One of the reasons Lost was such a hit, was in their ability to create characters with more than one dimension. Real people aren't any one thing. We're a combination of many different things. This is what Lost does best. No character, no matter how beloved, is always right. Not one. Even our favorites act like complete idiots sometimes. Just like real people do. And I love that. Unfortunately, the dislike for a character can sometimes over shadow an amazing performance. Harold Perrineau is a great example. He's brilliant as the tortured Michael. And we see why in the flashbacks. That Susan character ain't got nuthin on the smoke monster. She might be the only purely evil character Lost has created. Everything is always about her. And then to use that disgusting line,'what's best for the child',, Ick,, can't stand those scenes she's in. Although once again, Tamara Taylor played the scenes with perfect blank eyed innocence. Why characters act the way they do is revealed in the flashbacks. We either relate, or we don't. But I for one can sympathize with Michael. No, I don't agree with a lot of his quick to judgement type actions. But Lost always does a great job at allowing the viewer to see how and why the characters are what they are. Not usually a fan of back stories, but Lost usually does them so well.
8 Reviews
"So the world is still out there?"
gridoon202413 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
"Adrift" is one of the weaker episodes of LOST, yet it still has its moments. The "hatch" part is obviously dragged out to the limits of the viewer's patience, but there are hints and promises of better upcoming episodes (the drawings that show Desmond must have been living down there for a long time, the food supplies, the first pressing of the button by a 815 survivor, etc). The "raft" part is also very slow, but at least it has some good underwater shots and a memorable ending (on land). The flashbacks (about Michael's custody battle to keep his son) come dangerously close to soap opera, but they are very well-acted by Harold Perrineau and Tamara Taylor, and feature Saul Rubinek as a guest star! All this proves that even the weaker episodes of this series are still worth seeing. *** out of 4.
"Udders"
FlikJedi71914 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Don't get me wrong here, this is a good episode that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love Lost and am a huge fan of the series. But if I have to be critical I need to call out a couple things timed too perfectly that make some scenes a tad unbelievable - Jin running out of the jungle as soon as Michael and Sawyer get to the beach for example.
I also loved episode 1 of season 2 but the ending raised a question for me. Then after seeing the scene again in this episode I wondered: how was Jack reminded of who Desmond was just because he said "brother"? Perhaps the accent? Maybe that moment in his life was very memorable and clearly it was especially given his emotions at that time. But who knows how long ago the Tour de Stade took place, however that is much more believable than the aforementioned Jin sequence.
Overall, a good episode and I think these couple things can be overlooked.
Adrift gets a 8/10.
I also loved episode 1 of season 2 but the ending raised a question for me. Then after seeing the scene again in this episode I wondered: how was Jack reminded of who Desmond was just because he said "brother"? Perhaps the accent? Maybe that moment in his life was very memorable and clearly it was especially given his emotions at that time. But who knows how long ago the Tour de Stade took place, however that is much more believable than the aforementioned Jin sequence.
Overall, a good episode and I think these couple things can be overlooked.
Adrift gets a 8/10.
Tales from the Hatch
ametaphysicalshark14 August 2008
"Adrift", penned by Leonard Dick and Steven Maeda, is an episode a lot of fans dislike and for understandable reasons: there's a pretty perfunctory and average 'fill-in-the-blanks' flashback for Michael, a lot of Michael and Sawyer floating on the water, and a hatch storyline that doesn't further the story at all, merely giving us Locke and Kate's perspective of the events leading up to Jack saying "you" to Desmond at the end of "Man of Science, Man of Faith".
But I've always had a soft spot for the episode. It's never really boring, although it fails to bring anything new to the table with regard to Michael's character, and we get to see a lot more of the hatch than we did in the last episode, and I really do love that hatch (it's brilliantly designed whether you like its impact on the show's story lines or not). The direction by Stephen Williams (his second episode as director after "All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues") is very good, and the performances by everyone involved in the episode are quite good.
But of course what really makes the episode is the classic ending, which led to an endless frenzy of speculation amongst "Lost" fans on the internet and elsewhere, with Jin running out from the jungle to meet Sawyer and Michael and screaming UDDERS UDDERS UDDERS, cut to some ominous looking folk, THUD, LOST. Brilliant.
All in all a pretty solid episode which I feel is unfairly maligned by some.
8/10
But I've always had a soft spot for the episode. It's never really boring, although it fails to bring anything new to the table with regard to Michael's character, and we get to see a lot more of the hatch than we did in the last episode, and I really do love that hatch (it's brilliantly designed whether you like its impact on the show's story lines or not). The direction by Stephen Williams (his second episode as director after "All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues") is very good, and the performances by everyone involved in the episode are quite good.
But of course what really makes the episode is the classic ending, which led to an endless frenzy of speculation amongst "Lost" fans on the internet and elsewhere, with Jin running out from the jungle to meet Sawyer and Michael and screaming UDDERS UDDERS UDDERS, cut to some ominous looking folk, THUD, LOST. Brilliant.
All in all a pretty solid episode which I feel is unfairly maligned by some.
8/10
"Others!"
MaxBorg8930 November 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Though it has a different title, Adrift could easily be regarded as the second part of an extended season premiere, since both episodes together neatly tie up certain mysteries and introduce some new ones, along with a bunch of previously unseen characters. It's every bit as riveting as its predecessor, and perhaps even bolder.
How so? Well, for a show that prides itself in playing with chronology, thanks to the various flashbacks that make up the main characters' back-story, even this episode's prime narrative ploy looks unprecedented: instead of picking up from the cliffhanger at the end of Man of Science, Man of Faith, it goes back to depict the events leading up to that scene, which is then re-staged with different vantage points. Thus, we get to see how Kate and Locke ran into the hatch's lone inhabitant Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick), who holds them at gunpoint and is, unbeknownst to them, an old acquaintance of Jack's. The second important plot strand is (finally!) the aftermath of the raft exploding: Jin's missing, and Sawyer almost gets in a fight with Michael (and eaten by a shark). While they get back on the Island, the threat of the Others feels more real than ever...
Adrift was, apparently, meant to be a Sawyer-centric episode, but it was decided at the last minute to make it about Walt. Fortunately, the writing stays sharp as the flashbacks provide details about his custody battle (with a welcome appearance by Saul Rubinek as one of the lawyers) with Walt's mother, which led to father and son not seeing each other for a few years prior to the Oceanic 815. Most notably, these scenes have one of the most seemingly innocent foreshadowings of the series: little Walt receives a toy animal - a polar bear.
Boldly going where no show has gone before (pardon the geek reference), this early offering from Lost's second season boasts true bravery in its writing, deliberately pacing itself (a necessary move, since the show-runners were yet to decide how long it would last) and, in a way, almost making fun of its slow-burn style by using the same cliffhanger twice (and with no resolution until next time). However, it also knows when to get dead serious, like in the final scene which, once again, suggests the stakes have been raised beyond belief. Just one word: "Others!"
How so? Well, for a show that prides itself in playing with chronology, thanks to the various flashbacks that make up the main characters' back-story, even this episode's prime narrative ploy looks unprecedented: instead of picking up from the cliffhanger at the end of Man of Science, Man of Faith, it goes back to depict the events leading up to that scene, which is then re-staged with different vantage points. Thus, we get to see how Kate and Locke ran into the hatch's lone inhabitant Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick), who holds them at gunpoint and is, unbeknownst to them, an old acquaintance of Jack's. The second important plot strand is (finally!) the aftermath of the raft exploding: Jin's missing, and Sawyer almost gets in a fight with Michael (and eaten by a shark). While they get back on the Island, the threat of the Others feels more real than ever...
Adrift was, apparently, meant to be a Sawyer-centric episode, but it was decided at the last minute to make it about Walt. Fortunately, the writing stays sharp as the flashbacks provide details about his custody battle (with a welcome appearance by Saul Rubinek as one of the lawyers) with Walt's mother, which led to father and son not seeing each other for a few years prior to the Oceanic 815. Most notably, these scenes have one of the most seemingly innocent foreshadowings of the series: little Walt receives a toy animal - a polar bear.
Boldly going where no show has gone before (pardon the geek reference), this early offering from Lost's second season boasts true bravery in its writing, deliberately pacing itself (a necessary move, since the show-runners were yet to decide how long it would last) and, in a way, almost making fun of its slow-burn style by using the same cliffhanger twice (and with no resolution until next time). However, it also knows when to get dead serious, like in the final scene which, once again, suggests the stakes have been raised beyond belief. Just one word: "Others!"
Meeting "The Others"
claudio_carvalho15 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Michael is drowning and Sawyer saves him, while Jin is missing. Michael recalls his fight against Susan for Walt in the justice. They drift on a wreckage of the raft, with the menace of a shark. Michael blames Sawyer for the abduction of Walt and promises to bring his son back. Kate releases herself and escapes through a ventilation duct. Michael and Sawyer reach the beach, and they see Jin escaping from "The Others".
This is one of the best episodes of "Lost". The story is very dramatic and tense, and it is impossible to stop watching. Fortunately the next episode will come soon. My vote is ten.
Title (Brazil): Not Available.
Note: On 24 March 2013, I saw this episode again.
This is one of the best episodes of "Lost". The story is very dramatic and tense, and it is impossible to stop watching. Fortunately the next episode will come soon. My vote is ten.
Title (Brazil): Not Available.
Note: On 24 March 2013, I saw this episode again.
Slow episode
matiasbockerman22 November 2018
Cast adrift
TheLittleSongbird23 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 a brilliant season opener in "Man of Science, Man of Faith", "Adrift" was somewhat disappointing and a couple of steps down. It is a long way from terrible and is much better than the generally negative reception it garnered from critics and fans from personal opinion, but again to me it is one of the weaker 'Lost' episodes up to this point. Other episodes before and since have done a better job at plot advancement and are better paced.
Many critics and fans consider "Adrift" dull and that it serves little point. Can see where they are coming from. The raft storyline does drag, goes on for too long and takes up too much of the episode than necessary. It does boast some good photography and the acting is fine, it's just not as compelling as ought.
Similarly share the criticisms regarding the flashback, there are moments of poignancy and cuteness and again the acting is great but again it's perfunctory in pace and doesn't say much about Michael that we already know, one of the serve-little-point flashbacks of the show up to this point.
However, "Adrift" has a lot of merits. There are absorbing parts to the story. The shark attack is pretty tense, apart from the artificial-looking shark effects. The hatch storyline continues to hold a huge amount of intrigue and add freshness to the narrative, while the performances of Terry O'Quinn and Henry Ian Cusick and their interaction really elevate the episode to a better level.
The episode is also striking for its unforgettable ending, one of the classic 'Lost' endings and leaves one dying to see the rest of the season and island events unfold. The acting is spot on across the board throughout.
Visually, it's a beautifully shot episode, making the most of the setting. The music is chillingly understated and the script provokes thought.
Overall, better than given credit for but can understand the criticisms. 7/10 Bethany Cox
After such a brilliant season opener in "Man of Science, Man of Faith", "Adrift" was somewhat disappointing and a couple of steps down. It is a long way from terrible and is much better than the generally negative reception it garnered from critics and fans from personal opinion, but again to me it is one of the weaker 'Lost' episodes up to this point. Other episodes before and since have done a better job at plot advancement and are better paced.
Many critics and fans consider "Adrift" dull and that it serves little point. Can see where they are coming from. The raft storyline does drag, goes on for too long and takes up too much of the episode than necessary. It does boast some good photography and the acting is fine, it's just not as compelling as ought.
Similarly share the criticisms regarding the flashback, there are moments of poignancy and cuteness and again the acting is great but again it's perfunctory in pace and doesn't say much about Michael that we already know, one of the serve-little-point flashbacks of the show up to this point.
However, "Adrift" has a lot of merits. There are absorbing parts to the story. The shark attack is pretty tense, apart from the artificial-looking shark effects. The hatch storyline continues to hold a huge amount of intrigue and add freshness to the narrative, while the performances of Terry O'Quinn and Henry Ian Cusick and their interaction really elevate the episode to a better level.
The episode is also striking for its unforgettable ending, one of the classic 'Lost' endings and leaves one dying to see the rest of the season and island events unfold. The acting is spot on across the board throughout.
Visually, it's a beautifully shot episode, making the most of the setting. The music is chillingly understated and the script provokes thought.
Overall, better than given credit for but can understand the criticisms. 7/10 Bethany Cox
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
