Season 2, Episode 19:
S.O.S.
Directed by Eric Laneuville.
In flashbacks, Rose and Bernard meet when he helps her get her car out of some snow. Five months later, Bernard proposes to Rose, who reveals that she has terminal cancer. Bernard takes Rose to a faith healer in Australia, much to her anger. She pretends to be cured to stop Bernard from further attempts to save her.
On the Island, Bernard, frustrated by the lack of progress made in getting home, plans to build an S.O.S. sign on the beach, but Rose discourages him, claiming he's giving people false hope. He is unable to muster up much enthusiasm for the idea from the other survivors. Rose reveals that her cancer has been cured by the Island, and Bernard promises they will never leave.
At the Swan, an irritable Locke tries and fails to recreate the map he saw during the lockdown. Jack and Kate head into the jungle to offer a trade of Henry for Walt to the Others. They arrive at "the line", and Michael stumbles out of the jungle.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Artistic License – Geography: In a flashback, Bernard and Rose have lunch in a restaurant overlooking Niagara Falls, with a lovely view of the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls. The only way this would be possible is if the restaurant was located atop the Prospect Point Observation Tower, where there is no dining facility.
- Breather Episode: A mostly light-hearted Day in the Limelight for Rose and Bernard that sets the stage for the very dramatic final run of the season.
- A Day in the Limelight: Rose and Bernard become the first non main characters to get their own centric episode.
- Deconfirmed Bachelor: While proposing to Rose, Bernard mentions that he'd been happily single for over 50 years but meeting her made him want to get married at last.
- The Disease That Shall Not Be Named: Rose's terminal illness seems to be cancer, but is never named as such until "The Substitute", four seasons later.
- I Choose to Stay: After Rose tells him that the island cured her cancer, and that it might come back if they leave, Bernard promises to stay with her even if they were to be rescued.
- Idiot Ball: Kate gets herself and Jack caught in one of Rousseau's traps by picking up a doll she spots lying around in the jungle, even after Jack yells at her not to.Jack: You okay?
Kate: Yeah.
Jack: [sarcastically] Oh, good, so you can hear me. - Internal Reveal: Kate tells Jack about the medical hatch and that the Others are more sophisticated than they appear.
- Island Help Message: The episode title refers to Bernard deciding to build one of these after getting frustrated that the other survivors seem to have given up on ever getting rescued. He eventually abandons his efforts after Rose reveals that if they leave her cancer will come back.
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: Isaac could very well be a Fake Faith Healer, but he gets a sense that there is another "energy" that will heal Rose while he cannot. As it turns out, the island was able to heal her.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Bernard gathers 15 people to help him build the sign, but one by one, they abandon him.
- Secret Secret-Keeper: It's revealed that Rose has known all along about Locke having been in a wheelchair before the crash, having recognised him from the airport in Sydney, but has chosen to keep this to herself, even from Locke, who doesn't seem to remember their meeting.
