Confirmed Dead
Now that was a season premiere. Without a doubt, “Confirmed Dead” got my mind spinning and my heart pounding the way I expected last week’s episode would. Tightly paced, great twists and surprises, and real drama. “The Beginning of the End” was really the end of Season 3. Now we’re really rolling. Awestruck, Jen rightly asserts that the opening sequence with the underwater wreckage would’ve blown more minds than ten Camaro car chases ever could.
The exposition didn’t feel shoehorned in, and seemed true to the characters (and, in the case of the new characters, appropriately illustrative). Indeed, while Season 4 brings with it another batch of new faces, “LOST” wisely doesn’t waste time across four or five episodes to introduce them. While skipping through Daniel, Miles, Charlotte and Frank (and Naomi’s neat summation of the team’s members) could have been almost mechanical, we think it worked.
That things moved forward on the island was perhaps the most satisfying part. With loose ends tied up last week, tonight’s episode was sure-footed, with no hesitations. With Sawyer playing the skeptical chorus, Locke matter-of-factly reveals Taller Walt and the death-defying “Man of Faith” kidney. He was in top form, from predicting the abrupt end of Hurley’s monsoon to the chilling way he let Charlotte now that they weren’t the helpless survivors she expected to find.
But it was Ben that flooded the evening with adrenaline. I jumped when he shot Charlotte. And Jen was shocked when Ben revealed everything he knew about the “Freighties.” Doubly so when he revealed how he knew what he did.
As with the four (or five) flashbacks that introduced all the “Freighties” in one episode, I was similarly impressed that the big question of what they want on the island wasn’t stretched across half a season. Of course, knowing they want Ben opens another Pandora’s Box: Why?
The obvious guess would be that the “Freighties” are DHARMA members or allies, looking to avenge the mass murders Ben helped orchestrate in the not too distant past. But while one force got them to the island (embodied thus far by the eminently intimidating Matthew Abbadon), I’m pretty sure that Charlotte, Frank, Miles and Daniel all have different motives:
- Daniel’s introduction was the most ambiguous. He was clearly shaken by the discovery of the plane, and said he didn’t know why. While it makes sense that actually knows more than he’s letting on, I think it’d be even more interesting if he was telling the truth. He seems very skittish and bookish and probably has no idea what he’s gotten himself into.
- Miles spiritual visit (and burglary) was genuinely creepy. Jen felt it was a nicely filmed sequence. We see too much of the grandson for his identity to not be relevant, though I can’t think of what the connection might be. But given that he communes with the dead for cash, I suspect he’s in the employ of someone who lost someone in the crash.
- Frank is the pilot, not part of the team, but is also clearly motivated on a personal level. Likely overcome with guilt for having not been in the cockpit of Oceanic 815, but then mystified that his friend wasn’t the pilot on the bottom of the sea, he’s in search of his own answers.
- Charlotte found the polar bear and the DHARMA collar in Tunisia, and apparently doesn’t believe the official story about the plane crash. She also seemed to know that Claire’s on-island birth was remarkable. Of the four, she seems the closest to what Ben fears… and perhaps what the other survivors should fear as well.
Of the four, any favorites? Both Jen and I have taken an early liking to Daniel. Abbadon and Associates have obviously brought him along for whatever a physicist could tell them about our mysterious island, and not for his cunning or toughness. He’s hapless, dropped into the middle of a world he can’t possibly understand, and will probably serve as this season’s best representative of confused “LOST” viewers. If handled well, his character could be an anchor of sorts for whatever madness unfolds over the next few weeks.
Notes and Notions:
- So, who is Ben’s spy on the freighter? Our money is on the last guy Ben let leave the island.
- Loved the scene where Hurley mentions the cabin, stopping Locke in his tracks. It certainly seems like Ben and Locke aren’t the only “special” people on the island.
- What’s in a name? Daniel Faraday is a clear nod toward Michael Faraday, Mr. Electromagnetism himself. Charlotte Staples Lewis gives us C.S. Lewis, who gave us “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Miles Straum’s last name is also a city in Norway, a country that’s played a part in the mythology of “LOST.” Frank Lapidus… you got me there.
- I love that “LOST” is no longer beating us over the head with The Numbers, but still drop one in a scene now and then. Jen spotted “15″ on a poster in the grandson’s room.
- A beaten, wet Ben is pretty damn scary looking. Like a pissed off cat.
- On the other hand, the scene where he gets all sarcastic “Golly Gee” with Karl was hilarious.
- Alex was described twice in this episode as Ben’s daughter, and Danielle didn’t throw one punch.
- Was it just Jen, or did everyone look impossibly beautiful tonight? A pity Naomi’s essentially a ghost, because she’s gorgeous.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
LOST IS BAAAAACK!!!!!
WOW!!! What a jaw-dropper of an ender for this episode!
But to be considerate with our fellow fans from the West, I’ll get back with more details later.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
This is the greatest television series in the history of television. I want to send all of the writers a great, big thank you.
Unbelieveable episode! My head is spinning.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
W00T
Much better than the premier
February 7th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Last week’s “Beginning of the End” was okay, but this was a fantastic episode–maybe one of the best. I will make a guess that Ben’s “man on the boat” is Michael. Ben is still the chess master controlling Locke through Walt. Is the Hanso organization, along with the US government, behind the fake 815 wreckage? Go on http://www.find815.com if you haven’t already. This show is fun again.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
That episode was awesome. There were actually rumors that this was going to be a bad episode. Psh. I really like that theory about Michael, Bill.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
*Spoilers*
I agree with Bill…in part. I also think Michael is the man on the boat. (Notice he was in the in the opening credits, but not in the episode?) However, I don’t think Ben is controlling Locke through Walt. We knew Locke and Walt had a special connection from day 1.
This was one of the best LOST episodes I have ever watched. When Locke said that Walt was taller…I think that was the best line of the entire series. And then of all questions to ask, he asked “What is the monster?” Brilliant!
I didn’t think I’d like the addition of the new characters, but thanks to their individual stories, I am VERY interested in them now.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I agree with everyone on this episode. I’m giving up spoilers for Lent, so this episode was rockin’! I was quite happy with The Beginning of the End, but I thought it seemed like an extension of the Season 3 finale. And even though Confirmed Dead had a lot of exposition, it was the first step in a new direction. I can already tell that this season will only get better! I can’t wait! Oh, Ben is insane.
And welcome back to audio-podcasting! You’re great!!!
February 7th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Awesome episodes… even more questions, but I love them because it just means we are eventually going to get answers! I was kind of looking forward to another flash forward tonight, as I think those give us a lot of answers, but became very intrigued with the 4 (possible) flash backs.
I began to think this awhile back, but is it possible that the Rescuers are a second generation Dharma? Especially now that we know they are looking for Ben, the man who took them all out? And the expression on Charlotte’s face when she saw the Dharma logo on that polar bears collar! Just can’t figure out why these 4 in particular… the headcase, ghost buster, anthropologist, and the drunk pilot?
Can’t wait to find out who another Oceanic 6 is next week!
OH! and did you see the look on Ben’s face when Hurley mentioned the cabin?!
February 7th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Ok as much as I thought last week was ‘meh’ this was the exact opposite. How in the world does all this get explained? This show is such a fun ride.
February 7th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Did anyone notice another literary reference with the new character Charlotte? Her name is Charlotte Staples Lewis (cf. Clive Staples Lewis AKA C. S. Lewis).
February 7th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
losthsv-you beat me to the punch ;O). The other names are probably significant, too. Faraday sounds familiar as does Lupites (pardon my spelling) Did we get Miles’ last name?
Spoiler*******
After seeing the scene where Miles goes into the kid’s room, turns on that machine and talks to his “ghost”, I give up….I am getting out of the driver’s seat of the theory-mobile…I’m not even going to try to ride shotgun…heck, I’m getting in the backseat. I just cannot predict where this show may be going next!!! Then when Ben started spouting off all that info…..I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest!!! Bravo Lost writing team! Bravo! Bravo!
February 7th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Faraday was an 19th century physicist who established the existence of magnetic fields, among other things.
February 7th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
My question is WHO is paying for a ship, helicopters, etc. There’s definitely a Dharma connection shown when a Dharma icon is found at the middle eastern (?) archeological dig site but I still think that Penelope’s father is behind all of the action.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, aka “Lewis Carroll,” is the author of The Alice in Wonderland story you referred to, whereas C.S. Lewis famously authored the Narnia novels.
February 8th, 2008 at 3:23 am
Just one question I have about locke. How did he know that Charlie died and that it’s not Penny’s Boat? Did anyone ever tell him?
And I am loving this Abbadon character.
More to come eventually I am still gathering some thoughts
February 8th, 2008 at 4:28 am
Great episode and insight from everyone. Here’s a few things I would like to throw out there and if you all don’t like them throw them right back at me. When Ben takes Locke to the cabin the first time there is some type of charcoal ring around the cabin and Jacob asks for help. Perhaps his spirit is being held captive by Ben. This is where our ghost whisperer Miles comes into play. Maybe he is going to set Jacob free.
A Dharma polar bear in Tunisia? Locke’s dad on the island? A magic box? Many have suggested time travel and I’m sure some have suggested teleportation…which is what I’m thinking. Perhaps Ben’s magic box is something that allows instantaneous travel off of the island to different locations. This could explain the polar bear and the kidney thief. It also makes it entirely possible that Juliet was never transported on the island in the submarine. Instead she took the sleeping pills and they transported her through the magic box and then put her on the sub and woke her up.
Any thoughts?
Best line of the night was Sawyer saying something about taking direction from Tall Walt.
February 8th, 2008 at 4:31 am
I believe that the Dharma revenge theory is right. Daniel had a box with a gas mask and hazmat bags. I believe they know about the purge, and were preparing for the risk of something happening again. Are they Dharma? Are they Hanso? Are they both? How did Penny know the exact frequency to connect with Charlie as soon as the beacon was reestablished?
I liked the “Close Encounters” feel of how the four newcomers were drawn to the island. I kept waiting for someone to play with their mashed potatoes, draw a polar bear, and say “This means something. This is important.” I also appreciated the nod to Star Wars by finding the polar bear in Tunisia. Brilliant episode!
February 8th, 2008 at 4:46 am
Just curious, ould you further explain the Star Wars connection?
February 8th, 2008 at 5:09 am
C.S. Lewis’s Magician’s Nephew (the origin of the land of Narnia) had people going to a woods in between the worlds and then on from there to other lands. Is the island like that for transporting people and things. The statue, the boat, the drug smuggler’s plane. Did they all come through to the island? A fruit from Narnia was planted in our world. It grew into a tree which was then made in the the wardrobe that transported the children to Narnia. Can something be taken off the island to allow transportation to & from the island (i.e. the box that brought Locke’s dad).
February 8th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Oops. Thanks, James. Fixed in the post!
February 8th, 2008 at 5:22 am
testing. For some reason the comments filter does not like my entries.
February 8th, 2008 at 5:25 am
test
February 8th, 2008 at 5:29 am
The C.S. Lewis tie in could be huge. The Magician’s Nephew deals with travel in between worlds. The island could be like that where things come through portals to the island (Black Rock, smugglers plane, etc). Maybe Dharma discovered that something taken from the island can be used as a transportation portal. (Like that the wardrobe in Lion, Witch, the the Wardrobe was made from a tree from the fruit of Narnia & and the rings).
February 8th, 2008 at 6:05 am
This was a really great episode, and I hope that the rest (is that 6 still) are just as good, adding more and more tidbits, and giving a few answers along the way. I really liked the flashback of Naomi with creepy guy (Abbadon?) and the summary of the “Team”. Their unique abilities are definitely pointed out for a reason.
I read somewhere else that there were pictures on the wall at the house where Miles went to do his “Ghostbusting” of Yemi and/ of Eko? Anyone able to confirm or squash this? Could that be another link? Also he mentions that he has cop friends… I’m not sure if he reside near where Ana was a cop but is it possible that there is a connection there?
Another week of speculations begins! Can’t wait to get more info on the Oceanic 6 and Ben’s Mole on board the Freighter!
February 8th, 2008 at 6:26 am
The numbers were also on the helicopter (842)
February 8th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Sorry, losthsv, about the obscure Star Wars reference. When did I become such a geek??
Tunisia is where George Lucas filmed much of the desert scenes for all six Star Wars movies. Most notably, Tatooine. Unless I am mistaken, I think it was just an homage that they chose Tunisia, and it wouldn’t be the first. If you explore lostpedia, there are lots of fun Star Wars references throughout the series. Even one of the pictures of a character from the Find 815 Lost Experience is a cheesy photoshop combining the faces of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.
Those wacky writers…
February 8th, 2008 at 6:38 am
The Star Wars connection is that most (or all maybe) of the Tatooine desert scenes in SW were filmed in Tunisia. and i think the writers are huge star wars fans.
February 8th, 2008 at 7:23 am
FWIW: The polar bear was discovered near Medenine, Tunisa, which also happens to have been the site of a relatively important WWII battle between Rommel’s Afrika Korps and Montgomery’s Eighth Army. Rommel was planning to attack Monty before Monty could do the same to him. Allied eavesdropping disclosed the impending German attack in advance. The British knew the exact size, location, and timing of the attack. Needless to say, the British decimated the Germans.
February 8th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Nice review. Thanks for spelling out the names. Maybe Lapidus is a reference to lapidary and speaks to his future role as a new corner-stone in the cast of characters.
My favorite name in this episode was Sawyer’s latest nickname for Locke: Col Kurtz. It rings too true. In looks, leadership and disputable sanity.
February 8th, 2008 at 7:49 am
One quick “numbers” reference: Todd and I were able to watch in HD this week . . . the number on the “rescue” helicopter was N842M. :o)
February 8th, 2008 at 9:07 am
I agree with you again, totally, that THIS was the season premiere I was looking for. I was on the edge of the couch the whole time. The beginning of the show BLEW me away. Although wouldn’t it have been kind of fun if they zoomed in on the plane’s eyeball and we saw it open instead? (sorry, couldn’t resist).
One thing that hasn’t been mentioned yet–I think Locke knows EXACTLY what Smokey is and was testing Ben. When Ben couldn’t answer, Locke knew he didn’t know as much as he says he does. But I was fascinated that Ben knows all about the ship. Yes, could be Michael. And I also love the “Tall Walt.” I’m so happy that Lost is not letting me down.
And good call to all of you for figuring out the name references!! Love it.
February 8th, 2008 at 9:46 am
What do you think Daniel ( 1st guy to arrive on rescue team…I think he played “Oppum” in Saving Private Ryan…now on another kind of rescue mission I guess ) meant when he said that the light looked different there? Like it didn’t disperse properly or something and even asked Kate if she had wondered that.
I was thinking that maybe because the cabin can apparently move around that the ring around ben’s cabin was to keep it in one place. Maybe each person, in fact, has their own cabin and their own ‘Jacob’ …..my head hurts…awesome…
February 8th, 2008 at 11:08 am
I was most intrigued by Miles. On the island, he seems to be such a kick-ass guy making threats and leading the New-Others; but in the flashback he is just a crooked psychic taking advantage of others. Most importantly, why didn’t he want the Losties to know his lastname?
February 8th, 2008 at 11:09 am
What Daniel said about the sound of the bird, (or something) he said…’ Its weird the sound go that way’ (not sure) somebody notice this ?
February 8th, 2008 at 11:46 am
they come for Ben… but Why Naomi have a picture of Desmond and Penelope ?..probably Abaddon know them too.. He probably tell Naomi to find Desmond on the island.. Im sure Abaddon work for the father of Penelope….maybe Desmond is a target too…
February 8th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Lapidus, lapidary, yes. Even better, tho, I think, is the spanish lapidas, which means gravestones.
February 8th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
A couple of observations:
In the scene where the helicopter is going down and they are all scrambling to jump, you can hear Charlotte saying something about her vest “where’s my vest!” Curious that she seems to be the only one wearing a bullet proof vest and that she will actually need it very soon….hmmm. Did she know that Ben would shoot her and came prepared?
When Abbadon and Naomi are discussing the mission, he tells her that she is responsible for getting the team in and out and making sure NO ONE DIES! Neither Abbadon or Naomi seem to have much love for the team nor would they shed a tear at their funerals in the “real world”. But dying on the island is not like dying anywhere else and could create complications for Abbadon and those he may be working for.
Good catch on “The Magician’s Nephew” everyone. I have suspected that they may not be anywhere “normal” in the sense that it actually can be pinpointed on a map. It is “somewhere” but it’s like magic or paranormal or super techie science. This was further reinforced when Daniel started talking about the light not breaking just right and from the way his neck was swiveling when he first arrived on the island.
Whew…guess I’m being a backseat driver, but I can’t help it!
February 8th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
oh…one more thing…
in the scene where Miles is holding Jack at gunpoint and revealing that Naomi’s sister is really code for “something’s wrong”, Miles very pointedly and snarkily said that Jack, being in a dangerous situation, would be correct to say “Tell my sister I love her.” Was Miles teasing us by hinting that he knows Jack has a sister? It seemed like an odd thing to say at the time, but I think he knows about Clair.
February 8th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Frank Lapidus in an anagram generator came up “FAA drunk slip” probably just a coincidence.
February 9th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Does anyone remember on the Official Lost Podcast, where Damon Lindelof (I think) showed a picture of a chance meeting with George Lucas at Disneyland. The same George Lucas that Carlton Cuse was working with and couldn’t go to Disneyland?
When I saw the Star Wars connection, I thought about this little tidbit of information.
My vote for the mole on the fraighter: Micheal.
I bet Ben knew the fraighter was coming and sent Micheal in a boat to meet it. Micheal worked out some deal with Ben to pass information back to Ben when the ship approached the Island.
I’m started to be on Team Ben. As manipulative as he is…perhaps he is not as evil as the Newbies (or the people behind the Newbies).
February 9th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
The C. S. Lewis reference made me think not of Narnia, but of Lewis’s other claims to literary fame. He was a well-known Christian apologist - my memory of his book “The Screwtape Letters”, presented as a collection of letters of advice on how to corrupt human souls, written by an old experienced devil for a young protege, has all kinds of resonances with LOST.
February 9th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I read that Frank Lapidus is also an anagram for “Farads link up.” A “farad” is a unit of electrical capacity, named after Michael Faraday.
February 9th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I wonder if these two episodes were meant as a two hour premiere, but were separated due to the writers’ strike. In the current circumstances, ABC will want to air the episodes separately, gaining a ratings advantage.
Just one random thought …
Awesome start to the season. I’ve been on the edge of my seat through these two!
/danno
February 10th, 2008 at 9:52 am
GREAT to have both Lost and the Podcasts back in full force. Ryan and Jen (and all who contribute), I always enjoy listening.
Does anyone else get a kick out of Dong (Rhyme with Plong) being on the island? If only they could find a ka-ra-o-ke machine. “I wish that I had Jesse’s girl!”
Since I can’t remember… did Naomi mention Penny’s name before Desmond (or anyone else) did, or did Desmond give it away to her first?
February 10th, 2008 at 10:33 am
I think Ben’s man on the boat is not really a man.. but Annie his old girlfriend…
February 10th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
OK the writer’s strike is over.
NOW GET BACK IN THERE AND WRITE EPISODES 9-16!!!!
Sorry, I’m just fired up again about Lost. ;^)
February 10th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
this is probably just a random coincidence, but I was watching “a kiss before dying” last night and stumbled across something… Matt Dylan plays a homicidal maniac who steals the identity of one “Jay Faraday”, an orphan who lost both parents (diplomats) in a plane crash. He then goes on to infiltrate the “Carlsson Copper” corporation.
Just weird I would see that the day after this episode
February 10th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
but it would be weirder if daniel turns out to be the “ban on the boat”, someone who stole dan faraday’s identity, or this somehow correlates to why he was so upset upon hearing of the wreckage being found.
February 11th, 2008 at 4:04 am
“# Fernando Says:
February 8th, 2008 at 11:08 am
I was most intrigued by Miles. On the island, he seems to be such a kick-ass guy making threats and leading the New-Others; but in the flashback he is just a crooked psychic taking advantage of others. Most importantly, why didn’t he want the Losties to know his lastname?”
Could his last name be Candle? Or Waxman, Or Wick? Still seems odd he didn’t want Jack to hear his last name. Maybe he is afraid Jack will be able to track him down in the future.
February 11th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Did anyone else see the flicker of a ghost on the wall just after Miles gave the grandma back her money? I’ve been all over the web, but can’t find a screen cap of it and my pedestrian old DVR couldn’t slow down enough for me to see it on my tv.
February 11th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Hey, that kinda makes me think of the movie “Millenium”. Raiders from the travelled in time and kidnapped people from plane crashes etc, replaced all the bodies with dead people from the future. They used the healthy people in the future to reproduce, as this was impossible due to environmental conditions. Were all those bodies that the ROV saw actually dummies left there by some sort of raiders/dharma people or something? I think the movie was based on a short story called “Air Raid”
February 11th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Am I mistaken, or did Miles leave the money and heroin in the wall? Was the implication that he’d come back and get it? Thanks!
February 11th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
To Fernado and tvscifi
I dont know if that can help you but Ben said the last name of Miles its Miles Straume !! sound like maelstrom no ??
February 11th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I dont understand why Naomi lie to her friend just before said the code about her sister… just to look gentle in front of Kate ?? (sorry for my poor english.. in from Québec)
February 11th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Tori-Miles took the money and left the drugs. Evidently drugs are not his thing, but he likes the cash. Am curious to see how the drugs, which looked like the heroine from Eko’s/Charlie’s Mary statues, will show up again.
Steve-I think Naomi was interested in keeping Kate calm and unsuspecting. If Naomi had told her Freighter friends that she was in trouble, then Kate would have sounded the alarm that the rescuers were hostile and to be on the alert. But when Naomi seemed to “cover” for the Losties, Kate let her guard down and that gave an advantage to the rescuers.
Miles reminds me of a more angry Sawyer: he likes nicknames (calling Jack “handsome” and Daniel “genius”), he is sarcastic, suspicious and snarky, and he is somewhat of a con man. Hmmm….
February 11th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
another Star Wars reference…. the line “I’m here to rescue you…” is the same as in Star Wars: A New Hope “I’m Luke Skywalker, I’m here to rescue you…”
February 11th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Just a (trying to be brief) couple of quick comments about this last episode, and both of them Hurley-related…
First off, I know when he mentions the cabin being the other way than Locke was leading them, a lot of people think Locke is simply surprised that Hurley knows about the cabin. But my first thought was that Locke looked back and asked “What’s that, Hurley?” in much the same way that a parent might ask a question in one of those “What was that, young man?” style tones, cautioning him not to say more, most likely to keep it from Ben. This ties in with my thinking that it was indeed Locke in the window (from episode 4.1), and I’m not sure at what point we join his and Hurley’s ensuing campfire conversation, and thus what was already said between them. I could be wrong…
The other little thing I noticed was in the scene when Sawyer is getting medieval on Ben for the first time, right after Locke tells him (something like) “oh, go ahead, execute him in front of his daughter,” Sawyer looks at Hurley, who gives a quick shake of his head “no,” as if advising Sawyer on what to do. I didn’t know what to make of it, was just curious if anyone else noticed…maybe nothing, maybe something. Gotta love this show.
Welcome back Ryan & Jen!
February 11th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Another Star Wars “I’m here to rescue you” - in the 1st season episode “The Moth,” Charlie says it to Jack in the collapsed cave.
February 11th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Saw two Lost actors on an episode of “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” on Fox tonight: Neil Hopkins, who plays Liam, Charlie’s brother was playing a high school guidance counselor, and Sonya Walgar, who plays Penny Widmore, was playing the wife of Sarah’s ex.
February 12th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Connie–Thanks for the clarification re Miles and the money/heroin— and excellent point about the Miles-Sawyer similarity! The con man theme is a huge one, for sure.
This may well have been brought up before, but I’ve been thinking about The Island. Is it basically a giant magnet that attracts people for its own purposes? And when people leave it, there’s a huge price to pay, as you’d imagine there would be for any entity that tried to pull itself away from such a powerful force. This could ostensibly explain why pregnant women don’t do well on the island– maybe the island has its own reasons for not wanting to perpetuate human life. I guess that wouldn’t exactly explain the healings that go on, but maybe someone has a thought on that too!
Ryan and Jen– I’m a newbie to your podcasts, but am enjoying them tremendously! Thanks for helping us make some sense of this magical mystery tour!
February 12th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Ernie B - I guess now that you mention the tone with which Locke says “What was that, Hurley” or whatever the line was I suspect you may have a point. Locke has always been good with directions on the island, so perhaps he has another reason to lead the rest of the group away from it for a task or to keep it hidden from the rest. I guess we’ll see soon enough…let’s hope.
I saw the Hurley “no, don’t do it bro” look he gave Sawyer as well….Hurley has tried to make sure Sawyer was respected by the group when Jack isn’t around because he looks out for Sawyer…I think it may have been because they are friends…but you are right that it could have been more.
Did anyone mention how cool it was when Jack pulled one of the oldest tricks in the Other’s book out and used it on the frieghties when they were pointing the hidden guns at them? …..awesome.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Oh, I love this show. And I love the new characters. Jeremy Davies is an amazing actor (has anyone seen Rescue Dawn? If not, do!) and I think Daniel and his crew will help keep the show interesting while they delay answering the bigger questions, like, who gets off the island and how and seriously, what is the smoke monster (and I know someone knows, maybe the new guys)?!
On that note, I will admit, I am a little disappointed that it appears we will be having another season of losties splitting into factions and others chasing others and still more others being thrown into the mix on the island. I’d love to see more off island stuff but I’m sure we’ll get little glimpses here and there. And though it would be signalling the end (in a way) I’d still like to see some resolutions to mysteries that don’t create more mysteries. Sigh.
Was I the only one who nearly flipped out because it looked for just one minute like the show was going down the purgatory path? Thankfully, the drunk pilot saved the day by realizing the wreckage couldn’t possibly be real.
I agree with the theories that the new guys are somehow Dharma related (maybe their parents were Dharma people who ended up in a mass grave? Could that explain Daniel’s emotional reaction to the footage of the underwater wreckage? Still not sure how that is connected. It definitely explains why they’d want to get Ben.), but I also think the freighter has something to do with Penny’s father (thus, the Desmond connection).
I’m not crazy about Miles, though he has some good lines. I think he is there to research why Ben’s not so BFF, Richard Alpert, is like 756 years old and doesn’t look a day over 37 (are he and his kind ghosts?). Also, he had a hand in killing the Dharma people, so it fits.
Ben is evil, always will be, though it’s hard not to feel a little sorry for him when in nearly every episode the poor guy is tied to a tree and beaten bloody or having his kidney sac sliced. He definitely has some bad Karma. I think the new guys are good and I hope Locke doesn’t kill them. Oh, which reminds me, one more point on Locke (who I have no love for) did anyone else wonder how a man who is, supposedly, so good hearted he couldn’t kill the man that stole his kidney, abandoned him and pushed him out of a 40 story window, had no problem offing Naomi? We’ll see. Can’t wait for thursday.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I just figured this whole thing out after watching the beginning of the end again.
This is all a big hallucination of Hurley. He is in the Mental institution and dreaming all this stuff up. Think about it. He sees his mental buddy on the island committ suicide. He sees dead charlie back in the metal institution. He knew about the numbers being bad. he can see jacob. He was the only one sent back and not kept by the others at the ned of season two. he was in charge of the passemger list of the survivors. he was the reason for the group to chose to split and go with locke. he is always trying to be invovled in everything to try and accepted. He save the dya with the roger workman van.
THIS IS ALL BEING MADE UP IN HURLEYS HEAD SO HE CAN MAKE SENSE OF THE BAD THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO HIM.
thats my theory and i’m sticking to it.
February 12th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Right on, Johnny, nice one, if you don’t mind be expounding a bit on the Hurley theme here…
I was musing over Hurley for the past couple of weeks, especially in regard to a few of the points you bring up. Before the crash, it seemed (and please correct me, fellow readers if I am mistaken) that he was the only one who had any dealings directly with the numbers before the crash; You mention him being sent back to inform the rest of the losties about the fates of Jack, Kate and Sawyer (listed in no preferential order, btw… I prefer Kate ;); In the flash forward from Beginning of the End, he seems the focal point as to the future and/or past of the island and its inhabitants (be they losties or now the freighters, freighties, freightoids, etc), through visits from Abaddon, Charlie and Jack. Back to previous episodes, he’s delivering the food from the plane, he was (as you point out) in charge of the manifest, and he was also driving the R. Workman van, which is a delivery vehicle, at heart. My point is that he seems to be some sort of messenger, either through his own mind’s creation, or tasked by outside (i.e. Island et al) forces. I didn’t know where to take my mind from that point (thinking hurts, sometimes), but just wanted to get that out there.
That’s all I got for now, aside from another Star Wars reference in season 1 (yep, I’m re-watching them!), when Jack helps Shannon control her asthma, Hurley gives him props with the “Jedi Mind Trick” comment…
Cheers!
February 13th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Oh, my god! I just learned on another board that when Miles comes down the stairs after his ghost busting, the picture frames on the wall have all changed! I checked the video and it’s true. Also, the time-line would indicate that when Miles was in the room that was the moment Desmond blew up the hatch. So somehow time has been changed slightly. Could Daniel’s tears be for someone he knew in another time-line who has been erased?
Very strange!
February 13th, 2008 at 6:51 am
A funny thought came to my mind when i was watching ‘prison break’ lately, there is a plot about some powerful organisation which wants some coordinates for a mysterious location from a guy named Whistler. It came to my mind that they are really Dharma looking for the localisation of the Island. I’m waiting for Whistler to appear in Lost
February 13th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Johnny et al, I hate to rain on your parade, but I think the writers essentially debunked the popular theory that this was “all in Hurley’s mind” with the “Dave” episode. The writers have also explicitly said that this will not conclude with a St-Elsewhere-esque “it’s all in someone’s head” ending. I like your observations and dozens more could be added (e.g., the comic Walt reads with the island in a bubble and a polar bear belongs to Hurley) but it’s been more or less said that that’s *not* what’s going on.
tvscifi — where do you get your “timeline” from? Curious… that would be quite cool (and deviously subtle) to have that happen while Miles was in the house.
The more this show progresses the more I stop trying to come up with a single elegant explanation. I think in order to tie all these threads together it will take a lot of work. Now I just enjoy the ride. I look at this like a jigsaw puzzle… at first you can’t tell how the pieces will go together. Then as more and more come together you see larger pieces of the big pictures but it’s incomplete. And then the last fragments come together. We’ve been given a lof of conclusions but still have another 40% (more or less) of the puzzle to put together. I doubt there will be a single “aha!” moment at show’s end but rather a gradual crescendo and satisfying conclusion befoe that sad and final THUD.
February 13th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Happy Valentines Day Ryan and Jen!!
I think the producers play a lot with time. Part of me thinks that we are not seeing everything in a sequential order and we won’t know what certain parts mean until the episodes unfold.
lost in brooklyn - I think Ben is evil too - but may not be as evil as Locke.
I wonder if we are done with the flashbacks…there are still some things that I would like to find out about the Lost guys….
February 14th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Another awesome episode with a Sayyid Flashback
April 25th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I am not sure it was actually filmed in tunisia since the actors playing “tunisians” did not really speak tunisian.
I do agree with those that think that it is in correlation to the huge success of the star wars. We will have better ideas in the near future