Whatever the Case May Be

When 'Lost' was in its prime, it was must-watch television. Remember first watching it, found it remarkably easy to get into, was hooked from the start and was on Season 3 by the end of one week. The general consensus is that the final season is a disappointment and cannot disagree.

After the season being on such a high previously, "Whatever the Case May Be" is not 'Lost' at its best. It is still reasonably intriguing but it is hard not to feel disappointed, considering that all the previous episodes ranged from very good to outstanding and this was just pretty good but less than great. It is the weakest episode up to this point of 'Lost' and one of the lesser ones of the first season.

It does feel like a filler episode, something that "Whatever the Case May Be" has been criticised for, and this does affect the momentum which was in need of more kick in places.

For me too, "Whatever the Case May Be" could have done with focusing more on everything to do with the case and the Sayid and Shannon scenes didn't add as much as they could have done and would have fared better perhaps if in an episode of its own.

The Kate flashbacks on the other hand are suitably harrowing and interesting, it was nice to see more development to Kate, and the case stuff is very well done, there just needed to be more of it. Actually found the Charlie and Rose scene quite poignant.

Visually, "Whatever the Case May Be" is well made with the island as beautiful and mysterious as ever. The music is understated and chilling, even beautiful at times.

There is evidence of taut and smart writing in a script that could have done with more tightness. Acting is very good all round.

Concluding, pretty good but this felt disappointing considering the high standard of the previous episodes. 7/10 Bethany Cox

"Whatever the Case May Be" shifts focus to Kate Austen, unraveling more of her mysterious past and the secrets she keeps. The episode opens with Kate and Sawyer discovering a locked metal briefcase, leading to a series of events that reveal more about Kate's history. The direction by Jack Bender effectively balances the episode's mystery and character development, creating a compelling and layered narrative.

Evangeline Lilly delivers a nuanced performance as Kate, capturing her resourcefulness, vulnerability, and the weight of her secrets. The flashbacks reveal her involvement in a bank robbery, adding complexity to her character and highlighting the lengths she will go to achieve her goals. The interactions between Kate and Sawyer, who becomes increasingly intrigued by her, add depth to their dynamic.

The writing in "Whatever the Case May Be" delves into themes of trust, secrecy, and redemption. Kate's struggle with her past and her attempts to move forward create a compelling character arc. The script effectively balances character exploration with plot progression, introducing new elements to the island's mystery while deepening Kate's story.

The cinematography captures the island's diverse landscapes, from the lush jungle to the serene beaches, enhancing the episode's visual appeal. The editing is tight and cohesive, ensuring a smooth narrative flow and maintaining the episode's suspense. The sound design, including the use of ambient noises and music, enhances the emotional impact of key scenes.

In conclusion, "Whatever the Case May Be" is a compelling episode that delves into Kate Austen's complex character and the secrets she keeps. The performances, particularly by Evangeline Lilly, are strong and multifaceted. The writing, direction, and cinematography create a gripping and emotionally resonant narrative, adding new layers to the series' overarching mystery.

Amazingly enough, Lost's first 2005 episode (which at the time of its original broadcast marked a return on TV after a four-week break) feels like a so-called "filler", i.e. something that is put together in the most basic way while the better stuff is waiting behind the corner. Of course, in the case of Lost, even a filler episode is above average, since the show's mythology is consistently present in the shape of the Island.

Picking up some time after the previous episode, Whatever the Case May Be starts with Kate and Sawyer finding a suitcase while swimming. Kate knows what's inside and wants it, but Sawyer refuses to had it over, resulting in a conflict that eventually calls for Jack's help. Meanwhile, Shannon wonders what Boone and Locke are doing in the jungle every day, but soon has other things on her mind when Sayid asks her to help him translate some notes he got from Rousseau. As for Charlie, still sad because of what happened to Claire (well, that and almost dying), he gets some healthy advice from Rose (L. Scott Caldwell), no stranger to matters of the heart since her husband Bernard, who was on the plane with her, hasn't turned up yet.

As for the suitcase, hints to what it may contain are given in the Kate-centric flashbacks: while applying for a bank loan using an alias (the usual Maggie or Meg), she finds herself right in the middle of a robbery, with her own life on the line. Or not, as it turns out: the robbery was her idea all along, so that she could access a safety deposit box, numbered 815...

Aside from that final coincidence, which is never directly addressed, this is very much a character-based episode, with no real focus on the ongoing mysteries and more scenes featuring various interactions. Some of these (Kate and Sawyer) are fun but very basic, some (Sayid and Shannon) bordering on trivial, but there's real emotion in Charlie's conversation with Rose, and there's that Locke/Boone subplot which promises a good payoff. Plus, there's one revelation about Kate that is guaranteed to have long-term repercussions. In other words: textbook Lost, albeit a bit lightweight.

"Whatever the Case May Be", written by Jennifer Johnson and Damon Lindelof, is just an awful, almost unwatchable mess. The flashbacks are utterly embarrassing as opposed to simply boring like most other Kate flashbacks, with the whole bank robbery feeling extraordinarily fake and clichéd and the reasoning behind it being so amazingly sappy and ludicrous that I wonder if the writers wrote this one as an intentional joke.

If there's one real positive in the entire episode it is Jack Bender's work as director. Very good. We also thankfully have some scenes on the beach with Sayid, Jack, Shannon, and some others. These scenes are definitely not anything special but they really are a relief from the nausea-inducing dialogue and excruciatingly, insultingly obvious attempts to further set up the romantic geometry on the show. Oh, I nearly forgot the only excellent scene in the whole episode, Rose's discussion with Charlie, very nicely-written that.

"Whatever the Case May Be" deserves no discussion or analysis. It is perhaps the worst sort of filler in all four seasons of "Lost" thus far and generally completely worthless. One need not look beyond the hilariously awful swimming scene with Kate and Sawyer to see this.

3/10