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Date Posted: 09:49:24 09/22/05 Thu
Author: Rob
Subject: Re: "Hope and music" spoilers Lost 2.1 Man of Science, Man of Faith (are they the same guy?)
In reply to: Rufus 's message, ""Hope and music" spoilers Lost 2.1 Man of Science, Man of Faith (are they the same guy?)" on 22:37:35 09/21/05 Wed

This was such a meaty episode. So much to love. From the brilliant teaser that had us wondering whose backstory was going to be shown tonight (from his build, I was assuming it was Sawyer, but was then perplexed by the big needle of whatever that was he shot into his arm), along with Mama Cass singing on the soundtrack to the ingenious revelation that this was inside the hatch all the way through the end, this was a first-class episode. There was so much, as you said. The whole theme of science versus faith. Ironically, though, we learn that the distinction between Jack and Locke is not as clear cut as Locke thought it was when he first said "man of science, man of faith" in Exodus last season. Locke believes in miracles and destiny in the spiritual sense--that there is a benevolent outside force affecting all of his actions, capable of doing things that a human never could. He assumes that because Jack does not, that means that he doesn't have faith. But the fact is, Jack does. He has faith, though, that humans themselves can do the impossible, cause seemingly miraculous events to occur through sheer force of will. After Jack's conversation with Desmond, a "miracle" occurs: Sarah is no longer paralyzed even though Jack was sure that the operation was a failure. Locke would have taken this as clear proof that an outside force was at work, most likely related to the mysterious Desmond, who had talked with Jack earlier that very day. Jack, on the other hand, most likely interpreted Desmond as a coincidence and the true miracle being the amazing things people can do when they push themselves hard enough. Now we understand much more fully what makes Jack tick. Early on, some people thought the character was too much of a male Mary Sue, perfect at everything, but we've seen throughout the course of the first season and up till now, that his inability to give up or concede can be a character flaw when taken to its extremes. He refused to listen to anyone else when Boone was dying, because he is incapable of giving up. This is not always a good thing. We already knew that Jack had done the nearly impossible by helping the paralyzed Sarah walk again. In this episode, we learn that it's much more complicated: it may have been outside of Jack's hands all along. It very well may have been a miracle. Jack's belief in his own abilities may have come from within, but there's also a possibility that he overestimates himself and his own abilities when he himself did not have a hand in making it possible for Sarah to dance at her wedding. It's interesting how we watch Jack and his father connect in this episode, how in the past we see Jack's father as having been a positive influence on his life, a mentor. Jack never promised things he couldn't fulfill before. His father was telling him the importance of giving people hope, even false hope. Because of the success with Sarah, Jack doesn't believe in false hope anymore. Anything is possible. The question, though, is whether his reasoning is correct. Should he have been believing in the power of the human spirit and abilities in times of great crisis...or in fate?

Rob

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