Confidence Man is another strong character piece in the Lost puzzle, following the likes of Walkabout and The Moth. This time, the focus is on one of the show's most ambiguous characters: the charismatic troublemaker known only as Sawyer (Josh Holloway).
The main on-Island incident is kick-started by an argument between Sawyer and Boone, after the latter was caught looking through the former's stash. Additionally, when Shannon's asthma becomes problematic and Sawyer, who presumably has some inhalers among his materials, refuses to help, the survivors decide to take things into their own hands. In particular, Sayid, following Locke's suggestion, doesn't shy away from resorting to torture, while Jack and Kate would prefer to try other methods.
Part of Sawyer's behavior is explained in the flashbacks: after spending the night with a beautiful woman named Jessica (Kristin Richardson), he accidentally reveals a suitcase full of money while trying to leave. Having told her it's for an investment, he's told he could close a good deal with Jessica's husband. Except it turns out Sawyer's a con artist, and the deal was part of his plan all along...
Confidence Man is the first episode since Tabula Rasa to be written by series co-creator Damon Lindelof (Jeffrey Lieber never actively participated in the production, having only come up with part of the original concept, while J.J. Abrams politely stepped back after the pilot due to other commitments, though he retains an executive producer credit), and his signature shows in the script's unwillingness to reveal all. While part of Sawyer's past is shown, and sort of justifies his present behavior (his scenes with Kate are wildly entertaining), there are hints of something deeper and darker that, much like the cause of Locke's paralysis, will have to wait for later. Not that it's a problem: Holloway's performance is a perfect excuse for multiple visits to the character's back-story. Besides, what we get here is also bound to have ramifications on other people, meaning someone else will be in the spotlight pretty soon...
The main on-Island incident is kick-started by an argument between Sawyer and Boone, after the latter was caught looking through the former's stash. Additionally, when Shannon's asthma becomes problematic and Sawyer, who presumably has some inhalers among his materials, refuses to help, the survivors decide to take things into their own hands. In particular, Sayid, following Locke's suggestion, doesn't shy away from resorting to torture, while Jack and Kate would prefer to try other methods.
Part of Sawyer's behavior is explained in the flashbacks: after spending the night with a beautiful woman named Jessica (Kristin Richardson), he accidentally reveals a suitcase full of money while trying to leave. Having told her it's for an investment, he's told he could close a good deal with Jessica's husband. Except it turns out Sawyer's a con artist, and the deal was part of his plan all along...
Confidence Man is the first episode since Tabula Rasa to be written by series co-creator Damon Lindelof (Jeffrey Lieber never actively participated in the production, having only come up with part of the original concept, while J.J. Abrams politely stepped back after the pilot due to other commitments, though he retains an executive producer credit), and his signature shows in the script's unwillingness to reveal all. While part of Sawyer's past is shown, and sort of justifies his present behavior (his scenes with Kate are wildly entertaining), there are hints of something deeper and darker that, much like the cause of Locke's paralysis, will have to wait for later. Not that it's a problem: Holloway's performance is a perfect excuse for multiple visits to the character's back-story. Besides, what we get here is also bound to have ramifications on other people, meaning someone else will be in the spotlight pretty soon...