Critics Corner - The Economist

[D-Roc]

Ok, so we all loved the Economist (well most of us thought it was pretty good), but as fans it is also our duty to critique the show, to point out the good and the bad of each episode.

So what were the negatives from this episode?

Personally I thought that manner in which the Losties now navigate the island is quite a stretch. I mean, it used to take them days to get to the hatch, let alone O-Town! Now Locke is able to go from the beach to Jacob's cabin's former location to O-Town in what, a day..day and a half? Whatsmore Sayid is able to go from one side of the island to O-Town..and back again all in the space of a day!

Ridiculous! - Even if they are more accustomed to the islands terrain.

I know they have to expediate things now they only have a limited number of episodes, and I don't want them to waste time with filler such as Kate, Sayid and Miles drinking Ovaltine and eating digestives during their overnight camping location en route to O-Town (although that would actually be pretty fun). But incase they thought people wouldn't notice - I noticed. Remember Darlton, the Dharma bus is now working - at least that would explain the rapid travelling ability.

Juliet. I'm sure her time will come but since they're paying her hows about using her for more than Jack's skivvey! She's hardly spoken 2 words this season, and after Ben, she's the person with the most knowledge of the island - I'm sure she'd have much to say about Ben's manhunt..and i'm sure Miles would have loads to ask her! Let's see more of EM, even if I don't like Juliet, she's still an interesting character.

Desmond. See above.

Claire. No, too much, she's being overworked! Especially that little 'performance' mourning the death of Charlie.

Rousseau - she's there yet she's not. I don't know, I preferred her when she was rogue. Now she's just plain and less eccentric. Have her fold into the woods as if by magic.

Anyone else got any critisms for 4.03 in particular?

[lost-lover]

I have to agree with most of what's been said, especially about the time it takes to travel between different areas of the island. Also agree about Juliet and Desmond - we need to see more of them! Desmond's got reasons for discussion with the boat folk - namely the Penny photo. I know it's been mentioned a bit but I think Des needs more showtime.
Juliet has been named as a 'native' by Frank yet all she's been asked is where's Ben? A significant question I'm sure, but surely while Miles was trekking to Othersvile Frank would have taken the time to question her, or Daniel? I think we need to see more of this, even if they're after Ben we should be shown some more of Juliet, and I don't mean her having a cosy chat with Jack.
I have to agree about Rousseau as a rogue - she's way better as a here-today-gone-tomorrow sort of character. I know she's got Alex to look after now but in the last episode she was like Locke's skivvy, even going as far as to help to trap Sayid at one point!

[D-Roc]

Yes, that's a good point - the fact that he specifically referred to her as a "Native", yet they hardly questioned her. Although she is under Jack's "protection" I guess *groans*

A side point here, but that really demystifies the power behind the word when Dharmageek Horace referred to the original inhabitants as "Natives". Obviously we knew what he meant (i.e. previous inhabitants) but it's just strange to hear Juliet (a non committed Other) being called a "Native".

[Murgatroyd]

I'm actually quite enjoying Rousseau - I know she's not playing a massive part at present and I would actually like to see her involved in the plot to a little more effect (and to explore her relationship with Alex), but she's still providing the same sort of humour as she always was: apologising to Sayid while holding him at gunpoint and the like.

The only standout flaw in this episode for me was the turnaround in Hurley's behaviour: from 'I won't be a party to taking hostages' to 'I'll help you get some more hostages' with no explanation whatsoever. I mean, we can fill in the gaps one way or another, but I think it really could've done with a bit more of a build up or another character's being used as bait, because as it stands it just looks as though Hurley's been written wildly out of character for the sake of a plot point.

I'm also a bit incredulous about the whole 'What is there to go back for?' line, which is getting slightly old. I do get that Sawyer has no purpose whatsoever now he's killed Cooper, and Kate has little to actively look forward to back in the real world, but that doesn't mean that the life they've been living - dangerous, painful, stressful, generally miserable - ought actually to be preferable to prison or whatever awaits them. I don't care enough about what happens to Kate for it to be a huge issue though: it's not as annoying as when Jack failed to answer the 'What do you have to go back to?' question from Ben with 'A job, comfort, a life without fear of imminent murder etc.'