What was your opinion of this aspect of the episode?

It was ok. I guess it worked for entertainment value. Kind of a cheap trick, but as long as they only do it once.

I think the IDEA of it was great, but the execution failed.

Jin's story was only created so they could fool the viewers, and that's one of the few cases I can think of where the writers have gotten lazy. It's like they said "well we need to fool them SOMEhow, so let's just wedge in a typical pre-island Jin story with no substance, to make it look like it's the same story".

It was unnecessary especially since we already had the big reveal of Michael just a few minutes before.

I agree for the most part with gutsdozers post. However it could be argued that it fit with what Jin was saying at the end about the contrast between what kind of man he was and what kind of man he is now. From "Don't rush me" to choosing baby names.

I voted "it worked". It *was* interesting, because it really did throw me off until the end when Jin said he had only been married 2 weeks.... But... it seems like the only purpose of Jin's flashbacks *was* to try and throw us off.... and beyond that, they're pretty throw away.... although I do see the merit to what some people are saying that they emphasize the difference in past/current Jin.

That being said, I think it worked in *this* instance - since Jin and Sun are 2 different characters... but, if the writers ever did this again, mixing a single character's FB's and FF's in a single episode, just to throw us off, I'd be pissed.

Dude, gutsdozer, you have a name based on MegaMan II, you rule!

I liked it because it even fooled the spoiler people. I mean, all the spoilers since the beginning of the year were saying that Jin was one of the Oceanic 6. Even up until last week people were saying that Jin would be killed in a flash-forward. For something to slip past all the spoiler-hounds is pretty amazing.

I didn't like it all that much. I could see how the writers wanted to make people think that Jin was trying to get to Sun. I knew there was no way that could be though since Sun was the last of the O6. So to me it was just frustrating to figure out what was going on with Jin.

They better not make it a habit.

I thought it was a cheap trick. I'm getting used to it, though. I thought for sure that Sun was having a flashback at first because Nikki was on the TV show that she turned off, but then they showed her with pregnant belly and I knew I'd been fooled. I also think they have pulled another one on us with Jin's headstone--chances are he's alive on the island.

I think the IDEA of it was great, but the execution failed.

Jin's story was only created so they could fool the viewers, and that's one of the few cases I can think of where the writers have gotten lazy. It's like they said "well we need to fool them SOMEhow, so let's just wedge in a typical pre-island Jin story with no substance, to make it look like it's the same story".

It was unnecessary especially since we already had the big reveal of Michael just a few minutes before.

I agree.

It was very confusing, I thought Jin was leading like a second life or something and he faked his death.

I wasn't that keen on the flash forward/flashback idea, however it didn't affect my opinion of the episode. As a one off it worked for the shock perspective but I don't think it would work again.

I loved it. Nothing is ever as it seems on this show. The writers do a good job of showing us something and never letting us assume that it is as it appears.

It worked wonderfully. If it didn't work for you, you probably read too many spoilers.

My DH caught on to the flashbacks early on. He recognized the noise that signals flashBACKS when they went to the Jin/panda scenes.

Now I'm really confused!
I came away from the episode thinking it was all flash forward - that Jin has gone back to work for Paik - that his death has been faked for some reason.
If it was a mix of flash forward & back, it doesn't make sense to me that the writers would do this just to fool us.
I need to watch it again.

My daughter summed up my opinion perfectly. When it finally became clear what was going on, she said "That was mean. They're story bullies."

--Väi

My daughter summed up my opinion perfectly. When it finally became clear what was going on, she said "That was mean. They're story bullies."

--Väi

Hehe. Yeah, that's what good writers do. They make you feel stuff.

And the Aye's have it.

I liked it because I think that it worked for this episode and I fell for it. However, I don't think that I would like to see this in other episodes.

My daughter summed up my opinion perfectly. When it finally became clear what was going on, she said "That was mean. They're story bullies."

--Väi

Very well put.

so 20 percent of the people are haters according to the poll.

Korean Jin's behavior didn't make any sense at all -- caring more about getting a panda then being at the hospital with Sun, worrying about the taxi driving off with the panda instead of getting to Sun by any means -- until the scene when he delivered the panda and it all fell into place. That was creative, something new.

Granted, it wasn't the kind of twist that means something to the story, like Walkabout.

It's like the writers are showing us that we can't expect anything to be the same anymore. We aren't in a season of all FF. The Constant was different, now Ji Yeon. We are in a season of What's Next?

I thought the episode was new and innovative. I wouldn't mind seeing them mix FB/FF again. My only criticism was Sun's childbirth scene. Totally Hollywood with lots of groaning, let's do a c-section, oops too late, push twice and out pops a baby. Not realistic at all, and why do they always pick a Doogie Houser as a doc? But, it is TV.
100%
It worked wonderfully. If it didn't work for you, you probably read too many spoilers.

I could never read spoilers, it's too fun watching it as it was intended.

67 yay, 32 nay so far. Nice.:biggrin:

I didn't have a clue that it was a flashback,so I guess it worked.I wasn't particulary paying attention to the off island scenes,as i never liked ther previous flashbacks either.I prefer Jin and Sun when they are on-island.As a result of not paying attention,my only grumble is that the writers could have delivered a killer line,making it patently obvious to the thickos like me that "ha ha,fooled you---Jin's was a flashback the whole time".
I guess that was the intention of the line"not yet,ive only been married 2 months"

Where is the option "I don't think it was a FB/FF mix"?

I guess that was the intention of the line"not yet,ive only been married 2 months"

I had to think about that too. Did you notice, Jin 'looked' younger somehow. Plus, his hissy fit was perfect for the 'old' Jin, who I never liked. He was one of my least favorite characters in season one. Being on the island really changed him.

I think that the FF/FB mix was OK for this episode. And I'll admit that I fell for it. At first I thought that Jin went back to work for Paik and that was more important than his wife giving birth. Then when he said he's only been married for 2 months it clicked that it was a FB. The lame thing about the setup was that Sun kept asking about Jin while in labor, then explained that away by saying the doctors told her she was so out of it that she was calling Jin's name. Other than that, I liked it, but don't necessarily want to see it again.

I think that the FF/FB mix was OK for this episode. And I'll admit that I fell for it. At first I thought that Jin went back to work for Paik and that was more important than his wife giving birth. Then when he said he's only been married for 2 months it clicked that it was a FB. The lame thing about the setup was that Sun kept asking about Jin while in labor, then explained that away by saying the doctors told her she was so out of it that she was calling Jin's name. Other than that, I liked it, but don't necessarily want to see it again.

Hey! Welcome aboard, one noob to another! If you're over 35, Check us out. (http://www.thefuselage.com/Threaded/showthread.php?t=87039)

Where is the option "I don't think it was a FB/FF mix"?

Someone on the Lost General Boards wrote this:

When Jin' s buy the second panda he uses 10.000 won notes (16:50 in episode)

This note was made in 22 January of 2007!!!!

How Jin is in past if he uses a note from 2007!?!?!

Sorry for english

This is really interesting. I can't see anything that could divide Sun and Jin right now, so it seems that it must have been a FB/FF combo. But it's really hard to convince myself that he's really dead.

Someone on the Lost General Boards wrote this:



This is really interesting. I can't see anything that could divide Sun and Jin right now, so it seems that it must have been a FB/FF combo. But it's really hard to convince myself that he's really dead.

Probably an editing error. Oh well. Hey, they produce a great show in 7 days.

I don't have a lot of criticisms about the show, but this was a big mistake. Jin's flashback, as far as I can tell, served the story in no way whatsoever. It seemed to be included only to trick the audience. If you're tricking the audience and telling the story at the same time, that's one thing. But I think the way they did it makes them loose the trust of the audience.

They explained Sun calling for Jin during labor - but they didn't explain the doctor asking her if she wanted him to call her husband.

Since she is of the infamous Oceanic 6, plus the daughter of a very powerful man, AND doctors generally would read a chart a little bit before making a huge gaffe like mentioning a dead husband to a woman in labor - I have to wonder if Jin is indeed dead or if Sun remarried so quickly.

That being said - the nurses knew who she was, and I'm surprised they didn't gasp at the Doc's husband comment.

This idea of a mix of flashbacks and forwards, was SOOOOO confusing! I agree with whoever said the idea was good but bad execution. They needed to make this a little more clear, because I am not even sure this was a case of flash-back/forward.

ANYWAYS it was a good but CONFUSING episode.

Bad points- 79482378498379574 new questions in my head.
- no answers to any past questions
-SO confusing

Good points- Well I mean it IS LOST! ..... enough said no matter how confusing, its awesome! :biggrin:

I liked it alot, but the problem for me is that I suspected it after Jin's first flashback scene...so it wasn't much of a shock to me when they revealed it.