Episode Analysis of 1.03 "Tabula Rasa"

WARNING: If you have not already seen all of LOST, please DO NOT READ THIS.

My LOST re-watch and episode analysis will include major details from the entirety that is LOST, and will be written with the perspective of having seen everything already. You will be SPOILED if you read any further. It is far better if you learn the story of LOST for yourself, as it is meant to be seen. Trust me on this, and don't say that I didn't warn you first. Seriously. Stop it. Now. Go watch it.

To read my original post on this episode, please refer to Tabula Rasa.

This episode was written by Damon Lindelof, and directed by Jack Bender. It originally aired on October 6th, 2004.

This is a Kate Austen flashback-centric episode.

We begin at the beach, with survivors sorting through luggage. Claire is looking through papers. Jack is tending to the Marshal, Edward Mars.

1.03 Tabula Rasa

1. Ray Mullen's wife died 8 months ago.
2. Kate tells him that her name is Annie and she's from Canada.
3. He has a prosthetic right arm. "I'm a lefty."
4. "You're not looking at the big picture, doc. You're still back in civilization. I'm in the wild." Sawyer
5. "Everyone deserves a fresh start." Ray
6. Jack says, "I'm not a murderer," but later kills the marshal after Sawyer fails at shooting him in the heart. He says this to Kate, implying that he knows that she's a murderer, but he doesn't know what she did.
7. Ray finds Kate's mugshot in the Post Office and gives her up for $23,000.
8. "Mr. Locke said a miracle happened to him." Walt
9. "I'm gonna get your dog back as soon as it stops raining." Michael says this to Walt, and then it immediately stops raining when Walt looks out at the rain. From Lost Hatch
10. Kate tells the marshal that she did get away. He says "you don't look free to me."
11. "It doesn't matter who we were, what we did before the crash. Three days ago we all died. We should all be able to start over." Jack
12. Charlie changes his finger-tape from FATE to LATE. From Lost Hatch

Questions:

1. Ray sees Kate's mugshot at the Post Office. Shouldn't he know that her name isn't Annie?
2. The U.S. Marshal tells Jack not to trust Kate "no matter what she does, no matter how she makes you feel.. don't trust her." This suggests that there was more going on between the two. Why is he so emotionally involved, so obsessed with her? Is this the way a real U.S. Marshal would act? It just seems like he's involved on a personal level.
3. Why does Jack have to know everything? I hate you, Jack.

Favorites:

1. "If only we were all wearing license plates." Sayid replies to Charlie after he suggests that satellites will find them, but Sayid reminds him they must know where to look.
2. Hurley asking if the monster is a dinosaur.
3. "He looks kind of... dying." Hurley
4. Boone trying to be a hero and stand guard. He's so bad at it.
5. Everyone thinking that Kate should be the one to carry the gun. Yeah, good choice.
6. "In there? But the bodies are in there.. and they're all dead." Hurley
7. Kate introducing herself to Hurley. He looks so uncomfortable because he knows she's a fugitive, but it seems like she assumes it's just because she's hot. Get over yourself, Kate.
8. Michael running up on Sun getting undressed. No, he ain't her baby daddy. From Lostpedia

Notes:

1. Jack finds Kate's mugshot. This is where Jack begins to say that he accepts not knowing what Kate did, but does he really? He throws it in her face every chance he gets. From Lostpedia
2. From Lostpedia: Tabula Rasa is a philosophical thesis developed by the 17th century philosopher John Locke. Locke meant that the mind of the individual was born "blank" (a clean slate), and emphasized the individual's freedom to author his or her own soul. Philosopher David Hume also contemplated the topic in his works.
3. First montage of the series.