You guys really rocked the "Letters from the Flame" queries this week, I must say. You were all Vin Diesel this week: fast and furious with your questions and comments about Lost. I've answered all of your WAAAAALTING questions below. Given the nature of the questions, there are some fairly long answers for each of them. As such, I'm breaking this up over two days. I'll answer half tonight and half tomorrow night. If you don't see yours tonight, don't get mad, and don't go to the hatch looking for a gun. The hatch is gone, y'all. Boom. All explode-y. Desmond was nekkid. Let it go.

Let's start it off with a question from reader "Other Sean."

What do you make of the notChristian & creepy Claire Cabin Variety Hour? How do you think this ties into the season premiere, when the striped-suit version of notChristian appeared in the cabin as well (apparently with Jacob still in it)?

Great, a really, really hard question right off the bat. Oh well, I have no one to blame but myself, in that I put this first. Lemmee go get my thinking cap for this one: it's in the corner next to my copy of The Turn of the Screw and a case of Dharma beer.

I think what you make of this scene ties in to how much you believe notChristian when he claims to be speaking for Jacob. I don't think it's unreasonable to assume this newly attired Christian does NOT, in fact, speak for him. Which perhaps explains why Christian looks, as you pointed out, markedly different in terms of his ensemble lately on the Island.

If this iteration of Christian is in fact lying about his status as mouthpiece for Jacob, then we can look at Claire's disappearance as an abduction, her separation from Aaron rife with malicious intent, and the order to "move the Island" as all works AGAINST Jacob, and, by extension, against the Island itself. This would explain quite a bit of what we've seen this season, both in on-Island activities and post-Island activities. Let's say you needed to ensure Claire and Aaron are separated. What better way than to use the image of her father figure, in the absence of Charlie, in order to lure her away?

Notice that notChristian is INSISTENT about the fact that Locke not tell anyone about seeing her? Who better than Locke to keep this secret, as devout he is towards the Island? And further more, who better than Locke as a patsy to enact a plan that will actually put the Island into greater peril than ever before? Locke wouldn't question someone speaking on Jacob's behalf; he's got no cause for caution in this case.

Looking at events in this way makes the absence of Jacob, the moving of the cabin, and the kidnapping of Claire make a lot of sense, as far as I can tell. Remember Jacob's only words on the show so far: "Help me." Remember the terrified look he gave with a calm Christian Shephard sitting behind him. Given how many parties want control over the Island, it is unreasonable to assume notChristian does not have Jacob's best interest in mind?

I spoke about moving the Island, and apparently not a moment to soon, according to reader "Jeff."

When are we going to talk about moving the Island???!!!

Dude, I just did. Chill. Oh, you wanted more explanation? Very well.

If nothing else, "moving the Island" helps explain why Charles Widmore couldn't simply mount another operation involving a less-insane military commander and go retake the Island after his initial attempts fail. The Island, through whatever machinations we'll eventually see, is no longer accessible by the routes described in the Black Rock journal and pinpointed by Desmond Hume turning the sky purple. It could be sitting atop Topeka, for all Widmore knows.

I have to assume that an element of time plays into the moving of the Island, either in addition to or instead of geography. Given the ever-fluctuating time difference between the Island and the real world, it's not too far-fetched to postulate that all that wonkiness was inserted into the narrative in order to set up this leap.

I can't help but wonder if what we saw in "The Shape of Things to Come"-Ben walking up cold and terrified in the Sahara-is tied into this time movement as well. It could help explain the confusion he had upon arriving back in civilization, for sure. And might suggest what I feel will be revealed in these last three hours: that the Island's been moved before, and moved by Benjamin Linus, and doing so created horrible side effects that resonate throughout Lost.

Speaking about moving something through time and space, let's look at our final question of the day, this one from reader "Rishi."

Since the upcoming ep(s) is/are called "There's No Place Like Home", I'm wondering how many "The Wizard of Oz" metaphors do you think we'll see in the ep(s)?

I'm particularly interested in your (and others) opinions on what will represent Kansas and Oz respectively? Will Kansas be represented by the island or the rest of the world? Ditto for Oz.

As an aside, who will represent the main characters in Oz (i.e. Dorothy, The Tin Man, Scarecrow, Lion and Witch, etc.)?

I don't think we're going to see anything quite as overt as what you've mentioned, but you're right: clearly they are asking us, the viewers, to try and draw as many parallels as we can by naming the episode so conspicuously.

In terms of whether the Island is Oz or Kansas, it all depends on your perspective of which is your ideal: life on the Island, or life in the real world? I think the show would side with the Island as having the potential (not always realized) of being closer to Eden/Paradise than one could find on Earth, but it's just that at the moment: potential. Just as Paradise in the Bible is forever lost, so too is the Island's pure essence, corrupted through centuries, if not millennia, of bickering, fighting, and factions constantly seeking to own something which is by its very essence cannot be owned. Controlled? Maybe. For a time. But not truly owned.

One more thing to think about: the title "There's No Place Like Home" could refer either the real world or the Island itself. You could look at the title as an ironic way of describing the journey of the Oceanic 6 back into the real world, or as a way in which they come to view the place they sought to leave for so long. "Home" in "The Wizard of Oz" was dull and grey, with Oz bursting with color. In which one would you prefer to live?

(As for the "who would represent the main characters," I am going to leave that to you, the readers, to figure out/argue about in the comments below. I am sure that should provoke some excellent comparisons, and saves me from having to make any that might get me fired.)

OK, that's quite a bit to chew on for one night, so we'll stop now and continue tomorrow, which will be baby-centric. Leave your thoughts and responses below on the topics discussed today!

Ryan also posts every 108 minutes over at Boob Tube Dude.

Comments

The Wizard of Oz has been a favorite movie of mine since I was a kid. I wonder if the general theme, which is that the things they were all searching for were things they really had all along, will apply to the Lostaways. They just needed each other to help find them.
I do hope the "it was all a dream" ending isn't going to come into play though.

Shari | May 13, 2008 8:20:50 PM | #

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Great, my question didn't even get mentioned. What the WAAAALT is up with that? Just kidding, anyway...

I'm liking how they are naming these season finales lately. Last season being Alice in Wonderland, this season being Wizard of Oz. I also agree how notChristian may not be really talking for Jacob. This is a great opportunity to "con" Locke, just like he's been conned his whole life.

Plus, I nominate Ben as mayor of Munchkin City.

A-Rob | May 13, 2008 8:29:29 PM | #

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Oz- Jacob

Dorothy- Locke or Jack

Tin Man- Sawyer

Lion- Hurley

Witch- Ben

I just re-watched 'Cabin Fever' and I just noticed something new. The Freighter scenes appear to take place within a few hours of each other. However, the 1st scene it is dark out, the 2nd it is light and the 3rd it's dark again. It didn't seem, at least to me, that more than 12 hours took place between these 3 scenes. The thing that stood out the most was the taking of the injured from the chopper. The 1st scene they take 1 guy out, and in the 2nd there is another injured guy coming out of the chopper. Hopefully I'm not thinking too much into this and there is something to this. Any thoughts?

Shaggysteve | May 13, 2008 9:22:51 PM | #

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A-Rob
You must not be on the list.

Shaggysteve
I noticed in some previous episodes where time seems to pass more quickly than it should. The one that immediately comes to mind is when Juliet had to go by the caves to get the medical bag when Claires implant made her sick. When she left it was dark but when Sayid and Sawyer caught up to her it seemed like the middle of the day. I don't remember the caves being so far from the beach. Must be the time anomaly causing it.

Shari | May 13, 2008 10:44:53 PM | #

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Sawyer is definently the Tin Man, as proved by the last few episodes.

Hurley I can see as the Lion, because he found courage (saving everyone with Ben's dad's van, standing up to Jack, etc).

Locke could be the Scarecrow; after all, he came to the Island with a singular, negative view of himself and the world, and has grown so much, if not smarter then certainly wiser.

Jack is Dorothy; he's the anchor, he's the rock, he's the one that brings everyone together. He's also incredibly naieve sometimes and far too trusting, just like Dorothy.

I'd have to say Keamy, not Ben, is the Wicked Witch. Think about it; the Witch wants the ruby slippers, which is the only way to get Dorothy home. That means whoever controls the route home controls Oz, thereby making the helicopter the ruby slippers and the owner of it (Keamy atm, who forces Frank to fly) the Witch.

And you bet your ass Jacob is the wizard; not so much because he's mysterious, but because he's a mask, a symbol that men like Ben have used to control others (and the Others).

Okay, final thought; I'm on board with the Island about to be moved temporally, and that the Orchid is going to do it. As for it being moved once already, don't you think this might be the reason why the Island's time is already off-kilter compared to the outside world anyway?

Perhaps the Island being moved once before is-dun dun dun!-the Incident described by one Dr. Marvin Candle in the Swan Orientation film?! And since that hatch blew up, discharging all that energy and leaving no safety button left to push, the Island's time has been slowly but steadily going off-kilter again?

Other Sean | May 14, 2008 12:25:26 AM | #

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Ryan, my wife and I were just talking last night about the possibility that the Island was moved before.

Whether it has or hasn't, I fully believe the Orchid will be the mechanism that moves the Island.

I also fully believe that Ben will get shot in the arm in a mad dash to transport himself off the Island, leaving its protection in the capable hands of John Locke.

Jeff | May 14, 2008 6:29:05 AM | #

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And let us not forget that Benjamins original cover-story to the Losties was that he crashed on the island in...a...hot air balloon! Coincidence?

Yep, probably.

Brian of the North | May 14, 2008 8:18:02 AM | #

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wasn't Dorothy's last name Gale? and did she have an uncle or someone named Henry. Henry Gale? seems the Wizard of Oz has always been an over lying theme.
Oh and maybe you guys can help me out...I don't remember seeing Christian in the cabin with Jacob. What episode was that?

Nel | May 14, 2008 8:26:36 AM | #

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Nel-

That was 'Beginning of the End' when Hurley saw the cabin and Jacob in the rocker.

Shaggysteve | May 14, 2008 8:45:14 AM | #

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I'm confused. If notChristian is not a legitimate representative of Jacob, then which "force" is he representing that not only has access to the cabin but other supernatural forces as well (Claire, Christian's form)? We've seen Smokey appear in Christian form but isn't he blocked from the cabin by the ash circle? Who/what else could it be?

Mari | May 14, 2008 8:49:26 AM | #

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I think Christian Shepard is more involved with the Island than we had originally thought. As seen by his presence in multiple character's flashbacks, he may have had a hand in getting some of them to the Island. Maybe we should add Christian to the list of character's we need a flashback for. (Danielle, Libby, Jacob/the Island, Widmore, Christian)

Shaggysteve | May 14, 2008 9:03:06 AM | #

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Two entries in which I contemplated Christian's potential role on the Island:

http://blog.zap2it.com/lost/2008/02/lost-generation.html

http://blog.zap2it.com/lost/2008/02/lost-twelve-min.html

Ryan | May 14, 2008 9:06:27 AM | #

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Ryan-

I always liked the 'Watchmen Theory'. However, why is it that Ben let Locke go see Christian? Is that part of their plan. They (Ben & Christian) need Locke on board, so Locke had to see Christian to make him believe. Also, how does Claire fit into this whole scenario? If Christian didn't want Locke telling anyone he saw Claire, is Ben not supposed to know she is there? Is she some sort of wildcard?

Shaggysteve | May 14, 2008 10:01:28 AM | #

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Brian, I was thinking that too (Ben's arrival in a hot air balloon). Maybe there's a matching pair of Dharma Slippers to go with his Dharka.

A-Rob | May 14, 2008 10:01:46 AM | #

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I honestly think Ben didn't know Christian would be in the cabin. He expected Jacob, or whatever form of Jacob usually appears. notChristian exploited this towards his own ends, using Locke's naivete and Ben's terror of the cabin in order to enact a plan that will soon unfold.

I tried to figure out some way in which Christian and Claire being in the cabin made sense with what we've seen, and the only thing I could come up with is that something's vitally changed "in there" since Ben and Locke were there in Season 3.

A-Rob: remember, Ben arrived via sub; Henry Gale arrived a Widmore-produced balloon. ostenibly as part of Widmore's efforts to triangulate the Island.

Ryan | May 14, 2008 10:09:31 AM | #

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Ryan-

Perhaps Christian somehow replaced Jacob in the cabin. Either that, or Jacob is now somewhere else or some other time on the Island. Maybe Jacob is more tied in with Widmore, and now Christian is part of the new regime?

Shaggysteve | May 14, 2008 10:21:20 AM | #

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It's more helpful to simply think of terms of "light" and "dark", with the various people inhabiting both sides ever changing. It's not so much a "new regime" as much as "the new face of the same regime".

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

But instead of one boss, there are two, and both want complete control. The Widmores, the Linuses, the Lockes...they are just the most recent iterations of a conflict that's stretched back a looooooooong time.

I'm interested to see if the story of Lost seeks to break this neverending cycle once and for all, either via Locke, Aaron, Walt, or the Des/Penny storyline. That's not to say others won't have an impact on the final endgame, but I can't help but wonder who the most important piece of the puzzle will ultimately be.

Ryan | May 14, 2008 10:29:51 AM | #

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A note about time and hiding the island:

In the scene where Locke chooses the knife, take a look at the comic book. It depicts a hidden mystery island ... an island floating in the sky on top of another island. and a guy who sorta looks like a young jack or christian shepard.

the island reference in this made me think of the new season 4 LOST promo tag reel with the logo and the island and the new appearance of a skyline in the waters reflection of the island.

mel-c | May 14, 2008 10:39:45 AM | #

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I noticed the visual similiarity as well, mel-c. Totally made the same connection as you, although unfortunately the promo has the city upside down in the water, as you mentioned.

Ryan | May 14, 2008 10:55:57 AM | #

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When I originally saw that promo, my first thought was the Island was somehow the mystical Lost City of Atlantis. However, there is no signs of large buildings or such as depicted in the mirrored image. Now, I really don't know what to make of it. Maybe it was just showing that they (or at least some) would be returning to the real world.

Shaggysteve | May 14, 2008 11:25:29 AM | #

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Anyone think maybe Frank is Jacob?

Tim | May 14, 2008 12:31:50 PM | #

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Tim-

not really, but i'm not ruling anyone out. at this point, Artz or Frogurt could be Jacob...

mri | May 14, 2008 1:01:49 PM | #

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I want to say thanks for answering my WAAAAALLLT Ryan - I thought it may not have been specific enough to get picked. I also want to say that there are some interesting theories in here regarding who fits each part.

I was thinking about something in Cabin Fever and was wondering where Keamy was talking the fearsome freighter folk on the island? My first thought was the Flame (i.e. where Ben sent the others to hide). However, I'm not sure if Widmore would know about the Flame's location on the island. Can anyone remember if the Flame's location has been referenced by anyone 'off' the island? I know that Ben drew the map for Alex, Rousseau and Carl to go there, but did Keamy et al take the map from them?

Rishi | May 14, 2008 1:02:55 PM | #

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Richard Alpert could be the Wiz. I am hoping we will see The Others before the Season is over.

Tim | May 14, 2008 1:08:50 PM | #

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Rishi: Ben sent everyone to the Temple, not the Flame.

Given that the logo on Keamy's secondary protocol matches that on the Dharka, I think we can safely say now that Temple=Orchid.

Ryan | May 14, 2008 1:32:34 PM | #

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Thanks Ryan - got confused about the name of the place (just didn't look right when I wrote it). I don't know how I missed that Temple=Orchid.

Rishi | May 14, 2008 1:41:03 PM | #

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I'm so excited to see what the Orchid looks like. They've built it up so much this season, I hope it lives up to the hype.

Shaggysteve | May 14, 2008 2:29:53 PM | #

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Yeah, me too. If it can move the island, it's got to be Waaalting awesome!

sin laden | May 14, 2008 3:28:25 PM | #

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I disagree about Temple=Orchid. They're 2 different things in 2 different places.

Jeff | May 14, 2008 4:16:31 PM | #

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Alpert = Glinda, Good Witch of the North (like Portland). The nerd in me wishes to point out that in the novel Ms. North does not have a name so the movie gave her the witch of the South's name.

Smokey = Winged Monkeys controlled by the Golden Cap in the novel or that mysterious room in Ben's cabin

Vincent = Toto (obvious but not yet mentioned)

Charlie = Mayor of Munchkin City (couldn't resist)

Penny = Good Witch of the South??????? (Known as Glinda in the novel, she is the one who eventually helps Dorothy get home) Time will tell

Diana | May 14, 2008 5:46:12 PM | #

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