(Prev) Exposé yourself

Tonight. Lost. “Exposé”
10/9c.
That’s pronounced, “Ex-Pose-A”. Not “Ex posse” (as if an old rapper awkwardly ran into their old posse who was now a new rapper’s posse). Or “Expos, eh?” (as if a Canadian was referring to the old Montreal baseball team). It rhymes with “Ex – Jose” (as in, “Oh yeah she just saw her ex, jose. She’s really upset.”).


“Who The Hell Are You?”
When Sawyer spoke those words to Nikki and Paolo a few weeks ago he echoed the sentiments of LOST fans everywhere. All the sudden these two people showed up, ready for action after 75 days of just kinda hanging out. Very little explanation, we’re just expected to accept these two Days of Our Lives rejects. Sorry, but it’s like when Bewitched changed the actor who played Darren — sha, right, as if we wouldn’t notice (name that movie).

Well tonight we’ll get some insight into just who these people are as the flashback focuses on Joanie and Chachi. I have absolutely no idea where they’ll go with this one, but I do find it interesting that we’ll get two characters stories together — a rare treat save for Jin/Sun flashbacks, which usually involve someone getting killed either by or because of Jin. But I digress.

Here’s my completely baseless prediction for the week: one little loose end from a survivor’s backstory will be tied up by the presence of Nikki/Paolo. Maybe Jack’s ex-wife’s new man was Paolo. Maybe Nikki aided and abetted Kate while on the lam, where they sought refuge in the apartment of a young man in Nebraska (yes, I will work a romantic storyline in between myself and Kate, Nikki and/or Claire as often as possible.). Or maybe, just maybe, and here’s my second “baseless but wouldn’t it be amazing” prediction of the week: Nikki and Paolo lived in LA. They couldn’t conceive (ironic they would one day end up on this island). So they adopt. From Australia. From Claire. Of course that wouldn’t explain why they were on Oceanic 815, but I’ve seen crazier things explained (see: John’s dad showing up out of a mysterious box on the island gagged, bound and kidneyful). Ahh, we shall see where this little story leads, but I really don’t expect to carry a major impact on the main storylines. “Why not, Charlie?” you ask. Keep reading baby birds, I’ll feed you.

The Writing on the Wall
If you’ve seen previews for this week’s episode, you know that someone is going to die tonight (here’s the preview if you haven’t seen it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oinnt6pYhNE). Now my LOST experience tells me that I can narrow it down to two people. Before I delve into this, if you don’t wanna know who I think it will be, skip to the next section. Obviously I don’t know for sure, but due to my past instances of clairvoyance and my ardent fervor and attention to detail for this damn show, read on at your own risk...

Tonight’s death will be either Nikki or Paolo. “But we’re just going to learn who they are tonight?” you say. Let’s examine the past. Boone. We first learned his story in the same episode where he died. Same for Shannon. Eko died during his flashback episode. And in the episode where Arzt the chemistry teacher showed up, he was blown to smithereens. Also this: usually when they announce that a death will happen, it’s not one of the major characters. Ana Lucia and Libby’s deaths last season were unexpected and jarring. Shannon’s wasn’t. So what newly-introduced, fairly expendable, wildly unpopular, little-known character(s) can we think of? You guessed it. Tonight we get a Nikki and Paolo flashback. My guess: one or both of them will have their closet door blown wide open to reveal a skeleton. Then that skeleton will (literally or figuratively) be dealt with on the island and they can die happy — acceptance of that line of logic is contingent on acceptance of the idea that characters on this show are only killed (at least by the island) once they’ve dealt with their past. But that whole theory is another story.

Here’s a maybe though. In the same way that Libby’s possible past importance to a former character (in her case Hurley) was revealed right before she died, Nikki and/or Paolo’s importance could easily be alluded to before the writers throw up a big yellow “Dead End” sign by killing one of them. Perhaps this is where Nikki and Paolo’s failed adoption of Claire’s baby enters the picture – that would be something.

Maybe I’m wrong. Hopefully I am, I love surprises.

Don’t Hold Your Breath
If you’re hoping to learn more about Locke’s dad, Jack’s deal, Juliet’s motives, Kate’s captivity or anything about Sayid, tonight is probably not your night. I have it on pretty good authority that we won’t see Locke’s dad for another month – a frustrating but brilliant way to let last week’s bombshell marinate in our minds. As the show’s focus shifts back and forth from the beach to the Others’ Pleasantville, expect each 2- or 3-week stint in one location to have its own mystery or storyline, with a convergence of some of those storylines occurring later this season. Right now, the storyline on the beach is stagnant – nothing important has happened there since all the main characters left.

So who will step in and make the beach interesting again? Hurley. Hurley Hurley Hurley. What I’ve liked about Hurley lately is his increased awareness of things and his lack of hesitancy to question them. He caught on to Desmond right away and sniffed out the truth. He was determined to start that bus (ridiculous as that was). He knows something big is going on, and his relentless pursuit of knowledge is rivaled only by Locke’s. I think the deeper Hurley digs, the more interesting our storylines will be, and we could see a return to some of that Season One mysticism, which would be good. And don’t forget about Charlie’s death sentence and Desmond’s ability to see the future. The seeds of some great storylines are planted on the beach, let’s see how they grow.


In Closing
Another great episode, but don’t expect the same kind of impact/power as last week’s – that’s tough to top. What I do like is that I’m starting to hear less and less cynicism about the show, and the writer’s are giving the people what they want: sex, drugs (not really), rock ‘n roll (do you count DriveShaft?), death, monsters, Others, revelations and Nikki. Hooray! Enjoy tonight’s episode, and pay close attention to Nikki and Paolo’s flashback, we may see something (or someone) familiar.


13 hours from crackin’ open a Dharma beer, reclining in the La-Z-Boy and watching the impending death of an expendable character,
Charlie.