What's Hot: 4x09: New Dharma Logo
What's Hot: 4x09: New Dharma Logo
Have you ever met a group of unluckier people than those that inhabit Lost Island? It's bad enough that you crash your plane on a seemingly deserted island, but to make matters worse, that island turns out to be inhabited by polar bears, a crazy French chick, kidnap crazy natives, and a killer smoke monster. To top it all off, we learn that this isn't the worst thing that has happened to most of these folks. Each and everyone one of the main Lost kids have one major trauma or other in their past, but no one has had it worse than Mr. Hugo Hurley Reyes. It's a good thing that fat people are jolly, because if that wasn't the case, then Hurley would have eaten a bullet a long long time ago.
If there is one person who has suffered more than any other (on or off the island) it has to be Hurley. Think about it. Sure, Locke, Sawyer and Kate have daddy issues, but so does Hurley. Locke lost a kidney and was thrown from a building, but he got better didn't he? Sawyer's daddy killed himself, but Sawyer got to grow up and be the sexy con man. Kate? Well Kate gets to be Kate. Nuff said. But poor Hurley was so depressed when his dad left he apparently ate a small city block. How about Jack? Jack also has daddy issues (where have I heard that one before?), but he is still a doctor and he gets the romantic attentions of Kate and Juliet (Jell-O wrestling anyone?). Honestly, could you imagine how much Jack would girly weep if he had to go through everything that Hurley has gone through up to this point?
What about all the crap Sayid had to put up with you say? It is true that Sayid went through hell in Iraq and after the war, and sure, Sayid lost his new love Shannon, but the same happened to Hurley when Libby died. At least Shannon put out before she took her dirt nap.
We all know that Hurley's bad luck started with the mysterious numbers, but have we ever really sat down and tallied up all the bad things that have happened around him? Let us make a list. His dad left, his work was hit by a meteor (really?), some dude jumped out a window, his house burned down, he stepped on a deck and his fatness killed two people, he was institutionalized and then he got on Flight 815. We all know that last thing didn't turn out too well either.
Now we get to the island, and the hits just keep on coming. Hurley is there when Arzt blows up. That is enough to freak anyone out. Then Hurley sees the numbers on the hatch, but no one believes him when he says that they are bad. To add insult to injury, Hurley is placed in charge of checking the food inventory in the hatch. Hello? Wouldn't that be like putting Michael Jackson in charge of the Dharma Day Care?
It just goes downhill from there for poor Mr. Reyes. Hurley's crazy imaginary friend Dave shows up again, he gets kidnapped by the others, his girlfriend dies before he can seal the deal and then his best friend Charlie drowns. Who among us Lost fans wasn't heart broke when Hurley yelled "where's Charlie", even though he already knew the awful truth.
If you stop and think about the characters of the show for a minute, Hurley is all of them combined. No, I don't mean that because he is a wee bit overweight, I mean that he has unfortunate luck of having shared all of their experiences. All by himself, Hurley has had to deal with one or more of the issues that affect all the other Losties. The difference with Hurley and all of the others is that he somehow still manages to keep a smile on his face. Newly stranded on an island the Hurley decides it's time to create a golf course. Then he decides it's a good idea to take an island census (really, what sane man thinks to do that?). He decides to divvy up the food to all of the other survivors. Have you ever seen a fat man pass out food? And who won't always remember Hurley's glee when he saved Jin, Sayid and Sawyer at the end of season 3? Only a jolly fat dude could live through everything that he has and still wake up everyday. Yet after all of this tragedy, when he gets off the island, Hurley is still there for Sun when she gives birth. Jack comes to see Hurley in the insane asylum looking for the hope that always used to be there.
Ok, I know what you're thinking. Do I have a point to all of this or am I just summarizing Hurley's life? Well, Hurley is my favorite character, so maybe it's a little bit of both actually. But when you think about the characters, you have a well defined mix. Jack is the science man. Locke is the faith man. Sawyer is the ladies man. Sayid is the tough guy. Kate is the hoe hot chick with the past. Charlie and Claire seek redemption, while Jin and Sun are the outsiders looking in. What does that make Hurley then? He is the big fat glue that holds the group together.
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Wow, you sure do have some unrealistic attitudes about "Fat people!" Fat people are just people like everyone else! they are not "jolly." They are not at fault for poorly -built decks. Most of them do not eat any more than tooher "normal" people. Haven't you ever met a skinny person who eats everything in sight and is a couch potato, but stays rail thin? All fat people are not alike.
Hurley's sweetness and empathy are far more important than his outer appearance.
wow this story couldnt be more WRONG. Hurley WAS unlucky. Now he's the single luckiest man on the planet. yes, up until the episode numbers, way back in season 1, hurley WAS incredibly UNlucky. but in the the episode numbers, hurley starts to realize that the island is going to change all that.
in the 1st half of the episode we are shown just unlucky he was but then alter in the episode on the island, we are shown that he is realizing that his luck is changing. the 1st evidence of that is when hurley is caught standing on the pressure trigger int he jungle and is in jeopardy of being impaled on the swinging spiny bush thingy. he doesnt want sayid to get soemthing to replace his weight, he KNOWS that he can get outta the way in time: "i'm spry". and he jumps outta the way successfully. then 2 minutes later they find the rickety old suspension rope bridge and hurley knows he can take it. and he does so with no problem, even with his immense weight. then 90 pound charlie is right behind him but it breaks when he walks across, not hurley. pretty damned lucky if u ask me!
ever since then hurley is on the worlds hottest streak of GOOD luck. he ALWAYS wins at connect four. he NEVER MISSES a shot in basketball. never loses at ping-pong. he finds the dharma bus that eventually is instrumental in the plan to stop the others in the season 3 finale. he lands a chick way outta his league.
man, you'd think this guy would have better insight on his fave character.
PS did i mention he survived a plane crash?!?
I have a feeling that as crucial as Hurley was to rescuing the Losties at the beach with his drive-over - he will be that crucial to the outcome of the whole story. Thanks for this review, Thlay. I especially loved it next to Ben as villain. Because Hurley is definitely a hero.
Thlay, This is a great article - reminds me of one I read somewhere before *cough* Not Just Comic Relief - 06/07 *cough* ;D
Jack is obsessive, needy, resentful, stubborn, and controlling. He seems to be all of those things in the nicest, most harmless way possible but they're flaws, nonetheless. He's also an alcoholic too now, apparently. He means well, but he goes crazy over little things and takes everything personally. In fact, I was sure he'd have lost it by now and turned into a bad guy. I thought it would've been a great shift showing his rival Sawyer becoming a nicer guy and taking on more of a leadership role and Jack just becoming consumed with hate and frustration. Sigh... I guess we won't get any Lord of the Flies stuff now. I guess it's safer since people would get upset if Hurley was crushed by a giant boulder.
Hurley is unlucky
Locke gets used
Kate is rejected
Sawyer is neglected
Claire is abandoned
Charlie is self destructive
Sayid is lonely (romantically and psychologically)
I think the list could go on and each person's debilitation has their own theme. (I can't peg Jack's at the moment) but I would agree that Hurley has it bad and his only redemption has been the little joys he's found. At least Locke has found purpose.
Maxor127:
I disagree. Hurley has lost his best friend and girlfriend and all of that happened after the crash. Locke got back the use of his legs, which is the greatest gift I can imagine, and he became obsessive and crazy. Hurley has managed to stay above it all and unite the group. That was my point, but you make a good point.
great. funny and interesting article. who is my favourite character? Locke.
and thanks for michael jackson joke.
No way, Locke has had it way worse than Hurley. Locke has definitely suffered the most. His dad stole his kidney and tried to kill him, his mom is crazy and in a hospital, he's been alone and rejected his whole life just trying to find his place in the world. He's accomplished nothing and his life is as dull as anyone can imagine. He works at a box company and asks a phone sex operator to go on a trip with him. Hurley owns his box company!
Locke was nothing before he came to the island, but Hurley has always been the same easy-going guy. Hurley's problems have all been directed at other people. People around him die and he sees crazy stuff, and while that sucks, he still gets to be a millionaire and live a healthy, happy, comfortable life. The outside world rejected Locke. Without the island, he's nothing. Locke truly doesn't belong anywhere and has nowhere to go except the island.
I always look forward to Hurley-centric shows. And I'm never disappointed. Can't say the same thing about all of the characters.
Great job Thlay!!
Loved the article. I love Kate because of hotness, but Hurley is my favorite character also.(the whole Juggy family loves him). He makes us laugh and we root for him more than anyone else.
Did you just call Kate a hoe. How dare you. just kidding. Really nice article Thlay. Hope to read more.
whenever the producers feel the need to inject some hope, they always use Hurley... just go to show ya that the big guy rocks. :-)
Hurley is not just the glue, I believe the whole show revolves around him!!!
I think this is a great homage to Hurley who is the silver lining of the dark cloud. So if anyone has had on one his head was him.
As much as I like Locke, Hurley has made me laugh through many an episode. Like when he got the van going, I mean hello dude! He stands up to the verbal barbs of Sawyer and has bigger ones in more situations that we give him credit.
Perhaps instead of the big fat glue we could have called him the unsung tenor of the show...
Nice article and thank you for giving him his day in the sun!