tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post3478856878983014061..comments2024-03-28T15:33:02.296-04:00Comments on Doux Reviews: Lost: Across the SeaBillie Douxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-24831497763068986102023-07-26T15:37:47.812-04:002023-07-26T15:37:47.812-04:00Jacob, John, Benjamin...
The characters who have ...Jacob, John, Benjamin...<br /><br />The characters who have the shown the most interest in uncovering the islands secrets (Well, maybe not Jacob. He's the damn secret himself, haha) all distinctly have biblical names. Hell, even Jack (Assuming it's short for John). I'm not really religious myself, but biblical stories are incredibly fascinating to me. I'm not really bothered by the "fair tale" explanation of the island. Back in seasons 1 and 2, I thought that the black smoke was disguising a mechanical system, given all the metallic sounds it made. But after we saw the same smoke freely move around and kill people, I sort of accepted that there was a magical or godly element to it. So honestly, I liked this episode. I'm glad Jacob and his brother were just some kids who stumbled on weird powers, instead of him just being a god that was always godly. It makes me sympathize for the man. God knows how many years went by where all he was able to do was speak to the very same beast trying to kill him. Maybe it's because I'm watching the show over a decade after it's release, but I really am not disappointed. <br /><br />Sort of unrelated, but I miss Eko. I think he would have been really fun to see him interact with Ben, Jacob, and Richard. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-44263158150883680372023-05-12T00:44:53.510-04:002023-05-12T00:44:53.510-04:00Others have mentioned the Jacob/Esau connection. I...Others have mentioned the Jacob/Esau connection. I could say a ton about that but (largely because I'm not convinced it's even relevant) I'll limit it to just the two little points that I think are the most likely to be relevant.<br /><br />1. I think it's been fairly obvious for a long time that Jacob and the MIB are somehow two sides of the same coin. Warring gods, a dual personality, or, you know... twins. That's been my theory ever since we started learning a little bit about them. The trope of the "evil twin" has been around for a very long time, after all. The only question is which one is the evil one. That seemed obvious too for a while but I think this episode went a long way toward making it much more nuanced.<br /><br />2. Having said that, the name Jacob literally means one who follows (like being the second twin, for example), but that doesn't seem to be relevant here. What might be relevant is its more common interpretation, which is "usurper", often extended to imply a trickster or a cheater. So... is that what he is?? (The one in the Bible certainly was, if that means anything at all.) I honestly have no idea at this point, but I guess I'm about to find out soon.Edinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-34483262837369252592020-08-18T14:56:20.060-04:002020-08-18T14:56:20.060-04:00SO MUCH to unpack, but I’ll keep it brief. Billie,...SO MUCH to unpack, but I’ll keep it brief. Billie, was cackled at your pterodactyl line. I enjoyed the origin story and there were many more questions added to my list of questions. However, we have oft been reminded that we will not be receiving all the answers, and I don’t believe that equates to poor writing or a lack of planning on the writers’ behalf. Part of the Lost experience is the mystery and what may feel, in the moment, extraneous will prove meaningful within the bigger picture, or as subsequent episodes unravel. I got very strong Birdbox vibes when Mother blindfolded the brothers. I wonder if Claudia wasn’t aware she was carrying twins? That was my assumption when she seemed done labouring after Jacob was born and then said she only picked one name. My mind immediately went to Esau, although as someone above commented that doesn’t quite fit with what happened in this episode. <br /><br />I’m curious to see what comes next. I’m big on details and have done my fair share of analysis, however I am willing to trust that what comes next will be enlightening. If the final episodes subvert our expectations, well isn’t that Lost?! ;)<br /><br />For the record, I would be very happy to get a Vincent appearance!! Maybe even a polar bear??Clara Crofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09974441311476344687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-76198396820277150352013-06-24T15:16:02.252-04:002013-06-24T15:16:02.252-04:00Killer mom is also sweet, put-upon wife of crazy n...Killer mom is also sweet, put-upon wife of crazy neighbor in American Beauty. Also, Claudia? CJ (Claudia Jean) Cregg from the West Wing. Just thought I'd throw that in there. <br /><br />Really enjoyed reading this blog, Billie...I love LOST like no other show. Very, very satisfied with all of it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-54926513492188057752012-07-17T14:43:32.384-04:002012-07-17T14:43:32.384-04:00Very interesting comments about this episode. I w...Very interesting comments about this episode. I would guess that this was the most polarising of any in the entire series, and for good reason.<br /><br />As I have commented before, I gave up on the story a long, long time ago. I, personally, could not care less about Jacob and his brother's origin story, how the black smoke came into being, who the original Others were, etc. And, unfortunately, this show was all about the mythology.<br /><br />I can appreciate this episode for its acting, which I thought was simply wonderful, and I can appreciate it for taking the story and trying to turn it a bit. But, like I said, I don't care.<br /><br />What I do care about is the characters and how they interact with each other -- why, I think, I have enjoyed the flash sideways so much. So, while I could appreciate this episode from a detached, intellectual place, what I really wanted was another show about our few remaining characters, not to have new ones added and the mythology just made more obscure. The whole thing seemed (sorry Damon and Carlton) a bit self-indulgent to me.ChrisBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10843864158239536750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-60567745748962117612010-09-03T12:10:02.777-04:002010-09-03T12:10:02.777-04:00I thought of Jacob and Esau too. But Esau was born...I thought of Jacob and Esau too. But Esau was born first. Jacob is good ans Esau is evil. Romans 9 says God loved Jacob and hated Esau. That is allegorical for the children of Jacob being righteous and the children of Esau being evil. But Calvinist especially don't read it that way. They feel Jacob was loved and Esau was hated by God as an arbitrary act on God's part.<br /><br />I like the story. Like any story of how a person got to be like he is. The answer is his parents were like they were. Then you ask how did the parents get that way? On and on we go. History is like that. You keep pulling the string and you get the whole sweater. But the sweater is too big. <br /><br />The question I have after this is whether MiB really should leave the island. His mother didn't want him to. I get that. But mothers often would rather their kids not take certain risks. They are often wrong. Mother instilled this idea on Jacob. Jacob instilled it in Richard and later in Hurley. But was Mother right? <br /><br />The idea that came to me was celibacy. Some people are happy with it. Some are not. Jacob was at peace as a single man contemplating the mysteries of the island. MiB wants to meet someone, to marry, to have his own family. That is legit as well. He is being told he can't.Randyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16751516602395247675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-42919926890303387442010-05-23T00:54:18.264-04:002010-05-23T00:54:18.264-04:00Argghh!!
Just posted a long comment that is now L...Argghh!!<br /><br />Just posted a long comment that is now LOST! Blogger ate it!<br /><br />But to summarise:<br /><br />1) Was this episode Jacob's creation myth?<br /><br />2) Is the MIB without name because his name is actually Jacob? Jacob & MIB are actually two sides of the same person - Ego and Id, black pebble and white, bright light and black smoke?Shaun Lotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14412025032735761414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-14130297690902482232010-05-20T20:23:31.220-04:002010-05-20T20:23:31.220-04:00Great review as always, Billie. The only comment I...Great review as always, Billie. The only comment I have to contribute is that I have a Senet game myself (the British Museum sells them) and they were playing it wrong! Maybe MIB isn't as smart as Mother thought after all:).<br /><br />GavrielleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-77586177622736649342010-05-19T21:50:42.212-04:002010-05-19T21:50:42.212-04:00I actually really liked the episode, even though &...I actually really liked the episode, even though "Lost" seems to be suffering from Battlestar-Galactica-itis, otherwise known as, "we've built up so much mythology, the only way to answer most of the questions is to have exposition only episodes."<br /><br />Anyone else here know the Bible? I went to Catholic school, so the name Esau was just screaming out at me as MIB.Serena + Pumpkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10676817343327371251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-42088042717067307312010-05-19T18:03:59.315-04:002010-05-19T18:03:59.315-04:00I too found this underwhelming and a bit half-bake...I too found this underwhelming and a bit half-baked, much like the Richard back-story. But I guess we need to wait and see...<br /><br />One thing that bothers me though, is that the island in the present time is in the Pacific, but these Greek/Roman/Egyptian visitors can't possibly be getting washed up there, unless re-writing world history is one more disbelief we are being asked to suspend...<br /><br />So, I have long thought about the Island having some Atlantis-like quality - it used to be in the Adriatic, but it was 'moved' (like Ben moved it with the wheel) and 'lost' to Ancient civilisation. <br /><br />I'm also a bit confused as to why Claudia (who seemed Hellenic Greek by her dress) would choose a Semitic name like Jacob. Doesn't quite seem to fit to me. But Jacob's twin in Genesis was Esau. If you check out the story (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob) you will see some parallels... Should we trust Jacob? Just because he seemed 'wise'..?<br /><br />I'm wondering if we are being set up for a big switch in where our sympathies should lie?Shaun Lotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14412025032735761414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-47374879885054049042010-05-18T04:29:51.131-04:002010-05-18T04:29:51.131-04:00S'a very well written article Patryk... It'...S'a very well written article Patryk... It's only argument for the episode is really that it lays the groud work for the next two episodes though... If everything he said is true it might be worth. I hope he's right!<br /><br />- JayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-17784744754607675152010-05-17T14:01:23.880-04:002010-05-17T14:01:23.880-04:00Wow i have never seen so many comments on this sit...Wow i have never seen so many comments on this site. Further proof it is growing. :)<br /><br />I'm just going to post another review i read every week after Lost. The attempts made to tie what was shown in Across the Sea to the entirety of Lost are fairly good and the review made me ponder many aspects of the ep.<br /><br />http://www.entil2001.com/series/lost/season6/lost6-15.htmlPatrykhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13662838711958747484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-89884268409303382602010-05-17T06:17:15.703-04:002010-05-17T06:17:15.703-04:00Well, Billie, it had to happen sooner or later. We...Well, Billie, it had to happen sooner or later. We are all reluctant to admit it, but Lost lost its credibility a long while ago. Still a great story, but more and more disappointing. Time travelling was the first crap we had to swallow. And now the authors are frantically trying to tie up all the loose ends they left. There is no answer to such a fantastic series of cliffhangers, coupes de theatre, surprises. It's been fun. The only acceptable answer would be the meaning of life, which neither we know, nor the authors. It is going to end and I will certainly be disappointed, like many others. But, as Jacob and Mother would say, it only ends once. Anything that happens before that is just progress.Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-20422408727496847332010-05-17T02:36:32.472-04:002010-05-17T02:36:32.472-04:00I agree with a lot of these comments. This episode...I agree with a lot of these comments. This episode only raised more questions then answers. I am so much more confused now as to who Jacob and the MIB really are. I liked it better when they were just two immortal entities fighting over control of the island. I didn't need to know all their backstory because now I'm just wondering who Mother is, how did she know Jacob and MIB would come, what did she want them for and a billion other questions.<br /><br />And as for Carlson Cuse's quote: "The finale is much less about the mythology of the show and much more about the character resolutions. How do these character storeis end and what happens to the people? That's what Lost is about?" Pardon my french, but I think that quote is complete bullshit and an excuse for the lack of answers we are going to get. Lost started out as a character driven-show, but somewhere around seasons 2 and 3 they pushed back the characters for the mythology. And now they want to say the mythology never really mattered? Baloney.Miguelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-3788543989331698322010-05-16T22:02:42.651-04:002010-05-16T22:02:42.651-04:00Quote from Carlton Cuse (on http://au.eonline.com/...Quote from Carlton Cuse (on http://au.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b181027_lost_stars_give_scoop_on_emotional.html ):<br /><br />"We're not going to tell you what you will and won't know in the finale. The finale is much less about the mythology of the show and much more about the character resolutions. How do these character stories end and what happens to the people? That's what Lost is about."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-49136762432127251262010-05-16T15:55:31.458-04:002010-05-16T15:55:31.458-04:00The series and all of its major dangling plots sho...The series and all of its major dangling plots should be wrapped up before the final episode and that doesn't look like it's going to be happening. <br /><br />It's not as if the show has been abruptly cancelled. <br /><br />The writers/producers have had about three years (at least) to work out a kick-a$$ end for the story and it seems to me that they haven't done that. <br /><br />I suspect that the end they've cooked up won't be satisfying, so they're throwing in MacGuffins and red herrings to compensate.<br /><br />There are too many unanswered questions, so unless the final episode is compressed like a dwarf star, I think it will rank among the worst series finales of all time.HellBlazerRaiserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12015895593976794867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-53632981663212404512010-05-16T15:18:16.539-04:002010-05-16T15:18:16.539-04:00Is the point to get to the end of the show just to...Is the point to get to the end of the show just to know "what happened" versus "what does this mean?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-26393519212742937812010-05-16T15:00:55.745-04:002010-05-16T15:00:55.745-04:00Everybody's freaking out as if these last few ...<b>Everybody's freaking out as if these last few episodes are just supposed to be the characters stuck in a classroom while the writers write the answers on a chalkboard.</b><br /><br />Everyone is "freaking" out because we're expecting them to tell us what the point of all this has been and not to give us episodes that are, in effect, people rambling on about nothing. <br /><br />This episode was like the drunk who sits at the end of the bar and forces everyone who sits near him to listen to his ponderous soliloquies as if he's some fallen messiah.HellBlazerRaiserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12015895593976794867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-42638276010521689252010-05-16T11:58:11.348-04:002010-05-16T11:58:11.348-04:00It's occurred to me that the Lost finale is al...It's occurred to me that the Lost finale is almost certainly going to disappoint most people because we've all been waiting for answers for so long, and are so passionate about the show that nothing will be good enough. And that just makes me sad. I'd always had the impression that the writers knew where they were going with the story from pretty early on but now i'm not so sure. This episode just seemed a bit like the writers suddenly realised how close they are to the end and hurriedly cobbled together a story that kinda fit. <br /><br />While i didn't have the negative reaction to this episode that some did, i did really miss Jack, Kate, Sawyer et al. And i think that the writers waited too late to spring all this on us. Please prove me wrong, writers.<br /><br />P.s Like jenncatt, i watched Lost immediately after Ashes to Ashes. And if both series end with me being disappointed i will very annoyed.jonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-2230196405447110132010-05-15T18:03:01.271-04:002010-05-15T18:03:01.271-04:00I posted a few eps ago and said i hear the gears o...I posted a few eps ago and said i hear the gears of a Deux ex Machina cranking, well.......Magical glowing spring? Gutted! I expected so much more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-15908331011400227802010-05-15T14:14:53.293-04:002010-05-15T14:14:53.293-04:00Hi Billie, great comments and fantastic info about...Hi Billie, great comments and fantastic info about TAweret and Apep. I agree about the name thing - how hard was that to name the other baby? But I didn't find the episode frustrating, I found it very rich, explaining who Jacob and the MIB are and where they came from. When it was over I said, wow, it went by so fast and that's how I feel about LOst. iT's been 6 years and it all went by so fast. And all this anticipation about the series and the high standards it created, it has made us very demanding, lol, and no matter how wonderful the end is, I'm sure some will feel frustrated. I liked it, and at the same time I want the next one to come, I know the end is near and I'll surely miss it. I love the real MIB, he's a wonderful actor. Oh, gosh, I felt moved and touched, found it so sad but now I need to know about our favorite losties. Please. Oh, and I lost 10 bucks on my bet that Rose and Bernard were Adam and Eve. I was sure it was them, but I found it touching it was mother and brother. Can we, then, get to know what happened to them, please?Samantha Gomesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-28772980858234480232010-05-15T12:41:45.272-04:002010-05-15T12:41:45.272-04:00I just want to pop back in and say how much I enjo...I just want to pop back in and say how much I enjoy people's comments, even when we see it differently. And JennCatt, your great phrase about one strong Lost attribute being their ability to "amp the wtf-ery up to 11" is so funny! Also: your image of (Danielle and) Claire going gaga -- or is it GaGa, with THE HAIR?<br /><br />Thank you for the laughs and the ponderings!GreenHornethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01400048484864815977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-21026360343937979992010-05-14T19:10:58.706-04:002010-05-14T19:10:58.706-04:00ok, i watched this ep directly after the penultima...ok, i watched this ep directly after the penultimate episode of Ashes to Ashes, which is suffering similar 'chuck random stuff at screen and see what sticks' problems on a less ambitious scale and now my brain hurts...<br /> <br />Lost really did break new ground for dramas to amp the wtf-ery up to 11 and step back to let the audience figure it out, and that's always been a major strength for me. But it has to be the characters that keep you hooked beyond that - the familiar things keeping the audience tethered amongst all the weirdness.<br /> <br />And honestly, these far-past flashbacks feel like they're being weighted far too heavily, using up an entire ep when we're missing any of our viewpoint characters from the picture and therefore lots of the emotional resonance for me. It was perfectly watchable, but I really still don't care about jacob and MiB, mostly because they're just cyphers narratively. Giving them more backstory doesn't automatically equate to building character sadly, and this ep really lost the momentum building after Darlton just got done massacring half the cast, surely? I can think of other things i'd rather they spent a quiet flashback ep on- Danielle or Claire going gaga for instance.<br /><br />The thing thats bugging me most of all though: why on earth were they speaking American-accented English?! Lost has no probs subtitling everyone else, so... I'm guessing Mama didn't crash her pterodactyl so much as timetravel from modern(ish) day USA?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-20060717333311610982010-05-14T19:00:20.542-04:002010-05-14T19:00:20.542-04:00We need patience as Lost is one long episode. We ...We need patience as Lost is one long episode. We should not fully judge the ending or the "answers" until the finale.<br /><br />I think the ultimate ending will be one that may not answer all the questions. For those who are familiar with The Prisoner from the 60s will know what I mean. Who is number 1? Where is The Village? Who runs The Village? Those were the big questions everyone wanted to answer. In fact, Patrick McGoohan (actor and writer of the show)had to leave London for a time as people were so angry he did not give them the "answers."<br /><br />In the end some questions were answered and some were just a plain mystery. However, that ending and what it means is still debated to this day more than 40 years later. I think that made the difference between the show being a minor blip in TV history to one that people still watch.<br /><br />I hope the same happens for Lost. If I am not mistaken the writers have cited The Prisoner as one of their influences and perhaps how that ended might be a model for them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-88343586173766690902010-05-14T18:59:34.716-04:002010-05-14T18:59:34.716-04:00I'm really surprised so many disliked this epi...I'm really surprised so many disliked this episode! I MUCH preferred it to Richard's episode, which i found completely pointless and mostly uninteresting. How can you complain about how they aren't answering questions NOW? wait til the series finishes, then if you're not satisfied, complain about this episode then, don't pre-emt the writers with negativity! Maybe I would view this episode differently if I was the type to analyse every single little detail, as I know so many do, my meager few brain cells can only cope with sitting and letting it wash over me, if i started thinking about the many complexities of Lost i think my brain would explode.<br />Speaking of, I watched the film Triangle the other day and would thoroughly recommend it to any Lost fan. If you want to watch something that seems simple at first and the more and more you analyze it the more complex it gets, my mind boggles at it but i thought it was great! So go watch it people, and maybe someone on my favourite website can review it :)<br /><br />Stephen<br /><br />P.S. the Glee review need to hurry up! My episode viewing is not complete without a billiedoux review, ooh that rhymes! now i'm off to write a song about it...Stephennoreply@blogger.com