Ep 6. House of the Rising Sun

As the sixth episode of the first season of Lost opens, the focus is on Sun and her husband Jin. Sun is seen sitting alone on the beach, gazing out to the ocean, but she is interrupted by Jin who comes to join her. This minor exchange reveals the tense and distant relationship between the two. Soon, the episode takes a deeper dive into their marital woes as flashbacks show how Jin and Sun first met, fell in love and married against her father's wishes. Jin worked for Sun's father, a wealthy businessman, and when Sun became pregnant, Jin left her to work for her father in secret.

In present time, Jack and Kate discover the wreckage of a crashed airplane in the jungle and uncover a group of Koreans who are tied up, showing evidence of being tortured. They are confused as they do not speak English, but it is revealed that Sun can speak English which she has kept hidden from the other survivors, presumably to keep a layer of privacy to herself and also due to her feelings of shame and embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Michael and Locke are trying to find the missing water bottles but they stumble upon a strange structure made of rocks, where they find strange markings on the wall. As they try to decipher the markings, Kate convinces Sun to reveal her English speaking ability and translate the markings. The message is revealed to be a warning to not disturb the land, or face dire consequences.

It soon transpires that the Koreans are part of the group which includes Sun's husband Jin and his boss Mr. Paik on a secret mission to deliver some money and a watch to an unknown recipient, leaving many unanswered questions. As the strong-willed Sun and timid Jin try to navigate the treacherous jungle terrain, they come across a cave with a fresh water source. They remain hopeful for a positive turn of events and make a truce with each other to increase their chances of survival.

Back on the beach, Shannon struggles to overcome her misplaced sense of entitlement, while Boone attempts to help her gain some perspective by sharing the events leading up to his decision to leave his privileged life. The episode concludes with a tense confrontation between Jack and Locke over the recently discovered tennis ball, leading to a significant divide in viewpoints and a hint of the chaos that may arise in future episodes.

All in all, House of the Rising Sun is a well-crafted and gripping episode that offers insight into the complex and diverse character traits that have brought these survivors together in their fight for survival. Sun's backstory in particular adds a layer of depth and mystery to her character which leaves the audience curious to know more. The intricate, multi-layered plot continues to keep the audience on the edge of their seat and the beautiful cinematography of the jungle environment heightens the sense of mystery and tension.