LogFAQs > #951235889

#11. Sayid Jarrah


My relationship with Sayid has been a roller coaster. Besides Kate (obviously), he was probably my least liked of the season 1-6ers when I first watched the show 10 years ago. I couldn't even really tell you why--maybe it was the lame Shannon angle, maybe it was because of the dumb James Bond flash forwards, maybe because I had a hard time finding redemption in a career torturer. I don't know. But something changed upon by second watch-through.

Through all of the silliness of his B-stories, Sayid actually comes across as one of the only competent, logical people on the Island. It almost became a joke as I watched multiple episodes a day--practically every other scene consists of Sayid being asked to go on some mission in the jungle or solve a problem or do something otherwise important. All because everyone else from Flight 815 is a moron (Charlie et al), physically incapable (Hurley et al), or a raving lunatic who constantly makes horrible decisions (Jack, Locke, et al). Sayid is the only reliable person there, yet the worst things constantly happen to him and he just has to keep pushing ahead anyway. And I love it so much.

But then the roller coaster dips back down again. Season 6. Zombie Sayid. Without any exaggeration, Sayid in season 6 is the worst season for a character in the show. It is profoundly stupid. He dies and is resurrected as a "bad man," except he doesn't really do anything evil. He sort of just stares blankly in a comically idiotic manner and, I repeat, does nothing all season until he decides not to be evil and (in unintentionally racist irony) suicide bombs himself in the submarine. I don't think anyone even talks about him again after this. Literally. It's unbelievable.

It was a sad end for a character that really redeemed himself in my eyes, but I still enjoyed the journey.