Category: Movies & Television

“Because You Left” “The Lie”

Wow…  I have been waiting a long time for this premiere, and the opening was the most exciting reveal since the first episode of season 2. Other critics have stated that this is the best since the pilot episode, but I think that it’s even better. The pilot had no expectations, no rules to break. This season has a lot riding on it, and it looks like it’s going to deliver.

The writers have talked about the difference between viewers invested in the mythology of the island (DHARMA, the Hostiles, Widmore, four-toed statue) and those looking for character (more love triangles!). I am definitely one of the former, and I am very happy to see that this season, there is going to be a lot of focus on the island backstory. The reveal of Pierre Chang was honestly the last character that I was expecting.

It looks like LOST will follow the trend of last season by making the show even more Ben-centric, something that excites me very much. Also, the introduction of new characters has been more smooth since the Nikki/Paolo debacle, and we have met a couple of them in these two episodes.

Some notes:

I am liking Hurley more in this season than I have for a long time. His desire to escape from everything island is interesting to contrast with others who are more physically and personally powerful, but at the same time are more chained to the power of the island.

I hope Frank Lapidus stays in the story for the rest of the season. He was not used very much last season (probably a bad sign), bu the writers have done a very good job keeping the new characters interesting.

Is Locke dead? Methinks not.

It seems like every character has their moment of badassery. I am glad to see that Sun is finally getting hers.

Are the British soldiers related to Charlotte?

Is it too easy to say that Mrs. Hawking is Faraday’s mother? The physics connection is a little obvious.

Watched the first five episodes of Season 4. Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have talked about new narrative techniques that they are going to be using in Season 5, and judging by the great way that they turned the expectations of the Lost audience around on itself with episodes like “The Economist” and “The Constant” leads me to believe that they will blow my mind and be totally amazing. I cannot wait until Wednesday.

I’ve been out all weekend with the flu, so the days have kind of blurred together. I just have a couple of thoughts about the run thus far (through the first third of the second season):

1. The season premiere of season 2 (and thus far, all of the seasons) is top-notch. I remember the feeling I got in my gut when I figured out the reveal in this episode, and it was not matched until Ben’s run in with the wheel.

2. The episode “The 23rd Psalm” is up there as one of the best single episodes of Lost existant. There is solid storyline, acting, and writing. It was nominated for an Emmy, and I think it should have won.

Episodes 9-19

Oh, man. I miss this stretch of Lost. This is where the supernatural mindfuck of the show comes in. I remember discovering the crazy power of the numbers again. I was worried that the show wouldn’t stand up to a rewatch, but now I am on board and begging for more once again.

Although the death of Boone pains me more so the second time around. I don’t know if I will be able to get through the Mr. Eko episode (my single favorite episode of the whole series).

A couple of foreshadowings. In the episode “Raised By Another,” the psychic makes references to dire consequences if Baby Aaron is not raised by Claire. I wonder if they kept that in mind when they scripted seasons 4 and beyond. Also, in “Numbers,” Leonard (the man that Hurley gets the numbers from) mentions opening the box. I wonder if that was a glib reference to Pandora’s Box, or if that has something to do with Ben Linus’ box. Finally, Christian Shepard is everywhere this season. I am glad that they don’t ignore that precedent later.

Also, this run includes episodes that I watched late last night, don’t worry, I didn’t watch 10 episodes today.

“The Moth”  “Confidence Man”

-Really digging Locke’s growing spiritual power. The full realization of the sage, or wise old man archetype. One of the best stretches the show has ever had was the dueling priest showdowns between Locke and Mr. Eko.

-Man oh man, I had forgotten how good “Confidence Man” was. Unquestionably one of the finest episodes the show has ever had.