Oh, hi, Matt. And Tim.

. . .

My one word for Season 3: Transition. I’ve been told all along Season 3 is where the series really starts to get … confusing, if you will. I was content with the first two seasons. Sure, there were a few more questions raised in Season 2, but compared to Season 3, most of them seem … unimportant. I don’t want to say irrelevant because the smallest occurrence could have a significant impact on future events. Plus, the questions posed by this season seem … deeper. Like there’s more to them. It’s hard to put into words. Though I’ll certainly do my best…

1. Season 3…the first time we had a major hiatus in the middle of a season. If you didn’t know, it was between the episode when Jack told Kate to run and…when she actually ran.
   I wasn’t aware of the hiatus but from what I’ve found, it was a nice three months. I’m not sure I could’ve stomached that kind of a break with this season. It was confusing enough without a three month break. I suppose I’m spoiled having the DVDs at my disposal, watching the episodes as slowly or quickly as I please.
2. Now, this season — even more people checked out than in Season 2, I think. What did you think of this season?
   • This season grew on me. I’ll be honest, checking out seemed like a perfectly legitimate option during the first few episodes. There was a different tone to it right from the opening minutes of the first episode. They took everything you knew about the island, the plane crash, the “Others” and threw it out the friggin’ window. I mean, “A Tale of Two Cities” started innocently enough. A suburban home. A book club. I thought to myself, “Oh, another flashback. This is an interesting way to start.” Then my mind is torn open while all of my assumptions and thoughts about the first two seasons come spilling out. From the moment I saw that plane crash over the village with the “Others” dressed in civilian clothes, I knew this season was different.
   • On a broader scale, I think this season ventured outside of what you could call “reality.” Through the first two seasons, apart from whatever the heck that stupid smoke monster is, the show stayed within the confines of a storyline that most could believe, with a little bending here or there. But there’s SO MUCH that happens in Season 3 that really starts to kick into high gear the belief that this island isn’t only different, it’s powerful. What rules you may have believed about the island are broken and a brand new world is unveiled.
   • Time travel, in a sense, shows itself in this season. Desmond becomes a very central character in the season and is ultimately involved with the fate of Charlie by season’s end. I really enjoyed Desmond’s role in Season 3. I hope his abilities (or whatever they are) become more apparent as we trek forward.
   • The Others … aren’t actually “Others” as they’re described in Season 2. Heck, Ben wasn’t even born on the island as he claimed (then, of course, later renounced). He was brought in as part of the Dharma Initiative with his dad Roger (who, as my dad pointed out, was the Dharma van driver shown a few episodes prior…). There aren’t backstories for any other members of Ben’s group (except for Juliet, Ben himself, and Richard). Ben does mention most of them being recruited to the island once he was there, so I think it’s safe to assume they weren’t “natives” of the island. Richard, on the other hand, approached Ben as a child. Ben had run off after his mother after seeing her on the island. Once he’s deep into the forest, Richard (who hasn’t aged A SINGLE DAY), talks to him. Ben tells Richard he doesn’t like it there and wants to come with Richard, who then tells him he’s not ready. So we fast forward to an older Ben who ends up killing his father in the infamous blue van via poisonous gas. Ben returns to the barracks where Richard and his men have done the same. I’ll share my thoughts on this at the end of this questionnaire. Basically, my point in recapping that story is simply to point out the massive character development of Ben in this season. ESPECIALLY for a character that wasn’t supposed to last more than a few episodes. Now he’s central to what’s becoming the primary storyline in the series.
   • We discover more about John Locke. At the end of Season 2, it seemed his connection with the island might be in doubt and that he wasn’t too sure about his purpose there. As we progress through Season 3, he discovers more and more about himself and his purpose on the island. By the end of the season, John apparently comes to the realization they’re not supposed to be rescued.
   • As I said at the beginning, this season grew on me. I was very close to checking out. But as the season progressed, I opened my mind and accepted the seemingly new direction the series was taking. I hear Seasons 4 and 5 dive deeper into a “Science Fiction” frame of mind and focus more on mysteries and action (thanks, Mary).
3. Polar bears and fish biscuits At least one of your questions was answered!
   The fish biscuits were amusing. We were given a little more information about the polar bears. Namely, when Locke and Charlie hunted down the one that allegedly took Eko to its cave. Other than that, though, I still have no idea what on earth the polar bears are doing on the island. This series has posed a lot of questions already, and while I know they won’t ALL be answered, I’d like more insight to the bears…
4. Who is your favorite character as of the Season 3 finale?
   Dang. No option for two favorite characters this time. It’s a tie between Desmond and Ben. A VERY close second is Hurley. My dad kept telling me I’m about to happen upon big revelations with his character. I feel like we’re just scratching the surface with Desmond’s potential right now. Sure, he has flashes or visions or what have you, and it saved Charlie’s life a couple of times before ultimately telling of his demise, but it just seems like he’s destined for MUCH bigger things. Ben, on the other hand, it just an overall magnificent character. I’ve found myself not being able to tell when he’s telling the truth or when he’s lying. All part of his character, of course. Michael Emmerson plays that role brilliantly. From figuring out he wasn’t born on the island, to his neglecting father, to his relationship with the mysterious Jacob … Ben is definitely the most intricate. It also seems like his role is larger than Season 3 showed. I hope that’s the case.
5. Any newly introduced favorites?
   I suppose it’d have to be Ben. We knew him as Henry in the second season, so that classifies him as a “new” character. Juliet is also a newly introduced character, but she’s not a favorite at this point.
6. Least favorite?
   Of the main cast, I don’t have a least favorite. It’s rare to find that in a series these days. Every character has something about them that interests me and they’re all delightfully different. HOWEVER! Nikki and Paulo were the most annoying characters of this season, by far. It seems like they were suddenly thrust into the picture by given random speaking lines and then, out of nowhere, their own episode. Shallow characters, shallow side story, and completely unnecessary. Sure, they were buried alive. But I’m so convinced we won’t hear from them ever again, I barely gave any thought to it.
7. Do you have any favorite episode(s) from this season?
   “Flashes Before Your Eyes” and “The Man Behind the Curtain”.
   • “FBYE” because, if you’re not paying attention, this episode really messes with your head. Not only is it a Desmond-centered episode (which is always good, brother), but it takes you on a time trip. Does Desmond really go back in time? Did he alter time by turning the key? It set the stage for the flashes he has. That’s the first episode watched twice.
   • “TMBtC” because the episode is all about Ben. We found out how he reached the island. How his dad drove the blue Dharma van and drank the Dharma beer that Hurley and company stumbled upon. We discover his relationship with Richard. We also figure out that the original Dharma inhabitants were killed by the natives. This group, I believe, is the one we find currently pestering our crew. Plus, Locke and Ben visit Jacob. I don’t even know where to begin with Jacob. His name has been dropped a few times, but we get our first “look” at him and find out that he spoke to Locke instead of Ben with a cry of help. And Ben didn’t take to kindly to that.
8. Were there any you didn’t enjoy this season or found particularly tedious?
   Expose! See my comments on “Least Favorite”.
9. What questions does this season leave you with?
   Where do I begin? I suppose with what questions I can mark off the list from the past two seasons…
   • My #1 Most Wanted question: What is the smoke monster? It killed Eko and has made appareances here and there with its usual noise but there still hasn’t been anything to lead me to believe anything about it. I’ve got nothing.
   • Origin of the numbers? What about the bad luck associated with them? Hurley found the rabbit’s foot from Roger’s (Ben’s dad) body. There HAS to be some sort of connection there.
   • What’s the deal with the Black Rock? We know it’s a slave-trading ship. But why the dynamite? And how is it so far inland?
   • Locke’s connection with the island? I see this trying to come into view, but I haven’t found anything to grasp onto with him yet. I have an interesting theory about Locke I’ll share in the last section…
   • Who are the Others? From what I can deduce, they’re a mixture of the original natives of the island and people Ben recruited to the island under the Dharma Initiative label, which to me, went defunct when Ben/Richard killed the original members.
   • Polar Bears? We see the one in the cave where it had Eko, but nothing more. We need a resurgence of Michael.
   • Who is Kelvin Inman? Lots of info in Season 2 relating to Desmond, the hatch, and the Dharma Initiative, but nothing since then.
   • Why is Alex with the Others? Well, we find out that Ben claims to be her father. Then, during the season finale, she tells her Danielle is her mother. Do Ben and Danielle know each other?
   • Still lots of questions about Libby from Season 2. Not sure if those will be answered, but the questions surrounding her are almost too big to be ignored. Why was she in the mental hospital with Hurley? Why the encounter with Desmond?
   • Still lots of “hatch” questions. Doomsday Hieroglyphics? Dr. Mark Candle/Wickmund? Edits/splices in the Dharma films? (Possibly tinkered with by the natives?) Quarantine? Different copyrights on the Dharma films? Purpose of the invisible map on the hatch blast doors?
   • What were the Others pretending to be? Well, it looks like they were disguising themselves as natives. Why? Still not quite sure…
   • Is Dharma just an experiment? I asked this at the end of Season 2. I’m still very shifty on the timelines regarding Dharma and the natives. Again, check the final section for more on this…
   • Ice station at the end of Season 2? Still don’t know, but the finale at the end of Season 3 shed a little light on this. Penny has some sort of link to the island. I still don’t know how.
   • 4-toed statue? Still not a clue. Although, there was a mention of a “temple”…

Now, how about some NEW questions?

• The cages! Were these put in by the Dharma Initiative? The natives? It was mentioned to Sawyer the cages held bears … but what kind? The polar bears we keep hearing so much about?
• Cindy, the flight attendant on Oceanic 815, shows up on the island when Jack is in the cage. She says she came to watch and claims she wasn’t captured. The heck?
• Did the rabbit’s foot Hurley found really rid those around him of misfortune?
• What/where is “The Temple” that Ben briefly mentioned as his crew was getting ready to move again?
• What’s the full story on Richard? He was on the island likely before Ben ever arrived and still there at the present time. Yet, he hasn’t aged a single day.
• When will the jewelry store clerk of Desmond’s deja-vu episode show up again? She was briefly shown in a photograph with Desmond’s monk brother at the monastery. I assume we’re not finished with her quite yet.
• Speaking of Desmond, was his deja-vu episode just that? An episode? Did he actually go back in time? Did his altering of the events he described (saving the bartender) allow him to see the flashes/visions?
• Was Mikhal an actual member of the Dharma initiative … or a native? He said he arrived on the island to join the Dharma Initiative, but that story seems suspect. Since he’s kaput now, the question of his origin may not be important.
• Will the love square of Jack, Juliet, Sawyer, and Kate continue?
• Will Michael return? We saw Walt briefly as Locke tried to commit suicide, so I assume Michael can’t be too far behind.
• Where have Michael and Walt been? Home?
• So what’s the deal with Juliet? Really a spy? Or shunned by her “people”? She wants off the island as much as everyone else, it seems…
• What is the connection with Locke and this island? It only seems to be getting stronger.
• Who’s in the coffin during the flash forward?
• Does Ben have a connection with the island? Why is he the one who speaks to Jacob?
• Oh, and, who is Jacob?

Other thoughts?

• I’m trying to figure out the Dharma Initiative. I know, I know. When was it started on the island? I’m assuming the natives were already there if they are true natives of the island. Did the initial members of Dharma put in the sonic defense system AFTER finding hostiles … or was it purely a precautionary measure? I’m not sure we yet know the “purpose”, if you will, of the initiative. I mean, sure, push the button, save the world. Got that. But why the recruitment? Why so many people? Was it really just an experiment? I love everything about the Dharma Initiative, but there’s a TON I don’t know about it. I hope I find out more in Season 4.
• I looked at the Complete Series box set on Amazon. Even the box doesn’t make sense at this point. However, I noticed the doomsday hieroglyphics on the side of the box. A mini-spoiler informing me of their return at some point?
• When we saw Ben as a young boy escaping into the forest, he ran into ageless Richard. Ben asked Richard if he could come with him. Richard told Ben he wasn’t ready. However, when Ben later killed his father, he was then accepted by Richard and his men as he discovered they’d killed the people of the Dharma Initiative the same way. The same kind of scenario occurs when Ben tells Locke he can’t join them yet because he isn’t ready. In fact, Ben goes a step further and tells Locke not to come with them until he’s carry the body of his father on his back. Lo and behold, Locke ends up killing his father (he uses Sawyer as his weapon), takes his father’s dead body, and returns. There’s obviously a connection here, but what could it be?
• So apparently Jack and Claire are half-siblings. I’m not sure if this will have any long-term ramifications or not. It’s one thing for these characters to cross paths before they all get on the same plane but for two of them to share the same father? Hmmm…
• I’m wondering what the purpose was of the whole Nikki/Paulo storyline. It seems weird to have an episode that’s so separate from the rest of the season. I’ve already expressed my dislike for that whole side story. The buried alive ending was cool and all, but will these characters … resurface … at any time?
• Sooooo… Jacob. I’d heard the name thrown around before I started watching the series. Then, when we first meet Karl and find him locked in a room being brainwashed, one of the phrases on the screen is “God loves you as He loved Jacob.” Sure, it’s a Bible verse reference, but after meeting Jacob in this season, I’m convinced there’s another meaning to it. Some questions surface as well. I know it’s early, but it’s healthy to ask questions. Why did Locke hear Jacob and Ben didn’t when they visited the dark shack in the jungle? Jacob seems to be in a position of authority, so why did he ask Locke to help him?
• The Flash Forward. What. The. Heck. All through the final episode of the season (Through the Looking Glass), I see what I assume are flashbacks of a depressed, bearded Jack living his life, which seems to be in ruins. We hear from one of the surgeons that Jack is a hero “twice over.” At first, I thought he said “twice over” because Jack saved two people from the car. No, no. It’s because Jack saved two sets of people – the survivors of the flight and the victims of the car crash. Then at the end of the episode, Kate shows up and Jack starts talking about how they shouldn’t have left the island. How they have to go back. How every time he flies the trip from LA to anywhere across the Pacific, he wants the plane to crash. My jaw literally dropped upon that revelation. What in the heck does that mean??? Did they ACTUALLY get off the island or was this, perhaps, a scene that shows what WOULD HAVE HAPPENED if they’d been rescued. We never actually see the survivors get off the island. I have a feeling it won’t be that easy.

Did I leave anything out? And have I mentioned I LOVE THIS SHOW?! I do need to give a few props to my mom and dad (Ted and Carolyn Mahler) for watching the second half of Season 3 with me. They dropped some hints here and there and warned me the rabbit hole goes even deeper. And also to Mary Parker. We’ve had a few lengthy chats about the happenings so far. She’s also helped broaden my understanding and helped me prepare for Season 4. Good thing it’s a bit of a short season.

Related posts:

1. Lost Theory
2. 10 Questions I Would Like to See Answered Tonight on LOST
3. Response to LOST 6×16 What They Died For

Related posts:

1. Sunday Morning Coffee
2. Sunday Morning Coffee: Unshiny Sink Edition
3. Friday’s Feast #14

We see you over there laughing, Matt. I may still have bird seed in my hair. Goodness knows it’s still in the car.

…

I want to start by saying … WOW! Season 2 completely blew this show wide open. I mentioned it on Twitter, but it seemed like every question they answered, two more were asked. Before I get to the questions regarding Season 2, I’d like to take a look back at the questions I had following Season 1 and see how many I can answer.

1. What’s down the hatch?
   This was answered all throughout the season. Desmond. The Dharma Initiative. Food. Power. An armory. An orientation tape. A computer. An alarm. A secret, invisible map revealing more stations. And oh yeah, a friggin’ huge electromagnet.
2. Who was Ethan and why did he try to kidnap Claire’s baby?
   As I saw it, Ethan was either a physician or someone posing as a physician and part of what I’ve dubbed as “Dharma Medical.” During Claire’s visions, he kept telling her he needed to keep the baby because there wasn’t enough vaccine for both of them. When we first saw Ethan, he was a very menacing, forceful character. Yet in Claire’s memory, he at least acts kind and caring. However, he is drugging Claire to convince her to give them her baby. Why? I still don’t know. We DID find out that Danielle Rousseau’s daughter is alive and well and the exact age we thought she’d be. She keeps warning Claire to leave and get out because they’ll end up killing her after they take Aaron. Yet, at the end of Season 2, Alex is revealed to be part of the “Others.” Still wondering about that one.
3. What was the weird mixture John concocted to drug Boone?
   Still not sure on that one.
4. What is the “Smoke Monster?”
   Again, still not sure. We get a better look at it as it confronts Eko, but I’m still not sure what its purpose is other than the “island security system” as Rousseau described it. Why didn’t it hurt Eko?
5. Do we hear from Rousseau again?
   Indeed we do. She goes with Claire and helps her in her search for “Dharma Medical.” She also finds out her daughter is still alive.
6. Where did Rousseau’s power source come from?
   Still not sure exactly … but given that the stations across the island are powered by … the large electromagnet, I’m guessing … I’m wondering how she came across it all.
7. Where did the pirates take Walt?
   Ah yes. To their little village on the north side of the island.
8. Were the pirates the actual Others?
   It seems that way.
9. What’s the deal with the numbers?
   Well, other than being the code to stop a very large electromagnetic eruption, I’m still wondering how the numbers were first picked as this code.
10. Why are the numbers bad luck for everyone around those associated with them?
    Hmm. Still not sure. I’m not convinced it’s just a coincidence. The jury is still out.
11. Where in the South Pacific is the island?
    Desmond mentioned something about being able to travel west to Fiji in a matter of days, which would put it between South America and Africa.
12. How is Locke so in-tune with the island?
    Still don’t know. He royally screwed things up at the end of Season 2, though…
13. Where did the polar bear come from?
    After noticing a shark at the beginning of Season 2 with the Dharma logo on its tail, I’m beginning to think the bears and sharks were put there as security measure to ensure the test subjects never left the island.
14. How long has the Black Rock been on the island?
    No clue.
15. Did anyone survive from the tail section?
    Oh my yes. Yes they did.

There’s your quick Season 1 summary. Some questions answered completely, some partially, some none at all. Now … on to Season 2…

1. Season 2! I remember finishing that one. I don’t think I was ever more excited about the show than right after that finale. In fact, I know I wasn’t because it was over that summer that I went podcast crazy. Listening to any old LOST podcasts?
   I couldn’t agree more. Season 1 was great as it introduced us to nearly everyone, but it kept everything contained in the two camps. Not much happened anywhere else on the island – at least not compared to Season 2. Now that we know about the hatch, Dharma, Desmond, “Henry”, the other survivors, and the “Others”, the storylines have multiplied and we’re finding out that more and more people either met or had some sort of interaction before they ever boarded Oceanic 815. I actually haven’t listened to any old podcasts. I assume they were a little easier to come by when the show first aired as everyone was at the same point in the show. With all the spoilers out there right now, I hesitate digging for podcasts without stumbling upon something I need not see.
2. I can recommend some if you are interested.
   Absolutely! If you know of some that only go to the Season 2 finale, please share!
3. I want to give you a word of encouragement: You made it through the season that probably the most people checked out on. A lot of people considered the extra background information on the main characters to be tedious. I liked it. I think enjoying that specific aspect of the show played a huge part in me enjoying the series finale.
   I honestly don’t see how people could check out on this season. I was never bored and never thought things needed to “move along.” The background information helps you understand what’s happening now. Why characters are making certain decisions. Most importantly, the flashbacks allowed us to see how different people knew each other, if only briefly, before they all boarded the plane. I don’t believe the flashbacks are just extra tidbits to help us understand who these characters are, though that’s certainly part of it. They’re answering questions by connecting people before the flight. If you were to watch only what’s happening once the plane crashed, you’d be missing out on so much story development. I haven’t seen a show that develops such deep, multifaceted characters and storylines as this one. One I can really sink my teeth into. I love it. Liz, I’m glad you said it played a huge part in you enjoying the series finale because I’m as entrenched in the flashbacks as I am the current story. I hope the same holds true once I finish the series.
4. So, what did you think of this season?
   • I only have Season 1 to compare it to, but I thought that everything Season 1 did, Season 2 did it better. It didn’t take anything away from Season 1, it just expanded on nearly everything there was to expand on … especially the characters. Heck, I’m almost to the point of calling the island a character. And I’m so Dharma crazy right now, I’ve gone to the point of making the Dharma Swan the wallpaper on my iPhone. First, we’re all led to believe the Dharma Initiative is just a big science experiment. Locke certainly thought so. The Pearl station – revealed as a monitoring hub for the other six stations on the island. Then, we find out all the records kept from the observations taken by the two subjects at the Pearl station were never meant to return to the headquarters. The tube led to the middle of the friggin’ jungle! Talk about an “OH … MAN!” moment for me. No no, the button is not just some hamster wheel to keep the subjects thinking they’re saving the world. That was Locke’s thinking. Desmond tried to convince him otherwise. Then Locke decided to not push the button. Oops. The huge electromagnetic eruption convinced me something MUCH bigger is at play here. I have a lot of questions about this part in particular, which I’ll ask here shortly.
   • We found new characters this season: Ana Lucia (RIP), Libby (Elizabeth, who knew both Desmond and Hurley before the flight, RIP), Eko, Bernard, Desmond, Alex, Henry Gale (who, because of my unguarded ear, I know as Ben in future seasons), the Others (who are just pretending…?), Kelvin Inman [known to me as Byron Hadley, captain of the guards in The Shawshank Redemption] (who convinced Sayid he’s capable of torturing a man and who was also Desmond’s partner at the Swan), and the mysterious Dr. Marvin Candle … or Dr. Mark Wickmund (from what I can tell, one of the head honchos of the Dharma Initiative). Candle? WICKmund? Something’s fishy with this guy…
   • We learn a LOT about characters already established. Locke starts losing faith in the island and in his purpose on the island. Sawyer shows signs of actual emotion, yet is still able to keep his sharp wit (which I enjoy). Sun turns out to be … pregnant?! Goodness, ANOTHER baby on the island? Granted, she’s in the early stages, but you know it’s coming. Jin is trying to learn English. Hurley’s past is a lot more complicated than I thought. The whole “Dave” situation was incredible to discover as it unfolded. Sayid looses Shannon, but his overall character really doesn’t change. Hard to put into words, but it seemed like he took more of a secondary role this season. Jack and Kate show flashes of a potential romance. The brief kiss, the whole net situation, but nothing really develops. We learn a little more about each of them, but nothing that really stuck out to me. No big “changes”, if you will. Claire discovers a dump truck load about her brief time in captivity. That story wasn’t completely fleshed out – so there’s still some questions there. Charlie – still struggling with the heroin – but more from a temptation standpoint. He’s really maturing. And Michael. He’s starting to lose respect from me.
5. Ben, eh ?
   My, oh my. As I mentioned earlier, before I was into Lost, I’d see characters here and there and hear some names, etc. etc. I knew this guy as “Ben”. Then all of the sudden, in the middle of Season 2, this guy Henry Gale shows up caught in Rousseau’s net. He claims he’s not the person Rousseau keeps warning everyone about, but he’s cut down regardless. He’s eventually locked away in the now empty armory and questioned by nearly everyone and keeps the same story afloat about his balloon crashing and his wife dying. Then we start to see slips here and there that maybe he’s not quite who he says he is. I kind of had an idea he was one of the Others from the beginning. Especially when he starts pitting Jack and Locke against each other. Getting in their heads. There were times I thought he might be ok, but again, having known Henry wasn’t his real name, I knew better. Then Michael came, set him free so he could get Walt back, and Henry was free to run back to his clan. We find him again in the finale. Now I’m eager to see what he and the Others will do come Season 3.
6. In case you weren’t aware, Michael Emerson’s appearance was only supposed to be a 3 or 4 episode story arc. But he’s just that good.
   I wasn’t aware! But I can clearly see why they kept his character going. While his role in Season 2 may not have seemed like much, the way he played Henry was perfect. I would’ve been very disappointed if he wasn’t brought back. It’s amazing how the performance of an actor can completely alter a show’s direction.
7. Who is your favorite character as of the Season 2 finale? Still Locke?
   Another tough question. I have a hard time deciding what would constitute a “favorite” character. I thought Eko around the middle of the season. He was a man of faith, kept his cool, rationalized everything, yet still had the intimidation factor. But at the end of Season 2, I don’t have a clear-cut favorite. Who am I most eager to find out more about? Desmond. Henry (err…Ben).
8. Least favorite?
   Michael. I know he lost Walt. He has that sympathy vote going for him. But his knee-jerk decisions really took a toll this season. The issue of his desire for Walt came up again this season when Miss Klugh was questioning him. For someone who wants his son back so bad, he doesn’t seem to know a whole lot about him. Then, once he was able to get Walt back, he took Walt and the boat and got out of dodge. That pretty much sealed it for me.
9. Do you have any favorite episode(s) from this season?
   It’s never just one, is it? J “One of Them” – where we first meet Henry Gale. I wasn’t expecting that at all. It basically took Season 2 in a completely new direction. “Lockdown” – the mysterious lockdown of the hatch (which can apparently be easily triggered as Desmond showed us) revealed the invisible map of the Dharma stations. Henry also decided not to hurt Locke because Locke is “one of the good ones.” Hmmm. And “Dave.” Finding out all of that about Hurley’s past really stuck with me. Not sure why, but it was a very powerful episode.
10. You’re getting into territory where one could have a least favorite episode. Were there any you didn’t enjoy this season or found particularly tedious?
    Just one … and it wasn’t the whole episode. “S.O.S.” didn’t really do anything for me. The Bernard and Rose storyline isn’t my favorite. It doesn’t add much to the overall happenings, so this one seemed a bit tedious.
11. What questions does this season leave you with? (The season that may raise more questions than any other.)
    I’ll make it simple with bullet points.
    • Again, what is the smoke monster?
    • Where did the numbers originate? Do they have something to do with the crew in the Antarctic at the end of Season 2?
    • Is there anything to the “bad luck” of the numbers?
    • What’s the deal with the Black Rock?
    • What’s Locke’s connection with the Island? He’s one of the “good ones?”
    • Who, specifically, are the Others?
    • Sawyer mentioned the name “Zeke” to the (fake) bearded Other. Is that anything … or am I just over analyzing?
    • Hurley mentioned the washer/dryer being “newer” than anything else. How’s that?
    • What’s the big polar bear connection? So far: they’re seen in the first Dharma film, Hurley’s comic book, young Walt was given one as a gift by Michael in a flashback, the real bear on the island…
    • Kelvin Inman, Desmond’s partner … is also an American army specialist who talked with Sayid? Eh?
    • What is Alex (Rousseau’s daughter) doing with the Others?
    • Why was Libby in the mental hospital? And was that before or after her meeting with Desmond?
    • Do the doomsday hieroglyphics have a specific meaning?
    • Dr. Candle/Wickmund – purpose?
    • Why was the copyright on the Swan Station film 1970 and the copyright on the Pearl Station film 1980…?
    • The Others are apparently pretending … to be what?
    • What’s with all the quarantine talk? Written on the hatch, lots of talk about disease, Desmond crashes and is picked up by men in suits…
    • Why the edits and splices in the orientation films?
    • What happened during the electromagnetic eruption?
    • Dharma isn’t just an experiment … is it?
    • Why was Kelvin drawing an “invisible” map?
    • The ice station at the end of the finale … Antarctica? Who are the two guys there?
    • What happens with Michael and Walt?
    • Still wondering about the whole deal with Claire’s baby. Why did they want him if they were after Walt? What’s the deal with Walt? I’m drawing comparisons with Star Wars … like they’re discovering he has a special power…
    • WHAT THE HECK IS WITH THAT FOUR-TOED STATUE?!
12. And…the 4-toed statue? How did you feel about THAT? Got any predictions? As a fan of the Planet of the Apes films, this one had the wheels in my head a’turnin’!
    WHAT ON EARTH WAS THAT THING?! I didn’t even recognize the four toes until Sayid pointed it out. I actually paused the DVD and just studied the statue for a bit. Nothing led up to it, nothing was said after they found it. It’s still a complete mystery … as if the writers just wanted to plant a seed. I’m beginning to think we won’t hear more about it for a good while … just to keep suspicion aroused. I have ZERO predictions about what it could be. ZERO. Planet of the Apes was the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the statue. I mean, I don’t even know what to do with that. Talk about something completely out of left field.

Well, now comes Season 3. You’ve got a change of scenery, new characters, and all new mysteries coming your way very soon. Enjoy, Matt!

Related posts:

1. Meet Jeremy Bentham
2. Get LOST, Matt! Pt. 1
3. 10 Questions I Would Like to See Answered Tonight on LOST

Matt is a college pal. Well, Matt is my husband’s college pal. I think I met him a couple of times and would see him at church, but that’s about all. Nice thing about getting married is that you get to know more friends of your spouse. And since I married the most social guy I’ve ever met, I’ve acquired a nice assortment.

Matt recently decided to give LOST a shot and I thought it would be interesting to get the thoughts of a new Lostie right as he is starting the series. So, here is the first set of questions Matt answered about Season 1. This will be a six-part series documenting his thoughts at the end of each season. Seriously, this is going to be fun to watch.

Note: Matt is a weatherman (is that a pejorative term in your line of work?) and who knows, his expertise may somehow color his view of the Smoke Monster. Let’s see!

(Thanks for the quick response, Matt. It’s almost like you knew I didn’t have a post planned for today.)

1. Hello, Matt Mahler. Welcome to your first round of LOST questions. Excited?
   Tremendously.  Believe it or not, I’ve actually been looking forward to answering these.  I can finally, officially, join the Lost discussions!
2. I just realized that your last name is a homophone of ”mauler.” How has that worked out for you?
   Not as well as I’d like.  At times I wish it was spelled MaUler instead of MaHler.  For reasons I’ll never understand, people feel the need to pronounce my last name with a long-A sound rather than the proper A-H sound.  Pro-tip: you know the sound the doctor always told you to make when checking your throat?  The whole “open up and say AH” business?  That’s how it’s pronounced.
3. You know, Kevin’s last name is Crumpler because somewhere back there somebody was a baker–a crumpet maker. In your time knowing him, has he ever made you baked goods?
   I honestly don’t think I’ve ever received any sort of baked goods from Crumpy.  Now that I know the history behind the name Crumpler, I’m slightly disappointed with the lack of baked goods.
4. So, first off, what do you think is going on with LOST?
   There’s no easy answer here.  While I AM a first-time viewer, I’ve always been surrounded by people who watched and discussed it, so I know bits and pieces.  After watching the pilot, I knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary plane crash.  That wouldn’t make for much of a TV series.  We’re introduced to the “island security system” in the first couple of episodes.  When I first heard its sound (of which I can’t really describe well unless you know your video games), I knew this plane crash was no coincidence.  Then we learn how everyone is connected in some way or another.  Further evidence that this crash is not, in any way, random.  As the season goes on, we are presented with more and more questions, and I start thinking there’s MUCH more to this island than meets the eye.
5. Who is your favorite character as of the Season 1 finale?
   John Locke.  No question.  From the moment I found out about his miraculous physical healing, he seems to have a “sixth sense”, if you will, about the island.  And he’s clearly a man of faith.  The faith may be in the island, but it allowed him to discover things no one else saw.
6. Least favorite?
   At first, it was Sawyer, which I think is a pretty common answer.  He’s selfish, rude, and really just a big jerk most times.  But over the course of the season, I ended up liking him more and more once I found out about his past.  But he’s not my vote for least favorite character.  That goes to Shannon.  I really tried liking her.  I had sympathy for her when Boone died, but I still didn’t like her character.  I don’t know how (or if) she fits into any larger story or purpose in the series, but her character doesn’t seem important to me.
7. Do you have any favorite episode(s) from this season?
   Two, actually: “Outlaws” (Ep. 16) and “Numbers” (Ep. 18).  “Outlaws” because it reveals the connection between Jack and Sawyer – the two most headstrong characters in Season 1.  This episode also brought more feelings of sympathy for Sawyer after learning about his past.  I saw Sawyer in a completely different way when I found out that his name isn’t even Sawyer at all.  But James Ford isn’t as swashbuckling as Sawyer.  Then, of course, there’s “Numbers”.  This episode was probably my favorite because I remember when this episode first aired, EVERYONE talked about those gash-darn numbers.  What did they mean?  Where did they come from?  I’m a little more educated now that I’ve seen a few episodes of Season 2, but when those numbers first showed up, I literally got goosebumps from head to toe because I knew THIS is where things really got interesting.
8. What storyline intrigues you the most?
   The “smoke monster”.  All we know by the end of Season 1 is that it’s part of an island security system, it’s a dark, black cloud of sorts, and it makes some wicked noises.  It also apparently isn’t afraid to kill people, but I still haven’t figured out why.  Having been introduced in the pilot episode, I thought we’d know a lot more about it by the end of season 1.  Turns out, we really only see it once.  And that’s for a brief moment as it nearly takes John Locke for a ride down a hole.  I wait with baited breath for a verdict on what the heck this thing is.
9. What questions does this season leave you with?
   There’s quite a few (again, I’ve seen a few episodes of Season 2, but these are the questions I had at the end of Season 1).  First of all, and I think the most obvious, what’s down the hatch?  Who was Ethan and why did he kidnap Claire’s baby?  What was that weird glue mixture John made to take Boone on a weird acid-like trip?  What is the “smoke monster”?  Do we hear from Rousseau again?  Where did her power source come from for her little hold-up shelter?  Where did the pirates take Walt?  Were said pirates the *actual* others?  What’s the deal with the numbers?  Why are they bad luck for everyone around those directly associated with them?  Where in the South Pacific is this island?  How is John Locke so in-tune with this island?  Where on earth did the polar bear come from?  How long has the Black Rock been on the island?  Did anyone survive from the tail section of the plane?  (Rose is very adamant about her husband being alive, who was in the tail section). 

   Will all of those questions be answered?  Probably not, but I hope most of them are.  I’ll be copying myself on this email so I can check off those questions if or when they’re answered (as some of them have been in the first few episodes of Season 2). 

   I can’t think of any good reason why I passed on this show in 2004.  I’m just starting Season 2 and it’s already becoming a slight obsession.  I’ve started a very rough journal of notes and thoughts and trying to keep everything as straight and organized as I can because I’ve heard it gets very twisted in the later seasons.  So far, though, so good.  So very very good.

Glad you’re enjoying the show, Matt! I’m looking forward to hearing how you feel about Season 2!

Related posts:

1. Meet Jeremy Bentham
2. The end of (kind of) the end
3. Book Review – The Gospel According to LOST by Chris Seay

I loved it. It took me a night of sleep and a few clarifications and constant reassurance from my husband, but that’s where I ended up. Loving this episode as much as I loved the previous seasons. In fact, the longer I think about it, the more I like it. Sure, there are unanswered questions and I know a lot of people are really, really upset. I’ll address that later (in part two).

As for the 10 questions I thought they might answer, let’s look at how it turned out:

1. Is John Locke (The Real John Locke™) gone for good?
   In this life, yes. I think now that we can see what became of him there is much to appreciate. Also, that John Locke and his journey represent about 50% of the LOST viewership (more on that later).
2. What is the alt-timeline and how does it relate to the on-Island timeline? Is it the “end” that these “means” are getting us to?
   We certainly got this one. It is the end that the means helped our characters arrive at. I never imagined it was that kind of end, but it worked for me. It appears to be a limbo state/created universe/collective conciousness that our Losties built together (or perhaps Hurley did it for them, I’m hearing that theorized in a number of places) so that, according to Christian Shephard, they could “find each other.” I like this idea and looking back at some of the literary clues we were given, I should have seen this one coming.
3. What is Charles Widmore’s importance and is he really dead? (I do NOT believe he is dead.)
   Wrong, Lizzy. Apparently, he was. His importance to the story and role on the island are two of the many mysteries we are left to ponder for the rest of our days. Or until The Lost Encyclopedia comes out (assuming they address him).
4. How will Desmond act as a fail-safe this time?
   He got the plug out of the hole but wasn’t destined to be the one to put it back in. I would like to know how Widmore had planned to use him.
5. Who is David’s mother? (My guess is Juliet since they seem to be building up to it and she’s the only really important female character that we haven’t seen in the alt-timeline so far.)
   Picture me, fists stretched high in the air, as Juliet talks to her son, David.
6. Will Jack be able to kill the Man in Black? HOW?
   I don’t know if he would have been able to, considering that knife to the gut he delivered to Jack mere seconds before SuperKate blasted a once-again-mortal in the back with the bullet she saved for him.
7. Will Jack make it off the Island? (Guess: No.)
   Score. I figured the last scene would be what it was, but had no idea how they would get us there. The execution of this scene was something far more dramatic and beautiful than anything I could have imagined.
8. Who will Kate’s romantic choice be or will there be one at all?
   Clearly there was one. I had no idea it would break my heart like it did.
9. Were any of these people really special or was it all just chance?
   I have some theories for real life about who you run into, why they are in your life, their importance, etc. These lives were set on the same orbit, revolving around some magnetic force (I question if it was the island or just “something,” considering how many unknown [to them] ties they all had before the crash of Oceanic 815) that pulled them closer and closer together and on the island they finally collided. They were special. To each other.
10. What are they preventing from happening by killing the Man in Black?
    In a roundabout way, the destruction of the island and what I can only imagine would have ended up being the rest of the world and all mankind. Looked like that bathtub drain/portal to Hades was getting ready to suck everything down.

A few of my more in-depth reflections will be posted later today. I wanted to go ahead and get this out there, plus the rest is getting pretty long!

Related posts:

1. 10 Questions I Would Like to See Answered Tonight on LOST
2. Response to LOST 6×14 The Candidate
3. Meet Jeremy Bentham