'Lost': Hugo is an OK guy

February 28, 08:31 PM

Let's make a pact, you and me and all the other Lost watchers out there. Let's agree, from now on, just to ignore ABC Promo Voiceover Guy for the rest of however long the show's on the air. Because he does a disservice to the show with his overzealous intonations.

See, I really rather enjoyed Wednesday's Hurley-focused episode. But I kept hearing Promo Guy's voice in the back of my mind, telling me that this was an episode everyone was going to be talking about tomorrow, and I don't think everyone will be. (My colleague Alan Sepinwall is bothered too, and gets the skinny from ABC.)

But since I'm choosing to ignore Promo Guy, I'm just going to focus on the show itself. Which, again, I rather liked.

After nine episodes that were almost all downbeat, it was nice to see the show lighten up a little, as is often the case when Jorge Garcia is front and center. His seemingly quixotic effort to get an old VW Microbus (property of the Dharma Initiative) upright and running seemed to have a positive effect on several of his fellow castaways -- he got Charlie to quit moping about his possibly imminent death, Sawyer to cheer up after his latest little psychodrama with Kate (or maybe that was just the beer, but still), and Jin to have more than a few seconds of screen time.

Did we learn much new about Hurley from the flashbacks, save that he was skinny till his dad (the well-stunt-cast Cheech Marin) left home and that a meteor destroyed the Mr. Cluck where he once worked? Not really, save that he's also a member of the Lost Daddy Issues Club, joining Jack, Kate, Locke, Sawyer and Sun. Jin (daddy-in-law issues), Claire (babydaddy issues) and Desmond (would-be daddy-in-law issues) are adjunct members.

In both the Hurley story and the B-plot involving Kate, though, there was at least a little indication that the islanders, you know, talk to each other about stuff. She summarized the events on Alcatraz for Sayid and Locke, Charlie told Hurley about Desmond's premonitions, Locke shared his Eko's walking stick-based calculations (the look on Sayid's face as he relayed this bit of info to Kate was pretty priceless). And, probably most important, Kate shared with Rousseau her belief that the Frenchwoman's daughter is alive and living among the Others.

Well done, islanders -- keep up the chatter.

Tonight, though, was all about Hurley and the joy he spread. Some of the better moments:

"'Crafty.' It's like, when you're good at ... crafts."
Sawyer's English lesson to Jin, consisting of "the only things a woman ever needs to hear": "I'm sorry," "You were right" and "Those pants don't make you look fat."
Hurley's pep talk to Charlie (across America, people cheered when he slapped the mopey musician across the face): "Let's look death in the face and say, 'Whatever, man.'"
Hurley: "You're gonna help us fix it." Sawyer: "Why the hell would I do that?" Hurley: "'Cause there's beer."

Now, presumably the castaways could put the vehicle to some use beyond Hugo's redemption -- or at least study the map they found inside. And if there's a car, it would stand to reason that Dharma has a stash of gas somewhere. I'm thinking that might be handy as well. Those, though, are issues for another time. Tonight, I'm sticking to my happy place.

What about you? Happy to see Lost lighten up a little? And can we all agree to ignore Voiceover Guy?

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Comments (35)

Comments

Loved it, loved it, loved it. Finally an episode that encompassed many of the original characters. The other episodes featuring the others did nothing but bring the show down. Let's hope we see more of this type of storyline for our beloved characters.

Jerry Severino | Mar 1, 2007 8:12:05 PM | #

After watching this episode and almost falling asleep, I decided that I was finally done with it. It has gotten so boring, I don't even look forward to it each week like I used to. Total dullsville.

kesha | Mar 1, 2007 9:27:11 PM | #

Liked the episode, but hate the time slot. Living on the west coast, it plays at 10, and I need to be up at 5. So, I usually fall asleep half way through the show (even though its DVR'd). I like watching the show with friends. Now I can't.

ABC needs to move this show back to 9 or even its original 8 pm slot. American Crap Idol will always win, so why worry so much?

Brunt | Mar 1, 2007 9:31:32 PM | #

i never watch the show live anyway, so the timeslot doesn't bother me so much, but this episode was like the first season episodes. We had a main storyline with some of the original cast, the flashbacks actually complimented the present day story, there is redemption or a small victory at the end and then we switch to another story that will lead into next week's episode. This was great just to see these characters have some fun again. Also wondering if there's any significance to Charlie shaving since from the first episode, he's been scruffy.

Steve | Mar 2, 2007 6:42:52 AM | #

One question I had: Near the end, Jin gave Sun a flower. He looked sheepish, and she looked hesitant, as though he were apologizing to her. Were they having some sort of spat? It has been so long since we have seen much of them that I was not sure.

Sun - Jin? | Mar 2, 2007 9:15:37 AM | #

I'm glad to see more of Sun, Jin, Hurley and Sayid. They've been MIA for too long. That said, I don't think this episode 'furthered the plot' in any way. It was pretty much filler. Lost really needs to start doing something besides 'here's another mystery-here's another mystery-look how mysterious we are!" Can we just maybe start being an interesting show with interesting developments, like Heroes? Heroes is maintaining a certain amount of mystery, but it's still allowing things to happen. I have the feeling that Lost isn't allowing anything really important to happen because they're afraid it'll 'give away' whatever overarching plot is cooking in Damon Lindelof's mind.

Siansonea | Mar 2, 2007 10:08:20 AM | #

Yes, good episode. Rare, but good.

As for the ratings someone wrote: "I seriously doubt ABC would even think twice about bringing it back -- to say nothing of completely losing the trust of a bunch of viewers."

Probably right, except production costs are higher two-thousand miles off the mainland. And the lower ratings go, the more they look at those costs.

Is it me or was this far more interesting because the script involved characters who were NOT Jack and Jill?

Note to writers: The two leads in "Lost" are more boring than anyone could imagine, and they CANNOT act. So give Hurley and the rest something to say. There is so much more to this than those two, and so many better actors than they are.

To say nothing of the EGOS. When did anyone else in the cast say they were "phenomanally manipulative" ???? as Fox did in February's Men's Journal.

I know lots of people with that attitude. They are just not STUPID enough to say it out loud. Jack.

Why doesn't he take a boat to Australia, far away, and let the rest of the cast really bring back the show?

Here's to everyone who makes this show a team, and an interesting one. Not about one fool actor or two.

LA Lost | Mar 2, 2007 2:11:59 PM | #

1. Dump the promo guy.

2. Move back to a better timeslot (even friends who are LOST fanatics are not staying up for it, our jobs and lives are still more important).

3. Nikki & Paulo suck as actors, please don't do any backstories on them. Eyecandy characters still have to have some acting ability. Maybe it would be better if Walt came back and told them to "shshsh" or send them to the black cloud area and let it take care of them.

4. Any break from the Jack, Kate and Sawyer is a good episode. If I wanted to watch love triangles I would watch One Tree Hill.

5. Dump the promo guy, his sales pitch isn't delivering the goods.

Crash | Mar 2, 2007 4:33:17 PM | #

Crash:

You're right on everything.
However, the promo guy gets paid to make horse hair out of horse ----.

He's actually more inspired than the writers of the show.

Totally right about the triangle. Who really cares about these three anymore?

They moved the timeslot because IDOL was simply killing them. Guess what? It still is. "Lost" ratings are more anemic than ever.

Sorry to say it, but they deserve this misery for what they put viewers through.

The show is all dressed up...with no place to go.

All dressed up | Mar 2, 2007 5:13:11 PM | #

Have watched Lost since the very first show. Still love it even if at times it seems to slow down.

Hurley and the car - to good for words. Had a smile on my face for the first time in a while.

Soooo, Jin learn the language and see what things may come.

Want this show to keep going for another year as planned. I tape mine so the time slot is not a factor for me. But the acting and the story line mean a lot. Each in his/her own way contribute to the over all story.

Peg | Mar 7, 2007 1:15:00 PM | #