10. Sayid and Danielle
Though they didn't meet on the best of terms (then again we met all of the original characters as they escaped the exploding wreckage of a plane crash), Sayid and Danielle became pretty well working allies. Their first meeting was chockful of irony, as the expert military interrogator is captured and interrogated by an insane French chick. However, Danielle began to trust Sayid to some degree and was especially pleased with him when he used his whiz kid skills to fix her music box. In that one episode these two torture, threaten, accuse, help, open their hearts to, and eventually make peace with one another, and from there on out I liked it when these two worked together. They had good chemistry I thought. Most of Sayid's family was killed by the very army he aligned with; Danielle was betrayed by and forced to kill her "infected" partners and husband. Sayid was looking for his long lost love Nadia; Danielle was looking for her abducted daughter Alex. They were both battle hardened survivors who had softer, vulnerable sides. It was nice seeing these two work as partners in their mutual battles on the Island. It ended sadly when Danielle was abruptly killed by Martin Keamy...along with Karl.
9. Jack and Juliet
A lot of people responded very well to the unexpected love between Sawyer and Juliet in season 5, I did too eventually. But still I felt they didn't make enough time for it, they show the relationship beginning and then cut to three years later where they are madly in love. It was cute and touching, and in the S5 finale and from that point on it was really emotional. But somehow I was fooled into thinking the Jack and Juliet relationship that had a full season and half of the next season to develop would have worked. I liked that Jack started out as hating Juliet, his captor. He even tried to kill her a few times; and she didn't exactly scream trustworthy either. But Jack slowly learned that Juliet was a prisoner like him. When it seemed as if she was abandoned by her people, Jack brought Juliet with him, watched out for her and stood up for her. I liked how they acted as partners in their war against Ben. Jack kissed Juliet on two occasions. The first was a somewhat quick, "if we don't see each other again" kiss that caught me off guard. The second was when Juliet was made very vulnerable by how dangerous and manipulative Ben could be toward her. She expressed her worry for Jack. Jack then kissed her more passionately, assuring that he won't let anything happen to her. She later remarks to Kate that it was nice, but she knew Jack was only trying to deny his feelings for Kate. That was sad. I thought that they had a pretty good bond and I always thought that Jack's will they-won't they romance with Kate, while good, was a bit too obvious. Oh well, Suliet was still satisfying.
8. Locke and Eko
The two men of faith together at last. Will they solve the mysteries of the Island? Will Eko see visceral apparitions of his long dead brother? Will he later be smited by Smokie? Will Locke be turned off of faith? Will he have himself a near apocalyptic poutfest? Yes to all. The two men of faith weren't as similar in ideology as they first appeared to be. Though Locke was in the position of bringing Eko up to speed on all things important, Eko was also unfortunate to catch Locke at a point where his faith is being tested. Eko has the same problem but shows more determination to fix it than Locke. When Locke's faith is jeopardized, he becomes angry and destructive. When Eko's faith is jeopardized, he seeks to reclaim it with servitude to the Hatch. These two men needed each other not to join forces to fulfill a journey, but to find out who they are supposed to be. Eko realized by following Locke that he is meant to instill meaning and continue what Locke didn't finish. Locke realized that he was supposed to keep his faith and continue his search for destiny. Had it not been for Eko's sacrifices, Locke would never have continued his Island adventures. It was intense and exciting to see these two men very similar in a relationship that very much like Locke's relationship to Jack. Locke learned though, like Jack would one day learn, that when you are at your worst someone needs to step in to help you find your way.
7. Jacob and The Man in Black
We get a Cain and Abel brotherhood story that morphs itself into a God and Devil type conflict. I really enjoyed seeing the scenes between Jacob and his dark brother. When they were both shrouded in the mystic and the mysterious, they behaved a lot like I thought God and Lucifer may act. They are bound to participate in a seemingly endless battle, where they can occasionally get together and hint at their shadowy plans. It was fun. Than we saw their origin, where they were loving and loyal siblings. They were soon divided by different ideas about their "mother" as well as their ideas about people and the world. Eventually The Man in Black committed a grave and impulsive betrayal/retribution that Jacob impulsively reacted by tossing his brother into the one place no one should be tossed into. The Source of the world and humanity's essesence. It turned The Man in Black into a Monster, a supernatural entity that haunts the Island and has the same goal as his human self: escaping the Island. I liked the epic quarrel between these two. I really loved how they were both introduced like they were just two guys sitting on a beach talking to each other. Than all of a sudden MIB states his intention to kill Jacob. It was a brotherhood that turned into a rivalry that turned into an epic game in which the fate of the world rested in the hands of the winner. Fortunately, Jacob made this game so damn complicated that before his evil brother could figure it out a spinal surgeon and a fugitive turned mom managed to kill him. Their duo was especially dynamic.
6. Rose and Bernard
Rose has always been the biggest voice of reason among the castaways, but she really opened up when she got her husband Bernard back. Rose is bound to the Island due to the Island having healed her of cancer, which also binds Bernard, who had been trying to do that himself. They make for the show's second best couple in my opinion. And surprisingly they are only recently married when we first meet them. You'd figure they'd been together for ages (though it seems as if they have been). They really shine after the Island starts jumping through time and they are seperated from everyone else. They live out in the jungle for three years and remain in peace. I liked the fact that someone was just enjoying what they had and not trying to get mixed up in all of the Island nonsense. These two provided the most genuine and wise reaction to the exploits of our heroes: "It's always something with you people." Indeed it is, Rose. Rose and Bernard are just great.
5. Desmond and Penny
If I had to rank the show's best romance, Desmond and Penny would be #1. They still get props as being characters who work well together. For the most part we are with Desmond as he tries to get back to Penny, and in flashbacks we see how he screwed up his relationship to her. But this was a couple we wanted more than anything to be together so they could really be A couple. While their relationship went from sweet to tumultuous in the flashbacks, they were extremely touching and beautiful in the present. That feeling doesn't fade at all once they reunite after three years, spend another three years together, marry and have a son. As parents and fugitives from Penny's father, they make an excellant and effective couple that work together as a team, no each other like the back of their own hands, and love each other more than anything. Who doesn't adore Desmond and Penny?4. Kate and Sawyer
Once again, Jack and Kate have always had good chemistry and I've always liked seeing them together (you know when Jack isn't bossing her around so she can just defy him later), but I never thought that their chemistry was better than the electricity she had with Sawyer. They do have a lot in common: they both have tragic memories of their parents, they are both intelligent and dangerous criminals, and they both found the perfect hiding place in the Island. Throughout season 1, the love-hate relationship between the two was very witty and fun. When their feelings ran deeper for each other, they became even better. Not only were they sly rogues but they were friends who looked out for each other. Of course it was also fun when they got serious too. Gotta say, even though it was probably the worst time or place to do it, the steamy bear cage love making was very sexy, along with just about every time they kiss. Speaking of which, Sawyer kissing Kate before he jumped out of the helicopter was probably one of the best ever. It seemed like one a man would reserve only for the time when he is about to die. It was very sad. Maybe this passionate duo couldn't hold their own in the blindsiding world of Lost, but it was still one of my favorites. Just goes to show that what we want to be isn't always what is supposed to be.
3. Locke and Ben
Again these two are so similar: Both born premature to a mother named Emily, both repressed and beaten down by the world practically since birth, both chosen for great things at early ages, both drawn to the Island where they believe their destinies wait, both inevitably fooled by the show's most malevolent villain. But more importantly, these two are just awesome to see duking it out. It's a great game of wits and oneupsmanship (word?). Whether it's Ben toying with Locke's head while also fearing his link to the Island, or Locke calling out Ben's transparency and powerlessness while also needing his knowledge, it makes for a great war. They are two anti-heroes who have battled each other, fought together, and discovered new things about themselves in the middle of it all. It all came to a head when Ben manipulated a very vulnerable Locke for the last time and then killed him. Very sad that Locke, a man no one really cared about despite his importance, was only truly respected after his death. And also sad that Ben, a man who lost everything in pursuit of one purpose, realized too late that everything he did only made him bad and despised.
2. Hurley and anyone
Everybody loves Hurley is the main theory. Who couldn't? Even if they don't like him at first, they lighten up to him. The laidback lug can find a way to connect with anyone through his friendliness. He became best friends with Charlie, who seemed to be using him at first, over time and were both deeply saddened when they realized at different points that they'd never see each other again. When people like Ana Lucia or Juliet are immediately outcast by his friends, Hurley usually sits down and talks to them. People like Sawyer and Miles first look on him as easy prey, but after awhile take on a certain responsibility to him once they see him as an ally and friend. I liked that he and Sayid were the first to be friends; he continued protecting Hurley throughout the series. And who could forget Libby, that was always sweet. Hurley was even able to almost instantly forgive her killer, Michael, another former friend. Then there are the two crowning relationships: Jack and Ben. Jack and Hurley were loyal friends since they first met, they began the show as loyal partners and ended the show as loyal partners. Though Hurley didn't trust Ben like everyone else, he still showed enough compassion to share a candy bar with the diabolical mastermind. I guess Hurley later saw Ben's redemptive side when the former villain risked his life to save Hurley from a falling tree. The scene where the newly appointed Island Protector Hurley appoints Ben as his right hand man and we are led to believe they were friends who probably kept the Island safe for centuries after that. So yeah, if anyone needs a best friend, look no further than Hurley.
1. Jack and Locke
I know I stole this from EW, but they kind of have it right. I don't think any other two had an even greater dynamic that resonated with the entire show and was always exciting to see. It's man of science vs. man of faith and it is always awesome. The quarrel between these two was a powder keg for each season that would explode eventually. The very polarized actions of these two would often direct philosophies, plot threads, and sometimes even the entire show. On one hand we have the mostly sensible Jack, who tries to deal with things logically, though it's frustrating when he does that with the things that have no chance of being logical. And then there's Locke, who tries to discover the very obvious mystery of the Island, while really not considering the lives and destinies that he jeopardizes with his quest. They resented each other, pitied each other, often hated each other, and Jack even tried to kill Locke once. But Jack also saw my point in that he only learned to appreciate Locke after the man had died (it is although a little surprising to me that Locke's death prompted Jack to nearly kill himself). The real sadness, which I think Locke shared, was that these two never teamed up. If they could just agree and stop bitching at each other, they probably could have worked together taken control of the Others, found out what The Monster was, kill it, and save the Island. It would have been a partnership for the ages, Jack and Locke side by side. Jack might make a better Island Protector, and I think Locke would be a badass advisor and leader of The Others. But these are two of the most tragic and flawed men the show has presented and there really was no realistic way they could have ended things well between these two. Too bad. But the time in which these two were fighting for leadership or just plain being right, was some of the best moments of Lost.
So those were favorite duos. Hope you've enjoyed. More Lost to come from Your Modest Guru.
No comments:
Post a Comment