2/21/07 ~ Stranger In A Strange Land

[Firecat]

Sorry, I can't come up with any fancy titles...so the episode name will have to suffice.

Let me just get this out of the way. Bai Ling is hot. And I could watch Jack get his ass kicked all day :p

The little court set up was a nice touch, so was the marking. Was that symbol supposed to represent something?

I thought we'd get more action this episode, at least according to the promos...looks like that's next week though.

[Jinger]

Let me just get this out of the way. Bai Ling is hot. And I could watch Jack get his ass kicked all day :p

Be nice, that's one of my future husbands! I could watch Jack roll around gettin busy all day! I just wish it was w/me and not Bail Ling (she is pretty hot though, and I don't swing that way!)

I liked the episode b/c of course my love for Jack supersedes all, but I didn't feel that they gave us a lot of new info. I like that they revealed that the Others actually do live on the "big" island, that might become interesting down the line. I don't really understand why the villagers got so mad that Jack got the tatoos, did anyone understand that!?

Why did they have to make Carl so nerdy!? Also, I was noticing a weirdness between Tom and Ben...now am starting to think that Ben is Tom's "life partner" for some reason, the thought just popped in my head for some reason. I know that he and Juliet have history but that doesn't necessarily mean a dating history.

I got choked up at the scenes for the "big reunion" we've been waiting for and then again today talking about it with a friend got choked up. That is gonna be awesome to see everyone's reaction when Sawyer and Kate come back (w/out Jack especially). I'm choked up now thinking about it!

Did not like the "sherriff" at all, she was a bitch!

[PaulieWalnutz]

Bai Ling is Awesome! Looks like she got a little work done in the off season as well. Good for her.

At least a couple of times in the episode they asked the questions that any normal person would ask. But wouldn't you think Kate and James (I love when she calls him that) would be interrogating the crap out of Carl? They have a non hostile Other who would probably tell them anything and they just let him go? How frustrating. And Jack, instead of freaking out on the flight attendant, wouldn't you think he would ask some important questions? I just can't take that stuff.

[Ms. Tumnus]

I get really confused with timelines... how long have Kate Sawyer and Jack been gone?

Juliette's voice is really starting to bug the shit out of me. It's all soft and breathy and fake.

"Cowboy up"

[Chris]

I thought this episode was really boring and completely lacking substance. After last week, we know what the show is capable of and this week it just did not bring anything close to that.

[basia.mille]

I get what you mean when you say it lacked substance, but
I liked this episode a lot. I love how un-serious it was. It was relaxed, and people actually talked to each other. I had been missing a Kate/Sawyer convo for a while now. I enjoyed seeing the Other's performing a trial. It seemed so normal, yet so crazy... were they actually going to execute her? I like seeing Juliet in a vulnerable position.

[J.D.H.]

This one seemed more relevant than the last episode, as far as moving the story forward. It's getting everyone back to the main island, hopefully for some major Other buttkicking. Karl may the 815 survivors ace in the hole when they go to rescue Jack.

So Cindy and the children and possibly all of the other kidnapped tail-section survivors were brought to witness the trial and execution of Juliet as a message/lesson - do this and these are the consequences.

[susanarosa]

I really didn't get the reason for the Thailand scenes other than explaning Jack's tattoo's. Someone on the ew.com comments section mentioned that he thought the "Walks among us but is not one of us" thing meant that Jack wasn't supposed to have been on Flight 815.

I'm kinda liking the Jack/Juliette thing. Especially since this episode did also prove that he has a history of getting screwed over by women.

Last night, after the episode was over, I said that the only way they can end it is by all of them getting off the island or all of them getting killed. I mean, could they really end it with Jack and Juliette going off into the wild blue yonder and not say what happened to everyone else?

Next week better be more "exciting."

[ScotyUtah]

This show can be so mentally draining.Trying to watch as closely as possible to catch meaning in anything and then becoming frustrated because there didn't seem to be much given... I don't know. I have a couple of comments though. First, Achara (?) is SMOKING. Dig the hair style. Second, if I were Jack I'd probably react the same way to seeing someone from Flight 815 acting all non-chalante while I was locked up in a cage. Finally, we find out what Jack's tattoo's mean but when they show his last scene in Thailand it looks like she only marked him with Chinese symbols. I didn't see all the other stuff he has now. Must mean something, right?

[silentfire]

I thought this episode was really boring and completely lacking substance. After last week, we know what the show is capable of and this week it just did not bring anything close to that.

I agree 100%. I was let down and was still confused as to what 3 big questions they answered? The meaning of Jack's tattoo, The other live on the main island, and finally that the others have backyards??

I suppose jack got his tattoo while his dad was still a doctor and before he went to Australia, but I don't get why the tattoo was such a big deal, and why she wrote "he walks among us but is not one of us". Didn't she say her specialty was finding out who a person really was; jack being a strong angry leader (I don't get the angry part). So I didn't really care much for that flashback.

I still have a problem with the others living on the main island. I've been watching season one with my cousin and Russo(the french woman) has a map of the main island and this map neither shows that there is another island or that there are houses with backyards. Having been there for 16 years Russo would have known about their location and marked them down on that map.

I don't like this new sawyer who uses more logic and is more "nice", he needs to just get back to being the resident asshat who always made wise-ass comments.

Ok, so from this episode I've become pretty grounded in the theory that this just a scientific experiment, that is why Juliette was on trial, as an employee of the dharma initiative or hanso foundation, she must have been given a set of guidelines. Like wise everyone of the others is also an employee and they are doing their experiment on our friendly crash survivors. I think they fixed locke, and even talked to locke in the form of the black smoke monster (from season1). This is why locke finds the hatch, and is always talking about how the "Island" is telling him things. The "Island" is really just the others, or rather something they have created and are using for experiments.

The others are stuck on this island because they have not completed their task, which is why Juliette wants to leave because she doesn't think they will ever be able to complete it. I think the reason everyone is fascinated with Jack is because he is doing all the things that no one is expecting him to do, which is why Alex was upset at him.

[PaulieWalnutz]

"and why she wrote "he walks among us but is not one of us". Didn't she say her specialty was finding out who a person really was; jack being a strong angry leader (I don't get the angry part). So I didn't really care much for that flashback."

I am not chinese, but my wife is. From what she said, almost every chinese characters there are multiple meetings. So when Jack says "that's what they say but not what they mean". There is a literal translation and a implied translation. The best example she could give was "let the cat out of the bag" and how it has two meanings. What her tought was, was that how a leader (more like a king) is with his people, but is better and one of the people and not one of them.

Personaly I think it is overly confusing and would have liked a real answer and not one we try and figure out.

[TinkerbellAPixie]

Bail Ling (she is pretty hot though, and I don't swing that way!)

I can't see Bai Ling without hearing her screeching from that celebrity singing show. Nails on a chalkboard!

Did not like the "sherriff" at all, she was a bitch!

She was super bitchy and had a very strange cadence to her speech. And for some useless trivia - she is the actress that played Christina Crawford on "Mommy Dearest"

This one seemed more relevant than the last episode, as far as moving the story forward. It's getting everyone back to the main island, hopefully for some major Other buttkicking. Karl may the 815 survivors ace in the hole when they go to rescue Jack.

I agree - I thought it was a great episode in terms of bringing us back to the main island where the real action is going to happen. I think Karl is going to play out to be VERY interesting.

So Cindy and the children and possibly all of the other kidnapped tail-section survivors were brought to witness the trial and execution of Juliet as a message/lesson - do this and these are the consequences.

That's how I perceived it, like it was definitely a warning to what happens to those who don't follow the rules.

I had a hard time hearing what the little girl said to Cindy? Did anyone else catch that? Was it something about Ana Lucia? Whatever it was it sure made Jack mad.

I don't like this new sawyer who uses more logic and is more "nice", he needs to just get back to being the resident asshat who always made wise-ass comments.

I loved when he called Karl "Bobby" and Karl was oblivious to the reference. I think we saw shades of the Sawyer we know and love. Like when he punched Karl in the arm. I felt bad for him when he realized that Kate still has feelings for Jack. Meanwhile Jack is touching Juliette's waist in a less than doctorly way. They sure had some sparks flying for a brief second.

[Chris]

I really didn't get the reason for the Thailand scenes other than explaning Jack's tattoo's. Someone on the ew.com comments section mentioned that he thought the "Walks among us but is not one of us" thing meant that Jack wasn't supposed to have been on Flight 815.


Or it's just another attempt to add some Jesus metaphor to Jack since he's become the sacrificial lamb this season.

[Chris]

I had a hard time hearing what the little girl said to Cindy? Did anyone else catch that? Was it something about Ana Lucia? Whatever it was it sure made Jack mad.




The little girl whispered to Cindy who then said, "She wants to know how Ana Lucia is doing."

P.S. Sorry I didn't multiquote! I'm running between classes!

[ScotyUtah]

She was super bitchy and had a very strange cadence to her speech. And for some useless trivia - she is the actress that played Christina Crawford on "Mommy Dearest"

Here's some even more useless trivia... she's also the actress who played the cougar on Prison Break. Had the hots for Linc but ended up flirting with T-Bag while they dug up her garage.

[may1]

Scoty, I agree with you about how draining it is to watch this show and look for hidden meanings, messages, etc. By 10pm, I'm too tired to study a tv show. I leave that to others.

I loved seeing Sawyer back to his fiesty self. His dialog and delivery are enjoyable to watch. I would have questioned Carl more, and certainly not let him get away.

The trial was interesting. Were the other survivors that the Other's took brought to this island to witness the trial, or are they being kept there? They seemed relaxed and just walking around, not scared or afraid for Jack being locked up in a damn cage. WTF?

I like the interaction between Juliet and Jack. I hope they develop this more.
Not enough questions answered though.

I don't understand why the guys beat up Jack on the beach in Thailand, either. Anyone know?

[J.D.H.]

If Ethan was a doctor why didn't he help when the plane crashed, and why would Ben send their only doctor to a crash site, one that could be potentially dangerous? Ben should be executed for bad decision making skills. And he would allow the only other medical person on the island to be executed?

Didn't Bia Ling say Jack was going to be a great leader but alone or lonely and angry (?). Is Jack destined to become the leader of the Others and the 815 survivors? I'm interested to see how the Others storyline gets resolved, but I hope it's in the next three episodes.

And the woman who played the Borg Queen in the Star Trek movie would make a great Other villianess, like a female Ben.

[loula]

So did anyone catch those three mysteries we were supposed to have solved in this episode, or is it like Veronica Mars where the promo guys don't actually watch the show? Because I don't think "What does Jack's tattoo mean (non-Party of Five explanation)?" counts.

Oh, and Jinger, The Sheriff also played Jeanette on Prison Break - the MILFy type whose garage they had to tear up to get the money. It took me the whole episode to figure that out. I thought she was kind of awesome.

I miss Locke! And Sun! And what I wouldn't give for a single Bernard-Rose scene. Or like, a passing reference to whatever happened to Vincent. I'm worried about him. Maybe I'll go back to my original theory that he's the Monster.

There was some interesting stuff, like how we confirmed they don't actually live on that island, and how they have their own creepy little justice system or whatever. Also, yeah, Bai Ling, smokin hot. But kind of a letdown after last week.

Edited to add that I don't know why everybody beat the hell out of Jack either, or for that matter why he was so creepily insistent on her tattooing him even though she was like, in tears. It was very strange - everyone involved reacted like it had been a rape or some horrible violation, which might be interesting if they would have told us what the horrible violation actually was.

Also ETA that ScotyUtah beat me to it.

[TinkerbellAPixie]

If Ethan was a doctor why didn't he help when the plane crashed, and why would Ben send their only doctor to a crash site, one that could be potentially dangerous?

He sure didn't seem like a professional when he was wailing on poor Charlie.

Which brings me to one of my favorite parts last night. I love when Jack was explaining to Tom why he thinks the Others are bad. I know Benry wants us all to believe that they are the Good Guys but their actions bely that.

I still get back to the fact that when they saw that plane crashing- their reaction was to send two guys to blend in and make lists. Wouldn't the normal reaction be to send everyone to help the survivors? SHOULDN'T it have been a rescue mission instead of recon?

I was intrigued by the look on Tom's face when Jack spelled it out for him. He looked sadly surprised. Like how you feel when someone says something mean about your friends.

Poor deluded Tom.

Did anyone else think Juliette's "marking" looked like a marijuana leaf? And - when they were on the boat heading for the main island - Juliette was leaning against the front of the boat. With her marked up, burned or carved or whatever back - wouldn't leaning on it hurt?

I loved how they transported Benry from the small island to the boat - hanging over either end of a canoe. Poor Benry.

[TinkerbellAPixie]

So did anyone catch those three mysteries we were supposed to have solved in this episode, or is it like Veronica Mars where the promo guys don't actually watch the show? Because I don't think "What does Jack's tattoo mean (non-Party of Five explanation)?" counts.



Loula - my long lost forum sister - I have missed you little one :)

I think some have already guessed at the three answers revealed - but here are my guesses:

1. That the Others live on the main island
2. That the kidnapped Losties were not dead
3. That Benry is indeed the one in charge

I realize I could be all kinds of wrong.

[J.D.H.]

He sure didn't seem like a professional when he was wailing on poor Charlie.

Which brings me to one of my favorite parts last night. I love when Jack was explaining to Tom why he thinks the Others are bad. I know Benry wants us all to believe that they are the Good Guys but their actions bely that.

I still get back to the fact that when they saw that plane crashing- their reaction was to send two guys to blend in and make lists. Wouldn't the normal reaction be to send everyone to help the survivors? SHOULDN'T it have been a rescue mission instead of recon?

I was intrigued by the look on Tom's face when Jack spelled it out for him. He looked sadly surprised. Like how you feel when someone says something mean about your friends.

Poor deluded Tom.

Did anyone else think Juliette's "marking" looked like a marijuana leaf? And - when they were on the boat heading for the main island - Juliette was leaning against the front of the boat. With her marked up, burned or carved or whatever back - wouldn't leaning on it hurt?

I loved how they transported Benry from the small island to the boat - hanging over either end of a canoe. Poor Benry.

Ben on the little baot and then Juliet on the big boat. That made no sense.

And Jack heart Juliet. But is it all a deception on Juliet's part, especially with the sheriff seemingly knowing the truth aobut Juliet's plan to kill Ben, like is was a set up all along.

And it looked like they branded her with a sun or star symbol.

[may1]

I thought the smaller boat was used to transport everyone to the larger boat. I didn't think the bigger boat could make it to shore, so they all took turns going on the smaller one to the larger one.
(did that make sense?):confused1:

[J.D.H.]

I thought the smaller boat was used to transport everyone to the larger boat. I didn't think the bigger boat could make it to shore, so they all took turns going on the smaller one to the larger one.
(did that make sense?):confused1:

yes, that makes a lot of sense.

[chooch850]

I really don't have much to say about theories or plotlines. I 'm just posting out of frustration for what a terrible show I watched last night. It was the worst show ever. The whole Thailand flashback made no sense and did nothing to enlighten us about Jack. (as if we need anymore Jack flashbacks). Sawyer letting Karl go on his merry way and Jack not even asking Cindy one ? was shameful on the part of the writers. We all knew that the Others lived on the same island. They showed us that on the 1st ep. of this season. Let's see.... they did answer one question we've all been asking... they have more than one boat.

[Jinger]

Which brings me to one of my favorite parts last night. I love when Jack was explaining to Tom why he thinks the Others are bad. I know Benry wants us all to believe that they are the Good Guys but their actions bely that.

Did anyone else think Juliette's "marking" looked like a marijuana leaf?

And then Tom's comment "See this glass house you're in? How 'bout I get you some stones?" OH SNAP!

I read elsewhere the marking is very similiar to an upside down Scientology cross that symbolizes unworthiness as a sign of respect to your superiors.

And was it me or did that last scene on the boat look an awful lot like the boat that Michael and WAAAAAALT left on and if it is that sure brings up a shitload more questions!

Last thing (I promise) it occurred to me that myself and others had speculated that Carl was one of the 815 survivors maybe but now it seems that he was born there because he didn't know the Brady Bunch reference. Not that it means anything, just something that stood out to me for some reason.

Oh, and Tink, I was laughing in my first post when I mentioned the sheriff b/c I started to type "she will always be Christine Crawford" to me but wasn't sure anyone would get it. And thanks Scoty and Loula, I forgot about that tramp being on Prison Break!

[loula]

I think some have already guessed at the three answers revealed - but here are my guesses:

Hi Tink!

Damn, I hate being that person who doesn't read the thread well enough before I open my big mouth. Figuratively. And yeah, I guess technically those were answers, although I have to tell you, if it takes a forum full of regular watchers to figure out what the questions even were, then maybe they shouldn't have made such a big deal about them being answered. Again, I'm sure that has way more to do with the ABC promo monkeys than it does with the writers. If they hadn't made such a fuss I might have enjoyed the ep more. Stop crying wolf, Lost! It'll make it a lot easier on all of us.

Also, good call on that conversation between Jack and Tom. I don't feel like the writers have an obligation toward me or anything, but wow, I sure am grateful when I've spent like 20 episodes going "Why doesn't he just say ___?" or "For the love of Christ, why won't anyone ask about ___?" and they finally throw me a bone or two. But yeah, Tom did look at Jack like "Bitch please. You just don't get us, man." But he didn't elaborate except to make that glass houses comment, which I didn't really understand. And to which Jack totally failed to respond "Sure, I'm kind of a dick, but I've had a rough couple of months, and have I been kidnapping and killing people offscreen or something? Cause otherwise what the hell are you talking about?"

They hinted at a rescue mission on the previews for next week, and it occurred to me that Kate and Sawyer don't know that Jack's being moved right back on to their own island. Let the wacky misunderstandings ensue!

[J.D.H.]

Achara sees people for who they really are, and something about defining them. And then she marks them (?) or marks people as a tattoo artist. Does she use her gifts for Dharma's recruitment of professionals like doctors and scientists and such (separating the good one from the not good ones)? The Others make lists of good people, and bad people get marked.

I keep waiting for a scene like in the Game, where Michael Douglas walks into the cafeteria and sees all the people he'd met throughout the movie. Only on Lost it'd be all the significant people from all the flashbacks.

[TinkerbellAPixie]

And if they were gonna mark Juliette - why put it in a hidden place? I was expecting her to come back with a Scarlet A on her forhead or something equally obvious to showcase her shame.

[susanarosa]

And if they were gonna mark Juliette - why put it in a hidden place? I was expecting her to come back with a Scarlet A on her forhead or something equally obvious to showcase her shame.

Maybe it's something they know within their tribe? That's not obvious to the rest of us? Like how the Bai Ling character marked Jack with something that doesn't seem all that odd to us, but for some reason it got the shit kicked out of him. Juliette's mark might mean something deeper to those around her.

[angiemarie]

If Sayid isn't on the next episode for more than 30 seconds, I swear I'm going to stop watching this show.


Also, I'm so tired of everyone talking in riddles and never saying anything. Would it kill someone to ask a direct question and demand an answer?

[jampony]

When Cindy and the others walked up to Jack's cage, did you all realize they were there to witness Juliet's trial? When he asked what they're doing there and she said "we're here to watch" I thought she meant they were supposed to watch him or something being done to him. And then when he responded "well, go watch then" (or whatever) I was totally confused. Of course, after read this thread, I understand, but at the time it was weird.

"He walks among us but is not one of us" could back up some people's theories that this is some sort of purgatory. Maybe it means he's technically dead but still walking among the living. I don't really buy that theory but I thought I'd throw it out there.

Juliet's marking did look odd. It reminded me of the site of some sort of an implant. Maybe a tracking device of some kind to take away her freedom on the island or keep track of her?

loula... I think I saw Vincent in the promos for next week. Hooray!

[campfiregirl]

I did not like this episode at all. I felt that Jack was somewhat abusive to Acha. He follows her to her job, pushes her against a wall, drags and shoves her in a chair. He could be arrested for domestic violence for that in the states. She could have tatooed
"I am a ASSHOLE" on him for that. I think he got beat up because of his behavior. She was just having fun with him and he mistreated her.

[Chris]

loula... I think I saw Vincent in the promos for next week. Hooray!

I am 99.9% positive that Vincent left on the boat with Michael and Walt. There were pictures I think, but I don't recall a justification. How it happened, I don't know, but I mean... let's just accept it.

[fred]

1. That the Others live on the main island
yeah, only we knew that already!

eithey way i read a review of this ep that wasn't about jack's tattoos but how hes been manipulated by ben & juliet info doing what he did, and it was pretty interresting:

http://88.191.26.34/i_watch_tv/index.php/2007/02/23/tattoo-or-not-tattoo/

[Ellsbells]

Here is a link to the picture of Juliette's marking:

Click here (http://bp0.blogger.com/_RrObyQ3XzcY/Rd1vNtC3oqI/AAAAAAAABTA/YyzgUxunHDE/s1600-h/julietmarklarge.jpg)