LOST - One of Them

By: Jason Davis
Review Date: Friday, February 17, 2006

If only Sayid had the same cultural heritage as his American companions, he might have noticed that Henry Gale travelling from a distant land via hot air balloon had a little more in common with L. Frank Baum than English millionaire Richard Branson. After what I've often criticized as a shaky second season, LOST has started a series of home runs here in the heart of the sophomore run. "The Long Con" and "One of Them" show what the creators are capable of accomplishing when they're not worried about stringing the viewers along with endless unsolved riddles. Sure, we don't know the nature of Henry's mission to this side of the island, but the story was structured in such a way as to make his presence a fulcrum upon which to lever Sayid's tale. It's a subtle distinction, but it is everything when it comes to producing great episodes of such a delicately balanced series.

When Sayid first turned his eyes toward Shannon, it seemed to undermine his devotion to Nadia. Here was a revolutionary woman who had won his heart and turned him against his people in the hopes of winning her love. Then, as if a network executive desired more sex in the series, the noble Sayid suddenly fell for the vacuous Shannon. Though I still consider the plot twist a serious misstep that robs Sayid of the richness the writers initially crafted for him, his interrogation of Henry finally turned his love of Shannon into something useful. If the entire arc was simply to set-up his impassioned inquisition, then it was worthwhile.


While Naveen Andrews flexes his Thespic muscles, the episode offers up one of the best arrays of guest stars seen thus far on a series that attracts quality talent. The always dependable Mira Furlan is back for a too brief turn as Danielle Rousseau. Thankfully, her return engagement will continue into March when the next episode airs. The thoughtful mention that our cast are "Others" as far as she is concerned provides a dash of insight into the still elusive character. Clancy Brown, last featured as the corrupt preacher Justin Crowe in HBO's short-lived CARNIVLE offers an atypical perspective on the US forces that invaded Iraq during the first Gulf War. Here we have a businessman turning an enemy soldier into a torturer and tossing him a grand in greenbacks for his trouble. Brown's performance is restrained, but effective. Lindsey Ginter's Sergeant Austen keeps alive the six degrees of separation that remains an ever more apparent ingredient in the show's make-up, but the episode's most interesting visitor has got to be Michael Emerson as Henry Gale. Emerson's made a career on TV of playing sociopaths. From serial decapitator William Hinks on THE PRACTICETHE INSIDE, Emerson has made his mark as a killer. Could the producers of LOST be using the actor's baggage to mislead a savvy audience? It's always possible, but time will have to tell.

With a brief hiatus before the next original episode, the intense finale of "One of Them" will doubtless linger in the minds of those who ponder the show's myriad mysteries. Me--I'm wondering about Hurley's stolen food--there was something very Village-like about the Dharma Initiative labelling...