Lost recap #1: Pilot Part 1
Season 1, episode 1
Hero of the episode: Jack Zero of the episode: n/a (too early for there to be a jerk)
Quote(s) of the episode: “Oh you gotta be kidding me!” – Hurley when Jack asks him to look after a pregnant Claire; “As if I’m going to start eating chocolate.” – Shannon when Boone offers her a candy bar; “I’m fine. Charlie’s fine by the way.” – Charlie when Jack only asks if Kate is ok after climbing into the fuselage
Music vibes: Curiosity and then adventure. In the opening scene, we get a close-up of Jack’s eye. The subtle music in the background matches Jack’s curiosity about his surroundings. Then straight into adventure music as he runs through the jungle.
Little things: Kate getting hiking boots off a dead passenger. A subtle reminder of the lives lost. | Hurley giving Claire extra food.
Episode notebook:
The opening shot of Jack’s eye is still captivating. Who is he? Where is he? Is he alone? Why does he have liquor in his pocket?
Jack must be a doctor. How else does he know exactly what to do with the injured passengers he comes across?
Looking at the opening credits, you can forget what a great cast this was. Harold Perrineau, Terry O’Quinn, Daniel Dae Kim, Matthew Fox, Naveen Andrews, and L. Scott Caldwell
There are about 48 survivors, not counting the tail (if they’re alive)
Jack asks Kate for help. I forgot about his story of operating on a patient whose spinal nerves spilled out like angel hair pasta. Lovely visual. Yuck!
I see now that Kate rubbing her wrists was a bit of foreshadowing.
Flashbacks to the moments before the crash play throughout
Something’s not normal about Terry O’Quinn’s character
Loud, ominous sounds are the first hint that there’s something sinister in the jungle. The first hint of the smoke monster.
Jack, Kate, and Charlie find the front section of the plane. One pilot is still alive, delivering the heartbreaking message that they were miles off course.
The smoke monster kills the pilot, forcing Jack, Kate, and Charlie to run for their lives. The final shot of the dead pilot is gross.
Episode recap: Nearly 20 years later, this show still pulls me in. This time around I’m seeing how much the music is like another character. The opening shot of Jack’s eye includes music with an air of curiosity and mystery. The music is making me think who is the guy in the suit? Why should we care about him? As Jack is running through the jungle, you’re wondering what happened to him and where he is.
Then there is a shift in Jack’s demeanor, there’s also a shift in the music. We go straight into action music as Jack tries to help injured survivors. Instantly we’re being told he’s our hero. A theme that continues not just in this episode, but the entire series. Other survivors we meet: Kate (an obvious love interest for Jack), Sawyer, Locke, Sun, and Jin. We also get our first taste of character flashbacks.
Doctor Jack becomes a leader right away, embarking on a trek, with Kate and Charlie, to find the cockpit and possibly the radio/transceiver. Yes, they found the radio and injured co-pilot. The pilot reveals they crashed off course, the search teams are likely looking for them in the wrong area. It would be too easy for this mission to work.
The unseen monster makes an appearance, killing the pilot and forcing our survivors to run for their lives. They’re quickly separated. But we the audience are left to experience this terror with Kate as she runs through the jungle alone. She ends up hiding between some trees, doing her best to be quiet. Kate eventually reunites with her comrades, but her fear during that sequence is palpable. What does the monster want with them? What is this monster? Why is there a monster on the island? None of those questions is answered in this episode, or even in this first season. I don’t remember how they get answered, but I know that’s a couple of seasons away. That’s all part of the fun of rewatching Lost! My post for part 2 of the pilot is also posted, so please keep reading.
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Monday: I’m a Jarlic (a.k.a. garlic in a jar) Snob . . . I Think