Monday, April 20, 2015

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

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