Episode 112 - Arzt & Crafts
Jorge Garcia as Hurley
Daniel Dae Kim as Jin
Yunjin Kim as Sun
Harold Perrineau as Michael
Daniel Roebuck as Dr. Arzt
Music by: Michael Giacchino
Costume Designer: Roland Sanchez
Edited by: Robert Florio, A.C.E.
Production Designer: Jonathan Carlson
Director of Photography: John Bartley, A.S.C./C.S.C.
Executive Producers: J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, Bryan Burk, Jack Bender, Carlton Cuse
Co-Executive Producers: Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz, Drew Goddard, Stephen Williams, Jean Higgins
Supervising Producer: Elizabeth Sarnoff
Producers: Ra'uf Glasgow, Pat Churchill
Co-Producers: Richard Peter Schroer, Brian K. Vaughn, Samantha Thomas
Executive Story Editor: Christina M. Kim
Associate Producer: Kaleen Yamase
Created by Jeffrey Lieber and J.J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof
Written by Damon Lindelof
Directed by Jack Bender

This one is already up on Verizon and I have to say, this is the first one that I found really disappointing. :(

And
Making you read subtitles on your phone? Bad idea.

Here's a transcript, courtesy of Susan. Sounds like a funny one. :biggrin:

Mobisode #7 - “Arzt & Crafts”

[Jin and Sun sitting on the beach. Looking through clothes. Talking in Korean.]

Jin - [pointing at something] I think they are lovers.

Sun - They’re not.

Jin - He looks at her like they are.

Sun - Boone and Shannon are brother and sister.

Jin - How do you know? Do they speak Korean?

Sun - It was just a guess.

[Arzt comes running up to them.]

Arzt - What’s all this about moving from the beaches, huh, going to the caves? Are you guys going, to the caves?

Hurley - [sitting a few feet away with Michael] They don’t speak English, dude.

Arzt - [to Hurley and Michael] Oh. How about, are you going?

Michael - I don’t know what you’re talking about, man.

Arzt - I’m talking about the caves. Are you going to go to the caves? Jack and that bald guy, and uh, what’s-her-face, they found some caves, and they think that actually we should move from the beaches to the caves.

Hurley - So, why shouldn’t we?

Arzt - Why, sh… Ok, A #1, moisture. Caves are abundant with moisture. Moisture breeds bacteria, and attracts insects that would lay eggs in our mouths while we sleep. All right.

Arzt - [turning around and yelling, slowly, at Sun and Jin] Hey, hey, hey. I know that you don’t understand me, but if there is a vote to go to the caves, you two, you vote no! Got it? No!

Michael - Hey, shouting at them is not going to make them understand any more.

Hurley - Hey, if Jack says it’s a good idea, maybe we should, like, trust him.

Arzt - Why? You tell me. Because he’s a doctor? Is that what qualifies him for leadership here? How do we know he’s not a nut case? I want to tell you something. [leaning down and speaking quietly to Hurley and Michael] The other day I’m in the jungle, and I’m taking a leak, and Jack runs through the jungle, crying for his Daddy. [speaking louder, to all] Ok, fine, fine, you morons, you want to go to the caves, good riddance. I’m going to stay right here on the beach with all the people who want to survive. [Monster noise. They all look around.] I’ll uh, I’ll see you guys at the caves. [He walks away.]

This was LAME!

I REALLY need to see Kate in a mobisode!:frown: I'm feeling REALLY flustered right now with these mobisodes and this strike along with the lack of promotions featuring the cast and writers!

It was OK, I agree about the subtitles, it was hard to keep up with the dialog.
I like Artz, he's funny, but I don't understand how is this a missing piece ??

I think the missing piece is in showing that not all survivors were taken with Jack's "qualifications" to lead. Arzt is an example of someone who realized that Jack had some farily pronounced emotional problems and that his being a doctor did not amount to a complete package as a leader. In fact, he often failed to respect the knowledge and talents of the group, which is a defect in any leader. That's a missing piece I very much expect to see revisited in the upcoming episodes.

Plus it gave me a good laugh!

I think the missing piece is in showing that not all survivors were taken with Jack's "qualifications" to lead. Arzt is an example of someone who realized that Jack had some farily pronounced emotional problems and that his being a doctor did not amount to a complete package as a leader. In fact, he often failed to respect the knowledge and talents of the group, which is a defect in any leader. That's a missing piece I very much expect to see revisited in the upcoming episodes.

Plus it gave me a good laugh!

Oh I see that.

It was very funny!! "The bald guy and whats-her-face" it was just awesome, I miss Arzt :biggrin:

Even though I've found Arzt funny in other episodes, I just found him obnoxious in this one. Maybe it's because I was so annoyed at having to try to read subtitles on my phone, I dunno.

Even though I've found Arzt funny in other episodes, I just found him obnoxious in this one.

I think that was the point. Because he really IS obnoxious and whiney and grating and and kind of a big loser. He never fails to entertain me. In this one, he's the classic armchair generaI and seeing him scurry away in fear of Smokey was just what I'd expected.

I think Michael popped up in this mobisode just to remind us all what he looks like...

...in preparation for his return in season four.

They've had a lot of Walt foreshadowing in the previous mobisodes for the same reason, as a reminder.

Ok, this one was painfull to watch... The first one that really disappointed me. :drowsy: :lipsseal:

I think it's wild that Jin picks up from Boone's gaze and body language that he and Shannon are/were lovers. You sensitive man, Jin. :redface: (And this was many episodes before Hearts & Minds). Sun almost lets it spill to Jin that she understands English and covers it up.

Artzt is just the greatest Chicken Little! What a riot. If he was like this all the time, no wonder Sawyer carped at him when he started going on about the winds changing for the raft launch. He's more endearing in his own little junior-high way than Nikki & Paulo though, and I hope we see more of him.

I think the missing piece is in showing that not all survivors were taken with Jack's "qualifications" to lead. Arzt is an example of someone who realized that Jack had some farily pronounced emotional problems and that his being a doctor did not amount to a complete package as a leader. In fact, he often failed to respect the knowledge and talents of the group, which is a defect in any leader. That's a missing piece I very much expect to see revisited in the upcoming episodes.

Plus it gave me a good laugh!
Artzt observed Jack in White Rabbit when Jack thought he was losing his mind after seeing Christian. Almost all the Losties who saw a vision thought they were losing their minds at the time too. I'm not sure any of their reactions to the visions/monster were a sign of having pronounced emotional problems, more a response to stress, no sleep, being trapped on Craphole Island, etc.
Jack never maintained that being a doctor = being a leader except when there was a medical emergency and people started second guessing medical decisions or freezing at the sight of blood ("Hurley, so help me, if you pass out..." :lol: ) It's just that no one else stepped up to pull things together and people naturally looked to him from the time he triaged and resuscitated people on the crash site.
I don't recall a time he failed to respect people's talents (well, maybe Boone's CPR skills were a little short of deference-worthy...). On the contrary, he consulted Michael on the stability of the caves and marveled at him rigging a shower, sat in awe of Hurley as recreational director who made everyone feel safe, and later made him foodmeister, respected Sun’s herbal medicine skills for Shannon and for Boone, respected Kate’s and Locke’s tracking skills--especially after failing at it himself tracking Ethan, respected Artzt’s knowledge of the winds and monsoons and rallied everyone to get the raft finished early, consulted Sayid on the construction of the hatch, and took Sayid’s advice on a plan of action in LTDA.

Why does Artz have his own mobisode when Kate has had NONE?!

Artzt observed Jack in White Rabbit when Jack thought he was losing his mind after seeing Christian. Almost all the Losties who saw a vision thought they were losing their minds at the time too. I'm not sure any of their reactions to the visions/monster were a sign of having pronounced emotional problems, more a response to stress, no sleep, being trapped on Craphole Island, etc.

But most of the survivors haven't had visions on the island, and most of those that have--Locke, Kate, Hurley, even Shannon--could be described as having (or at least had, in Hurley's case) pronounced mental problems. In any case, if more of the survivors had known Jack was following his dead daddy around the island and smashing up a coffin, would they have gone on looking to him as a leader? I find it interesting that this mobisode represents yet another instance of Jack's status as leader being openly questioned. Which is perhaps more foreshadowing that Jack's leadership--and the Losties' rather passive acceptance of it--may end badly.

Why does Artz have his own mobisode when Kate has had NONE?!

Probably because Evangeline Lilly - and Josh Holloway, Naveen Andrews and Terry O'Quinn - didn't sign deals to participate. Don't know for sure yet, but that's how it looks. All these deals were seperately negotiated.

Workingmom, I'm familiar with the litany of justifications for Jack being chosen as leader. I was responding to the question as to what 'missing piece' this may have filled in. It's reasonable to assume this is another sign, just as the FF so dramatically foretold, that Jack's crown is about to become tarnished in ways we haven't imagined yet. It may or may not happen, but there's nothing blasphemous about entertaining the possibility.

Arzt is indeed a clown and a buffoon, a figure often used in literature to expose the truth others ignore.

Other than the Pilot, is this the only officially presented time the Monster was close to the beach? What else was happening at the time that could coincide with a moment like that?

I haven't been able to see it yet but it does sound funny that the one guy who was so in love with his own didacticism that he managed to blow himself up is the same one who tries to stage an early coup. Dude, if you don't want to move to the caves, like, don't do it.

Kate didn't even want to move to the caves. Why is Arzt saying she does?

I find it interesting, as well, that Arzt seemed to think there was some kind of autocracy going on when, as subsequent episodes showed everybody pretty much did whatever they wanted to.

But most of the survivors haven't had visions on the island, and most of those that have--Locke, Kate, Hurley, even Shannon--could be described as having (or at least had, in Hurley's case) pronounced mental problems. In any case, if more of the survivors had known Jack was following his dead daddy around the island and smashing up a coffin, would they have gone on looking to him as a leader? I find it interesting that this mobisode represents yet another instance of Jack's status as leader being openly questioned. Which is perhaps more foreshadowing that Jack's leadership--and the Losties' rather passive acceptance of it--may end badly.

Yeah. And all the things are leading to this point: to the fact that Jack will lead them to something not as good as he supposed.

Great to see Artz again. I thought he was very funny, with some hilarious comments.

Other than the Pilot, is this the only officially presented time the Monster was close to the beach? What else was happening at the time that could coincide with a moment like that?

I don't know. Jack, Kate, Locke, and Charlie were at the caves; Charlie stood on a beehive. Perhaps Smokie really likes bees. Strange that they didn't seem to hear the monster.

This episode is a little hard to swallow otherwise. It must occur during House of the Rising Sun. That's the episode where Jack has the idea of moving to the caves, and we see Sun, Jin, and others settling down in the caves at the end of that episode. But the day starts with Jin whupping up on Michael and getting handcuffed. Jin's wearing the handcuff, so that part's over, but Sun and Jin are just sitting by Michael as if nothing had happened? Strange.

And Dany_E, you're right: Kate didn't move to the caves and I don't think she encouraged anyone else to go, either. I think this one's just a little sloppy.

And Dany_E, you're right: Kate didn't move to the caves and I don't think she encouraged anyone else to go, either. I think this one's just a little sloppy.

Yeah...she said she didn't want to be Eve and she stayed in the beach....something like that.

Other than the Pilot, is this the only officially presented time the Monster was close to the beach?

Hm. I'm never any good with telling where they are on Craphole Island in relation to the beach. How far were Michael, Kate and Locke during their boar hunting expeditioin in Walkabout? I don't remember if they'd been gone for a while when Locke looked into the Eye of the Island.

What else was happening at the time that could coincide with a moment like that?

I don't know... where was Locke? Maybe Smokey was still hanging around him after they made eye contact. I guess any excuse to rewatch Walkabout and House Of The Rising Sun is good enough.

Workingmom, I'm familiar with the litany of justifications for Jack being chosen as leader. I was responding to the question as to what 'missing piece' this may have filled in. It's reasonable to assume this is another sign, just as the FF so dramatically foretold, that Jack's crown is about to become tarnished in ways we haven't imagined yet. It may or may not happen, but there's nothing blasphemous about entertaining the possibility.

Arzt is indeed a clown and a buffoon, a figure often used in literature to expose the truth others ignore.
I'm not familiar with the times he didn't respect the talents and knowledge of people group, so I'm looking forward to hearing those instances, since you brought it up. :)
From the beginning it's been made abundantly clear by the scenes that he's a reluctant and flawed as a leader, but he has other qualities of steadfastness, dedication to others, and honesty that serve the group well.
Sure, maybe Artzt's comment serves as a reminder of Jack's mental state post-crash as a bridge to whatever happens in between current island time and the FF. I guess they would have to, in order to wipe out 72-odd episodes of Jack thinking on his feet and trying to do the right thing.


But most of the survivors haven't had visions on the island, and most of those that have--Locke, Kate, Hurley, even Shannon--could be described as having (or at least had, in Hurley's case) pronounced mental problems. In any case, if more of the survivors had known Jack was following his dead daddy around the island and smashing up a coffin, would they have gone on looking to him as a leader? I find it interesting that this mobisode represents yet another instance of Jack's status as leader being openly questioned. Which is perhaps more foreshadowing that Jack's leadership--and the Losties' rather passive acceptance of it--may end badly.
Add Sayid, Sawyer, Charlie, Claire, Eko, and Desmond to the Losties that have seen visions. It's almost a question of who hasn't.
Locke saw Jack chasing a ghost, yet counseled him through it and used it as a mentoring opportunity to get him to work through his "ghosts" and step up to pull the group together, because someone needed to do it in Locke's view. I don't see why that experience would make the Losties distrust him, anyway. He lost it on Locke at Boone's funeral and no one decided he was unfit to lead then, just that he needed rest.

I don't know. Jack, Kate, Locke, and Charlie were at the caves; Charlie stood on a beehive. Perhaps Smokie really likes bees. Strange that they didn't seem to hear the monster.

This episode is a little hard to swallow otherwise. It must occur during House of the Rising Sun. That's the episode where Jack has the idea of moving to the caves, and we see Sun, Jin, and others settling down in the caves at the end of that episode. But the day starts with Jin whupping up on Michael and getting handcuffed. Jin's wearing the handcuff, so that part's over, but Sun and Jin are just sitting by Michael as if nothing had happened? Strange.

And Dany_E, you're right: Kate didn't move to the caves and I don't think she encouraged anyone else to go, either. I think this one's just a little sloppy.

I just realized that. That's really bad placement. I want to disregard this one completely now.

Actually... the more I think about it now, the more they may have been trying to make the link between the monster and White Rabbit, that Christian was indeed the Monster.

Actually... the more I think about it now, the more they may have been trying to make the link between the monster and White Rabbit, that Christian was indeed the Monster.

I think the mobisodes have been thematically diverse just like the show and they've experimented with various genres: family drama mixed with little references to the Island (Jack and Christian with a watch/time/the White Rabbit again; Michael and Walt and his special powers), comic relief (Arzt and Frogurt), genuine missing pieces of conversation and fleshing out character motivation (Juliet, Jack and Ben; Walt and Room 23), etc. This one I have a hard time taking seriously as a starting point for Smokey analysis because I see Damon with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, but there's serious undertones we can examine, why not.

To my knowledge, the writers have confirmed that Smokey has taken the form of all Island visions ( all those animals and Christian) and this shot would also seem to indicate it. It's not a hallucination if you can't see it, but the audience can, right? (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e202/MrsJackShephard/s1/White%20Rabbit/smokey.jpg)

Actually... the more I think about it now, the more they may have been trying to make the link between the monster and White Rabbit, that Christian was indeed the Monster.

Perhaps, and I think you're right about Christian being a Smokie manifestation, but this mobisode would have to occur the day after Jack saw Christian. Maybe Smokie just really hates neckerchiefs.

Add Sayid, Sawyer, Charlie, Claire, Eko, and Desmond to the Losties that have seen visions. It's almost a question of who hasn't.
Locke saw Jack chasing a ghost, yet counseled him through it and used it as a mentoring opportunity to get him to work through his "ghosts" and step up to pull the group together, because someone needed to do it in Locke's view. I don't see why that experience would make the Losties distrust him, anyway. He lost it on Locke at Boone's funeral and no one decided he was unfit to lead then, just that he needed rest.

Locke might have been a sensitive guide on Jack's mystical tour, but, again, I don't think Locke's all there. I'm looking at this as I think an ordinary, meat-sock survivor would. Most people don't like following crazy, and running after ghosts qualifies as crazy to most people. If a candidate for president showed up at a debate in Iowa this week and said he'd just seen his dead father, and he'd followed that ghost to a gas station where he found a case of grape Nehi, for which he'd been jonesing, I think I'd vote for the dull guy.

I'm suprised of the reviews, this one was one of my favorites. 100 times better than Frogurt! And Workingmom, Amen Sister!!!

I'm not familiar with the times he didn't respect the talents and knowledge of people group, so I'm looking forward to hearing those instances, since you brought it up. :)
From the beginning it's been made abundantly clear by the scenes that he's a reluctant and flawed as a leader, but he has other qualities of steadfastness, dedication to others, and honesty that serve the group well.
Sure, maybe Artzt's comment serves as a reminder of Jack's mental state post-crash as a bridge to whatever happens in between current island time and the FF. I guess they would have to, in order to wipe out 72-odd episodes of Jack thinking on his feet and trying to do the right thing.
.

Oh boy, don't want to get into another marathon about Jack - who I've never seen consistently portrayed as either reluctant or honestly flawed. I don't have near the energy to engage in a long discussion of the ways Jack could have better utilized the talents of his "staff". Suffice to say Arzt brought up some fairly cogent reasons why the caves would be a bad place to go. We never found out why they just dropped that storyline in mid air. And it's probably irrelevant anyway. I just enjoyed the writers taking another jab at their "hero" and am enjoying in general the signs that we may actually see them do something creative and non-dogmatic with him.

If Artz could hear (and see) Jack talking about his Daddy, did he see anything that Jack saw? Do we suppose that he just happened to pass by Jack close enough to hear him talk about his Dad a few times and didn't see anything, kind of like he might have been spying on him from behind a tree? I guess the point was simply to show that someone saw and heard Jack talking about his Daddy, which, I wonder, from Jack's ramblings, if Artz figured out was dead?

If Artz could hear (and see) Jack talking about his Daddy, did he see anything that Jack saw? Do we suppose that he just happened to pass by Jack close enough to hear him talk about his Dad a few times and didn't see anything, kind of like he might have been spying on him from behind a tree? I guess the point was simply to show that someone saw and heard Jack talking about his Daddy, which, I wonder, from Jack's ramblings, if Artz figured out was dead?

I don't think Arzt saw anything, Junie. I think this one's mostly filler. Damon is just using the whiniest character who's the most likely to succumb to the jealousy of not being one of the "in-crowd" to grumble and gripe about the "power players" on the island. This character has done this consistently since he's been introduced. He's all about feeling excluded from a clique. It's funny that he's a high-school teacher because he really is "so high school".

It's the story of a small man who's trying to "deconstruct" a better man and cut him down to size. Then, when Smokey comes along, the small man shows just how small he is. He's all talk and bluster but, when it comes down to it, he'll hide behind the power players, whether he thinks they're right or not maybe only because he knows they'll be on the front line when trouble comes calling. "Run away...run away..."

Locke might have been a sensitive guide on Jack's mystical tour, but, again, I don't think Locke's all there. I'm looking at this as I think an ordinary, meat-sock survivor would. Most people don't like following crazy, and running after ghosts qualifies as crazy to most people. If a candidate for president showed up at a debate in Iowa this week and said he'd just seen his dead father, and he'd followed that ghost to a gas station where he found a case of grape Nehi, for which he'd been jonesing, I think I'd vote for the dull guy. Locke definitely has his head in the clouds but in Season 1 he was more of an enjoyable guru, mentoring Jack in WR, Charlie, Walt, and Shannon. And, well, Boone. :frown:

If the Losties followed the traditions of the Founding Fathers and held an election for Craphole Island mayor, or whatever you want to call it, maybe they'd elect the dull guy Bernard. Oh wait, they didn't much like his leadership either. Maybe they'd try Sayid - after all, the US went into Iraq to spread democracy. Maybe they'd elect Jack even after all he's done to them and the rampant craziness he always exhibits. :rolleyes: Maybe they'd elect Sawyer, like Hurley was hinting to him in Expose. Maybe they'd just elect Hurley.

I think it's a great that Damon used Arzt again as a commentary from an outsider looking in, and having a different view from those who just go along with things without questioning them.

I love how his character is very much the outspoken fool and yet always has a truthful point to make as a dissenting voice. He's a gasbag so no one takes him seriously or any notice of what he's trying to say and yet...some of what he has to say is pretty relevant and to the point. There IS a clique of sorts (which is necessary when having main characters in a TV show), and even Kate's aware of it. Arzt represented all the red shirt survivors and voiced sentiments that anyone on the outside of the decision making process might plausibly and realistically have.

It's the story of a small man who's trying to "deconstruct" a better man and cut him down to size. Then, when Smokey comes along, the small man shows just how small he is. He's all talk and bluster but, when it comes down to it, he'll hide behind the power players, whether he thinks they're right or not maybe only because he knows they'll be on the front line when trouble comes calling. "Run away...run away..."

Or he's just an ordinary guy in an absurd and dangerous situation who's anxious to stay alive. Arzt may be whiny and hurt over being excluded from the cool kids' table--who wouldn't be, especially since the cool kids may be concealing info about, say, guns?--but he still strikes me as the closest thing to an ordinary person we've seen on Lost. I think I'd be pretty scared of that monster and of insects that might find a home on me. If Arzt knows nothing else, he does know his anthropoda. ;)

I'm pretty sure the purpose of this mobisode wasn't to remind us that Arzt was a doofus. If so, we can just throw the "missing pieces" aspect of these things right out the window.

It's possible they were making a monster/Christian connection, but the far more obvious point is that they're reminding us of where the "hero's" arc is headed. And considering the actor has recently gone to Hawaii to film two more mobisodes it will be interesting to see what unsaid truths they want us to learn through the words of this clownish figure.

I like how this mobisode was meta and I think it could be interpreted as a comment on all the varying viewpoints on Jack, our "hero" character. First of all, Arzt is expressing views which have been given over the years by many fans regarding Jack's place as leader amongst the Losties. However, I think there is another twist at the end when Arzt decides that he is going to "follow the leader." In a way, it's like the writer (Lindelof?) is telling us, "Yeah, yeah... Jack ain't perfect!" But then again, maybe we should put SOME stock in him as a leader... or else Smokey's gonna get us! Hehe. Anyway, maybe it's not a statement one way or the other, as to Jack's leadership "ability," but just a meta comment that both "sides" (Jack lovers and Jack detractors) should look a little more closely. That's just my take. :)

I haven't been able to see this yet, but from the transcript, it sounds hilarious.

Cardie

Or it could be that Arzt's fear of Smoky is greater than his dislike of the caves? or his need to defy Jack's authority? We've already seen him wanting to leave the trek in Exodus and then fleeing back towards the others when Smoky was hot on his tail. Obviously his bravery is not that high when it comes to strange unknown monsters.

Let's not forget that the Losties didn't stay at the caves and eventually moved back to the beach. So...does that mean Arzt was ultimately right to want to stay even though he capitulated?;)

I haven't been able to see this yet, but from the transcript, it sounds hilarious.

Cardie

It is! Very tongue in cheek little poke at Jack, the overwrought, prone-to-tears guy with Daddy issues who's basically stuck being a leader people often ignore, and whose plans sometimes don't work out, but who else have they got? The "bald guy" or "what's her name"? I laughed out loud watching it... great start for a Monday morning. :biggrin:

The only thing I got out of this was that at least someone else saw Jack running after his dad.
That's a pretty minor point considering how many actors they got to do this one.

just a meta comment that both "sides" (Jack lovers

But... how is that possible when there's only four of us on the entire Internet??? OMG, you're messing with my world view here! :biggrin:

I like Damon's cheekiness. He's gone ahead and done it, using Smokey as a comic relief character and it works for me.

I like how this mobisode was meta and I think it could be interpreted as a comment on all the varying viewpoints on Jack, our "hero" character. First of all, Arzt is expressing views which have been given over the years by many fans regarding Jack's place as leader amongst the Losties. However, I think there is another twist at the end when Arzt decides that he is going to "follow the leader." In a way, it's like the writer (Lindelof?) is telling us, "Yeah, yeah... Jack ain't perfect!" But then again, maybe we should put SOME stock in him as a leader... or else Smokey's gonna get us! Hehe. Anyway, maybe it's not a statement one way or the other, as to Jack's leadership "ability," but just a meta comment that both "sides" (Jack lovers and Jack detractors) should look a little more closely. That's just my take. :)

I agree with your take, ked. I kind of feel like, no matter what mistakes Jack has made, at least he puts himself out there. His plans may occasionally be stupid but, at least, he tries. Someone like Arzt, who may have the most brilliant ideas in the world, is crippled by a sense of low self-esteem - a whiny always-got-picked-last personality - and he passive-agressively undercuts who he sees as the authority figures. But, when the stakes go up, he's the first one in line BEHIND the authority figures. It's kind of "put up or shut up".

Haven't seen it yet either, but, it sounds like a funny one. With the spoiler overload of recent days, I'm actually happy this mobisode is on the light side. I don't think I could take anything more intense just now.

I thought it was an okay mobisode. It's really about Artz not wanting any of the Losties to go to the caves for his own reasons, and he wants them to do as he asks. It's amusing how he's telling them to vote. Who's the dictator? Overall, it was cute, but for me, not particularly insightful in terms of the Lost story.

I haven't been able to see it yet but it does sound funny that the one guy who was so in love with his own didacticism that he managed to blow himself up is the same one who tries to stage an early coup. Dude, if you don't want to move to the caves, like, don't do it.

Kate didn't even want to move to the caves. Why is Arzt saying she does?

I find it interesting, as well, that Arzt seemed to think there was some kind of autocracy going on when, as subsequent episodes showed everybody pretty much did whatever they wanted to.

True. Artz doesn't want people going to the caves, so if Jack wants people going to the caves, then Artz is going to have a problem with Jack. That's not to say that Artz is ultimately wrong, but Artz has an objective, which is to keep everyone on the beach even if they want to go to the caves.

Very true, Dany, regarding Artz being the same guy who blew himself up while telling the others how they should be handling dynamite safely. I don't think I'd be following him. :biggrin:


From the beginning it's been made abundantly clear by the scenes that he's a reluctant and flawed as a leader, but he has other qualities of steadfastness, dedication to others, and honesty that serve the group well.
Sure, maybe Artzt's comment serves as a reminder of Jack's mental state post-crash as a bridge to whatever happens in between current island time and the FF. I guess they would have to, in order to wipe out 72-odd episodes of Jack thinking on his feet and trying to do the right thing.

I agree, WM. I think all the Losties are entitled to some post traumatic stress after everything they had been through, and no one was asked to do more during those first few days than Jack. I don't mind that Artz mocks Jack. Artz is a whiny, complaining, pain in the you-know-what, but I do like him.

If Artz could hear (and see) Jack talking about his Daddy, did he see anything that Jack saw? Do we suppose that he just happened to pass by Jack close enough to hear him talk about his Dad a few times and didn't see anything, kind of like he might have been spying on him from behind a tree? I guess the point was simply to show that someone saw and heard Jack talking about his Daddy, which, I wonder, from Jack's ramblings, if Artz figured out was dead?

That's a good question, Juniebun. In those scenes, did Jack ever mention the word "Dad" and if so, I think it was only once, right? Maybe I'm not remembering it correctly. Based on what I remember, Jack was chasing the image of Christian through the jungle, but I don't recall "talking about his Dad" the way Artz implies. Am I remembering wrong?

I don't think Arzt saw anything, Junie. I think this one's mostly filler. Damon is just using the whiniest character who's the most likely to succumb to the jealousy of not being one of the "in-crowd" to grumble and gripe about the "power players" on the island. This character has done this consistently since he's been introduced. He's all about feeling excluded from a clique. It's funny that he's a high-school teacher because he really is "so high school".

Dany, I think you just answered my question from above. :biggrin:

It's the story of a small man who's trying to "deconstruct" a better man and cut him down to size. Then, when Smokey comes along, the small man shows just how small he is. He's all talk and bluster but, when it comes down to it, he'll hide behind the power players, whether he thinks they're right or not maybe only because he knows they'll be on the front line when trouble comes calling. "Run away...run away...":biggrin: He IS a blustery man, isn't he?


Let's not forget that the Losties didn't stay at the caves and eventually moved back to the beach. So...does that mean Arzt was ultimately right to want to stay even though he capitulated?;)

I don't think there was a right or wrong decision with regard to the beach or the caves. Ultimately, I think that the Losties preferred staying together after spending some time apart. Of course, that's just my take on it.

Haven't seen it yet either, but, it sounds like a funny one. With the spoiler overload of recent days, I'm actually happy this mobisode is on the light side. I don't think I could take anything more intense just now.

It was cute and amusing, Crazy Latin. The mobisode actually isn't even about Jack, per se. It's mostly about Artz, his feelings on the caves, his opinions that no one should go to the caves, everyone should vote against going, and when Hurley mentions Jack is going, Artz gets snarky. It was good - Artz at his whiny, snarky best.

Artz is certainly not leader material, but in a democracy even his whiney vote counts. ;)
Personally, I love him being the cowardly opinionated 'ordinary' buffoon that he is. He died too soon. But then again he's best in small amounts and I can see how he'd be too much if they'd kept him on as a guest recurring character.

Suffice to say Arzt brought up some fairly cogent reasons why the caves would be a bad place to go. We never found out why they just dropped that storyline in mid air..
On the S1 dvd commentary, Carlton said they dropped the cave storyline because the set didn't work aesthetically. He was right, it was just a dark mishmash.
Arzt was the whiny viewers' spokesperson in Exodus, and I think the writers used him that way again in this mobisode.

Artz is certainly not leader material, but in a democracy even his whiney vote counts. ;)
Personally, I love him being the cowardly opinionated 'ordinary' buffoon that he is. He died too soon. But then again he's best in small amounts and I can see how he'd be too much if they'd kept him on as a guest recurring character.

Great post. :biggrin:

This was LAME!

I REALLY need to see Kate in a mobisode!:frown: I'm feeling REALLY flustered right now with these mobisodes and this strike along with the lack of promotions featuring the cast and writers!

Why does Artz have his own mobisode when Kate has had NONE?!

In Jorge's post he says not all the actors signed on to do the mobisodes. Aparently Evangeline didn't sign on or I think we would have seen her by now. Here's Jorge's post.
http://www.thefuselage.com/Threaded/showthread.php?t=85850

I liked this one. I enjoy Artz's comedy, it's nice to have something light once in a while. I guess I'm not expecting as much as many of you are. I'm just happy to have something new to watch.

It's up on ABC now if anyone is still waiting to see it.

Has kate been in any yet?? Or Sawyer? What about claire?
I cant watch them, Slow internet...

No Kate, Sawyer or Claire (or Locke or Charlie, or probably others not coming to mind). Apparently not all of the actors signed on to do them.

Okay, this episode just doesn't fit correctly into the timeline, or something is off.
This has to be Day 7, when Jack took Kate, Locke and Charlie to the caves. I know this because Jin is wearing a handcuff, which was placed on him the morning of Day 7 and cut by Michael in the afternoon. It can't be the following day, because Jin and Sun and others moved to the caves the night of Day 7. But Michael found out about Jack's plan to move to the caves from Sayid before he cut Jin loose and he had already decided not to go.
So what gives? Is this just a mistake, or was Michael lying for some reason when he told Arzt that he didn't know anything about the plan to move to the caves?

ps: i just loved seeing michael again. not feeling the same way about artz. he's way too intense for me. he was only tolerable in exodus because they blew him up just when i was getting completely fed up with him.

I suspect that Darlton don't pay quite as much attention to continuity as fans do.

I thought Jin's shipping was priceless. He sure had Boone and Shannon pegged.

Cardie

I thought Jin's shipping was priceless. He sure had Boone and Shannon pegged.

Cardie

lol....he sure did. It was all about perception. I bet we, as viewers, will be changing our perception about a lot of things during S4.

Thank you, Cardilost! That’s what I see here: Shannon and Boone and an unclear relationship.

They’re lovers, no wait, they’re sister & brother – well actually… they’re both; half siblings whose sexual tension is so highly charged, it sparks explosively. I don’t think we’re done with that yet. If that bothers the shippers try this:

Shannon and Boone; one dead following A-teamer, “that bald guy”, the other lost to ‘trust me I’m a cop’ leader Ana-Lucia, and scary noises (monsters, whispers, wet Walt) and obsessive behaviour in the frame for both events.

Applause to you to Veronica; the Fool is an oft skilfully applied tool for showing us the truth. I don’t know that I know what it is yet but… I’m sure it’s there somewhere.*dim*

Something else – Jin’s devastation at learning his wife speaks English… how many opportunities did she have to tell him and didn’t? No, Honey, they don’t speak Korean… people keeping secrets that are exposed, people doing what we criticise they do not – talking to one another about the important stuff, people possessed of knowledge they DO impart, “The other day I’m in the jungle…”

There’s more going on here than a discussion about Jack’s merit… why ‘Crafts’ in the epi title - is Les craftily and artfully undermining Jack’s leadership? That why he was offed by juju or whatever? …but my how we can’t help but keep going back to it!

(my Arzt Appreciation is on his other Mobi).

I thought it was a funny one! Way better than the Frogurt one..that was just creepy in light of what happens to Libby. :frown:
If you ask me they killed Arzt off way too early, and I think the writers feel the same.

half siblings whose sexual tension is so highly charged, it sparks explosively

Quick correction, they are step-siblings... no blood relation. If they were half-siblings that would mean they are related by one parent, and the fact that the had sex would be... icky.

I am willing to admit, when my dad first started dating my current stepmother, I thought her daughter was hot. Well, now her daughter is my stepsister-- but unlike Boone I just sort of naturally stopped thinking of her that way. It's one of those awkward things that's just a by-product of our society with it's complicated marriages and divorces.

If you ask me they killed Arzt off way too early, and I think the writers feel the same.

I think every show has characters written for one-time uses who have potential to be more. The difference with LOST is that they can explore this potential through flashbacks. Another example is Ethan; he is someone for whom I've grown to like and even feel sorry for, particularly after his mobisode in which he recounted his wife and child dying. I now regret that he was murdered so viciously by Charlie.