The Lost Diary

I've written several times about how there are certain instances when I am more excited for "Lost" than others -- a season premiere, a season finale, the episode after a great episode, and the episode after a bad episode. I am officially adding a new one to the list -- when the title of the episode just sounds cool. You can't tell me when you looked at the channel guide and saw "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" you didn't go, "Oooooh, this is gonna be good."

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. Back at Ari's house tonight with Lauren and Marisa. Let's roll ...

9:00 -- Interesting. We're starting with the guy from the airport last week. I knew we weren't done with him. Friend of Mr. Bentham, perhaps?

9:02 -- Apparently his name is Caesar.

9:03 -- "My name is John Locke." Ok, best I can figure it out, Caesar and the rest of these people are survivors of the Ajira plane crash. The Oceanic 6 seem to have landed somewhere on the island away from the plane and the rest of these people. I am guessing the rest of the episode will play out like last week -- we'll see how Locke and Caesar ended up on the plane and on the island. Buckle up!

9:07 -- We're on the beach and John is talking with Alana. Caesar and Alana are like an ethnic Jack and Kate.

9:08 -- "I think this suit is what they were going to bury me in." -- Locke

9:09 -- Ok, now it's flashback time. I could do without Locke puking, but whatever. I would imagine off the island Locke can't walk ... again.

9:10 -- Yup, he's still laying there. That is, until the terrorists from the beginning of "Back to the Future" come and grab him.

9:11 -- The return on Abaddon. Nice.

9:12 -- The doctor just set Locke's leg. Had to hurt.

9:13 -- And now it's Charles Widmore. Is there anyone NOT in this episode?

9:14 -- Widmore explains to Locke how they met when Widmore was just 17 and, eventually, Widmore became leader of the Others (aka his people). Widmore was exiled by Ben and that's how Ben took over.

9:15 -- "There's a war coming, John. And if you're not back on the island when that happens, the wrong side is going to win." -- Widmore. Alright, you really have to ask yourself right now -- WHO is the bad guy in all this? Is it really Widmore?

9:19 -- "I haven't tried to kill you. Can you say the same for him?" -- Widmore. Well, when you put it that way ...

9:20 -- If I get more than five minutes of Abaddon time tonight, I am going to be thrilled.

9:22 -- Locke's first destination is Santo Domingo and I am guessing, based on the photo from before, he is going for Sayid first.

9:23 -- Sayid, understandably, is not interested in going back. I am willing to guess Locke is going to be hearing a lot of that in this episode.

9:24 -- Yup, apparently they are bringing everyone back tonight -- it's Walt.

9:25 -- Walt has been having dreams about Locke, wearing a suit, and surrounded by people who want to hurt him. Foreshadowing?

9:26 -- Aaaand there goes Walt. Really? That's it? That's all we get.

9:27 -- "You're 0 for 2, Mr. Locke." -- Abaddon

9:28 -- Ben is following Locke around. No one lurks better than Ben.

9:31 -- Ha! Hurley thinks Locke is dead.

9:32 -- "Am I talking to a dude in a wheelchair right now?" -- Hurley

9:33 -- Locke sucks at this whole "getting people to want to come back to the island with him" thing.

9:34 -- "I help people get to where they need to get to." -- Abaddon. What, like a cab driver?

9:35 -- "The answer is no." -- Kate. That was fast.

9:36 -- Blah, blah, blah. Yada, yada, yada. She ain't coming. Next!

9:37 -- R.I.P. Helen.

9:38 -- R.I.P. Abaddon? NOT COOL!!!!!!!!!!

9:39 -- Shocker -- Locke's a shitty driver.

9:45 -- "We're supposed to go back." -- Locke. This should be good.

9:46 -- "Maybe you're just a lonely old man that crashed on an island." -- Jack. That was harsh.

9:47 -- "Your father says hello." -- Locke.

9:48 -- Who's ready for a good old fashioned suicide? Yeah, let's do this!!!

9:49 -- There is no way I'd hang myself if I decided to end it all. After a lengthy debate, we've all decided the "carbon monoxide thing" is the way to go. Yes, we just had a minute-long debate about the best way to kill oneself.

9:50 -- Knock, knock.

9:51 -- Ben killed Abaddon. I don't know who to trust anymore!!!!!

9:52 -- Something just occurred to me after listening to Ben ramble on -- the only reason why we know/think Locke committed suicide is because Ben and Mrs. Hawking told us that. Not exactly the most trustworthy people, are they?

9:54 -- Yup, here we go ...

9:55 -- R.I.P. Jeremy Bentham. Why is it Ben turned as soon as Locke mentioned Eloise Hawking? Weird, right?

10:01 -- Ben is working diligently to make Locke's death look like a suicide.

10:02 -- "I'll miss you, John. I really will." -- Ben. The next time Locke sees Ben, it is so on!

10:03 -- Caesar is telling John that some people (the O6) just flat out disappeared. Some, meanwhile "got hurt." Who will be among those injured? Gotta be someone shocking. I am going with either Ben or Desmond.

10:04 -- "He's the man that killed me." -- Locke. Ben it is.

Ok -- I have a lot of things I want to go over, so here they are, in no particular order.

Why did Ben kill Locke and why did he kill him when he killed him?
Ben talked Locke out of killing himself, only to strangle him two minutes later. He seemed to flip the switch right when Locke mentioned Mrs. Hawking. Why? Ari and I debated this for like 30 minutes afterward and here are our two theories:

-- 1) Ben killed Locke because once he learned about Mrs. Hawking, he didn't need him anymore. I don't buy this theory for one reason -- I can't believe Ben didn't know who Mrs. Hawking was or what she was capable of doing. I just feel like he should have known that at that point. We don't know the full nature of Mrs. Hawking and Ben's relationship, so I guess it's possible.

-- 2) Ben killed Locke because he didn't want anyone to know who Mrs. Hawking was or what she was capable of. This is the one I like. Mrs. Hawking probably works in secret and very few people know of her. Once Ben found out Locke knew about her, he needed to "contain" it. The thing I don't like about this theory is this -- Ben is trying to contain the Mrs. Hawking thing (probably especially from Widmore). But Widmore and Mrs. Hawking were on the island together and probably have a kid together (Farraday). Can you tell I am beyond confused?

(UPDATE -- Someone pointed out that Widmore gave Mrs. Hawking's address to Desmond. Theory #2 doesn't make much sense now. I am still confused.)

Bad vs. good vs. ... ? So as I mentioned, I am wondering who is good and who is bad between Widmore and Ben. And somewhere along the line I thought of this -- Doesn't Locke's relationship with Widmore in this episode remind you of his relationship with his father? I am now totally operating under the theory that Widmore is screwing over Locke. But then there is this -- Ben has tried to kill Locke twice now. So maybe the question isn't who is the good guy between Ben and Widmore -- but between Ben, Widmore and Locke? John Locke is, as far as the island goes, the only good guy.

I've been extremely lax with my LDQA responsibilities -- but I guarantee one on Monday morning. Send me a question at questions@thelostdiary.com (please put LDQA in the subject line).

Posted by Daniel at 07:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1484)

Lately I've been getting a lot of comments that it doesn't seem like I am having any fun watching "Lost" anymore. While I certainly haven't liked this season as much so far, I like to think I still have fun watching. Nonetheless, I am approaching tonight's ep like a kid in a candy store -- BRING ME "LOST"!!!

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. Back at Ari's house tonight -- Lauren isn't here, but our friend Marisa is. Let's roll ...

9:00 -- Nothing warms my heart like seeing the single eye opening to an episode of "Lost." It's like a warm blanket and mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies ... mixed with the smoke monster and a time-traveling island.

9:01 -- In a scene that reminds me of the pilot, Jack awakens in the forest -- but this time he has a ripped piece of paper that says "I wish." Me thinks this is a dream.

9:02 -- Jack jumps into the water to rescue Hurley who, in a surprise to no one, can't swim. Neither can I, but still.

9:03 -- "It really happened." -- Hurley. Ok, now I am thinking this might not be a dream.

9:04 -- "We're back." -- Jack. THIS is how you begin an episode of "Lost."

9:05 -- Mrs. Hawking's underground lair is ... how do I say this? The coolest place ever. By the way, from now on I will only refer to my apartment as The Lamp Post. I have already called a guy to install a giant pendulum.

9:09 -- Mrs. Hawking is explaining everything about the room and how it finds the island. Here's the question you have to ask -- Who is the man she is speaking of who designed it all? It would seem to be, in some way, he pointed the freighter in the right direction. So does that make it Widmore? Abaddon? Faraday?

9:12 -- "I'm sorry to have to tell you this Desmond, but the island isn't done with you yet." -- Mrs Hawking

9:13 -- "You say the island is not done with me? Well I am done with the island." -- Desmond. Hate to break it to you, brutha -- but it doesn't quite work that way.

9:14 -- So apparently they just have to get on a plane and POOF!!! Maybe they'll be back on the island. 14 minutes into "Lost" and I think I have exhaled like twice.

9:19 -- Mrs. Hawking just gave Locke's suicide note to Jack. How can it not be awesome?

9:20 -- Apparently Jack needs to give Locke something of Christian's for the flight. It's kind of like "something borrowed, something blue" -- except in this case it's "Something of my dead father's so I can give it to my dead friend so maybe my plane magically transports me onto a time traveling island."

9:21 -- "That's why it's called a leap of faith." -- Mrs. Hawking. She and Locke would have made a great couple.

9:22 -- Ben gives Jack a speech about Thomas the Apostle and then says something about a promise to an old friend. Does anyone else think he's going to try and kill Penny?

9:24 -- Well this is kinda random -- Jack has a friend(?) named Ray that apparently lives in an old folks home and he has a tendency to wander off. Why tell us this now?

9:25 -- Ray is Jack's grandfather -- don't know on which side yet.

9:26 -- Hmmmm, seems Ray has a pair of Christian's shoes.

9:27 -- Jack's got company in the form of ... Kate? Interesting.

9:28 -- Apparently Aaron has disappeared into thin air and Kate is feeling a tad bit randy. Both developments are ok with me.

9:34 -- Jack's speech about his dad's shoes was just great. "Lost" is at its best when you are so entrenched in the mythology of it all and then WHAM!!! -- it steps back and reminds you these are just people. I still hope one day we get the fear speech again.

9:35 -- Ben needs Jack to pick up Locke's body because someone beat the spit out of him. What was he doing?

9:36 -- Hi, um ... give me a half pound of salami, a half pound of turkey. I think that'll be it. Oh wait, can I also get the body of John Locke? To go, please.

9:37 -- "Rest in peace." -- Jack

9:42 -- Ok, here is where watching way too many movies and TV shows comes in handy. The guy who gave Jack his condolences is a good actor -- I have seen him a bunch. We have not heard the last of him.

9:43 -- I have a question (before we get to why Sayid is being led around in handcuffs like Kate was on 815) -- Is anyone surprised that Sun is leaving her kid behind to find Jin? Just saying ...

9:44 -- Apparently Hurley has purchased as many seats on the plane as possible and he's brought a guitar with him. Charlie's, perhaps?

9:45 -- Let me ask you this -- at this particular point, right now, is there ANYONE that you could see on the plane that would surprise you? If they pan through the seats and I see Boone, Shannon, my mom and Abraham Lincoln I wouldn't blink.

9:47 -- So Ben didn't tell Hurley to be on the plane. My guess is it was a Charlie ghost that did.

9:48 -- Remember when I said they couldn't possibly show me anyone on the plane that would surprise me?

9:49 -- "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Ajira Air. This is your captain, Frank J. Lapidus." I was wrong.

9:50 -- "We're not going to Guam, are we?" -- Lawnmower Man. Ok, "Lost" has blown my mind several times. But something tells me I have never been as completely mystified as Lawnmower Man is right now.

9:54 -- Ben can read, but Jack won't read Locke's suicide note.

9:55 -- READ IT ALREADY!!!!

9:56 -- "I wish you had believed me." -- JL. Minor letdown.

9:57 -- "Dude, you might want to fasten your seat belt." -- Hurley

9:58 -- And here we are, back at the beginning. Prediction -- everyone makes it, including the random guy from the airport, but that's it.

9:59 -- Good to see you Jin, but why are you Dharma Employee #1?

There are so many things I loved about this episode, but most of them come from the decisions the producers made with regard to how they structured the show. As I have said countless times, the best "Lost" moments come from scenes that are usually a couple of minutes long. They build suspense and allow the characters to actually breathe. For me, when "Lost" is jumping back and forth between several locations and breakneck speeds, it's just not the same.

Tonight's episode was brilliantly paced. When "Lost" takes its time and allows things to develop at a very methodical pace, the suspense level ratchets up. It's the exact opposite of a show like "24," which needs the adrenaline for success. "Lost" is all about slowing things down to a crawl and then bashing you over the head.

And then there's this -- how did they manage to structure an entire episode around everyone getting back on that plane, give you great scene after great scene, and then manage to brilliantly leave out several key things. What happened to Aaron? What happened to Ben's face? Who told Hurley to be on the plane? How did Sayid get there? And most importantly, who built The Lamp Post?

The structure of this week's episode, for me, was the star of the week. (And by the way, if you were like me and really loved the way this episode was done -- start watching "Damages.")

As for the actual plot of the show, Mrs. Hawking was awesome, though the random plane ride to Islandville was a little convenient. I love not knowing who made it to the island -- and I love not knowing what the hell (or is it when the hell?) is going on.

This was my kind of "Lost" episode.

I wrestled with my grade for quite awhile and I have decided to go with B+. It certainly could be deserving of an A, but when I look back at eps like "Walkabout," "The Man from Tallahassee" and "The Constant," it's not quite at that level. Just a smidge short.

Ok, here is my question to you this week -- Of all the gaps left by tonight's episode (the ones I mentioned before), which one are you most interested in learning about?

After a week off, I'd love to bring back the LDQA. Send me your questions -- don't feel like they all have to be about "Lost" -- at questions@thelostdiary.com. 

 Until next week ...

Posted by Daniel at 07:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1374)

Welcome back to another edition of the "Lost" Diary.

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. As you all know, it's Thursday and I am watching "Lost" by myself -- the whole thing feels wrong. I am reuniting the band next week, I don't care what it takes.

9:00 -- I noticed earlier in the week, the synopsis for tonight's episode reads, "Locke tries to stop the island's shifts." Hmmm, why does that sound familiar? Oh yeah, cause thats what happened last week.

9:01 -- Infant korean sounds sooooo cute.

9:02 -- Ben tells Sun that Jin is not dead. How could he possibly know that? Oh, he can prove it? Should be interesting.

9:03 -- Can you imagine being Jin, barely speaking English, and trying to figure out how you just went through time? It's hard enough having Faraday as your time and space tour guide.

9:04 -- Jin is going to take Rousseau and the Frenchies to the radio tower.

9:05 -- Baby talk in French, kinda cute.

9:06 -- Nadine has gone missing. I can't be the only one hoping the French asshole dies quickly, right?

9:07 -- "Monster." -- Jin

9:10 -- Seems the smoke monster spit up Nadine.

9:11 -- Important question to ask here -- why is the smoke monster going after these people? They just got to the island -- they haven't done anything wrong ye, right?

9:12 -- R.I.P. French asshole.

9:13 -- The rest of the Frenchies are climbing into the smoke monster's hole. I am half intrigued and half think they are effing morons.

9:14 -- Time for another island skip -- and Jin is left by himself. Odds he goes into the hole?

9:15 -- Nope, instead Jin goes wandering around the island until he makes it back to the beach camp. I feel like I'm watching a Korean remake of "Castaway." Wilson!!!!

9:16 -- We seem to have jumped only a little bit in time, and Rousseau and Robert are arguing on the beach and she is showing off her skills with the rifle when we get another conveniently timed island skip.

9:18 -- And now Jin is back with Sawyer and the others. The band is back together.

9:22 -- "He's Korean. I'm from Encino." -- Miles. I've said it once, I will say it again -- Miles is totally underused.

9:24 -- Kate is not receptive to the idea of going back to the island, same with Sayid. Sun takes Ben up on his offer to prove Jin's alive.

9:26 -- "Just Klingon." -- Charlotte

9:27 -- Random question -- do you think you'd be able to sleep through a time skip?

9:28 -- "Don't let them bring her back." -- Charlotte's corpse. I'm kidding, she's still alive. She just looks dead.

9:32 -- "I didn't account for traffic." -- Ben. Only people in LA laughed at that one.

9:33 -- Ben just tore into Sun and Jack. We need more Ben.

9:34 -- Charlotte is babbling like a child. At least now she's interesting.

9:35 -- "I love Geronimo Jackson." -- Charlotte

9:36 -- The convenient timing of the time skips has been annoying, but right after Juliet remarks "What are the odds we'd end up at the same time as this thing?" -- and then the island skips AGAIN -- just takes the cake.

9:38 -- Charlotte tells Daniel what we've all known -- that she grew up on the island and she's been searching for it her whole life. She says she remembers a man who told her she had to leave the island and never come back, or else she would die. And that man was ...

9:39 -- "Daniel, I think that man was you." -- Charlotte.

9:44 -- Locke promises to Sun that he won't bring Jin back to the island. In addition, Jin wants to fake his own death. I always wanted to do that.

9:45 -- Down the well you go, Locke.

9:46 -- Another convenient time skip leaves Locke ... well, I don't know where he is.

9:47 -- R.I.P. Charlotte. Didn't think they'd get rid of her so fast.

9:52 -- Back in the well, Locke is in a lot of pain ... and he's not alone.

9:53 -- Why, it's Christian Shephard, of course. And he's here to help. Why else would he be there?

9:54 -- "I said that YOU had to move it John." -- Christian

9:55 -- "Her name is Eloise Hawking." -- Christian

9:56 -- "I suppose that's why they call it sacrifice." -- Christian

9:57 -- "Say hello to my son." -- Christian

9:58 -- "Who's your son?" -- Locke

9:59 -- Desmond shows up right when Ben, Jack and Sun do -- I don't think Ben knew Mrs. Hawking was Farraday's mom, based on the look on his face.

10:00 -- "Alright, let's get started." -- Mrs. Hawking

So I went through the comments and one person touched on the one thing that really stood out for me from this episode -- Christian really is Christian.

I know that sounds odd, like we really shouldn't have needed confirming on that, but yet somehow I always wondered exactly who/what the island version of Christian really was. He has appeared as a vision to countess people on the island -- but Jack is the only person who saw him on the island that knew him off of it. 

But now that Christian specifically mentioned Jack ("my son") we now have to seriously think about Christian's meaning to the island. He -- like Ben and Widmore previously -- has some serious island history going on. And Christian has been seemingly resurrected in an Yoda/Obi Won Kenobi kinda way when his dead body returned to the island.

Can you think of any other dead bodies that need to be returned to the island? Um ... Locke, anyone?

I have been fascinated with Christian for years -- he has crossed paths with too many people on the show for it to just be a coincidence. So I am left to wonder -- what is Christian's history with the island and with whom does he have history with? Widmore? Ben? Richard? Jacob, for sure. BTW -- I don't buy into the "Christian is Jacob" theory. Just saying.

Another thing I have spoken about over the years is the concept that an episode of "Lost" can be rescued by the final few minutes. I can almost guarantee that once Christian showed up, there was no talking during "Lost" until it was over. This season, in my humble opinion, has lacked a moment like that all season. I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't think I exhaled for like the last seven minutes tonight.

Maybe you think this season has been better so far than I have, but no one can argue tonight's was the best of the year to date.

I give it a B+. I feel like the show moved along at a great pace and really gave us some good information. The more I think about it, the more I like it.

Here is my question to you this week -- you get to sit in a room with the creators of "Lost" and you are allowed to find out every answer to every question you have about one character (and Jacob doesn't count). Who do you pick?

Until next week ...

Posted by Daniel at 06:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (3399)

Technology giveth and technology taketh away ...

For reasons I don't fully understand, I returned home from last night's Knicks/Clippers game to find my DirecTV DVR decided it best NOT to record "Lost." Apparently it read my Diary last week and figured I was done watching "Lost" forever -- though, more than likely, I somehow canceled it when I recorded the Duke/UNC game. Go Heels!!!

So ... I'll download and watch tonight and post the Diary tomorrow. Obviously I am bummed/pissed/sorry, but I just don't know how this happened.

Feel free to use this post to talk about last night.

Posted by Daniel at 06:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (422)

Welcome back to another edition of the "Lost" Diary.

Here's a thought I had the other day that proves I am not all there:

If you were contemplating suicide – I mean REALLY contemplating it – would you factor in that you would never find out what happened on "Lost" into your pros/cons list? I mean, if I were really on the edge and about to end it all, I'd have to try and hang on for another year or so til "Lost" ends.

Sometimes I have too much time on my hands.

Anyway, 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. I've decided to quarantine myself tonight and watch "Lost" by myself – I didn't want to risk exposing Ari and Lauren to the Ebola/E. coli/E. leprosy disease I seem to have contracted. Let's roll:

9:00 -- If I am ever in a car crash or shot by a gunman or something, I hope I hear a voice that says "Previously on Daniel" before my life flashes before my eyes.

9:01 -- The 180 I've done on Kate is now full fledged -- every time she comes on screen, my ears bleed. Figures the whole "Kate is Aaron's son" idea was hers.

9:03 -- I hope we learn this week that Sun sent the lawyers to scare Kate. It's pretty obvious it was her.

9:04 -- Sun gets secret files in the mail and a box of chocolates with a gun. I hate the ones with coconut in the middle, so I imagine the gun-filled ones don't taste very good either.

9:09 -- Has Juliet earned the right to call Sawyer "James"? I don't think so.

9:10 -- Why did Kate go and see the lawyer who was trying to do a paternity test on Aaron? I thought she was going on the run.

9:11 -- Exchange of custody ... interesting. Perhaps I am way off on the whole Sun thing.

9:12 -- "I have to make them come back, even if it kills me." -- Locke

9:13 -- Miles has been underused so far this season, don't you think?

9:14 -- Apparently Jack was suspended for all the pill-popping. Makes sense.

9:15 -- "Dude, I'm totally cool. I'm in L.A. County Lockup." -- Hurley. Really? Totally cool?

9:17 -- Sayid just strangled a guy with his own IV tube. Let's see Jason Bourne do that!

9:18 -- "That's Kate's address." -- Jack

(1/3 of the way through the show -- has anything really happened?)

9:22 -- Coming this fall to ABC -- he spent his entire life on a magical island being bossed around by a ghost. And he's an Iraqi torturer trying to find his way in the big city. They're "Ben & Sayid." Part of an all-new TGIFridays on ABC.

9:24 -- "Do you know when we are?" was cool ... the first time I heard it.

9:25 -- Here's a thought -- that light that is coming up from the ground reminds me of when the light that came up from the hatch back in season 1. Now I hear -- and forgive me if I'm way off here -- the sound of Claire screaming. Is it possible the "when" they are is season 1?

9:26 -- Yup -- it's Claire and Kate and Claire is giving birth. I am on fire this season.

9:27 -- Island skipping = getting old.

9:31 -- I don't want to try and inject logic or anything here, but instead of asking Kate what's wrong with her, maybe Jack should mention there are trained assassins after her. Just a thought.

9:32 -- What percentage of this season has been spent listening to people talk while they walk? It's like I'm watching "The West Wing" or something.

9:34 -- Miles and Faraday have a nice little conversation about time spent on the island -- for those of you that think Miles is the son of Dr. Candle, that conversation should make you/us feel good.

9:35 -- Something about boats and airlines and Vegas.

9:36 -- The crew of the SS Minoe is being shot at by some random people. The only thing that could possibly save them now is ...

9:37 -- Another flash. How convenient. I am actually getting angry now.

9:38 -- The woman that wants Aaron back is Claire's mother. Has it ever been explained how she woke up out of the coma?

9:44 -- Jack thinks he can talk Claire's mom out of taking back Aaron. What are the odds he goes inside that hotel, convinces Claire's mom, but when he comes out, Kate is gone?

9:45 -- "Who's Aaron?" -- Claire's mom. Interesting.

9:46 -- "Then who is it?" -- Kate. Yes, my Sun prediction still has a chance.

9:47 -- So this Norton guy is Ben's lawyer. I am still sticking with Sun on this one.

9:48 -- In island time, how long has Kate been gone? A couple of days at most, right? Suck it up, James.

9:50 -- French wreckage? OMG -- are we about to see Danielle?

9:51 -- Or Jin. I was close.

9:57 -- Oh well, turns out it was Ben trying to take Aaron all along. Can't win em all.

9:59 --  French, French, French, broken English, French.

10:00 -- "Hello Jin, I'm Danielle Rousseau." -- young Rousseau. And she's kinda hot!

So what did we learn this week? Jin is alive … And, um …

An average or even downright awful episode "Lost" can often be redeemed by a moment or two -- one scene is sometimes all it takes. There have been a couple of good moments this season, but none worthy enough to redeem much of what has gone on this year.

This week, we were treated to another episode of people going from one place to another, talking about going from one place to another, or debating whether or not they should go from one place to another. In all seriousness, what has really happened in the four hours we have watched?

I'll take it a step further – let's say someone asked you, "What has happened this season on ‘Lost'?" What would your answer be? Here's mine:

"The island keeps skipping through time and the Oceanic Six are slowly reuniting to go back to the island."

Did I miss anything?

In going back to my Prince/"Lost" fan analogy, I am sure I will get several "Daniel you're just hating" emails/comments over the next week. What can I tell you? I flat out have not liked any of the episodes so far. Does it change my feeling of "Lost" as a whole? No -- still love the show, still gonna obsess about it, still gonna write about it.

Ok, I'm better now.

AND ANOTHER THING!!! Look, I think we all knew Jin was going to still be alive, but it's still stupid. He was on board of a freighter that exploded … and lived. I know "Lost" is not exactly steeped in reality here, but this irks me.

BUT!!! I love the idea of a young Danielle. It will be interesting to see how long Jin gets to hang with her before the island CONVENIENTLY skips again, but it could be educational.

AND!!! This episode wasn't about Prince at all. Liars!

Anyway, I give this episode a D-. The writing has been poor, nothing has been happening, and I can't find anything redeeming about this season so far.

So here's my question – you know how I feel about "Lost" this season, can you convince me otherwise?

Don't forget to send in your questions for the LDQA. Like I always say. anything and everything is on the table – ask away! Send me a question at questions@thelostdiary.com and please put LDQA in the subject line.

Posted by Daniel at 07:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (481)

A few quick items before we move on --

-- OMFG ... "Damages" blew my mind last week. This show is a must-watch right now.

-- OMFG ... "Gossip Girl" sucked this week. The Chuck Bass storyline was moronic.

Let's roll ...

Q -- My question is, do you think that Widmore is Faraday's father? Ellie and Widmore were on the island at the same time and it makes sense that Ellie is Faraday's mother. At first I thought that Widmore was funding Faraday's research because he was interested in the time travel and maybe hoped to use it to go back in time or back to the island. But now I think that he may be funding it because that's actually his son. What do you think? -- Kristen

A -- There were a lot of questions this week about who is related to who after the episode. This is my favorite one -- Widmore and Mrs. Hawking are Faraday's parents. I support this one and only this one.

Q -- I don't really have a question about Lost. Just curious as to what you thought about The Shield's final season and the finale in particular. What were your feelings about the way the show ended for Vic and his crew? ps Libby says "Hi"

A -- "Libby says hi" is my new "If anything goes wrong, Desmond Hume is my constant."

As for "The Shield" -- all I can say is wow. The scene in the finale where Shane and Vic were taunting each other on the phone -- wow. I couldn't speak rationally about the finale for like two weeks. THAT is how you end a show.

Q -- What's your favorite Dean Koontz book?  Mine is Intensity. -- Jamie

A -- Either "Lightning" or "Strangers." I actually read "Lightning" twice. Don't think I have ever re-read a book (other than "Hamlet") in my life.

Q -- I'm a noob to your blog - love love love. My roomie & I are hooked. Well done, bravo.

So, I saw that someone proposed to you via LDQA, and it made me wonder, since you're single and in CA and I know a LOST-fan, female CA friend (no, not me or the roomie), I wondered where in CA you were, and are you indeed 31 and as funny as you seem online?

We live in Locke's hometown, and love us some boxes. (We're giving it away here...!)

Anyways, sorry if this is overstepping the LDQA boundaries, but we thought, why not??

Forever a newfound LD fan,
Karla & Michelle

PS - Where does your LOST party take place? I would almost pay admission to join. Cheers!

A -- This is a good time for me to announce my new spin-off website, LostDate -- the dating website only for fans of "Lost." Are you a "Kate" looking for your "Sawyer"? A "Locke" looking for your "Helen"? A "Michael" looking for your "Walt"? Wait, scratch that last one.  

Q -- First time question type person: Given that they're really going gung ho with the time travel thing: Do you think it's possible that little Charlie Widmore - Penny and Desmond's son is actually Charles Widmore - Penny's father?  That might be a first!!  Nah, probably not, but it's kind of cool thinking about it in a HG Wells meets Chinatown kinda way. -- Paul

A -- God, I hope not.

1) Will you be appearing on TMZ anytime soon? After a year of reading your blog, I still don’t know how you look like. I NEED a face to match the blog.
 
2) Do you think Charlie Hume, was name after Charlie Pace? If so, how to you feel about that? I know you were never a Charlie fan.
 
3) If JLH was cast in Lost…. Would you want her to be a lostie? Other? or Dharma chick?
 
4) Why do you think so many fans are Anti-Jack? He is a true leader and can do no wrong in my eyes. I love me some Jack Shephard!
 
5) Have you ever tried Hugo’s lotto numbers in real life?

A -- I am on from time to time, Charlie Pace, she can't act so please don't put her on "Lost," he's stubborn, and no.

Q -- have you done any blogging or breakdowns of Memento? -- Adam

A -- No, but after I saw it in the theater for the 4th time (yes, really) I actually held an impromptu Q&A in the lobby about it. It should surprise nobody that the guy who directed that went on to do "Dark Knight."

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