Last year, in the middle of the third season, the Lost creators announced that the show would have an end date: after three more seasons, 16-episodes per season, all the myriad of mysterious questions swirling around our favorite South Pacific island would be answered.
It was a sound idea. The usual 24-episode formula for a drama format weighed down the multi-twisty-plot driven Lost. Let’s just say, at the beginning of the third season, the Others vs. the Losties scenario just wasn’t cutting it. And those flashbacks were getting tiresome. After a lengthy mid-season hiatus, Lost seem to learn from their mistakes and came back with a vengeance. Not only did the last five or six episodes of Season 3 restore our waning faith in the show, it opened up a whole new world of opportunities for the Lost characters.
Now, having waited and waited so long for more of Lost, we can all let out a big sigh of relief. Season 4 is starting Thursday, Jan. 31 at 9:00 p.m.–and it should be the one bright spot in the now dismal world of writer-less television. But there’s a catch: At this point, they only have eight episodes in the can, which means if the writers’ strike drags on, we could be stuck waiting for more Lost–AGAIN.
But we can’t worry about that now. We just have to thankful for what we get. In the meantime, let’s recap the end of last season, shall we?
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The Others aka The Hostiles
Here’s what we know: The Others are not all Dharma Initiative leftovers, as previously thought. No, indeed. In Ben’s flashback, we see he comes to the island as a young boy with his father to work with the Dharma Initiative peeps, a group looking to live like a socialist commune. Ben and his dad are told that the area is surrounded by a large, electrified fence to keep out the people who are already living on the island and who don’t take kindly to the Dharma folks. They call them “Hostiles.” Sure enough, the young Ben, running away from his verbally abusive dad, encounters a scraggly looking Hostile named Richard in the jungle. Ben wants to go live with these new people, but Richard tells him to be patient; the time will come. Boy, does it ever. Years later, the Ben we all know is the only Dharma guy left standing after he and the Hostiles organize a coup and gas all the other Dharmas to death, including Ben’s dad (who turns out to be the skeleton Hurley finds in the rusted-out VW van). Nice, huh?
Here’s what we don’t know: Where did these Hostiles come from? How long have they been on the island? Are they the ones responsible for the giant stone foot statue from Season 2? It’s also interesting to note how Richard has aged very little from the time young Ben sees him to how we see him now. Could there be a fountain of youth somewhere on the island? Inquiring minds want to know.
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Ben vs. Locke
Here’s what we know: Ben is the Others’ mind-controlling megalomaniac leader, though, it seems like Richard should have been running things. Somehow Ben gained the upper hand with the Others, maybe because he is the only one who can talk to “Jacob”–the real leader (more on him in the next frame). Ben is then diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his spine, and lucky for him, spinal surgeon Jack falls out of the sky to eventually take the tumor out–under much duress, of course. Meanwhile, Locke had an immediate connection to the island the minute he crash-landed there–more so than any other Lostie. He loves it on the island because it allows him to be the man he always thought of himself to be–strong, independent and with complete use of his legs. And he means to stay on the island, no matter what. The Others really want him to be a part of the group, especially Ben, who, at first, realizes how having Locke around is making him heal faster. But after a few mind games Ben plays with Locke–including making Locke kill his conniving father who the Others brought to the island as a hostage but who Sawyer kills instead–Locke butts heads with Ben when he demands to know the island’s secrets. Suddenly, Ben looks weak in the rest of the Others’ eyes–and he doesn’t like that at all.
Here’s what we don’t know: Why Locke is so damned important to the island; and most importantly, who would make a better leader? I’m leaning towards Locke.
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Jacob
Here’s what we know: He is the supposed ruler of all things weird and wacky on the island and lives in a dilapidated wooden cabin deep in the jungle. Since Ben is the only one who can communicate with Jacob–heck, he’s the only one who SEES Jacob–he holds all the cards, as he relays the orders to the rest of the Others. But when Locke shows up and demands to meet Jacob, Ben is forced to take Locke to the cabin. Once inside, however, there is only an empty rocking chair, to which Ben keeps talking to, as if someone is there. Locke believes either Ben is full of it or gone off his rocker, so to speak–that is until Jacob stops Locke from walking away in disgust by whispering “Help me.” Locke thinks Ben said it, but Ben didn’t. Then Locke shines a flashlight at the chair, after being told not to, and things start flying around in the cabin. But right at that moment Locke shines the light, we see someone there. A faint someone, but someone nonetheless. Hmmm. The fact Jacob spoke to Locke could emphasize a possible shift in power, which really irks Ben. In fact, Ben ends up shooting Locke in the chest and pushing him into a pit filled with the bones of the Dharma Initiative people just to get rid of him. Alas, Locke isn’t that easy to get rid of.
Here’s what we don’t know: Who is this entity known as Jacob? Is he a real person or the Invisible Man? Maybe he moves at the speed of light and therefore we can’t see him. I just don’t know, but my theory that the island is under some kind of time/space continuum might be right. Or not.
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The Romantic Liaisons
Here’s what we know: The Kate/Sawyer/Jack love triangle was in full swing in Season 3. For most of Season 3’s first half, Kate and Sawyer were stuck in cages in one of the Others’ many compounds, where they finally succumbed to their passion, while Jack toiled in an underwater holding tank. Of course, Ben arranges it so that Jack sees Kate and Sawyer in a post-coital embrace from the surveillance cameras, thus cementing Jack’s decision to operate on Ben in order to get off the island. Jack’s one condition is that Kate and Sawyer are freed, and even though Kate doesn’t want to leave without Jack, she is forced to. But then there’s Juliet, the Others’ fertility specialist who turns out to be Jack’s ally. We think. She seems to have a lot of animosity towards Ben for keeping her on the island under false pretenses and is just as desperate to get off as Jack. So, they form their own alliance, one that seems to deepen as time goes on. But when Kate comes back for Jack (much to Sawyer’s chagrin), with Locke and Sayid, all the best-laid plans are blow to hell–literally, since Locke blows up the sub, the only known mode of transportation off the island. Once the Others desert them and Locke goes MIA, Jack, Kate and Sayid trudge back to the Losties camp, with Juliet in tow. Kate’s jealous of Juliet, and Sayid doesn’t trust her as far as he can throw her.
Here’s what we don’t know: Should we trust her? It’s true Juliet is going back to the Losties’ camp as a spy but it seems she is also working as a double agent when she reveals to Jack and the rest that Ben plans to come and take all the pregnant women. It seems like she’s on the up and up because she downright pissed off at Ben but still, there’s just something sneaky about her.
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Pregnant Women on the Island
Here’s what we know: Women die if they get pregnant on the island. They make it to their fifth month or so and then complications ensue. Juliet was brought in to try to figure out what the heck keeps killing them, but so far has been unable to pinpoint the problem. Moms, such as Claire and Rousseau, who came to the island already pregnant were able to deliver healthy babies. But Sun is another matter. When Juliet gets to the Losties’ camp, Sun finds out about the “problem” with being pregnant. But Sun isn’t sure if she got pregnant on the island with Jin–or before, with the guy she was having an affair with. You see, back on the mainland, Jin is sterile, so the possibility it’s the other guy’s baby is a very real one. Juliet takes her to the medical hatch and does an exam, determining the baby is indeed Jin’s. Super island powers at work again! Sun’s happy, but of course, her doom is now sealed. Unless, that is, they can get off the island in time.
Here’s what we don’t know: Kate may be pregnant. That’s really going to throw Sawyer for a loop. Also, what’s the deal with the island’s weird effects on the healthcare system? It cures cancer (Rose), paralysis (Locke) and infertility (Jin, who never knew he was infertile), but then inflicts cancer (Ben) and kills pregnant women. I don’t get it.
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Desmond’s Precogs
Here’s what we know: Desmond’s gift of insight into the future has really served only one purpose–to save Charlie’s life over and over. But when Desmond sees a parachuter land on the island after her helicopter crashes into the sea, he thinks it’s Penny come to rescue him. Turns out it’s Naomi, a women who claims to have been sent there by Penny (she’s got a picture of Desmond and Penny with her to prove it). When she comes to and is told they are the survivors of Flight 815, Naomi tells them that plane was found in an underwater trench–with everyone onboard, dead. “Obviously, we aren’t all dead,” Sayid calmly replies. But the most important thing about Naomi is that she claims her ship is not too far away, and that if she can get her high-tech phone to work, they will all be rescued. But the phone’s signal is being blocked. Juliet informs them Ben has been blocking any signals coming or going from an underwater hatch called the Looking Glass, which is supposedly flooded. So now, not only do Jack and the gang have to set up bobby traps to blow up the Others when they come to the camp, but someone has to dive down to the Looking Glass and turn off the signal blocker, while the rest trudge up to the radio tower to turn off Rousseau’s looping message.
Here’s what we don’t know: Everyone onboard the plane was found DEAD? How is that possible?
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“Not Penny’s Boat”
Here’s what we know: Des has saved Charlie from electrocution, drowning, and even an arrow through the throat. But Des’ last Charlie vision once again sees the rocker drowning–and in doing so, means the rest of the survivors will be rescued. Charlie is the one who has to swim down to the Looking Glass to shut off the power. Desmond goes with him for moral support and even tries to take his place. But Charlie knows he’s got to be the one to do it. Thing is, when he gets down there, the hatch is not flooded. It’s completely functional and being manned by two women, who don’t take kindly to Charlie’s intrusion. Meanwhile, Ben has found out Juliet has betrayed him and sends Mikhail–I like to call him Eye Patch, since that’s what he wears–to intercept Charlie, kill him and the other two in the hatch. But Desmond secretly swims down to the Looking Glass to help out in the nick of time. After Eye Patch shoots the women, Des nails Eye Patch in the chest with a harpoon, while Charlie runs into the communication room and shuts off the signal. Suddenly, Penny’s face appears on the monitor. Charlie says he’s a survivor of Flt. 815 and that he knows Desmond and about her ship waiting to rescue them. But Penny says she has no idea what ship he’s talking about. She never sent a ship. Oh crap! Just then, Eye Patch appears in the porthole, outside the hatch, holding a grenade. He pulls the pin, just as Charlie runs to close the door as it quickly fills up with water. Desmond rushes over to try to save Charlie, but he can’t get the door open. Before Charlie drowns, he writes on his hand “Not Penny’s boat” and shows it to Desmond.
Here’s what we don’t know: Whose boat is it, then? And how did Naomi happened to have Des and Penny’s picture if Penny didn’t send the boat? And why didn’t Charlie just lock the door from the OUTSIDE? I’ll miss Charlie.
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The Radio Tower
Here’s what we know: While Charlie and Desmond work out their end, Sayid, Jin and Bernard end up staying at the camp to shoot the explosives and blow up the Others. It doesn’t all go to plan, however, and the guys are eventually rescued by Juliet, Hurley and Sawyer, who go back to help. Jack and the rest hike up to the radio tower to turn off Rousseau’s message that’s been playing for 13 years. Ben has decided to intercept Jack and talk reason to him. When he reaches Jack, he tells him the boat out there will spell their doom. The people on the boat will kill them all. Of course, Jack doesn’t believe him, and when they get to the tower, they turn off the message anyway. Naomi suddenly gets a signal and tries calling–only to fall forward with a knife in her back. It’s Locke behind her. He, too, is just protecting them, saying they aren’t supposed to leave the island. But Jack has had ENOUGH of this bullcrap. They are getting off this island, and no one is going to stop them. Locke points his gun at Jack, but of course, can’t shoot him. Our fearless leader grabs the phone and makes the call. The boat people are there and ready to come pick them up. All are saved!
Here’s what we don’t know: But are they? Knowing it’s not a boat sent by Penny, we may have to side with Ben and Locke on this one. Are these people to be trusted?
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Flash Forwards
Here’s what we know: Probably the single coolest thing Lost did in the third season was to end with a flash forward. It starts with Jack on a plane, looking pretty disheveled, heavily bearded, distraught and drunk. He’s reading a newspaper and spots something that really upsets him. It’s an obit, but whose we don’t know. Later, he is driving on a bridge and stops the car, getting out and standing on the railing as if to jump. Just then, a car accident happens right behind him on the bridge and being the rescuer that he is, Jack climbs down to go help. Even later, he’s in the hospital getting stitched up when his ex-wife, now pregnant, shows up and tells him she can’t be his emergency contact anymore. At this point, we are all thinking it’s a flashback, right? Jack’s still upset about losing his wife, blah, blah, blah. He is obviously spiraled down. He is also desperately trying to get a hold of someone and keeps leaving voice messages. Finally, he connects with the person, and they agree to meet. Jack waits in an empty lot near the airport when a car drives up–and out of it walks Kate! Wait, hold on here, what’s going on? Jack launches into a tirade about how they made a mistake, how they should have never left the island. He flies from L.A. to Sydney and back ever week in hopes the plane will crash and he can get back there. Kate seems sympathetic but assures Jack they did the right thing. Then she says she has to go because “he’s waiting” for her. Kate gets in the car and drives away, leaving Jack screaming, “We made a mistake! We made a mistake!”
Here’s what we don’t know: They obviously got off the island, and now we are going to see what becomes of them all. Who did Kate end up with? Who died and why didn’t anyone show up at the wake? The possibilities are endless.
Other Lingering Questions
Black-Smoke Monster: What’s it doing? Where’s it hiding? Last we saw it, it was confronting Juliet and Kate but was repelled by the electrified fence. And before that, it killed Mr. Eko. I seriously want them to explain that thing and soon.
Michael and Walt: Last we saw them, they were headed out to sea on the Other’s small motorboat at the end of Season 2. Where are they now? Did they make it to the mainland? Or did Naomi’s boat pick them up (that’s what I’m guessing)? Most importantly, why does Walt, or Walt’s spirit, keep showing up? His final appearance is when Locke is in the pit of Dharma despair, unable to move his legs and ready to kill himself with a pistol lying nearby. Walt appears at the top of the pit and tells Locke to get up: He has work to do. Explain please.
Rousseau: So, Rousseau finally meets her daughter, Alex, just as they are tying up Ben. How sweet. But I’m still waiting to see Rousseau’s story, or at the very least, what this sickness is she keeps raving about.
