What's Hot: 4x04: More Books
What's Hot: 4x04: More Books
One of the most intriguing things Lost has brought to us in Season 4 is the addition of a few new cast members, The Freighter People. The objectives of Naomi's team of experts and the reasons that they were chosen were important enough to be the subject of the first flashback of the season. For me, the most interesting of these new arrivals is Daniel Faraday. After the confirmation of the time "issue", for lack of a better word, as a result of the rocket firing test, and his realization that there is only a very narrow beam to follow in and out of the island, it is obvious that Mr. Faraday is going to play a major role in this series. However, it is equally apparent that Mr. Faraday has issues of his own to deal with. From the first moment that we met Daniel, it was apparent from his mannerisms and speech pattern that he was a little, well - twitchy. I first put it down to the fact that he had just been pushed out the door of a helicopter that was going down in a lightening storm onto an island with many uncertainties; not the least of which the fact that one of his comrades was already dead. However, Daniel's peculiarities have not diminished as time has worn on. After awhile, his character began to remind me of John Forbes Nash, the brilliant schizophrenic mathematician and subject of the semi-biographical novel, A Beautiful Mind.
Given the apparent access to unlimited resources that it seems the Freighter People's expedition has, it would stand to reason that they would find the most brilliant physicist that money could buy. There is no doubt that Daniel Faraday is brilliant. I have no problem
believing Frank Lapidus, the helicopter pilot, when he tells Jack that
most of what Daniel says goes over his head and the rest goes way over
his head. However, I doubt very seriously that money has anything to do with Daniel's motivation.
Let's take a look at some of what we do know about Mr. Faraday. When Naomi is looking over the composition of her team, she quite clearly calls Daniel a "head case." His mannerisms seem to bear that out. When we saw Daniel's flashback in the first episode of this season, not only was he moved to tears by the news of Flight 815's unfortunate discovery, but he was also in the company of a woman, who although was originally thought to be his significant other was revealed to be his "caretaker." Why would a grown man need a caretaker? The simple answer would be that he is unable to care for himself.
Last night, we saw Daniel and Charlotte preforming what seemed to be a timed short term memory test using Dharma playing cards. This kind of short term memory testing is a standard part of a psychological exam. Daniel was unable to remember all three of the cards, which distressed him a great deal. However, Charlotte stated that remembering 2 of the 3 cards was an improvement for him; which leads me to wonder how bad his cognitive function was before. Such short term memory loss could be accounted for by any number medical and pyschological disorders.
So, the question remains, why would an agent with an unlimited amount of resources choose to send a "head case" to an island that even God can't see? My theory is that is exactly why he was chosen to go. If the properties of the island are so far beyond what is currently imaginable if subjected to the fundamental laws of physics, it would seem that in order to understand those properties, you would need a physicist with a beautiful mind; one who also lives outside of those boundaries. I believe that is why Daniel Faraday was chosen to go to the island, and that his role there will become profoundly important.
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To Col81: Yes I believe that is the same actor as in Rush Hour and also in the final installment of XMen Movies, the spikey guy...
I agree with Endless in that I just saw Rescue Dawn, and Davies' brilliant performance in that movie strikes a chord with his brilliant performance in Lost--he plays a quirky character. I'm really glad they picked who they did for these new characters. They're all very interesting to me. Which reminds me, isn't the actor playing Miles the same actor in Rush Hour, that steals the kid?
I agree, I thought Faraday posed a form of autism, or was an idiot/savant, allowing him to throw out the everyday distractions and focus on those things which normal people would either dismiss or overlook. I especially felt this when he asked Jack and Kate if they thought the light on the island looked scattered. Funny no one else ever made that observation before, including our dear know-it-all Arzst.
Versed. Nice article. I have to believe his "quirkness" is why he is there, gotta agrewith that. Love the "Beautiful Mind" analogy, I bet you're right on the $$. This actor always plays quirky people and does it well.
I missed the part of the care taker so thanks for that.
I think his best performance ever was of Charles Manson in Helter Skelter, really freaky if you ask me.
Good article versed.
In one of the podcasts they were discussing that they how Daniel was doing an ESP test, but I agree with you that it was a simple memory test.
V, you are the best!!! Thank you for a terrific analysis of a most intriguing character. I thought his tickiness was just to endear all us motherly types to him ;) - but here he's suffering - and that just adds gravity to the situation. The idea that he is might be our veteran non-Ben time traveller thrills me.
elsie:
The Others were told to go to the "Temple", which we haven't seen yet. That's where they've been.
This conversation happened in "Through the Looking Glass":
RICHARD: "We're going to the radio tower?"
BEN: "Not we, Richard, me. You're going to take everyone to the temple as planned."
Great article, I like this new character, he has many layers to him. He also appears kind, could end up being a friend and a help to the losties.
Couldn't help myself after reading this but the actor that plays Faraday, Jeremy Davies has a track record of characters that are almost all the same. Not that his acting is a bad thing. I'm a fan of LOST and Davies' work.
In the film Solaris he plays a very Faraday type character with all of the twitches. In Saving Private Ryan his character was a stumbling mess. Jeremy also plays a very twitchy character in the Christian Bale film Rescue Dawn. Seems that whenever I see Jeremy Davies he's playing the same character nuances i.e twitchy, aloof, and mysterious.
Just had to throw my few cents in the pot. Now I'm down to pocket lint.
the only thing is that his flashback was in the second episode of the season..
but yes i agree, faraday is going to be a sweeeeeeet character :D
Far a day is a great character. I can't wait to find out more about him. I'm still wondering where all the OTHERS are? wouldn't patchy and the rest be looking for Ben yet???
Since this is a thread about Mr. Faraday, I'll throw this in...Mind you, I have too much time on my hands sometimes, and I am making no claim at all that my conjecturing means anything at all. Lets give itless than 1% of having anything to do with anything. Here tis...
Been playing with anagrams.
Kate's Attorney: Duncan Forrester. & the DA...Melissa Dunbrook.
Duncan Forrester = Dan run for secret
Melissa Dunbrook = Island Serum Book.
The serum would be whatever that was that Juliet was giving the preggers.
Those went in a variety of acceptable directions, but that just sounded good, so I stopped.
Still working on the judge.
Faraday's easy, Woulda been a real pain in the butt to get Hawking's chair through the forest and the sand too...
All kiddin' aside, very valid points there, eccentricities in thought are needed to see alternate ideas...this can be taken as asking someone with a mere different point of view on a subject, to someone whose neurons are firing off in paths which are closed in our own mind...
A real quote from his namesake M. Faraday:
"Nothing is too wonderful to be true if it be consistent with the laws of nature, and in such things as these, experiment is the best test of such consistency."
Quirky fo show!!!
Twitchy certainly does describe him! I wouldn't want "normal" because that would be boring after two minutes; but "twitchy" leaves us guessing and wondering what is going to happen next. An experiement go awry, perhaps? Will he get in the way and spoil someone else's plans? Will he reveal the secret of the Freighter People to one of our Losties? Once again we are left hanging until next week.