Okay is it just me or is Sawyer twice the leader Jack ever was? Maybe he needed those three years to come into his own (or fully develop a conscience). I like the whole Juliette and Sawyer in domestic bliss vibe, but fear that his misguided feelings for Kate will screw it up.
B.
I enjoyed the role reversal and its implications a lot, though I think much of the online reaction to that scene's been heavily skewed by how much people happen to like or dislike Jack and/or Sawyer.
ReplyDeleteI think the 70s Sawyer who's spent three years in relative comfort as part of the island establishment has probably evolved into a better leader than Jack -- but I also think 70s Sawyer's a vastly better leader than any previous incarnation of Sawyer (who in the early years was more of a selfish/dangerous troublemaker than an asset of any kind). He's been shaped by his recent circumstances, apparently for the better.
Other thoughts:
- While Sawyer's right about the Jack regime "reacting" a lot in the old days rather than strategizing, those were different times -- they were mostly in survival mode, largely ignorant of their wider environment/situation, learning the ropes as they went. It's easier to evolve into a thoughtful leader when you're doing so as part of an established, prosperous and relatively stable community (stable apart from occasional skirmishes with the "Hostiles" anyway).
- Ironically, Jack didn't much want the "leader" role and found himself thrust into that position in the early days because he seemed to be the best option the castways had. Similarly, while Sawyer went through power-hungry periods in the old days, he never really stepped up as leader of the remaining castaways in recent times until all the other options were gone: Jack & Kate off-island, Ana Lucia long dead, Locke MIA on his mission -- even when Sawyer does take charge, he's initially doing so as a placeholder of sorts for Locke, trying to hold things together until Locke's return.
- While lots of people died under Jack's leadership, lots of people die on the Island in general, regardless of who's in charge. Ana-Lucia, Locke, Sawyer, Ben, anyone who's played a leadership role at some point has racked up multiple casualties along the way.
- While I'm impressed and intrigued by how much contentment Sawyer's found as a leading member of the Dharma Initiative, his new interactions with Jack reveal a Sawyer who's still carrying around significant jealousy and resentment from the old days. He tries a little too hard to rub Jack's face in his new success and the doc's past failures, like somebody who's still got a chip on his shoulder and something to prove.
- Following up on that point, my favourite part of the scene is its conclusion, beaitfully played by Fox and Holloway, more with their faces than with the dialogue. Sawyer sends Jack home with one last condescending verbal pat on the head, about what a relief it must be that Jack can sleep soundly without having to worry about command decisions -- and Jack's apparently genuine reply is that yes, it truly is a relief. The usually brooding Jack departs in a light, upbeat mood, and Sawyer looks surprised and perhaps a little disappointed that Jack seems so genuinely comfortable with their newly reversed roles. Be careful what you wish for, and all that jazz...
-Sean