Awesome episode. I hope this becomes a trend because if the show remains this good, I will keep watching. I was asking for Jack flashbacks and I got exactly what I wanted. The writers even set up some possible future Jack-centric episodes. Matthew Fox is amazing and the episode gave him some great stuff to work with.

 I never thought that Jack’s past had been so twisted. He seems like he came from a well-off family, had a great relationship with his parents and somehow believed in the greatness of science. That’s not at all how it seems. He did come from a well-off family and he does believe in the importance of science, but his family life is a complete mess. As a kid, he used to suffer from the constant bashing his father gave him. Can you imagine hearing from your father, “You don’t have what it takes.” I would end up being completely vulnerable. Who does his father think he is? Furthermore, I loved how the figure in the jungle that Jack kept seeing was his father. That was a really nice twist. Personally, I just think that Jack needs some sleep. If he’s going to take this new role as leader seriously, he needs to be ready for everything. I do have a constant problem though with the way people come to Jack for help. It’s overwhelming for one single guy. Boone then had the nerve to yell at him for not saving the woman in the ocean. Was I the only one who felt like punching him out? I get very violent at times. Anyways, I truly don’t believe that Jack found the water by himself. I think that sound in the bushes was Locke. Locke wanted Jack to find water so he can finally act like a leader. It’s not a proven fact, but that’s what I believe. His speech at the end of the episode was excellent:

“It’s been 6 days and we’re all still waiting. Waiting for someone to come. But what if they don’t? We have to stop waiting. We need to start figuring things out. A woman died this morning just going for a swim and he tried to save her, and now you’re going to crucify him? We can’t do this. Every man for himself is not going to work. It’s time to start organizing. We need to figure out how we’re going to survive here. Now, I found water. Fresh water, up in the valley. I’ll take a group in at first light. If you don’t want to come, then find another way to contribute. Last week, most of us were strangers, but we’re all here now. And God knows how long we’re going to be here. But if we can’t live together, we’re going to die alone.”

Finally, he’s acting like a leader.

          The water-shortage storyline was very interesting. You never realize how important water is until it’s missing. When Claire passed out, I started panicking. I never thought that Boone would be the one to steal the water. He gets in the way. I think Shannon should straighten him out. I like when she makes fun of him. I felt bad for Jin and Sun when Sayid and Kate cornered them. They don’t understand a thing and I’m starting to feel some sympathy for Jin. He’s worried sick for his wife and he made sure to get water for her firsthand. He’s a nice guy.

          I thought that the Jack/Locke scenes in the jungle were amazing. Locke has this idea that the island is a magical place. How can you blame him? He’s stuck for four years in a wheelchair and finally realizes he can walk again. I think he even started getting through to Jack. When I look in their eyes, I see different people. Very different people, actually. Locke has faith. He’s always had faith. Like he describes himself, Locke is a normal person, living in the normal world. Jack is a surgeon who faces life-changing events every day. He’s well-off and has been brought up to believe that science is the only answer there is to all our questions. We saw the proof ourselves. He couldn’t face the memorial service on the island and he felt no desire to give his father a proper memorial service. This is very interesting.

Spotlight on…Jack

-          As an adult, Jack remembers his childhood. His father would criticize him, telling him he doesn’t have what it takes to be a hero. Jack was getting beaten up at school and his father laughed in his face.

-          Jack’s father runs away. His wife goes running to Jack to try and find him. At this point, Jack finds himself a few days before the crash. He hasn’t spoken to his father in two months. He had done something to his father. Jack’s mother tells him he has the obligation to bring his father back.

-          When Jack arrived in Australia, he visits the hotel where his father was staying at only to learn that his father was escorted to his room after being drunk the night before. Jack finds empty bottles of alcohol and his wallet in the hotel room.

-          Jack finds his father in the Coroner’s office. There was an accident and his father is dead.

-          Jack wants to bury his father immediately upon returning to Los Angeles.

Tales from the Island

Jack: I saw my dad in the forest. I knew it was him. I wasn’t imagining anything. I ran after him. I ran after him. I just kept running after him. The others tell me I need to sleep. How the hell do I sleep with everything that’s going on? The others want me to be their leader. I’m a doctor who had an alcoholic father. What do I know about leadership? Locke thinks I have to know where I’m going. Where is that place? Hell, I’m still trying to prevent disputes on the island. I know one thing for sure: we can’t live alone. We’re a family now and we’re all we’ve got. I haven’t told the others this and I don’t know if I will. I found my dad’s coffin. His body wasn’t inside. Did I really see him?

Quotable Quotes

-          Bully: “You should have stayed down, Jack.” This guy has just made my list.

-          Locke: “I’m not a believer in…magic. But this place is different. It’s special. The other don’t wanna talk about it because it scares them, but we all know it, we all feel it.”

And then…

Locke: “…But I have looked into the eye of this island, and what I saw…was beautiful.”

-          Jack’s father (to a young Jack): “You don’t wanna be a hero. You don’t wanna try to save everyone. Because when you fail…you just don’t have what it takes.”

-          Sawyer (to Shannon): “You’re in my light, sticks.”

-          Locke (to Jack): “A leader can’t lead until he knows where he’s going.”

-          Sayid (about Sawyer): “You go after him now and he’ll give you nothing. But if you wait, a rat will always lead you to its hole.”

-          Sawyer (to Kate): “Seeing as you’re the new sheriff in town, you might as well make it official.”

-          Sawyer: “I traded Mr. Miyagi the last of my water for a fish he caught. We worked it out caveman-style.”

Kate: “You gave him your last two bottles.”

Sawyer: Water has no value, Freckles. It’s gonna rain sooner or later. And hell, I’m an optimist.”

Some Final Notes

-          Boone really needs to reconsider being a lifeguard. This is the second time he’s made a fool of himself. We also learn that he runs a business.

-          I like Shannon’s new nickname: Sticks. Courtesy of Sawyer.

-          I liked how Sawyer gave Lilly the sheriff’s badge. There’s a new sheriff in town.

-          Charlie is really getting attached to Claire.

-          I understand Claire’s frustrations. She thinks that everyone looks down on her. That, I’m sure, must be hard for her.

-          So far, all the flashbacks have been depicting the final days before the crash.

-          Sun wants to be more involved with the rest of the group. I’m sure they truly do feel excluded.

-          Sawyer has a nice stash of stuff. Kate also tackled him nicely.

-          Jack’s father was not in the coffin. Was he really seeing his father? The Island has some sort of mysterious power.

Excellent episode. 5 stars

-          Next episode

-          Lost season 1

-          Lost main