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Hero of the episode: Sun, Hurley Zero of the episode: Nikki, Paulo, Charlie, Sawyer
Quote(s) of the episode: “Who the hell’s Nikki?”—Sawyer | “Is there a forensic hatch I don’t know about?”—Sawyer when Hurley says he’s destroying evidence
Music vibes: Frenetic and frantic to open as Nikki is running through the jungle
Little things: Boone and Shannon arguing in the airport | Paulo and Nikki were looking for a bag when they met Ethan | Hurley asks Desmond if he had any flashes about Nikki or Paulo
Episode notebook:
Nikki used to be an actress. She was in a relationship with wealthy producer Howie.
Nikki runs out of the jungle, collapsing in front of Hurley and Sawyer.
Paulo is found dead in the jungle.
Paulo was the private chef for Howie. Nikki and Paulo were thieves and Howie was their target.
Flashbacks include Nikki and Paulo in significant moments from past seasons.
Nikki found Arzt alive in the rubble and befriends him throughout the flashbacks.
When Nikki finds Paulo, the first thing she asks about is the bag with the diamonds.
Desmond saw Sawyer and Nikki arguing. She wanted a gun, but Sawyer denied her.
The Others and Sawyer are the suspects.
Charlie confesses to Sun that he put the bag over her head and made it look like the Others (The Long Con episode). Tells Sun it was Sawyer’s idea. Sun gives Sawyer the slap across the face he deserves but says she will not tell Jin.
Arzt gives Nikki some help and Paulo is jealous.
Paulo’s lies to Nikki have big consequences for both of them.
Episode recap: Nikki and Paulo—every time we saw them Sawyer asked the burning question, “Who the hell are you?” That pretty much summed up my reaction when they made their debut in the Season 3 opener. Sure, there are more survivors than the ones producers chose to focus on, but Nikki and Paulo felt like they were forced upon us. Most side characters are gently introduced before they are part of the main plot. Look at Ben’s character, he was slowly introduced with short scenes before he was given a larger storyline. Ben is an unscrupulous weasel, but he grows on you and because actor Michael Emerson played him so well, he stuck around. The same cannot be said for Nikki and Paulo.
Nikki and Paulo were often thrust into larger plot points, like the search of the Pearl station and searching for clues to find Jack, before we had a chance to know anything about them. I think that was the misstep. They were a random couple who showed up asking questions. The “Expose” episode is the first time we learn anything personal about them.
We open with Nikki frantically running through the jungle. She stops just long enough to bury something in the dirt—must be important. Then she’s running again. What or whom is she so afraid of? There’s no quick answer as she collapses on the beach, lifeless, in front of Hurley and Sawyer. Who did this to her and where is Paulo?
Before the island, Nikki was an actress on a cheesy Australian television spy show. Paulo was the private chef for TV producer Howie and Nikki’s wealthy boyfriend. Seems innocent until Howie dies suddenly of an apparent heart attack. Nikki’s relationship with Howie was all a ruse to gain his trust, poison him, and steal his diamonds. An interesting backstory, like several people on the island Nikki and Paulo were thieves—in love, though. Several moments in their flashbacks reveal a sweet, loving couple. Yet every time they search for their baggage containing the diamonds, we’re reminded what awful people they are. They were on that flight out of greed and continued to search for the diamonds out of greed.
Their time on the island is woven into pivotal scenes, like the crash in the first episode and Jack’s live-together die-alone speech, and with key characters, including Boone, Shannon, and science teacher Arzt. Again, shoehorning Nikki and Paulo into these moments feels forced, but they add some context. Nikki cozied up to Arzt to learn about trajectories, hoping to find better search areas for the missing diamonds. Arzt was also into collecting insect species, including a poisonous spider that temporarily paralyzes its victims. Nikki and Paulo even found the Pearl station on one of their searches, choosing not to go down the hatch as the diamonds were more important.
Nikki’s obsession with the jewels consumed her, to the point that Paulo began to question her love. Did the lure of wealth corrupt Nikki’s spirit? Would she even want him if she didn’t need Paulo’s help to find the diamonds? That doubt leads Paulo to lie about discovering the diamonds.
A lie in the moment might feel like the right choice, but on this island, the truth eventually comes out. When Nikki suspects Paulo is lying about the diamonds, she lures him into the jungle for a romantic rendezvous. Romance is off the table when Nikki throws one of Arzt’s poisonous spiders at Paulo. The venom paralyzes him into silence but not before Paulo confesses his fears. He was afraid of losing Nikki. Afraid she wouldn’t love him anymore. Isn’t that sweet? Karma was instant for Nikki, after finding the diamonds on Paulo the spider bites her leading to that frantic run through the jungle.
Nikki and Paulo both appear to be dead, but it just seems that way. The paralyzing effect lasted for eight hours, unfortunately not in time for Hurley, Sawyer, and the rest of the survivors to realize they were still alive. Both are laid to rest in a shallow grave, and just as the dirt is piled on Nikki begins to awaken. Too late! Thus, the end of Nikki and Paulo.
This episode was entertaining, playing out like a plot on CSI. Their belongings and tent were searched for clues. Sawyer searched the jungle for Paulo, finding his body and the diamonds. After the Others and Sawyer are ruled out as suspects, the only conclusion they killed each other over the diamonds. That’s somewhat true. Nikki’s greed and Paulo’s lies killed them both. This episode served no purpose other than to kill off unpopular characters. A quick internet search and you’ll find multiple articles and blog posts about the audience’s hatred for these two, so producers bid them farewell. Personally, I don’t get the hatred; they were just unnecessary additions to an already large cast. Perhaps if their introduction hadn’t been so forced, they could have grown on the audience, like Ben. Please come back next week for episodes fifteen and sixteen.
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Monday: TBA
Thursday: Lost ReWatch for episodes fifteen and sixteen
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