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"You are my son. It does not matter what you've done." "...In Translation", Jin's father's carelessness and unconditional love seems to contrast the tension created over secrets and lies in all other parts of the episode. Between Sun concealing that she speaks English, Walt hiding the fact that he burned the raft, and Jin attempting to keep his dirty deeds for Mr. Paik secret from Sun, the episode is laced with characters consumed by guilt because they aren't telling the whole truth.The episode is stunning, and it has always been a personal favourite of mine ever since I first rewatched it. Director Tucker Gates tops "Confidence Man" in visual quality, while this episode is the strongest script from both Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Leonard K. Dick on the show to date. The first scene in Mr. Paik's office, both scenes in Byung Han's office, the burning of the raft, and Michael and Jin's reconciliation are especially well-shot. Daniel Dae Kim and Yunjin Kim give stunning performances, showing the writers that they'd really ought to make Sun and Jin more prominent characters. The script barely ignores any character, giving Locke, Walt, Michael, Shannon, Boone, Sayid, Sawyer and Hurley all memorable moments. It's one of Lost's true ensemble episodes, and is one of the reasons season 1 is my favourite to date. There are character moments all around, and not just for Jin, although his and Sun's are perhaps the most spectacular.The flashback makes an interesting sequel to "House of the Rising Sun", and it takes place at the same time. Jin--before now a rather dislikeable, rude and aggressive character--finally appears human, and the tragic circumstances with which he is forced to cope due to his love for Sun are made even more upsetting due to the fact that her father is the one putting him through it all. Jin's initial reluctance is contrasted with his eventual viciousness, in which we see one of the bloodiest instances of "saving a man's life" ever on network TV. The inclusion of the scene with Jin washing his hands while Sun questions him from "House of the Rising Sun" was a brilliant choice, as the scene now has a whole new meaning when viewed from Jin's perspective. His father, easily one of the most respectable dads on Lost, is a wonderfully understanding and caring man, and the general flow and interest held in the flashback makes me wonder why Jin never got his own episode again after this.But the on-island ensemble drama contains all of the episode's best moments. The raft is burned, making for an intriguing mystery with a relatively unpredictable conclusion. The tension between Jin and Michael escalates, and then has a satisfying conclusion, beginning one of the greatest friendships on the show. Shannon and Sayid's romance begins more officially, with Boone's approval disregarded when Shannon takes Locke's advice that "Everyone gets a new life on this island," a quote comparable to Jack's "3 days ago we all died. We should all be able to start over," from "Tabula Rasa". This isn't the only time Locke is reminiscent of Jack in the episode; Locke's arrival when everyone is pointing fingers and ganging up on Sun and Jin is comparable to Jack's intervention after everyone bombards water-thief Boone in "White Rabbit", and Locke's "we're not the only people on this island, and we all know it!" speech here is just as memorable as Jack's classic "live together, die alone". Sawyer has a downright scary moment of aggression when we briefly are unsure what he'll do to Jin. Walt is developed in terms of his relationship with Michael, and his general like for being on the island. The interplay between father and son in the episode is especially interesting when knowing the ending. Walt may start to feel guilt about halfway through, when Michael starts to become a legitimate father to him, and agrees to let Walt him build the replacement raft.But Sun and Jin are at the heart of it all, and the marriage between them is a roller-coaster throughout the episode. This relationship is arguably the most interesting romantic one on the show, and the skill of the actors, combined with the brilliant piece of music Michael Giacchino normally uses when they're together, only propells the beauty of the on-screen duo. In flashback, we learn just how much Jin does love Sun, but how little he's been able to show it. Locke's "Everyone gets a new life on this island" should go double for Sun and Jin, who also have a chance to redeem their marriage and live in peace, but when Sun's secret comes out, Jin is confused and betrayed. Sun, meanwhile, attempts to redeem herself, embracing the second chance that the crash has given them, and call out to Jin in one of the most beautifully-written instances of switching languages that I've ever seen."(subtitled): What are you doing? Please answer me. So you're going where - to the beach? Is that how you've chosen to deal with me? Why didn't you just tell me you didn't burn the raft? Why won't you speak to me, Jin? What have I done to deserve this? When did we stop talking? (in English): I was going to leave you. I was going to get away. But you made me change my mind. You made me think that you still loved me. (subtitled): I want to go back to the beginning. Can't we -- just start all over? Standout performances: Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Harold Perrineau.Standout scene: Sun reveals she speaks English, and Locke intervenes, blaming the Others for burning the raft.
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