"Lost": YEEESSSSSSSS...but NOOOOOOOOO!!

What the Frick?! "Heroes" Channels "Lost"...Again

When Heroes first came out in 2006, I refused to watch it, thinking it was just NBC's attempt at finding it's own Lost. The comic-book-like show had strange sci-fi circumstances, a large cast of complex characters dealing with extraordinary events surrounding them, and a serialized story of epic proportions — all things just like Lost. Some of my high school friends were into both show, but I couldn't. Lost takes most of my devotion.

Over the years, Lost had a few episodes here and there that were less than stellar, whereas Heroes has slid into a creative nadir. And that's not just my alligence to the other show talking. Numerous fans of the NBC once-juggernaut have said so themselves: see here, here, and here.

I've watched a few episodes recently, mostly because I am crushing on Zachary Quinto after the amazingness that was Star Trek (and he was holding a baby in a photo from an episode, so of course I had to watch it). But the most recent episode really got my goat when I saw it was entitled "Tabula Rasa." Um, excuse me, Heroes, that was the title of Lost's third episode — a Kate flashback. So please stop trying to be Lost. Thanks.

One note on Heroes' "Tabula Rasa" — love the purple plaid shirt on Quinto that exposes a bit of chest hair. Don't love the long hair on him.

Here's the good version of "Tabula Rasa."

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things: I Spy...

So, I have a really busy weekend — tons of writing to do for classes/midterms next week. However, I had to take a moment for a post I've been wanting to do for a long time.

I'm very easily excitable and have a real knack for recognizing faces and voices of actors. Put the two together and you get random bursts of squealing from me whenever I spot an actor who shows up in several shows I love. It's been happening a lot recently: I rewatched an episode of Life and noticed the actor playing a homeless man is also Sheriff Dearborne on True Blood, and then I also remembered he was Oldmann, the truth-serum making Dharma-version-of-Sayid on Lost. And the woman who plays Jessica on True Blood, Deborah Ann Woll, was also on an episode of Life. Exciting stuff (if you're me)!

What tipped the scale in favor of writing this post was the appearance of three brand-spanking new SQUEEE moments on Thursday's episode of FlashForward*. First, Joseph Fiennes' character's AA sponsor talks to a bartender (who's just serving him soda) who turns out to be Cassidy, aka Sawyer's baby-mama, on Lost. Then Joseph Fiennes' wife on the show — played by Penny from Lost — is randomly having lunch with Zoe from Firefly**. Those were pretty neat moments for me, but the pièce de résistance was noticing that the German security officer was played by they guy who was Captain Englehorn in Peter Jackson's King Kong (though it's not a TV show connection, it still counts as excitement in my book).

* I really feel like FlashForward is just one big modge-podge of actors from other projects. I know actors have almost always been in other projects before, but this show is full of them. The FBI LA office director was the chief on Law & Order: CI, Joseph Fiennes is Shakespeare in Love (and should NOT be talking with an American accent), his wife is Penny*** from Lost, the other FBI agent is Harold from Harold and Kumar, the man Penny is going to have an affair with is Commodore Norrington from Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.

** Though FlashForward revolves around an interesting concept and has some funny moments, I think my inability to remember characters' names and only refer to them by the actor's name or a different character they've played is a bad sign that I'm not invested in the show.

*** Seriously, she will always be Penny.

Dilemma: The Dangers of "Lost" Devotion

Newsflash: I love Lost. I know - what a shock, right? Well, sometimes such unbridled devotion can be a baaad thing. For example: whenever I overhear total strangers talking about Lost, I struggle to not jump into the conversation, and if the mention incorrect information, I die a little bit inside doing the "normal" thing and not budding into their discussion. Though this is something many people struggle with.

Another example: when money is on the line. I hate spending money, but I do not mind shilling out for this dear, dear show. I've bought/pre-ordered all the previous four seasons, and in the process always got them for under $40, which is a big added bonus when drama season DVDs usually go for around$60. However, ABC/Universal went and decided that randomly, for the fifth season they would FINALLY put out a special edition box set. Look at this beautiful thing.


According to this website and contributor Peter Sciretta, this is only the conceptual artwork. But my, isn't it beautiful?

It's going to have the five discs, a VHS tape (!), and I'm assuming some cool pamphlets or something. But the VHS tape and and special edition-ness of it makes this a DVD worth buying. Lost has never put out a special DVD set, so I would assume they have some pretty great stuff for this. Also, the set (which is normally $119.99) is only $79.99 at Amazon (double !!).

But here's where my crazy type-A-ness comes in — if I were to get the Dharma Initiation Kit, as it's being called, it would not match my previous Lost DVD sets. Here they are. Aren't they pretty?



This is the regular season 5 DVD, which goes along with the previous jacket designs.

It is another serious pet peeve of mine when the companies change the style of the DVD jackets. Have they never heard of consistency? So the uniformity of Lost's is something that I really appreciate. Also, the regular edition is a cheaper $38.49 on Amazon ($59.99 otherwise).

So do I go for hopefully (but not guaranteed) awesome extras at a relatively good price, or cheaper similar packaging with pretty good extras?

I would pray on the subject, but I don't want to get smitten (or smote? Smoted?) by God for bothering him with something completely trivial.

9/22: The Day of Supplication to the TV Gods!

I was just coming back from an event at Church, when I ran into my friend, Kelly (Paul). We chatted for a minute before she said, "Oh, and Happy Hobbit Day."

"What?" I said.

"Hobbit Day," Kelly said, expecting me to already know.

After a moment, I suddenly realized. "September 22, yes!" I said with glee. "Happy birthday Bilbo and Frodo!"

But then, a strange sensation came over me. I went back, remembering...

WWWOOOOSSHHHH

September 22, 2004. It was a simpler time. I was just starting my sophomore year in high school. The Red Sox were only just in the running for the wild-card race - again. My sister had just started her freshman year at Fairfield. We had just gotten a new couch in the den where our TV is. And there was a hole in the television landscape where Friends and Frasier had been.

Then, at 8 pm, everything changed.



Feel free to watch the whole episode over again. I'll wait. Because it's worth it.

Beautiful, ain't it?

WWWWOOOSSSSHHHHH

Back in the present day, I begin to squeal uncontrollably.

That's right. Happy Lost Day everyone! Five years ago today ABC brought us what is arguably one of the most important shows in the last decade, if not the history of prime-time TV. Oceanic Flight 815 crashed on a strange Island. They were not rescued. They heard a monster. Jack was a doctor with control issues. Kate was a fugitive with a heart of gold. Charlie sang "You all everybody" and gave up drugs. Sawyer was a wise-ass con-man. Hurley was a chill dude except when the numbers were involved. Sayid was an Iraqi tech guy looking for love. Claire was pregnant with possibly a magic child. Jin was Korean and seemed mean to his wife. Sun was the stifled Korean wife who secretly spoke English. Michael was the rash father. Walt was his "special" son. John Locke was the wise bald man who used to be paralyzed. Boone was the do-gooder rich boy. Shannon was his spoiled step-sister. Vincent was the yellow lab. Rose was the spiritual older woman who believed her husband - also on the plane - survived.

What a simpler time it was! The cast aways were concerned about where the water was coming from, what they should do with the fuselage. There were no Others, no distinct knowledge of Smokey. No Dharma, no hatches (at least not the interiors), no buttons to push, no shootings, no Benjamin Linus, no ageless Richard, no time-bending/nose-bleeding, no Freighter invasions, no getting back to the Island, no flashes besides those that when back, no giant statues, and definitely no Jacob.

Though events on Lost have gotten quite complicated, it's still a character-driven show with all the big questions of life and death in this extreme situation. The bigger meanings are the subject of many theorizings — Doc Jensen is my personal favorite, especially his (and Dan Snierson's) Totally Lost videos — but I've never had the head for figuring out that stuff by myself. I just love the complex people that have been created, their interactions with each other, how they have grown and changed, and what they are willing to do in the crazy world that is the Island.*

There's also a lot of fun that happens on the show and because of Lost. Here are my personal favorites:

Charlie's physical comedy when trying not to read the kidnapped Claire's diary. It's so simple, yet sweet, endearing, and still makes me laugh.



"What?" It needs no more explanation. Ben has the best ones. Obvs.



Another compilation that makes my heart very happy, because it's Sawyer-centric. The nicknames are very inventive, which is a credit to the writers, but Josh Holloway's deliveries make them more than just witty, they become sublime. This is seasons 1-3, for seasons 4-5, see here.



My favorite fake video is a classic from season 1, but it still makes me laugh soooo much. "You know what, I'm sensitive to you."



Lost Rhapsody originally came from the first season, with the use of cutouts and Weird Al's version of "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Bohemian Polka." Though the original was great because it was the first, the second's beautiful rotoscoping and spot-on lyrics make it just that little bit better.



That's a heck of a lot of videos (and I could easily add at least 3 more). But I'll just leave this little taste, and let you look around for yourselves. It's the least we can do to celebrate the wonderful contribution to arts and entertainment that Lost will always be.

* Also, Josh Holloway is a great, and greatly attractive, actor. Those gratuitous shirtless scenes make all the bad worth it.

** We cannot forget Hobbit Day as well. Here's a video that addresses both joyous occasions to celebrate this day.

Pet Peeves: Inaccurate Pictures

I first saw the term "pet peeve" in The Simpsons Forever! book - and I initially thought it had to do with pets. I still don't know quite where the term comes from, but now I know that it basically means "things that annoy me." And that pet peeves are my specialty. From my mother's CHHMMM EEEEMMMGGGMM throat-clearing to anyone who throws away food.

So, one of my irrational pet peeves is mislabeled/misrepresented entertainment information. And Hulu, though I love it so, just committed a major boo-boo. In the scrolling list of recent Hulu additions there is a page for Lost: Season 1 (above). Yet clearly Desmond, Juliet, Ben, Daniel, and Miles (hiding behind the title) were NOT in Season 1. Judging by those characters and the lack of certain others I'd say this is either Season 4 or 5, probably 5. This happened in a previous Hulu ad for Lost: Season 1 showing a promotional shot for Season 2. I could forgive that, because most of the characters were the same. But using Season 4/5 is a huge discretion in time. Fail, Hulu.

Fail.

Random Quote: Miles Makes My Day

"You owe me a fish taco!" - Miles Straume, Lost



P.S. - In the process of finding an appropriate clip for Miles (there is an extreme lack of them, I have to say), I found a MILES/KATE romance video. Not to get too Grey's-Anatomy on y'all, but Seriously?

Seriously?

"Lost": The Beginning of the End...or the Beginning of the Beginning?

Mind. Blown.

I know that I've said this about every Lost season finale. Season 1: Arzt dies in hilarity, first view of Smokey, emotional whammy of Vincent swimming after the raft, "man of science, man of faith," the numbers being on the hatch, Walt getting taken, and the long camera pull down the hatch. Season 2: Desmond showing up on the boat, Locke's determination to stop pushing the button, Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and Hurley following traitorous Michael to the Others, Sawyer finally hitting a long-distance shot, realizing the Pearl station was the fake one, Desmond's romantic back story, the Hurley-bird, Desmond's turning the key, Michael and Walt leaving, Jack, Kate, and Sawyer getting kept by the others, and the final flash to the Portuguese men in the snow calling Penny about finding the Island. Season 3: HUGE changes like Charlie dying, Patchy finally dying, the location of the Radio Tower, Hurley saving the day, Sayid revealing his amazing thighs of death, confirmation of Rousseau being Alex's mother, Jack going all crazy on Ben, Locke stabbing Naomi, calling the freighter, Daniel Faraday landing on the Island, and oh yeah THE FLASHFORWARD REVELATION! And finally Season 4, what lead us to this crazy-awesome ride: Sawyer and Jack going off to find Hurley, the joint forces of the Others and Sayid and Kate for the freeing of Ben, the tag-team beating of Keamy by Sayid and Richard Alpert, the freighter bomb reveal, Michael being a hero, the helicopter leaving, Sawyer jumping out of it like a hero, Ben killing Keamy, going into the cavern and turning the frozen donkey wheel, the freighter blowing up, Sun's heart-wrenching scream, the helicopter peoples getting picked up by Penny, Penny and Des' reunion, John Locke's dead body, and the ISLAND DISAPPEARING.

So, yes, each of the previous seasons have had mind-blowing finales. And yes, there are a lot of other things to talk about with this episode - namely the season-long parallels to season 2 brought up by the amazing Doc Jensen of EW.com, the implications for the upcoming final season (!!sorrow of sorrows!!). The great nuances of story points and acting. But for now, let's just focus on the amazing revelations as they come (with bracketed comments made after seeing the whole episode over again, and thinking about the larger meanings).

Jacob is revealed. Talking to Kyle Hollis (aka Titus Welliver) from Life.

SQQUEEEEEEE.

(What I presume to be) The Black Rock is floating off the coast of the Island. With the gigantic Anubis statue still erect.

LLLLOOOOOSSSSTTTTTT.

(So why is Jacob all out-and-about survival man back in the 1800's, but doesn't show his face in the later years? Interesting question that ought to be answered in Season Six. OMG I just had a HUGE epiphany. The man in the black shirt who wants to kill Jacob? He's SMOKEY!!! And he says "one of these days sooner or later I'll find a loop-hole my friend." Well, I think he THINKS he's found his loop-hole in John (not)Locke.)

Little Katie looks a good bit like adult —

WWWWAAAAHHHHHH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

WHY IS JACOB THERE?

(The touching Darlton foreshadowed on Totally Lost has begun!)

OK, Juliet, you're interested in Jack just as much as Sawyer's interested in Kate. No judgments.

How does Sayid have the training to know how to remove a nuclear core? Does that mean Iraq DID have nukes?

Aww, little Daniel Faraday in utero. So that means he was younger than Charlotte? Hmm.

I want Razinksky to get severely hurt. He is such a little twit.

Umm, John Locke's really annoying in his pronunciation of Jacob. And his lying. And his everything. What is up with this dude? And now he's hinting at a Dharma-style Purge? Where is good ol' enthusiastic Johnnie boy?

(I wonder if Terry O'Quinn was told from the beginning of the season what was really up with notLocke from the get-go? Because that's a hell of a thing, to be playing your character but NOT your character. He's essentially playing Smokey, IMHO. But how and why did Smokey choose now [2007] and John to be the person of his Loop-hole insurection/murder of Jacob? Another question that must be answered by May 2010.)

I totally knew this was baby-James.

Arggh, more Jacob! Is it just me, or his he kind of sexy? He seems nice, concerned, wise.

TOUCHING!!! What is the point of this? And who is this man encouraging baby-James to not turn into adult-Sawyer? And what makes him not follow the lead of this seemingly caring man? Was it Jacob's touch?

Is Sawyer shooting the com-device why the sub is unable to contact people in the future? I wonder...

Is the whole nuke thing what Faraday was researching in Ann Arbor?

Whoa, did Jack just show faith in John Locke? What a big step for the man in regards to his nemesis. But that does make sense, because Jack has come to embrace the ideals of John.

I did not know that Ben would be so forthright with Locke about seeing Alex. Though he has always been a very honest person in his moments. Despite alllllllllll the lies.

(So is this where notLocke discovered the Loop-hole? Having Ben willing to blindly follow is going to bring him to kill Jacob. My theory: Smokey/notLocke cannot physically kill Jacob, a la Ben and Widmore not being able to kill each other. But having a proxy do it instead would work, and Ben's resignation to do whatever John says is what will allow Jacob's death. But why is notLocke surprised about what Ben saw, if notLocke is Smokey? Smokey/Alex said to follow Locke, but did it mean real Locke or notLocke? I'm going with notLocke really being Smokey, and knowing what happened to Ben in the Temple, but feigning surprise to keep conniving Ben.)

Those were some very pretty colored cars in the aerial of the LA road.

I'm very sad we haven't gotten more Sayid-Nadia time. They seem like such an adorable couple and it would have been very nice to see the softer side if Sir Kills-a-Lot.

Jacob sighting number three!

Oh, no Nadia! Even knowing it was going to happen was devastating. And thus we get the third Touching.

(OK, my question from this flashback is whether Jacob distracted Sayid in order to let Nadia get hit, thus inciting our erstwhile Iraqi to go on his vengeful rampage leading back to the Island, or whether Jacob stopped Sayid so he would not get hit aw well. Another question that I would like answered next season.)

I like to think "Take me home" was not meant as anything but a sweet and sad moment. These human moments are some of the best of Lost, and sometimes it is good when the do not have ulterior motives.

MMMhmmm, Richard, you swing that sledgehammer. Dee-licious. I love me some Richard.

So confirmation that Eloise is their leader. How did she get that position? How did she lose it? Was it voluntary in order to be away from the place of her son's murder?

Do Sayid and Jack seriously think they'll get out of Dharmaville a-okay? This is Lost, that does not happen.

OOhhh, shiznit, Sayid took a gut-shot! I surprised at how concerned AND unconcerned I am. After all the history this show has built up with the man, I expected myself to have a lot of concern over his well-being and ultimate demise. At least a lot more than I have right now. But at the same time, I do not forgive his shooting of baby-Ben. And therefore I'm surprised I care at all about his shooting. I really think Sayid's arc has been completed, and he should now be able to die in peace. Go to Nadia, no more torturing necessary!

Juliet, why are you looking longingly at the sub? If you really wanted to be on it, you should not have instigated the leaving of it!

VINCENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How adorable was Sawyer's greeting of him?!

OMG Rose and Bernard! That was the best reaction of Rose ever. And Bernard. I love them.

Oh Jack, how very manipulative you're being. "If you want to save Sayid, go to the Swan!" "If you want to be with your wife, bring me to the Swan!" Jerk.

"Because we're retired." Classic. And Bernard's new locks - amazing! Love it. Very Island chic.

Aw Sawyer baby, I love your sad meaningful looks. But why are you looking at Kate! Juliet can totally see you! ARgh!!! Rose and Bernard's "together" talk is very important for these people to hear.

So, who is Illana? And who are those people with her? Later-day Dharma-ites? Others? Widmore people? Some other shady group? I want answers to these questions in Season Six!

How do they know about Jacob's Cabin? And why is the ash breakage so importante? Is the ash breakage from John Locke circa Season Three, or is it from earlier?

Why is Illana all bandaged (not that I care about her, just interesting to know), and when is it?

(Does Jacob visiting her mean that he knew what was going to happen in the foot with notLocke and Ben? This is a question very necessary! Also, who has been using the shack? I wonder if this ever was Jacob's cabin, because wasn't it Horace that was building it? Ben's telling Locke about it being where Jacob lived was probably a lie. It is probably just where the ghosties come. But then why did Illana and her posse come to find Jacob there? Too...many...questions...ok, my brain just came a little close to implosion. but I'm fine...for now.)

Flannery O'Connor — Everything that Rises Must Converge. Add that to the list. Especially since Jacob is reading it.

TOUCHING!!! John Locke!! Sighting number five!

I'm a little creeped out by Locke's moobs.

What do you have Locke?

I am loving Ben's line delivery (as always) "I'm a Pisces." What does that have to do with anything? haha.

I have to admit, though I don't want Jacob to die, Locke's reasoning is very logical. Locke who does not seem like Locke anymore is totally playing Ben - role reversal!!

Oh, Aaron's cradle! I hope Sun finds Charlie's ring!

She has, she has!! Oh, I love this show when it's all sweet and sentimental.

Sorry to burst your romantic bubble Jin, but isn't the earth always seperate from the sky? They're kind of different states of matter.

JACOB NUMBER SIX!!! Man, that...man gets around. And more touching! What could be the significance (if any) of Jacob speaking Korean excellently. My guess: since he's old, he's learned a lot of languages and had time to get them right. Not mind-blowing, but logical. And TOUCHING - DOUBLE TIME!

I'm looking forward to a major Jack - Sawyer face off. Those looks said it all - and it's been a very long time coming.

Here endith "The Incident: Part I."

'Lost' Revisited: "Confirmed Dead"

Previously on Lost...man, do I love that deep deep voice. I would love to know who says that. 

I didn't participate in "The Lost Experience" the summer between the second and third seasons, mostly because I was in Maine most of the summer, without internet access. Last summer, between the third and fourth seasons, I was a little more into it, watching some of the videos of the boyfriend of a stewardess, and of course I watched all of the Missing Pieces.

It was great how they made them somewhat mundane, but a quite fun moments for fans of the show, at least until the last Missing Piece, with Christian Shephard BEING ALIVE*.

MASSACHUSETTS!! (sorry, I always gotta recognize my roots) I don't know why Dan is so freaked out. We still don't know by the end of the season. Maybe it has to do with the time travel, like what happened to Desmond in "The Constant?" 

Man, Daniel (Jeremy Davies) is great in his delivery. His voice goes up along with his body "Along with the phone."

That image of Locke standing in the clearing in the rain is so quintessential John Locke. I wish I had as much clarity as that man has (at least sometimes). 

I love Sawyer, but really, man cannot pull off wet hair as sexy. 

The great thing about Lost is, like life, you never know where people are coming from, or where they're going. It's strange, how despite the fact that there are flash backs and forwards, everything feels so present. 

Miles Straume!! A number one, that has to be one of the best names ever. Not only is it cool, but very loaded with the connotations of maelstrom. Ken Leung is very attractive as well. I can't wait to learn more about Miles, there are so many places his character can go, so much we don't know. 

I am with the line of thinking that Miles "saw" that Claire was dead in the season finale, that is why he is looking at her funny. Did he maybe have previous contact with the Island, is that why he can talk to dead people? Could there possibly be some Firestarter connotation about the DHARMA Initiative and the Island, tests done on people, who then had children also with special abilities? 

Dude, what is that machine? And he better be involved more next season. 

Again, Ben is amazing. I still think he's a bad man. Willing to sacrifice most people. But how he delivers all his lines, like "Carl, now if you're going to sleep with my daughter I insist you call me Ben," oh so great. 

I completely did not get the possible moment of realization for Sawyer of getting Ben in front of his daughter. It must have gotten him thinking about HIS daughter, Clementine. Is that possibly what got him thinking that finally resulted in what he said to Kate in the finale?

Kate's look at Dan when he talks about the light, too magnificent. 

I love the mirroring in this show. Like just now, how they make a mini ambush of Miles and Dan. Then in the later end of the season, how the Others ambush Kate and Sayid. It's like how the music gets repeated themes, but changed, throughout the show.

Charlotte Staples Lewis. There is so much about faith in this show. 

The reveal of the polar bear skeleton was so shocking when the episode first aired. Now, obviously, it must have gotten to Tunisia via the Orchid station and its chamber, coming from the Hydra as we learned. 

Miles gets the line of the night with "Oh my God, you guys were on Oceanic 815! Wow, that better?"

This violin work sounds like Psycho. I do love it though. So ominous. And yet, it's for nothing. Brilliant.

Frank Lapidus is pretty great in this scene. By the way, gotta love the Greg Grunberg picture with the mustache. Now, what happened to Frank that brought him from flying for Oceanic to the Bahamas? Hopefully that's a thing we'll find out (eventually). 

Oh, silly Ben! Don't try to shoot people!

Is it just me, or does Franks forehead wound look like Charlie's from the first season finale? Aw, I miss him.

Lance Reddick is magnificent. I won't reiterate too much.

This whole scene, Locke readying to kill Ben, Ben's staggering to save himself, Alex not willing to see her, albeit manipulative father die, Charlotte's reaction shots, the weight of why they have been sent to capture Ben, it is all so intricate. The question is, does Ben really know what the Monster is. I know he can "control" or "summon" it, but does he know what makes it up? And knowing now that it is Michael on the boat...well, it doesn't add that much, to be frank. 

So that's that. Next time on Lost: Sayid has creepy straightened hair in the future, and kills people while in cahoots with Ben. Also, the Losties participate in some human trafficing!

BOOM.

*I'm not sure he really is alive, but he's walking 

"Lost" Revisted: "The Beginning of the End"

As a means of satiating my hunger for Lost and giving this blog a feeling of legitimacy (and procrastinating the actual work I have to do) I have decided to start a regular feature. Each week, I'll recap at least one episode of Lost from season 4. Part analysis, part recap, all mushy fan-love, it'll be a good prep for the coming Lost penultimate season.

So lets begin, shall we?

Hurley's exclamation about being one of the oceanic six isn't a mystery anymore - if you don't know that those are Hurley, Jack, Kate, Sayid, Sun, and Aaron, well then you live ON the Island (by the way, out of respect for the Island as a character, I'll be capitalizing it).

The thing that puzzles me is why exactly Hurley is so susceptible to visions, hallucinations, generally going crazy. Maybe it's his gift, having a connection to the world of the dead, like Walt's special powers. Or Locke's understanding of the Island. It just makes me sad he's in the Loony Bin.

I'm surprised Locke killed Naomi. Of all the characters, I feel he and Hurley are the least likely to kill anyone. I would say Claire, too, but I she is so protective of Aaron she would kill someone for him. There's a fierce streak in her. But Locke's gift is that he's not a ruthless as Ben, and therefore a better leader for the Others and the Island in general. He has come so close to killing but been unable to in the past.

Oh, it is so sad to hear Ben say Rousseau has to take Alex away. Given the awful things that happen in "The Shape of Things to Come."

Ok, this will reveal the fullness of my Lost geek-itude/obsession, but all I can think about when Hurley jumps into the water is how Jorge jumped into the water after finishing the filming of the pilot (revealed in the season 1 extras).

I spent the entire summer contemplating the reactions of people to the news of Charlie's death. When I first saw "The Beginning of the End" when it aired, I was highly underwhelmed. Being able to see the reaction shots of those on the beach again, they are completely appropriate.

Ah, Fisher Stevens (aka Chuck from Early Edition!) is the voice of Minkowski now! I knew that he wasn't in the previous season finale, but he's clearly the voice on the phone now!

Jack has gone crazy with...something. Not power, Jack is not a man who needs to rule. He (as has been clearly established by flashbacks, his actions on the Island, everything) needs control. while I have come to highly dislike the character of Jack, he's a pompous control-freak so obsessed with his own beliefs the well-being of others is compromised, Matthew Fox's quality as an actor to convincingly portray such a complex - and to some dislikable - character is truly wonderful. And if you need any proof that Jack is not this great savior, a real knight in shining armor, more of a hero than Sawyer, look no further than the fact that he ACTUALLY PULLS THE TRIGGER ON LOCKE!

ARGH! Lance Reddick is probably one of the creepiest looking people out there. And he is a superb actor. He infuses every word with intensity. I am so sad he's a series regular on Fringe (well, not sad for the quality of Fringe) but I think it means he'll not be as regular on Lost as I would like. Hopefully before the end he'll have some scenes with Michael Emerson, and more with Terry O'Quinn, because those fabulous actors would play off each other like nobody's business.

I need to who Abaddon is working for, and in what capacity. Well, let me qualify that. I'm pretty sure he's working for Widmore, though there's something about his demeanor that makes me think he could be a plant in Widmore's ranks.

I am still convinced he, Widmore, Alpert, and others are survivors of the Black Rock crash on the Island.

The actress who plays Naomi was recently on something else. I can't remember what it was.

Ok, so if Christian Shephard was sitting in the chair, does that mean John Locke had seen him before meeting him in the finale? Or was Hurley's ability to see Christian for a moment like Locke's seeing him for a moment in the season 3 finale? I think that's how I'll see things.

What were they all leaning against? Oh, the cockpit. I see.

Juliet just had the most hilarious look on her face when everyone else cocked the guns.

So, I still cry when Hurley tells Claire Charlie's dead. Cause it is really sad. He had been one of the main survivors over the course of three full seasons. Though Charlie wasn't always the most well-served character ("Fire+Water" was one of the worst episodes of Lost, IMHO)

But man did he (Dom) look good with short hair and aviators. This conversation is chock full of fabulous lines and acting. I can tell Jorge and Dom probably had a lot of fun getting back together for a day of shooting. "I am here. You're being a baby." And what fortuitousness about "They need you." It's all set-up for the finale.

Jack has also got some serious rage issues.

Though I love Jorge, he's a great actor, Hurley's big monalogue is a bit contrived. I just don't like the dialogue that much. That's ok, the flash-forward scene makes up for it.

"Jack, with your permission, I would like to go with John" has got to be one of the best lines, and line deliveries, in this series' history. If only for the context.

Ok, so Jack. You WOULD look bad with a beard. You would look like a crazy mountain-man.

I still don't understand why Hurley is sorry he went with Locke. Is it because that caused Jack and Sawyer to go after him, thereby causing them to be later to the copter, thereby causing them to lose Jin? I still don't know.

And with the introduction of Daniel Faraday, we are introduced to the first of the Freighter Folk. Overall, I feel they were better additions than the Tailies. Though I loved Eko and Bernard, and would have loved to know more about Libby, their intro was a little sloppy, part of the reason season 2 was the weakest so far.

And so, thus ends what could have been an insanely long foray into the world of Lost.

Next time on Lost Revisited: We meet the key members of the Freighter Folk, Locke is a little, well, lost, and Jack gets a little gun-happy.

BOOM

LOST: Or What Caused My Brain to Short Circuit

AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!

(A more coherent post will come tomorrow)

Lost Returns!! (Major Spoilers Ahoy!)

Michael Emerson deserves an Emmy. And a Golden Globe. And a Screen Actor's Guild Award. I don't know if they have a cute nickname (they should), but he should have one. He should have one of each for every season he as been on Lost. 

The man makes my heart simultaneously break and freeze at the utter pain his character must be going through, yet he remains cold and practically evil. You would retain my sympathy, Ben, if you did NOT plan on killing Penny as revenge for the murder of Alex.

Speaking of plots, what an episode! Ben time/space traveled! Alex killed! Claire practically killed! Ben's secret communion tunnel with Smokey! Ben's control of Smokey! The CSI-Doctor is DEAD AND ALIVE AT THE SAME TIME (The actor also plays Eckley on CSI)! Sawyer hearts (in a totally hetero, manly, I'll-kill-you-if-you-hurt-my-friend's-hair way) Hurley! 

Basically, it was great. I was freaking out, making nonsensical noises, flailing, generally being me. When in the presence of Lost.