...burning baby fish swimming all round your head.

Drusilla ,'Conversations with Dead People'


Lost: OMGWTF POLAR BEAR  

[NAFDA] This is where we talk about the show! Anything that's aired in the US (including promos) is fair game. No spoilers though -- if you post one by accident, an admin will delete it.


Polter-Cow - Jan 20, 2005 4:52:55 am PST #5206 of 10000
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!

The dynamic between them (Michael and Walt) is awesome and painful.

Yes. I love it. And you're right, that he's trying to bond with his son but not doing a very good job. Unlike Brian, he does want to be a father; the problem is, he's never done it before. The last time he was a dad was when Walt was a baby, and the same techniques don't really work anymore.


Anne W. - Jan 20, 2005 4:58:15 am PST #5207 of 10000
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.

The last time he was a dad was when Walt was a baby, and the same techniques don't really work anymore.

Exactly. I also think that he's trying to act as if the father-son bond that would have been there if he'd been a part of Walt's life was actually there.

The fact that he wanted to name the kid after his own dad suggests that Michael probably had a good relationship with his dad, and he's frustrated that he doesn't have that with Walt.

With this episode, Michael has become my favorite castaway.


JenP - Jan 20, 2005 5:18:39 am PST #5208 of 10000

Good catch on the earlier b-day discussion, Anne. I'd forgotten about that. So glad to finally get Michael's story, and part of Walt's; I wonder if we'll get a Walt's perspective ep? I mean, not necessarily of the same happenings. I had not guessed for a second that Walt's super powers were pre-Island. Curious.

Do we think Walt knows he's... special? My impression from everything up until the "You're not listening..." scene is that he's clueless. But I don't know.


beathen - Jan 20, 2005 5:40:19 am PST #5209 of 10000
Sure I went over to the Dark Side, but just to pick up a few things.

he's trying to bond with his son but not doing a very good job.

It's not all Michael's fault, though, but trying to force someone to form a bond with you is a great way to repel the other person instead of bringing him/her closer.

Hauling people around on those narrow vines, Locke's hands should be cut to ribbons. Really.

It seemed that the amount of vines that Locke was holding was less than the amount of vines wrapped around Walt's waist.


§ ita § - Jan 20, 2005 5:41:42 am PST #5210 of 10000
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

What was Michael's answer in that earlier ep when challenged on not knowing Walt's birthday?


Hayden - Jan 20, 2005 5:48:12 am PST #5211 of 10000
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."

Y'know, Blood Meridian is one of my favorite books, but I think Locke's not malevalent enough to compare to The Judge, who was, after all, an authority figure from the start of the book (and in contrast, I'd say Locke's only an authority figure to Boone, maybe Charlie, and now Walt & Michael) and a completely amoral cold-hearted killer. Locke exhibits quite a bit more compassion and humanity. At least for now.


beathen - Jan 20, 2005 5:48:51 am PST #5212 of 10000
Sure I went over to the Dark Side, but just to pick up a few things.

What was Michael's answer in that earlier ep when challenged on not knowing Walt's birthday?

August 24 (Episode - House of the Rising Sun)


Anne W. - Jan 20, 2005 5:48:59 am PST #5213 of 10000
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.

He recited Walt's birth date without skipping a beat.

Then, he asked Walt if Walt knew his birthday.


Matt the Bruins fan - Jan 20, 2005 6:18:09 am PST #5214 of 10000
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand

I knew going in that Harold Perrineau had better acting chops than anyone on the show except maybe Terry O'Quinn, and it was so nice to see Fury make use of that to good effect. Everything just sort of clicked into place regarding Michael, and much of it was done without being overtly spoken. Here's hoping he starts getting credit in the media for the great job he's doing after this episode.

I was thinking last night of fun theme songs for the various characters, and came up with the following:

Jack — "Jumping Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones for all the cliff diving and jungle flailing and stripping.
Shannon — "The Bitch is Back" by Elton John. They should have played this over the closing credits of "Hearts and Minds."
Sun — "Silence Is Golden (But My Eyes still See)" by Frankie Valli.

Any suggestions for the other characters?


Frankenbuddha - Jan 20, 2005 6:18:20 am PST #5215 of 10000
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

I'm curious when in the shooting process they did the Michael flashbacks, because while I can guess plenty of things they could do about the hair difference, I've seen Harold Perrineau in enough stuff to know that he's not wearing a fake beard on the island.

Haven't seen HP without facial hair since SMOKE that I can recall. It really does make him look a lot younger.