My Lost article for Books & Culture

Over the weekend, I finished writing a review of Lost for Books & Culture, and it ended up being one of the most difficult pieces I've ever written.

Originally, it was over 3,000 words, and I cut it down to less than 1,200 by the time I was done. My goal was to review the five seasons of Lost in a way that would make it appealing to those who don't watch the show (including BC's sophisticated demographic) and interesting for those of us who do watch it religiously. At the same time, I tried not to spoil anything significant for those potential newcomers—which is what made the writing process so difficult. I let the time travel cat out of the bag (a little bit) and I mentioned a few names, but other than that, the piece is pretty much spoiler-free.

If you'd like to read it, here's the link:

Not Too Late to Find Lost

And you can check back later this week (maybe tomorrow) for a brief recap of the finale and then even later this week, I'll be recapping the highlights of the entire fifth season, and including the questions that we'll be pondering for the next nine months.

More soon!

"The Incident": Finale Time!

If you're coming here for my thoughts/summary, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed.

I know, I know. I write recaps for the last 13 episodes, and then slough off for the finale?

I'm sorry. But I'm writing an article on Lost for Books and Culture. It should be posted next Monday (I'll link to it), so that is taking precedence right now.

But next week, I'll write a summary to the episode, and if I'm feeling really ambitious, maybe a recap of the entire season. (I don't think I'll feel that ambitious.)

In the meantime, my predictions for the finale, which starts in less than 5 minutes:

1) Miles dies.

2) Ellie betrays Jack.

3) Hurley attempts something heroic.

4) We see Ellie leave the island.

5) We learn Kate's real reason for returning to the island, and it has something to do with Widmore and/or Ben—and nothing to do with Claire.

*Bonus: We learn why Hurley's been hauling around a guitar case.

"Follow the Leader": Misery Loves Company

What a perfect title for tonight's episode. As we watched three different groups of people (1) Richard and Ellie with Kate, Jack, and Sayid 2)Present day Richard with Locke, Ben, Sun, and Others and 3) Those still in Dharma-ville), the same question applied in all situations: Who exactly is in charge?

In group 1, the potential leaders are: Widmore, Ellie, Richard...or Jack? Or is it Kate, since she is the one who refuses to follow the rest?

In group 2, Locke seems to be in charge. But he still has so much to learn. And don't think Ben doesn't want to be the leader. And don't forget about Jacob.

In group 3, Horace is in charge. But Radzinsky decides he shouldn't be. Pierre Chang gives an order, but again, Radzinsky opposes him. So who is the leader in Dharma Land?

And the other theme: misery. Jack mentioned it. Sayid mentioned it. Sawyer's "good riddance" goodbye to the island hinted at the same idea.

Kate was the oddball on both counts. She refused to "follow the leader," and she was quick to refute Jack's reference to the misery they've endured, saying "It was not all misery!"

Jack's response: "Enough of it was."

Let's recap.

Season 5: Episode 15—"Follow the Leader":

First of all, it looks like Daniel really did bite the big one. Except Jack is convinced that it can still be fixed. All they have to do is carry out the things written in Daniel's little black book.

Ellie is on board. And Widmore surprisingly lets her set off with Jack and Kate on a trek to the hydrogen bomb. If Widmore wanted to stop her, he didn't. Could it be because of the things she was saying to him when we couldn't hear their conversation? Maybe she said, "That guy I just shot is the son we're going to have together..."

Sayid's Back and You're Gonna Be in Trouble...

I don't know who that Hostile guy was, the one beating up Jack and Kate. The one who was prepared to shoot Kate when she tried to leave. But hey, it doesn't matter, because Sayid comes out of the woods with his gun blazing. And whoever he was, he's a dead other now.

Sayid stuck with Jack, swimming under the falls to the tunnels following Richard, Jack, and Ellie. Jack looked so happy to see him, since he obviously didn't expect Sayid to follow.

And Sayid said, "If this works, it might just save us all. If it doesn't, it'll put us out of our misery." (There's that word again!)


Widmore Rides Again:

At the beginning of the episode, we saw Widmore riding into the Hostiles camp on a horse again. That's twice now. Probably meaningless, but I wonder...

And did he ask Richard why the girl (Kate?) looked familiar to him? Sort of like when Ellie looked familiar to Daniel in the 50's?

Now, I know this is going to sound outrageous, but I'm just putting it out there. Ignore it, if you want. But when it comes true, remember you saw it here first: What if Widmore is Kate's real dad? Just saying...


John Locke is Back...and so is John Locke

The present-day return of John Locke begins with a woman notifying Richard Alpert, who is so calmly putting together a model ship. (Note: Interesting that the Hostiles are now living on a beachfront camp. Not in Dharma-town. And not in the woods. On the beach, like our castaways had...) This woman says, "He's here." No name. Just "He." Clearly, they had all been waiting.

But even though they'd been waiting for him, it wasn't long before Richard was unnerved by the new John Locke:

Richard: "Where have you been?"
Locke: "That's a long story. I'll explain on the way."
Richard: "On the way where?"
Locke: "It's going to be dark soon, and we have an errand we need to run together."

Richard: "There's something different about you." (it was like Richard was trying to look through him...)
Locke: "I have a purpose now."

Hmmm, didn't he have a purpose before? Hasn't he always been doing the island's will? So what's different now? A more specific purpose? One revealed at the end of the episode when Locke said he was going to...

Kill Jacob?

I don't even know what to make of this comment. I love how baffled (frightened) Ben was. But... I don't even know where to begin. I'm not convinced Jacob is a real, living person, so I'm not sure how Locke plans to kill him. It could be a planned illusion, something to make the Others stop relying on "Jacob," so they can trust him (John Locke) and not a Jacob they don't know (more importantly, a Jacob whose wishes can be distorted by Ben or Richard, or whoever else is passing along the messages).

But I really doubt we'll see John Locke killing Jacob, or even attempting to.

That Guy Over There? Well, that's me, of course!

It was very fun to see Locke tell Richard that time-flashing Locke had been shot, and then he told him the very things that we saw Richard tell him in whatever episode originally contained that scene. This was vintage LOST writing: show us a scene, make us think that Richard had all the answers...and then show us that scene again, two months later (in our time), and now we see that he got those answers from Locke, who is probably getting them from "the island." And now we know that Richard didn't know as much as we thought he did. Not at all.

But before I get to that, enjoy this Ben/Locke exchange again:

Ben: This must be quite the out-of-body experience.
Locke: Something like that.
Ben: What impeccable timing, John. How did you know?
Locke: The island told me. Didn't the island use to tell you things?
Ben: No, it didn't. And the island must not be telling you where Jacob is, or you wouldn't have to ask.
Locke: You've never seen him.
Ben: Excuse me?
Locke: Jacob. You've never seen him, have you?

(I don't think I got it down verbatim, but I'm looking forward to watching that scene again.)

And then Richard returns (after time-flashing Locke flashed away) and he asked Locke if he wanted the bullet. Locke declines.

Locke: How'd it go?
Richard: You seemed pretty convinced; especially when I told you you had to die. Glad that didn't have to happen.
Locke: Actually, Richard, it did.

Oh, and then we had some priceless expressions from Ben and Richard. Speaking of Mr. Alpert, whom Ben described to Sun as "an advisor...and he's had that position for a long time"...

Richard is so confused

We got to see a lot of Richard, which was great. And we also got to see a lot of Richard being confused, which was kind of fun.

For example, when he first saw Ben, he asked Locke, "What's he doing here?"

I know he was surprised to learn that two Lockes would be on the island together for a short period of time...but I couldn't figure out just how surprising this was to him. Was he surprised it happened? Or surprised it could happen?

There was this exchange, which Locke seemed to enjoy:

Richard: John, you want to tell me where you've been the last three years?
John: You really don't know?

And then near the end of the episode, after Locke repeatedly insists on seeing Jacob (and eventually, taking everyone with him) in spite of Richard's suggestions to at least wait for a bit, we have this priceless exchange between Richard and Ben:

Richard: I'm starting to think John Locke is going to be trouble.
Ben: Why do you think I tried to kill him?

The Boy Who Didn't Die and the Friends Who Did (or Will):

There were so many good lines in this episode. Including:

Sayid: I already changed something. I killed Benjamin Linus, and yet we're still here.

Of course, Sayid then learns that Kate saved Ben, and when Sayid asks her why, Kate says, "Since when did killing kids and blowing up hydrogen bombs become okay?"

My question for Kate: "Since when do you have such a strong objection to, well, everything? What is your motivation for all this? (Okay, that was two questions...but still. The writers are setting something up here. Okay, maybe they just had her object so that Sayid could have a cool reappearance, shooting down her would-be killer, and maybe they wanted to add some tension to Jack's plans to discharge a hydrogen bomb, or maybe they just wanted to get her on that sub with Sawyer and Juliet. But I think there's something more going on. Even if she isn't Widmore's daughter. :) )

Getting back on point now: Sayid learned that little Ben didn't die. But Sun learned that Jin and the rest of her friends did. When Sun asked Richard if he remembered them, he said:

"I remember them well. I remember them, because I watched them all die."


Shortly after that, Sun makes the mistake of turning to Locke for consolation: "Do you think that's true? That they're all dead?"

Locke, like the new Governor of Other Island, sidesteps this question with, "I don't think we came all this way for nothing." Even though we learn later that he doesn't give a rip about reuniting with the others.

The Episode's Weirdest Quote (aka "Stating the Obvious")

Richard: I'll have a tent prepared for you, and we'll leave first thing in the morning.
John: I thought we could leave right now.
Richard: Now?
Locke: I'm eager.

(Eager? You don't say.)


Thankfully, some things—like Ben being Ben—will never change:

Obviously, Ben doesn't like following Locke the leader, even though he'll tell Locke to his face that he's okay with it. But even as he claims to be okay with it, while also notifying Locke that Richard was questioning Locke's ability to lead (Ben will betray anyone's confidence if he thinks it will help him...), he clearly isn't. And so we get gems like this:

Locke: Why don't you join us?
Ben: Why? You afraid to leave me here alone with my former people? Afraid I'll stage a coup?
Locke: I'm not afraid of anything you can do now.
Ben: Oh, well in that case, I'd love to come.

(Why did he really have Ben come along? To rub it in Ben's face that the island is telling him things?)


Young Ellie is a better actress than Old Eloise:

Yeah, I said it. I thought her delivery here was outstanding:

Eloise: The man I shot. What did he need the bomb for?
Jack: I don't think you'd believe me.
Eloise: When I was 17 years old, I took a young man to the bomb. He proceeded to tell me that if we buried it underground, things would work out splendidly...and when I asked him how he could be so sure, he said he was from the future. And then he disappeared, right before my eyes. Ten minutes ago, I shot that man. In the back. But before he died, he said he was my son. Explain to me, and I swear I will believe you. [holds up Daniel's notebook] How is this my handwriting if I don't remember writing it?
Jack: Because you haven't written it yet. I know this is hard to understand, but what you just did was an accident, and I think there's a way to take that back.

Jack: He doesn't have to be dead. If we do what's written in that journal, none of this happened.
Eloise to Kate: Does he know what he's talking about?
Kate: He thinks he does.
Eloise: Alright, I'll take you to the bomb. There's just one small issue, however. We secured it over 20 years ago and buried it underground. Since that time, it appears someone built a whole village over it.


Wait, what did she just say?

When Ellie said that line, I was thinking they would be wandering into Dharma-town to get to the bomb. And that's what Ellie suggested by commenting on how they shouldn't have any problems since they've been impersonating Dharma Personnel. BUT we see them get to the bomb, and it's by swimming under a waterfall into a long tunnel, which eventually opened into ancient tunnels reminiscent of Smokey's lair. And when I was watching that, I forgot about Ellie's words. Until now. So those tunnels, where Jughead is...that's all located underneath the Dharma village?

Interesting...

Kate Runs:

I've said enough (and alleged enough) about Kate for now. So just some quotes:

Kate: I can't go any farther with you; not this time.

Jack: You can't go back there. They'll kill you.
Kate: And what are you trying to do?

Jack: I'm not wrong. This is why we're here. This is our destiny.
Kate: Do you know who you sound like? And he was crazy, too; you said so yourself.
Jack: And maybe I was wrong.

Kate says she's going back to the rest of their people, because "if I can't stop you, maybe they can." (This isn't like Kate. Since when does she ask for help? And does she really think Miles, Jin, Hurley, Sawyer, and Juliet are going to dissuade Jack? If anyone can, it's her. And yet she walks away. I don't get it.)


I Wish I Didn't Know Radzinsky Would Eventually Commit Suicide...Because I'd Kind of Like to See Him Get Killed:

Wow, Radzinsky!

Somebody got too big for his britches. And fast!

That's all I want to say about Mr. I'm-Going-to-Keep-Claiming-to-Be-in-Charge-Until-Someone-Stops-Me.


Sawyer Will Get Even with Phil:

Hitting Juliet. Not smart, Phil. Not smart.

Oh yeah, and he called Hurley "the fat guy."

I hope Hugo runs over Phil with a Dharma van. (That's Hurley's other superhero power, other than the obvious one: playing chess with dead people.)

Horace Sides with Hostiles...or Will:
I've said it before, and I'm more convinced now. Mark my words: when Horace dies during the Purge (looking so at peace on that bench), he will die willingly—only after helping the Hostiles purge an increasingly corrupt and dangerous Dharma Initiative. Maybe he'll decide Dharma needs to be purged, or maybe he'll do it to protect Ethan (and Amy?). But he's going to do it; watch for it.


I'm No Sap, but Sawyer and Juliet Are Cute

First, Juliet pleads with Radzinsky to stop beating Sawyer. And Sawyer stops her:

Sawyer: "Juliet, don't. Whatever we tell 'em, they're not going to believe us. It's only going to get more people hurt."

And then when Pierre Chang comes to announce that they're evacuating, and when Radzinsky pulls another Radzinsky (which means he threw a temper tantrum and said, "You can't tell me what to do!"), Sawyer speaks up again:

Sawyer: Put us on the sub. He's right; it ain't safe. Put the women and children on the sub, and get 'em the hell out of here. And if you put me and Juliet on the sub with them, we'll tell you anything you want to know. You okay with that, sweetheart?
Juliet: Absolutely.

So instead of dying together—like Romeo and Juliet—Sawyer and Juliet have decided to save themselves and then, once they're safe, give up information that could jeopardize everyone else. Not exactly your script for a classic romance, but somehow it sort of worked here.

Or it would have, if Kate hadn't climbed into their sub. Juliet and Sawyer were busy making plans for starting a new life. Maybe buying Microsoft. Betting on the Cowboys in the '78 Super Bowl. And then Kate climbed down that ladder, and Sawyer and Juliet were not the least bit happy about it. (Did you get the sense that maybe "the island isn't done with them yet"?)

Oh right, and there was this exchange before Kate barged in:

Juliet: I love you.
Sawyer: I love you back.

Hurley Makes Me Laugh:

I love that Hurley, of all people, tried to stand his ground in a veritable battle of wits with the brilliant physicist, Dr. Pierre Chang. And as we would assume, Hurley doesn't fare well.

When Pierre Chang finds Miles, Jin, and Hurley in the woods...

Miles: Dr. Chang, what are you doing here?
Dr. Chang: I could ask you the same question.
Hurley: But we asked you first. (Round 1 to Hurley)

Dr. Chang: What year were you born? What year?
Hurley: Uh... 1931?
Dr. Chang: You're 46?
Hurley: Yeah. Yes, I am. (Round 2 to Pierre)

Dr. Chang: So you fought in the Korean War?
Hurley: There's no such thing. (I think this round goes to Pierre, but I'm confused. The Korean War was in the 50's, so is Hurley just unaware of it?)


Dr. Chang: Who's the President of the United States?
Hurley: All right, dude, we're from the future. Sorry. (And Pierre wins.)

A Little Piece of Mind for Miles:

First this:

Dr. Chang: It's true then? You are my son?
Miles: Yeah, it's true.

And then Hurley and Miles saw Pierre Chang yelling at Miles' mom, and Miles realized he had no choice. It was the only way he could save her life (and Miles' life).

Well, at least one character gets to resolve some of their daddy issues.

Jack Might Want to Listen to Sayid:

Sayid's always been the guy that everyone should listen to, and yet they don't. Here's the latest example:

Sayid: Jack, I'm sure it's occurred to you that this woman's motivation in helping us detonate a hydrogen bomb is only to annihilate the DHARMA Initiative.
Jack: Yes, but I still trust her.
Sayid: Why?
Jack: Because 30 years from now, she's the one who helps us get back to the island.
Sayid: And that makes you trust her?
Jack nods.

(We'll see if Jack will ever remember that conversation and wish he hadn't been so trusting. If he's alive to reconsider, that is.)

Summary (also known as: Where We Stand for Next Week's Finale):

This was a great episode. Near the end of it, I almost felt like it was gearing up for the series finale. Not just a season finale. I know there are still a lot of questions, but it almost felt like it's about to end. But there's still plenty of time for new problems to arise. Speaking of new problems, just look at where our characters finished last episode:

—Kate is on the sub with Sawyer and Juliet. It sure doesn't seem like they're just going to ride peacefully back to the ol' U.S. of A, now does it? Maybe before Kate got on board. But not now.

—Radzinsky and his friends are set to break ground on the Swan. Leading to the Incident, maybe?

—Locke and friends are marching over to see Jacob. Oh yeah, and then Locke is going to kill him. I can't see that playing out without any complications.

—Jack is prepared to detonate a hydrogen bomb. 'Nuff said.

—And who knows what kind of shenanigans we might see from Ellie, Widmore, Ben, Richard, Hurley, Miles, Sun, or Jin.

It should be interesting.