In Defense of Ana Lucia, Part the Second
I really do like the lost_tv community. For the most part, it's great. But every once in a while, the Ana Lucia bashing drives me here.
Okay, quick review. I still hate the transphobia with Ana Lucia/Michelle Rodriguez being called a "tranny", and I still hate that only a MAN could possiblely be tough. Covered that last time.
In regards to a possible Ana/Sawyer angle, the haters can shut up as far as I'm concerned. Sawyer loves Kate, so there! Mind you, I still have no objection to he and Ana having sex, but that's a different story.
Okay, getting onto the new stuff.
1. The Introduction of the Tailies
Yes, I understand that in the earlier parts of Season Two, screentime was split. However, think about it. That was destined to happen as soon as Michael decided to build a raft. See, the raft had to set sail 'cause it not doing so would have been cheap. But the Rafters couldn't have been rescued 'cause that would have ended the series. But the Rafters immediately arriving back at Tribe Jack would have felt cheap, too. So we could have guessed that something would have happened to them somewhere else on the Island. It turns out that that something was them meeting the Tailies. Had it not been the Tailies, it would have been something else. I know that fans love the original cast, but do Michael and Sawyer and Jin not count as just that?
2. Giving Characters a Chance
Here's the truth, folks. I didn't like Sawyer or Jin at first. Mind you, I'm not alone here. A number of fans hated the two of them when they were first introduced. I did not like Sawyer and Jin until 1x16 "Outlaws" and 1x17 "...In Translation", respectively. It is this way for many fans.
What am I getting at, you ask? Well, Ana Lucia was not in 2x01 "Man of Science, Man of Faith", and she was only in for thirty seconds for 2x02 "Adrift". Therefore, we have 2x03 "Orientation" to 2x09 "What Kate Did", plus 1x23 "Exodus, Part One" to judge her by. That, my friends, is eight episodes. Why do so many fans, knowing how long it took them to like Sawyer and Jin, not thinking that there opinion about Ana will change, even though they've only seen her for eight episods?
3. On Acting
I'll keep this one short. Michelle Rodriguez may not be Terry O'Quinn or Daniel Dae Kim, but she is not a terrible actor. I'd call her competant. Trust me, I've seen bad. Rodriguez? Not bad.
4. On Typecasting
Yes, I understand that Rodriguez has played "tough chicks" before. So? The world could use a few more "tough chicks" in stories. This does not mean she plays the same character anymore than Sawyer is every other bad boy out there. I've seen Rodriguez in Resident Evil, and Rain? Rain is not Ana Lucia. Ana Lucia has a spiraling out of control, wrong decision aspect to her that Rain lacks. On a similar note, what actor in their right mind would turn down a major role on a hit T.V. show like LOST? Yesh.
5. On Jack/Ana/Sawyer/Kate
Yes, I know that love triangles...er...love rhombuses can be cliché. Still, is a little faith in the writers too much to ask?
6. On 2x08 "Collision"
I disagree that it should have been Sayid's episode. Flashback episodes are meant to allow us to understand, and what fan didn't sympathize with Sayid? It was Ana's past that we needed to see.
7. One Flashback Episodes
Relating to the above, may I remind that fans that flashback episodes are not always desined to redeem a character? They seem to exist more prominently, as I said, to help up understand. I don't think that either 2x07 "The Other 48 Days" nor 2x08 "Collision" were meant to redeem Ana Lucia. Let's review.
2x07 "The Other 48 Days" was desined to show why the Tailies are so on edge. Brutality, hopelessness, paranoia...these are the emotions of the episodes. If a Tailie doesn't die of injuries or get murdered or get kidnapped, then they are, well...Ana Lucia, Eko, Libby, or Bernard. Yes, Ana did make mistakes. But I think things would have been worse without her. Anyway, the episodes lets us understand why she was so quick to shoot at an apparent attacker (Shannon).
Then you have 2x08 "Collision", which was Ana's episode specifically. I strongly disagree that the only thing we learned in it was that Ana was a vigilante. Sigh. Yes, I know people guessed that something had happened involving children in her past. It's called foreshadowing, folks. However, the episode demonstrates why Ana didn't think that both her and Sayid would survive the episode. Ana killed Shannon, therefore, Ana expected Sayid to kill her. After all, if she was in Sayid's position, she would do the same thing. Actually, when she was in Sayid's position, she did do the same thing. That is that the flashbacks show us.
They also establish that Ana's life hasn't been quite right since she got shot. This something we did not know. In a sense, she's been spiraling downward towards a figurative crash, which likely started when she got shot and was firmly set into motion when she shot Jason. The "crash", as it would be, was when she accidently killed Shannon in 2x06 "Abandoned". I think that's important with Ana's character and her journey. I'm spoiler-free, but redemption should come in the coming episodes because now she's hit rock bottom.
8. Why I Like Her
I see a potential in Ana. I like "tough chicks". In general, I find her character to be intriguing, and I'm willing to give her a chance.
In conclusion, I made a pro-Ana icon. Points to icon. You may take it if you wish. Just comment and credit to sabonasi.
Okay, quick review. I still hate the transphobia with Ana Lucia/Michelle Rodriguez being called a "tranny", and I still hate that only a MAN could possiblely be tough. Covered that last time.
In regards to a possible Ana/Sawyer angle, the haters can shut up as far as I'm concerned. Sawyer loves Kate, so there! Mind you, I still have no objection to he and Ana having sex, but that's a different story.
Okay, getting onto the new stuff.
1. The Introduction of the Tailies
Yes, I understand that in the earlier parts of Season Two, screentime was split. However, think about it. That was destined to happen as soon as Michael decided to build a raft. See, the raft had to set sail 'cause it not doing so would have been cheap. But the Rafters couldn't have been rescued 'cause that would have ended the series. But the Rafters immediately arriving back at Tribe Jack would have felt cheap, too. So we could have guessed that something would have happened to them somewhere else on the Island. It turns out that that something was them meeting the Tailies. Had it not been the Tailies, it would have been something else. I know that fans love the original cast, but do Michael and Sawyer and Jin not count as just that?
2. Giving Characters a Chance
Here's the truth, folks. I didn't like Sawyer or Jin at first. Mind you, I'm not alone here. A number of fans hated the two of them when they were first introduced. I did not like Sawyer and Jin until 1x16 "Outlaws" and 1x17 "...In Translation", respectively. It is this way for many fans.
What am I getting at, you ask? Well, Ana Lucia was not in 2x01 "Man of Science, Man of Faith", and she was only in for thirty seconds for 2x02 "Adrift". Therefore, we have 2x03 "Orientation" to 2x09 "What Kate Did", plus 1x23 "Exodus, Part One" to judge her by. That, my friends, is eight episodes. Why do so many fans, knowing how long it took them to like Sawyer and Jin, not thinking that there opinion about Ana will change, even though they've only seen her for eight episods?
3. On Acting
I'll keep this one short. Michelle Rodriguez may not be Terry O'Quinn or Daniel Dae Kim, but she is not a terrible actor. I'd call her competant. Trust me, I've seen bad. Rodriguez? Not bad.
4. On Typecasting
Yes, I understand that Rodriguez has played "tough chicks" before. So? The world could use a few more "tough chicks" in stories. This does not mean she plays the same character anymore than Sawyer is every other bad boy out there. I've seen Rodriguez in Resident Evil, and Rain? Rain is not Ana Lucia. Ana Lucia has a spiraling out of control, wrong decision aspect to her that Rain lacks. On a similar note, what actor in their right mind would turn down a major role on a hit T.V. show like LOST? Yesh.
5. On Jack/Ana/Sawyer/Kate
Yes, I know that love triangles...er...love rhombuses can be cliché. Still, is a little faith in the writers too much to ask?
6. On 2x08 "Collision"
I disagree that it should have been Sayid's episode. Flashback episodes are meant to allow us to understand, and what fan didn't sympathize with Sayid? It was Ana's past that we needed to see.
7. One Flashback Episodes
Relating to the above, may I remind that fans that flashback episodes are not always desined to redeem a character? They seem to exist more prominently, as I said, to help up understand. I don't think that either 2x07 "The Other 48 Days" nor 2x08 "Collision" were meant to redeem Ana Lucia. Let's review.
2x07 "The Other 48 Days" was desined to show why the Tailies are so on edge. Brutality, hopelessness, paranoia...these are the emotions of the episodes. If a Tailie doesn't die of injuries or get murdered or get kidnapped, then they are, well...Ana Lucia, Eko, Libby, or Bernard. Yes, Ana did make mistakes. But I think things would have been worse without her. Anyway, the episodes lets us understand why she was so quick to shoot at an apparent attacker (Shannon).
Then you have 2x08 "Collision", which was Ana's episode specifically. I strongly disagree that the only thing we learned in it was that Ana was a vigilante. Sigh. Yes, I know people guessed that something had happened involving children in her past. It's called foreshadowing, folks. However, the episode demonstrates why Ana didn't think that both her and Sayid would survive the episode. Ana killed Shannon, therefore, Ana expected Sayid to kill her. After all, if she was in Sayid's position, she would do the same thing. Actually, when she was in Sayid's position, she did do the same thing. That is that the flashbacks show us.
They also establish that Ana's life hasn't been quite right since she got shot. This something we did not know. In a sense, she's been spiraling downward towards a figurative crash, which likely started when she got shot and was firmly set into motion when she shot Jason. The "crash", as it would be, was when she accidently killed Shannon in 2x06 "Abandoned". I think that's important with Ana's character and her journey. I'm spoiler-free, but redemption should come in the coming episodes because now she's hit rock bottom.
8. Why I Like Her
I see a potential in Ana. I like "tough chicks". In general, I find her character to be intriguing, and I'm willing to give her a chance.
In conclusion, I made a pro-Ana icon. Points to icon. You may take it if you wish. Just comment and credit to sabonasi.