Welcome, Welcome
Hey Cats and Kittens! Once again, Lost has managed another FANTASTIC season finale. Sometimes I get discouraged that I will never get any answers. However, those brilliant writers manage to rope me in every time. The best time for pulling back wayward viewers happens to be the season finale - my favorite time because its all engines go. Most finales seem to be overly fantastic because the viewers will know its worth tuning in next season. Good thing for us Lost fans, our show surpasses most season finales in a “keep me wanting more” kind of way.
This week I will be attempting something that has not been attempted since I started writing the Lost Recap blog….ladies and gentlemen, I will be trying to write this blog - - in the order the writers intended it. Our main characters story weaved in with what’s happening in the present. GASP. I know this is a daring feat; however, I have faith. So without further ado, let’s begin…
2007: A Lost Odyssey
We find ourselves with a bearded, haggard-looking Jack aboard a flight. The man is so drunk I can smell the booze from my side of the television. I, too, like to have an in flight drink to overcome my jitters, but Jack may have taken it too far. Especially since the flight attendant handed him a newspaper instead of another drink. But well, well my friends, something in that paper was interesting enough for Jack to rip out the article.
Next, we skip to Jack driving. He pulls over on a bridge and starts crying as he crumples the article from the paper. So sad, but all of us informed viewers took one look at that bridge and thought to ourselves, “Man, he’s going to attempt suicide.” And guess what, after he makes some anonymous phone call, he gets out of the car. Once on top of the ledge, he looks down below at the concrete. As he’s about to jump, he hears a car crash with a child crying out for help. Jack being Jack runs over to save the kid. Melodrama and drunkenness aside, Jack is a hero.
CUT TO the Island. Jack checks on Sayid to make sure they are ready for the retaliation on the Others. Sayid makes Jack promise that no matter what happens Jack will use the satellite phone to get everyone off the island. The deaths of Sayid, Jin and Bernard should not be in vain. As this happens, everyone gathers for their goodbyes. The two saddest partings must be Sun and Jin and Rose and Bernard. These two women have so much to lose by leaving their men behind for such a dangerous mission. Another sad part of the departure comes from Hurley telling Claire that Charlie will be fine. Clearly, Claire has a bad feeling, but she puts on a brave face. Jack gathers everyone, besides our brave heroes and departs up the mountain.
Rosseau and Jack lead the huge crowd along the ocean as the wave’s splash up. The scenery looks just beautiful. Seriously, it looks more like a scene from a Sandals commercial than a shot from an island representing the ninth gate of hell.
Naomi runs up to Jack while everyone walks up the mountain. She decides to show him how to use the satellite phone. Just in case anything should happen to her. And folks, THAT is what we call foreshadowing. I’m starting to get a little curious about Naomi. I mean sure she knew Desmond’s name, and she also knew about Penny. But she seems a little, I don’t know, off. Maybe it’s just me.
Down in the Looking Glass Station, Charlie starts to look really bloody from being tied to a chair and getting beaten silly by those two crazy Rambo-type chicks guarding the station. Actually only one throws the punch. The other one plays good cop. Even the bad guys get to play “good cop”/”bad cop.” It’s kinda crazy. Charlie finally tells them that Juliet told him about the station. Blonde chick, Bonnie, calls Ben to confirm. In the room, there is a flashing light and Charlie remembers back to what Desmond said about Charlie’s death. There is a blinking light. Once Charlie flips off the blinking light switch, he drowns. After Ben hears about Charlie’s presence in the Looking Glass, he sends Mikhail to go take care of the problem. Geez, one-eyed pirate, who just won’t die, always finds a way to do what he does best – frighten and annoy.
Back at the Losties homebase, the Others waited for nightfall to sneak up on the Each of the creepy guys and gals stealthily move towards each tent. As each group goes to open a marked tent – BOOM. Sayid hits his target. BOOM. Bernard makes his explosion happen. Waiting, waiting…Jin misses because he was stuck with a crappy pistol while his counterparts had shotguns. I find him to be at a complete disadvantage. I do not blame him in the least for his inability to set off the dynamite. Instead, he must shoot the two Others near his tent. Too bad for my dear little Jin, he gets caught. His friends won’t let him down, right? Wrong, poor Bernard tried heroics, but also got caught. Even our solider Sayid gets captured. Of course, all of this will get back to Ben. And that’s when the stuff will really hit the fan.
Back at the top of the hill, Rose and everyone starts freaking out. They only heard to explosions. Where’s the third? The guys must be in trouble. They should go back. NO. Jack says they must move on and the shooters will be up soon. None of the Losties should lose hope.
CUT TO Bearded Jack in hospital. A female doctor gives Jack a stitch telling him the status of the woman he saved. The door opens to his room, and it is his ex-wife, Sarah. She grills him as to whether or not he’s still drinking. Jack really isn’t up for a lecture…and I would actually like to meet the person who wants to be lectured about their personal life by their ex. That must just be awkward. When Jack asks why she even came, she shares that she is still listed as his emergency contact. Sarah leaves after she knows Jack is alright. Hmm…perhaps, her hot new love life and the fact that she moved on caused Jack to drink. I am super curious why his previous flashbacks had him as a vibrant, hero. Now he seems like the guy you avoid eye contact with on the subway.
CUT to 20,000 leagues under the sea (well not quite). The interrogation of Charlie continues. For a man tied to a chair at the mercy of Others, the man acts pretty cocky. He’s even so bold that he tells them his exact plans. First, he will turn off the flashing device. This will turn off the jammed signal. The Looking Glass will flood. Then his friends will be saved. What happens to him, Blonde Bonnie asks? “I’ll die.” I do not really find Charlie attractive but his heroism keeps me completely intrigued. Plus, the whole love of rockers thing.
All Good Things Must Come to an End
The time has come for Ben to learn about the Losties revenge. Tom radios in to Ben. From there, Ben realizes Juliet betrayed her brethren to save a group she barely knows. Obviously, none of the 3 Lostie shooters are talking. That’s when Ben has the brilliant plan to kill Jin. Apparently to the creepy world according to Ben has marked this strategy with a seal of approval. As the gun digs into Jin’s neck, Bernard screams no. He then spills the beans about the radio tower, Naomi and Karl being the person who warned them of the impending attack. Tom asks if he should kill them now; Ben says that will be later. Ben, Ben, Ben. I don’t want my fave characters to die, but I think you should listen to a phrase my mother used to preach to me. “Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can get done today.” You have given our Losties a chance of survival and hope. Sometimes that’s enough to overcome even the darkest of hours.
Richard tries to get Ben to bring him along to stop Jack, but Ben wants him to take everyone to the temple. Alex runs over and Ben allows her to come along. Of course, Ben’s rudimentary map of the island gives him a shortcut to beat the Losties up the mountain. I find some of these plot points completely implausible, but then these just bite back, making everything fit together. They totally boggle my mind.
As Des gain conciousness, he sits up in his boat only to get shot at by Mikhail. Now, he has no choice but to follow Charlie to the depths below. He swims up the same way Charlie did. Luckily for him, the twisted sisters are fighting in another room so he has time to hide before they get back. YEA! There’s hope for my little Charlie.
CUT TO Bearded Jack in a hospital room. Dr. Hamill, another doctor at Jack’s hospital, interrupts Jack from looking at the woman’s charts. He tells Jack that just because he saved her does not mean he should operate on her. The doctor also reveals that Jack not only saved her but her 8 year old son. He grabbed them both from a burning car. As Jack leaves hospital, he sees the 8 year old with the broken arm and the kid waves smiling. Good his life has some meaning because right now I feel like the suicide plan was not a total waste of good talent. Just kidding, that’s mean. Poor Jack.
CUT TO the Losties walking up the hill. Sawyer announces he plans on returning to the beach. Jack says no but Sawyer isn’t asking for permission. Kate gets upset because she had just fought with Sawyer. She wanted to go back but he refused. He also made a reference to the fact that he would not be a “proud papa” if Kate ends up pregnant. Therefore, Kate and Sawyer are really on the outs. So sad because I really like them rolling in the hay together. It made things really interesting. The plan seems stupid to Jack: 1 man, no guns and 3 friends held hostage. This is a recipe for disaster. Too bad for Jack, his girlfriend Juliet comes forward saying she knows where Sawyer can get guns. She will lead him back to the camp, stopping to get guns along the way. Juliet and Jack kiss goodbye passionately. Kate watches full of jealousy. KATE STOP! Sawyer and you are meant to be. Stop fighting destiny. Criminal on criminal action is where its at. Duh.
Down in the Looking Glass, Greta and Bonnie, crazy, psycho Others, listen to Charlie sing. Desmond hides in a closet from when he first got into the station. Blondie Bonnie says she is going to grab a gun from the closet to kill Charlie. Mikhail seems quite upset that he was deceived about his old friends whereabouts. How dare them say they left the island for a special assignment. Ben calls. He does not allow the girls in the room. From there, he asks why the signals have been jammed. Of course, Ben is a man of a thousand excuses and lies. Now, he says he deceives to “protect” the island. In order to preserve the dignity of the Looking Glass Station, Ben asks Mikhail to kill Charlie, Greta and Bonnie. Over at the Others Camp, Alex looks at her father shocked and amazed that he’d sink that low. Ben says the signals must continue to be jammed.
Somewhere else in the jungle, Sawyer and Juliet walk back to camp. Juliet divulges her little secret - there are no guns. She just said that so Jack would let them go. Sawyer is not exactly the most compassionate person but he actually takes the news pretty well. Well, he tries to but Hurley comes running up. He wants to help. Sadly, Sawyer says something about him being too big and he’ll get in the way. Harsh, but kinda true. Sawyer and Juliet leave him behind, and Hurley looks super sad. Too bad, Hurley was getting on my nerves. He complained about Charlie not letting him go on the boat, and Jack not having time to chat. HURLEY SHUT UP. These are serious matters; no one has time to chat. HURLEY! He reminds me of the little brother who wants all the attention. Sometimes I want a big polar bear to come up and eat him alive. And forget the FCC, I will want to watch. Graphic as possible please.
On the hike to catch Jack and company, Alex starts to question Ben. Ben marks the territory on the map as to how they’ll beat the Losties to the tower. He also tells her she came along because he will be handing her over to her new family. Alex then asks something we’ve all been wondering… why won’t he just let them just leave? Ben answers her with the attitude of a size 2 on the catwalk, I “CAN’T!!”
Over on a big pile of bodies, LOCKE WAKES UP! I know Locke grates me sometimes. However, one of the comment-ers said John cannot die. The island loves him. I tend to agree. Especially, when Locke grabs for a gun to kill himself, but Walt tells him to stop. WALT! I know there have been a lot of all CAPS tonight, but I am just so excited. I nearly squealed when I screamed “Walt” at my television. His time away from the island has made him wiser. He says that John needs to get up because he has work to do. Locke has work to do? Save Sayid and company? Save Charlie and Des? Save everyone? Who knows, but when John Locke gets involved things get crazy.
On the hike, Jack tells Kate that Sawyer is just trying to protect her by being mean. He didn’t mean to leave her or say those rude things. Kate wants to know how Jack could possibly know that…it’s because that’s why Jack told her not to come back for him. Kate tells Jack that Sawyer would never defend Jack to her. Jack responds, “Because I love you.” Paternal love? Brother/sister love? Who knows, his expression is as vague as the look he gives her. People must be taking crazy pills. There is too much going on for these heartfelt emotions to get in the way. BEN IS ABOUT TO STOP YOU PEOPLE!!! AHHHH.
CUT TO Bearded Jack rocking out to some awesome Nirvana. Jack goes into a funeral home asking about the funeral. Apparently there was no funeral. Jack was the only person to come. When the funeral director asks if he’s a friend or family member of the deceased, Jack says he’s neither. He doesn’t want the coffin opened either. But I do Jack Shepherd, I do. Who are you going to see? I must know. Too bad, I won’t. He goes over to the casket, touches the top then gets really upset. He goes for his last pill (Xanax…who knows…no label). Jack finally leaves the room throwing on his shades as he exits. Oh Jack, you are just so cool (feel the sarcasm, folks).
Back on the mountain, Rousseau leads them up a hill. She says they’re about an hour away. Up the hill, Ben is at top with Alex. Everyone stops. Ben says “Hello Jack we need to talk.” We need to talk? That’s the key line of a person breaking up with their current fling. Ben can never just say what he means. He has to be cryptic and creepy.
Fathoms below, old One-Eyed Willy…er…Mikhail…exits the control room after he puts on his patch. Thank goodness because his fleshy socket was really grossing me out. After a round of questions about the station, he shoots Greta and goes after Bonnie. Des pops out and shoots One-Eyed with the harpoon gun. Geez, whaling is totally gross. As Des goes to kill Bonnie, Charlie stops him saying they need her.
On the hillside, Ben convinces Jack for five minutes of his time. Ben thinks it will be worth Jack’s while. However, nothing Ben ever says seems to be anything but puzzles. So we’ll just see about this “chat.”
CUT TO Bearded Jack at pharmacy. He goes to fill an Oxycodone prescription; however, he has run out of refills. DARN THE LUCK! Everyone in line declares him a hero and begs the pharmacist to be obliging. Jack finally leaves in a huff after he says his dad wrote him a prescription but cannot be reached at the current time to confirm. He stumbles and knocks over a sunglass rack. Wow, the man is a drunk.
CUT TO: Ben and Jack sit down. Ben tries to convince Jack that Naomi is bad - -that her people are trying to find the island and destroy everyone on it. He says that if Jack doesn’t give him the satellite phone Sayid, Jin and Bernard will die. The walkie talkie has Tom on the other end. Ben does a countdown giving Jack no choice. But, Jack stands strong. Upon hearing three gun shots though, he goes mad and beats the snot out of Ben. After Ben is down for the count, Jack grabs the walkie and tells Tom that he is going to get his people rescued. Then he will come back down personally to kill Tom.
Good Vibrations
At the underwater hatch, Charlie finally convinces Bonnie to give the code to him. She is nearly dead so she only gets it out once. But Charlie had no chance to write it down. Luck is changing for good ole Charlie; the code to unlock the jamming device reflects the music notes for the song “Good Vibrations.” Oh the irony. Charlie smiles knowing it was his fate to be down there since he is a musician. He can save Claire and Aaron!
Jack drags Ben over to the group and Rosseau times him up with her daughter Alex. Yes, they have finally come together in a rather tender moment. Well, it was totally tender until Rosseau said help me tie him up. Strange bonding. But who am I to judge the love between mother and daughter? Kate talks to Jack privately. He told her he heard three gun shots through the walkie, and he now knows Sayid, Jin and Bernard are dead. They must go on though to honor the sacrifice the men made. Really, a dime sized tear was brought to my eye. My little Sayid is dead. Who will torture the fools now?
On the other end of the walkie, we learn they think Ben is crazy so they only shot into the ground three times. The shooting team is alive.
From across the bush, Sawyer and Juliet think of a way to save the guys. HONK, HONK. Too little, too late. Hurley busts through in the VW van, running over the bad little Others. The ones he did not kill Sayid and Sawyer take care of. One guy Sayid killed while still tied up. Pretty talented I must say. Sawyer shoots Tom. He declares it was for taking “the kid off the raft.” Oh Walt, I would miss you more if I didn’t see you a few minutes ago with John Locke. Juliet even did her fair share to save the Losties. While I don’t completely trust her, I think she did good work tonight.
Hurley radios the Others to tell them what’s up - - aka stay away from us, we already killed the team who held our men hostage. Jack has Ben’s walkie so the whole Lostie team hears the good news instead. Everyone rejoices, except for Ben. Why would he? All his plans are being spoiled.
Charlie goes to the keypad to type in the code, getting it his first try I might add. Suddenly, he sees a screen and begins talking to a woman who identifies herself as Penelope. PENNY! Desmond’s Penny! Charlie puts two and two together getting really excited. Until, he tells her they met Naomi. Unfortunately, Penny has no idea who Naomi is. Des notices that one-eyed Mikhail is missing. Charlie runs to get Des, but notices Mikhail has scuba-ed out of the hatch and has a grenade in hand. The plug has been pulled and the clip released. Charlie slams the door to save Des and fulfill his own destiny. NO! I wanted Charlie to live. Cats have nine lives, why can’t Charlie? In a last heroic effort, Charlie starts writing on his hand. A love message for Claire? NO! He thinks of his friends writing it’s not Penny’s boat. Des tries to save Charlie by beating in the glass with a fire extinguisher. No luck, Charlie drowns. SERIOUS DEPRESSION HERE!!!
Flash to Aaron crying. Even worse, the baby knows! Then Naomi says Charlie did it. The signal isn’t blocked. But it is blocked by Rosseau. Luckily they are at the tower and she turns off her signal. Naomi starts to dial but she can’t get anything from inside the tower. Once outside, she starts working with the phone again. But BAM, she starts bleeding. A knife was thrown into her back…by JOHN LOCKE! Locke tells Jack not to make the call; however, Jack goes through with it anyway. He is willing to risk his life to save all of them. Locke storms off. Two things though. 1) Locke can walk easily. 2) He isn’t bleeding from his gun shot wound. What’s going on with that?
Ghosts of a Future Lost
Bearded Jack makes a calling saying he needs to see someone. Out at the airport. I want to say this is Sarah, but my better judgement goes against that thought. Perhaps Jack meets up with a drug dealer. Who knows? He already stole Oxycodene from the hospital where he found out the only reason the woman crashed was because she stopped to save him.
Another car pulls up. IT IS KATE AUSTEN! Kids, we have officially entered the twilight zone. We no longer view flashbacks but flashforwards. This show is GENIUS!
He hopes that Kate went to the funeral of BLANK - - why blank? Because they never tell us who. Stingy Lost Writers. Apparently, the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 got a golden pass to travel as much as they want. Jack goes because he wants to die. He declares, “We made a mistake.” Kate says she has to go and “he’s” going to be wondering where she is. Who’s he? Sawyer I hope. At first, I thought it would be Sawyer’s funeral. But I want Sawyer to live a fulfilled life since he had such a horrible childhood.
Jack fights with Kate saying they weren’t supposed to leave the island. Kate disagrees. Clearly, she’s been through this with Jack before and she has had enough. She says goodbye Jack. Jack says they have to go back. He doesn’t want to keep living a lie. Is the airline making them lie about what happened? If so why? Hmmm…these are all things to think about until next season. Which brings us to…
Final Thoughts
Right now I have too many thoughts going through my brain. So of reflecting on the fabulousness of the season finale, I thought I could throw out some of my theories/hopes for the future of Lost.
1)Flashforwards should definitely continue. We can’t just have one episode, or the ending episodes, cover the future. Too much happened and connected back. I loved the shock and surprise of the future for Jack, instead of the ho-hum past. So granted we may not be amazed when they do flashforwards again, but I really think these guys are onto something here.
2)Did anyone notice the part where Jack mentioned his father to Dr. Hamill? Dr. Hammill should go upstairs and see how drunk Jack’s father is? And if Jack is drunker, then he’ll go home. Um…looking back, isn’t Dr. Shepherd, Sr, dead? Why would he be upstairs drunk in the hospital, if this is the future?
3)I know it has been covered and conversed upon, but now with this new information I’m going back to the “Bermuda Triangle” theory. Though they are in the Pacific, something is going on that is very Triangle-esque. Nothing is what it seems, and their future appears a little blurry too. Maybe they were sucked into a different wave. Like in Donnie Darko. We all have these paths, but sometimes we stray from them so other things can happen in the world. I don’t know just a thought. I may not even be able to fully understand all the caveats yet.
4)Charlie to come back the way Boone and Walt have. I love his humor, or should I say “humour” (like the Brits). And Walt used to appear to the Losties before he was really dead. Remember, he would show up in the woods, coaxing Shannon? Another thing I remembered tonight while watching. Sometimes people appear who are somewhere else completely.
5)More Ben back-story. I think he’s creepy, cryptic and gross. And I know he had a messed up childhood. However, I want to know I want to know about Richard. Why does that man not age? How did he get to the island? Why was he considered a hostile? I’m not sure of any of these things.
Anyway, it has been nothing but a pleasure writing the last portion of the Lost season recaps for you. I will periodically check the message board to shoot theories back and forth. Also, I think I will miss you guys so I really will just need to say hi. A den mother can’t just leave her cubs, can she? Until next year, I quote the great journalist Edward R. Murrow, “Good Night and Good Luck.”