Underappreciated 'Lost' Theatre: S.O.S.
I hope you are enjoying Underappreciated "Lost" Theatre week here on the blog. Yesterday, we kicked out the jams with "Tricia Tanaka is Dead," an episode that judging from your comments hold a special place in many a fan's heart. And folks, that makes my heart happy as well. It's great to know an episode I feel doesn't get the kudos it should get a rousing round of support when mentioned. Group hug!
Next up? We're going back to Season 2, a season that isn't a fan favorite but contains a number of overt gems (such as "Orientation," "The Other 48 Days," and "The 23rd Psalm") that stand among the show's finest and most-lauded hours. But today, we're not going to look at any of those. We're going to look at an episode that will surely gain in stature and importance by the time Season 6 ends, "S.O.S."
Why it's overlooked
The latter half of Season 2 is dominated by the introduction of one Henry Gale into the "Lost" sewing circle. So, for many people, this hour was wasted on peripheral characters that had no real bearing on the plot when all they wanted to do was watch that creepy guy with the bug eyes frak their minds while eating cereal. Throw in the fact that Bernard acts like a Grade A jerk for most of the episode, and you had a lot of people wishing they had spent their hour doing something else. Even now, many regard this as a slight episode that stands as a breather between the Gale reveal and Michael's return.
Why it's underappreciated
Because Rose and Bernard OWNED the season finale. Because they might understand the true path to Jacob's ultimate end-game better than anyone else. Because the scene in Isaac of Uluru's room contains more Easter eggs than you can possibly imagine, giving us vitally important clues to the overall nature of the Island right under our nose. Because comparing the interaction of Bernard and Jin in this episode with their conversation in "Ji Yeon" shows the power of long-form narrative when properly done.
You have to love going back to episodes like this and realizing 1) just how many things were right under your nose in plain sight, and 2) just how many things the writers of "Lost" had planned out even at this early stage. For these two reasons, "S.O.S." deserves much love from the fans of the show.
What's your favorite moment of "S.O.S."? Leave it below!
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Oh, another great one! I always liked this episode a lot. At the time I thought it was filler, but good filler. That scene with Isaac of Uluru is definitely important now, especially after Eloise Hawking confirmed that there were other places like that last season (I think it was her anyway). That being said, I wonder if we'll actually see Isaac again or if we'll just go back to that spot in Australia in season 6. It's not like that many people would have any idea who he is. It was one scene (and not a very famous one) from years back.
Favorite scene: Easy. Bernard telling Rose that they'll never leave the island. If that scene didn't choke you up a little, you have no heart.
@Natalie: Agreed on wondering if Isaac will reappear. I wrote about it here:
http://blog.zap2it.com/lost/2009/08/six-in-six-six-minor-lost-characters-that-should-return-in-season-6.html
This episode summarizes what I liked best about Lost the first 2 and 1/2 seasons. You watch an entire episode with wonderful character development (All men act like jerks when they are trying to protect/rescue their woman at all costs), and just when you think nothing important is going to happen this week - BAM! - you see weird things happening with the healer dude and the "pocket" of energy he sits on. You know something is important in that, but you just don't know what yet.
Also, the fact that you find out Rose's cancer went away on the Island further deepened the healing/purgatory/death theories at the time! Great subtle writing and pacing!
I don't mind the episode and infact like it in general but I don't feel it was that important in the Lost Universe of Mythology as Ryan believes. Except for Isaac and Rose being healed of her cancer I don't think this was as an important find as say Locke being able to walk again. Of how about Locke recovering from the bullet wound from Ben. We have seen before that the island heals so the fact Rose was cured doesn't surprise me. Also, how did Rose and Bernard Own the finale this past season....much too much credit is given there. I think most of us were just happy to see them alive and hear from them again and maybe it isn't much more to it than that.
This was a nice episode, but probably not one of my favorites. Either way, I'm glad they got a flashback episode, regardless of whether anything we learned in it is mythologically relevant or not.
I remember being really surprised that Rose & Bernard apparently haven't been married that long. Up until this point I had assumed they'd been married for 20-30 years.
Bernard telling Rose that they'll never leave the island.
I also think it's a definite foreshadowing that they, indeed, will one day become the bodies of "Adam and Eve" complete with black/white pebbles.
I just rewatched the scene with Isaac and really couldn't find any of the aforementioned hidden Easter Eggs of Lost goodness. I get the whole idea of pockets of energy being used to heal, but is there more I'm just not seeing?
Natalie: "Favorite scene: Easy. Bernard telling Rose that they'll never leave the island. If that scene didn't choke you up a little, you have no heart."
Well put!
I've always really liked this episode, and am surprised to hear that it isn't traditionally highly regarded. Glad Ryan (and Natalie and others) are fighting for it!
hmm.. I was never a big fan of this episode. Perhaps I need to watch it again in a different mind set. I really wish you would have gone further into detail about the easter eggs though. Also...." just how many things were right under your nose in plain sight" I was hoping you would elaborate on that.
I'm getting on the "Bernard and Rose are Adam and Eve" bus. I totally agree with Barry. And probably a lot more of you who said the same thing! Thanks for pointing out this episode!