'Lost': Jack pursues a career as a lighthouse keeper

[Biglou]

How much do you like it when "Lost" characters wander around the Island as though on a wild-goose chase, often led that way by the mysterious forces of the Island itself? How much do you enjoy scenes where Jack tries to grapple with just how much his father did him wrong as a kid? And how much do you like it when the characters, faced with the possibility of learning more and more about the Island, destroy the very thing that could tell them more? If you don't like any of those things, you might not have liked "Lighthouse," which has all of them in spades.

And yet, I'm someone who finds many of the episodes where the characters are led around like gullible goofs frustrating, and I still really liked "Lighthouse," largely because it took a flash-sideways I thought was going nowhere -- the story of Jack and his alternate universe son -- and made it somehow sweetly resonant with the character's journey. It also had a jungle trek that seemed wander-y at points but ended up being fun in a season one way, rather than frustrating in a season two way. And, finally, it had Jin's good times being held captive by Claire and his slow realization that he was way, way in over his head. "Lighthouse" isn't nearly close to "The Substitute" in terms of "Lost" quality, but it does what it does well enough for me to enjoy it.

But, as seems to be becoming our tradition, let's talk about Jack.


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/show...se-keeper.html