It was almost inevitable that, after an opening batch of episodes that was as close to perfection as serialized drama can get, the second season of Lost would take a step back and deliver something more generic while preparing for another dose of greatness. The "filler" in question is, already from the title, an interesting but uneven reflection on fate and causality - two of the show's main concerns.
The premise is surprisingly bland: Sun has lost her wedding ring, and is desperately looking for it. Locke offers a sound piece of advice that nicely plays on the series' title, before the ring is eventually recovered with some help from Kate. On another part of the Island, the tail section group has decided to join the rest of the survivors. However, during the expedition Michael walks off into the jungle to look for Walt, and is then followed by Jin and Eko.
The flashbacks focus on Sun and Jin, continuing the main plot's discussion on destiny with the story of how they first met, which involves Sun meeting a prospective suitor as per an arrangement between families, while Jin happens to be nearby on completely unrelated business, alongside a roommate who, mimicking a fortune-teller, "predicts" Jin will soon encounter the love of his life.
If that last section of the plot sounds thin, that's because it is: heavy-handed philosophy aside, the flashback bits are, as in most Jin and Sun-centric stories, rather uneventful and almost boring. This is compensated by a stronger Island section, as Michael's quest to find his son gains emotional relevance thanks to Harold Perrineau's constantly improving characterization. The scene between Locke and Sun, on the other hand, has an almost cheeky quality to it, as John's remark about how to find something you've lost - "I stopped looking", he says - might serve as a guideline for fans trying to figure out the show's mystery. Given that the episode is written by show-runners Lindelof and Cuse, that line could in fact be one of their humorous nods to the audience.
The premise is surprisingly bland: Sun has lost her wedding ring, and is desperately looking for it. Locke offers a sound piece of advice that nicely plays on the series' title, before the ring is eventually recovered with some help from Kate. On another part of the Island, the tail section group has decided to join the rest of the survivors. However, during the expedition Michael walks off into the jungle to look for Walt, and is then followed by Jin and Eko.
The flashbacks focus on Sun and Jin, continuing the main plot's discussion on destiny with the story of how they first met, which involves Sun meeting a prospective suitor as per an arrangement between families, while Jin happens to be nearby on completely unrelated business, alongside a roommate who, mimicking a fortune-teller, "predicts" Jin will soon encounter the love of his life.
If that last section of the plot sounds thin, that's because it is: heavy-handed philosophy aside, the flashback bits are, as in most Jin and Sun-centric stories, rather uneventful and almost boring. This is compensated by a stronger Island section, as Michael's quest to find his son gains emotional relevance thanks to Harold Perrineau's constantly improving characterization. The scene between Locke and Sun, on the other hand, has an almost cheeky quality to it, as John's remark about how to find something you've lost - "I stopped looking", he says - might serve as a guideline for fans trying to figure out the show's mystery. Given that the episode is written by show-runners Lindelof and Cuse, that line could in fact be one of their humorous nods to the audience.