"The End"

Well, we have finally reached The End, my friends. And as I ponder the last season of LOST, I can’t help but remember how it all started for me. A random trip to the movie store with a buddy in the summer of 2005 yielded the first season on DVD (and, of course, a bag full of tooth-rotting sweets). From the first moment I entered the LOST world, I knew it would be a while before I emerged again as a normal, sane human being. Just a short week later, I was 20-plus episodes in and waiting for Season 2 to begin.

It was an adjustment learning how to wait a week for each new episode, and the break between seasons never got easier, but it was a discipline to which I adapted quickly. And these little breaks between hours of LOST provided me with a gift that I never expected from a television show—community. Weekly discussion between co-workers and online LOSToholics ensued as I found a community of people as obsessed as me, and it was comforting to know this show had as powerful an impact on them. Now here I sit trying to capture my thoughts on the finale and the series as a whole and it’s still difficult for me to believe it is all over. So before I turn you off and get too nostalgic, I’ll jump headfirst into the finale and the murkiness of reality as presented by LOST.

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REACTION

I’m going to be honest with you (I hope you wouldn’t expect anything less from me): when the finale ended, I did not have the emotional reaction as many did. In fact, I felt quite underwhelmed. Here I had been waiting six years to find out what the hell has been going on on this Island and for some reason I thought this finale would satisfy most of the curiosity that had been brooding in my over-imaginative mind since 2005. Now, that’s not to say the finale wasn’t entertaining or engaging emotionally. Actually, it was so well acted and executed that I had completely forgotten about all of the questions I wanted answered during those final two-and-a-half hours.

But when Jack’s eye closed and the final LOST popped up on my screen, all of those questions immediately rushed back and, I admit, I felt a bit cheated. “Wait…where’s that final creepy scene? Where’s that perspective that throws my whole perception of the show right out the window? How did Eloise know everything she did? How exactly did the MiB become the Smoke Monster? What about the whole Island pregnancy thing? What’s the story with Walt? This list goes on and on. So I can definitely sympathize with those who felt the end was a "cheat" or a "cop out," but the more I pondered the implications of what we saw in the finale, the more I let it sink in and the more I discussed it with others, the more I began to appreciate how this amazing series decided to close the door.

I’m sure many of you have been reading various theories on what certain scenes or lines meant and the analysis that follows is what I have take from other views and merged with my own interpretation of the show. I hope those who didn’t like the ending will at least read with an open mind and not forget the six (or five, or four, depending who is reading) years of entertaining television we were given. And I hope those who did enjoy the finale will find some new insights or springboards for their own discussions. The easiest way to dissect the finale, I think, is to discuss the Island versus the flash-sideways and attempt to bring them together. So…here we go, off into the jungle of mystery for one last time...

(Well, until the DVDs come out with special features and then I’ll probably be back to ramble a little more).

THE ISLAND

A few minutes after the finale ended, when I was left alone with my thoughts, part of me was pissed I didn’t get some friggin’ answers and part of me was so relieved not to have to worry about the 75 theories in my head or how they were going to resolve the series. Then I had a moment of "kensho" regarding this Season 6 plot device. The reason the flash-sideways felt so out of place was because it was out of place. I do not think the Sideways, in this particular manifestation, was an idea that surfaced very early on in the series.

There is a theory, which I shared with my wife after the finale aired and then found online when several others had come to the same conclusion, that the entire series was supposed to be the flash-sideways. In other words, the Island was the place where these people were to gather before heading off to their final (or next) destination in the afterlife. The Island itself was a purgatory of sorts (which it still remained, to some degree). However, just a few episodes into Season 1, after Jack says this line—“We all died three days ago.”—bells started going off in everyone’s head. “It’s purgatory!” “They’re all dead!” Many scoffed at the idea while others seemed to embrace it. I can definitely see, looking at the series as a whole now, why they responded the way they did. Remember? The producers told fans, “It is definitely NOT purgatory! Everyone is alive. All of this is actually happening.” Then behind closed doors they probably cursed themselves for making it too obvious right off the bat and began to concoct a different ending, planting lots of various mythological story lines in hopes that one would yield a new and satisfying resolution. In the end, they circled back around to the original idea, using their famous (and familiar) “flash” device to create the Sideways as a stand-in for this purgatory of sorts.

Now I’m not completely convinced this is what happened, but it is certainly as possible as anything else. And, like so many other things in LOST, we’ll never know for sure. But there are a couple of clues that make me think this is very plausible. The main one is Michael. I had a strange feeling that the answer to the whispers, which came earlier this season, was decided early on when the Island-as-purgatory theory was still "alive." Something about the way it was presented felt a little...forced. Was it an answer they kept because it was at least satisfactory and consistent with the appearance of whispers throughout the series? It was revealed that the whispers were the souls of those who cannot leave the Island because of their past actions (um, sound purgatory-ish, anyone?). But really, why Michael? Shouldn’t Ben have been bound to the Island? He certainly committed way more heinous acts in his life than Michael (who actually ended up sacrificing himself for the lives of some of the people he betrayed, right?). And what about Martin Keamy? That guy was possibly the creepiest and most violent man on the show, yet he shows up in the sideways with threats of even more nasty acts. Or is he simply a construct of the Sideways universe, like Jack’s son? Either way, something seems a bit off there. To me at least.

Anyway, I’m not trying to convince you that this is the truth. But I do feel it can be helpful to try to dissect some of the show through the writer lens as it might give us more insight into the realities of the story than the show itself.

Ok ok, so back to the Island. I will say that the Island story, even as several loose threads remain, was friggin’ awesome. From the episode where Locke and Boone accidentally discovered the hatch in Season 1 to the EPIC showdown between Jack and fLocke on the Island’s Cliffs of Insanity in the finale, it has been an adrenaline-loaded ride, full of mystery, adventure, tragedy, danger, suspense, and Kate in a bikini…I mean, Sun in a bikini….I mean…nevermind. It was a fun ride, right?

I’ve been reading posts on the various message boards about how the finale ruined the series and how people are going to sell their previous season DVDs on eBay as a show of their disgust. I feel sorry for those people who immediately forgot how entertaining it was to follow the story of these LOSTies for the past few years. Even if the finale remained as a disappointment for me, there’s no way I could turn on the show the way some of these “fans” have. There was what, 120-something hours of the show? And they hate the ENTIRE series now because the last two hours didn’t meet their expectations or didn’t answer a laundry list of unanswered questions? Oh well, I’m not out to persuade anyone that LOST was executed or ended in a perfect way. I don’t think anyone can argue it was a flawless show. Who of us wouldn’t haven’t enjoyed a few more answers about the Island? But we DID get a resolution to the Island story (whether you liked it or not) and, in my humble opinion, it was certainly an epic one.

THE SIDEWAYS

One of my complaints early on this season was the Sideways universe. It did really feel new and fresh at first. Yes, it was interesting to see Oceanic Flight 815 from a new perspective. Yes, it was entertaining to see everyone in a different light or playing a different role. Yes, it was fun to see Ben NOT deceiving the scheisse out of everyone. But I almost felt—and I’m sure I’m not the only one—that these characters weren’t quite the same characters I had gotten to know over the past five years. So I found myself watching with a detached interest as their stories unfolded. I mean, what were the stakes of this universe? Could they die here? Did it matter if they died here? Obviously, now that we are at the end of the series, these questions seem ridiculous (as do many others I had).

This, I feel, was the biggest flaw of the Sideways story. It didn’t feel like there was any connection to our Island world and there was no real build up to the reveal we received in the last 10 or so minutes of the finale. I think the Sideways would have been much more effective, and better received by the audience, if they didn’t sacrifice screen time just to hide such a hard “twist” until the last few minutes of the show. I'm a big fan of those hard twists but c'mon, it's the last season! I think I would have been okay with them giving us some hints this time! Let us come close to figuring it out! Don’t drop the bomb (which they HAD to know a LOT of people would NOT like) right before you dip out for good. I understand they wanted to keep a huge WTF moment for the end, but ya know, I would have enjoyed the last season even more if it was a little more straightforward and I had a least some idea where the Sideways was headed. (And it was definitely a WTF moment. How many of you thought we would be sitting here at the end of the series talking about PURGATORY?! Not I, said the Steve-O.) After being teased and led for five years, it would have been refreshing, in my opinion, to have a solid idea what was going on. But maybe that’s just me.

Having said that, I do feel the Sideways/afterlife dimension really brought resolution to our characters in a way I thought they wouldn't be able to do on LOST. To know for sure that these bonds they created last through death and to know that all of their suffering wasn’t in vain made me feel happy I stuck with the show through all the ups and downs. And some of those “wake-up” moments in the finale were just beautiful. The Sawyer/Juliet and the Kate/Charlie/Claire moments are the two that stick out in my mind the most. I also really liked the Ben/Locke scene outside of the Church, where Ben asks forgiveness for all the things he did to Locke (which includes murdering him, I assume). It was clear that Ben was not ready to move on. And after all the things we saw him do throughout the series, I wouldn't be surprised if he is there for a while. The Eloise/Daniel situation was interesting too. Apparently she disapproved of Desmond's influence in the waking up of the LOSTies and was concerned that Desmond might be working to make Daniel more aware of what was happening to him. I think it's safe to assume that Eloise, feeling eternally guilty for killing her son, felt she needed to stay and continue to support and love Daniel in ways she wasn't able to do in her other life.

The only reconnection I really, really disliked was Sayid/Shannon. After all that we have seen with Sayid and Nadia, I was shocked to see him with Shannon again. Now I know that Sayid and Nadia were never “together” but they had JUST brought her back into the show in the Sideways, as if they wanted to refresh our memory and build on that story again. Then a few eps later, he’s making out with Shannon. Ugh. Go ahead and justify away, but this did not sit well with me and I think it’s a perfect example of how the reveal of the Sideways as the afterlife took precedent over the importance and relevance of the Sideways.

I really thought we were going to get a more science fiction-y explanation to the flash-sideways. You know, something about multiple dimensions, where one must survive at the expense of other. Maybe there would be some merging of consciousness shared through the Island so our LOSTies could live on in some way. And I'm pretty sure that's what they wanted us to believe since there was a lot of misdirection with the introduction and handling of the Sideways. At the beginning of the season, we were shown that extremely painful scene of Juliet pounding the bomb, which then led us straight into the Flight 815x experience. They were planting little seeds of a reset, or a split timeline, and that's how they pulled the rug out from under us. But instead of a complicated, technical resolution, we were able to witness a unique bonding of our characters. A bond so strong it not only remained through their deaths, but even brought them together and guided them to their next destination.

I've heard some people say this resolution was ridiculous because it didn't have that technical ending and that the overtly spiritual explanation to the Sideways didn't fit the show. To me, that's what was so beautiful about it. Especially because spirituality has ALWAYS been present in the show! It was usually subtle but not always. How much Biblical imagery was shown throughout the series? How many of the show's literary references had spiritual themes? We even had Eko building a CHURCH on the Island! (I reeeeally wish we could have seen Eko's storyline play out, btw.) And I don't think it should have been a big surprise to see the afterlife explicitly manifest in the show, either. It wasn't that long ago that we were exposed to all of the Egyptian hieroglyphics and references to the underworld in the background of scene settings. I'm pretty sure that the hieroglyphics on the countdown clock in the Swan hatch in Season 2 stood for "death" and/or "underworld" or something like that. Yeah, that was definitely a clue. Back then we even shared theories about the meaning of those symbols and about how the Island is some sort of gateway for the dead!

On a somewhat random note, I think the most significant danger that happened when Des pulled the stone plug out its socket was that the door between the Island reality and the Sideways reality was closed, meaning those who died could not move on to the next plane of existence. The way this ties into Smokey is that the light needed to be put out so he could destroy the Island and leave, thus endangering all those who were dead and eventually those who are living. This act was all for his own benefit. And I honestly don't think Smokey was that smart because I don't believe he really thought through what would happen after he left the Island. He didn't even know what was across the sea! But anyway, if MiB killed all of the candidates and the light went out for good, Smokey could escape the Island and in turn keep that door between realities shut. The best way I can parallel this is to reference Christian theology. Shocker, I know. The light going out presents a situation that I felt was much like the state of the dead before the incarnation, life, and death of Jesus. That is, the gates of heaven were closed after the fall of Adam and Eve, until Jesus sacrificed himself for mankind, reopening the doors to Heaven. I think this is a direct parallel to Jack’s character on the show. Jack made the ultimate sacrifice to save his friends, eventually leading him to the Sideways world where he met up with his fellow LOSTies, who were all able to move on because of his sacrificial act to keep the door open and his awareness of that act in the Sideways.

So, quite simply, the LOSTies were brought to the Island to save the world. Not just the Island world but also the Sideways world. Wait…what? Yeah, that’s right! These two realities are much more connected than we may have initially thought. I believe the light at the heart of the Island is the same light that embraced the Church in the Sideways at the end of the finale. That light is the Source, as some have been calling it. The source of life, death and rebirth. So in a way, by passing through that Light, the LOSTies were all returning to the Island together. Didn't the image of the LOSTies in the pews almost look like they were passengers on a plane again, preparing for takeoff?

A FEW MORE MUSINGS

It seems this finale has split the LOSTies into two camps: (wo)men of faith and (wo)men of science. In the LOSTverse, the man of faith wins out, at least as far as answers go, and it seems like those are the fans who were satisfied as the series came to a close. Anyone who entered into the finale expecting definitive, technical answers to Island questions was justified in their presumption but left in the dark at the end; an interesting comment about the relationship between these two forces. However, if there is one thing I know for sure about LOST, it’s that we do not get definitive answers! To me, the most shocking thing about the finale is that it was so…final (as far as the character stories go, at least).

I DO think we got some major answers this season, even if we don’t fully realize it. But of course, most of them were vague, implied or very briefly addressed (in traditional LOST fashion). I know people wanted to see more Island history and I agree that would have been awesome. I really, really, really think they could have introduced the MiB/Jacob backstory WAY earlier. Seriously, even if we got the “Across the Sea” episode randomly in Season 4 or 5, we still wouldn’t have been able to guess what the heck was going to happen. And that would have also given them time to include other Jacob/MiB- or origin-centric episodes with even more explanations of Island questions never addressed.

Of course, I have no idea how difficult it is to plan, break and write stories week-to-week with as much depth and mystery as the people behind this show. It is so easy for us as viewers to point out the things the writers may have missed or didn’t address properly (in our opinions), but it is very difficult to imagine the pressure and intensity of preparing and sharing a story like this, especially one as scrutinized as LOST.

In the end, LOST was not just about the Island or who the first protector of the light was or who built the Temple or how 40-something people survived a plane crash. LOST was quite simply about the power of the relationships between these people. And we all know this show was an allegory for life more than anything else. In our reality of conscious experience on this planet (or “Island”), can we really explain how and why Love moves people the way it does? Can we explain how that Light inside of us compels people to lay down their lives for a friend or even a stranger? Do we know why it is we are so closely connected to some people in our lives? Can we definitively explain where this world came from or how it will end? Absolutely not! And you know what? I’m glad LOST didn’t try to answer these questions definitively either. It is not that this show provided profound insight into the answers to these questions, but rather presented them in a way that made us look at these larger issues again and more closely. It is a rare thing these days for a television show to deal with issues such as those discussed on LOST, and for that I am grateful.

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Well, this post didn’t really turn out to be as detail-oriented as I wanted, though it is a lot longer than I expected it would be! I was actually planning on addressing a lot of the questions that still remain in the show, to see if we could shed any light on them, but I just started writing and this is what came out. So, I kindly ask YOU to comment with your questions so we can continue the discussion and sort out some of the mysteries that are still nagging us. Or feel free to leave your favorite LOST lines/scenes/memories from the last six years. I know that will bring back some pleasant, nostalgic feelings for me and others who are still around to read this blog.

Now, for a really thorough and complete recap of the finale, I highly recommend reading Doc Jensen’s two-part article. He really helped me put a lot of things into perspective. He is probably the person who “gets” the show better than anyone else I have read or talked to. You can find part one of his analysis here and part two here.

I also want to thank everyone for encouraging me to write about the show throughout the years, even though I didn’t always come through. I especially want to thank my wonderful wife Jacqui, who has served as my editor for most of my blog posts. It has been a great experience for me to share my theories and ramblings with you and, as I mentioned above, the community of LOST fans may just be the best part of the show. I hope you have enjoyed this blog as much as I did writing it. I don’t think we’ll have another show like this for a long time so let’s bask in the wake of LOST and be glad that our LOSTies FOUND their purpose and each other.

Namaste, my dear friends. See you in another life, yeah?

SFO

Episode 6.09 — “Ab Aeterno”

Greetings!

Well, I have been waiting for a moment of drug-free clarity to finish writing and organizing my thoughts on “Ab Aeterno” and then realized it would be a while before I have a head clear of pain meds. So, my LOST friends, what you see is what you get! Consider this your warning that what follows may be even more jumbled and rambly than usual.

For the record, I thought this episode was friggin’ awesome. If you weren’t somewhat satisfied with “Ab Aeterno” then you are going to hate the rest of the series. Sorry. I have actually read posts on the forums from frustrated viewers claiming this episode did not give us any answers. Umm, what? I have no idea what show they were watching on Tuesday, but this is the kind of LOST I wanted to see in the final season. I’ve been waiting for this Richard episode since his initial mysterious appearances in Season 3, and I felt it delivered a dramatic, entertaining and epic story of the character, which was played wonderfully by Nestor Carbonell.

Of course, the more we peel back the layers of the Island’s history, the more we scratch our heads, but this episode was a refreshing step away from the sideways format and into the meat of the mythology. Here are some things I found interesting. I hope you will add to the discussion!

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1) Can we go ahead and agree that neither of these guys is good? — Both Jacob and MiB are responsible, either directly or indirectly, for many, many deaths throughout the Island’s history. Neither seems to have a real problem responding with violence, or allowing it to happen, when they are threatened or when they want to make a point. And for MiB, violence seems to be the method of choice.



Jacob has brought humans to the Island over and over again to prove to MiB that they aren’t worthless vehicles of destruction. Is this not a selfish act stroking Jacob's ego? Would God and/or his representatives allow such things to prove a point to their enemy? Would they destroy life just to prove the opposition wrong?

And those who are “touched” by Jacob are the ones who seem to suffer the most, no? The prime example is Locke, who arguably had the greatest faith in the Island and Jacob, and he paid the ultimate price for his loyalty to this entity. Though in this episode we got a glimpse of Richard's humanity and how he suffered for the Island as well.

Throughout this final season, we’ve been given mirror images of each character via the Alt. Does anyone think it’s possible that the same thing could be happening with our oldest Island inhabitants? Could Jacob and MiB be two sides of the same entity? They must be related somehow, whether they’re brothers, cousins or best buddies gone bad, right? MiB said something about how Jacob “stole” his body. Does that mean Jacob now controls it? Is the Island a kind of self-inflicted prison meant to capture and detain the “evil” part of the Jacob entity? Do we already know the name of MiB? Is it…Jacob?

2) The Cork — In this episode, we find Jacob describing the Island as a “cork,” which keeps MiB (aka “evil” or “darkness”) from escaping and spreading beyond the confines of the Island to the rest of the world. If we continue with this analogy of the Island as a stopper, or barrier, then what exactly is the wine bottle? Is the Island a gateway into the world of the unseen, or another dimension? And what exactly are the consequences of MiB’s escape? Can the world really get any worse? Maybe it is better that he escapes and ends things once and for all so this silly game between these two characters can cease!



Since the Island is underwater in the Alt, does this give us a clue as to what the Alt really is? Does it mean MiB has escaped his Island prison and is free to roam the world in this version of history? Are the lives of our LOSTies in the Alt as pleasant as they seem? I certainly don’t think so. But when will we see the true nature of this other universe? When are things going to take a turn for the worse? Will we eventually see MiB’s influence on our characters? Am I totally off my rocker here?

3) Jacob’s “power” — Bring Richard’s wife back? Nope. Give Richard absolution and forgiveness for his sins? Sorry. Eternal life? Say no more, my friend! Have I got a deal for you!

Exactly how powerful is Jacob? Was he being completely truthful with Richard? I thought Dogen said Jacob would bring his son back to life after that horrible car accident if Dogen would fulfill a role on the Island. So do Jacob’s resurrection powers depend on the situation? Or is this just Jacob using more manipulation to get his players in place?



Certainly Jacob is not the all-powerful God, but I think he may be a (reluctant) servant of the Almighty. It is possible that Jacob himself acted out of line and now his punishment is keeping an eye on MiB for the remainder of his days. Hmm?

4) God (Jacob) vs. El Diablo (MiB) — Now I don’t necessarily think it’s “God” versus the “Devil” here (or strictly good versus evil) but these Island characters do have many similarities to how both of these entities usually work. God traditionally prefers to manifest himself through people and their subtle, divine spiritual revelations—more of a behind-the-scenes kind of guy, if you will—while the Devil never has a problem getting in someone’s face and telling them how it is (or how he sees it).



But by painting MiB and Jacob with the ambiguous brush, the writers have allowed themselves the chance to pull the ol’ switcheroo on us. It may be a little late in the game to do something that drastic, but we’ve seen crazier things on this show. Some have voiced their disappointment in the possibility that the show is simply another way to tell the good versus evil story but, honestly, if you look back to earlier seasons (Season 1, especially) this is nothing new on LOST. And for me personally, it’s been one of the greatest versions of this age-old tale. I’m just very interested to see how they choose to resolve it all.

5) The Island world’s influence on the Alt — If we assume that the Alt is MiB winning the game, or escaping the Island, then can we assume that the sides chosen in the Island world reflect how the character’s lives play out in the Alt? For example, Sayid has turned dark on the Island and in the Alt he remains a killer. Keamy was very evil in the Island world and still ends up a gangster of sorts in the Alt. Hurley ultimately chooses good (I assume) and ends up as the luckiest guy ever. Coincidence? How do YOU think these two realities connect to each other?



6) Compliments of posters on the Fuselage, here are just a few things we learned this episode (for all you skeptics) —
- How Richard came to the Island.
- Why Richard never ages.
- How Magnus Hanso and the Black Rock ended up on the Island.
- How the giant statue was reduced to just a foot.
- Why MiB wants to kill Jacob.
- The island isn't actually hell but rather the barrier to hell on earth.
- Jacob brings "morally questionable" people to the island to show MiB that they cannot all be corrupted.
- Jacob asked Ilana to protect the Candidates.

Not bad for one episode of LOST, huh?



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As I mentioned above, this is the kind of LOST I was hoping to see in the final season. I really enjoyed the linear storytelling format of the episode, as it was a nice break from what we’ve been seeing week to week so far. I don’t imagine we’ll get another of these eps for a couple of weeks, but I am confident we’ll have a few more mythos-heavy hours before the season’s end.

Also, I didn’t include a “Favorite Lines/Scenes” section this week so please leave your favorites in the comments section!

Thank you all for your patience while I continue to recover from my surgery! I’m hoping by this time next week I’ll be off my pain medication and able to focus more on LOST and the blog. We’re halfway through the final season, so hang in there, fellow LOSToholics! The end is near!

Until next time…

Namaste…and good luck.

SFO

Episode 6.08 — "Recon"

Hello, LOSTies!

Although I'm really dying to write about this week's Richard-centric episode, I made a promise to myself at the beginning of this final season that I would post at least a little something on each episode. I don't want to spend too much time on "Recon," mainly because I don't feel there is that much to talk about, but also because I really want to shift gears and discuss the major mythology points we were presented with "Ab Aeterno." So if this post seems a bit short and uninspired, that's probably why. Well, let's get to it!

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1) Mirror images/Altverse — As in the previous sideways episodes we were given another literal mirror image of the centric character, which offered us a metaphorical comparison of the two versions of the same person. In Sawyer's flash-sideways we learn he is a cop but still apparently has all of his conman skills. While there are many significant differences between the Sawyers, we know that in both versions his parents died because of the real Sawyer's interference and that this particular incident is what is driving the dark side of him. Does this prove that the Altverse was not created until 1977, when the Incident occurred?



The only thing that is bothering me about the flash-sideways episodes is that we still have no major clues as to what the heck their relation is to the story we've been following. (Or do we? I'm trying to write this pretending I haven't seen "Ab Aeterno" so I'll address this more in the next post.) That, and the fact that everyone in the Altverse is in Los Angeles. That is either lazy writing or something significant. Yes, I know everyone was originally on a plane heading to Los Angeles but I'm pretty sure ALL of the characters didn't live or work there (like Sawyer). Is this just a storytelling device to make sure all of the LOSTies interact in the Altverse, or is there a major clue to the nature of the Altverse? Are they all unknowingly gathering in Los Angeles for a game-changing moment that will shoot these LOSTies into the other universe? Any guesses?

2) fLocke & Kate's chat — This was probably my favorite scene of the entire episode. And guess what? There was no Sawyer! Sorry all you Sawyer-lovers out there, but my interest in that character is dwindling at the moment so forgive me for focusing on other scenes in his centric episode. Truth is, there were way more interesting things happening when Sawyer was not on screen. (Or having sex twice in the first 20 minutes...By the way, I didn't realize the LAPD condoned sleeping with potential criminals during a "setup.")



Okay, aaanyway, so we learned a little more about fLocke's history from his conversation with Kate. We learned that he had a crazy mother, he had some "growing pains" and that all of his suffering could have been avoided. Hmmmm. I know I mentioned this in a previous post, but I'm still not sure what a lot of you think about the theory that states the sideways world is proof that MiB "wins" and the fact that the Island is underwater in the Alt means he has escaped. Anyone think that theory still stands?

3) Widmore — It seems that Widmore is indeed against MiB but...why? Do we have any information about the history of their relationship? Also, I wouldn't count out the possibility that Widmore is on his own side, making one last attempt to claim the Island for himself. He seems willing and able to protect the Island from anything ('cept Ben Linus in his prime) and I wouldn't be surprised if he was the mastermind behind creating those pylons that can keep out Smokey.



So who killed all the rest of the Ajira survivors? It couldn't have been Widmore, right? When Sawyer approached the pile o' bodies he covered his nose because of the stench, meaning that those bodies must have been sitting there for a while. It has to be Smokey, yeah? I mean, Smokey has no problems killing (or lying about killing in front of children).

Ooo, and what do you think was in the locked door on Widdie's sub??

4) Crossing over — As of now, it seems like Jack is the only one in the Altverse who has some vague recollection of what happened in the other universe. There have been glimpses of memories with other characters (think of Kate's face when she heard Claire say "Aaron" in "What Kate Does"). However, even though all of these characters might not realize that they exist elsewhere in reality, I think they are experiencing the consequences of decisions made by their other selves.



When Sawyer finally came clean with Miles about the real Sawyer, he explains how he was in Australia chasing down leads on Anthony Cooper. Then he tells Miles that when he finds him, he's going to kill him. The tone of voice, the expression, everything, totally looked like Island Sawyer. Does anyone think that one version of these characters will absorb the qualities of the other, thus creating the "full" version of each and preparing them to complete the task for which they were created?

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As most of you know, I'm recovering from surgery and on heavy doses of pain meds, so while this may all make sense to me, I completely understand if it didn't quite come out as a coherent analysis of "Recon." I would be happy to clear anything up in this post, so feel free to leave a comment or send me a message and I will try again. =)

Until next time...

Namaste...and good luck.

SFO

Episode 6.07 — “Dr. Linus”

Hello, my fellow LOSTies!

Welcome to another *cough* belated *cough* post on The Fail-Safe Key. Last week we got a brief look into the life of “Dr. Linus, Modern European History professor,” and what an interesting glimpse it was. The general fan reaction to this episode was much more positive in comparison to the previous Sayid-centric episode (some have even said it was their favorite so far) and I can’t help but think it has something to do with Michael Emerson’s awesome acting.

Anyway, I have just a few things I wanted to discuss with you so feel free to add your own comments or message me if you have something to share!

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1) “Dr. Linus” — Wasn’t it weird to see yet another character so different from what we know, but still basically the same? The mirror image of Ben Linus was very entertaining to watch and for a moment—just a moment—I thought we would see Ben stumble and fall back into his ol’ Island ways, giving up Alex for a taste of school administrative power. Much like what happened to “I’m-not-a-killer-anymore” Sayid.



But the Alt shows us that these versions are indeed tweaked a bit. It was alllllmost like our Ben but he was just too darn nice. I do think you could see the “Ben-isms” working deeply in his subconscious; however, they were unable to poke through. Is it possible that the characters from each world will begin to bleed into one another? Will Alt Ben become more and more like Island Ben and vice versa? Could we see the decline of Ben in the Alt and the redemption of Ben on the Island?

The Dr. Linus/Alex relationship was also fun to watch. It was good to see them happy and working together and not in the middle of some weird mercenary takeover of a secret Island, yes?



We also learned that Ben and his dad were still part of the Dharma Initiative but left before the Island somehow ended up underwater. I really liked that scene between Ben and Roger. A much better relationship than what we had come to know, right? It seems Roger wanted great things for his son—a moment I found to be quite amusing, since those great things would’ve turned out to be Ben murdering Roger and the entire Dharma population in the Island.

2) Ilana/Jacob relationship — I am very interested in this. Ilana said Jacob was the closest thing she ever had to a father. What exactly is their relationship? Who is Ilana? Where did she come from? We saw Jacob visit her in a hospital and ask for her help in the finale of Season 5 (I think). What was she doing there? Where did that take place??



I initially felt she did an awfully quick 180 with Ben. First she he chained him up, held him at gunpoint, chased him into the forest and then forgives him after a little Jack-style jungle crying. Well I guess he did confess and show remorse. And the last thing Ilana needs is Ben on the wrong side. I hope this Ben sticks around because I’ve always wanted to believe he’d end up a “good” guy.

3) Richard — Seriously, Richard, stop saying everyone is dead. You said you watched the LOSTies die in 1977 and then you said everyone at the Temple is dead. So that’s two times you’re full of crap. Nice try. No one’s buying that you don’t wear eyeliner, either.



Then we have Richard telling Hurley and Jack to not listen to Jacob. Is that simply because he lost his faith or is it because Jacob is dead and Richard is worried about MiB shapeshifting into Jacob? Either way, if there’s one thing to do in this situation it is NOT listen to the ageless wonder.

We also hear the story about Jacob touching Richard and I assume that’s why he does not age. He said Jacob gave him a gift. So then did the other LOSTies get “gifts” as Richard described? Maybe not the whole eternal semi-youth thing, but something else, unique to each LOSTie? Any guesses?



This episode also confirmed (for me, at least) that Richard came to the Island on the Black Rock. The way he looked at the chains when he was walking through made it pretty obvious. Also, it makes MiB’s comment in the premiere (“Good to see you out of those chains, Richard”) a bit more logical, right? Is anyone else dying to see how that all went down???

4) Jack — Jack’s officially lost it. That is all.



(But he’s right, of course.)

5) Widmore — How many of you called it? Did you know Widmore was the person coming to the Island? The final scene was pretty awesome (in all of its CGI glory) and we know that Widmore isn’t there to find the LOSTies or help them in any way. He is obviously on a mission and his mission does not involve stopping to ask them questions. So what’s he doing there?

Does anyone think he's going to the Hydra Island to meet fLocke? Whose side is Widmore really on? Is he truly a bad guy or is he fooling one side to get intel? What’s he got up his sleeve? Is he planning on disposing of Ben once and for all and taking over the Island? Does he know that Ben is not in charge anymore? Maybe he is coming for his own reasons? Will he use Jacob and MiB to get what he wants?



I know, I know, a lot of questions and not many answers regarding this. But when you only get a few seconds with a character at the end of a LOST episode, chances are you’ll have no idea what it means until the next episode (at least). I do know we have some very smart viewers out there so if you have any theories on this, please share!


6) Favorite lines/scenes —
*Dr. Linus’ description of Elba to his students at the opening of the episode.
*RICHARD: What if you're wrong?
JACK: I'm not.
(dynamite fuse goes out)
JACK: Wanna try another stick?
*“He was standing over him with a bloody knife, so yeah I'm sure.”
*"Dude, that's what Arzt said, and I was still picking bits of him out of my shirt two weeks later."
*The mini-reunion at the end of the episode. So season 1, dude.



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So we still haven’t gotten any major clues as to how this Alt plays into the story we’ve been watching for five years and something tells me we’re not going to really know about it for at least a few more episodes. I really hope they don’t wait until the end of the season to start giving us clues but I’m still (naïvely?) putting my trust in the writers to finish their story with a bang. Only time will tell if I am right or not.

I apologize for the delay this week and I hope this post still helps with understanding a little more about “Dr. Linus” and where the series might be going as a whole. If you have any end-game theories, please share because I would love to know where you think we are headed!

Until next time…

Namaste…and good luck.

SFO

Episode 6.06 — "Sundown"

Greetings, LOSTies!

Well, it seems as if this episode was a turning point for a lot of fans, and I don't necessarily mean story-wise. There have been a lot of negative reviews of "Sundown," which in turn has opened the floodgates to criticism of the whole season so far. LOSTies are some of the most passionate fans of a television show I have ever come across, so it's no surprise that they want to express confusion or frustration when they feel their favorite show is not making the grade during its final season.

However, I do feel that LOST will be looked at in a completely different light when it is viewed by first-timers (and veterans, for that matter) through the DVD experience. Having to wait a week after each episode, especially if you are expecting answers, can be a little tedious. So many people simply want closure and have focused on what hasn't been addressed rather than what info we have been given or the setup that is taking place for the end of the series.

In this post we will look at "Sundown," but I also hope to address a few of these larger issues, maybe putting a few things into perspective so all of us may enjoy the final few hours of the show.



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1) Sayid Jarrah, different but not really — I'd like to first expand a little on why I think a lot of people are frustrated with this new flash storytelling device. For those who are LOST mythology fans like myself, it is difficult to see so much episode time spent on seemingly useless stories about LOSTies, confirming what we already know about them. Certainly their lives are different, some significantly so, but the basic "lesson" is the same. We've spent five years learning the ins and outs of the characters' personalities, so why exactly do we need to see them again in a different context?

All I can say is be patient. Since when do we get major answers in the first few episodes of the season? And actually, we've already been given some decent reveals and even some smaller ones as well. Here are just a few: 1) The MiB is fLocke is the Smoke Monster, 2) We know more about the Jacob/fLocke relationship (i.e., there are rules to their game; the LOSTies are pawns; Jacob has been watching them for a long time), 3) We have a clearer idea of what MiB wants, which is to go home, 4) We've seen inside the mysterious Temple and learned that it has a healing pool.



Okay, anyway I did want to talk about Sayid and his story in "Sundown." A friend of mine sent me an email defending what he felt was a great episode. His points really helped me appreciate some things I might have missed and helped me again realize that LOST is about more than a list of mythology questions that need to be answered. To him, this episode was the climax of the Sayid character arc and forced Sayid to finally comes to terms with what he is: a killer.

Here's his take: "Sayid has spent the entire series trying to convince himself and others that he is 'a good man.' Yet, he consistently shows us otherwise. He tortured Sawyer, beat Ben to a pulp when he was locked up, killed a bunch of people for Ben (including a woman he was romantically involved with), shot a child version of Ben, and I'm still probably forgetting some. He is not a good man (a badass, but in the words of Lost, not one of the good guys). He is a killer. He is a killer here, and he is a killer in the alternate reality, even though it says he's spent the past 12 years trying to atone for that. This episode was Sayid finally realizing that he can't change who he is in either of the realities he exists in right now."

Well said!

This episode also gave us another satisfying death of Martin Keamy, which I cannot imagine was disappointing for anyone. And then we found Jin tied and gagged in the same place. Hmm, did Mr. Kwon owe a little money as well? Or is Keamy one of Paik's goons who caught up with Jin when the Kwons arrived in L.A.?

2) Leaving so soon, Dogen? — Well it looks like my initial assumptions about Dogen were wrong. He is no mystical super power on the Island. Instead, we learn he was just a regular dude before Jacob brought him to the Island like everyone else. It did seem like he was the only one who had answers and now he is dead, floating peacefully in the Temple's pool of life.



I mean, not that we would get any answers from him anyway. His appearances on the show followed the typical "LOST policy of explanations" (courtesy of atlas1212 at the Fuselage): 1) Character asks direct question that would help us understand, 2) Person who should give the answer answers with another question or obscure philosophical reference, 3) Character responds with silence...cut scene...never get a straight answer.

Hmm, does that sound familiar?

I did enjoy Dogen's presence on the show and wish he would have stuck around (maybe he will as one of the infected?) so we could actually get some direct answers from him (maybe). The Dogen/Sayid fight scene was also quite entertaining to watch. And there was one other exchange that is worth noting. It happens after Dogen shares his personal off-Island story with Sayid. Apparently Jacob came to Dogen during a time of grief and offered him a deal, which sounded eerily similar to the one fLocke made with Sayid. Hmmm, who are these guys again? Are we sure either of them is good??

3) The Temple and the Others — Was anyone else surprised at the Temple Others' reaction when they received the message that fLocke was coming? So much for loyalty to Jacob. They practically had their bags packed and were ready to flee at the drop of a hat. I think this pretty much confirms that the Others are just normal people brought to the Island like Dogen, Ben and the all of the LOSTies. And they are definitely ready to get the hell of that Island! Do any of them know who MiB is? If they did, do you think they would really go with him? Are they that dissatisfied with life at the Temple? It just seemed like a strange (and quick) turn of events at the end there.



So is the Temple just a building that houses the pool? Is there anything else special about it? It certainly looks old with all of its hieroglyphics and whatnot, but basically all we have seen is the courtyard, Dogen's lair and Claire's prison. I wouldn't be surprised if it had some spiritual purpose at one point during its history on the Island but now it just seems like a holding cell for wandering Others who have lost their way. I honestly think that the majority of the Others are like Richard in that they have no idea what the bigger picture is.

Which begs the question, "What is the Others' purpose?" Are they ex-candidates left to do Jacob's bidding whenever he needs some manpower? Are they really protecting anything? Anyone have insight into this?

4) Creepy Temple raid scene (and ending) — We've gotten so much Smokey action already this season! I am loving it! Lots of bloody carnage and creepy fLocke looks. Ah, this is the LOST I like to watch. I did have a few questions about this scene, though, and hopefully you will be able to fill in a few holes for me.

First, where was Richard? Last time we saw him, he tried to warn Sawyer and then mentioned he was heading to the Temple. I don't think we have seen him since then. Does anyone know where Richard ran off to? Second, where the heck did Ilana and crew come from? They just appeared out of nowhere, right as fLocke was attacking. Did that feel a bit off to anyone else? Finally, why wasn't Sawyer with the MiB-claimed group? Was he out running an errand?



I also thought it was interesting that Smokey not only spared Kate during the raid but that he gave her a strange look when she, Claire and Sayid joined the rest of the group. Does he have a purpose for Kate? Is she already infected? Could she be the wild card?

And what about that final sequence, which looked more like a horror flick than anything else? That disturbing singing and fire and blood and bodies everywhere. *shivers* Weird, wild stuff. It didn't feel like a typical LOST ending, though it has felt like a different LOST altogether this season. Your thoughts?

5) Alt as "Epilogue" — We can all agree that there is something peculiar about these flash-sideways, yes? I can't help but think that what we are seeing is not what we think it is. We know that MiB promised Sayid anything he wanted for his service. And for Sayid, it was Nadia. Watching this particular flash-sideways, did anyone else think that it was MiB keeping his promise? Is this the Alt MiB's way of giving everyone what they wanted? Like, you suffer in this life and receive your reward in another? Is this proof that fLocke wins the game?

6) Favorite lines/scenes —
*"Now why'd you go and do that?" -fLocke's reaction to Sayid stabbing him.
*Exchange between Ben and Sayid in Temple pool room. "There's still time!" "Not for me..." *insert creepy Sayid smile*
*Sayid killing Keamy!
*Final sequence, evil singing and all. Totally a mirror image of those happy and hopeful first season song/montage endings!



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I will admit that I watched some interviews from the Paley Festival, during which the producers and actors were quite forward when answering questions. They gave some clues for the remainder of the season, yet somehow I'm more confused than ever. I think all we can do is sit back, enjoy the final few episodes and watch things fall into place. So for now, just grab a Dharma beer, prop your feet up and try not to think TOO hard about what it all means. Easier said than done, I know!

Until next time...

Namaste...and good luck.

SFO

Episode 6.05 — “Lighthouse”

Welcome again, my LOSToholic friends. I apologize for the delay this week. As some of you may know, Jacqui and I attended the MUSE concert on Saturday, so my usual weekend free time was given to pre- and post-concert festivities. And for those who have tickets for the US Resistance tour, you guys are in for a serious face-melting!

But I digress. Today we shall venture to the Lighthouse, which Rousseau somehow missed on her detailed map of the Island. Oh, and none of the LOSTies have seen it either. But it’s there, right? Of course. Jacob NEVER messes with our heads…

This post may be a little shorter than usual but I wanted to get SOMETHING up for this episode, and I hope that it will still help us dissect a few things from “Lighthouse” in preparation for Tuesday’s ep.

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1) The Lighthouse — I initially thought Hurley’s excuse for why they haven’t seen the Lighthouse was, well, lame. But if I am already suspending disbelief about a trapped smoke monster murdering people, an Island that shoots people through time and nearly 40 people surviving a horrific plane crash, I think I can handle this one. And who’s to say the Lighthouse isn’t like Jacob’s cabin, mobile and mysterious?



I have to admit, I wanted to throw Jack off that cliff when he decided to smash the Lighthouse mirror. He’s like a two-year-old who doesn’t like when he can’t get his way. C’mon, Jack, you are a pretty smart guy. How about investigating the mirror a little before giving yourself several more years of bad luck? Just maybe? I know, I know, it’s too much to ask.

It seems a lot of discussion has come from that Lighthouse wheel with all of the names and numbers on it. We did see Kate’s last name on there, which proves to some that she is indeed a candidate, even though she wasn’t one of the magical numbers in MiB’s…ahem, “Jacob’s” cave.



We also saw several other candidates’ names. And then there was 108—Wallace. Was there any significance to Jacob mentioning this number to Hurley? We were told by Jacob near the end of the episode that he just wanted Hurley to bring Jack to the Lighthouse so Jack will come to realize his importance. But, c’mon, Jacob is as manipulative as MiB and I can’t help but wonder if there was another ulterior motive.

I also think it’s possible that someone IS coming to the Island, despite Jacob’s lack of confirmation. Any ideas? Widmore and Desmond immediately come to my mind, since we haven’t seen too much of them recently. Who do you think might be arriving?

2) Claire — Duuuude. Feral Claire rocks. I was surprised to learn that she remembered everything about disappearing from the LOSTies, because I honestly thought she would see Jin as a stranger. But it was somewhat comforting that we still have the same Claire, ya know, just…eviler. (Did she really axe that dude in the chest?? Yes. Yes, she did.)



This episode also built on the Rousseau similarities with the whole “They stole my baby,” thing. Except that Danielle was right and Claire is just crazy. And compadres with MiB. I wonder how long they have been “friends.” How awesome was it to see creepy, smug fLocke walk into that tent at the end?! A lot of us saw it coming, but I still got chills when it happened.

It seems to me that Claire did not time travel with the rest of the LOSTies. She’s just been in the jungle for three years not showering, chasing Others and making creepy bone babies. Does this solidify that she is…dead? Not like Nikki and Paulo dead but like Sayid and Christian dead. Remember Miles’ weird reaction to her at the end of Season 4, after she escaped relatively unscathed from the exploding house in Dharmaville? Hmmm…

3) Jack’s a daddy? — Um, ok. Cool. I know I wasn’t the only one confused and a little shocked to learn that Jack has a teenage son in the Alt. I think one of the main points to pull from this flash-sideways is that the Alt might have split well before Flight 815x (in 2004, presumably). As we have seen in the other Alties’ flashes, we have lots of different things in this reality that predate the season’s opening scene. This particular flash also gave us a chance to see what kind of father Jack would be to a kid who is supposedly a lot like he was at that age.



I can’t say it was my favorite flash-sideways, but it certainly could have been worse. I’m still interested in who David’s mother is, though I’m not sure we should be expecting a huge reveal. I initially thought this would be of major importance, but since we didn’t get any hints in this episode, I’m starting to think it could easily be someone predictable, like Sarah (Jack’s wife from previous flashbacks).

4) Hurley — Did you know that Jorge Garcia originally auditioned for Sawyer? Whaaa??? I can’t picture him as anyone but the fun-loving, “dude”-uttering regular Joe. He played this role to a T in “Lighthouse.” Best exchange (by far) in the episode was when Hurley was wandering around the Temple and Dogen shows up. Here’s a little excerpt:



DOGEN: What are you doing?
HURLEY: Nothing. I'm just, you know...looking...because I'm a fan of ...temples and like history...Indiana Jones stuff.
DOGEN: You shouldn't be here. Go back to the courtyard.
JACOB: Tell him you can do what you want. Tell him you're a candidate.
HURLEY: I'm a candidate and I can do what I want.
DOGEN: Who told you that?
HURLEY: Doesn't matter. Why don't YOU go back to the courtyard?

5) The Island — I read an interesting theory that I would like to share. On one of the message boards, a poster described the Island as the “center of reincarnation” or a “waiting room for souls.” I really like this description, as it would explain several of the mysterious things we have seen on the Island. Is it possible that the all of the world’s dead, or even a select few, must “pass through” the Island before moving on to the afterlife or before being placed in another body? (Does make anyone think of the whispers?) This could bring us back to the "Island is Purgatory" theories of yore. Maybe the battle between Jacob and MiB has to do with continuing, or finally stopping, this process? Yea or nay?



6) The Alt Relevance — Dogen appearing in Jack's flash-sideways felt out of place to me. Seeing him immediately made me think of the Wizard of Oz. Ya know, how people Dorothy knows became the characters in her journey to the land of Oz? I’m not necessarily suggesting that one of these is a “dreamworld,” ‘cause in my opinion that would suck. It may be, as I mentioned in my first post this season, that what we have seen transpire over the last five years is actually the “Alt” and that what we are seeing in the flash-sideways-es is how things SHOULD have played out. Maybe the Island is supposed to be underwater. Maybe the Island brings nothing but chaos to the world. Maybe we would be better off if no one ever visited it.



Okay okay, I’m starting to ramble so I’ll stop now and hope that you will continue the discussion for this week’s episode. What did I miss? What did you think was the most important reveal in this episode?

Oh and please share your favorite scenes/lines since I didn’t get to that section this week!!

Until next time…

Namaste…and good luck.

SFO

Episode 6.04 — "The Substitute"

Woah.

Now THAT, my friends, was an episode of LOST. Maybe my favorite so far this season, and I’ve already forgotten what Kate did, or does, or whatever. Well, I've always been a fan of the mythology more than the relationships between lead characters, so it's no surprise that "The Substitute" was right up my alley. We had a few answers, some cryptic comments and, of course, more questions. But what would a LOST episode be without those?

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1) The Candidates — So our LOSTies are "candidates." But for what? To be the island's protectors, according to Smokey. But he also said the Island was just an island and we all know that isn't true. I'm not sure how much trust we should be putting into MiB's statements at this point, but I can't help but feel that we were at least getting half-truths from this still nameless Island entity.



What did you make of the cave? Was it really Jacob’s? My initial thought was that it looked too "dark" to belong to Jacob. And I thought he made nice, neat lists, not scribbles on the walls of some hidden cave. So was this Jacob's hidden "filing cabinet"? Or is the cave where MiB has been keeping track of people brought to the Island by Jacob, or maybe a list of which candidates are left to dispose of?

The numbers are back, but not in the way I thought we would see them. It seems that each of the LOSTies (minus Kate, who we'll discuss in a sec) has been assigned a number. But there was no direct explanation of why they were appearing everywhere else. Unless they are the final visitors to the Island? A last chance to complete the ultimate task?



For those who didn't participate or don't know about the Valenzetti equation, it was a mathematical equation revealed in an ARG, "alternate reality game" (LOL), reportedly developed by a reclusive Princeton University mathematician name Enzo Valenzetti.

The game, dubbed the LOST Experience, used websites, voice mail, television and newspaper ads to give players clues to the game. Apparently the Valenzetti Equation "predicts the exact number of years and months until humanity extinguishes itself."

Here is an excerpt from the LOSTpedia description of the game:

"Alvar Hanso (remember him?) also states that the radio transmitter on the Island will "broadcast the core numerical values of the Valenzetti Equation." The numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42, are explained in the Sri Lanka Video as the numerical values to the core environmental and human factors of the Valenzetti Equation. Alvar Hanso also states in the video that the purpose of the DHARMA Initiative is to change the numerical values of any one of the core factors in the equation in order to give humanity a chance to survive, by effectively changing doomsday. However, Thomas Mittelwerk reveals that as of 2006, they have failed to change the values through manipulating the environment, as the equation continues to arrive at the same six numbers. It is unknown how or if the most recent calculation of the equation is automatically reflected in the radio transmissions."



So, yeah....crazy, huh? What do you make of it?

There is a theory about Kate's absence from the wall, which states that Jacob deliberately left her name off to keep her safe. This theory suggests that she is a perfect candidate to protect the island, and will eventually come to accept her role. Does Kate equal the sum of the remaining numbers (108)? There is definitely a reason we were shown all the names but hers, though I'm not sure this is the right one. I do hope Kate has some importance in this last season, but that remains to be seen.

Then we have fLocke give Sawyer three choices: 1) do nothing and let things play out, 2) accept the position to protect the Island per Jacob's request or 3) leave the island. Number 3 is the option for which fLocke needs Sawyer. He tries to convince Sawyer that the Island does not need protection from anything, but it seems that if people are fighting continuously over the island, there must be some reason to protect it. Right? I think Sawyer may realize this, but right now he simply doesn't give a flying fahrvergnügen.

2) So who are these guys really? — I am not convinced at this point that Jacob is the representative of good and MiB the representative of evil. It seems like we are being set up to believe that and I'm not sure if it's one last attempt at a plot twist or if they have just stopped pulling our legs since we don't have much time left. We were told we would be getting answers from the very beginning of the season, but we all know things are rarely as they seem on the Island. Either way, it is hard to justify MiB using his master manipulation or brute strength to kill people, or Jacob "bringing" visitors to the Island over the last few centuries to, well, die. I don't think either MiB or Jacob has a clean record.



Smokey's comment about once being a man was very curious. I thought he was always some ageless deity doing the bidding of a greater power but, if he is telling the truth, we have a new mystery on our hands. How did he become the Smoke Monster? Was it Jacob who cursed him? Or whoever their higher power is? Or could it be the sickness/infection gone supremely haywire? All we know is that he was a man and now he is trapped on the Island.

I can't help but agree with the folks who say Smokey is somehow physically confined to the Island. When we got that AWESOME perspective of Smokey traveling through various parts of the Island we again hear that metal clanking sound, almost like he is dragging chains. How you can cuff a Smoke Monster to an Island I have no idea, but I never said I could give you answers here people.



And who was that blond kid reminding fLocke of the rules? At first I thought it looked a lot like a younger Jacob, but then someone pointed out the possibility of it being Aaron. The timeline is a little tricky with that one, but we now know that anything is possible. I think my favorite scene of the entire episode was when fLocke yelled Locke's infamous line, "Don't tell me what I can't do!!" at the escaping boy. Chilling to say the least!

3) Locke IS alive... — But only in the Alt, of course. I don't know how you felt, but I was a little sad watching the old, depressed Locke. It seems that some of our Alt characters are much different than their other selves, but Locke's altered life looked like it ran very closely to the first version we witnessed. And man, I forgot what a sad life he had off the Island. Though it was good to see things worked out with Helen, and their relationship was better than we've ever seen. But, really, no wonder Locke was so happy on the Island. It satisfied the sense of adventure that had been growing throughout his life. He always knew he was destined for "greater" things. Not to mention he woke up with two fully functioning legs. And, again, Terry O'Quinn was absolutely brilliant playing the frustrated, angry Locke AND the fearless (except-in-the-presence-of-a-creepy-ghostlike-child) Smokey.



How weird was it to see Ben as a teacher?? European History, huh? Interesting. He didn't look nearly as creepy as our Ben, but I don't think Michael Emerson can act a scene without throwing a little of his eerie charm out there. What did you think of the Alt story in this episode?

4) Favorite lines/scenes (feel free to add your own in the comments section)—
*"John Locke was a believer. A much better man than I will ever be. And I'm sorry I killed him." -Ben at Locke's funeral
*"Weirdest damn funeral I've ever been to." -Frank at Locke's funeral
*"It's an inside joke." -fLocke, after throwing the white stone into the ocean.
*"Don't tell me what I can't do!!" -fLocke and Locke
*Smokey perspective! Awesome!



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"The Substitute" was a great redeemer for last week's episode, and I really hope that we get back to Claire and her crazy Island adventures on Wednesday. In the meantime, feel free to share your comments/questions/theories/corrections/hate mail/love mail on Facebook or in the comments section. I have heard some really great theories from you, so I know you have ideas brewing in those LOST-obsessed brains of yours!

Until next time...

Namaste...and good luck.

SFO