LOST Podcast: The Transmission

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One Of Us Apr 11, 2007

Show notes

“See you in a week.” Indeed. A spectacular episode, most definitely beginning the sprint to the season finale. And for all the clues and answers we get in “One Of Us,” what kept Jen and I dazzled was the performances, the writing, the pacing. Some episodes feel a little off, but tonight, “LOST” was in top form.

I’ll say it again, Elizabeth Mitchell deserves an Emmy. Or two. Even though she and Michael Emerson are late additions to the cast, they are hands down the strongest actors on the show. And while our old friends have been around too long to be consistent, tonight I’d say almost everyone was spot on. Jack and Sayid at loggerheads. Sawyer and Kate all a’tingle. (I’m no “shipper,” but Sawyer’s expression upon spotting Kate melted my cold, cold heart.) Claire and Charlie, Sun and Jin… Altogether, quite possibly the most perfect episode in a while.

Juliet’s confrontation with Ben in the kitchen stands out in my mind. Emerson does creepy well, but he does “rattled” pretty good, too. Jen went back to watch Rachel and little Julian in the park twice… and got weepy both times. And Juliet and Goodwin in bed? It’s official. Juliet is crazy cool, and smokin’ hot.

But oh yes, the clues. The clues! Through a handful of familiar scenes from seasons past — including a surprisingly effective return to the eye-popping season premiere — many blanks are filled in. Seeing The Flame in action was great, and the news coverage of Oceanic Flight 815’s disappearance helps shut down a few of the more elaborate theories. At least until “the sky turned purple,” Ben and friends have clearly not lacked for access to information.

It was also a relief to have much of the emphasis on pregnancy and children spelled out. From why Juliet was recruited to why Ethan kidnapped Claire to why dear Sun is apparently in danger, there’s something about the island that’s unfriendly to offspring. Even more intriguing, Ben’s assertion that cancer is non-existant on the Island, and Juliet’s very good question: â€œIf you can cure cancer Ben, then why do you have it?â€

We also get another hint at Jacob’s endless talents. He can cure cancer. And the way Ben questioned Juliet’s faith in him sounded like a little more than being a good employee.

And the twist at the end, revealing the “left behind” Juliet to be the intensely talented manipulator we always knew her to be? Incredible.

Notes and notions:

So does the pregnancy problem happen at conception or not? That was Juliet’s theory before finding out about Claire. But if Claire, who conceived before arriving on the island, developed symptoms, then Sun will too (which was strongly hinted at). What changed? And now I’m wondering… did Danielle give birth to Alex on the island, or before getting shipwrecked? (Presuming you believe her story at all.)
It’s interesting to track how Juliet deals, or doesn’t deal, with death. She specifically told Jack she’s not comfortable with it. And Goodwin had to comfort her when Sabine died. Then again, she didn’t seem too conflicted about killing Pickett. Or, perhaps, even losing Goodwin.
What is so special about the “last leg” of the journey to the island? If it requires a submarine, sedation, and restraints, it can’t just be deep sea currents. A submarine is a wonderful vessel for all kinds of sci-fi theories, and having finally watched “Donnie Darko” (after many fans linked it to “LOST” in Season 1), some of them actually make sense.
The mark on the tree by Ethan’s old drop point looks like the same symbol Juliet was branded with. What does it mean? Someone at The Fuselage suggests it may be a variant of Pisces, or http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/11/1110.html “>sal ammoniacus. Whatever it is, its use on the tree seemed pretty innocuous compared to being “marked.”
Location notes: The mysterious private airport in Miami was the Gannett printing facility in Kapolei, where The Honolulu Advertiser is printed. The Herarat Aviation (Herarat = Earhart?) lobby looked like the main branch of First Hawaiian Bank on Bishop Street. The submarine and pier are in the private ponds at Kualoa (where Jin visited his father in Season 2). Not sure where Rachel and Julian’s playground was, but I suspect it was Palolo again (where Jack stalked Sarah).
Links: “One Of Us” discussion on TheFuselage.com, Lost-Forum.com, and USA Today’s Pop Candy

Left Behind Apr 04, 2007

Show notes

This week’s episode marked an interesting change in our household. I continued to read message boards, chat with other fans, track down spoilers, and devour “LOST” podcasts. Jen, however, decided to go cold turkey, and basically came into “Left Behind” as pure as a newborn babe. As it turns out, Jen said she definitely enjoyed the episode more. (Her primary complaint, as always, being ABC’s poorly thought-out “next week” promos.) Fortunately, I liked it too.

Yes, ABC set expectations pretty low last week, with what Jen dubbed a “Dynasty”-style catfight. Wet, no less, since Kate’s only happy when it rains. But as it turns out, the conflict between the two was much more nuanced. And it probably had absolutely nothing at all to do with Jack.

First, Kate’s flashback. No big reveals, but a lot more context added to stuff we’ve already seen. We learn why Diane sold her daughter out, and why she freaked in the hospital in Season 1. Her line about not being able to choose the one you love was hardly subtle, but fitting. The best part, of course, was seeing Cassidy again unable to quit Sawyer, or being a con artist. I liked that both she and Kate recognized themselves in each other. To Jen’s surprise, there is, in fact, a Sawyer Jr., and I liked that it may very well have been Kate’s suggestion that landed our scruffy friend in prison.

On the island, things get going again after last week’s amusing detour. Hardly a sprint, but we’re winding up. The key development? Locke has signed up with the Others and split with them… but not before stopping by to tsk tsk at Kate for her troubled past. It was Season 2 when Ben told him he was the chosen one (in a manner of speaking), and Locke is only happy to believe him. Having daddy in custody probably helped.

Kate was left behind, and Juliet supposedly was too. We don’t believe that for a minute, of course. Neither does Sayid. Her story went right out the window when smokey showed up, and the handcuffs came off — a twist that was rather well done. Jen likes that both the electromagnetic fence and “the monster” returned prominently in tonight’s episode, implying that the fence was built to keep out more than hostiles. (My question? If Kate and friends could climb a downed tree over said fence, why couldn’t smokey make the jump?) But do the Others really not know what the monster is? That seems unlikely.

Interesting that in their first encounter, the monster seemed to strobe at them. Was it another “This Is Your Life” slideshow? Or something else?

No doubt “Skaters” are all squee, as Juliet outs Kate’s feelings for Jack, and vice versa. The conflict between Juliet and Kate sure got physical fast. Jen, of all people, felt the fights were true to Kate’s character, and thus much less gratuitous than she initially feared. I was tickled that Kate’s early ambush of Juliet went awry, and we’re definitely getting the feeling that Juliet’s reflexes are nothing to sneeze at.

Juliet definitely baited Kate into acting out, though, and the writers are further affirming that Juliet is turning our “love triangle” into a square. I’m not convinced, though. Especially after tonight, I think any tensions that she’s evoking from Jack and Kate are purely strategic in nature.

Finally, Sawyer makes amends. It was silly, and swings his good/bad pendulum the other way once more, but enjoyable nonetheless. He plays the reluctant gentleman well. “I don’t like… blankets.” I like how Hurley straightened him out and built him up at the same time. But for all the nice encounters we’re treated to (Desmond!), I’m glad Sun’s not buying it. Things are definitely going to get ugly over Sungate in the next few episodes.

Notes & Notions:

Why was Jack still unconscious when Kate got to him? If he got gassed at the same time as Kate, he must’ve gotten a concentrated dose in that hallway. Enough of a gap for Kate to get carried out to the forest, handcuffed to Juliet, and chased down by the monster — twice, after a long pitstop in a tree. I’m guessing Sayid was awake, but still chained to the swing set. Poor Sayid.
Given the things Jen has said about Evangeline Lily’s acting abilities in the past, she feels special mention is warranted for her emotional reaction to Jack’s asking about Juliet. Sniff!
What happened to Rousseau? She was spying on Alex, and… poof? Is she tracking the evacuating Others across the island? Or still crying in the forest?
Steve gets another shoutout. Now there’s a “sock” (apparently the writers’ term for background survivors) whose story is just begging to be told. I’m hoping for another Hitchcock twist involving Scott.
Didn’t catch the full combination to the fence control box, but the last two digits looked like 23 to me.
Of all the things Cassidy could pretend to be selling door to door, it had to be a box of bibles. Or is it Bibles?
Looking back at the number of times Sawyer has gone from bad guy to good guy, from outcast to leader, Jen’s wondering if he might figure into the “LOST” end game more prominently than we’d otherwise think.
We got another happy music beach people montage… although it didn’t close the episode. When was the last one? I feel like it’s a bit too soon for that gimmick, but maybe it’s just my imagination.
“Left Behind” discussion at TheFuselage.com, Lost-Forum.com, and Pop Candy

Exposé Mar 28, 2007

Show notes

Oh my god. There are so many things wrong with tonight’s episode. But I loved it. I absolutely loved it. “Exposé” will, I predict, ultimately become a conversational litmus test for “LOST” fans: either you loved it, or you hated it, and either way, you’d be right.

Was it filler? Sure. It certainly broke the “island mystery” momentum. Was it cheesy and campy and full of shout-outs and knowing winks? Absolutely, about as subtle as a Mack truck. Did it feel more like a punchline to a joke with a three-month wind up than the usual “you’ll like them when you get to know them” song and dance? Maybe.

But as with many great TV shows (from “The X-Files” to the shortlived “Firefly”), sometimes the rare episodes that break the mold and get a little weird are the ones you remember the most. The creators, the writers, the cast… they all clearly had fun with “Exposé.” And that mutual enjoyment really came through.

Off the top of my head, I can think of only one solid “development” in island time: Sun learned Charlie was her kidnapper. We knew Sun would find out eventually, but I wouldn’t have guessed it’d be Charlie that told her… in a reflective, quiet conversation no less. The more Charlie “gets his affairs in order,” the more I’m doubting my assertion that his predicted demise was actually a guarantee of longevity.

So, compared to the feast that was “The Man from Tallahassee”? Story wise, “Exposé” was barely a nibble.

Everything else was a creative exercise. And one in which I can, again, find many things to nitpick. But with the episode opening in a strip club, with stolen orphanage money, and a Billy Dee Williams cameo, I was stunned out of my skepticism and dropped my guard completely. They had me at “razzle dazzle.” The whole conversation about guest stars, character deaths, and improbable reappearances was so over-the-top, I practically fell off my chair.

The care put into recreating scenes from earlier episodes, presenting them from another perspective with an almost childlike “they were there the whole time!” feel, actually impressed me. (Jen, not so much.) From the crash, to Jack’s “live together” speech, to their trek into the jungle, it was at once disorienting and heartwarming… like a little retrospective to remind us of those heady, early days. Like “The Other 48 Days,” but with a sense of joy rather than dread.

I got a rush seeing Boone and Shannon again. (And I guess Boone was finally outed.) I loved that Nikki and Paulo judged them, the same way a random airport couple once judged Sun and Jin. And having Boone emerge from the flames to ask Nikki for a pen was brilliant. A moment that was like a little gift to those of us who’ve been with “LOST” since day one.

It was great to see Dr. Arzt once again. And Ethan. And the drug plane, too. It has been quite a ride so far, hasn’t it?

But the big “gotcha” was revisiting The Pearl, and specifically the scene from Episode 3×05, “The Cost of Living.” When we first see Paulo come out of that bathroom, we were apoplectic at how ridiculous it is. It was so random, so awkward… well, of course it was a clue. Suddenly, they couldn’t have been more obvious.

Indeed, how perfect were the links between “Exposé” the episode and “Exposé” the soap opera? Right down to the twist ending. So, the much maligned Nikki and Paulo are dead. Or are they?

This whole madcap caper apparently unfolds as Jack, Kate, Sayid, Ben, Ethan and friends get down to business at the barracks. And I do hope we’ll rejoin them next week.

Notes & Notions:

Nikki’s belated acknowledgement of Thanksgiving was a nice touch. Christmas can’t be far ahead.
I expected Paulo’s splattered spider would draw more spiders to take down Nikki, but the “monster” sound that preceded their arrival had to have been significant.
Bookspotting: Sawyer was reading “Evil Under the Sun,” by Agatha Christie. Thanks, but… we’re going to need a few more literary shoutouts this season, considering we’re going to have to read even more as we wait for Season Four to begin in 2008.
Locations: The strip club was Club 939 on Keeaumoku. Of course we saw the Convention Center cum airport again (didn’t we?). Can’t place the dead director’s house, though. Could be anywhere.
“Exposé” discussion at TheFuselage.com and Lost-Forum.com

The Man from Tallahassee Mar 21, 2007

Show notes

Well, if that doesn’t hook you for the rest of the season, just go watch American Idol. It’s not often that the consistently overblown ABC promotions team and the fan press hit the mark, but “The Man from Tallahassee” is indeed a “game changer.” It says something that “why Locke was paralyzed” was most certainly not the big reveal in any “LOST” episode. The gotchas were reminiscent of “Walkabout.” The clues were reminiscent of “Orientation.” And, says Jen, “Just go ahead and give Michael Emerson all the Emmys right now.”

The “LOST” word of the day, boys and girls, is “defenestration.” So Locke finally steps up to stop Anthony Cooper from his life destroying ways, but gets Peter Talbot killed and gets himself tossed out an eighth story window. Amazingly, he survivedâ€¦ something that most would call a miracle is, for Locke, the ultimate indignity. His dread upon being carried to his wheelchair was palpable.

But the story on The Island took centerstage, and Locke’s conversations with Ben were like a grandmaster chess game, each line crawling with significance. Locke’s faith in the island is absolute, but that blinds him. Ben’s understanding of The Island is probably unsurpassed (he recognizes that Locke has some “communion” with it), yet it has apparently failed him. And as incredible it was that Locke blew up that submarine, it’s obvious we’re a long way from knowing what it really means.

But the big mystery, the overarching mystery, is The Island, and we’ve never had so big a piece of the puzzle as we got tonight. Even blurred by metaphor, The Island does deliver a heart’s desire. Sometimes. For some people. And here’s the thing somehow. But surely that’ll have to wait until Season Eight (with the zombies). But whatever gave us Jack’s dad and Kate’s horse seems to be what has now given us a bound and gagged Anthony Cooper.

Talk about a big finish.

Frankly, “LOST” delivered tonight. Old “LOST,” big tease “LOST” would’ve cut to the thud as soon as Ben asked, “Would you like to see?” I actually heard it in my head. But in an episode crammed with answers, they saved the best one for last.

Of course, “Magic Box” isn’t a particularly satisfying explanation, one that like the “Nanobot Theory” of Season 2 would be too easy and too ridiculous to tolerate. Still, wish fulfillment has been on our minds lately, both on and off the island. The list can go on and on, mixing conveniently with separate debates about coincidence and fate. Walt’s bird, Ben’s spinal surgeon, Juliet’s homicidal bus, maybe even Hurley’s lottery win and Claire’s comatose mother.

My head hurts.

Jack’s talk with Kate, no doubt, swelled the hearts of Jaters (ugh) everywhere, even though I’d guess Kate isn’t completely convinced of Jack’s intentions. It was nice to get absolute confirmation of Alex’s relationship with Ben (socially, if not biologically) in both dialogue and in the unsubtle omnipresence of Alex pictures throughout Ben’s cabin. Sayid has brilliantly planted a seed of doubt in Alex’s mind, and it turns out her mother, Danielle, is at least slightly curious about her.

All in all, “The Man from Tallahassee” easily slides into the top ten episodes of all of “LOST,” which is no small feat in Season 3. And we’ve still got ten episodes to go.

LOST Location Notes:

Locke was defenestrated (I love that word) from the Waikiki Landmark Hotel at Kalakaua and McCully avenues.
His disability benefits office and hospital room were both in the Pauahi Tower in downtown Honolulu (same building as Hurley’s accountant… but no, it was not Locke falling past that window).
The flower shop was Rudy’s Flowers in McCully.
Locke’s apartment building looks familiar, but I can’t identify it at the moment. I’m not aware of too many submarines, either, unless it was the U.S.S. Bowfin.

Notes and Notions:

Memorable Lines? So many. “Sorry, unfortunately we don’t have a code for, ‘There’s a man in my closet with a gun to my daughter’s head.’ But we obviously should.” Or: “We have two giant hamsters running on massive wheels at our secret underground lair.” Or: “Don’t tell me what you can’t do.”
I love that the last line of the episode was an astonished, “Dad?” Goes back to Michael in the hatch in Season 2.
MacCutcheon whiskey returns. There are a lot of menacingly wealthy people in the “LOST” universe.
How’s that? Sayid gets chained to a playground swing, Kate gets the pool hall. And, of course, another scene to demonstrate her bendyness. Jen notes that the “LOST” writers sure do like to tie her up a lot (almost as much as they like to get her wet).

Links:

“The Man from Tallahassee” discussion at TheFuselage.com, Lost-Forum.com, and 4815162342.com

Par Avion Mar 14, 2007

Show notes

I enjoyed the episode quite a bit. Jen was less impressed. To be sure, the big Claire reveal is something that’s been suspected since Christian Shepherd and Ana Lucia went to Australia in “Two for the Road.” I thought it was handled as well as it could have been (without making Claire seem like a dunce), but Jen thought it was too painfully contrived. Add in the climb high over the fence (look, Kate in another tree!) that was obviously not that high, and emasculated Sawyer, and you’ve got a frustrated fan. Me? I accentuated the positive. At least the Claire-Jack link was out of the way halfway through the episode, and the pre-thud shocker was pretty well done (he’s runningâ€¦ for a touchdown!). And even though it was a Claire episode, all eyes are on Locke.

So, Locke redeemed, sort of. What happened to The Flame was not a mistake. Neither was Mikhail’s belated death. (Still, in true “LOST” fashion, someone else with answers dies.) But what is he up to? I’ll tell you what, I’ll take evil scheming Locke over bumbling Locke, any day. The question is, has he always been scheming? It’s hard to tell, Jen says. I’ll admit his character has not been handled consistently.

The bird capture subplot didn’t add much, except another Charlie rescue and a good opportunity for Claire and Sun to gripe about men. When Claire was tossing Charlie out of her life again, I couldn’t help but smirk. Their relationship went through a full cycle in 30 minutes. Methinks that’s basically how things are going to go for those two indefinitely… unless doomed Charlie is given one pivotal moment to break out of the loop. If you know what I mean.

I agree with Jen that the Desmond premonitions thing could get old quick. It either needs to be explored in detail, or conveniently resolved. Again, if you know what I mean.

Jen and I are also split on Claire’s note to the outside world. She felt “HELP!” would’ve sufficed. I liked the somewhat flowery essay. It kind of grounded the series again, taking a brief step back to remind us of the bigger picture.

“You’re not on the list because you are flawed,” Mikhail says in the episode’s meatiest bit of exposition. “You are angry, weak, and frightened.” The list returns, for more good and bad people differentiation. And he clarifies that Ben is not “Him.” Mikhail also makes it a point to show he knows about each of our survivors, including Locke.

Indeed, I like how they laid groundwork for upcoming episodes. He almost mentions John Locke’s paralysis, and Sun later mentions her family’s feelings about Jin.

“Rousseau is a liar, liar, pants on fire,” says Jen. Sorry, Jay.

Notes and Notions:

“Goth Claire” was beautiful.
Unresolved parent issues are coming to the forefront again. Hurley left his dad with the possibility of reconciliation upon his return. Claire left her mom on the threshold of understanding.
Was I the only one that figured Christian Shepherd was going to off Carole (Claire’s mom) anyway? Would’ve been a nice link to Jack’s hand in Shannon’s dad’s death in Season 2.
Jin’s English is improving slowly with each episode (even though he only counted to three, for the most part). By Season 4, he’ll be magically fluent (it’s that Island Power!) and Daniel Dae Kim will be one happy camper.
Location Notes: Claire’s accident was at the Chevron gas station near Kahala Mall (corner of 21st Avenue and Waialae Ave.). You can see the viaduct overhead (the east end of H-1). They reversed the film to get right-hand drive. She and Christian Shepherd had coffee inside Kahala Mall. Claire was treated for her injuries at Kahuku Hospital. And her tattoo parlor was near Kemo’o Farms Pub on Wilikina Drive near Funston Road.

Links:

“Par Avion” discussions at TheFuselage.com and Lost-Forum.com

Enter 77 Mar 07, 2007

Show notes

“Why don’t you start with the DHARMA Initiative?” Why yes, why don’t you! Fans screaming for clues to the underlying mythology of the show, especially after last week’s feel-good character fest, get a heaping spoonful of information in “Enter 77.” We get an actual conversation with real questions and answers, and then follow Sayid into his epiphany that things are topsy-turvy. What did we know, or thought we knew, about the DHARMA Initiative, and the Othersâ€¦ or the Hostiles.

Our heads are still spinning, but this seems to be the deal:

Ben has been on the island his whole life, and leads a group of Hostiles, apparently residents of the island that predate DHARMA. When DHARMA showed up, built facilities and started conducting experiments, the Hostiles revolted, even set about rescuing the children DHARMA was using. We learn tonight it escalated to a full-scale war, but clearly, the Hostiles were victorious. They took over DHARMA’s facilities, wore DHARMA clothes, ate DHARMA ranch dressing.

When Flight 815 crashed, the Hostiles suspected (perhaps correctly?) that it was just the next batch of subjects in DHARMA’s evil work. They grabbed the kids, and sought to find the “good people.” Otherwise, our survivors were intruders, just like DHARMA, and were similarly treated poorly.

What about Ethan, and Juliet? We thought they were part of the Hostiles, as they played house and played doctor in Ben’s village. But we also know Ethan worked with DHARMA to recruit Juliet. Whatever happened to the rest of DHARMA, I guess Ben found a use for them (as he has for Jack). Remember, Juliet’s outsider status has been evident from the beginning, and she herself referred to DHARMA in the past tense when explaining The Hydra to Jack.

What about Desmond, and Kelvin? Kelvin was another DHARMA recruit, and had mentioned the Hostiles. Was he aware that DHARMA had fallen? (Or had it? The timeline isn’t clear just yet.) I’m guessing yes. He was obviously happy to find a successor for button pushing duty, but he also wanted off that island, something that wouldn’t seem so urgent if DHARMA was still humming along.

And what about Danielle? Boy. She’s turning out to be a creepy, suspicious mess. I bet she’ll take a bad turn fairly soon… but we don’t mind. We still love Mira Furlan.

Even if the above ramblings are correct, of course, more questions remain. But one can finally see a path emerging in the wilderness of “LOST.” They’ve stumbled into a war, and they’ve yet to figure out what side they’re on. And even after they decide, they’ll probably discover they were wrong. My guess at an overall arc is that our survivors may very well succeed at subduing the Hostiles, but quickly find they’ve merely done the dirty work for DHARMA, which will rise again and create allies out of former adversaries.

Or maybe there’ll be zombies.

Surely, we’ve learned by now that “LOST” may just be messing with us. But when it comes to shameless manipulation, this feels pretty good. Where “Tricia Tanaka Is Dead” reacquainted us with our old friends, “Enter 77” grounded us and revived our interest in what’s going on. Things are getting good.

Notes and Notions:

I must admit, when we met a cow and saw a ping pong table in the first five minutes, I was worried.
Locke! Oh, Locke. What is it with you and pushing buttons? The moment the computer asked, “Ready to play?” Jen was screaming, “Don’t do it!” Sure, only Sayid knew about the C-4, but after we learned how DHARMA deals with mission failures (Swan Station), how could he have not guessed what the result of “77” would be? Just figures that in the episode they don’t kill someone before getting some answers, they go and blow up a “last chance” for outside contact.
Mikhail’s eye patch = glass eye in The Arrow station in “The Other 48 Days.” (Kelvin’s predecessor, Radzinski, supposedly hid the piece of the orientation film in the Bible that was also found there.) Is that something a DHARMA employee would do, or a Hostile? Namecheck: Mikhail Bakunin, a well-known Russian revolutionary, and often considered one of the â€œfathers of modern anarchism.”
Good flashback. You knew Sayid did it, and would probably have to confess to it, but it was handled very well. That scene should earn Naveen another Emmy nod.
Nadia the cat. Coincidence? Or mind game? DHARMA or Hostiles, these people have ways of gathering information. Still, finding a picture of Nadia Comaneci just to mess with Sayid seems a bit much.
Speaking of which… did “Patchy” expect Locke to beat the chess game, and enter “77”? Jen figures he probably watched enough of life in the Swan to know a bit about Locke’s itchy fingers and insecurities. “Don’t bother playing. You can’t win.” Don’t tell him what he can’t do!
It was good to see Ms. Klugh again. For exactly four, non-English lines, at least. Anyone translate all that Russian yet?
Jen remains frustrated with where Sawyer’s head has been lately, considering the ordeal he just went through. Still obsessed with his stuff, and getting whipped by Hurley the ping pong shark?
I actually kind of like Sawyer giving up nicknames, though, gimmicky as it is. Because in the last two episodes in particular, I was starting to think we were getting too much of a good thing. I don’t like imagining “LOST” writers trying to come up with the next best nickname, rather than a real plot.
So, anyone else warming up to Nikki and Paolo yet? Thought not.

Location Notes:

Both restaurants were played by CafÃ© Laniakea at the historic downtown YWCA on Richards Street. Photos here.
“The Flame” was out at Kualoa Ranch. Our daughter’s Girl Scout field trip there was mysteriously cancelled a couple of months ago, and “LOST” was the most likely culprit.

Links:

“Enter 77” discussions at TheFuselage.com and Lost-Forum.com

Tricia Tanaka is Dead Mar 01, 2007

Show notes

No big answers, no real mysteries, and more clever lines and chuckles than you can shake a skeletal arm at. It was just a fun episode… and that’s probably exactly what we needed. You know that brief moment in “Flashes Before Your Eyes,” when your heart soared just seeing Sayid and Locke and Sun? Well, “Tricia Tanaka Is Dead” was all about that feeling. Sawyer cracking wise while sabotaging his own happiness, Hurley on a mission with Charlie riding shotgun. And just enough exposition to prove that these people sometimes talk to each other, and ask reasonable questions. It was nice to be back with our old friends (Danielle included), and for this week at least, the answers and mysteries can wait.

Really, how much can be said in the way of analysis for “Tricia Tanaka is Dead”? If “Stranger in a Strange Land” was a segue from the Alcatraz miniseries (bringing us back to the beach), then this week’s episode brought us back to basics. Characters interacting with each other, and refreshingly, having a good time. Did it feel weird to have Sawyer, coming out of the ordeal he had, to suddenly obsess about his stuff and teach Jin ways to impress women in English? Sure. But I didn’t really mind.

Indeed, the one serious moment of the episode, Kate’s “and her name was Alex” line to Danielle, seemed a bit flat. After all, it’s a mystery fans figured out months ago. But Danielle’s return is significant, because she remains one of the primary untapped sources of answers on the island.

Hurley’s flashback was great, too. Given the title of the episode, it was good that they got the whole meteorite business out of the way early. And Cheech Marin? I dare say he was well cast. He played it close to the vest, and let Jorge Garcia’s comedic talents shine. Even on the island, lines that could have been (and perhaps were) incredibly corny were delivered perfectly. Halfway through the episode, I stopped writing them down, and just enjoyed them.

The more I realize how much I miss our “old friends” (including Danielle), the more I wonder if the Alcatraz miniseries that started off this season might have fit better somewhere elseâ€¦ no matter how great Ben and Juliet have turned out to be. “Tricia Tanaka Is Dead” seems to have grounded the series again, from which we’ll no doubt push off into the next big adventure.

Notes and Notions:

The song that opened the episode, which later turned up on the van’s eight-track player, was “Shambala,” by Three Dog Night. And Michael Giacchino’s orchestral take on it for the warm and fuzzy musical montage was a nice touch. Note that Shambala is a mystical kingdom in Tibetian Buddhism said to be hidden in the Himalayas, with which parallels to our island could be made.
Speaking of old friends, Vincent returns. Jen’s convinced that pooch means bad news. “Yeah, chase the dog with the skeletal arm into the creepy jungle. You be my guest!”
Another map turns up, this one with a road with some serious switchbacks. A road to a radio transmission tower, perhaps?
We’re having a hard time figuring out the timeline, especially given where and how Randy has turned up between Hurley and Locke’s flashbacks. I don’t think anything’s contradicted, but it sure seems tight.
So, anyone else warming up to Nikki and Paolo yet? Thought not. “Have you checked behind the powdered milk?” Gah.
Hurley’s visit to Libby’s grave was sweet. As was his reaction to seeing Sawyer again. Jorge is one awesome dude.
The wacky scene with the pushing and the yelling and the uncooperative Volkswagen van reminded us of “Little Miss Sunshine.” Though apparently scenes like that are pretty common with that particular model.
I loved that Randy’s last name was Nations. As in, Gregg Nations?
“I UNDERSTAND!”
Jen loves that Sawyer had mono as a kid and watched too much TV. Would explain “Little House” and “The Brady Bunch,” and perhaps the next several TV references.
The eagle-eyed folks at Sledgeweb’s LOST Stuff spotted a scrap of paper among the junk in Hurley’s van bearing what appears to be the letterhead for “Ho’oulu Lahui,” which translates to “nation building” and seems to be connected to a Native Hawaiian program. Either way, it seems an odd find on The Island!
“NO! NO! NO!”
Interesting how Jorge’s food and weight issues were tied to his father walking out when he was a kid. Seems a reasonable but not overplayed explanation for something the show hasn’t always handled well.
Lynn Karnoff, the fake psychic, was Suzanne Krull, who probably looks familiar because she’s been inâ€¦ well, plenty of things.
“Tricia Tanaka is Dead” discussions at TheFuselage.com, Lost-Forum.com, and Pop Candy.

Stranger in a Strange Land Feb 21, 2007

Show notes

It would’ve been hard to top last week’s episode… and it almost feels as if “LOST” didn’t really try tonight. “Stranger in a Strange Land” had its moments Jack and Juliet’s love connection, Sawyer’s manly moment with Karl, even our newest Other, Isabel the Sheriff (played by Diana Scarwid, not Fionnula Flanagan, thank you) was interesting enough. But even Jen, who liked tonight’s episode better than I did, conceded that Jack’s flashback was flat, and that Bai Ling isn’t much of an actress.

Okay, so getting “marked” was the theme of the night. Juliet’s punishment seemingly not much better than death, and Jack’s tattoo bringing trouble and conflicting meanings. Both now outsiders, an alienation that definitely seems to reference the episode’s namesake (Robert Heinlein’s novel of the same name). Achara sees into a person’s true nature, and finds Jack a “great man,” a lonely leader… a conclusion Ben came to in Season 2. So was Jack really kidnapped for his surgical skills? Or is there a larger plan? Methinks Jack is bad news for this Jacob.

We do get some additional context for the Others’ world. There are laws and a judiciary system of some sort. Alcatraz is a workplace and a dreadful one at that. And that, for whatever reason, they’re willing to vacate Alcatraz rather than risk an attack by or the return of survivors on the main island. What is going on? It sure would’ve been nice for Sawyer and Kate to ask Karl a few more questions before setting him free… but that would be too easy.

The Alex/Karl thing seems to be shaping up to be a major story arc, to be sure. Very “Romeo & Juliet,” I think, and maybe we’ll soon discover there’s a Montague clan to Ben’s Capulets. Jen suggests “Luke & Leia” as an alternate parallel… which would be another good reason for Ben’s objections.

And as I suspected, Kate’s “choice” last year, wasn’t, and now Sawyer knows it. Of course, Jack’s got a new girlfriend. Yet another love triangle. Or love trapezoid by the end of the season. But, says Jen, the Jack/Juliet thing may be more Stockholm Syndrome… or a ploy by Jack. I can see that.

Cindy returns, but isn’t particularly helpful. She seemed genuinely surprised at Jack’s hostility, but is it because all has been sweetness and light on Alcatraz, or because she (and the other captured survivors) have been thoroughly and forcibly brainwashed? I might be alone, by the way, but I liked the mention of Ana Lucia.

A couple of conversations left us confused, though. Jen wants to know when Jack asks who she shot why Juliet only says, cryptically, “It’s complicated.” Does she have a history with Ben and the late Pickett? And I’m curious about Alex’s question to Jack, about why Jack saved Ben after everything Ben had done. Is she disappointed? Or reluctantly impressed?

Notes and Notions:

When Jack was lovingly applying aloe to Juliet’s “mark,” did she have a small bandage on her stomach? About where her sister got her shot in “Not In Portland”? Hmm.
Ethan was a surgeon? Didn’t see that coming. Especially since he seemed to be deployed by Ben as a heavy more than anything. Spy, fighter, plumber and a doctor? Whataguy.
It was good to see Emma and the little boy again. But could the “Teddy Bear” references be any less subtle?
Cap’n Bunnykiller. Sally Slingshot. Bobby Brady. Sawyer was on a roll, as usual.
The tattoo Achara’s brother saw is only half of the tattoo Jack has on the island. Does that mean we’ve got another tattoo flashback coming?
LOST Locations: The picturesque beach where Jack was staying was Waimanalo Beach, a favorite spot for our family. It was strange to see Rabbit Island on the horizon… surrounded by dozens of other digitally-inserted islands. Achara’s brother’s restaurant and the tattoo parlor were Indigo Restaurant on Nuuanu Avenue. And the bustling Bangkok street was Fort Street Mall near Hawaii Pacific University and narrow Chapin Lane.

Flashes Before Your Eyes Feb 15, 2007

Show notes

Many moments in this episode made me sit back, gasp, smile in wonder. But for all the mythology revealed to us in “Flashes Before Your Eyes,” I most savored the sight of our old friends. Charlie, Hurley, Locke, Sayid, Sun… I didn’t even know how much I missed them until I saw them on screen again. And when Charlie asks, “What happened?” I actually needed Locke’s cryptic response to catch me up on the main island storyline. Alas, we only see the gang briefly before diving into Desmond’s flashback (if that’s what it was)… but there was more than enough story and clues and easter eggs to fill the hour.

Even though I count myself more a fan of the characters than the “mystery” of the show, “Flashes Before Your Eyes” gave one of the most satisfying, mystifying servings of mythology in seemingly ages. The questions this episode raise go much deeper than who the Others are, and get straight to the fundamentals: choice or destiny, coincidence or fate, free will or futility. Does what Desmond experience prove that the ultimate outcome is predetermined? Or is it actually our first glimpse of the courage needed to change things?The mysterious old lady (with the unspoken but telling name of “Ms. Hawking,” played by the elegantly eerie Fionnula Flanagan) pierces our little “LOST” tableau with a blizzard of assertions. “The universe unfortunately has a way of course-correcting,” says she. “You don’t do it because you choose to, you do it because you’re supposed to.” Desmond, initially and naturally defiant, suddenly comes to believe her, “reminded” of the future by the simple photograph. But he changes his mind twice more: in the aftermath of the hatch implosion, he begs for another chance to change things. Caught up to “real time,” though, he tells Charlie he’s more sure than ever that he can’t.

So which is it? My head hurts. We’re going to have to watch that again, indeed.

Penny sending Desmond to seek a job from her powerful father carried shades of Sun and Jin. But Desmond doesn’t grovel, and Mr. Widmore quite elegantly articulates his contempt for his daughter’s suitor. The humiliation was obviously key to the Desmond we now know… joining the military, racing around the world, seeking to do something important (even if it is pushing a button). I’m not sure whether Desmond ever did have those conversations with Ms. Hawking, but even when we first meet Desmond in the hatch, he’s conflicted about whether he’s saving the world or not. As are we all.

Jen’s theory? The failure to input the numbers resets time. Perhaps they’ll find the balloon again, says she. My theory? The exact opposite. That there has been a time loop of some kind, a distortion at least, but that the failsafe “broke the spell,” as it were. And “LOST” will ultimately be the story of people able to change their destiny who had come to believe they couldn’t.

What if Ms. Hawking is Penny Widmore? Her annoyance at Desmond’s belief that he was going to change, that he was going to propose, sure seemed a little… personal.

But that could just be the whiskey talking.

Both Desmond and Charlie are told they are good people. It’s been a while since we’ve had one of those categorical declarations. And then there’s the red. The half-painted red walls in Desmond’s “rat trap” (“Future” brand paint, in fact). The red shoes of the ill-fated pedestrian. The… well, it was important, anyway.

Even with all the… puzzles (“mindfucks,” suggests Jen), tonight’s episode also brought us lots to smile about. Jen enjoyed the drunken beach scene with Desmond, Charlie and Hurley. “He’s wankered,” Charlie determines. Hurley does nickname duties with “Desmondo.” The football game was sponsored by Apollo bars. Mr. Widmore’s office was dominated by a painting of a polar bear. And his office is 815… a number that was, of course, as familiar to Desmond as it was to us.

That picture of Desmond and Penny at the marina which goes back to the start of Season 2 raises an interesting question… if it’s not a continuity error. Desmond apparently cherished that photo, taken on the pier, and kept it with him since that painful day. But if there was only one copy, how exactly did Penny have a copy on her nightstand at the end of Season 2, when we first meet her in “real time”? Or brain freeze! was it?

“LOST” Locations: There were a lot of location shoots for this episode. Ms. Hawking’s antique store was the McClain’s Auctions space at 1 N. King (a.k.a. Locke’s Walkabout travel agency). The Widmore lobby was 1132 Bishop Street. The Widmore headquarters was the Bank of Hawaii building on Fort Street, which itself became London (with its London Underground entrance).
The “Research Library” where Desmond found his friend Donovan was Aliiolani Hale, home of the Hawaii Supreme Court. The pub was O’Toole’s on Nuuanu Ave., which is where Desmond later spots the military recruiting poster. And the pier with the souvenir photographer? Bishop Museum, of all places… a landmark that’s far, far inland.

The return of “Make Your Own Kind of Music” had me beaming. And Charlie’s performance of “Wonderwall,” Jen notes, gives us a convenient time frame (after October 1995).
The bartender that doesn’t get hit with a cricket bat is Michael Titterton, president and general manager of KHPR, the local public radio station. Locals know that British accent anywhere.
Claire has bangs now? And speaking of Claire… did you spot Hayden Panettiere (cheerleader Claire on “Heroes”) in the commercial for Neutrogena?
Desmond in the rain: Shawshank Redemption? Ring tossed in the ocean: Lord of the Rings?

Not In Portland Feb 05, 2007

Show notes

It’s hard to separate the euphoria over the return of “LOST” from the gleeful appreciation of a good individual episode. “Not In Portland” didn’t even give us a glimpse of the other three quarters of the cast, but nonetheless was a strong kickoff to what will be the longest stretch of consecutive new episodes ever. We got our first Other flashback, further cementing Juliet as a complex, tough yet sharp female character and Elizabeth Mitchell as a supremely talented actor. Considering how little we know about Juliet, I was surprisingly taken in by her scenes with her sister.

Oh yes, the story. A lot of meat to chew on for those who hunger to know what’s happening on the island. We get a taste of the recruiting methods of the DHARMA Initiative (or whatever its current incarnation), and the unique talents they wanted from Juliet. We learn that things definitely changed when “the sky turned purple,” and that the Others may now be in no better shape than our survivors. Karl’s punishment, or programming, via the “Clockwork Orange” style sensory overload will provide weeks of frame-by-frame analysis. Ben’s paternal relationship with Alex (a.k.a. Sheena) is confirmed, as well as some “history” between Juliet and Ben. And we get a sense of the next mini-arc… which somewhat resembles most of the previous mini-arcs of separation and rescue. There were a lot of things to like about “Not In Portland,” but again, the fact that it means “LOST” is back is the best part of all.

It was nice to see Kate, wardrobe notwithstanding, recover some of her butt-kickingness. “Actually,” notes Jen, who is not among Evangeline Lilly’s biggest fans, “Kate isn’t annoying me half as much this season as she has in the past.” Sawyer, of course, was in top scruffy, charming form, complete with nicknames and Star Wars references. We think we’re going to like Tom (he’ll shoot you, but he won’t like the blood), and we’re definitely not going to miss Pickett. And Alex’s story can only get more interesting from here.

Where is Danielle, anyway?

Surprisingly, Jack came across as the weakest of the three this week, as he almost instantly goes from badass in charge to hapless player in yet another of Ben’s schemes. Seeing him watch impotently from the observation room as Ben and Juliet talked was a far cry from the Jack of the cliffhanger closing last year.

It was certainly nice to see Ethan again, though his limited role tonight makes me wonder if there’s still more for him. Perhaps he’ll show up in other Other flashbacks, part of the recruiting team? Speaking of limited roles, though… we sure would’ve loved to see more of Zeljko Ivanek. Jen’s convinced we haven’t seen the last of Sherry the research assistant, by the way.

Location Notes: The Miami medical facility was the University of Hawaii Medical School in Kakaako. You could actually see the Honolulu skyline out the window of Edmund Burke’s office. And the bus was TheBus, the unmistakable white, gold and brown city transit system here in Honolulu. I gotta say, I was surprised the moment of impact was so sudden and brief. By all accounts, there was some impressive stuntwork staged for the collision that left the stuntman pretty banged up.