How LOST exactly is Crusoe? I’m of course referring to the parallels that many are probably drawing between Crusoe and LOST. Obviously, the story of Robinson Crusoe has been around a lot longer than that of the survivors of Flight 815. In fact, the original stories of Robinson Crusoe are one of LOST’s many influences. So, it shouldn’t be any surprise there. But, what I’m really referring to are more of the story techniques used on this incarnation (as well as some of the more in-depth themes)–not just the lost-castaway-just-trying-to-survive theme.
Friday you could say is the “man of faith” while Crusoe is the “man of science.” You can see more and more of the internal struggle besieging Crusoe. To stay sane, he’s kept his focus on science–building fantastic devices and making himself more comfortable through it. Then, Friday has to come and remind him that he is also a man of faith, whether he wants to admit it or not. Will he ever see Susannah again? Does Susannah dream of him as he dreams of her? His faith in God tells him yes, but his faith in science tells him otherwise.
In “Sacrifice”, we see Crusoe’s anger against faith, faith in things he cannot (or shouldn’t) see. Meanwhile, Friday believes in all that is, well, paranormal and, of course, childlike to Crusoe. His faith in his dreams and the sacrificed woman in those dreams telling him she needs his help is definitely something a man of science could and would dismiss rather easily, which Crusoe does again and again. Friday, though, eventually wins out and belief-wise he would appear to be correct; things are different here, on the island.
Speaking of Friday’s dreams: I saw the opening of this episode to be very reminiscent of LOST, because of the way his premonition played out. Suddenly being in a very life-like dream, he sees the unfamiliar lone figure (of the sacrificed woman, we find out later) wanting him to follow. Naturally, he goes along with it. Friday, of course, sees it his duty to understand what it all means. Definitely, this reminds me of many journeys John Locke has taken on LOST, seeking answers to riddles and clues from dreams and visions.
Tongayi Chirisa as Friday
Now, I’m not saying that Crusoe is a complete rip off of LOST–that’s to say, I don’t think necessarily the writers are going for LOST in the 18th century. But, I do see the parallels for better or worse. However, with that said, “Sacrifice” did have a more adventurous feel to it with a slight sprinkling of drama. In that way, the look and feel of it, I almost felt like I was watching the Beastmaster meets Indiana Jones. Like in any of the Indy movies there were ancient ruins, and puzzles to solve and beasts to tame (I mean, for Crusoe and Friday to get away from).
Which leads me to another point: Having been on this island for years now, how did Crusoe not know about the cave-temple and shrine? I mean, it was right near his tree house! You’d think he would have noticed all of it along time before now. I can understand if the cave was hidden, but the bridge you think he would have seen from his explorations of the island. And I think he definitely would have found the lake, too. The island is only so big. And if he hadn’t found it by now, you’d think Friday would have. I do fault the writers there big time. That did bring the show down a few notches.
Also, some of the props (like the wooden box holding the woman’s skull and the “key” pieces) looked sort of, well, low budget. I wasn’t sold on it that they were centuries old, let’s put it that way. And, even with the sound effects of scraping stone, the key pieces looked, to me, like painted wood (which is what they were) instead of actual stone. Everything else, Crusoe’s tree house, for example, was in excellent shape and kept things in focus; without that iconic structure, I think the cheap-looking episode props might have really bothered me more than they did.
Lastly, I’d like to make another LOST parallel. Crusoe seems to have a lot of flashbacks. Of course, we all have memories, and we all reflect on them from time to time. But, the way Crusoe’s reflections are done, they are more like flashbacks. He stops doing whatever he was doing, and his mind goes directly to those thoughts. I.E. He doesn’t continue doing what he was doing because he “flashes” on memories of Susannah and everything else that went along with their marriage.
Anyway. I do have the fear that Crusoe, if it’s storylines don’t get better in the next few upcoming episodes, that the show might be doomed. And that would be a real shame. Because there’s so much here to work with, so much potential. Hopefully, the writers can tap into it just a wee bit more… creatively. While I think “Rum” and “Gunpowder” were excellent episodes, “Sacrifice”, while not terrible, is not at the same level. Now, I think I know why NBC ran the first two episodes back-to-back.
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