Episode Report Card Daniel: B+ | 0 USERS: N/A YOU GRADE IT Shannon's death, take two
By Daniel | Season 2 | Episode 6 | Aired on November 8, 2005
Tonight, one of the castaways will be lost forever. Looking back, maybe we should be thankful that this show didn't go the Beverly Hills, 90120 route in its little ratings-grabbing stunt. You know? Remember when we'd be told that the Hillsters deal with the death of one of their own, but when you watch the episode it turns out to be someone who was introduced just a couple of episodes ago but everyone pretended like they always knew this guy? With last week's preview, part of me worried the show might do that, what with the shot of Libby prominent as the narrator gravely spoke of impending doom, even if I thought that would be too much of a cheap fake-out, even for this show, with its wacky hallucinogenic head paste and back-from-the-abyss reviving Charlie. And I guess there wouldn't be any dramatic value in offing Libby, at least not yet, except for the actress's parents, who I pictured resignedly making up the guest room for when she moves back home again.
But no, it's not Libby. On the off chance you don't actually watch the show, preferring instead to read and scroll for about the same length of time (in which case, bless you), I'll try not to give it away before it actually happens, okay? I'll just let the show do the storytelling, which it does in its usual manner, i.e. focusing on one major character for the A-plot and flashbacks. And hopefully I won't say anything that identifies who dies.
So we open with Shannon…
Oh, damn. Sorry about that.
Shannon gives water to a thirsty Vincent, and the fact that she is actually looking after the damn dog is the first clue that we're in for some emergency sympathy-generation. Water to a dog? Shannon's not selfish at all! She even kisses Vincent, who sits there, tongue lolling out, and he doesn't spoil the moment by humping her leg. This is a kind of restraint that Sayid can't exactly boast of.
Speak of the devil. Sayid strolls by, tosses her a bag or something, and cheerfully tells her to gather her things, and keeps walking, expecting her to follow. She wants to know where they're going, but she's giggling, because the last time he did this it turned out to be a romantic candlelit picnic, capped off by a night of snuggling and jokes about blue balls. And then she returned to camp to find out her brother was dead. So you can see why she'd be so eager to recreate the Sayid Magical Mystery Tour of Love.