Lost from the beginning (NO SPOILERS)

[OdoWanKenobi]

D.O.C.:

The inevitable happens here when Suns finds out the fate of pregnant women on the island. This leads to another jungle trek. Though this time none of the usual suspects are along. It's just Sun and Juliet. Juliet takes Sun into the medical station, and gives her an ultrasound. There's the good news that baby is in fact Jin's. However, this means Sun is probably doomed. Damn. Juliet then records a message for Ben and leaves it at a drop point. Her final note (off record) of "I hate you" shows pretty well which side she's probably going to be on when everything comes to a head.

The flashback is pretty standard stuff. I mean, it's not bad, but not earth shattering. I'll say again that I don't think the show can sustain this much longer, though.

Now, the other crew in the jungle is tending to the injured parachutist when Hurley accidentally shoots off a flare. Great job, buddy. Who should come running towards the flare but Mikhail! Not quite as dead as we thought, I guess. Oddly enough, he agrees to help our injured mystery person just as long as they let him go. Long story short, she makes it. Hurley starts talking to her, and when he mentions that they're the survivors of flight 815, she says they found flight 815 already, and that there were no survivors.

So what does this mean? Are our heroes all actually dead? Is this hell? Purgatory? If they're dead, then how are people dying? What's going on?

 

[RoJoHen]

What's going on?

You might as well end every post with this until the end of the series.

 

[DonIago]

^Hee. It's funny because it's true.

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

The Brig:

The flashback in this episode is actually not all that long ago, and doesn't really feel like a flashback. It's just the earlier half of this story. We (finally!) see what Locke and the Others have been up to. They are starting to look to him as some kind of savior, or something. Ben can't have that of course. He tells Locke that in order to set himself free, he has to kill his father, which Locke can't do. Richard (who I don't think I've mentioned yet, but is getting more and more prominent) suggests another candidate to do it: Sawyer.

Locke takes Richard up on the suggestion, and brings Sawyer to Black Rock, where he's keeping his father. He tells Sawyer that he captured Ben. Sawyer is understandably pissed when he gets locked in a room with this stranger. Ah, but then comes the kicker. Through some conveniently leading dialogue, Sawyer learns that Locke's dad once used the alias of Tom Sawyer. Hmmmm, why does that sound fami....oh yeah! He's the guy that robbed young James Ford's family, causing his father to kill his mother and then himself. Well aint that a coincidence. By this point, though, I've stopped being surprised by them. It's just a part of the show to accept. Well, Sawyer does what he said he was going to do if he ever met the real Sawyer, and makes him nice and dead. So that's two character arcs that have now come to a close at once, with the death of a single person. Good stuff.

Also of note, the cat is out of the bag about Naiomi. The four decide to bring Sayid into the fold. However, Kate catches him working on the satellite phone and he's forced to explain it to her. Of course, Kate can't keep her mouth shut and tells Jack.

 

[propita]

Sounds like you don't have the most positive feelings for Kate?

If you're interesting in taking more time, what are your feelings towards various characters, now compared to before. Most fans tended to feel similarly about them, but coming from an "uncontaminated person," it'd be interesting to hear/read.

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

Sure, why not?

Jack: Well, he's not my favorite character on the show. In fact, I really don't feel much of anything for Jack right now. He could disappear from the show for a long stretch (like he practically did a little while ago) and I actually wouldn't miss him much. I don't dislike him, I'm just kinda apathetic.

Kate: I hate her. Nuff said. She seems to be completely defined by the silly love triangle that I couldn't care less about.

Locke: He's an interesting guy. My initial love for him has cooled a bit, but he's still one of the best characters on the show. He hasn't done a whole lot since the hatch blew up, but this current arc with the Others has some potential. He's especially great when sharing the screen with Ben. Speaking of which:

Ben: I love him. He's another one of the best characters on the show. The mystery surrounding him has been dispelled a bit with the episode I just saw, but he's so captivating to watch. Emerson brings his A-game to every scene he's in.

Sawyer: I hated him at first, but I've really grown to like him. He's started to act more like a member of the group, though still remaining the arrogant jerk he is. The show would be quite a bit lesser without him.

Desmond: Another one of my favorites. This guy has gone through so much. He is so tortured. I really want to root for him, and hope he gets his happy ending. Plus, there's something about the way he calls everyone "brotha" that is endearing.

Hurley: He doesn't factor into the plot much, but he serves the necessary function of being a lighter character in a sea of serious people. I like him, and like to know I can rely on Hurley to be Hurley all the time.

Charlie: Well, I like him at the start, but then came the Sun and baby-napping. I started to hate him. He's been redeemed in my eyes a little, but he's really faded into the background.

Claire: Boring. All about the baby.

Sayid: He's also faded into the background. I like him. He's cool, but he hasn't had a whole lot to do lately.

Juliet: She's an enigma. Whose side is she truly on?

Jin: I like him. I wish I could understand him, though, What happened to Sun teaching him English? Still, he's lightened up a lot from the jerk he was near the beginning of the series.

Sun: Probably the best female character on the show right now. I've liked her pretty much from the start.

Well, I think that about covers the main cast. Now, on to the next episode.

The Man Behind the Curtain:

Episodes like this are when Lost is at its absolute best. They answer some questions and add a whole slew of new ones. Finally, some information about Ben. He was part of the Dharma Initiative, not born on the island as he previously said. His father was a right bastard, which caused him to turn to the Others. I'm noticing that dead people tend to turn up on this island a lot. Was this the smoke monster impersonating Ben's mother? To what end? Also, why does it appear Richard has not aged in several decades? Well, anyways, several decades later, young Ben is not so young any more. He kills his own father, while the Others clean up the rest of the Dharma people from the barracks. This would be the purge we heard of before. Ben's Dad, meanwhile, sits and waits for Hurley to come along and knock his head off. Well, there we go. Some Dharma history questions answered.

Ah, but it wouldn't be Lost if they didn't make us ask more questions. Locke turns up, dead father in tow, and demands some answers. The scenes between Locke and Ben (most of the episode) are just made of win. These two are two of the best characters, and best actors on the show. Putting them together just increases the awesome. Locke demands to be taken to Jacob, this mysterious man mentioned often by the Others. The thought of this terrifies Ben. What on earth could terrify Ben? Well, Ben eventually agrees, and take Locke to meet Jacob. Jacob is an invisible man. For a moment it would seem that Ben is either putting on a show or is just crazy. But then, Locke hears someone say "Help me" and things go all poltergeist. It would seem Jacob does exist, but who or what is he? Ben demands to know what Jacob said to Locke, and he really means business. He shoots Locke, and drops him into the mass grave for the Dharma people. Ouch! Things look bad.

 

[McCoy]

Ben: I love him. He's another one of the best characters on the show. The mystery surrounding him has been dispelled a bit with the episode I just saw, but he's so captivating to watch. Emerson brings his A-game to every scene he's in.

The scenes between Locke and Ben (most of the episode) are just made of win. These two are two of the best characters, and best actors on the show. Putting them together just increases the awesome.

Ah, excellent! Another convert.

I don't think I'm spoiling anything by mentioning that they have each won an Emmy for this show.

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

Greatest Hits:

Things between the Survivors and the Others are about to get pretty explosive. Ok, sorry, bad pun. Seriously though, they're going to blow them to kingdom come. There's just on problem: The Others are coming early.

Sayid presents another problem. Rousseau's signal is blocking any attempt to contact Naomi's boat. Oh, and Juliet lets them know that there's another station that sending out a jamming signal. Well, that's just great. This means three groups: One group to stay behind at the beach and shoot the dynamite to detonate it, one group to go to the jamming station, Looking Glass, and the rest to go to the radio tower. This mostly feels like setup for the finale, to me.

The real heart of this episode is Charlie coming to terms with his fate. Desmond has another flash, telling Charlie that he saw Claire getting on a helicopter and going to safety. However, this won't happen if Charlie doesn't go to a room with a blinking yellow light and flick a switch. The only problem is that in this room, Charlie will drown. Well, only one thing to do, then. When Charlie hears the "leaders" talking about Looking Glass, he volunteers to be the one to go down there.

The flashbacks are rather sweet. Charlie is a man who knows he's going to die and has accepted it. He makes a list of the five greatest moment of his life:
5. The first time he heard himself on the radio
4. Learning to swim with his father
3. Being given the Driveshaft ring by his brother
2. Saving a woman from a mugging, and being called a hero.
1. Meeting Claire.

Everyone together now: Awwwwwwwwwww

So, the survivors place their plans in motion. There's a really touching scene between Hurley and Charlie. Hurley has no idea that this is likely goodbye for good. It's quite sad how Charlie is forced to insult Hurley to keep him from coming, since he knows this is probably a one way trip. Desmond also shows why he's so awesome when he offers to take Charlie's place. Charlie won't have any of that, though and he knocks Desmond out and dives in. It would seem Looking Glass isn't as abandoned as we were led to believe, though. Charlie finds himself being held at gunpoint as soon as he surfaces. Well, crap.

 

[Hunter X]

In another little coincidental connection, the woman Charlie rescued was Sayid's Nadia. It's been a while since she's been seen or mentioned, though, so it's easy to miss.

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

^Wow, I totally missed that. Whoops.

Through the Looking Glass Part 1:

We open with a Jack flashback. He's drunk, on drugs, and sporting quite the beard. He's even contemplating killing himself, until a car accident happens right behind him. Jack, being Jack, has to help. Is this right after the divorce? A time frame isn't given, so that's my best guess right now. But enough about that. On to the stuff on the island.

So, the two ladies in Looking Glass aren't too happy about their new house guest. The call up Ben, who sends Mikhail to go take care of things there. He also tries to warn the party headed for the beach, but their walkies are off. They wander right into the trap, and several of them get blown up real good. Sadly, Jin misses his shot, and they end up getting captured by the Others that didn't just get made extra crispy. Bernard blabs where everyone is headed when Jin's life is put at risk. The ones bound for the radio tower also notice that there were only two explosions and are rather distraught.

Ben heads out after the survivors at the radio tower with Alex in tow, while Sawyer and Juliet head back to the beach. Hurley wants to come help, but gets turned down by someone again! Poor guy. I really feel for him. Desmond shows up down in Looking Glass, followed closely by Mikhail. Ben then gives Mikhail his orders: Kill them all, including the two women. Well shoot.

Finally we see Locke in the same spot he was left a couple episodes ago, lying down in the grave with a bullet in his stomach. He sees an old six shooter and contemplates doing himself in. He is saved however by a vision of Walt (the smoke monster?) who tells him that he can't kill himself yet because he has work to do. Cue cliffhanger.

Very nice setup so far. There's multiple plot threads running here, but it doesn't seem to be cluttered. I can't wait to see what happens when they all converge on each other.

 

[McCoy]

Lost had awesome season finales, boy.

 

[DonIago]

Hurry up and see the next episode, dammit!

 

[RoJoHen]

Hurry up and see the next episode, dammit!

Seriously. I don't know how you could watch Part 1 without immediately watching Part 2.

 

[DonIago]

(Monty Python) Get on with it!

 

[Dream]

Hurry up and see the next episode, dammit!

Seriously. I don't know how you could watch Part 1 without immediately watching Part 2.

For some weird reason, part 1 and part 2 are split up on the dvd, when both parts were aired on the same night on tv.

 

[Aragorn]

Why didn't he watch part 2? I want to be able to talk to him about Charlie discovering he's a clone of Locke, Zombie Eko, and when Jack is confronted in his flashback by his brother who is also a doctor -- Derek Shepherd!!!

 

[DonIago]

Also the part where it's revealed that the entirety of S2 was Vincent's delusion.

 

[Orac Zen]

Hurry up and see the next episode, dammit!

Agreed. What the hell are you doing, OdoWan? Get on with it.

 

[Jack Bauer]

Also the part where it's revealed that the entirety of S2 was Vincent's delusion.

Don't forget the part where we see "ghost Walt" smoke a joint.

 

[DonIago]

This silence is intolerable!!!

Apparently waiting for a review of an episode of LOST is even more aggravating than waiting for the episode itself.