Lost: Season 4, Episode 5 Review: The Constant

The Constant

Original Airdate: February 28, 2008

Writer: Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse
Director: Jack Bender

This episode has all the ingredients for “Lost” at its best: a script by Lindelof and Cuse, direction by Jack Bender and focus on one of the more compelling characters. In a season where even the episodes considered misfires are still really good, this episode shines even more. Although a flash forward with Desmond would’ve been at least interesting, his back story still has plenty of life in it, not to mention his time travels allow the creative team to divert from the standard flashback formula.

Desmond’s story since gaining his power has earned comparisons to the Kurt Vonnegut masterpiece “Slaughterhouse Five”. In that, the protagonist becomes “unstuck in time” (a phrase dropped in this episode), catapulting through various events in his life with no seeming logic or progression. Desmond experiences similar phenomena, although it jumps back and forth from a linear 1996 storyline to the present action. “Lost” also incorporates another level of tension, where the conscience bouncing back and forth needs to find a constant to hang on to or else face deadly consequences.

Desmond’s unstuck travels through time are terrifically put together. The abrupt changes mid-sentence (or mid-word) to dead silence or vice versa really nailed the disorientation Desmond suffered throughout the episode. While the director, writers and cast deserve high marks, the editing deserves it as well (hopefully they’ll get Emmy recognition).

Since Charlie’s death, some have wondered what that meant for Desmond’s flashes. Presumably he would have flashes of other events, but this episode gives Desmond something new and interesting. Assuming the flashes were similar to the unsticking (the flashes were presumably incomplete as the future isn’t written), Desmond avoided major problems because Charlie was his constant through most of them. Although he avoided death in this episode, it’s still possible that this could happen again, maybe when Penny comes close to the island.

Penelope and Desmond’s love story is everything the Kate/Jack/Sawyer triangle wants to be but isn’t. Look no further than that gut wrenching phone call on the boat. None of the love triangle moments even comes close to this one. Even multiple viewings hasn’t diminished how moving this scene is. Unlike the triangle, Desmond and Penny’s love and separation are at the heart of the “Lost” story.

While I initially was puzzled over Desmond’s decision to stay behind, his reasoning is obvious: he wants to know their connection to Penny. Naomi had their photo when she parachuted on island and used that to gain the trust of the survivors, but what exactly was their reasoning for this strategy unless they knew they had contact with Ben and assuming he is their target? Minkowski explains that Penelope contacted the freighter. This could imply that the freighter was originally sent by her after all, but Abaddon’s people changed the agenda. That could explain why she didn’t know Naomi.

The freighter’s a lot smaller than it was made out to be. It was probably unrealistic to have a big freighter on a TV budget. The crew, therefore, must be small. Originally there were at least 11 people (the freighties on island, the doctor, Minkoswki, Omar, Keamy, the Captain & Regina), but there are likely more.

It’s been theorized for weeks that Michael and presumably Walt are on the boat as well, with Michael being Ben’s inside man. If that’s the case, it wouldn’t be a far stretch to presume that Michael is Sayid and Desmond’s “friend”, unlocking the sick bay door so they can go to the communication center. It would also make sense that Walt sabotaged the equipment. This ties in with him setting the original raft on fire. He never wanted to get off the island, so now that he is he’s going to do everything in his power to keep the freighter from going forward.

Between Minkowski and Desmond, this episode may begin to explain the “sickness” Rousseau alluded to back in the eighth episode. It should also be noted that the substance Minkowski was injected with looks like the vaccine Desmond took while in The Swan. Since The Swan was on top of all the electromagnetic activity, it would make sense to protect the inhabitants from “side effects”. There is also the question of whether the rest of the crew will be subject to it, since Brendan and Minkowski went on a solo mission to see the island. Frank make it there and back and he appears fine.

There’s also the question of how it’ll affect Locke. He’s the only other person who was close to The Swan when it im/exploded who is still alive, but the only effects he’s had was a renewed sense that the island’s power was real. It’ll be interesting to see if he becomes “sick” should he leave, perhaps as a reluctant member of the Oceanic Six.

Daniel’s character gets some major development, explaining some of his odd behavior. Considering his exposure to radiation and electromagnetism, they are setting him up as a possible counter to Desmond. This may explain Charlotte’s card game and his inexplicable crying when learning of 815’s “fate” in his flashback. He may be in an upcoming event that was upsetting (not hard to believe with all the harbingers of doom) and hurled back with no memory. This may ultimately be what motivated him to join the freighter crew.

It seems that Widmore may know a bit about the island’s mythology. At the point where Desmond jumped back his journey may be getting started, as he’s first obtaining a potential piece of island mythology: a journal, owned by a member of the Hanso family, by the first mate of the Black Rock (some of whom theorized was forever young Richard). Buying it for such a high price shows he’ll go far to learn about the island. He may also know the truth about what’s happening to Desmond and that, combined with his distaste for those lower in class than he is, fuels his animosity. That could be why he left the water running, which was a pretty odd behavior.

The time discrepancy between on-island and off-island is revealed and it turns out that it wasn’t too far off. The island is only a few days ahead according to Lostpedia, although official sources appear to be retconning that unfortunately. However, it should be noted that the bearing Frank followed was 305, 20 less than Michael’s. Veering slightly off was likely that catalyst for Desmond’s problems. It’s possible that going at the bearing Ben advised will ultimately explain Walt’s aging.

Otherwise, the show’s focus is only on a few other characters. Sayid proves to be a strong support for Desmond, likely because he’s in a similar situation with his long lost love Nadia (not explaining her in Sayid’s flash forward may be telling). It’s interesting to see him as compassionate compared to the cold blooded killer he’ll become at Ben’s service. Frank also has some good scenes as the castaways ally (possibly the “friend”) on the boat. It’s certainly interesting to see that the freighties on island, besides Miles, have been sympathetic, considering what happens to the Oceanic Six.

Overall, this was the best episode yet from a season that has been hitting all the right marks. The A-Team (as TV Guide calls them) of Bender, Lindelof and Cuse crank out another superb episode and Henry Ian Cusick (one of the many gifted performers on “Lost”) knocks it out of the park. While it was a self-contained episode, no Oceanic Six reveals, it still moved the story forward with some great character development between Desmond and Daniel. The stage is certainly set for even more amazing stuff down the road.

Overall Score: 10/10