LOST Podcast: The Transmission

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Dave Apr 06, 2006

Show notes

The mythology fans are probably howling at the moon, but as character-focused episodes go, we liked it a lot. Probably more than we should. We actually didn’t learn too much new about Hurley, or the island, and the whole Dave plot was one big ruse (practically a direct poke in the eye for the “it’s all someone’s dream” conspiracy theorists). Obviously there are a lot of clues and revelations in store as the season wraps up, so despite the fact that this week’s episode wasn’t particularly enlightening, it was a fun ride. Even if you spoiled yourself silly.

So we learn what led Hurley to be institutionalized, and exactly why his food addiction and weight issues are so deeply ingrained. On one hand, it’s clear he’s not quite cured, but on the other… hey, he got the girl. So what if she’s also loony toons? And we liked the Dave bits, too you might have suspected he wasn’t real as soon as you saw him snubbed on the basketball court, but the slipper and coconut still kept us guessing. And the conversation where Dave explains how everything since Santa Rosa is all in Hurley’s head? He made a pretty damn good case. I mean, those numbers? The lottery, and the button? Really.

I suspect more than a few viewers were on the verge of exploding.

So you had a dash of “The Sixth Sense” (but we were spared the melodramatic “gotcha” montage), “Identity” (Dave has got to be modeled after Malcom Rivers), and finally, “Vanilla Sky” (but with a cliff instead of a high rise). And it all adds up to squat, we know, but c’mon. Hurley kicked Sawyer’s ass.

Sayid nearly killed Henry (which would’ve prompted some fans to riot, after Ethan also took answers to his grave), but Ana Lucia deflected the shot. Echoes of the moment Sayid saved Locke from Shannon’s rage. And Mr. Eko is infuriatingly silent about what he’s building (though it’s not a Starbucks). Not sure what he was doing with the water, but Jen the Catholic insists it was not the Sign of the Cross.

For the clue-hunters, there were still a few good nuggets to chew on. First and foremost, Henry’s reference to a “he,” which Sayid caught, and the confirmation that Zeke is not the man in charge (something Zeke himself implied when scolding Ethan). Weirdly enough, I’m now actually open to the possibility that Henry wasn’t originally an Other… but that he’s definitely linked with them now, willingly or unwillingly.

Secondly, Henry asserts that God can’t see the island any better than anyone else. Why can’t anyone else see the island?

Finally, you have Henry’s assertion that the bunker is a “joke,” and that nothing happens when the timer runs down. Of course, lots of folks doubted the button did anything. But now that Henry’s saying that, we’ve got to doubt that doubt.

Notes and Notions:

What does Libby’s presence in the institution mean? Evidence that she’s up to something, either stalking Hurley or even tracking Lenny for the Hanso Foundation? Or was it just another survivor flashback “crossover,” like the dozens that have come before, except for once someone had an inkling of recognition? The fact that this reveal closed the episode, rather than the truth about Dave, makes me suspect the former.
Hurley went to Sawyer for medication. Jen noted that Sawyer should have surrendered all the drugs to Jack. Then again, it would be just like Sawyer to neglect to mention it, meanwhile prying for more information.
In a moment of panic, fearing Sayid would shoot him, Henry blurts out that he can’t be killed because he’s not a bad person. Not only does this continue the “good person”/”bad person” distinction, but it shows that Henry deeply believes that no harm should or could actually come to a “good person” like him.
Sometimes, the writers throw in dialogue to prove some semblance of common sense, like the sudden chat about the food drop, a possible plane flyover, and its connection to the blast doors. Maybe such “grounding” wouldn’t be so jarring if our survivors thought and talked about their circumstances more often.
Hurley dragging Sawyer back into the tarp was funny. Jin laughing as he watched was hilarious.
Dave says, “See you in another life.” That, of course, was also Demond’s parting line. The fact that he said it before jumping off the cliff is a pretty direct link to “Vanilla Sky,” in which David says the same thing before leaping off the skyscraper. “Vanilla Sky” was about life extention, one of the projects of the Hanso Foundation. (Someone at The Fuselage reminded everyone that Nadia’s letter to Sayid also ended with a similar sentiment.)
Charlie joked that Mr. Eko was building a Starbucks. Someone actually tossed out that thought on a message board a couple of weeks ago.
Hurley joins the growing list of survivors directly responsible for the death of others. Unless you already counted the “eight something” people who died at his Canadian sneaker company.
Numbers: There were 23 people standing on a deck built to hold eight people when it collapsed.
Hurley’s doctor had a huge picture of a tropical island on his wall, which could have been another exhibit in Dave’s list of reasons why the island isn’t real. But since it is, maybe sometimes a picture is just a picture.
The real Henry Gale wrote a note to his wife Jennifer on a $20 bill. Yes, it was a “new” $20 bill, issued in mid-2003.

Links:

“Dave” discussion threads at The Fuselage and Lost-Forum.com

More Lost Podcasts Apr 03, 2006

Show notes

If you haven’t tuned into the Lost Podcasting Network lately, you’ve missed the debut of three more great “Lost” podcasts.

The brilliant mind behind Sledgeweb’s Lost Stuff now has his own podcast: Sledgeweb’s Lost Podcast, of course. Sledgeweb has always been one of our favorite “Lost” resources, and this podcast benefits from Ben’s encyclopedic knowledge of the show. If your preference is for a level-headed, fluff-free discussion of “Lost,” Sledgeweb’s show is bound to be a favorite. [iTunes]
If you’re relatively new to “Lost,” and feel somewhat overwhelmed by the sheer volume of discussion and theorizing that “Lost” inspires, you might find a kindred spirit among the crew of Totally Lost. Melissa, John and Andrew are not new to podcasting, nor to obsessive fandom: their credits include Pottercast (The Leaky Cauldron) and Mugglecast (MuggleNet). But they are relatively new to “Lost,” and hearing the thoughts of folks just discovering “Lost” mania is a refreshing change. And they record as they watch in commercial break-sized chunks. [iTunes]
Taking a different tack is Your Theories About Lost, a podcast that eschews episode-to-episode reactions and analysis, and focuses, instead, entirely on the underlying mythology of “Lost.” And rather than letting a host preside, this podcast is composed entirely of listener submissions calls and forum posts. [iTunes]

It’s incredible how the “Lost” podcast family has continued to grow. However you hunger for “Lost” talk, something will surely satisfy. A hearty welcome to Chris, Ben, Melissa, John and Andrew! We’ll be listening.

Lockdown Mar 30, 2006

Show notes

A new countdown, a lockdown, a creepy map, and a supply drop. A whole lot of meat for the mythology fanatics to chew on this week. On top of the clues, we had Jack showing some cunning, and Henry Gale continue to climb the charts as a great character. (Even if he’s evil.) Jen’s not entirely satisfied, though, expecting a lot more concrete answers to Locke than we got.

So what triggered the lockdown? Some kind of PA system crackled to life, a woman’s voice saying “please” something (step away from the doorways?), then counting down to the doors slamming shut. It also seemed to “pause” the 108 minute button timer. Our guess is that it’s tied to the supply drop. A pending delivery prompts the lockdown… but exactly why, we’re not sure. Why keep the “test subjects” contained? Unless someone else is supposed to handle distribution.

The glowing map is also a mystery. It’s apparently a map of the different bunkers, with lots of detailed notes. (Sledgeweb’s captured it here. No doubt countless hours will be invested deconstructing every scribble.) The fact that it seemed to have taken some time to sketch implies that those doors actually came down regularly. But why write it “secretly,” where only black light would reveal it? And why did black lights conveniently come on, after it sounded like our button timer timed out? And did it time out? Henry was sure quiet for a while, and reappeared behind Locke. Did he even enter the code, or even enter the dome at all?

And yeah, he’s an Other. Or someone deep in their web.

As to the flashback, I guess we learned how Locke lost Helen. And Anthony Cooper’s mention of the $700,000 being a “retirement con” (i.e. he’s scammed folks out of more than a kidney) pretty much cinches it for the folks who are convinced he’s the real Sawyer. I wonder if there’s a more direct money link, too — our Sawyer’s “long con” of Cassidy netted him $600,000.

On the “shipper” front, it was nice to see Jack get the better of Sawyer, and for some nice foreshadowing to be planted about Jack’s past — the tattoo, and time in Phuket. (Jen envisions some cool “Memento” style backwards flashback, perhaps directed by Daron Aronofsky.) And to much great “squee” among “Jaters,” it seems he hasn’t quite given up on Kate. Hurley’s line about being in the “loop” was odd — yeah, people keep secrets, we get that, but he’s also been pegged as a blabbermouth.

Notes & Notions:

So, Nadia was in California, like the CIA said, and I guess she was making good money at that medical testing facility in order to afford a house. But didn’t Sayid say she was dead (while on the island)? Did she want him to think that? He must have had doubts, if so, if he was on Oceanic 815 to Los Angeles. And… medical facility? You know Nadia has got to have a link to Hanso somewhere.
Leaving aside who made the supply drop, who were the supplies for? The Others? Or just Kelvin/Desmond? Do the suppliers even know what’s happening on the island?
Henry only needed to hear the numbers once, and I suppose that’s suspicious. I’d love for him to have had a Hurley-like moment of recognition. But I’m pretty sure some of our other button pushers also demonstrated remarkable numerical memory.
It was neat to see an Oceanic Airlines plane overhead as Locke arrives at his father’s hotel. But I guess the digital artists were so proud of their work, they just had to throw it in again minutes later.
Favorite lines: “Should I get a ruler?” Or “Somethin’ was burnin’ and it wasn’t from the sunshine.”
Numbers: The safe deposit box was number 1516. Henry Gale’s street address was 815 on his driver’s license.
Music: Locke was pedaling to Les McCann’s “Compared to What.”
“Lockdown” discussion at The Fuselage and Lost-Forum.com

Now, about that scene for which I was a “background extra.” Yeah, it was cut. I expected as much, as I realized how much they’d have to cover “on the island.” What’s really remarkable to me, though, is just how much work ended up on the cutting room floor. They built out a whole bank exterior (with a fake ATM) and bank lobby, signs, tellers, the works. They had us hapless extras walk up and down the block over and over again, a set of pre-1995 cars drive past over and over again, and Terry O’Quinn park his truck and run across the street over and over again. A day’s work for 100 people. But in the episode, he just opens up the safety deposit box. I sure hope the street and bank scenes make the Season 2 DVD.

By the way, the bar where Locke and Anthony Cooper talk is Murphy’s Bar and Grill in downtown Honolulu, a popular spot and one of our only “Irish pubs.” It’s a block from where I work, and they filmed that scene the same day they filmed the bank scene. The graveyard and hotel looked familiar, but we couldn’t quite place them.

The Whole Truth Mar 23, 2006

Show notes

A good episode. Not a barn burner, but still a healthy serving of Lost-y goodness. After the last mythology-rich episode, I guess a story focused entirely on the characters can seem a little flat. But I liked the flashback, wherein at least we learned things we didn’t previously know, and where things are left somewhat ambiguous, rather than sewn up with a big twist. And on the island, the mixed loyalties and keeping of secrets are getting so thick, even our survivors sense that things won’t end well. (The “I’m the last to know” device is getting a little old, though.) I thought Daniel Dae Kim shined in this episode, and that Jin’s character got richer and more complex. Jen, however, was miffed at his early outburst, and suspects it’s a hint of a darker turn. We’ve both always liked Ana Lucia, though, and this episode was a good one for her.

So, is Sun’s baby Jin’s? I say yes, Jen says no. “It’s that look,” says she. A woman’s intuition. Is Henry Gale an Other? Jen and I still say yes breathtaking preview for next week notwithstanding.

It was fun to see the Ala Wai Canal and the back of the Hawaii Convention Center featured so prominently in the flashback (and the city bus crossing the bridge in the background). True story: I was originally supposed to be a background extra in that scene. Even better true story: I ended up a background extra in next week’s episode instead. And that one looks like it’s going to be nirvana for the mythology fans.

Random notes and notions:

So was Sun unfaithful? Or is Jin not sterile (anymore)? If it wasn’t infidelity, one could theorize about the pregnancy two ways: either the island “fixed” Jin like it did Locke (both describe things in terms of a “miracle”), or the island made Jin’s deep desire come true (as some other character’s wishes have been realized, for better or worse).
Mirrors and reflections factored heavily in this episode. Jack and Locke’s shower scene, and several scenes in the flashback (Sun entering the hotel room, and later standing at the window).
Jack’s lecture to Sun about telling “the whole truth” sure seemed loaded. A secret he knows about Sun? Or foreshadowing more of his own backstory (given the sketchy pregnancy conversation he had with Sara before she left him)? Interestingly, Sun got advice from both Jack and her English teacher, and both of them qualified their advice by saying, essentially, “I’m hardly the person to say this, but…”
Voices speaking backwards again? This time, it’s the conversation between Bernard and Sawyer from Jin’s point of view, made unintelligible to illustrate his inability to understand English (a creative device used in Season 1). Still want to know what they said? Member gumpy5 at The Fuselage posted a transcript and an audio file with the voices reversed.
The pregnancy test is a product of Widmore Labs. Any relation to Widmore Construction? The company whose name was supposed to be visible in the background during Charlie’s flashback in London? That’s a pretty varied portfolio. Maybe Widmore and Hanso are competing multinationals.
Other or not, Henry Gale is turning out to be a great character. So good, in fact, that his comments about ending up dead are probably right. “Do you have any milk?” One of my favorite closing lines ever.
And how about that opening scene? (Opening in a flashback, no less.) Eye candy no matter your hormonal preference.
Charlie produces a gun, and no one asks, “Where did you get that?” Especially glaring since Charlie gave the best knowing smile when Ana Lucia said, “Jack and Locke are too busy worrying about Locke and Jack.”
Another book reference, and an odd one at that: “Are You There God, It’s Me, Margret?” Seems Sawyer’s running out of stuff to read. But Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov made a second appearance, and I don’t know if any other book reference has spanned more than one episode. Can the epic tale of three brothers be a hint of what’s going on in “Lost”? At nearly 1,000 pages, it might be perfect summer hiatus reading. Or not.
Another quick (and fun) reference to Hurley’s hoarding. His secret is surely not long for this world. And some charming Rose and Bernard banter. Definitely a pair of characters we’d love to know more about.
Something’s being built, and it includes a dining table. Is that Mr. Eko’s project? (Most common guess is that it’s a church.) If so, I can see Charlie pitching in, but how did Sayid get involved?

Links:

“Maternity Leave” discussion threads at The Fuselage and Lost-Forum.com.

Download — **LPN Review: ‘Unlocking the Mysteries of LOST’** Mar 19, 2006
Show notes

A special segment produced for the LOST Podcasting Network. Jen offers a sneak preview of “Unlocking the Meaning of Lost: An Unauthorized Guide,” by Lynette Porter and David Lavery, due out next month. To download this segment, click the “Pod” icon below, or cut-and-paste the following URL:

http://media.libsyn.com/media/hawaii/lpn20060318.mp3

Maternity Leave Mar 02, 2006

Show notes

A thoroughly excellent episode. An unusual one, too, with no pre-crash flashbacks. Lots of wonderful little links to things that came before, but much more tantalizing were the hints and implications of what’s coming. It was good to see Mr. Eko again, and who knows what he’s up to (cutting down marked trees, and cutting off a chunk of beard). He seems to think Henry Gale is connected to the Others, though, and now I’m even more convinced. Jen has also come around on that point, given that he too has clearly figured out just how to rattle Locke’s cage.

Things to ponder:

How about that mobile hanging over the crib? Commercial jets are an odd choice. Oceanic Airlines jets? Even odder. The fact that it played “Catch a Falling Star”? Absolutely intriguing. After all, it was “Catch a Falling Star” that Claire asked the would-be adoptive parents in Season 1 to sing to the baby.
Seems like the drug administered to Claire’s unborn baby was the same drug Desmond injected himself (and later ran off) with. So is Desmond an Other? Was Kelvin? More importantly, what is it? If it’s a vaccine, and in limited supply, having to choose “good people” sounds like a likely development. It also sounds like another psychological experiment.
So maybe there aren’t two groups of Others, but there are two sides to them. Ethan, Goodwin, Zeke out of costume, all seemingly bright, clever folks, but rough, dirty and raggedy when “in character.” But why? Efforts to sustain an image of a primitive environment despite having access to modern technology definitely adds to the “it’s all an experiment” theories.
The costume pieces in the hatch were totally unexpected, and I’m still not sure if it’s a twist I like. “It’s all an elaborate production” is a little further down the theory continuum toward “it’s all a dream” than I’d prefer. Presuming that was Zeke’s hat and beard, they were there in the past couple of days (after Zeke confronted Jack and party in the forest), and it sure seems like they left in a hurry, too. Maybe the countdown in the Swan station spooked them?
That’s twice now Locke has stopped Claire from going to the hatch. It’s implied this time, though, that it’s because they’re hiding Henry Gale. Jen’s not sure why that’s a secret. Because it might scare people? Inspire a lynch mob? Or simply because of how it makes his captors look?
Interesting to learn more about Ethan. I thought we saw a hint of a softer side, and liked that he perhaps was not the most respected member of the crew. Jen’s convinced he was just being his conniving, sinister self.
Who is the “he” that Zeke said he had to report Ethan’s “list making” failure to? And is “he” on the island, or in contact from afar? The DeGroots? (If Zeke isn’t a DeGroot.) Or the big man himself, Alvar Hanso? I’m betting the latter, because Zeke so proudly quoted the man.
Sun’s brief outburst about a mother never leaving her child smelled like a big pile of foreshadowing.
More and more, I’m loving Rousseau (and appreciating Mira Furlan’s talent). It was good to see Claire in the spotlight, too.
Jen loved the Stephen King shoutout. And more literature links: Dostoevsky vs. Hemingway.

Links:

“The Whole Truth” discussion threads at The Fuselage and Lost-Forum.com.

SPOILERY BIT: Next? Again with the reruns. Next new episode will air on March 22. How about the preview, though? Sun wants a pregnancy test? Jen just about fell out of her chair. (Why would Sawyer have one, though? Who takes a pregnancy test on a plane?) The… “encounter” probably pre-dates the crash, and my bet is that it wasn’t with Jin. There’s something big coming in her flashback. I saw them filming that episode, and it looked both familiar, and yet a lot more contemporary than the period when she first met Jin.

I also got up close and personal with the shooting for the following episode (a Locke flashback). We just can’t wait to see these stories air.

One of Them Feb 16, 2006

Show notes

A good episode. One of the stronger this season. Jen definitely thinks it was a good notch above both “Fire + Water” and “The Long Con.” I think it fits well, and now together the sense of direction this season is more clear.After the brief drought in mythological elements, it was great to have a focus on the “Others,” and the Jack-Locke showdown over the armory combination was incredible. What happens when the counter hits zero? Well, Jen felt pretty cheated to find that, essentially, Jack was right nothing happened. Something sure as heck was about to happen, and it sure sounded big… but it looks like that’s one promised “answer” that we’re going to have to wait for. I don’t think fans are going to stand for a third fake out, though. I’m just saying.

Speaking of “answers,” though, at least we got one stubborn question solved Hurley’s weight. In fact, while “One of Them” had great dramatic moments, it still had us laughing out loud thanks to the Sawyer/Hurley “frog hunt” subplot. But in a growing series of surprising twists, we certainly didn’t expect Sawyer’s last act. He seemed on the verge of feeling sympathy for Hurley’s turtle story, and fought it the only way he knew how. Or, maybe he just wanted to ensure he wasn’t about to end up with a friend again.

The flashback was pretty good, too. We see where Sayid made the much-touted promise to himself… a promise he’s now broken twice. A surprising amount of CGI, though. Not bad for primetime TV.

I’m definitely intrigued at how quickly our survivors are fragmenting. Instead of factions, we’re seeing lots of rogues. Charlie was ostracized. Sawyer made everyone his enemy. The rift between Locke and Jack grows. It’s still unclear how well the Tailies are integrating. And now, it seems Sayid is forging his own path as well.

Notes and links:

Is the captured “Other” really an “Other”? Jen says no, pointing to Locke’s remark about everything being relative to Danielle, everyone is an “Other.” I vote yes, based mostly on the look on the man’s face after Jack pulls Sayid back. Oh, and there’s his name, Henry Gale… Dorothy’s uncle in The Wizard of Oz.
Another flashback crossover, with Kate’s dad carrying a photo of Young Kate (courtesy gumpy5) and Sayid.
Sawyer is not an animal lover, obviously. But his pursuit of the frog clearly mirrored his obsession with the boar in Season 1… except that he let the boar live.
How about those hieroglyphs (via Sledgeweb)? This post at TheFuselage.com claims the translation is “cause to die.” Or, the causitive form of the verb, “to die.” Maybe simply, “You’re dead.”
Finally, the numbers reappear. The film Sayid watched came from “REEL 23108-42” (gumpy5 again).
Jen was thrilled to see Clancy Brown (a.k.a. “Mr. Krabs”).

Next week, another rerun. But the March 1 looks like another good dose of “Lost” mythology.

The Long Con Feb 09, 2006

Show notes

First impressions? An interesting episode that continues the darker mood of “Fire + Water” with some interesting twists. Almost no clues for the sci-fi theorists, and a lot of emphasis on characters and motives… some of which left us scratching our heads. On the one hand, it made us sit up and say, “Well, now things are getting interesting.” But some of the turns our old friends take Jack, Locke, Charlie, and of course Sawyer seemed unusually sharp, at least packed into one episode.I think the identity of Sun’s would-be kidnapper was a great surprise, as was how the anticipated “Jack v. Locke” face off instead led them both to be conned. Sawyer’s double double-cross to close the flashback was also a nice touch, and Kate’s guess at his motives (especially after he clearly disliked being liked in previous episodes) is a fair one.

But we were left with plenty of questions. Just what else is driving Sawyer? Seems this turn proves what some of the creators have said about the journey of the characters not being one way (liked to disliked, bad to good). If it wasn’t the Virgin Mary statues (and simply embarassing Locke), how did Sawyer talk Charlie into a second drastic abduction attempt? And Locke’s sudden panic when Sawyer rattles his cage about Jack seemed a little off. His remark to Jack about locking up the drugs adds to the “he’s up to something” theory, but he was also surprisingly unsteady. Part of the evolution of his character’s nature? Or just a random quirk to advance the plot?

Some random thoughts…

Yep, there was Kate’s mom Diane in the restaurant scene. Didn’t seem particularly significant, but it was one of the few crossovers where the characters interacted directly, as with Jack’s dad and Sawyer in Australia.
Locke was looking for more film, it seems. The book he was flipping through was “An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge.” It’s a short story (that was also adapted for a Twilight Zone episode) that you can read online, with a twist that links it to many of the other literary references we’ve seen.
Hurley was reading “Bad Twin.” The closest we’ll get, hopefully, to product placement.
Locke is superstitious, too? What an interesting mix of beliefs he’s turning out to have.
Sawyer tells Charlie he’s not a “good person.” Wonder if, over time, each character will basically categorize themselves?
Jen actually had a dream last year where Glenn Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade” figured heavily in an episode of “Lost.” Too bad no one will believe her.
Hurley’s “another time” line: meaningful hint toward a time-travel theory, or yet another jab at obsessed fans? We’re guessing the latter. If so, though, they were picking up an FM radio signal from east of the Mississippi (the call letters started with “WX”).
Loved the return of the Scott and Steve thing. Craig and Dylan must be thrilled.
The restaurant where Sawyer and Gordy met was Bob’s Big Boy in Mapunapuna (you could see Moanalua Freeway out the window), and the place where Sawyer and Cassidy shacked up was indeed a model home in Mililani Mauka. Didn’t see the pigs reported on the set, though.