Lost: Season 2, Episode 3 "Orientation" Review

"This argument is irrelevant."

-Sayid Jarrah

Season 2's 3rd episode, "Orientation", starts off with Sawyer (Josh Holloway), Michael (Harold Perrineau), and Jin (Daniel Dae Kim) being attacked and knocked out by people who might be the Others.  They are dragged off and trapped in a tiger pit.  Later, a woman is thrown down with them, Ana Lucia (Michelle Rodriguez), who was also on Oceanic 815.  When Sawyer reveals he has a gun, Ana Lucia attacks him and takes it.  She then shouts to be let out and is revealed to be part of the group that attacked our heroes.

In the hatch, Kate (Evangeline Lilly) gets a gun and attacks Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) and a bullet is accidentally fired into the computer, which causes Desmond to panic.  Jack (Matthew Fox) and Locke (Terry O'Quinn) allow him to work on repairing the computer after Desmond tells them he was told pressing the button saves the world.  Jack doesn't believe him, but Desmond has them watch an orientation film for the station while Kate goes to get Sayid (Naveen Andrews) to help.

After watching the film, Locke believes more than ever, while Jack continues to angrily reject the notion.  When Desmond fails to fix the computer, he flees the hatch and Jack leaves soon after.  He confronts Desmond in near hysterics before they both acknowledge that they have met before.  Jack ends up allowing Desmond to leave.

Sayid arrives at the hatch and fixes the computer, but Locke can't remember the entire code.  Jack returns and gives it to Locke.  Locke manages to convince Jack to press the button and to do this together.

In flashbacks, Locke attends an anger management group and meets a woman named Helen (Katey Sagal).  The two begin a relationship, but Locke can't let what happened with his father, Anthony Cooper (Kevin Tighe), go.  Locke likes to sit in his car outside of Anthony's house.  Helen confronts Locke and makes him choose between her and his father.  Locke chooses Helen.

What Works:

"Orientation" finally gives us some of the answers we've been craving about the hatch and throws us headfirst into the mythos of the island.  Everything involving Desmond's backstory and the history of Dharma and the hatch is absolutely fascinating and brings the show even deeper into the bizarre, which I am 100% okay with.

Fox, O'Qunn, and Cusick all do a wonderful job in this episode.  All of them are very emotional and in a high stress environment.  I find Jack's inability to accept what is happening fascinating.  Even if it makes him come off as unlikable, I still think it makes for an interesting character.

Sayid is absolutely the best part of the episode, even though he only gets about three scenes.  He doesn't need to know everything that is going on.  He just knows he has to fix the computer.  The details will come later.  He also finds Jack and Locke's arguments a complete waste of time.  He's not wrong and I'm totally on Team Sayid.

Finally, the b-plot with the raft crew is really exciting, especially when you remember that Jack met Ana Lucia in the airport last season.  It's tense storytelling and ends on a solid cliffhanger.

What Sucks:

I'm not the biggest fan of the flashbacks in this episode.  They're fine and O'Quinn does a good job, but they're nothing special.

Platinum Polar Bear:

This award goes to the most valuable character in a given episode.  For "Orientation", the Platinum Polar Bear goes to Sayid for fixing the computer and being the voice of reason in the debate between Jack and Locke.  This is Sayid's 5th time winning the award which ties him for 1st place with Jack.

Verdict:

"Orientation" is another great episode of Lost which gives us plenty of answers along with a ton of questions, as all good Lost episode should.  The performances are fantastic and both island storylines are interesting.  The flashbacks are nothing special, but this episode has absolutely got it going on.

 9/10: Great