Outlaws

"Outlaws" continues to grow in my estimation every single time I see it. Although "Confidence Man" will perhaps always be the more respected and admired season one Sawyer-centric episode, I find "Outlaws" an even more compelling and fascinating character study and what's more- it is one of the best scripts written to date for the series in my opinion.

The story that the main island events are based around is utterly ludicrous on paper, but turns into much more thanks to the evocative and intelligent script by Drew Goddard, an extremely talented scriptwriter known outside "Lost" for his much-praised episodes for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and his box office success "Cloverfield". Aside from a couple of rough moments (very) early in the episode I simply cannot find any serious flaws in this astonishing script. The depth and insight into Sawyer's character and the development of the mythology of the character is outstanding here. Essentially, "Outlaws" is a silly episode on paper: Sawyer hunts a boar and in flashbacks he gets tricked into killing a guy. The end result is filled with memorable dialogue and insightful character development- note especially the brilliantly-photographed, well-directed, and brilliantly-written scene where Sawyer encounters Christian Shepard in an Australian bar. When I first saw it I could not wait for it to end but I was utterly entranced this time around as I saw more of where Goddard was going with the scene.

"Outlaws" is purely a character-based episode, highly refreshing after the outrageously indulgent and silly if watchable "Homecoming". Goddard's script is great, but the episode is a landmark to me on "Lost" because John Bartley's cinematography works brilliantly with Jack Bender's work as director here, creating what is perhaps the first episode of "Lost" to feature genuinely arresting visuals.

An episode I originally regarded as shallow filler, came to see as a poor, shallow attempt at characterization, and finally came to absolutely adore on this viewing, a further viewing of "Outlaws" may cause me to regret writing this review, but as I write this I firmly believe that this is a truly great television script brought to life stunningly well by the crew and actors.

10/10

Continuing the show's balancing act, the mythology-heavy Homecoming is followed by a character piece, the intriguingly titled Outlaws, a genuine class act that boasts two regular Abrams collaborators behind the camera (director Jack Bender and writer Drew Goddard, who later came up with Cloverfield) and fine work from Josh Holloway, whose portrayal of Sawyer is the focus of the episode.

The edgy conman has a good reason to be angry this time, as a wild boar came into his tent during the night. When he goes after it, he hears a whisper: "It'll come back around." He's joined by Kate for another expedition, during which each of the two discovers some of the other's dark secrets.

These are partly covered in the flashbacks, which expand on the revelation in Confidence Man that Sawyer got his alias from the man who ruined his family (both his parents died, although the other Sawyer wasn't directly involved). Determined to find him, Sawyer is contacted by a former associate (Robert Patrick), who tells him the man he's looking for is currently in Australia. While waiting to finish the job, Sawyer has a chance encounter with a man in a bar and starts a conversation about fixing mistakes and how some men deserve to suffer. The man in question is none other than Jack's father, Christian.

While character development is the primary focus of the episode, the presence of John Terry in the flashbacks adds to the notion of destiny that has featured in previous episodes (most notably Claire's back-story), while simultaneously allowing for truly great Sawyer material, with Holloway getting another welcome chance to relish the character's darker side, even in a supposedly harmless scene like the drinking game with Kate. Also, it's nice to see Robert Patrick on villainous duties again after his more sympathetic turns in The Sopranos and The X-Files. Too bad it's his only appearance on the show...

James "Sawyer" Ford wakes up from a nightmare with a boar inside his tent. He finds his canvas in the woods, but is attacked by the animal. He decides to chase the boar with Kate Austen following its track in the forest. Along their hunting, Sawyer recalls his dark past since he was a child until his final revenge the against conman that destroyed his family.

In "Outlaws", the life of Sawyer is disclosed and showed how he was deceived by Hibbs (Robert Patrick) and why he is such a crook. The trailing and hunting of the boar is just reasonable, but the past of Sawyer is interesting. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Outlaws"

Note: On 22 March 2013, I saw this episode again.

Several storylines to follow, mainly Sawyer but also charlies, Jacks and Locke and hes little campfire story. Outstanding episode, amazingly writted

"Outlaws" focuses on James "Sawyer" Ford, delving deeper into his troubled past and quest for vengeance. The episode opens with Sawyer experiencing vivid nightmares about the man he believes ruined his life, leading to flashbacks that reveal more about his life as a con man. The direction by Jack Bender effectively captures the episode's dark and introspective tone.

Josh Holloway delivers a nuanced performance as Sawyer, portraying his inner turmoil and relentless pursuit of revenge. The flashbacks reveal the depth of Sawyer's pain and the consequences of his actions, adding complexity to his character. The interactions between Sawyer and Kate, who continues to peel back his layers, are particularly compelling and add emotional depth to the narrative.

The writing in "Outlaws" explores themes of vengeance, guilt, and redemption. Sawyer's struggle to come to terms with his past and his desire for vengeance create a compelling character arc. The script effectively balances character development with plot advancement, using Sawyer's interactions with other survivors to reveal different facets of his personality.

The cinematography captures the episode's dark and somber tone, using shadows and muted colors to reflect Sawyer's psychological state. The editing maintains a steady pace, ensuring smooth transitions between flashbacks and present-day events. The sound design, including the use of ambient noises and tense music, heightens the episode's emotional impact.

In conclusion, "Outlaws" is a compelling and introspective episode that delves into Sawyer's troubled past and quest for vengeance. The performances, particularly by Josh Holloway, are strong and multifaceted. The writing, direction, and cinematography create a rich and engaging narrative, adding depth to the series' character dynamics and overarching themes.