In this Jin/Sun episode, a supposedly startling revelation concerning Sun comes out. But the mystery of the captive's identity cannot be denied and the two storylines compete for space in this very decent episode.
Episode #2.16, "The Whole Truth"
Written by Christina M. Kim & Elizabeth Sarnoff
Directed by Karen Gaviola
Guest Stars: Sam Anderson (Bernard), L. Scott Caldwell (Rose), Michael Emerson (Henry Gale), Tony Lee (Jae Lee).
Air Date: March 22, 2006
Issues of trust and honesty are pervasive in this installment. During flashbacks, Sun and Jin visit a fertility doctor because Jin is convinced that Sun's domineering father will soften if he has a grandchild. Meanwhile, however, Sun is visiting her former betrothed, Jae (Lee), the Korean Lex Luthor. Ostensibly for English lessons, the tension between them is palpable and the fact that Sun hides these visits from her husband corroborates a theory of infidelity.
The doctor tells them that due to scar tissue on Sun's fallopian tubes or something (as a man, I tuned out at this point; we just don't want to hear about those parts of the female genitalia like cervix, vulva, ovary … aargh! Make it stop!), they cannot conceive a child. Jin takes this information rather well, bowing deeply to the esteemed doctor, and casually exiting the room.
But later the doctor confesses to Sun that he lied; Jin is the infertile one and the doctor feared giving so "powerful" a man such information. This news comes, unfortunately, after it is implied that Sun and Jae did the deed, perhaps under the mistaken belief that she was "safe" to do so. Honestly, the way all this is revealed seemed a bit too convenient, in my opinion. Lost generally does a good job of withholding facts until necessary or most impactful, but this was pretty contrived.
Of course, the important word there is "implied." It is only obliquely suggested that Sun and Jae had an affair. When Sun discovers that she is pregnant on the island, Jin (now aware that he's as barren as the
I still can't pin down Jin's character. Raised in a conservative, patriarchal society and watched by his mob boss father-in-law, Jin dominated his relationship with Sun. After the crash, isolated from those factors and virtually alone even among the survivors because of his language barrier, his authoritarian persona diminished. When Sun was attacked, Jin felt a need to protect her, no matter how violently. After he and Sun – the one person he can communicate with – have a fight, Jin's isolation deepens and he comes crawling back. I believe Jin has Ike Turner Syndrome and it's only a matter of time before we hear some variation of "Come on, Baby, you know I wouldn't hurt you," come out of his mouth.
In other island happenings, Locke is frustrated with the stalemate he and Jack have reached with their prisoner, Henry Gale (Emerson), so he enlists former cop Ana Lucia to interrogate him. Ana gets Henry to draw a map to his balloon and goes to Sayid to help her follow the directions. Charlie, for some reason, tags along too.
Ana whines about how no one likes her, and not just on the island but in her past too. She apologizes to Sayid for shooting his girlfriend. There's a niche market out there that Hallmark won't touch. Some entrepreneur is going to come along one day and corner all the business on "sorry for maiming/murdering your significant other/pet" greeting cards. I envision landscape photos on the outside and Bukowski poetry on the inside.
As they get to the clearing indicated and don't immediately see a balloon, Sayid is visibly aching to go back and throw Gale onto a pyre. But Ana insists they make a thorough search if they are to accuse him. So they wade into the tall grass. At the same time, Jack and Locke sit down with Gale for a nice continental breakfast. Gale all but confesses to being an Other, suggesting that "if" he were one of them, he might draw up a map that led Ana and the others into a trap so the Others could trade for Gale. Then he asks for milk.
Matt Baker is made with 10% post-consumer recycled fiber.
