Sherry Huang: March 2007 Archives

Despite being a heavily scientific show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation can surprise viewers once in a while by delving into issues of faith, redemption, and forgiveness.

Last night's special airing of CSI (otherwise known as a re-run) focused on the ongoing investigation of an officer killed by friendly fire during a shoot-out between police and gang members.

While Gil Grissom and the CSI team struggle to piece together the minutes leading up to the officer's death, Sofia (former CSI member under Ecklie, now turned detective) tries to find redemption when she believes herself to have caused the friendly fire. When she fails to find solace from Grissom, she struggles in confiding to Jim Brass (the veteran officer who almost died last season in a hostage situation). But she feels condemned when she sees two officers whispering about her in a diner. "I'll always be known as the cop who shot another cop," she says as she watches the two officers leave.

But in a surprise twist, Grissom discovers that Sofia wasn't the one who fired the accidental shot--it was Jim Brass. After telling a shocked and dismayed Brass, Grissom presents his scientific findings in an unusual meeting place: The church. Standing below a huge wooden cross, Grissom presents detailed minutiae to parents and cops who lost friends and family--ironically, using science to explain the unexplainable in order to give peace to the grieving and help them find forgiveness through understanding the scientific whys and hows.

Meanwhile, Jim Brass attends the wake of the officer he shot and becomes the unwanted center of attention. As the other officers whisper, stare, and shun him for being "the cop who shot a cop," Brass glimpses the young, pregnant widow wiping her tears in the hallway. As she enters the living room, an officer leans over and whispers in her ear. A serious and steely resolve enters her eyes as she looks over at Brass. Working up courage, Brass approaches the widow and stammers out an introduction. Abruptly holding up a hand, the widow interrupts Brass by stopping him from speaking further.

Just as it seems the widow will either yell, curse, or hit Brass, she does the unthinkable: She leans over and grabs Brass in a tight embrace. "I know it was an accident," she whispers as she and hold on to each other and start crying. "I'm so sorry," Brass whispers, knowing he has been forgiven by the one person who matters in the whole room.

In less than five minutes, one scene was able to show the beautiful, grace-filled, and astounding meaning of genuine forgiveness. Brass finds redemption when the widow chooses to look past his regretful action; she sees someone just as wounded as she is and fills the ache with love that is rarely shown on television--especially on a scientific show.

Poor Hurley.

Ever since this loveable "Lost" survivor won the lottery, he has suffered continuously: First, his grandpa Tito died. Second, the first house Hurley bought his mother burned down. Third, his best friend ran off with his girlfriend. Fourth, while visiting his accountant he sees a man commit suicide by jumping off the building. Fifth, a huge meteor destroys his employer's restaurant, Mr. Cluck's, and kills Tricia Tanaka, a puff-piece reporter. Sixth, his plane crashes and strands him and other survivors on a remote, possibly unchartered island run amok by polar bears, smoke monsters, and Others. Seventh, his potential love interest, Libby, is shot and killed. Oh, and plenty of other deaths, kidnappings, uncertainties, and pain have surrounded him on the island as well.

Are the lottery numbers really cursed? Or are the bizarre and tragic events a string of coincidences?

Hurley's life, it seems, echoes the life of Job. Like his modern-day "Lost" counterpart, Job was a devout and rich Jewish man who was plagued by a quick series of tragedies that made him poor: All his livestock were destroyed, all his servants and sons and daughters were killed, and he was afflicted with a horrible disease that caused boils to erupt on his skin. Yet, far from being punishment, Job's tragedies were tests designed to examine his integrity, purity, and devotion to God. Satan and God "collaborated" to see if Job would still remain faithful and hopeful at the lowest points in his life while surrounded by friends who tried to tempt him into cursing and denouncing God.

Even though Hurley's own personal religious beliefs are unclear, he grew up surrounded by his own mother's devotion to Jesus. Everyone around Hurley doubted his fears that the numbers were bringing bad luck--his father reminded him to "make your own luck." And, even when everyone on the island doubted he would be able to revive the "hippie van" that he discovered in the woods, Hurley didn't give up. "We can all use a little hope," Hurley says to Sawyer.

Hurley prays for help, desperate to hold on to the last pieces of hope because to revive the car would be to break the curse surrounding him. He proposes a "victory or death" plan to Charlie, convincing him to defy death by going on a last-ditch effort to jump-start the car while sliding down a dangerous gulley.

In the end, Hurley succeeds in starting the car; his faith in hope itself saves his own sanity and Charlie's life (at least temporarily). As for Job, his unwavering faith saved him, and God doubled and restored his riches. For now, even though Hurley's faith in hope and in a greater good are restored, his success is still tenuous. Whether his success will reverse again or whether Charlie will eventually die are still trials saved for another "Lost" episode.