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"Lost" 1-19-2005, 8:00 pm Eastern on ABC
- Thread starter keiichi
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So, what do you guys think, is Michael cool with Locke now? Are they squared up? Michael didn't get too far with his raft idea, so I'm wondering if he'll be continuing with that or if maybe he's not so anxious to try something crazy to get off the island now.
Poody said:
Because there are a whole lot of unanswered questions about all of these people. These characters have intricacies.
I don't share the apparent Sawyer disinterest. I think the character has some issues with his past, obviously, as we saw before with his parents being swindled. What we have yet to have explained about Sawyer is:
- How did he become a con-man if he despised them so much?
- Why was he arrested in Sydney? We saw him in the police station last week, being led in with handcuffs. Another con? What else?
Hurley's had NO back story at this point, but I think that's important. Considering his status as comedic relief, at this point we have no real questions other than "Who the hell is this guy?". The only thing we can even gleam anything from was his comment of "I used to be considered a warrior too" although that could have easily been a joke.
For each character, there seems to be a pattern. The back stories either focus on why they were on the plane, or some major past event that is dictating their current actions. Mind you, there's a little bit of the second part in all of them, but that's the pattern. We know Sawyer's a con man, but why was he in Sydney? Other characters have the exact other issues; we saw why Jack, for instance, was in Sydney first, and then discovered why he and his father were fighting (The operating incident).
It's a tricky thing, the back stories, and I think it needs to continue the way it is for the show to stay as interesting as it is. It is a show with three categoriesof mystery. One is "What will happen next". The next is "What does this all mean". The third is "Who are these people".
What Will Happen Next?
- Week to Week mystery of what will happen to these people on a whole. Basic actions, events. What will Claire's return mean for the people on the island? Is Boone Locke's bitch? Just basic procedural stuff.
What Does This All Mean?
- The big questions: What's with the Polar Bear, what does Rousseau have to do with this, where did Ethan come from, what IS this place, what's the monster look like, etc. The overbearing questions you constantly ask yourself, plotwise.
Who Are These People?
- This is the tricky one, because not all people will care about every single character. But I think it is important that this exists, because it kind of makes it so they don't have to answer the second question all the time. They can answer this question, satisfy their audience (generally) and leave the big questions looming, which makes for a more interesting overall story arc.
The first type is answered week by week, and is common on all shows. The second is what sets the show apart, but answering them all the time would ruin in. The third, whether all enjoy it or not, is serviced with the back story elements, and provides a way for each episode to technically answer something without having to sacrifice the big, interesting, overreaching mysteries of the series.
Dan said:
Yeah, he's cool with Locke now. Locke needed to keep Walt on his side. I swear, he's got a checklist of people he wants on his team that looks something like this.
Locke's List of People to Befriend and then Brainwash
- Boone (He knows too much, can't let him go now, can we?)
- Sayid (He works with electronics, and looks to get off the island. We must brainwash him and keep him from doing so)
- Walt (The kid is freakin'...special, I think I called it earlier)
- Michael (Must brainwash father so that the kid can come into my ranks)
After that...who knows. But, does this all go back to his Backgammon speech?
N Coward Parody
Member
I sure as hell hope not. I also sure as hell doubt it: it's the structural basis for the show. Perhaps some episodes will become lighter in flashbacks (much like the first few), but the idea of battling with your past, trying to escape from your past, etc. is integral to the thematic framework of the show. Not to mention the notion of "haunting" is at the forefront of each thematic and dramatic throughline...
The flashbacks are here to stay, muh fugg.
*Noel Coward Parody
That's why I think they'll inevitably change the framework. I strongly doubt that the back stories will remain interesting enough once each character's 'purpose' has been exhausted (not many of the characters that we've seen so far lend themselves to multiple flashbacks). I just hope the show lasts long enough for that to become a problem.N Coward Parody said:
Anyway, "unnecessary" was obviously a poor choice of words.
Oh, I agree, but some of the people on these boards are crazy about their spoilers, going so far as to avoid the next episode's preview. I just don't feel like getting bitched out by someone who's that anal about avoiding 'spoilers'.Memles said:
I'm definitely in the camp of finding out little tidbits from future episodes that aid speculation. Speculation is one of the best parts of a serial like this. I'm really, really having fun between Lost and Carnivale.
I can't really remember, has there been real interest in Sayid shown by Locke? I can't really think of much interaction between them.
Locke mentioned Sawyer as someone he didn't want to alienate, so I'd put him up on that list. It's safe to say Shannon isn't on that list, but what about the rest? It's weird, because while a group is certainly forming around Locke, there really isn't another group counteracting that in any way. Not that any counteracting is really needed in their minds, but for the sake of the series' plot, there looks to be a divide of one sort or another in the making, and one side is getting a big headstart.
It's interesting that Charlie left Locke's side. They were buddy-buddy for a while, if not entirely voluntary on Charlie's part, but that went by the wayside for no real reason except for Claire's presence. Should be interesting to see where he ends up.
Am I being an idiot then? It was Sayid, not Sawyer, that Locke didn't want to alienate? I can't keep track of it all... freakin' 12 hours of raw footage has aired so far.Dez said:
That'd be interesting then, since Sayid and Shannon are working together and Boone's putting some distance between them.
.
Brian Fellows
Pete Carroll Owns Me
I think with many of the second round flashbacks we'll start to see how these people were connected before getting on that plane. We've already seen it starting with Sawyer showing up in Boone's flashback.
Dan said:
He already has Charlie, and they pointed it out in last weeks episode. The Doctor was beginning to notice Locke's clique he was building.. he asked some people about Locke.. including Charlie.
Charlie said that he thought he was super crazy, but that after he saved his life he realized that he was the one guy who could keep them alive on the island, or something like that. So, I'd say Locke definately has Charlie.
Burger
Member
An interesting thing I read in Entertainment Weekly was this:
An important part of the show is how all the characters have interacted in some way with each other BEFORE the airplane accident.
We saw the first hint of this last week with Boone and Sawyer in the police station.
What does this all mean ?!?!
An important part of the show is how all the characters have interacted in some way with each other BEFORE the airplane accident.
We saw the first hint of this last week with Boone and Sawyer in the police station.
What does this all mean ?!?!
Burger
Member
Here is the text from the article:
"Locke makes a huge discovery. Someone will build a raft to try to escape. We'll meet other folks on the island who weren't on the plane, and learn two secrets abouty Hurley. The Bermuda Triangle continues to overlap with the Jack-Kate-Sawyer Triangle. The flashbacks serve as a great conduit to learn more about these characters, but that's not all they're there for. The idea that these people, way before they got on this airplane, have interacted with each other either directly or through third parties is one of the cool pieces of tapestry of the show."
"Locke makes a huge discovery. Someone will build a raft to try to escape. We'll meet other folks on the island who weren't on the plane, and learn two secrets abouty Hurley. The Bermuda Triangle continues to overlap with the Jack-Kate-Sawyer Triangle. The flashbacks serve as a great conduit to learn more about these characters, but that's not all they're there for. The idea that these people, way before they got on this airplane, have interacted with each other either directly or through third parties is one of the cool pieces of tapestry of the show."
See, I still don't think Charlie's definitely in Locke's camp. Charlie knows the guy is crazy and smart, but Charlie hasn't been on the inside of Locke's little group. The other characters Locke has courted have a real investment in the guy. Boone has completely given himself over. Walt likes that he has a friend that treats him as an adult and teaches him things. Michael comes packaged with Walt, but I think he's also seeing how they could be safe on the island if they stick with Walt.SyNapSe said:
Charlie has been different though. Locke helped him get over his drug addiction, but right after that happens Charlie fell in with Claire. Instead of finding Locke as his savior/teacher/guide/whatever, he found Claire. I think depending on what has happened with Claire, what news she brings, etc, we could end up seeing Charlie split between Claire and Locke. That's my bet at this point. I don't think he's really in Locke's camp. He's had a taste, but he's far more loyal to Claire, and I rather expect him to be torn between his feelings for Claire and Locke's leadership.
Brian Fellows
Pete Carroll Owns Me
I just thought it was funny that Charlie had a harder time trying not to read Claire diary then he did pouring out the last of his H.
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