This episode, while it is one of the better ones in the show's run so far, is a bit topsy-turvy. For one, the flashback structure that makes it seem like Abrams and his team just don't know how to write a normal episode of television, is getting old fast. And the pacing here, the suspense, and the way they cut to the flashbacks takes away from the episode, and of course, there's the complaint that, at least until the end of the episode, we've still sort of forgotten about Claire. But this is a monumentally pivotal episode. We see the beastie, and Claire returns, and the long-awaited backstory between dynamic duo Walt and Mike (and Vincent) is explained.
First, I will share my thoughts about the plausibility of the events in this episode even happening. I've only seen up to here yet, so I'm assuming that the polar bear's existence on the island will be explained, but if it isn't, obviously, this episode is a load of crap. But I'm assuming it will be explained. After all, this is a science fiction show. No, my issue with plausibility is Sayid's map. They seem to have found it on the island, yet they aren't sure it's of the island, yet they decide that they should follow it blindly, and Michael says they should build a raft to escape the island on their own and he expects to, you know, find land. Firstly, it baffles me that Sayid, this mathematical genius, still hasn't figured out that you can tell where the plane crashed based on the most likely flight route it took (usually a straight line, but not always), the estimated time of arrival, and how long you had been in the air. There are literally only so many place you could be. And don't tell me it hadn't been charted on maps, because there are satellite maps that literally HAD to capture every island in the world. Put two and two together.
Aside from that, the end of the episode is executed poorly. Not because it's bad, just because it was a bad choice. When the viewer realizes that the beast is a polar bear, you don't then cut to the boring flashback of Michael and Walt having a heart-to-heart. When there's a polar bear on a tropical island, you don't cut except for commercial. Just my advice, I'm saying that it made the episode less dramatic than it could've been.
In Abram's defense, the directing here is fantastic. And I say Abrams because he did a fantastic job assembling a team of really, really great directors. And they aren't big names, they're just amazing at what they do.
So, this episode had highs and lows, but no middle-ground. I am awaiting an explanation for the polar bear.
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