badd Lost Theories by mr badd: Rewatch Lost in chronological order

Following the podcast of Anna and Wendy:

Episode 9 (1978 -- 1991)

recap

Episode 009: Things are a little more disorganized, as we start going through most of the flashbacks in the show. We start with Sayid as a child, and move through the years, seeing Jack, Mr. Eko, and Kate as children. We also have our timeflash into 1988, where our Losties encounter a younger, and pregnant Danielle Rousseau, who gives birth to Alex, whom Ben subsequently kidnaps. The episode concludes with Sayid learning how to torture during the Gulf War.

Theme 1: Loss of Innocence.

Quite a few of the Losties lose their innocence. Several learn that they are capable of killing to achieve their desires. Sayid kills a chicken to spare his brother, his father's wrath his moral center is lost later during the Iraq war when he learns that he is willing to torture someone to get what he wants (revenge); Eko kills an old man to spare his brother Yemmi from the deed, Jack learns that he is alone and that the world is a bad place which he doesn't have the strength to fix on his own, and his dad, Christine tells him he doesn't have what it takes, so he's not getting any fatherly support there. Juliet loses the security of her family as her mom and dad divorce and learns that love is not enough to keep people together. Sun destroys the maids life just so she doesn't have to face her father's scorn over a broken statue. Kate learns she can get away with it (thanks Jacob!). Charlie learns to swim (and lies about it as a woman drowns on the Island), no direct tie in during his childhood. His innocence is lost later when his brother betrays his trust and puts the high life of rock and roll, drugs and fast women ahead of Charlie. Oh and I guess Rousseau learns about betrayal and to not trust anyone, even the father of her child and dearest love. Then her child is ripped from her arms and she suffers the loss of her child. No wonder she goes crazy. She is a powerless survivor, doomed to scratch out survival on an island paradise with nothing but haunting memories of death, betrayal and her own failure to protect her child. Her very existence is a living hell. Oh and we can't forget: Montand loses his arm!!

Theme 2: Losties learn that they can get what they want if they sacrifice their morality.

Sayid and Eko learn that they can kill to achieve their own ends (whether they are honorable or not). Kate learns that she can get away with stealing, Sun is willing to destroy another's life rather than face the truth of her own actions. (Something she shares with Jacob)

Theme 3: Tie in between Losties loss of innocence and Jacob's lost of innocence on the Island.

Jacob lost his innocence when his brother destroyed his world view by telling him the truth that their Island Mother murdered their real mother. Jacob was a weak boy who Island Mother bent to her will. Jacob reacted with anger at his brother for daring to show Jacob the truth. He would rather cleave to a lie rather confront his manipulating fake mother. Eventually he will blame MIB for his loss of morality as he murders his own brother and condemns him to a face worse than death when MIB kills Island Mother, who was really a crutch for Jacob's fear of others.And Jacob could not face to live in the real world. He would rather live with a manipulating murder rather than stand on his own 2 feet. I find his 'creation' of the Others to be very interesting. They take an oath to devoted themselves to a mysterious but very ambiguous purpose, protecting the Island. To fulfill this purpose they are willing to do many horrible things. Murder is common practice to those unfortunate enough to be shipwrecked or be drawn by Jacob's machinations. And their purpose to defend the Island does not equate to any code of morality. They are quite willing to be nasty SOBs to their fellow Others and anyone they meet.

Enjoyment Factor:

Lost of good scenes but somewhat disjointed. Some interesting tie ins between Eko and Sayid. And I am particularly interested in exploring how Jacob's loss of innocence contributed to his founding an almost religious sect dedicated to protecting something they don't really understand but to which they are willing to sacrifice their morality. I will have more to say on this later when I through down the gauntlet with: