Post by Dominick on Jul 14, 2008 21:47:15 GMT -5
Hey I had to do this extra credit thing on any television show, and review it. I only got a 2/10 and I wanted other peoples opinions other than my absolutely psycho teacher
Dominick Torrox
4-4-08
Mrs. Whitaker
Block D
Extra Credit Assignment
The Constant Reminder
Airing February 28, 2008, the episode of Lost, the television series, entitled, “The Constant” was a welcoming birthday present to myself. I was nestled up to the couch, ready for the fourth of six seasons to continue. Up to this point the episodes had lacked a theme that most episodes of Lost do possess, hope. Usually at the end of an episode, there is a quick glance to the fact that there is still hope for the seemingly hopeless survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. Since the series aired, rescue has seemed to be the objective, and when the use of flash-forwards came into play; we had the most hope we have ever had. It was revealed that some characters indeed do leave the desolate island they currently call home. “The Constant” is a Desmond centric episode, but never before have we seen a centric episode portrayed like this.
Unlike most episodes, “The Constant” gives us neither glimpses of the future nor past, but Desmond’s actual conscience travels through time into his past. Therefore, it is the first time any Lost character has time traveled, consciously. A similar event occurred in the episode “Flashes Before Your Eyes” where Desmond, yet again, time travels, only through more of a dejavu - type sequence. Desmond and Sayid, who had previously left the island via helicopter with Frank, run into trouble. A giant tempest comes upon the group, and Desmond begins his time-traveling venture into his past of being in the Royal Scots Regiment. Just to make matters worse, Minkowski, is having trouble with time travel as well. Through a series of events Desmond must find a constant, something that is both in the past and future to hold his brain down to be able to differentiate the two. When all hope seems lost, Daniel Faraday, appears in his past, and through a stolen satellite phone Desmond is able to communicate with the past and present Faraday.
Faraday tells Desmond that the only way to stop the time travel is to find a constant. Later Desmond discovers his fate if he cannot stop the time travel when Minkowski dies in his arms, from a brain aneurysm. Penny, Desmond’s only love, appears in his past, and a plan begins to hatch. He must contact Penny in both the past and present to be able to save him from Minkowski’s fate.
A glimmer of hope is shown near the end where Desmond and Penny talk for the very first time in three years, and even though they are separated by thousands of miles on Christmas Eve, it makes the viewer feel like the desperate survivors can escape the island. At the end of the episode Daniel Faraday is shown with a mysterious inscription in his notebook.
Overall, I think the acting in this episode was superb. Henry Ian Cusick’s portrayment of Desmond’s panic showed his acting skills at full potential. Jeremy Davies plays the past and present Daniel Faraday, with such sketchiness you just have to love his character, even though he may well be the bad guy. Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have written this episode beautifully, and the execution by Jack Bender, director, is stupendous. This episode shows that there is always that constant reminder of hope in this show; there is always a glimmer of hope. If I were to give this episode a grade I’d give it an A+, and it was a very good birthday present.
Dominick Torrox
4-4-08
Mrs. Whitaker
Block D
Extra Credit Assignment
The Constant Reminder
Airing February 28, 2008, the episode of Lost, the television series, entitled, “The Constant” was a welcoming birthday present to myself. I was nestled up to the couch, ready for the fourth of six seasons to continue. Up to this point the episodes had lacked a theme that most episodes of Lost do possess, hope. Usually at the end of an episode, there is a quick glance to the fact that there is still hope for the seemingly hopeless survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. Since the series aired, rescue has seemed to be the objective, and when the use of flash-forwards came into play; we had the most hope we have ever had. It was revealed that some characters indeed do leave the desolate island they currently call home. “The Constant” is a Desmond centric episode, but never before have we seen a centric episode portrayed like this.
Unlike most episodes, “The Constant” gives us neither glimpses of the future nor past, but Desmond’s actual conscience travels through time into his past. Therefore, it is the first time any Lost character has time traveled, consciously. A similar event occurred in the episode “Flashes Before Your Eyes” where Desmond, yet again, time travels, only through more of a dejavu - type sequence. Desmond and Sayid, who had previously left the island via helicopter with Frank, run into trouble. A giant tempest comes upon the group, and Desmond begins his time-traveling venture into his past of being in the Royal Scots Regiment. Just to make matters worse, Minkowski, is having trouble with time travel as well. Through a series of events Desmond must find a constant, something that is both in the past and future to hold his brain down to be able to differentiate the two. When all hope seems lost, Daniel Faraday, appears in his past, and through a stolen satellite phone Desmond is able to communicate with the past and present Faraday.
Faraday tells Desmond that the only way to stop the time travel is to find a constant. Later Desmond discovers his fate if he cannot stop the time travel when Minkowski dies in his arms, from a brain aneurysm. Penny, Desmond’s only love, appears in his past, and a plan begins to hatch. He must contact Penny in both the past and present to be able to save him from Minkowski’s fate.
A glimmer of hope is shown near the end where Desmond and Penny talk for the very first time in three years, and even though they are separated by thousands of miles on Christmas Eve, it makes the viewer feel like the desperate survivors can escape the island. At the end of the episode Daniel Faraday is shown with a mysterious inscription in his notebook.
Overall, I think the acting in this episode was superb. Henry Ian Cusick’s portrayment of Desmond’s panic showed his acting skills at full potential. Jeremy Davies plays the past and present Daniel Faraday, with such sketchiness you just have to love his character, even though he may well be the bad guy. Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have written this episode beautifully, and the execution by Jack Bender, director, is stupendous. This episode shows that there is always that constant reminder of hope in this show; there is always a glimmer of hope. If I were to give this episode a grade I’d give it an A+, and it was a very good birthday present.
