Come Downstairs and Say Hello. A Review of "There's No Place Like Home"

A few years ago, one of my favorite bands (Guster) came out with a brilliant song called “Come Downstairs and Say Hello.” Lately, I’ve felt there’s a connection to this song and Season 4 of LOST. It’s got Wizard of Oz references, self-actualization motifs and a title that screams, “Orchid Station.” After last night, I’m making it John Locke’s new theme song. Read the abridged lyrics below to judge for yourself.

Dorothy moves
To click her ruby shoes
Right in tune
With Dark Side of the Moon
Someone, someone could tell me
Where I belong
Be calm
Be brave
It'll be ok

To tell you the truth I've said it before: “Tomorrow I start in a new direction.”
I know I've been half asleep I'm never doing that again
I look straight at what's coming ahead and soon it's gonna change in a new direction
Every night as I'm falling asleep these words repeated in my head

Voices calling from a yellow road
To come downstairs and say hello
Don't be shy just say hello

Come downstairs, John Locke. And say hello to your destiny. Don’t be shy. Just say hello.

We’ll get back to John Locke going downstairs. But man, last night was remarkable. LOST brought us a lot of answers (for LOST, anyway) and did it with some scenes that wrenched our hearts as quickly as they warmed them. As expected, there’s a lot to cover: the Frozen Donkey Wheel, the coffin reveal, the list goes on.

But first, the most explosive scene of the night.

Boom Goes the Dynamite
Last week, Michael informed Sun that he wasn’t working for Ben Linus; he was working through Ben Linus to redeem himself for what he did. Last night, Michael’s mission of redemption came full circle.

And with Christian Shepherd as his witness, Michael was redeemed. It happened when Mike told Jin to get out of the dynamited room and go be a father to Sun and their unborn child. It was a perfect act of redemption for Michael: it was selfless, it involved being a good father and it was sacrificial. In short, it was all the things he hadn’t been his entire life. And where suicide attempts failed him in his post-Island life, his selfless sacrifice ultimately delivered Michael “Kevin Johnson” Dawson from the man he never really wanted to be.

Christian’s brief cameo and succinct reassurance to Michael (“You can go now”) was absolutely perfect. It also reinforced the idea that people can’t die until they finish their business. And it appears that Christian – as someone who can speak on Jacob’s behalf – is Jacob’s gatekeeper, responsible for determining when that business is finished. I wonder if Jacky boy will ever have a similar meeting with the Island’s Saint Peter…

Then there’s Jin. I could almost hear the tears rolling down Maggie’s face from halfway across town. Jin’s desperate run through the freighter underbelly was, for me, a devastatingly unavoidable death march. Jin wasn’t going to make it, and we all knew it. As pregnant Sun’s cries pierced through the whir of the helicopter, the Kahana exploded into a million pieces. And with it, the father of Ji Yeon was killed.

Last week, Sun blamed her father and one other man for the death of Jin. Last night, it seemed that “other man” turned out to be Jack, who refused to let Frank Lapidus dip back down to the Kahana to pick up Jin. Such is the burden of leadership and the price of acting on behalf of the greater good. It’s a lesson Jack keeps learning, forgetting, relearning and re-forgetting.

Let’s also not forget about Saywer, who sacrificed his own freedom for that of Kate’s. What did he whisper to her before taking the swan dive off the chopper? I’m guessing something along the lines of, “Take care of that daughter, Clementine, I told you about. You’ll find her in Albuquerque.”

But in the end, Jack, Kate, Sayid, Hurley, Sun, Aaron, Desmond and Frank Lapidus escaped the Kahana explosion. And so, the O6 + 2 flew toward the Island. Until the Island disappeared.

The Oceanic Six: Case Closed. Then a Bunch More Cases Opened.
I have to credit LOST with actually filling in the blanks of the Oceanic Six story. We learned a lot, and had some really interesting set-ups for the next two seasons. Let’s start with what we now know.
The Great Lie
I figured this elaborate Oceanic Six story was concocted to save the non-O6 people in some way. But I’ve believed all along that the O6 were forced to lie – and fed a story – by Ben Linus, Charles Widmore or one of their many intermediaries. Wrong! It was John Locke’s idea to lie. And it was Dr. Jack’s idea to agree with him.

In what may have been the final confrontation between the Man of Science and the Man of Faith, John Locke pled once more with Jack not to leave the Island. Jack, stubborn as ever, stuck to the script – believing Locke to be off his rocker and promising again to rescue the 815 survivors.

But once upon the lifeboat was in sight of rescue, reality struck Jack. The world believed them to be dead, and whoever made the world believe that would make the fake deaths a reality if the O6 told the truth. Jack knows that the O6’s Island knowledge jeopardizes the island, so, in order to save the O6, Jack convinced his fellow survivors to “let me do the talking.” Of course, that initially overwhelming task of deception was lessened when we learned that Captain Penny Widmore was in charge. At that point, Des and Pen took over, stole the spotlight and – once again – put the love scenes of Jack, Kate, Sawyer or Juliet to shame. It is, without a doubt, LOST’s best love story.

Catching Up. Moving Forward.
But I expected the tying up of those O6 loose ends. I didn’t expect the introduction of loads of O6 storylines that will surely permeate the scripts of Season 5.

Jack, Kate and Aaron. Season 4’s finale picked up exactly where Season 3’s finale left off. Kate reiterated the absurdity of Jack’s “We gotta go back” plea. Jack tried to make her understand. It’s here we see that Jack & Kate haven’t just lost touch, they’ve lost each other. While Jack remains mired in the past, Kate wants nothing more than to look ahead to being Aaron’s mother, to being free from the law and to forgetting the Island.

Hurley, Sayid & Walt. Wow. Wesley Snipes is playing Walt now!! That’s great. I’m glad he found work. Seriously though. He’s getting older faster than he should. And I’m going to spend the next 8 months figuring out how he becomes Matthew Abbadon. This I swear.

Hurley’s impending despair was foreshadowed earlier this season in his conversation with Jack, where he questioned if they should go back. Last night, we saw a Hurley that was utterly confused. Between chess matches with Dead Mr. Eko and awkward conversations with Walt, Hurley has become a malleable little piece of clay. By the end of the episode, Sayid easily convinced Hugo to follow him into – presumably – another Ben Linus rabbit hole (“safe place,” my ass). Didn’t matter though. Hurley would’ve followed anyone – and that could help Jack later.

Sun & Widmore. Sun’s a bad ass. Really. She doesn’t mess around. And her sneaky little meeting with Widmore only placated my conspiratorial belief that Paik Industries and Widmore are in cahoots. Golf reference? Check. Small talk? Check. It’s got all the signs of a business partnership. And the more I learn about Charles Widmore, the more I suspect anyone who does business with him.

All these flash-forward O6 storylines are really just seeds for what I believe will be Season 5’s pivotal question: if, and how, Jack can convince the rest of the O6 to return to the Island. He’ll have some tough sells (Kate) and some easier ones (Hurley). But know this: the reluctant leader’s job isn’t over. It never is.

Best-Laid Plans
"How many times do I have to tell you? I always have a plan." Okay, Ben. I believe you.

First, we learned that the bit of mirror signaling he did in the jungle last week was Linus Code for “Find Kate and Sayid, use them as pawns to distract the freighter folk, then work together to kill those mercenary bastards and set me free so that I may assist John Locke with this ‘Island-moving’ business.”

Pretty sweet move. The Sayid vs. Keamy vs. Richard Alpert fight scene was classic. And when Keamy pulled a Mikhail Bakunin and traveled down to the Orchid, I soiled myself a little. Most interesting was the unnerved Ben Linus. When Keamy’s taunting of Alex’s death reached a boiling point, Ben snapped. In doing so, he sacrificed the freighter folk. But when you’ve got a grander scheme in mind – and Ben always does – what’s a few dozen freighter lives?

So with Keamy out of the way, Ben gerryrigged the Orchid Time Travel device, blowing a hole between it and its adjacent electromagnetic material stockpile. And that, my friends, is how we got to our Frozen Donkey Wheel.

I Like to Move It, Move It. I Like To Move It, Move It.
Man, I didn’t think there would literally be a frozen donkey wheel. I can’t believe I’m about to analyze the implications of a frozen donkey wheel. I’ve lost my mind.

Here’s the deal (as I see it). There’s this electromagnetic anomaly, right? Basically, it creates a shell around the Island that renders it impossible to find and near-impossible to navigate toward. When Desmond turned the fail-safe key a while back, the electromagnetic shield was retracted, and the Island was locatable by outside forces (Widmore).

When you "move" the Island, you take it one step further than the fail-safe key. You don’t just retract the electromagnetic shield, you rebuild it in another place (or time) around one of the world’s “hot spots.”

Hot spots, Charlie? Yes, reader. Hot spots. Remember when Rose visited Isaac of Uluru (the healer), and he told her that different spots in the world had these intense levels of energy? Isaac’s hut was one. The Island was one. And wherever they moved the Island to was another. The turning of the treadwheel (or donkey wheel) by Ben simply refocused the Island’s electromagnetic-dependent elements to another electromagnetic hot spot.

That’s what I think, any way. And it’s the simplest I can put it. It also might be very wrong. But what you need to know is this: wherever the Island was geographically located, it was still untraceable by traditional means. Once Desmond exposed and compromised its location, Ben knew it might come to this: changing the electromagnetic hot spot upon which the Island’s healing energy is centered. The Island relies on this physical condition. But it can rely on it in a different location.

The question remains: what are the “consequences” of this move? What we know is, it doesn’t kill everyone. John Locke obviously lived enough to travel to the real world, assume a fake name and make contact with the O6. As for the Others and the 815 survivors who were left behind? That’s a question for Season 5 to answer.


Human Chess
Though he wasn’t as prominently featured as Jack, Ben or even baby Aaron, this episode was about John Locke. Don't be shy, John. Just say hello.

John worked with Ben to learn how the Orchid worked. Once Ben gave him the tutorial, it was time to pass the torch. But didn’t Ben seem emotionless about that passing? He shook Locke’s hand, apologized for making his life miserable, and strolled into the tunnel toward the donkey wheel. He told Locke to go lead the Others, that they would listen to him, that the torch had been passed. For someone who worked so hard to build an entire culture of people devoted to his power, Ben really didn’t seem to broken up about giving it away to John.Why?

Because Ben didn’t pass the torch to John Locke. He passed a temporary set of problems onto him.

The “moving of the Island” is done with certain consequences, as Ben told John at the outset. Ben also knows that John’s lack of confidence in himself and inability to comprehend his connection with the Island will render him unable to deal with those consequences. Need confirmation of that? Fire up your DVR and check out John Locke’s face when he emerges from the Orchid and meets up with the Others. He comes just short of saying, “What the hell did I just agree to?”

I’m going to assume this: the moving of the Island causes problems that Locke feels can only be solved by the O6’s return to the Island. Taking a page out of the Linus Notebook, Locke assumes the identity of Jeremy Bentham and ventures to the real world in order to convince the O6 to come restore balance to the Island. (Interesting Wikipedia note: Jeremy Bentham was a philosopher who opposed the idea of Natural Right, a concept championed by, yes, John Locke. A Bentham/Locke analysis is prudent, but it’ll have to wait for another day.)

What’s important about last night is this: Jeremy Bentham/John Locke is the man in the coffin. And two men visit that coffin. One, Jack, is visibly broken, confused and uncertain of where to turn. The other, Ben Linus, is alive, well and seems to be fit as a fiddle. Ben reiterates the message of Jeremy Bentham to Jack (you have to go back - all of you!), but does so much more convincingly, with greater credibility and with a greater sense of purpose and urgency.

So Locke is dead. Jack is lost. And Ben is alive, well and still pulling strings. If you think Ben Linus doesn’t have a plan, reread the last few paragraphs. He didn’t pass the torch. He passed the buck. He passed it a man who he knew would drop the ball. And he knew just what to do and where to be (the funeral parlor) when that ball dropped. When the dust settled, Ben Linus was still the man.

To me, this is pretty poetic. John Locke’s long search for purpose led him to an Island where he was inflated with a sense of meaning, only to be used (yet again) as a pawn in a greater game of human chess. So after all the heal-clicking John did to find his “home” in the world (as referenced by the “Welcome home, John” line last night), I think he’ll find that there’s often much more to learn in the journey then there is in the destination.

Tying it All Together
Anddddd…. Exhale. That’s a lot to digest, I know. I’m still processing a lot of it in my own mind. But here’s what I think we can take from There’s No Place Like Home.

• Desmond and Penny are reunited. And it feels so good.
• Jin really does pass away, as does Michael. But only once they’ve redeemed their shortcomings.
• The O6 lied to avoid undermining Widmore’s cover story. Why? To avoid getting themselves (and possibly their friends) killed.
• Locke takes over for Ben. Ben leaves him with a mess. Locke screws it up. Ben swoops in to save the day. Ben is still in charge.
• The O6 have a lot of internal rifts to heal. And Jack is going to have to heal them. Why? Because after all the Man of Science vs Man of Faith debates he had with Locke, Jack has finally learned that there are some instances when empiricism and reason are no match for a man’s inclination to yearn for something bigger. After a life of living on facts, Jack is finally ready to believe in something.

And… scene.

A final note: this show was made to be discussed. Each week, Maggie and I get the privilege/pressure of discussing it in this very public forum. We hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as we've enjoyed writing it. We'll have a few debriefing posts in the coming weeks, then it may be off to our own hiatus until Season 5. But thanks for reading, and thanks for loads of kind words over the months and years.

Namaste.
.charlie

How Do You Feel Today?

Do you remember those posters entitled "How Do You Feel Today?". They were big white posters filled with faces displaying different emotions -- mad, sad, glad, afraid, ashamed, hurt, happy, etc. I think one of my fourth grade teachers, Ms. Zimmerman, had one on the wall.

As I mentally prepare for this evening's finale, I am reminded of the poster because of the wide ranging emotions I am feeling. For today's post, I'm going to walk you through my complex emotions...which will hopefully help YOU prepare.

Let us begin.

Agonized
I have spent the last several weeks agonizing over the decision the O6 make as they leave the island...it is becoming increasingly evident that they left fellow survivors behind, alive. How did they make this decision? Why did they make this decision? What made one survivor more deserving of rescue than another (poor Rose and Bernard!)? Who made the decision about who stays and who goes?

Anxious
Just as Charlie's previous post discussed, I've also been very anxious about the Frozen Donkey Wheel. Although I think the idea of a donkey moving a large wheel, which then moves the island (interesting visual, Charlie), I think it is more of a theortical title for a mystery that we cannot even comprehend. I mean, did anyone see the flash-forward coming last season? No. So how can we even predict what the FDW will be?

Cautious
Call me crazy, but I get cautious when I see explosives. Whenever you run into a storyline that involves a room on a boat full of explosives, you have to worry about the safety of individuals inside of that room. I'm just saying things don't look great for Jin, Michael, and Desmond. My prediction? Jin dies. Michael dies. And (Lord, please let) Desmond live(s).

Concentrating
I'm concentrating on piecing together all the information we have about the four-toed statue. It was apparently from a colossal statue that was never finished, or has crumbled, or has been destroyed. We have learned the statue pre-dates the arrival of the DHARMA Initiative on the Island in the late 1970s. It was also 'guessed' that the foot stood at about 40ft. Based on this estimated height, it can be assumed that the completed statue would be roughly 250ft tall (about the height of a 30-story office building). ...All together now: Huh? Are we ever going to address this randomness??

Confident
I'm absolutely confident that Ben has a plan...and we shouldn't be deceived by his apparent vulnerability in the final scene of Part 1. Ben always has a plan. Ben is always in control. Well, except for when Alex got killed. So not always. But most of the time. But I'm still confident that Ben has a plan and is in control at this very moment, whenever it falls in the timeline of Lost.

Curious
We've talked about this before, but I'm going throw out for discussion my curiosity about Charles Widmore and his connection to DHARMA and the island. When did it start? What does he know? Is he the 'good guy' or the 'bad guy'? I'm not sure if we will find out any more information tonight, but I'm still curious about it.

Disgusted
I remain disgusted by the pile of decomposing DHARMA bodies, the bug-infested bodies of Danielle and Karl, and the bodies of Adam and Eve in the cave. The Lost prop people are pretty darn good at their jobs...because I can't get those images out of my head. (And I'm wondering whose body will be added to the pile tonight...).

Frightened
The Keamy & Co. team, camoflauge and all, makes my heart race...and not in a good way. They are very frightening because they appear to not have hearts. When I think about the damage that they can do (note: Keamy's iPod explosive detonantor on his arm)...it is truly exhaustive. Locke, Ben and Hurley are at the Orchid, where Keamy & Co. are at this moment. So, who does this spell bad news for? FREAK OUT!

Grieving
I know I've complained about her character in the past, but Claire's (apparent) death really has me grieving. Perhaps it is more grief for Aaron than it is for Claire, but nevertheless. Her death means Aaron has lost his mother. Her death also means she won't be able to watch her son grow up. No matter if you like Claire or not, that is pretty sad.

Lovestruck
I remain lovestruck watching Jack prance through the jungle (yes, prance). Enough said.

Optimistic
We know that the O6 survive whatever is going to happen tonight, which makes me optimistic on some levels. The flash forward has changed so much about Lost. We don't know how many years have elapsed since the O6 left the island, or what happened in the meantime. Did the other crash survivors die? Are they stuck as they were before? Or have they managed to escape off-camera? Truth be told, without these plot points, I don't know whether to think of the O6 as heroes or as Judases who have somehow betrayed the likes of Sawyer and everyone else still there.

Paranoid
Anyone else see Ben's buggy eyes staring at you when you are alone in your house at night? Yeah, me either. Anyone besides Charlie wondering if Walt is going to sneak out from behind a tree in tonight's episode and give instructions to someone? Yeah, me either.

What Lost has accomplished through its flash-forwards is nerve-racking. Instead of waiting for a bomb to go off or not go off, we are transported to a time after the bomb has or has not exploded...only we don't know which. Without a frame of reference, we all experience serious paranoia and anxiety, doubting even our most basic assumptions about the world the characters live in.

Perplexed
I have read a number of reasons that Desmond might die tonight in a few blogs. I am perplexed by this because I just don't see how this can happen. Desmond HAS to reunite with Penny, right? There is no way that he can die tonight because he HAS to see her again, right? I'm perplexed because I am positive that, someday, Penny is going to show up on the island. If Desmond dies, someone is going to have to tell her the truth...and Lord if I can actually watch that scene without passing out. I can't. I just can't. Desmond HAS TO LIVE.

Sad
You all know that I am a Jack-Kate fan. I'm sad because of the final future scene we watched with them...Jack was yelling, Kate was crying, and there appeared to be some serious domestic un-bliss. The Lost producers have told us that tonight will shed some significant light on what the "end" is for the Kate-Jack-Sawyer love triangle. My gut tells me that it is going to end with a Kate-Sawyer scene that will blow "Gone With the Wind"'s library scene with Scarlet and Rhett out of the water. ...Okay, so maybe that is an exaggeration, but I think Kate and Sawyer are going to be "til death do us part." And that makes me sad.

Shocked
In Part 1 of the finale, Ben gave Locke some very bizarre instructions regarding entrance into the Orchid. Apparently there is an elevator inside of the falling-apart building...and the elevator leads to the REAL station...and Locke has some stuff to do in the basement. We've seen the basement in the Orchid Instructional Video that was released last summer (you can youtube it if you missed it). From what we know, there is some strange rabbit experimentation going on in the Orchid basement. Sounds like a wild time. I just know that I am going to be shocked when we finally see the real station...and figure out just what-on-earth (or not) is happening down there.

Surprised
Who is in the coffin? We've been told we are going to find out tonight. The predictions are fairly uniform: Locke, Ben, or Michael. As I discussed with Charlie in last week's "Lost Duel" post, I think it is Locke. Why? Well, Ben always has a plan...and SOMEONE would have shown up for Michael's funeral (Mom, son, etc.). I know my "Ben has a plan" theory seems like a cop-out, but like I've said before, that man is tied to the island. And he will die protecting that island. But no matter who is in that coffin, we are all going to be surprised.

Withdrawn
I used to work in an office where nearly every person watched Lost. (You know who you are.) I now work in an office where I can count the Lost watchers on one hand. As we enter this finale, I'm finding myself feverishly searching the internet for any theories (no spoilers, though) or articles I can find on what may or may not happen tonight. Instead of sharing my discoveries with the whole room, however, I'm forced to just nod to myself and keep going. What a pathetic, withdrawn existence. I seriously NEED to get a life...


And with that, enjoy tonight, folks!! It is going to be quite a ride! Don't forget to come back tomorrow and read what Charlie the Wise Oracle has to say.

We've GOTTA go back...

Namaste,
Maggie

Frozen Donkey Wheel

As Facebook friends of mine can attest, my status for the last several days has been all about my interest in the Frozen Donkey Wheel. What is an FDW? I have no idea. Which is precisely why I'm excited.

See, each year, LOST powers-that-be shroud the season finale's big plot twist in mystery with a cryptic codename. This year, it's Frozen Donkey Wheel. Let's look back at our first three seasons' codenamed finale twists.

Season 1: Bagel
What It Is: Delicious Breakfast Treat
What It Meant: For some reason, "Bagel" referred to the abduction of Walt by The Others after they commandeered Michael's expertly-crafted raft of doom. What a bagel and a 10-year-old with mental powers have in common, I don't know. Really. I can't even think of a clever ending for this paragraph.

Season: 2: Challah
What It Is: A braided bread consumed by Jewish people on the Sabbath and holy days. (Thanks Wikipedia!) Apparently during the home stretch of a season, whoever is in charge of codenames gets hungry.
What It Meant: Conflicting reports here. Some say it refers to the opening of the hatch (The Swan Station). Others (including me) believe that the opening of the hatch was rather inevitable and not shocking, and that "Challah" instead refers to the revelation that Penny Widmore hired two Arctic Monkeys (not the band) to sit at a listening station in the South Pole and wait for an electromagnetic anomaly. That seems like the kind of secret you'd want to protect. Still, it's tough to see a connection between holy bread and Remote Arctic Island Monitoring. Seems the LOST higher-ups weren't quite as into using codenames to subtly allude to the twist itself. That is, until, Season 3...

Season 3: Rattlesnake in the Mailbox
What It Is: Certain pain.
What It Means: In this case, the codename might actually have carried some significance. You go to the mailbox expecting mail. The last thing you'd expect? A rattlesnake. It may just whip it's rattling self out of the mailbox and bite ya. Translated to "Through the Looking Glass": What we thought for 1 hour and 58 minutes was a flashback was actually a flash forward. Snakebite also means bad luck, or to bring someone bad luck. Flash forward Jack had certainly been snakebitten by his post-Island fate.

Season 4: Frozen Donkey Wheel
What It Is: Some sort of sick joke? Are they just screwing with us to see what nerd will blog about this?
What It Means: Good question. I'll try to tell you for certain in Friday's recap. But we can explore a little here...
While initial Google results say things like, "LOST Spoilers here!", causing me too immediately keyboard-shortcut my way out of the rabbit hole, I did find one entry that a "donkey wheel" is slang for a treadwheel that uses a donkey as motive power. A treadwheel is a big machine powered by people or animals that moves water. At first glance, that points to Locke's "move the Island" task. Maybe they have to move what's around the Island (the water? the world?) in order to move the Island itself. But then, it's frozen? Perhaps there is some complication with moving the Island (certainly there is). I wonder if the all the time travel complications of late - the failsafe key, the freighter finding the Island, etc. - could impede John from being able to carry out his mission.

We'll see. But it'll be interesting, for sure. Make sure you check back tomorrow as Maggie attempts to set up the epic finale of Season 4. And I'll be growing a post-Island Jack beard and sprouting my first gray hairs as I attempt to recap the episode Thursday night/Friday morning.

Namaste.
.charlie

Battle of the Century

Welcome to the first ever "Dharma Blog Duel: Charlie vs. Maggie" (ala the Washington Post). What you're about to see is an e-mail battle between myself and Maggie, in which questions are raised, theories are posed and mild profanity is uttered. It began with a question from Maggie to me, which I answered akwardly before firing back at her. Today's Battle Questions will cover the O6's lies and conflicts, who is in that durned coffin, Claire's deadness, a little Walt action and our new mystery Orchid station. Enjoy!

Maggie:
G’day, Charlie. Can you believe the season 4 finale is next week? Where has the time gone! It has been an interesting season, that’s for sure. Look at everything that has happened, both in real time and in flash-forward time, since our first season 4 episode, “The Beginning of the End.” It has been one hell of a ride. We have so much to talk about today in our first Dharma Blog Duel, which will pit you versus me in the “2008 Lost Theory-Rama”.

Shall we begin with the Oceanic 6 reveal from last week? The scene on the Coast Guard plane was eerie, to say the least. Jack was so determined to tell the story, to sell the story…and everyone else just looked exhausted, introspective, scared, and disappointed. What’s your take on this, Charlie? Why the story? Where is it from? And why are the O6ers going along with the charade? Ready…set…go!

Charlie:
We’ve said from the moment we learned about the O6 having a cover story that something big must be causing the secret. In Season 4, Episode 1 Jack cryptically questioned Hurley, “You didn’t tell, did you?” Jack’s face displayed worry, while Hurley’s displayed a resignation to his fate, saddened that he couldn’t unpack the burden of this huge farce. So it does beg the questions – why could only six leave, and why do they have to lie about it? My guess: a bargain. With Keamy’s impending “island torching,” the 815’ers may be put in a position where they have to bargain people’s lives for people’s freedom. I see it playing out as a, “We won’t kill all your people, but only six of you can leave.”

As for why they have to make the O6 lie: I think that mass population and knowledge of the Island threatens Widmore and/or Benjamin’s ability to harness and/or exploit it. The mere ability of people to find and reach the Island seemed to threaten Ben’s authority greatly, and I’m sure Widmore doesn’t need the entire universe waltzing around, petting smokey and falling into hatches (that’s a lawsuit waiting to happen). So I believe that our great orchestra conductors, Ben and Charles, have formulated this lie. The O6 is agreeing to tell it to save their friends.

Your turn, dear friend. Riddle me this: where is the O6 rift stemming from? We see Hurley in conflict with Jack, nobody coming to see Sun (except Hurley) and Jack eventually losing touch with reality and his fellow former castaways. But why?

Maggie:
I’m down with your answer, Charles. I definitely think that an O6 reveal of the island’s secrets puts the lives of those still on the island in jeopardy. At some point in his post-island life, however, Jack decides that it is up to him to save the day again…and take on the powers that be (Ben and Widmore) and this lie. It has been said that seasons 5 and 6 will focus on the O6’s return to the island…which I think we can agree is against the will of Ben and/or Widmore.
As for your quesiton about the O6 rift…great question. That rift (Sun/Hurley vs. Jack/Kate/Aaron vs. Sayid) is very significant. Sun and Hurley are, arguably, two of the kindest, calmest, most trustworthy survivors. The scene where Hurley is relieved that no one else came to see baby Ji Yeon and Mama Sun tells us that something HUGE must have happened. Okay – so what sort of events could cause this kind of rift? I think it has something to do with the rescue of the O6.

Since the episode Ji Yeon, I have believed that Jin is dead. Sun’s silence on the Coast Guard plane and subsequent blank stare during the press conference (and the Kahana filled with explosives) confirms for me that Jin has, indeed, died. We know that Sun blames her father for Jin’s death…but she said she blames two people, so who is the second? I’m starting to formulate a theory that it might be one of the O6’ers that she blames, rather than the obvious answer of Ben, Keamy, etc. Perhaps Jin was initially on the chopper, but there wasn’t enough room and he was “kicked off the chopper”, for lack of a better phrase. Perhaps there was room for one more, but it was decided to not go back for Jin. Perhaps they could have landed on the Kahana, picked up Jin, and flown off before it exploded, but they didn’t. And maybe Hurley was the only person agreeing with Sun in the whole matter.

The more I think about it, the more I believe that the O6 rift is centered around Jin. And Sun blames everyone for his death.

What say ye, Charlie?

And on another note, let’s talk about that coffin. Who has entered the pearly gates?

Charlie:
I like that theory. I like it a lot. Perhaps that’s what made it easy for Hurley to turn back on Jack and insist a return to the Island. Or maybe it has some bearing on Jack and Hurley’s need to return – like Michael, they want to redeem themselves for past wrongs.

But oh no you didn’t just open Pandora’s Box. The coffin? Damn you. I’ll honor the question, as it has been foretold by the prophets Lindeloff and Cuse that this mystery will be solved in Season 4.
Ben. Locke. Michael. These are my three likely suspects. Here’s what we know: the funeral took place in LA, a few years after 815 left Sydney (how time plays out between the crash and the funeral is another story). Nobody came to the funeral, so it’s someone nobody likes. The more I think about it, the more I gravitate toward Ben. Locke’s funeral may have been attended by somebody from his past, and I have to think Michael’s family would show up (sans Walt, perhaps). But who would visit Ben? No family. No friends (off the Island, anyway). And if it is Ben who is responsible for the O6 lie and/or the deaths of several 815 survivors, can’t you see Jack begrudgingly attending the funeral home and Kate reacting incredulously to that notion with her bewildered, “Why would I go to that?” So how does Ben die? I think when he announced that Sir Charles had “changed the rules,” he may have been referring to the idea that Alex’s death was not in the plans that fate had so carefully laid. He changed the rules because he changed the future. And the future – which Ben thought he knew, thanks to his Quantum Time Travelers Air Miles Visa – with a living, breathing Ben in it was no longer in play. But then, wouldn’t fate “course correct” and find a way to keep him alive? Sigh. This is the very circle in which my mind runs when I think about this. But I maintain that it’s Ben in the coffin, and that one of these major Island happenings (the failsafe key, Alex’s death, the freighter conflict) tinkered with fate in a way that makes that possible.

Your move. Same question, with the addendum: where in the name of the Psychic Friends Network is Walt? Do you see him factoring into Season 4?

Maggie:
I agree with you that Ben, Locke, and Michael are the prime suspects. I agree that Michael, although he has caused a lot of grief (and death) on this show, is the least likely. We have seen in the last few episodes that he is trying to redeem himself, and one can only imagine that, in light of his change-of-heart, surely his Mother would show up for his funeral. Or someone else from his life. I agree with you about Ben – no family, no friends, etc. However, you know just as well as I do, Charlie, that Ben always has a plan. Part of me just cannot see how there would be a time when Ben actually dies – or, should I say this: Ben dies in LA and has a funeral. I can see a scenario where Ben dies saving the island…you know, tying himself to a tree in protest or something. But, I cannot see Ben dying in LA and being placed in a coffin. I just can’t.

And so, that leaves Locke. I don’t have much of a theory about how Locke ends up back in LA and dead. However, I feel strongly enough that it is NOT Michael or Ben, and that Locke is my only option. So, running with this theory, somehow Locke leaves the island separate from the O6 (which means he has access to leave…which means Ben or Jacob let him go somehow OR he jumps into the Island Delorean and time travels to the future. Perhaps his death is course correction for his life…or for Ben’s life. Locke has to die so that Ben and Charles can keep fighting?

Oh, I don’t know. I really don’t know.

On to the next question. Damn you and your Walt question. He’s at Grandma Dawson’s house in New York, right? Or is he on his own Delorean, traveling to far off places and killing people for Ben? Who knows. A short answer to your question: No, I don’t see Walt factoring into next week’s episode. I think some of our O6ers will encounter him in their off-island life, but I don’t think we’re going to see him next week. Do you?

And your question is: Is Claire alive or dead or halfsies?

Charlie:
Criiiiiiiipes! No crazy Walt theory? I was hoping you would begin a sentence with, “Here’s how Walt becomes Matthew Abaddon...” But alas. I think he’ll factor in somehow. But I might just be saying that to disagree with you.

Claire vexes me. But I think her appearance with Christian Shepherd clues us into something. Christian exists in this murky grey area of life or death. His physical body is dead, I’m fairly certain. But just as Desmond’s “conscious mind” can leave and travel to a past self, perhaps Christian’s “conscious mind” from the past has traveled into his dead Island body. Make sense? Say Christian is alive in 2002, in LA, practicing medicine and tossin’ the sauce. Maybe a visit from Richard Alpert allows him to time to take a Desmond-esque journey of the conscious mind to his future self, which is dead and on the Island. Because we’ve talked about people time traveling from the Island to elsewhere in time and space – so couldn’t it work the other way around? And this, I’m postulating, is what has happened with Claire. In some vacuum of time, either before or after the crash, Claire’s conscious mind has traveled into her Island body, and with the knowledge that her conscious mind has, she is an Island Believer, in the same vein as Locke, Christian, Ben, Jacob, etc. That might be totally wrong. And probably is.

Final question: what the hell is the Orchid?

Maggie:
You’re right. I do think Walt is a younger Matthew Abaddon, but I don’t have the brain power to back up that wild Maggie theory today.

I think the half-alive, half-dead idea makes sense (Wow, I cannot believe I just said that…it is not possible! But I still believe it! I am crazy!). Claire and Christian are definitely alive somewhere in time (likely back in time). However, they somehow have come back to the future (pun intended) and are continuing to live in their dead bodies.

God, I love this show.

What is the orchid? Well, orchids are perennial epiphytes, which grow anchored to trees or shrubs in the tropics and subtropics. Some orchids are lithophytes, growing on rocks or very rocky soil, or are terrestrial. Nearly all temperate orchids are terrestrial.

Mua ha ha. Wow, I’m funny.

Seriously now. The Orchid is a Dharma station first mentioned in outtakes from a Dharma Orientation Film originally presented at the 2007 San Diego Comic-Con (a big nerd convention) and later on the Season 3 DVD. The film is presented by Edgar Halliwax. According to the video, the Orchid (or "Station 6") is a fake botanical station that houses many numbered white rabbits. It seems to have an alarm system similar to that of the Swan. The subject of the Orchid's research is described as "highly volatile and potentially dangerous", and reference is made to the Casimir effect. Remember that when Ben woke up in the Tunisian Desert, he was wearing an Orchid Jacket with the name Halliwax on the right pocket.

It is interesting to note that before the film was aired at Comic-Con, Lost producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse told a story in which the film was sent to them after being found in a building in Narvik, Norway that was set to be demolished (possibly the Hanso Foundation headquarters?). They claimed the film was then spliced together and restored by the Lost writers.

From the outside, the Orchid station resembles a greenhouse, containing a variety of flora and fauna. The station's exterior also appears to have become overgrown with vines covering stairs and support beams. In last week’s episode, Ben claims there is a hidden switch within the station that activates an elevator taking one to the "real" station underground. Ben told Locke: "You're going to go into that greenhouse through that hole there. Once inside, you're going to turn left. Go about 20 paces until you see a patch of anthuriums [Maggie note: this is a tropical flower] on your left. They're in an alcove against the north wall. Face that wall, reach down with your left hand, you'll find a switch that activates the elevator. The elevator takes you down to the actual Orchid station."

So, to answer your question, Charlie: the Orchid is a freaky place that you probably don’t want to get stuck in. People have argued that the Orchid must be the brain of the island – the central point from which all of the island’s powers emanate. If this is the case, it is less than great that Keamy and his crack-pot team is there. It is less than great that Locke is about to go in there by himself. It is less than great that Ben has been knocked out and left Hurley/Locke to their own devices.

Truth be told, the Orchid is this season finale’s “radio tower”…this season finale’s “New Otherton”…this season finale’s “Swan Hatch.” The action in this episode is going to take place at the Orchid…and likely partially spill over into Season 5, which means a long 7 months of theorizing on our part!

Well, I think this is a wrap! What a successful first dueling analysis!! Any final thoughts, Charlie?

Charlie:
No thanks. My brain hurts. Until next week.

Your Turn!
Did reading any of our crackpot theorizing make you pull your hair out? What did we miss? Take a stab in the comments section - if we can see that a lot of people are liking this, we may just make it a more semi-regular part of the blog (though not usually this long - this is the Thursday/Friday post for this week).

Namaste.
.charlie

Review: There's No Place Like Home, Pt. 1

Last night, LOST bent over to pick something up while wearing a low-cut shirt and short shorts. Then, it got mad at us for staring. That, my friends, is what we call a tease.

But I don’t mean that in a bad way. I actually thinking giving us two weeks to digest the first 1/3 of a season finale is a bit of a gift, as the usual information overload from a season finale clogs up the old thinkin’ pipes for a while. Now, the writers are allowing us to break that finale into smaller bites that we can stomach a little easier. With that, let’s try to absorb all the ways in which we are being set up for that grand Season 4 finale. Last night didn't give us much to analyze, but it left us plenty to chew on, and it's important that we fully understand last night's episode before moving forward. (Lots of food metaphors in that last paragraph. I think I’m hungry.)

Connecting Six Oceanic Dots
Many of the questions lingering from past Oceanic Six-centric flash-forwards this season were addressed or at least put to bed for a while by last night’s flash forwards. It wasn’t earth-shattering, but it was a nice peace offering by the writers to legions of confused nerds like myself who needed to remember what “understanding something” felt like.

Hurley re-assimilated by denying the cursed money and settling back in with a mom and dad (Cheech!) who “don’t get” the enormity of his ordeal. Papa Reyes even forgot to wind back the odometer on Hurley’s new hoopty, and when Hurley saw the numbers, he ran away (sans manzzierre), presumably to a place that serves fried food.

Sun, meanwhile, plays hardball by using her Oceanic settlement to take control of Paik Industries. The interesting tidbit here: as she confronts her father (and soon to be coffee boy), she says (paraphrasing here), “You made Jin’s life miserable. Two people are responsible for his death. You are one of them.” Two, huh? Could the other one be Charles Widmore, thus confirming my suspicions of a Widmore-Paik alliance?

Sayid meets up with Nadia, and it seems they were able to DTR in time for Hurley’s Island party. It was bittersweet to watch, knowing that Nadia’s upcoming murder will cause Sayid to go to work for Ben Linus. But hey, who hasn’t been in one of those relationships?

But, as always, Jack and Kate stole the show. Jack was met by his father’s Saucy Aussie, and mother of Claire. She finally filled Jack in as to the identity of Claire and Aaron, and we got to watch Matthew Fox do a nice job of pulling off the successive realization of several hard truths (my half-sister was Claire, my half-sister is dead, Aaron is my nephew, the woman I love is pretending to be the biological mother of my nephew, etc.).

Again, not earth-moving (or Island-shifting?), but a pleasing look ahead to help us better understand how the Oceanic Six began their life of lies. I’ll be interested to see if the rest of the finale follows the O6, and what more we might learn. More on that in the coming weeks.

If I Had a Boat, I'd Go Out on the Ocean. With Lots of Explosives.
Michael J. Faraday (that’s a skinny tie joke) seems pretty eager to get off this Island. Apparently his knowledge of Keamy’s “secondary protocol” is enough to terrify him into expediting the 815 exodus (and that of he and Charlotte’s). When Sayid brings the raft, Dan takes off with Sun, Jin, Aaron and three expendable-and-sure-to-die 815 survivors.

Then, the bombshell. Or rather, the bomb. Desmond, Michael and Jin find a room lined with explosives, and Sun ominously separates from them. I hate to say it, but I worry that this could spell doom for Des, Mike and the Jinster.

Interestingly, only two of the O6 are off the Island right now (Sun and Aaron). But those two are with other survivors (Michael, Jin, those other dudes). So how do Sun and Aaron make it off when the other survivors don’t? And how do the other four (Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sayid) join Sun and Aaron? My guess is the explosives have a big part in that, and I think they’re linked to the iPod Nano on Keamy’s arm. And from the previews, it seems Frank Lapidus might be destined for a martyrdom mission to deliver the O6 home.


Follow the Yellow Brick iPhone
Jack and Kate embarked on yet another wild goose chase, rife with sexual tension and gratuitous shots of Kate crawling around (thank you!). When they meet up with Sawyer, Aaron and the well-nicknamed “Genghis” (Miles), the reality of Claire’s fate begins to sink in. You also see the initial maternal instincts of Kate Austen kick in, and thus the seeds are planted for her transformation into Mama Austen (the forgotten Mama of The Mamas and the Papas).

Kate and Miles return to the beach with Aaron, just in time to hand him off to the first raft group. But Jack and Sawyer, the oddest of LOST odd couples, trudge on toward the signal of the satellite phone that Lapidus air-dropped last week. Once again, Jack is leading with his heart, and thus completely ignoring his head (and, for that matter, his bleeding abdomen). Once again, a season finale features Jack marching blindly through the jungle, directly down the path of certain doom.

And hot on their trail? Why it’s Kate and the Iraqi Assassin. Good thing Kate’s good at tracking, right? Wait, what? These aren’t the tracks you were looking for? And who’s that...

The Resurgence of the Others
Each week, I change my mind on who I think is really in control. Last week, I was on Team Locke. Then, last night, as Keamy’s men surrounded The Orchid Station, Ben reminded me, quite literally, that he “always has a plan.” He might as well have reached through the TV, grabbed me by the throat and said, “How dare you doubt me, Charlie! I’m Ben Linus!” And I’d be like, “I know, I named my dog after you!” And he’d look at it like he wanted to eat it. And I’d hide my puppy.

But really. Ben’s surrendering stroll toward the Orchid Station at the end was sweet. He didn’t have to precede that scene by reminding us of his love for contingency planning. The look on his face as he stared down the barrel of Keamy’s gun said it all.

So what is this master plan? Well don’t downplay the significance of Ben’s mirror-flashing, sun-reflecting communication with whoever was atop the cliff. That matters. I think that man was none other than Richard Alpert, who we later saw lead the Others in yet another disarming of 815 survivors. Seriously, they’re really good at that. Using his best Mittleos Bioscience Nice Guy voice, Richard – with help from gun-toting Others in the trees – talked Kate and Sayid off the trigger, then seemed to be taking them along on their next stop. And that next stop, I’m convinced, is an intervention in the affairs of Keamy, Ben and the Orchid Station.

I really liked how we saw a "Season 2 Others Mentality" through the eyes of the Others. There was a lying Linus, a militaristic and cult-like confrontation of 815 survivors and cryptic communication. Those things all harken back to earlier in the series, when we didn't understand the Others. But last night, we were right on board, knowing full well that the Others had something in store for the Island's newest visitors.

Keamy’s secondary protocol pointed him to The Orchid, the last stronghold of Benjamin Linus. Keamy’s crew beat Linus’s to the station, but don’t count Ben out. He knows the lay of the land, and he knows how to operate the station. Additionally, The Orchid affords Ben the opportunity to give Locke a task, thus helping to ensure that Locke wouldn’t mess up whatever this Ben Linus Master Plan may be. We’re about to see some pure, unadulterated Linus plot orchestration unfold.

Convergence
Often in LOST, we began a season with separate camps operating independently of one another. Within the first few episodes, those camps come together and began moving as a unit toward the season finale’s jaw-dropping revelation. It happened with the Tailies in Season 2 and the Jack/Kate/Sawyer captivity of Season 3. But this season is flipping that on its head. In this shortened fourth season, the convergence we usually see at the midway point of a season is occurring at the end.

I love it. The ending scene last night was gorgeous. Jack & Sawyer. Kate, Sayid and the Others. Hurley & Locke. Keamy & his crew. And Benjamin Linus. Oh, and even the folks on the freighter and raft, who I would deem remotely connected to The Orchid and its happenings (and I mean “remotely,” as in, “remote-controlled explosives”). All of these parties were operating in concert with each other, moving in accordance with the will of fate and other higher powers to one pivotal moment. One scene. One course-altering set of circumstances that will set the stage for the final two season of LOST. Yes, last night teased us a little. But I’m confident enough in the payoff we’ll receive in two weeks that I’m willing to put up with it.

That final convergence scene also served as a microcosm of the whole show. We saw all these different characters converging toward a pivotal setting. Isn’t that what we’ve seen on a macro level from LOST? Different characters hopped aboard Oceanic 815 on that fateful day. The Others’ had exemplified Darwinian philosophy to become the preeminent Island inhabitants. Desmond picked that boat, for that sailing race. The list goes on. But fate has woven all of these very separate threads of humanity together, tying them in one huge knot on the Island. How the characters react to, try to alter or learn to cope with fate is probably the central theme of LOST's mythology. In two weeks, we'll learn how last night's convergence scene ends. In two years, we'll know the bigger picture.

Stay tuned next week for further breakdown, analysis and prognostication for future installments of There's No Place Like Home.

Namaste.
.charlie

Preview: There's No Place Like Home (hour 1 of 3)

Tonight’s episode is the first hour in a three-hour “super finale” that will air in two parts. After tonight’s one hour episode, we have one week off (plan on a Grey’s Anatomy 2-hour finale on May 22) before returning for the final two hour Lost installment on May 29. As for the Dharma Blog, there’s no rest for the weary. Charlie and I will tackle some exciting bonus material next week, so plan on checking in with us during the hiatus.

As we do every week before the episode, let’s take a look at the possible twists and turns awaiting us as we begin the end of Season 4.

There’s No Place Like Home
Most of you probably caught on to the Wizard of Oz reference right away. This isn’t the first time that the 1939 Best Picture film (based on the classic Frank L. Baum novel) has made an appearance in Lost. In fact, there have been multiple references, parallels and striking similarities between the two throughout the past four seasons.

Although I cannot imagine you need much of a review, here’s the Cliff’s Notes version of Wizard of Oz (note: my plot summary is based on the movie, not the book):

Dorothy Gale lives with her Aunt Emily and Uncle Henry on a farm in Kansas. During a tornado, Dorothy finds herself trapped inside the farmhouse and is struck in the head by debris, causing her to fall into a deep sleep/near coma. The sleep/coma propels her mind into a great wild world of munchkins, witches, wizards, and inanimate objects that can talk. She imagines her farmhouse falling from the sky into Munchkin Land, killing the Wicked Witch of the East, which greatly angers the Wicked Witch of the West (her sister). She befriends three non-humans (the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion) on her quest to see the great and powerful Wizard of Oz, who lives in the Emerald City, in order to gain his help to go home to Kansas. To prove the strength of her desire to go home, the Wizard tells her to bring him the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West, whose reign of terror over Munchkin Land and the Emerald City has caused great distress. Succeeding in this task, the Wizard tells Dorothy that she always had the capacity to return to Kansas: all she had to do was click her heels three times and say “There’s No Place Like Home.”

Great movie, Maggie…but what is the parallel to Lost?
Though the book has never actually been featured in Lost, the Wizard of Oz has been compared to the series multiple times. Its parallels to Lost have caused much speculation concerning the show's theories.

For starters, the Island can be compared to Oz, because both are, in a sense, "somewhere over the rainbow"…where the world is recognizable, but also drastically altered, dangerous and mythical. Both stories also have an unseen, near-omnipotent character behind the scenes, calling the shots. In the show, we believe it is Jacob. In the movie, it is the wizard or "the man behind the curtain." In the book, Oz is surrounded by the "Deadly Desert" which prevents anyone from leaving by land. This is very similar to the bizarre tidal/magnetic patterns around the Island that continue to prevent people from leaving (up until this season and the freighter).

There are even some people who believe that the four people on Jacob’s list (Kate, Hurley, Jack, and Sawyer) perfectly represent the four main characters in the Wizard of Oz: Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow, respectively. Go ahead and roll your eyes…then think about it.

But, for those of you seeking more literal parallels, there are host of those, too.

"Henry" (the name Ben gives when captured) is the name of Dorothy's uncle in the movie, and many assume that his surname, like Dorothy's, is "Gale" (the mailbox in the movie says Gale, although Baum never comes out and says that is his last name). In the movie, the Wizard travels to the land of Oz in a hot air balloon. In Lost, Henry Gale was attempting to cross the Pacific Ocean in a hot air balloon, instead, crashing on the Island through (as of yet) unknown circumstances.

In the episode “Lockdown,” Locke is on the floor with the blast door crushing his leg. When the blast door opens and "Henry Gale" runs to him. Locke says "You came back." Ben/Henry says "Well of course I did. What did you think, I was going to leave you here?" In the Wizard of Oz movie, there is a scene with Dorothy locked in a room at the Wicked Witch of the West’s tower. The Tin Man busts through the door. Dorothy says "You came back." And the Tin Man says "Well of course we would Dorothy, what did you think, we were going to leave you here?"

Another name reference is Tom (Mr. Friendly), who was called Zeke by Sawyer. Zeke was one of Uncle Henry Gale's farmhands in the Wizard of Oz.

In "Flashes Before Your Eyes", during Desmond's flashback, a man in red shoes is crushed by falling scaffolding and his legs are sticking out from the wreck, similar to a shot in the film of the Wicked Witch of the East's legs with the ruby slippers sticking out from under Dorothy's house.

The title for the episode "The Man Behind the Curtain" is a reference to the ruler of Emerald City (the Wizard) hiding behind a curtain (in the movie version), projecting a much greater image of himself unseen. In that episode, Locke says to Ben: "You're the man behind the curtain...the Wizard of Oz!" And, of course, the title for tonight’s episode “There’s No Place Like Home” is a reference to the words Dorothy had to utter in order to leave Oz and return to Kansas.

Okay. I get the similarities. What gives?
At the end, it will take our characters choosing to follow the Yellow Brick Road (which represents the metaphorical path to redemption and enlightenment) if they want to go home (there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home).

(pause for effect)

Okay, I don’t know if that is true. It probably isn’t. But I thought it would be funny to throw something wild and crazy out there in the middle of my article to see if you were paying attention. But it could be true. I mean, I don’t want to brag, but I did say that Kate was talking about Aaron when she said “I’ve gotta get back because he’ll notice I’m gone.” I’m just saying that I’ve been right before. At least one time.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Tonight’s Show
From all the previews we’ve seen, it looks like tonight will showcase the second most-watched press conference of the century (the first most-watched is Hagel’s Non-Announcement Announcement from March 2007). The Oceanic Six are back and the press corps wants to see them. Our six survivors will become media darlings…Jack, Kate, Sayid, Sun, Hurley, and Aaron.

There will be a lot of questions thrown at them. I’m going to be watching to see how their story is created and how it holds up to the media questions. It will be a media circus…can you imagine if something like this actually happened?

A plane crashes. The wreckage is found. No survivors. Then, 90 days later (timeline to be confirmed, but let’s assume it has been 90 days in “real time”), six people (and a baby, no less!) are found to have survived. Think of the questions that will be asked! Think of the questions YOU would be asking! Think of the questions Wolf Blitzer would be asking…(in my best Wolf Blitzer voice) “Oceanic 815 crashed 90 days ago, but today, six survivors emerged. Where were they? What were they doing? And what took so long to find them? You’re in the Situation Room.”

We can all agree that since the rescue, the O6 have been living a lie. Jack confirmed all of this for us during Kate’s trial – there is a story that has been concocted and everyone is following suit. We can only hope that, tonight, the 5 W’s will be answered:

* Who created the story? (Hanso? Widmore? Ben? Jacob? Charlie Stephan? Someone else?)

* What is the story? (We have sound bytes from Jack, but not much…)

* Where/When was the story created? (Was it written on the rescue plane? Or was it a binder they got once they got on the rescue plane? “You will say the following: ____”

* WHY was the story created? (This is the game changer. For some reason, there is a story that the O6 are scared into following. Why????)

The rest of them
Although there has been so much emphasis placed on how the O6 get off the Island, I’d like to remind everyone that there is a rather large group of people who drew short straws and are still on the Island. Alive? Dead? Half-alive, half-dead (what the…)? With the show’s multifaceted narrative, I hope we get at least a glimpse of where they are now…instead of “After the Final Rose” from the Bachelor TV show, this is “After the Final Helicopter”. (cue boo’s from the readers because that was the worst. joke. ever.)

So let’s think about the four main survivors in this group (Locke, Sawyer, Jin, Claire) and review where we are with their storylines:

Locke:

The only glimpse into what may or may not have happened to Locke is the line that Hurley said during his game of HORSE with Jack: “I’m sorry I went with Locke. I should have gone with you.” Talk about a loaded two sentences. You can take this in a couple different ways. First, you could read it that Locke was wrong, Jack was right, and Hurley would have rather been on the winning team. Or, you could read it that Hurley feels bad for not being on Jack’s team…the endgame doesn’t really matter to Hurley (he just wanted to apologize to Jack).

When we last saw Locke: He had just came out of a strategic meeting with half-dead Christian and half-dead Claire…and apparently wants to move the island. I’d like to point out that long-time Dharma Blog reader, Micah, wonders if the only way to move the island is to have everyone go the shore with a paddle…then start rowing. Brilliant!

Sawyer:

We have a very cryptic line from Kate that gives us a tiny look into Sawyer’s future…her explanation to Jack “I was doing something for Sawyer” in the midst of his future-life breakdown from a couple weeks ago. If Kate was doing something from Sawyer, is he dead and she is fulfilling his last wishes? Or is he alive and she is dropping off his Comcast bill? You be the judge.

When we last saw Sawyer: We had an emotional Sawyer, holding Baby Aaron, spinning dramatically around in the forest, yelling for Claire. And, hell…I felt sorry for the guy.

Jin: 

Well, Sun went to his grave (accompanied by Baby Ji Yeon and Hurley). I know there are conspiracy theories out there that Jin is not dead. That theory says that the cemetery was all part of the “story” concocted by the survivors…that Sun was merely keeping up appearances. I don’t know about you, but if that is the case, Sun is one heck of an actress. As she knelt down before her husbands tombstone, I was fighting back tears. She looked like a woman in mourning. Now I know I am a fairly consistent crier in most situations, but sheesh. That was sad. I think Jin is dead, team. I think he is dead and Sun had him symbolically/literally (don’t know) placed in their hometown so she would have a place to mourn.

When we last saw Jin: Jin told Charlotte that he knew she spoke Korean. He then told Charlotte to make sure Sun got onto the helicopter…or else he would hurt Charlotte’s crush/lover/whatever, Daniel Faraday. And we’ve seen Jin hurt people before. Seriously hurt people. So Daniel should consider sleeping with one eye open.

Claire: 

Aaron is with Kate. We can make a not-so-large leap to assume that something happened to Claire in order for Aaron to end up with Kate (after all, she was warned many times to raise Aaron as her own, or else there would be consequences). So, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that Claire has died. And beyond that, I have no freaking idea what is going on with that girl, because…

When we last saw Claire: Presumptive half-dead Claire was hanging out in Jacob’s cabin with her presumptive half-dead father, Christian. Um, yeah. Not sure what to make of that. If you want to read more about Claire, check out Charlie’s blog from last week…because until we get more clues about what is going on with her, it literally hurts my head to think about it.

Back on the freighter…
There was a small disagreement on the freighter last week, as we all remember. After strapping an iPod to his Gaston-like biceps (what was that, by the way?), Keamy had a moment of insanity and killed the doctor and Captain Gault, who I was just starting to like. (Here’s something to think about: Was step 1 in the Widmore Plan B Binder “kill doctor and captain,” or did Keamy just make an executive decision?) This event successfully terrified Frank the helicopter pilot, who agreed to take the Keamy Kill Squad back the Island.

While cruising over the beach camp, someone dropped a package out of the helicopter. Although I thought it was a ticking time bomb, fearless Jack revealed it to simply be an iPhone, bleeping the location of the helicopter and encouraging the survivors to follow the radar. The previews indicate that Jack and Kate (maybe more, it is uncertain) decide to play this game of Sardines. I will be on pins and needles, waiting to see if Jack’s instinct was right (which would mean Frank dropped the package and is coming to help them) or wrong (which would mean Keamy dropped the package and they are screwed…see: Otherton blows up).

And so it goes
Come on back tomorrow to read Charlie’s analysis of the important issues from the episode. And then, start gearing up for the two-hour finale on May 29. It is hard to believe the finale is already here…it feels like we just got started.

Namaste,
Maggie

Review: Cabin Fever

Confused yet? You should be. After a one-week vacation from mythology, last night’s Cabin Fever delivered it in spades. We’ll try to break this down and figure out, most importantly, what it all means heading into LOST’s two-week, three-hour season finale.

Don’t Rock the Boat
The action on the Kahana (the freighter) heated up last night for the first time since Sayid and Desmond’s very expensive collect call to Penny.

Sayid headed back to the beach to bring back the first (of what he thinks will be many) group of survivors. I’m guessing that boat holds, oh, 6 people, give or take none. If Sayid can navigate that dinghy through Hurricane Electromagneto, more power to him. Heh, I said "dinghy."

Desmond, on the other hand, believes that the further away he is from the Island, the closer he is to Penny. We’ll see how that turns outs. Does he make it off the Island incognito or, Jacob forbid, does he not make it at all?

But those developments were nothing compared to Martin Keamy’s Sawyeresque “I have the guns, I make the rules,” moment.

Pissed and beaten, Keamy stormed back onto the Kahana and promptly pulled rank on Captain Gault by reaching into a vault and pulling out what seemed to be Charles Widmore’s Super-Secret Plan “B”. He then held the rest of the freighter folk hostage, picking them off in 30-second intervals until Lapidus agreed to fly him back to the Island for some revenge on Ben and his pet Smokey.

When the dust settled, Keamy had eliminated the remaining Kahana authority figures: Dr. Ray and Captain Gault. With those relative do-gooders out of the way, Keamy was free to begin carrying out Widmore’s Plan B. That probably doesn’t bode well for the 815’ers, who were left with the onset of a cryptic game of “catch us if you can” last night.

Charlie’s Major Takeaway: Captain Gault was just a pawn for Widmore, who is using Keamy as the muscle for his master plan.

Charlie’s Major Question: What the hell did Keamy strap to his arm? Is it a bomb? Is this a suicide mission? Is it a blood sugar monitor? Is Keamy a diabetic? Is this a Wilford Brimley-approved diabetic testing device? Oh look, I’ve derailed.


John Locke, This is Your Life
Odd behavior, not-so-chance encounters and heartbreaking disappointment. We learned last night that this is the cycle that defines John Locke. And it began early. Really early.
First there was Locke’s unceremonious and controversial entry into the world. Born three months premature, he was forced to fight the odds from day one. It didn’t help that his mother abandoned him, his father wasn’t in the picture (until his kidney stopped working) and he was apparently shuffled through some foster homes.

But in true John Locke form, the lowest lows were reinforced with sadistically deceptive levels of hope instilled by people who, for some reason, need him to be special. At each turn, John was faced with adversity, then inflated with hope, and finally deserted with disappointment.

First, Richard Alpert’s return (finally! Eat it, Jimmy Smits!) opened up several cans of worms. Mainly, did Richard really know about John and his potential from the day he was born? If so, Richard’s assistance in Locke’s usurping of the Linus throne last season was not a hastily-planned act of desperation, but rather the culmination of decades (or centuries? nah) of work. In an early test of John’s abilities, we saw Richard unpack a LOST theorist’s treasure trove of goodies, asking John to identify which items “belonged to him” (put another way: “Johnny, can you pick out which items are intrinsically tied to your destiny?”). With John’s first two choices, it seemed he was on his way to realizing his fate: to find (compass) meaning on/of the Island (sand). But when John threw Richard for a loop by picking up the knife, Alpert decided it wasn’t John’s time. He left Locke, not reappearing until high school, when a locker-dwelling John was urged by a high school counselor to embrace his geekiness and attend Mittleos Bioscience Summer Camp.

Those were the only glimpses we had of John until we caught up with him just after his paralyzing fall from an 8th-story window. With physical therapy breaking his spirit day in and day out, Locke was urged by a “random” (yeah right) orderly to take a walkabout. That orderly was Matthew Abaddon, organizer of Team Naomi and suspected minion of Charles Widmore. And you don’t have to be a LOST blogger to remember that a walkabout trip was the catalyst for John’s journey to the Island. Did Abaddon’s own walkabout lead him to the Island? Is that how he got hooked up with Widmore? Should I take a walkabout?

Charlie’s Major Takeaway: the reinforcement of Locke’s typical cycle of 1) realizing an indefinable quality of “specialness”, 2) having someone give him hope based on that quality and 3) failing to understand it and thus frustrating and hurting John. It’s important to understand how that cycle has shaped Locke, and that’s where the Island storyline came into play.


“Don’t Mistake Coincidence For Fate”
When Mr. Eko said that, he was talking to Locke. Also, he was talking to you. Last night we saw a series of incidents that, taken individually, amount to John Locke’s coincidental arrival on the Island. But as viewers, we have the luxury of examining those instances in the context of each other. For me, that means John Locke was fated to come to this Island, discover its power and figure out how its “secret” can best be utilized by mankind. No small task, which is why John has had to be carefully groomed and prepared for this moment physically and psychologically.

For John, overcoming this vicious cycle culminates in “How do you like me now?” moments. When he connects with the Island, knows something more than Ben or stumbles upon a possible answer (Nigerian drug plane, hatch, map in a corpse's pocket) he is showing the world that he is not only special, but he knows how to harness it. That’s been the missing link his entire life. He has known he’s important, he just hasn’t figured out how. Or why.

Quick aside: I think by showing us Alpert and Abbadon’s separate attempts at Locke control, we were privy to a manifestation of the Ben vs. Widmore fight. I think both men know John is important, and both were working through their proxies to get Locke to the Island. That would mean Ben had been grooming John for Island leadership for some time. While it seems the two were initially in opposition, I could see a scenario where Ben needed that competition to move past some obstacle. But do Keamy and the freighter folk, under the orders of Charles Widmore, also have bigger plans for Locke? Maybe by removing Ben, they know Locke can ascend to Island dominance. And for some reason, maybe Widmore thinks that benefits him.

Charlie’s Major Takeaway: in a show chock full of lessons about time travel, fate and course correction, tonight’s episode was about what happens when those concepts are applied not just to actions, but to attitudes. Can we, within the manipulation of time, change the way people view the world in order to dictate how they interact with it? I’m guessing, “yes.” And so, apparently, are Ben, Widmore and the teams of puppeteers they employ to animate people like Locke for their own purposes. Last night, we saw how the careful manipulation of Locke over time prepared him for one very important moment: a meeting with Jacob.


I’ve Got a Fever. And the Only Prescription is More Christian Shepherd
Last night, we moved further down the timeline toward John Locke’s Purposeful Endgame. With all the physical elements (a map, Hurley), psychological elements (proving his worth, becoming who he knows he can be) and metaphysical elements (connecting with Dharma Initiative loyalist and ghostie, Horace) in place, John Locke was finally ready to actually speak with Jacob. Kinda.

Whatever you thought was going to happen to Locke in the cabin, you were so wrong. First, in a collision of universes that gave any LOST fan chills, Locke met Christian Shepherd in the cabin. He also saw Claire. Now we know Christian is already dead, and that his ghost-self walks the Island. But Claire? I think we can assume that the missile blast a few weeks ago really did kill her, and now her soul has passed on. And that’s damn important.

But quickly, "Where's Jacob?" Tough to say, but I think we may have learned last night that Jacob is an orchestrator, controller and, perhaps, father figure to the dead. He allows the dead to walk among the living and use the Island to communicate with them. Which brings me to my next point...

Here's what I think the Island "is": a place in which those whose bodies and souls are alive can communicate with those whose bodies are not. By embracing the Island and its power (perhaps under Jacob's tutelage), you are able to approach a crossroads where you can communicate with people whose souls are in a different stage of life than your own.

If the Island is, in fact, a “fountain of youth,” (see: ageless Richard Alpert) can the living, dead and undead use that power to communicate with each other? It would seem so. But how do the major Island-impacting events – the Black Rock, the hostiles’ purge of the Dharma folk, the crash of 815 – affect that power?

The answer to that might go back to predestination and fate. Here's what I'm toying with... Over time, people have existed who try to manipulate the Island’s future in order to keep it viable. Maybe the Island requires a torch bearer, someone whose connection to it is so powerful that they can figure out how to use that power for the benefit of mankind. Widmore tried to do that scientifically (Dharma Initiative) and failed. Ben has tried, but his own ego has gotten in the way. Now, it's John's turn. And some people (Richard Alpert, Matthew Abaddon and maybe Anthony Cooper or Christian Shepherd) have known that for a long time, and have set Locke on a path so that he could fulfill that prophesy. That prophesy is, in fact, the Island's desire. The aforementioned fate-twisters are not working for people. They're working for Island.

I don't really know, though. Go ahead and tackle that one in the comments.

I'm Sorry, You Wanna Do What With The Island?
Move it? Move an Island? Really? I can’t even begin to wrap my head around this one, but here goes…

The question may not be “to where do they move the Island;” but rather, “to when?” Or it might be both. The logical follow-up question: "Ummm. How?" Well, it seems the Island exists in sort of an alternate universe, and to move it, you must alter the physical, chronological, psychological and metaphysical pathways that people must navigate to get there. You have to change that physical compass bearing, you have to change what year it is on the Island, you have to alter the perception of the Island in order to throw off its pursuers. Maybe you do even physically move it. At this point, I’m grasping at straws. And I’m going to stop here. I will say, though, that I bet “moving the Island” has some pretty dire consequences. Hopefully, we’ll see how that plays out in the next three weeks.


And that’s it. If you’re slightly less confused than you were when you got here, I'm a miracle worker. I really liked last night’s episode, and I think it’s one of those where it’s okay to leave with some confusion. With 3 hours of Season 4 left, last night was most likely a way for the writers to set up some of the bigger, game-changing mysteries we’re yet to see in the coming weeks.

Namaste.
.charlie

Addendum: I'm careful to read EW's Jeff Jensen column after I post mine here. Usually, I kick myself for missing something. This week, that something was good enough to come back and post as this addendum. To quote the good Doc Jensen...

Now, do the timeline math.

Locke is born early. At age 5, he takes a test that most likely would have taken him to the Island if he had passed. He didn't. That same year, Benjamin Linus is born. At age 16, Locke is invited to go to a science camp that again would have taken him to the Island. He refused. About that same time, Benjamin Linus and his father joined the Dharma Initiative. The implication, it seems, is that Ben has been walking the path that was originally meant for Locke. Ben was the contingency plan — the course correction — for Locke's altered destiny. But Ben is his own person, of course, and he has done things differently from what Locke would have done, and this, in turn, has created further changes in the original order of things — changes that I think a certain ticked-off, Island-deprived billionaire named Charles Widmore is trying to reverse. The scene at the rehab center between paralyzed adult Locke and his wheelchair pusher, the creepy Matthew Abbaddon — who accepted the description of ''orderly'' with knowing irony — was meant to suggest one way Widmore is scheming to restore the original order: by getting Locke on that Island and taking back the birthright that was supposed to be his.

(Unless I’m getting this reversed: What if Ben was the man of destiny, but for decades, various forces — including Alpert and Widmore-Abbaddon — have been vainly trying to change destiny by getting Locke to the Island to supplant the über-Other?)

Preview: Cabin Fever

Charlie has been waiting for tonight’s episode ever since it was announced back in March. In fact, he has mentioned Cabin Fever, tonight’s Locke-centric episode, in nearly ever post since then. Charlie definitely has a man-crush on Locke. Let’s just lay it out there that his productivity level is going to be at an all-time low this week as he mentally prepares for tonight. This fact is neither here nor there; it is just interesting.

We can all agree that tonight’s episode is going to be crazy. Start with the title – Cabin Fever – and I’m already intrigued. As we all know (especially those of us who have lived through a Nebraska winter), cabin fever is term for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when someone is isolated and/or shut in for an extended period. Symptoms of cabin fever include restlessness, irritability, forgetfulness, and excessive sleeping. Taken literally, our 815’ers definitely have a case of cabin fever…after all, they have been isolated on this island for nearly 100 days. The Others, on the other hand (pun intended), have an even more serious case of cabin fever.

Even further, the people on S.S. Not Penny’s Boat (yes, we know the real name now: the Kahana) have the worst case of cabin fever of all the characters. In fact, in the episode Ji Yeon, Captain Gault implied it had something to do with the close proximity of the island.  Hmm.  I believe we’ve seen all of these so-called symptoms displayed by the freighter folk…and we’re likely going to see more tonight. After all, ABC’s press release says that “life aboard the freighter becomes perilous.” Yeah, that sounds about right…   But first things first.

John Locke
When we last saw him: Locke was not in last week’s Jack-centric episode. We last saw Locke in the whirlwind Ben-isode The Shape of Things to Come.  After Keamy and his men were attacked by Smokey, Ben and Locke headed to find Jacob and forcefully/coercingly (is that a word?) took Hurley with them (as he has found Jacob's cabin before), while Sawyer, Claire and Aaron headed back to the beach with Miles.

His current emotional state: Uncertain (as always). Locke knows he is headed to Jacob’s cabin and the last time he was there, things were dicey. When he and Ben reached Jacob's cabin, Locke initially couldn't see or hear Jacob. However, as he was about to walk out on a likely crazy Ben, Locke heard a voice say "Help me.” It is assumed that this was Jacob speaking, though there are those out there who believe it was Ben. Following the voice, there is a bout of poltergeist-like behavior with furniture (and Ben) being tossed around the cabin. While Locke does appear to believe in the power of Jacob, I imagine he is a little anxious about this ‘08 Reunion Tour.

What Ben and Locke want from Jacob: Ben and Locke believe that Jacob will provide further instructions (Remember that episode (Further Instructions) from last season? When Locke lived at the drug commune?) on what they are supposed to do next. The decision to go to Jacob was Ben’s decision, shortly after the death of Alex at the hands of Keamy. As you recall, in a state of shock, Ben mumbled "they changed the rules.” As he has done before, Ben is relying on the presumed wisdom of Jacob to know how to react to this sudden change of rules. Locke, as someone who believes he has a responsibility to care for the well-being of the island, is following Ben because he does not have a better plan at this point (after all, Sawyer, Miles, Claire, and Aaron just hit the road and left their team).

Remembering where Locke came from: Although we do not know if tonight will be a flash forward or a flash back (what does that even mean anymore anyways?), it might be easiest to review Locke’s life in terms of the locations of importance in his life –

Los Angeles: His birthplace has been assumed, but has not been specifically mentioned.
Iowa: He lives in a commune for a few months (presumed site from license plates).
Tustin, CA: He works as a regional manager for a box company (owned by Hurley).
Mexico: After pushing Locked out a window, Anthony Cooper escapes to Mexico.
Melbourne, Australia: This is where Locke tried to go on a walkabout.
Sydney, Australia: The take-off location of Oceanic 815.
Tallahassee, FL: His father is “taken” from I-10 outside Tallahassee to the box on the island, presumably so Locke can deal with his daddy issues once and for all.

A few of the remaining Locke questions:
1. How did Locke escape the Swan when it imploded? What made him mute immediately after the implosion?

2. Was Ben really coming to recruit him, as he claimed while he was a prisoner in the hatch? If so, why was Locke not on Jacob’s list?

3. Why did the Monster not attack him at first, but then try to drag him down a hole later?

4. How did Locke acquire his knife throwing and tracking skills?

5. Why was he soaking wet right before the submarine blew up?

6. Was there any truth to what his mother said about him being “a special birth?”

Those pesky daddy issues:  In nearly every Locke-centric episode we’ve seen in Lost (6 of the 8), Anthony Cooper has played a significant role in challenging and really ticking off Locke. Will Anthony show up tonight? I’m going to say it is probable. In what sense? I am not sure. As I try to piece together the intricate web of Lost (I’m talking about Widmore, Hanso, Paik Heavy Industries, etc.), I’m struggling to figure out if Anthony Cooper is a player or a pawn in the game. Part of me thinks he is just a pawn that has been used by the powers that be (Widmore & Co.) to reach an end or achieve a goal with both Locke and Sawyer. However, the way in which he continues to show himself during the most bizarre and significant situations has me thinking that perhaps there is more to him than meets the eye. I don’t know if he will show his (ugly) face tonight, but if he does, keep your eyes peeled on his every move.

Previously on the S.S. Not Penny’s Boat (Kahana)
Let’s review where we are with our freighter. The Kahana, owned by Charles Widmore, is currently 40 miles off shore (twenty minutes flying time). My research shows some interesting facts about the Kahana. The Kahana is a supply vessel common to offshore oil fields such as those in the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea and offshore Nigeria. This type of boat is used to ferry food, water, stores and drilling necessities like "liquid mud" to oil drilling platforms. This type of ship is generally built for speed and not duration, so the last port of call (Fiji) is likely close to the destination. However, the Kahana appears to have been modified for the specific task of finding the Island, and has two helipads on the deck where the boat would normally carry pallets of supplies. It was equipped with 2 helicopters, but one crashed in the ocean when Naomi parachuted to the Island.

We have met a number of individuals on/from the Kahana (but not all):

Captain Gault (alive): Gault informed Sayid and Desmond that Widmore owned the Kahana. He also implied that Ben staged the plane wreckage and 324 bodies inside.

Frank Lapidus (alive): Frank is a helicopter pilot. He memorized the entire manifest of Oceanic 815 because he was supposed to be the pilot.

Kevin Johnson (alive): This is Michael’s alias while serving as a deckhand on the Kahana.

Martin Keamy (alive): Keamy is an ex-Marine mercenary who heads up the Kahana’s military team tasked with apprehending Ben Linus. He survived an attack by Smokey.

Omar (alive): Omar is a member of the military team.

Jeff (alive): Jeff is a mechanic seen working with Michael to repair the engines.

Naomi (deceased): Naomi was hired to provide protection to the team from the freighter operating on the island, and to get the team back safely. She was murdered by Locke.

George Minkowski (deceased): Minkowski is the communications officer from the freighter who first made contact with Jack. After suffering flashes similar to Desmond’s, he is kept strapped to a bed in the sick bay until freed by Sayid and Desmond. He later dies of an apparent brain aneurysm.

Brandon (deceased): After suffering symptoms of time-transported consciousness following his abortive trip to the Island with Minkowski, Brandon died.

Regina (deceased): The Kahana’s contact with the island after Minkowski falls ill. She killed herself by jumping off the Kahana wrapped in heavy chains.

Ray (deceased): Ray is the freighter’s doctor. He was found floating near the island with a slit throat.

Things to Watch For
So after reading all of this, what should you watch for?

*Pay careful attention to the trip to Jacob’s cabin. Look at the surroundings: the pictures on the wall, the books on the shelves, the items on the table, etc.

*In the trip to Jacob’s cabin, it will be test #2 between Ben and Locke. Who does Jacob communicate with and what does he say?

*On the freighter, do you have a sense of who Sayid and Desmond can trust? Whose side is Michael on? Don’t forget that we trusted him once before…and he killed Libby and Ana Lucia.

*Ray the doctor’s body floated to the island last week. With the time differential, does that mean he dies this week? Watch him carefully.

*Anthony Cooper: pawn or player?

*Last week, Claire went missing. Be on the look out for her…and watch who takes care of Aaron. Could this be the start of our transition from Mom Claire to Mom Kate?

Come back tomorrow to talk through things with Charlie, who probably won’t sleep well tonight.

Namaste!
-Maggie