"Stranger in a Strange Land," last week's newest Jack-centric episode, made me seriously question the value of Lost's hero. The episode was not terrible, but was easily the least entertaining of Jack's flashbacks. I am beginning to think that there may be nothing left of interest in Jack's past. That leaves the present and future. Currently Jack is a prisoner of the Others, and through him some facts about the Others have been revealed. This may come to end, however, if Jack gets rescued.
How many more Jack episodes are necessary? What does his character contribute to the mythology and development of the story? Could there be a Lost without Jack Shephard?
Why Jack Would Not Be Missed
After the debacle of Jack's very-special-tattoo episode, it would appear that the writers have run out of compelling back stories for their leading man. In case you were lucky enough to miss "Stranger in a Strange Land," here is the gist: Jack met a woman who kept her job a secret, discovered her secret, and got beaten up. Fans are still reeling from the shock. With the development of characters like Desmond and Juliet, who have a closer connection to the island mysteries, it is hard to justify Jack-centric episodes that lead further away from central plot lines.
True, Jack's relationship with the Others affords a better understanding of that group, but any character could have filled that role. If Jack were rescued, he would lose his unique position as the viewer's eye into the Others' world. The show's writers will need to solidify Jack's role with either the Others or the crash survivors, or risk making the character obsolete. There have been enough island deaths to make the expendable nature of Lost's characters quite clear. Don't forget; Jack was originally intended to die in the pilot episode.
Why Lost Needs Jack
While the "Stranger in a Strange Land" episode was fairly pointless, it did reaffirm Jack's destiny as a leader within the story. At this stage, Jack could end up leading either the Others or the crash survivors. This increased connection with the Others is precisely what makes his role so crucial. No other main character has interacted so closely with the Others and their leadership structure. The Others' secrets and intentions are fast becoming a major part of the show's mythology. Without Jack, the Others would still be an unseen and nameless threat.
Viewers must have faith that the writers would not invest so much time and back story with a character that was only peripherally important. Jack's place within the big picture of the island may still be revealed. Many characters have come and gone in the last three seasons, but none have seen as much development as the Jack character. Boone and Shannon only had one flashback episode apiece before they were killed off, for example. Jack's placement within the show's only love triangle also makes him an important source of romantic tension, of which Lost has little.
What's your stance on Jack Shephard? Feedback is always welcome.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-27-2007 @ 11:47AM
sean tubbs said...
I would not miss Jack at all if he suddenly died. The only way to make him interesting is if he becomes one of the Others, or somehow screws it all up for them.
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2-27-2007 @ 11:53AM
Tim in Augusta said...
at 11:47AM on Feb 27th 2007 sean tubbs wrote: "... way to make him interesting is if he ... somehow screws it all up for them. "
I will give the writers their props here because they've consistently kept Jack as the know-it-all jerk with his nose in everyone's business but his own. Last week's episode really, really left me thinking he really needs to be vaporized.
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2-27-2007 @ 11:54AM
Vince said...
Wasn't Jack supposed to last only a few episodes originally? Then he was popular with the fans enough so they decided to keep him.
I would like the show to continue to evolve and if they killed a few key characters that would move the story a bit.
How about Jack sacrificing himself to save the losties in some spectacular fashion?
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2-27-2007 @ 12:20PM
InL.A. said...
Isn't this the guy that is a self-admitted liar and schmuck in real life?!
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2-27-2007 @ 12:22PM
Gene Cowan said...
Well, they've laid the groundwork for losing Jack with Ben's promise to let him leave the island -- perhaps with Juliet?
If only he knew about Penny Widmore... he could leave with Juliet, then at the (merciful) end of the series, he could come back to the island to rescue everyone...
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2-27-2007 @ 12:40PM
Alan said...
From a writing stand point, unless the island is going to take over healing everyone, which it's done in the past, they really need a doctor on the island.
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2-27-2007 @ 12:53PM
PlusDrew said...
I'd love to see Jack off the radar for awhile (perhaps the remainder of season 3) to show the other Losties trying to rescue him. Then, in the finale of S3, they find the Others Village only to realize that Jack is the new leader of the Others.
I think we need to see Sayid and Jin step forward as the leaders, with Locke sort of acting as their foil.
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2-27-2007 @ 12:51PM
Ryan Sullivan said...
According to last week's episode, Jack is supposed to be some sort of great leader, based on his new tatoo. So he will probably stay with the others since they are short one doctor, and, since he's a great leader, he might take a leading roll over the others.
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2-27-2007 @ 1:06PM
H said...
Yes, Jack's back stories are getting old, but then again so is everyone else's who has been on the island all 3 years now. I used to think killing Jack would be the gutsy move TPTB have been touting, but now I think they are setting him up to be an Other and maybe even the new leader of the Others, heir apparent to Ben, perhaps. This might be interesting, but also a sort of betrayal not only of the Losties, but of the viewers, because Jack always does what is "right," and the Others are just plain wrong. I hope they at least use Jack to give us some answers about the Others. If we're supposed to change our minds about them, they need to get cracking on it.
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2-27-2007 @ 1:27PM
heinlein said...
I don't mind Jack per se, but I would say that it is not just the last Jack-flashback that has been boring, it is ALL of them (except maybe the first or something). Mostly because they all focus on emotional stuff, while the rest of the characters flashbacks have real stories that makes us know more of them.
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2-27-2007 @ 2:12PM
Jennifer said...
The only rational reason I can think of for keeping Jack around are that he's a doctor (with actual practical skills, which I guess Juliet isn't?). If you get rid of him, more actual decent characters die. Plus, as has been pointed out here, he's 1/3 of The Lamest Love Triangle I Don't Care About Ever. Just hook him up with Juliet and make him an Other- then I'd be interested in him.
Alas, he's "the star" and won't die, dammit. I'd be happy if they'd just stop giving him flashback episodes. Hasn't he had something like nine and most other people have had 2-3? That's just wrong.
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2-27-2007 @ 3:33PM
Jamus said...
I am hoping they take Jack and make him eviiiiil. The good doctor gone bad. Being around all those Others has "tainted" him would make for some snazzy new storyline.
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2-27-2007 @ 3:11PM
Andrew said...
The same can be said of Kate and Sawyer. Both their flashbacks from earlier in the season were worn territory. That is why people have been crying out to see other characters. Juliet and Desmond were needed relief, but ultimately I just want to see what's going on other folks. Hell even Claire would be interesting at this point. Is she the blond woman's daughter Jack's father wanted to meet???
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2-27-2007 @ 3:16PM
Marggy said...
Killing Jack would be idiotic. Who cares if he was originally supposed to die in the pilot. Forrest Whitaker was originally supposed to play Sawyer. That doesn't mean it was the best idea.
Along the development of the show, they realized that they needed Jack. And they still do. Whether you like him or hate him, he's the most developed character on the show.
His flashbacks aren't the only one's sucking. The show is not all that exciting. There are plenty of things the writers could delve into for all these characters, but it seems like the show is more about the plot nowadays instead of furthering the character development. This problem is not Jack-exclusive.
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2-27-2007 @ 3:24PM
innamorata said...
Matthew Fox is terrible actor and his character is an asshole.
Kill jackass and focus on other characters. And enough with the flashbacks, they drag and add nothing useful at all.
But then I want that trip off the air altogether so I'm biaised. But yeah, Fox/Jackass is my number 2 reason for loathing the show. Number one spot is held by the showrunners.
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2-28-2007 @ 2:08PM
deborah said...
jack is a great leader,so he should lay back a bit for the others like locke to act and also their should be some new faces connected to this program to make it more beaming and absolutely likeable.jack should be off the drama permanantly but,he might settle down with the others,marry julliet and live with her in the others downtown home...
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2-27-2007 @ 3:52PM
MosquitoControl said...
For those that want Jack dead - why do you watch the show?
I'd say the only entertaining characters (non-others) are Locke, Jack, Jin, Hurley, Sawyer and Kate. Pretty much everyone else sucks. The Hobbit? Annoying. His Aussie? Annoying. Sayid? Always wrong. Sun? meh. And thank god Michael left.
I agree the flashbacks are old. Time to change the formula. Maybe island flashbacks. Maybe start intertwining more. The mystery is gone from them, and for that reason I just don't care.
But I wouldn't off Jack. I think his pig-headedness is needed. Plus what would Lost be without Jack crying every scene? (Or, for that matter, Sawyer getting his ass kicked every episode?)
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2-27-2007 @ 10:30PM
Jothie said...
Plain and simple
I wouldn't watch Lost without Jack in it.
Put too much time into his character. I'd feel betrayed and angry if they just shoved him out the door.
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2-28-2007 @ 1:02PM
Alyysha said...
I dis-agree with everyone who is saying kill of Jack. I know plenty of people who watch the show say that if they did kill him off then lost would be pointless. I think that if they do kill him off then they will loose viewers-including me, even though it is like my alltime favorite show. Like your insane if you want Jack to die, why do you even watch the show?! But I do think that lost should get better flashbacks, it used to be a good mystery but now its just kind old. Yeah and what was up with that whole Desmond episode??? That was probably the worst ever because the whole episode was all about him-and it didn't even make any since, I mean is he sycic or not? Like that episode they only spent like 5 minutes on the island. It was a waste of an hour. I look forward to lost every week and I was very disapointed. But it is still the best show on t.v. Then behind it with the office,scrubs and greys anatomy.
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2-27-2007 @ 6:03PM
Mr. Nelson said...
If you a Lost fan i dont see how you could say any episode is pointless. Even if the episode revolves around Jack's tatoos. I think if you should have learned one thing about lost by now, it is that many things that may seem of trivial nature often become a part of a greater picture. For example, there was also an episode that focused on the letter the Sawyer carried with him. Alothough it may seem that a peice of paper with words has absolutly NOTHING to do with the story... it did help evolce our perception of Sawyer. As this episode evolved our perception of Jack. And the creators of Lost once said. "Lost is like one big picture that's been shattered into thousands of peices, and we're putting them back together as the story goes on." or something to that effect. Nothing in Lost will always make sense immidiatly.
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