Lost, 1.6

Are the eyes really a window to the soul? To anything? Lost seems determined to push the aphorism to its limits. No, I don't mean the repeated cornea closeups. Focusing each episode on one character (or pair) is such a great tool for deepening understanding and focusing audience sympathies. I spent the first five episodes thinking Jin was a fairly standard-issue asshat abusive husband. Now, I still think he's kind of an asshat, but I can also sorta see where he's coming from. Imagine going through a terrifying and traumatic experience, only to end up stranded with a bunch of people whose language you don't even speak. Wouldn't you get crazily overprotective, anyway you could?

Now, I'm not trying to excuse his behaviour. Jin is being a jackass anyway you slice it, but anchoring these actions in recognizably human motivations brings a certain depth and richness to the character that he hasn't had to this point. I'd call him overwhelmed more than evil, but to the point of being horribly misguided. This is a man who's tried blindly to do the right thing for so many years that he's managed to royally fuck the only relationship that should actually matter. Daniel Dae-Kim is a forceful, charismatic presence, fully realizing the character through expression, physicality, and, yes, his eyes. He's really more interesting without the subtitles, layering frustration and impotent rage skillfully. There's clearly much more to this story we haven't seen, hopefully focused on the ways a simple witer turned into…. whatever he is now.

One of the hardest things for any television program to achieve is thematic coherence that doesn't seem like lecturing. Jin is a good man gone astray. And then there's Jack…. Oh Jack. I get it buddy, I really do. You're a doctor, a scientist. You don't get the whole "morale" thing. Moving to the caves is logical, it really is. But in the long run, it hurts you. It admits that there's no hope of rescue, that the group is aiming to survive and build rather than thrive. Is that the message you want to send?

This is what I mean about balance. The mataphor isn't the most subtle, especially that borderline-absurd shot of the matching black and white stones, but it's a strong and intriguing emotional through-line for the season (and probably beyond). For the survivors to achieve anything, faith and science have to work together. Jack and Locke are going to come into conflict, and probably soon. Who will win, I don't know.If this sounds repetitive, well…. yeah. The episode is the first genuine piece of filler I've seen this season. Basic plot, contrived conflicts and so on. It's probably needed to have these once in a while, both for timing and budgetary reasons, but the general lack of stakes isn't my favorite thing. Ah well. It still can't be as bad as Twilight. For that, I'll see y'all Sunday. Peace!