White Rabbit

Season 1, Episode 5, Aired
EDIT

Episode Summary

The survivors begin to struggle as they realize they are running out of fresh water. Meanwhile, Jack continues to see his dead father's figure on the Island. Flashbacks in this episode show a little bit of Jack's childhood and also what Jack was doing in Australia.
9.0
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Superb
1,552 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate It

Watch Online

Netflix
Subscription
Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy
Hulu Plus
Subscription
Amazon Prime
Free Trial/Subsc...

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Fan Episode Reviews (59)

See All

  • 105

    8.8
    "Great"
    By Canogaparkcindy, Mar 17, 2011 Report Abuse
    A lot of development on tonight's episode of Lost, with the pilot being Jack-centric, it really surprised me that there was already another episode focused on him only five episodes, but surely, I am glad that they did have an episode like this one.

    We know why he was traveling from Sydney, and also, I noticed an ongoing theme that keeps on coming back from time to time: "Everything happens for a reason." The drowning at the beginning was chilling, even more chilling, since the lady wasn't even meant to be on that flight.

    Anyways we discover a lot of things about Jack and his father and I loved the comparison with the white rabbit from Alice and Wonderland, very clever, I liked it. The group going against each other for water was also entertaining. This show has not made an error yet, I'll tell you that much.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 0

  • Awesome.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Sarah_LOST, Oct 12, 2010 Report Abuse
    Boone steals the decreasing water supply in a misguided attempt to help everyone, but the survivors turn on him. A sleep-deprived Jack chases after what appears to be his deceased father in the forests and eventually discovers caves with fresh water. Jack comes to terms with his role as leader. In flashbacks, Jack goes to Australia to retrieve his deceased father. I love the start if this episode, little Jack reminds me of somebody I know, I love the flashbacks there amazing in the show, really clever. So somebody is drowning, I love it well, the scene anyway. I'm glad Jack saves Boone, I love him. Oh and I love the way Sawyer is so sneaky and has his nicknames.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 1

  • Our first real look at the center of the show

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By DavidB226Morris, Aug 26, 2010 Report Abuse
    Because of his skills, everyone has been looking at Jack as if he were the leader, and it's pretty clear that is a role he can manage, but doesn't want to accept. At its core, 'White Rabbit' is the episode where Jack finally gives into the inevitable, and takes the role of leader. Of course, since this is Lost, there's a lot more to it.
    Jack has been burning the candle at both ends since the plane crash (and, as we find out in this episode, for quite some time before that) and now it begins to take its toll. In the opening sequence, one of the survivors goes swimming, and Boone, the lifeguard, tries to save her, but nearly drowns himself. Jack dives in, pulls him back to shore, then goes back--- but it's too late. Jack takes this very personally, even though he didn't know this woman at all. Scarcely has he begun to deal with this problem, when another crisis emerges--- the water supply is starting to run low. Everyone's looking to Jack, and then things get worse--- he sees the man in the suit in the woods. Only it's not just a man in a suit--- it's his father.

    Jack obviously doubts his sanity, but nevertheless goes chasing after the phantom. But he becomes so obsessed that he ends up chasing it over a cliff, which would have killed him--- if not for the appearance of Locke.

    The two men have their first real conversation, where Jack reveals that he's chasing a ghost. Locke then tells him what he knows --- that the island is different. The others don't want to talk about it, but they all instinctually know it. Locke is convinced that this is happening to Jack for a reason--- mainly as a test to prove to himself that he can lead.

    A note: Locke says that he has "looked into the eyes of this island and what I saw was beautiful." What he doesn't consider is that it might be beautiful to him, the paralyzed man who can now walk, but it not might be for Jack. Perhaps the island is testing Jack somehow, and what we will come to realize is that while he can accept his role as leader, he can not quite buy what Locke is selling. This is a fundamental difference between the men, which will end up being a huge part of the drama of the show.

    For the first time, we get a good look at the kind of man Jack was pre-island, and more importantly the relationship that he had with his father. Jack's father, like him, was a surgeon, and it's clearly suggested that their relationship was not a good one. The entire reason Jack went to Australia was to find his father, who was the midst of something unexplained (we'll find out what, but not from Jack) Eventually, he drank himself to death. Jack was accompanying his father's body back to the States, and it's clear from the last flashback, that he was hoping that he could finally end their tormented relationship. How ironic, that even though Jack eventually finds the coffin which carried his father, his body is gone. Now he can never lay it to rest.

    (Another mystery: The coffin was shut, but the body wasn't in it. What happened? I would like to float the possibility that somehow the island is using Jack's father in some way. Over the past few years, several of the characters are revealed to have been involved with Jack's father, and because of that importance, the island took it, and I believe at some point in the shows final seasons, we will understand that purpose.)

    Perhaps one reason the body was used was to lead Jack to a cave with freshwater spring. Jack also finds scattered parts of the plane and the coffin. This leads to him finally accepting, however reluctantly, his role as leader. When he brings the water back, he tells them that it is time for the others to start preparing for the possibility that rescue will not come, and that if "they can't live together, they're going to die alone" However, not everybody will take Jack's word as gospel, and that's going to lead to problems.

    Jack is so front and center during this episode, everyone seems to fade into the background a bit. But we do get some more information. One of the more prominent characters is Claire. During the episode, she faints from lack of water, which leads to another crisis, when the already diminishing water is mysteriously taken. This sets up another sweet moment between her and Charlie. Claire knows that everyone thinks of her as a potential time bomb--- how long dot hey have before this new problem develops--- but Charlie is one of the only people who doesn't seem scared by this. There is definitely something between them, but Claire doesn't know Charlie's demon yet.

    Boone seems to be trying to prove himself. He demonstrated that when he tried to save the woman that drowned, and he clearly blamed Jack for coming back with him. Then when Jack disappears, Boone tries to use the water to help Claire, arguing weakly that someone had to step up. A mini-mob begins forming, which is dissipated by the return of Jack. Boone isn't happy about this either.

    Sawyer seems to be setting himself up the unofficial black market of this island. This becomes clear when he tries to bargain with Shannon over the price of some insect spray. When the water disappears, he's the obvious scapegoat, which becomes more suspicious when Sun mysteriously shows up with water. He reveals that he traded the water for a fish Jin caught --- that must have been fun for both of them--- but not before Kate tries to force it out of him, something which clearly delights him. Sun and her husband are clearly getting worried about their crisis, but their approaches are different--- she wants to try and communicate with the others to try and find leadership, he says that he will provide for her--- hence the trade with Sawyer. There is also a moment where Sayed tries to interrogate Sun, and replies to Kate's intervention with the reply that she understands what he's saying. Perhaps Sayed has insight into this from personal experience, and it turns out, he knows what he's talking about.

    Kate seems to be taking on the role of a miniature enforcer--- she doesn't seem to want to lead, but she seems drawn to authority figures like Jack, Locke and Sayed. This is particular ironic considering her flashback, but there is clearly compassion in her behavior. Locke is assuming the role of half survivalist (he gathers water from the moisture on the leaves) part mystical yogi. When he goes into the woods after Jack, he assures Kate he knows how to find him, and there he is. The obvious answer to this is that he tracked Jack, but what if there was another way? Did the island guide him like it seemed to guide Jack?

    The episode ends with Jack telling Kate why he was on the plane, but not why he went on his search in the first place. Maybe it's because he has trust issues or (more likely) he doesn't want to admit that what he saw was real. But this is a critical episode for Jack, and it demonstrates (if there was doubt before) that Matthew Fox is the right actor to be at the center of Lost Few people could demonstrate being strength and fear in the same character, but, as he demonstrated on Party of Five, Fox knows how to do it. The hallucination doesn't appear for awhile, but Jack still has real ghosts, and they're going to be biting at him on the island over and over.
    My score:9.2moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 1

  • We Love Your Feet, We Despise Your Hands

    7.5
    "Good"
    By Rufam, Apr 16, 2010 Report Abuse
    If you had fallen in love with Locke after last week's episode (I had), it's time to get frustrated with him. Because he rescues Jack from falling down a cliff. And then he gives him a pep talk! A pep talk! -

    Jack, Jack, Jack. Handsome, charming, helpful, brilliant. Perfection. Jack. Shepard, Jack. Anyhow, as you have probably understood by the overwhelming prologue, this is an episode almost entirelly dedicated to JACK and his drama. JACK was a doctor back in the day, a doctor who was helpful and amazing and kind and always wanted to help people, even though his Bad Dad didn't always allow him to. But God punished him about not being the Dad JACK always wanted to have (that would be kind and respectful) by killing him. But Jack is sad anyway because he's so freakin' awesome. On the Island, Jack is haunted by his father hallucination but he is so smart that he falls down a cliff while struggling with getting some answers. Fortunately (????) he is rescued by Locke (!!!?!?) who afterwards gives him a little speech about... I don't even remember what it was about. Then, JACK gets all angry and destroys his Daddy's empty coffin. BUT!!! it doesn't matter he got a little mad 'cause he subsequently discovered a source of fresh water (he's amazing!). Finally, he headed down the beach to give his fellow survivors a speech about how he great he is. He also informs them that he will become their leader, although nobody asked him to. Great! -

    As you PROBABLY have figured out yourselves I am not a big Jack worshiper. That's why I thought this episode was OK, but nothing really special. How could an episode really be great after all that Jack overdose?moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 2

  • This episode very much feels like your in Wonderland...

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By Jacob316, Feb 17, 2010 Report Abuse
    This is one of my least favourite episodes of Lost's first season. Why you ask? because the flashbacks are not very intresting, there is one decentscene were Jack goes to see see his deceased father. The flashbacks are dissapointing after seeing Kate's and Locke's but other than the poor flashbacks the rest of the episode is very intresting. The first scene which involves a woman drowning is a great treat to rewatch in my opinion because I usually forget all about it so when it comes on I go "Oh yeah I remember this part". This is one of the creepiest episodes of the series, the scenes with Jack looking for his father are really wierd but keeps you hooked because you want to know where he is leading Jack. Locke once again is awesome in this episode, he hints to Jack that he knows more about the island than most, the scene has some great dialogue. We see a bit more of Sun and Jin in this episode which is good considering the next episode centers around them. I noticed the writers do this a lot in the first season, they show more of a character the week before their centric episode. The "Live together, Die alone" speech is awesome one of the best leadership speeches of the series (there are loads of them), overall this episode is not one of my favourites of the season but I still give it a 9 that just shows how good season 1 is.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • When Jack enters the water to try and save the woman who is drowning in the shot that shows him swimming towards the camera you can clearly see a jet ski or boat keel trail. Edit
    • When Joanna dies Jack says that only 47 people are left. Later when he is talking to Charlie and Hurley about the water bottles he says that they are not 47 but 46. Edit
    • In the first flashback, Jack tries to help out a boy who he laters calls Mark Silverman. This boy would go on to be the best man at Jack's wedding in the episode "Do No Harm" Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • International Airdates: Denmark: February 4, 2005 on Kanal 5 Greece: August 8, 2008 at 23.00 on ANT1 Edit
    • A Jack-centric episode. Edit
    • Production on this episode began on Wednesday, August 18 for an eight day shoot 'til Friday, August 27. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Boone: You should have saved her. Jack: But I didn´t save her. And neither do you Boone: You think you are all noble and heroic for coming after me? I was fine. You´re not the only one who knows what to do around here. I run a business. Who appointed you our savior, huh? What gives you the right? Edit
    • Hurley: Maybe the dog can find water. Charlie: Better if no one knows how little is left. Hurley: I mean, dogs can find pot and bombs, so I'm sure they can find water. Edit
    • Claire: Great. Now our only hunter's going to get eaten just so he can get the pregnant girl some more water. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Mr. Miyagi Mr. Miyagi refers to the beloved Okinawan karate master in the 1984 feature film The Karate Kid, and its sequels, played by Noriyuki "Pat" Morita. Mr. Miyagi befriends and teaches the ways of karate passed down from his father, to a New Jersey teenager he calls "Daniel-san" who is having trouble fitting into the southern California life. Edit
    • Sawyer can be seen reading "Watership Down", a classic novel in which a group of rabbits set out to make a new home, together in unfamiliar surroundings. Edit
    • Character name: Jack Shephard
      There was a famous British highwayman (one who robbed vehicles) in the 1700s named 'Jack Sheppard'. So popular was he when he was alive that his robberies were published in the newspapers & pamphlets after he committed them. He was viewed to be such a Robin-Hood-like hero that well into the Twentieth Century stories were still being written about him and no less than 9 theatrical plays were performed to the public. In fact, when author Harrison Ainsworth published a book about him in 1839, it outsold Dickens' 'Oliver Twist'.
      Literary Source: "100 Most Infamous Criminals" by Jo Durden Smith Edit

Show Forums

See All
Last Activity
Replies

Watch Lost Full Episodes

See All

Related Shows

Season 1 Episodes

See All
Ep 25
Exodus: Part 3
Ep 24
Exodus (2)
Ep 23
Exodus (1)
Ep 22
Born to Run
Ep 21
The Greater Good
Ep 20
Do No Harm
Ep 19
Deus Ex Machina
Ep 18
Numbers
Ep 17
...In Translation
Ep 16
Outlaws
Ep 15
Homecoming
Ep 14
Special
Ep 13
Hearts and Minds
Ep 12
Whatever the Case May Be
Ep 11
All the Best Cowboys Have ...
Ep 10
Raised by Another
Ep 9
Solitary
Ep 8
Confidence Man
Ep 7
The Moth
Ep 6
House of the Rising Sun
Ep 5
White Rabbit
Ep 4
Walkabout
Ep 3
Tabula Rasa
Ep 2
Pilot (2)
Ep 1
Pilot (1)

Contributors

Become a contributor
More
Less

TV Listings

Full Listings
BROWSE | Shows | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | TV.com Blog

CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use