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.