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Post by William the Bloody on Oct 22, 2004 15:31:45 GMT -5
Yep, you've found it! The place to discuss this fine episode! |
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Post by SpringSummers on Oct 22, 2004 18:57:36 GMT -5
Yep, you've found it! The place to discuss this fine episode! Smokin'! Your best yet. Vlad, your writing, always very good, just keeps getting better and better. I loved the first line of the review part: "The Bible says it took 6 days for God to create the earth. In the 6 days that our castaways have been on their island, they are discovering it to be a whole new world." Wonderful opening. I am going to try to give my ideas on your questions . . . which mirror my own (nice summary): Where is Jack’s father? Why is that coffin empty? Did you have the body buried in Australia and only ship home a casket to fool everyone else so you could be done with it, Jack?MY GUESS: His body was in there - until it got up and walked off, that is. Were those “hallucinations” or “visions” of Jack’s dearly departed?MY GUESS: Neither. I don't know why, but I think it was simply Jack's father, alive. Like Locke, Jack's dad's body was "cured" by the Island. OK, maybe a little far out, but I think we had enough wiggle room on "whether anyone else can see him" to allow it. Was that the tail of the plane?I think YES. What is the meaning of all those dolls?Well, the Dru theory is still my favorite, but . . . a doll under water. Seems like it should be a metaphor for something. It isn't coming to me though. Is Locke himself now a part of the island’s magic, and is that how he miraculously saved Jack?My guess is no. He's a regular guy who had an irregular thing happen to him. LOL on this: "“Sticks” and “Stones for Brains.” Your parents must be soooo proud!" Also the googely eye thing for Kate. I don't want those two to get together. Too obvious, not hot enough. I love this whole "picture" part every week. Agree with your thoughts, except I want to see Charley with . . . don't hate me . . . but with Shannon. |
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Post by Lola m on Oct 23, 2004 11:05:25 GMT -5
Very nice one, Vlad! As usual, I appreciate the summary that starts the review. It's amazing to me that, even tho' I know I'm watching the ep carefully, I still find that you mention things that I hadn't noticed or glossed over. (I should know better, I mean, how many times do I watch a Buffy episode and suddenly go "oh, wow! I never notice that before"  ) Liked how you brought us back to the first episode, reminding us of the little scene where Jack asked for more alcohol for his drink. At the time, we all speculated a bit on that. Was it just a bit of writing so that he'd have it later to take care of his wound or was it more than that. I'm so glad to see it meant more. Means that I'll know to keep close eye on all the flashbacks. Little moments and lines will no doubt tell us quite a lot about our castaways. (Makes me quite happy to know the writing on the show really is gonna be this good.  ) I'm with you there a bit on the confusion with the rambling opening speech we hear from that Jack's dad. But I have another theory. Bunnies! (Ooops, wrong show. ;D ) I think that the speech is less confusing if we take out any idea that the dad is really trying to talk to his kid about what happend that day on the playground. He might think he is, but really I think he's just talking to himself. Frankly, I think he's talking about himself. When I look at it that way, it's even more devastating for Jack, really. Because he's obviously going thru life taking that to heart. Believing that his dad was telling him this awful truth, that Jack isn't stong enough to deal with failure. And I'm betting that it's the dad that couldn't deal with failure. **bounce, bounce** I totally agree with you and everyone else who was saying that Locke being the one to pull him off the cliff is very very important! And I'm glad you pointed out that it's only after Locke does this that Jack starts succeeding. I hadn't noticed that at all! Charley, Charley, Charley. Like you, I really liked the scene with him and Claire. "You don't scare me." Nice summation of his good points. He still faces the great challenge of coming to the end of his drug stash, but there is good potential in Charley. I have hopes for him. Gosh. Just a lot of good insights here, Vlad. I'm really finding these reviews helpful. Lola |
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Post by Patti - S'cubie Cutie on Oct 24, 2004 13:45:33 GMT -5
Vlad, you did it again. I'm really happy with the great job you are doing for us with these reviews. -- Boone, the lifeguard is drowning? I did NOT catch that.... I really like to read your reviews for the bits you catch that I didn't. It's like ...little easter eggs...*grin* --I like the addition of the Act designations. I also like your little 'hooks' in the analysis portion of your review - 'A lot more than a three hour tour'...'Jack and the (pine) box'...love that. Last week we have buddhism and shambala...this week we have the creation story from Genesis...very kewl Vlad...and your comparisons work really well. Another great catch - remembering Jack requesting that stronger drink on the plane...and isn't that so Jossian? I LOVE it when things actually have meaning later... Great point about the fact of running out of water being evidence the people are in denial. I'm kinda excited cause for once I think I 'got' something you had a question about. Here's my idea of what was going on with Jack's father and the rambling message....a message Jack learned really well. I think his father was saying that the reason he himself can handle the life and death decisions he makes is because at the end of the day HE has what it takes. He's 'a man'. And then he advises Jack NOT to make decisions, because Jack does NOT have what it takes. I think Jack believed his father, until the island this week. Its obvious to us that his dad was wrong - he didn't have what it takes, so he drank himself out of his profession and his family and respect. I completely agree with your interpretation of the meaning of the empty coffin. The burden of his father's disapproval is gone. The coffin is empty. And he smashes it like Buffy did the master's bones...its over. And then he returns to the camp with what he needed - confidence in himself. And - when I watched the first time I thought...but he never found his father - he stopped looking. When I saw it the second time, I thought..yeah...because he doesn't need to anymore. Which is what you say in your review, also. He and Locke have both been given what they most wanted. I still don't know why or how, though I'm still going with the thoughts and desires becoming reality. Loved this... "I think Locke being Jack’s savior from his cliff fall is hugely important. Locke has pulled him into his wonderland of miraculous things." Jack's last name is Shepherd....WOW....another kewl catch. Sawyer....he is SO Spike... especially this week. Thanks for catching what Charley's tattoo said - I couldn't make it out. Hurley....I think he's doing more than following - he's pointing. He has several times noticed things and brought them to the attention of those who can handle them best. He may not be a hero (yet) but he's definitely a helper. Shannon....Vlad you are just bad.  "The leaders will have to make tough choices, and assuredly some of them will be wrong. But you can’t live life without making decisions. As long as your eyes are open and you are thinking, that’s about the best you can do. And, you have to be able to live with that.." Amen. And I can't wait to find out what all those dolls are going to have to do with this story. |
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Post by Sara on Oct 24, 2004 17:00:13 GMT -5
Another excellent job Vlad. My brain isn't really clicking this evening, but I did have two observations from watching the episode I wanted to share:
1. I got a kick out of seeing J.J. Abrams's love of Alice in Wonderland finally surfacing in this show--Alias is rife with references to the work, both overt and subtle (My favorite: the real name of EvilFrancie being Alison Doren.).
2. Is it me, or has every episode opened with a full-frame shot of someone's eye?
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Post by Nickim on Oct 24, 2004 21:18:17 GMT -5
Vlad, You rock  I liked what you said about Jack searching for his father and finding the empty shell, like the empty coffin. I agree with Lola that the dad's opening speech was about himself. He'd just lost a patient--a child--and was feeling like a failure. Doctors tell themself to be distant, that they Can't save everyone, but it still has to make them feel like a failure when a patient dies on the table, especially a child. I like how you pointed out that Jack's dad dealt with problems by NOT dealing with them. We saw Jack shut down emotionally last week. I'd say it was more his upbringing than his profession that led to his ability to distance himself from his fellow survivors. I think a lot of Boone's disenchantment with Jack is that Boone wanted Jack to be a Superhero who would save them all. There were so many references to failure in this episode I got the feeling that Boone's "business" might have been failing. It was probably started with family money and is now about to go out of business. Boone failed to save the drowning woman, had to be saved himself--bailed out by "daddy Jack." He's probably been bailed out of lots of failures by his parents, and now he's scared because Jack has "feet of clay." Boone's probably just as spoiled as Shannon, just isn't as nasty. I really like Charley & Claire. I think taking care of Claire and the baby could be Charley's salvation. He deserves much better than Shannon. Vlad, I like how you pointed out that Sawyer knows people don't like him and that it's not always a bad thing. People don't always like hearing the truth, even when it's something that is for their own benefit. Stop smoking, eat healthy, etc. Sawyer, you got any sunscreen? I burn really bad. I have some more thoughts, but I'm too tired to be very coherent. Sara, I think you're right about the episodes all starting with the eye. Was the coffin empty when the plane took off? My gut feeling is yes. Jack left the body in Australia to get the funeral over and done with. It didn't look like the tail section to me, but I've only watched it once. |
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LilRed
Junior S'cubie
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Post by LilRed on Oct 25, 2004 12:01:31 GMT -5
Another entertaining review! My first thoughts in the flashback when Jack’s Dad was giving Jack “the speech” was that he was telling Jack how selfish he was being by putting himself in harm's way, and how dare he do that and risk messing up Dad’s time off. To me it was an 'all about Dad' speech. The whole "when you fail" speech seemed like it was just coming from a disfunctional Dad to me. I am curious as to what Jack's Mom was referring to when she pressured him into going to Australia. Something along the lines of a big blow-up with Dad I'm guessing. I'm really glad this show is turning out to be so good!  |
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Post by Lola m on Oct 25, 2004 16:43:37 GMT -5
Another entertaining review! My first thoughts in the flashback when Jack’s Dad was giving Jack “the speech” was that he was telling Jack how selfish he was being by putting himself in harm's way, and how dare he do that and risk messing up Dad’s time off. To me it was an 'all about Dad' speech. The whole "when you fail" speech seemed like it was just coming from a disfunctional Dad to me. I am curious as to what Jack's Mom was referring to when she pressured him into going to Australia. Something along the lines of a big blow-up with Dad I'm guessing. I'm really glad this show is turning out to be so good! **nods** Yup. I see dad's speech as really being "all about dad" and not really related to Jack at all. No wonder the grown up Jack is a bit messed up, though, eh? What a thing to say to a kid! I remember that several folks were speculating about different possibilities for the thing that mom was referring to. Someone suggested that perhaps Jack had to turn his dad in to the authorities for drinking on the job and his licence was removed. Or perhaps dad botched a surgery and Jack somehow was involved in dad getting in trouble for it. Still wild speculations at this point, of course, but what is more fun at the start of a show than speculating wildly? ;D ;D Lola |
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Post by Nickim on Oct 25, 2004 17:05:00 GMT -5
I definitely think Jack had to blow the whistle on his dad. I'm betting on a medical condition that made it dangerous for the dad to perform surgery. He did drink a lot, but there were lots of drugs in that drawer. Maybe addicted to tranquilizers and booze.
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LilRed
Junior S'cubie
Posts: 18
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Post by LilRed on Oct 26, 2004 11:57:53 GMT -5
Someone suggested that perhaps Jack had to turn his dad in to the authorities for drinking on the job and his licence was removed. Or perhaps dad botched a surgery and Jack somehow was involved in dad getting in trouble for it. Lola As I read both of these comments, I went "Yes, that makes sense!" I really like these ideas. I'm not so good at the speculation part myself, but I can comprehend the ideas of others. I'm betting that something along these lines will be revealed in a future episode. |
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Feb 27, 2006 13:24:29 GMT -5
Bullies. Grr.
Should'a stayed down, Jack.
Charlie doesn't swim. Even though he lives on an island, blah blah blah.
Currents can be dangerous. Not the same as a pool, Boone.
6 days. Now 47 survivors. Now 46 actually.
Sleep deprivation. Possible explanation.
When will some one tell us what to do?
Kate's a Gemini. Claire knows astrology.
Helpful Hurley.
Young Jack's wearing same stripped shirt.
You don't don't have what it takes? Yikes!
Boone runs a business.
What did Jack do?
Why Jack was on the plane.
How does each character view their experience on the island?
Charlie's tatoo: Living is easy with eyes closed.
Claire thinks she scares people. Interesting. How she feels about her pregnancy? Her ex?
What makes a good leader? What does it take?
Crazy people don't know they're going crazy. They think they're going saner.
What if you're not? Then we're all in a lot of trouble.
What if everything that happened here, happened for a reason? Is this meta or just Locke's interpretation?
It was beautiful? What did Locke see?
Does Locke really know what he's talking about or just act like he does?
luggage. This is like Challenger and Columbia. They're going to keep finding pieces.
Jin standing behind Jack in line at the airport.
Very pretty airport. Is that was it really looks like?
The coffin's empty! So some one stole the body? The airline screwed him?
If we can't live together, we're going to die alone.
Jin's trying to be what he thinks a husband should be.
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