Author: Jason Zingale (Page 107 of 154)

The big surprise on tonight’s episode of “Lost” may have been the reveal that Jack’s dad also happens to be Claire’s father (making them half-siblings), but for those of you who faithfully read the online forums knew this was coming. Instead, I think that the biggest shocker wasn’t that Jack and Claire are related (in fact, the whole Claire flashback was kind of lame), but that Kate, Sayid and Locke spy Jack playing catch with Tom at the Others’ camp. Is he just playing them, or has he genuinely assimilated into the community? It’s hard to say, though all clues point to the latter, since it’s been mentioned on more than one occasion that the Others aren’t really all that evil.

Nevertheless, the rest of the episode moved along quite well. That is, as long as it wasn’t sulking around the oh-so-pointless Claire and her plans to capture a homing seagull and attach an SOS to its leg. I mean, is that really the best you can offer someone that hasn’t had a character-centric in almost a whole year? Forget Charlie. The writers should just kill Claire, and then we wouldn’t have to listen to her incessant whining. Plus, there’d be at least some solid reasoning behind it: she was saving Charlie. And while we’re on the subject of Charlie’s death curse, am I the only one that finds it odd that Charlie technically should have died when Ethan hanged him in season one? Desmond wasn’t around during the time, and if this death curse is for real, then why did he live?

Whatever the answer, let’s just hope that the writers make the right choice and keep Dominic Monaghan on the show. It would be nice to see the old gang (in which Charlie used to play a seminal part) back together again when Jack is finally “rescued.” And speaking of that, the developing rescue mission has fast become the most interesting aspect of the new season. If Sayid is the new Jack – constantly butting heads with Locke – then who is Rousseau? I vote for Hurley, since neither one seems to be much help.

Anyways, the old theory that Locke is actually evil has officially been thrown back into play after the series of weird events tonight. First, Locke claimed that he didn’t know about the C4 in the basement, but after Sayid finds a block of C4 in his bag, Locke kind of just shrugs it off. Then, he pushes Mikhail into the middle of the invisible sonic fence surrounding the Others’ camp, only to discover that, yes, it still works, sending Mikhail into a seizure of sorts. I guess it was of some help, at least, as it allows the rest of the survivors to devise a way to get over, and now that they have made it to the edge of the camp, they’ve discovered their fearless leader tossing the football around with ‘ol Mr. Friendly. The plot thickens…

I’ve long said that the Sayid-centric episodes of “Lost” are among the show’s best, and while the flashback sequence behind this week’s story wasn’t nearly as interesting as those of the past, it still made for one excellent episode. Apparently, Sayid is one damn good cook, and while working in Paris after leaving his post with the Republican Guard, he’s approached by a fellow Iraqi with an offer to come cook at his superior restaurant. Despite Sayid’s keen sense for knowing when others are lying, however, he agrees to meet the man only to be ambushed and interrogated for the torture of the guy’s wife. The whole time I was watching it, I was thinking to myself, “Of course Sayid didn’t torture this woman,” only to be completely shocked when he begged for her forgiveness later in the episode. Luckily, the woman took kindly to his apology and released him.

Getting back to more gripping stuff, Kate, Locke and Sayid continue their journey to the Flame hatch only to discover that it’s a farm in disguise, run by Eye Patch Man. After Sayid is shot for trespassing, Kate and Locke flank the guy only to discover that he’s “the last living member of the Dharma Initiative.” Bullshit, and this time Sayid can smell it miles away. After being served some very nasty looking yellow iced tea, Eye Patch Man (or Mikhail to his friends) attacks Sayid again, but has his ass handed to him as is expected from an ex-soldier. Meanwhile, as Sayid and Kate learn more about Eye Patch Man’s business on the island, Locke plays a friendly game of computer chess and upon winning, accesses an override to the hatch that gives him several command options.

Now, is it just me, but when did Locke become so damn stupid? I mean, did he know that if he entered “77” into the computer that the whole building would blow up, and if so, why? They could have easily used the hatch to their advantage, so it doesn’t really make any sense why you’d knowingly let it explode. Anyways, the past is behind them (Mrs. Klugh is dead – anyone know Russian that can translate that?) and they’re moving on with their mission to save Jack.

On a side note, it’s nice to see that rest of the survivors are having fun while a select few risk their lives. Last week it was the joyride through the woods, and this week it’s a friendly game of ping-pong. Sawyer, upset that all of his goods have become thrown into the community sharing pool, makes a deal with the rest of the camp: if you’re best player can beat me at a game of ping-pong, I’ll stop calling people by nicknames, and if I win, I get all my shit back. Well, he loses… to Hurley, though I hardly believe that the writers will put an end to the nicknames – that makes his character – though I love the fact that the survivors are finally lightening up to their situation.

The funniest line of the night comes courtesy of Hurley after crushing Sawyer in ping-pong: “It doesn’t look like that last slam caused any long term damage to your forehead.”

It’s been only three days since the broadcast of the 79th Annual Academy Awards and it appears that Hollywood still can’t say goodbye to the Little Indie That Could. How else do you explain Hurley’s sudden discovery of an old VW van turned over in the jungle, not to mention the humorous subplot involving Sawyer, Jin and Charlie helping him jumpstart the car by pushing it down a hill? I’m not complaining – it’s been a long time since the writers last delivered such a light-hearted episode – and I’m just happy to see that we’re finally back on the original island again.

And so are the rest of the survivors, apparently, as they all welcome back Kate and Sawyer with open arms. Heck, even Hurley gives Sawyer a great big hug when they meet up later in the episode. The two on-again-off-again lovers get right back to business when the return, however, and while Sawyer heads off to help Hurley and the gang with the van (not to mention teaching Jin a few new English phrases to wow the wife), Kate begins hatching a rescue plan with Sayid and Locke… which leads them to Rousseau, yet again. This time, though, she’s more apt to help after discovering that her daughter is, in fact, very much alive.

This week’s flashback was dedicated to Hurley – namely his relationship to his father (played by Cheech Marin) and the curse that has surrounded him ever since winning the money – and while we didn’t learn anything of particular interest, we did learn a little bit more about the big guy’s past. Like how his father left him at a young age, only to return 17 years later (gee, I wonder why?) Or how only days after purchasing the Mr. Cluck’s restaurant that he used to work at, it’s blown to bits (along with news reporter Tricia Tanaka) by a meteor… or an asteroid. Some kind of falling rock from space. Tough luck, kid, but at least your situation isn’t nearly as bad as Charlie’s is. Dude is very bummed, and he’s got good reason, too. Luckily, Hurley’s to the rescue, and it looks like he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to keep Charlie’s mind off his impending death.

Man, I really hope the writers don’t decide to off Charlie any time soon (the character’s next episode is only a few weeks away), especially when there are plenty of others that could just as easily go. Hasn’t he been through enough already?