Lost Episode 1.6 - House of the Rising Sun by Tom Pengelly
Lost is starting to take form. Plotlines are forming properly, allowing the previous episode clips to have a further purpose than to inform, but now to spoil us about what the episode is going to be focusing on. At least the episode titles have the decency to be more subtle. We can tell the story is about Sun, and about flipping time, she's been under my eye for quite a while now (and not because she's one of my favourite characters). Now all we can wonder is what secrets are going to be revealed today, and analysis of the episode title can help. From watching it, we clearly see Sun rising in self-confidence, finally speaking to someone else. "House of the Rising Sun" as a title could also be a large large hint that it is Sun's episode, stuff everyone else. So taking that into consideration, let's.
The first thing we find out about Sun's past is that she's a woman of high status. Quite a contrast between what we see on screen with the same top on all the time. Also to our astonishment, Jin appears to be a lowly waiter, although we easily gather that this is when they're a cute couple. While Sun appears to be very modern, Jin is a traditionalist, although we can forgive him for being unmodern with his romantic gestures. Some things of the past don't want to be forgotten. These two are deeply committed to each other, and Sun's reaction at her father's agreement is something to smile at. However we understand that something wrong is underlying it, especially with Jin's ring, but Sun moves on and is focusing on the positive. The words "management training" and "factory" strike hard in my mind though, as something doesn't seem so right with Sun's father, especially her negative reaction to Jin's employment under him. Is this going to be one of those secrets that JJ and Damon won't reveal until season 6 or will we get more hints? They become an open committed couple, and we have another dog we just wanna squeeze and hug and play with, possibly to make up for the lack of Vincent. However it's Jin continuing to try and please his wife, as should be done by both sides of a relationship. This mood changes later though. We get a sense of abuse on Jin's part. Has he molded Sun into something of his doing? Or has Sun's father beaten him to it? Well, the climax comes when Jin arrives and Sun discovers blood on his hands, leaving us for once, in the same position as an actual character, making us wonder what is going on. The only time we've had that is through jack's hallucinations and the monster plotline. But this appears to be one of the strongest because Yun-Jun Kim plays her emotions so fantastically. She and Daniel-Dae Kim are suited for each, his reaction of guilt but honour is clearly shown and with a struggle to follow, a slap from Sun shocks us all. This relationship is clearly going downhill, but one thing it does show is Sun will always have some kind of strength alongside her, be it emotional or physical. However, Jin's anger about Sun's objection to her father's work, he says he works for them. He still clearly loves her, and is he angry at being forced to do that work? However his attitude gets more aggressive, with his annoyance at the dog being clearly seen. We start to wonder why Sun is still with this man, and then we see she's hatching a secret plot. Though what lessons have to do with it, we have no clue, mystery continues to enshroud us. The biggest relief though is that Mr. Poochie will be cared for (I wonder what Koreans have as pet names...). Sun having friends also is a nice sight to see, we don't normally see that kind of sight with flashbacks. Exploring all scenarios of past lives is a good way to keeping us interested. Then we see the airport scene, with a nice little touch from Jack's flashback and some island connections, here we start to notice some of the extras involved in the crash as well, such as the girl with the blue striped shirt and blue jeans. Here though, it is Yun-Jun Kim who stands out of the scene with another tear-jerker to add to JJ's belt of episode winners. Her determination to flee her love and husband is phenominal, yet she is scared, torn up. We can clearly see she wants her old waiter boyfriend back, just from the still camera, the gap between Sun and Jin getting too large and heavy for Sun/the camera/us viewers to withstand. But she turns around, and sees what she has dreamed of for ages. He presents the flower of their engagement in effect at just the last moment, and Sun cries, and he comforts her. Jin appears back to his old self. They appear to be the perfect couple, almost to an extent where u gotta love Jin... so why is he such a pig on the island? And the flower at the last moment, was that on purpose? And why does he act like he abuses her? (We have theoretical proof of this when Sun tries to explain to Sayid the fight of the episode was about the watch through body actions, which get misinterpreted, but she still uses body actions when she speaks English, as if she's used to speaking through her body. Seeing as she had to body-speak for 6 days already, it's sort of understandable... if you feared the people, and Sun has asked Jin for permission to talk to them, so that's wrong. It possibly is true that she speaks through her body, and has done for a long time, because she's too scared to speak through her mouth. She rarely does speak up until now as a matter of fact, and even that's behind her husband's back, and low self-esteem of this kind is a heavy sign of abuse. Counter-arguments though could include the explanation for not speaking being she so far only speaks to him, whilst she is fighting to understand her feelings for him, so she feels guilty at times for receiving his love). Bigger question is, is Sun asking the same questions? (Even bigger than that, why the hell are there so many questions that need damn answering? Or should that be "Why was I born a nosy moo?!"). She is pretty emotional after the final flashback, something is going on inside her head, and it's a huge debate at least.
The episode itself opens up with Sun's eye, and us finding out she likes her plants. Then the two men in her island life start fighting. Well, Jin starts pummeling Michael for an unknown reason. Despite her pleas, she is torn between who to help, allowing Jin to continue until Sawyer and Sayid, an unlikely pair, intervene. A trial of sorts takes place, Jin cuffed to the witness stand, and Sun tries offering her defence, but Sayid misinterprets her sign for watch as cuffs, which when you realise is quite funny considering when you see it later, but that would take reruns or a good memory to notice. While Sun deals with her guilt for Michael, jack, Kate, Charlie and "The Great White Hunter" go back to the caves. The weirdest part is the noises they hear in the jungle, you're listening out for the monster and instead you get these odd noises, similar yet distinct, which raises the question of little human-bashing baby monsters, which to be honest is cute in a perverted sort of way. It's either monster noises of some sorts, or animals or just plain spooky music. Though I present this theory with regards to episode one, where the cockpit scene was blended between unnatural monster noise and tense music. This could be happening again. The monsters presence rears its head again with Locke, discovering Charlie relieving his withdrawal symptoms... on a lovely beehive. You just know Charlie is going to destroy the nest whatever happens. Also ironically, it's him with the fear of bees. This so far appears to be the only irony so the comedy appeal for the rest of the episode stays fresh, which is always good when writing episodes. Being chased by bees, Jack and Kate get naked, with the likely excuse of bees in their bonnets. Although it leads to an important discovery of skeletons older than 50 years. First thoughts pertain to the french woman, but she died earliest 16 years ago, not 50. Was she alone or not? And those gemstones Jack finds, what are they? More importantly, why do we have to suffer more questions? Just show us the damn monster already. But no, Jack and Kate have to argue about moving to the caves, which then turns to Jack and Sayid arguing, where a fiery temper flares up, shocking coming from a leader. After we see a shot of Vincent (who JJ just HAS to make a main character), Sun comes out with the truth to Michael, who is clearly not happy, but helps out and starts ranting at Jin with an axe, which is weirdly funny too, when thinking about how Jin doesn't understand a word of it. Or does he? Michael still hasn't forgiven Sun though, as we can see in Sun's guilt-ridden face, the mean man. Although he does offer us something to remember. "Time doesn't matter on a damn island." It helps to create a theme which can be analysed throughout the episode, and also makes Jin's thief comment petty, even if the whole thing was over honour. New tenants arrive at the caves, and in a classic Hurley mood, a song plays, and starts off representing the faces and each faces feelings, and their "Is this where u want to be?" question. We also get a contrasting camera shot of fading to another setting, which helps establish a division between the survivors. Could this be a JJ style cliffhanger for the future?
Due to the intensity of the plotline, the music may seem small in comparison. But "House Of The Rising Sun" has one of the most complexly composed music to date. Everywhere we turn in Sun's flashback, we see, well, hear, an oriental theme running throughout, mostly defined with the melancholy theme variation. What appears to be a zitar is used to great affect to achieve this uniqueness, alongside a windchime effect to represent oriental mythology. Fantasy is rife of course as well, and this is achieved through hollow sounds heard throughout the episode. The jewel of the crown though takes place in the airplane flashback. Not only do we hear a stunning variation of the melancholy theme with extra little fancy bits connecting the phrases together and also adding to this oriental atmosphere, but a dull chime is heard in the background, the pitch varies constantly, strings vibrate, zitars pluck, violins, all bring tears to our eyes (and Sun's), and furthermore, Jin is there, pulling out the flower, salvation. Jin IS there, and the happiness of the music coinciding with Sun's returning decision, all bring about a climax of smooth cello vibrating strokes, and a violin send off for Sun's flashbacks. Despite all this happiness and love, the music still has a menacing "typically-Lost" undertone that hides the mean Jin, the dodgy Jin, the Jin that we suspect of ruining Sun's self-esteem, and no physical beauty, not even of past times, can shake that from us viewers. But we viewers aren't in love, so we may never understand the truenuess of Jin, but we may have an advantage of observing from the outside. Another of Hurley's tracks is played, aptly titled "Is this where you want to be?" apt because it's when everyone moves to the caves, and apt because, well, who wants to be on an island with mysteries, human-killing monsters and, as Sawyer says, "Sticks?"
The main vibe i pick up from this episode is communication. I don't know if what i write about was the intentions of JJ and Damon, but you don't mess with something when it's rolling, so i doubt they'd care. But communication does come out quite a lot in this episode. From basic speech to signalling through body actions through to how we identify ourselves. Sawyer has continued throughout nicknaming people, the stand out of this episode being with the "Belle of the Ball's" lovers, the "Doctor and Captain Folaffle." Maybe it's way of saying to the audience "I can't be friggin asked to remember these names," giving us a sort of character insight into Sawyer: arrogance and laziness. The way Jack and Kate are communicating is making us suspicious. Although we ALL know what is going to happen (and if you don't, then i suggest you get a new hearing aid and an eye test, or lay off the alcohol). Charlie clearly communicates he's desperate for a) an audience and B) his drugs, through his boob joke and through his anger at Locke following him. We can easily see through his lies, yet Charlie still protests. He obviously is desperate. His hatred for Locke also comes out through comedy, though he's impressing himself rather than calling Locke the Great White Hunter for an audience, trying to communicate to himself that he's worth something useful to the island. Michael and Walt start to communicate, with MIchael providing a fatherly bond. And despite a bad start, they get to know each other as well. There are many more examples to show this theme throughout the episode. Unfortunately, there are as many questions to join these examples, not least what does Jin actually do? And is Sayid's increasing temper and pride going to be a problem? And when will JJ spare us and make Jack and Kate kiss already? It's gonna happen, it's friggin Hollywood after all. Some forms of communication just refuse to express themselves in this series though, either between characters and characters, writers and audience, monsters and polar bears etc.... And unfortunately, it makes a damn good show when it should be one of the most critiqued shows, for p***ing its audience off, for lack of a better term. The one thing that communicates to us viewers clearly though: Yun-Jun Kim should be worshipped for her acting ability and her ability to style.
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11-30-2005
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