The Characters: Jin (as a warrior)

In an earlier blog, I worried that I’d start every character discussion with “[blank] is one of my favorite characters.” Jin and Sun are not some of my favorite characters. In fact, I find their flashback to be particularly boring. That said, there is still a lot to like. Maybe that’s the danger I spoke of. Every character has at least some likable, redemptive traits.

One of the things I like about Jin is that when given the chance, he can kick ass. He had never been included on an A mission through the first two seasons. It is not until the 3rd season, after Jack, Kate and Sawyer have been captured, that Jin is given his first gun. There is no truer measure of a man of Lost than how he cocks his gun.[1]

Jin’s greatest contribution as a fighter comes when a motley crew of survivors run into Mikhail, the eye-patch wearing Other who has distributing ability to bounce back from seemingly fatal injuries. Jin chases down Mikhail, tackles him, and then kicks his ass.[2] Later, it is Jin who stops Mikhail from stealing Naomi’s satellite phone, the survivors’ only way of contacting the newly arrived freighter. Lastly, Jin proves to be one of the survivors’ top three shots as they prepare for final battle with the Others.[3]

So, was Jin’s potential wasted to the detriment of the survivors’ overall welfare? Probably not. Even if all of the survivors best men were with Jack, Sawyer and Kate when they were ambushed, they probably would have just gotten captured too, since the strategic mistake their was following Michael rather than having too few people. Some is true the first them they go into Others’ territory and are surrounded by Mr. Friendly’s crew. On the positive, Jack and crew managed to retrieve the dynamite from the Black Rock, blow up the hatch on their own, and kill Ethan on their own.

What is nice about Jin though, is that he doesn’t spend the hike to the battle field arguing philosophy. The greatest threat to the survivors’ has always been their own baggage. Jin certainly has his but it is his blessing and his curse that he can’t share it.

[1] See “The Glass Ballerina”
[2] “D.O.C.”
[3] “Through the Looking Glass”