PDA

View Full Version : Random Thoughts From Tonight's Episode (Long)


Choppin Broccoli
05-19-05, 02:15 AM
1. Leslie Arzt. It's gotta be an anagram of something. Just like Ethan Rom is an anagram. I wondered last week why this guy just showed up out of nowhere and started offering helpful information. He sure seems to be following Ethan's set path, though (establish a rapport, then turn on the group), AND he's got an anagrammed name (of what, I have no idea--the best I could come up with was "Let's Realize," and that's assuming it's spelled Leslie, rather than Lesley or Lezlie or Lezley or any other variation). Maybe he's trying to thwart the plan to launch the raft (he's the one telling them they have to hurry up and finish it right now, AND he's the one who insists he's the only one who knows how to handle dynamite just to go with Jack, Danielle, etc. into the jungle--and since he turned around to go back before the monster came, how is it that he came running out of the jungle AT the group from IN FRONT of them later on?) And is it me, or does this guy bear a striking resemblance to the pilot that appeared to be mauled by the "monster" early on?

2. James Ford. Sawyer's real name. Any idea of its significance (if any--although my guess is if they took the time to mention it, it's significant). And why has Sawyer done a 180 and decided to become a model citizen all of a sudden? Pure guilt? Or something else?

3. The Black Rock. Never thought it might be a ship. I first thought it was the ship that Danielle's team "ran aground" to end up on the island. But that ship was facing out to sea, as if they were preparing to launch it. Maybe "The Others" showed up to stop Danielle's team from launching the ship, kinda like they're showing up now, just as our castaways are launching the raft. I suspect people are about to be infected with the sickness Danielle keeps referring to.

4. Vincent. This is not your average "boy and his dog" relationship. The leap into the water after him is proof of that. I wondered early on if Vincent could be the reincarnation of Walt's mother (although Vincent was around while Walt's mother was still alive, so maybe the dog is just "housing" her soul, kinda like the Golden Retriever in Locke's story about his mother).

5. Background characters. I couldn't place them, but a LOT of the characters sitting in the background tonight looked like characters we've seen in prior flashbacks. I KNOW that guy next to Jack at the bar is someone, but I can't place him. I also think the kids on the broken cup looked familiar (were they the kids being ushered out of the hotel room last week?)

6. The numbers. I guess Hurley didn't notice them on the hatch. One thing I'm pretty sure of, though, is that Hurley wrote the numbers on the slip of paper he put in the bottle. He asked Charlie not to look at it so Charlie wouldn't be cursed (but Charlie DID look at it, so maybe something bad is about to befall Charlie). Or maybe the fact that the numbers are on the raft explains why the raft will fail in its goal. Also, did you notice that Jack's seat on the plane was in row 23 and the girl at the bar (Michelle Rodriguez? Rosario Dawson? Can't remember her name) was in row 42? Those are two of the numbers. Makes me wonder, first of all, if the rows that survived the crash were rows 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42, and secondly, if that character is alive somewhere on the island (maybe with Rose's husband--again, I don't think they'd have made such a big deal of telling us how much Rose believes he's still alive if he weren't).

7. The "monster." Danielle claims it's a security system of some kind, or an alarm system? Apparently it warns "The Others" when someone comes too close or something? Or maybe it's meant to scare people away? But Locke knows enough to tell Hurley to stand perfectly still. Why would standing still make you safe? Obviously, being the only one who has survived an encounter with "the monster," Locke would know what he's talking about, but what does he know that nobody else does?

8. "The island." How many times have we heard Locke refer to "the island" will do this and "the island" will do that? Nobody suspected that the Black Rock might be a ship. Maybe "The Island" is something's name as well (like a craft, or a person/being, instead of just the island they're on). Locke has been tricked before. Maybe whatever "the island" is is trying to convince him that it means the land mass they're on, when in reality, it's something/someONE else.

9. When Locke tells Hurley that "the monster" is moving away from them, the rain stops. The two are connected in some way. Are rain and the monster connected in ALL the prior episodes? I can remember a few instances where they are, but I don't know for sure.

10. Danielle's baby was taken 1 week after it was born. How old is Claire's baby right now? And is there any significance to the fact that it hasn't been given a name yet? At first, I surmised that if the theory that the response to Boone's distress call in the plane was the same group of castaways, only in the future, was correct, then maybe Danielle was "Future Claire." But the more I watched tonight, the more I abandoned that theory. There's not enough to go on there. And am I imagining things, or did we find out tonight that Danielle's baby, Alex, is actually a girl? I was so busy sorting out all the information from tonight's show that some of it slipped past me.

11. The toy plane. We got a little more of the story tonight (at least the marshall's interpretation of it), but I still don't think we know the whole story there. At least we now know that the plane was placed in a New Mexico safe deposit box to keep it away from Kate. But why? I doubt for pure spite. There's something more there.

12. Jack. We found out tonight that at the time of the crash, Jack wasn't married anymore. Did it end in divorce or death?

13. The scratches on Danielle's arm. Significant enough to show us (and for her to cover up the real way and reason she got them), but glossed over enough that we're just supposed to forget about them. That leads me to believe that they're significant. Clearly, there were four scratches, as if made by a human hand or an animal with claws.

14. Walt and Michael. The altercation in the hotel just prior to the plane leaving. Any significance? Are we being led to believe, as some have theorized, that Walt's concentrated hatred may have brought down the plane? Also, does Vincent's presence have any effect on Walt's "powers?" For example, do the weird things tend to happen more when Vincent is away from Walt, or when Vincent is nearby? Anybody know? Also note that the altercation happened at 5:23 a.m. (23 being one of the numbers).

15. Sayid. We're led to believe that Shannon is the one who causes Sayid to be detained at the airport. But the timeline doesn't match up. Sayid was recruited to work for the CIA AFTER he was detained in the airport. If he'd been detained in tonight's episode, he wouldn't have even been on the plane when it went down. I think we'll find out in a subsequent episode that Sayid was running after somebody when he asked Shannon to watch his bag. Who, I have no idea.

jjabramizeme
05-19-05, 02:30 AM
did you notice that the monster sounded (at times) almost identical to the noises the beechcraft made when it was falling out of the tree??

and i am definitely starting to agree that the numbers were the seat rows the survivors were on. i'm pretty sure hurley was in 1st class (we will probably find out next week) and that would put him about row 4.

carollost
05-19-05, 03:23 AM
Also, did you notice that Jack's seat on the plane was in row 23 and the girl at the bar (Michelle Rodriguez? Rosario Dawson? Can't remember her name) was in row 42? Those are two of the numbers. Makes me wonder, first of all, if the rows that survived the crash were rows 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42, and secondly, if that character is alive somewhere on the island

ooooh I love that!!!! I bet you are right... that would be awesome!

boonian androphile
05-19-05, 03:28 AM
Stumbled across a very curious article called

James Ford: 'Satan's Ferryman' and 'Outlaw of Cave-in-Rock'.

By Jon Musgrave Southern Illinois History Page

If counterfeiters, river pirates and serial killers hadnt been enough for the region of Cave-in-Rock at the turn of the 19th century, residents didnt have to wait long for another group to move in and take over the lucrative activities of their predecessors.

The Sturdivants replaced Duff in the counterfeiting business, and a man of wealth and prestige took up the reins of leadership dropped by Mason at his assassination. Although earlier historians have hedged their comments about James Ford, the overwhelming amount of evidence seems to indicate he led the life of a Mafia don, or an even better description would be Sheriff of Nottingham, except no Robin Hood ever arose to challenge him.

Following the decline of the pirates, another group of outlaws preyed on travelers in the general vicinity of the Cave-in-Rock. Known as Ford's Ferry gang, they took up where the pirates had left. Ford led the group, although from well behind the scenes. For the most part of his life, he acted to be inside the law, when in fact, he pursued life outside of it. For the first third of the 1800's, he served as a civic leader in both southeastern Illinois and western Kentucky. At one point he operated a tavern in Illinois, another time one of the saltworks near the Great Salt Springs or the Lower Lick as it would have been known in his time. He also served as justice of the peace, sheriff, and judge across the river. A ferry operator, he built and maintained long stretches of road on either side of his ferry just upstream from Cave-in-Rock. Even today, stretches of it can still be traveled in both states following county road signs that designate it "Ford's Ferry Road."

Earlier this century, Outlaws of Cave-in-Rock writer Otto Rothert became the first to seriously study the life of James Ford. His description of Ford is an apt one as he describes the situation is western Kentucky in the time Ford lived high on his plantation opposite McFarland's Tavern (Elizabethtown, Illinois) near Tolu, Kentucky:

"Outlaws were no longer in a position to carry on their depredations with the freedom that attended the earlier days. Populations had increased, and with that increase came a better reign of law. The line between law-abiding and law-breaking citizens was rapidly widening. For about ten years, ending in 1833, Ford apparently stood between the two, and kept in close touch with both."

That year, 1833, saw the end of Ford as unknown vigilantes assassinated the civic leader with the iron grip of the law.

Legend has tied Ford to the James Wilson gang of pirates at the cave as well as to slave trader Lewis Kuykendall and kidnapper John Hart Crenshaw. Local historians such as Ron Nelson have discovered his ties to the Sturdivants.

Although some writers have described him as "Satan's Ferryman," his full story has never been told as it is being discovered in documents forgotten in county court houses and state archives. Eventually his story wll be told. Until then, read the books, "Outlaws of Cave-in-Rock," and "Satan's Ferryman."



Interesting stuff. Some connections to other things:

Charon was the ferryman who guided the dead across the river styx. Is Sawyer serving in that capacity? And does this mean that all the raft travelers will die?

Also that part of Kentucky and Illinois is close to Cairo, Illinois, which is emphasized in Huckleberry Finn as a place that Huck and Jim needed to veer their raft north east up the Ohio River. A fog appears I believe and they pass Cairo and continue south all the way to Mississippi, I believe. Dont quite recall. And of course Sawyer's name continues the tie to Huckleberry Finn. Tom (curious) Sawyer shows toward the end of Huckleberry Finn.

Just like John Locke is a direct naming from a philosopher, James Ford appears to be a direct naming of an early and very local 19th century outlaw. People has thought of Jesse James when Sawyer's first name appeared. Also this article mentions the word 'river pirate' which may link us to the Black Rock ship beached very strangely similarly to a certain biblical boat on a certain patch of high ground.

If this is all accurate, what a job by the writers of weaving all of these elements together in one hard drinking murdering softy of a character.

By the way, I decided to place this article here because the author of this thread posed the question of James Ford aka Sawyer and the significance of his name. I like the way that Choppin Broccoli set up the questions and as I was studying the way that ChBr wrote point 2, it just hit me to look up James Ford. By the way, I agree about Leslie Arzt meaning something. If an anagram all the better. That article though wont be written on the internet.

LoStMyMiNd
05-19-05, 03:56 AM
Choppin Broccoli - #4 Vincent - I disagree, true to form a dog that loves and obeys his master will follow him anywhere. I know my dogs would have swam after me and if I called thier name they would keep coming instead of turning around like Vincent did. I thought it was very cool the way the animal trainers did that with Vincent.

Boonian - If your article on James Ford is true, our rafters are in deep do do

dtroi26
05-19-05, 04:13 AM
13. The scratches on Danielle's arm. Significant enough to show us (and for her to cover up the real way and reason she got them), but glossed over enough that we're just supposed to forget about them. That leads me to believe that they're significant. Clearly, there were four scratches, as if made by a human hand or an animal with claws.

Remember Ethan had the same scratches on his face....mmmm, I wonder if Danielle's scratches are from Claire? Maybe, Danielle is the others and she was in with Ethan. I don't believe anything she says............she maybe the "others" just to get them to trust her.

drabauer
05-19-05, 04:26 AM
Great work boonian!

More later

Zim
05-19-05, 06:44 AM
Point 6, about Hurley putting the numbers in his MiB, struck me hardest. Mainly because I hadn't even considered it. But why would he do this since he believes the numbers are so disastrous?

boonian androphile
05-19-05, 11:47 AM
Zim:

Re Hurley and numbers in bottle. If Hurley did that, I think it is because he couldnt help himself. He may not have read the numbers directly on the hatch, but I do wonder if they were talking to him in some way. The numbers consume him as the hatch consumes Locke.

sawyerhasbestlines
05-19-05, 11:55 AM
Boonian, Excellent find on James Ford. That was a lot of fun to read.

It made me think all these characters are reincarnated from specific people from the past..... or genetic copies, all brought together in the same time frame to the island.

------

do the weird things tend to happen more when Vincent is away from Walt, or when Vincent is nearby? Anybody know?

Maybe Vincent keeps the mojo at bay.

contradiktion
05-19-05, 11:59 AM
15. Sayid. We're led to believe that Shannon is the one who causes Sayid to be detained at the airport. But the timeline doesn't match up. Sayid was recruited to work for the CIA AFTER he was detained in the airport. If he'd been detained in tonight's episode, he wouldn't have even been on the plane when it went down. I think we'll find out in a subsequent episode that Sayid was running after somebody when he asked Shannon to watch his bag. Who, I have no idea.

Sayid was detained at Heathrow Airport, in London. He was given the ticket to go to L.A. from Sydney by the CIA after he helped them.

SouthernGentleman
05-19-05, 11:59 AM
Well Hurley did tell Charlie not to look at them, so maybe that is some foreboding warning there or a little foreshadowing about Charlie's fate.

I do like your thoughts that the numbers consume Hurley as the hatch does Boone, and hope that maybe we can see more about that in the show.

Wynter Zera
05-19-05, 12:00 PM
I'm thinking now there may be two groups of others fighting each other and that the ship was a prisoner or slave ship.

gscaleta
05-19-05, 12:02 PM
as to michael and walt seems to me he said a couple times you are not my father. I think we may find that to be true.

SouthernGentleman
05-19-05, 12:05 PM
Both of the prison and/or slave ships ideas have merit as if it were a prison ship it could have been headed to Australia who I think began as a penal colony for England. The slave ship theory is sound too as they could have been coming from Africa when the island drew them in.

12345d r
05-19-05, 12:18 PM
I've known a lot of dogs that would jump in the water and swim after its owner.

gscaleta
05-19-05, 12:21 PM
my dog would listen to me and if i told him to swim back to shore he would have

contradiktion
05-19-05, 12:24 PM
Both of the prison and/or slave ships ideas have merit as if it were a prison ship it could have been headed to Australia who I think began as a penal colony for England. The slave ship theory is sound too as they could have been coming from Africa when the island drew them in.

Slave ship from Africa? They wouldn't be in the Pacific. ALTHOUGH, it could tie in with the whole Nigeria thing. The plane and the smugglers. How would they end up from Nigeria all the way in the South Pacific in that plane? Maybe the Bermuda Triangle plays in there somewhere.... ???

boonian androphile
05-19-05, 12:27 PM
SG:

It is true that Australia was a dumping ground for England's criminal element. If the Black Rock was a ship for such purposes, the question is what direction was it going when it ended up on LOST island. Around Africa to India and then Australia? Or around South America to the Pacific islands? Or leaving Australia and running into navigation problems as did 815? Curious to see if Black Rock carries numbers on it. Maybe next year someone will explore it. The Africa first route doesnt work as well, I think, because wouldnt North America have been the destination? Unless the Bermuda Triangle plus theory comes into play. BTW you wrote Boone when I am sure that you meant Locke in reference to hatch obsession.

contradiktion: synchronicity?

Maybishudbahippy
05-19-05, 12:28 PM
Good read about James Ford, boonian! Note that "Outlaws" was the title of one of Sawyer's episodes.

I know the dinosaur theory has been debunked, but when Locke said "be very still" he could have been practicing the theory that a t-rex can't see you if you stay still. I doubt that it is a t-rex, though, but maybe something like it?

boonian androphile
05-19-05, 12:35 PM
Yes I remember OUTLAWS. I wonder if one of the writers lived in southern Illinois or western Kentucky. Or had an interest in that area. Or in American outlaws/criminals. I wonder what the article's author is doing now ...