MURDER
When a murder takes place in the camp, Locke uses the fear and suspicion of the castaways to start a witch-hunt and ultimately it is Charlie who becomes the most likely suspect - a situation exacerbated by the onset of Charlie's WITHDRAWAL and more importantly, the fact that he himself is unsure as to his innocence or guilt. TO BE CONTINUED IN ~
I have been critical of how LOST made basic and critical legal errors throughout the series. Setting those plot execution errors to the side, one major theme in the original LOST writer's guide was going to be "crime and punishment." In the three ideas above, there was going to be plan on how the castaways were going to deal with crime as they built their new community.
One standard mystery is the solving of a murder, so it is no surprise that this was an original story idea. It would appear that this story idea was going to be an early one, since Charlie's withdrawal symptoms would start to manifest shortly after his small stash was consumed. The idea that strangers would begin to suspect each other for a camp crime is believable considering their current ordeal. And the idea that Charlie does not know because of his medical condition is plausible. So the premise of this plot is reasonable.
It is where the kangaroo court gets involved where things get tricky. The guide had indicated that early on the group dynamic would not be workable until a single leader, Jack, would emerge from the chaos. The idea of a court of law on the island is noble, but its execution as a process would seem flawed. It seems that TPTB wanted to meet the network executive's original vision of the series as being a "real" Survivor show by incorporating elements of that reality series, such as the elimination/judgment ceremony. So this story plot point fit into the wheelhouse of network expectations.
One could see the game role of Locke being the accuser/prosecutor to try to persuade the other camp members to take his side. But at the same time, the guide indicated that the group distrusted Locke because he was secretive about his hunting finds. Also, the idea that Kate would be "the voice of reason" to become a defense attorney for Charlie would be a stretch considering how Kate was actually portrayed in the series as a criminal on the lam.
The guide does not state how Charlie's trial was going to end. In the actual series, actual crimes against people on the island did not have the formality of a trial or punishment. In fact, one of the main criticisms about the show was its lack of a moral center when it came to bad behavior.
None of the beach camp legal system made it into the show. The producers did not incorporate the outside world view of a structured civilization upon the survivors camp.
Now, the idea of castaway abductions was used repeatedly during the actual series. It was a means of introducing the concept of "The Others," mysterious inhabitants of the island who apparently have evil intentions. The idea that Kate and Locke would not get along is fine. The idea that Kate would be kidnapped then have to work with her camp nemesis, Locke, in order to escape could have been on the edge of stereotype storytelling. The guide does not tell us the reason why Kate or Locke were captured and put into a prison. And that gets back to the idea that the producers did not have a defined main story line after the pilot episode.
If the writers could have made a reasonable story arc about how the castaways would deal with internal crime and punishment, it would have been okay. It could have stood as a contrast on how the Others perceived crimes against them and their brand of punishment. But this plot idea was never truly explored in the series - - - as the characters were basically on their own in a Wild West fashion.
When a murder takes place in the camp, Locke uses the fear and suspicion of the castaways to start a witch-hunt and ultimately it is Charlie who becomes the most likely suspect - a situation exacerbated by the onset of Charlie's WITHDRAWAL and more importantly, the fact that he himself is unsure as to his innocence or guilt. TO BE CONTINUED IN ~
KANGAROO COURT
While Locke would like to see Charlie bum at the stake, Kate steps forward as the voice of reason
and calls for a fair and unbiased presentation of the facts - but civility goes out the door when
justice can only be reached by full consensus (think TWELVE ANGRY MEN, Survivor-style). Ultimately, Kate plays defender to Locke's prosecutor in a trial which is just as much about the "outing" of Charlie's addiction as it is a presentation of the considerable evidence against him.
ABDUCTED
Kate wakes up to find herself bound and gagged in a dark cave, a captive of the Others. Without knowing why she's been taken or what they plan on doing with her, Kate is entirely helpless - - until another captive is thrown into this makeshift prison- Locke. Despite their differences up to this point, the two must work together in order to escape their mysterious captors.
justice can only be reached by full consensus (think TWELVE ANGRY MEN, Survivor-style). Ultimately, Kate plays defender to Locke's prosecutor in a trial which is just as much about the "outing" of Charlie's addiction as it is a presentation of the considerable evidence against him.
ABDUCTED
Kate wakes up to find herself bound and gagged in a dark cave, a captive of the Others. Without knowing why she's been taken or what they plan on doing with her, Kate is entirely helpless - - until another captive is thrown into this makeshift prison- Locke. Despite their differences up to this point, the two must work together in order to escape their mysterious captors.
I have been critical of how LOST made basic and critical legal errors throughout the series. Setting those plot execution errors to the side, one major theme in the original LOST writer's guide was going to be "crime and punishment." In the three ideas above, there was going to be plan on how the castaways were going to deal with crime as they built their new community.
One standard mystery is the solving of a murder, so it is no surprise that this was an original story idea. It would appear that this story idea was going to be an early one, since Charlie's withdrawal symptoms would start to manifest shortly after his small stash was consumed. The idea that strangers would begin to suspect each other for a camp crime is believable considering their current ordeal. And the idea that Charlie does not know because of his medical condition is plausible. So the premise of this plot is reasonable.
It is where the kangaroo court gets involved where things get tricky. The guide had indicated that early on the group dynamic would not be workable until a single leader, Jack, would emerge from the chaos. The idea of a court of law on the island is noble, but its execution as a process would seem flawed. It seems that TPTB wanted to meet the network executive's original vision of the series as being a "real" Survivor show by incorporating elements of that reality series, such as the elimination/judgment ceremony. So this story plot point fit into the wheelhouse of network expectations.
One could see the game role of Locke being the accuser/prosecutor to try to persuade the other camp members to take his side. But at the same time, the guide indicated that the group distrusted Locke because he was secretive about his hunting finds. Also, the idea that Kate would be "the voice of reason" to become a defense attorney for Charlie would be a stretch considering how Kate was actually portrayed in the series as a criminal on the lam.
The guide does not state how Charlie's trial was going to end. In the actual series, actual crimes against people on the island did not have the formality of a trial or punishment. In fact, one of the main criticisms about the show was its lack of a moral center when it came to bad behavior.
None of the beach camp legal system made it into the show. The producers did not incorporate the outside world view of a structured civilization upon the survivors camp.
Now, the idea of castaway abductions was used repeatedly during the actual series. It was a means of introducing the concept of "The Others," mysterious inhabitants of the island who apparently have evil intentions. The idea that Kate and Locke would not get along is fine. The idea that Kate would be kidnapped then have to work with her camp nemesis, Locke, in order to escape could have been on the edge of stereotype storytelling. The guide does not tell us the reason why Kate or Locke were captured and put into a prison. And that gets back to the idea that the producers did not have a defined main story line after the pilot episode.
If the writers could have made a reasonable story arc about how the castaways would deal with internal crime and punishment, it would have been okay. It could have stood as a contrast on how the Others perceived crimes against them and their brand of punishment. But this plot idea was never truly explored in the series - - - as the characters were basically on their own in a Wild West fashion.
