This show's title, Lost, refers not just to the corporal fate of the survivors, but also serves as a constant theme that thrums within each character and drives every episode. In this episode, the writers push this theme to the limits; they've lost the show's point. 

Episode #2.05, "…And Found"
Written by Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse
Directed by Stephen Williams
Guest Stars: Sam Anderson (Bernard), Tony Lee (Jae Lee), June Kyoko Lu (Mrs. Paik).
Air Date: October 19, 2005

I was pleasantly shocked when we saw inside the hatch in the first few moments of the second season's premier. And then there was the orientation video with its orgy of information. Since then, however, new details have come grudgingly. Complaining that not much new information has been learned isn't necessarily prudent. But if the plot doesn't expand, the characters should. Consider "Walkabout," the episode last season where we discovered Locke was partially paralyzed before the crash. That wasn't a data-rich episode, but it was still good (probably the best, in fact) because it laid out John Locke's character in succinct detail. "…and Found" is neither of these things. It just sort of muddles along, focusing on the love and longing of Jin and Sun.

Some stuff happened, but is it really worth getting into? Michael ran off, looking for Walt, and Jin chased after him, with Mr. Echo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, now a full-fledged regular) supplying his tracking abilities. Sun loses her wedding ring. They miss each other. They worry. There's some crying. In flashbacks, fate brings them together. It's all very, very touching.

Okay, I'm being a dick. It wasn't that bad of an episode. It just wasn't all that great either. Some interesting things regarding Jin: before the island, he regarded women with more respect, even uxoriousness. When his roommate suggests he find a woman to take care of him, Jin replies, "That's not what a man does." This is in contrast to how he has been portrayed previously, as more of a domineering, if still loving, husband. This is also symbolized when Jin repeatedly opens the door for Sun as she enters the Seoul Gateway Hotel. More disturbingly, Jin's mastery of English is proceeding with astonishing speed. I suppose if you were thrust into an environment where everyone else speaks a language other than you, it wouldn't be long before you caught on. But Jin really hasn't caught on until this episode. His English should have been spread out over more episodes to be believable.

As for The Others, it's safe to say they are the cause (the main one, anyway), for the thinned ranks of the tail section survivors. Mr. Echo enlightens us that they, The Others, don't leave tracks, and won't be found if they don't want to be. The one really gripping scene in this episode was Jin and Echo hiding in the underbrush as the others silently walked by. Dirty, unshod, they were creepily quiet. And the last in line dragged a teddy bear on a tether. That was plain fucked up.

The previews for the next episode (three weeks away) claim that it will be this season's most compelling episode. How lovely. Maybe, and I'm just brainstorming here so stop me if I start sounding crazy, maybe they should approach every episode as if it will be the season's most compelling. That appears to be what they did in season one, and it paid off. So far in season two, not so much.

Matt Baker thinks it'd be best if you just put that down before someone gets hurt.