Lost: Season 4, Episode 4 Review: Eggtown

Eggtown

Original Airdate: February 21, 2008

Writer: Elizabeth Sarnoff and Greg Nations
Director: Stephen Williams

So far this season has been hitting the mark consistently, the best introduction phase of a season since the first one. With the writers knowing the end point, they know where to place pivotal moments rather than keep it open until the audience has lost its patience. The flash-forwards have also recharged the series’ momentum. Unfortunately this episode is a slight downturn because of some faults in plot points related to Kate, but the rest continues to build on the foundation for this season.

Kate’s major problem, again, is that her story relies too heavily on her love interests. Take Kate out of the picture and Jack and Sawyer would still be compelling characters. Vice versa and she’s lost. She has proven to be a good actress, so why can’t we see her character with something substantial? She has a criminal past she was running away from, but it seems to be forgotten most of the time. However, this episode brings back those elements while adding a dynamic that should make Kate a lot more interesting.

The episode’s title, an old slang term referring to a place where there is nothing good to trade, seems appropriate as several sides are trying to negotiate. Kate makes a deal with Miles, and ultimately gets little out of it, paralleled to Kate making a deal in her murder case in the future. Miles also tries to extort a fortune from Ben, but it clearly will be harder than Ben handing over some money. You could also use the survivors as a whole in a position where no trade will do them well: stay on the island and be at its mercy or leave and eventually succumb to massive guilt.

Kate’s deal in her flash-forward is another situation. Although I’ve expected whatever got the Oceanic Six off the island eventually wiped Kate’s criminal record clean, it would make more sense that she face her crimes in court since there was some time that Kate’s mug shot would probably be in many major newspapers while the plane was missing. However, it seems that Kate, who would likely face a capital murder charge for her father, gets off with a slap on the wrist.

Kate’s story has two problems going against it: the legality of her trial and the circumstances that lead her to believe she isn’t pregnant. Besides the more detailed elements of law (which I have no authority to speak of), why is Kate being tried in Los Angeles? She killed her father in Iowa, got her sweetheart killed there as well and robbed the bank in New Mexico. It’s possible that her lawyer felt she couldn’t get a fair trial in either state, but being in LA reeks of plot convenience since Jack lives there.

The second big problem’s resolution feels a little sloppy. It’s understandable that Kate is apprehensive about being pregnant, especially on the island that tends to kill those expecting. Of course the flash forward reveals her “son” isn’t biological, but on island, she has no reason to know definitively she isn’t pregnant unless she took one of the pregnancy tests. There are other indicators that she wouldn’t be, but they don’t even hint to them happening.

Jack’s testimony serves a little more of the mystery of the Oceanic Six’s back story. Originally there were eight survivors from the plane which crashed in the water, which is already a big shift from the truth. Kate served as the leader (which would’ve been the original premise of the series had Jack died in The Pilot as planned) until they were rescued. Everything besides their specific survival was manufactured.

So their story involves two characters dying. Some theorized that the two people who “died” are still alive, but being protected by this cover. For some reason, the Six or those who “rescued” them want to create the impression that they’re dead for the rest of the world. They may be unable to protect themselves or are living covertly (Sayid wouldn’t count as he is one of the six).

Locke’s authority among The Others 2.0 is eroding faster than Ben’s did towards the end of last season. Locke has a fit after Ben points out how lost Locke is without some island force guarding him. The last time he had a fit like this was in “Maternity Leave” when Ben under minded Locke’s position within the castaways. With him lost and his word disregarded by his followers, he’s desperately trying to assert his power and often making rash choices because of it. Obviously the big example is his interrogation of Miles, where he stuffs a grenade in his mouth to get information out of him. Considering the cons, it wouldn’t be hard to believe that the grenade isn’t active, but making consequences that extreme mirrors Ben’s actions just as he fell from power.

Miles’ reason for wanting to see Ben so badly is revealed. Considering his pocketing of the money from the kid’s house in the flashback, that he would extort Ben out of $3.2 million isn’t hard to believe. The Others have a lot of resources off island that would require a hefty bank account. The amount is odd, as Ben points out and he doesn’t offer much beside an ambiguous facial expression as to why Miles picked it. There does seem to be meaning to the amount, but what it is is just another tease to spark fan discussion.

Another in the series of red flags the freighties have been giving off is the survivors’ inability to contact the freighter’s original line. In the last episode they hinted at problems inside the freighter with Frank reminding Daniel to hang up if Minkoswki answers. So there are some clear problems within the freighties community as higher management has a different agenda than everyone else.

Last episode showed a time discrepancy from on-island to off-island. So it would make sense that Sayid, Desmond and Frank’s trip to the freighter would take longer than expected. One would have to wonder how long it took the freighties to get to the island to begin with. The writers have made a conscientious effort to avoid using explicit time tables so far, and that discrepancy with the payload hints at the problem with the helicopter.

Jin and Sun, who haven’t been featured much so far this season, have a short scene worth discussing. Jin is preparing to head to America to raise their child, but Sun would rather raise it in Seoul. One thing not brought up is Sun’s father, who sent a man to the airport to remind Jin that they’ll never be free of him. It’ll be hard to hide from Sun’s father in Seoul if that’s what they still plan to do.

There is also a hint that the child’s paternity may be in question again, as Sun didn’t respond to Jin’s correction “our baby”. In the mobisode “Buried Secrets”, the relationship between Michael and Sun that never materialized beyond the first couple episodes is brought up again when they almost kiss. While that may be important again, it’s probably best to leave the paternity subplot be rather than drag Michael into it.

With all the importance on Kate’s “son”, the writers set up the catch that there’s more to the child. In retrospect, it should’ve been obvious that it wasn’t Kate’s long theorized child with Sawyer (unless you’re still hanging on to the idea that Kate named her son after Aaron, which would’ve been a cheat), although some guessed that it was Aaron. Considering I was spoiled about last episode’s Ben reveal, being unaware of this made it a welcome surprise.

Aaron being under Kate’s care effectively dashes any chance Claire has of being one of the six. Some theorized she might’ve been killed, but I’m skeptical about that, mostly because it’s dramatically richer if she’s alive but separated from her child by major forces. Claire probably “died” in the cover story, with Kate taking over for mother as a way to boost her character standing off-island. It’s possible that, as the Oceanic Six is keeping mum on the truth, Kate is protecting Aaron from the freighties’ boss. It also recalls the warning the psychic gave Claire in “Raised By Another” that her son can’t be raised by anyone other than herself and that perhaps fate had her on the doomed flight so she would have no other option but to raise him. This scenario could be the basis for a worthy follow through to the promises that early episode made.

Overall this may be the weakest episode so far, there’s still a lot of solid material. More elements are being introduced as the season begins to gel, which should continue to compel viewers. Unfortunately Kate is still largely defined by the men she’s attracted to, but at least they’ve set up the stage for bigger things.

Overall Score: 7/10

Lost: Season 4, Episode 3 Review: The Economist

The Economist
Original Airdate: February 14, 2008
Writer: Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz
Director: Jack Bender

Only three episodes in, and already the conflict between the freighties, Team Jack and The Others 2.0 is escalating rapidly. In addition, the flash-forwards continue to be a valuable asset, introducing a new layer to the Oceanic Six saga. Again the confidence the writers have now permeates through. Knowing the end date really helps these reveals, as it feels like its building to something rather than keeping the balls in the air until the series is unprofitable.

While Jack and Hurley were able to return to their lives, at least until their consciences caught up with them, Sayid turned into an international man of mystery gunning down people on Ben’s list. This could’ve been a problem, as a high profile celebrity like one of the Oceanic Six would make a tough secret assassin, but it works thanks to Naveen Andrew’s conflicted performance and the mysterious reasons for why he is doing this.

The big reveal is worth of a lot of discussion and speculation. Sayid and Ben have had a tumultuous relationship since they first met in “One of Them” (also a Sayid episode). That events from the present on the island to the flash-forward would make Sayid “sell [his] soul” and side with Ben is unbelievable. It can be simply that the mutual enemy of the freighties’ employer forges this alliance, but more has to be in store for this mystery.

Then we have the foreshadowing with Ben’s remark about the last time Sayid thought “with [his] heart rather than [his] gun”. Although Sayid regrets his violent past, he’s been willing to return to it for the sake of what he considers the greater good. This seems to hint at a moment where violence didn’t seem necessary, but his non involvement resulted in grave consequences for the survivors.

Sayid’s character has been haunted by the actions he committed in the Republican Guard. Torturing Sawyer for ultimately no good reason early in season one made him temporarily vacate in self-imposed exile. In the flash forward he’s cornered where his only option is to kill the people Ben selects. Naveen Andrews described Sayid in the future as cold, which is necessary for a hit man. That doesn’t work when he meets and grows feelings for Elsa, the contact of the episode’s namesake. It should be noted that Elsa is a similar physical type to Shannon, albeit not as bratty. Their courtship, and Sayid’s killing of her, shows that duality is alive within Sayid.

His friends, whether they’re on island or not, are the hostages. Previous flash-forwards have shown that those who sent the freighties are now scrutinizing the Oceanic Six to make sure they don’t reveal what really happened. However, Sayid and Ben have turned the tables on them. Now why Sayid’s on the offensive to protect his friends while Jack and Hurley remain quiet still isn’t clear, but it’s a mouthwatering mystery that appears to be center to the season’s story.

Hurley’s flash-forward took place before Jack’s, but Sayid’s has no clear point in the timeline. Presumably this is later, as those from the island are taking the conflict to a new level. It’s possible that it’ll never be completely clear, but it seems as if some time has passed since the “rescue”. It’ll be interesting to see how Jack tries to contact Sayid regarding returning to the island.

In the parallel storylines, Sayid pays respect to deceased women and finds a bracelet on them. The bracelet both Naomi and Elsa have is a tell tale connection between the two, likely romantic or familial to one of the higher ranking people on the freighter, but is a classic element thrown in simply to get people talking before delving into it later.

Ben’s hidden closet shouldn’t come as a big surprise. As he lied about living there his whole life, his drawers full of passports and various currencies show he’s traveled around the world similar to Ethan and Richard. Some believe this adds credence to the theory that Ben is the one in the coffin, as one of his aliases could be on the news clipping Jack had. One interesting theory is that Jack’s despondency was over losing that access back to the island. I doubt that, but it isn’t too far fetched. Can Ben get back? If he can’t, is that why he sent Sayid to dispatch those who made it be?

Another possibly important reveal was the time difference between Daniel’s on island clock and the one Regina sends in the payload. Time moving differently on the island has been theorized for some time. It could help explain various aspects from the current date on island (Christmas Eve 2004) and the present to how the writers will deal with Malcolm David Kelly’s pubescence. Even Jack asking Frank about the Red Sox could add to the time discrepancy theory, since the Red Sox won another World Series last year.

Then there is the subject of bearing. Daniel’s emphasis on Frank maintaining a specific bearing recalls Ben’s insistence that Michael, who is the front runner for who Ben’s inside man is, keep the boat on a bearing of 325 degrees. This could be the only way off the island, but what is keeping the island “protected” and what happens if that bearing isn’t followed?

It’s interesting that of the freighties, Miles is the only one interested in getting Ben. Otherwise they all have different motivations: Daniel wants to learn more about the anomalies of the island. Frank wants to learn about the survivors presumably. Charlotte must want to learn more about Dharma and the crash itself, plus the four toed statue would be a major find for her. None of the freighties have any idea what Naomi was doing with Desmond’s photo, so the freighties on the freighter have an agenda those on island are unaware of.

Team Locke experiences its second major problem when Jacob’s cabin fails to appear. It’s a similar disappointment to the one Locke felt early in season two when he didn’t get the answers he expected from the hatch. Jacob’s cabin not appearing could be simply punishment because Locke failed in his mission to prevent Jack from contacting the boat, or it may be another reason altogether. This compounds the weird feelings some of them felt when Locke said Walt was one of his guides for leadership. Ben of course jumps at the opportunity to pick at Locke’s wounded pride and soon some dissent arises over what they should do with Charlotte.

For now it seems like that was meant to mislead us into believing that Hurley was left behind so that the surprise ambush would be a shocking twist. Luckily for Hurley, he’s earned so much goodwill among the viewers that tricking Kate and Sayid hardly dented his reputation, although it is telling as far as where relationships between Team Jack and The Others 2.0.

Last episode Ben tried to rile Sawyer by remarking that Kate and he wouldn’t have a chance in the real world since Jack is a more dignified choice. Now we see more of that psychology when Sawyer confronts Kate at Ben’s home. Neither of these two have much to look forward to: Kate was being extradited to the US and at some point Sawyer became a high profile suspect in the murder of the man he believed was the real Sawyer.

What was really interesting about their scenes was Sawyer’s entry to the room with Kate hiding under the bed mirrored Sawyer’s flashback in “Outlaws” where his father walked into the bed and shortly afterward killed himself. A lot has been made about the irony of Sawyer becoming the man he hated growing up, but setting up the shot that way may set up some of the more self destructive elements Sawyer’s exhibited lately.

The mystery established for what has happened between these flash forwards and current island time is as good as what the flashbacks originally did (and still does for newer characters). This episode introduces more elements to the mystery of the future, with a change in dynamics that should be interesting to see come into fruition.

Overall Score: 8/10

Lost: Season 4, Episode 2 Review: Confirmed Dead

Confirmed Dead
Original Airdate: February 7, 2008
Writer: Brian K. Vaughn and Drew Goddard
Director: Stephen Williams

This season has two major forces on opposite ends affecting it. The first is the writer’s strike, which ended days after this aired. Originally the show had eight completed scripts, which have been filmed and presumably been in post-production since then. Now with the writers back at work, but the studios sticking to the September-May model, so “Lost” may only complete 13-14 episodes and have the season shortened from the intended sixteen. Of course that is problematic to the writers’ vision of three sixteen-episode seasons. However, shortening the season (and perhaps it’s end as well) has helped “Lost” tighten its focus. It’s unlikely we’re going to have any “Jack’s wacky tattoo adventure” episodes in this bunch. In fact, this episode begins to introduce us to some of the freighter’s crew (who will be referred to as “Freighties”), including some information we probably wouldn’t have gotten for some time, or a centric episode devoted to one of them. In some cases, we learn something about them before they’re formally introduced on island (or in Miles’ case, have a line).

Daniel, who we saw in the last episode parachuting on the island in an unstable helicopter, seems to be a reference point for the audience to see their perspective. So far he’s been sympathetic, but there are hints to mental problems. Naomi refers to him as a “head case”. His sobbing over the news of the crash could’ve been sympathy, but not knowing why he was so upset is telling. Then there was the weird light scattering remark. I’m assuming that’s not meant to be another part of the island mythology.

Some may pin Miles as the loose cannon that Ben and Locke fear will destroy the island. He feels about the castaways much like Team Locke feels about the freighties. He also doesn’t have a great report with his crew, referring to Naomi’s body as “meat”. However, he could easily sway the other direction. Also, Ken Leung’s performance keeps him from being annoying, which could’ve easily happened with this character.

There is something to him keeping the drug money, but despite that, he seems to be a genuine medium. Some may bemoan another supernatural element added to the show, but considering psychics and elements of dead characters appearing to others, it isn’t that hard to believe.

Charlotte, whose character name references C.S. Lewis, was noteworthy last summer as the role Kristen Bell turned down to play Elle on “Heroes” (a decision, considering “Heroes” meandering second season, she’s probably regretted). It adds a bit when looking at how Rebecca Mader plays her. Had Kristen Bell picked “Lost”, we (or at least those who’ve seen “Veronica Mars”) would probably sympathize with her more. Charlotte shows more duality than the other freighties. In her flashbacks she’s rude, but cunning when it comes to getting the information she needs. Now she plays naïve and sweet towards the survivors. I could see Bell pulling this off, as Elle has similar drives.

Frank’s motivation for being part of the mission is the only explainable one in this episode: he was originally the pilot for 815, but was bumped for the man the monster killed in the first episode. Some, citing the growing conspiracy angle in the crash, believe Frank was pulled because he was a better pilot, and could’ve avoided the crash altogether. Then we learn that Frank’s memorized the manifest of all 324 names and his interest turns to obsession. Jeff Fahey is the only freighty not in the main cast, so one has to wonder if he’ll be killed soon.

This episode hints at Abbadon’s motivation for visiting Hurley in the institution; he recruited the freighties on their mission to retrieve Ben. Maybe his encounter with Hurley was to make sure he stayed quiet, or maybe he turned against his people in hopes of finding the truth. I doubt he’s the monster as some theorized using slow motion video. Like many questions, this is for another episode.

Another question is Abbadon’s choice of this strange group to recover Ben. Why send a bunch of non professionals to a dangerous island (the irony of course being the professional was the first killed)? The answer may point to their talents and how they relate to island phenomena. Frank may have been chosen because of his piloting skill and his knowledge of what really happened to 815 possibly jeopardizing the conspiracy.

Perhaps this was a plot hole, error in writing or the writers acknowledging the freighties’ knowledge of 815 as it ties to the island, but why does Naomi ask Abbadon what to do if they encounter the survivors when there’s no clear connection between the two to those unaware? Abbadon seems adamant about there being no survivors, yet when questioned, Miles sarcastically feigns surprise that 815 had survivors. Obviously there’s more to this mystery.

Upon their arrival, the initial relief among Kate and Jack give way to feelings of mistrust. While Daniel’s initially friendly, there’s an uncomfortable amount of secrecy between them, which is made worse by seeing the gun he has on him, the private phone call and the gas masks. Knowing they were after Ben and presumably his action in the purge, their tactics makes sense. It also makes sense considering what happened to Naomi. It could’ve easily been Locke’s killing of her is the turning point that makes the freighties do whatever bad things that haunt Jack and Hurley in the future, but as many first guesses go, there was more to it.

Jacob’s cabin receives a nice follow up, with Locke and Ben learning of Hurley’s discovery. Their reactions were very different. Locke sees it much like he would have in the first season, as a proud moment where someone else has a close connection to the island. Ben likely sees it as another threat.

One has to give credit to Michael Emerson. Not only is he one of Lost’s consistently excellent players, but recently his character has been beaten up so badly I’m surprised his jaw isn’t total mush (island healing must take more pity on that than his tumor). As Locke says, his biggest weapon now is his mouth, but even now we see what that can do, as he riles up Karl, Sawyer and Locke in this episode. Like I mentioned in the premiere review, Ben is constantly plotting to get the upper hand, even when that seems impossible.

The big twist at the end reveals just why Ben was so worried about these people coming: they’re after him. It appears that some off the island outside of The Others are aware of who they are and their operation on the island. This could point to some post-Dharma group. It would make sense that Dharma off island would become aware of the purge. Maybe they regard Ben as a terrorist for his actions. Now whether they want him simply to know who his inside man is or for something more is yet to be tackled.

The first choice of the inside man is of course Michael. In season two Ben agreed to let Michael and Walt go off on their boat, but throughout season three they continually mentioned Ben not wanting anyone to leave the island. So why let Michael go, even with a kid with psychic abilities too powerful for The Others to contain? The producers have said that Michael’s story isn’t finished and with Harold Perrinau back in the cast, that would be a good way to reintroduce him.

This episode effectively sets up major conflict between Teams Jack and Locke. Team Locke has two things Jack wants. While they may not want to do Charlotte harm (besides Ben), she’s in a way their hostage. With her, in addition to Ben, around, they have certain leverage should the freighties become hostile.

The excavation of the polar bear remains is a huge curveball. Since their first appearance, it’s been explained that the polar bears were brought by Dharma to Hydra Island, where they eventually escaped (likely during the purge) and swam to the main island. Having one wind up in Africa is a completely different thing altogether. One interesting theory involves the hatch implosion scattering everything around it through wormholes. Maybe two bears were there, explaining how Eko was prisoner of one in “Further Instructions”. It also could explain why that giant metal ball that used to be The Swan wasn’t in the hole.

Although still in the introductory phase, the season’s direction comes off as more confident and less stalling for time than before. In previous seasons, it’s unlikely we would’ve learned much about the freighties until possibly six episodes in or more. With the shortened season and the writers’ ability to figure what plot points to hit and when better, this episode maintains the confidence of the premiere as the season takes shape. As a result, this introduction is the best since the first season.

Overall Score: 8/10

Lost: Season 4, Episode 1 Review: The Beginning of the End

The Beginning of the End

Originate Airdate: January 31, 2008
Writers: Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse
Director: Jack Bender

With the writer’s strike leaving prime time a barren wasteland of reality TV and scripted shows running out of their completed episodes, “Lost” couldn’t have come sooner. Even with the abridged season (eight episodes were completed before, but that may change with the rumors of a resolution coming), this premiere was just what we needed to cure the strike “Blahs”. Of course, this episode had some heavy expectations going with it. Most critics and fans praised the season three finale, and the twist of the flash-forward had fans guessing the show’s next move ever since. This device could’ve been a major disaster after the first attempt. However, the series has done a great job so far using the flash forward to add a new layer to the series.

Unlike the previous two premieres, this episode features the whole cast, whereas previous season would’ve likely had an episode on the beach, another by the radio tower, Looking Glass, etc. The Pilot did something similar. Considering the major reveals of flash forwards along with the inevitable departure of several major characters from the island, it made sense to go this route again. Perhaps because of their agreement for 48 episodes, they don’t have the need to stretch it out into three episodes. It certainly helps the episode.

Jorge Garcia is the most underrated actor on “Lost”. Hurley could’ve easily been nothing more than “the fat guy”, bumbling around the island with tuba accompaniment. However, this is far from Garcia’s and the writers’ portrayal of the character, especially in this episode, where he really gets to shine. Like Jack in the finale, Hurley has a lot of range in this episode, going from that euphoric cannonball to tearfully informing Claire of Charlie’s fate. He’s absolutely fantastic.

Chronologically, the flash-forward takes place sometime before Jack’s flash-forward in the third season finale. Jack is starting to dabble in alcoholism, mixing vodka with his morning orange juice, but he’s hasn’t been popping painkillers like they’re M&Ms. He later has a throwaway line about growing a beard. His attitude is approaching the nadir in “Through the Looking Glass”. Jack seems willing to accept, or keep to himself, whatever deal they made (much like Kate still was in the finale), whereas Hurley is plagued with guilt over his apparent betrayal of Charlie’s memory. An apparent vision of him at a convenience store causes him to embark on a major car chase (in the vehicle he wanted to build with his dad, no less) another image (with Charlie’s hand saying “They need you”) results in his recommitment to the institution.

This episode has the first mentioning of the Oceanic Six, the nickname of those who got off the island. Considering their snappy nickname, the six have become celebrities for surviving what the rest of the world thought was a doomed flight of no survivors. Jack, Kate (assuming her record was expunged) and now Hurley are among those “saved”. Who the other three are is anyone’s guess, since it wasn’t just the people who stayed with Jack.

The next phase of discussion is what this means for those not on the plane like Juliet, Ben or Desmond. Despite that, I wouldn’t discount any of them not being one of the Oceanic Six. Of those three, it seems most likely to be Juliet. One interesting theory I’ve read involves Juliet taking Libby’s identity (assuming Libby had no one who cared about her). That could finally explain who Libby was, a promise the producers have been making since the beginning of last season.

The Oceanic Six immediately dashes the idea that the person in the coffin was one of them. Considering the culture’s obsession with celebrity and their demises, there would be at least a lot of paparazzi hanging around any funeral arrangements.

The scene in the interrogation room offers some more insight to elements Jack alluded to in the last season finale. When questioned by Ana-Lucia’s old partner, a nice call back, Hurley denies ever knowing her. Obviously the writers picked Ana-Lucia as someone to deny because she died long before Jack made contact with the freighter. Whoever brought the Oceanic Six back to the main land must’ve bargained with them that they had to stick to a script where only those six survived. The big question for that is why?

It appears some people back home know. Hurley’s visitor, Matthew Abbadon (anagram = what bad boat men) has rightfully been the subject of a lot of speculation. His initial creepiness could point towards him being involved with the people on the freighter, checking in on Hurley to make sure he isn’t talking. That’s a reasonable move considering Hurley’s institutionalization. He also could be someone tied to Penny’s operation, trying to find the island through the six. Whatever it is, I want to see more of Abbadon, if only because I’ve enjoyed Lance Reddick on “The Wire”.

This story plays along Hurley following the promise of rescue ruined by the loss of Charlie, who warned them of their new arrivals. Hurley’s triumphant cannonball is a microcosm of the episode, as this is the last bit of true happiness he’s going to get for a long time. Most of the cast is having fun and smiling more than they have up to this point, but that is eventually destroyed (their “cannonball” moment is when the beach crew rejoins the main group just before Hurley tells Claire Charlie died). The episode serves to dash all the hope or good feelings the castaways had going in as things are about to be plunged into darkness. It’s reminiscent of Ben wanting to give Kate something nice to hang on to before their imprisonment officially began (which feels awfully anticlimactic now).

Hurley’s encounter with Jacob’s cabin may be setting up elements for his story or explaining elements we’ve already seen. Hurley apparently sees Jacob, which is a big deal. Previously it’s been believed that it would take some deep communion with the island to do that. However, Hurley’s at best been avoiding the mysteries of the island as they connect to the numbers (initially I thought that’s what Hurley was running from seeing the numbers on a lotto ticket, the source of his wealth in the first place). His use of the numbers could be why Jacob chose to reach him on the island. Perhaps Jacob manifested off the island as Charlie to convince him that return to the island is necessary. Ben’s implied that Jacob can leave the island, as he claims that Jacob cured Rachel’s cancer.

The image of Christian sitting in the cabin with Jacob recalls the final mobisode “So It Begins”. In it, Christian (or something resembling Christian) encounters Vincent in the jungle after the crash. “Christian” then convinces the dog to find Jack and set him on his way, as he has “work to do”. Christian’s body has been a major loose end from the fifth episode, so perhaps reintroducing it in this episode and mobisode may be setting us up for an answer in the near future.

Back at the radio tower, Jack is triumphant, albeit still fixated on Locke following his stabbing of Naomi. Some theorized this action is what turns the freight crew against the castaways, but that may not be the case. That’s certainly the way she sees it shortly before attacking Kate and dying.

Naomi pulls a Mikhail-esque comeback, rising from her knife wound to hide in the jungle. Some have wondered why would she die after surviving a machete blow in the back if she survived (and fully recover within days) a punctured lung back in “Catch-22”. One can look to the producers’ explanation that what kind of person you are determines how you are healed. It’s similar to how Eko stared down the smoke monster one episode, but is killed by it in the next season. The machete, much like the hatch explosion triggered her darker side and that prevented the wound from healing in time.

Despite being beaten, tied up, humiliated and losing all his status within his group, Ben’s spirit is unbroken. His one-liners, including asking permission to go with Locke, are terrific. He has some experience with this as we saw in season two: no matter what his position is, he’s always trying to figure out how to exploit his situation for his advantage. One has to wonder if his status will change with the castaways when the agenda of the people on the freighter becomes clear.

Those heading to The Barracks all have easily explainable motives. Locke’s motives have been clear for some time. Hurley’s are the centerpiece of the episode. It’ll be interesting to see what he meant when he apologized to Jack for siding with Locke (originally Hurley told off both Jack and Locke, but the Locke part was cut). Claire was going to side with Charlie as Hurley did. Rousseau wasn’t going back even if the warnings were wrong, so Alex and Karl would be reasonable accessories for her. I could imagine Sawyer going either way, because he is in the mindset of every man for himself rather than live together, die alone. He’s probably the likeliest to bail when things go bad, which likely considering the sonic fence isn’t helpful when you have helicopters.

While it may be expected that those on the beach who heard Desmond’s warning would want to side with staying away from those on the freighter, it’s understandable why some stay behind. We know that the new arrivals are bad news, but the “Not Penny’s Boat” message is vague enough to allow interpretation. For all we know, most of the castaways don’t know who Penny is, at least judging by Charlie not knowing her in “Catch-22”. Also, they’ve been on the island long enough to accept any rescue boat, and they don’t have reason to believe it besides objections from the duplicitous Ben.

It may be hard to believe, but this is the first time Juliet and Locke have had a scene together. Considering her history with Jack, Locke’s reputation and her desire to get off the island at all costs, she’d side with Jack.

Sayid has had at best a contentious relationship with Locke and considering Locke’s behavior Sayid has swung towards Jack. I’m prone to believing Sayid is one of the Six, but that is more a hunch.

Of course, Bernard will only go where Rose goes. Considering Rose and Locke’s bond over being healed and their reluctance to leave, that they went such different directions hopefully will be explored.

I’m a bit surprised that Desmond would stay with Jack considering he was with Charlie in his final moments and bonded with him throughout the third season, but maybe there’s residual resentment over the hatch or it’s another element of his cowardice.

For the rest besides Jack, Sun’s a no-brainer, as is Jin: Sun doesn’t want to die during the pregnancy as nine of the Others have and Jin will side with his wife. However, Sun could always stay, have her baby and not die as the women in The Others have.

Probably the one that is slightly off is Kate. Perhaps this is due to errors in developing her character, but she has a history of running and avoiding settling down. She also seems to ignore the fact that she’s still wanted for murder and will have to either face that fact or run. Siding with Jack explains her motivation, but not enough is given to the consequences of her rescue.

Regardless, the split between Team Locke and Team Jack was intense. It’s been building up for some time and it boils over in this episode. The fact that Jack pulled the trigger on Locke is more telling than anything. Jack didn’t expect anyone to go with Locke, much less several prominent members. With the castaways divided, the conflict is rife not even taking into account Daniel, the parachutist at the end of the episode.

This was the second best season premiere to date (behind “The Pilot” which is saying something). The episode manages to take the lead of the flash-forward and run with it for maximum effect, establishing a new layer of mysteries for the characters (where will they go) and island. The agreement the producers made seems to have tightened their pacing and resolve. Things are about to get really ugly.

Overall Score: 9/10

Lost: Season 3, Episode 22 & 23 Review: Through the Looking Glass

Through the Looking Glass
Original Airdate: May 23, 2007
Writers: Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse
Director: Jack Bender

With the theme of The Others this season, it would’ve been likelier to have Ben or Juliet as the focus of the flashbacks, fleshing out unanswered questions we’ve had about The Others. Considering Jack’s last flashback was the weakest episode of the season, it may be expected to go into this episode with some skepticism or confusion regarding their choice. However, weeks before this episode aired, Cuse and Lindelof made a deal with ABC to set a definitive end date for the series. This unusual move allows them to plan a proper end of the show rather than prolonging it as “The X-Files” did. With 48 episodes left, it was time to set up the next phase in the story, where things start to move towards the climax. Throwing in a major game changer like the final twist is such a dramatic gesture. It’s appropriate that Jack, who for all intents and purposes is the main character, be the one explored at this pivotal time in the series.

The twist’s fitting because the way events played out, this almost could’ve been a series finale. The tensions between the castaways and The Others come to a head as three seasons worth of storylines and character development culminate in explosive battles and major resolutions. Considering the unanswered questions remaining, something had to change to keep the story fresh. If they didn’t know how much longer they had to keep the show going, perhaps the new element wouldn’t have been introduced, but instead held off for longer than it should. Just when we think we know where the show is going, they throw a major curve ball no one saw coming.

Matthew Fox has a lot to work with in this episode. He plays everything from suicidal depression to victorious euphoria so well. Typically the acting praise glory goes to Terry O’Quinn and Michael Emerson, or an impressive newcomer like Elizabeth Mitchell (well deserved in all three cases). However, Fox steps up and delivers his best work on the show so far, and thankfully it’s been recognized (not by the stupid Emmys though).

Jack’s defining characteristic is his messiah complex. He must suffer to save or to fix everyone he meets. It’s what drives him to suicidal depression when he reads the mysterious clipping, as well as what snaps him out of it when the woman crashed her car with her son inside as well. Then it gets worse when he sees the extent of damage she suffered because, as he later learns, he distracted her. This comes in contrast to the present situation, where Jack is in control, leading his people, as Naomi points out, like Moses. His focus as leader has never been sharper as the goal couldn’t be clearer

With Karl’s warning forcing the castaways to rework their plan on the beach, failure seemed inevitable for the survivors hoping to kill or capture The Others invading the beach. There are further hints of dooming the castaways, with Jin saying (in English) that they needed to go home, or the light hearted reminder Rose gave Bernard that he “is not Rambo”. Ultimately this is proven true, although they do take seven down before getting captured. Of course the other castaways don’t know that, and panic starts to arise. Jack manages to get everyone to stick with the original plan without saying “live together, die alone”, which Rose awesomely warns warrants a punch in the face.

I would’ve liked to seen more about Juliet’s perspective on what happened. While she turned against The Others, she was still one of them for three years and had grown close to at least some of them. Because she turned, many of them are dead. Juliet’s loyalties will be one to watch when the freighter arrives. She aligns herself with whoever can get her off the island to see her sister, or at least whoever can help her sister when she was sick. If many of the castaways side with the philosophy that the people on the freighter are bad, maybe she’ll betray the castaways in favor of getting home.

There are a few moments that twist the romantic quadrangle. Juliet and Jack have formed a romance, which is hardly a surprise. Why none of the castaways who’ve questioned his judgment have brought it up before is still unclear. Then he admits to Kate that he loves her. As he did in “I Do”, Jack is willing to let Kate be with someone else who makes her happy (having someone himself makes that easier). One thing of note is that Jack’s confession appears in the second part when it aired and on its downloadable counterpart, but was changed for the DVD (which stupidly split the episode in two unlike “Exodus II & III” and “Live Together, Die Alone”).

Sawyer’s emotional state since killing the man he blamed for ruining his life wasn’t explored coming in, but this episode fully delves into Sawyer’s darkness. Revenge negated all the progress he made. Going back to the beach for Jin, Bernard and Sayid is more of a death wish than a heroic gesture, even mocking those who want to help. The two most obvious examples are Kate and Hurley. Sawyer’s distancing Kate (ironically by not nicknaming her). Rejecting Hurley just adds to what happened in the last episode, only Sawyer did this to make Hurley feel as bad as he did. The exception is Juliet, who is the only person who could get Jack to allow them to go.

Following up on the cliffhanger, the two women in The Looking Glass (Greta and Bonnie) are The Others helping Ben jam all signals coming from the island. One would imagine if they had more time they would’ve been further explored as tools in Ben’s operation. There is something in the good cop (Greta) and bad cop (Bonnie) that would’ve been nice to see more of, especially since the two are played by recognizable guest TV actors.

Believing his death imminent, Charlie faces them fearlessly, which clearly doesn’t work for Bonnie. Considering all the upper hands The Others have had against the castaways, it’s refreshing to see them frustrated. Charlie isn’t afraid to die anymore, so The Others have no leverage.

The Others’ mission to “The Temple” sounds intriguing, but may be just a way to rewrite around real life conflicts. Nestor Carbonell, who plays Richard Alpert, took a job on another show. Since no other prominent Others are going with him, it’s the best way to get him out of the story without killing him off, since his story is yet to be told. There’s no way the fans would let them get away with revealing that Richard hasn’t aged a day in at least a quarter century without an eventual answer. It’ll be best to be patient to see how this ends.

Ben offers some insight into the secretive nature of The Others’ society. It makes sense that they are out to protect the island from most outsiders and that those on the freighter pose the greatest threat to the island. This explains a good amount of the antagonism they’ve had towards the castaways, their conflict with the Dharma Initiative and why Ben is deathly afraid of Naomi and the castaways making contact with the outside world. The castaways didn’t have a choice in their arrival, so The Others took select ones and made what they could out of it. However, the freighter is a whole different beast in that they’re actively looking for it. This island has many special things, but why The Others need, or feel the need, to “protect” it has yet to be explained.

Ben’s secrecy regarding many of his duplicitous activities shows his desire to assert his power, but actually the episode shows how he is losing power dramatically and is clinging to whatever he had left. This has been so since he found out he was sick. On an island that miraculously heals a person’s paralysis, sterility or cancer, that the person who supposedly had a close communion with the island would be exempt is enough to get people wondering whether their leader is a false prophet.

Since “The Man From Tallahassee”, Locke has been challenging Ben’s status as leader. Locke gained celebrity among the Others for his miraculous recovery from paralysis in contrast to Ben’s sickness. Ben knew the threat was real when Jacob communicated with Locke, so he shot Locke and left him for dead. With Ben having lost his status and The Others’ muscle decimated, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine Jacob using Walt to help Locke protect the island from the threat of those preparing to arrive.

Alternatively, the other major presence of visions on the island has been a by product of The Monster. This could mean several different things. The Monster could be operating with a different agenda than Jacob, or maybe they are the same entity, or The Monster is a “pet” of Jacob’s. Jacob doesn’t appear to be able to actively influence things, so he has people like Ben do his bidding or maybe will use The Monster as his muscle. If the Monster is really a security system as Rousseau describes it, then it should be interesting to see how it reacts to the freighter.

Early in the season, Boone arrived in a vision to help Locke get back on track. As he contemplates ending his life, it makes sense for another vision to talk him off the ledge. It all goes back to the people he tried to connect to the island back in the first season. Malcolm David Kelly clearly is in the midst of puberty and that can’t be hidden anymore no matter how they shoot it. Regardless of that, or the usability of a gun that has been exposed to a tropical environment for years, this scene effectively raises the stakes for the second part. With all that’s going on, Locke is now another x factor.

Having Walt appear again could be a sign of things to come. Producers made no attempt to hide the fact that Michael would be returning as a lead character in season four, (the producers of “24” did something similar with the promotional material for their seventh season). Perhaps Walt and Michael, after being shipped away in the second season finale, encountered the freighter, and may have told them of the island’s existence. It’s unlikely Kelly will be featured much because of his growth spurt, but the device at the end of the two parter could allow them to bring Walt back into the story, which is important considering how much they emphasized his role in the first two seasons.

Part 2

It seemed as if Charlie would escape death, with Greta & Bonnie dead and Mikhail playing possum, but that false sense of security with Desmond not having any flashes was only setting us up for the inevitable fall when Mikhail comes back for one more shot, assuming he hasn’t blown up (really the only way I’ll be convinced he’s dead is if they behead him and burn the body). Perhaps it is appropriate that the seemingly unstoppable figure of Mikhail would kill Charlie, as “Flashes Before Your Eyes” explored the inevitability of certain events.

Some have questioned whether Charlie needed to die, and that his sacrifice in the end is somewhat negated by the twist. It feels right that he goes: he conquered his demons. Aside from one, Desmond’s flashes of Charlie had him dying doing something noble. What better way to go than to dismantle the blocking signal, while warning Desmond that Naomi is lying? In the end Charlie gets a moving send-off, with that gorgeous, recurring “Life & Death” theme.

One has to admire Ben’s confidence. Despite the fact that Jack and company have no reason to trust anything he says and the antagonism that goes with all the stuff The Others have done to the castaways, he still thinks that he can talk Jack out of doing what he is dead set on doing. Of course, having Jin, Bernard and Sayid hostage when they meet is an important bargaining chip.

While Jack wants to spare the three, his leadership is focused on getting the survivors off the island, despite his nature to want to save everyone. That explodes when he believes the three were executed on the beach. Ben gets a beat down many believe he’s had coming for a long time. After that beating, humiliation, and later knowledge that Richard is the only Other (besides Jacob) not dead, deflected or captured, it leaves Ben at his lowest. One should wonder how that’ll change when the freighter arrives and he’s confirmed right.

This episode serves as the culmination for many stories that have been building up since the first season. Another one is Rousseau’s reunion with Alex. This was set up in the eighth episode. Rousseau’s ice breaker, asking if Alex wanted to tie up Ben together, has to be one of the best said between an estranged mother and daughter.

Rousseau had made it clear to Jack that she wouldn’t be leaving the island, which makes sense for her character. She’d likely be institutionalized. However, what does that mean for Alex? One would assume she’d want to go to the mainland and see the rest of the world and maybe have a normal relationship with Karl. However, after seeing the mother she believed her whole life to be dead she may want to stay.

Hurley provides one of the most satisfying moments in the episode, saving the day for the castaways on the beach by plowing through the beach (and Pryce) in the Dharma van. With “Tricia Tanaka Is Dead”, Hurley had a minor victory after all the bad stuff he’s been through thanks to the van. Now the van makes him a hero. As much as we don’t like to see Hurley be put down as he did with Sawyer, it made his heroism even more satisfying. Ultimately The Others were foiled on the beach because Ben decided to leave his father to rot in that Dharma van so many years earlier. The only thing missing was “Shambala” blasting in the background. Then it would’ve been perfection.

In addition to running over Pryce, Hurley’s distraction allows Sayid to show off some of his Republican Guard skills with a neck break that I haven’t seen since the 5^th season finale of “24”. Considering Sayid’s feelings towards the Others, a major reason why he stayed behind besides his military training, that must’ve been more cathartic than blowing up the tents the night before.

While the van action sequence was a fist-pumping victory, they’re quick to show us the other side with Sawyer gunning down an unarmed and surrendering Tom after the fight ended. While it was unfortunate to see Tom go, it shows just how dark Sawyer has become. It would be like one of The Others killing Hurley. Also Tom, along with nearly every other prominent Other, dying is a fitting part of the end of The Others’ central role in the season, along with Ben’s fall and Juliet’s deflection.

On that note, Locke throwing a machete through Naomi’s back was an unexpected move. If there is any fault I have with this episode is that Locke’s role is so much reduced compared to the first two season finales. However, considering this episode is jam packed with stuff that Locke making his way to the radio tower is an easy thing to omit.

He’s been treading along a dark path for some time now. His path to understanding the island has lead him on a path of destruction and manipulation. If he is really the heir apparent for Ben as great protector, this would be fitting. It does recall past experiences where he was told he wasn’t a killer. Where does he go from there?

Unfortunately the big confrontation between Locke and Jack plays out a little uneven. Locke didn’t intend to shoot Jack when he contacted the freighter (although after he impaled Naomi with the machete we certainly thought he could), but he somehow limps away without anyone stopping him. While it doesn’t work as well as other moments in the episode, this serves more to remind us of the central conflict among the survivors as “rescue” prepares to invade.

Since the people on Naomi’s freighter aren’t connected to Penny, their true identity is one of the major unanswered questions of the episode. Considering Naomi had a copy of Desmond’s picture and knew who he was, they must’ve had access to Penelope and the Portugese men who “found it” at the end of season two. It could be safe to guess Mr. Widmore, whose resources ultimately have funded Penelope’s search, would want to find the island. Tie in The Lost Experience (if you consider it cannon), and you know that Widmore was involved with Dharma and Alvar Hanso. Widmore could be searching for the island to claim what he thinks he deserves. Maybe he’s been using Desmond as a pawn in this scheme, since Widmore’s race around the world lead Desmond to the island.

The flash-forward reveal is the defining game changer of the season. Although eagle-eyed or DVR-owning viewers saw the newspaper’s date (not necessarily an indicator of time) or Jack owning a current cell phone, the time of the episode was left ambiguous. Jack’s father is mentioned as being alive & Sarah is still Jack’s emergency contact, both events could be before the crash. Not specifying time isn’t uncommon in flashbacks, but that’s more a reason of practicality and need to address the time.

There is also the question of Jack’s father, who Jack mentioned as if he was still alive at the hospital. Christian’s status has been in question since “White Rabbit”, where he appeared to Jack and his body was revealed to be missing from his casket, never seen since then. Despite theorizing, I think it boils down to Jack being so out of it that he fails to realize it, or correct himself.

Jack listening to Nirvana’s “Scentless Apprentice” could’ve placed this episode as early as 1993, when “In Utero was released” (although “Lost” isn’t one of those shows that would feature some song in a lazy way of saying “It’s 1993!”) Note about the song: “Something In the Way” would’ve been a better Nirvana song choice. However, it was likely scrapped for something harsher sounding to represent Jack’s nihilism. Like the first episode this season, I have a problem with a song choice. It’s just the music nerd in me.

The mysterious person in the coffin has been one of the most speculated pieces of this episode. His obituary served as the catalyst for Jack to want to kill himself and later to convince Kate that they needed to return to the island. Initially it seemed like a red herring: the person wasn’t important, so much as what it did to Jack. However that would be disappointing after all this time. It doesn’t seem likely that the person in the coffin is a major character we’ve already met. Even if they don’t make it to the final episode, spilling what happened to Locke, Ben or even Michael in advance would be an improper way to end an established character, unless they handled it like they did with Charlie.

The funeral scene doesn’t offer much help. It was held in a presumably bad neighborhood in possibly cheap funeral home. The person had no friends or family attend the funeral, nor did Jack consider the person either. This makes some believe that Michael, Locke or Ben may be that person. It applies most to Ben, who presumably has been on the island since he was a preteen and wouldn’t have contacts with the outside world outside of Mittelos and “Others” fronts. Despite the way their relationship ended, Helen would likely attend Locke’s funeral, and Michael’s life outside of Walt and Susan hasn’t been tackled.

Regardless, Jack feels responsible for the person’s death. With the action on the island, it’s safe to assume that Jack contacting the freighter set off a chain reaction that lead to his death. This makes me believe further that the person is on the freighter. Maybe that person sided with Jack and the survivors, leading the other freight crew to destroy that person’s life.

Jack’s attitude about returning to the island could indicate that some of the castaways are still there. As far as we know, Kate and Jack are the only ones who got back home. That could explain why he’s so depressed: he couldn’t help them and needs to if he’s to have any peace. Perhaps he didn’t help them and that’s made it worse. He might’ve made a deal with the devil to get off the island, one that included hiding the truth about what really happened to the survivors, as he tells Kate he’s sick of lying.

It makes sense that Kate would be reluctant. The people on the freighter likely have high connections that would make her criminal history disappear. Kate’s past didn’t become public knowledge until late in the first season, and even then only a few know much, so it’s unlikely her story was a major news story. Also, considering those closely invested in the case are dead, it’d be easy to sweep this under the rug.

Also part one alluded to the possibility that Kate is pregnant, which is likely considering she’s slept with Sawyer a few times this season and they likely haven’t had access to birth control. Kate would want off for the simple reason that she doesn’t want to die like the other pregnant women. She mentioned a “he” would be waiting for her. It could mean a male partner like Sawyer, or even a young boy, who’d be roughly 18 months old in the flash-forward.

In all the discussion I’ve read about the finale, one thing that hasn’t been asked is why the people on the freighter would chose to rescue only a few people and not everyone. Obviously this question is more for next season. Do they have something to gain, or are their hands tied where they have to show some survivors?

Cuse and Lindelof have clarified two things about the “Snake in the mailbox” twist. The flash-forward isn’t meant to be a possible future, but exactly what happens, so any discussion of Jack trying to avoid that future are now moot. It also isn’t the end of the story chronologically. It may be a stretch, but they could go as far as Aaron as an old man with flash-forwards.

This brings to question the current series’ progression. Is there going to be a massive jump on the island when Jack inevitably returns and if so, when will that be? How much of the interim will we see? It’s likely that the freighter is what takes Jack and Kate back to the mainland, but when will that happen? It doesn’t seem like that they would let a long stretch on “Lost” happen with Jack off the island, but after this twist, I’m not dismissing anything.

Unlike previous finales, there is no clear idea where the series will head in the fourth season. When the hatch door blew open, it made way for the second season’s exploration of the hatch, as did the kidnapping of the main three set up The Others story. Obviously the flash-forward device and those on the freighter will be major elements in the foreseeable future, but how will that play out?

Season three was a roller coaster ride both on and off screen. The “mini-season” left many ready to claim “Lost” as a show past its prime, especially with the hot new kid in town “Heroes” stealing its thunder. However, the spring run was absolutely amazing, with revelations and long awaited answers satisfyingly revealed, and this episode serves as the ultimate vindication for those who stayed faithful. This was easily the best episode I’ve seen in 2007. The producers promised that by the end of “Lost”, we’d know who the characters were, how they changed and where they would go from there, and judging by the first taste of flash-forwards, they weren’t kidding. When an episode delivers this many thrills, emotional moments, revelations, twists, turns and leaves you clueless as to where they’re going to go next, especially three seasons in, you can’t ask for anything more.

Overall Score: 10/10