I felt like a bit of an idiot for completely missing the homages to The Fugitive in this episode (I found out about it in the TV Guide article). Did anyone else miss it?

What the heck does the title refer to?

IIRC, the term tabula rasa translate as something like a "clean slate".

It was an idea put forward by the philosopher John Locke, the idea of "tabula rasa" means that we are all "blank slates" and the time of birth, and it is the society and culture around us that influences our ideas and development. In relation to the episode, it is clear that landing on the island is a sort of "re-birth," and everyone on the island has a clean slate from which to start over. This is articulated to Kate by Jack at the end when he tells her that it doesn't matter what she did before coming to the island, and that everyone deserves a chance to start over.

I see I complained too soon about not gathering the rain for drinking water. The people are sure lucky that Sayid tells them what to do - obviously they couldn't figure it out themselves...

One thing that belongs maybe more to the pilot part 2: when they receive the message, Sayid says the batteries will soon go. How come the french woman's message has been broadcast for 16 years without the batteries failing? (What power source is it hooked up to?)

If Sayid gets the electronic equipment, will they triangulate to find the source of the french woman's distress call? Will they start exploring this island (Okay, its the start of the series, I should wait more patiently... But I'd like to see some planning or mention of what's useful to do in a survival situation.)

Will they ever bury or move the dead bodies to prevent disease?

They still aren't very organized, that Jack searches for medications in the dark plane, instead of getting some people to carry everything outside, since everything could be useful for their survival. (It also would stop the blond drug guy from stealing.)

I wonder why they had to invent these monsters there, anyway. Isn't being stranded on some desolate island with a bunch of loonies bad enough? Couldn't they show some realistic survival problems (making it a bit educational, instead of giving people wrong impresisons?)

Well, it *IS* a science fiction show, so you've gotta have some of the unrealistic stuff, too...

Constanze, in the next episode, they burn the bodies.

If you are just catching up now, I rather envy you. A lot of your questions will be answered, but a lot more will be raised -- one of the real appeals of this show.

Dan - I didn't know it's supposed to be a Sci-Fi-show; I thought it was just a Fiction show. (The very first teasers I saw, I thought it was some kind of Survivor-Reality show!)

Influx - At the moment, I'm a bit afraid that when they'll reveal the monsters, it'll be a goofy explanation (too much bad TV lately, I guess). So far, it's one big puzzle, but for an explanation that really holds water and fits every instance...

Dan, where has it ever been established to be a science fiction show? We know it's a mystery and a drama, but because we don't have answers to explain the odd goings-on on the island, we can't say for certain that's sci-fi.

Oh, sorry, I was just going by the inclusion of Lost in science fiction magazines such as Starburst, Starlog, etc. I assumed that it wouldn't be included in these publications if it were not classified as science fiction.

Such magazines go for a "crossover" appeal by including genre shows in general that might appeal to fans of sci-fi/fantasy, like thriller, horror, noir, mystery, action, etc.

...not to mention the review I read that called Lost the "best new mainstream science fiction series since The X-Files." Not saying that it should be taken as fact, but others certainly maintain that it is sci-fi.

So why does the blond angry guy not shoot the sick marshal in the head to kill him, but in the chest (and missing the heart)? Did he watch too many movies, that he thinks any shot in the chest will immediately kill? Or why not simply give the marshal the gun, so he can kill himself?

'Cause he's a complex guy, sweetheart.

lol, sorry.

No, more like stopid and incomptent.

Why sweetheart?

Why sweetheart?

I'm not sure, since I don't recognize a specific reference for "I'm a complex guy" or any variation of it, but I think that Dan was quoting (or more likely mis-quoting, paraphrasing, or parodying) Humphrey Bogart.

No, I was quoting Sawyer, the topic of the discussion.

He says to Kate in the Pilot episode, "'Cause I'm a complex guy, sweetheart." Sorry if noone else recognized the reference. My bad.

Dan,

it's a bit hard for me to recognize quotes given that I get only the dubbed version - and the translators often butcher or mistranslate the dialogue! (Not to mention my bad memory.)

Oh, sorry 'bout that! Next time, when I quote something, I'll reference it as well! (You'd think I'd do that naturally, since I'm in fourth year of university... )

No problem.

What are you studying, and where? (Just asking out of curiosity... )

I'm getting my Bachelor of Education at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, AB, Canada.

Canada, Eh? (Sorry, couldn't resist... )

So you'll be a teacher then? What subjects? Which school type?

Well, I'm studying to be a high school teacher, majoring in Social Studies and minoring in English. Yeah, I know, I'm a glutton for punishment with high schoolers, but I think I can relate to high school students better than I can to younger children.

And don't worry "aboot" the "eh" comment, I get it all the time! As for me, I'm just glad my igloo has a DSL connection! :p

The problem with this series is that when you watch the reruns and spot clues for things which are revealed in later episodes, you can't discuss them on this board as they'll spoil later revelations.

Anyway, there seems to be another clue in here for what is revealed(strongly hinted at) in episode 14 'Special'

I'm glad I don't live in Australia. Kate drags Nick Tate's character back to the road after the crash and nearly gets run over by a ruddy great lorry that just blasts its airhorn at her and carries on without stopping to check whether she's alright or needs help!

It's a good job that the dog whistle only brought the dog out of the jungle and nothing else ...

I dont think its just australian truck drivers who react like that. besides its a standard thing in the tvland truck driving school.