Sledgeweb's LOST ... STUFF

6x06: "Sundown" Recap

2010-03-15T13:42:59Z

Sayid begins this week in the alterverse, getting out of a cab in front of a house in a typical suburban tropical locale. He approaches the front door with roses and is greeted with a smiling and obviously happy to see him Nadia... and her two kids and her husband. Who is also his brother. ]]> Awesome. Sayid is understandably jealous of Omer since he married Nadia, but Omer seems to be inexplicably jealous of Sayid's "fancy" lifestyle of frequent air travel and translating contracts. Sayid sends his niece and nephew to see what gifts he brought them from Australia and he's a little embarrassed by what they find in his bag.

~~~~~~

Back in the Temple Sayid has busted in to Dogen's office to demand answers.

Audience: Welcome to our world.

Dude, this is Lost. Prepare for disappointment.

Then I demand constant threat of death, kick-ass hand-to-hand combat, and bizarrely significant, secretly symbolic moments involving sporting equipment.

Oh, we've got plenty of that.

After a big fight that sadly didn't involve Sayid's feet and Dogen's neck, and which ends just because a baseball gets dirty, Dogen tells Sayid he's banned from the temple.

~~~~~~

Outside the Temple Claire and UnLocke are working out an arrangement: She goes in and delivers a message, then UnLocke will help her get Aaron back.

What's in it for me?

How about two tickets to that thing you love?

...

I'm on a horse?

~~~~~~

In the middle of the night, Omer has woken up Sayid to tell him that he's made some deals with some mobsters and to ask Sayid if he wouldn't mind "taking care of them".

They need oil contracts translated?

No, I need you to "take them golfing in the Seychelles".

Oh, you mean, "introduce them to my dishwasher?"

Exactly!

Let's see, you're married to the love of my life and you want me to prevent your death? Yeah. I'll be getting right on that...

~~~~~~

Claire waltzes into the Temple compound to tell Dogen that UnLocke wants to see him. He is not interested, but she has given him an idea on who he should get to do it for him. Dogen has Claire put down in a hole and asks to have Hurley and Jack sent to his office. This proves difficult as they have disappeared.

Look harder. Did you check the TIC-TAC-TOE court?!?

Dogen unbans Sayid and tells him to go "talk" to UnLocke. And by "talk" he means "stab," since if UnLocke talks, Sayid will be screwed. Sayid acts like that makes perfect sense.

~~~~~~

Back in LA, Sayid walks Nadia's kids to the bus stop, but just as they leave, Nadia comes running out of the house looking panic stricken. They rush to the hospital and learn that Omer has been stabbed.

Ha ha! Thought you could leave me out of this weeks script, didn't you?

~~~~~~

Back at the temple, Kate has cunningly beaten the complex and intricate security measures at the Temple by, um, knocking. She joins Miles who fills her in on recent developments, particularly in re: Claire's arrival and her subsequent hotness retention. Sayid has stopped in a field when he hears the distinct ticka-ticka noise. He draws his knife and when UnLocke saunters out of the tall grass, Sayid stabs him once, right in the chest. UnLocke merely removes the dagger and asks Sayid why he would try to kill him.

Shannon asked me to way back in Season 1, remember? Sorry I took so long to get around to it...

UnLocke hands him back the knife and they sit for a chat. He tells Sayid that Dogen sent him on a suicide mission. He now wants Sayid to deliver a message back to Dogen.

Seriously? You guys need to install phones or get some damn walkie-talkies. All we do is deliver messages for you people!

Oh and if he delivers the message he will pay him in Nadias right out of the petty cash/magic box.

~~~~~~

Hang on, I'm almost done torturing your vase.

Nadia and Sayid talk about Omer, the kids, and that Sayid thinks that because he was a torturer in the war he doesn't deserve her. Smells a bit like a self-fulfilling prophesy.

~~~~~~

Sayid barges in to the Temple this time to tell them that UnLocke is inviting them all to his place for a big picnic and a lot of not-dying. They have until sundown to RSVP. Meanwhile Kate is trying to find Claire. Lennon takes her to the "pit" and gives her two minutes to talk to Claire.

Hi Claire! You look, um, great... can I get you anything? Like Lotion... and a basket? Ha! You know, like... um... ok, seriously now. I'm gonna go get you a comb and some conditioner.

Sayid's little con-fab has made the Others a bit tense, and Lennon is running around trying to do damage control. He keeps saying that no matter what Sayid and UnLocke says, it's a bluff. Miles wants to know when they are scheduled to depart but Sayid has a different agenda. He wants to get the dagger he borrowed back to it's rightful owner.

~~~~~~

Back in the States, Sayid is headed out to pick up Nadia's kids when he is stopped by a familiarly smarmy character in an SUV. He is brought to a kitchen where he discovers Christopher Walken making eggs.

You want eggs? How about cow bell?

Walkeamy wants Sayid to pick up the payments owed to him by Omer. Sayid doesn't agree to the terms of service and terminates the plan. Suddenly there is a loud banging noise. Sayid looks around and spots the source of the noise. He opens the door to the cooler and is surprised by what he sees:

~~~~~~

Sayid is now taking his highly effective negotiating skillz to Dogen. He tells Dogen he is Team Smokey and returns to him his fancy dagger. Right in the solar plexis. Over and over again.

Now it's time for YOU to take the Nestea Plunge... OF DEATH!

Lennon rushes in and before he can Imagine anything about Heaven and Hell he's off to find out if above us is indeed only sky.

I'm saying he's dead, people.

Meanwhile, Smokey has, in fact, entered the grounds and is indeed punishing those who stayed. It's the usual awesome kick-ass Smokey pwning. Out of nowhere, seemingly, Ilana, Ben, Sun and Frank are there and run into Miles. From there they split up because that's always a good idea when things are panicky and confused. Ben goes to find Sayid.

Pictured: Kate tries to entice Claire out of the hole with discount L'Oreal products.

Claire is chillin' in her pit and tells Kate they're safer in the pit. When Smokey comes by, he passes right over them. Sayid also wants to stay put and tells Ben there is no more time left for him. Then he gives him a creepy-ass smile that gives even Ben the willies, so he takes off, knowing a lost cause when he sees one. Miles tells Sun that Jin is nearby, and the group of them plus Ilana and Frank get through the secret entrance just in time to avoid Smokey. When the dust settles, Kate, Sayid and Claire walk past the carnage and go out to meet UnLocke and the Smokettes. Kate is the only one not looking like a zombie.

Ok, everyone take your places for final rehearsal, and ready? Go... "'Cause this is Thriller, Thriller night..."

Lost's Unnamed Philosphers

2010-03-10T01:23:35Z

We have a quest writer today at sledgeweb. Ericd543 recongnizes that there are many obvious philosophy references in Lost. There are also many less obvious references. Ericd543 will examine it all after the break. Enjoy the article and please share your thoughts.

]]> We've seen the names of famous philosophers in Lost from Locke to Hume, Rousseau and even Bentham, but there are some existential philosophers who remain unnamed within the Lostverse, yet might have something to say regarding our favorite tv show. From Jean-Paul Sartre's novel "Nausea" (sickness?) to the concept of "God is dead" I've suspected that Lost has some existential qualities, but when I saw Kierkegaard's book "Fear and Trembling" in Hurley's hand, well, I felt compelled to investigate further.

A week ago, if you said "existentialist" in a game of word association, I would have said, "Nietzsche, God is dead, atheist, nihilism, a dark philosophy that it all means nothing." I admit to being a beginner in existential thought, but that darkness is intriguing in terms of Lost and what philosophy MIB might be pitching. The looming conflict of light vs dark seemed to be about Jacob's rule-following temple others against a darker, existentialist point of view, but one thing didn't fit -- both sides advocate free will.

Some noodling around on the interwebs and I found this article about two of the leading existentialists, Friedrich Nietzsche and Søren Kierkegaard.

Nietzsche Versus Kierkegaard - Existentialist Battles Over Christianity  "When compared side to side, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche both have similar but also differing viewpoints. They would both agree that it is the individual choice of human beings to choose what actions they take and what they believe is right or wrong. The two men, however, had a different way of obtaining this conclusion. Nietzsche came to this point by announcing the death of God and deciding that it is up to the individual, not an organized religion, to determine right from wrong. Kierkegaard held strong to his ideas of Christianity and felt that to live a meaningful life, one must live his life through God's will. However, in both, it comes down to what we make of it and how we decide to live our life."

So maybe the MIB vs Jacob isn't existentialists vs the faithful, maybe it's more like Nietzsche vs Kierkegaard.

It's entirely possible that existentialism simply fits into a greater theme of philosophy in Lost. I'd just like to see MIB make a strong case in his recruitment to the "darkside", really tell us what our Losties are up against, what they are signing up for if they join MIB. MIB seems willing to give answers to these questions. Sawyer referred to him as the guy with answers, and MIB seemed surprised that Jacob hadn't told Richard what it was all about."

Lost will often show us the other side of the story. So that is part of the reason why I'm hoping SWM/MIB makes a compelling argument. I think it could be really good, but I can't get my head around all of it yet. I've been doing some reading and would like to share some of the pieces I've found. Some fit into Lost amazingly well, if you ask me. ;-) I find myself writing stuff like this on a 3x5 card, "fooling yourself may be the ultimate con" and then I find something like this.

The quote below is from a book review on Existentialism for Dummies which Amazon informs me has shipped.

Amazon reviewer of Existentialism for Dummies: "As the comedian Richard Pryor has put it: The ultimate test is whether we can survive death? So far, no one we know has passed that test. So no matter how sophisticated and complex our neurotic machinery may become, or the reality games that it spews, we know that in the end our immortality tricks will not work. We can invent myths, in which we make ourselves its heroes; and we can build elaborate monuments to ourselves, but in the end there are no tricks or immortality projects that will allow us to overcome death.Existentialism reminds us that our reality, our meanings and our elaborate language games are just individual or collective self-defined projects in self-delusion, and little more. And in the end, that is of course the ultimate absurdity."

Here are some quotes from existentialists that seem to resonate with Lost.

Søren Kierkegaard Quotes

"I feel as if I were a piece in a game of chess, when my opponent says of it: That piece cannot be moved." - Søren Kierkegaard Don't tell me what I can't do! Oh how I enjoy that phrase. I've looked for the context on this quote but haven't found it yet. "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." - Søren Kierkegaard Whoa! "It is so hard to believe because it is so hard to obey." - Søren Kierkegaard Jack in a nutshell. Me too. "Once you label me you negate me." - Søren Kierkegaard So THAT'S why we he cannot be named! At this point I hope they do not give a name to SWM (Smokey/Whatever/MiB).

Friedrich Nietzsche Quotes

So Kierkegaard has some good ones, but so does Nietzsche. These are the kind of things I would like to hear MIB say during his recruitment of the candidates. "You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist." - Friedrich Nietzsche This works with the way Lost shows two sides to every story. Our experiences are subjective. As soon as you think you know what's going on they show you another perspective. I expect Lost's ending will be ripe for debate. "I cannot believe in a God who wants to be praised all the time." - Friedrich Nietzsche A basic refutation of God. I'm not sure how much of this kind of talk ABC/Disney will allow. But I hope they let the Nietzsche out of the box. Let the MIB go for it. "One should die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly." - Friedrich Nietzsche I'm looking at you, Ben. Could this be foreshadowing of a noble, heroe's death for someone? Sayid? Sawyer? Ben ??? "The world itself is the will to power - and nothing else! And you yourself are the will to power - and nothing else!." - Friedrich Nietzsche We are the product of our choices. I also am reminded of Widmore's achievement as a powerful man in the real world after leaving the island. "If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche The abyss is a dark place. I don't think Claire was able to handle it. "Is man one of God's blunders? Or is God one of man's blunders?" - Friedrich Nietzsche Sounds like something MIB and Jacob might discuss over dinner on the beach. The kitchen is all out of everything but red herring, btw. "Believe me! The secret of reaping the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment from life is to live dangerously!" - Friedrich Nietzsche Cue the action sequence! Even though Nietzsche said 'God is dead' he meant it as a call for mankind to transcend the need for God. Live dangerously (go for it) because death is your constant. "Great intellects are skeptical." - Friedrich Nietzsche Good line for MIB to use on Jack to appeal to his ego and his skepticism. "Without music, life would be an error." - Friedrich Nietzsche The context of this last one is fascinating Lost-wise, but it does put a kink in my theory that MIB may represent Nitzsche's philosophy. We'll see I guess

Nietzsche and Music

"Nietzsche never fully removed himself from the world of music, but instead, became a composer of philosophy, utilizing the musical form as a template for his own writings and creative thought. For Nietzsche, music gave access to a realm of wisdom that transcended thought. Music was Nietzsche's great solace; in his last years, it was his refuge from madness."

Also, Amazon's listing for Nietzche's music, track 4 is Phantasie

Daniel Faraday, and David Shephard have played Chopin's Fantasie

Faraday was suffering some kind of metal breakdown before he went to the island

Wikipedia - God is Dead

"Nietzsche believed there could be positive possibilities for humans without God. Relinquishing the belief in God opens the way for human creative abilities to fully develop. The Christian God, he wrote, would no longer stand in the way, so human beings might stop turning their eyes toward a supernatural realm and begin to acknowledge the value of this world." "Nietzsche uses the metaphor of an open sea, which can be both exhilarating and terrifying. The people who eventually learn to create their lives anew will represent a new stage in human existence, the Übermensch - i.e. the personal archetype who, through the conquest of their own nihilism, themselves become a sort of mythical hero. The 'death of God' is the motivation for Nietzsche's last (uncompleted) philosophical project, the 'revaluation of all values'."

Übermensch translates to Superman. But is he faster than The Flash?

6x06: "Sundown" Ratings Review

2010-03-08T14:13:40Z

Hey guys, it's JB here with a new weekly installment dealing with the ratings for the episodes. For a quick recap of what we've seen so far, let's take a look back at the first 5 episodes. Episodes 1 and 2, named "LA X," started the season off solidly. Many people noticed the poor CGI section to start off what had been touted as the greatest season premiere of the year. The idea of the alternate timeline (or flash-sideways, as some call it) threw many of us for a loop. Lots of people felt like TPTB (The Powers That Be, for the uninitiated) could have done better for a premiere. The average rating was just under 8, marking it lower than both the Season 5 premiere (8.35) and Season 4 premiere (8.46), although significantly higher than the Season 3 premiere (5.69). ]]>

6x06: User Requested Images

2010-03-03T14:52:53Z

We didn't have anything like the cave list, or lighthouse list of names in episode 6x06, Sundown, but SWLS member ericd543 has captured a number of images for us... from Dogen's knife case, to the knife itself, to smokey's temple appearance, and much more. Check the images out for yourself after the jump, and let us know what you think or find in the comments below! Special thanks to ericd543!

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So... Remember that Goblet Dharma Film?

2010-03-01T16:30:16Z

This final season is suppose to one that provides answers and begins wrapping up the many mysteries of the mythological universe of LOST. Indeed, we have been getting some answers, albeit some new questions as well - and, in that spirit of resolution, I think it is long past time to revisit an unsolved mystery from the blurry line of alternate reality media that emerged during Season Two as the mythology of LOST exploded on screen and off. In particular, I'd like to look back and address the issue of the Dharma Procedure Film for the Goblet Station, which surfaced in late March of 2006. More after the jump!

]]> I know it seems out of place to revisit such an old, forgotten... and largely irrelevant mystery of the expanded LOST zeitgeist, but I thought it might be fun to look back and to clear up the matter for those with whom the mystery still lingers. The Goblet Procedure Film was conceived, shot and edited by yours truly, Sledgeweb, in late January of 2006. The shoot took place in one night, in a conference room of a hospital using a simple lighting setup, and one camera. For the shoot itself, I was accompanied by my film production partner, and my wife - who was sadly coerced into playing the part of Samantha Grey (her forced mechanical delivery was an attempt to cover up her subtle southern accent, since many people knew I was from Kentucky - ironically, myself not having too much of an accent). It was altogether a very rushed project, so the concept behind the story of the film was put together quickly, and with little depth. After a couple months of editing and effects work, the film was distributed to several websites via mail - none of which had any involvement or insight into the film's production. It was meant to be a viral entity from there, which initially worked well - until it was so quickly debunked in the official podcast (thanks guys). So, the obvious question many of you will ask while reading this, is... why? Why go through the efforts to create a fake Dharma film, then distribute it in secret, only to have it debunked and not address it until the final season? Hmmm, those are tough questions you ask. I'll try to explain as best I can. As many of you know, I do some side work in independent film. It is actually the thing I most love doing, and wish I could do more of. In 2002, I had shot a very amateur level independent film called Beneath the Mask: Portrait of an American Ninja - which had way more success than anticipated - despite all of its faults. After that, my film partner and I did some television commercials and corporate videos to craft our production skills and gain more experience. This was successful, and we started planning for our next creative narrative film project (what we really longed to do) towards the last half of 2005. Unfortunately, that fell apart when my wife and I made plans to relocate from Lexington, Kentucky to the DC area in Maryland. We wouldn't have time to begin work on our next narrative film project, but my film buddy and I still wanted to do something creative with our experience before I left. Both being fans of the show, and the expanded universe contained in the alternate reality efforts the launched during the mid-season hiatus, we decided to create a fan tribute to the mythology of LOST. One thing we both appreciated about LOST and the ARG, was the blurring of lines between reality and fiction - and the continuous mystery of the show. In that tradition, we decided to release the film as a viral video and let it works its own way into that mystical and confusing world of all that is LOST. We realized that almost as big a part of the show itself was the fan interaction, theories, hoaxes and debate that ran all over the internet. Therein, we saw a unique opportunity to actually participate in being a part, as fans, of all those things that together become the unique totality experience of LOST. So, in one last creative project before I left (literally shot the day before I left town), my film partner and I quickly put together the concept, materials and script and began work on the Procedure Film. It was a last chance for us together to explore our passion for film making, and our love for the entire embodiment of the spirit of LOST. Admittedly, there was also a feeling of mischievous and mayhem that was a bit fun. The concept behind the film was that a separate station exists, called The Goblet (using the constellation theory of station names that had emerged at the time - this being well before we knew of other station names), that was responsible for maintaining a containment field in a marine research zone. Having already been through an orientation film, this was to be a Procedure film geared to that tasks required of the Goblet inhabitants... with the idea, that this station was headed by a different representative of Dharma, Samantha Grey. Of course, at this point, we had only seen one Marvin Candle film, so it seemed likely that other films might feature a different spokesperson. The film warns about a breach in the containment field that could subject other personnel on the island to danger if test subjects were to escape. This was meant as a possible explanation for the Dharma Shark. In addition, the film references a secondary security system that forms a perimeter around the island to keep subjects from escaping should the containment field fail - it is strongly advised that because of this, personnel are not permitted to enter the water. This was meant as a possible explanation for the mysterious drowning of Joanna. Of course, warnings are also given against using the Dharmatel system for personal use, or to contact the outside world - due to a risk of a repeat of the "incident". A fun side production note, I originally planned for Samantha Grey (originally Emily Tesla) to wear an eye patch - which was to reference the glass eye found early in Season 2. However, when I mentioned this to my production partner, he laughed it off as being "too over-the-top - even for LOST". Of course, I had to chuckle when we finally met Patchy in the show later on. So, now you know the story behind the mysterious Goblet Procedure Film. Mystery solved! I hope nobody is too sore about the whole thing. I did feel bad, because the possibility came up that I was behind the film early on - and AstroJones (one of the recipients of the film via mail) staunchly denied that I could have had anything to do with it. So, I sort of had to just let him go on that... and never told him about the film until a year ago or so. Fortunately, he has handled it well. Although, come to think of it, he isn't helping with the site this year at all. Hmmmm. Anyways, my apologies as well to the other recipients of the film. I hope having read this, everyone understands that whole thing was done in good humor, and in a true (if not unique) spirit of LOST fandom. Full screenplay:

"DHARMA PROCDURE VIDEO"

FADE IN: Title screens for Dharma Initiative and Goblet Station int. FACILITY DR EMILY TESLA with the DHARMA INITIATIVE stands before the camera in a white lab coat marked with the GOBLET logo. She holds a pointer in her right hand, and wears a white patch over her left eye. Nearby, stands an easel with a map of an island and a black card also imprinted with the GOBLET logo. The environment is simple and sterile.

EMILY TESLA

Greetings, I am Doctor Samantha Gray, and this is the procedure film for Station 5 of the Dharma Initiative. By now, you and your team should be familiar with the history and current operations of the project. You are presently located in Station 5, also known as the Goblet, and will remain at this post for the next 675 days. Your team will be conducting tests and collecting data in support of the Dharma Initiative's aquatic research experiments. Each morning, your team will be given a specific set of instructions through the microcomputer located within the Goblet station. These instructions will vary according to the experiment and data needs required for a particular test. It is vital that you follow the given instructions precisely, with no variance, in order to ensure the safety of your team and the success of the project. You are restricted from using the computer for any purposes other than receiving instruction and submitting accumulated data. It is paramount that you do not attempt to use the computer to contact the outside world or personnel located within other stations. Doing so could disrupt protocols in place intended to prevent a repeat of the incident. In addition to executing the instructions given to you each day, your team is responsible for maintaining the electrical containment field which confines test subjects within the marine research zone. It is recommended that your team alternate between maintenance and research duties on a weekly basis. It is most important that the containment field is not permitted to fail. A breach in the containment field would place other personnel on the island in grave danger. In order to prevent test subjects from escaping into open waters should a breach occur, a secondary security system has been installed in a perimeter around the island. Although your team will be required to enter the water in order to maintain the containment field, it is highly advised that you do not venture too far from shore due to the nature of the system. Congratulations to you and your team, and thank your for your continued service to the Dharma Initiative. Namaste, and good luck. :fade to black

The Coconut Telegraph

2010-03-01T15:34:09Z

The latest episode of The Coconut Telegraphy, a LOST fan podcast led by SWLS members JB, Jackii and Adam, that takes a second look at "Lighthouse" was recently released. This episode features yours truly as a special guest, for what its worth. I'm also happy to announce the The Coconut Telegraphy is now the official podcast of SWLS - you can access it using the PODCAST link at the top of the page in the navigation bar. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments below. The official description for this episode follows: In this episode we discuss the 4th episode of season 6 of Lost, "The Substitute" with Jen, a.k.a. Nejsitsol on Sledgeweb. We go over the list of legible names on the cave ceiling, why Richard ran away like a little girl, and Taller Ghost Aaron/The Little Apparition Boy. Also, there's quite a bit of rambling. Shout-outs to certain SW members abound! Listen and find out if you caught our attention as much as The Substitute.

6x05: User Requested Images

2010-02-24T03:55:04Z

Images for discussion here include Claire's devil baby doll, books and music sheets. Jump in on the conversation or link to any other images you want to discuss from, LOST 605, The Lighthouse.]]>

6x05: Images of Hurley's Arm

2010-02-24T03:51:34Z

In The Lighthouse, Hurley is given a set of directions by Jacob in order to bring someone to the island. Hurley writes the directions on the arm, which apparently tell him to go to the lighthouse and turn the mirrors to a heading of 108. But, what exactly is written on his arm? Here are some images if you want to take a look - after the jump. Let us know what you see in the comments below.

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6x05: The Lighthouse (Names and Numbers)

2010-02-24T03:39:35Z

In 6x05, The Lighthouse, we got to see... a lighthouse. The numbers corresponding in degrees to the heading of the lighthouse were affiliated with names... many familiar, some not. This seems to be a match with the numbers seen in the cave in the last episode. Of course, we also see that a person's number can be dialed into and be observed from the lighthouse. Does it make any sense at all? Hmmmm.... no. Names, numbers and photos after the jump!]]>

Help Wanted

2010-02-23T23:10:45Z

The end is here! As Lost comes to a close, the management here at Sledgeweb's Lost ... Stuff have decided to do things a little differently than we have in the past. For 5 seasons, Sledgeweb's Lost ... Stuff has had the best fans in the whole Lostiverse and we finally think that it's time prove how much we have appreciated them. To thank you and to show our appreciation for that loyalty we have decided to open up the front page articles to the everyday users. What specifically does that mean? It means that no matter where you stand in the SWLS hierarchy, from the lowliest Red Shirt to the most acclaimed Dharma Workman (or Woman) you can submit an article that will be printed on the front page of the site. Now we have done this before in a smaller scale, usually by invitation, but this time it is open to all. So
Do you think that Lost is the telling of the final battle between good and evil/Heaven and Hell and that our beloved Losties are just pawns in the whole mess? If so, write it up.
Do you think that the whole Lost series is just a bad dream that Hurley is having and in the finale he will wake up in the institution still talking to Dave? If so, write it up.
Do you think that Ben Linus is actually the reincarnation of Mister Rogers and crashing Flight 815 was just an elaborate attempt to get new folks to the neighborhood? If so, write it up.
Remember that when it comes to Lost, there are no stupid theories, only stupid users. Just kidding. Anyway, if you have an idea for an article, write it up and submit it and we will post it (within reason).
All articles should be sumbitted via private message or email to either Thlaylirah, Judgish or Castaway Cayley. Please allow approximately 3-5 business days before posting. Any questions, please feel free to comment here or via PM. Thanks in advance and we look forward to what is on your mind.

Season 6 Finally Begins

2010-02-19T05:26:07Z

We had to get through a two part season premier and a snoozer of a Kate centric episode, but the producers finally got the final season of Lost started! Season 6 started off very slow with little story progression and no answers. "The Substitute" had the feeling of a season premier with plot progression, great dialogue and answers. For the first time this year I got the sense of urgency that I was expecting from Lost's finale season.

]]> The two part season premier LA X was the definition of boring. Season premiers have a history of explosive opening and surprising developments. It was widely expected that the detonation of the bomb would put the Losties back on the plane. Getting what I was expecting is not a great start. Having Juliet die twice on James felt forced and was created only for emotional appeal, not for plot development. The last thing this show needs is more characters but that is what we got with the new crew of Others at the temple. The whole temple story line is getting that déjà vu feeling of the six episode stretch of THE CAGES. Lets not make that mistake twice. What really frustrated me was the lack of story advancement in the premier. I got the feeling of treading water during the entire two hours.

"What Kate Does" had the great focal point of Kate. But even her hotness could not carry this episode out of the mediocrity bin. The off island story line was enjoyable enough but felt unimportant. Of course time will tell. It was nice to see Claire again after a year absence. On island story was dragged down by the temple and the regression of Sawyer. I am finding limited appeal with the temple people and the confined set for so many of the characters. I find Dogen frustrating to watch. Lost does not need a character that refuses to provide answers. Kate chasing Sawyer is an overused story telling technique. This all leads to another tear jerker scene with Sawyer. I am getting the feeling that the producers only goal this year is to win Josh Holloway an Emmy. This episode did end on a high note with the on island appearance of "infected" Claire.

"The substitute" was a breath of fresh air after the first three hours of season 6. From the great sequence of following smokie fly around the island to the mind blowing cave scenes this episode had the foot of the gas. The off island time line had a sense of importance and good karma towards John Locke. It was refreshing to see a happier and more accepting Locke. The scene with Hurley was telling to me. Could Hurley be a "Jacob" like humanitarian nudging people to where they need to be in life? On island gave great dialogue between Locke and Sawyer and no temple scene. We got an explanation for the numbers after 5 years of waiting. It was fast pace and felt like the start of the end.

I am hopeful that all of my time invested in Lost is going to pay off. "The Substitute" feels like the race to the finish has finally started. I am hoping that the rest of the season follows the standard set by this fantastic episode.

6x03: User Requested Images

2010-02-17T03:53:37Z

Thanks to JMart for submitting these screencaps. Included are Helen's "Peace and Karma" shirt, the scales at the cave, and a capture showing a shot of Locke and his father hanging in Locke's cubicle (suggesting perhaps in this alternate timeline that Locke's father didn't push him out the window and cause his paralysis?). View the images after the jump. Give a shoutout to JMart in the comments!]]>

6x03: Mystery Boy (young Jacob?)

2010-02-17T03:43:59Z

LOST episode 6x03, The Substitute, introduces another island mystery. Locke, or... the entity appearing in the form of John Locke, sees the image of a young man in the jungle. Initially, it appears only unLocke can see this apparition. Later, however, it is revealed that Sawyer also sees the boy (whereas apparently Richard did not). In the second occurrence, unLocke chases the boy into the jungle... where he is warned, "you can't kill him". Is this young boy a new entity, or a reincarnated Jacob? An older Aaron? And what does he mean when he tells unLocke, "you can't kill him"? Also, why in the first encounter does the boy appear to have bloody arms? Images and video after the jump.

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6x03: Jacob's List

2010-02-17T03:33:29Z

In LOST 6x03, The Substitute, unLocke (Esau, The Man in Black, Smoke Monster, etc.) takes Sawyer to a beach front cave and reveals a list of names scribbled on the ceiling by Jacob. Many names are crossed out, and all are accompanied by a number. The names of six known Oceanic 815 survivors correspond to the six numbers (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42). Images and a breakdown of names after the jump.]]> The known survivors and corresponding numbers are: 4: Locke 8: Reyes 15: Ford 16: Jarrah 23: Shephard 42: Kwon Also easily legible are the following (amongst many more names not yet deciphered). 10: Mattingley 222: O'Toole 233: Jones 291: Domingo These are supposedly candidates to take Jacob's place as island protector. What do you think of the names on the list, and those missing?

6x03: "What Kate Does" Recap

2010-02-13T20:42:55Z

A barefooted Lennon (Seriously? Barefoot? On cold stone floors and running around in the twigs and dirt outside? It hurts just to watch. I want to mail him some Birkenstocks.) Anyway, a barefooted Lennon runs (how does he not stub a toe or something? I wonder if he gets those tiny little cuts on the underside of his little toes. You know, the ones right in the crease where it bends over and you can't put a band aid on it?) to Dogen's... uh, office, I guess, to tell him Sayid's alive! And the fact that my mind is distracted with concern over this characters feet gives you some indication of how riveting I thought this episode was.]]> ...and you were there ...and you were there... Auntie Em! Over in a corner Sawyer and Kate are looking at Sayid and wondering how it could have happened. Well, Kate is wondering. Nothing seems to surprise Sawyer, and after all he's been through I would be disappointed if he wasn't as bitter about it as he is. He is more concerned with scoping out the compound and planning his escape.

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In LA, we see that the Puppet Master from Heroes got a day job. He is the driver of Claire's taxi and Kate has just hijacked it. Just before they can make their big getaway Arzt drops his luggage in the crosswalk. She makes the driver take off anyway, dragging one of Arzt's bags with them. They stop at a light where Puppet Master does the wholly chivalrous thing and runs. Kate takes over the wheel, and later kicks Claire out of the cab without any of her bags.

At the light take a ....hey I said left, not leave!

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So last week our time and what, 15 minutes their time, the folks at the temple were madly dragging people into the temple scattering ash. Now they all hang out in a court yard while Sayid gets some fresh air. I guess Smokey can't come up and over the outer walls now that the ash is there? Either that or they forgot they are in mortal peril. Lennon, Dogen and some goons come out to ask if Sayid would like to accompany them inside for some tea and sympathy and hot pokers. Jack takes issue with this. Usually when Jack butts in he makes things worse, but he seems to be finally able to see through the Others. They, however, have guns and that trumps foresight so Sayid is pretty much going with them. While they struggle with Sayid, gunshots ring out. Sawyer has grabbed a gun from someone and he wants to let everyone know that while he's had a nice time, it's getting late and he really must be going. Oh, and don't anyone follow him. He makes this perfectly clear. No one. He wants to be alone. Just so we're clear: alone, no following.

Um... oops. That was the closet. Ok, NOW don't follow me.

Kate follows him. The others send Jin, Aldo and Justin with her to "help." Lennon questions Kate about why she thinks she can get him to come back. She tells him, "I can be very convincing if I want to be...I'll either have sex with him, hold a gun to his head or follow him around until he can't take it anymore. It's never failed yet!"

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In the LA timeline, Kate has found herself a mechanic willing to aid and abet her. She gets the handcuffs off and takes Claire's bag to change clothes. She opens the bag and finds a bunch of baby stuff, and from the look on her face she didn't even notice Claire was pregnant.

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Dogen has Sayid strapped down to a table, and not in a good way. Dogen is going to give Sayid a spa treatment, island style. First he gives him a nice, gentle ash treatment, then wakes up his senses with a round of accupunctrocution. It will be all the rage in Hollywood this summer. Then he helps close those problem pores with a red hot poker treatment. Sayid fails to show proper gratitude for the luxurious afternoon, however, and so is dragged back to the other Losties waiting by the Lipton Dip Pool.

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Instead of utilizing her best bet for a disguise (Hello! Maternity clothes with the stuffed orca as the baby!) she goes back to where she dumped Claire and offers her a ride wherever she wants to go.

Oh hi, crazy hijacker! Of course I'll trust you and get into your car. But you gotta become my BFF, ok?

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Jin and Kate continue their trek with the usual type of Other buddy pairing: one guy who innocent starts to explain something and the other who emphatically wants him to shut his mouth. Because just not giving us answers isn't good enough, they need to start to give it to us and then have it ripped away from us. They start to talk about Rousseau because there are traps around very similar to hers. But Others aren't allowed to discuss that for some reason. Also, Aldo is still harboring a grudge from when Kate and Sawyer fooled him with the old Wookie prisoner trick back in Season 3. His dickish demeanor leads me to suspect his full name is Aldo Radzinski. The guards bring Sayid back and leave him with Jack and the rest. They rush to his side and ask what happened.

They tortured me! Can you believe it? Why would anyone torture someone? It's so not coo-- oh wait. Never mind, forget I said anything.

Jack storms to Dogen's office again and demands answers. The two men argue over whether or not Sayid has an infection. Dogen laughs so Jack asks if he said something funny. Lennon says "he doesn't have a sense of humor" and I immediately think he's talking about Jack. It's not nearly as funny when I realize he's talking about Dogen. Dogen tells Jack that Sayid has to take a pill, but it won't work unless he really, really wants to take it. So Jack has to come up with a better plan than to throw it in, hold Sayid's mouth shut and rub his throat. They tell Jack that if he does this, Jack will redeem himself for all the people that died under his leadership on the island. Don't do it Jack! Redemption is fatal on this rock! Meanwhile,

Is this the scene where I explain that my ulterior motive is to find Sun while you explain your ulterior motive is to run off with Sawyer?

Pretty much! Well, nice working with you.

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In LA Kate and Claire have pulled up to the home of the couple supposedly adopting Claire's baby. It goes pretty much the way we all suspected when Claire mentioned they didn't meet her at the airport. Claire gets so upset about the adoption falling through that she goes into immediate and urgent labor right there on the spot. Because that's so how it works.

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Kate has crept up on Sawyer banging and chopping his way through his bedroom to get to a loose floorboard and pull out something that obviously means something important to him. Boy, Juliet must have been pretty nosey if he had to go through all that trouble to hide something from her.

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We are back in LA and have arrived at the hospital. According to Claire it took about 3 minutes to get from her from the doorstep in Brentwood to the hospital and into a wheelchair. Ok. Anyway, this is her doctor:

Hello, I will be delivering and then stealing your baby.

Um...

And I say I don't want to stick you with needles but I actually do. I really enjoy that.

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Kate and Sawyer sit on the jetty. Kate apologizes for what she thinks is her role in Juliet's death. Sawyer takes the blame and holds up the ring with which he was going to use to propose to Juliet. He then tosses it into the water and walks away from Kate, telling her essentially to head back to the temple.

Hello, Emmy people? This.

Jack has come back into Dogen's office to report that he didn't make Sayid take the pill because if he is going to redeem himself he's going to do it by protecting his people, not manipulating them. Oh, Jack, I almost don't dislike you now! Dogen keeps insisting he has to trust them so Jack calls his bluff. He takes the pill!

Lethalamine: May cause fatigue, acne, hot flashes, erectile dysfunction or difficulty living.

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Claire lays in her bed looking at the sonogram of Aaron. The date on it says 10/22/04 and has caused quite a bit of buzz. Is this a mistake or an indication that this flight happened a month later than the original one? Meanwhile two detectives come in asking about Kate. Claire covers for her like a pro and they leave, satisfied that Kate is now back on the run.

You call that an investigation? You should see the Lost fans on about this!!

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Dogen and Jack sit down to a nice cup of tea to discuss the why a guy would go through all the trouble of sticking Sayid in vat of oolong just to go and try to poison the guy. They helpfully explain about a darkness that will be claiming Sayid when it gets to his heart or something. So whatever it is he didn't get it from the soak in the Salada, or they would have poisoned Ben. Oh and apparently whatever Sayid's got, so does Claire.

What'd you say about my sister??!!

Aldo feels very emasculated from Kate beating him down so when he finds Jin he takes it out on him. Again, this guy has to be a Radzinsky offspring. Jin tries to run away but gets caught is a bear trap. Aldo is just about to shoot him when he himself is shot. Then Justin is winged. Then the shooter aims her rifle on Jin. But she seems knows him, and he her. It's the big dramatic reveal!

...For anyone who didn't tune in until the last 3 minutes

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