Episode - S.O.S.

Preliminary thoughts:

Episode “S.O.S.”
Air Date: Wednesday April 11th, 2006

From TV.com episode guide: “Rose is surprisingly and vehemently opposed to Bernard's plan to create an S.O.S. signal; romantic sparks are rekindled between Jack and Kate when they trek into the jungle to propose a "trade" with "The Others"; and Locke begins to question his faith in the island.”

My thoughts on the episode guide: Why is Rose opposed to Bernard’s plan?? Is she happy on the island?? Does she not want to be rescued?? This would seem to fit as the entire group of survivors has given up any attempt to work toward being rescued. When was the last time anyone talked about or took action towards rescue??? Are they all running from something??

The meaning of SOS:
SOS is the commonly used descriptor for the International Morse code distress signal ( . . . - - - . . . ). Originally adopted by the German government in radio regulations in 1905 it became the worldwide standard when it was included in the second International Radiotelegraphic Convention.

In common use, SOS became connected with phrases such as "Save Our Souls", "Save Our Ship", and "Send out Sailors". However, these phrases were developments that occurred later, most likely used to help remember the proper letters — something known as a backronym.
The common use of SOS then contains no periods (for obvious Morse code usage). So why did the writers incorporate the periods?? Did they not know the correct form?? Or just another twist for LOSTophiles like myself to obsess over??

In any event it seems that our Survivors are in distress and need help. The two ongoing storylines for this episode seem to be about Jack and Kate proposing a trade of Henry Gale for Michael or Walt, and of Locke questioning the purpose of the Hatch. For whatever reasons these story tags do not feel like SOS moments to me.

However, from the previews we know that Jack and Kate are caught in some sort of trap (perhaps the same one that trapped Henry Gale??) And that scenario would be distressful to not only Jack and Kate but also the remaining survivors as well.

A Google search for the term SOS turned up hundreds of TLA’s (three letter acronyms). The following may have some significance:
Single Operation System (Emergency procedures), Service Order System, si opus sit – Latin for if necessary, Speed of Sound, Survivors of Suicide, Science of Spirituality, Save Our Society, Shoot on Sight, Surveillance Operating System.

I will, of course, send the regular weekly re-cap tomorrow.

Up-coming episodes:
April 12th, 2006 - S2 E19: "S.O.S."
April 26th, 2006 - S2 RECAP SHOW: "Lost: Reckoning"
May 3rd, 2006 - S2 E20: "Two for the Road"
May 10th, 2006 - S2 E21: "?"
May 17th, 2006- S2 E22: "Three Minutes"
May 24th, 2006 - SEASON FINALE OF "LOST"! Episode title unknown but there are two parts and will be two hours long!!!!

I think episode “?” (May 10th) may be centered on the hub hatch that was found in the middle of the hatch door map in the episode “Lockdown”. That should prove to be an interesting episode. I can’t wait!!

Please note that all the major characters from the LOST cast have signed contracts for season three. Also, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse (writers/producers) have also signed on for another season.

Weekly re-cap with observations and thoughts....

Posted: Thursday, April 13th, 2006

Episode S.O.S. re-cap:
Air date: Wednesday, April 12th, 2006

Bernard and Rose discuss the reluctance of the survivors to attempt rescue while putting away the newly found groceries. Rose is very hesitant to help with any rescue plan.

In the hatch, Locke attempts to recreate the blast door map but is frustrated when he cannot remember the details. He contemplates allowing the numbers to run out again so that he can get another look at the map but Jack reminds him of his obligation.

Bernard recruits survivors to build an SOS out of rocks on the beach. Rose resists him, telling him that he shouldn't give everyone “false hope”.

Flashback: When Bernard proposes, Rose confesses that she is sick and only has a year to live. Bernard wants to marry her in spite of her illness. In the Australian outback Bernard reveals to Rose that he has brought her to Uluru (Ayer’s Rock) to meet Isaac, a famous healer. Isaac tells Rose that he cannot help her but she does not reveal this to Bernard who believes that her health has been restored.

Back on the island, Rose confesses to Bernard that she was lying to him. She tells him that she feels the illness is gone and knows that the island had everything to do with it. In the last flashback we find out that Rose knows that Locke was confined to a wheelchair before the crash. Bernard realizes that his wife does not want to be rescued because she thinks she may get sick again. Bernard vows to stop work on the SOS.

Back in the hatch, Locke continues his attempt to draw the map from memory. But he leaves the hatch in frustration. It's not until Rose convinces him to maintain faith, that Locke returns with determination and continues drawing.

Meanwhile, Jack and Kate go out to find the ‘Others” in an attempt to trade Henry for Walt. While they wait for "Zeke" to arrive, Michael staggers out of the jungle and falls down at their feet.

Observations, speculations, theories and thoughts (oh my):

1. I thought that this episode was one of the weakest I’ve seen in a while. There was very little mythology (which I live for) and very little movement forward (except for maybe Michael coming back). All in all, this installment was a disappointment to me. However, that won’t stop me from adding my thoughts here.

2. My wife has told me that the Dharma Initiative logo (Swan Logo) found on all the food, hatches, etc. has been discussed over and over again. Since I have never discussed it (and came in late in the first season) I’ll go over just the basics with my added thoughts.

The symbols found on the outside of the Swan logo (and all the other logos) are from the I Ching, the Chinese “Book of Change”. The I Ching is the oldest of the Chinese classic texts. It describes an ancient system of cosmology and philosophy, which is at the heart of Chinese cultural beliefs. The philosophy centers on the ideas of the dynamic balance of opposites, the evolution of events as a process, and acceptance of the inevitability of change. In Western cultures, the I Ching is regarded by some as simply a system of divination. Many believe it expresses the wisdom and philosophy of ancient China.

From Wikipedia:

top LI, Fire
top-right KUN, Earth
right DUI, Lake
bottom-right KIÄN, Heaven
bottom KAN, Water
bottom-left GEN, Mountain
left DSCHEN, Thunder
top-left SUN, Wind

So perhaps the above-mentioned symbols correspond to the Hatches??? I’m sure this sounds like reaching to some of you but I like the thought.

Fire = The Flame Hatch ?
Earth = The Staff Hatch (Medical Station)?
Lake = The Swan Hatch ?
Heaven = The Arrow Hatch ?
Water = The Pearl Hatch ?
Mountain = The Black Rock ?
Thunder =
Wind =

3. Early in the episode Bernard lets us know that he and the other “Tailies” were on the other side of the island for seven weeks. I am not sure we knew how long they were isolated from the others. Also, Bernard asked the same question that many people have been asking: “Why are they not doing more to be rescued?” I think that this question has been answered. Most everyone has a reason for not wanting to return back to the real world. Sun and Jin, Locke, and Rose for health concerns; Hurley (and possibly Libby) for mental health issues, Charlie for addiction reasons, Mr. Eko for a religious reason, Kate and Sawyer for legal problems and now that I think about it Ana-Lucia for both physical and mental health reasons, since she was shot while pregnant. I am sure that other issues will come to light as the season concludes.

4. “Dharmalars” Are we looking at the Dharma version of Nabisco Mallomars?? I had to laugh when I saw this. Can you imagine the restraint Hurley had to have to refuse these!!! At any rate the numbers on the box jive with all the other food DI9FFTR731. Also, at the bottom of the box could be found the following: 960VKKS and FL390. I have not found anything on 960VKKS but FL390 may be Flight Level 390 (39,000 ft.), which is a common oceanic flight altitude (from a Google search).

5. How come every time Henry Gale talks to someone these days the conversation ends in a fade out to a commercial amidst “spooky discordant violins”??? When Henry tells Jack “They’ll never give you Walt!” he really means it and seems to know what he’s talking about. And who is the real captive? Locke tries to engage Henry in conversation about pushing the numbers but Henry simply smiles a knowing smile. [Thanks D for the spooky violins!]

6. Uluru – Uluru (also Ayers Rock or The Rock) is a large rock formation in central Australia, in the Northern Territory. It is located in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Ayers Rock is a large magnetic mound not unlike Silbury Hill in England. It is located on a major planetary grid point much like the Great Pyramid in Egypt. The grids meet at various intersecting points forming a kind of matrix. This is equivalent to the acupressure points on our bodies. These grid points can be found at some of the strongest power places on the planet. Isaac tells Rose that there is great energy in the earth and that some of it is geological and/or magnetic. This is in conjunction with the mentioning of “magnetic interference” on the blast door map from the “Lockdown” episode.



7. Charlie is helping Mr. Eko build a church. Why?? It seems Charlie does have a Catholic background. Is he building a church so that Claire’s baby, Aaron, has a place to be baptized???

8. A thought by my wife: The pushing of the button (monitoring, etc.) may be for only one purpose. Keeping them inside the hatch every 108 minutes. But what happens every 108 minutes that they need to be in the hatch? Whatever it is, it does not seem to be affecting those who are outside the hatch, yet.

9. And last, but not least, Sawyer had two stereotypes in the episode: He calls Jack “Dr. Giggles” when Jack comes looking for Kate to go off into the jungle for the trade mission and he calls Bernard “Norma Rae” when Bernard tries to get the survivors to build the SOS.

Norma Rae: Sawyer asks Bernard if he is "having union troubles down on the beach, Norma Rae." The 1978 Sally Field film of the same name, dealing with a woman's attempt to unionized workers.

Dr. Giggles: Reference to film "Dr. Giggles" about a psychopathic son of a mass-murdering doctor, who escapes from his mental institution to seek revenge on the town where his father was caught.

Episode Trivia
1. Bernard is a dentist.

2. Rose wanted to vacation on a beach for her honeymoon. Could she have known she would end up on a beach?

3. Michael returns in almost exactly the same way that Claire did in the episode, "Homecoming", stumbling through the bushes and collapsing.

The page that Locke was using to draw the hatch diagram at the end of S.O.S was from an unidentified collection of 18th century french poet Alfred De Musset.

ON THE BEGINNINGS OF MESDEMOISELLES RACHEL AND PAULINE GARCIA
So, whatever they say, she doesn't dry up,
the immortal and fertile source
that the divine messenger made spout from underneath his steps,
she still exists, this worldly juice,
she flows, and the gods are still down there.
Whereto does so much of our frivolous fights serve,
so much effort, always in vain, always reappearing?
A chaos crowded with useless words,
so many impotent hammers hitting the ancient idols?
Let us talk about art, let the experts do,
we will correct the errors
like a libertine of mistress
the lilas in sprint will always be in flowers,
and the immortal arts will rejuvenile without ceasing.
Let us discuss our flaws, our dreams and our tastes,
compare the modern and the antique if you feel like it,
and let us twist underneath these jealous flags!
When we will be at the end of our rethoric,
two children born yesterday will know more about it than us.
O young hearts filled with antique poetry,
welcome, children cherished by gods
you got the same age and the same genius.
The soft clarity you bring along in your eyes is blessed!
Come on! Let happiness follow you!
It isn't coincidential that a variable caprice
made you were born at the same moment.
Your mother downhere, it's the attentive Muse
that wakes over the sacred fire forever.
Obey without doubts to the god that inspires you.
Ignore, if it's possible, the fact that we talk about you.
These complaintes, these agreements, these tears, this soft smile,
all your treasures, give them to us
sing children, let us say it.