The Lost Diary: Catch 22

Time for another edition of the "Lost" Diary.

To clear up a little confusion: I know that Henry Gale's real name is Benjamin Linus, I just prefer Henry Gale. I can't quite explain why, but as soon as I heard the name "Benjamin Linus" I just said, "Uh-uh, no way." So I proclaimed way back when I first my wrote diary that I would always refer to him as Henry Gale -- I just think it sounds better. Sorry if I ruffled any feathers.

For all you "Lost" Diary newbies, here's how it goes. I gather with a group of friends watching "Lost," writing what happens on the show as it happens, and throwing in my two cents along the way. This week I'm working with the skeleton crew of myself and Ari. Let's roll:
Lost

10:00 -- The intro is all about how Desmond thinks Charlie is going to die. Is this the night I have been waiting for?

10:01 -- Charlie and Hurley are having a stupid comic book argument when Charlie gets shot in the throat with an arrow. It can't happen like this, can it? This has to be a dream, right?

10:02 -- Yup, we cut to one of Desmond's flashes of the future: Hurley pulling a cable, a blinking red light in the sky, the picture of Desmond and Penny, Jin looking up, some kind of a sheet, someone hanging, and Penny's face (yes, we went back and watched in slo-mo). Hey, as long as it ends with Charlie dying, I'm cool.

10:03 -- "Because someone is coming." -- Desmond. Well, he can see the future, so ...

10:07 -- Desmond flashback time, and no one is disappointed by that. Apparently he's in some kind of convent where they like to call people "brutha." No wonder he likes it there.

10:08 -- Desmond needs Jack's first aid kit -- to save Charlie, I am assuming. Also, Hurley: great eulogy giver, terrible liar.

10:09 -- Early warning: If this episode gets too sappy, it will lose me. I am all for emotional, but let's stay focused here.

10:10 -- Gratuitous shot of Kate in her underwear -- I'm a fan.

10:11 -- Sawyer wants round two with Kate. Hard to blame him.

10:12 -- "Want me to make you a mix tape?" -- Sawyer. There isn't a guy alive who hasn't done two things: a) made a mix tape for a girl, and b) thought it would actually work.

10:13 -- Desmond is plotting on how to get Jin to follow him. Now, any discussion about the space-time continuum usually gives me a headache, but let me throw this out there: If Desmond tries to force his vision to come true, do you think it still happens in the exact way he saw it?

10:14 -- Desmond is willing to sacrifice Charlie to get Penny to come to the island. Now THIS is a plan I can get behind.

10:18 -- Hurley and Jin find the wire. I love it when a plan comes together.

10:19 -- "Perhaps you underestimate the value of sacrifice." -- other monk. As long as that sacrifice is Charlie, I'm fine.

10:21 -- A fairly innocuous scene between Kate and Jack is really just meant to show us how far apart they've grown. As soon as they are done with their awkward conversation, Jack goes right over a giggling Juliet. And Kate ...

10:22 -- ... goes right to a horny Sawyer. Kate could use me for sex anytime. It's not a Sawyer/Kate sex scene if Lauren isn't around to pant at the screen.

10:23 -- Jin's scary story and Desmond's sappy one are interrupted by what sounds like a helicopter in the distance. Nah, couldn't be.

10:25 -- Something splashed into the water and then they spot the flashing red light. It's all happening.

10:31 -- Desmond is trying to convince everyone to go out into the jungle now because he has to follow his vision step by step. I can't help but think that Desmond trying so hard to make his vision happen isn't going to work out like he wants.

10:32 -- Charlie is defying the vision, refusing to go with Desmond. See, if Desmond would just let things happen instead of trying to force them to happen ...

10:33 -- Another Desmond vision shows what looks like a catapult and a parachuter stuck in a tree. Totally normal.

10:34 -- Is it me or did Desmond just flash Charlie a look that says, "I'm leading you to your death and you don't even know it"?

10:35 -- So apparently, Desmond dated this Ruth girl for six years before breaking off their wedding. Desmond certainly has commitment issues. Oh, and I want to date a girl with an accent.
Lost

10:36 -- While Desmond is giving this poor girl some sap story, now seems like a good time to mention this episode kinda sucks. Just saying.

10:37 -- "You two arguing over who's your favorite Other?" -- Sawyer. That's a GREAT line. Of course, my answer is Henry Gale, but you knew that.

10:38 -- Watching Sawyer and Jack bond over ping pong (while avoiding the topic of Kate) is pretty funny. It's like a pissing contest with paddles.

10:39 -- Charlie, actually acting perceptive for once, is wary of Desmond and his little plan. But Desmond finds a backpack that fell from the sky that has an iPhone in it. OK, it's a satellite phone, but it sure looks like the iPhone.

10:40 -- Oh, and the parachuter somehow has a picture of Desmond and Penny in between the pages of a book. What book you ask? Why "Catch 22," of course!

10:43 -- Sawyer confronts Kate about throwing him a sympathy lay. Take it where you can get it, my man.

10:44 -- So now here is the question: With everything that has happened, does Desmond do something to prevent Charlie's death? Because God hates me, I'll go with yes.

10:45 -- Are monks allowed to get drunk?

10:46 -- Guess not -- Desmond just got monk-fired.

10:47 -- The Flash vs. Superman argument has begun. Place your bets now: does Charlie die? I go with no.

10:48 -- Yup, Charlie survived. I don't even want to watch the rest of the episode right now.

10:53 -- Desmond is worried that by changing his vision, he has failed God's test. I can't speak to that, per se, but he sure failed my test.

10:55 -- Does anyone really think Penny is the parachuter?

10:56 -- So the point of this whole flashback was to show us how Desmond met Penny. We needed a while episode for that? (By the way, check this out).

10:57 -- Seriously, does ANYONE think it's really Penny in there? Who could it be?

10:58 -- Last chance to guess... I'll say Michael. Wouldn't that be great?

10:59 -- Nope. Who is that chick?

Forgetting for a second that a random woman fell from the sky (which is certainly important), did this episode have any other redeeming quality? Were Locke and Henry Gale in the episode? Nope. Terrific dialog? None. A mind-blowing scene that you had to rewind and watch again? Uh-uh. Oh, what about a great flashback that taught you a lot about the character? Nah.

Did Charlie die? No, no, no.

I give this episode a D. They could have dropped this woman from the sky at the beginning of the next episode. I mean they had nobody fooled whatsoever: we knew it wasn't Penny in the parachute and we knew Desmond would save Charlie. This episode didn't do a damn thing for me.

But I did enjoy the theme of fate and sacrifice. Here's a thought: if Desmond didn't save Charlie, would it have been Penny in the parachute? Afterall, Desmond made the choice to alter that part of the vision. He wasn't willing to sacrifice Charlie, so he didn't get the reward. Something to chew on.

Since I have nothing more to add about this week's episode, I am going to make this week's question a tad personal. You guys read about my "Lost"-watching experience every week -- what's yours? See you next week.

Comments

I have to honestly say that I look forward to Thursdays mornings and reading your blog, because it is usually right on with what I was thinking while watching the episode.

While I love any episode with Desmond, the brutha man, and his adorable accent, this episode didn't really have any meaning..I'm like, who the hell is the woman in the parachute? She knew Desmond because she said his name. Maybe someone Penny hired???

And GREAT catch with that photograph! I didn't even notice that! Now, refresh my memory, where I have seen the woman before? Was that one of John's stepmama's along the way? Or am I confusing her with someone else?

Posted by: smcbroom | April 19, 2007 07:38 PM

Hey, that picture! It took me a few seconds to realize that it was the lady from the jewelry store back when Desmond was going to propose to Penny.

Anyway, on to the episode. This one kinda bored me - so Desmond saves Charlie again. So Kate sleeps with Sawyer again. The only thing new was the woman in the parachute. I was disappointed with this episode, they better make up for it next week.

Posted by: belle | April 19, 2007 08:09 PM

the high points this week all came from Sawyer not Desmond.
"You two arguing over who's your favorite Other?" Classic.
Watching Sawyer and Jack bond over ping pong. Good stuff.
Sawyer giving Kate a tepe he took from Bernard. Great Thank you writers for noticeing Bernard and Rose have gone MIA
Parachute chick. whatever, I would rather see Henry and Locke.

Posted by: Laura | April 19, 2007 08:33 PM

Honestly could have missed this episode and picked up next week right where we left off last week...Daniel's grade of a D was right on.

Posted by: Nate | April 19, 2007 09:18 PM

Wednesday night have been known as "Wednesday Benders" for about a year or so now. Get together, get drunk, watch LOST. And then on Thursday morning, read your blog while watching the show again to find out what I've missed.
Thanks for the site!

Posted by: Jessica | April 20, 2007 12:07 AM

I actually really enjoyed the episode. But then again, I do have a thing for Desmond. More shots of him walking along the beach with his blue shirt, half unbuttoned, hair blowing in the breeze please!

I wonder if there is a conection between the ring lady, the monk and Penny's dad. Someone or something is trying to send Desmond's life in a particular direction and Penny's dad was part of that in his treatment of Desmond.

My Lost watching experience is not very exciting. Usually a glass of wine. Then first thing Thursday morning, a friend at work and I go over the entire episode to see what we picked up.

Posted by: Jane | April 20, 2007 12:34 AM

I did enjoy the topic of sacrifice. At first I thought that Desmond would have to sacrifice Charlie in order to get to Penny or to get everyone rescued. But now I wonder if he actually DID pass his test about sacrifice because it's possible that he sacrificed his shot at reuniting with Penny by saving Charlie's life. Then I also wonder if he knew he HAD to save Charlie's life because in one of his flashes (where they pulled down the parachute) Charlie was in it. If Desmond would have allowed Charlie to die by arrow, he would not have been in that parachute scene. Just some thoughts!

Posted by: Deb | April 20, 2007 12:51 AM

I like Deb's thoughts about Desmond sacrificing Penny for Charlie. (And I had to rewind and replay to see that Charlie is in the last flashback scene indeed. Nice catch!)

I usually watch on Wednesday nights and then check the Diary 20 times on Thursday morning before it's updated. This week, I was unable to watch on Wednesday, so I got to watch and read along. Very nice experience!

The only redeeming feature of this week's episode was all the time spent with Des. Love the accent. LOVE IT.

Posted by: Betsy | April 20, 2007 02:29 AM

Sorry, me again. I think more consideration needs to be given to the meaning of the Catch 22 book. It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario, and it perfectly fits Desmond's dilemma: let Charlie die and gain Penny or save Charlie and lose Penny? But if he lets Charlie die to save Penny, would she still love him?

Can the principle be applied in a larger context to the whole group of survivors? I don't see any obvious way, but then I'm here each week to see what great insight (or screen shot) I've missed.

Posted by: Betsy | April 20, 2007 02:32 AM

I also look forward to your review on Thursday.

I have to also admit to thinking of you when Charlie didn't die.

My LOST Wednesdays start at work, we tease the pharmacist because she didn't catch up on the episodes yet, we speculate on what we're going to learn (or not learn). Just your basic general sillyness.

I watch physically but myself but through the beauty of instant messaging and text messaging I share the experience with two friends.

I also get screamed at by those I live with that LOST is just a television show and I shouldn't get so exciteable. This is probably because of the fact that I spend most of the episode gasping or yelling.

Last nights episode was good to me because I had lots of Desmond on screen time. His sexy body and accent, that's everything a girl could want and more.

I'm dying now to know who in the hell mystery parachuting chick is.

Posted by: Shannon | April 20, 2007 03:42 AM

Best part of this weeks show: Kate in a thong. Thank you, thank you.

Posted by: Tricky Nicky | April 20, 2007 06:16 PM

I noticed a connection between the movie Stand By Me and this episode. Four boys on an adventure to find something. Dead body, for STM and Penny for Lost. I can also see Hurley and Jerry O'Connell's chubby character Vern. Stephen King wrote STM and Carrie which was the topic of the book club when the survivors crashed. Anyone else?

Posted by: dixiegirl750 | April 22, 2007 02:55 AM

I have to say, I HATE this show. Only because every show leaves me with too many darned questions. They answer 4 and give you 6 more. ARGH. I do love your blog though. I was looking forward to reading this because I knew your reaction to Chuck not dying would be funny. Question - Do you listen to the LOST podcast? It is quite good. Keep up the good work! You make my Thursday's tolerable.... even if I am a few days late this week.

Posted by: d | April 23, 2007 04:46 PM

Hey Daniel, how come it takes so long for you to post to the blog relative to the time it's posted on TMZ? (I'd rather read your blog.)
So, my lost exerience is usally me, some really good food from my favorite indian restaurant, a cold beer, and complete silence from anyone else who happens to be in my immediate environment. (Also, e-mail and phone reminders to leave me absolutely alone on Wednesdays at 10 (sometimes 9) to all acquaintances in the days prior to the next episode.)
That said, this episode was kinda boring, but it did further open the pandora's box that is Desmond. I am now anxious to know how all the people in his past fit together. I'm hoping that we will find out how he met Libby,why she gave him the boat, and witness the events that led to this encounter with Jack at the stadium.

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