Episode Report Card Daniel: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The anvil of life
By Daniel | Season 1 | Episode 20 | Aired on 04.05.2005
Jack's checking Boone's eyes, but Boone doesn't seem to be responding to the transfusion. "Come on, Boone," mutters Jack. Sun comes in, and helpfully points out that the transfusion isn't working, like, thanks, Sun. Jack says it's not the blood that's the problem, it's that the blood is pooling in Boone's leg, which he calls "compartment syndrome." He also says that Boone didn't get that injury in a fall; something crushed it. Sun responds to this by yanking the tube out of Jack's arm, telling him he's given Boone enough. Jack realizes she's right, and stumbles out to get some air.
Hurley's hanging out, and asks if Jack's all right: "You're looking really goth," he says. Yes, really. No, he did not say "gaunt." He said "goth." Yes, he did. Really. I swear. Jack tells Hurley to find Mercutio, and Hurley wants to know what for, like, just LISTEN to the doctor, Hurley.
Oh, god. Not another boring flashback. Jack's sitting on the edge of the hotel pool, with his feet in the water, papers in one hand, half-empty bottle of hooch in the other. "Hey, kiddo," he hears. It's his dad, come to add nothing to this boring backstory. Jack Daddy complains about some crying kid in first class, like, life must really be rough. He grabs Jack's bottle and takes a swig from it in a truly touching moment of father-son alcoholic bonding, then asks what Jack has there. Jack explains that Sarah (thank you ["…not" -- Sars]) wants them to write their own vows. Jack Daddy has a look, and unfortunately reads them aloud: "My heart skips beats at the sound of your voice. My skin warms to the touch of your fingers, where you go I will go, et cetera et cetera," he says, and I'm not editorializing the "et cetera et cetera," that's what Jack Daddy actually said. He adds that they're very nice, clearly not meaning it, and Jack says those are Sarah's, not his; he stole them out of her room. He admits to having trouble writing his. "Yeah, well, you're a doctor, not a writer," says his father. After a moment, Jack Daddy says, "Sarah is a beautiful girl," and Jack agrees, like, I guess this is supposed to be the most important reason to marry someone. "Do you love her?" asks Jack Daddy. Jack says "absolutely." "Then why are you sitting out here?" asks his dad. How nice that Jack's dad is here not even two minutes before undermining his son's upcoming nuptials. Jack expresses doubt about being a good husband or father, which I figure is fairly normal, given that it's something that worried (and to an extent still does worry) me, and he adds this, which I admit was not a question I had to consider: "What if I asked her because I saved her life?" Jack's dad just looks at him. "Should I marry her, Dad?" Jack Daddy says, "Commitment is what makes you tick, Jack." Jack considers this. "The problem is, you're just not good at letting go."