I think the reason people are so disappointed is that ABC had hyped this episode too much, its not lost's fault that the promotion guys are jerks, it was a good episode, not as good as the last two but still better than everything on tv.

I was extremely generous in my rating. I gave it a 4.

Since it was a Jackback, and as a rule, Jack does not top my favorites list. I went in determined to cut the guy some slack and try to be very fair.

Umm, was there a point to the flashback, at all? I mean, at first I was grateful it wasn't another rendition of the same old *Daddy's mean and my life sucks* song.

Then I realized it wasn't any song at all. It was just ... there. Like Sponge Bob Square Pants snuck into the editing room, grabbed up several partially shot scenes and announced, "Here's the flashback!"

I got the feeling the writers were telling us all to go fly a kite ... just to see if we'd still stick around for more. A tremendous let down.

On a brighter note. What kept me from rating it a 1 and deleting it from my DVR for taking up valuable space, was Jacket. The scenes between Juliet and Jack were lovely. Very touching, and the only bright spots in an otherwise dreary episode.

I was feeling generous so I gave this episode a 4. Tomorrow I'll probably be angry with myself and want to change my vote to a 2.

Horrible, horrible episode.

I don't know why everyone's complaining so much about the flashback aspects. Yes, they weren't particularly compelling plot-wise... but I think more than any of Jack's previous flashbacks this one showed a really interesting, grittier side of his character. It was interesting to see him in that kind of setting, where being a foreigner makes the power balance so off. And I enjoyed seeing him showing emotions I think would be very justified after a messy divorce: he seemed very angry and defeated at the same time, and I felt a lot of sympathy for him because of that. He didn't seem overly self-pitying in this episode like he has in some, and I loved it when Bai Ling's character told him to shut up about his dad already. This flashback was for once not about Jack and his daddy issues, it was about Jack and who he is, not what his father thinks he is or isn't. And that, in my mind, was a big refresher.

Not to mention the fact that the interaction between Jack and Juliet absolutely glues me to my screen. Every scene, every look between them is compelling to me. I really can't wait to see what happens between them.

A whole episode on Jack's tattoo.... BORING!

Tonight's episode reminded us just how good Fire + Water was.

4. Extremely unenjoyable.:frown: Heading over to the "didn't love it" thread. Nothing really positive to say.

That's great, Bongo!

I wasn't a huge fan either. Jack is (along with Hurley) my favorite character, so I was hoping to get something really interesting as I've only been dying to know about his tatoos since it was first brought up in House of the Rising Sun way back in Season One. But I didn't think Bai Ling did that great of a job acting and I didn't find her character interesting. Juliet was very interesting tonight, though! I think I'm just burnt out on these Sawyer-Jack-Kate episodes. :undecide:

But I do think it's a good thing that despite my unenthusiastic response to tonight, I've still got a really positive vibe for the rest of the season. The past two episodes were very strong and next week's promo looks like it could be really good too, so overall I think momentum is still high despite this slight snafu.

I really enjoyed this eppy. There was so much information in it, it's probably going to take several viewings to catch it all. A solid 8 :clapping:

I gave it a 5. *shrugs*

Although I blame the stupid advertising for really disappointing me - even if I didn't hear them announce there were going to be answers --- the episode sadly did nothing to redeem itself..
If Matthew Fox didn't have his own personal tattoos - then perhaps learning about the meaning of Jack's tattoo would mean something... however.. we already know Jack and learning about what the meaning of his tattoo is doesn't really answer a thing about the island and any mystery. If the tattoo mysteriously appeared after the plane crash - maybe it would mean something. It seemed to me to just be a way to show Jack in bed with someone. We didn't even learn the real meaning in any event. I pretty much thought all of Jack's flashbacks in this episode were worthless.
We got to see the teddy bear, Cindy and the kids.. yeah and?
They're watching.. ok.. what are they watching? (the ratings drop and viewer numbers sliding down?)
The only reason I rated this a 4 was the scenes that were not trying to answer questions I didn't have.. and those were the things that didn't have to do with Jack's tattoos, Cindy or the kids... No answers to be found here.. at least for me.

The more I think about this episode, the more stupid it gets and makes less sense. No wonder fans are not watching and the ratings are in a nosedive.


Why did the Others send Ethan "their best surgeon" to spy on the Castaways on the beach? Why would you give up your best surgeon? Why risk losing him? Why try to integrate him with those on the beach?

Just another example of them making stuff up as they go and then trying to crowbar something in that makes no sense.

Ugh...wow...let's see...I have Cindy in front of me...I can get some answers to alot of what has happened..I think I will scream at her and tell her to go away.

Sawyer? Channeling Dear Abby but not twisting the kid's arm out the socket to get some answers? Wow...he has changed.

Kate being conflicted..that's a first. Jack getting ticked off and yelling at another woman..this time over something as important as a tattoo? Just like that? Smiling and happy the entire flashback and he loses it for no reason? Wow...didn't know he had anger issues.

We know what the tats say...but not what they mean? Say what? Do we get to see another flashback to find that out?

Once again no Sayid, Locke, Jin, Sun, Charlie or Hurley in any significant roles...the very characters we all fell in love with in season one...reduced to red shirts?

Very poor showing...

I gave it a 4. I thought this was a very weak episode, and coming on the heels of a great one made it seem that much worse. The flashback story was dull and seemingly pointless, and we really learned nothing new. I did give a few points for the nice montage at the end.

I gave it an 8. I thought it was a really good episode, but nothing fabulous. I loved Sawyer more than ever. I think that the writers and Josh Holloway all do such an excellent job with his character. I think that my heart actually hurt for Sawyer when he gave Kate that get out of jail free pass, but it was so in character for him to push her away like that. I loved it! I am glad to know that there will be a lot of emotional tension and friction between them in the future. Sex usually kills that, especially when the L word is mentioned. IMHO Sawyer and Kate are at their best when they are walking that thin line between flirting and fighting.

I really enjoyed Jack's on the island scenes too. I loved his chemestry with Juliet and the fact that he realized that he wanted to protect her. His scenes with Alex were some of my favorite, especially the one that they had at the cage when they were asking each other questions. Great scene. And I really love Alex, she is my very favorite Other. But Jack's flashback :confused:, I didn't really care for . I mean what was the point of that? Was it just to clue us in on the fact that he has been an outsider before anf that everyone everywhere regonizes that Jack is different and that he is indeed The Hero!?! Much Ado About Nothing if you ask me. So in the usually manner, his flashback bored me. Jack on the island, I love . Jack in a flashback zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz puts me to sleep.

I also loved the musical montage at the end. So glad to see the return of that element. It adds volumes to the show!!!! Every episode should have one!

Overall, good episode. But next week looks SOOOO much better!!!

I did give a few points for the nice montage at the end.



I thought the montage was pathetic.

Why should I care about Slingshot Girl and Carl?

Why should I care about a romance between Jack and Juliet? It seems ridiculously unrealistic and implausible. Jack is getting touchy-feeling with Juliet but is trapped on a strange island and can't manage at the very least to ask some pertinent questions?

Do these people remember that they're marooned on a mysterious island where people have died? They don't seem to be curious, communicate, ask questions or really care about their situation.

I'm not even kidding when i say this:

The flashbacks should have been replaced with various stages of Juliete preparing a grilled cheese sandwich! All the while Juliete pauses to look at some file photos of Jacks tattoos (taken recently on the island of course) and papers with the meanings and info. (screencaps for later threads)

As she turns the sandwich over for it's final side we notice that the markings on the grilled cheese resemble the rest of Jacks tattoo (not exact, but enough for a thread). She then turns and asks a character out of the frame to grab her "4" tooth picks (another number thread). Suddenly into frame comes little Ema with "4" tooth picks and those blue bug-eyed glasses on. She walks out of frame and Juliete walks out of the room passed a sign that reads "Juvenile Holding Cell". -conclude to boat boarding and end the same way-

I hope the writers and all are going somewhere with this..I trust that they are.
Maybe Lost was presured by ABC to hype this up.
I will continue to watch,
i'm not complaining,
but you have to admit this was quite boring.

I also thought the scene where Jack agressively badgers Achira to tattoo him made no sense. Another poorly contrived, poorly written Lost scene I suppose.
I totally have to agree with you about this. I actually turned to my husband and started to ask him what the heck was that all about, forgetting for a moment that this was only like the second or third episode of Lost that he's ever watched. :confused: It just didn't make any sense.

oh and i gave it a "4"..cause thats the lowest number that has any continuity..

IThen I realized it wasn't any song at all. It was just ... there. Like Sponge Bob Square Pants snuck into the editing room, grabbed up several partially shot scenes and announced, "Here's the flashback!"

I got the feeling the writers were telling us all to go fly a kite ... just to see if we'd still stick around for more. A tremendous let down.
:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: Sheba I love your posts! You really crack me up! Where is a good kite when you need it? ;)

The more I think about this episode, the more stupid it gets and makes less sense. No wonder fans are not watching and the ratings are in a nosedive.


Why did the Others send Ethan "their best surgeon" to spy on the Castaways on the beach? Why would you give up your best surgeon? Why risk losing him? Why try to integrate him with those on the beach?[

Hallelujah and AMEN!!

I have said the exact same thing a dozen times about Jack. He was the lostaways ONLY doctor! At least the Others still had Juliet. Though I'm not so sure how much good it did them to have a doctor incapable of diagnosing infected stitches.

Time and time again Jack has insisted upon putting himself at risk by always being first in line to take on every dangerous mission, and now he's finally actually gone and done exactly what I have been saying for two years. He has risked himself and lost. Now the Lostaways are left with only a dentist. I suppose they will have to hope they're lucky and Bernard is at least an oral surgeon and capable of more than checking people for cavities and whipping up a batch of antiseptic mouth wash.

:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: Sheba I love your posts! You really crack me up! Where is a good kite when you need it? ;)

Happy to oblige. On nights like this, somebody has to try and provide some entertainment. :biggrin:

Is this all we can hope for from LOST? I think this episode was the worst ever. Its time to move on from Jack/Kate/Sawyer. I'm afraid this episode will cause the show to deteriorate further in the ratings. Come on Damon and Carlton you can do better.

Not good.

Disappointing episode overall. I rated it a 4.
The Jack/Juliet scenes were the only moments I enjoyed.
Did anyone else feel that the Cindy scene was a ripoff? I was expecting something more there.

This would probably be my least favorite episode of all. Does anyone know if this is the writers' of this episode's first time writing for LOST? Jack is one of my favorite characters but this flashback seemed pretty pointless to me. So we learned that his tattoo said "he walks among us but is not one of us"...woo hoo. I guess that fact that the tattoos are actually Matthew Fox's real tattoos and they just made a storyline out of it makes it even less compelling to me.

I did like the opening sequence with Kate, Sawyer and Karl..."God loves you as he does Jacob"...."thanks for the input"...great stuff.

Another thing that keeps nagging at me is that I still don't totally trust Juliette. Everything screams at me to trust her because I really like her character, especially after her flashback, but something just doesn't add up. Several things from this episode as well as past ones still make me uneasy about her:

1. In this episode, Juliette is sent to try and get Jack to look at Ben's stitches. He refuses. Then Alex appears later and smashes the video camera and offers further information to Jack which causes him to want to help save Juliette by speaking with Ben. They would have been monitoring him and have seen the camera go out, yet no one came to check out the situation and there were no repercussions against Alex.

2. As Jack enters the "hospital" room, Ben shares a secret glance with Alex, who stands in the corner of the room. Did he send her purposely? Is this all part of a big con to manipulate Jack?

3. Previous episode- What did Juliette and Ben REALLY talk about when they were alone in the operating room? I know what Juliette said, but is it true?

4. Previous episode- The comment Sawyer made to Kate while they were on rock duty...something to the effect that Juliette was the kind that would shoot first and not even think about it. I held alot of weight to that statement at the time because Sawyer, with his background, is pretty good at sizing up people. That, and it just didn't seem like the kind of statement the writers would throw in without it meaning something (ignore tonight's episode!).

5. Finally, and I guess this is the one that has been hardest for me to get out of my head, the episode when Ben takes Sawyer to the top of the hill to show them that they are on another island, he (Ben) tells Sawyer that he's a good con man but that they are much, much better.

All these things make me still leery of Juliette or anyone else asociated with the others...although I want to trust her, I really do. Time will tell...or maybe not...

One final thought...It seemed interesting that the phrase "it's complicated" turned up twice in the same episode, said by two different characters: both Juliette and Cindy said it to Jack.

I didn't like it. Totally disappointing.

I rated this episode a 3. I was going to be generous with a 4, but after all the hype and nothing to show for, I don't even think it deserved a 3.

One thing I'm surprised that nobody has picked up on yet is the fact that the Losties have aquired another boat and it seems to me like they are once again just forgetting how valuable a boat can be. Sure it's not like Desmonds sail boat, but it's transportation all the same.

And why do I feel stupid that I didn't quite "get" what all 3 of these supposed mysteries were? Jack's tattoo was a mystery? What were the other 2? At least quite a few people here seem to be on the same page here and I don't feel quite as ignorant.

The children weren't a mystery, we knew the Others had them. I think there were more questions raised about why they had the children than having anything answered at all.

Cindy? For one, who cares? She's no mystery at all let alone any significant story that I can conjure up.

The fact that the Others live on the same main island was no mystery since we knew that from the first ep of this season.

And who really cares about Jacks tattoo? I didn't find it mysterious before and the FB for it was just as unenlightening.

Please somebody, anybody, please let me know what these other mysteries were supposed to be. I'd be willing to bet that anything anybody calls for as a "mystery" that was solved tonight was more than likely assumably resolved based on events from prior eps.

If I thought Sawyer had been neutered before whilst being in a cage, he's just as sappy now that he's escaped. What happened to our great con guy? Has love finally pistol whipped him into submission? I'm so tired of him and Kate and now this new drama unfolding about their loveless one night stand. Please...

And I don't get this whole trial thing with Juliette. She did what she thought was in the best interest of what Ben instructed her to do. If anything, it was Danny that was the deranged psychopath with a vendetta, but somehow the enlightened and saintly Others overlook this fact and condemn her all the same. Why didn't Ben see it just to point out the fact that what she was doing was removing an uncontrollable lunatic out of the picture so that Ben's orders would be fulfilled?

I also like how a spinal surgeon seems so inept at putting together a simple kite a 5 year old would have together in 2 minutes. Now if it were one of those more elaborate box kites....

Crap, I was really hoping that Lost was going somewhere with the momentum it had picked up with the last 2 eps. While I was disappointed in the overall spaciness and fragmented feel of last weeks ep, it was at least entertaining. Tonights was right back where we left off after the mini-season.

Heck, by the time Locke arranges his "rescue", the whole season will have ended (or we'll wish it had).

And where's that new awesome couple Nicki and Paolo? Nicki has the gumption to take charge and Paolo has the wisecracks to carry this show all the way to the bitter end.

Obviously all of our other characters we came to know so well are pushed aside while we yet introduce new ones to ponder over. I'm tired of these little cameo appearances just so we know they are still there lurking about.

Ugh, I guess it's back into the "Don't Like It" threads. And here I was happy to be out of there, if even for a short while ;)

After doing some searching I found the the writers of this episode, Elizabeth Sarnoff & Christina Kim, also wrote one of the best episodes ever- Two For the Road (when Michael shoots Libby and Ana Lucia). Wonders never cease.

Am I the only one who really liked this epi?

It was a Jack FB but done in a way that felt very relavent to the plot at hand (as opposed to his last FB which bored the heck outta me) And we saw Jack confronting both Tom and Cindy with very important questions (of course neither answered him) and we saw Sawyer and Kate arguing but in a serious way, rather than just their usual fluff. It was very emotional and the pace was well kept and I actually stayed interested this time! Yay! It was probably the best one I've seen in a long while. There were some great one liners from both Jack and Sawyer and I just really liked this episode.

I'm not sure what everyone was expecting here, but I was happy with how it played out. I have lost expecting them to give us answers so maybe that's why I enjoyed it for what it was.

I do look forward to next week though. It'll be great to get back to the beach. I miss Locke and Sayid somethin awful!

Loved it, 8 ... finally some progress but VERY blatent stall tactic's by TPTB.

It was great to see a hot lil honey like that "lose it" for Jack....totally explains how Jack hasnt "Lost it" for Kate like Sawyer has. All I could think was, Damn I wish Kate could see that. There's got to be more to that storyline, I say that becuase there is quite a bit more to Jack's tatt's now vs. when he was bloody lying on the beach.

Letting Carl go....RRRREEEEDDDDIIIICCCCUUUULLLLLIIIIIOOOOUUUUUS SSS!
Not interrigating the life out of Carl.....RRRREEEEEDDDDDIIIICCCCUUUUULLLLLIIIIOOOOU UUUUSSSSS!
Obvious and GINORMIOUS stalling....
100%
Flashbackfan....i totally agree, I felt like this was the most progressive episode since the season 2 finally, by a long shot.

I hated last weeks episode

The more I think about this episode, the more stupid it gets and makes less sense. No wonder fans are not watching and the ratings are in a nosedive.


Why did the Others send Ethan "their best surgeon" to spy on the Castaways on the beach? Why would you give up your best surgeon? Why risk losing him? Why try to integrate him with those on the beach?

Just another example of them making stuff up as they go and then trying to crowbar something in that makes no sense.

haha to be fair though, the Losties did it with Jack

haha to be fair though, the Losties did it with Jack

*ding ding* We have a winner!!

I've been saying this for 2 1/2 years now and usually I get smacked down for it, and people rail at me for doubting Jack's obvious ability to everything, all by himself.

Kind of disappointing. I gave it a six because Sawyer had some good lines. Otherwise - what mysteries exactly were answered? I never felt Jack's tatoos (which are actually Matt's) were in any way a mystery, and now that we know what they say - well...sp? We already knew he was the leader, has been since day 1.

How about 'Why was Locke in a wheelchair and why is he not now?' Now there's a mystery. Or: what happened with the whole 'dark and light' theme from early on that seems to have been cast aside?

We did learn that Ethan was a surgeon. A pretty intense one at that. Looks like he and Jack had a lot in common.

haha to be fair though, the Losties did it with Jack

Actually, Jack makes his own decisions, good or bad. Every event he has gotten himself into was of his own doing, even when people like Locke would try to persuade him otherwise due to him being a doctor.

Ethan on the other hand was ordered by Ben.

Huge difference.

Deadmouse...I kinda feel the same way about the 3 big answers but I am THRILLED because I was NOWHERE NEAR ready to learn what I thought they were going to tell...here's my shot at some answered questions:

1. Jacks tatt's (which you mentioned)
2. The others work on that island and live on what has to be a new and third island.
3. Ethan was an amazing surgon and not a plumber.
4. The others are actaully civilazation with a justice system and not a company project or experiement.
5. Kate and Sawyer really DID bump uglies in where Saywer gave Kate the "give that keeps on giving"
6. Sawyer is a putz.
7. Ben "IS" "THE MAN"
8. Oddly, Picket was liked?

I know I really reached on some of them....but it was fun...

but let's call a spade a spade here. I know people are completely entitled to their opinions but rating this 8 or even 9???? that indicates that this was a far above average episode. I am watching this thinking it is easily one of the worst 2 or 3 in series history.

And don't fool yourself we didn't get any progress or answers.

-Yes we learned the literal translation of Jack's tattoo.That doesn't mean we know WHAT it means. That is to say what is the significance. In other words, if they were to never bring up jack's tattoo or that translation EVER again, would you be satisfied with tonight's explanation?

-Yes we learned Cindy/kids are still alive. Did anyone honestly think they weren't? did anyone realistically assume the Other's killed them off camera? Doubt it. So great, they are alive and Cindy got a new hairstyle. But what are they doing? answer: 'watching'....are you satisfied with that?

I know and love the slow burn of LOST but there is a difference between being vague on mysteries and being vague on context. The latter is just bad storytelling. No one here knows why Jack flipped out at Ling's character in the fb. And loyal viewers of the show know more about Jack than any other character in LOST mythology and still it's baffling. No one knows what the significance of Ling's character being 'special' was or why she tattooed one thing but told him another.

Why the heck was the tattoo in Chinese when they were in Thailand????

Why was Jack Beat up? Why did Sawyer let Karl go? Why didn't they sail around the island to find their camp the next day when they were well rested insteaded of going through the dangerous jungle?


Why doesn't Jack tell Alex he knows of her real mother out there in the jungle? No one considers this vital information????


Terrible episode. average eps are a 5 or 6 right? so good/great eps are 7-9 with perfect ones (ie walkabout, s1 finale) being 10's. this was not only below average, this was simply unacceptable. The first fb segment was all about Jack flying a kite and drinking a coke! hello??? Did you ever see something that pointless in S1?

This is bottom of the barrel and the stuff that would've got them cancelled if they wrote like this in s1. 1/10 with an added point because I like the Jack character and Fox as an actor. 2/10.


by the way i want to point out I love this how and am CONSTANTLY defending it to critics. eps like this one make it really REALLY hard to do that.


/rant

Let me rephrase that, Sawyer is "acting" like a putz....I actaully like him a lot.

Being someone that REALLY REALLY loved this episode, I have to say that I totally understand where your coming from ikonn.

Something about this episode felt very freeing, I dont know exactly what I mean by that...i guess another way of saying it is that after last weeks episode Lost felt wickedly chlostrophobic to me, it felt terrible and that feeling is t-totally gone now.

But once again, I totally see what your saying and agree wholeheartedly....i think that TPTB really stalled big time with Carl, THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON the losties have ever encountered and Sawyer just let's him go? I would be surprized if Saied doesnt kill Sawyer....

Actually, Jack makes his own decisions, good or bad. Every event he has gotten himself into was of his own doing, even when people like Locke would try to persuade him otherwise due to him being a doctor.

Ethan on the other hand was ordered by Ben.

Huge difference.


I'm missing your point. Your initial statement was how silly it was for the others to let their only surgeon go off like that. And I agree with that. But whether by choice or not, the group still let Jack go off and do the same thing. Yes he made his own decision, but you have an entire group who's survival is 99% attributed to him being around and they don't object to him leaving? seems just as silly to me.

Deadmouse...I kinda feel the same way about the 3 big answers but I am THRILLED because I was NOWHERE NEAR ready to learn what I thought they were going to tell...here's my shot at some answered questions:

1. Jacks tatt's (which you mentioned)
2. The others work on that island and live on what has to be a new and third island.
3. Ethan was an amazing surgon and not a plumber.
4. The others are actaully civilazation with a justice system and not a company project or experiement.
5. Kate and Sawyer really DID bump uglies in where Saywer gave Kate the "give that keeps on giving"
6. Sawyer is a putz.
7. Ben "IS" "THE MAN"
8. Oddly, Picket was liked?

I know I really reached on some of them....but it was fun...

Hahaha, always fun! :)

As far as some of your theories go though...

2. The others live on the same island as the Losties. We witnessed this originally on the opening ep for season 3 when the plane broke apart and the Others saw it. And also when Carl told Sawyer that the Others lived on the same island as well.

3. I think we could safely assume prior that Ethan was in the medical profession from the Not In Portland ep where Juliette crossed his path in the hospital once and then saw him again with the Dharma recruiter.

4. We knew just how civilized the Others were because they had their awesome book of the month club meetings during the first ep of this season ;)

8. Obviously Picketts mental instabilities were in no way a hinderance when putting Juliette on trial for making sure Ben's wishes be carried out to their fullest. I'm gonna miss Danny almost as much as I already miss Paolo and Nicki :eek2:
100%
I'm missing your point. Your initial statement was how silly it was for the others to let their only surgeon go off like that.

Please quote me where I said that as I am unaware of my own contradiction in this thread :)

And I agree with that. But whether by choice or not, the group still let Jack go off and do the same thing. Yes he made his own decision, but you have an entire group who's survival is 99% attributed to him being around and they don't object to him leaving? seems just as silly to me.

I beg to differ. I can vaguely recall one instance, I believe it was in season 1, where Locke did not want Jack to do whatever it was Jack was going to do due to him being the doctor. As far as the other Losties go, You would think by reason they would say something but they have not. There's not a whole lot of rhyme or reason about the other Losties when it comes down to common sense stuff. And considering that Jack is the "Leader", they aren't going to piss him off further by telling him what he should or shouldn't do unless it's Locke doing it so that we can have some goofy friction between the two.

Other than that, I stand on my original point (at least on this thread) ;)

But I agree, it's all silly :rolleyes:

The funny thing was, that this episode was very season 1 esque.
Ok sure we never got shocking discoveries but Lost is more than just shocking discoveries.
I thought the moment with Jack and Juliet and Kate and Sawyer respectively were fantastic and the scene where Jack is with the others in such a civilised way was great too.

I gave it an 8. Normally I don't like Jack episode's, but I liked this one as it didn't deal with his issues with his father. I liked this episode because it was a bit less intense than last weeks, and by that I mean, I didn't have to put too much thought around what was going on, so it was a nice break. It was more plot than mythology, I thought. Sure I won't be calling all of my friend to discuss this episode, but I liked still liked it. It seemed to play up the characters instead of the mysteries and that I like for a change.

why can't i vote on this poll? Every week I check the votes but I'm not able to vote - why?

why can't i vote on this poll? Every week I check the votes but I'm not able to vote - why?

Probably because the polls are designed to require that new users have made a few posts and wait x amount of days. Seeing that this is your only post, you have not been eligible to vote.

I liked part of the episode, other parts I felt were rather flat, the writing didn't seem as tight as I would have liked over all. Did like the parallels between the flashback and island stuff, but didn't care at all for (or about much) the tatoo chick -- she just was sort of there for me, no emotional resonance. Juliet came across overall as being in collusion with the others imo... that's about it. I gave it an average rating, not bad, just not stellar.

I agree, a 6. The flashback was practically worthless, as was the Kate/Sawyer storyline. The only thing that seemed to be interesting in this entire episode was Cindy and the Jack/Juliet reactions throughout the episode. Parts were good, but overall, it was lackluster.

Only gave it a 5, flashbacks were somewhat interesting but didn't keep me on the edge of my seat. Sawyer, Kate and Carl were okay, it was nice seeing Carl talk a bit and Alex as well. Pretty good episode all in all, but I'm waiting for the episode that makes our heads spin!!

I agree, a 6. The flashback was practically worthless, as was the Kate/Sawyer storyline. The only thing that seemed to be interesting in this entire episode was Cindy and the Jack/Juliet reactions throughout the episode. Parts were good, but overall, it was lackluster.

I gave it a 6 as well (compared to the 10 last week). It wasn't bad - not sure Jack flashback was necessary to the overall story. Is the tatoo's back story and meaning that important? Just seems when the writers have a chance to answer big questions... they pose more, and add a couple more mysterious characters.

I hoped we might see Achara on the island, or something otherwise significant. I also thought the writers missed a couple of continuity opportunites last night--significantly, Jack playing poker in his flashbacks. Remember, he'd told Sawyer he learned to play poker in Asia.

The whole Kate/Sawyer storyline has become so choppy, I don't know whether it's because the writing is faltering or if Kate is really that much of a split personality. And to me, the very fact that I can't tell that difference points out the weakness of the writing of that storyline, and maybe the directing.

This episode sucked. Worst episode of the series. I'd give it a 0 if I could.

Nothing happened. They didn't answer any questions. We already knew that Cindy and the kids were with the others. We want to know WHY they took them. Jacks tattoos? Why is that such a mystery?

After last weeks 10. This week gets a 1.

I didn't love it, but it was still pretty good. I'm probably still excited about how great the previous two eppys were. The flashbacks were a little boring to me, but the on island stuff made up for it. It definitely could've been better though.

I gave this episode a 3, and that's only because Jack is my favorite character. The promo for this episode promised us answers to three of Lost's biggest mysteries. All we got were more questions.

I can't believe that the creators of Lost have so little control over the show that they would allow ABC to hype this episode so much, knowing that nothing was going to be answered. Do you honestly expect me to believe that the creators wouldn't have gone to the ABC execs and said 'listen, if you run that promo, people are going to be super pissed when they don't get any answers. It's going to cost us even more viewers.' ?

I am going to give this show one more chance. If next week's episode is anything like the last two, I'm done!

Gave it a 6 because I liked Matthew Fox's acting and Sawyers funny line about "the steal the kid off the raft project." Also thought the ending montage was pretty good, as well as Jack getting into a brawl.

I really disliked how they made the Thai girl look like a prostitute and then turn out to be a magic tattoo artist. It would have been more interesting to see Jack's reaction if she actually was a prostitute. Also this episode had a definite soap opera feel to it, definetly not an episode I would show to anyone new to Lost.

I gave the epi an 8. I felt the Jack side of the story carried a lot of strong acting to go with a good story. The Sawyer/Kate story felt more like a filler story to get rid of Carl.

Without yet reading the comments in this thread, I'll add my initial thoughts on why I thought it was mediocre:
-Getting rid of Cindy and Karl without getting any information out of them
-Boring Jackback that I could care less about
-Annoying Kate/Sawyer fight that made her look wishy washy and babyish

Saving factors for me: all scenes with Juliet and the proceeding of Jacket love

Gave it a 7, very well acted, great dialogue between some of the characters, specifically Jack + Juliet, Jack + Alex, Jack + Tom, yeh pretty much Jack and everyone. Loved the parallel with the flashback and the on-island story, with the tatoo's meaning "He walks among us...but he is not one of us" relating to his current situation with the others...HOWEVER i thought the flashback could have been executed alot better. They spent way too much time dilly dallying about on the beach with kites, and eating in restaurants instead of explaining why Jack is so good at Poker, and WHY having those tatoo's was an invitation to get a thai beating.

The scene where he forced her to tatoo him was well acted but...kind of weird, didn't really know why he did that. They should have explained it better. I thought Kate and Sawyer and Carl's scenes were pretty poor, Carl getting away was a way to stall the plot. It felt like a decent segment of an episode stretched out into a full one.

Definetely a filler episode, as with all filler episodes people are going to vote this 1's and 2's. But as far as filler episodes go it was a good one, loved the montage and the music at the end, drew the episode to a close nicely and advanced the plot slightly. We need these episodes every now and again, every episode can't be high octane action or a mind cluck like the previous one, it's nice to wind down and enjoy some good dialogue, people will object to that though.

"Stranger in a Strange Land"? Somewhere, Valentine Michael Smith lies weeping. This was not a strong episode at all, and repeats the worst excesses of the mini-season, with relationship angst and forced crypticness taking the place of drama, suspense, and plot progression.

We were way overdue for a Jack episode, but a whole flashback sequence dedicated to the question of how he got his groovy tattoo? Think about that for a second. Can't wait to find out why Sayid decided to grow his hair out. Seriously, I understand that the intent was to parallel Jack's situation among the Others - which is a plot development I am enjoying as I think he works well separated from his fellows - but the "culture clash" scenes were so clumsy it was painful to watch. That just wasn't Jack in the tattoo parlor. Not even newly divorced, bitter Jack.

I also have the uneasy feeling that the cultural relativism on display is meant to apply to the Others, too. Tom asking "What kind of people do you think we are?" is a great line if we viewers already know what kind of people they are. I was thrilled to see Jack call him on that crap, finally. I've said this before, but I think it's really cool that the Others don't consider themselves bad guys -- just as long as the 'narrator' of the story doesn't try to convince me of that. In Thailand, the writers tell me, Jack bore some blame for meddling in a culture not his own. Fine, but I hope I'm not supposed to take that the castaways are doing the same thing here on Craphole Island.

Ethan was kind of a strange surgeon, don't you think? It makes sense that a doctor would be the most efficient kind of murderer, and we know he could handle a needle. Jack would be more impressed with the Others if they had a good surgeon (tied for the most blatant set-up line of the night with Sawyer calling Karl 'Bobby Brady'), I'd be more impressed with them if they didn't send excellent surgeons on perilous missions. Would a man who's just found out he has a spinal tumor send the only surgeon available into such danger?? They didn't even know at the time that there was a pregnant person among the survivors. I guess, playing devil's advocate, they didn't know that the survivors would be armed...although a rock can crush a skull, just ask Eko.

I will give the episode points for supporting my theory that Cindy is an Other, or at least went with them willingly. (Although I wasn't too clear on whether she knew about them beforehand.) Unfortunately, one of the few spoilers I caught wind of was her imminent return. But wait - are we supposed to infer (from the teddy bear) that these were the kids Jin and Eko hid from? The very children they had been looking for?

There were lots of details that were 'off' too. Jack finally has an ally in the Others' camp - now's the time to ask some serious questions. Sawyer sends Karl away for no good reason. Since when is he Mister Love-Conquers-All? It looks like the boat is well away from shore before Kate starts fretting about going back for Jack.

Well, I told myself I was going to be brief this time, so much for that. I gave the episode a '3'. More entertaining than the cop show or hospital drama du jour, but very awkwardly written and slow by Lost standards. Where's the pulse-pounding, heart-stopping excitement?

Gave it a 5, mainly becasue we got to see Jack without a shirt on, distintcly unimpressed.
I think it was possibly the cheesiest ending to Lost I've ever seen. I don't buy all this Jack/Juliet rubbish at all. Sorry I just don't.

I'm not happy to admit this, but I gave it a 4. Lost is my all time ever favorite show, and I have never rated anything below a 9. But this epi totally perplexed me.

First off, I'm not sure exactly what the 3 answers were that we were supposed to get, probably because I, myself, have way more than 3 questions.

The epi seemed very choppy to me. It didn't flow well at all. At first I laughed at the fact that Jack was unable to put together a kite. But, then when I thought about it, I felt real bad for him. It was sad. Just another brilliant surgeon with father issues.

Seeing the captured survivors standing around like a bunch of zombies, watching, boggled my mind. What was that all about?

Tom saying "she's like the Sheriff"! HUH? And here I thought Sawyer was the new Sheriff in town. Silly me.

And, was it only me? But, the Others have a ship???? Am I the only one to find that curious?? I mean, let's face it, when I first saw it in the background, I thought that maybe it was a goof on the filming part. I turned and asked my son, "is that a cruise ship in the background?" We were both sitting there with our mouths opened, until we saw that it was no mistake, and yes, Jack and company were sailing off into the sunset on said ship. HUH???

I'm hoping the more I browse through these threads, the more enlightened I can become regarding this episode. All in all, IMHO, it was the worst epi ever in the 3 seasons of Lost. But, that still won't stop me from watching...I really do love this show!

I thought it was awful. I'm really getting sick of Jack, almost to the point where I want him to be killed off.
The flashback was HORRIBLE! It was so boring and pointless! The fact that Bai Ling couldn't act her way out of a paper bag doesn't help either.
What answers did we get? We found out what part of Jack's tattoo meant, we saw the Tailies but didn't find out what happened to them exactly, and I'm not really sure what the third mystery they were talking about, so I guess that wasn't answered either.
The scene in the boat at the end made it look like Jack and Juliet were actually going home, but didn't we see them back on the island in the preview? So what was that all about??
This was definitely the worst episode of Lost ever.

i've never given a rating below 6......until now.
I think i was generous when giving it a 3.
To follow last week's great episode with The Jack and Juliet Show Revisited,
quite disappointing :shakehead:

I don't know why people didn't like this episode...I certainly did :) Maybe because I just love the politics of everything...

not sure why i can't vote, but this episode was a "2" for me. i didn't think this Jack flashback was remotely interesting or insightful into the overall situation on the island.

desmond's ep last week was much more developed and integrated into the "mysteries" of the island. this one was more of the same. Jack's angry, short-tempered, and has women problems. what else is new?

and please, for the love of everything sacred, move the show back to 9PM!!!!

I rated the ep a 4. I have never voted on an ep before but felt compelled this morning.

I'm hanging in, to the bitter end, but I'm losing patience.

Can we get back to the beach already?

not sure why i can't vote, but this episode was a "2" for me. i didn't think this Jack flashback was remotely interesting or insightful into the overall situation on the island.

quoted from Superman....

directly from the FAQ:

You will not be able to vote in polls immediately upon registering. You must have been a member for at least 10 days and have made a few posts before you will be able to vote.


and i think the reason I disliked the episode, is because I saw potential for them to make it very cool. Most other episodes I don't enjoy, i just wasn't interested in the storyline.....but this one could have been more interesting.

IMO, this episode was the most useless episode to date. At least the couple other episodes I didn't care for had some character development so it wasn't totaly useless. This one had very very little. What little was of interest could have been spliced into other episodes (Ethan was a surgeon, the others work on the small island, live on the big island and were returning to the big island, Sawyer and Kate let Karl go).

He walks among us but is not one of us????? Duhhhhh.

I gave it a 3.

A four. Not a terribly bad one, not bad enought to make me angry for the time lost. I am worried that the next one will probably be about the same.

Ten people voted this episode a perfect 10...

I'm so confused.

OK, So last week I was annoyed that there were actually people that hated the episode. Last week was one of the best episodes of Lost imo.

So this week? Meh. This week's episode was so lackluster. I hate to say it but I was disappointed. It just left me flat. Yeah, there were some interesting tidbits. I'm loving the character Tom. But other than a few interesting moments I felt the episode was a little pointless…filler...meaningless. Perhaps it will have some meaning in the future, but for now I give it a 7. (My ratings are based on TV in general, not just Lost. If I had to rate it as a Lost episode comparing it to all others I would probably give it a 2.)

So this week? Meh. This week's episode was so lackluster. I hate to say it but I was disappointed. It just left me flat. Perhaps it will have some meaning in the future, but for now I give it a 7. (My ratings are based on TV in general, not just Lost. If I had to rate it as a Lost episode comparing it to all others I would probably give it a 2.)

I share your same feelings. I'm reserving the right to vote, because I was just so disappointed in this episode that I really don't know what rating to give it. :undecide:

The negative comments about this episode are really disheartening. I'm not really sure what LOST fans want or expect anymore, but when I compare the first 9 episodes of season 2 to the first 9 episodes of season 3, I'm much more pleased with Season 3 at this point than I was with Season 2.

Honestly, this episode wasn't that bad in my opinion. If people are upset over being duped by an ABC promotional promise then I'd have to wonder why they put any stock into those in the first place. This episode progressed the story, it gave us some insight into the Others and gaves us a little more insight into why Jack is Jack. If people are looking for all the answers all at once then perhaps something like "Dancing with the Stars" would satisfy them more. At least questions get answered every week. Yes?

If it's missing invisible peanut butter, hair cuts and happy rounds of golf scenes that are making fans so grumpy it looks like next week they'll get what it is they crave.

Last night's episode of LOST was no different than most episodes of LOST in my opinion. I think too many fans have become spoiled by the quality of this show and their expectations have become unrealistic. Was Time-Traveling Desmond really that much more intriguing? Did it progress the story? Did it answer any questions or just add more? In my opinion no, but it served it's purpose.

Oh well, I gave the episode an 8. It kept me entertained and left me asking more questions. The reason I fell in love with LOST in the first place.

I wouldn't want people on the show to defend the criticism by saying it's the abc promo dept's fault or fans expecting answers right away aren't true fans of the show.


I get both of those. I do not fault LOST for abc network exec that do a piss poor marketing job of the show. Giving away big moments, overhyping non-events, moving it to 3 different timeslots in 3 years, the horrible scheduling of season 2. That is not LOST's fault IMO

Also, I love the mysteries of LOST. I am not expecting huge answers. nor am I upset when I don't get them right away.

But as I said earlier, there is a difference between being vague with mysteries and being vague with context. The latter is just terrible storytelling.

I would be interested to know flyer, what about this episode likened it to those classic s1 eps? To me, those eps used flashbacks to explain a character and give them added dimension. At the same time, what was happening in those FB's had clear and understandable motivations and relevance to on-island goings on.

In this one the first flashback Jack flies a kite. In the 2nd he is eating. In the 3rd he is sleeping/having sex. The 4th, which was where the climax of that story was, made no sense. why did he flip out? why did he insist on having ink done himself (keep in mind this is a man who doesn't do much or believe much on faith alone)? why is the girl so reluctant? why is he in thailand? what is the timeline w. this fb and other ones? then in the 5th he gets beaten up. why? don't know.

what is the tie in to the on island story? that juliet got marked? seemed almost like a complete afterthough by the end. 'Juliet can't be executed so we'll mark her'. Jack's interaction with Cindy, also silly. Sawyer lets Karl, an other, go? Wow. These are mind boggling writing and if there ar emotivations that aren't revealed fine, but aren't these 40 minutes a week supposed to start unravelling them? It's just bad storytelling.

in on segment of the show, they came back from break right into a FB. Jack is eating with Bai Ling. Her brother likes her. She gets an envelope of money. Back to the island, he wakes up, the sheriff introduces herself, reads his tattoo bring him in for questioning. he says he made up the juliet wanting to kill ben, sheriff knew he was lying. back to commercial.

This is what passes for a segment of the show these days? Did season 1 ever pull anything that useless out? AGain I'm not looking for grand answers, I'm looking for a clear plotline that makes sense and goes somewhere. LOST seemed to have become the masters of making it look like they are doing something when really they aren't. which was the complete opposite of the chances they used to take and the rapid developments of plot and themes.

5- I think it was rather hasty for me to give it a 5, especially after last week.
I was so excited after last weeks eppy- I was still thinking about it in the morning.:)

This week-
Bleh, boring.

Sure Sawyer had some great lines with Carl, and even Ben talking about Jack's bedside manner gave me a chuckle--but make me think about it at all-- ummmm no?

What was the point of the big excitement of Jack's tatoo-- boring! That's all her special abilities were about?? Boring! I wasn't duped by ABCs promos, they're never going to give away the entire storyline - that would be the end of the show and the fun. But I didn't expect to be bored! :drowsy:

i guess i would give it a 7.9999999... i enjoyed it, but like everyone else has said- i woulda really liked something---more. i wanted more about the Others, and what they are doing, and more of Achara. but at the same time, likke i keep on telling my hubby, i know if they were to answer all our questions one after another then the show would cease to be interesting...so i give it almost an 8.

Was Time-Traveling Desmond really that much more intriguing? Did it progress the story? Did it answer any questions or just add more?


absolutely, it did! we can at least infer that Desmond slipped through a rip in time as a result of the powerful magnetic field that was released from the hatch when he turned the key. i mean, c'mon. if that's not "putting it together" i don't know what is. what's more, we find out where his "powers" come from. and we get the writers' insights into time travel and our limited ability to control the world around us.

Last week was as much about discover as Season 2 was. this week was inconsequential.

ikon, I guess the whole point of the authors not explaining the tattoo issues (the gift, the ink, the meaning, the beating etc) is that now we can must yet another Jackback to explain that. Considering that, since the tattoos actually belong to the actor, they are also meaningless (or should be) if there is a real story behind it all. :pissed:

this epi deserves more than one viewing.. it scared me..
the others are some scary people, no matter what thier motivations are or why they choice to be so quiet, doesnt make sense.. at least not to me..
obviously the losties are not getting of the island soon if ever.. ( IMO), so why be so elusive for answers to thier behavior..
it was good see jack again.. but i felt the flash back needed more or could it be i was expecting more and feel dissappointed that i placed too much on the "doctor" again?
but he was outstanding in the present.. and yes he is a leader.. taking charge and making it clear..
it appears there is battle inside this "perfect" world of the others where no matter how behavior training you have, being in charge is the best place to be.
alot of questions to ask and see answered.. ethan issue..why julie was branded.
tom being so open to jack. the tailies showing up and perplexed at jacks behavoir!
but all in all it was very good..

ikon, I guess the whole point of the authors not explaining the tattoo issues (the gift, the ink, the meaning, the beating etc) is that now we can must yet another Jackback to explain that. Considering that, since the tattoos actually belong to the actor, they are also meaningless (or should be) if there is a real story behind it all. :pissed:


that is the thing I find both ironic and a little scary (if true) about LOST right now.

They spent, an ENTIRE episode answering a 'mystery' that no one cares about and nver had any build up or relation to the rest of the show.

AND THEN THEY DIDN'T EVEN ANSWER IT????

lol. why did he get the tattoo? why did he demand it? why was it in chinese when he was in thailand? why was it not even finished (chick's brother pulled up his sleeve to show the characters, but not the 5 and the stars around it).

Can anyone seriously say this is just setting up the mystery to reveal it later. MYSTERY??? it's a tattoo!!! who cares? Next are they going to do a 5 episode story arc on how Charlie's shoelace got untied???

Four. My first time voting, my fourth or so time posting since the series started.

While I loved the symbolism, I feel we are being fed thin soup. ABC promo oops or not, the epi for me was '[content=NULL]'. I perked up for a moment when Jack got on his pony and went off to rescue Juliet, and then got distracted and wandered off to the kitchen for cookies. I think the question must be asked: How are we, as an audience, being trained by this show? We have, for three seasons (yes, I've lurked right along with all of you for all that time) pressed our noses to the screen and discussed, categorized, screen capped, enthused and exclaimed over Lost moments. The exclaiming that I'm seeing lately is definitely not in the positive category. Where are we being trained that "thin soup" is acceptable? Not only acceptable, but I've seen people justifying it! When something ceases to nourish, we turn to something that does.

I miss the ol' Lost days - where I literally sat on the edge of my seat (if not the floor with my lil' nose pressed to the screen!) and exclaimed aloud. I haven't done any exclaiming recently. Does that mean I'm leaving Lost in the dust? Nope. I couldn't stand it if I "didn't know what they were talking about around the watercooler next week." I will continue to DVR Lost and hopefully get back to the quality writing that kept me in my seat and not wandering off in search of something else to eat.

Honestly, this episode wasn't that bad in my opinion. If people are upset over being duped by an ABC promotional promise then I'd have to wonder why they put any stock into those in the first place.

No, I'm completely un-spoiled and I don't watch promos, because they lead you on. I just didn't care for the epidsode. I just thought that it was weak, by Lost standards. Better than most things on TV? Yes. Better than other Lost episodes? No, not by a long shot.

FYI. I love season 3 as a whole. I love the others. I don't mind that they are concentrating on just Jack, Kate, and Sawyer. I just didn't care for this episode. It was ok, nothing great. And believe me, I understand your disheartening comment. I've been on that side of the fence so many times before, but unfortunately this time I have to be on this side of the fence.

This was a very weak episode. I gave it a 5. I hated the Jackback. I really hated Achara.
I was too spoiled on what would happen in the FB, and the few things that I didn't know about just frankly sucked (to me). As for the on-island stuff: I was dissapointed in Kate and Sawyer. Kate was shrill and annoying. I couldn't stand her. And Sawyer wasn't tough enough. Hello, ask Karl some freakin' questions!

Okay, redeeming: Isabel is scary. Cindy and the kids showing up is cool, but we saw almost all of that in the promos! Why didn't we get to see more of them??? Where are the answers to why they were taken?
Ethan being a surgeon is cool information.
I kind of like Jacket, but don't love them, so I don't know what to think. I do like Juliet, so it was good to have time with her.

After last week's great Beach episode, we had to have the beach at least as B plot. Man, so anti-climactic after last week.

I wouldn't want people on the show to defend the criticism by saying it's the abc promo dept's fault or fans expecting answers right away aren't true fans of the show.


I get both of those. I do not fault LOST for abc network exec that do a piss poor marketing job of the show. Giving away big moments, overhyping non-events, moving it to 3 different timeslots in 3 years, the horrible scheduling of season 2. That is not LOST's fault IMO

Also, I love the mysteries of LOST. I am not expecting huge answers. nor am I upset when I don't get them right away.

But as I said earlier, there is a difference between being vague with mysteries and being vague with context. The latter is just terrible storytelling.

I would be interested to know flyer, what about this episode likened it to those classic s1 eps? To me, those eps used flashbacks to explain a character and give them added dimension. At the same time, what was happening in those FB's had clear and understandable motivations and relevance to on-island goings on.

In this one the first flashback Jack flies a kite. In the 2nd he is eating. In the 3rd he is sleeping/having sex. The 4th, which was where the climax of that story was, made no sense. why did he flip out? why did he insist on having ink done himself (keep in mind this is a man who doesn't do much or believe much on faith alone)? why is the girl so reluctant? why is he in thailand? what is the timeline w. this fb and other ones? then in the 5th he gets beaten up. why? don't know.

what is the tie in to the on island story? that juliet got marked? seemed almost like a complete afterthough by the end. 'Juliet can't be executed so we'll mark her'. Jack's interaction with Cindy, also silly. Sawyer lets Karl, an other, go? Wow. These are mind boggling writing and if there ar emotivations that aren't revealed fine, but aren't these 40 minutes a week supposed to start unravelling them? It's just bad storytelling.

in on segment of the show, they came back from break right into a FB. Jack is eating with Bai Ling. Her brother likes her. She gets an envelope of money. Back to the island, he wakes up, the sheriff introduces herself, reads his tattoo bring him in for questioning. he says he made up the juliet wanting to kill ben, sheriff knew he was lying. back to commercial.

This is what passes for a segment of the show these days? Did season 1 ever pull anything that useless out? AGain I'm not looking for grand answers, I'm looking for a clear plotline that makes sense and goes somewhere. LOST seemed to have become the masters of making it look like they are doing something when really they aren't. which was the complete opposite of the chances they used to take and the rapid developments of plot and themes.

I don't pretend to know why anything that happens on LOST happens, but I will give you my best interpretation of what I took from last night's episode.

I'm guessing Jack was in Thailand attempting to recover from a messy divorce and turning his father in. He's supposed to be relaxing, forgetting, throwing caution to the wind and meets and then becomes intrigued by this mysterious and potentially dangerous woman. He sleeps with her, the fact that she scares him a little making her company exciting to him for reasons he probably doesn't understand.

She tells him he's a leader, a great man and that this causes him to be lonely, frightened and angry. She nailed him and everything about himself that his father convinced him at a very young age was a flaw instead of an attribute, his heroic tendencies something that he resists, something that leaves him feeling alone, frightened and angry because he's not supposed to choose to try to save the world because he doesn't have what it takes. She read him like a book and it pissed him off because he doesn't want to believe those things about himself. Jack does not see himself as heroic or noble or a leader.

By forcing her to mark him it makes it somewhat tangible to him, makes the fact that he had to stand up for the rights of patients at the expense of his father's love something he had to do not chose to do, because that's who he is and it's never about a choice for him, regardless of the "consequences". I have no idea why she was so resistant or why he was beaten up over it, but I'm guessing we'll learn more about what happened after the beat down in a later episode.

This flashback ties into the mysterious and potentially dangerous Juliet that currently has him intrigued and a little scared, that needs his help, but he isn't sure what to do. His natural heroic tendencies are willing him to rescue her, but at what expense, what consequence? He's resisting at first because he's mad and because he's trying to wrap his mind around what is happening.

He's flashing back, remembering his trepedations where his Thailand fling were concerned, remembering who she saw when she looked into his soul and knows she was right that he's always been that person and whether it's an act of heroism, self-preservation or setting himself up for future island sex, it doesn't matter why or what the consequences will be, he has to do everything he can to help Juliet because that is what Jack does, who he is.

Again, it is never a "choice" for him and by trying to make it a choice of whether or not to help Juliet, he's reminded either via flashback or by the woman asking him if he knows what his tattoos mean that he's never been in the position to choose, that it is the very fate or destiny he tries to pretend he doesn't believe in that forces him to always step up to the plate. He may finally be starting to embrace the idea that he is a leader, that he does have it what it takes.

By stepping up and saving her from execution he hopefully gains an ally, the kindness he finally showed her at the end his way of letting her know that he's on her side, that she can trust him, that hopefully by standing together they can beat Ben and his crazy clan eventually. His leadership and his ability to sway other people to do whatever he asks them to along with her support could easily sway all those who are currently on the fence over to Jack and Juliet's side.

I too was puzzled as to why Sawyer would send Karl away. He was their best chance at finding where the Other's live in a timely manner. I have no answers for that, but I'm guessing those answers will come.

The episode wasn't fast paced, gut wrenching action, but there was a lot going on there in my opinion and a necessary step in the progression of the story.

I could be crazy though and Jack is really just being set up to screw everyone over. As I said, it was my interpretation based on everything that has gone on with Jack up until that point.

Couple of things I need to get out of the way first.

I'm not a fan of season three in general. I think the bad has outweighed the good and I think the retooling of the show towards "the season of sex and romance" was a mistake. The hiatus before season 2 had one big question mark that drove everyone crazy: "What's in the hatch?" Season 3 (or rather the miniarc) was marketed as The One Where We Find Out The Answer To THE Biggest Question Of Them All: "Who will Kate bang?" I am a big fan of characters and yes, I did care about romance on this show, but the shift in focus was both misguided and poorly handled, in my opinion.

I am a fan of Jack's, an unabashed fangirl in fact. He's my favorite character, he continues to be where the story's at and I am looking forward to this new journey they've sent him on.

I don't think this episode was as abysmal as internet reaction makes it out to be, though I am by no means thrilled with it. However, it has dawned on me that what we have here is "a failure to communicate".

A lot of viewers are frustrated with the lack of answers or the unsatisfactory answers they get which causes the writers to be frustrated because we just don't get it and we don't enjoy the journey and maybe we should watch CSI NY instead because they solve their mysteries every week. Frustration, frustration everywhere. Until this episode aired, I was a tad offended by their assumption that my falling out with Lost (because that is basically what the miniarc wrought on my obsessive relationship with the show) is due to my short attention span and that I'm somehow unworthy of this show because I want answers!answers!answers! I don't.

Now I get it. I can practically imagine Damon Lindelof reading most of these comments and thinking: "WTF??? Wait... did nobody understand that this was a set up episode, a fork in the road for where we want to go with the Others next? That it wasn't supposed to drop anvils on your head and show you the experiments they performed on Cindy or the kids and/or reveal the Others' obsession with children and answer all your questions about their purpose? That we're taking Jack on a new journey both in his fb and on the island, that his fb was also a set up for his future episode where we explore him being the odd man out with the Others? Because you realize he will go after Achara/the "consequences" will be explored furter because he does feel responsible for whatever happens to her? And we will meet "her people" who may or may not be connected to The Others and may or may not be a good metaphor for island events? WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?"

See... I understand that type of frustration, but I understand yours as well. I do not blame anyone for "not getting it", because they can't honestly expect us to just follow blindly and "enjoy the journey" while given the mushroom treatment: kept in the dark and fed BS. I'm not sure I can explain this... so I'll just use my brother (who gave up after the miniseason, but that's not the point).

I did get the whole point of the flashback and I did understand that this was just the "gateway" episode (as another poster put it) for the next stage of The Others' storyline, but I understand why someone like my brother (casual viewer, likes Jack, but is only vaguely aware of all the details in his backstory) wouldn't.

Things I knew and my brother doesn't:

that the promo department was pulling the 3 Answers thing out of their B-hind and the writers had nothing to do with it
that the tatoos are Matthew's
that Jack learned to play poker in Phuket (Lockdown was a long time ago and he hasn't rewatched it 17 times like I have) and that may or may not have been left out of the episode because we get to see him bond with Achara's "people" in a future fb
that he went to Thailand after his divorce from Sarah
that Jack will get cozy with the Others, but we'll be left wondering what his plan is the whole time, or so the EW article implies...the list could go on and on. I had the feeling both this and FBYE were the type of story that appealled to hardcore fans and left everyone else dumbfounded. So you see... while I get where TPTB come from, I cannot agree with them.

The execution of the story was lacking, but I still enjoyed the island action more than I have enjoyed most island stuff this season. I'm tired of the Others's self-righteousness , Sawyer-as-Dr-Phil and poor, victimized Juliet were big clunkers (though in Juliet's case, there's some hope she can be rescued from the cheesiness of the season of lurf if the power struggle in Otherville is done well), as was the shmaltzy music montage and the teen romance. On the other hand, I enjoyed Jack's interactions with Ben, Tom and Alex and Isabel intrigues me. I also enjoyed the surprising mellow and relaxed Jack in Thailand, I didn't expect that and I'm grateful they haven't sent him there on a murderous rampage. Yes, there were sloppy patches, such as the over-dramatization of that scene where Jack forces Achara into giving him a tattoo, as well as Achara's "people" and their violent reaction.

I hope the politics of Otherville will be handled better and I'm looking forward to seeing where they go from here.

Long-winded and confusing, I know. I guess I had to get it off my chest.

What a load of shit!

Once again our gang of little geniuses fail to ask the most basic questions of those who may be able to answer. I keep forgetting these people are in a life and death situation stranded on a bizarre island in the middle of nowhere. Apparently, so do they.

And before anyone says, no one would would answer the questions... they should attempt to ask. By not asking, they appear stupid and not concerned about their situation.


Basic, common sense questions they don't ask:
Where are we?
Is it possible to leave this island? If so, how?
What's going on with _____ (enter any number of the bizarre island occurances)?
Who are you people?
What are you people doing here?


Kate and Sawyer fail to ask Carl.
Jack fails to ask Cindy.
Jack fails to ask slingshot pro Alex.
Jack fails to ask Juliet.



This is by far my biggest gripe with this show. ASK SOME FREAKING QUESTIONS!!!! In Lost-time they've been on the island for what, three or four months? Why are they acting like they've lived there forever and that all these mysteries are just facts of life? They've had several of their camp killed (or at least die under mysterious circumstances) or just flat out disappear. And they freak out about it for one episode then act like nothing happened. At the beginning of this season I told myself that this is Lost's make or break season. Unless things start really progressing, I'm done.

Oh, and I rated this episode a two. For me, this is by far the worst ever.

I gave it a 7. It was more of a character episode (building the Jackiet relationship and Skate going through trouble.) I was expecting more from the Cindy scene, but oh well. I still think it was a good episode.

The highlight was seeing the hot thailand man.

Not a bad episode. I'm saving a 10 for when the "bomb" is dropped :)

At the beginning of this season I told myself that this is Lost's make or break season. Unless things start really progressing, I'm done.

Look at the ratings in this thread, and consider that this is actually a FAN board for people that actually BOTHER to post about the show and hence have at least a small affinity if not blind love for the show, minaly due to season 1. Now take a look at the negative voting. Then think about the immense drop in ratings in general.

It's lost's break season. If an infinite number of monkeys on an infinite number of typewriters would sooner or later produce a work of shakespeare, lost season 3 is a 5-monkey, 30 minute job.

Lost is gone. The only thing we can hope for is that it doesn't sink completely before the plug gets pulled by ABC so we actually find out the final story

I can just hear TPTB when writing this episode.

Let's explain why Jack has a "Party of Five" tattoo on his arm. The viewers need to be taken out of the show.

Let's explain once again that Jack is a leader and is oh so lonesome. We don't think the viewers are grasping this very important information.

Let's have some more triangle angst. Everyone luuuvs it.

Let's add some new romantic couples. The old ones are back on the beach and we just don't have time for them.

Let's add new creepiness. I think another spooky lady would work fine.

Let's be as vague as possible when questions are being asked because we have to ask some questions due to viewer complaints.

Very bad episode!!!:eek2:

I don't pretend to know why anything that happens on LOST happens, but I will give you my best interpretation of what I took from last night's episode.

I'm guessing Jack was in Thailand attempting to recover from a messy divorce and turning his father in. He's supposed to be relaxing, forgetting, throwing caution to the wind and meets and then becomes intrigued by this mysterious and potentially dangerous woman. He sleeps with her, the fact that she scares him a little making her company exciting to him for reasons he probably doesn't understand.

She tells him he's a leader, a great man and that this causes him to be lonely, frightened and angry. She nailed him and everything about himself that his father convinced him at a very young age was a flaw instead of an attribute, his heroic tendencies something that he resists, something that leaves him feeling alone, frightened and angry because he's not supposed to choose to try to save the world because he doesn't have what it takes. She read him like a book and it pissed him off because he doesn't want to believe those things about himself. Jack does not see himself as heroic or noble or a leader.

By forcing her to mark him it makes it somewhat tangible to him, makes the fact that he had to stand up for the rights of patients at the expense of his father's love something he had to do not chose to do, because that's who he is and it's never about a choice for him, regardless of the "consequences". I have no idea why she was so resistant or why he was beaten up over it, but I'm guessing we'll learn more about what happened after the beat down in a later episode.

This flashback ties into the mysterious and potentially dangerous Juliet that currently has him intrigued and a little scared, that needs his help, but he isn't sure what to do. His natural heroic tendencies are willing him to rescue her, but at what expense, what consequence? He's resisting at first because he's mad and because he's trying to wrap his mind around what is happening.

He's flashing back, remembering his trepedations where his Thailand fling were concerned, remembering who she saw when she looked into his soul and knows she was right that he's always been that person and whether it's an act of heroism, self-preservation or setting himself up for future island sex, it doesn't matter why or what the consequences will be, he has to do everything he can to help Juliet because that is what Jack does, who he is.

Again, it is never a "choice" for him and by trying to make it a choice of whether or not to help Juliet, he's reminded either via flashback or by the woman asking him if he knows what his tattoos mean that he's never been in the position to choose, that it is the very fate or destiny he tries to pretend he doesn't believe in that forces him to always step up to the plate. He may finally be starting to embrace the idea that he is a leader, that he does have it what it takes.

By stepping up and saving her from execution he hopefully gains an ally, the kindness he finally showed her at the end his way of letting her know that he's on her side, that she can trust him, that hopefully by standing together they can beat Ben and his crazy clan eventually. His leadership and his ability to sway other people to do whatever he asks them to along with her support could easily sway all those who are currently on the fence over to Jack and Juliet's side.

I too was puzzled as to why Sawyer would send Karl away. He was their best chance at finding where the Other's live in a timely manner. I have no answers for that, but I'm guessing those answers will come.

The episode wasn't fast paced, gut wrenching action, but there was a lot going on there in my opinion and a necessary step in the progression of the story.

I could be crazy though and Jack is really just being set up to screw everyone over. As I said, it was my interpretation based on everything that has gone on with Jack up until that point.



ok all this above right here. That is a fantastic episode. Reminiscent of season one. The ironic tie ins, the personality conflicts, the character studies. The problem is, this is not the story they told. It is the story you inferred from what was being shown. In earlier seasons of good episodes a proper story was told the way you just did it. Making the comparisons to say Ling and Juliet explicit, making his conflict with his father and his heroic tendencies explicit. It's not that I'm stupid and missed it, it's that it was written badly and someone who saw the potential for a good story (you) just transcribed an interpretation of it.

That is what I mean, emotions and actions had no context and that made for a bad story. This idea had the ability to be great, as all plots do on LOST, the execution of this was so far off the mark that a single post on this site with assumed context was miles better.

I keep thinking about what Cindy said to Jack, "We're here to watch."


The ratings have fallen drastically since season 2. TPTB are in desperate need of a wake up call.........

Enough with the lame storylines, filler episodes, pointless (and/or) repetitive flashbacks and "answers" that are not answers.

Enough with new characters when they already have too many that they can't work into the show (Rose and Bernard who? Mrs Klugh who?).

We don't need the supposedly resolved "love triangle" to turn into a "love square".

Enough with making the characters look like complete imbeciles by acting completely out of character, behave inconsisantly and show no ability to ask basic common sense questions of anyone.



So to TPTB on behalf of what remains of their frustrated audience...

"We're here to watch"

Please give us something worth watching.

I strongly disgree with Claudia815's comments about the criticism of tonight's episode. You seem to be lumping all the critiques among those who either expect answers right away or hate the promos that are out of D&C's hands anyway

As I said earlier, I have NO problem with the 'answer 1 question sort of for every 10 questions' raised mentality. As long as they have answers, it's totally fine by me.

The problem here is, this new direction for Jack's character as you said, appeared to be totally picked at random. There was zero context for this story but we are just supposed to enjoy it because Lost has told good stories in the past. If you want to set this up as a new journey for Fox fine, give me some serious lines of dialogue with some serious expositions of what he is doing or thinking. That is not solving a mystery or something to be figured out in a later episode. The ep is about him in Thailand so tell us what he wants from Thailand. You don't have to tell us why Bai Ling is so weird and 'special' just tell us why this angers Jack to the point where he wants her to mark him?

Or if you claim this is some huge mystery and you attempt to resolve it, why only go part way? Ling didn't even finish the tattoo the way we see it today. Does that mean they are saving the completed answer until later???? Does his tattoo really warrant 2 stories??? If he just got some ink done later to cover it up then why not allude to that?


Then over top of that there is the problem with the characters just acting so stupid. Explain to me again why Sawyer didn't want to use the boat to circumnavigate the island? Right he was tired, it was getting dark and they had no water. Ok that makes sense, so then they got to the island, spent the night, and made a fresh break in the day....THROUGH THE JUNGLE???? So now you have access to water and sunlight and you are well rested but still you decide to leave what would be your only boat at this shore and walk through the monster/other riddled jungle to find your camp. HUH??

And you let Karl go. He is an other. The others have nearly killed you and have the knowledge to help you get off this island possibly. They have killed and kidnapped your people. Turned your own against each other and this one is hurt, upset at the others, and giving out information. But it's best to let him go because....?

his reasons didn't make sense. and he did give reasons so it's not like it's a secret that will be revealed later.


you gotta call them out on this ep. sure it was a set up for jack's new direction in his past and present, I get that....But when the execution was this bad, I gotta call them out on it. No way this kind of episode would be aired in season 1 or else it would risk cancellation

I strongly disgree with Claudia815's comments about the criticism of tonight's episode. You seem to be lumping all the critiques among those who either expect answers right away or hate the promos that are out of D&C's hands anyway

As I said earlier, I have NO problem with the 'answer 1 question sort of for every 10 questions' raised mentality. As long as they have answers, it's totally fine by me.

The problem here is, this new direction for Jack's character as you said, appeared to be totally picked at random. There was zero context for this story but we are just supposed to enjoy it because Lost has told good stories in the past. If you want to set this up as a new journey for Fox fine, give me some serious lines of dialogue with some serious expositions of what he is doing or thinking. That is not solving a mystery or something to be figured out in a later episode. The ep is about him in Thailand so tell us what he wants from Thailand. You don't have to tell us why Bai Ling is so weird and 'special' just tell us why this angers Jack to the point where he wants her to mark him?

Or if you claim this is some huge mystery and you attempt to resolve it, why only go part way? Ling didn't even finish the tattoo the way we see it today. Does that mean they are saving the completed answer until later???? Does his tattoo really warrant 2 stories??? If he just got some ink done later to cover it up then why not allude to that?


Then over top of that there is the problem with the characters just acting so stupid. Explain to me again why Sawyer didn't want to use the boat to circumnavigate the island? Right he was tired, it was getting dark and they had no water. Ok that makes sense, so then they got to the island, spent the night, and made a fresh break in the day....THROUGH THE JUNGLE???? So now you have access to water and sunlight and you are well rested but still you decide to leave what would be your only boat at this shore and walk through the monster/other riddled jungle to find your camp. HUH??

And you let Karl go. He is an other. The others have nearly killed you and have the knowledge to help you get off this island possibly. They have killed and kidnapped your people. Turned your own against each other and this one is hurt, upset at the others, and giving out information. But it's best to let him go because....?

his reasons didn't make sense. and he did give reasons so it's not like it's a secret that will be revealed later.


you gotta call them out on this ep. sure it was a set up for jack's new direction in his past and present, I get that....But when the execution was this bad, I gotta call them out on it. No way this kind of episode would be aired in season 1 or else it would risk cancellation

I 100% agree with you. You summed up my frustration so eloquently. :) This episode had the potential to be really outstanding (with the revelation of Cindy and company and Alex's talk to Jack) but I feel the episode fell short, just like last week, at continuity and explaining the plot. They really scratched the surface here and told the viewers what they essentially already knew. When you have an exceptional veteran actor like Matthew Fox, the potential for great acting and directing is sky high and they somehow gave this man a poorly written flashback and island drama. I don't understand that and that is the most frustrating thing of all. I may have actually understood an episode like this at the beginning when they first crash landed, but not now.

I'm not surprised at the general reaction (in this thread anyway), but I didn't find it to be THAT bad either. It was an ok episode for me - I gave it a 7.

The Good: Liked the island story. The Juliet trial was handled in a satisfying manner to me, Isobel was creepy (good! Hope we see more of her), it was so sad to see Juliet coming to Jack after she got branded, as was Emma asking about Ana - Lucia. Good way to show they haven't forgotten about deceased characters (liked the revelation about Ethan too!). The implied Jack/Juliet relationship actually clicked with me, though maybe the montage at the end was a bit over the top (very nice music, though).

The Bad: The flashbacks were just plain confusing. I had high hopes for the Phuket flashbacks to break the habit of Doctor Jack's usual stories, but it seemed very fillerish with me. Why did the guys beat up Jack at the end? Why couldn't Achara mark Jack? I didn't mind the fact that she couldn't, but I would've loved for it to make some sense. Why the unclear resolution - why the loose ends - why couldn't they resolve the Phuket story of Jack's life in this episode? I like (or used to) Jack's character, but this just didn't work. The paralel to the island story might be there, but so many things just didn't click with me.

For me nothing beats the abysmal "The Hunting Party" but this wasn't among the best episodes for me either. Funnily how both were written by the same writers - maybe they just shouldn't be writing Jack stories, as they have had good episodes too (Two for the Road, Abandoned)? I certainly hope there isn't a third Jack-back this season.

Well I really enjoyed the episode, especially since I considered last week's episode very average. I happen to have enjoyed all the Jack-backs. See? It takes all different tastes.

I use to always want to find the latest "answer" or mystery revealed in every Lost episode forgetting to simply enjoy the ride, and last night was a nice ride. I thought the episode was well done, well paced, and I never found it boring. There was no great reveals, but it did give a more overall look of life with the Others.

They apparently have a town council where decisions and edicts are rendered. They have a form of law of sorts with Sheriff Isabelle. There is an obvious power rivalry between her and Ben which could play out later in the season. I get the feeling that some Others may have been "marked" since no one really raised an eyebrow about the decision when Ben ordered that Juliet be marked (looked painful). The Others work on Alcatraz island, but live in their "home" area. The children were taken because life with the Others was prefereable, in their opinion, rather than trying to survive on the beach. (I guess calling for a rescue for the Losties was out of the question.)

I liked Jack's flashbacks. They weren't too long or short - they moved. I thought the interactions between Jack and Tom; Jack and Juliet, and Jack and Isabelle (especially the "hearing" for Juliet) was really good.

There were a few questions: Why did giving Jack (an outsider) a tattoo have consequences and what are they? Have we seen them yet? Why was Isabelle so intrigued by the tattoos and did we get the real answers about them?

As for the "usual" complaints as to why specific questions were not asked by Jack, Kate, etc., it's the same answer: There's no drama in it for them to ask pertinent questions right now. Yes, I know it would make sense, yada, yada, yada, but that was Damon's answer, and so I'm sticking with it.

For those who don't like that answer, there is an upcoming episode where one character DOES ask all the questions you've been waiting to hear. So hang in there. They have to spread the wealth around among the characters.

The episode did it's job - it entertained me. I really liked it.
100%
that is the thing I find both ironic and a little scary (if true) about LOST right now.

They spent, an ENTIRE episode answering a 'mystery' that no one cares about and nver had any build up or relation to the rest of the show.



Some of us cared about finding out the tattoos. Just because you didn't like it does mean "no one" cares to find out. Don't generalize, please.

How do you know it won't have any relation to the show or the rest of the 22 episodes of the season? :rolleyes:

I gave it a 5, I'm not sure what I think of the episode.
I liked it, but am still uneasy a bit.

I gave it a 6. I liked the Jacket interaction, which was sadly the saving grace of the episode for me. The Cindy and the kids being held captive (?) by the others could have been handled a lot better, especially since it was hyped up so much. Granted, TPTB don't have a lot to do with the promos.

I didn't like Jack's flashback. Bai Ling? Really? Sorry, but she's not exactly Emmy worthy. I'm a bit sick of Jack... even though I know we need him for Jacket. Plus, I really don't care about his tattoos, particularly since it seems so strange that they wrote an entire episode for them when they're Matthew Fox's real tattoos.