Lost – Recap – Episode 2-3

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Hey great job on the recaps. Did you notice that the Shark had the same emblem as Desmond had on his uniform? The Dharma one on his shirt. Could the shark be part of the security system? I have another question though: Ethan captured Claire and then she was gone for a couple of weeks. She is found in the jungle and Ethan tries to get her back. Why? If the OTHERS wanted the boy (Walt) why would they try to get Claire back? I think that there might be two groups of OTHERS trying to get two different kids. What do you think?

While doing my weekly reading of other sites covering Lost after recapping it, I did discover that the shark indeed carried the symbol of Dharma & Greg. I think it’s entirely possible that the shark is part of the security system. Now, regarding Claire’s baby and the Others, I find the dual Others hard to believe. There’s the tail survivors, the Others, and Our Survivors. Which group found Jin and hogtied him? I’m not sure until I watch this upcoming episode. But I believe that there is something with Walt and Claire’s baby. I think Desmond is definitely one of the Others working to make sure that Walt or Claire’s baby was captured. Since Walt was an easier target than trying to blow through the survivors–ever get the feeling that Rousseau is trying to call the survivors’ bluff by warning that they can run, hide, or die? Maybe the others don’t have the strength in numbers and can’t get to Claire’s baby? I know I shouldn’t answer questions with questions, but I can only assume that Walt and Claire’s baby have some connection in the grand scheme of things that make them both hot commodities–to the SAME group. I like your thinking, though.

“Hello John,

This episode was great and I have to some musing/theory on Lost I would like you to read and perhaps share with your readers. All these thoughts are based on season 1 and these last two episodes about the island and the others. Please feel free to edit them into a more concise structure.

Lost Musings
The island has some sort of disease and the “others” have to find a cure. Originally they thought that Alex would help them find the cure but couldn’t. Walt has powers to could be used to cure the island. Power that Locke was trying to help Walt develop.

Entirely feasible. Locke may not entirely understand why he’s there, but he sees potential in Walt and wants to hone his skills to be ready for anything if the survivors are in it for the long haul.

The “others” built the hatch which is used to keep anybody who was infected out. Maybe they used the light to blind the people who got to hatch window.
Somehow Desmond got infected and maybe the other “others” don’t know it and he developed a drug to keep the disease at bay but not cure it. The “others” built the security system to protect the Hatch from being opened.”

Desmond’s drug, I believe, is the actual cure and not suppressant. The most feasible theory that I have heard about the hatch is that Hurley is the man who needs to go down into the hatch. Desmond and Hurley are destined to meet each other. That’s why the numbers on the hatch. Hurley, without realizing it, leads the other survivors to the Black Rock, getting the dynamite and going to the hatch. He knows it’s the hatch because the numbers are on the hatch. This is supposed to be a one-man job for Hurley, so it’s assumed that he sets off the dynamite to blow the hatch open, the light turns on to disorient anyone who may be watching Hurley break into the hatch, and the security system is developed with the idea of keeping Hurley alive but eliminating all surrounding people. This is why Hurley gets lucky with the security system.

Maybe certain areas of the island are safe from the disease which ables the “others to come up and try to assese the island. The others found Rousseu’s crew and took Alex(for the same reason they took Walt and why Ethan took Claire to get Aaron). For some reason they were unable to find a cure and kept Alex for fear of her becoming diseased.

Adding Alex into the mix makes me wonder if there’s some kind of Unholy Trinity going on with Aaron, Walt, and Alex. Perhaps their three minds combined would be able to unlock something wonderful in the island. That’s a lot of thinking, though.

Perhaps Rouuseu was immune to the disease of the island and the others don’t know it. Right now I have no idea what the disease is. Given that none of the current surivors have caught nothing unless you count that stuff that Locke put on Boone. Or have yet to see/suffer from symtons.

Jack saw his father, smashed a casket that was supposed to have him inside of it. Either his father is alive or he’s batshit insane. Shannon seeing Walt doing crazy back-talk as well. How about Locke’s inability to use his legs when he got too close to the drug plane?

Right now all the others are probably concerned about is finding a cure and getting off the island. But as you can see the island has great drawing power (see Oceanic flight 815, the french chicks boat, The black pearl which is where the disease could have started from, The smugglers on the plane.)
As for the numbers lets just say that they are used to protect something the island, the other maybe, the island itself. Or what if the others don’t know that the numbers are “cursed”.

I think plenty of people could know that the numbers are “cursed” and not believe in curses.

That’s it for now. Lets hope the series continues to be great.

Michael”

Yo John,

Nancy in Seattle again…

Kate ate an Apollo candy bar…not Rollos! Rollos are individual choc. covered candies and not a full candy bar. Apollo was a candy bar of the 60’s and/or 70’s and again would be a reference to the era when Desmond apparently entered the hatch AND a reference to NASA if the Hatch of Doom is indeed a reference to NASA’s study of the Bernal Sphere/Space Colony first proposed by John DESMOND Bernal (see the link I mentioned in my previous email, which you posted in my letter on your site). But you are right on one count…how and when did Desmond leave the hatch to meet Jack??? Weird.

Stay tuned…

Not sure why I assumed Rolos, I think I meant to just type candy bar but it must’ve came out what it looked like to me. And regarding a theory on how Desmond might’ve been able to meet up with Jack, I’ve heard a plausible theory about the hatch having to be run in shifts, although the shifts last much longer than eight hours. Perhaps Desmond is the latest in a line of men who have been in control of the hatch, and when the other one is appointed to take over, all they have to do is know what the punchline is to the Password Joke: “What did the snowman say to the other snowman?” And if they get the answer correct, the hatch is there, they control the security system and the cycle continues. The question, of course, is why would you want to be in control of the hatch, but perhaps Desmond was cursed by the numbers and the only way to get away from them was to continually type them into a computer to reset the COUNTDOWN OF DOOM.

Hi John,

Thank you very much for providing “Lost” recaps every week. I like reading them even after I’ve watched the show just to see if I missed anything and get new ideas.

Episode 2-2, when Sawyer and Michael were out in the water on the remains of the raft, and the sharks were swimming around … did you notice that the shark’s tail had that “Dharma” logo on it? I love TiVo – I caught it in the blink of an eye, and I was able to rewind and slow down the picture so I could confirm that it really was that logo, the same one that we saw on Desmond’s shirt and on a fuse box in the hatch! What do you think that’s all about?

Keep up the great work!

I love TiVo too, but as of right now I will not have cable for at least ten more hours, at least in my room. Anyway, yes, the Dharma & Greg label is on the shark, and yes, that means it’s part of the security system. What other explanation could there possibly be?

On with the recap!

Previously, on Lost: Desmond is training for a race around the world, and helps Jack with an inury he gets running up the steps of a stadium. Jack ventures into the hatch, but Locke and Kate are already there, and Locke has to put in the numbers and press Execute. Jack’s here to save the day, but Desmond threatens to blow Locke’s head off. He’s not HIM, after all. Michael and Sawyer return to land sans Walt and Jin, but they find Jin running to them, tied up, and all he can say in English is one word: Others.

We get a much better look at the Others now, as Adebisi from Oz goes buck wild and beats the hell out of all three of them with a baseball bat in a manner that would’ve killed someone not on TV. Sawyer, Michael and Jin are all thrown into an underground cell, and Michael wants to know where Walt is but Adebisi shuts the cage.

Back in the hatch, Desmond almost kills Kate with a warning shot, as Jack tries to start a monologue about Locke’s idea of destiny. “All roads lead here.”

Flashback: No, they lead here, as Locke is at a “Transforming Anger” support group and scoffs at Francine’s story of having $30 stolen from here. Locke explains that he never knew his parents, but when he finally found his mother two years ago, she told him that he was special and reunited him with his real father. But his father pretended to love him only long enough to steal Locke’s kidney since he needed a transplant. You see, Francine may want her $30 back, but Locke wants his damn kidney back! Outside of the support group, Locke has trouble lighting a cigarette and then throws it down on the ground. Guest Star Katey Segal says that’s a good thing, since if he got kidney cancer he’d only have one. Locke apologizes for ruining the class, but it’s nothing GS KS hasn’t been wanting to do for years anyway. “Once I get all hot and bothered, there’s no stopping me.” Locke isn’t coming back anytime soon, which GS KS finds as a bad thing since she has a thing for bald guys. But Locke isn’t bald. Yet. Helen’s willing to wait though. They introduce themselves…

…and we’re thrown right back into the hatch as Jack wants to know where Kate is. Kate is crawling through the airvent again now, and finds an open grate to slip down into, opening the door and shedding enough light to reveal that she is apparently in the arsenal part of the hatch, because there are some BFGs just SITTING there. Kate works her way around the wall to the standoff, and then slams the butt of the gun into the Desmond’s head. Desmond’s gun misfires…as Desmond falls to the ground and is disarmed. Locke wants Jack to take it easy, but where Desmond’s gun misfires is important: It misfires right into the computer. Yes, THAT computer. Desmond begins to freak out, warning that they’re all going to die. Desmond claims that he has to fix it or they’re going to die. Desmond calls their attention to the timer that’s counting down and Jack wants to know what’s going to happen when the timer runs down. Desmond finally recognizes Jack so Jack decides to let him up as long as Kate has her gun on him. The computer isn’t working though, and Locke is looking at Jack weird…

Flashback: As Locke puts on his shoes after slipping out of bed with Helen. Locke has trouble sleeping in a strange bed, but it has nothing to do with Helen. Locke will call Helen later, and then Locke ends up out front of his father’s house, sipping a coffee as Locke’s father eventually joins him in the car. Mr. Locke mentions that John has been making a habit out of this lately, and it’s starting to get annoying, so Mr. Locke would just like to know what John wants. John wants to know why, and his father just says that Locke needed a father figure and Mr. Locke needed a kidney, so John shouldn’t act like he was the first one to be conned. Mr. Locke suggests that he not come back since he’s not wanted.

Back in the hatch, Desmond is rummaging through his stuff, as Locke offers his help, but Desmond needs someone who can fix a computer. Kate offers to go grab Sayid, and Jack wonders if she can get back up that rope. Kate assumes that there must be a front door in here, and indeed, down the corridor and to the left there is a front door. Desmond finds a jar of something and goes off in the other direction with Jack and Locke close behind. Kate, meanwhile, pops the hatch door open and walks through. Jack grabs the jar of whatever Desmond’s got and asks for some answers before he continues working. He wants to know how Desmond got in the hatch. Desmond explains that three years ago, he was in a race around the world, his boat crashed on the reef and a Kelvin/Calvin(?) ran up to him, ushering him along into the hatch and explaining that he puts in the code and presses execute. Kelvin/Calvin explains that he was just saving the world, that’s all. So Desmond decided to save the world with him and push the button. Calvin died and now he’s alone. The end. 84 minutes are remaining as Desmond gets his jar back. Jack doesn’t believe Desmond but Locke does, so Desmond suggests that Jack watch “the film”. Duh? Behind The Turn of the Screw is an orientation film. Yikes.

Hurley is playing catch with Vincent, and then goes to get Sayid’s stuff saying that he didn’t think that they’d make it through the night with the threat of the Others around the corner. Hurley is glad everything is back to normal, and then here comes Kate through the jungle, saying that she needs his help.

In the underground cell, Sawyer wants to know about who took Jin and when Jin says that he was blindfolded as he was dragged into the cell, Sawyer wants to know more and has Michael and Jin push Sawyer up to the top of the cell. Sawyer does reach the top, but the top of the cell is tied off somewhere, and by the time Sawyer can try to think of a way out, Adebisi sticks his big spear into the cell, opening the door to throw in another cellmate–Michelle Rodriguez. Well, it’s about time.

Locke pops open the Orientation film as Jack brings the projector over. Locke explains what happened before Jack arrived, and then Jack wants to know why Locke doesn’t find this to be insane. Locke thinks that Jack is just freaking out because Desmond recognized Jack, and then Locke just fires up the projector.

The Dharma Initiative
3 of 6
Orientation

Station 3 is known as the Swan, as Dr. something-or-other introduces us by explaining that there will be instructions on how the two-man team will run the hatch. But first, he decides to give us a little backstory. TDI was created in 1970 and was the brainchild of two doctoral candidates from the University of Michigan. He imagined a large-scale communal research compound, where scientists and free thinkers from around the globe could pursue research in meteorology, psychology, parapsychology (POLAR BEARS), zoology, ELECTROMAGNETISM, and Utopian–the audio gets choppy here, ON PURPOSE. The doctor explains that the man and the partner will be at The Swan for the next 540 days. 108 (the sum of the numbers) x 5 is 540. It was originally constructed as a lab to study the electromagnetic draw in this sector of the island. Not long after the experiments, however, there was an incident. The following protocol has been established, however. Every 108 minutes, the button must be pushed. When the alarm sounds, one man must input the code in four minutes. “Do not attempt to use the computer–” the audio gets choppy again, and that’s the film. By far the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen. Locke says it for all of us.

“We’re going to need to watch that again.”

Flashback: Helen gets Locke a six-month anniversary gift: a key to her place. Locke is speechless, but Helen has one condition. Locke has to stay over all night, since Helen followed Locke last night to the house that he goes to. Locke wants to know why Helen would follow him, because she cared about him. Helen needed to find help to get through 20 years of anger, and John helped her through that. Helen can help her, but John just has to promise that he’ll avoid that place. Locke agrees to this, and puts the key in his pocket. They share a kiss…

…and we go back to the projector. Locke is loading it up again, but Jack doesn’t want to watch it again. Jack simply walks off.

Back at the Underground Cell, Michelle Rodriguez is stirring to awakeness and is disoriented. Michael explains that they were on a plane that crashed from Sydney to Los Angeles. “Flight 815?” She was on it, and she was in the back. She doesn’t understand how they survived, because she was knocked out before hitting landfall, woke up underwater and made it to land. She’s been by herself all this time, but hasn’t found anyone else. But the Others found her, and she doesn’t know who it is. She didn’t see Walt, though. Lucilla introduces herself to the three guys. “Next time Shaft opens the cage, he’s going to get a surprising howdy doody.” Sawyer pulls out his gun…

Jack wants to know if Desmond is in contact with the Dharma Initiative, and Desmond doesn’t think so otherwise he wouldn’t be down here. Jack wants answers to questions like where Desmond’s replacements are, how he gets his food, and then wonders if Desmond ever thinks that it’s just a mind game to see if he really will push the button every 108 minutes. Desmond thinks that EVERY single day. Desmond hopes it’s not real, but the film says that it’s an electromagnetic station, and everytime he left the concrete wall, he felt funny. Desmond thinks he’s fixed it, but he instead short circuits everything, and backup generators turn on as Desmond freaks out again. “It’s over.” Desmond runs off and Jack trails behind, as Locke watches the clock click over to 48 minutes. Desmond starts stockpiling food from the pantry and then grabs the drugs in his counter. Locke says that Sayid is coming, but Desmond doesn’t want to stick around. Jack notices a picture on the bedside, and Desmond wants to leave. “As far as I can run brother.” Desmond opens the front door, and Jack goes to follow him out. Locke doesn’t think this was supposed to happen, but Jack leaves Locke on his own as the clock ticks down to 46 minutes. Locke looks at the computer and tries to fix it, and then gets frustrated and starts screaming to himself. “What am I supposed to do?”

Flashback: Locke awakes in the middle of the night again, having to wash his face as he looks at his kidney scar again. He simply can’t resist the appeal of sitting out in front of his father’s gate. But there’s Helen. Helen takes the keys from Locke’s car, and throws them over the gate of his father’s house. Helen explains that he’s not coming out of his house because he doesn’t care. Locke apparently is scared of moving forward, and Helen wants Locke to choose between his father and Helen. Locke doesn’t think it’s that simple, but Helen’s making it that simple. Locke gets frustrated, and he doesn’t know what’s going to happen, but Helen explains that’s why it’s a leap of faith. Locke doesn’t have to be alone, and Helen is there with her outreached hand. Locke takes it.

Back in the hatch, Kate calls for Jack but finds John as Hurley and Sayid join him. John explains that Jack bolted, and the time is down to 24 minutes. Sayid sends Kate and Hurley looking for a breaker box. But Hurley finds a pantry instead, full of actual food.

In the Underground Cell, it’s decided that Jin will play the sick prisoner, but Michelle Rodriguez wants to know how Sawyer got the gun on the plane, and Sawyer has to explain that it belonged to a U.S. Marshal, and Michelle then shocks the world by disarming Sawyer and telling Adebisi to get him out of the cell. Aha, they were in cahoots. I actually did not see this coming. Adebisi wants to know who they are as Michelle gets out of the cell, with the three of them shocked.

DESMOND IS RUNNING, but he takes a spill and lands at the bottom of a hill. And there’s Jack with a gun pointed at him. Desmond tells Jack the code should they get the computer working again, but Jack is insistent that nothing is going to happen because the idea of the whole thing is absurd. Desmond decides that in 15 minutes he’s going to be very right or very wrong. Jack doesn’t know why Desmond is running, since he doesn’t know what he’s running from. It finally hits Desmond where he found Jack. Desmond gets close to Jack, wondering about the girl he was talking about back then. “I MARRIED HER!” Desmond seems kinda floored by this, and realizes that Jack is no longer married to her. Jack sobs as Desmond grabs his bag and runs. “See you in another life, ya?”

Five minutes remaining, and Sayid doesn’t know if he can fix it. The power transformer is blown, but Sayid knows that the timer is counting down to something, and the computer needs to be repaired to reset it. Kate finds the breaker box, and we’ve got light. Hurley and Kate return to the main room, and here comes the alarm. Four minutes remaining. Sayid knows what he has to do now, and he seems to have it going. And there’s the screen. Gotta put in the code. Oh no, Hurley’s there. Locke goes through the numbers, and Hurley freaks out until Locke gets to 32. But there’s Jack to tell him the correct last number. And Hurley looks worried. Locke puts in the correct number, and hovers his finger over execute. Almost two minutes remaining, and Jack looks beside himself. Locke wants Jack to press the button, and with time remaining, he better do it quick. Locke explains that Jack has to do it as it’s a two-person job, at least. Sayid goes to press the button, and Jack doesn’t think it’s real. “Why do you find it so hard to believe?” “Why do you find it so easy?” “It’s never been easy!” Final 60 seconds now, and the alarm gets more shrill now. Kate suggests that he just do it, but Jack thinks it’s just a button. Locke needs help with this, and tells Jack it’s a leap of faith. 25 seconds left. Jack walks over to the computer, looks at the numbers, and with less than ten seconds…

…he presses the button at the last second, and resets the timer. Locke offers to take the first shift. Jack walks off in frustration…

LOST.

Nuts.