Enter 77 - Season 3x11

[Kiowa Warrior]

ENTER 77

The eleventh episode of Season 3 is Sayid’s flashback, where we learn more about his time after leaving the Republican Guard. He is working as in a restaurant in Paris when another Iraqi called Sami offers him a job at his restaurant, but when Sayid goes to visit it he is taken prisoner after Sami’s wife, Amira, identifies him as her torturer. Sayid is adamant that he is not responsible for what happened to her, and Sami threatens that he will kill him if he doesn’t admit it. When Amira visits him alone she tells him the story of how she found a stray cat that was being hurt by children and rescued it, but does not mind when it attacks her because she knows what it’s like never to feel safe. Sayid breaks down and confesses that he was the one that tortured her and that he’s sorry, and Amira forgives him.

Meanwhile on the island Locke, Sayid, Kate and Danielle find the Flame hatch, with its occupant being the one eyed man that they saw on the Pearl tv. As they approach Sayid is shot but not seriously, and they are invited inside. The man introduces himself as Mikhail, and that he is the last surviving member of the Dharma Initiative. Mikhail treats Sayid’s injury and tells him about himself, while Locke plays chess on the computer; a computer Mikhail says cheats. After Mikhail brings Sayid and Kate a drink and Sayid talks about how one of the Others was killed, Mikhail drops his act and attacks them. But he is overcome and knocked out and tied up, as Said and Kate explore the area underneath the station. Locke is supposed to be watching Mikhail but he plays chess again and wins, which causes the computer to offer him options such as contacting the outside world. But Mikhail suddenly places a knife to his neck and hold him hostage outside, where Sayid and Kate bring out the captured Ms. Klugh, who was hiding downstairs. Klugh and Mikhail argue in Russian before Mikhail shoots her, and as everyone walks away the hatch suddenly explodes. Locke explains to an angry Sayid that the computer wanted to know if there had been an incursion by the Hostiles so he said yes, and has entered 7-7.

[keeno_82uk]

whats locke like ay?

The game must have been a way of separating the higher intelligence of the employers of Dharma with the supposedly low intelligence of that of the hostiles.

[Easily confused]

I really can’t make my mind up about this episode as there is some really good stuff in it but I feel its very hurried (not at all like Lost) and I think it has lots of stuff that is just pointless (ie Mrs Klugh just being there so she can be shot). Although on the face of it the flashback is fairly entertaining I think its a little cobbled together just to fill up the flashback.

On the whole I like this episode but it could be improved.

[D-Roc]

The implementation of the game in this episode is facinating isn't it! Can't wait to re-see this.

[lost-lover]

This was one of the best of season 3 for me. It's classic Locke. I need to rewatch it.

[D-Roc]

The episode where the hunter became the firestarter

[JB Sawyer]

I remember I hated this one when I originally watched it and, though I don't hate it as much as on first watch, I'm still not a fan of this episode. Too many things just didn't work imo. I had extremely high hopes for Mikhail after seeing him on the screen and for it to turn out that he was practically Old MacDonald wasn't great. I do like Sayid's expert knowledge about anything however I think his psychic abilities became a little bit silly. The flashback offered very little and there was far too much Locke. Yet most importantly was the complete wasting of Ms Klugh. I didn't like the character at all but for her to be cast to the winds of TV like she was, wasted like food at Nicole Richie's house, was very infuriating.

Re-watch rating: 5/10

[The Wizard]

I liked this episode. Especially since I've seen the outtake with the line "Not every nook and cranny John!" But first time around, I liked the new setting, 'The Flame' and being introduced to Mikhail who was very mysterious with his eyepatch and his accent I also thought his attempt to batter Sayid over the head with the glass of orange or whatever it was was the worst effort to hit someone in the history of time! Silly Locke leaving Mikhail there because he was just too damn tempted by that game of Chess! What I want to know is, did Locke know that the Flame was going to blow up after he had entered 77? Because if he didn't he was very lucky to get out of their in time before it blew.

[Kiowa Warrior]

Yeah I like this episode: it felt like a nice return to S1 Lost, where there was a main action story involving a group of main characters, the jungle and some explosives, while also having a light hearted sub-plot going on (the table tennis game), that featured most of everyone else. It's a nice balance.

Even if Locke didn't know that pressing 77 would set off the explosives, after he'd pressed it I think it's a fair bet to make that the computer would then have happily informed him that he had X amount of time before the hatch would be destroyed. Maybe even a timer appeared on the computer and nothing else, and Locke could then have assumed that he'd started a countdown and needed to get out.

If he had unknowingly set off the explosives by entering the numbers and then got an idea of what he'd done I doubt he'd have been too concerned, since even if the computer had warned him (for example) that he'd be initiating the Flame's self destruction by pressing 77 again I think he would still have chosen to do it anyway!

[D-Roc]

Wow, loved this..one of the great episodes of S3!

As Ki mentioned, the B story was good - a pleasant distraction from the intense engagement inside Mikhail's Flame. Enjoyed seeing Hurley continue in the 'leader' role by whooping Sawyer's ass. Although I loved Sawyer's "let the slaughter begin". Competitive, much?

Hated the way Paulo dragged Nikki away by her shorts like she was cattle. Not cool dude.


I enjoyed the whole Mikhail thing so much - firstly, props to Andrew Divoff, he is fantastic, and it's a delight to see where his portrayal of Mikhail began. From the way he speaks, to the way he fights - that man so owns the role! Speaking of which, it was a great face/off - Mikhail vs Sayid and Kate was just awesome..they really went for it!

Have to agree with Wizard about Sayid's 'nook and cranny' line! I normally enjoy laughing at Sayid, but that was some funny delivery! Well done Naveen (and Terry).

The whole computer chess thing was well done - agree with Ki that Locke knew what he was doing when the flame exploaded..certainly it was suggested as much in the next episode when his crafty bag of dynamite is discovered. Oops.

What didn't make sense to me for a good few minutes was when Locke epxlained to an incredulous Sayid:

"The computer said to enter seven seven..so I entered seven seven".

This seems like flawed logic from an intelligent man, until you take into account the fact that Locke was just saying that cos he didn't want to reveal what he had hidden in his bag..and because he (not so secretly) doesn't want to get off the island.

LOVED Sayid's backstory - the guy who plays Sammi was fantastic, but the woman who played Almira was just utterly brilliant - especially her last scene where she told Sayid the story about her cat and why she forgives it when he scratches her - "because he forgets what it's like to be safe..I know what it's like to never be safe". Wow, how deep is that..it really makes so much sense!

Wont go into the ins and outs of my contempt for Sayid (although he rocked in this episode)..but should mention that he has abused women in the past and been cowardly enough not to admit to his past crimes (well, he did eventually, but c'mon man look at her arms!)

GREAT EPPY!!..

Re-watch value 9/10

[JB Sawyer]

Originally Posted by KoR-evo

GREAT EPPY!!..

Re-watch value 9/10

You have got to be kidding me!!

Ah well I guess that's what makes Lost great. Each to their own

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by JB Sawyer

You have got to be kidding me!!

Ah well I guess that's what makes Lost great. Each to their own

No lie, I think it's a wonderfully watchable episode, I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

Yup, each to their own and own to their each

[Him]

Good episode. Got the plot moving after the two fillers before it (although TTiD is masterclass in how you do a filler).