“Recon” thoughts - Lauren
Well, here is my second attempt at a post concerning Tuesday, March 16th’s episode of Lost, “Recon”. Since I spent all morning writing the original, I think ‘ll just go with some highlights for now. I know my dear friends will be writing their own thoughts so they can fill in any blanks.
First off, it’s interesting to see that the island has a salon. It seems our boy Sawyer has finally gotten a haircut, even if it is just a trim. This was a nice hint that the episode would be displaying sideways flash Sawyer.
Speaking of sideways, I may be alone on this but I didn’t buy Sawyer as a cop untill the door came crashing in. I knew, in sideways, mirror world, people are at least a little different, so I thought Sawyer was just a crappy con-man, rather than a successful one. Bein a copper wasn’t the only strange thing in off island world, Miles as his partner was a bit of a shock. The weirdest thing though is that Miles and his cop buddies apparently enjoy listening to Sawyer roll around in the sack with ladies. Especially ladies involved in the case they are working on. But hey, whatever works for ya.
Also, intrestingly enough, Sawyer is still very much the same character. He explains to his “date” that he came to a point in his life where he could either be a cop or a criminal, he chose cop. Isn’t there some study that states the minds of a cop and criminal are very similair? Sawyer, ahem, excuse me, James Ford, still is a smash with the ladies, still lies to everyone, and most importantly, still has a lust for vengence. So let’s try and work this out. Off island Locke, is still good pals with his father, who we are assuming is Anthony Cooper. Is it still the Anthony Cooper who conned Sawyer’s mother and led to their deaths? Did they get conned at all? There is no mention of it, nor is there a mention or a shot of the infamous letter. And is detective James Ford going to strangle him with chains while Locke sits in the next room? Also, did Ford kill that man in Australia? This could be key to his redemption story.
((Some people are wondering why he didn’t rat out Kate at the airport in the season opener if he’s a cop. We’re pretty sure it’s because he didn’t want anyone to know he was on that flight, instead of sitting on a beach in Palm Springs… which came out anyway))
I like Miles and Sawyer, but their buddy cop routine seemed a little off. I can’t pinpoint exactly why, but something didn’t sit right. It seemed like it was based on cop shows rather than actual, real life, police officers.
I’m sure we all thought this, but wow, they really got me with the date. I totally expected to see Juliet at the bar. And after Sawyer gets shut down at Charlotte’s door, I expected to see him run into her, and suggest they “go dutch”. Oh Darlton, you got me!
Also, cool little cameo with Charlie’s brother. I’m liking how all our Losties are coming together, even in small ways.
I am also loving how people are coming together off camera as well. We know Charlotte and Pierre Chang work together. Miles is apparently also still in touch with his father, as well as Charlotte. Charlie and his brother Liam are also apparently still in each other’s lives. In past episodes, we can assume Alex is now living with her mother, Danielle (working two jobs just to pay rent)
Back to on island Sawyer. He seems to be revisiting his former island days, pre lovey dovey time with Juliet. The “survivin” days. Watching him go back and forth between Smokey and Widmore had me a bit confused at first. Who is he going to help? What side is he on? Where does his loyalty rest? The ultimate answer both makes the most sense and is the most Sawyer. He doesn’t know either one of these people, except for they have both killed people he knew. He has no allegience to either of them, and is just getting them to focus on one another while he makes a play for the sub … that he somehow thinks he can navigate… whaaatever. And no matter who wins, they promised to help him get off the island. It seems, no matter what, he gets what he wants.
Smokey has me a little worried here. He sends Sawyer over after saying “You’re the best liar I ever met”. He knows he’s not to be trusted, so he might be onto Sawyer’s game. Will this be enough to piss the smoke monster off? I feel that if we have another Sawyer heavy episode, it will be his last.
=(
I thought about this watching the episode again during the Locke, sawyer convo that takes place before Smokey tells Sawyer who he really is.
Locke - “I wish you hadn’t interrupted me.”
Sawyer - “I’m sorry, I forgot my manners.”
Locke - “(sigh)I forgive you.”
The convo itself probably has little significance, but the fact that Smokey has to make the decision to forgive him and not burst into a black killing fog, is interesting, and also may mean, our candidates are not as safe as we think. Also, Sawyer took the news that Locke is really the murderous black smoke monster that has been torturing him and his pals for about 6 seasons now, INCREDIBELY well.
Other random notes:
*** Kate - “Sayid, are you ok?”
Sayid - “No.”
Cue Crazy Claire attacking Kate. Kate yells out for Sayid’s help. He sits there and stares. It’s pretty clear Sayid has checked out. It’s pretty sad, since he was one of my favorite characters. Hurley was pretty on point when he asked if he was a zombie earlier this season.
*** Speaking of Claire, Vozzek from Dark Ufo made a pretty good catch. Claire is exhibiting very childlike behaviors. From holding Kate’s hand when Smokey is telling them everything will be alright, to throwing epic tantrums, Claire has essentially reverted back to childlike behavior. Vozzek thinks THIS is the sickness. Pretty interesting theory.
*** This is one of the few episodes where I didn’t dislike Kate. Evangeline Lilly got to show kate’s softer, more vunerable side, without compromising the character. Kate is truly, (get ready for it) lost. She came back to the island to save Aaron’s mother but now she’s a loon. She’s probably realizing her life blows whether she’s on island or off. One of her love interests went wandering away with Hurley, while the other seems to broken by his exgirlfriends death to ever be interested in love again. For once, I can empathize with her. I see her motives, and understand her. Good one Kate! (just please don’t have another episode)
*** And then there’s Smokey. Good God Terry O’Quinn is KILLING it this season. Please just give him an emmy now!!! Smoke monster Locke, or Smocke, is absolutely one of my new favorite characters. Even with minor mind fucks like the story he tells Kate on the beach about his mother. Was that really HIS story, or was he borrowing from Locke’s actual life, (see also: DON’T TELL ME WHAT I CAN’T DO!) Who knows?!? But it’s great. Hey, remember when he slapped Claire across the face like a tough father? That was pretty intense.
So, to sum up my thoughts on “Recon”, I don’t think it was this season’s strongest episode, though I saw its purpose as a set-up episode. Those are extremely necessary in this show, and still make for excellent television. And, it still wasn’t tough to watch like the season’s second episode “What Kate Does”… rough.
Well, I’ve already let this get pretty long again, and I didn’t even touch on everything. I may try another post this weekend with some broader theories. Thanks for your time LOSTIES!!!
-Lauren
