UK Gets Lost (Take 2)

[lost-in-love-pingu]

Lost episode 1.2 - Pilot part 2. By Tom Pengelly

Episode two has yet again brought out the British in me, condemning it at the start of this review to a rating of a "Sniffing good show!" With fresh bonds, plotlines and questions to be answered, I can predict that this show's ball will keep on rolling at a tremendous pace, until it hit's your metaphorical groin and you crash land onto the floor.

The show starts to incorporate flashbacks of the aeroplane pre-crash. This allows us to see what each character was doing before the crash, what environment they're in, who they kept themselves to, also allows us to see some non-manual behaviour from the Steward/eases (including the Marshall's response to his order of "Coffee"). It also allows us to see some special effects, as this is the episode where the characters that are reminiscing aren't knocked unconscious. The fact we can see clear blue sky, sea and clouds is beautiful when you look into it, if the panic of the passengers and the constant whirring of the plane's descent weren't barging in uninvited of course. The shot when we see the plane's tail ripped off... personally, my heart was ripped open. Those people, where are they? Are they ok? And the two people that got wrenched out the through tail end... It's heart-wrenching thinking that they all died... Yet extremely exciting to hear all the panic as well and see the SFX at work (yet another controversy that the writers cause me at least to feel). The mass hysteria, the acting, the action, nothing escapes the flashback in making it seem so real, as real as it is every time a character focuses on it. This method of flashback also allows us to exhibit most of the characters before they start they're evolution in the jungle. However Charlie is different. We find out that he has a drug addiction, even before the drugs were seen thanks to the brilliant tensity of Dominic Monaghan. His personality changes after he uses the drugs, he becomes relaxed, at one with himself and nothing more, all before the crash even occurs. His character evolution is from the drugs, and this is something we wouldn't actually associate with character evolution, but attitude and actions are part of the character, and they change, making this one of the genius little tricks employed by Lost's writing team.

Charlie yet again proves himself to be one of the background comedians behind Hurley. His comments on the French rescuing them are hilarious, considering he is a British character, and anyone in Great Britain at least would get that joke, proving that JJ and Damon are not thinking about just the American audience, and that is very thoughtful of them, it touches me deeply. Not only does Charlie shine there though, but after his little trip to the "powder" room, his and Shannon's conversation about going on the hike to the mountains is hilarious, him being stoned and her having a spoilt-child tantrum. This combination of spoilt+stoned is seen later through the episode, and hopefully will be played out again even more so. Even though Hurley's haemophobia is just see-through irony when Jack needs him the most, it is quite funny to see him passing out and Jack cussing. Even though Hurley can't help it, it's still funny, and that's because it's presented in a way that is a credit to the acting abilities of the cast, and also because he did warn Jack, and his attempt at waking the Marshall set the scene for it not to be serious as it really is. The funniest thing of all is that even though Sayid and Sawyer are sparring from the start, this episode presents them in a light where they are more alike than they seem. Both have fiery tempers, and both use sarcasm to great degrees, Sawyer being open about it while Sayid smarts his way to high dignity, and sarcasm is very funny when used well. Question is, will this irony present itself throughout the series? Or do these 2 accusations have more truth than we realise?

Character relationships are a strong driving force in this episode, as any TV show should incorporate, and incorporated it is in Lost. More people start talking to each other, such as Walt+Locke and Hurley+Sayids' pledge of friendship, having been both attacked by unnecessary prejudice, which stirs up the character friendships pretty well knowing there is someone who won't go down without a fight. Fights have started, with Boone and Shannon's sibling rivalry being answered, and Sawyer and Sayids' accusations, being based on desperation and rashness on both parties. Sun and Jin's relationship is thrusted into the limelight as well, with Jin being surprisingly abusive to Sun. Although Sun shows she hasn't lost all her confidence by undoing her top after Jin tells her to do it up. Personally, that is the best moment, laughing in the face of fear and dominance, and also saying "Get stuffed Hubby!" larger than saying it could ever do. This relationship is the most perplexing, as we want to find out whether they will bring anything to the island except Jin's exceptional culinary schools. And we aren't told if Jin is actually Sun's husband, we only assume because they're both don't speak English... Either way, relationships between characters need to be known, and addressing more early on saves room again, for answers to questions we secretly want. This is done here to the fullest extent, and in such a way that plotline is achieved as well. It's amazing what you can do with over 100 guys and gals (staff and cast), 1 year, a video camera, a toy plane and a lot of recyclable paper.

As well as analysing the relationships, we are given a chance to analyse the characters more than the first episode. The main characters we can analyse especially are those trekking to the mountains, including Sayid, Sawyer, Shannon and Boone. Back on the beach, Locke, Claire and Hurley are given more screen time to shine as well, as are many of the characters starring in Lost, their personalities being given light, such as Walt's dad not getting his age right first time, and Shannon's trip to Paris being highlighted. Even the Marshall makes an appearance, scaring us slightly and undoubtedly ruining Jack's chance of saving him. Though with the camera shot after what he says, we can easily tell who he's talking about... Although it could also be a false lead. Put it this way, from our Lost and Alias experiences, don't lend JJ ANYTHING!

The genre still steps into survival horror with the appearance of the polar bear, hinted at earlier with Walt's comics, proving yet again that analytical know-how is needed to grasp the full knowledge of this island and it's stranded. The first funny thing is how it starts, with a competition of voices between Sayid and Sawyer, won by the largest noise, the roar of the bear. Very well prepared how that happens, as if the voices are the music rising in pitch to emphasise danger. The roar not only scares the characters, including a screaming Shannon humorously screaming she shouldn't have come on this hike, but us, invoking the genre again. The music wonderfully exacerbates the feeling of the moment, clashing, getting louder and faster alongside our heartbeats, climaxing at the point where the bear jumps out and roars at us. (I did warn you guys, this is an analyst's wet dream. Now it's a jump-fright-freak's too). Then we find out it's a polar bear. This throws the monster story right through the proverbial window and throws us onto something new and even more confusing. Comedy again rules in this scene, with Charlie's silly comments, proving he's still stoned, or he's not bright, and Sawyer and Sayid being sarcastic AGAIN! Hopefully, this will reign through the series, because those two are some of the comedy.

When the trekkers reach the top, we are treated to more sarcasm and smarminess, and a working radio with shocking results. Even Scooby Doo and gang couldn't figure out what on God's Earth is going on inside JJ and Damons' heads. Although Shannon missed something... She refused to say something at the end, and being a German speaker myself, it is so frustrating not knowing what it said. The urge to watch further episodes is getting too much for me to handle. The music just gets better as well, with confusion, danger, rising quirky repeated clusters (very well adapted to the mountain view), trumpets, urgency and Alias strings galore (but not losing their Lost touch). The subtle clues we are presented, with, the subtle clues we think we are being presented with, the character's shifty actions, like Kate's reaction to the handcuffs, all are too compelling. The only thing more compelling is the scenery, and the beauty of it. You can't help but scream "TAKE ME EVERYWHERE" to find out where the French signal is coming from, where the monster resides, where the gun store in "Bear Village" is etc... If anyone will love this series, it will be the Hawaiian Tourist Board. I know I want to go on a trek there and see "Bear Village."

[Red Matrix]

Take me to bear villiage, Mr White!

[lost-in-love-pingu]

who's mr white? lol.

but yes, bear village please. Need some firearms and cocky rednecks to make me laugh. woo!