Let’s take a peek in the Lost mailbag, which has gotten quite a bit of dust on it once again due to the long hiatus between new Lost episodes. But I’m almost 100% confident that it’ll be worth it tonight.
Hello John,
A great episode of Lost. I don’t support your two “tribes’ theory. This episode showed that the dramatic tension is “slowly” being built to the season finale. After learning that the show will return for a second season. My theory is that Michael’s Ark will successfully leave the island with some people wanting to go and others willing to stay. This situation shows a lot of dramatic potential because would Michael really let his son Walt stay on the island to explore it more with Locke?
Here is my list
People to stay on the island:
Walt -Wants to explore the island
Locke-See Walt
Hurley-Wants to stay away from family so the curse will not effect them
Sun-Wants to escape her husband
Charlie-Is ashamed about his drug problem and doesn’t want to see his brother.
People to leave:
Michael-Doesn’t like the island
Jin-Like you said wants to get off the island
Kate-Wants to hand herself in/keep running from the cops
Sayiad-Wants to start a new life with Shannon
Shannon-The island reminds her of her brother’s death and wants to be with Sayiad
Sawyer-Wants to find the con man
Claire-Wants to give/keep the baby.
The French lady-wants to return to france. She might come to the survivors and leave
Unsure:
Rose-Has accepted her husband’s death
Jack I am unsure about because he has accepted that the rescue may not come. Anyway he seems to be the “hero” of the series.
This “split” will allow old characters to stay and “new” survivors to be found or other people like the french lady. What are your thoughts on this theory?
Sorry for the lost e-mail
Michael
I used to believe steadfastly in the “two tribes” theory, but the closer we get to the season finale, the more I think that it’s definitely not going to happen. The idea of Michael’s Ark successfully setting sail is an interesting one, as we might get to see some interesting scenes when they’re actually out on the water. But the schism of the survivors from those who want to go and those who don’t want to go would really provide enough tension to last most of next season. I don’t really know what to think of theories on Lost anymore because a lot of people seem to be swinging blindly these days unless they’ve got the inside scoop. I’d much rather just watch these days than try to guess what’s coming next. Especially after the fakeout deaths of Charlie and Shannon in near back-to-back episodes.
John,
I look forward to your recaps, which are faithful and a great way to catch things that are missed during the initial viewing. Regarding serial shows, I enjoy “24,” but I tire of the obvious (and confirmed by the writers) “they’re writing it as they go along” format. I would rather invest my time in a plot in which the writers have at least conceived a finish to their storyline. Refreshingly unique about “Lost,” but also potentially fatal, is the confidence the creators have in their unfinished story arc, using the enormous amount of press opportunities they are receiving to crow about their awareness of the pitfalls prevalent in past cult hits like “Twin Peaks” and “The X Files,” shows that ultimately disappointed their audiences with their endings. The “Lost” creators keep promising not to disappoint, all along dropping hints and spoilers of things to come, ensuring themselves of more enormous amounts of press opportunities. With that in mind, there probably is only one direction to go with the overall “explanation,” and it doesn’t involve purgatory or governmental Big Brother type projects, neither of which explain the mysterious drawing of, and previous interaction between, the survivors. Psychics, lottery winnings, dead fathers, federal marshalls, et al, brought them to the island via the plane crash, and they have been lured to the island for a reason. I will refer to what did the luring as “the force,” but you can probably just call it “the island.” Locke himself has admitted this, stating to Boone, “the island will tell me what to do.” And it did. The island created a “monster” that kept the survivors in fear. It took out the pilot who might have been able to give important information about how they all crashed. It revealed itself and its secrets (the hatch) to the only survivor who would be open to the invitation to be led by its force, and ensured his loyalty by making him walk again. It used a ghost to lead Jack to the fresh water supply. It used Boone to help Locke undig and expose its entrance, then when Boone was no longer needed and knew too much, it convinced Locke to search for the smuggler’s plane because inside was something that would open the hatch, ultimately leading to Boone’s death. Locke’s paralysis returned at opt moments, like in front of the priest’s rosary, at the site of the smuggler’s plane crash, etc., and Boone had to be sent inside the plane. Jack was right about Boone being murdered, but he was murdered by the “island,” notLocke (who actually tried to convince Boone to get out of the plane before it toppled). The island no longer needed Boone, and got rid of him, and ironically, overall, was Locke’s solution to how to open the hatch, which began glowing at the end of that episode. (Interesting NOTE #1: The radio transmission is an ambiguous red herring. “There were no survivors” does not indicate either way that the Oceanic crash site was found. Interesting
NOTE #2: This “island” is precise: Boone sustained more injuries in a 40 foot plane crash then any of the survivors suffered in the original plane crash, except for the marshall.) The force that lured these select survivors, also lured Ethan’s group and Danielle’s group, and probably the owners of the skeleton couple at the waterfall. Claire’s child is the key, and from recent Abrams comments about Claire and Danielle, Danielle’s missing son was probably also a baby, and Ethan certainly wanted to obtain an infant for his group. Why? This sinking island with its ability to remain undiscovered for at least 16 years, its ability to tap into psyches of people it selected to crash on its hatched surface and manipulate them, is probably an ark left behind by another race to return to its home planet with earthlings. Okay. There. I said it. Sawyer reading “Watership Down” most certainly alluded to the building of their new society; can we not surmise his recent reading of “A Wrinkle in Time,” which includes traveling through the fifth dimension (a tesseract), oh, and tentacled aliens, is a nod to the direction in which this tale is headed? But here might be the real twist, a la “The 440:” The english numbers on the hatch say it all. These aliens are from the future, and their home planet is Earth!
Food for thought. Keep up the good work! I, for one, sure do appreciate it!
24’s trouble with scriptwriting really does rely on the “writing it as we go along” thing. After such extreme examples as a certain agent biting the dust when it was revealed that his death was going to be faked before the episode aired and then the writers having to re-write that in a hurry before showtime, it seems lazy on 24’s part to do things this way, but the thing is that the scriptwriters, for the most part, are good at what they do, and can put together some amazing television if they want to.
The rest of this letter just deserves to be read. The ideas are solid, there’s no way that I can argue with any of these points, although I’m still a little fuzzy on what the transmission said. I can’t seem to get a straight answer out of that. As for the aliens thing, I don’t even want to touch that. But name-dropping the 4400 is cool in my book.
And now, it’s on with the recap!
Previously, on Lost: A long time ago, Sayid seemed to capture a signal from the mountain but was knocked silly, Boone tried to make a transmission about being survivors of the plane crash and ended up dead despite Locke’s warnings, but Locke runs away from the bloody scene when Dr. Jack wants to know exactly what happened to Boone. Boone tries to tell Jack about the hatch but Jack doesn’t understand it, and now Shannon gets the bad news. But now Jack is off to find John Locke.
Sayid is Sayid without the “yi” as Shannon sits over her dead brother. Sayid offers a helping hand, then explains to Shannon that Boone was brave in taking his death instead of using up the antibiotics that would’ve been used to help heal the severed leg that Boone would’ve lost. It’s not really reaching to Shannon, who looks on in silent devastation…
And we flashback to Heathrow Airport with Sayid, as he is being led into an interrogation room in handcuffs by two soldiers. Melissa Cole wants Sayid to do them a favor, and the man in the room explains the situation: 300 pounds of C4 were stolen from just outside an army base in Melbourne by a terrorist group with intents of disrupting the US’ involvement Iraq. The man wants the C4 back, preferrably all of it, but Sayid suggests they just plant a few bugs. They already have, but they need an inside man. Sayid isn’t a terrorist, but he knows one: Essam Tizia, a roomate at Sayid’s university. Sayid doesn’t care about saving the lives of people that would be saved, but Noor Abed Jazeem is still alive, and Sayid has been looking for her for seven years, and the CIA happens to know where she is. But he’ll have to go to Sydney.
Back to The Jungle with Kate, as she plods through and stumbles upon a piece of cloth that leads around the jungle…as Dr. Jack comes stomping through the jungle, out of breath. Kate wants Jack to come back, but Locke lied about Boone and thus led to poor medical treatement from Jack. The other survivors are scared, and need some leadership. Jack doesn’t give an answer…
…as the survivors gather for The Funeral of Boone, wrapping him in a tarp as we get a good look at everyone being sad, except for Shannon who continues to look extremely distant. Jack covers up the face of poor Boone one last time, and then asks if Shannon has anything to say. She doesn’t, but Sayid speaks up instead, apologizing for not knowing Boone more. Sayid then references Boone trying to save Joanna on Day 6 before she drowned. He remembers his courage, and he will be missed for that, certainly. And here’s John Locke, covered in blood, as he decides to tell the truth about everything. But that’s a little hard to explain as he can’t account for something that would realistically make his paralysis come back to life. He does tell about the radio, and having Boone go up there and make a transmission. Jack looks disgusted, but Locke calls Boone a hero. And then Jack snaps, asking where Locke was when Boone was slowly and painfully dying and wasting away. Well, so much for the solemn mood of the funeral. People are still pulling Jack off Locke…
LOST.
And now, a word from our sponsors… Hot start, as this is going to be a crazy episode just from seeing the first nine minutes alone.
Jack still wants a piece of Locke, and Jack is finally separated from John and then quickly passes out as Sawyer calls for someone to get some water, but Jack looks to be okay, just fatigued. Locke looks over at Sayid, who doesn’t have a very welcoming stare at all.
Cut to somewhere else on the beach as Jack is convinced about Locke lying, since Boone mentioned the hatch to him. Sayid wants the Doctor to get some sleep, and Sun insists on it as well, as Jack finally looks defeated enough for sleep, giving Sayid time to turn away…
…and have another flashback, at Some Random Mosque with Sayid checking out his friend in the terror cell, keeping tabs on him. Outside the mosque, they catch up with each other, as it turns out to be Some Random Mosque in Sydney. Sayid asks about Zara, who unfortunately died from a stray bomb while shopping for a dress. Essam wants to catch up back at his place, and Sayid notices the bug in the house, keeping conversation normal while Sayid keeps everyone quiet while taking out the bug. Well, I guess the inside man is a little bit too inside. The guys are a little skeptical, especially about Essam and Sayid meeting…perhaps it being fate.
Back at the beach, Claire doesn’t want to give up her baby, but Sun is making a strong recommendation that she does sleep while someone else takes care of the baby. She’s extra protective of “turnip head”, however, as Charlie assures her that no one is going to take the baby away. Finally, Claire gives in despite all of her paranoia, making sure to give last minute pointers to Charlie as he grabs the baby.
Somewhere else, Shannon is sitting on the Shaded Beach of Mourning, and she actually looks kinda chubby as Locke arrives with Boone’s bag, handing it over to Shannon and then sitting down with her, predicting yet another storm on the horizon. Locke figures he should’ve said no to Boone going hunting, but Shannon and Locke both agree he probably would’ve went anyway. Locke tries to relate with Shannon, since he knows what it feels like to lose family. He then asks for forgiveness, apologizing and walking away as Shannon finally shows some actual emotion, crying a little bit but still looking distant and a little angry.
And so, back at Sayid’s Humble Tent Repair Shop, he is working on…something, as Shannon is ready to cash in that favor that Sayid promised:
“John Locke killed my brother. Will you do something about that?”
And now, a word from our sponsors… Oh brother, this cannot end well for Locke. I have a really bad feeling that they’re just going to murder him dead and take out one of the best characters to show in the storyline how the rest of the characters are so stupid for doing such a thing. I hope Locke no-sells death, I really do.
Returning with Jack and Kate at the Medical Tent, as Jack is ready to go talk to Locke but Kate suggests otherwise. Jack doesn’t get far though: Kate drugged him with sleeping pills in his juice. And Jack is out like a light.
At the Fresh Water Supply with Locke and Walt as Locke is washing the blood out of his clothes and Walt seems more than reluctant to talk with him. Sayid then questions Locke’s wound on his side, as Locke says that it’s a war wound, even if it looks like a surgical scar. I’d be more inclined to believe that somewhere deep inside that scar is what caused Locke to become paralyzed. But anyway, Sayid asks Locke to take him to the site of where the plane crashed, trying to salvage some parts from the radio that must have been working when Boone tried to get a signal.
Deep In The Jungle now with Sayid and Locke as they bond for a little while, with Locke explaining that boar went scarce a couple of weeks ago so they decided to go exploring and just happened upon a beachcraft sitting in the trees. Of course, we know the truth with Locke’s insane hallucinations and such. Locke then brings up Sayid’s history as an interrogator, and wonders if Sayid is doubting him on the whole plane thing. Sayid knows when he’s being lied to, however, and sure enough, they stumble upon the craft not too much later, and Locke once again commends him on not losing his touch with the whole interrogating and knowing when you’re being lied to.
Flashback as Sayid and Essam play soccer together, as Sayid brings up the possibility of a target and Essam confirms this, since he is going to be the martyr for that particular expedition. Essam suddenly gets a little emotional, as he begins to believe that he can’t do it. On Some Random Dock with Sayid and the CIA Agent–whose name I’ve already forgotten, as they talk about whether or not they should go about saving Essam from most-certain death. But Essam doesn’t know where the C4 is and he’ll be given a target at the last possible minute so he’s of no use to anyone. Sayid continues to make his plea but it just isn’t flying with the CIA, as all they want is the C4 as quickly and cleanly as possible. Sayid tries to back out of the operation, but the female CIA agent threatens to arrest Sayid’s girl if he doesn’t talk Essam into blowing himself up.
Taking things back to the beach as the baby continues to cry in Charlie’s arms despite his best–or worst–efforts to sing “Itsy Bitsy Spider”. Hurley is able to correct him–it’s not drowning the spider out, it’s washing it out. Charlie can’t seem to get the baby to stop crying though, so Hurley gives it a try by singing James Brown “I Feel Good”. No, seriously. That does absolutely nothing, however, and now Hurley is plain out of ideas.
Sayid tastes heroin, and the cargo hold of the plane is full of it as Locke assumes that they were smugglers. Sayid then makes sure that Locke can keep his story straight, and then admits to making a mistake when he lied about it back at the cave. Sayid goes in to salvage the radio, but Locke still wants to talk about why Sayid doesn’t trust Locke. Sayid brings up the gun Locke carries that no one sees, the one that he got from the priest. But he simply turns it over to Sayid, wondering if that earns him trust now. But it only earns him adaptability since he was able to react to that situation. So Locke decides to lay a little truth on Sayid:
…That was me.”
And now, a word from our sponsors… Oh yeah, that’s going to make the case for not killing Locke a lot better. I probably would’ve admitted to that once Sayid finally pointed that gun to my face, ready to do the deed for Shannon’s sake.
Sayid is looking stunned, and NOW it’s time to pull the gun on Locke, telling him he better be lying this time around. Locke swears he was doing everything in the best interest of the people, since it was just going to be the source of a distress call that said that everyone was dead, and that “it” killed them all? Sayid then wonders why wait until now and not then? And that’s because that no one was ready for reasonable debate then, everyone was on edge about the whole thing. Same thing with the raft. So Sayid asks Locke if he burned the raft. He says he didn’t, and that’s the truth if you believe in Locke. Sayid then asks about the hatch, as Locke plays dumb before Sayid cocks the gun…and Locke then mentions the two hatches on the plane he died in. Sayid seems skeptical, but lowers the gun.
Flashbacking to Sayid and Essam on the Australian beach, as Sayid continues to try and convince Essam to be a martyr and Git-R-Done. Nevermind that they’re having this conversation IN PUBLIC. Essam makes it clear that he is not afraid to die, but he’s worried about the innocent lives, and whether is motive is pure and truly for the greater good of the people. Sayid continues to hammer home the idea, and after a few moments…Essam asks Sayid to be co-martyrs. And Sayid agrees. Err…
Hey, let’s all go to the beach as Shannon looks at a picture and Sayid comes back from the jungle and then asks for a walk with Shannon. Sayid then explains that he is not so doubtful of Locke’s motives anymore, even though he didn’t know why Locke lied. Shannon can’t believe that’s it, and Sayid tries to make up for it but Shannon doesn’t really want to have anything to do with Sayid. I’m afraid that she’s off to find someone else to do her dirty work for her, perhaps in exchange for sex–“Paging Sawyer, you have a call from Shannon.”
And now we go to Michael’s Ark II, as Walt can’t stop asking questions. He starts to get serious though, wondering what would happen if they should die. Michael assures him that no one’s going to die on The Ark, but that certainly didn’t stop Boone from dying on the island. Michael ponders that for a couple of beats until the crying interrupts anything and Charlie asks Michael for some assistance. I could’ve used a nice “I don’t know nothin’ ’bout birthin’ babies!” right there. Michael can only suggest going on a walk, but Charlie has already done that. Sawyer then arrives, asking to shut Baby Huey up…as the crying stops. That’s right, the soothing Southern accent of Sawyer can calm any baby from the womb of Claire. No matter how bitter the things are that Sawyer says, the tone gets the baby to stop crying as Charlie stsrts following Sawyer around the beach, making sure he’s not too far away.
Jack is awake and Kate is right there by his side, but there’s one important thing missing from Jack…the key to the gun case. Oh shit. Shannon isn’t going to find someone to do her dirty work…Kate wonders if it fell off, but Jack knows that it didn’t and Sayid comes wandering around wondering what the committion is. Jack thinks that Locke stole the key to the gun case, but Sayid can tell Jack for a fact that it definitely wasn’t lock. And in the jungle, as the rain pours down, two hands clamp onto the gun case, unlocking it with the key. And those two hands belong to none other than Shannon.
And now, a word from our sponsors… Oh, that dumb bitch. I really don’t need a reason to hate Shannon anymore. That pretty face is going to be emblazoned in my mind dictionary under the word “bitch” if she is the one who gets to take Locke out of the script. The Sawyer/Charlie thing is pretty cute. And I’m definitely not feeling the whole flashback thing this episode, as the regular stuff is just blowing it away.
Returning in a flashback as Essam catches up with Sayid in the back of the van as it’s time to blow some people away. The van carrying Essam and Sayid pulls into a warehouse as the preparations begin with the C4 and other equipment. Hailing them as heroes, it’s showtime, as they step into the front of the van now, but Essam once again seems to be getting cold feet. Sayid then blows his cover with the CIA, but gives Essam a ten-minute head start to get going. Essam is devastated that he was used to find a woman, which is the wrong emotion to give a man when he’s got a gun, as Essam looks ready to blow Sayid’s head off. But Essam has a change of heart…and blows his own head off.
We don’t see that, because Sayid is running through the wet jungle on the prowl for Shannon to keep her from doing something infinitely stupid. Kate and Jack are following right behind but Jack is still fatigued like hell and Kate just refuses to leave the poor boy behind. Sayid stumbles right into Locke holding his hands up, telling Sayid that Shannon doesn’t believe him. Sayid tries to get some sense into Shannon, warning her that she can never take this back. And here comes Kate and Jack, as Shannon demands the truth but she doesn’t think she’s got it…and Sayid makes a last-second dive…but the shot is still fired and Locke is down. No immediate attempt is made to help him, as Sayid wrestles the gun away from Shannon and she walks away, dejected, with Jack just standing there looking at Locke, shot right in the stomach. Locke gives Jack a HUGE stinkeye, and Jack sucks it up and turns away.
And now, a word from our sponsors… Home stretch, as that was insane. Shannon has lost her god damn mind, and things are going to get out of control if she doesn’t bite the bullet sooner rather than later.
At the beach Sawyer reads to the baby, who is cooing happily and Charlie looks happy as well. Sawyer is actually reading from an automobile magazine, which is just plain hilarious.
On the Bonfire of Reflection, Shannon looks distant as Kate tells Sayid she’ll need time, but Sayid thinks he made a mistake. Kate thinks it was the right thing, but Sayid thinks there was a choice other than just killing Locke.
Flashback, as Sayid gets his fate handed to him in the form of an Oceanic flight. Sayid wants to know what will happen to Essam’s body, as the male CIA agent explains that it will be cremated since no one is around to claim the body to have it rightfully buried like a respectable Muslim man. To make sure the body is claimed…Sayid pushes his flight one day back. Oh man.
And now we go visit Locke who is joined by Sayid, as Locke understands what Sayid had to lose to save Locke. But Sayid did it because he thinks Locke would be the best chance of survival. He certainly doesn’t trust Locke…but he wants to be led to the hatch. Locke continues to pussyfoot around…
“John. No more lies.”
END SHOW! YEAHHHHH! I LOVE LOST! LOST IS SO GOOD! GOOD FOR YOU, MADE FOR YOU!
The flashbacks only kinda mean something in the ending where Sayid pushes his flight back a day and thus ends up here, but I’m sure there’s an extraneous meaning to be found in the whole trust issue between Essam/Sayid and Locke/Sayid.
