2.01 - Man of Science, Man of Faith

Title’s significance: Since this is a Jack-centric episode, I think it’s fair to theorize that the episode title is asking which he is – a man of science or a man of faith – while also suggesting that they’re one and the same.

Recap: Flashbacks depict the surgeries in which Jack met and fixed his future wife and also met a mysterious Scottish man named Desmond. There’s a whole little bomb shelter thing going on in the hatch, and Jack, Kate, Locke, and Hurley debate whether to go into the hatch. At base camp, Vincent’s gone missing again, and Shannon chases after him in the jungle only to encounter the whispers and a wet apparition of Walt. After deciding not to enter the hatch because it won’t work, Jack returns to camp and delivers the bad news while telling the survivors everything’s going to be all right. When an impatient Locke decides to enter the hatch, Kate tags along and goes in first; whatever is down there pulls her in and shoots out a bright light. Meanwhile, Jack heads for the hatch and climbs in when he sees Kate and Locke are gone; inside, he finds a network of pipes, a strange mural, an intricate computer system, and Locke with a gun pointed at his head. To Jack’s surprise, the man in the hatch is Desmond.

Thoughts: In retrospect, it’s amazing how very little happens in this episode, yet writer Damon Lindelof keeps the episode moving with a near-perfect balance of mystery and revelation, following the events after the hatch breach in almost real-time; the episode limits itself to one night on the island, and the tension is high. While Jack’s flashbacks are a little irksome, self-indulgent, and dripping with tears, the final flashback scene – in which he realizes that Sarah can move her toes – is laden with emotion and even a little heartstring-tugging. This might be one of the best season premieres (and perhaps episodes) of the series.

Favorite moment: The “Make Your Own Kind of Music” montage, in which we slowly learn that they’re telling us exactly what’s in the hatch, stands out as maybe one of the best episode openers on the show.

Characters introduced (in order):

• DESMOND, the man living in the hatch
• KEVIN, Sarah’s first fiancé

What we learned:

• Jack “fixed” his wife Sarah after she was in a car crash with Boone’s father.
• Charlie says Rousseau set the fire herself.
• Hurley’s bad luck also includes a meteorite hitting the “chicken joint” where he worked.
• Jack’s bedside manner “sucks,” and even his father says he needs to dole out more hope.
• Sarah was already engaged when she met Jack, but her fiancé broke it off.
• At one point, Desmond was training for a race around the world.
• There’s a strong magnetic force in the hatch, as well as a computer system.
• There’s a man in the hatch, and it’s Desmond.

Questions:

• What was Desmond inoculating himself with?
• Why is “QUARANTINE” stamped on the hatch door?
• What did Shannon see in the jungle – Walt or something else?
• What is the purpose of the hatch and all the elaborate accoutrements within?
• What’s the significance of the mural in the hatch?
• What’s the source of the magnetism in the hatch?
• What does the computer in the hatch do?
• How did Desmond get into the hatch?
• How long has Desmond been in the hatch?
• Why is Desmond in the hatch?
• Did Desmond win the race around the world?
• What the heck happened with the raft?!

Things that are going to be important in Season Six:

• Vincent’s disappearances/reappearances always come at odd moments.
• The magnetic force, we know, is directly connected to the hatch and the electromagnetic “incident” from both the 1970s and the crash of Oceanic 815 – what’s the ultimate importance of the (electro)magnetism, and where did it come from?