Photos
Video
RSS
Twitter'Lost': The beginning of the end (of Season 4)
Well, here we are, kids, in the last week of Season 4 of Lost. But don't despair, buckaroos. This blog isn't going anywhere. No need to delete your bookmarks, trash your cache, or take down those "Ryan McGee is Dreamy" stickers inside your locker. I'll be keeping the Lost party going for now until the end of Season 6, and, depending on my level of denial by then, even longer than that.
But that's enough about the future: let's focus on the present. We're 72 hours away from learning the answers to questions posed all season: How do the Oceanic 6 get off the Island? What function does the Orchid station serve? How does one move an entire island? How am I supposed to live without you, now that I've been loving you so long? Lots of questions, and hopefully we'll get something often missing in Lost: concrete answers.
As a way to get the ol' brain juices flowing, allow me to throw out a couple of topics that the 2-hour season finale will hopefully address, if not answer, come Thursday. I'm going to give the barest possible looks at these topics for now; should comments/interest dictate, I'm happy to flesh out in a topic later this week.
The Point of the Cover Story
We've all now heard the "official" cover story of the Oceanic 6, which uses the staged wreckage as a jumping off point for a fantastical tale that the press/world questions but ultimately accepts. What we haven't yet learned is the REASON why such a cover story is even necessary in the first place.
I've tried to wrap my brain around this issue, and honestly, I can see a few ways in which this could play out that would make me nod and say, "OK, that works," upon inserting into the official narrative. But my instincts say that the cover story is entirely predicated on convincing not only the world at large, but Charles Widmore specifically, that what they say is true. In other words, they have to make him believe that they never spent one second on the Island.
For this to be true, that means that not a single soul aboard the Kahana makes it back to the real world alive. That doesn't mean they are all dead; it just means they are "missing," for lack of a better word. The C4 aboard the freighter indicates that bad boy's about to go boom, but I wouldn't be surprised to have more than a few people from the Freighter on the Island when it's "moved." But none of them have reported back by the time of the sighting of the Oceanic 6.
This sets in motion a a chess game, off the Island, in which Widmore continues to search for the Island, Linus continues to search for Penny, and the Oceanic 6 are still pawns in a game they barely understand.
The Man in the Coffin
I've got it narrowed down to two people in my head. Want to know who they are? Listen to my podcast this week, where my wife and I discuss this topic. (We also discuss the nature of the Childbirth Initiative on the Island, and play everyone's favorite game, "Dead, Alive, or Missing?" It's a ripping episode, y'all.)
If you don't want to know my choices, that's fine, but by now I think it's worth contemplating all the information we've gleaned since this season started in order to wonder why the death of a man we know could make an already miserable Jack Shephard try and commit suicide. A man with which Kate Austin wants nothing to do in the future. A man with no earthly ties, no one to recognize his death, no one to honor his life.
It was possible, when "Through the Looking Glass" aired, that it was a man we would meet over the course of Season 4. But I feel more than ever that we've know this man for quite some time now, and while I'd be more than fine if either were in there, the how/why of how he got to that point couldn't be more different from each other if they tried.
The identity of that man will be revealed this Thursday. So, who ya got?
The Game's Afoot
We've seen two board games this season: Risk and backgammon. Backgammon dates back to the series premiere, with Locke's conversation with Walt setting the tone and stakes for the entire series.
LOCKE: Backgammon is the oldest game in the world. Archeologists found sets when they excavated the ruins of ancient Mesopotamia. Five thousand years old. That's older than Jesus Christ.
WALT: Did they have dice and stuff?
LOCKE [nods]: Mhhm. But theirs weren't made of plastic. Their dice were made of bones
WALT: Cool.
LOCKE: Two players. Two sides. One is light... one is dark.
Risk came onto the scene during this season's vital episode, "The Shape of Things to Come."
HURLEY: We're all gonna die.
SAWYER: Calm down, Chicken Little. The sky ain't falling just yet.
HURLEY: This is exactly what he wants--to fight amongst ourselves. You're making a big mistake, dude.
LOCKE: It's his to make, Hugo. (To Sawyer) Let's get on with it.
SAWYER: Right. ...I'm attackin' Siberia.
HURLEY: Can't believe you're just giving him Australia. Australia's the key to the whole game.
SAWYER: Says you.
I spoke about this topic previously, but it's worth reiterating again: we're watching a show that's evolved from a close-up shot of a man's eye into a show with a literally worldwide perspective, zooming out ever more from the action on a secluded beach into the four corners of the Earth. As such, it's perhaps worth it to look at the figures who view the actions on Lost from the God-like perspective our characters have looked upon the game boards shown in the program.
There have been a myriad of clues this season that, even while we've seen some major hitters in the Lost universe, we still don't have a clear glimpse at the stakes involved in their ongoing war. We have a sense that many characters on Lost are merely the soldiers in Risk, but we don't have a clear sense of what their game board might look like. Would it be geographic? A linear progression from Point A to Point B? A hexagonal shape, not unlike a Dharma logo? And when Alex died, did the game board alter, or simply disappear?
In any case, it's clear that even those looking God-like upon the board that is Lost have someone looking down upon them as well. Perhaps they serve these unseen forces. Perhaps they fight them. But these unseen forces have shapes the action seen on Lost as much as Linus and Widmore, and perhaps are the one that ultimately shape the things to come.
***
OK, that's all for now. Tell me which of these topics interests you as the end of Season 4 approaches. Tell me what topics/answers you want to see this Thursday. Tell me whatcha want, whatcha really really want!
Ryan also posts every 108 minutes over at Boob Tube Dude.
Post a comment
Zap2it Twitter Talk 
Well, I won't be visiting you guys tomorrow (wifes got some surgery), so I'll say my little part tonight. My wife loves watching LOST with me, though I usually end up with the loving honor of explaining the entire plot, from season one, with every twisty and turn. (But she's Rose to my Bernard, though not as old and dark complected.)
I've said it before, and I'll say it again; The show will end as it begins, with the closeup of Jack, or another hero's eye. I'll be shocked if the person in the coffin isn't who I think it is (and, NO, I do not believe the spoilers that have been posted). And, Ryan, I think the game of Backgammon is the shiznit when it comes to unravelling the mysteries of our characters destinies. The Risk thing, had the feeling of a cute little directors trick at the beginning of an episode. But, who am I?
So fellow Butterworthites, say a prayer for Mrs. BOTN and I'll see ya on the other side.
Let's give Widmore some credit, people. There isn't a thing that the Oceanic 6 will say that would convince him that they weren't on the island. Widmore was probably on the island at one time, got out and during his time offshore, the island got moved (by dear old Ben). Now something must have happened for Ben (or someone else) to move the island without him knowing (Annie maybe) or maybe Ben felt threatened by dear old Charles. Either way, Widmore is not going to stop at nothing to get back to the island and reclaim what's his (in his opinion). So I don't think Widmore will swallow the cover story. What he really wants to know is the status of the men (and woman- Charlotte) he sent to find the island and if they are succeeding in whatever mission he sent them to accomplish. Basically, all I'm saying is I don't think the cover story is for the benefit of Widmore.
And since we all know Widmore can't die, does that mean he can't age also? And where is Mrs Widmore (he sleeps alone and they never mention her, isn't that weird)? Where was Penny born (on or off-island?)? I hope they open season 5 with some Widmore-centric episode because I really want to know his side of the story.
First and foremost, BOTN - best wishes for Mrs. BOTN. you are absolutely in my prayers.
on to the fun!
ryan, i just had a thought as to why you might SO regret that prediction of Ben in the coffin. i started wondering why Ben and Widmore would have some pact about not killing children. i'm thinking they're in the same situation that Michael is in: the Island doesn't want them to die. however, since i'm predicting Michael is in the coffin (with my left-field play as WAAAAAALLLT) i should qualofy my prediction with this: the Island has a LOT for Widmore and Ben to do than the Island had for Michael.
and seriously, you couldn't have used Beaties Boys "Whatcha Want," you went with ****e Girls instead? for shame... :-)
next, the cover story: i think the cover story is for Widmore's benefit. i agree with Melissa that he may not be fooled by it, but what other choice do they have? there's no way they can 'fess up to being on the Island.
i'd like to explore where/when/whatever the Island mosies off to anyway...
oh, and I'd put money on the Island being in charge of the whole she-bang the entire time, despite Ben/Widmore/Jacob/Richard/De Groots's interests.
Believe it or not, I'm going to take a simpler approach to the cover story. With everything that has happened to them, and the fact that the world would think they're crazy when trying to explain a mystical, moving Island, maybe they just made up a story that seemed more believable. When it is all said and done the +2 in their story could very well be actual dead 815ers (i.e. Boone, Shannon, Charlie, random redshirt) just to give those families some closure.
My money's still on Ben being in the coffin, as Jack would be most devestated by his loss.
As far as who is alive/dead/missing. I believe we will know the fate of those on the Island before those on the Kahana. The O6 will get away, the Kahana will explode, the O6 will get rescued thinking those on the Kahana are dead, when in fact they are missing. That's my thought.
I like the idea of Aaron being a reincarnation of Jacob in some shape or form. This only further fuels the theory that Christian is not speaking on behalf of Jacob, rather speaking against him. Christian would rather keep Aaron off the Island so that Christian can finish what he needs to do.
Speaking of Christian, something occured to me over the last few days (and I'm sure someone has theorized this before). What if the same thing happened to Christian that happened to Obi-Wan in Star Wars? He in fact died, but his essence lived on because he still had 'work to do'.
I know we've been waiting an entire year to find out who's in the coffin, but I don't think anything that's happened this season has shed any light on who that might be. If it is Ben, that could set up a lot of story for the next few seasons. We know the island won't let him die right now, so what would happen to make him be dead in the future. And would his death mean Widmore is once again in control of the island?
I like the idea of the cover story being played out for Widmore, but I still have no idea. If Jack does come up with it, I would have to think the 6 actually do get washed to shore on that other island. If not, that's a pretty specific fake story for someone to come up with. If it isn't Jack (maybe Richard) that person obviously didn't reveal all the secrets of the island. Hence, Jack searching maps and hoping for Oceanic planes to crash in the future.
If it is Ben in the coffin, it would mean he died years into the future ... say like 2008 ... cause since he came back to Sayid in 2005 ... we are not sure the time-line of Jack going to the funeral home nor his "we have to go back"-scene at the airport ... so it has to be a future event probable 2006/2007 ???
On the other hand if it is Ben, there not many ways to go back to the island ... as A-Rob said it would make for lots of storylines for the next seasons though ...
I find the Backgammon scene in the pilot to be VERY enlightening at this point, here in the end of Season 4.
He says "but their dice were made of bone." In essence, what Locke said is a metaphor for the entire show. The two sides in this game - one light, one dark, possibly good vs. evil - are both playing strategically, and the "bone dice" represent the lives of people they're using - the denizens of the Island; 815'ers, Freighties, Others, Dharmas, ALL of them. A single bad roll of the dice, and their part in the game is over (Eko, Charlie) and a good roll brings new life and a new player to the game (Aaron).
Anyway, I'm still thinking it's Ben in the coffin, but at this point, he's such a safe bet that it's probably going to be Locke, or someone totally unexpected.
And really, if Season 5 picks up from the time after the "Looking Gl***" flash-forwards, I really hope it is NOT Locke or Ben, because they're two of my favorite characters.
Thanks a LOT! Now I have Michael Bolton in my head. WWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!