Lost ReWatch: Man of Science, Man of Faith
Season 2, Episode 1
Hero of the episode: Locke, Kate, Jack Zero of the episode: Charlie, Desmond
Quote(s) of the episode: “Great idea, you two go look in the burning death hole.” --Hurley
Music vibes: happy, then frenetic as Desmond runs around the hatch; imposing as the camera pans up the long shaft of the hatch; creepy silence when Shannon is searching for Vincent
Little things: seeing glimpses of the hatch, complete with rusty pipes and cans
Episode notebook:
It opens with a mystery man starting his day, a man we now know to be Desmond. After an explosion above him, he runs around getting dressed and arming himself with a gun.
Still mind-boggling that Desmond was in the hatch the entire time. We don’t get a lot of his backstory in Season 2. His character gets more fleshed out in Season 3. Can’t wait to fill in the memory gaps.
Jack is not ready to go in the hatch. He prefers to be practical and wait until morning. Too bad Locke isn’t as practical.
Vincent is missing. Shannon searches for him alone and encounters Walt, soaking wet, in the jungle. He’s not real? Why was Shannon having visions of Walt? Or was the island trying to send her a message? Shannon sees Walt again in other episodes, but I feel like this was another storyline left unfulfilled.
Hurley tells Jack about his history with the dreaded numbers, 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42. Jack isn’t sure what to make of Hurley’s story of bad luck. Hurley tells Jack he needs to work on his bedside manner.
In the past, Jack wasn’t good at bedside manner. His future wife, Sara, was badly injured in a car accident and he bluntly told her how slim her chances were ever to walk again.
Sara was engaged to someone else before Jack. Totally forgot that. Her fiancé seemed more worried about the future of their sex life than his future wife’s health.
Locke and Kate decide to go in the hatch, against Jack’s wishes. Kate gets violently pulled into the hatch. Locke goes after her.
Jack changes his mind and goes down the hatch, encountering a familiar face—Desmond. They met in the past.
Episode recap: Beeping and then the calming, happy sounds of “Make Your Own Kind of Music,” by the Mamas and the Papas, sets the stage for the opening of Season 2 of Lost. A mystery man is starting his day, washing last night’s dishes, then working out on a stationary bike, then taking a shower, making breakfast, then. . .he’s giving himself some kind of vaccine shot. Ok? What’s the shot about? Is this the present day? On or off the island? Before long, the tranquil ambiance is shattered by an explosion, abruptly jolting our protagonist into action as he hastily arms himself with guns. What or who is the imminent threat? Our heroes! A long shot reveals Locke and Jack at the top of the shaft. This mystery man has been inside the hatch, possibly waiting for the right moment to act. But who is the real threat?
Jack seems hesitant to explore the mysteries lurking within the hatch—perhaps it's fear or simply a commitment to his scientific principles. As the episode title states, he’s a man of science. The hatch ladder is broken, it’s not safe to go down there at night. It’s better to wait until morning when there is better light. So says the man of science. But Locke is a man of faith, he’s not convinced it’s best to wait. However, Jack has spoken and so they head back to the caves to update the group.
Jack’s identity has always been a man of science. A man of facts and logic. That’s the driving force behind his career as a spinal surgeon. Taking a leap of faith is not in his wheelhouse. Reflecting on his past off the island, one pivotal moment stands out: the harrowing experience of saving his future wife, Sara, following a car accident. Sara was rushed to the hospital with multiple injuries. After stabilizing her, Jack was rather honest about her chances of ever walking again. So, honest he took away Sara’s hope. Someone in her position needed a little hope something his dad, Christian, points out. No matter how small, people need a little hope when faced with an impossible or near impossible obstacle.
On the island, Jack tries to give his fellow survivors the hope he denied Sara. Despite the hatch ladder being partially broken due to the explosion, they can still try to get in. They just have to wait until morning. In the meantime, people can stand guard at the cave entrances—in case the Others show up. However, Locke's impatience reaches a tipping point; driven by a personal need for answers, he's determined to descend into the hatch immediately. They can’t stop now. All they’ve been through must have been for a reason. Kate agrees, going with Locke against Jack’s wishes.
In his past, Jack's determination to "fix" Sara weighs heavily on him. While commiserating over his potential failure, he meets a man named Desmond, who tries to convince Jack to believe in miracles. To believe he fixed Sara. As Sara does recover and eventually walks down the aisle to marry Jack, miracles do happen you just have to have a little hope—a little faith.
Jack taps into that faith when he decides to chase after Locke and Kate, both of whom have now descended the hatch. What’s down there certainly seems ominous as Kate was violently yanked down the shaft. Locke follows her down. Jack eventually goes down himself, not quite sure what to expect. Initially greeted by darkness and rust, the hatch gradually reveals itself as a relic of scientific exploration, adorned with antiquated computers and illuminated panels. Yet, before Jack can fully grasp the significance of his surroundings, he sees Locke being held at gunpoint. And the man behind the gun is none other than Desmond. There are no chance encounters on this show!
Everything happens for a reason. That’s what I got out of this first episode. Every person you meet can and will have some impact on your life—big and small. The serendipitous meeting between Desmond and Jack in the past feels like a piece of a larger puzzle orchestrated by the island itself—an entity with its own agenda. Yes, the island has plans for these people. The island wants these specific people, the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, together for a reason. They are destined to be together for a reason. I’m still trying to remember that reason. It’s fun trying to figure out this puzzle again. Please keep reading my recap for episode two is posted.