(Group 1: Collision) Losses & Returns
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By jazprof
- (Group 1: Collision) Losses & Returns
- Created: Sep 22, 2007
- Last updated: Aug 14, 2008
- After episode: 3.22: Through The Looking Glass
- Status: Current
- Flag this theory:
“What good would it do to kill you if we are both already dead.”
— jazprof
Favourite line in the episode: Kate to Jack when they’re playing golf and he hooks one into the stream—”We have more balls.” Word, mah sistah!
But seriously—the scene that encapsulated the whole episode for me was when Sayid refuses to kill Ana Lucia for having killed Shannon. I remember that from watching this the first time—how incredible it is that Sayid is able to empathize and even identify with Ana Lucia here. To Ana, the loss of life/love has driven her to an extreme of isolation. Her mother says about the man who shot her “He tried to kill you”—she answers death with death. She says the same thing to Eko about Sayid. Eko refuses to participate in this vengeance cycle—as does Sayid.
Both Ana & Sayid feel they deserve to die for their sins. He says to her “What good would it do to kill you if we are both already dead.” I thought of how both of them have lost a connection to life—Shannon and Ana Lucia’s unborn child. And that made me think more generally of losses.
Loss is a noticeable theme in the Jack-Kate-Sawyer exchanges. Sawyer lost his mother; Kate is his mother here getting him to swallow the antibiotic. She says to him, “You’re home.” Kate? Does she gain her lost love back? Jack gets closer to Kate as she beats him at golf—recognizing her as strong always works to bring them closer. Then he loses her to Sawyer’s more immediate need.
The crossword clue—Enkidu—has anyone identified Sawyer with Enkidu before? He was raised by animals and was a savage until tamed by the love of a woman (who cut his hair). He gained civilization but lost his ability to speak to animals.
Ana-Lucia is more alone I think than any other character before or since. Her defining moment in the flashback is losing her baby. Having children—the need for children on the island is about countering isolation. Back to thinking about how change happens—cooperation or manipulation; love or paternal control. Ben associated with the latter in each of those pairs—trying to break through isolation by overcoming the fertility problem. I think the answer will come through the former.
Sayid speaks of the people he tortured as “voices I still hear at night.” He was the first to hear the whispers.
Last shot of Jack and Ana-Lucia standing at opposite sides of the screen—Ana as the much darker version of Jack’s attempts to control
Key characters
| Short Name | Full Name | Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ana-Lucia | Ana-Lucia Cortez | 2.20, 2.7, 2.8 | 139 |
| Jack | Jack Shephard | 1.1, 1.5, 2.11, 1.11, 1.16, 1.20, 3.9, 3.22, 3.1, 4.10, 4.12, & 3” href=”/episodes/theres-no-place-home-parts-2-3/”>4.13 | 1460 |
| Kate | Katherine “Kate” Austen | 3.6, 1.2, 1.3, 2.9, 1.12, 1.16, 1.22, 3.15, 4.4, 4.12 | 714 |
| Sawyer | James “Sawyer” Ford | 3.4, 2.3, 2.6, 2.13, 1.16, 3.10 | 455 |
Key episodes
| # | Title | Aired | Central character | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8 | Collision | 11-23-2005 | Ana-Lucia | 61 |
The first thing I think of when it comes to “losses and returns” is Locke when it comes to Lost.
Maybe this episode was on the spiritual level.
You have dug deeper than the obvious jaz. I like it.
I think its sad that ana-lucia lost her baby. +1
kat,i love the idea of Sun discovering a cure.
Jaz as always i love your analysis.Something i thought was interesting was that Jacks golf ball led them in the direction of Sawyer…probably looking too deeply into it ,but was comparing it to Locke and Walts scene when they are throwing the knife and talking about seeing with the minds eye….I would have expected it to be Kate whos aim would have strayed off in the direction of Sawyer.I think Jack loves him too : )
katrilliant, that is a great idea! Maybe it will be some combination of Sun & Jin together as that would underscore the importance of love and also I remember that when Jin gives Claire the piece of the sea urchin she feels the baby move (I’m being good I’m not suggesting he use his other natural remedy source). Also against the hierachical control and use of technology of Ben we’d have cooperation, nature, and the female side coming to the fore.
wtfantastic, I love that idea. Especially as Jack was saying accuracy is important (against Kate’s strength). If it’s Jack’s destiny that is somehow guiding events then it is his destiny to be the lone hero rather than the romantic one. Also if he is Gilgamesh to Sawyer’s Enkidu then he does love Sawyer.
good job JP,
The only thing I would argue with you about is Sayid’s voices being the whispers. I think the “voices” he hears at night have to do with his personal demons. He may still have been the first to actually hear the whispers, but I don’t think his comment was connected to the whispers, Great analysis.
yeah l-e, I’m actually not convinced that Sayid’s voices are the whispers either. I just noticed that connection—it could be a thematic connection rather than a causal one.
JP that sounds more like it to me
jaz great post. I do have to agree with kat I think Sun through her natural remedies will work with Juliette to try and end the fertilty problem. I think she might just be the one to find he Island’s secret about child birth. Sun has a deep connection to the Island even if it is not shown through visions or the whispers. She has a very holistic connection with it. She is practical but also very much a thinker or problem solver. I truely feel that if anyone is going to find the cure for childbirth on the Island it will be Sun. I think it will be some natural thing that the Island will provide, and not some super scienific approach.
I’m presuming Sun has some training in botany. I wonder if they’ll show that in flashbacks.
Let’s consider this…
Jack=leader (doctor); John=island expert; Hurley=spiritual counselor; Sayid=general; Sawyer=enforcer.
Juliet=leader (doctor); Sun=island expert; Claire=spiritual counselor; Rose=general; Kate=enforcer.
Great post, jaz, and great discussion everyone.
I think I might suggest a few different parallels—
Ben/Juliet=manipulators, leaders of the long con
John/Rose=in touch with the island
Jack/Sun=healers
Sayid/Rousseau=soldiers
I think he means we’re moving to the Yin part of the year katsanji
Good parallels, jaz… hmm…
And good points, kat…
JazzieJazz: Very astute observations, regarding Ana-Lucia! I am not so certain, I would agree with the observations, about Sawyer, though! Nice, job! +1
Billinsandiego: I would agree with your assessment. There is nothing more tragic than the loss of a child! I am certain that is why, she is filled with hatred and self loathing!