LOST Thoughts

So, I've been stuck in the lovely comic book world for a while and haven't had a chance to comment on the final season of Lost. As you know from numerous post, Lost of one of my favorite shows, one of the few I look forward to each week. I have to say without reservation that this season is disappointing. There have been a few episodes that I had trouble finishing because they were so slow or disjointed. Here are some of my critiques.

1. This season seems to be making all other seasons inconsequential or even moot.
Does it really what mattered in season two? Did Boone's death or Eko's death or Charlie's death really do anything? All the character development in seasons 1, 2, and 3 pretty much doesn't matter right now. It seems like it's all about Jacob and fake Locke and maybe a few other key characters. I don't think if Widmore had taken over the island that anything would have changed. It wouldn't have matter if the "Others" would have won against the Oceanic Survivors. Characters like Ben and Richard that for seasons seemed powerful important really don't matter anymore.
What's worse, it is pretty much forgetting the whole Oceanic Six story. All of season 4 was about getting off that island. Half of season 5 was about getting back to the island, and now they're trying to get off the island again. This repetition was not mentioned until Jack brought it up in the last episode. Also, all the time travel was pretty much forgotten, like it never happened. And, the temple and Dogen and the characters introduced in the first half of this season, who cares?

2. Sideways Reality - It's like a bad issue of Marvel's "What if..." and also reminds me of the Marvel Ultimate line. "Let's tell the same story again but alter it slightly and put one or two characters in different positions." I understand the idea of fate, and stressing that certain things are meant to happen regardless of circumstances, but do we really need to see Kate on the run again, Jack stressing over his father's death, Locke wrestling with his disability, Claire having issues with her baby? No not really. And we get it, the realities are connected. Like we didn't see that coming. Also, they really take away from the island story. Just when things are beginning to get interesting on the island, we spend way too long in the other reality.

3. Mysteries and mysteries revealed - I feel the story telling has changed over the years. Before viewers would be in the same shoes as the character - what is this island? this smoke monster? who are the others? But now I feel it's kind of different. The producers and writers are just playing with the audience, withholding information, giving false clues, producing mysteries and answers that do not evolve the plot. Before you could actually make educated guesses on what was happening and what was going to happen, kind of playing the detective. Now, that is really tough.
And, there is going to be tons of stuff that is not answered. That is a fact. And, even when stuff is revealed, it still is kind of lame and might not be the truth. Case in point - Christian was actually Flocke, Flocke is the smoke monster, Desmond was the package. Eh, there was not a real wow moment there.

Yeah, there you go. So, my love for Lost is fading. Only a few episodes left. I am confident that everything will be tied together, but that doesn't mean that these will be good episodes, even after the fact. My biggest example of this season's inferiority would be this season's Desmond Episode. It just wasn't very good compared to past Desmond episodes. He's already been been reunited with Penny twice. We've already seen him in a reality that he does not belong. It contained Desmond and Daniel, my two favorite characters, but still wasn't good.

Well, I'm done ranting. I'm confident the end will be cool, and hopefully I'll be made salty.

Lost: Best Episodes Season 4

Lost Season 4 was an interesting one. Due to the writer's strike, there were only 14 episodes, with 3 of them being the season finale "There's No Place Like Home". I think this season was the most all over the place, lacking consistency. I can't even really come up with any true prolonged story lines. I guess the big themes were the Oceanic Six and figuring out what was up with the boat. Despite the lack of cohesion, and maybe because of it, there were some real strong individual episodes.

New Characters: Daniel, Miles, Lapidus, Charlotte, Matthew Abaddon, Keamy

LOST BEST SEASON 4 Episodes

4. Episode 2- Confirmed Dead

Island: Locke and Jack's groups have now split. Jack and Kate find Daniel and Miles and Lapidus and Locke finds Charlotte.

Flashback: Flashbacks of the "Freighter Folk" – Daniel, Miles, Charlotte, Frank, Naomi

It's highly possible I like this episode because it focuses on the Island and not the Oceanic 6. I was very skeptical at first of introducing new characters to an already large character pool, but Daniel and Miles have since become two of my favorite characters. The short flashbacks were enough to give you an idea of the characters and leave you wanting to know more about them, especially Daniel, and rather quickly integrate these characters into the show.

3. Episode 7 - Ji Yeon

Island: Sun wants to go to Locke and his group because it's becoming clear that the freighter is not there to save the survivors of 815. To prevent them from leaving, Juliet tells Jin Sun had an affair.

Flashback/Flashforward: Interwoven flashforward of Sun having her baby and flashback of Jin running at errand to deliver a gift to the maternity ward for Mr. Paik

The best part of this episode is obviously the interplay between the flashback and flashforward. By this time the Oceanic Six has been relieved to be Jack, Kate, Hurley, and Sayid and we know there are 6 of them. The flashes this season have been flashforwards, so we assume Jin and Sun made it back and Jin is rushing to get to the birth of his baby, not some random for Mr. Paik. This is a poor description-watch the ep if you can, but all of this is put together very well, and the big reveal in the end is that Jin is actually dead. Ouch.

Oh and Michael is revealed to be Ben's spy on the boat.

Episodes 12,13, 14 – There's No Place Like Home

Island: Lots – At the end of episode 12 everyone is all over the place, but then Kate, Sayid and the Others free Ben, Locke goes with Ben to move the island, the Oceanic 6 get to the boat just in time for it to blow up after Ben kills Keamy, Ben moves the island, the helicopter crashes and is picked up by Penny's boat, they decide to lie

Flashforward – The Oceanic 6 when they first get back and then When Jack wants to go back and is met by Ben at Jeremy Benthum's (Locke) casket.

Ok, lots of shit going on in this episode, much like season finales of season's 2 and 3. One of the cool things is that we already know who the Oceanic 6 are, but at the beginning of this episode, they are all in different places with different people who are not in the Oceanic 6, so you are really wondering how things work out. Things were actually tied up pretty well, with the whole island moving thing being the "What the?!!" moment that will drive the next season. I think the episode was stretched out a bit too long, especially after the island vanished.

1. Episode 5 – The Constant

Island: Sayid and Desmond got back with Lapidus to the freighter, but Desmond is going crazy

Flashback: Desmond in 1996

Many people will tell you that this is the best episode of Lost ever, and there are many elements that make it a prime candidate for that title. The flashbacks/current time are threaded together perfectly, with Desmond being "unstuck" in time. You have the Minkowski guy as sort of a narrator for what is happening to Desmond. You have a young Daniel Faraday, giving some good back story on him, but again leaving you wanting more. You have some cool stuff about time travel and time travel rules. And all this chaos is going on during the first appearance of the freighter, which is pretty dang weird itself. The best part is definitely the Desmond/Penny love story.

I love to say Lost has not exactly excelled when dealing with love and romance. Cases in point:

Season One – Whatever the Case May Be - Jack asking Kate about the toy plane, Kate: "It belonged to the man I loved. It belonged to the man I killed."

Season Two – Shannon asks Sayid why he always has a gun, Sayid: "I only carry it because I have someone to protect"

Season Three – Sawyer to Kate "You taste like strawberries"

But this time the romance is done very well. You got the 1996 meeting compared to the 2004 phone call, and the love saves Desmond. Sounds cheesy, but Penny is his Constant. It took the best parts of Flashes Before Your Eyes, Catch-22, and any other Penny/Des flashback. Brilliant.

Best Lost Season 4 Moments

Penny/Desmond phone call in The Constant , obviously

I have a soft spot in my heart for catfights (There's a chance they might….kiss) so I have to mention the Charlotte/Juliet catfight in The Other Woman

Locke, Hurley, and Sawyer playing Risk in The Shape of Things to Come when at first you think it is something serious

Sun at Jin's grave in Ji Yeon probably Sun's best scene

Jack's delivery of "You're not even related to him!" in Something Nice Back Home, I wish I had a clip for that, check that, I wish I had a phone ringer with that. Sick.

Hurley's speech about Charlie and why he's going with Locke in the season premier The Beginning of the End and then his apologizing to Jack for going with Locke

Penny and Desmond reuniting again in the season finale There's No Place Like Home, but I actually think Sayid's reuniting with Nadia was much better.

Jack: We have to lie

And what may be my favorite scene of the season, because it stands out as peaceful and calm amid all the chaos and anger and sadness, this scene from Ji Yeon with Bernard and Jin fishing. Check it out.

That's all I got for Season 4, no stock market and I'm not sure if I'll have a Season 5 review because I don't have that season on DVD.

Lost Best Episodes Season 3

Lost Season 3 Best Episodes

I believe Season three was an obvious step down in quality for Lost. There was too many stories going on and lots of episodes only contained one story while totally forgetting about others. The pace was a lot different, things were just not as suspenseful. The whole being prisoners of the others was just not as entertaining as the island. I'd say like Season 2, there were two main story arcs, one at the beginning – Jack, Kate, and Sawyer being prisoners of the Others/repercussions of the hatch explosion- and one at the end – mystery parachute lady/Charlie dying/Others coming – and then in the middle character building episodes usually focusing on a single character, but unlike season 2, these episodes for the most part were pretty weak, and as you'll see by my picks for best episode, the ending arc was by far the best part of the season.

5. Episode 20 - The Man Behind the Curtain
Island: Ben takes Locke to see Jacob then shoots Locke and leaves him for dead
Flashback: Flashbacks at multiple points in Ben's life, culminating in the gassing and death of the Dharma initiative.

This episode answers a lot of questions about Ben, who by this point in the season is one of the show's main characters. This episode also raises more questions about Ben, the Others, and the Dharma Initiative. There are lots of connections to season 5 when the island goes back in time. Not too much really happens other than the flashback, but you can see Ben's hold on the Others slipping and the importance of Richard Alpert.

4. Episode 11 – Enter 77
Island – Locke, Sayid, and Kate find another Dharma station – the Flame, staffed by Mikhail and Bea (in secret). In the end, Mikhail kills Bea and is taken hostage by Locke and co. and Locke blows up the station.
Flashback: Sayid is captured by one of the people he formerly tortured.

This is the earliest episode I have on the season 3 countdown, so this shows you how much I like the whole Hydra sequence. Like almost every great Lost episodes (as seen by Seasons 3's top 2 episodes) this one contains a nice trek. Locke, Sayid, and Kate are looking for the Others in order to save Jack and stumble upon this new Dharma station. I think this is a great use of the Others, because you really don't know who Mikhail is or how much of what he is saying is true. Lots of questions are raised again, especially with Locke blowing up the place. This episode, though a little quicker than previous seasons, harkens back to the great suspense of classic Lost. You really want to know what will happen, and in this case, it happens quickly and is action packed.

3. Episode 21 – Greatest Hits
Island: Jack and Sayid make a plan to kill the Others and get off the island
Flashback: Charlie's "greatest hits"

Episodes 21-23 can really be seen as on big story and this is the beginning of it. It is setting the scene for the big action to come. This is one of the best uses of flashbacks, showing Charlie's top 5 life moments in flashback form. It is kind of corny, but works well in the end. I was never a real fan of Charlie until watching this episode, definitely the best Charlie ep.

2. Episodes 22 & 23 – Through the Looking Glass
Island: Charlie and Desmond get into The Looking glass and disable the jamming equipment. Charlie dies. Sayid, Jin, Bernard, Sawyer, and Hurley kill the Others trying to take them out. Jack leads the survivors to the radio tower and gets the phone to work. It looks like everyone is going to be saved!
Flashback/Flashforward: You think it is a flashback, but then "We have to go back!"

Lots of action, good use simultaneous stories here. The big events are Charlie dying and Jack phoning the boat. But then, before you even know that the survivors are saved, you know that things are not good back home and Jack wants to go back. Everything that happens here definitely sets up the stories in season 4. Great scenes with Ben and Jack and Charlie.

1. Episode 17 – Catch 22
Island: Desmond has a vision of Charlie dying and someone he believes to be Penny coming to the island. Desmond, Charlie, Hurley, and Jin trek into the jungle guided only by Desmond's vision
Flashback: Desmond was a monk? Is that why he says "brother" so much? Desmond meets Penny.

This one gets the nod as best episode of the season mainly because it is just one episode while Through the Looking Glass is two. So much happens in this one hour and I think it is almost perfectly crafted. It is all about the trek, which I mentioned earlier. It balances humor, fear, excitement, and suspense very well. The dramatic irony is great, as you are in the same position as the characters. It builds to Charlie not dying and the person being found in the parachute not being Penny. This really gets the ball rolling for the end of season 3 and most of season 4. The flashback, though simple, shows why it is so important for Desmond not to be a coward and to be good enough for Penny.


Season 3 Best Lost Moments
Charlie dying in Through the Looking Glass
Charlie and Desmond's boat conversation in Greatest Hits
"We have to go Back!"

Sun and Jin reuniting in the water after she jumped off the boat in Glass Ballerina – lots of emotion
The first inkling that Desmond can see the future in Further Instructions and his great fashion statement wearing Hurley's large tie dyed shirt and nothing else
Seeing the Eye Patch Guy on the camera for the first time in The Cost of Living
Hurley getting the van started in Trisha Tanaka is Dead
"The Pigs are walking" Animal Farm citing by Arzt in the Expose flashback, saying that Jack, Kate, Locke are making too many decisions for the rest of them. And one note on Expose, it was an OK episode, but I really liked it as a recap episode, reliving some of the important island moments through someone else's eyes.
Jack and Sawyer man hug it out after Jack finally comes back to the beach in One of the Them
Great syncing of the end of Catch 22 and the first meeting of Desmond and Penny in flashback
Sawyer Kill Anthony Cooper in The Brig as well as an interesting Locke/Richard Alpert conversation, which like a lot of Alpert stuff makes more sense after season 5
Shaggy, same age Richard Alpert in The Man Behind the Curtain
Sayid's leg neck break in Looking Glass
Also in the final episode Jack's not giving up the phone to Ben which he thought killed Jin, Bernard, and Sayid, and later Jack learning that those three were in fact not dead


Character Stock Market:
Desmond – moving up very quickly
Charlie – Moving up
Hurley – fat
Juliet – lots of people telling you to buy, but I would not
Jack – some ups some downs
Kate – slowly losing ground
Sawyer – moving up
Bernard – surprisingly moving up
Jin – large increase in value
Ben – man, buy even though you don't like it
Sayid – steady
Claire – don't bother

Lost: Best Episodes - Season 2

Let's jump right into the best episodes of Lost Season 2

LOST SEASON 2 BEST EPISODES

Season Two picked up right where Season 1 had left off. The opening scene is one of the best of the series. I think Season Two is the best overall season. It provides this raw suspense, you really want to know what is happening next, but there are still great flashbacks and character development. I see it almost being split into three parts, or three main story arcs or themes. First would be the discovering of the hatch coupled with Michael, Jin, and Sawyer getting back with everyone, culminating in the death of Shannon. The second is a set of very good episodes exploring a single character and developing them. The third arc is about Henry Gale aka Ben, leading to the betrayal by Michael and the capture of Kate, Jack, and Sawyer. The longer story arcs really, really make you watch and want to know what will happen next. The single character shows are the ones that are more enjoyable when watching a second or third time. It doesn’t seem like much happens, but oh, it does.

New Characters: Ben, Eko, Bernard, Libby, Desmond, Alex, Tom, Penny, Charles Widmore, DHARMA

I have to give honorable mention to What Kate Did, The Hunting Party, and One of Them

6. Season 2 Episode 13 – The Long Con

Island: The crew has finally met the "others" and Jack wants to attack them. But no one else is really on board. Sun is attacked in the jungle and this fires everyone up to go after the "Others". Locke has Sawyer hide the guns, but Sawyer ends up taking them.

Flashback: Sawyer does a Long Con with a woman named Cassidy. He ends up falling for her, but ends up still betraying her in the end.

This is definitely the best Sawyer episode. This is Sawyer at his best, or worst, but we also see signs of some redeeming qualities in him. The episode is so much more layered than my little summary. There is the further rift between Locke and Jack and much of the idea about the long con – having someone else think what you want them to do is there idea – has a lot to do with Ben, the "others", and even Jacob.

5. Episode 10 – The 23^rd Psalm

Island: Charlie takes Eko to the plane and Eko finds his dead brother Yemi, tells Charlie he is a priest.

Flashback: Great flashback of Mr. Eko as a child, then a brutal gangster, then Yemi saving Eko.

This is definitely also in the category of single character episode. Nothing really has too big of an impact on the rest of the series, but it give you what you want, more information about Mr. Eko. Reciting the 23rd psalm was a bit melodramatic. The flashbacks are really the best part of the episode here. Oh, and Eko confronts the Smoke Monster. Yes!

4. Episode 3 – Orientation

Island: Jack and Locke learn more about the Hatch in the DHARMA Initiative video. Desmond flees.

Flashback: Locke meets Helen and tries to get over what his father did to him.

Orientation just builds off the steam of the first two episodes. You really, really want to know what the island is, what the hatch is, why they have to push the button. What you get is this awesome, grainy orientation film, which, like any good piece of Lost, raises more questions than are answers. Great scenes with Locke and Jack and Desmond and Jack. This one really continues to get you hooked. Would you push the button?

3. Episode 7 – The other 48 Days

Island: Shannon has just been killed

Flashback: Pretty much the entire episode is the flashbacks of the tail section survivors.

Watching this episode seems to happen in 10 minutes. So much is happening. You really want to take in every single piece. I think it was brilliant to introduce the tail section people slowly over 4 or 5 episodes and then give them this feature. You again have all the intensity and chaos of the first episode of the series. You have many similar things that happened over the course of season one happening in this 45 minutes episode. We see how Eko got his stick, we see our first glimpses of the others, see some redeeming qualities in Ana Lucia, and we see where the fear that these people have has come from. The best bits are Ana thinking this guy is an "other" but being wrong and then finally confronting Goodwin and killing him. Yes. Action packed!

2. Episode 1 – Man of Science. Man of Faith

Island: Jack, Kate, and Locke enter the hatch.

Flashback: Jack saving Sarah and the miracle that heals her. Oh and a great scene with Jack and Christian and Jack and Desmond?

Well, starting the season with a bang indeed. This was one of those episodes that you did not want to end. You wanted to learn as much as possible. And I have to mention the awesome beginning sequence, one of the best scenes of the series – check it out. I love the camera scan up the hatch mirroring the camera scan down the in season one's finale.

You are really in the same position as the characters. You want to know what this hatch is, what this place is, who his weird dude is. There is so much suspense, you don't even care that the fate of the raft is not addressed. So much suspense! It was pretty much a toss up between this ep and the my choice for #1. Oh, and even the title is great. Is it referring to John and Jack, Desmond and Jack, Desmond and John, Jack and his father, all of them? Very nice. And the song "Make your own kind of music" applies to Locke and Desmond, maybe Charles and Ben.

1. Episode 23 – Live Together, Die Alone

Island: Wow, just watch it.

Flashback: Pretty much everything you need to know about Desmond – how he got to the island and why, what he did on the island and in the hatch, and what happened the day of the plane crash

Seriously, this episode is full of action, too full of action to summarize. You have a "breaking of the fellowship" of sorts. (I could really extend this metaphor, but will hold back) Everyone is off doing their own thing – getting Walt, stopping the button from being pushed, finding weird statues. One thing I remember from watching it the first time, is that even though it was a trap, I really thought Jack and Sayid would save the day. Then all of a sudden they are tasered and caught. The hatch/button scene was great as well, lots of emotion and action. Great flashbacks! One drawback was that the final scene was Claire kissing Charlie – lame. But what put it over #2 on our list was the awesomeness that happened right before and right after Desmond turned the key. Especially love all the magnetic stuff and Desmond's leap of faith.

Best Season Two Scenes:

Obviously the first scene of episode one and the climax of the final episode

Crazy raw emotion from Mr. Eko when he finds his brother

There are loads of intense Jack scenes, but I'm not sure if anything is as emotional as when he learns Sarah is leaving him in The Hunting Party

Locke's finding the crazy map in Lockedown

Adrift – Michael and Sawyer finding Jin escaping and when the ask him what is – "Others"

What Kate Did – Scene with her adopted father, another great layered episode

Abandoned – Shannon getting shot by Ana-Lucia, Michael asking the Tailies "What happened to you people?" and Ana telling shedding a bit of light on their story

Collision – the reunion of Jin and Sun and Rose and Bernard – one of the best scenes of the series

Two for the Road – Michael shooting Ana Lucia and Libby

All of Ben's Crazy manipulation of Locke

Orientation:

Jack: Don't. It's not real. Look, you want to push the button, you do it yourself.
Locke: If it's not real, then what are you doing here, Jack? Why did you come back? Why do you find it so hard to believe?
Jack: Why do you find it so easy?
Locke: It's never been easy!

The Long Con: Music on the radio with Sayid and Hurley - foreshadowing season 5 time travel?

Live Together – Michael: "Who are you people?"

Ben: "We’re the good guys"

Unnecessary Connections and reveals:

Locke being Nadia's home inspector

Libby at the mental institution with Hurley

Libby giving Desmond her husband's boat

The US military guy getting Sayid to torture his fellow prisoner being Desmond's Hatch mate, though it was cool when it was revealed he spoke Arabic.

Kate's Mom as Sawyer's waitress in The Long Con

I'm sure there are more.

Characters Stock Market:

Jin: Moving up quickly

Desmond: Buy now, sharp rise coming soon

Jack: Slowly decreasing

Sawyer: Slowly increasing

Kate: Steady

Locke: Steady

Ana Lucia: volatile

Sayid: Steady

Charlie: Up and Down

Hurley: Stagnant

I would advise you to watch Live Together and Man of Science before the next season starts.

Lost: Best Episodes - Season 1

Time for an exciting topic.
I preparation for the final season of LOST, I have been rewatching the entire series. I set out to put together my list of best episodes, but due to time constraints and the fact that I feel I would be selling lots of great episodes and moments short, I decided to go season by season, listing my favorite episodes (which I think are the best episodes) and then end with the final list of the best episodes of the series. You know, build the suspense.
Exciting stuff. A daunting task, but a fun task, and definitely not as difficult as the Simpsons countdown.

Criteria: There is no real point system or anything but things I look for other than the obvious entertainment factor are quality of flashback, how it relates to the entire series, how it develops character, what questions it answers/raises, flow of episode and flow of series.


Lost Season 1 Best Episodes:

Things were very different in season one than they are now. Season 1 was much simpler. And I think that is a good thing. You are learning about the island along with the characters. You are sort of in the same position as them. Upon watching this episodes for the second or third time, I was much more drawn to the flashbacks than when first viewed. They are not only additional information and introduction, but great stories in themselves.

6. Episode 4 - Walkabout -
Island: Locke's hunting prowess is shown. Memorial Service for the dead
Flashback: Locke's life before the crash - job where no one respects him, his "girlfriend" is a phone sex girl, he goes to Australia for a walkabout

This is in the top 3 ever for some people, but I think it is a bit over rated. The best thing about it is the big reveal - that Locke was in a wheelchair before the crash and can now walk. The flashbacks are the best part of this episode, though, which usually isn't a good sign. There is also a good scene with Jack and Rose, but momentum was definitely slowed in the episodes following the Pilot.

5. Episode 17 - In Translation -
Island: Someone burns the raft. Michael thinks it is Jin and confronts him in front of everybody.
Flashback: Jin is working for Sun's father and has to send a message to one of his employees. Jin doesn't do it effectively and Sun's father sends a hit man. Jin intervenes and beats the mess out of this guy. Jin visits his father and decides to leave his job and go to the US.

I'm not usually a big fan of Jin/Sun centered episodes, I mean we get it, she is rich, he is poor, and she was going to leave him, but upon rewatching this episode it is a very strong, flowing episode. The highlight is Jin learning that Sun speaks English when Michael was seemingly about to kill him after thinking Jin burned down the raft. That is followed by Locke coming in and telling everyone that they are not the only people on the island, the first real acknowledgment of the "Others". The Jin flashbacks are great - the contrast of him with Sun's father and doing his enforcer work with the very touching scene with his own father was very well done. Then there is the reveal at the end that Walt burned the raft. This ep marks distinct changes in the relationships of Michael/Jin, Michael/Walt, and sets the ground work for the dynamic change of the Jin/Sun relationship.

4. Episode 13 - Hearts and Minds - Island: Boone is going to tell Shannon about the hatch. Locke knocks him out and ties him up so he cannot do it. Boone wakes up, gets out, saves Shannon, then the Smoke Monster gets Shannon. We do not know until the end that is was a test for Boone and a hallucination.
Flashback: Shannon tricks Boone into coming to Australia to save her from an abusive relationship. She cons Boone out of the money, but then her man leaves her anyways. Boone and Shannon hook up. It's revealed that Boone loves Shannon.

The Boone/Shannon flashback episode. This episode loses some steam after Boone and Shannon are both dead within a season, but it was very entertaining, edge of your seat stuff. It reveals a lot of the Shannon/Boone relationship, but also begins to hint at other key story ideas like letting go, choosing sides, Locke possibly being crazy, and a Locke/Jack feud. Also, even though it was a hallucination, it was tight to see the Smoke Monster in action.

3. Episode 1 and 2 - Pilot - I don't think I need to say much about this one. Lost had us hooked from the start, and the intensity and the questions already risen in the first episode have a lot to do with that.

2. Episode 5 - White Rabbit - Island: Running out of water. Jack sees his dead father and heads out into the jungle to find him and his casket and stumbles upon a water source.
Flashback: Jack as a child with this father, Jack and his mother, Jack going to get his father's body.

I once remember someone asking me if I was a "Jack Person" or a "Sawyer Person". I am obviously a Jack Person, and usually like Jack-centric episodes the best, especially in season one. The question evolved more into a Jack or Locke person, which is a totally different story. Anyways, Jack flashbacks are usually the best. This one spans his childhood to his getting his Dad's casket on the plane, the first of many very intense Jack scenes, which could be its own entire list. Aside from Jack, this episode introduces a lot of keep ideas and motifs that will last the entire series - magic, the power of the island, fate, and introduces a key piece of Lostology from Jack "But if we can't, live together... we're gonna die alone."
There is also a great example of the season 1 technique, the episode ending montage with music in the background and almost a steady cam shot panning through many of the characters.

1. Episode 11 - All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues -
Island: Jack, Kate, Boone, and Locke go off to find Claire and Charlie. Jack finds Ethan and eventually Charlie. Boone and Locke find the hatch.
Flashback: Jack's father works on a patient when he is under the influence of alcohol. After much internal debate, Jack narcs on his father.

This is where Lost really raises the stakes. I'm talking obviously about Ethan here. At the time we did not know about the Others, but just that Ethan wasn't on the plane. He really kicked the shit out of Jack and left Charlie to die. We see Jack almost insane with desire to save Charlie and Claire, something that will rear its head again many times. You have Jack not giving up and saving Charlie. On the other side, which might be even better, you have the beginning of the Locke/Boone bromance and the discovery of the Hatch. And I have not even mentioned the great Jack/Christian flashback or the show's title which obviously refers to Jack as seen in the flashback, but also Sawyer, Kate, Locke, Walt, and Claire. Man, a great Lost episode, has it all.



Best scenes of Season 1:
Jin with his Father
"Live together or die alone"
Ethan vs. Jack
Ep 23 and 24 Exodus - A great scene where Walt gives Vincent to Shannon, then Vincent chases after the raft when it sets sail, very touching
And the first view of the hatch, the camera panning down, which will be used in the opposite way in the premier the next season
Pilot - Kate sutures Jack
Ep 12 Whatever the Case May Be - Great scene between Rose and Charlie, basically she tells him he can't just sit and mope because he lost Claire. Everyone has lost someone and is in a horrible situation and they are doing work, so he has to too.
Ep 15 Homecoming - a real short, real great scene here when they are about to go into the jungle to find Claire, Jack gives Locke a gun and says I'm guessing you know how to use this. Locke loads it, chambers the round at just gives Jack a great smile. Nice.
Ep 19 Deus Ex Machina - This one just missed the top 6, great scene after Locke realizes what his father has done, but the classic scene where Locke is questioning all that has happened and why Boone died and then the hatch lights up - ok just watch it
And my favorite scene of the season, again pretty simple - from "All the Best Cowboys..."
I could not find a video, so I'll give you the rundown. Boone and Locke are out in the Jungle looking for Claire. Boone has already asked Locke about his past and where he learned all this stuff. Locke tells Boone it will start raining in one minute. A minute later it starts to pour.
Boone: You learned this at a BOX company?!!
Great delivery, great build up, and it ends with Locke standing triumphantly in the Rain. Love it. And if you can't tell by now, I have a severe man crush on Boone


Favorite Characters: Jack, Boone, Sayid
Most Intriguing: Locke, Rousseau
Most Hated: Sawyer - dude was a straight jerk for most of the first season
Most Annoying - Claire
Most Attractive: Shannon, Kate
Things you want to know more about: Well, everything - the hatch, who took Walt, the polar bear, Ethan, Claire's baby, why Locke was in a wheelchair, the numbers, Rousseau's story

There you go, season one in a nutshell. More to come over the next few weeks.

Lost Thoughts

The new TV season has begun, so I thought I'd give you a little Lost post, as it won't be back until January. Boo.
Um, Lost and lists, two of my favorite things. I will put them together. Here is my list of top 5 Lost Characters
Top 5 Lost Character (Pre-Season 5)

1. Desmond - Desmond is the man. No doubt. He was present for all the great episodes -the premiere and finale of season two, and for most of the best he was the main character - "Flashes Before Your Eyes, Catch-22, and when I hadn't yet seen season 4, I remember everyone telling me I needed to see "The Constant" and it didn't disappoint.
He is a cool, serious guy. He can get drunk with you or talk philosophically. I think he brings important balance, someone outside of the Oceanic 815 survivors and the Others. I even downloaded Mama Cass's "Make Your Own Kind of Music" due in large part to Desmond.
2. Daniel - Great addition to the show. I was skeptical with the addition of more new characters in season 4, but I enjoy Daniel, Charlotte, Frank, and Miles. Daniel is obviously the best of them. He has humanity and a bit of compassion. Every time he is on screen, you want to know more about him, you want to see more of him. Skinny tie. Super genius who can't remember anything. Present in "The Constant" and you just root for this guy.
3. Bernard - Just a minor character, but I really like Bernard. He only had one flash-back episode, but he is just a normal guy. Him and Rose are great. I really liked when he kicked butt in the finale of Season 3 and when he was talking to Jin about relationships.
4. Mr. Eko - Eko was a favorite for a while, then he died. I think he had less than a season on the show, but he was a great character. He pretty much dominated everyone that came against him. His beat stick was great. He was a priest (sort of) and his whole redemption story line was great. Someone I would want on my side. Then the Smoke Monster got him. Shoot
5. Sayid- Yeah, don't really need to say much about this guy. Awesome. Smart. Killer. I liked the whole working with Ben thing in Season 4. Interesting twist.



Top 5 Lost Characters (Post Season 5)

1. Daniel - Yep, after season 5, Daniel has taken over the top spot. He was really a main character during the entire season. Pretty much everyone looked to him to solve their problems. His loss of Charlotte was pretty sad stuff. He took on Alpert and the old others. We learned a bit more about his past, then he got killed. Damn. I hope he is back.
2. Desmond - Yep, dropped down to number 2. He just wasn't in the show enough. He did try to help, but was more concerned about his family. Boo.
3. Richard Alpert - A new addition to the list. Alpert is much like Daniel - everytime he is on screen you want more of him. There is still a large mystery to the character, which leaves you wanting more. Why doesn't he age? Why is he on the island? Why does he wear eyeliner? Why the name? I also like the fact that he seems to be neither a good guy or a bad guy.
There is much more to be revealed about Richard. And I'm ready to see it.
4. Mr. Eko - Still strong after being dead for 3 seasons.
5. Miles - I wasn't sure about Miles at first. I thought he could be a much better character, and he still can, but season 5 gave us a bit more about him. Lots of potential. The whole him being the son of Dr. Candle was kind of weird. His powers are cool, but again, like always for Lost, you want to know more about him.

A few other things. I used to really like Jack, but he has gone down steadily since the end of season two. Sawyer is now honorable mention. Unlike Jack, he has been moving up steadily over the years, especially season 5 when he was the leader of his little band, and away from Jack and Kate.

Let me know who you like best.

More LOST Randomness

I got a special treat today, got to see two new (to me) episodes of LOST. I missed last weeks and didn't get a chance to watch it online. I'll comment more on the new one from today than the one from last week.
Last week's was cool, but also predictable. Nothing too new happened, except for the return of Christian and Locke turning the wheel. It was also graphic - pulled off arm, rotting arm and bodies, and compound fracture, man. Still intrigued about The Temple.
Today's episode really sped things up. Normally, I do not like and episode that does not primarily take place on the island, but this was an exception. Also, Daniel's mother was very unLOSTesque, thatwhole part of the story. She was revealed in the season premier, I think that was how the show ended, but there really wasn't much to her character tonight. The whole just-go-on-the-plane-and-see-what-happens is very unlike LOST. No explanation needed I guess.
But it was exciting to see who would actually be on the plane.
And per LOST usual, more and more questions are brought forth.
What happened to the plane?
What happened to Ben? Who was his friend?
Why/how did Hurley, Kate, and Sayid come on the plane?
Who made it to the island?
Will Desmond somehow get back too?
Why was Jin in the Van?

Well, I'll give some speculative answers to some of these questions.
I'm guessing Kate came due to something to do with Claire, probably seeing her again.
Hurley most likely was told by Charlie, hence the guitar case.
Sayid was probably arrested for something set up by Ben.
I'm not sure why Ben has such injuries.
I'm pretty sure the entire Oceanic 5 (boo to Aaron) plus Ben and Frank will be on the island. The more characters the better.
And as for the end of the episode, it looks like the island and people have stopped "flashing" through time, due to Locke's pushing the frozen donkey wheel, and have been stuck somewhere/sometime in the 1970s. This would explain Jin in the Dharma van, put an end to the problem of "flashing" nosebleed sickness, and link it back to the first scene of this season. Remember Daniel and Dr. Candle and Daniel?
At the least, they have been stuck somewhere long enough to get jobs and be part of Dharma.
And it's clear the writers are speeding things up, putting people back together again.

Oh, it's all so interesting. I'm excited to see Locke back, and what that is all about.
Good deal.

Lost Season 5 Premiere Preview

Ok. I guess the term preview is a bit of a misnomer, because I have no actual inside knowledge of what will happen in tomorrow’s Lost Season 5 premiere episode. This will be pretty much just me talking about the show, pretty much like a normal blog entry of mine.

What will happen?

Ok, I don’t really know. I am very curious about how this season will be set up. I hope it will begin right where they left off, and how they usually lead off, on the island, you know, the next day. But the problem with that is the only traditional Survivors of the crash still on the island are Sawyer, Bernard, and Rose and none of them really seem to want to leave the island. You also have Julia, who wants to leave the island, at the beach and the three freighter folk – Daniel, Charlotte, and Miles – who all have vastly different stories and reasons for being on the island, and this is assuming Daniel gets back with his little raft.
Also on the island then are Locke, seemingly taking over for Ben as leader of the others, who are back to wearing there “others” clothes and Claire who seems to be on some sort of drugs. I don’t really know what Locke will do with the others and what Claire is up to.
And then, you got the Oceanic 6 – Kate, Jack, Hurley, Sun, Sayid, and Aaron – off the island seeming 3 years in the future along with Ben.
Desmond is with Penny. And Lapidus is off wherever, probably trying to find more answers.
Jack’s Ghost dad seems to now be the second weirdest character on the island, after Jacob, who we have not seen, well ever, or at least since Locke’s 1st trip to the cabin with Ben.
And Charles Widmore still doing his thang.

Ok, so this turned from a what will happen next into a recap of season 4. But that makes sense
Here is what I do anticipate happening.
- Desmond’s “happy ending” will somehow be thwarted, possibly be Charles Widmore, and he will be drawn back to the island. I’m not sure if this was the original plan, but the show would not get rid of it’s most popular character.
- I see there being no ground zero here, instead, there will be two main starting points – the day after on the island, or at least after the moving of the island, and 2-3 years in the future with the Oceanic 6. Traditional Flashbacks and Flash-forwards will then only occasionally appear
- The Freighter Folk will have much more expanded role this season – which would have happened last year if not for the writer’s strike

- Story-lines that we will see
· How Charlotte is related to the island
· Flashbacks of Ben and the Others, way back perhaps telling more about Richard Alpert, what they did after the killed all the Dharma people, Ben's Grade-School crush Annie and how the Others got to the island in the 1st place
· Flash-forward to Locke tracking down all the Oceanic 6, but probably not yet how he got off the island, or how he died
· more about Jack’s dad
· How Desmond gets drawn back to the island
· Future Sun, Sayid, and Kate becoming equally as unstable as Jack and Hurley
· Jin and Charlie will remain dead
· more about Miles’ “powers”
· more experiments by Daniel, assuming he can find the island, or possibly he will be reunited with Desmond, that would be cool

- Jack will shave his beard
- Jack will be intense and unhappy
- it will be revealed that Ben killed Nadia
- More questions will be poised
- as usual, no questions will really be answered

There you go. If this preview is not sufficient, watch the real shows tomorrow, but don’t be disappointed when no questions are really answered. There are previews out there on youtube and of course a thorough wikipedia preview, but thank you for reading Big Dunc’s definitive Lost Season 5 Preview.

Big Things Poppin'

Just letting you know that big things are coming to this blog for the rest of the month. I'm feeling the March Madness. To honor it, I'm making some brackets. Not for basketball but for pop culture things.
Check out the Lost Bracket
It's pretty nice, especially for all those Lost fans.
I'm not quite sure how it will work, as I'm not too good with the graphics and things, but I know it will need fan participation. Yes!
Up first - Nintendo Entertainment System Best Game Bracket. Woah!