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Hero of the episode: Bernard Zero of the episode: Fake Henry
Quote(s) of the episode: “They’ll never give you Walt.”—Fake Henry | “Well do we have to run everything by Jack? I mean he’s not the president. He’s—he’s a doctor.”—Bernard “You’re a dentist.”—Rose in response | “Everybody on this island is building something. I’m trying to get us saved.”—Bernard | “People are saved in different ways, Bernard.”—Mr. Eko | “What you got union trouble down at the sand factory, Norma Rae?” –Sawyer when Bernard tries to recruit him to make the S.O.S sign
Music vibes: Tranquil Hawaiian music shifts to sinister horror music while Fake Henry smiles; dizzying, hurried strings when Jack yells; hopeful when Rose says she’s healed
Little things: Rose organizes food on the beach while Bernard is questioning where it came from; Rose saves a pack of chocolate snack cakes for Hurley, only to have Hurley say he’s on a diet
Episode notebook:
First flashbacks for side characters, Bernard and Rose.
Bernard thinks everyone has given up on being rescued. It doesn’t make sense to him.
Locke is trying to draw a map of the hatch locations he saw but is struggling.
Jack tells Fake Henry he’s heading into the jungle to make a trade for Walt.
Aaaaawww, the backstory on how Bernard and Rose met. So rare to see a romance on television between older characters.
Ana-Lucia warns Jack not to go into the jungle alone. Kate comes along.
Charlie and Mr. Eko are building a church. Bernard can’t have the logs they’re putting aside for the church.
Locke tries again to get the truth from Fake Henry. Did he put the numbers in the computer?
Bernard wants to build an S.O.S. sign, big enough for a passing plane or satellite to see.
Bernard brought Rose to Australia to see a faith healer.
Kate and Jack get caught in one of Rousseau’s traps. They have to use the gun to get out.
Kate tells Jack what she found in the other hatch, makeup, a fake beard, and ratty clothing.
Rose knows the powers of the island.
Jack yells into the jungle, trying to get the Others to talk to him.
A familiar face returns.
Episode recap: The main characters, Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Locke, Charlie, Sun, Jin, Sayid, and others, have had their moment to shine several times. Rarely has much attention been put on the supporting cast. “S.O.S.” marks the first episode with flashbacks solely focused on secondary characters—Rose and Bernard. We finally learn what led them to Oceanic Flight 815.
Rose and Bernard found each other late in life. Like several characters on this show, fate brought them together. Rose’s car was stuck in the snow, and like a true knight in shining armor, Bernard came to her rescue. Five months later, 56-year-old Bernard was down on one knee proposing marriage with a diamond ring. Should be a joyous occasion, until Rose drops the news that she’s sick and dying. She loves him but wants Bernard to be sure he still wants a life—however brief it may be—with her. Bernard is sure and wants to help his future wife in any way he can.
On the island, Bernard and Rose seem more like a long-married couple not newlyweds, arguing over where food goes in the beach pantry. There is a pantry on the beach! There is a kitchen. Charlie and Eko are building a church. People are taking showers in the hatch. Life on the island is becoming familiar and routine, which Bernard doesn’t understand. How can this be their life? Is nobody thinking of getting off the island? People are building things to stay on the island. Why is no one building something to get off the island? Enter Bernard’s big idea to build a big S.O.S. sign on the beach, one that could be seen from a satellite or passing plane. The survivors have built things before to get off the island, only to have them destroyed. Is Bernard’s plan going to work?
In the hatch, Jack is strategizing. After failing to get Fake Henry to talk any further, the good doctor decides it's time to shake things up. Head into the jungle, to the line they’re not supposed to cross, and make a trade. Swap the prisoner for Walt and maybe some sense of normalcy will return. With food supplies, a gun from Ana-Lucia, and Kate in tow off Jack goes for a showdown with the Others. Leaving a frustrated Locke behind. Locke is trying to draw a map of the hatch locations he saw during the lockdown but is struggling—because of Fake Henry.
Locke is convinced the imposter did something to the computer but trying to get the truth is a fool’s errand, so he heads to the beach for a change of scenery. His faith in the hatch is dwindling and so is John’s faith in himself. Fortunately, Rose is around to remind Locke how special the island is and not to lose his faith.
Faith is what brought Bernard and Rose to Australia on their honeymoon. Instead of lounging on a beach like his wife wanted, Bernard brought Rose to the Outback to see a renowned faith healer. Bernard’s heart was in the right place, but Rose wasn’t looking for miracles. She’s okay with dying, even if Bernard isn’t. As much as she’s against seeing a faith healer, Rose meets with the man for her husband’s sake. Every person healed by this man is different. Certain spots on the Earth have amounts of energy and he transfers that healing energy to the afflicted. It doesn’t work for Rose, even though she lets Bernard believe otherwise, but that’s just because the Australian Outback wasn’t the right spot for Rose.
The island, wherever it was, was the right spot for Rose and John. The island’s energy restored John’s ability to walk and Rose’s health. Rose is in a good place physically, mentally, and emotionally. She reminds Locke he can get there too, soon the crutches will be gone, and he will stop being at war with himself. Ever since she’s been on the island, Rose has been healthy—in remission—that could go away if Bernard’s plan works. But he quickly gives up on the S.O.S. when Rose tells him how the island has healed her. She doesn’t want to be rescued; the island is home now.
The island is not a home for Jack, it’s nothing but problems for him—problems he has to solve. Getting Walt back is a problem he wants to fix, if only the Others can hear him yelling in the jungle. Screaming into the void and daring the Others, who claim to always be watching, to step forward doesn’t work. But we see the return of a familiar face—Michael. Scared and running from something or someone, Michael collapses in front of Jack and Kate. Where has he been? Please keep reading my recap for episode twenty is posted.