Sunday, February 7, 2010

We Want Some Freakin' Answers!

This nicely summarizes how a lot of people feel about the final season.




It's pretty obvious at this point that every question will not be answered, but all of us have an idea of which answers are essential for us to be satisfied by the end of the season. At the top of my list would be:

-How did Jacob and the Man in Black/smoke monster first come to the Island?

-Why do Charles Widmore and others want the Island so much?

-What is up with on-Island Claire? Dead, alive, other?

-What is Christian Shephard's history with the Island? Why is his body missing, and why are both his children (and his grandson) so important?

-Who are Desmond's parents?

-How will all the fractured relationships resolve?

-Why were these particular people (Jack, Kate, Sawyer, etc.) supposed to go to the Island in the first place?

-And a brand-new question since the premiere: Will the two timelines resolve?


Your turn! What are the answers you just HAVE to have?

Friday, February 5, 2010

Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse on Jimmy Kimmel

LOST's masterminds Damon and Carlton talk about the season premiere, announce the end date of the final season (May 23!) and discuss which changes in the flashsideways were intentional and which were coincidental. They also (sort of) address the theory that Jacob has taken over Sayid's body. As always they are charmingly geeky and funny, and only slightly smug about knowing all the answers.

Part 1:



Part 2:

The Two 815s

Someone directed me to this video - a side-by-side comparison of Jack's two experiences on board flight 815. Watching them together, Jack really seems to be "remembering" something that has never happened to him and it explains why his reaction to the turbulence is so much stronger than Rose's this time. Also, Matthew Fox looks much better with less hair.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

6:1 LA X


It finally arrived! The final season premiere. After all the anticipation I think a lot of us were worried that the premiere would be a letdown. Thankfully all the worrying was for naught. I can't imagine a better season opener. There were lots of revelations, and enough left unanswered to keep us scratching our heads - which is just the way I like it. (For those of you who are interested, my friend Erin referred me to an interview with Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse where they talk about the premiere. I found it very interesting!)

Revelations:

-First, the biggie: Fake Locke is the smoke monster! I'm sure the implications of this will continue to unfold for the rest of the season. In a podcast last summer the producers said that by the end of this season premiere, all the pieces will be in place for viewers to figure out the end game of the entire show. I'm sure this is what they meant. I keep thinking of the scene where Locke plays backgammon in season one: "Two sides; one is light and one is dark." I think we can unequivocally say now that the smoke monster is not using the bodies of those who have died on the Island, because the whole time he is walking around with Ben, Locke's body is lying there on the beach.

-One of my favorite aspects of LOST is the use of unconventional narrative styles. First it was flashbacks, then flashforwards, then time skipping, and now it's what the producers call "flashsideways" - a glimpse at an alternate timeline. To many viewers this was the only logical next step, but I have to say I'm thrilled that they've introduced it in a way that no one would have expected: showing an alternate reality while leaving some of the Losties on the Island to deal with the aftermath of the hydrogen bomb detonation. Did anyone else notice that the "whoosh" sound they use for flashbacks is different now? It sounds like a combination of the flashback sound and the time travel sound.

-Juliet is definitely dead. It was devastating watching her die again. With the recap show, and the opening sequence showing her fall down the hole yet again, I felt like I'd watched her die dozens of times in one episode. She seems to have had a glimpse of their alternate reality as she died. Will she and Sawyer be meeting up for coffee in that timeline (and go dutch)?

-There is a group of Others living at the Temple, and they have a pool that can heal people. I think we now know where Richard took young Ben in season 5 after Sayid shot him. Richard tells them that if he is healed, Ben will lose his innocence and he will always be "one of us." Sayid doesn't have much innocence to lose, but I'm guessing he will be changed in a significant way as a result of his experience in the pool.

-Detonating the bomb DID change things...but not the way they thought it would. They assumed that flight 815 would land in L.A. as scheduled and their lives would go on as normal. But in our glimpse of the alternate 815, things are already different way in advance of the flight. Hurley still owns a Mr. Clucks and says he's the luckiest guy in the world. Shannon stays in Sydney instead of flying home with Boone. Michael and Walt don't appear to be on the flight at all. Sun doesn't speak English (although there may be reason to believe she's lying about this.) Cindy gives Jack one bottle of alcohol instead of two. Charlie is convinced he's supposed to die. Desmond was on the flight - Desmond, who caused the original crash of 815! - and then seems to disappear. And the biggest surprise to me: the Island itself is completely under water. We haven't seen this yet, but it's likely that Kate has been arrested for a different crime this time, as seen in this video clip from Comic-Con 2009.


-Both Jack's déjà vu on the plane and Juliet's last words seem to indicate that there is some kind of crossover between the two timelines. I think this might be what causes the Whispers, the temporary intersection between two versions of reality. The Others seem to be able to control this in some way, and perhaps can even view what people are doing in other times and places.

-The contents of Jacob's guitar case are finally revealed. I laughed when Hurley admitted he had peeked inside, because a few minutes before I had said "there's no way I would carry that thing around for three years without peeking!" The object inside was an ankh, the Egyptian symbol for eternal life. It's the same symbol that was carried by Tawaret (the four-toed statue when it was still whole) and worn by Paul, Amy's husband who was killed by the Others in season 5.

-We see yet another of Jacob's lists. Everyone on the list is someone we saw Jacob visit (and touch) off the Island in season 5 - Jack, Kate, Hurley, Jin, and Sayid. The ones missing are Ilana, Sun, Sawyer and Locke.

-It's very interesting to me that so many characters we know from the Island make connections in the flashsideways. Jack and Locke, Kate and Sawyer, Jack and Charlie, Jack and Desmond, Locke and Boone, Kate and Claire. There must be something about these people that draws them together. (When Kate got into the cab with Claire I thought for a second "Hey, maybe Claire will ask Kate to adopt Aaron!" - but then I realized Kate was holding the cab driver at gunpoint. Not quite the ideal person to give your baby to.)


Literary References and Allusions:

-I recently explored how in seasons 1 and 2 the writers often used the symbols of fire and water, and that theme is back big time. The scenes in the statue use fire (burning Jacob's body, torches), and the scenes in the temple use water (the healing pool.) Both fire and water often refer to baptism - in this case Jacob had a literal baptism by fire (which doesn't seem too pleasant) and Sayid was baptized in water (also not a fun time.) When they carry Sayid out of the pool his arms are extended out in the shape of a cross, which can't be coincidental. Religious symbolism is one of my favorite aspects of LOST and I'm glad it seems to be making a comeback.

-The healing pool reminds me of the Biblical story of the Pool of Bethesda. Bathing in pools has a long history within ancient medicine (i.e. the Roman baths) and some of that tradition shows up in the Bible. The story says that sick people would wait around the edges of the pool for the water to move. When they saw movement it meant that an angel has stirred the water, and the next person to get in the water would be healed. Jesus comes and heals a man who has been waiting by the water for years, showing that he was more powerful than the legendary waters.

-Hurley discovers a copy of a French translations of Søren Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling. The title refers to Paul's epistle to the Philippians, a verse which reads, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." The book specifically addresses aspects of the Abrahamic test, when Abraham was commanded by God to kill his only son Isaac, and explores the ethical dilemmas inherent in a religious life. The foremost question: Does duty to a higher power override common sense morality? (The Others could probably benefit from these kinds of questions, don't you think?)


Moments of Pure Awesomeness:

-Boone asking Locke "You aren't pulling my leg are you?" and Locke responding "Why would I pull your leg?" HA! And then even better, Boone goes on, "If this thing goes down, I'm sticking with you." Maybe not the best idea, Boone.

-The smoke monster's description of Locke's final thoughts broke my heart. And I SO wanted it to be true when he told Boone that he went on the walkabout. It seems that even in the alternate reality Locke is a broken, frustrated man. I hope he gets some sort of redemption.

-Jack's whole conversation with Desmond. Suddenly the oft-repeated phrase "See you in another life, brother" has a whole new meaning.

-Jack offering to help Locke and saying "Nothing is irreversible" gave me shivers down my spine.


Still unanswered:

-Why is everyone in trouble if Sayid dies? Are they still in trouble now that he's come back to life?

-Is the pool how Richard has stayed so young all these years? And Jacob?

-I heard Damon and Carlton answer a very interesting question (I think it was at Comic-Con): "Has Jacob ever appeared in another form?" The answer was no. I think it might be safe to say that whenever we've seen someone dead appear alive again, it was the smoke monster.

-We've heard a lot about course correction when someone tries to change their destiny. Are we going to see course correction taking place in this new timeline, even with the Island underwater?

-Now that we know a circle of ash is a protective measure against the smoke monster, what was it being used for at Jacob's cabin? Was it keeping Smokey in, or keeping him out? Locke hears a voice in the cabin saying "help me". Was that Smokey or Jacob? I'm inclined to think it was the smoke monster, but I don't think we can know for sure yet.

-Where are Christian's body and Locke's knives?

-How does the smoke monster have all of Locke's memories, including his thoughts as he was dying?

-How does Richard recognize the smoke monster/Jacob's nemesis, and what does is mean that he was "in chains" (slave on the Black Rock?) Was Richard a witness to the smoke monster's arrival on the Island?

-I think the title "LA X" refers to "X" as a variable - we are seeing an alternate arrival in L.A. The big question is, what is that variable that has caused so much to change? Is it free will, as Daniel Faraday has hypothesized? Is it Desmond (who is the one character who the rules of time travel don't apply to)? Is it because of Jacob's death? Or is it simply that they detonated the bomb at the right time and the right place?

Monday, February 1, 2010

5:16 The Incident, Parts 1 and 2

5:16 The Incident


See my original posts on this episode here and here.

Who would have guessed that the final episode of the season would be Jacob centric - and that we would actually get to see him interacting with characters in the past?! Pure awesomeness, that's all I can say.

-The scene with Jacob spinning and weaving always makes me think of this classic scene on Flight of the Conchords, which explains that weaving is a man's game.



...now on to more serious analysis. The symbol of weaving is one that comes up a lot in mythology. The first example that comes to my mind is the Greek myth about the Fates, three figures who control the mortals' destiny through the patterns they weave. The thread they used represented someone's life, and they had complete control over when that life began and when it ended. Interestingly, in many cultures weaving was predominantly a woman's craft, but in Egypt it was solely the men (this cultural disparity may have been what caused Brett and Jemaine's confusion.)

-Is that fish Jacob is eating a red herring? HA!

-Still unanswered: Why does the man in black need a loophole to kill Jacob?

-There is some great casting in this episode. Young Kate and young Sawyer are very believable as the kid versions of the characters we know and love.

-Richard tells Locke he doesn't age because of Jacob, and he believes that Jacob is why Locke is alive. He's right - but doesn't know that Locke is alive to kill Jacob.

-Another "yahoo!" this time from Bram.

-I paid closer attention this time to Jacob's interactions with each of the Losties. Both Sawyer and Kate say "thanks" to Jacob. I can't figure out if Jacob saved Sayid from getting hit by a car, or if he was helping Nadia be killed.

-It still cracks me up that Sayid wraps the nuclear core in a blanket as if it will help things. And he sure throws that bag around during the shoot-out!

-Vincent! If you watch closely you can see Madison (the doggie actor) take a treat from Sawyer's hand.

-Bram repeats a phrase we keep hearing "We are the good guys." Will we ever know for sure who the good guys actually are? Frank says that in his experience the people have to have keep saying they're good guys are actually the bad guys, and I totally agree.

-Jacob reading a book (Flannery O'Connor's short story collection, Everything That Rises Must Converge) reminds me of Ben reading a book on the plane waiting for it to crash. When he apologizes to Locke ("I'm sorry this happened to you") it also reminds me of Ben telling Locke "I'm sorry I made your life so miserable" in season 4.

-Jacob touches each person he visits, except for Ilana. Is this because Ilana is already an Other?

-I love, LOVE seeing Ben, the master manipulator being manipulated by fake Locke. For once the man who always has a plan has no idea what is going on or who to trust.

-Jack's flashback makes him seem so petty and whiny. Why didn't he ever mention his dad before when he told that story?

-Once again, the group splinters - Jack, Miles, Hurley and Sayid vs. Kate, Sawyer and Juliet.

-FINALLY Sawyer and Jack beat each other to a bloody pulp. That was a long time coming!

-I have to say that I agree with Sawyer here - Jack is willing to blow up a nuclear bomb because his relationship with Kate didn't work out? Seriously?

-I was too wrapped up in the excitement the first time to notice that Juliet changing her mind a million times is annoying. Super annoying. And not characteristic of Juliet at all. I think this is a clear example of the needs of the story overriding characterization.

-Locke promises that things will change once Jacob is gone. What exactly will we see change in season 6?

-I wonder if it's Jacob death that allows them to change the future, and not just the nuclear bomb?

-When the structure around the Swan site starts collapsing I just want to yell RUN AWAY!

-Jacob is always talking about how everyone has a choice. Is this true, or is it a case of protesting too much (similar to always saying "we're the good guys")?

-Juliet hits the bomb 8 times.

-Jacob says "They're coming." Who does he mean?

-The reversing of the end title (black on white rather than white on black) is an interesting touch. Is it just aesthetic, or does it mean they did change things?


Best lines:

GRAY-HAIRED MAN: I don't have to ask. You brought them here. Still trying to prove me wrong, aren't you?

BLOND MAN: You are wrong.

GRAY-HAIRED MAN: Am I? They come. They fight. They destroy. They corrupt. It always ends the same.

BLOND MAN: It only ends once. Anything that happens before that is just progress.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

5:13 Some Like It Hoth, 5:14 The Variable, 5:15 Follow the Leader

5:13 Some Like It Hoth


In which Miles hears dead people, and Hurley becomes a screenwriter!

-When Miles gives his fake reading to Mr. Gray he holds his hands with the palms up - the same way the psychic Richard Malkin holds Claire's hands in season 1.

-We know now why Miles asked Ben for 3.2 million dollars - it's double the amount Widmore was paying him. Greedy greedy, Miles.

-The taco shop where Miles grabs some food before being abducted by Bram is named La Vida (Life) Tacos.

-After seeing the finale is seems pretty clear that Bram and Ilana are both on Team Jacob, and are Others.

-It's such a sweet moment when Miles sees his dad reading to him as a baby, and then when Dr. Chang says "Miles, I need you," and Miles says "You do?" Miles does have a soft side after all.

Best lines:

JACK: Her [Kate's] heart was in the right place.

SAWYER: Yeah, well, where was her head?

---

HURLEY: And let's face it. The Ewoks sucked, dude.

5:14 The Variable


The symbol of this whole season could be the one introduced in this episode: the metronome. Measuring the passage of time is obviously a big deal, and Daniel is the expert.

-One thing that kind of bugs me is how everyone within one family will have different last names just to throw us off. Charles Widmore, Eloise Hawking and Daniel Faraday? Why didn't Daniel get his father OR his mother's last name? Did Eloise just make up a name for him?

-Daniel says he tested things on himself first before Theresa, and while he's in bad shape he's not nearly as incapacitated as she is. It makes me wonder if someone intentionally got Theresa out of the way to let Daniel focus on his work. I wouldn't put anything past Eloise or Widmore at this point.

-We find out once and for all that Widmore is the one who planted the fake plane.

-We also find out why Daniel and Charlotte were running memory tests on the Island - Widmore had told Daniel that the Island would heal his mind.

-Sawyer says "yahoos" again! I might start referring to season 5 as "the yahoo season."

-I crack up when Sawyer calls Daniel "H.G. Wells". HAHAHA!

-I still can't believe Penny so readily leaves little Charlie with a nurse in the waiting room. After what just happened to them I wouldn't let that kid out of my sight!

-With the end of this episode we're back to the overarching question: Can free will change destiny?

Best lines:
HURLEY: You guys were in 1954? Like... Fonzie times?

5:15 Follow the Leader


-What does Richard mean when he says he "watched them all die"? Did he see the nuclear bomb going off?

-The scene between Kate and Jack where they discuss whether or not they should change their future is heart wrenching. Interesting that Kate is on Locke's side for this one - believing that they needed to have those experiences, even if they were painful, because there was good in them too.

-HILARIOUS that Hurley gets busted by Dr. Chang for not knowing who the President is, since that's what he was worried about at the beginning of their DI adventure.

-Interesting that fake Locke insists "I am the leader now." Why is it so important that he is the leader? So he can get access to Jacob? Can Jacob only be killed by one of his own?

-Richard explains about Eloise and Widmore to Jack and says "love can be complicated." You're preaching to the choir on that one, Alpert.

-Locke refers to himself in the 3rd person - which makes a lot more sense now that we know that he really is talking about someone else.

-Once again, the writers make Kate be the complication. When she got on that sub all I could think was "Awwww crap!"

-Question: If they were successful in detonating the bomb, in theory everyone on the Island would be killed. So how is Eloise going to be around in the future, and Dr. Chang, Richard, and Widmore too for that matter? That really would change things.

-Mirror image: Another exodus scene, complete with that amazing soundtrack. And even cooler this time with Ben's words resonated in my mind that Locke marched up to Jacob "as if he was Moses."

Best lines:

BEN: This must be quite the out-of-body experience.

LOCKE: Something like that.

----

MILES: Dr. Chang? What are you doing here?

DR. CHANG: I could ask you the same question.

HURLEY: But we asked you first.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Season 6 Promo

Another official promo is out - and I promise it's one of those you'll want to watch more than once. I'm intrigued by all the familiar sequences going backwards, and the hatch countdown counting UP. There's also a brief flash of new footage at 0:15 - check out who that is holding a gun!