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Ana Lucia Cortez

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Template:Infobox Lost character Ana Lucia Cortez is a fictional character on the ABC television series Lost, played by Michelle Rodriguez. Ana Lucia made her first appearance as a guest star in the first season finale, and became part of the main cast for season two. After Oceanic Flight 815 splits in mid-air, the tail section and fuselage crash on opposite sides of a mysterious island. Ana Lucia becomes the leader of the tail section. Flashbacks in her two centric episodes, "Collision" and "Two for the Road", show her life as a police officer before the crash.

Rodriguez evoked controversy after being stopped by the police for driving under the influence a few weeks before her character was killed, leading to speculation that this was the reason for her character's death. The producers of Lost stated that Rodriguez was only interested in appearing for one season, so Ana Lucia's death was written in from the beginning. Ana Lucia was negatively received, due to her hostility and bullying, and many critics were pleased when the character was killed.

Arc

Prior to the crash

Ana Lucia Cortez is an officer in the Los Angeles Police Department who becomes pregnant, but loses the baby after being shot by a suspect at a burglary scene. She spends several months in physical and psychological therapy, and when the suspect is arrested, she refuses to identify him. After his release, she kills him outside a bar.[1] Ana Lucia decides to leave the force and eventually finds work as an airport security guard. She meets Christian Shephard (John Terry) at the airport bar, who asks her to accompany him to Sydney as a bodyguard. In Sydney, Ana Lucia breaks up an argument between Christian and a woman whose daughter Christian wants to see. She tries to convince Christian to return to the States, but he refuses and the two part ways.[2] Ana Lucia buys a ticket on Oceanic Flight 815 to return to Los Angeles. In a brief flashback in the first season finale, she flirts with Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) at a bar at the airport, unaware that he is Christian's son. The pair arrange to continue their conversation during the flight.[3]

After the crash

The story of how the tail section survivors coped during their first forty-eight days on the island is shown in "The Other 48 Days". After landing in the ocean with the tail section, Ana Lucia does her best to help everyone in need. That night, some of the survivors are kidnapped by the Others, the mysterious inhibitants of the island. A few nights later, nine more are taken. Ana Lucia kills one of the Others and finds a list on him, which has descriptions of the victims. Suspecting fellow survivor Nathan (Josh Randall) as a traitor, she moves everyone inland, digs a pit and throws him in it until he confesses. When he suddenly disappears, the small group head further inland, discovering the Arrow station. Ana Lucia and Goodwin (Brett Cullen) trek atop a hill, where she tells Goodwin that he is the real traitor. After a struggle, she impales him on a broken stick. She returns to the group and tells them they are safe. Libby (Cynthia Watros) and Cindy (Kimberley Joseph) bring Jin (Daniel Dae Kim) to her after discovering him washed up on shore. He breaks free, so Ana Lucia follows and finds Michael (Harold Perrineau) and Sawyer (Josh Holloway).[4] Jin, Michael and Sawyer are thrown into the pit, as well as Ana Lucia, who pretends to have also been captured.[5] She believes that they are fellow 815 survivors and releases them,[4] and they travel to the camp of the other survivors. When they near the camp, Ana Lucia mistakes Shannon (Maggie Grace) for an Other and shoots her fatally.[6] The on-island events of "Collision" show her guilt after Shannon's death. She has Shannon's lover Sayid (Naveen Andrews) tied up and refuses to let the group move on. After some reasoning from Libby, she reluctantly lets them go.[1] Ana Lucia bonds with Jack, and they plan to raise an army.[7] She is invited into the hatch to interrogate a man claiming to be Henry Gale (Michael Emerson), and manages to receive a map to his crashed balloon.[8] She takes Sayid and Charlie (Dominic Monaghan) with her, and eventually discovers the crash site, and the body of the real Henry Gale.[9] In her second centric episode, "Two for the Road", Ana Lucia attempts to speak to Henry again, but she assaulted by him and nearly killed. Seeking revenge, she seduces Sawyer and steals his gun. She returns to the hatch and attempts to kill Henry, but is unable to bring herself to do it. She confides in Michael, who offers to kill him on her behalf, but upon handing him the gun, he shoots her in the chest, killing her.[2] She makes her final appearance in "?", where she appears in a dream to Mr. Eko (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje),[10] and is buried the next day.[11]

Personality

Ana Lucia was described by Melanie McFarland of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer as "demanding", "hostile" and a "bully".[12] She called Ana Lucia a "brooding, broken ex-cop" with a "perpetual scowl". McFarland described the character as someone with a "take-charge nature", and an "inability to be reasoned away from her dictatorial decisions".[12] Her "take-charge nature" is shown in "The Other 48 Days", where she quickly takes on the role of leader, helping to save other passenger's lives, and looking after the children.[4] Anna Johns from AOL's TV Squad felt Ana Lucia is "abrasive and lack[ing] common sense or civility".[13] C. K. Sample, also from TV Squad, thought Ana Lucia was "angry", "power mad" and a "total nut job".[14] According to supervising producer Leonard Dick, "Ana Lucia is somebody who does not want to be a victim. She was a victim once and she swore to herself she would never be a victim again".[15] Rodriguez described the character as "very intuitive", adding "I like that the character is pretty much always aware and suspicious".[16] After the crash, Ana Lucia quickly works out that there is a traitor within her group.[4] When Jin, Michael and Sawyer are found, she is immediately suspicious that they are Others and traps them in a pit.[4] She is "street smart" and has a "speak-her-mind quality".[17]

Development

In February 2005, Lost producers began looking for a Latina woman who would be the leader of the tail section, and a romantic interest for Jack.[18] She was to be mid-thirties and a detective.[18] Michelle Rodriguez's agent called the producers, informing them that Rodriguez was interested in the role, but only for a year.[18] Rodriguez, producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, and Lost creator J. J. Abrams had a meeting, where Rodriguez confirmed that she would only be interested in one season as she was a "nomadic spirit", but would like to do one "kickass" arc.[18] The producers liked her energy, so agreed, with the plan to kill Ana Lucia at the end of the season.[18] Rodriguez felt she had been typecast as the tough chick, so wanted this role to be different.[17] Ana Lucia was planned to start as a tough character, because that is what the audience would expect, then to gradually peel back the layers of the character;[17] an "animalistic type creature ... tamed by the Island".[16] They reconstructed the character slightly to fit what they liked about Rodriguez, such as making her more "street smart" with a "speak-her-mind quality".[17]

Ana Lucia made her first appearance in the penultimate episode of season one, so it would not seem like the producers had "pulled her out of [their] asses".[18] All Rodriguez was told about her character was that she was a cop, and her mother was also in the police force.[15] Her style of leadership deliberately contrasts Jack's; Jack is a reluctant leader, whereas Ana Lucia becomes leader without being asked.[17] In her first few appearances, Ana Lucia is very tough, so the flashbacks in "Collision", where it is revealed that she lost her baby, were used to show a softer side to her.[15] She is killed in her second centric episode, "Two for the Road",[2] and makes her final appearance in the next episode, "?".[10]

On December 1, 2005, Rodriguez was stopped by the police for driving under the influence,[19] prompting speculation that it was the reason for her departure from the series.[20] The producers denied the claims, and stated that their plans for the character were already in place. They said that although nothing could be done, they did consider not killing her off so it would not seem like it was because of the DUI.[18] Fellow Lost actor Cynthia Watros received a DUI that same night, and her character, Libby, was killed at the same time as Ana Lucia.[18] The producers found Ana Lucia to be an unsympathetic character, so Libby was killed at the same time to create an emotional impact.[21] The producers also denied that she was killed off because of Rodriguez's behaviour on set, saying that although they had no interaction with her, they had been told she was professional.[18] Rodriguez felt comfortable on the series, but was happy to leave as she felt this would help her grow personally, and become a woman.[22] She had mixed feelings about leaving Hawaii, where Lost is filmed, as she found her allergies were hard to deal with, but loved the scenery.[22]

Reception

Melanie McFarland from Seattle Post-Intelligencer described Ana Lucia as "one of the most intensely hated characters on television [in the] fall [of 2005]", due to her being "hostile" and a "bully".[12] She added Ana Lucia murdering Shannon, "the least deserving of sympathy of all the previously known survivors", made fans hate Ana Lucia even more.[12] McFarland found that this makes "the creation of her character, and Rodriguez's hire, strokes of brilliant writing and casting on the part of Lost producers J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof", and described her as a "hero stewed in pathos".[12] Anna Johns from TV Squad was unhappy at the prospect of Ana Lucia's death, and gave five reasons for keeping her alive. She felt that Ana Lucia was important because she was a "love to hate" character, she disrupted the Jack-Kate-Sawyer love triangle, and created conflicts, which make the show interesting.[13] Amy Amatangelo from Zap2it admitted she "enjoyed kind of loathing Ana Lucia".[23] In a later article, she described Ana Lucia's death as "a brilliant move", because "one of their own become one of them".[24] She added "nobody liked the Ana Lucia character anyway", but that did not stop it being "one of [the second] season's most jaw-dropping moments".[24] Alan Stanley Blair from SyFy Portal "cheered when she was shot".[25] Ana Lucia's death was second in IGN's list of the top ten Lost deaths, as she made an "immediate impact on the series" with an "unexpected end".[26] On the second season DVD, supervising producer Leonard Dick says "Michelle brought real strength, a dynamic element, to the role".[15] Michelle Rodriguez co-won the 2005 Screen Actors Guild Award for "Best Ensemble - Drama Series.[27]

References

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  1. ^ a b Stephen Williams (2005-11-23). "Collision". Lost. Season 2. Episode 8. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  2. ^ a b c Paul Edwards (2006-05-03). "Two for the Road". Lost. Season 2. Episode 20. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Jack Bender (2005-05-18). "Exodus: Part 1". Lost. Season 1. Episode 23. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e Eric Laneuville (2005-11-16). "The Other 48 Days". Lost. Season 2. Episode 7. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  5. ^ Jack Bender (2005-10-05). "Orientation". Lost. Season 2. Episode 3. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  6. ^ Adam Davidson (2005-11-09). "Abandoned". Lost. Season 2. Episode 6. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  7. ^ Stephen Williams (2006-01-18). "The Hunting Party". Lost. Season 2. Episode 11. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  8. ^ Karen Gaviola (2006-03-22). "The Whole Truth". Lost. Season 2. Episode 16. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Stephen Williams (2006-03-29). "Lockdown". Lost. Season 2. Episode 17. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  10. ^ a b Deran Sarafian (2006-05-10). "?". Lost. Season 2. Episode 21. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  11. ^ Stephen Williams (2006-05-17). "Three Minutes". Lost. Season 2. Episode 22. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |writers= ignored (help)
  12. ^ a b c d e McFarland, Melanie, (November 29, 2005) "Shedding Light on a Lost Villain", Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved on October 16, 2008.
  13. ^ a b Johns, Anna, (February 22, 2005) "The Five: Reasons NOT to kill off Ana Lucia", TV Squad. Retrieved on October 16, 2008.
  14. ^ Sample, C. K., (November 23, 2005) "Lost: Collision", TV Squad. Retrieved on October 16, 2008.
  15. ^ a b c d "Lost on Location - Collision". Lost: The Complete Second Season - The Extended Experience, Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Featurette, disc 7. Released on September 5, 2006.
  16. ^ a b "Lost on Location - The Other 48 Days". Lost: The Complete Second Season - The Extended Experience, Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Featurette, disc 7. Released on September 5, 2006.
  17. ^ a b c d e Lindelof, Damon & Cuse, Carlton, (November 21, 2005) "Official Lost Audio Podcast #3", ABC. Retrieved on October 24, 2008.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i Ausiello, Michael, (May 3, 2006) "Why Did Lost Kill Ana Lucia? Lindelof/Cuse Tell All!," TV Guide. Retrieved on April 22, 2008.
  19. ^ Associated Press, (May 4, 2006) "'Lost' Stars Michelle Rodriguez, Cynthia Watros Arraigned for DUI," Fox News. Retrieved on July 27, 2008.
  20. ^ Johns, Anna, (October 26, 2007) "Another Lost actor gets another DUI," TV Squad. Retrieved on May 26, 2008.
  21. ^ Ausiello, Michael, (May 10, 2006) "Why Lost Killed Libby," TV Guide. Retrieved on July 19, 2007.
  22. ^ a b Borod Wright, Liz, (May 4, 2006) "Lost Star Michelle Rodriguez Still Growing Up," ABC News. Retrieved on May 26, 2008.
  23. ^ Amatangelo, Amy, (April 15, 2006) "TV Gal Gets 'Lost' in Thought", Zap2it. Retrieved on October 20, 2008.
  24. ^ a b Amatangelo, Amy, (May 5, 2006) "TV Gal Is Simply Shocked", Zap2it. Retrieved on October 20, 2008.
  25. ^ Blair, Alan Stanley, (December 15, 2006) "Alan Stanley Blair Reviews BSG's 'The Passage'", SyFy Portal. Retrieved on October 20, 2008.
  26. ^ Carabott, Chris; Goldman, Eric; Iverson, Dan; Moriarty, Colin & Zoromski, Brian, (December 6, 2006) "IGN's Top 10 Lost Deaths", IGN. Retrieved on October 16, 2008.
  27. ^ SAG, (January 29, 2006) "Screen Actors Guild Honors Outstanding Film and Television Performances in 13 Categories at the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards," Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved on April 22, 2008.
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