Episode 4 - Eggtown
30 March 2012
Present: Locke has Ben locked up in his basement. Kate asks Miles if he knows about what she did. He agrees to tell her if he gets time alone with Ben. Kate goes to Sawyer who helps con Locke into setting up the meeting. Miles says he will lie to his employers about Ben’s whereabouts for 3.2 million dollars. Locke banishes Kate from the Barracks. On the beach Daniel is frustrated by his apparently bad memory and when Charlotte calls the boat, they say the helicopter has not arrived.
Flashback: A flash-forward to Kate on trial for her crimes. The case against her is overwhelming and so her lawyer calls in Jack. He tells a false story of the crash where only eight survived after the plane landed in the water. Kate’s mother agrees not to testify. She wants to see Kate’s son who turns out to be Aaron.
The Good: Once more the flash-forward keeps you glued to your seat listening to every word for more clues about what will happen on the island. Seeing Kate on trial is quite a moment for the show. The producers are completing a story which they began telling in the pilot episode. Kate stands trial for her crimes and is acquitted, it’s not a scene we expected to see half way through the show and the producers deserve a lot of credit for producing the unexpected.
Kate’s concern about her future once they are rescued makes perfect sense. It is exactly what she would be concerned with and reminds us of her attempts to get on the raft with a fake passport (122). Her single minded determination does make her seem more like a fugitive than some of her previous flashbacks did. Watching the trial is interesting because we know she avoids prison (323) and yet the writers keep things interesting. The Aaron revelation is a good one; it raises all sorts of questions about how he got there and where Claire is. The most ominous development of course is that Richard Malkin insisted Claire raise the baby or else bad things would happen (110). It’s more tremendous consistency from the writers and a real reward for viewers who have paid attention to Lost’s ongoing stories. Jack’s testimony adds a little more information on the lies the survivors are telling (see Best Moment). And his relationship with Kate is explored a little after the trial.
On the island Sawyer is again refreshingly open and affectionate with Kate and clearly loves her so much he will betray Locke at a moments notice. He is also standing up to her a bit more and seeing through her behaviour which is all enjoyable character development. Miles’ extortion is intriguing as are his comments about how powerful Ben is. Locke just has no faith in himself and it’s interesting how dependent he is on others to guide and reassure him. The humour comes out nicely from Hurley and Sawyer living together and Locke’s deadpan claim to have just killed a chicken was pretty funny too.
The Bad: There is a lot of sloppy stuff here which could have been tightened up. Why does Kate need to do a deal with Miles? Couldn’t she just ask Charlotte or Daniel if they know who she is? Hurley gives away Miles’ location to Kate and then doesn’t tell Locke. His fear is being told off, rather than the consequences of betraying his leader. A man he followed because of Charlie’s death. Especially after he betrayed Sayid and Kate in the previous episode it seems like bizarre behaviour. Locke sticking a grenade in Miles’ mouth is insane. If Miles so much as sneezes he is dead. I know Locke likes blowing things up but this is foolishness for the sake of drama. Claire is happily smiling and chatting with Kate all episode only two days after Charlie’s death, that’s poor writing.
I can’t even begin to comment on the inadequacy and irregularity of the trial itself. There seems to be a confusion between state and federal crimes which Kate committed and the calling of witnesses is done in the wrong order. But worse than that is the lack of evidence against Kate. After she shot several men and robbed a bank (112), shot at police and cost her best friend his life (122) and then drugged and abandoned her husband (306) there ought to be far more witnesses than just her mother. The courtroom itself appears to inside a large office building rather than an actual federal courthouse. Kate’s flashbacks have been the weakest story in Lost (see my previous reviews) and this I’m afraid is another black mark against the writing.
Despite how intriguing the Aaron revelation is, it is sign posted quite heavily. On island Kate’s firm statement that she is not pregnant and awkward looks at Aaron may tip you off but all the “he” and “my son” lines make it clear we aren’t meant to hear the name yet.
The Unknown: Daniel’s memory loss is further explored but not explained. Is Jack (in the future) uncomfortable about Aaron because he is his nephew (as we discovered in 312) or for some other reason? Is Aaron the “he” Kate had to get back to in 323? Why is Jack telling those lies? Miles’ extortion leads to several questions. Why the specific amount of money, who is he working for and how powerful is Ben and how did he become so?
Best Moment: Jack on the stand effortlessly reeling off the lies about the crash. Kate looks physically sick and demands he stops. Great television that makes you want to stick around for answers.
The Bottom Line: More strong revelations and an intriguing flash-forward make for more good television. However the sloppiness dampens the overall impact. The similarity with the major revelation at the end of the last episode also slightly weakens this episode by comparison.
Feedback
Add your comments on this episode below. They may be included in the weekly podcasts.
)