ALCATRAZ OBSERVATIONS: 1.05 Guy Hastings

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Welcome to Alcatraz Observations — our weekly investigation into the FOX mystery series. This week we dig into Episode 5, “Guy Hastings.”

Guy Hastings

• Meet Guy Hastings, an Alcatraz guard. Hastings came to the Rock in 1957 after serving in Korea.

• He believed that no man could survive Alcatraz alone — which seems to be an ongoing theme; an idea that’s been conveyed in almost every episode to date.

• It’s also interesting to note how happy he and his family were on the Rock – it’s somewhat poignant that happiness could flourish on Alcatraz, of all places.

• Hastings was Ray Archer‘s training guard. He vouched for Ray even though he had reason to believe that he was on the Rock to help Tommy.

• Jump forward to present-day and we see an still-youthful Hastings looking around his now old, dilapidated abode. This provides an interesting contrast while allowing us into Hastings’ sense of displacement.

• With memories playing such a big role in the series to date, it’s interesting to see him retrieve hidden photos from his ‘past’.

• It seems the guards were unwitting casualties in the Alcatraz vanishing. Hastings provides insight into his transition from 1963 to now:

“I haven’t been anywhere. I took my little one down to the dock and kissed her goodbye. And at night, I was on the North Tower and the fog took all the stars away. In the morning I was in the infirmary, they told us there had been an accident. Our families were dead. Most of us guards were in there. They told us we were sick, contaminated and that we couldn’t leave. And then… it wasn’t 1963 anymore.”

• The mention of ‘fog taking the stars away’ sounds warden James-esque, more to the point, perhaps there was something in the air that night (we know they had ‘gas’ facilities)? The infirmary is once again mentioned as a key location in the ‘conspiracy’.

• According to Hastings, they were told their families were dead right before the jump. Was this to keep them focused on their respective, programmed missions?

• Speaking of the jump, Hastings has apparently been tasked with catching Tommy Madsen. It seems those pulling the strings have “lost” him.

• While not as overtly displayed as Sylvane and Sweeney, Hastings seems to suffer from memory issues — he’s certainly acting for others.

Ray Archer

• The ‘big reveals’ in this episode surrounded Ray. He was a guard at Alcatraz and Tommy Madsen’s brother, making him Rebecca’s smashing-great uncle, for real.

• His guarded reaction (no pun) in the pilot when Rebecca wanted to dig deeper into the rabbit hole now has added context.

• Ray became a guard at Alcatraz to support Tommy. At this time he whole-heartedly believed his brother was innocent of murdering his wife.

• As we discover in the present day story, this viewpoint has since changed. It should be interesting to find out what led Ray to change his mind. Is Tommy guilty? (Did warden 4-matches make him confesssss?).

• This shift is important in informing Ray’s dutiful but ice-cold reaction to Tommy in the present day timeline. He’s known all along where Tommy was, and has (until pressed by Hastings) kept it a secret, but wants nothing to do with him.

• The fact that he threatens to kill him, rather that hand him over if he doesn’t keep his distance from Rebecca, says a lot about the current state of their relationship.

Tommy Madsen

• Tommy Madsen is certainly the one tying the mythology together at the moment. There’s more mention of him spending “weeks in the infirmary” giving blood. A further blood reference comes when Ray tells him, “you’re my blood.”

• Presumably he beat Ray with the tray because he had an idea of what was coming and wanted to protect his bro. Interesting that he eventually accepted that they were “in this together.” Obviously, that didn’t last.

• But having a guard on his side perhaps made things easier for him for a while. Indeed, in Episode 3 he advises Kit Nelson that getting the medical staff onside would make his life easier. Again, the concept of not being able to survive Alcatraz alone is teased.

• As mentioned, it seems that Tommy has gone rogue, off the grid, as it were. Presumably his proximity to the experiments afforded him an advantage that the other inmates don’t appear to have.

• As for his feelings towards Rebecca? He finds it strange being GF at his age.

• He signs off by telling Ray that “this isn’t over.”

Rebecca Madsen

• The writers continue to show that Rebecca has a healthy appetite. She’s like the total opposite of Fringe‘s Olivia Dunham, who we’ve only seen have just one bite of a piece of toast in four years (pretty much). It’s refreshing to see, though can more time be spent on serialization? Let’s hope so.

• The scene with her watching Ray through the window of his bar (post revelation) suggests that she’s now slightly detached from him; seeing him with new eyes and all that. The rain-drops make for an intriguing, starry, effect.

• Now that she knows Hauser needs her because of her blood-ties to Tommy, puts her in a position of power over Hauser, believing that he needs her more than she needs him. Will this hold true?

• Sixteen years ago, Ray described her as “precocious” — further hinting towards a special talent that may have ties to Tommy’s blood experiments.

Doc Soto

• We barely learn anything new about Soto in this one, apart from his boy scout backstory. We also get another reference to his “Inmates Of Alcatraz” book, which is basically like the Doctor’s psychic paper.

Emerson Hauser

• Hauser is sympathetic towards Hastings, calling him a “casualty.” As pointed out by several of you, he was an officer (not a gaurd) on the night the 302 vanished.

• He monitors Rebecca and Soto using a tracking device. This is another of his ‘Big Brother’ tricks, after somehow knowing that Rebecca nabbed the Big Ass Key from Cal Sweeney.

• Hauser offered Ray a job 16 years ago to get to the bottom of the mystery (but it’s only recently that the 63s have starting coming back). We know that Ray hand his hands full with Rebecca at the time, but would he have accepted Hauser’s job offer otherwise?

• This is pretty important because it basically confirms that Hauser little act in the pilot about not wanting Rebecca (and Soto) on his team was indeed a little act (certainly in relation to Becs).

Warden James

• The warden didn’t seem too bothered by the prospect that Ray could be Tommy’s inside man. He was more concerned about enjoying Alcatraz life with his daughter. He left the decision up to Hastings (bypassing Tiller).

• Did he know that any escape attempt was futile? (due to the subterranean visitant, perhaps?)

• Earlier, Hastings provides further insight into the warden’s leniency when it comes to allowing the inmates to sit where they want during meals.

• Remember, Tiller showed distaste to the warden’s latitude in the previous episode. This continues to play into the warden’s philosophical, almost ‘healing,’ approach to running Alcatraz — though I doubt he’s as soft a touch as Tiller perceives.

E.B. Tiller

• Tiller’s suspicions about a bond between Tommy and Ray were correct. He was visibly irked when the warden essentially ignored the matter.

• If indeed the warden knew that no-one could ever escape Alcatraz, this further suggests that Tiller wasn’t completely in the loop. Worth noting that in the Pilot episode he seemed surprised before an un-aged Jack Sylvane killed him.

Dr. Beauregard

• Not too much Beauregard-action in this one, but he did seem intrigued by what caused Ray’s head wound — almost as though he and Tiller had been..talking. Perhaps trying to weed the truth out of him?

• He also drops another cigarette reference. We know how much he likes a smoke.

Traz Cave

• The Traz Cave received a bit more action, as the show’s ‘world-building’ continued. Nods also to the Traz phone and Traz room  — the door to which opens automagically for Hauser.

• No follow up on the thermal imaging from Episode 4, but Hauser and the H-Boys do check for seismic activity on the day Hastings returned. No joy there, but it’s interesting that Hauser would think of this as a possible lead.

• One of the H-Boys asks Hauser if he thinks the keys, Tommy Madsen and the jump are all related. Has he not been paying attention?

• As touched on earlier, Hauser comes to the notion that Tommy is “lost.” This could go in several directions — is he literally lost; has his programming left him uncertain of his mission, or (more likely) has he found a loop-hole — a way around the long arm of the past?

• This episode introduces us to more areas in Alcatraz — the Gun Gallery and the Mess Hall (aka the Gas Chamber”), which is described as the most dangerous room in the most dangerous prison in the world. I was hoping for more BHD follow-up, but wasn’t surprised not to get it.

Of Madsen Past

• Records show that Tommy and Ray’s parents were named William and Laura Madsen, while Rebecca’s parents were Van and Sally Madsen — both passed away on Feb 1st, 1995.

Doubles

• The reflective quality of this scene reinforces Ray and Hastings remembering their shared pasts. Their histories quite literally ventured through different doors.

• The reflective overlay is also a nice ‘double’ shot, informing Rebecca’s sudden displacement and transparency. How will she respond to the truth about uncle Ray?

Clues and Other Notes

• So far, each of the central characters has had a go introducing the previously on section — this week was the turn of Soto (Jorge Garcia). Episode 3 or 4 would have made more sense.

• Hastings’ daughter Annie had grown “42 inches”. LOST number reference alert.

• An inmate called “Red Stevens” is mentioned. This is a nod to Shawshank Redemption, specifically Morgan Freeman’s character “Red” and Tim Robbins’ Andy, who used the “Randall Stevens” identity. (note: Red was also referenced in “Cal Sweeney”. Sweeny took his place at EBs party).

• Hauser notes that Tommy is LOST.

• Ray wipes down his bar, symbolically wiping away his memories.

• Becs shoots Hastings in the leg, but you wouldn’t have thought so given his non-reaction in the scenes that followed.

• Hauser appears to be holding rosary beads when glaring at Tommy’s photo — perhaps a sign that he’s a man of faith.

Big Questions

• Did Hastings really have time or reason to hide the photos before the jump, or did someone place them there to trigger his memories?

• Will Hauser lock Hastings up in Trazville 2.0? Will he become a guard there? Chew the fat with Dr. B?

5 down..a heck of a lot to go..

Previously On Alcatraz Observations: 1.04 Cal Sweeney

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Tagged as: alcatraz, alcatraz observations, clues, easter eggs, guy hastings, observations