A Tale of Two Cities

The first episode of season three has the show's trademark attention-grabbing, well-staged 'what the hell is going on?' season-opening scene, but it's really more an introduction to the experimental and not so well-received six episode long mini-season which aired in fall 2006. The bulk of season three certainly has a different feel and focus than the 'mini-season' (which is what even the producers/writers referred to it as), and is of a much higher quality in general. I'd consider "Not in Portland" the first episode of the 'real' season 3.

The opening scene is certainly quite nifty. It's certainly well-filmed and suspenseful, and although it was more predictable than the immense season two opener with Desmond in the hatch, it was still a great scene. The rest of the episode is significantly weaker, though, centered on pretty standard follow-up stuff showing us that Sawyer, Jack, and Kate are in cages. Ah, the start of one of the worst multi-episode story lines on the show (the worst?). It's all quite rubbish, the atmosphere they're clearly going for on the Hydra island just isn't working, even Giacchino's score sounds off somehow. Juliet is interesting and is introduced well, however, and is basically the saving grace of the majority of the episode.

The flashbacks aren't much better, focusing on a jealous Jack. There's barely any real character development here, very little of interest. I suppose seeing Christian is always a plus, but that's about it really. More 'drama' with Sarah Shepard... It's all quite boring and tired. This was J.J. Abrams' first script for the show (co-written with Damon Lindelof) since the pilot, and it's just not cohesive and interesting enough. I suppose that seeing Ben become Ben is fun, but there's not much of interest in this episode otherwise, mainly because it's introducing a storyline which is incredibly tiresome. It's watchable, but very far from great.

6/10

Hello everyone, As a former cinema student, I like to go on IMDb from time to time, especially right after seeing a movie or a TV show. Most of the time some comments are so revealing that I realize things I didn't even think about at first. And just for that, I think this site is very useful.

However, as I am watching Lost seasons back to back, I don't find the comments about the episodes as instructive as they could be. So what I'll try to do is to write down my own comments, hoping it will bring Lost analysis one step further.

A Tale of Two Cities is, of course, the opening episode of the well-expected season 3. The introduction scene is, really, amazing. A group is reunited for what seems to be a book club reunion, but the meeting is interrupted by an earthquake. When the earth stops shaking, the group go out, look at the sky and see an airplane crashing to land, but before the crash the airplane literally splits in two. So we realize we are on THE island, and that the house in which was held the reunion is just a tiny tiny part of what seems an elaborate, complete village, with actual houses. And we recognize Henry, giving orders to infiltrate the survivors and gather on them as much information as possible.

Back to the present, Jack, Sawyer and Kate are held captive of the others. The episode revolves mainly about Jack, and we see flashbacks of his divorce and how obsessed he is with finding Sarah's new lover. He will come to suspect his own father, and confronts him right in front of his therapy group (for his alcoholism), causing himself to go to jail and his father to have a relapse.

Now, the main question of this episode is: Is Jack right ? Is it right to be stubborn (as Juliet says) or obsessed (as his father says) at this point ? Is his actual situation, is this the best attitude to have ? In his case, the dilemma is about letting go or not. By being obsessed about finding Sarah's new date, Jack has caused his father's relapse. However, is Christian seeing Sarah or not ? I think so, because she's the one he is trying to see the night in Sydney when he is escorted by Ana Lucia (see episode 2.20: Two for the Road). Unless he's trying to see her for another reason, with Lost we never know... Anyways, in Jack/Christian relationship, this episode is the breaking point: this is where the bond is truly broken, and what leads, in a certain way, to Jack testimony about telling his father has caused the death of a patient because he drank on service. After losing his license, Christian decides to go back to Sarah, because this is where it all started, where his son has stopped trusting him. All things considered, the fact that whether Christian is seeing Sara or not is of lesser importance than the suspicion of Jack, as the consequences prove it.

This is the same thing in the present. Does Jack has to trust Juliet or not ? Probably not. However, resisting is of greater consequences than accepting to eat the food, and thus trusting his jailer. By holding Juliet hostage, he risks his own life and the one of Juliet, just because somewhat he can't accept the fact that he's not controlling the situation. He can't "let it go". But as he reminds himself of what happened to his father because of his previous behaviour, he finally sits in the corner. In the end, the consequences are not worth it. Is this the right decision ? No one could say, especially after Ben(that is his real name) is congratulating Juliet for her efforts, and success. Again, this is Lost signature: a lot of gray zones, and even for us it is difficult to tell which decisions or the survivors are good or not.

A great thing about this episode is that, finally, we get to know more about the Others. Did someone really think they lived in tents ? The fact they're living in a small city - or a big village, as you wish - fits more with their knowledge and their intelligence (for instance, Juliet has everything she has to know about Jack and his relatives, and think about the passengers list). For the characters part, Tom, under his apparent toughness, seems to be most delicate and careful of the gang (and confessed to Kate he's a homosexual); Ben (a.k.a Henry Gale) gets more frightening and calculator as we see him; and, finally, there's Juliet, who seems to show a great deal of compassion but somehow I don't entirely trust her. In her role, Elizabeth Mitchell'is absolutely great. And we note that Ben and Juliet seem to share a kind of love / hate relationship.

On the downside, we would have liked to see what happened of the hatch and Locke, Eko and Desmond. But the episode is only about Jack, Kate and Sawyer (and the Others, of course). So it's gonna be for another time...

Overall, a great episode. Better than "Man of science, man of faith" ans as good as the first part of the pilot. 9 out of 10.

Many people got hooked on the 30sec. and/or 1min spots ABC was running for "Lost" prior to the premiere. The night before Season Three began, I saw an ad that said, "The first five minutes will leave you breathless, and that's just the beginning." The first five minutes lived up to the expectations I had, and passed them with flying colors. This was a great lead into the rest of the season and it can only get better. There is so much mystery and intrigue about who The Other's really are and many fans get angry if we don't find out all the information right away. But it's a slow burn, unraveling mysteries, the reason for why things are taking place, and bringing up more questions. Jack's flashbacks were wonderful. Each episode we'll peer into the mind of the those on this Island, to discover more truth and more past, which all add up to who they are now. The survivors have already changed, but with more time, things will be different. "A Tale of Two Cities" was neither underwhelming nor overwhelming, but done with a great amount of care and love and completely thought out. This season will be far better than the second. Slowly we'll find out what the entire meaning of "Lost" is. And I do mean Slowly.

The answer to why Kate was wearing that dress. Ben, "Because the next two weeks are going to be unpleasant". Now, doesn't that alone just grab your attention?

The first episode of 3rd season was worth the wait. It was really great to look at the characters after so long. There were not all survivors in the episode but it rather focus on the life style of others. Episode it did not reveal much rather created a few more mysteries to be solved. The characters relation to each other was quite breath taking. The first meeting of Kate and and Sawyer really gave energy to the episode. Jack's story seemed rather boring as it revealed some dirt of his past. The others, who seem to be nice at first actually giving a sign of some sick brutality which they have in sack for Kate and her friends. Overall it seems that 3rd season it gonna be better than the second one. It is gonna be difficult to see so many characters on the show meaning the others. Lets hope the maintain the "hook" in the same way and not stretch the story for another season.

The third season of "Lost" kicks off with "A Tale of Two Cities," an episode that centers on the aftermath of Jack, Kate, and Sawyer's capture by the Others. Directed by Jack Bender, the episode opens with a disorienting scene in what appears to be a suburban neighborhood, only to reveal it's within the Others' compound on the island. The juxtaposition of this ordinary setting with the island's harsh reality sets the tone for the season's deeper exploration of the Others.

Matthew Fox delivers a compelling performance as Jack, who finds himself in a stark, sterile environment, struggling with his captivity. Evangeline Lilly and Josh Holloway also shine as Kate and Sawyer, each dealing with their own psychological and physical torment. The flashbacks focus on Jack's turbulent relationship with his ex-wife Sarah, providing insight into his obsessive tendencies and deep-seated issues.

The writing in "A Tale of Two Cities" skillfully balances character development and plot progression. Jack's backstory is woven seamlessly into the present-day narrative, adding layers to his character. The interactions between Jack and Juliet, played by Elizabeth Mitchell, are particularly notable, hinting at complex dynamics and future conflicts. The episode effectively sets up new storylines while maintaining the series' trademark suspense.

The cinematography captures the stark contrast between the Others' compound and the island's wild landscapes. The use of close-ups and claustrophobic framing underscores the characters' sense of entrapment. The editing maintains a steady pace, ensuring the episode's various threads come together cohesively. The sound design, with its eerie music and ambient island noises, heightens the tension and unease.

In conclusion, "A Tale of Two Cities" is a strong season opener that sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the Others and the ongoing mysteries of the island. The performances, particularly by Matthew Fox and Elizabeth Mitchell, are compelling. The writing, direction, and cinematography create a rich, suspenseful narrative that leaves viewers eager for more.