Lost Season 6

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2010's, Daniel Dae Kim, Elizabeth Mitchell, Emilie de Ravin, Evangeline Lilly, Henry Ian Cusick, Jeff Fahey, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Ken Leung, Lost, Lost Season 6, Matthew Fox, Michael Emerson, Naveen Andrews, Nestor Carbonell, Terry O'Quinn, Yunjin Kim, Zuleikha Robinson

And here it is, my review of Lost’s final season. I have continued to be enthralled by this enigmatic series from the moment I watched it. Revisiting it has been a great experience, and hopefully this has translated into my reviews of the past seasons. So back to business with this review of the polarizing and highly controversial Season 6. Spoilers will follow in my review.

Last we saw of the characters was Jack(Matthew Fox) attempting to blow the survivors back into the correct time zone by detonating a hydrogen bomb which will place them back on the flight. We now see that they are back on the island once more after Juliet(Elizabeth Mitchell) caused the bomb to explode, preceded by a bright flashing light. Juliet succumbs to death in Sawyer’s(Josh Holloway) arms and Sawyer sinks into depression. Meanwhile, after he got Ben(Michael Emerson) to kill Jacob, the person claiming to be Locke(Terry O’Quinn) revealed himself to be the ‘Man in Black’ or the smoke monster who is now stuck in the guise of the deceased Locke. He takes command over a small group of people in order to gain leadership and revenge. Sun(Yunjin Kim), Ben, Frank(Jeff Fahey) and Ilana(Zuleikha Robinson) try to navigate their way through the jungle to warn the others. With Sayid(Naveen Andrews) injured, Jack,Kate(Evangeline Lilly), Hurley(Jorge Garcia),Miles(Ken Leung) and Jin(Daniel Dae Kim) take him to the Temple, which is populated by a group of ‘The Others’, where he can be supposedly healed. Sayid dies but strangely comes back to life two hours later. But Sayid isn’t how he was originally, and he later switches to the dark side as a result. Kate later goes to find Sawyer with Jin, but the two become separated from each other. Jin soon encounters a familiar face in Claire(Emilie de Ravin) who was last seen wandering into the jungle after seeing a vision of her father in Season 4. Claire has significantly changed from the vulnerable girl we last saw, adopting a harsh personality based on survival and instinct, very much like jungle dweller Rousseau before her. Jack is warned by the leader of the Man in Black’s plans to kill everyone and take over leadership of the island. But with friendships changing and loyalties shifting, can any of these characters survive what is to come? Prepare to be shocked and thrilled as Season 6 unravels with the reasons why the characters are on the island and the history behind it.

The first thing to comment on in this final season is the introduction of the flash sideways. Through this technique, we witness the characters living out what their lives could have been like if they hadn’t crashed on the island. These little snippets of alternate lives prove for interesting viewing to say the least. Many have said that the technique isn’t useful, but I think it does serve as a melancholy reminder of how drastic the survivor’s have changed since their first encounter with the mysterious island. Various scenarios include Locke being reunited with his beloved Helen, Sawyer as a cop and Kate escaping justice and meeting Claire. I admire the heightening of the themes of good and evil, and the cloud of confusion that comes from attempting to fathom who is on the right side. Various characters are afflicted by this, prominently Sawyer and Sayid. Effectively woven into this tapestry are themes of loyalty, friendship and distrust. The season does get quite complicated towards the end, but still elicits a strong emotional response from me. Having watched all of the seasons, there is a deep, emotional tie to these characters in their quest for answers.

The cast as always are impeccable and have become so intertwined with their characters emotions. Matthew Fox is reliable as Jack, whose pitted in this battle of good and evil because of conflicting beliefs and ideals. Terry O’Quinn is menace personified as the Man in Black taking the form of Locke, we watch how he influences the characters in his attempt to escape the island once and for all. Michael Emerson manages to reveal a strangely sensitive and vulnerable side to the normally traitorous Ben, whilst Jorge Garcia imbues Hurley with lovable charm and warm pathos. Josh Holloway is impeccable as Sawyer, whose character has deepened with every season. Naveen Andrews effectively portrays Sayid’s journey to the dark side but also his heroic salvation. Henry Ian Cusick adeptly plays Desmond and his humorous but resourceful demeanor. Daniel Dae Kim and Yunjin Kim are impressive as Jin and Sun, who are finally reunited after being apart for so long.Evangeline Lilly brings her familiar mix of strength and vulnerability to the role of Kate. Emilie de Ravin returns as Claire, and cleverly shows her regression to primal instinct and then her accepting humanity again as she remembers what happened before. Elizabeth Mitchell, despite only appearing briefly, adds sadness to Juliet as she courageously tries to save the island but succumbs to death in the arms of her beloved Sawyer. Ken Leung and Nestor Carbonell are used to great effect as the sarcastic Miles and the ageless Richard. Jeff Fahey gets some excellent one liners as pilot Frank. Zuleikha Robinson returns as Ilana, though it’s a shame that her character is killed off so early in the season and not developed well enough.

This season is full of heart wrenching moments from start to finish. The two that most affected me where Sayid’s heroic sacrifice and Sun and Jin’s death by drowning. As they occur within minutes of each, the emotional impact is all the more powerful as we watch the deaths of three popular characters. If you don’t find their deaths emotional, then you have a heart of stone. Sayid’s death is tragic because he finally finds redemption in sacrificing himself, Sun and Jin’s death is sad because of the various obstacles that they have overcome to be where they are now and how they die holding hands, symbolising their undying love for one another. No discussion of this season would be complete without mentioning the controversial ending. In it, we see all of the characters from many of the different seasons reunite in a church as they move onto the afterlife, whilst a highly emotional score plays in the background. I personally found the scene very evocative and heartfelt. I know many will disagree with me, but I still can’t shake the ending. Many people thought that the ending basically implied that the characters were dead all along, but if you listen closely the whole story is explained by Jack’s father.

Emotional and interesting, the last season of Lost is not to be missed. Some may take certain issues with the series, but the characters are so well written that this is more than enough to get you through. I’m sad to finish watching this series, but fear not fellow bloggers as more television reviews will be coming your way very soon.

Lost Season 5

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2000's, Daniel Dae Kim, Elizabeth Mitchell, Evangeline Lilly, Henry Ian Cusick, Jeff Fahey, Jeremy Davies, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Ken Leung, Lost, Lost Season 5, Matthew Fox, Michael Emerson, Naveen Andrews, Nestor Carbonell, Rebecca Mader, Terry O'Quinn, Yunjin Kim, Zuleikha Robinson

Following on from the unexpected and riveting finale of Season 4, Lost Season 5 continues the groundwork set by it to contribute more shocking twists and turns in this saga. It may become a bit too complicated at times, but it’s just so addictive to watch that this quibble will most likely forgotten as the season progresses. Spoilers will follow in this review.

What we last saw was Ben(Michael Emerson) turning a mysterious wheel which made the island vanish from view, Locke(Terry O’Quinn) had assumed the role of leader to ‘The Others’ and the freighter had blown up, supposedly killing Jin(Daniel Dae Kim). The Oceanic Six were adjusting to their new lives back at home, but were still being plagued by the pull of the island. It appears, according to Ben that the island will never let them go and they are to return as part of destiny. The present of Jack(Matthew Fox), Kate(Evangeline Lilly), Hurley(Jorge Garcia), Sun(Yunjin Kim) and Sayid(Naveen Andrews) is explored as we watch them realise that they must return to the island they fought to get off. Meanwhile on the island  the people still there, Sawyer(Josh Holloway),Juliet(Elizabeth Mitchell) Daniel(Jeremy Davies), Miles(Ken Leung) and Charlotte(Rebecca Mader) realise that what Ben has unleashed is a continuous jump through time. One minute they are in the present, the next minute they are experiencing the history of the mysterious island. The jumping through time soon seems to herald the arrival of dire consequences as uncertainty rises. As the Oceanic Six return to the island, it appears it is going to be awkward and enigmatic all over again as they have to face their alleged destiny.

The first thing to note about Season 5 is the heavy usage of time travel. In some aspects, it increases the impact of the story to the audience but it can also get more than a little confusing to keep up with. I can understand why certain fans of the show become a bit disillusioned with this season because of the confusion of certain aspects. I agree to some extent about the confusion, at certain points I was really unsure about what the hell was happening, but the character development and mystery kept me interested in this eventful season. Our characters are drawn back together and watching them you see that you’ve come to relate to them and care about what becomes of them. The script cleverly plays with the reasons why the island needs them back and teases the answers out slowly but surely with mysterious effects. I liked how the history of the DHARMA Initiative is intertwined with our characters, and how after time travel, Sawyer and some of the others integrate themselves into the community. The various characters who appear later on such as Eloise and a young Widmore add to the mix of enigma and strangeness. Music is again another highlight of the show as it drives the narrative forward with urgency.The jumpy editing was beneficial to the constant shifts in time and neatly links in the theme of changing destiny. I must mention that Lost Season 5 is filled with emotional moments that will really be devastating to watch. One of these is the death of Charlotte, because of the various shifts in time beginning to aggravate her mind. Daniel watches as the woman he cares for slips away in his arms and we see his guilt at knowing that something like this would happen. The other is Daniel’s death at the hands of his own mother Eloise in the past timeline. His unexpected and heartfelt end also functions as a way of tying up some of the unanswered questions of the season. Both the work of Rebecca Mader and Jeremy Davies ensures that although their characters were only in the show for a short time, they will most certainly be remembered.

Our ensemble cast really steps up here to deliver exceptional performances. Terry O’Quinn really does some amazing work as Locke, who is killed by Ben early in the season but strangely enough seems to have come back to life again. He must now embrace his destiny and protect the island, but what is the mystery surrounding this alleged figure of John Locke? Michael Emerson adds more layers to Ben, showing he is still a manipulative liar but also a very strong ally with important information that could save everyone.Matthew Fox is great as Jack, whose leadership begins to slip when he is transported back into the 70’s. Josh Holloway really fleshes out the character of Sawyer and shows us the inner turmoil and eventual happiness he finds with Juliet as they pursue a relationship. Elizabeth Mitchell continues to impress as the resourceful Juliet, now in a relationship with Sawyer in one of the many timelines. She shows us how Juliet has finally found happiness but is dragged back into the various troubles of the island because of the survivor’s return.Evangeline Lilly portrays Kate as a complex woman, torn between her love for Jack and the mystery of the island. We get to glimpse the maternal bond she has developed with baby Aaron and how no matter what happens, she is always on the run from something in her life. Jorge Garcia and Naveen Andrews continue to deliver fine work as Hurley and Sayid. Yunjin embodies the undying love for her husband and her refusal to believe he is dead. As it transpires, Jin is in fact alive and in the 70’s timeline. Speaking with a better command of English and tougher than ever, Daniel Dae Kim manages to make Jin one of the best characters on the show. Ken Leung impresses again as the sarcastic medium Miles, who has unfinished business with someone in the past on the island. One point that I will make is that I wish that Henry Ian Cusick had more prominence to the story with his character of Desmond. Don’t get me wrong, whenever Desmond appears it is always riveting, but Season 5 unfortunately doesn’t use him efficiently enough. Jeff Fahey adds dashes of humour as the returning pilot Frank.The supporting character of Richard, a high member of ‘The Others’ is given more prominence in this season after a number of guest appearances in the past seasons. The seemingly ageless Richard is portrayed with spooky resonance by Nestor Carbonell, who gets some wonderful scenes with Locke and Ben as they deliberate the fate of the island. The new character of Ilana, an alleged bounty hunter is introduced in this season and she is shaping up to be an enigmatic puzzle of a character. Portrayed with sexy, self-assurance and fierce determination by Zuleikha Robinson, it will be interesting to see what more her character can contribute to this mind-bending show.

Season 5 may get off to a confusing start but stay with it as the various threads weave together to make for intense, emotional and mind-blowing television.

Lost Season 4

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2000's, Daniel Dae Kim, Elizabeth Mitchell, Emilie de Ravin, Evangeline Lilly, Harold Perrineau, Henry Ian Cusick, Jeff Fahey, Jeremy Davies, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Ken Leung, Lost, Lost Season 4, Matthew Fox, Michael Emerson, Naveen Andrews, Rebecca Mader, Terry O'Quinn, Yunjin Kim

Lost Season 3 proved to be a lesser season to the two that came before it because of the story becoming a little too complicated for its own good. As season 3 went on it gathered momentum and delivered a great finale. Season 4 carries on this momentum and emerges as a superior season to the last with a twisting story. Warning, spoilers will follow in this overview.

To recap,Jack(Matthew Fox) and the rest of the survivors made contact with an alleged freighter for rescue, despite the warnings from John Locke(Terry O’Quinn) and the nefarious Ben(Michael Emerson). Before Charlie died, he managed to inform Desmond(Henry Ian Cusick) that the rescuers were not as good as they seem. This message when relayed to the survivors forges a split in camps as Jack leads those who believe in the rescue and Locke leading the camp that wants to hide. Kate(Evangeline Lilly), Juliet(Elizabeth Mitchell), who has finally chosen her side after much enigma, Desmond, Sun(Yunjin Kim) , Jin (Daniel Dae Kim) and Sayid(Naveen Andrews) side with Jack. Whereas a devastated Hurley(Jorge Garcia), Claire(Emilie de Ravin) Ben and Sawyer(Josh Holloway) choose to go with Locke. We are then introduced to the mysterious members of the alleged rescuers: the awkward physicist Daniel Faraday(Jeremy Davies), the hot-headed medium Miles(Ken Leung), secretive anthropologist Charlotte Lewis(Rebecca Mader) and pilot Frank Lapidus(Jeff Fahey) . It appears that rescue isn’t the only part of their plan as they are actually looking for Ben as well. The man behind this is Charles Widmore, the disapproving father of Penny, who wants to locate the island for his own personal greed. The series also gives us an insight into the futures of characters, in revealing and innovative flash forwards which reveal the members who left the island. Among the stories, Jack has become depressed and turned to drink before attempting to clear his act up in order to get Kate back, Hurley is haunted by visions of Charlie, Kate is caring for baby Aaron and Sayid works as a hitman for none other than Ben. These little glimpses show us how the island seems to have a hold on them despite them leaving and how it is trying to lure them back to the mysterious place. As the struggle for power continues, who will survive as mystery deepens, tensions rise and a familiar face returns? All will be revealed as Season 4, although brief in length, captures the mystery of your imagination and refuses to let go.

Season 4 may be very short, which occurred because of the Writer’s Strike at the time of airing, but it still manages to be gripping television.The animosity between the two factions is amazing to watch, especially in the scene in which they disperse in the pouring rain. Locke and Jack are very much at loggerheads again in their battle for leadership and the way that this is written proves for excellent and emotionally involving viewing.The script is tighter than some of Season 3 and manages to flesh out the conflicted emotions that begin to run high as result of the split and the various motivations for this. The flash forwards prove immensely interesting and eye-opening as we witness some of the experiences of the people who escaped the island and how the presence of their time on it have left them haunted by its spectre. We still get the occasional flashbacks to their time before the island, but the flash forwards make for more compelling viewing. Strong visuals and camerawork give this season a sense of immediacy as our characters navigate their way through uncertain motivations and divided minds. The atmosphere is heightened by the stunning and often enigmatic score that is utilised to excellent effect in this mysterious and mind-bending show. I also found the scenes with Sayid and Desmond on the boat riveting because of the mysterious bouts of cabin fever that resulted in violent consequences and the reintroduction of Michael into the series.The concept of time travel is brought into fruition with Desmond, who begins to experiences flashes of the past and is only able to return if something remains constant. His constant is his unwavering love for Penny. This culminates in an emotional phone call to his beloved that will leave you in tears and ranks as one of the most emotionally rewarding and heartfelt scenes in the series. Everything about this scene is structured so well and really adds to the emotion driven storylines that occupy Lost, especially the amazing acting by Henry Ian Cusick. Another emotional moment is the death of Danielle Rousseau and eventually her daughter Alex by the mercenaries from the boat. I really thought that their reunion in the last season was touching, which makes their respective deaths all the more tragic.

As with before, the wide ensemble cast is exemplary. Matthew Fox shows us how Jack has gone from original stabilizer of the group to driven and slightly dogmatic leader of his section of followers who is now in battle with Locke for supremacy. Terry O’Quinn is always riveting as the ever-changing Locke, who becomes more aggressive and goes full on ‘Colonel Kurtz’ as Sawyer so eloquently puts it.Speaking of Sawyer, Josh Holloway continues with his sarcastic delivery but also finds sympathy and new depths within this character. Michael Emerson impresses as the manipulative Ben, who becomes something of an unlikely ally to the survivors with his knowledge of the intentions of the supposed rescuers and who is behind it. He informs the group that he has a spy on the boat, who is later revealed to be Michael(Harold Perrineau), who we last saw betraying his friends to get Walt back. Harold Perrineau subtly shows Michael’s journey from broken man on the verge of suicide to one who wants to be redeemed for his past misdeeds. His eventual death completes his quest for redemption in spectacular fashion. Jorge Garcia provides emotional depth and humour as the ever lovable Hurley, while Naveen Andrews excels with Sayid’s arc. Yunjin Kim and Daniel Dae Kim quietly portray the love between Sun and Jin and the way they have overcome the various barriers standing in their way. Evangeline Lilly continues to be impressive as resourceful Kate and she has some excellent scenes with Elizabeth Mitchell, who portrays Juliet. Mitchell gets to show us the warmth and compassion behind Juliet’s outward appearance and her budding relationship with Jack makes for interesting viewing as we wonder how it will pan out and whether Jack will be with Juliet or Kate. The newer characters are well written and add different dimensions to the show. Jeremy Davies is suitably nervy yet highly intelligent as Daniel, while Ken Leung portrays the sarcastic and insular Miles. Rebecca Mader adds mystery and toughness as Charlotte and Jeff Fahey gets some amazing and funny one-liners as the cranky pilot Frank.

With red herrings a plenty and emotion driven stories, Lost Season 4 is an enthralling entry into this saga from unexpected beginning to exhilarating finale.

 

Lost Season 3

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2000's, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Daniel Dae Kim, Dominic Monaghan, Elizabeth Mitchell, Emilie de Ravin, Evangeline Lilly, Henry Ian Cusick, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Kiele Sanchez, Lost, Lost Season 3, Matthew Fox, Michael Emerson, Naveen Andrews, Rodrigo Santoro, Terry O'Quinn, Yunjin Kim

After the explosive ending of Lost Season 2, the third season suffers from some notable weaknesses that make it a lesser season to the predecessors. That aside the series gets better as it progresses. Be warned, spoilers feature throughout this review.

Jack(Matthew Fox), Sawyer(Josh Holloway) and Kate(Evangeline Lilly) have been captured by ‘The Others’ after Michael betrayed them in order to get Walt back. The trio are taken to another island where the mysterious others live. Unlike how they initially appeared in rags, they are more efficient and sophisticated than we’ve seen. It is here that Henry is revealed to in fact be Ben Linus(Michael Emerson), the second in command. The manipulative Ben toys with Jack and the others emotions and Sawyer and Kate form a romantic relationship. We are introduced to Juliet Burke(Elizabeth Mitchell), a mysterious doctor who seems to change sides rapidly. One minute she’s being caring for Jack, next she’s on Ben’s side. The enigmatic Juliet aids Sawyer and Kate in escaping but has a few ultimatums for Jack regarding Ben, who is need of spinal surgery that could claim his life. Meanwhile, the hatch has imploded after Locke(Terry O’Quinn) lost his faith with pushing the button let it tick down causing an electromagnetic pulse to cover the Island. This is the same kind of blast that caused the plane of the survivors to crash according to Desmond(Henry Ian Cusick), who made it back to the island in the last episode of season 2. Hurley(Jorge Garcia) arrives back at camp with the news of the trio’s kidnapping. This causes Locke to rise up and encourage the other survivors to fight for the freedom of Jack. The lines between good and evil are blurred as Ben forces the survivors he captured into various strange deals in exchange for their release. Also, many of the mysteries of the island are revealed and the character flashback continue to delve into the troubled past of this group.

Firstly I want to get down to the flaws of this season. Whereas the past two seasons gave us mystery but also answers, Season 3 starts to become a little too complicated for its own good. Sure some of the mysteries intrigue, but the lack of answers can prove frustrating for the viewer. Also, the lack of appearances from crucial characters such as Locke in the first bunch of episodes is a negative as he is one of the most complex people in the show. The inclusion of two new characters, Nikki(Kiele Sanchez) and Paulo(Rodrigo Santoro), is not so great as they don’t really have a purpose and their characters aren’t that interesting. It isn’t really much of a surprise that they are both killed off during the run of the season. I have to say though the manner of their death is ghoulish to say the least. After their past as criminals is revealed and they turn on each other, they are both paralysed by a spider. The other survivors think they are dead and proceed to bury them. Just as the last bit of Earth hits her face, Nikki’s eyes snap open as she is buried alive. I do wish that Eko(Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) had continued as a character. But on one hand, his death at the hands of the smoke monster( who it is shown can take the form of the deceased) does complete his redemption story in tragic and poignant detail.

Now onto the positives, of which there are many in the later episodes of the season. The visual style is excellent, full of sweeping camera shots and strange but lethal beauty of the mysterious island. The suspense of the previous seasons may have diminished in the earlier episodes, but it comes back more intriguing than ever as the season reaches its end. The enigmatic musical score continues to generate chills and foreboding events with finicky strings, tribal percussion and melancholy piano. I liked how the relationship between Jack, Sawyer and Kate was explored as their conflicted feelings come to the forefront of the show. We see how Kate is torn between the two and how her relationship with Jack is tested by various forces. I found the history of ‘The Others’ interesting as we see how they are highly sophisticated but very territorial beings intent on preserving their island.

As always, the acting is outstanding from the ensemble cast. Matthew Fox, Josh Holloway and Evangeline Lilly continue to impress with their work as Jack, Sawyer and Kate. Michael Emerson returns as Ben and continues to portray him with malevolence and quiet manipulation that is very disquieting. He truly is an excellent villain and his various encounters with Jack are riveting. Elizabeth Mitchell portrays the mysterious Juliet with icy reserve and quiet internal strength and she truly makes an impression on this season of Lost. The way her character is written makes her such an intriguing woman of hidden depths. She drives a wedge between Jack and the camp, including Sayid(Naveen Andrews) who believes that bringing her to the camp is a bad move as no one really knows which side this complicated woman is on. And who can forget that catfight with Kate in the jungle when they are handcuffed together? Juliet’s job as a fertility specialist is crucial to the development of Sun(Yunjin Kim), who learns that all the women who have conceived on the island have died. Sun is then faced with the difficult task of keeping the secret from Jin(Daniel Dae Kim) in order to stop her from breaking down with the knowledge that her fate is sealed. The presence of fate is also prominent in the character of Desmond, who begins to experience flashes of the future. The most worrying of these is the repeated sight of Charlie(Dominic Monaghan) dying. No matter how many times he tries to save him, Charlie will eventually die. Desmond’s past involving his tenuous relationship with a woman named Penny is also movingly observed. Henry Ian Cusick and Dominic Monaghan work very well together as their characters aid each other with what they should do in this dire situation and how they should respond to the ominous warnings. For Charlie, the worst part about the knowledge of his death is that he will be parted from Claire(Emilie de Ravin). Their relationship has followed an interesting and touching course, evolving from strangers into soul mates. It is Charlie who provides Season 3 with its biggest emotional punch in the scene in which he drowns. Over the past seasons, Charlie had become one of my favourite characters and his death was really poignant to watch as he heroically accepts his fate and manages to deliver a message to Desmond. When he does appear, John Locke is still is fascinating as ever. Terry O’Quinn suggests his deep personal struggles to overcome the memory of his father and joining with ‘The Others’ to learn more of the secrets of the island.

So all in all, Lost Season 3 falls behind the past seasons because of too many unanswered questions and anomalies. But with the progression of the season, the storyline gets tighter and the series still makes for addictive viewing.

Lost Season 2

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2000's, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Cynthia Watros, Daniel Dae Kim, Dominic Monaghan, Emilie de Ravin, Evangeline Lilly, Harold Perrineau, Henry Ian Cusick, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Lost, Lost Season 2, Maggie Grace, Malcolm David Kelley, Matthew Fox, Michael Emerson, Michelle Rodriguez, Naveen Andrews, Terry O'Quinn, Yunjin Kim

Following on from the jaw-dropping cliffhanger of Season 1, Lost Season 2 carries on the enigmatic and character driven story of these survivors that becomes more gripping as the season progresses. Be warned, spoilers will follow in this overview.

To recap, Michael(Harold Perrineau), Sawyer(Josh Holloway), Jin(Daniel Dae Kim) and Walt(Malcolm David Kelley) had created the raft that would help them escape to find help. That is until ‘The Others’ arrived, kidnapped Walt and destroyed the raft. In the present, Michael and an injured Sawyer have managed to survive by clinging to debris and Jin has managed to swim to the shore. Meanwhile back on the Island, Locke(Terry O’Quinn)  has successfully opened the mysterious hatch and has decided to venture down with Kate(Evangeline Lilly) in tow. Jack(Matthew Fox), on the other hand, is skeptical about exploring the hatch. Upon entering the hatch, Kate and Locke see that they are not alone. A worried Jack enters the hatch and traverses the vast underground before coming face to face with the intriguing Desmond(Henry Ian Cusick), someone who he met in the past. Desmond lives in the underground where he obsessively types in the ominous numbers that Hurley(Jorge Garcia) knows of into a machine that resets, preventing disaster. The hatch is actually the Swan Station, belonging to the DHARMA initiative who were cryptically referenced in season 1 and whose history unravels over the course of season 2.After Desmond runs off, Jack and the others take it in turns to man the computer that holds a doomsday prophecy. Elsewhere, Sawyer, Jin and Michael come into contact with a bunch of survivors from the back of the plane which broke off in mid-air, who have had confrontations with the mysterious ‘Others’ who killed many of the other ‘Tailies’. The group is spearheaded by tough and paranoid cop Ana Lucia(Michelle Rodriguez), with the enigmatic Mr.Eko(Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) and Libby(Cynthia Watros), a psychologist following. Forming an awkward team, they travel through the dangerous terrain occupied by ‘The Others’ in order to reach Jack and the other survivors, whilst Michael frantically begins searching for Walt and taking great risks in the process. Further secrets are revealed about the characters, various personal dramas unfold and a slowly building animosity forms between the survivors and ‘The Others’. Mysteries abound and characters develop in the exciting season of Lost that carries on the excellent torch of the first series and introduces some interesting new characters to the intriguing mix. It only slips behind the greatness of the first series because of the slowing of pace, but this is a minor flaw in an exciting and revealing season of one addictive and mind-bending TV show.

Firstly, the opening and revealing of the hatch is very intriguing as well as the introduction to Desmond. He is really shaping up to be an interesting character in the season and the whole repeating numbers is really nail-biting. I do hope that Desmond returns to the series after his brief appearances in season 2 because he really is a riveting and complex character who is played very well by Henry Ian Cusick.This season really has suspense going for it, whether it be ‘The Others’ walking in bone chilling silence through the jungle or the visions of Walt that Shannon(Maggie Grace) begins to see in which he talks backwards. I also found the episode in which the Tailies is explored and we see how they have adapted to survival riveting to watch. I liked how the writers crafted certain episodes from one character’s point of view and then showed us another side of the  events replayed.As with the last series, the score is an eerie, mysterious and sonically intriguing listen. The territorial conflict with ‘The Others’ also makes for compulsive  viewing as the battle for leadership on the island increases rapidly and the sinister presence of the smoke monster appears again. I like how the writers through the flashbacks reveal that our characters are not strangers and how their paths have crossed before. It may be a little detail in this great season, but it’s definitely a memorable one for me.It’s only at certain times that balancing the chills with some of the stories that don’t really amount to much that the season loses some of its greatness. This is mainly embodied in Charlie’s(Dominic Monaghan) arc; I feel sympathy for him as he is tempted to do drugs again but his centric episode in which he believes he is the one to take care of baby Aaron is far from great and really jeopardises the blossoming relationship he has with Claire(Emilie de Ravin). But with that little flaw out the way, the season does expand magnificently on many of the character’s lives prior to the crash.

 The newer characters, Ana Lucia, Mr.Eko and Libby make for interesting additions to the series. Michelle Rodriguez embodies the outwardly cold and tough persona whilst letting the audience glimpse the traumas of her past when she was a cop. The main incident that affected her was when she was shot at by a criminal which caused her to lose the baby she was carrying. In flashback, Ana Lucia located the criminal and killed him by shooting, she later quit the force. Because of these traumas, she takes on an unsympathetic attitude to those around her as she can’t face the inner pain. It is Ana Lucia who provides the season with one shocking and unexpected moments, the accidental killing of Shannon. Shannon is convinced that she has seen Walt in the jungle and heads out looking for him with Sayid(Naveen Andrews). After breaking down and telling Sayid that everyone around her abandons her, she hears whispers and sees Walt again. Running into the rain-soaked jungle, Shannon is mistaken for one of ‘The Others’ by Ana Lucia who shoots her. The scene is all the more tragic because Shannon was starting to become a character you could warm to as the season progressed and she died trying to do a good deed. A cruel irony hangs over the scene because Sayid promised he would never leave Shannon and unfortunately that admission is not able to be upheld because of her death. Sayid’s devastated reaction also leaves the viewer in a state of sadness as he carries the lifeless body of his lover back to the camp to the accompaniment of a mournful score as Ana Lucia follows with guilt written all over her face. Ana Lucia later meets her end when she is shot by a desperate Michael in a scene that I didn’t see coming. Mr. Eko makes for an interesting character because of his imposing presence and silent demeanor. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje shows us the deep regret of this character, who was a drug lord in Nigeria whose deals ultimately led to his brother dying. Since the death of his brother, he has found religion but has still never forgotten what happened to his brother. Libby(Cynthia Watros) is a good character for season 2. Cynthia Watros imbues her with a sympathetic personality that also has a glint of mystery. Libby, like Ana Lucia, is also shot by Michael and later dies from the wounds in a heartbreaking scene as Hurley cries at her bedside, mourning the loss of the woman who truly made him feel whole. Another cryptic character that appears is Henry Gale(Michael Emerson), who is captured by Danielle Rousseau, the mysterious French woman stranded on the island for sixteen years who believes that Henry is not to be trusted. Michael Emerson plays Henry with a quiet but highly manipulative streak that lulls the viewer into a false sense of security. He has this snake-like ability to drip poison in the ears of the other characters and wreak havoc with the smallest word. It is later revealed that Rousseau was right not to trust Henry as he turns out to be one of ‘The Others’.

Even though it might not reach the heights of the last season, Lost scores highly on character development and cryptic mystery. A prominent story in Season 2 is the love triangle between Jack, Kate and Sawyer. Kate finally kisses Jack but is torn between the two. The dynamic between the three is very interesting to watch as you wonder who Kate will eventually get with. Kate’s past is further explored, revealing that she killed her father because of his abuse towards her mother. The incident sets up Kate’s emotional state and how she was attempting to save her mother but in turn ended up on the run from justice. Most of the success revolving around Kate’s character is down to Evangeline Lilly, who projects a steely strength and quiet vulnerability. Also in flashbacks, Jack’s marriage crumbles after his wife admits to having an affair. As in the last season, Matthew Fox portrays Jack with subtle skill revealing the depths of this character as he continues in his position of leader. Josh Holloway also gets some great one-liners as the sarcastic but wounded Sawyer. Claire regains her memory and recalls encountering a girl who it appears is the Alex, the kidnapped daughter of Danielle. The girl helped her escape from Ethan who was attempting to take Aaron. Claire’s flashbacks are loaded with enigma and creepy symbolism that really has me interested into what will happen next in her arc. Harold Perrineau excellently portrays Michael’s descent into desperation as he attempts to locate Walt, whilst doing everything in his power to get there. He enters into a deal with ‘The Others’ to free Henry and betray his friends by bringing them to the sinister group who own the island.  Hurley, portrayed with humour and pathos by Jorge Garcia, is just as likable as he was last season. If anything the season excels at showing the serious side to Hurley and the various underlying issues he’s had to deal with. His budding relationship with Libby is also a very nice touch but the tragic loss of Libby is truly heart wrenching. Locke is still one of the most fascinating characters in the show. Played with a wise but dangerous knowledge by Terry O’Quinn he continues to test the audience into wondering what his true intentions are. And it’s great to see Sun(Yunjin Kim) and Jin(Daniel Dae Kim) back together after their breakup when it was revealed Sun could speak English, the fact that she’s pregnant brings them closer together after drifting apart.

So all I have left to say is Lost Season 2 is a worthy entry in the series. It may not be as great as season 1, but it has more than enough positives to rank it extremely high on my list of excellently crafted television. Hopefully Season 3 can carry on the success of the first and second season.

Lost Season 1

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2000's, Daniel Dae Kim, Dominic Monaghan, Emilie de Ravin, Evangeline Lilly, Harold Perrineau, Ian Somerhalder, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Lost, Lost Season 1, Maggie Grace, Malcolm David Kelley, Matthew Fox, Naveen Andrews, Terry O'Quinn, Yunjin Kim

Apart from movies, Television also plays a huge part in my life. This will be the start of a new series of reviews on my blog, this time focused on television shows that I have watched in the past. To start the series of reviews, I am going to write about Lost. It’s been years since I last saw the show, but with me recently purchasing the full series 1-6 box set, I decided to give the show a rewatch. Lost is a show that really divides opinion amongst viewers and is always an interesting topic to discuss. Here are my thoughts on Lost season 1. Be warned spoilers will follow in this overview.

During a commercial flight from Sydney to Los Angeles, Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 violently crashes on a mysterious island somewhere in the South Pacific Ocean. We are told there are 48 survivors of the crash, Lost focuses on a group of these characters and their attempts to fathom what is happening. We have Jack( Matthew Fox), a surgeon with a troubled past. Kate(Evangeline Lilly), a woman who is secretly on the run. Hurley(Jorge Garcia), a nice guy with an endless run of bad luck. Sawyer(Josh Holloway), a wise-cracking con man. Charlie(Dominic Monaghan), a drug addict and former rock star. Boone( Ian Somerhalder), a young man who helps run his mother’s business. Shannon( Maggie Grace), his whining stepsister. Sayid( Naveen Andrews), a former soldier in Iraq’s Republican Guard. A Korean couple, Jin( Daniel Dae Kim) and Sun(Yunjin Kim). Claire( Emilie de Ravin), a heavily pregnant Australian woman. Michael(Harold Perrineau), a construction worker and his estranged young son Walt(Malcolm David Kelley). And last but not least, the mysterious John Locke(Terry O’Quinn). The group realises that in order to survive they must work together, yet there are strange forces at play on the island. Noises are heard in the jungle. A polar bear attacks. Jumbled transmissions from a French woman that have been running for sixteen years are heard after the retrieval of the plane’s transceiver. Ominous repeating numbers. Creepy visions and whispers in the jungle. To add to this, each of our main characters has a past that is explored through flashback at some point in the season. Strange occurrences, mystical references and themes of distrust and death feature heavily throughout the narrative of each episode as the quest for survival increases and relationships are formed . Believe me the first series makes for addictive, memorable and mind-bending viewing. This series is certainly worthy of praise for its enigmatic structure and shocking revelations that emerge.

Firstly, the flashbacks provide compelling viewing as we delve into the lives of these strangers. Through them,we learn of their life before the crash and the various demons that plague their minds. The stunning and often chilling score provides us with an emotional undercurrent to the various dramas that lie ahead and the often unexplained nature of the island.  The screenplay should be praised for the way it examines the past of each character and the endless cliffhangers that leave you desperate to see the next episode. We are constantly placed on the knife-edge of suspense as little by little the dangerous island slowly reveals its past. Also, the genre mixing is to be applauded. Lost is really a cornucopia of genres such as action, drama and fantasy mixed into one hugely entertaining and enigmatic piece. The repeating visuals of eyes opening and distorted camerawork really got me involved with the series and witness the wonder of these techniques in showing us the intangible nature of the strange island. Many of the moments in the series generate chills, not least the kidnapping of Claire by a strange and utterly creepy man named Ethan, who mentions that there are others on the island. Also gripping is Sayid’s encounter with the French woman on the transmission who evasively talks of her traumatic experiences upon arrival. These bits of information that the survivors are not alone really had me enthralled to see what became of it. It also seems that there is an unexplained force residing on the island that appears in episodes later on in this season known as the Man in Black .

All of the characters within Lost are in some way flawed and this makes them more interesting to watch. Certain characters stand out for me throughout this season. Matthew Fox effectively portrays Jack, who steadily becomes the leader of the group and often the voice of reason. Throughout the season, he must confront his past which involved an alcoholic father and helping those around him. Jack may be the closest thing to a hero, but also has his own demons and is forced into drastic decisions such as killing the air marshal who was bringing Kate to justice. Locke, portrayed with enigmatic skill by Terry O’Quinn, is one of the most interesting and cryptic characters. We learn that he was once wheelchair bound, but for some unknown reason he regained the use of his legs after the crash. Locke provides mystical and philosophical hints as to the island’s nature and is the one who seems most adept at hunting. He may be caring and something of a father figure to other characters, mainly Boone and young Walt, but there is something uneasy about Locke that really makes you wonder about his motives and actions. Originally, I wasn’t sure about Jin as a character. I found him to be overly controlling of his wife and refusing to help the other survivors. But when I saw his flashback, I started to realise how much of a complex guy he really is as he has worked hard to overcome his lowly roots but in turn has fell into corruption. Daniel Dae Kim plays Jin with a quiet intensity that hides his confusion of the events around him.

Sawyer, who is portrayed with cocky bad ass attitude by Josh Holloway, often provides some needed humour but also some dark revelations regarding his con man job and what drove him to it. In short, Sawyer is a complex character who is interesting to watch as the mystery unravels. Naveen Andrews essays the role of Sayid, whose smart intelligence masks a grave decision he had to make regarding the women he loved during the Gulf War. Dominic Monaghan projects humour and deep regret as the drug addicted Charlie, who always feels like the one on the outside of everything. Charlie emerges as a sympathetic character throughout the story as he forms a deep bond with Claire. Jorge Garcia provides the comic relief as the likable Hurley, who has encountered bad luck ever since winning the lottery with numbers that are cursed. Harold Perrineau plays Michael, a construction worker who has just received guardianship over his young son Walt. Throughout season 1 we watch as he attempts to become a good father to a child he barely knows. Malcolm David Kelley portrays Walt, who looks up to Locke as a father figure because he feels that his father treats him like a little kid, when in fact Walt is a very bright boy. Boone emerges as one of the most likable characters of season 1. Played with charm and honesty by Ian Somerhalder, we watch him wrestle with his feelings for Shannon and form his eventual bond with Locke, who becomes a father figure to the young man whilst teaching him the skills of survival. Boone also remains memorable for being the first main character in the series to perish on the island. His death scene is so upsetting as Jack tries everything to save him but in the end it isn’t enough. I admire the show’s use of juxtaposition as Boone succumbs and Claire gives birth, capturing the close link between life and death.  The fact that Boone died because of injuries sustained when inspecting an airplane with Locke adds a whole lot of conflict to the troubled lives of those around the island.

The women of Lost are also an interesting and conflicting bunch of characters. Kate, played by the gorgeous Evangeline Lilly, is one complex character with a complicated past. She comes across to others as silent and understanding, yet she harbours wounds and is has no qualms about using people to her advantage. All that is known at this point is that she has killed someone, but the events surrounding it are cloaked in mystery. Her relationships with the moralistic Jack and the devil-may-care Sawyer form the main romantic triangle of the narrative. Kate really is shaping up to be a character of many layers and I hope the writers can expand on this in future seasons of Lost. Sun, the wife of Jin, is another complex female character. Initially distant from the others because her husband wants to isolate them with the language barrier, it is revealed that she can in fact speak English unlike her husband. She wrestles with her love for Jin, yet can’t forget how he changed after he began working for her corrupt father. Yunjin Kim subtly portrays the longing for her husband to change his ways with a moving performance.

Initially I really didn’t like the character of Shannon, I thought she was a whining brat who cared more about her looks than the others. But over the course of the season, she grew on me as I saw that she was in fact not as mean as she originally appeared. Most of this is down to the delivery of Maggie Grace, who captures her spoilt antics but shows us the vulnerability of Shannon as she attempts to survive and the burgeoning relationship she develops with Sayid. Emilie de Ravin captures the vulnerability of Claire as she has to contend with the knowledge of no one rescuing the survivors and the fact that her baby will arrive soon. The episode in which she is abducted is chilling, especially because of the look of sheer horror that appears on her face as Ethan menacingly stares at her. She later escapes from Ethan’s clutches but has no memory of what happened before this.  Out of the women in the show in this series, Claire is the most likable with her sunny disposition and glowing demeanor. In the end she gives birth to a baby boy named Aaron who she worries will not be able to grow up in such a strange and dangerous environment.

As you watch the series, you start to form emotional attachments to the characters as they band together in order to fathom the strange events around them. We are invited to join in their feelings of sadness and regret. Moments of intense emotion abound but the one for me has to be when Charlie is hung from the vines of a tree and left for dead. Jack and Kate help him down and at first it appears as if Charlie has been killed by the evil Ethan. As the music swells, we watch as a tearful Jack attempts to resuscitate Charlie even though he appears to be dead. I could really feel myself panicking during this scene as Charlie had emerged as one of the most sympathetic characters and to have him die this early on in Lost’s run would have been devastating. When Charlie eventually comes around it is an emotional moment that lingers heavily in the memory as we see the bonds that have formed between the characters and how deeply they care for each other. Much the same can be said of Boone’s death which really does leave you with a lump in your throat.

I don’t think I can write anymore about the excellent season 1 because I will run out of space,  but in short I will say that it is endlessly enthralling and filled with mysterious circumstances. I can’t wait to see season 2 of Lost so stay posted for a future review of it.