Episode 8

On the island, Sawyer catches Boon searching through his stash. Sawyer beats him up and as Jack is treating him, Boon say that Shannon's asthma is becoming a problem and he knows that Sawyer would be the one to have them.

Sawyer says that the only way he will hand over the inhalers is if Kate kisses him. Kate responds by asking him about the letter he is always reading. Sawyer makes Kate read it herself out loud. It is addressed to Sawyer from a boy saying that because Sawyer slept with his mom and stole all of his dad's money, it caused his dad to kill his mother and then kill himself.

Meanwhile, Shannon's breathing worsens and Sayid and Jack end up tying Sawyer to a tree; Sayid torturing him so he will say where the inhalers are. Again, Sawyer says he will only give up the inhalers if Kate will kiss him. She does, and then he reveals that he never had the inhalers in the first place.

The next day, Sawyer tells Kate that he wrote that letter to a con man who tore his family apart. He later became a con man himself and went under the name Sawyer as an alias.

Despite Kate's arguments, Sayid decides to search the island for the transceiver signal and the person who knocked him out. Sun makes Eucalyptus rub and clears up Shannon's breathing, and Charlie convinces Claire to move back to the caves.

Flashbacks

Sawyer is conning a married woman into giving him $150,000 of her husbands money. When he goes to their house to get the money, their son walks in, causing Sawyer to call off the deal and walk out leaving his money behind.

Do you like or hate Sawyer?

OK: I feel really bad for him, but I still find him to be a really big jerk.

SH: I have a long standing opinion that someone's past can be an explanation for their actions, but not an excuse. That being said, I still dislike Sawyer because he is an immoral pig. 

Do you think Kate should like Jack or Sawyer?

OK: Jack for sure. I still don't like Sawyer. He kind of reminds me of Haymitch from Hunger Games, except I liked Haymitch.

SH: Personally, romance should be the least of Kate's problems I think. But, I suppose if I had to chose one I would pick Jack because he has his head on straight and I hate Sawyer.

How do you think Sawyers situation relates to nature vs nurture? 

OK: I think that if this hadn't happened to sawyer as a kid he wouldn't have followed that path, but I still don't think that excuses his behavior.

SH: Sawyer could have some kind of inherited condition that could be a partial explanation for his behavior, but because of how he was brought up in a rough life, it probably escalated the symptoms of the potential condition. 

Episode 7

Okay, before I even start, I'm going to let you know that I love this episode. It is my absolute favorite because Charlie and the feels.

This episode is called The Moth. Philosophical symbolism is the theme of this episode. Before I start the usual summary of the episode, I have to explain the meaning behind the moth. Locke explains to Charlie that he is like a moth in its cocoon. The moth has to break out of the cocoon on its on otherwise it won't be strong enough to survive in the world. Likewise, Charlie has to break the addiction on his own otherwise he won't be able to make it through the withdrawals.

From the flashbacks in this episode we follow Charlie's past to learn about how he was before his band took off. He was fairly religious and had a good head on his shoulders. His older brother however doesn't take the right path and eventually abandons Charlie emotionally. His brother loses himself and begins doing drugs. This leads to Charlie's drug addiction. Later, we see that his brother is clean and has a family, but Charlie is still addicted. His brother offers help, but Charlie claims he has a plane to catch. This is how he ends up on the island. If only he had taken his brother's offer.

Locke tells Charlie that he can ask for his drugs back three times and on the third time Locke will give the drugs to Charlie. The suspense builds throughout the episode as Charlie asks for the drugs twice. At the same time, Charlie begins feeling self-conscience because he thinks the others feel he is useless. This causes him to start an argument with Jack in the cave and it ends up trapping them both. Charlie manages to get out but Jack is pinned. In the end, the efforts of those on the island to get Jack out help, but they are not enough. It rests on Charlie. He must go back into the cave to find Jack and free him. They both believe they are going to die when Charlie spots a moth in the cave, realizing there has to be an opening nearby.

Charlie wins everyone's hearts (including mine) when he successfully rescues Jack from the cave. He has finally proven to himself and the others that he can do it. However, he is still suffering from symptoms of withdrawal and he ventures into the woods to find Locke. He asks for his drugs once more and Locke hands them over. Locke is disappointed, but not for long. Charlie throws the bag in the fire.

What are your feelings towards Charlie's brother?

OK: I never liked his brother from the get go. He was a man whore who pushed Charlie towards drugs. Even though he was able to get clean and tried to help Charlie, I feel like he didn't try hard enough to make up for what he did.

SH: I really dislike Charlie's brother. From the beginning he PROMISED Charlie that he would take a step back if the band got out of control. Charlie tells him that things have gone too far and he forces Charlie to stay in the band and even contributes to Charlie's drug addiction. Even though he tries to help out later, I don't think he can make up for his actions.

Do you think Charlie could have sobered up without Locke's help?

OK: I think without Locke he wouldn't have sobered up out of his own free will. He would've just gone through withdrawal when it ran out. Had he not met Locke or been on the island without supply, I think he would've never sobered up back in his normal everyday life.

SH: Personally, I think Charlie had the power to fight his addiction, but Locke helped him realize that. Without Locke's guidance, he wouldn't have recognized his true potential.

Episode 6

It's Day 7 on the island, and Jin attacks Michael, nearly drowning him, for no apparent reason. Sawyer and Sayid restrain Jin and handcuff him to part of the plane until they can figure out why he almost killed Michael. Meanwhile, back at the caves, Jack finds two bodies that he says have been dead for 40 or 50 years. Locke calls them Adam and Eve and they also find one white and one black stone in their pockets ( I'm assuming a Yin Yang reference.)

Jack and Kate return from the caves and Jack tries to convince the survivors to move to the into the caves where there is shelter and fresh water. Some of the members decide to stay on the beach in order to keep the signal fire going.

Later, Sun finds Michael alone and in perfect English says, "I need to talk to you." PLOT TWIST! Sun tells him that Jin attacked him because he was wearing a watch that belonged to her father. It would've been dishonorable for him not to defend his property. Michael says he found it in the wreckage and it was meaningless.

During this time, Locke tells Charlie he knows hes an addict, but if he gives him the drugs, Lock will tell him where his guitar is. Charlie gives him the drugs and gets his guitar back undamaged.

That evening, Michael threatens Jin with the axe and tells him to stay away from him and his son, then he cuts the handcuff off of the wreckage, freeing Jin.

Flashbacks

It flashes back to Sun at a party in Korea and Jin, a waiter at the party, pulls her aside in private and you find out that they have a secret relationship that is hidden from Sun's father. Sun wants to run away with him to America, but Jin wants to tell her father about their relationship. After Jin tells her father, he tells her that he approves as long as he comes to work for him. One night a few years later, Jin comes home covered in somebody else's blood. Jin says he does whatever her father tells him to do so they can be together. Later we find out that after this incident, Sun began taking English lessons and planned on leaving him for America. While at the airport, Jin makes a loving gesture and she ends up not leaving, putting her on the plane that crashed.

Would you go live at the caves or stay on the beach, hoping somebody will save you?

OK: I personally would go to the caves. After a week I think I would be more concerned about survival than rescue.

SH: Since we know that help is not coming, I would have to choose the caves. The only advantage to staying at the beach is the potential to be spotted by rescue searchers, and they aren't coming, so I would chose the caves.

If you were in Sun's position, would you have left or would you have ended up staying like she did?

OK: Okay, that's really hard because although he is sometimes a big jerk, you know he loves her a lot! Plus it is his culture to be like that so that's what he naturally does. I think Sun should take a lesson from Mulan and show Jin she is capable of doing whatever she wants.

SH: Okay, before I even answer, Olivia, you would put in a Mulan reference. I would have left Jin because I am a twenty first century woman and I believe in equal rights darn it. At heart I am such a feminist. Sorry not sorry.

Okay this isn't a question but I LOVE CHARLIE!! Also, Sonya seconds. 

Episode 5

The focus of this episode's flashback is Jack. We learn that helping people is in his nature and has been since a young age. Fast forward a couple years and Jack is at his current age. His mother demands that he bring his father home, but he won't be able to. At least not alive anyway. He finds that his father passed away from alcohol poisoning and drug overdose. His last objective is to bring home his father in a casket for some form of closure I suppose.

But now, back to real time. Because of a lack of sleep, Jack appears to be experiencing hallucinations. A man in a black suit appears and Jack is set off by him. In fact, it impacts his judgement when he is called out to save a drowning survivor. He ends up saving Boone, who is angry about being saved because he thinks he could have got back on his own. But unfortunately, the woman drowns. We later find out that the man is actually his father. However, there is the question of whether it is a hallucination or if it is a spirit guide type of situation, brought up by Locke. This provokes thought in Jack. He stumbles across ruins of the plane in the forest and finds the casket that should have contained his father completely empty. He becomes enraged and smashes it, but realizes there is a flowing stream of fresh water. This solves the issue of running out of water that the survivors were facing. 

Speaking of the whole incident regarding running out of water, it sparks conflict between the group. Sawyer steals the water, but ends up bartering the Gin so it is no longer in his possession. Who gives Sawyer the right to say who gets the water and who doesn't? Especially considering the fact that Claire, who is pregnant mind you, is suffering from dehydration. However, thanks to Jack, the situation doesn't get too far out of hand. 

What do you think about Locke's conversation with Jack in the woods?

OK: I see that Locke is very philosophical and spiritual, compared to Jack's scientific, logical nature. Also, that Locke knows something about the island that nobody else does. He knows what the mysterious "monster" is. 

(SH): From this conversation I gathered that Locke considers himself to be philosophical, and with good reason too. He appears to be in touch with himself and spiritual aspects of life. I am interested to gain further knowledge on him. 

What would you have done in Jack's position in regards to saving the drowning woman?

OK:  If I knew I was able to save the woman, I would've, but I think Jack knew in the back of his mind that if he went that far out with two people who couldn't swim on their own, all of them would've been caught by the current and eventually drowned. I think the only reason he blames himself is because he chose not to even try, even if it would've been impossible for him to save both.

(SH): If I had the ability to be able to save the woman, I think I would have gone out to save her first as she was the one I saw initially. I think Boone was right in saying he could have saved himself, and even if he was wrong, he hadn't been out there as long as the woman, and he wasn't as far out, so I could have came back for him after rescuing the woman. 

How do you feel about Gin's treatment of Sun?

OK: Okay, I understand it in the sense that that is their culture. That's how their society lives with men in a higher position than women, but you can tell that he loves her and cares about her, despite how tradition tells him he should act. 

(SH): Gin appears to be acting based on the traditions of his culture, showing primarily male dominance in the relationship. I have to admit, I feel he goes overboard with that, but even so, he does show his love for Sun. I'm not sure how she thinks he feels about her, but knowing this would help shape my opinion. 

Episode 4

On the island, it has been four days since the plane crashed and that night boars raid the fuselage and are eating the dead bodies. Jack decides that it should be burned to avoid their remains being treated poorly or rotting in the sun. The next day, food is running low and Locke says they should go hunt for the boar. He reveals that he packed a case of 400 knives on the plane...hmm.

On the mission, Locke is accompanied by Kate and Michael. Sayid gave Kate an antenna to put on high ground so he could try and pinpoint the location of the french woman's signal. While hunting, Michael is wounded by one of the boars, so Kate takes him back while Locke goes into the jungle on his own to hunt the boar.

While on their way back, Kate tries to attach the antenna to a tree, but falls and breaks it. She fell because she heard the monster and saw it headed straight towards Locke. Locke claims to have stared straight at it.

Back at the island, Locke returns with the boar to everybody's surprise. While the plane is burning, a memorial service is held to pay tribute to the people that died.

During this episode, we saw a lot of flashbacks into how Locke got onto the plane. Locke has a desk job and a terrible boss who always is a jerk to him. Locke is taking vacation days to go on an Australian walkabout. Locke believes he has a relationship with an over the phone escort, but she tells him she won't have a relationship with customers. Locke keeps saying that it is his destiny to do this. When Locke arrives in Australia, the walkabout guide tells him he can't go due to his condition. Locke is paralyzed from the waist down. A flashback shows that when he gained consciousness, we see that he somehow regained the use of his legs.



Do you think that the burning was the best decision for how to handle the deceased? Taking no regard for their wishes or religious beliefs?

OK: In my opinion it was. There was no way of knowing their wishes or religious beliefs and burning them was the most humane option. Burial would've been impractical and nearly impossible. It would've been inhumane to let them decay there or be eaten by wild animals.

SH: This may sound a bit harsh, but the survivors don't have time to be searching through bags and looking for the wishes or religious beliefs of the deceased. Quite honestly, I think burning them was the best decision, as there would be no body to serve as a physical reminder of their deaths. Being stranded on an island is hard enough, but constantly seeing the bodies of those who didn't make it would make it much worse.


Do you believe that Locke was right about it being his destiny to be able to do these things? Was it a miracle that gave him back the use of his legs back?

OK: In my opinion it very well could have been a miracle. On the other hand, it could have very well been something that the shock of the plane crash caused the damage to be reversed. I think that's happened before, but don't quote me. Also, I feel like there is a lot more to this show that we need to learn before we can make judgments about this topic.

SH: Personally, I don't have much of an opinion one way or the other about Locke. I am interested in learning more about him, but as of this point in time, I can't tell if he is a credible source. I do believe that miracles can happen, and that it is a miracle that his regained the use of his legs. However, I am not a strong believer in destiny at all. I believe fully in the power of free will. I think if Locke set his mind to doing something, he can call it his destiny, but I don't believe in the idea of a preconceived plan.

Episode 3

In this episode we learn more about Kate's history from the flashbacks she experiences. Surprise, it's actually her that was the criminal. She plays the part of an innocent girl who is traveling Australia on foot because she ran out money. Once the man who was harboring her finds out who she really is, he turns her in. In an attempt to escape being caught, she crashes the man's truck and tries to run away, but something stops her. She drags the man out of the truck and into the grass, but because of this, she is captured by the marshal.

Back on the island, Kate, Shannon, Boone, Sayid, Sawyer, and Charlie venture into the woods in hopes of getting better reception for the transceiver Sayid fixed. The results are bittersweet though. They find a place with good enough reception for the transceiver to work, but they hear a distress call from a French woman that has been playing for 16 years. The group decides against telling the others about the distress call because according to Sayid, "Hope is a dangerous thing to lose." 

On the beach, other drama is unfolding. The marshal is dying and Jack is getting criticism from the others about keeping him alive if all that is going to happen is having him suffer. At the same time, Hurley and Jack find out about Kate's past. While Jack is away form the tent, he sees Kate leave, but then hears a gunshot. Saywer shot the marshal in the lung, hoping to put him out of his misery. Dying will take several very painful hours according to Jack, so he runs to tend to the marshal. It doesn't show what happens, but it is insinuated that he suffocates the marshal to keep him from suffering any longer. 

In other news, John Lock carves a wood dog whistle and brings back Vincent, Walt's dog. He gives Michael, Walt's father, the dog and assures him that he wants Michael to be the one to return Vincent to Walt. This action shows the selflessness of Lock and gives a little insight into his personality.

Would you have turned in Kate if you were in the position of the farmer?

OK: I would've done the same thing as the farmer. I know we don't know what her crime was, but if I was in debt like the farmer, I would have tipped off the authorities. Also, I'm assuming her crime was significan't enough for there to be a $23,000 award in the first place.

(SH): I think if I were in the farmer's situation I would have given a tip to the police once I realized Kate's true identity, but I would ask that they keep from her that I told them where she was. This way, she doesn't feel betrayed but I would still get the much needed reward money. 

Would you have told the others about the distress call or not? Explain.

OK: I don't think I would have. This part reminded me of the Hunger Games when Pres. Snow was saying that a little hope is good. Take away hope, and they have nothing to hold on to.

(SH): I don't think I would have told the others about the distress call because like Sayid said, once hope is lost I'm not sure how the others would react. People would give up on being found and I'm not sure I would be able to handle that. 

What would you have done about the marshal?

OK: I agreed with what they did. They asked the marshal what he wanted to do before they did it. It was his choice to not suffer for days when the end result would be the same.

(SH): I would ask the marshal what he wanted to do, and if he said he wanted to be put out of his misery, I would see to it that someone, if not myself, makes sure his death isn't lengthy and painful. Ultimately, his fate should be up to him, and that's why I would take these actions.

Episode 2

Jack, Kate, and Charlie arrive back at the beach with the transceiver. Walt, Michael's son, finds a pair of handcuffs in the jungle and his dad took them away. Later, Sawyer accuses Sayid of being a terrorist who blew up the plane, but Michael and Jack break up the fight. Sayid tries to fix the transceiver, but there is little battery life and they need to get to higher ground in order to even get a signal. Sawyer goes with Sayid, Kate, Charlie, Shannon, and Boone to try and get a signal.

While on the trek, the group is attacked by a polar bear. Sawyer whips out a gun, shoots, and kills it. I know what? Nobody really cares about the fact they were just attacked by a polar bear, but about where Sawyer got the gun. He says he pulled it off a dead U.S. Marshall. Kate takes the gun and dismantles it.

Once they get to high ground and turn on the transceiver, they hear the voice of a french woman on a loop. The message says, "I'm alone now. On the island alone. Please someone come. The others are dead. It killed them. It killed them all!".

The message has been playing on a loop for over sixteen years.



If in the same situation, how should it be decided who gets to use weapons, if weapons are to be used at all?

OK: I would keep all weapons dismantled until it can be voted on within the whole group. Although this may cause debates, a majority rule should be used in decision making because lies would cause more problems than a simple disagreement.

SH: Personally, I am not a big fan of being in any debates regarding weapons, so I think that I would allow someone else to make that decision. I want as little to do with the weapon as possible.


How would you react after hearing the message on the transceiver, knowing it had been playing on a loop for over sixteen years?

OK: I honestly would be rational about it, but realize that the chance of rescue coming was slim to none. On the other hand, the fact that there is something on the island that killed a large group off people and we have no idea what it was would freak me out a lot.

SH: I would lose a whole lot of the hope I had, and I know it would be difficult to carry on. I think I would have to find a personal motivation for survival in order to keep myself going. I would definitely be freaked out though.