Lost

This season of Lost has been so consistently entertaining and emotionally satisfying that my expectations for tonight were way beyond high. I almost knew going in that there was no way that Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse could live up to them. As is often the case with this show, my instincts were dead wrong.

The very first scenes tonight provided a much-needed link back to the game-changing events that kick-started the entire Oceanic 6 storyline this time a year ago. I loved that the action picked up right where we left off as Jack screamed at Kate’s car. She actually stopped, went back and let him have it, reminding him that his abandonment of Aaron and his drug-fueled stupor were certainly hurting his credibility. It was at this point that we first heard the name Jeremy Bentham, identified by Kate as the mystery man in the coffin. It was only after I did some research on the web that I was able to figure out, well before the final shot, who Jeremy Bentham would turn out to be (Click here for some clues.)

“It’s not an island. It’s a place where miracles happen.” As John pleaded with Jack to reconsider his desire to leave, we revisited one of the recurring struggles from the past four seasons—the clash between a man of faith and a man of science. Clearly, the island’s defiance of reason, the confines of time and space and even, it seems in some cases, death, makes Locke’s argument more easily supportable. Not only did his connection to the island heal his physical ailments, but it also set in motion his destiny as ultimate successor to Ben as leader of the island’s original inhabitants (and conduit for Jacob’s ongoing oversight.) And this was no coup. The eerie transition of power as Ben quietly and purposefully accepted his destiny as the one who would move the island—and be therefore unable to return—was peaceful and, in a sense, anti-climactic since it has been clear for a while that John was Ben’s lady-in-waiting. The two finally made their way to the Orchid station and Ben had John watch yet another Dharma orientation video—the first to reference time-travel exploration (dismissed by Ben as “silly experiments.”) As John listened to the warnings about keeping the chamber clear of any metals, Ben methodically loaded it up with as much metallic material as he could find. Apparently, plenty of fire power was required to blow a hole to the center of the island.

Meanwhile, back on the freighter, Desmond’s experience with explosives disposal in the British Army definitely came in handy as he provided a one word explanation for the various options available to them in the room of C4—“Boom.” Yet, oddly, it turned out to be Michael who was able to temporarily diffuse the situation (pardon the pun) with some liquid nitrogen, buying them a little time once Keamy’s heart stopped beating and tripped the detonator. I was somewhat taken aback by Ben’s cold-hearted “So?” when Locke admonished him for indirectly killing the innocent people on the boat, but Ben’s normally calculating demeanor was overwhelmed by his passion in the moment. (This is not the first time we’ve seen this happen—remember Juliet’s ill-fated romance with Goodwin?)

It was nice to see a little friendly interaction between Michael, Sun and Jin in the freighter’s final moments. Sun excitedly spilled the beans about her pregnancy to her old friend and then Jin stayed behind with Michael as he tried to keep the battery cold as long as possible. It was touching to see Michael imploring his friend to return to Sun saying, “You are a father now.” A moment later, Michael was unexpectedly confronted by yet another father, Christian Shephard (or was it Jacob?) who calmly said “You can go now, Michael” as the bomb detonated. My guess was that this indicated that Michael’s purpose was now fulfilled and the island was now prepared to let him die a heroic death.

It was definitely a treat to see Walt come to visit Hurley in the mental hospital, though it was really disconcerting to see how much Malcolm David Kelley has grown up. (Click on his name to see exactly how much he has changed since the first season.) It seemed that Walt had also been visited by Jeremy Bentham and now wanted to know why the Oceanic 6 were lying about the ones they left behind, including his father. “We’re lying because it’s the only way to protect everyone that didn’t come back,” Hurley explained. What is still unanswered is Walt’s connection to the island and what larger role he has to play.

Later, Hurley received another unexpected visitor as Sayid broke the news about the now-deceased Bentham and told him that he was being watched and needed to leave the hospital. Hurley, in the midst of a chess game with an unseen Mr. Echo replied, “Dude I’ve been having regular conversations with dead people. The last thing I need now is paranoia.” Sayid finally convinced Hurley to come with him with an assurance that they would not “go back.”

There were a number of heart-breaking, tear-inducing moments tonight as well. As the helicopter lost fuel and it was clear that it couldn’t support the weight it was carrying, Sawyer made the selfless decision to sacrifice his own rescue. After whispering a request into her ear, he planted a kiss on Kate that was definitely one for the books before leaping from the helicopter into the water below. (I also teared up when they quickly cut to Hurly after Frank mentioned they needed to drop a couple hundred pounds, knowing that he was wracked with guilt in that moment.) My only quibble with that moment was that it came at the halfway point of the show and it felt like it should have been a more climactic moment. (Anyone agree with that?)

Even worse than Sawyer’s leap was Sun’s agony as she realized the helicopter was leaving without Jin, followed by his assumed death as the freighter exploded and quickly sank. For the record, I am going to continue hoping that Jin did not perish in the fiery wreckage, but Yunjin Kim’s heart-wrenching portrayal of Sun in those moments was simply amazing. She made Sun’s anguish truly tangible. For me, it all helped to clarify her ambivalence to Jack in their later interactions on the C-130 and her reactions when Hurley comes to visit Jin’s grave. Later, her run-in with Widmore seemed to indicate that she has an axe to grind, though do we really know what game she is playing? It all points to the tight, consistent storytelling and craftsmanship at work that so many pieces of the puzzle made more sense at the end of tonight's episode.

As Ben turned the giant wheel at the island's core, a blinding light followed and then, in an instant, the island was no longer visible. A moment later, the damaged helicopter went down, taking Frank, Desmond, Jack, Sayid, Hurley, Sun, Kate and Aaron with it. Huddled in a lifeboat hours later, the group encountered a boat called the "Searcher" and in a twist I saw coming a mile away (anyone else?), it turned out to be Penny's boat. Again, it was very touching to see the long-awaited reunion of Desmond and Penny, but I felt like the emotional impact was lost in the midst of all the action. How is it possible that I was more moved by their fateful phone call in "The Constant" than I was by their shipboard reunion?

While a lot of questions remain after tonight's episode, one thing became crystal clear—the Oceanic 6 made the decision to lie at the behest of Jack, though it was Locke who really planted that seed. Jack did present a compelling case as he talked about the lengths Widmore had gone to plant the plane and the bodies. What would he do if he realized that there were survivors on the island? So as the Oceanic 6 faked their rescue, leaving Penny and Desmond on the run, it was certainly bittersweet on many levels.

The final moments of the finale, as Jack returned to the funeral home, was confronted by Ben and paid his final respects to Locke's alter ego, really set up what's to come in Season 5. We all know that the Oceanic 6 need to return to the island. But how will they get there? And what will they find? The thing that really amazed me about tonight's finale is that it set up those questions while still providing a modicum of closure. I did not think that this finale was as jaw-dropping as last year's for sure, but knowing that this story is leading us somewhere is really making for an enjoyable ride.

Some other notable moments tonight:
—Sawyer to Jack, just before they happened upon Hurley relieving himself in the jungle. “So what’s the plan, Sundance?”
—The smackdown between Sayid and Keamy
—Ben getting revenge for Alex
—Hurley’s first words to Walt, “You’re getting big, dude.”
—Miles' encounter with Rose as he helped himself to some peanuts—“I’m gonna keep my eye on you, Shorty.”
—The strange exchange between Miles and Charlotte as he cryptically referenced her long term desire to “get back here” and his equally cryptic response, “What do I mean?” (Was this possibly setting the stage for a story around Charlotte's connection to the Dharma initiative or Ben?)
—As Sawyer and Jack stumble upon the carnage near the helicopter and Kate mentions that she didn’t kill Keamy, Sawyer's mischievous query, “Which one did you kill?”
—Those few moments on the helicopter as Jack, Kate, Hurley and Sawyer think they are on their way to rescue.

And last but not least...
— Sawyer coming out of the ocean. No shirt. Thank you.

I feel like I could go on for days but now it's your turn. Did you get the answers you were looking for? What were your favorite moments? Did anything disappoint you? What is in store next season. I know you will all have plenty to say and I can't wait to read it all.

Thanks for all of your comments and thoughts throughout this fantastic season. I will continue to post updates and news items as they come up. See you in January!

Anyone out there as excited as I am? I thought I would start this thread so that folks can comment throughout the evening. I'll post the recap after the finale is finished.

In the meantime, be sure to check out Matt's interview with Michael Emerson. See you in a few hours. Enjoy!!

As the final moments of tonight’s episode unspooled accompanied by the stirring music of Michael Giacchino, I could barely stand the suspense as we watched all of our favorite core characters positioning themselves (or being positioned) for the battle to come. All of the pieces are falling into place for what is sure to be a mind-blowing finale in two weeks.

As the episode began with a flash forward, we saw the homecoming of the recently-saved Oceanic Six. In the back of a military cargo plane, they got their stories aligned and prepped for the onslaught of questions to come, deciding that their collective shock would be their best defense against probing queries for which they had no answers. Jack continued to play the role of leader rallying his troops, though it seemed as though his credibility was already beginning to wane at this point, his typical heroic demeanor in some way offset by a touch of desperation. It was bittersweet and emotionally satisfying to see each of these characters facing the ones they left behind—Jack seeing his mother, Hurley and Sun seeing their parents. But what was worse was the big question mark we are still left with—why did these six leave the island and what was the fate of the ones that remained?

On the island, the survivors slowly began to realize the danger they were facing from Keamy and his mercenaries as Daniel pushed to get people back to the freighter. Jack and Kate met up with a shell-shocked Sawyer, Miles and Aaron on the way to find the errant helicopter. We later learned that Lapidus had purposely dropped the phone so that the survivors could track him. Meanwhile, fresh off their visit to Jacob’s cabin, Locke, Hurley and Ben continued their trek through the island as Ben formulated a plan to sacrifice himself—at least temporarily—to buy them time and to help them reach the elusive Orchid station.

Back to the future, Sayid enjoyed his long-awaited reunion with Nadia; Sun confronted her father about Jin and then dropped the bombshell that she had used her settlement to buy controlling interest in her father’s company; some of the Oceanic Six gathered to celebrate Hurley’s birthday, as the gift from his father served as an eerie reminder that the numbers still have some kind of role to play; and Jack delivered a long-delayed eulogy for Christian and received some disturbing news about his family tree. (That was Veronica Hamel of Hill Street Blues fame playing Jack’s mother.)

Thanks to Daniel, a handful of survivors made it back to the freighter, including Sun, caring for Aaron, and Jin who had a tense and unexpected reunion with the long-last Michael. The survivors had barely made it on board before Desmond, Michael and Jin discovered a huge stash of C4—enough to incinerate 10 freighters. And back on the island, Kate and Sayid landed in a trap courtesy of the timeless Richard Alpert.

We did get a few more answers tonight, in fits and starts of course:
— the world is under the impression that Kate gave birth to Aaron on the island.
— Jack mentioned that eight people survived, so what’s the story with the additional two survivors who allegedly died on the island?
—Sun claimed that Jin died on impact. Why is that such a critical point (later clarified on his tombstone).
—Jack did not learn the truth about Claire until he was off the island.

So, moving the island is a “measure of last resort?” I should hope so since it seems like a rather large undertaking. But as Ben reminded John, “I always have a plan.” What of the other survivors? Where is this grand plan leading them and how can this season top itself? As I am sitting here and rewatching the final few minutes, I am again convinced that not only will the finale meet expectations. It will exceed them. See you in two weeks!

Need a Lost fix right now? Check out the Online Video Guide for clips and previews.

“How do I save the island?” Apparently, that was the question that needed to be asked and now Locke has received his direction—move the island. Who was giving the orders you ask? Not Jacob, but Christian Shephard. For months now, I’ve been thinking that Jacob—whoever or whatever he is—was using Christian’s corpse as a vessel. And yet tonight, when John met up with him in the cabin, Christian came right out and introduced himself. So is he dead? An apparition? And why does Claire seem so freaking calm after having effectively abandoned Aaron in the jungle? Is she dead?

I have to admit that the first half of this episode left me pretty cold, but things certainly heated up in the last 20 minutes. I think my issue is that I am still not feeling the freighter angle or Michael’s re-entry into the fray. And frankly, with the exception of Frank who appears, for now, to have good intentions, the freighter folk haven’t given us much to like. Case in point, the cold-blooded Martin Keamy added two more to his body count tonight and it would have been three if the gun would have allowed him to shoot Michael. (Though we all knew that wasn't going to happen.) The action on the freighter took a deadly turn as the ship’s doctor and captain met their untimely deaths. Now that we’ve learned how the doctor ended up dead in the water, the question that remains is how the heck did he wash up on the beach before he actually died on the boat? I’m also not convinced that we’ve see the last of the captain.

Tonight’s episode also delved even further into Locke’s past—his rebellious teenage mother whose dalliance with an unnamed older man led to his conception; his premature birth; his detached childhood and frustrating, self-doubting adolescence; and, most importantly, his encounters with the Dorian Gray-like Richard Alpert (Nestor Carbonell) and the equally mysterious Matthew Abbadon. I was thoroughly confused by the test that John had to somehow pass to be “accepted” to Richard’s school and why Richard reacted so abruptly to John’s selection of the knife. I did enjoy the interplay between Locke and Abbadon, who turned up as an orderly at John’s post-accident rehab facility. His hopeful advice to John about not giving up hope seemed to be a stark contrast to his earlier appearances with Hurley and Naomi. I am hoping that his motives turn out to be more good than bad, but his suggestion of a walkabout for John leads me to believe that someone knew about (or even triggered) the fatal crash that was to come.

Ben’s declaration that “Destiny, John, is a fickle bitch,” certainly seemed to ring true. As a guy who has dealt with more than his share of betrayal, disappointment, and physical pain, it now seems like it was all leading John to the island. Whether or not he is actually meant to replace Ben remains to be seen, but that certainly seems to be the case for now.

With all the gloom and impending doom, I was happy for a light-hearted moment as Hurley shared his candy bar with Ben. Seeing his spirit and heart on the island makes it even harder to think about the bleak future for him that we saw laid out last week as he seemingly dips into a depressed and defeated shell of himself. Is there some hope that the strange time-space issues might allow for some change in future circumstance? Or is Ben right and destiny will have its way like a pre-determined chess game. In the next few weeks, I think that answer will become clearer.

So what did I miss tonight? How does Abbadon fit in this puzzle and how is Richard Alpert traveling through time, untouched by its usual ravages? What's Christian's role in all of this and what's going on with Claire. Make sure to post your thoughts, your guesses and your comments so we can keep this party going right down to the last minute of the last hour of this fantastic season.

I’m not even sure where to begin. From the signature eye-opening shot at the beginning to Sawyer’s impassioned cries for Claire at the end, tonight’s episode intrigued, confused and frustrated me. It also left me emotionally exhausted and thoroughly succeeded in reintroducing some things I had forgotten. And, as always, it created more questions than answers.

Let’s start with Matthew Fox in a towel. Not bad. Not bad at all. (Anyone else as excited as me to see him in Speed Racer?) I pretty much knew who he was co-habitating with as soon as he tripped on the child’s toy in the kitchen. As much as I like Jack and Kate on the island, it felt disconcerting to see them living a life of domestic bliss. (Or Heaven, as Hurley would later refer to it.) It wasn’t just that I half expected to see Kate scamper out the fancy French doors to shimmy up a tree or follow a blood trail, though that was certainly part of it. It was also the underlying melancholy that seemed to permeate their happy facade. Even during the marriage proposal scene, there was a palpable sadness to their interaction. Kate’s tears didn’t feel joyful—they felt wrought with uncertainly and guilt. At this point on the timeline, Jack has apparently reunited with Kate and Aaron after an unexplained estrangement that coincided with Kate’s trial and seemed to stem from her arrangement as Aaron's "mother." (An arrangement that Jack called her on the carpet about tonight.) The demons that Jack had succumbed to at the end of last season are clearly beginning to take hold as he self-medicates with booze and pills in response to the stress of seeing his dead father loitering in the waiting area of his office.

Even more troubling was Jack’s unsettling visit with Hurley, whose break from reality has obviously deepened. As he talked about his visits with Charley, he shared a message that his deceased friend wanted him to pass along, “You’re not supposed to raise him, Jack.” I immediately thought back to Claire’s season one visit with the psychic who warned her that it was imperative for her to raise the baby herself. Her disappearance tonight might be a clue to how Kate ultimately ends up taking Aaron off the island and I am just so anxious to see how the "rescue" of the Oceanic Six plays out.

Back on the island, two dramas played out at the same time. Jack’s medical emergency brought Juliet and Kate together in an unexpected way and also highlighted the fact that Juliet is well aware of the emotional connection that Jack and Kate share. While the actual surgery scene was brutal (I wanted to jump into the television and give him the chloroform myself!), the scene that followed with Juliet and Kate (as Jack pretended to sleep) was very satisfying to watch. You can truly understand how a guy would be torn between these two beautiful, passionate, intelligent women. But unfortunately for Juliet, it appears that Kate wins, at least in the short-term.

Meanwhile, Sawyer, Miles, Claire and baby Aaron made for an unlikely traveling party as they inched their way back to the beach and stumbled across the rotting bodies of Danielle and Carl. I am loving the heroic turn that Sawyer has taken in these last few episodes—stepping up to take care of Claire in Charlie’s absence. (The bit about the restraining order was hysterical until Miles used it against him when Claire disappeared in the middle of the night.) I am also intrigued by the seemingly heroic antics of Lapidus who surely saved the island dwellers from Alex’s fate when he told them to hide from the murderous Keamy. I’m still somewhat confused about how Miles, Daniel, Charlotte and Lapidus fit in with the freighter folk. Daniel seems to have some redeeming qualities and Miles really only seems interested in self-preservation. But, Charlotte’s edginess seems to imply there is more to their story than meets the eye. I enjoyed that Jin caught on to her quickly tonight and now seems to have the upper hand with her. His determination to get Sun off the island is giving me renewed hope about his “death.”

So, what are we left with? Claire's waking to find her dad (also Jack's dad, and also, incidentally, dead) rocking baby Aaron and the next thing you know, the baby is left behind and Claire is no where to be found. And what's up with Jack's continuing ambivalence over Aaron? Is he really uncertain about his parenting skills or does he learn the truth about his link to Claire before he leaves the island? Is that realization fueling his guilt?

The last scene with Jack and Kate also left us with some questions. What was the deal with Kate's errand for Sawyer? Why does he opt to stay behind and how does that choice come about? And what does Jack mean when he says he saved Kate? I'm hoping that we get some answers in the coming weeks. But whether it is answers we get or more questions, I'll be watching.

Need a Lost fix right now? Check out the Online Video Guide for clips and previews.

“He changed the rules.”

Well, I don’t know what the rules were before, but apparently, they did not include murder. And apparently, all bets are off on that account.

For anyone who was still wondering who the bad guys are, some of them certainly became a little more obvious tonight, while the moral code of other folks is still very much a gray area. Though I was never a huge fan of Alex (or her boyfriend or crazy mother), I thought her cruel, meaningless death was made even more heart-breaking by the fact that the last words she heard were those of the man she knew as her father completely disavowing her. Yes, Ben was doing what little he could to try and save her, but it was also clear that he was unwilling to sacrifice his ultimate mission, even for her. (And after she so kindly set off the Code 14J warning/telephone call!) If Michael Emerson is overlooked during Emmy season this year, something is terribly amiss. I have rarely seen an actor convey so much emotion with just a slight curl of his lip or change in his intonation. This episode was truly a showcase to what a central player he has become to this mystery.

Speaking of mysteries, a few big ones were cleared up tonight while another was set in motion. We now understand how future Sayid came to be in the employ of future Ben. Sadly, it seems that Sayid’s long-awaited post-island reunion with Nadia was short-lived and avenging her murder became the impetus for his career as Ben’s hired gun. Apparently, their business relationship commenced in October, 2005 when Ben seemingly time-tripped (?) to Tunisia and spotted Sayid on Iraqi television mourning his wife. (By the way, the name Ben used to check into the hotel was Dean Moriarty—click here for some interesting info about this particular alias.) In addition, we learned that Ben does have the power to summon the smoke monster from his man-of-mystery room, though what it actually is or how it operates remains unknown. And while we are on the topic of that room, does it serve as some sort of time portal or is it simply where Ben stores his time travel necessities?

Meanwhile, the body of the freighter’s doctor washed up complete with a slit throat and more questions for the freighter refugees. Was the plan ever to rescue the Oceanic survivors? That’s a big no. Why did Daniel lie about the contents of the coded message? And what the heck do they mean that the doctor is fine. What exactly is the deal with these people? Are they in cahoots with cold-blooded killer Keamy and his fellow mercenaries?

Truthfully, it felt like there was so much story happening tonight it was tough to keep track of everything I wanted to comment on. I loved the first scene with Hurley, Sawyer and Locke. After weeks of hearing, “We’re all going to die,” it was funny to see that Hurley’s expressionless murmuring was instigated by a game of Risk. (Did anyone else catch that Hurley said, “Australia is the key to the whole game?”)

My other favorite moments tonight:
—Ben’s transition from peaceful pianist to Rambo-like warrior, complete with a piano-bench munitions stash.
— Ben telling Sayid, “That should do it,” after Sayid put multiple bullets into the man who murdered his wife.
—Hurley caring for Claire's baby so diligiently while Sawyer played hero for Claire.
—Sawyer’s threat to Locke that hurting even one hair on Hurley’s "curly head" would have dire consequences. (I swear, I'm starting to hope that the big kiss we are all waiting for is those two. I am just loving this friendship!)
—Getting to see Smoky in action as he pulled that soldier into the jungle by his ankles.

Even more questions remain. What is happening to Jack? Why did Ben imply that he cannot kill Widmore? Why did Widmore refer to Ben as "boy?" It seems as if these two have a long history. Did the island pass into Ben's protection during his tragic youth? Widmore said, “That island is mine, Benjamin. It always was. It will be again.” And yet, he seems powerless to get back. And how will Penny factor into all of this, especially now that Ben has shown his cards in terms of his plans to exact revenge for Alex's death. I don't know about you, but I love the pace and the story progression this season and that trend seems to be continuing. I'll be on the edge of my seat until next week, but until then, as Ben would say, "Sleep tight."

Need a Lost fix right now? Check out the Online Video Guide for clips and previews.

When do you know that your over-the-top obsession with Lost has reached new heights of madness? When you turn to Jimmy Kimmel for answers, that's when! Click here for Jimmy's interview with Lost executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse.

Need even more? Check out the Mitovich Mega Minute for some video scoop.

See you tomorrow night to chat about the return!

It is hard to believe, but we are a mere week away from the final batch of episodes. As as we suffer through the relentless barrage of ABC promos this week ("We're all gonna die," says a creepy Hurley...over and over), click here for some actual intelligence collected just today from Team Darlton. I can't promise it will make the promos stop, but you never know.

We still have a few weeks until the next new episode, but in the meantime, here are a few Lost-related links to tide you over.

I laughed out loud when I watched this video that shows a montage of our quizzical, island friends. You need to see it to believe it. (And I need to know how people find the time...)

Also, today's Ausiello Report offers some juicy innuendo about a possible extra episode in '08. Fingers officially crossed!

Leave it to ABC to take the concept of the dreaded repeat and reinvent it as "enhanced" television. Now, instead of enjoying a few quiet Thursday evenings with my family, I am compelled to watch these repeats—I mean "enhanced" episodes— and search for clues and new information. My name in Trish W. and I am a Lost addict.

I did actually learn a few things tonight, though I don't know if any of this was truly new information. Below are a few tidbits that I noticed and some corrections from the first time around:

—The car that Hurley is racing in the opening scene is a 1974 Camaro—the same car that he was rebuilding with his father in season three's "Tricia Tanaka is Dead."
—Abbadon (as in Hurley's mysterious psych ward visitor) translates as "guardian of the abyss." Also, the picture on the chalkboard in that scene, which includes a boat, an island and a shark, is a clue.
—I didn't remember Sawyer's kindness to Hurley after he learns of Charlie's death. That really set the stage for their burgeoning friendship in these eight episodes.
—I had also missed Ben's sarcastic comment about Naomi's big pile of firewood. Priceless.
—Originally, I had identified the eye in the cabin as Mikhail. Now it seems more obvious that it was probably Locke since it is he who turns up to help Hurley a moment later.
—I was once again touched (and brought to tears) by Hurley's joyful, carefree cannonball followed by his heartbreaking scenes learning of Charlie's death and sharing the news with Claire. Jorge Garcia completely rocked this episode.
—So, "H" is the eighth letter of the alphabet and "O" is the fifteenth? And here I was thinking that they were just playing basketball. Did anyone actually catch that the first time around?

Keep those "enhanced" comments coming as we work through these next four weeks together. April 24 will be here before we know it.

Need more Lost right now? Check out the Online Video Guide for clips and full episodes.

Hi all! New guy Mickey O'Connor here (or Doc O'C, as Ausiello has taken to calling me – sigh), filling in for the lovely Trish Wethman, who has once again allowed me to let loose with my lunatic ravings in this space.

Speaking of, let's all meet Kevin Johnson.

After watching the "previously on Lost" segment this week ("We're going to have to take the boy." "WAAAALTTT!" Ms. Klugh! Bang! Bang! Ana Lucia and Libby! "Follow this compass bearing to find rescue."), I realized how raptly I had followed the stories of Michael and Walt, and how I always had high hopes that the resolution of their stories would eventually yield some serious payoff. While I'm not quite ready to say that the flashback-heavy "Meet Kevin Johnson" delivered in that department, it has certainly piqued my interest, in the process giving some screen time to some heretofore mostly unexamined (and sorely missed) players in the Lost repertory.

Michael Dawson (aka Kevin Johnson): One of the great things about Lost is that I'm now agonizing about the events that occurred between the time Michael and Walt left The Island and the time when Michael's post-Island flashback began in Manhattan, approximately two months after the crash of Flight 815, according to Michael's no-nonsense mother. And although the December 2004-edition New York City cab should have tipped me off -- I mean, I live here -- I still tip my hat to Team Darlton for faking me out with the cheery Mama Cass ("Better! Every! Day!") on the junky radio of the standard 1970s-issue pimpmobile that Michael piloted straight into a maritime cargo container. Visions of time travel were dancing in my head, and for some reason, I was hoping that Michael's travels had brought him, Quantum Leap-style, to another time and place entirely.

But modern hospital equipment – and a signature eyeball close-up -- quickly dashed my hopes of a Scott Bakula cameo. Instead, we found out that our old friend Mr. Friendly (see below) had a job for Michael, in lieu of his planned suicide, which The Island will not allow. (Note to Dr. Shephard: Dude, apparently you were never going to jump off that bridge.) Michael is told that he will be placed on the freighter to not only sabotage their mission, as previously thought, but to kill everyone on board, in order to save the lives of the friends that he betrayed back on The Island. I wish that we had seen more of freaky Walt than just a window silhouette. Hints about his chronic bad dreams made me curious about his post-Island existence.

Libby: The much-teased return of the talented Cynthia Watros was fulfilled tonight... sort of (although I still crave more backstory on her interactions with Hurley and Desmond). As much as I wanted Libby to return, Mikhail Bakunin-like, from the grave to blow my mind, it was nonetheless satisfying to see a lithe, spectral Libby show up twice in Michael's dream life: first as a nurse offering extra blankets (a smart echo of her blanket-clutching death scene) and then as she warned Michael not to detonate the Others-provided explosives, which, upon "detonation," produced nothing more than a flaccid paper flag that said "NOT YET."

Indeed. Now that Sayid has rocked the boat with the news that Kevin Johnson is a traitor, it seems we have a few more developments in store aboard the freighter. But will Libby resurface to save the day? Perhaps only in my dream life.

Mr. Friendly: How amusing is it that the second that Mr. Friendly gets off The Island, Otherton's resident bon vivant orders up the penthouse at the Hotel Earle, a King Henry VIII-style banquet, and the company of a pretty young thing named, hilariously, Arturo? But once his hedonistic tableau is established, he gives Michael hard evidence that Charles Widmore has faked the crash of Oceanic 815, including the exhuming of 324 bodies from a Thai cemetery to place in a suitable jet facsimile on the ocean floor. But why?

Alex, Danielle, and Karl: While we don't technically know if Karl and Danielle are both indeed dead, I'm guessing they are. Just watching the bloated cast listing at the beginning of each episode indicates that, with an end date now in sight, Team Darlton is going to have to start pruning the narrative bonsai, and some stories are going to be left on the greenhouse floor. While I can't say that I'll miss Karl, I appreciate his contribution to the Lost mythology (remember the Clockwork Orange-like Room 23 scene?). Danielle, on the other hand, has always intrigued me, and the anti-climactic reunion with her daughter, Alex, left me somewhat cold. I wanted to know more about her arrival on The Island, and how she became separated from her paternity-questioned newborn daughter. Also: How did she bring a baby to term on The Island? Nevertheless, it seems that with Alex's final declaration that she is Ben's daughter, her role will increase in importance in the coming episodes.

Ben: All I have to say is that if I had my way, Michael Emerson would have nothing left to do this summer than ready his Emmy acceptance speech, if for nothing else than for the following eight words: "Then consider yourself one of the good guys." The way he skates the line between confusing nobility and underhanded omniscience is just fine, fine acting that is constantly keeping me guessing. I honestly don't know who the good guys are at this point, but I know that whichever side Ben ends up on, I will be watching.

Quotable Quotes:

"We kind of, like, knew that forever ago." – Hurley, responding to Miles' confirmation that the freighter folk are there to get Ben

"…Considering a week ago you had a gun to his head and tonight he's eating pound cake, I'd say he's a guy who gets what he wants." – Miles, about Ben's newfound acceptance by Locke

"Are you going Nicholson on us?" – Minkowski, on Michael's obsessive tennis ball-bouncing inside the freighter

Asides:

I don't remember if we knew this before, but Naomi's last name sounded like Dorrit, which Wikipedia tells me might be a reference to the Charles Dickens novel, Little Dorrit, a satire about, among other things, debtor's prisons, in which people were incarcerated if they owed money. Interpreting it loosely, you might say it was about people repenting for their past sins, about finding redemption.

Just as Michael is about to kill himself (the second time, with the gun, in his apartment), the game show on the TV in the background announces the answer to a question about Slaughterhouse-Five is Kurt Vonnegut. Slaughterhouse is about WWII-era American soldier Billy Pilgrim, who, amidst the carnage of the war, becomes "unstuck in time."

Mr. Friendly is staying at the Hotel Earle. You know who else stayed at a Hotel Earle? Barton Fink. In the Coen Brothers film, the hotel symbolized hell.

Also:

ABC's incessant promos for new episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives made me realize how much I've missed TV – and how long the next four weeks are going to seem. But stick with us and we'll get you through it.

So what did you think? Did you welcome Michael's return? Any predictions for the next five episodes? How exactly will the Oceanic Six make it off The Island?

Watch full episodes of Lost in our Online Video Guide.

I am very sorry to report that I will not have the honor of writing about the last of the pre-strike episodes this Thursday. A prior work commitment will keep me from my blogging duties, but I am leaving you in the very capable hands of Mickey O'Connor. When Mickey is not busy running errands for Michael Ausiello, he fancies himself to be quite a Lost aficionado and he has already shared his blogging prowess with us a few weeks back when he covered Desmond's nosebleed-inducing time bouncing (and tear-inducing phone call with Penny.) As validation of his worthiness, check out his Lost-centric contributions to the Ausiello Report.

I will definitely be chiming in once I get a chance to view the episode and then I will return for the final five episodes—you know, the ones that will rock our worlds. Until then, Lost fans, be my "constant" and keep on commenting!

My mind is just totally blown right now. I know I've said that before, but this time, I really mean it. I feel like Minkowski after his last fateful ride on the time-travel express. Between the frantic searching on the Internet for facts and names and the hysterics that came at the end of the episode, I hope I am able to articulate everything coherently. Be patient with me.

Tonight we learned that Sun is one of the Oceanic Six. Is that list now complete? If you include Aaron in the equation, Sun makes six survivors. But who the heck knows for sure? I am so beyond even trying to figure things out ahead of time at this point — I simply surrender to the manipulative story-crafting genius of Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof. (Ben wouldn’t stand a chance against these guys.)

I guess that a person well-versed in Chinese and Korean would have known right off the bat that Jin’s story was unfolding in China during this episode. What was not so obvious (at least to me)? He was in China in the year 2000. Yes, folks, tonight’s twist was a double whammy — a flash-forward coupled with a flashback. Right off the bat, it seemed odd to me that Jin would not be by Sun’s side as her labor progressed. After all, it appears that the Oceanic Sixers received huge settlements, so it’s not like he would be working. The first tangible clue? The comment from the cashier about the stuffed dragon and the fact that it would be very popular during the year of the dragon. A quick look at the Chinese calendar confirmed for me that the dragon is celebrated every 12 years — the last one being 2000. At first I suspected that the island’s time-shifting was the culprit and that we had landed in 2012. Then I thought that we would learn this was Jin and Sun’s second child. Wrong and wrong. Jin’s story was actually occurring in the past, two months after he and Sun married and four years before the fateful flight. An additional clue? Jin’s older-model cell phone that he drops while trying to get into the taxi. (Props to my husband who caught that right away.) More on this later....

Getting back to the rest of the action... talk about burying the lead! Turns out that Michael is alive and well and going by the name Kevin Johnson. (No great shock there, since we’ve all been wondering when he would surface.) I will not leap to the conclusion that Michael is Ben’s man on the boat without further evidence, though that seems to be the case for the moment. I do think that his reluctance to run into Sayid indicated that he recognized him. (Correct me if I am wrong, but Desmond came on the scene after Michael was gone, so he wouldn’t recognize him.) Is Michael the one who has been providing aid to Sayid and Desmond and sabotaging the efforts of the crew? First, the door is left ajar. Then, the note that reads, "Don’t trust the captain." And how about this Captain Gault? A quick search on his name turned up some interesting info about the fictional character who shares his moniker. (Click here for more on that.) What are his motives? Why is Lapidus so fearful of his wrath? What is up with this “heightened case of cabin fever” that has his crew encasing themselves in chains and jumping to their watery deaths? (Regina was played by stuntwoman-actress Zoe Bell in what looks like the shortest guest stint since Fisher Stevens time-shifted his way to a brain aneurysm.) And what of his revelation that the black data recorder he possesses was recovered from the wreckage of Flight 815 along with the bodies of 324 victims? After explaining that his employer, Charles Widmore, spent a great deal of money to make that recovery, Gault offers up the following query to Sayid and Desmond: “Can you imagine what kind of resources and manpower go into pulling off a feat of that magnitude? Faking the recovery of a plane crash. Putting 324 families through a grieving process based on a lie. Where exactly does one come across 324 dead bodies?” The captain and his crew seem to believe that Ben is the one with the answers to these questions.

Back on the beach, Sun’s growing mistrust of Juliet (fueled by Kate) leads her to decide that Locke’s camp is the safer bet for her, Jin and the baby. Juliet’s concern for Sun and her knowledge of what’s in store leads her to come clean to Jin about Sun’s brief affair. (At first I was uncertain why she made the revelation, but then I realized that she was just trying to shake Jin’s faith in an effort to delay their departure.) I thought Jin’s fishing trip with Bernard and the talk between those two was well-timed and provided Jin with a chance to consider the options. “It’s all about karma, Jin,” Bernard explains as he details why he went with Jack in spite of Rose’s island-fueled remission. “You make bad choices, bad things happen to you.”

Just how bad do things get? Jin’s absence from his daughter’s delivery does not bode well. Sun not wanting to give up her wedding ring and only starting to ask for Jin as the medication made her woozy were definite clues. Then we got confirmation that Jin’s story is indeed a flashblack. As Hurley made his appearance at Sun’s door, I knew what was coming. Sometime between the island and his daughter’s birth, Jin dies. Hurley and Sun’s visit to Jin’s grave was heart-wrenching as Sun introduced their daughter (named Ji Yeon, as Jin requested) to his gravestone, naming 2004 as his year of death. (I tried to do a little research on Korean gravestones and didn’t have much success in trying to decipher the various dates. If anyone can shed some light, please chime in!)

If Desmond and Penny’s love story represents the hope that is waiting at the end of the story, Sun and Jin (beautifully portrayed by Yunjin Kim and Daniel Dae Kim) have provided a tale of people rediscovering their love and their purpose in the midst of horrible circumstances. The crash of flight 815 provided these two with a second chance, and tonight we seemingly received the sad confirmation that a happy ending is not in store.

Some other tidbits to ponder:

— What the heck was the deal with the blood on the wall? Another case of cabin fever?
— As Sayid comments that the boat isn’t moving, the doctor replies, “Well, if you say so.”
— The name on the side of the freighter is "Kahana." From my quick research, that seems to be a city on the island of Maui. What’s the significance of that name?

Despite the ups and downs of the last few seasons, I have continued to be consistently entertained by this show. The continuity of the storytelling and the emotions that are coming to the surface in these eight episodes have me convinced that the best is yet to come. What do you think?

Dying to see what happens next? Not sure you will make it to next Thursday? Click here for Matt Mitovich's interview with Juliet herself, Elizabeth Mitchell. And check out the Online Video Guide for full episodes and previews.

For another take on this week's Lost, read Cheers & Jeers.

First of all, thanks to Mickey for covering last week’s very trippy episode while I did a little traveling of my own. I have to admit that after watching the episode several days later, I was somewhat relieved about not having to sort through Desmond’s “stickiness” issues. However, I do wish I could have shared with all of you how truly touched I was by the phone reunion between Desmond and Penny. I read through most of your comments and I am very firmly in the camp of those who feel that Desmond and Penny’s love story is really the heart of the show. (And Jack and Kate are the soul... and Sawyer and Kate are the libido.)

But enough about last week; let’s focus on the now.

“It’s very stressful being an Other, Jack.” Though at the time she was being sarcastic, it seems like Juliet really hit the nail on the head. Just ask Ethan and Goodwin and Tom and…well, let’s just say that the Others have faced their share of adversity (and gunfire and wood spikes through the chest).

Tonight we made a welcome return to flashbacks. We learned that after arriving on the island, Juliet was dealing with enough pressure and isolation to need a shrink. (Was I the only one that thought for a moment that we were meeting another Oceanic Sixer?) Andrea Roth has been absolutely superb as Tommy Gavin's masochistic ex-wife Janet over on Rescue Me, so I was excited to see her pop up as Harper Stanhope, Juliet’s therapist and the estranged wife of Goodwin (Brett Cullen). One of the things I love about this show is that there is a constant reinforcement of and reference to things that have already occurred. Having seen Goodwin tangle with Ana-Lucia back when we were tracking the tailies, it was so cool to see the story played out from a completely different perspective.

We also learned tonight that our little Ben harbored a big-time crush on Juliet, apparently even before her arrival on the island. How strange to see Mr. Malevolent bopping around his kitchen like a giddy schoolgirl, offering gifts of flowers, cozy dinners and two-bedroom/two-bathroom houses. I almost felt bad for him, right up until he dragged Juliet to view Goodwin’s rotting body and came clean about his motives for sending him to gather intelligence on the tailies in the first place. His notion of Juliet being his ("You're mine!") was very creepy, perhaps made more so by Harper’s assessment that Juliet looks “just like her.” Who was Harper referring to? And also, when Harper appeared to Juliet on the beach, what did she mean when she said, “Ben is exactly where he wants to be”? Is that a reference to the possibility of teleportation?

Back at New Otherton, Ben convinced Locke to set him loose from his underground prison by promising critical information. On a grainy videotape, a familiar face (to us) is spotted. “This is Charles Widmore. This is the man whose boat is parked offshore. This is the man that’s been trying to find the island.... Charles Widmore wants to exploit this island and he’ll do everything in his power to possess it.” I think that was the most exposition we’ve ever been offered in a single scene of this show. It is becoming clear that the link between Desmond, Penny and her dad is going to be a huge piece of the puzzle as we move forward.

It was nice to see Jack and Kate again tonight, albeit briefly. I did smile a little to myself when Kate’s penchant for finding trouble got her whacked on the head by Charlotte. The two freighter folks did manage to make their way to the Tempest to disable the poison gas threatening the island, but only after a nice smackdown between Juliet and Charlotte. While I am still not sure what I think about Charlotte, I am definitely warming to Daniel. Jeremy Davies' twitchy but endearing performance is offering unexpected layers of vulnerability and openness. It seems that Faraday’s unique skills and areas of expertise will be a big help as the electromagnetic forces at play become obvious.

Some other highlights tonight:
— Juliet’s casual mention of the children and Ben assuring her that they will "stop asking questions" about their mother.

— The fantastic pairing of Sawyer and Hurley and their reaction to watching Ben trot by them saying, “See you guys at dinner!”

— Jack and Juliet's kiss at the end of the episode. Though I am a big Jater, I do like these two together and I am curious as to what's in store, since, at this point anyway, we haven't seen a future Juliet off the island.

— The "man on the boat" thing is driving me insane. While many people have asserted that it has to be Walt, it seems to me that there has got to be a bigger twist in the offing. My thoughts: either a grown-up Walt or someone who was thought dead. Libby? Boone? They did bury those people who died, but is it possible that the island's restorative powers brought someone back? I wouldn't put a little grave-digging past Mr. Linus.

—For all you geeky, TV-obsessed freaks (like me), I noticed that tonight's episode was directed by Eric Laneuville, former St. Elsewhere cast member and esteemed TV director. He has directed other episodes, including "The Other 48 Days," about the survivors from the tail section.

The hot streak for the show definitely continues and I am ridiculously excited that we will be getting five additional episodes to round out the season. How do you guys think things are progressing so far? While we ponder the twists and turns to come, make sure to check out the full version of this week's scoop-filled cover story. Also, check out the Online Video Guide for clips and previews. And, as always, comment away!

Hello all! This is Mickey O'Connor here ("here" meaning New York City in 2008, I think), filling in for Trish, who has apparently gone time-traveling again, and who better bring me back a New Coke from 1985! In the meantime, I'll try to keep things up to the standards you expect around here. Bear with me, brothers!

Just in case you were already getting bored with that whole "will it be a flashback or flash-forward episode?" conundrum, fear not. "The Constant" introduced yet another narrative element to keep us on our toes. Yay — time travel!

It seems that Lapidus' momentary veer off course, which Faraday had warned him against, had the unique effect of unsticking Desmond in time, a condition to which he was particularly susceptible because of his exposure to the electromagnetism released when the Hatch made the sky go all Purple Haze. Destination: 1996, when Des was a lowly, crew-cutted Royal Scots Army man. He spent the episode in the throes of involuntary shuttling between then and the present, which is how I'll address the episode. Otherwise, covering all that time travel will be the written equivalent of watching a particularly rigorous match at Wimbledon, and I don't want you to get dizzy.

Past Des:

With the help of a quickie satellite-phone call (in the present) to the island to get Faraday's counsel, Past Des went to see a shaggy 1996 Faraday at Oxford. Shagaday — and a doomed white rat named Eloise — assisted Des in his goal: to make contact with his "constant," a stable force that exists in both time periods and would anchor his consciousness, a nice metaphorical intersection of science and love. Desmond's constant: Penny, of course. In an effort to find her, Des tracks down her father, Charles Widmore (the excellent Alan Dale), at an art auction, of all places.

Aha! Did you catch that painting he bought? It was a portrait of the good old Black Rock, which left Portsmouth, England, in 1845, and was tragically lost at sea. But! The painting comes with the first mate's journal, which was recovered from pirates, and the contents of which have never been made public. I'm guessing that isn't the last we've heard of it.

Once he finally finds a resistant Penny (remember, he ditched her to join the Army), he simply asks her for her phone number. And then he tells her that he isn't going to call her for eight years. What's a girl gotta do to get her man to commit, huh?

Present Des:

Back in 2004 — er, the present, we finally get to meet some more of the freighter folk, who lacked the quirkiness of their island brethren, instead looking — and acting — like a bunch of extras from Predator. (For the record, Google was no help with the names "Omar" or "Keamey." Anyone else have any luck?) They recognized Des' disorientation, since George Minkowski (guest star Fisher Stevens), their communications officer, was suffering the same affliction, as a result of an unfortunate joyride he and a now-dead accomplice once took in an attempt to find the island.

Minkowski, before also up and dying from a brain aneurysm (a "side effect" of his and Des' condition), helped Des and Sayid reconnect the phones so that Des could place his fated Christmas Eve call to Penny, which was a nice moment, but I kept thinking: Um, we know you love each other, but this isn't The Love Boat we're on here. Shouldn't she be fixing on his coordinates or something? Let's hope she was, because those freighter folk are scary-ominous, and we still have a lot to learn about their not-rescue-oriented intentions.

(Also, we haven't met them all, including Zoë Bell, the stuntwoman-turned-actress who was so kick-ass riding the hood of a car in Tarantino's Death Proof, and who is credited as the satellite-phone voice of the as-yet-unseen freighter gal Regina. Can't wait!)

OK, folks, as usual, this episode raised a lot of questions. Help me out in the comments sections below with these noodle-nudgers:

1. Was Penny expecting Desmond's call? It wasn't clear if Present Penny remembered Past Des' promise.

2. Why would Faraday need a "constant"?

3. Does Miles still have that grenade in his gob?

4. Are Sawyer and Kate still in bed back in New Otherton?

5. Where was Ms. Hawking? I missed her.

Have at it, brothers. And thanks in advance for being patient with my interloping.