Wednesday, February 21, 2007

3x09 Stranger in a Strange Land - Episode Discussion



Post your thoughts and grumbles here...

95 comments:

PalmerEldritch said...

About ten minutes into the episode, I assumed that Bai Ling was a tranny prostitute and that her "gift" was her "bangkok."

/not that there's anything wrong with that

Scott and Steve said...

What the heck Ralph? (I thought it had become a sort of tradition that I posted the pre-episode discussion thread in the morning, and you did the post-ep thread?) Stop daydreaming about Nikki and get back to work!

I'll have to save some of my comments for the podcast, but the last impression I had before closing was that music was wonderful. I can't wait to hear Jimmy pick it apart and tell us what it all means!

I think I liked this episode, but it's still too early to tell. It only ended about 5 minutes ago. I'm glad the story got somewhere, but I'm a little confused by the use of an entire flashback story about a tattoo. I have a Chinese character tattoo, and I know what I was told it means, but more importantly, I know what it means to me, so I could give a fuck about its literal meaning. I'm happy that Jack had that line on the beach to that cuntrag Sherriff. I hope she dies in the future.

I am kind of starting to hate Kate.

I laughed at the "Titanic" moment in the end when they're on the boat. I thought Juliet was going to spread her arms and say, "I'm flying Jack".

aimee is lost said...

My bad. That was me. Why do I always do that?

- Aimee

Anonymous said...

It sucked, 2.5 more years of this crap.

Anonymous said...

...well, next week is a Hurley episode. With the HAND!! Wooooooo...yeah. And a VW bus. Interesting...

aimee is lost said...

Aimee before CLICK HERE

Aimee after CLICK HERE

Stephanie said...

Dear Jesus, that was THE most painful episode to watch. Who ever directed that should not be allowed to direct anything else in the future. It drug. Who ever wrote it, should be fired. OMG, Carl looking up at the stars. Cut to Alex looking up at the stars. Juliet and Jack looking up at the stars. I want to cut my wrists with a butterknife.

Stephanie said...

Cute, Aimee. I like the cut and the color is good.

PalmerEldritch said...

Aimee, your hair looks terrific. All movie starry and whatnot. Good going!

Steph, yeah, parts of this episode did truly suck. Parts were pretty cool though. Did the tattooing scene play like an assault to anyone else? Jack was seriously uncool there.

Man, Jack got downgraded. His wife was good looking. Kate's good looking. Juliet's good looking. But he was schtooping Bai Ling?! Ack. I threw up in my mouth.

aimee is lost said...

Wow, you guys are harsh! Is Bai Ling really that bad? I don't think she can act worth a shit, but she's still kinda hot, in that so-skinny-i-could-sit-on-her-and-crack-her-spine kind of way.

aimee is lost said...

I feel very Sarah Chalke-ish (Scrubs) right now, because I keep blowing my hair outta my face (since I can't tuck it behind my ears for 48 hours). I really do love it though, best money ever spent. Thanks for all the moral support!

Back to the important shit... I really need to watch this episode again, but I'm pretty sure I saw a lot of hammy moments like the Sleepless in Seattle scene and the Titanic scene.

Anonymous said...

I liked how they showed a bit more about how many others there are (clearly a lot, at least more than the number of crash survivors it would seem) but I don't think that is what Matthew Fox's tattoos actually say. Jack's flashbacks have not been particularly interesting since Desmond was introduced... does he stalk every woman he gets involved with?

casey_donahue said...

man, no one agrees with me this week either

i really liked this episode, it was an interesting look into the others' community, and I feel that juliet will fuck jack over

casey_donahue said...

although I do think that the sheriff lady is a shitty actor, she has 0 emotion, unless that is what the character is supposed to be

Anonymous said...

Casey...seriously, we must be on the same brainwave. I liked this episode, too--despite what you're about to read.

I thought I was the only one who'd despise Bai Ling, but I'm glad I'm not--is it me or does she look like "used goods"? Everything about her is fake, literally from head to toe. *shudders*

I really liked the scene where Jack got his ass whooped! Damn! I'm also looking forward Jimmy's musical segment, I REALLY liked the end score during this episode. I also chuckled to myself when I saw the Sherrif's hair--I was like, I pray Aimee's hair doesn't turn out like this!!! It looked like a hot mess.

I'm still confused about what they've done with Cindy and the kids. Why didn't Cindy ask Jack why he was in the cage...why didn't Jack ask Cindy where the hell she's been all this time? Why doesn't anyone ask any fuckin' questions? Why did Saywer and Kate decided to walk back to the survivor camp in the dark--wouldn't it be better to travel during the sunlight? Who the hell doesn't know how to fly a kite? Why did the producers/writers/powers that be cast the most visually female for Jack to get it on with. Even I felt violated....Ok, I'll stop--I'm just being mean.

...but honestly, I enjoyed the episode!

~K

Anonymous said...

correction to last post...

it should read visually UNATTRACTIVE female

Darryl Cunningham said...

It was an OK episode. No more than that.

Mike Campbell said...

i really liked this episode too. The past two have felt like older lost episodes. They keep you asking questions the whole time. But thats just me

aimee is lost said...

Now that I've let it sort of stew overnight, I think Casey is onto something. I didn't care for what happened in the flashback, but I loved being exposed to the Others and to find out there are tons of them apparently. That village didn't look THAT big, but I guess we'll find out.

Juliet backstabbing Jack seems almost too obvious of a choice, that I don't really know what to believe. Most likely yeah, she will. In any case, she won't outlive season 3 and if she doesn't betray Jack, she'll end up dying for him or something.

Sawyer singing the song from Jaws was freaking hilarious, and sooo Sawyer. Kate was acting like a bitchy old wife on the rag during this episode.

What the fuck was the point of the Cindy/kids scene? This probably pisses me off more than anything. Gee whiz, thanks for showing us they're all alive. Great job asswipes.

I am kind of starting to like Tom more because he seems so stupid, almost in a harmless way. So I feel like I trust him. But what the hell do I know.

Man, I'm grumpy. But I liked the episode, that's so weird.

Stephanie said...

Yeah, Kimberley, what were Kate and Sawyer doing all day? They lit torches and set out for the Losties camp after dark? Weird.
What island were the Others heading for? Carl said they live on the Losties island, right?
Casey, you being a budding director, didn't you find the shadows on people's faces distractinga dn annoying? And the way the scenes were filmed?

aimee is lost said...

When we saw the Village, they zoomed out, and showed us "the big island", so I just assumed that's where they're headed. That, and given the EW article we talked about.

PalmerEldritch said...

The Island stuff was good. I would have liked to know what was going on at the beach with the Hurlster and whatnot.

But the flashback was pretty godawful:

For no stated reason, Jack goes to Thailand and starts sleeping with a woman he doesn't know but who receives envelopes of cash from men because of "her gift." After a month of wondering, "Hey, am I sleeping with a prostitute?" Jack decides to stalk her. When he finds out she is a tattoo artist, he decides to hold her against her will with physical force and then intimidate her into "performing on him" against her will. As such, no one will sell him soda and he gets beaten up by a small gang on the beach. The end.

Stephanie said...

Palmer, you left out the part about the past of the village. Something mystical happened there and now it's a dishonor for Achira to tattoo strangers. WTF?

aimee is lost said...

People are always rude to American tourists.

PalmerEldritch said...

The Great Tattoo Massacre, eh?

Does anyone know anything about Thai tattoos? Didn't French sailors go to Thailand and get crap loads of tattoos? So, what's the deal with "no strangers get tattoos?"

aimee is lost said...

Alright, this book took a major turn for the weird.

Ryan, I don't grok at all. I thought this was a science fiction novel, not a kinky martian orgy porn book?

aimee is lost said...

I think that was a personal thing for her. I googled and found lots of old school Thai tattoos done on outsiders. Bai Ling was just a snob.

casey_donahue said...

steph, I am a little confused about what you said about the shadows, can you tell me whicvh scene you were talking about

and i did think the end was cheesy with everyone looking longingly, but i think the music is what kept me from disconnecting with the scene all together

aimee is lost said...

Casey, you're right; the music saved the Titanic scene, and I found myself enjoying it, even though it looked silly.

memphish said...

Kim,

Look out it's more bangs! (And no I don't mean the rolling around on the floor crap. This is from the Entertainment Weekly recap:

But was Mystery Everywoman Achara not just a teeny tiny bit ridiculous? Some of her lines — ''Stop asking questions, let's just have fun'' — were pretty bad, and the hair was downright inexcusable. How can she see anything, let alone a person's true self, through those bangs?

Aimee's hair on the other hand--she get's straight As. Aimee I'm halfway through Stranger in Strange Land and have really liked it, but you've got me worried now.

Grok out.

Holli in Memphis

casey_donahue said...

i think that cindy and the other people were there to watch the execution because when we get a glimpse into the dharma courtroom in the front by juliet it looks like cindy is sitting up there

aimee is lost said...

The first half was amazing that I couldn't stop, but now it's just turned all weird - I have no idea where this is going now!

casey_donahue said...

aimee i think thats a good thing

PalmerEldritch said...

Mmmm... girls reading Science Fiction. *drool*

aimee is lost said...

Mmmm..guys drooling over girls reading science fiction....cliche. :)

Ralph- said...

So much to discuss.

OK, Aimee, i am sorry that i did not put up the episode discussion, i have been busy writing all week long. I had to pick up stevi from work yesterday and was running late and it slipped my mind. i dont know what happened. The hair looks great!

The episode was a little off putting. I think what happened was that Last week was such an overload, that this week seemed super tame. I will watch it again before i decide to call it BORING. But chances are i will call it boring.

I need a favor from all of you. I understand that all of you, with the exception of Jimmy, Producer Ryan and Myself, do not have buttons to the Nikki and Paulo fan club. But i need you to at least give me this one... Carl and Alex's relationship is so much worse than anytihng that Nikki and Paulo ever did to us. I am not saying to like Nikki and Paulo, i just want to know if you agree if the Carl and Alex thing was totally lame.

i mean come on, this was like The OC meets West Side Story. geez that was sappy. "We call that one, Little Bear"? really? oh my goodness.

Anyway... I think that i will have to see next week's episode to find out whether this one was okay. I think we will realize that this is the episode that bridges the gap between the first pod and the rest of the season. I think that LOST will be season 1 LOST starting next week!!! and for this, i am excited!!! really really excited.

now that Sawyer sent Carl on his way, all they need to do is Go get Locke and Jack's Army, to track down Carl and go invade the Other's Camp to get back their Leader!!!!! This is gonna be awesome stuff!

As for cindy and the kids. Well it looks like they were on a field trip to the Zoo. At this trip to Zoo island, they were shown what happens to people who miss behave. Jack and Juliette.

I was not crazy about this episode, but i am glad that it finally came, cause this is the start of the real season 3 of Lost, we got the setup, now we get back into the swing of things!!!!

casey_donahue said...

ralph I agree, this did seem like the bridge, I think back to season 2 and it really didnt get going until about the 9th-10th episode, to me at least

casey_donahue said...

i think people are expecting lost to be mind blowing every week, people need to relax a bit its getting out of hand, let the show take its course, the story isnt over yet

aimee is lost said...

Ralph, I think you put it into perspective very well with regard to this episode. Although a lot of it seems unpalatable, we're not all looking at the big picture here. This episode is setting us up for the rest of the season more or less.

PalmerEldritch said...

The kids may have been there to observe why the Others are so much better than regular people (at least according to the Others). And Jack was a huge jerk screaming like a madman in a cage. That's got to be pretty convincing to the little kids that the Others are brainwashing.

I also like Sawyer's advice to Karl "Oh. They're going to kill you if show up again? Well, is she hot? Then go for it." Oh, Sawyer, thou art truly a font of wisdom.

aimee is lost said...

You are getting wise in your old age.

Anonymous said...

- Ralph, i think the Alex/Carl thing is lame unless the brainwashing causes Carl to betray Alex. He was repeating lines from the film the whole episode but also seemed to have lucid moments. so if he snaps, goes berserker and eats Alex then it's all good. If he pines for her and sacrifices himself to save her then i'll grouse.

- i think the tattoo assault scene was really dumb. Having stalker-jack yelling at you is unpleasant but it's not enough to make you betray your core beliefs and perform a forbidden rite. Plus "the consequences" were pretty lame. I'm sure they were trying to convey some sort of spiritual sacrifice but it played out as an ugly american getting his ass beat because he was a dick to the natives.

bah. the whole flashback was lame. Bai Ling is not attractive. Their relationship made no sense. the mysterious "gift" was not intriguing at all. we never learned why Jack was trying to find himself.

- i still liked the episode. A lot less happened than i thought would, but i really like the Others.

- Julliete getting branded was interesting, and i'm sure is supposed to be shorthand for Jack's 'walks amongst us but isn't one of us'. I think Jack's is meant to imply that he is more than the average man, while Julliete's marks her as less than an Other.

- i like that Jack's motivation for siding with Julliette is that he needs to believe that Ben will follow through with getting him off the island. If she can be executed after being promised a way off, then there's nothing stopping them from killing Jack.

- i hope seeing the teddy bear kid will finally kill the theories about another tribe on the island.

- Cindy's a cutie.

andrew.

casey_donahue said...

so, we are now certain that the others we know are the hostiles kelvin and desmond feared?

Jimmy said...

I've been buried alive but do want to get a couple of points in.

Generally I agree with a lot of the comments. I haven't made my mind up totally yet as to how I view the episode. Later tonight I will be a bit more clear.

As we are all slagging off Bai Ling can I just say...

I think Bai Ling is hot, and I also think Nigella Lawson is hot too. My point being let's not rag on her just because she's a skinny chick.
However...as far as casting, acting and general presence, I truly believe she is a waste in virtually everything she ever appears in. My lounge carpet has more personality and sex appeal. Bad casting, and there are a lot of struggling actors out there who need a job!!!!!

Carl and Alex are going to be fucking painful, and the Sawyer, Carl speech was laughable. I felt disappointed by it. So Sawyer is taking a young lad under his wing? It doesn't fly with me. It's like Carlton and Damon said "We need a young romance...for the teens who love Heroes. We'll make it kind of Dawsons Creeky and such...everyone hated it when we tried it with the oldies" (SOS).

I love Jack, but his interactions with women (in his flashbacks at least)are starting to creep me out a lot.

I think Aimee's hair turned out better than the episode :)

We got to hear from the PodFather. Nice :)

PalmerEldritch said...

Nigella Lawson is good stuff.

aimee is lost said...

Kate and Sawyer need to have some angry sex and see who wins the relationship power struggle. The old married couple bit was just annoying, not funny as I would have liked.

p.s. Kate would unfortunately win.

Datty Mike said...

Did you see the VW camper in the promo for next week?
I hope they go all A-team on its arse. Weld big metal ramming plates to the front of it, and fit a gun turret on the roof for hannibal **ahem**, i mean locke, to fire an M60 out of.

aimee is lost said...

I think next week will be much lighter and fun to watch, and we'll all be able to stop taking it all so seriously, if for only a moment.

Datty Mike said...

Just reminded myself of this:
Lost A-team

So funny.

aimee is lost said...

Oh crap, I forgot about that. I'm stuck at work in a meeting until 8, so I'm going to miss them all. And it's the JJ Abrams one, right? Fuck.

PalmerEldritch said...

A meeting at 8?! Screw that. Call into work and tell them that your puppy ate the old lady next door and that you have to take him to the vet to get the appropriate shots.

Looks like NBC has entire episodes of Earl up the day after they air (like HEROES) but only a two minute recap of The Office. There's always tivo, dvr, iTunes, or more nefarious means.

"A meeting tonight? At 8?! Have you seen my hair?!" Then just storm out.

aimee is lost said...

No, the meeting is at 6, but it usually doesn't get out until 8. Otherwise I'd just be watching it in my office.

I'll just download it on iTunes tomorrow, but I like to watch my whole Thursday night comedy block!

casey_donahue said...

the office was funny, i was disappointed in the lack of lost jokes, but the bsg joke was good, that should have been the lost joke

Derrick Bates said...

I agree with a lot of what's been posted -- most notably that Aimee's haircut was far superior than this week's episode.

Did anyone catch that when they were beating the shit out of Jack and they checked his tat, it appeared to only be half done? Please don't tell me we have a part 2 of that horrendous flashback. That might fit if the early talk about Bai being in 3 episodes was correct. More tranny fun!

Mike Campbell said...

I think its cool for other people to direct shows but The Office is shot the same way every time. I personally don't think JJ or Joss brought anything new to it because it has a perfect formula. The past two have been very good episodes but i would like to see them direct a different show.

Think there is a Roy V Jim next week in vegas?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ralph- said...

Sayten, i think that the reason why the Music was so prevelent at the end, was that it was showing closure of the whole Island B storyline. It wasnt so much the climax of episode, but a new hope for the weeks to come.

i cant wait to hear what jimmy has to say about it on the podcast. it deffinitly has significance.

Anonymous said...

I still don't know what to make of the episode...Even a few days later I'm a bit confused. I still agree with what has been said already about this episode. But, why is everyone ragging on Bai Ling?

I completely agree that her acting isn't good. There really isn't an argument FOR her acting. I still think that she's really pretty.

Although it's hard to tell when the show has gotten her in Achara mode. The hair, makeup, and wardrobe was perfectly "fake" for her character. Oh, and Jimmy. I agree that Jack has been getting creepier and creepier with the women in his flashbacks.

Well, I hope that I didn't come off as bitchy in this post (I tend to have a problem saying things the way I mean).

casey_donahue said...

I think bei ling has an ok body but her teeth are seem far apart from each other, she should smile with her mouth closed, this also keeps her from saying her lines horribly

Anonymous said...

Ha ha! I didn't even think of that, good point Casey.

Anonymous said...

Ok peeps.

Aimee, stunning, gorgeous hair. Send that picture to Brian and that'll keep the brother going.

Ralph, if you ever bad mouth The O.C. again, i will wage war on you. Do not speak ill of the dead.

Onto Lost - this episode was kind of weird - lots of set up. Has anyone analysed the branding that Juliet got? Probably some Buddhist symbol i expect.

AOB: my cold is pissing me right off. My right eye is like Niagara falls. Then i sneeze and it's like a scene from Ghostbusters. Sneezed in bed last night and had to clean the ceiling this morning. Mental disgustingness.

TeeJ

Anonymous said...

...oh, and Nigella Lawson is ridiculously beautiful.

TeeJ

aimee is lost said...

Tim, you literally just made me spit out coffee when I read that ghostbusters bit.

I'm so mad that I've missed the Office. I don't know what the Vegas reference is about, but hopefully it doesn't end with an impromptu wedding.

I thought Bai Ling's hair looked like one of those unique styles you only see on a hair stylist (because they always have to be different).

Anonymous said...

I thought Bai Ling was alright. Extraordinary cleavage when she getting into bed.

Did you spit your coffee out because it was disgusting or funny. Hopefully you found it funny because i'm using it in my stand-up routine tonight at the local pensioner's club.

TeeJ

aimee is lost said...

Of course it was funny!

I just watched the 2-minute recap of the Office. It looked good; a death threat AND Jan saying "that's what she said"...brilliant.

The Dharmalars said...

Tim, the reason i hate The OC is because i live in OC. If you have seen Arrested Development you will notice that people from Orange County hate the term THE OC. It is just OC without "The" in there. It is just Orange County, not The Orange County. Besides i dont even know if Alex/Carl is The OC, i just know that it is silly teenie bopper sappy relationship. Sorry, i did not know what else to call it.

Ralph- said...

Dammit! this new blogger is pissing me off. Okay so now when i check my Lars Gmail in the morning, apparently that logs me in as Lars on Blogspot, as opposed to having me being logged in as Ralph all the time,like it used to. geez.

PalmerEldritch said...

Alright, gang. Gimme me some podcast magic!

I'm looking forward to hearing from TLI and the Dharmalars. I hope Aimee tells us all about her hair. And if Kim can sneak in some more French, that'd work for me too.

Ben, Ralph, and Jimmy can speak in tongues about their hair too if they want.

Ralph- said...

i need to fix up my Beard. it is out of control. Should i do a Goatee, Van Dyke or completly shaved?

Stephanie said...

http://losteastereggs.blogspot.com/2007/02/jacks-tattoos.html
Sceencap of Jack's tattoos.

http://losteastereggs.blogspot.com/2007/02/cross-of-scientology.html
Juliet's branding.

Mike, the guest directors are just a publicity stunt. I couldn't see anything last night that said JJ Abrams directed it. That is, except for the credits. Joss Whedon's had the bat, but nothing for JJ. No spys, no adrenaline to the heart, no hundred mph bus out of the blue, no plane crashing on an island. Nothing.
I got the problem with recording figured out. My headset was broken. All those hours wasted.
I vote shave it, ralph-.

PalmerEldritch said...

Ralph,

Grow a crazy Viking beard to scare the shit out of the neighborhood kids.

PalmerEldritch said...

Maybe a Chuck Norris beard?

PalmerEldritch said...

A Hitler 'stache is a definite no-no.

Anonymous said...

OK...so it seems the only way we can get you to participate in TLI podcast is to insult you!

Aimee and I are recording tomorrow, and we've had 1 caller from Canada, and 1 caller from the UK...STEP IT UP USA!

~K

PS> The Office was great! Roy is off his rocker--he scared me

Anonymous said...

Ralph. Shaved.

PalmerEldritch said...

So, if the only way to get people to call is to yell at them and only listeners from the UK and Canada have called...

Does this mean that the rest of the world has A) thick skin or B) kind of likes getting yelled at by you?

Anonymous said...

I think Americans don't react to threats... mayble I'll have to kill you all with kindness

Ralph- said...

Allright. I think i will shave it completely,BUT, the sideburns stay!

stevi is gonna shit herself when she gets home! unless she answers my text within a half hour. i will do the Aimee side by each photo comparison.

i dont know if you have all seen me with my various shaved styles, but i think there is at least one example of each on my myspace pics.

if you guys change your mind in a half hour from this post, i will not shave it completely. i will not shave my head however.

Kim, i just got one of those sweet "foxy" fedoras for my birthday and it looks rad with my long hair. i will post that pic too.

PalmerEldritch said...

Kim's convinced you to shave, eh?

Crap. At least keep the soulpatch.

casey_donahue said...

ralph, do mutton chops like the janitor from scrubs

Ralph- said...


BEARD
as of right now. i can never get a cool soulpatch, but i will try. well the next post will be me with no beard!

Datty Mike said...

what about abe lincoln stylie..

PalmerEldritch said...

I have beard envy. :(

Ralph- said...


NO BEARD
What sucks about this, is that i have to change my Mii character on my Nintendo and it will look nothing like me, cause the beard really tied the whole thing together. but to be honest with you, it will be easier to eat now.

casey_donahue said...

add some ray bans and you would look just like jake blues

Ralph- said...

i spent ten years working at Disneyland, where you have to be clean shaven everyday. it has been about a year and a half since i worked there, yet i cant get used to my clean shaven look anymore.

i get a case of the Charlie Chin, just so you know, i am starting to grow a beard now.

casey_donahue said...

i was looking over the information to work at disney world for the college program and thought the info about hair styles and facial hair styles was hilarious, the pictures were great

Datty Mike said...

I just did a 'Lost' search on google news, and one story that came up is that josh holloway is to become the new face for Davidoff aftershave.

Given the current discussions on shaving, that weirded me out a bit..

Datty Mike said...

I just watched the sneak peek scene for the next episode.

A bit spoiler-ish i guess.
LOST sneak peek

I'm really pumped up for the next couple of of episodes.

Stephanie said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnVDP6qGUPM

Hehehe.

ralph- you look SO young clean shaven. I'm not just saying that.

aimee is lost said...

Ralph, you do look a lot younger. I like the clean look!

Datty, that wasn't very spoilerish, in fact, it's given me hope for the future. I really believe the ending to this episode was a closing of sorts to a chapter. And the next chapter looks like it's going to kick some ass.

Stephanie said...

http://www.3heroes.net/

The 3 Heroes Podcast is up.
That was quick.

Jimmy said...

So I am presuming from the sneak peak (which was good) that the "Reunion" will involve Danielle? Right?

Got my segment out...now I guess the guys are doing theirs? Good luck :)

Anonymous said...

Ralph, i get your point, and i have deja vu right now, so maybe we already talked about this before?!

To all of you American peoples, can you explain what 9/10C means?

TeeJ

aimee is lost said...

Tim, It means "9:00pm/10:00pm Central time zone". In terms of Lost though, it should be the other way around because lost is on at 9pm in Central time zone and 10:00pm everywhere else.

Jimmy, will they EVER put 2 + 2 together with the whole Rousseau and Alex bit? Gaarrrgggh.