What Was That?

Here is the final installment of the analysis of the first episode of Lost. Let's get down to it!

Jack and Kate have now rejoined the other survivors on the beach talking about what they remember about the crash. Jack is explaining how he did not remember much about the plane crash because he blacked out. Kate explains that she did not. She remembers the tail of the plane detaching and then the front of the plane also detaching.

This scene is put into the show to again, make you feel sympathy for the characters and what they’re going through. Jack begins to realize that if they are able to find the front of the plane, they will be able to find the transceiver, which could be used to contact someone for help. Kate then admits that she saw smoke earlier.

Lost. Dir. Jack Bender. Perf. Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly. N.d. Net. Netflix. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

Without actually saying that it is the plane, it appeals to the logic side of the viewer to conclude that this is presumably the plane. Suddenly, there is a lot of noise in the forest, causing panic and wonder through all the survivors.

While everyone is standing on the beach looking at the forest, it seems that trees are retracting and disappearing. This plays into the fantasy part of this show. Logic will, quite obviously, tell you that it is not physically possible for trees to disappear right before your eyes.

In the morning Jack, Kate and another survivor Charlie set out on the mission to find the front of the plane to acquire the transceiver. The whole way Charlie is a source of humor, conversation and a distraction from the tragedy that took place the day prior.

                                                   Lost. Dir. Jack Bender. Perf. Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly. N.d. Net. Netflix. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

Pathologically Charlie appeals to the viewer by being a light-hearted character to laugh at. They arrive at the crash site to reveal the broken front of the plane tilted upwards. The three begin to climb aboard. Upon entry of the cockpit, the pilot seems to be diseased (Covel.)

However, he begins to move and wake up. The pilot explains that when the plane went down, they were 1,000 miles off course, lost radio connection, and therefore, the rescue team is looking for them in the wrong place (Covel.) The amount of devastation that washed over the original three survivors is so prominent that the viewer feels the exact same emotions.

Suddenly there is an unusual noise and the pilot stretches out of the broken cockpit window to try and see what it is, and is grabbed by what is still unseen by the viewer (Covel.) Logically you are able to conclude that this is not very likely to happen, however, you can also conclude that it is the same unseen object from the night before.

The plane begins to fall to the ground and Jack, Kate and Charlie try to escape as fast as they can. It is apparent that the force is right behind them, chasing them (Covel.) Pathologically the viewer begins to feel panic, adrenaline, and exhaustion from watching the characters experience such a strange and terrifying thing.

After a brief moment of the three splitting up, they find each other, much to the relief of both the viewer and the characters. As Kate bends down in a puddle to pick up the pilot’s pin, she sees the reflection of a body in the puddle.

                                                   Lost. Dir. Jack Bender. Perf. Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly. N.d. Net. Netflix. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

Looking up, the three realize that it is the pilot, mangled on top of a tree; they begin to wonder what in the world could have done such a thing. It’s easy to believe that this has to be disheartening and terrifying. Anyone in this situation would be feeling an intense amount of emotions.

Consistently through the episode, Lost appeals to the audience by showing them hard-hitting scenes that make the audience feel a wide range of emotions, and appealing to their logic side of the brain.

By establishing such a detailed sense of the characters so early on, it allows the audience to relate to the characters and watch to continue to tune in to the show. Although Lost is no longer airing, it still continues to be a great source for a viewer who loves special effects, fantasy, romance, humor and drama.

Not caught up with the analysis?
Lost and Found
What Happened?
Stitches

Fear

Ally Gagliardo
English 1100-037
Final Project

Fear

We are now onto part four of the analysis of the first episode of Lost! Jack is now getting his cut stitched up.

"Claire Littleton." Lostpedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

For the next few minutes the camera goes around the beach to different individuals. Logically you begin to realize that the people they carefully showing are going to be the most prominent characters for the remainder of the season.

You can see that each person is doing something different, some are contributing to the group as a whole and the wellbeing of everyone, some are staring at the ocean, and some are trying to use their cell phones to call and get help.

This relates to the viewer due to how accurately the characters are being presented as nonfictional people.

"Jack and Kate Article: Reasons to Ship Jate... and NOT Skate." Reasons to Ship Jate... and NOT Skate. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

The camera goes back to Jack and Kate. Kate is still stitching Jack’s cut up. Jack is opening up about his first time performing surgery to make Kate feel better. By sharing such a personal story, the creators are showing the depth in Jack’s personality.

This is to not only to allow Kate to relate to him, but also the viewers. We are supposed to feel sympathy for Jack and how he almost didn’t save a young woman on the operating table years ago.

Jack begins to speak about how his fear was so prominent in that moment causing many people to relate to the extent of fear he was feeling. He begins to cry, causing us to feel sympathy that he had to go through such a traumatic experience and that it still affects him.

In using such a description of fear Jack is able to be relatable by all viewers because everyone experiences fear at some moment in their life.

"Jack Shephard." Lostpedia. Lostpedia, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

Kate replies that if it were she, she would have run for the door. Jack says he doesn’t believe that because she isn’t running right now. This appeals to the viewer pathologically by making them play into the idea that Jack and Kate will begin a romance on the show.

The camera begins to show different groups of individuals again. One group was two younger men talking about how they thought rescue would have come by now. Another group was a brother and sister who were arguing about eating a chocolate bar. Finally, it shows Hurley and the pregnant woman Claire.

Hurley is in charge of handing out food and brings it to Claire. He gives her, her portion and walks away, only to return a few seconds later to give her another portion.

The kindness that the majority of the characters are showing is put in so that the viewers are connecting with them, and seeing the realness of each character. One would hope that if they were in that situation they would be as kind and caring as the majority of these characters are.

Not caught up with the analysis?

Lost and Found

What Happened?

Stitches

Ally Gagliardo
English 1100-037
Final Project

Stitches

We’ve analyzed the first few scenes of the pilot episode of Lost. In this post we start to learn some details about our characters. So here we go:

Milo, Spencer. "Episode Review: Lost – “The Pilot”." Based on Nothing. Based on Nothing, 29 May 2014. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

After checking to make sure they are okay, Jack runs off again. He begins to walk again through the debris to take yet another survey of the area. He walks up to what looks like the passenger carrier of the remainder of the plane and rests his hand on one of the seats to take a few breaths.

After the events he’s encountered so far today, it’s safe to assume that he needed some time to assess the situation away from the crowd of people. The young man who ran to get pens from other passengers finds Jack, hands him a handful of pens and says, “I didn’t know which one would work best.” To which Jack replies, “They’re all good. Thanks.”

This kind of light-hearted, slightly funny banter lightens the mood of such a terrible situation.

Jack starts to go through luggage found on the ground and finds a miniature sewing kit. He then begins to walk into the forest. He finds a nice secluded area and then takes off everything but his pants.

It is then revealed that he has a deep cut on this left side. This shocks the viewer as he was helping numerous people moments ago, and being extremely selfless all the while having that deep of a wound on his side.

                            Milo, Spencer. "Episode Review: Lost – “The Pilot”." Based on Nothing. Based on Nothing, 29 May 2014. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

Knowing he can’t fix the wound alone he calls upon another survivor, Kate, who happens to be walking by to help assist him in stitching his cut up. Kate appears to be crying. Jack doesn’t seem to notice; he’s too focused on the huge cut that’s on his side, finally being selfish about his immense need to sew himself up.

He then explains that he is in fact a doctor, and he would perform it himself but he cannot reach it. Kate is visibly shaken up but insists she will do it anyways. Kate jokingly says “Any color preference?”

The snide humor, yet again, helps a difficult situation. Humor is a great way to engage the audience in a way other than making them sympathizes with the characters. Humor also triggers secondary emotions such as friendship (Dlugan.)

If humor is evident this early in the show, you can assume that humor is going to be a part of it for the remainder of the show.

Need to review what we’ve gone over so far?

Lost and Found

What Happened?

Ally Gagliardo
English 1100-037
Final Project

What Happened?

As you know, we’re analyzing Lost: The Pilot episode here on Lost and Found. If you haven’t already, check out the last post so you can get caught up! Now where did we leave off?

 

Lost. Dir. Jack Bender. Perf. Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly. N.d. Net. Netflix. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. 

Jack runs through the edge of the brush and the camera pans out to a beautiful beach scene. The camera shows a broken plane and people running about. Logically you are able to conclude that the reason why Jack is on this island is due to a plane crash. He is weaving in and around the crowds of people and huge debris.

All that can be heard is the sound of the engine, the sounds of people screaming, and yelling “Help me.” Individuals are running around, calling out, and trying to find their loved ones. You can hear the panic and devastation throughout this entire scene.

Almost all of these people are injured and bleeding. Such graphic and heartbreaking scenes were carefully placed into the first episode to capture you through your emotions of sympathy, sadness, and grief.

"Lost Flashback: "Pilot (Part 1)" Review - IGN." IGN. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

Jack looks over by one of the plane engines and a man is screaming for help, stuck under a huge sheet of debris. The piece of metal is so heavy; he couldn’t even pick it up an inch. He begins recruits surrounding men to help the individual who is trapped escape.

Jack immediately begins to take on the leadership role. This sets the tone of Jack’s personality for the remainder of not only the episode, but also the series.

This is not the only person Jack helps. He begins to search the beach again to find someone else who is in need of assistance during this tragic time. Not only is Jack a leader, but also he is also exceedingly selfless.

Jack sees an extremely pregnant young blonde woman clutching her stomach while hunched over the sand. While tending to the pregnant woman, Claire, he is eying a young man attempting to give CPR to an older woman, and failing.

"LOST Season 1 & 2 On Blu-ray." Comic Vine. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

After recruiting a nearby survivor named Hurley to look after Claire, Jack darts over to the young man trying to perform CPR. For the viewer, it is beginning to become difficult to keep up with the emotions that you are experiencing, as they are mimicking what the characters in the show are feeling also.

Lost does an amazing job of using particular scenes, such as this one, to allow you to connect with the characters being presented to them.

Things are starting to get crazy. What is Jack going to come across next? Stay tuned!

Read the first post here: Lost and Found!

Ally Gagliardo
English 1100-037
Final Project