Wednesday, January 08, 2014

LOST Rewatch: House of the Rising Sun, The Moth

Credit:tle1lost.wordpress.com
Okay, okay. I caved again and watched two episodes with the kids before I got around to blogging about it. I'm sorry. (And I'm also pretty certain that I'm going to have to limit the viewing frequency of these episodes if I'm ever going to keep up with my episode recaps.Unless I start keeping actual notes as I watch . . . which would probably get in the way of actually enjoying the rewatch experience.

But tonight, here are my thoughts on the next episodes of Season 1.

House of the Rising Sun: As you can tell from the double-entendre of the title, this episode gives us our first glimpse of the Korean family that was such a mystery in the original airing of the show.

And in telling this story, the flashbacks focused almost entirely on Korean dialogue. I remember at the time that ABC trumpeted the diversity of the cast quite a bit and especially this episode to indicate that this show was something new and different. The B-story of this episode featured Jack trying to convince the plane survivors to move away from the beach site and into Adam and Eve's caves (which he had found while chasing the ghost of his father in White Rabbit). And it also emphasized the developing relationship between Jack and Kate and (especially) Charlie's irritation that the two were already pairing off and leaving him out in the singleton cold . . . because, you know, he was the bass player of Driveshaft and all. You've heard of Driveshaft, right? And their big smash hit "You All, Everybody"? Well, Charlie was planning on using his rock god status--more on that in the next episode--to get into Kate's fugitive pants. But Jack and his wandering eye was already acting like he totally didn't care about Kate's bod. He just wanted Kate to back up all of his plans all the time, you know?



But back in flashback Korea, we learn that Jin comes from humble origins (though we don't yet know how humble) and he convinces Sun's father to allow him to marry his totally rich daughter. And at first all is bliss and lovely flowers, but eventually, Jin must buy his wife's affections with puppies and fancy apartments and the like as his involvement in Sun's father's business (but we don't yet know what business) pulls him further and further away.

This, in turn, drives Sun further away and she secretly learns English and prepares to abandon Jin during their Sydney departure on Flight 815. But she hesitates and doesn't do it.

And, oh yeah . . . in real Island time, Jin went crazy on Michael and totally beat him up for unknown reasons. (Right in front of his boy!) And it is from this mystery that Michael learns--in one of the show's first Stunning Reveals--that Sun could totally understand and speak English. But Jin didn't know.

The Moth: We learn more about our favorite rock god--you know, of Driveshaft? "You All Everybody"? You know . . . you've seen him before, right? Yep, we learn about how Charlie transformed from an honest, confession-giving Catholic boy to a heroin-addicted, fingernail-painted bass player. And it was always due to the fault of his older brother Liam.



Liam got a taste of the rock life, living off the creative song-writing talent of Charlie.And even though Charlie had made a pact with Sober Liam to leave the rock business when things got too crazy, Druggie Liam was too addicted to the fame and the fun to stop. In desperation, Charlie followed him down into that pain. This began reinforcing Charlie's notion that he wasn't any good . . .

. . . which he carried into Island time, believing that everyone was overlooking him. But the person who wasn't overlooking him? Locke. Locke totally knew that Charlie was beginning to withdraw from his limited heroin stash, and as newly appointed Island mystic, Locke knew how to help Charlie out. With some tough love and a belief in Island Magic.

Meanwhile, Kate is definitely NOT in luuuurve with Jack, because she isn't living in Adam & Eve's cave. Instead, she, Sayid, Sawyer, and Scott and Steve (or is it Steve and Scott) are still on the beach, tending the signal fire, hoping for possible rescue, and creating a transceiver signal booster with three antennae that will triangulate . . . you know, nobody but Sayid understands how this works. He needs Kate and Boone's help to set up the antennae. But they get drawn away to the Caves when they hear that Saint Jack has been trapped in a rock-slide in the Totally Excellent and Suitable for Living In Caves that he, himself convinced half of the 46 survivors to move into. (Nice move Jack! Maybe your Ghost Dad was right when he said that you "didn't have what it takes".)

So, with Kate desperate to save Jack from falling rocks and Boone just trying to be helpful in some way, Sawyer and Shannon are enlisted to set up the antennae--but Sayid wasn't told of the substitutions. Way to go Boone and Kate. Enlist an important rescue mission to the biggest screwups and untrustworthys in the Castways. Still, it appears that the antennae are successfully placed because the rocket flares go up at the right time. . . . but then Sayid is knocked on the head from behind while searching for the Frenchwoman's signal!

Who, who WHO is a saboteur?!!

And then, back at the Totally Safe Caves That Should be Lived In, St. Jack is being rescued by heroin withdrawer Charlie, because he's all wee and hobbity and can fit in the space that has been excavated by Determined (but completely unsmitten) Kate, and Boone, and Scott/Steve or Steve/Scott, and Hurley. So, Charlie struggles through the confined space. Metaphors are examined. Charlie then learns some self-worth, and he chooses to burn the last of his heroin stash to gain Locke's approval and do right by himself. (Screw you Liam!)

No comments: