Lost 2.05: Echo, Others and Fate

A really well done show exposing more of the other survivors, as well as the back story of Jin and Sun and our first encounter with the Others.

I was pleasantly surprised with last night’s show. Coupled with last week, I feel that Lost has recovered from the stumble it took in the second and third episodes; more character driven plots versus the ideological conflicts between Locke and Jack. This show featured the relationship between Jin and Sun, and while sappy, I really liked how it was presented. The story focused on the tribulations Jin went through as a young man to make himself and really drove home the fact that this was a loyal and good guy. When he allowed the poor Koreans into the Hotel to use the restroom, after being explicitly told by the owner to refuse people “like him”, his integrity was really on display. And it was augmented when he faced the owner and quit on the spot. It was a good parallel story to what was happening on the island. Jin refused to ditch his friend, Michael, refused to allow him to die on that side of the island. I am beginning to like Jin more and more, and the show is only helping that by showing his integrity and fortitude to not abandon his friends or his background. It just makes me wonder if they are going to kill him off. I mean, this would be the perfect setup. Make the whole audience sympathetic to a character and then, BAM! Like that, kill him off. Instant shock and horror. Especially in light of Sun’s story about frantically finding her wedding ring and trying to not forget her husband. It’s something that I don’t want to happen, but can see happening.

Another character we were given some more light on was Mr. Echo. If that’s his real name. He decides to help Jin find Michael when he realizes Jin won’t back down, essentially respecting his fortitude and loyalty to his friend. I like this guy as well, he presents himself as a man who sticks to his principles. Additionally, his skills as a tracker seem to rival that of Locke’s, so I think we’re in for a treat when they meet. Perhaps it’ll have some good ramifications for the survivors in that they’ll now be able to track the Others. Ahh, the Others. We were finally given a sight of them, although, I am not too sure the first sight of them. We knew about Ethan, who kidnapped Claire and her baby. Was he one of the Others? Or is he just a rival sect, hence his kidnapping of the wrong baby? In any case, we finally got to see these Others who were terrorizing Snarl & Co. on the other side of the island. Or, rather, their feet. It was a good introduction to the Others without spoiling too much of the suspense. As Jin and Echo were hiding in the brush as they passed, we got to glimpse them walking by and saw that they were indeed not beasts but regular human beings. I also like the inclusion of the child with the teddy bear, who I don’t think is Walt. It just adds to the mystery of the Others. Are they savages who hunt people? Cannibals? Showing the child with the teddy bear also let loose one particularly haunting question: Are they so far removed from society that even a child is capable of murdering? It’s pretty frightening to think of a child killing someone because they just don’t know any better.

Which would lead to the experiments brought up by the Orientation film in episode two. I am beginning to think more and more that these Others are a freak result of some kind of experiment by the Hanso Foundation and the Dharma Initiative. It’s just too coincidental for it to be anything else. Either they are an experiment or they are the experimenters themselves and they just went mad on the island. Perhaps the unforeseen event referenced in the film referred to the madness that the experimenters encountered when they were on this island for years without contact. In either case, they are a welcome addition to the show, adding to more of the mystery concerning the island. I am just waiting for the time when the polar bears show up again.

One thread that seems to be repeating throughout the show and is present in this episode is the role of fate in all of the survivor’s lives. Before Jin leaves for his interview, he is told by his roommate that love will come to him in orange. And, at the end of Jin’s flashback, he sees a stunning woman in an orange dress. He rubbernecks to take a longer glance at her, and when he turns around, he smiles then suddenly bumps into Sun. They take a long look at each other and we know they’ve found each other at last. The role of fate shouldn’t be taken too lightly, especially considering everyone else’s run in with fate at some point or another. I think it’s just an interesting thread that keeps repeating in everyone’s storyline and again here with Jin and Sun.

On a side note: ABC, why are you such bastards? Giving us that great teaser for the next show, what with Walt appearing out of nowhere, Shannon losing her mind, the rain and the great ambiance, and then telling us we have to wait 3 weeks until we can see it! I can understand fearing competition with the World Series, but they only last two weeks. When I say it this time, I truly cannot wait ‘til the next episode.