"The End" of "Lost"

So now we know the complete story and plan that Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse had for one of the greatest shows on television. An ending that has everyone talking. I was pleased to see that the series concluded with a final struggle of good triumphing over evil. (And, yes, the MIB was evil. How could any good person threaten Bernard and Rose?) Jack sacrificed himself for the sake of the island, and for all the people who still remained there.

There were so many great moments in the final hours. Jack turning over the island caretaker role to Hurley. Sawyer and Juliet remembering each other by some vending machines. Claire deciding she didn't want to be crazy anymore and choosing to go with Kate and Sawyer on the plane. Kate and Charlie helping Claire to deliver Aaron... again. Locke forgiving Ben for murdering him. Vincent coming to Jack in the bamboo reeds, just as he did in the first moments of the "Pilot" episode.

I like Denny Burks' statements about the show here.

As I’ve said before, the Lost story was not your run-of-the-mill postmodern critique of metanarratives. Good and evil were in a pitched battle, and the good won in the end. Viewers saw in this story what they already perceive to be true about their own story. The world that they live in is broken, something has gone wrong, there is evil afoot, and something needs to be done about it. Everyone living in this broken-down world is broken-down themselves and in desperate need of redemption.

I think it’s easy to see why viewers have been attracted to Lost’s mythology. They feel a yearning that what was true in Lost’s story might be true in their own. They hope to find that what they did here did have meaning and a purpose and that good will win-out in the end. The Christian gospel teaches that this universal human yearning does have an answer. It teaches that good does in fact win-out in the end, that there is a purpose to it all, and that redemption is possible—even for the vilest characters in this drama (1 Timothy 1:15). There was really a man who was pierced for our transgressions to make a new world and new life possible (John 19:34; cf. Isaiah 53:5; Zechariah 12:10). Only this man didn’t live in a mythological TV-world. He lived here, was one of us, and has gone on to prepare a place for those who know Him by faith (John 1:14; 14:2-3).

“Lost” highlighted the itch that only the gospel can scratch. This was the unwitting genius of the show, and it is why people will be talking about it for years to come.

"Lost," season 6

The end is near for Lost as it starts its sixth and final season tomorrow night. Many people are obsessed with Lost, and for good reason, for there's no other show on right now that tackles such issues as faith, science, time travel, philosophy, free will, and fate. And what other shows feature Taweret and Smokey? The show has had many mysteries both answered and unanswered (What's in the hatch? Why was that little boy taken by those scruffy-looking people? How can there be two Lockes - one alive, one dead? What has Claire been doing all this time?), and that's part of the appeal. I'm sure many people will be sad when Lost reaches its conclusion, but at least one person won't be.

Anyways, Lost has given us a great ride so far. Just like Alan, I can't wait to see how it all ends. If only to see whether Doc Jensen is right or not.

The Lost Supper

Much is being made over this picture.

2/2/10

A day greatly anticipated.

"The Incident"

Yes, friends, another season of the best show on television - Lost - has drawn to a close. Last night, we got to see what happens first when a hydrogen bomb named Jughead explodes (a flash of white light!), Jacob in white and an unnamed man in black sitting on a beach, Jacob meeting with several Lostaways in their LBTI's (life before the island), Bernard and Rose living out their "retirement," and Ben making sure yet another person meets a very sticky end (How many people has he either killed himself or ordered to be killed? Too many to count).

I probably won't be posting a full review of the episode, but even if I did, I probably wouldn't do as much justice to it as Jennifer Godwin or Alan Sepinwall.

Only 7 more months or so until Season Six! Destiny Found!

Because You Left

I have just a few thoughts after seeing the premiere of the fifth season for Lost. Yes, I'll have some spoilers here, so read on only if you dare.

1. Traveling through time sure made it tough for Sawyer to find a shirt. He finally got one from Neil, but they certainly don't look like they have the same shirt size. I'd guess Sawyer would wear a large and Neil would be a medium, but whatever. Maybe shirts on the island shorten and stretch, just like time on the island does.
2. How fantastic was it to see Dr. Marvin Candle... or Pierre Chang, or whatever his name is... in the first few minutes? And, yes, that was Daniel Faraday with the other workers below the Orchid station. I don't think we yet know the number of times he's visited the island.
3. Is Charlotte doomed? She's having nose bleeds, she's having prolonged headaches, Faraday is obviously hiding things from her... I'm guessing she's doomed.
4. When the TV first reported Hurley as a murder suspect, why didn't the cops immediately go to his house? Why wouldn't they have had a search warrant for his parents' home?
5. If Sawyer had come back when Desmond and Faraday were talking, what might have happened?
6. If you need a good recap of the episode (and all previous ones), go here. For a bit of commentary with your recap, you can try this spot.
7. Who could've guessed that Ben likes porterhouse steaks?
8. Nice to see you making yourself useful, Ms. Hawking. I wouldn't be surprised that you're the one Desmond comes to... again.

"Lost" returns on January 21

Only five short days from now...

I like how the poster splits the Lostaways in half, between the Oceanic 6 (plus Ben and Desmond) and the ones who were left on the island. Of course, we know that John Locke eventually found a way off the island and took the name of Jeremy Bentham, but I imagine we'll learn the particulars in the next few months.

To find information about nearly everything on Lost, go here.

only 2 more months...

Happy birthday, Ben Linus

My favorite character on Lost turns 54 today. Okay, Michael Emerson, the man once known as Henry Gale, turns 54. In his honor, you should hang out on an island, manipulate everybody around you, and visit creepy guys in rocking chairs.

"I always have a plan."

Tonight it's my plan to see the finale of the explosive fourth season of Lost, entitled "There's No Place Like Home." The Oceanic Six will come together and leave the island, but what has happened to Locke, Sawyer, Juliet, Bernard, Rose, Jin, Claire, and the other nameless Lostaways that don't make it back to civilization? Why is Claire hanging out in Jacob's cabin with her dead father? Well, we'll find out what the producers want us to find out.

As usual, we've been promised an explosive finale. It's hard to see how they will top last year's "Through the Looking Glass," when we learned that Jack and Kate made it off the island. Since then, we've seen more flashforwards then we have flashbacks. Will there be a new wrinkle to all the flashes, or will it be something else entirely?

If you can move the island, where's the steering wheel?

Lost will show the first hour of the three-hour-long season finale "There's No Place Like Home" tomorrow night. So, sometime between now and next Thursday at 11:00 PM EST/10:00 PM CST, we will have learned the following:

• how the Oceanic Six made it back to civilization
• how Jack "rescued" Kate
• why Sawyer chose to stay (if it really was a matter of choice)
• how Kate decides to take Aaron with her
• how Jin died (if he really did die)

Patrick Day at LA Times says we need to break out the hankies.

At the end of last week's "Cabin Fever," Locke claims that Christian Shepard told him to move the island. Strange as it may seem, Michio Kaku says it's possible.

"Continue reading the Bible."

That's always good advice, but this comes from Carlton Cuse, executive producer for Lost, on how the show will finish its fourth season. In a telephone conference with Cuse and fellow producer Damon Lindelof, a reporter asked about what books should be read to prepare for the final two seasons. If you like Lost, then you should definitely read the article, but be forewarned that there are spoilers.

Lost returns next Thursday, April 24, at 10:00 PM EST.

but will the Numbers show up again?

Entertainment Weekly, the mag for all things pop culture, has the goods on what's coming down the river (or down the hatch, or in the submarine, or through the Looking Glass) for our Lostaways. Some answers, like the identity of the person in the coffin from last season's finale, will be revealed. And, yes, it sounds like we'll see Ole Smokey again.

"The Beginning of the End"

Holy cow, was that a premiere! I think it worked best because it focused not on the usual suspects of Jack, Kate, or Sawyer, but on fan favorite Hurley. Honestly, did you think Hurley would be the one coming out of the car? I must admit, I correctly guessed that it was him, just because I figured they were wanting to showcase an outrageous behavior by an unlikely person.

I Tivo'd the premiere, so I'll probably watch again and have more to ponder. But for now....

• Who make up the Oceanic Six besides Hurley, Jack, and Kate?
• Fantastic that Hurley found Jacob's shack. Was that Jacob in there, and if it wasn't Locke looking back at Hurley through the window, who was it?
• What are they lying about? Did a number of people decide not to leave the island, so a coverup was created so the world wouldn't know the people who stayed were still alive?
• For screencaps of "The Beginning of the End" and other episodes, go here.
• Jacob loves you, and wants you to go here.

the return of "Lost"

I had my nightly nap tonight, and I completely forgot that ABC was running the third season finale of Lost, so I didn't set my TiVO (or whatever it is I can do on my TV that records shows without the bother of a VCR). Did you watch it? Of course I own the third season on DVD, so I'll prolly watch it at some point during the day. The fourth season premiere airs at 9:00 PM EST.

Anyway, I'll give you some linkage to put you in a Lost mood...

• Want to get Lost? There's still time as season starts
• Your preseason cheat sheet
• Lost's fab start to Season 4, and a chat with co-creator Damon Lindelof
• 48 pending questions
• Season 1 episode guide

Season 4

Not long now...

lost without "Lost"

Television's new season started a few weeks ago. We have said welcome back to Dr. House, Nora Walker and her children, Hiro, Wilhelmina, McDreamy, and many others. We've also said hello to many new faces, including the Darling family and Chuck. However, the TV set has yet to thrill me so far. What is it that is missing? Something is not right. There is a void somewhere. An empty space.

Ah.... I know now. Lost isn't on. The third season DVD won't be available until December 11. The fourth season won't begun until early February. Depressing, no? Well, you'll have to take comfort in the fact that it won't be long until the cold days of February are here, but you'll be able to enjoy the warm sun and delightful breezes found on Lostaway Isle.

For now, here are some things to help tide you over:

• the official Lost website by ABC
• Lost-TV, an unofficial fansite
• Check out the theories of Eye M Sick
• DarkUFO is taking polls and posting magazine scans
• Yes, Michael is coming back. For real.

Remember: you didn't come here by accident. You came for a reason. The Island brought you here.

"Lost on Gilligan's Island"

Thanks to Cindy Swanson for this clip.

if you're a "Lost" fan, you'll love this

We have to go back!

***** Spoils abound here, so don't read if you haven't seen the finale *****

Lost continues to deliver explosive series finales. This time it was literally explosive, as Sayid, Jin, and Bernard attempted to foil the Others' abduction plans by blowing them off the island. The episode proved to be a game-changer, indeed - Jack's flashbacks were actually flash-forwards, and we see his meltdown following his return from the island.

What does this mean for season 4? Will we have more flash-forwards? Will we see how Jack and Kate (and presumably other Lostaways) leave the island? Will we find out who was in the coffin that nobody, except Jack, cared to see? Will Jack shave off his beard?

Some things to ponder:

• Walt has aged quite a bit in the past year, hasn't he? Was he really there on the island - experiencing being in two places at once, as Ms. Klugh discussed - or was he just one of Locke's visions?
• Speaking of Locke, Ben didn't seem all that surprised that he showed up. Ben even urged Locke to shoot Jack, but Locke being who he is couldn't kill someone he knows. Stabbing Naomi was no big deal, so he had never met her.
• Was Naomi - and her cohorts on the boat - a "bad" person or not? She said on a previous episode that she had never met Penny, and Penny told Charlie before he swam with the fishes that she hadn't heard of Naomi.
• I hope that Charlie's sacrifice proves not to be in vain.
• If Naomi and her gang are bad, what does Ben know about them? Why couldn't he blurt out who they really are?
• It was sad to see Tom (but not Charlie, really) go the way of Boone/Shannon/Ana Lucia/Libby. He was the face of the Others - Mr. Friendly, or Zeke if you prefer - for a long time. Rather fitting that Sawyer would ensure Tom met his demise.
• How the mighty have fallen. Ben has gone from being the unquestioned, all-knowing leader of the Others, to Lostaways captive whose many lies (both to the Lostaways and his own people) have been discovered. And, he gets a bloody face to boot.
• Throughout the flashforwards, Jack spoke about his father Christian as if he were alive. During season 1, Jack found his father's coffin and discovered it was empty. Is Christian truly alive?
• The 1st and 2nd season finales focused on what would be the prevailing theme for the next season. The 1st season ended with Locke and Jack staring down into the hatch - we got to know all about that hatch, and the existence of other hatches, during the 2nd season. The 2nd season ended with several main Lostaways in the hands of the Others, and the 3rd season focused on who the Others are and what their lives are like. Will the 4th season focus on Naomi's compatriots, and Jack and Kate's return to the civilized world? We'll have to wait until 2008 to find out...