I'm paraphrasing, because I can't remember the exact quote but did anyone else have this reaction...

JACK: "No, let me ask you a question Alex"

ME: YES!!!

JACK: "Where's Juliette?"

ME: NO!!!

How about... Where are we? How'd you get here? How'd I get here? (this could go on for hours... but you get the idea)

My thoughts exactly! "Where's Juliette?"! THAT'S your question?

If Jack asked a good question, it wouldn't be LOST. :grin:

Well, Jack doesn't have the luxury of thinking or caring about anything beyond what is happening at the moment so it was perfectly logical question. He was concerned about what was happening to Juliet at that moment, making sure they didn't hurt her the next important item on the agenda in his head. Were any of those other questions going to improve his or Juliet's current situation? Nope.

Well, Jack doesn't have the luxury of thinking or caring about anything beyond what is happening at the moment so it was perfectly logical question. He was concerned about what was happening to Juliet at that moment, making sure they didn't hurt her the next important item on the agenda in his head. Were any of those other questions going to improve his or Juliet's current situation? Nope.

ITA. I think he also may have been slowly been coming to the conclusion that her predicament had something to do with her going and helping his friends. (I'm going to go and help your friends escape) He's a pretty smart cookie, I'm sure he was putting it all together in his head, and didn't want her to be punished for that.

I wasn't saying it was an unreasonable question, especially considering his current situation. I just meant, as a viewer, my immediate reaction was HERE COMES SOMETHING GOOD! Then got a little dissapointed with the question. I thought it was funny more than anything, and figured I wasn't alone there.

How about... Where are we? How'd you get here? How'd I get here? (this could go on for hours... but you get the idea)




I agree it would have been nice if he happened to ask some of those questions!! However I don't think it's really realistic for him to have asked them at that moment.
I think asking about Juliet was a reasonable question at the time.

Our guys never ask the right questions.

I believe Jack/Kate/Sawyer all know that Danielle had a daughter stolen and that her name is ALEX.

Yet..

No one asks her OR Karl


"Are you the Alex stolen from Danielle as a baby?"

Please don't play symantics with me. Karl/Alex might not know the answer but they would profit from knowing the question exists.

As usual...YOU ARE RIGHT HERK!!!!

I cant wait to hear that dialogue

Definately not asking the right questions. Jack had the perfect oppurtunity to find out from Alex some info and he blew it. Then Sawyer/Kate softballed their questions to Karl. This is VERY frustrating. Especially with Karl, i would have dug for as much info as possible. Enough about the stars already!!!

I hope that tptb answer all the questions before season 8...lol

I was so annoyed when Jack was like "I'll answer your question, but first answer one of mine!" and then just asked where Juliet was. DUDE! Remember the smoke monster? Remember all the weird hatches? Remember the freakin' island you've been stuck on for months while the Others terrorised you and your buddies? No? Damnit...

Maybe they know she is, they could tell her about her real parents, well her mother at least.

all the questions we want answered aren't relevant in there current circumstances, jack is trying to help juliet, not thinking about the smoke monster. Kate is thinking about saving jack, not about whatever "projects" the others are doing.

I agree it would have been nice if he happened to ask some of those questions!! However I don't think it's really realistic for him to have asked them at that moment.
I think asking about Juliet was a reasonable question at the time.

True, he probably thought she was in trouble for helping Kate and Sawyer escape, and was worried about her. Maybe he thinks he has time to find answers to other (more important--though not at the time) questions.

I agree it would have been nice if he happened to ask some of those questions!! However I don't think it's really realistic for him to have asked them at that moment.
I think asking about Juliet was a reasonable question at the time.

Especially since that scene was right after the little pow wow in Isabella's office.

Especially since that scene was right after the little pow wow in Isabella's office.



Exactly.

Well after all this time and not asking the right questions, it wouldn't surpise me if Jack starts asking Juliet about her favorite ice cream flavor next.

I'm paraphrasing, because I can't remember the exact quote but did anyone else have this reaction...

JACK: "No, let me ask you a question Alex"

ME: YES!!!

JACK: "Where's Juliette?"

ME: NO!!!

How about... Where are we? How'd you get here? How'd I get here? (this could go on for hours... but you get the idea)



No one ever asks any important questions of The Others. By not asking, the characters look like complete imbeciles who don't care about their situation and aren't interested in learning anything that a person with a shred of common sense would.

No one asks:
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?


The inbility of the characters to ask common sense questions has been an ongoing fan complaint and one of the many reasons millions of fans have deserted Lost since mid-season 2.

If Lost is supposed to be such a "smart" and "intelligent" show, why are the characters so incredibly stupid?

Lol. I was thinking the exact same thing.

One of the big kickers for me is when they have someone who obviously has a ton of experience right in front of them, in a non confrontational way (example Danielle or now Carl) and nobody asks anything useful.

Hell, Jack had Ben on an operating table open like a book and didn't try to get any answers. Oh well, at least he didn't ask Alex how many fingers he was holding up.

I see that PIKACHU is ready to ask some questions, Kitsume--and the Others had better answer him! :laughing:

This is what drives me insane about this show. I could understand it if Karl were unwilling or unable somehow to answer questions. But Kate and Sawyer don't even ask. It's not like the characters are frustrated in their attempts to solve the mysteries of the Island-they don't even try. No one searched the hatch, or they
would have found Desmond's photo and key. No one has gone back to search the medical hatch. Argggh

The missed-opportunities are annoying. The far outway the answers we have. We have talked about this for years now!

"Why'd you save him?"

Appropriate response: "Why does it seem that you think I shouldn't have?"

Why is Jack usually the only one who gets to ask any questions? He always blows the opportunity to discover some real, helpful information.

As a friend of mine said, if Locke was the one asking he'd actually have good questions!

As a friend of mine said, if Locke was the one asking he'd actually have good questions!

Good point. Funny thing is that it seems to me that if anybody would join this cult it would be Locke based on that FB and his craving for a family. I wonder why Ben didn't have him on the list.

Our guys never ask the right questions.

I believe Jack/Kate/Sawyer all know that Danielle had a daughter stolen and that her name is ALEX.

Yet..

No one asks her OR Karl


"Are you the Alex stolen from Danielle as a baby?"

Please don't play symantics with me. Karl/Alex might not know the answer but they would profit from knowing the question exists.

Thats a good point....or at least ask "where is your mother?"

Thats a good point....or at least ask "where is your mother?"


Since we know that Ben is the adopted Dad, I wonder who the adopted Mom is?

http://www.thefuselage.com/Threaded/showthread.php?t=70362

That's my thread that almost says the same this. We were a few hours apart and missed each other!!

I totally agree with you (and I think will be merged into your thread soon enough)

Definately not asking the right questions. Jack had the perfect oppurtunity to find out from Alex some info and he blew it. Then Sawyer/Kate softballed their questions to Karl. This is VERY frustrating. Especially with Karl, i would have dug for as much info as possible. Enough about the stars already!!!

Would have to beg to differ on this one. Kate wanted to 'interrogate' Karl, but Sawyer told her this was a 'boys' bonding'. Sawyer didn't help the situation in this instance by letting his feminine side get the better of him and to put it in Han Solo's language,' got mushy on him'. He allowed Karl to 'go back to the girl he loves', projecting his feelings for Kate in that statement. Kate was furious when Sawyer informed her of his actions. I have no doubt had Kate been able to interrogate Karl, she would have gotten answers.:undecide:

Geez, I now wish that Ben had been telling the truth in his speech about leading Ana, Sayid, and Charlie into a trap.

Maybe those three would've actually asked some half decent questions.

Geez, I now wish that Ben had been telling the truth in his speech about leading Ana, Sayid, and Charlie into a trap.

Maybe those three would've actually asked some half decent questions.


Actually Sayid was NOT that good when he had the chance with Ben. *surprisingly*

However, Charlie did a pretty good job with Des. *surprisingly*

As for the Karl/Kate/James exchange:KATE: That island we were on -- is that where your people live?
KARL: Just where we work.
KATE: Work on what?
KARL: Projects.
SAWYER: Well, sure, like the steal-the-kid-off-the-raft project. That was a humdinger.
KATE: So, you don't actually live on that island?
KARL: Nope.
KATE: Do you live here on this island?
KARL: Yes, ma'am.
KATE: And what did you do with the people that you took - the kids?
KARL: We give them a better life.
KATE: Better than what?
KARL: Better than yours. Now, after the two answers that Kate got from Karl that I bolded, what else is there for her to ask from that line of questioning? Seems like a conversation stopper to me. It was obvious that Karl is One of Them, despite the Room 23/face getting smacked up against James' cage thing.

No one searched the hatch, or they would have found Desmond's photo and key.

Jack looked AT the photo as Desmond was leaving the hatch in "Orientation".

Lock was "rearranging" the books (i.e. throughly searching them for hidden content, like the Bible Eko found in the Arrow hatch) in "The Long Con". The fact that he didn't find Desmond's SEALED copy of "Our Mutual Friend" was more a continuity error than an example of deliberately bad writing.

Would have to beg to differ on this one. Kate wanted to 'interrogate' Karl, but Sawyer told her this was a 'boys' bonding'. Sawyer didn't help the situation in this instance by letting his feminine side get the better of him and to put it in Han Solo's language,' got mushy on him'. He allowed Karl to 'go back to the girl he loves', projecting his feelings for Kate in that statement. Kate was furious when Sawyer informed her of his actions. I have no doubt had Kate been able to interrogate Karl, she would have gotten answers.:undecide:

That's why I don't like Season 3 romance in Lost. The writers have forsaken rationality, deductive thinking, curiosity, common sense to serve their romance plotlines.

I don't think we should blame the characters for not asking the right questions. I think it is wrong to say that "if X/Y was there, he/she would ask the right questions. NO. Because the writers wouldn't let them. This is their general approach to keep the answers hidden as looooong as possible.

Sometimes not asking the question may be seen as the character's own decision for logical reasons but as far as I see in most of the cases, it is very very very hard to find a strong logic behind not asking the right questions, which makes characters look... well dumb...

What question should Jack have asked? He was clearly worried for Juliet; seems like the most pertinent question, given the time and situation.

As for the Karl/Kate/James exchange:Now, after the two answers that Kate got from Karl that I bolded, what else is there for her to ask from that line of questioning? Seems like a conversation stopper to me. It was obvious that Karl is One of Them, despite the Room 23/face getting smacked up against James' cage thing.


I find the same contradictory behavior in Alex. On one hand they say stuff like "better than yours" and what Alex said to Jack but yet they build hidden holes to hide in and are constantly trying to escape and admit that the next time they will kill Karl. What the heck?
100%
What question should Jack have asked? He was clearly worried for Juliet; seems like the most pertinent question, given the time and situation.


I mostly agree with you. What happens to Juliette may happen to him. He needs to be aware of his playing field so he may plan his next move.

However there's still a missed opportunity. Informing Alex of Danielle's existance would benefit him.

I've come to the conclusion that a lot of the problems we've been complaining about harken back to the character of Jack. Seriously, he's been in constant denial about everything. "None of this is real", "Nothing. Is. Going. To. Happen." and whatnot. No wonder he's not asking any questions. He just refuses to accept the fact that there's a mystery to begin with.

Remember his crazy behavior in "A Tale of Two Cities", when he refused to let go of the chain he was climbing on, when he refused to believe that opening the door was not a good idea, and whatnot? Jack is so overtly rational that his mind keeps narrowing down on the most probable explanation for everything, thereby completely ignoring any other alternate possibilities.

And what's up with all of his half-hearted plans? How about "building an army"? Nothing ever became of it.

Here's the thing. Jack sucks as a leader.

In general, I am more amused by characters' tendencies to not ask questions than I am annoyed. I think it made sense that Jack asked where Juliet was -- even though he doesn't know she killed one of her own people to let his friends escape, he does know that she helped them escape.

Plus, we now know that Jack only takes his sandwiches grilled. :biggrin:

"Are you the Alex stolen from Danielle as a baby?"


I'm pretty sure Alex has no clue that her real mother is on the island. She was probably told early on that her mother was dead. I also thought it was kind of weird/annoying that Kate didn't mention anything about Danielle to her, but then I realized that Alex would have no reason to believe her, for the aforementioned reason, and it would probably just be awkward for Kate to bring it up.

However, I think that Kate

is going to go get help from Danielle in a few episodes, saying she knows where Alex is. That's what they've been saving it for.
(possible spoiler based losely on the previews for this week's episode)

I agree, AnalogKid. Alex probably hasn't a clue about Danielle; how would she? She was an infant when taken, she thinks Ben's her dad. It makes a lot more sense for Kate to enlist Danielle's help, and perhaps then reunite the two. Although I have to say, Alex reminds me of Danielle a lot: slingshots, traps and what not! She's clearly taken after her mum lol!

KATE: And what did you do with the people that you took - the kids?
KARL: We give them a better life.
KATE: Better than what?
KARL: Better than yours.

Now, after the two answers that Kate got from Karl, what else is there for her to ask from that line of questioning? Seems like a conversation stopper to me.

How about:

'How do you give them a better life?'
or
'What do you mean by that?'
or
'Tell me EXACTLY what you do with the kids'
or
'Are the kids happy that you took them?'
or
'Are the kids free to go back to where they were taken from?'
or
'Are all of the people you have taken still alive then?'

etc,
etc,
etc.

Don't make excuses - there are billions of questions that could be asked. I am soooo frustrated like this, just like most other fans.

Please do not insult our intelligence by saying things like 'What else is there for her to ask from that line of questioning?'

Besides which, if THAT line of questioning had come to an end, why not start up a new line? There are plenty of subjects that need answers. Do you want me to list them?

Definately not asking the right questions. Jack had the perfect oppurtunity to find out from Alex some info and he blew it. Then Sawyer/Kate softballed their questions to Karl. This is VERY frustrating. Especially with Karl, i would have dug for as much info as possible. Enough about the stars already!!!

Also, if my memory serves correctly, didn't Tom try to warm up to Jack. This would have been a prime opportunity for Jack to get on Toms good side and ask some questions, instead all we got was Juliet toast my sandwich and some other line that ran Tom off.

It doesn't bother me that were not getting answers, but not having the characters ask the right questions bothers the crap out of me. I would be fine with Jack (or whoever) ask the appropriate question and either get no answer or a vague/ambigious one. At least then I can say to myself "well, at least he tried".

As I said before, I see the fault in the character of Jack. Remember his confrontation with Desmond, when Desmond asked him what happened to the woman he was talking about when the last met? "IT DOESN'T MATTER!" Jack is in constant denial about anything on the island being of relevance. So it actually makes sense that he won't ask questions. Because to him, it just doesn't matter.