Lost (TV Series) Man of Science, Man of Faith (2005) User Reviews

Inside the hatch

[MaxBorg89 · 10/10 · 30 November 2010]

Three months and a few Emmys after the end of the first season, fans were (quite reasonably) expecting the second year of Lost to begin in a satisfactory way, especially in regards to answering the question that had kept many people awake following the finale cliffhanger: what's inside the hatch? Naturally, this being Lost, answers are provided one slow bit at a time. The rest, however, is far from filler: once again, this is amazing television.

Bravely enough, the episode (written by series co-creator Damon Lindelof and directed by Jack Bender) begins inside the hatch, with a brief introductory scene showcasing the routine of a mysterious man working there. These proceedings are interrupted when he hears noises outside - Jack and Locke opening the hatch door and looking inside. Jack decides it's best to wait until morning, while Locke politely disagrees. On his way back to the camp, Jack is warned by Hurley about the numbers but refuses to believe him, while Sayid and Shannon have their own peculiar experience in the jungle.

The flashbacks are, like in the previous season premiere, Jack-centric, this time depicting his first, rather tragic, encounter with Sarah (Julie Bowen), the woman he later married (and divorced). She comes to the hospital with a serious back injury after a car crash, and Jack tries his best to restore her lower body function, with disappointing results. After a discussion with his old man (John Terry), he goes for a run and bumps into a stranger, an optimistic Scotsman named Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick).

Continuing as it always has, Lost kick-starts its second season by introducing new intriguing mysteries (Walt in the jungle) and characters (Desmond), while slowly but confidently getting to the bottom of older subplots. The one notable aspect of this season premiere is the raft and the fate of its passengers is completely sidelined in favor of the hatch storyline, but that's no big problem: the cliffhanger ending of this episode makes sure viewers will want to stay tuned...

It's your destiny, brother!

[FlikJedi719 · 10/10 · 13 January 2020]

This is an excellent season opener that captures and demands your attention right from the start.

The way this season opens is one of the most memorable jaw dropping moments in the Lost series. From there to the surgery scene (and outcome scene), to the Tour De Stade, to the last shot, I found myself barely blinking - and I've seen the show before. Love this season opener.

Man of science, man of faith hands down is a 10/10

How to do a season opener

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 22 January 2018]

When 'Lost' was in its prime, it was must-watch television. Remember first watching it, found it remarkably easy to get into, was hooked from the start and was on Season 3 by the end of one week. The general consensus is that the final season is a disappointment and cannot disagree.

After such an amazing Season 1 finale in the two (well technically three as the second part was in two halves strictly speaking)-parter "Exodus", it must have been a Herculean task opening the following season with an episode just as good. "Man of Science, Man of Faith" manages this Herculean feat brilliantly, this is how to do a season opener. Some were frustrated at the raft mystery being side-lined here. That wasn't a problem to me.

People may ask why this is? My answer would be because the even more interesting mystery of the hatch was advanced and set the tone for solving the mystery of it with nail-biting suspense. The introduction of the hatch's inside is one of two highlights of the episode. The other being the stadium scene between Jack and Desmond.

Jack's flashback is among the all-time best, most compelling and most character-and-plot-advancing ones for the character. Shannon's situation also has a lot of suspense and also sets up another island mystery that we await being resolved with baited breath.

All the acting is spot on from all the regulars, Matthew Fox and Terry O'Quinn in particular, while there are two of 'Lost's' standout guest turns in Julie Bowen and especially Henry Ian Cusick in his debut appearance.

"Man of Science, Man of Faith", like as was said for the "Exodus" episodes, is one of the show's best directed, scripted and looking episodes. It's beautifully photographed, as always making the most of the island setting. The music is as always chilling and understated, while clearly a lot of passion was put into a very thought-provoking and smart script and the direction is spot on.

Summing, brilliant season opener. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Outstanding season opener

[ametaphysicalshark · 7 August 2008]

The first thing that must be said about "Man of Science, Man of Faith" is that the opening scene is brilliant. No, it's more than just brilliant- it's one of the best-executed scenes in television history. After a few months with no "Lost" you sit down with the cliffhanger from "Exodus" still very much in mind, and you get this almost surreal scene instead of what most season openers on other shows go for. Everything about the scene, especially Jack Bender's direction and the use of music, is absolutely outstanding, and when the camera goes up and reveals that we were inside the hatch... It's still a great moment even if you know what happens and the initial 'WOW' isn't there anymore.

Everything that follows the opening scene is also pretty much perfect. As good as season one certainly was, it was nothing more than an introduction and a tease. In many ways this episode was where the actual narrative story of "Lost" really got going, and it doesn't hurt that this is a definitive "Lost" script by Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. It's got literally everything you could want out of "Lost"- great character moments, great handling of the show's massive thematic mythology (a mythology less-discussed than the narrative mythology, but one that certainly exists in its own right), and some really surprising moments. The flashback is possibly my favorite Jack flashback, a beautiful examination of his character unfortunately marred slightly by one of the worst wigs seen on modern television.

"Man of Science, Man of Faith" also features some great visuals. Outstanding direction by Jack Bender and photography by Michael Bonivillain, and Giacchino's score here is especially good. The performances by the entire cast are simply flawless, as well.

This is great drama if there ever was such a thing. Still one of the best episodes to date and one of the best scripts Lindelof and Cuse have written.

10/10

Captured In the Shelter

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 15 April 2006]

Jack recalls the accident of Sarah, a meeting with a guy called Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) and how successful the surgery was. Kate shows the word "Quarentine" in the hatch door. While looking for Vincent, Shannon has a vision of Walt. Jack returns to the caves and gives hope to the other survivors. Kate descends in the shelter and vanishes, and Locke tries to find her and is captured. Jack comes back to the shelter trying to find Kate and Locke.

In this first episode of the Second Season, I expected that the mystery about the shelter was disclosed, but it was not. I am still guessing what that mysterious place might be. The story is full of suspense and excellent as usual. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): Not Available

Note 1: I saw the First Season of Lost on DVD, and I have just seen the six first episodes of Season Two in a Marathon of Lost in a cable television channel (AXN). However, it is a shame: lots of advertisement and the titles of the episodes are not informed.

Note 2: On 24 March 2013, I saw this episode again.

More than I expected!!

[bethlori · 10/10 · 29 July 2021]

This season premiere is just amazing but there is still back story's and suspense duh!! So spoilers ahead!! Jack meets this guy called Desmond and years later he meets him in the hatch that we were all waiting for!! So I watch this and it ends in a cliffhanger!!

Whoa, Deja-Vu. It's The 1970's!

[eddietorbalinda · 9/10 · 28 September 2021]

That opening shot of the lava lamp and record turntable sent chills down my spine. The first words out of my mouth when I saw this were, "Dude, that's my turntable. So that's where it went!" Seriously, I had a turntable exactly like that in the late 1970's. As the episode continues and we see more of the hatch interior, we get more glimpses of the late 1970's: The CRT computer monitor on the central desk with the mag tape computer processing system behind it. The LP albums, the interior decor, the dinnerware, glasses, utensils... the prop depatment nailed the 70's vibe and look. For me, it was a moment of deja-vu. Wow... the 70's... I'm back! Despite the attention to detail for the 1970's hatch interior, the Lost prop department did get one prop wrong. The computer printer is from the 1980's, not the 70's. They didn't have printers like that until the early 1980's.

As the series progresses, we get more glimpses of the people and things of the 1970's. In the flashbacks of the Dharma Initiative during it's heyday in the 1970's, we see people in charge of Dharmaville (Horace and Lennon) who look like they just came down from a three day acid trip and somehow got stranded on the island while on their way to the next Grateful Dead show. Totally nailed it. Each and every time, Lost nails the look and feel of the 1970's, with only a few minor mistakes along the way.

Another out-of-place item for the 70's segments of the show are the bicycles we see cruising around Dharmaville. These are relics from the 1940's and 1950's. By 1974 the 10-speed bicycle was king of the road, and there are none in Dharmaville.

Thank you for the wonderful trip down memory lane. I miss the 70's.