No huge spoilers, just cryptic messages and an interview with Jorge/Hurley.

To put it another way, the reveals at the end of season 1 (the Others snatch Walt) and season 2 (Swan Station blows up) were easily weaker than the season 3 finale. The real suprises (what was actually in the Hatch, the Others village) came in the followups.

I thought 4.1 was very good and i agree it was essentially a very smooth continuation from 3.22. But it certainly didn't have anything like the major reveals that we got in 2.1 or 3.1.

Again, I don't think that's a bad thing. But it is a departure from the 'tradition' (such as it is) of finding out something really big in each season opener.

I made a lot of guesses as to what the hatch contained but i don't think any of them included a guy punching numbers into a computer every 109 minutes in order to prevent the world from ending.

and that this was all part of a funky 60s science initiative studying things like ESP.

*shrug*

If that's not a major reveal, I don't know what is. By contrast, I find the fact that Hurley regrets going with Locke is interesting but hardly a 'major reveal'. It's more like the kind of hints and clues that Lost hands out on a weekly basis.

That said...last week's WAS the best Hurley-centric episode to date...even better than "Dave" which is hard to do. Poor Hugos flash backs had gotten so redundant...last week was a breath of fresh island air.

At least these flashbacks tonight will be from people we've never met before...which should greatly cut down on the "redundancy" factor.

Is it 9pm yet?

Really looking forward to this episdoe, I read the spoilers above because I know that it wuld stop me from enjoying the show and wow, I think this one is going to be AWESOME!

Season 1 of the new Battlestar Galactica was GREAT...but it doesn't really fit as a "serial drama." There just hasn't been a serial drama that has ever compared with LOST!

http://www.comingsoon.ne t/news/tvnews.php?id=41709

the most memorable thing was Edward James Olmos said that if he was relageted to only working in Sci-fi (on par with BSG) for the rest of his career he would be more than happy.

he followed that by saying that if someone had asked him pre- BSG if he would ever consider being in a remake of BSG, he said likely not.

what sold him on the series was when he received the script, he had no idea it was BSG as the first 2 pages before the title page were a mission statement from the shows creators about what they wanted to do with the show, and the level and depth of characters and storylines they wanted to acheive. if the first thing he saw was 'Battlestar Galactica', he would not have read it and just declined....

Season 4 (the final season) starts in April

no way she is going to dirty her own ass

pwned

he gets up to take a shower and finds SAND IN HIS ASS CRACK!!!

I should be a frakkin writer... on strike

See ya'll tomorrow...Enjoy it!!

Davies is the new Walken.

Thank you for reading.

;->

Also, when Locke asked Hurley about which cabin he was talking about, I thought maybe Hurley was trying to cover the fact that he saw something in "Jacob's" cabin by referring to the airplane. Locke looked like maybe he didn't believe his explanation. Any comments would end my confusion. Thanks!

Hurley was indeed trying to cover for the fact that he saw Jacob's cabin and Locke did not believe him.

Ausiello is crazy. Yes, Claire should be more upset, but it's not a huge continuity error like he made it seem.

Love the new characters. I feel like they're really interesting, weird people. Liked their flashbacks. It was kind of convenient that Charlotte could find the collar after digging for like a minute around the fossil, but, I can forgive that because the reveal of the collar was such a cool "what the fuck?!" moment. This season, I feel like, is getting more and more complicated by the second, and I love it, but I do wonder when things are going to start coming together. God I wish I could see the whole season right now!

Well, with the end of the strike, we'll probably get the rest of the eps this season at least, so that's good.

Actually, I just heard today on pretty good authority that if the strike ended by February 15th, the Lost cast would be back to shooting within 30 days. Let's hope that's true.

"A bunch of Internet sites suddenly think the writers strike is over just because Michael Eisner today says it is. Earth To Web: Eisner hasn't mattered since 2004-2005 when he was kicked to the curb by Disney and its shareholders."

The language hasn't even been ratified yet. The big meetings with council & members happens on Saturday and there will probably be movement AFTER that. In other words, Eisner is a tool and has been making tool statements throughout the strike. Keep in mind there is a blackout in effect and anything you hear up until deal announcement by the studios and the Guild is rumor. I hate seeing people get their hopes up only for them to be dashed like last time.À

What a bunch of sick FUCKS. I'm sorry, and I try not to use that kind of language too much here but -- F U!!!!

I'm going to try to lift the spirits of those still suffering from the Hurricane 2.5 years ago by PIMPING A $55K TRUCK! WHAT THE HELL???

The only way to help people feel better who still don't have homes and lost many of their loved ones because they had to move away after losing everything -- is to buy a truck that costs more than the combined annual income of every household attending the block party.

What a bunch of total DICKS.

Fuck Lincoln.

Fuck HC Jr.

Never Cross the Beams.

Jack pulls the Jedi Mind Trick on Master Tracker Kate.

Sayied and Juliette -- They'll hook up.

Locke is a TOUGH MUTHAH.

Did they need to really hire the Lawnmower Man to do what little he did?

Naomi is NUTS -- They really lucked out knocking her off. She coulda started some serious shizzle.

WAIT A MINUTE -- DIDN'T ABBADON ASK HURLEY IF THERE WERE SURVIVORS -- Me thinks that either NONE of the Noobs make it out alive, or they pipe up REALLY tight about whats actually on they island when they file their final report. That chopper doesn't look to hold much more than 7-8 people though. I bet Sayied flys the chopper out with only the Physicist making it off the island. The other 3 Bite it.

This could also explain why the DHARMA people were injecting themselves with something. Perhaps what they were injecting was something that caused them to continue to age at a normal rate. Without it, an adult will age much more slowly. (This explains Richard apparently ageless-ness -- he's aging, but much, much more slowly than normal.) We never saw the DHARMA children taking the injections, so maybe the island doesn't affect the growth rate of children.

I did like the "things happen the way they're supposed to happen" way that the pilot who was supposed to be piloting 815 eventually wound up on the island.

After they led us to think the helicopter crashed, it was a good surprise to learn the island now has a functioning helicopter. Of course a short range chopper low on fuel in mid-ocean will be as useless as Hurley's mini-van, but then look how useful that turned out to be!

And after thinking "maybe they did just introduce a character just to kill her off," it was a nice surprise to see her survive - but a little ominous that the 'rescuers' were coming in armed and wearing flak vests.

Loved the Colonel Kurtz reference.

Oh, and why does a show not usually grounded in the supernatural need a Ghostbuster? How about because Jacob is a ghost?

The return of kick-ass Locke is cool, totally crazy Locke is cooler.

By the way, I moderate a bondage group and there's a way they could bind Ben Linus so that he'd be able to walk but not able to grab guns and shoot people. It's called tying his hands behind his back. Yes, it would be uncomfortable and he'd piss his pants if no one was willing to "help him", but it's Ben Linus, so "so?"

And who's to say there's anybody even in the coffin? Maybe Ben staged his own death, as part of an elaborate ruse to throw people off and to get himself back on the island.

Kate -- I think she is pregnant. She's carrying Sawyer's baby.

1. Traveling to and from there is extremely difficult and takes specific vehicles

2. A Dharma polar bear ended up buried in strange places and later unearthed as archaeological artifacts

3. Desmond has temporal flashes of things that already happened, plus the jewelery store woman implied he has to follow a specific chain of events

4. Walt appearing older to Locke, despite only sixty days or so passing for the Losties.

And other stuff I'm probably forgetting at the moment...

Speaking of Dan, I loved how he was in panic mode on the helicopter and they had to push him out to save him. He sure is a nervous curious cautious type, huh?

Okay, how could anyone follow Locke. Standing there in the rain, looking to the heavens, knowing when the rain would end? And he’s right. Then they walk off, Sawyer starts questioning Locke, finds out he’s going to a cabin and Hurley says the cabins “back that way”.

Notice Ben’s face? It’s like OMG...there’s more of you that may be more special than me?

Notice Locke’s face? It’s like aaaahhhhhhh...why didn’t I see that in you before.

Nice.

Apocalypse Now Sawyerism (Colonel Kurtz...I had to google it). Nice. And to finish the Locke thread (for now), he got his orders from Walt. And still they follow him. Who would do that?

Juliet and Sayid are starting to have a mutual “respect” for each other...and for lack of a better word. Practicality, sarcasm...hmmmmmmm. Love the how many guns comment.

Back to Locke. I love Sawyer hounding him. And the bullet holes to shut him up...you write it better.

Meet Miles. Crumpled up on the rocks are the exit of the helicopter. Well, playing crumpled. Pistol drawn. Shouts of anger. Where’s Naomi? Accusing Kate of killing her. Then a flashback where we learn he’s....WHAT?!! A paranormal expert/medium. And it seems a good one...and a bad guy....with a conscious. This could be an interesting character.

Ben is one creepy mother. Gets under Karl’s skin, gets saved by Sawyer, gets under his skin and gets his ass kicked...again. I think I would have learned to shut up by now.

S4 theme so far is how to kick Ben’s ass without feeling guilty for it.

The line where Sawyer said it’s only a matter of time before he gets us, Johnny...and I bet he’s already figured out how he’s going to do it. So you walk him. UNBELIEVABLE!!

For those of you that don’t know what the headline of the paper the new chick picked up said (815: retrouve!), it found. Lost and Found. I love these writers.

Meet Charlotte. An archeologist with a wad of cash who is apparently obsessed with the crash of 815. Why? Well see she knows the skeleton at this dig in the desert is one of a polar bear. And she knows that ain’t quite right, so she does a little digging of her own and finds a collar. The collar has a Dharma insignia on it...and she smile in a gotcha type fashion.

You know, I’m thinking she ain’t working for Dharma.

Great reverse ½ gainer, BTW.

Charlotte, meet John Locke, Hurley, Claire. They don’t want to be found.

Did anyone notice the toy plane in the fish tank landed upside down while the plane in even pieces on the bottom of a large trench that was mostly still intact...or at least in order...was on it’s belly? Think our new pilot friend was trying to tell us something?

Charlotte, meet Ben Linus. He’s the one with the gun that just shot you twice in the chest. Wait, why didn’t you die? Because you are wearing Kevlar? Why are you wearing Kevlar?

Meet Frank Lopedus, our pilot. Apparently the original scheduled pilot for 815...and apparently a good one to land a helicopter struck by lightning in a storm. Hmmm...I think I know why he wasn’t on 815...at least if all the theories about our losties being on that flight for a reason are true. And now we find out he too is obsessed with flight 815...enough to know the flight manifest by heart. And he’s a drunk.

So this is our team, asks Naomi to Mr. Abbadon. Team. They put together a team of a physicist, an archeologist, a paranormal expert who talks to the dead, and a crack pilot. So what were/are the theories of the island again. Electromagnetic anomalies? Ancient culture? Purgatory? Aliens? Then Naomi says they are the wrong people because they don’t have field experience or military training...because it’s a high-risk covert op in unstable territory. And she’s also worried about possible surviors of flight 815. Why? Because they might get in the way?

So maybe we have a new private militia. Question is, hired/put together by whom? Could we now have government involvement? WHOA!!

And why are they going to the island. Well, they came for Ben.

BEN?? But he’s always been on the island. Okay, well he’s been on the island since he was a kid. Wait...they have a pic of Ben...and it’s not on the island.

Ben!! Have you been lying to us the whole time?

But he’s got answers...but not the black smoke answer. But he does have answers. Like the Charlotte bio. Like he knows the other 3. Like he knows they are a threat. But for some reason if Locke kills him they’ll never know what the threat is. But he knows why they are there...what they want.

Well, they came for Ben.

How do you know that you lying bugged son of a whore? Oh. Because you have a man on their boat.

Wait. Ben just gave up an undercover op to Charlotte to save his own ass....well, at least the fact that there is one. That he has a man on the boat.

Wonder if it’s a little man on the boat.

;->

Time for a bit of speculation. You can’t see it, but I think Ben was handcuffed in the pic. Arrested. So maybe Kate isn’t the only escapee. But Kate was from the law. My spec is Ben is from the government. If that’s right, they had to recruit him at an early age, unless we haven’t seen a piece of the puzzle where Ben left the island. And maybe, just maybe that makes Ben a double agent. Worked for the government only to really spy on the government for...who? Dharma? The hostiles? Dunno.

That's why I love this show.

6. Nestor Carbonell's character Richard Alpert appearing to Juliet the EXACT SAME AGE as he did when he appeared to young Ben Linus.

as for C.S. Lewis, lets not take so close a look at his books as individuals but rather as a whole,espically Narnia and his views on mythology. Lewis' belief was there is "true" mythology (i.e. Christ and the christian beliefs) and "false" mythology (satyrs, fawns, etc). That mythology isn't neccassarily false but rather a term to describe stories that have a meaning. I don't know how that may play into LOST's C.S.Lewis. Other thoguhs on Lewis, 8 children went to Narnia (Polly, Diggory, Peter, Edmund, Susan, Lucy, Eustace, Jill) 8 is an important number. Also 4 is important as the High Kings and queens of Narnia was 4 (Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy). I also think that possibly "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" may make an apperence mainly because of it's nautical theme and islands. Perhaps we need to look at the char. in Narnia, does Kate=Susan. Remember Susan was hte most hesitant adn after her two adventures in Narnia, she "outgrew" Narnia referring to it as "a game we used to play" maybe kate in the future has surpressed all er memries about the island while the island is calling htem back (shades of the Last Battle in which an imposter (a donkey) poses as Aslan under the guidence of a monkey who later claims ot be a man. At one point Narnia seems to be calling the principals back and all 8 except for Susan go back) Is the Island rying to call the Oceanic 6 back to the island for a "final battle" of sorts? Also in the last battle they were thrown into Narnia when a train crashes. Narnia is also full of themes of redemetion (same as LOST), Edmund is redemmed from his traiotrs nature by Aslan's sacrifce, Caspian redeems his race in Prince Caspian, Eustace is redeemed by his selfish nature in Dawn Treader, Jill her selfishness in in Silver Chair, Diggory by allowing Jarvis in in the Majican's nephew, Sasha(?) claims his rightful place as prince in Horse, Puzzle from the monkey in Last Battle. Also going back to the being called or drawn to the island, in the Last Battle the 7 were going to use magic rings that diggory's uncle made to get them into Narnia, however the train crash thrusts them into Narnia. Jack is trying to get to the Island by flying back and forth using his golden ticket, as opposed to letitng the Island draw him back. Also in the Last Battle, Jill and Eustace go first witnessing the crash adn then the others follow. Perhaps Jack and Hurley are the first to go back followed by the remaing 3 or 4 (depending on if you buy my Kate=Susan theory, but I suppose just as good of argument could be made that Juliette=Susan as she has lost faith in the Island)...anyways I could be reading a whole lot more intot his but the C. S. Lewis thing cannot be a conicidence

Remember that the purpose of the DHARMA Initiative on the Island was to use scientific research to manipulate the environment to change any one of the core factors of the Valenzetti Equation in order to change the course of the human race. They were also interested in researching the unique properties on the Island found nowhere else in the world.

You did have a kid, right?

Abbadon's demeanor, dress, and behavior mirror those of Richard Alpert's character when wooing Juliette to join his company.

So I am going with the theory that Abbadon was a slave held aboard the Black Rock who survived its 'crash'

Funny how the fake Oceanic plane is found in a location where the Black Rock has been reportedly spotted - when both are really on the island.

If I treat each episode as a standalone story, then I find it a good show. If I take the whole arc into consideration, then I find it one of the crappiest shows on TV. I use to like to debate what things meant with my co-workers. I don't do that anymore since there's nothing to debate about a show that hits the reset button once or twice a season and wants to keep every secret till the last episode. But if, in my mind, I treat every episode as a pilot then I can recapture something of the love that I had for this show in it's first two season. It's not a bad show, but it can be soooo much better if it would simply follow through on things (you know, anything).

As for last night's ep, I loved Miles smart-ass comment to Sayid. I wouldn't take shit from the Losties either. I also love how Locke truthfully answers any question put to him. Why don't people ask him more questions? Jack proved last episode that he's a psycho murderer. Locke didn't do enough to warrant pulling that trigger. Especially when a rescue is on the way. I know I'll never see it, but I'd really love to see Jack get what's coming to him. What a fucking dirtbag!

1. In-and-Out Burgers are the best amongst all fast food chains.

2. Barack Hussein Obama is terribly overrated and his lack of experience, extremely liberal political/tax views and rhetoric without real substance (a call for "change" without any real direction) will come back to bite him.

3. LOST is, by far, the best damn serial drama to ever possess the small screen!

I could be wrong about it, but this makes total sense to me in looking at the show as a whole. Secrets to longevity, time travel (possibly), advanced technologies...the govt would know about them one way or the other and they would do their best to "put them in the warehouse with the lost arc."

Have a GREAT day!

Nice theory! From what I read, we will see all of the main characters that have passed away (from the pilot and Boone to Charlie -- and everyone in between and after) for the climax of the show. It would be poignantly tragic to have them prepared to die.

I've always thought that the end would provide a tragic story in which either the passengers of Flight 815 might sacrifice themselves to prevent something huge -- or that none of them would survive.

...or perhaps we will see Desmond travel back in time to the day of the plane crash and prohibit it from ever taking off in the first place.

I called that Oceanic phone # right when it popped on screen...and was listening to the message when the helio pilot said "I was suppose to be the Pilot of 815 that day"...I almost shit myself.

Miles is a fuckin great character...what a bastard! But loved Jack's "Well, Miles...how stupid are you?" line...that was the shit! Loved the undersea stuff...The Oceanic plane/logo underwater...just awesome.

Is it just me, or does this possiblities for the show grow in leaps and bounds with every new episode...like the show started with this little tiny landscape...the island...and now, where it's headed, the show just seems to get larger and grander in scale each week...as does the possiblities for our minds getting blown away.

But even the small stuff.. Like Locke's still being alive had nothing to do with sci-fi supernatural bullshit...he didn't die cuz he's missing a kidney...how did I totally fuckin miss that? How many seasons ago did we see him give it up? For those who think they are making this show up on the fly need to get a grip! Lost is a slow burn...and Last night's episode lit it up. I'll be back with more after work!

the freighties so far aint a big threat, but I think they are paving the way for something bigger coming..they are the first in a wave of bad things coming to teh island.....I think Mr Abbidon will be seen walking teh beach before the end of episode 8 and he may be bringing some thunder with him...

The second time, it was coming after him, it scanned him and saw the things that had more recently happened, namely Boone's "sacrifice" and it decided John Locke was no longer worthy of living.

That's why they continued to drop food.

But then Desmond turned the key, and the Island became visible for a period, and it just happened to be discovered by some people working for Penny Widmore. What do you want to bet that Papa Widmore found out about Penny's little discovery, and realized that the Island had been comprimised. So the powers that be decide they need to get to the Island. How long did Season 3 take place on the Island? Several weeks, couldn't have been more? So by that time Widmore/Dharma or whoever was funding Dharma, have put a team together, they don't know what to expect, but they know that Desmond may be there so they send in the team with the cover that they are looking for Desmond?

Now, what pisses me off is why Desmond wasn't with Jack and Kate to be able to talk to these new arrivals and get more info on them. Ask them why Naomi had a picture of him, find out what they are really doing, etc.

I mean...if his food stops coming...he may start thinking of exploring the rest of the island...or possibly trying to LEAVE the island.

Widmore wanted desmond trapped so he would never get back in touch with Penny.

Because...long ago...on a business trip to Scotland...Charles Widmore had an affair...with a lovely lady named Hume...and years later...was informed he had fathered a "son" by her. A son she named Desmond.

Desmond never met his father...as the scandal of a bastard child out there would ruin Charles Widmore's good name. After all...he was happily married...with a beautiful daughter named Penelope.

That's why Charles keeps trying to buy off Desmond's interest in Penny...why he got him locked up in military jail...and when that failed...got him locked up on the island jail...and why he just doesn't have Des KILLED to keep him away from her.

All because he and Penny are half brother and sister.

Ala...Christian Sheppard and Jack/Claire.

Something to chew on, at least!

Good job with the theory, interesting stuff in there, but I dont' think so. Why spend all that money when you could just tell him he's your son. Not to mention he didn't stop Penny and Desmond from sleeping together, which would have been one of his first concerns, right?

Well...my original thought was...if Penny ever found out her father had anything to do with Des's death...Widmore would lose his daughter's love forever...so that was motivation enough for him to NOT kill him...but just keep Desmond otherwise "occupied".

So...He offers Des a ton of $$$ when Des gets outta military prison...but Des rejects his charity. He sets up a boat race that will send Des on a crash course for the island...but Des has no boat. He hires Libby to "bump into" Des at a coffee shop...and convienently offer Des HER boat...how could Des refuse this beautiful woman who's husband just died?

The plan works...and Des crashes upon Craphole Island...from which there is no easy escape. Widmore also hires Joe Inman to pose as a Dharma scientist...or button pusher...in this case. Inman murders the REAL button pusher Radzinski before Des ever arrives...and sets up shop in the Swan hatch...waiting for Des to arrive. He paints a mural on the blast door to pass the time.

For 3 years Inman conditions Des that he MUST PUSH THE BUTTON...and save the world...keeping everyone on the planet he holds dear safe...including Penny Widmore. Des accepts his new lot on life...hoping one day...he might get to be with Penny again...perhaps when his Dharma "relief" arrives...which will be never.

Then, one day...Inman decides to "test" Desmond's devotion to "pushing the button"...baiting him with a torn biohazard suit to follow him out to the waters edge.

Des follows and is shocked when Inman offers him his newly repaired sailboat as a way off the island. Desmond refuses...and Inman knows right there...his conditioning has paid off. He baits Desmond into a scuffle...and falls backwards on the hard rocks...with some carefully hidden boar's blood in a baggie hidden in his bio suit. Blood appears to pour from the back of Inman's head...but Desmond has no time to check to see if he's mortally wounded...as he races back to the hatch to push the button. Meanwhile...Inman radios Widmore to let him know his work on the island is complete. Des is safely trapped on Craphole Island.

Now, mel...How would it cost Widmore "billions" to keep him there? Widmore built the hatch...he knows the button's gotta be manned...he drops some food every 108 days...all Dharma created generic food...not expensive. The hatch is self powered...where's the billions you speak of?

He sets up a phony boat race that only Desmond is actually competeing in...the island and hatch are already there...he gives Libby a sailboat...one named for his wife...Elizabeth...and pays Libby a small amount to hand deliver to it Des...Widmore then pays the mercenary Inman for 3 years of conditioning service. And wha-laa...problem solved. Desmond is no longer going to be in Penny's life...and it appears it was all DES'S doing!

Until he gets a report that an electromagnetic anomoly eminated from the island when Des turned that fail safe key. Now he knows Desmond may be AWOL and trying to get off that rock.

Secretly...Penny has been wondering if her father "set Desmond up"...she wonders if he had something to do with Des's disapperance. She digs into her father's affairs and finds out about Craphole Island...and knows that it's an all-but-"invisible" island that only a few people know how to find. Perhaps she intercepts some info about her father watching for any "electromagnetic anomolies" coming from the island...and has a team monitoring the location, So Penny sets up her own looking station in the Antartic...waiting in hopes that one day...an electromagnetic "ping" will lead her back into Desmond's arms. After all, "With enough money and determination...you can find anyone"...But her father might say..."With enough power and determination...you can make anyone DISAPPEAR".

But...her persistence paid off. She found the "ping"...but her father is two steps ahead of her...as he knows EXACTLY where to look.

Now...are these "freightee's" really there for BEN, as he claims...or are they there for Desmond?

There's a reason Naomi parachuted onto that island with a picture of Desmond...just as there's a reason they had a picture of Ben. I think they're mission on the island is twofold.

A. Kill Ben for revenge for those he killed in the purge.

B. Make sure Desmond is still trapped there...and do everything in their power to make sure he STAYS that way.

I just think the 815 survivors turning up living there has put a lil hitch in their plan.

Even if it was a REAL race...Widmore simply makes sure Desmond's coordinates are different from the rest of the field.

What other reason could there be for Widmore to have such a hard on for making Desmond's life miserable? Why can't he just kill him?...he obviously has the $$$ and power to make him disappear.

The only thing I can guess...and it would certainly be a Lost WTF moment...is that Des and Penny are related....same pop...different moms.

I just can't see Desmond having fucked up so bad on his own, that Widmore would have it out for him this bad. I guess a Charles Widmore flashback would clear a lot of this up.

Nah, we are overthinking this, Widmore had nothing to do with Kelvin and the button, he could have just as easily sunk his boat and Penny would have never found him.

Jack looked at Locke as the "mole"...keeping them trapped on the island.

Locke has reasons to stay...he can't walk OFF the island...he can't LEAD off the island...he was a pathetic miserable wretch off the island...

But Jack doesn't know that. He just thinks he's a crazy loon looking out for his own best interest. He doesn't understand this "connection" with the island...Some might argue that Locke's "connection" with the island is all a big ruse, too.

Perhaps Ben is GROOMING Locke to be his replacement. Perhaps Ben DOES have a man on that boat...to get Ben off the island...and have Locke take his place as leader of The Others...He's staged elaborate rituals for John to perform in front of the Others...like killing his own father...as ben did all those years ago. It seems as though Ben has been giving Locke a crash course on the island...and possibly even shooting him where he knew it wouldn't kill him was all part of it....feeding Locke's desire to become the man he always saw himself to be in his mind's eye when he was sitting in that box company job...dreaming of "Walkabouts" and "Hunting knives"...

Could it be that the island isn't really bringing this out in Locke...but is all just an elaborate ruse to make him THINK he's indeed "special"...so Ben can finally leave the island...where he's been trapped for so long.

Not sure I agree with Jack's pulling that trigger...but if I wanted off that island as bad as Jack does...and this idiot was trying to foil my every attempt...I'm not sure I wouldn't have pulled it, too.

But...I think Jack will realize that Locke is indeed special...and will be thankful that the gun wasn't loaded...when Locke saves Jack's life down the road...and sacrifices his own in doing so.

"Why not?" IS the question. My speculation is Charles is his bastard child...and perhaps someone was close to revealing that fact...add in he's trying to date his frickin legitimate daughter...and he's got a handful.

Ed...as far as the race is concerned...if the race was set up so the other boats trailed off course at night...Des wouldn't realize he was heading in a different direction. Add a storm into the mix...Des would have no idea he was being railroaded to the island until it was too late.

Anyone check out that sailboat for an "auto pilot"? Perhaps that's an explanation as to why Des was sailing around in circles all that time...and was never able to "leave" the island. The damn auto pilot kept turning him back to the island.

Or...you can believe the "snowglobe" theory!

But what Walt wants Locke to do remains to be seen...and who's to say Walt isn't as fake as Yemi was to Eko at this point?

Giggling like a schoolgirl...too funny, Ed.

But to think the converse, that he would spend all that time, effort, and money playing Desmond just to keep him pushing a button, seems crazy! Why do that? If he really was trying to stop Desmond that hard, why not just lock him up some where and throw away the key, okay he isn't killing him, but he isn't letting him out, isn't that the same as trapping him in a hatch on an island, and with less hassle? I just hope the answer is not that Widmore planned the whole thing, cause that just gets way too conveinant and seems like poor writing to me.

Not to pick on you Brody, I think your post is very creative and has a lot of clever, well thought out ideas, it just seems like too much.

LOST allows so many of us to try and take the puzzle, and come up with our own adventure, our own possibility, and I think that is what makes it a great show. If it were all just a movie or a book, where the answers were right around the next page, and not 5 years of our lives, then it wouldn't be nearly as potent. I think its the fact that we research who Faraday is, what literary references they sneak in, what physicists say about light, all these reasons are why LOST is such a great outlet for our imagination.

Combine that with the online games, the entire LostPedia website for God's sakes, and this show has developed such an incredible tapestry of clues, puzzles, mindfucks and the like, I can't think of a single pop culture property that comes close.

I can't remember if it was Harry or another writer on this site, who said they caught up with LOST when it came to DVD. I have to say, that's a very sad way to watch the show. I mean, I rewatch the episodes on DVD, they are great, but you miss so much of all of this when you just plow through them, you don't get a chance to think and dream and scheme. My opinion anyway.

here is what i think is going on in a nutshell...a sort of timeline of events...sorry this is long.

magnus hanso loses control of his pirate ship and ends up on fucked up island. this has been happening for years to others...like amelia earhart.

the island is the garden of eden, and people are travelling backwards in time by accident through a couple of different "wormholes" in present day time i.e. devil's triangle, bermuda triangle etc.

alvar hanso goes looking for his great great grampa, and finds the island through a "wormhole". hanso starts dharma as a research vessel to find out what the island is.

a dharma janitor has a son (ben) that wanders in the woods one night while chasing a vision of his dead mother on fucked up island. (note: dead mother is jacob)

there are natives to the island that have four toes that are trying to free their master who is trapped and cannot manifest himself physically. one of the natives (richard alpert) runs into the boy who wandered into the woods.

the natives do not want outsiders (dharma) there, and richard is going to kill the boy...until he realizes the boy can see his dead mother (jacob/their master/god whatever)

richard believes this will be the boy that will ultimately free their master, and also uses him to get rid of the pesky "dharma" people...i.e. gas all of the bastards.

richard and ben hide the island using the hatch...dharma had figured this out before, and they use dharma's technology against them. dharma people in present day time lose all contact with their connection to the island.

ben knows that outsiders are bad, but he also knows he cannot help richard figure all of this shit out without outside help. one reason is because all of the pregnant women on the island die during birth and no one can have a baby on the island.

so even though it is very dangerous, richard, ben and other like ethan leave the island and nab some people they need like julia (who specializes in weird childbirth).

richard is losing faith in ben after all of these years. julia isn't making any headway with the dead mommies, and maybe ben isn't the prophet richard thought he was. ben finds out he has cancer and he's fucked. this furthers richard's theory that ben may not be the prophet.

815 crashes. i do not know how ben gets intel on people who come to the island, unless he can somehow get information from the future...which doesn't really make sense.

regardless, ben needs jack to do the surgery and remove the cancer, and ben and the "others" need any new children because children have an easier time talking to jacob. so 815 is sort of a goldmine for them.

there is a present day cover-up of the 815 crash to make it look like oceanic didn't "lose" the plane. once the plane was lost, present day dharma got involved to try to figure out a way to the island. it's not working though, because the hatch is still hiding the island.

meanwhile...back on the island...locke walks again and shows potential to have heavy dialogue with jacob and the island.

ben and the others steal claire because she's pregnant and they're still trying to get a successful birth. they steal walt to try to talk to jacob.

claire has the first ever successful birth on the island.

a lot of time is wasted in the hatch.

charlotte digs up a polar bear with a dharma collar in present day as a fossil; proving that the time spent on the island is happening thousands of years ago.

desmond learns how to time travel through a weird accident blowing up the hatch...richard and ethan and ben already knew how to do this without blowing up the hatch.

the island is visible either permanently or just intermittently because the hatch is blown.

present day dharma led by spooky bald black dude puts together team spooky to go to the island and get that fucker ben who fucked them over because ben knows more than they do about the island.

naomi is in charge, fahey is their pilot, miles is there to talk to the dead to help hunt ben, and daniel is there because he is slightly autistic, which is actually an advantage to figuring out and seeing shit on the island (i.e. hurley) i don't really know how charlotte is supposed to help.

richard, and the rest of the others (other than ben) think that locke might actually be the prophet they've been looking for.

ben takes locke to jacob's cabin to see if this is true. locke hears jacob. ben gets jealous because ben can't hear jacob anymore. ben shoots locke and tries to maintain his position as leader of the others.

naomi crashes. 815'ers think she's there to rescue them. penny tips off charlie before he dies. charlie tips off desmond and walt tips off locke that team spooky isn't there for rescue.

locke knifes naomi in the back, but jack's dumbass helps the rest of team spooky get the exact co-ordinates to the island. team spooky lands on the island.

ben admits he doesn't know what the monster is. i think that the only individual who has any idea what the island actually is (besides the writers) is jacob, and the rest of the show will be the journey to discovering that they are actually in or near the garden of eden.

also, the flash forwards give us nothing relative to the discovery of what the island is, other than the fact that jack and kate and hurley left, and they made a mistake. also, the ones who didn't leave seem to be making life difficult for the spooky neo-dharma black dude because he's visiting hurley trying to find out who is still there.

here is a link to the garden of eden theory, which i think is dead on: http://tinyurl.com/ysypf5

http://tinyurl.com/2dnxmf

The narrative jumps around in time, it's not tied to the characters' actually thinking about that stuff, so they don't need to be alive in order for the viewer to be privy to it.

So this guy in the EW article is barking up the wrong tree with his "narrative cheat" shit.

I don't think the six make a "deal" to get off the island. However, I do think they made a pact with EACH OTHER to never tell what happened on the island, specifically whatever happened to the rescue team. Something very bad happened on that island, something all of them want to bury forever. Very intriguing stuff.

I don't trust him.

I think it was part of the condition of them getting to leave. I think Jack & his team fought valiantly to get them ALL off...but it becomes a "leave now or we'll ALL die" situation...and Jack & his crew make the awful decision to abandon them in order to rescue themselves. Hmmmm....abandon...Abbaddon?

Mel...I realize I may be overthinking Widmore's preoccupation with Desmond & Penny's relationship...it may have nothing to do with Desmond...it may be Desmond's father wronged Widmore in the past. Only another Desmond or Widmore flashback will clear any of this up. But I still contend Widmore DID "lock up Des and threw away the key"...in The Swan Hatch...He just picked a location where he KNEW Penny would NEVER be able to find...no matter how much $$$ and determination she put into a search.

But Charles underestimated his daughter's determination.

Perhaps he knows Hurley can find the island again (Hurley's lotto numbers are the longitude & latitude). I dunno...but he probably wants Hurley to go back and see if his "rescue team" completed their mission...but Hurley can't do it alone....he needs Jack's help.

Second, if he was trying to form a new team, why did he offer Hurley a stay in the Ritz Carlton Insane Asylum? What if Hurley accepted?

Third, if he wanted a team, he didn't have to act so creepy. Being creepy really isn't going to help a crazy man go back to a scary island. Maybe Abbaddon is socially retarded or something.

If UFO's and Aliens are revealed to be behind the mysteries of Lost...the writer's will have copped out so badly that I will throw my TV into my swimming pool and never watch it again.

I think you and Agents Mulder & Scully should go back to Area 51 rethink your theories.

Could that have been code for "The Island"?

I don't think he was talking about Hurley moving to another facility. He may be retarded....but I have a feeling Abbaddon ain't stupid.

And...Jaws is my favorite movie of all time....and I loved seeing the Dharma Shark on the show...and Sawyer singing "Farewell & Adieu" while he and Kate were paddling back to the main island....and I loved the shark drawn on the chalkboard in the rec room of Hurley's nut house...looked exactly like the shark drawing that Quint dragged his nails across in the city council scene in Jaws.

Glad to see my favorite show pay homage to my favorite movie.

But leave the aliens and unicorns to some other lame Sci-Fi Channel show.

I'm out again for the night...see ya'll soon!

Jaws is also my favorite flick of all time. I hope we see more Dharma shark.

While we're on the subject: why all the hate for Ana-Lucia? If anything, the fact that she shot the only person on the island that bitched about something OTHER than being stuck on an island is a plus in my book. I always thought of her as the "female Jack", albeit much more manlier.

That did look like young Yemi on the wall at Mrs. Johnson's house. And the fact that they focused on it - twice, leads me to believe it was him, somehow. I'm too lazy/busy to pull out season 2 and watch it to confirm that.

Loved the "how stupid are you" scene with Jack, and loved Sawyer's comments about "Tall Ghost Walt" to Locke!

The plane was found off Idonesia? Is that on the flight path from Sydney to LA? Why were they even looking there?

If the island is in the Indian Ocean, as the "found flight 815" was, and it's almost Christmas 2004 on the island, does that mean a Tsunami is coming?

Great episode - had some awesome moments in it! I'll admit I was mildly let down last week, but no such reaction this time!

OT - is it blizzarding with 45 mph winds and 20 below windchill for anyone else this morning? I just got back from a conference last night and it was miserable driving home! Got to love the midwest winter!

or Lapidus = Aid Plus

or Lapidus = Laid Ups

or Lapidus = Dual Sip

D.Vader, I like your train of thought about events just getting out of hand instead of some selfish deal being made. Doesn't look simple, whatever it is--the whole scenario, like the rest of the show, seems to be leading up to a kick-in-the-nuts kind of revelation.

Check out this shot of young Yemi from the Tail Section. Looks a lot like the boy on Mrs. Gardner's wall. http://tinyurl.com/223jsl

I think Darlton said "most" things will be explained by science...and not by supernatural means. There are some things that are going to be a bit of "both"...a little "quasi-science" if you will...for instance...the crazy ghostbusting machine that Miles had...obviously not a device based on reality....but...it could have come about due to breakthroughs in science that only harnessing the island's mystical properties could have produced.

But...until I SEE the Smoke monster actually "taking the form of" a person...I'm not buying that baloney. I think Smokie is a security system...albeit an incredibly advanced one...but hardly able to mimic the likeness...the clothing...the voice...the mannerisms of anyone.

Eko was killed by Smokie after talking to his dead brother Yemi...sure...but I think Smokie showing up was just a coincidence...and not a physical manifestation of Yemi. But that's just me.

CS Lewis, David Hume, John Locke, Rousseau, James Ford...I think the writer's are having fun with names of famous writers...but I don't think TPTB are basing anything we see on Lost upon their works. I think it's great they are sending people scrambling to Wikipedia to find out more about these authors...and trying to "connect the dots" as to their writings giving us a clue as to where Lost is heading...or how it will end. But I write each one up as a red herring. I'll be pleasantly surprised If I'm proved wrong.

Speaking of books...anyone imagine a scene in season 6...when jack, Hurley & the rest of the Oceanic 6 (or what's left of them) return to the island to rescue those they left behind...and when they find Sawyer...he is at the Other's barracks...in a Book Club meeting, discussing the meaning of "The Great Divorce" when he suddenly hears the rotors of a helicopter approaching outside. Sawyer always loved a good book.

As for the Great Divorce, Sawyer totally would stay behind rather than take the chance to go on if rescue came.

Sawyer staying behind....I think he does get left behind...but it's not HIS choice. I believe Kate will finally convince James he has to go back and face the music...just like SHE does...but when the time comes....there's only room enough for one of them...and Sawyer gives up his seat. I think part of his "survivin" will have him wearing a pair of reading specs and joining in on those "Book Club" meetings.

"Farewell & adieu to you fair Spanish ladies...Farewell & adieu to you ladies of Spain"...

4we, I appreciated the info from Lostpedia just as I enjoyed the reference to the EWOnline article.

Regarding Heroes, isn't it clear now that Kristen Bell has made one of the biggest mistakes in television acting history? Why did she pick Heroes? Charlotte on Lost looks like an amazing character, especially if she helps solve some of the "4-toed statue" mysteries.

Not that I was a huge fan, but considering all the bandwidth that the show ate up around here at AICN...I was wondering if I missed the cancellation "memo".

I'm sure Kristen Bell & her agent factored in the whole "living in Hawaii" thing, had she had taken the Lost role...and probably decided it was too much of a committment time/schedule-wise than the Heroes role. She is breaking into movies...and I know the cast of Lost has a helluva time getting away from the island to take on other projects. I have a feeling future movie roles...and her availability to take them played a huge factor.

;->

Executive Producer Damon Lindelof Says: "Indeed, it would appear that we are in the endgame of the strike. Personally, I couldn't be more psyched to be part of this union. Like any negotiation, some parts suck and some parts surpassed my wildest expectations for what we could accomplish, but most of all I'm left with a feeling of pride.

"As for Lost (pending the actual lifting of the strike, which we vote for on Tuesday), a game plan should begin to manifest by the end of the week. All I can say is that Carlton and I and the rest of the writers have every intention of making sure you guys get more episodes this season beyond the eight already completed. How many and how they will be aired is a conversation we'll be having with our bosses, but as soon as we've got a plan, we'll tell the fans first."

What We're Hearing: Lost's actors are on standby, and the show is expected to produce more episodes this season. Fingers crossed! The bigger question is who'll keep the golden Thursday at 9 p.m. time slot once those Seattle Grace docs also return...How 'bout we put Sawyer and McDreamy in a cage and let 'em duke it out? ('Cause we know who'd win...)

sorry I aint been about, the mix of huge charity gig coming up and work and my gym regieme(fatish man getting thin folks)..has eaten up my time..also got my window in car put in and my uncle was in a very bad accident........aint been a good few weeks...but hopefully get back to ya's all soon..

Big E that news has raised a much needed smile

we spoke about it intensivly in room 23 and although Bell is good for some masturbation scenes, she brings nothing else to the table...and in Lost we need multi-dimensional characters not some more eye candy..im happy enough with Kate and Claire

when we were doing a project on sharks before christmas there and after they completed the projects I let them watch Jaws, they loved it....

we'll Scheider before the end of Lost to deal with James Ezra Sharkington

Getting ‘Lost’

Damon Lindelof is eager for some answers. An executive producer of ABC’s mystery serial “Lost,” he should learn this week what his show’s future holds as it closes out its fourth season.

“Lost” has been back on the air just two weeks. But the strike meant a planned 16-episode shooting schedule was halted after just eight episodes were shot. Fans braced themselves for no more this season.

“But we very much want to come back and do as many episodes as possible,” said Lindelof, who then listed a few issues that first need to be settled.

“How many episodes can best serve our story? And what are the production realities?” He noted that the shooting facility in Hawaii, 2,500 miles from his Los Angeles office, had been shuttered since Thanksgiving. The crew has dispersed, the huge cast has scattered.

The first new post-strike episode of “Lost” could possibly be ready for broadcast the week after episode eight appears, he said. There likely would be three or four more after that.

Could there be even more?

“I’d be surprised if the network wanted to air episodes deep into the summer,” he said. But if all the pieces fell into place, “Lost” fans would be blessed: “I don’t see why we couldn’t deliver all eight remaining episodes.”

That kind of zeal should warm viewers’ hearts. Lindelof and the rest of TV’s creative community seem delighted to be back.

Point is we don't know, ABC doesn't yet know, D&C don't know, the cast and crew, their families and pets don't know.

And that doesn't take into account everyone's schedules...including mine.

Hope you sickos are feeling better soon. Sorry about the run of bad luck MP - with Lost coming back, maybe it'll change soon.

Before the strike...The plan was that we would get 16 episodes...running through the all important February Sweep...which we're in now...and with the season finale falling somewhere in the all important May sweep. That's where ABC makes it's bread & butter...in the SWEEPS.

Darlton will have a lot of begging and pleading to do to the network to let the season finale fall outside of the May sweep.

With that said...these first 8 episodes will finish up on the 20th of March. If we get, say 6 more episodes done...they would start in mid/late April (ramping up to the May Sweep)...and our season 4 finale would fall on May 22nd.

ABC will not let this thing rap up where it doesn't matter...I gaurantee that. I don't see them getting any NEW episodes shot and completed until late March...IF they get back to work this Friday...or early next week.

So...it becomes a race...can they salvage the May sweep window?....or do we have to wait until the November sweep to rap up Season 4?

It sucks...but ABC is a business...and sweeps periods are where they make their $$$....Unfortunately....new LOST episodes are like crack rock to ABC...and they aren't just gonna blow it where they aren't being metered. It's just that simple.

So, unless ABC moves Lost BACK to Wednesdays....the Season 4 finale will have to fall on Thursday, May 15th...which gives Darlton an even SHORTER window to shoot for.

I will be shocked if ABC allows them to rap it up on the 22nd or 29th of May.....but it may be the only way to do it. I wish Darlton the best of luck figuring this all out.

I don't know how long it takes for a show to get prepped and filmed, but in the past they've said they've been filming episodes up to within a week before airtime. If they start next week, we could have episodes 9+ in early April. Maybe a 2 week break after episode 4.08. I'm going to hope for 6 additional episodes, giving us 14 for this season.

Node, just exactly how sick are you???

This is all providing that the Screen Actor's Guild doesn't go on stike in June...over the same issues the Writer's Guild was striking over!!

Will this EVER end?!!

I'm praying the studios already have a plan in place for the actors...based upon what they agreed to award the writers. We can only hope!

No idea where Darth went, pa...I think he's making some other node's life a living hell.

Now I know some will beg to differ with me on that point but for me, anyway, this show has not had ONE SINGLE filler episode EVER - who can say the same for any other show they could care to mention?


PEACE

So what do we know?

Nothing...really.

According to at least 2 reports D&C disagree on what can be done. ABC's not weighed in yet, nor should they as the vote to end the strike (or not) occurs today. I tend to agree with Cheif about the June thing, but seems to me there are extenuating circumstances. Add to that that besides for years now having summer shows premier and capture audiences, the models are changing.

But the Maniaq point I hope is wrong...hope with a little "knowledge".

We had a "mole" on one of the talkbacks recently tell us besides the 8 completed episodes, 4 more were at varied states of readiness...2 of which were almost finished. That mole did, however, fess up later that he knew this through a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend...

So my point is we are still guessing. Nice game to play, but...

The 8 that run in succession will end on Mar 20...I think. 8 weeks after that is May 15...the day May sweeps ends.

If I was a studio exec I'd push for the agreed upon 8. Wouldn't you?

Personally...I think Carlton is on the crack pipe...and there will be at least a two week delay before we see episode 9...Partially just getting the crew & cast all back in the same locale...but also, the scripts the had in the "almost written" stage are now going to have to be altered greatly to include some of the story arcs they planned on covering in 16 eps....condensed down to 13....I'm hoping we get 14...but we''ll see.

Looking forward to hearing how their meeting goes with ABC.

Well...I think, considering the circumstances, ABC would sacrifice a couple of episodes as long as the Season Finale lands on May 15th. They will accept the strike as an "extenuating circumstance", I'm sure.

I haven't read all the posts yet so forgive me if it has already been discussed.

WTF i up with the Dharma polar bear in Tunisia? Was that the Hydra stations logo?

Who's house was the ghost guy in during his flashback? Was it someone we were supposed to know? Walt?

Why are the rescuers after Ben?

#4.....Locke thinks smokie is wonderful, one of the most beautiful thing he has ever seen..

#3...Goodbye submarine

#2...Goodbye Niome or so we thought

#1...When Locke decides he has to talk to the island, like what teh fuck...

Locke is my favourite character cause his off Island life is soo shit that I love what he has become...there ar e a million other Locke moments like destroying teh computer in teh hatch in season 2 finale and admitting 'I wa wrong' but these ones just jumped into my head....he's def my favourite character..

Answer - same guy. He didn't have a mustache, and it's probably one of the bad hair examples of LOST.

WTF i up with the Dharma polar bear in Tunisia? Was that the Hydra stations logo?

Answer - It was the hydra logo, but no one KNOWS why or how it got there. Spec is it was either a Dharma time/teleport/wormhole thing or maybe a separate Dharma location.

Who's house was the ghost guy in during his flashback? Was it someone we were supposed to know? Walt?

Answer - I don't think a connection has been made. People speculated the kid's pic on the wall was that of Eko, but I'm pretty sure that theory was cleary debunked.

Why are the rescuers after Ben?

Answer - good question.

I help where I can.

;->

4 - Spying on his father's house from his car

3 - Any of the times he says something like the island demanded a sacrifice.

2 - When he began to trust Ben in the hatch

1 - The orange peel smile

4 - Kicking Patchy's ass when his trip to Jacob was in jeopardy

3 - The look on his face when he was lifted out of the bed and placed into the wheelchair for the 1st time

2 - Banging on the hatch when the light cmae on

1 - Being "matter-of-fact" calm when danielle came in for the dynamite and Sayer was "de-cooperizing".

just a suggestion. I love moon pie.

But I'll go with the time travel theory. If I'm forced to choose.

4) Blowing up the sub

3) Blowing up Patchy's fort - followed by pushing Patchy into the fence

2) Tying up Boone

1) Knifing Naomi. Was there nothing else he could have done? He had to kill her? The island told him to?