'Lost': Dave

The whole "is Lost real or just the figment of someone's imagination" question gets answered definitely in this episode. I personally never held that theory, thinking at the time everything hinged on a frozen elk wheel. (So damn close!) Hurley goes insane in the membrane, Sayid goes gun crazy, and Eko proves that he'd be a horrible designer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Action-packed ep, y'all.

The blast door map in this episode got me thinking about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, specifically their hit song "Maps." After all, it's easy to think of Locke screaming, "Wait, they don't love you like I love you!" to Helen, isn't it? Or pleading, "Wait, why don't you love me like I love you?" to Anthony Cooper. This assumes, Lost fans, that you can imagine a musical episode of Lost. Which, while amusing in theory, is something I hope never occurs. I'm fine with frozen donkey wheels in my Lost cereal; I just don't want Rose and Bernard to go all Captain & Tennille on us.

Ah yes, the episode in which we learned Sun is a pathological liar, Jin is a romantic schmuck, and Henry Gale is one scary, scary dude. In fact, so many things are set in motion that it's hard to rectify episodes such as this with the general "nothing ever happened in Season 2" complaints that people (such as me) often lob at the show. I still say that momentum of Lost was at its slowest during this season, but I certainly was not bored watching this one again, I can assure you.

Strap in, kids: this is Lost at its best. It's Claire-centric, but it's so good I don't make one joke about the way that she says "baaaaybeeee" in my recap. It's a deft blend of character-based drama and delicious mythology. Oh, Lost mythology, if I could I'd drizzle you on my oatmeal on a daily basis. Now THAT'S a balanced breakfast, people. But enough about my morning routine: on with the recap!

There are a few seminal episodes in the history of Lost, those that stand above the rest and exist as turning points either in terms of narrative scope or sheer quality. This episode is an excellent example of both, with the introduction of a now legendary figure coupled with some excellent acting, sprinkled with a lovely dose of mythology. Such a combination quelled the bad taste that the last few episodes left in many a mouth in order to produce a five-star quality outing this time around.

This is Episode 1 B.L. (Before Linus). It's an episode long on character, short on mythology, and featuring a back story that really doesn't gain resonance for another season or so. But it's a crucial Lost episode, in that it exists to create the proper atmosphere of distrust and anger in which a future visitor can work his psychological mastery to perfection.  So all I can say it don't look back in anger at this episode: admire the darkness creeping on the edge of town.

Well, kids, here we are on the third and final installment of the "Subterfuge in the Swan" series here on the Lost blog. Have you been keeping up? Writing down clues? If you guessed Colonel Mustard in the Arrow with the poison gas, well, you're wrong. So read on and see if you can't solve the mystery after reading about the third element in the Swan that reeks of disinformation: the blast door map.

So yesterday, we looked at the Swan Orientation film as evidence of general shenanigans going on in that particular hatch throughout the brief but troubled time in which it existed on the Island. But it's not the only evidence, no sirree. In fact, that hatch (and indeed, many of the Dharma Initiative's stations) seem built on a great deal of funny facts. Misdirections, if you will. Out and out lies, if you must, dear Lost readers. And today, we're going to look at another conduit for such untruths: the Swan computer.

You have spoken, readers, and today, as promised, I will answer. A little while ago I offered up four possible options for analysis, and you chose your favorites. I sent the results to the accounting offices of McCormick, Smith, and My Wife, and what came back was pretty clear. Seems there's one Lost topic clearly on your mind these days: the subterfuge in the Swan.

When I said I get a lot of inspiration from you loyal Lost blog readers, I meant it. It wasn't one of those politician-like moves. This is blogging you can believe in, people. And in the midst of the last entry, the topic slowly evolved into a situation that produced today's entry. Synergy: it's what's for dinner!