There is this thing I do a thing when I watch a TV show or movie or read a book. I over-analyze the crap out of it. If the TV show or movie kicks all sorts of ass, I try to figure out how they did it and make a mental note to use it in the future. Books get an instant mental edit as I read them. My read time doubles if the damn thing is atrocious. If the book is especially good or funny I make a note on that style. Basically, if any story stinks, I try to figure out what they did wrong and what I would have done to do it right.
Middle of the road tales get no memories or re-edits. They get chuckles that fade as soon as they’ve begun.
A few years ago, I had a class on the history of World War II in film. We watched various films and compared the stories to real historical facts. When I saw these films in class, I made notes. They were to be my touchstones so that I wouldn’t be working with nothing but empty memories when the weekly papers were due.
LOST is more complex than most mainstream shows. Two and a third seasons into their run I’ve decided to create physical notes as well as mental ones. I don’t have any papers due. I just want my own touchstones to what in hell is going on on that island.
These notes are not fully formed thoughts. They will not summarize the episode in detail. They are immediate reactions to what’s happening on screen or in the story. These bits are the gist to what I’ve gained from the episode. At times it will seem like I hate LOST.
I don’t.
I’m merely taking a step away from the fantasy in order to keep a semi-objective view on what’s going on. You always tease the things things/ones you love most.
I’ve found that making notes on virgin episodes take me out of the story. We can’t have that. I’ve decided to jot things down on the second viewing instead. This is what I did with the episode “The Cost of Living.”
Read the random typings of a madman. Try not to go crazy in the process.
Notes for “The Cost of Living” are after the jump.
The following is SPOILIERIFIC to anyone who just came out of that rock in the last 2 weeks.
Also, a lot of the following is pretty damn obvious. That’s just how I roll sometimes.
LOST “The Cost of Living”
Someone’s gonna die. I immediately know this. The title says it all. It’s gotta happen.
Cold Open
FLASHBACK
This nun must have read Les Miserables. I haven’t yet but I got the cliff notes. And like the title to Lost, I can figure out that both stories don’t/won’t end well.
PRESENT
Eko has slept for days and he’s dreaming us up a flashback on how he got his brother killed and became a priest.
The Island’s fucking with Eko’s mind. I wonder why none of the other Losties are upset by visitations from their sorta pasts? Or main crew can’t be the only ones…can they?
Charlie is being useful for once. It’s only a matter of time until he fucks up again. You can’t set your watch by it but you damn well can count on it happening.
Act one
PRESENT
Jack works out. Isn’t he the industrious brain surgeon with unexplained tattoos.
I’ll be damned if I can never clearly read Benry’s face. Damn his good acting for disrupting my skills of observation.
Danny’s burying his Other wife. It should evoke a feeling of “they’re people too” but I’m having a hard time seeing them as nothing but monsters who steal sleeping children in the middle of the night.
Benry was really caught off guard by jack’s cleverness. Huh.
Hurley’s still the same size. That island’s the worse diet regimen ever.
Locke’s a bit less mystical. I guess having your hopes constantly dashed would change your world view.
FLASHBACK
Eko takes over his brother’s church but will he ask forgiveness?
PRESENT
Eko has a new stick. This one physically aides him while his old stick was a spiritual guide.
The Island wants Eko to confess his sins. It wants all of his sins, I imagine. This time It uses a child as the physical image of innocence whereas the first time was his brother.
Act two
PRESENT
Locke invites other Losties to their reindeer games. How nice of him.
What happened to Desmond’s precognitive abilities?
FLASHBACK
Eko washes his hands in holy water. That’s gotta have some meaning.
Eko’s given an ultimatum by the new bad guys. He does not take that well. It’s interesting the juxtaposition of his situation.
PRESENT
Why is the monster being all sneaky? And why in Hell does it still fear Eko?
Act Three
PRESENT
The Others have cheeseburgers. It looks fresh too. I wonder if they also have farmland and the like or if every thing’s freeze dried and meant to look fresh.
Benry’s telling Jack they had a long con ready for Jack. Is this a part of the con or are they taking a new angle?
Benry talks about fate. Are The Others not the master planners we think they are? Are they merely opportunists and taking the chances they need?
Eko still has lots of anger…and he is afraid of something still.
So fear does lead to anger. Damn you, Yoda.
FLASHBACK
Is Eko really like his brother?
No, because Eko still wants to run.
PRESENT
The rest of the Losties have some idea what the cool kids are up to. She knew Eko’s brother was in the plane.
Locke saw lights when he first looked at the monster Did he see lights when the damn thing nearly dragged him into a rabbit hole?
Eko saw what we see. Big willful clouds of smoke. Does that make us sinners?
Act Four
PRESENT
Eko can’t find his brother at the plane crash site but Locke found his brother’s cross.
Can the Island ressurect? Doubtful.
FLASHBACK
the bad guys don’t realize they’re dealing with Crime Boss Eko?
Eko murders the hell out of them He still has no mercy or forgiveness I suspect.
Yet he is taken aback by the towns people’s stares.
PRESENT
The blonde chick is watching the Pearl Station tape. Are The Cool Kids ever gonna realize their strength is in their numbers?
New Guy likes potty humor.
Who the hell is eyepatch guy? And why isn’t the gang worried about their location being given away.
Why “Too Kill a mockingbird”? Where the hell is Boo Radley?
The camera didn’t move so her little TV trick either didn’t have an operator or…
Dissension amongst The Others?
Can you trust a body that tells you of their plot to kill one of their own?
Act Five
FLASHBACK
Is Eko bad for stealing the food to sate hunger? For killing the bad men?
Go to London and repent? Is that what got Eko on the plane?
And he owes his brother a church? Is that the church he was building on the Island last season?
PRESENT
His brother apparition doesn’t speak this time.
Why does the monster wish to judge people?
Eko believes in survival. But the monster wants more? What the hell does it want? And what the hell is it?
Eko prays and shows fear. The monster reacts badly to fear.
Eko’s last thoughts: of his brother.
Eko’s last words: “We’re next.”
Damn dying people and their prophecies.
