LA X Parts 1 and 2

Welcome back, Lost Losers! It’s been a long wait, but the final season is finally here. Only a few more months for me to entertain and astound you with my ridiculous obsession with this show. For me, it’s like reading a book, which, as though of you who know me know, is my true passion. Yes, I am super nerdy, and I like it!

I’m not sure how I felt about this episode; I was pretty ticked off about a couple of things (did they REALLY have to kill Juliet a SECOND time, for instance), and I don’t know how I feel about the Templars, but I’m hoping all will pay off in the end . . .

To refresh your memories, here are the questions I posed at the end of last season. Did we get any answers . . . a few . . . ok, not really.

Questions I’m still dying to find the answers to:
a. Where is Claire?
b. What role does Christian play? (Could he be the form that Nemesis took before John’s body arrived?)
c. Why can’t babies be born on the island after Dharmaville?
d. Walt . . . will he be back?
e. Why doesn’t Richard age?
f. Who built the statue?
New Questions:
a. Who is Jacob’s enemy (aka Nemesis)?
b. Why does he want to kill Jacob?
c. What is the loophole? How does Locke fit into it?
d. How does Jacob "bring" people to the Island?
e. Why did Jacob choose to visit each person at pivotal moments of their lives?
f. Who did Locke and Hurley see/hear previously at the cabin? (Nemesis?)
g. Who are Ilana and her crew, and why are they referring to themselves as "the good guys?"
h. For what and why is Frank a candidate?
i. Why had Jacob never met with Ben? (he seemed to imply cause Ben is an insipid whiner sometimes)
j. How did Jacob come to be on the Island?
k. Who are "they" that are coming?


Now on to the episode . . .


1. Title of the episode --LA X –this might refer to the Los Angeles airport, but apparently X is a comic book reference (Williams family?) for “alternate reality.” It might also mean the “Los Angeles 10” . . .

2. The Flight:
· Leaked four minutes were right . . .
· Rose and Jack reversed – in pilot Jack said, “It’s normal” Did Bernard call Rose Viv? Also means that Rose will die.
· Des on flight! What up with that? Plus, Jack recognizes him . . . but remember, he met Des in the stadium one night when he went for a run.
· Island undersea . . . that was some crappy CG.
· Artz! Chattin it up w/ Hurley – knows he’s the owner of Mr. Cluck’s
· Hurley – nothing bad ever happens to me; I’m the luckiest guy alive
· Shannon not there because she didn’t want to be saved from bad relationship
· Did Locke really go on a walkabout? He is paralyzed, after all.
· Charlie “dead” in bathroom . . . how very Elvis of him . . . choking on a bag of horse – “I was supposed to die”
· What about Michael and Walt?
· No coffin on the plane? It is “lost” . . . meaning that one way or another, Jack is gonna have to “seek” his father.
· Claire’s back!

KEY LINES FROM FLIGHT 815/LAX: “They didn’t lose your father, they just lost his body.” “Nothing’s irreversible.” Jack and Locke find each other, only in this reality, they may actually be allies. One will use teach the other faith, while the other will inspire with reason. Hmmm . . .

3.Island:
· Kate’s eye – deafened by explosion? Why is she hanging in the tree?
· Juliet alive?! . . . Yay! . . . Just to kill her again?!! WTF! What important thing did she need to tell him? Miles can hear her and passes along the message -- “It worked” Somehow Juliet knows that there is an alternate reality? When she was talking about “going dutch,” was she in the other reality, meeting James, and asking him to go for coffee? I hope so . . .
· Hurley can see Jacob because he is dead . . . will Miles be able to hear him?

We interrupt this flow of thought to hate on Kate . . . I knew I would find a reason . . .
· Why does Kate think that it would be at all appropriate for her to help bury Juliet?
· Kate swoopin in at the temple to try to replace Juliet. Classy. Almost as classy as the pics of her in her underwear in Esquire. Yeah, I know, she’s hot and I’m jealous.


Now back to the island and the temple . . .
· Book by Kierkegaard . . . Much of his philosophical work deals with the issues of how one lives, focusing on the priority of concrete human reality over abstract thinking and highlighting the importance of personal choice and commitment.
· FA Cindy back in action with the Temple people. Also, note that the two children have not aged . . .
· In guitar case is an ancient Ank symbol with a note inside; what does it say? It also implies that Jacob knew he was going to die . . .
· Who is Ghengis Khan?
· Sayid in the Jesus pose coming out the well. And dead. To be resurrected . . . (hint, hint)
· Who’s the hippie translator dude? He looks familiar but I can’t place him. Can anyone help me out?


4. This Week in Bible Studies: Ashes scatted around temple; ashes used to keep Smokey/Nemesis away –

• According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, ashes were first used by the Jewish people in mourning rituals, connecting the living with the dead when the mourners rolled in the ashes. It was also seen as an act of purification.
• In Catholicism, ashes have also been used as penance for sins. My Catholic Losties perhaps can tell us more . . .

5. Under the statue:
· Locke/Nemesis /Smokey – He is a BAD MF’Er! Did you see how he overcame the ash system!
· Jacob nowhere to be seen – He is turned to ash. Will he return in another body, much as Nemesis took over Locke’s body. Could it be that Jacob is now in Sayid’s body???!!!! Could that be what the note said?
· “The only one who realized how pitiful the life he left behind was.” Fake Locke on Locke. Nemesis says he wants the one thing that Locke didn’t; to go home . . . could he be “Satan” (channeling the Church Lady)? Trying to re-enter heaven?
· “Hello, Richard. It’s nice to see you out of those chains.” – I think this is probably figurative, meaning being bound to Jacob, but could it also mean that Richard came on the Black Rock?

6. How about those wings on Lapidus’ head?

7. Everything That Rises Must Converge – The two realities will eventually collide. No matter which reality they exist, each of these people will eventually come to the same destiny – it’s just a question of how they get there. That’s my theory for the week.

I still hate Kate; Jack is still annoying as hell; James is hot; Hurley is finally embracing his “gift”; I want Vincent to make an appearance.

That’s it for now . . . looking forward to your insights!

Namaste,
LLL

The Incident

Sorry to be posting a little late . . . I had to let it all digest.

While it wasn’t my favorite finale, it definitely got me thinking (and, of course, opened up a whole new can of worms). The whole Jacob thing is really blowing my mind today!
I also spent too much time reading about Jacob the biblical figure and his brother Esau.

1. Is it just me, or is Jacob a regular Rumplestilsken?

2. Jacob and his nemesis (unnamed thus far) watch beside the statue as the Black Rock sails toward the coast of the island. Nemesis says, “We brought them here. It always the same: they come, they fight, they destroy.” Jacob replies, “It only ends once. Everything else is just progress.”
-- Nemesis’ words seem to describe all groups that come to the island. In some ways, isn’t it the perfect description of mankind? Could it be that Nemesis and Jacob are opposing viewpoints on mankind? Good v. evil? Optimism v. Pessimism?
-- Chris called it – Jacob lies in the shadow of the statue (more on that later).

3. THIS WEEK IN BIBLE STUDIES: This could take a while, so I am going to include a link to Wikipedia and just give you a few highlights:
a. Jacob had a twin named Esau. Esau was born first, with Jacob clinging to his heel. Esau was initially favored by his father Isaac (who later was renamed Israel), but because of a trick by their mother, Jacob became the blessed one. During this trick, Rebecca disguised Jacob as Esau (Jacob was fair, Esau was hairy, Isaac was blind).
b. Esau spent most of the rest of his life seeking revenge on Jacob and his descendants.
c. Jacob and his wife Rachel (Juliet’s sister’s name)struggled for nearly 100 years to conceive a child, but eventually bore two sons (he had 8 others w/ other wives), including Joseph and Benjamin (awwww . . . snap). That’s why Ben feels so forsaken by his island “father”? He is always the “second son.”
d. In both Jewish and Islamic faith, Jacob is the one chosen by God to spread his word.
e. Here’s the link if you want to read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob

My conclusion? Jacob really is goodness . . . but he is also seeking the “end” of the story.

4. Jacob’s “touching” of the 06:
a. Kate – trying to steal a lunch box – Jacob protects her from being punished (possibly protecting her from her stepdad?) – Kate eventually becomes an outlaw -- ends up on island.
b. James – Jacob gives him the pen to write his letter to Mr. Sawyer – James carries this letter with him always – He becomes Sawyer, a con-man, just like the one who “killed” his parents – ends up on island.
c. Sayid – Jacob asks him for directions and he pauses while Nadia continues to cross and is hit by a car and killed – Sayid no longer has any reason to repress his “killer instinct – he goes back to the island
d. Locke – Jacob is reading outside the building from which Locke was pushed – he touches Locke and tells him everything will be ok and that he is sorry this happened to him – he ends up on the island (Locke did have some important role on the island. Nemesis somehow knew this . . . used it to his advantage).
e. Sun and Jin’s wedding – Jacob shakes their hands and tells them “your love is special. Never take it for granted.” -- Sun comes back to island to find Jin.
f. Jack – After Sarah’s surgery, Jack flips on Christian (who questions whether it is really Christian who doesn’t believe in Jack) – Jacob hands Jack the Apollo bar – Jack’s dysfunctional relationship with his father and his self doubt – ends up on island.
g. Hurley – Jacob is pretty honest with him – tells him he is lucky not cursed because he can talk to the dead – gives him guitar – Hurley goes back to island. (This also helps us understand Hurley’s more light-hearted outlook on speaking w/ the dead, particularly when he talks with Miles).

Jacob has touched the lives of all these people. I think “they” are the “they” who are coming! They are all an integral part of Jacob’s plan. He is helping them fulfill their destinies.

5. Ilana and company – disciples of Jacob. How did this come to pass? What is the back story there?

6. RECURRING LINE: “What’s done is done.”

7. James asks Jack what he wants, for every man “does what he does for a reason.” Jack implies it is because he lost Kate.

8. James and Juliet were really pissing me off for a while there . . . but in the end . . . James+Juliet=4Ever!

9. YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO MILES!!!: “Did it ever occur to you that you may cause the thing you are trying to prevent?” Maybe that’s why “they’re coming.”

10. PHIL = CREEPER!

11. For what is Frank a candidate? A disciple? They seem to think he will be trustworthy. Are they trust worthy? (They being Ilana and Bram)

12. TEAR-JERKER MOMENT: Do I even have to say it? “Don’t you leave me.” “I will always love you.” So unfair!

13. THIS WEEK IN LOST LITERATURE: Everything That Rises Must Converge: This short story tells place in the recently desegregated South, where "enlightened" whites are condescending, and blacks resent the efforts of well-meaning whites. The collection deals with what happens when things change, how we must face up to our problems and confront our own hypocrisies.

14. Jacob tells Ben he has a CHOICE. Of course, Ben CHOOSES to kill Jacob (his “father”)

15. Totally knew it was going to be Locke in the box. Interestingly, that is the same ending as last year . . . hmmmmm . . .

16. Richard saves Ellie – “Consequences” of our actions.

17. Holla to Rose and Bernard! You, too, Vincent!

18. Richard asks Jack about Locke. Jack has a surprising new outlook on John – He says he wouldn’t give up on him.

19. Why did everyone change their minds and help Jack with his mission? Boy, is Sawyer gonna hate his guts for real now!

20. What lies in the shadow of the statue? "Ille qui nos omnes servabit" - “He who will protect/save us all.”

21. “They’re Coming” -- WHO? I think the 06. I think the bomb will actually set it all in motion – again. I think Miles was right.

22. Every season ends with a bang. Literally!

23. Questions I’m still dying to find the answers to:
a. Where is Claire?
b. What role does Christian play? (Could he be the form that Nemesis took before John’s body arrived?)
c. Why can’t babies be born on the island after Dharmaville?
d. Walt . . . will he be back?
e. Why doesn’t Richard age?
f. Who built the statue?

24. New Questions:
a. Who is Jacob’s enemy (aka Nemesis)?
b. Why does he want to kill Jacob?
c. What is the loophole? How does Locke fit into it?
d. How does Jacob "bring" people to the Island?
e. Why did Jacob choose to visit each person at pivotal moments of their lives?
f. Who did Locke and Hurley see/hear previously at the cabin? (Nemesis?)
g. Who are Ilana and her crew, and why are they referring to themselves as "the good guys?"
h. For what and why is Frank a candidate?
i. Why had Jacob never met with Ben? (he seemed to imply cause Ben is an insipid whiner sometimes)
j. How did Jacob come to be on the Island?
k. Who are "they" that are coming?

Finally, in the 2010 teaser, “Destiny Revealed,” a female eye opens. It looked like Juliet’s to me . . . but I guess we’ll have to wait 7 months to find out!

Namaste,
LLL

Follow the Leader

Just when I thought I might not hate Kate anymore . . .

The Jack I love to hate is back . . .

Jim + Juliet = 4Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Overarching theme of tonight’s episode seems to be the desire to erase the misery in our lives. And while I still hate Kate, I did agree with her on this point . . . if you erase the misery in your life, you also erase the joy. So the question becomes, if they change the course of time, if Oceanic 815 never crashes, will they truly be happier? Is it worth giving up those moments of love and happiness, of discovery, to live without misery? I’m currently teaching a unit on Dystopia, and I have to say, a life without misery is no life at all. Plus, what was so great about any of their lives before the crash anyway? What is it that Jack is trying to get back to? I think he has forgotten what a loser he was becoming when his father died.

2. Is it really their destiny to “put things back”?

3. The Dharma Initiative is built over the bomb, which means it is also built over the temple. All those flashes that have been happening – related to radiation? Doesn’t radiation cause nosebleeds? Will setting off the bomb cause the flashes? Maybe Jack’s destiny to set off the bomb will actually cause all of this in reality. After all, whatever happened, happened.

4. The Kadzinsky Coupe!

5. I love Dr. Pierre Chang. I want a t-shirt.

6. HOLY CRAP MOMENT: Locke sends Richard to tell Locke that he has to die. Trippy!

7. Funniest Moment of the Night: Dr. Chang asks Hurley who is president. Remember, Hurley was trying to get that info from Jack when they arrived at DI!

8. Ellie and Widmore – I want to know more about this relationship. By the way, is she preggers? Wasn’t Widmore touching her belly?

9. Speaking of Ellie and Widmore, do you think they are both so desperate to get back to the island/send the 08 back to the island to save their son? Or are their reasons more complicated (not that trying to save the son you killed before he was born isn’t complicated enough!)?

10. Were you as surprised as I was that Sawyer actually got on the sub (although the previews imply he will get off)? I LOVED that!

11. VOMIT IN MY MOUTH MOMENT: Kate gets on the sub and gives Sawyer that look. Hello? Don’t you realize that they don’t want you there? Poor Kate; no one likes her anymore (not even Loser Jack).

12. Locke is BA!

13. WHY DOES LOCKE WANT TO KILL JACOB? Didn’t see that one coming!

14. Building on my crackpot theory: Kate tells Jack that he sounds just like Locke. Hmmmm . . . John? . . . Jack?

15. By the way, who is the leader that is to be followed? Locke? Jack? Sawyer?
Finale next week . . . can’t wait!

Namaste,LLL

The Variable

The 100th episode did not disappoint! Though it made my brain hurt and kept me thinking into the wee hours of the night . . .

I’m going to try not to recap but rather stick to a few key items:

1. The first thing that came into my mind this morning when I woke up was “WHERE THE HELL ARE ROSE AND BERNARD?” I do not think it is just the producers being lazy; I think there is a very significant reason that we have not seen these two since the first episode. Are they in a different time period? I’ve seen some theories out there on the web that they are the Adam and Eve skeletons found in the cave . . . but I think this is definitely something we need to keep asking as the season creeps closer to the end.

2. Most F*ed Up Moment: Daniel is killed by his mother – twice, basically. She kills him and then she sends him back to the island to be killed again. You have to be one dedicated B to do that!

3. Sawyer and Juliet or Des and Penny? Which is the best couple ever?

4. We now know why Daniel was crying in last season’s premiere (although he doesn’t) and we also know what he was doing in this season’s premiere.

5. The Constant Theory –
a. building the Swan unleashes electromagnetic energy
b. button pushed for years to keep the energy at bay
c. Des fails to push the button
d. O 815 crashes
d. Freighter arrives w/ D, M, and C
e. C dies, leaving D heartbroken
f. D goes to Ann Arbor
g. D returns to be killed (of course, this is not why he thinks he has returned)

6. The Variable Theory –
a. Stop the Swan from being built
b. Energy never released
c. O 815 never crashes
d. Charlotte never dies . . .

7. HOLY CRAP MOMENT #1: Daniel tells Chang the truth . . . do you think Chang secretly believes him?

8. HOLY CRAP MOMENT #2: Charles reveals that he is Daniel’s father!

9. Best Sawyer Nicknames of the Night: “Twitchy,” “HG Wells,” and “The Iagos”

10. No, I do not think Sawyer still has a thing for Kate even though he called her “Freckles” and peeved Juliet.

11. Speaking of Kate (vomit in mouth), it kind of seems that she and Jack are through.

12. When I saw Desmond, all I could think was “Groper!”

13. HOLY CRAPPIEST MOMENT: Ellie shoots Daniel . . . GD!

14. Didn’t Daniel realize that he was a constant when he spoke to Charlotte and made her cry? She told him he did that!!!!!!

So it all seems to come down to Fate versus Free Will . . . once again. Do you think they can change the course of the events? Do you think they should? Do you think Sawyer, Juliet, and Miles will try to stop them?

WHERE ARE YOU, ROSE AND BERNARD? WHAT ABOUT YOU, CLAIRE?

Some Like it Hoth

Damn you, Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof! Damn you! Just when we think we have something figured out, you clearly dispute it! Time traveling does not have the rules we thought . . .

This was one of my favorite episodes this season, mostly because it had lots of funny moments, and they used my favorite derogatory term a few times – “douche.” Seriously, is there a more hilarious thing to call someone (besides maybe a “tea-bagger”)?

1. But I guess my first instinct was right . . . Miles is indeed Pierre Chang’s son. At first I thought that Miles had come after his mom and he left the island, then I thought it was before he was born. But I was wrong, wrong, wrong! So, now we have to come up with a new theory as to why Sun and Ben did not arrive in the same time as the rest of the Losties. Maybe because they do not belong? Ben has been cast out and Sun has a child she must raise. I’m flummoxed!

2. What we know about Miles:
-- he can speak (or feel) the dead and ask them what happened to them
-- this seems to have something to do with having been on the island
-- Punk rock Miles! Sweet! The producers did a much better job “younging” him
than they did Jack or Ben.
n Miles mom, Lara, says that Pierre abandoned them and never loved them. This is why Miles does not seek to know his father.
n Miles was recruited by Widmore – I think it just might have had something to do with him being Chang’s son, not just his “special” abilities
n He is greedy – but we already knew that!

3. “The Circle of Trust” -- ha! Horace is soooo 70’s! And apparently inspired Meet the Parents.

4. Why is Kate such a dumbass? Really? Could she make it more obvious that she had something to do with Ben’s “disappearance”?

5. Hurley has a new BFF! He and Miles had some great lines: - “You’re just jealous that my power’s better than yours”
- “That guy’s kind of a douche.” “That douche is my dad.”
- “You can hold baby you. Change your own diaper.”
- “Ewoks suck, dude.”

6. Hydra Island – under which Charlie met his maker – was where they were experimenting on the polar bears. Somehow, those bears escaped! Though we haven’t seen one in a while . . .

7. The body in the van belonged to Alvarez. He died when one of his fillings was shot out of his gums and pierced his brain. This is because he got too close to the source of the electromagnetism. He was working on what would later become the hatch. His death, and probably others, led the DI to create the numbers system.
8. Speaking of those wiley numbers, they seem to be making a comeback . . . Hurley got all freaky deaky when they were embossing them on the steel sheet.

9. “Love . . . love will keep us together” -- new theme song for Hurley and Miles, BFF!

10. When Naomi recruits Miles, she has him “talk” to the body of Felix. Felix confirms to the viewers that Charles Widmore staged the crash of Oceanic 815. She also tells him that there are lots of deceased on this island that can help them find a man who will be very difficult to find. It might be Ben . . . but could she be referring to Jacob? Also, some might think that the “deceased” refer to the Losties. I do not think this is the case. It has been refuted many times that they are all dead – but they could be, I guess.

11. Bram – van driver who snatches Miles – was the guy with Ilana last week. He asks Miles, “What lies in the shadow of the statue?” According to Bram (reference to Bram Stoker, author of Dracula?), Miles is not ready because he does not know the answer.

12. BEST MOMENT: Baby Miles wearing a Dharma shirt reading a book about polar bears. Sweet!

13. THIS WEEK IN LOST MOVIES:
- Hurley is writing Empire Strikes Back, clearly the best Star Wars movie ever made. He compares Miles and Chang to Luke and Vader.
- The title also refers to “Some Like it Hot,” a classic buddy movie. BFF! Does this mean we can expect M and H to cross dress in a coming episode?

14. Faraday is back! And he’s not wearing a tie!

15. Rose and Bernard – I miss you!

So, do you know what lies in the shadow of the statue? Which team are you on?

Namaste,
LLL

"What Happened, Happened" and "Dead is Dead"

This is my second try at this . . . my computer crashed mid-blog. Aaarrgghhh! It’s a two-for-one, too. Hope you enjoy!

“Whatever Happened, Happened”

As much as I hate to admit it, I had sympathy for Kate in this episode. She did the right thing by Aaron and Claire, and I was a little choked up when she said goodbye to Aaron. But I still hate her!

1. Do you think Cassidy was right about Sawyer being a coward by staying on the island? I thought she had a point . . . but he’s still hot and awesome.

2. Classic – Miles trying to explain time travel to Hurley. In the end, his theory did make sense . . . even though Ben didn’t remember them . . .

3. Go Team Juliet! Way to score some points for Jawyer!

4. Why did Kate NEED Aaron?

5. Is it the Losties’ fault that Ben is Ben?

6. BEST LINE: Hurley looking at his hand, waiting for it to “Marty McBride”

7. We learn that Ellie and Charles were in charge of the Others . . . what happened? Well, we learned a bit in . . .

“Dead is Dead”

1. WHERE THE HELL ARE ROSE AND BERNARD? SERIOUSLY!!!

2. Richard saved Ben against Charles’ wishes, just as Ben would later save Alex against Charles’ wishes. Both claim it is what Jacob wants. So again, who the hell is Jacob? For a minute I thought maybe it was Sawyer . . .

3. Ben claims he came back to the island to be judged . . . do you think this is true? I don’t but I think he was forced into following through on his lie. The island made him do it!

4. Why does Ilana look so much like Ana Lucia? Do you think it is coincidence?

5. SOUL GLO AWARD: Although there is no actual Soul Glo used, Ben’s hair was SWEEET! Paired with the ascot . . . totally hot. (Please note sarcasm).

6. Ben trained Ethan; he must have lured him away from Dharma somehow. Maybe because he was the only other kid around for E to look up to?

7. HALLELUJAH! The Locke I know and love is back! He is not that whiny, insipid guy anymore. He wasn’t buying any of Ben’s bullshit.

8. Why did Charles think Danielle and Alex needed to be killed? He’s clearly not a nice man . . . but I still can’t decide if he is better or worse than Ben. Maybe we’re not supposed to be able to make that distinction; maybe that’s the point.

9. Sun is waiting for Locke. Alex says if Ben tries to hurt Locke, if he doesn’t follow Locke, she will kill him. Is Locke Jacob somehow?

10. GO TEAM PESMOND!!!! Way to kick Ben’s ass!

11. THIS WEEK IN LOST LITERATURE: Our Mutual Friend
Charles Dickens’ last book
A man seeks to win the love of a woman on the merits of his own character rather than through his inheritance. Maybe Des has a secret background we don’t know about yet . . .
This is the book Des carries around with him in previous seasons, the one that is only to be opened if he dies. He finds a letter from Penny in it when he is contemplating suicide while trapped in the hatch. This book kept him going.

12. So is “dead” “dead”? And if so, does that mean Locke is really dead? Aaaarrgght! I can’t wrap my head around this!

13. Ilana is working for someone . . . she wants to know “What lies in the shadow of the statue?” Could it be Smokey?

14. THIS WEEK IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES: Under the temple, Ben find Hieroglyphics and a representation of Anubis, Egyptian god who was the gatekeeper to the underworld and Osiris. Anubis is the “Weigher of Souls” on their way to the afterlife. Ben clearly has a crappy soul . . .

15. What’s up with the crappy F/X during the Smokey scene? That was awful!

Can’t wait to see Miles’ story next week!

Namaste,
LLL