"In spiritual matters there really is no 'Third World.' It's all Third World."
- Dallas Willard
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I wasn't able to watch the show in anything like real time, so I didn't live-blog the episode.
A few thoughts, below the fold (with spoilers)
This was the weakest episode of the season. Which is surprising, because I thought a Miles ep would be awesome.
It wasn't. Let me put it this way: an episode that has Hurley as its most irritating character is just a bad episode. And Hurley was pretty irritating in this episode. The Star Wars stuff was supposed to be funny, cute, and endearing. Instead it just grated. Hurley works when he's partnered up with the likes of Sawyer. Hurley and Miles as odd-couple buddies doesn't work. In a way, the show seems to be trying too hard to explain stuff. I think that's a bad move. The hatch serial number, for instance, was extremely heavy-handed.
Some potential positives (could also be negatives): The writers did introduce at least some rational behind the Illana corps on the 2007 flight 316 beach site, and it appears that they represent a third faction, since they don't appear to be working with either Widmore or Ben. What lies in the shadow of the statue, indeed.
It was also established that Dr. Chang is Miles' dad (which others had already surmised).
And now we know where Faraday has been. Anne Arbor.
In a worst case, the season may be starting to unravel. But I have higher hopes than that.
Tonight was lame. Almost as lame as Thinklings has become since Jared quit posting here.
Talk amongst yourselves.
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Comments on "Lost: Some Like It Hoth":
3. Bill
- 04/16/2009 8:17 am CDT
Well, from my perspective, I thought Hurley was very un-Hurley like. He was assertive in ways Hurley normally isn't (insisting on riding with Miles, spilling the beans about the dead body, trying to get Miles and his past-tense Dad to hang out (and thus jeopardizing their secret, since Dr Chang understands time travel and could probably put two and two together if Hurley kept pushing). The Star Wars parts were too forced to be funny. Etc. etc.
I thought the thing with Miles and his dad could have been played to great effect. They came close when Miles was looking through the window of his dad's house at baby-Miles and Marvin Candle. But it was a bit too late.
Miles in punk-rock getup was too ridiculous to be taken seriously.
The Kate/Roger stuff seemed forced too. They are trying to make Kate more sympathetic by giving her this huge heart for children (understandable, since she's been a mom for three years) but I thought her interaction with Roger was just weird. He did too.
Based on the previews, Jack looks poised to start kicking behonkus again. 'Bout time.
On a side note: does it seem strange to anyone else that all Dharma people appear to get their own private Dharmaville bungalow? Does that even make sense? I would assume barracks for the rank and file. But Kate seems to have her own house, and she's a new recruit.
Seems the neighborhood would have to be a lot bigger. I'm not sure how many DI people there are, but I'd assume a couple hundred.
4. Quaid
- 04/16/2009 8:46 am CDT
I thought the episode was okay. I liked it better than the last one. I don't feel as if as many things were forced as Bill does, but I can definitely see where you're coming from. I just bought Hurley's actions and loved them. I bought young Miles and liked that, too.
Obviously the most interesting things from this episode, aside from the fatherly confirmation of Dr. Chang, was the kidnap/warning, the reveal of Widmore's purchase of the plane/bodies and the return of Daniel Faraday.
As I mentioned last week, I feel a good build coming up for the last four episodes of the season. As usual, May sweeps will be nice.
Evan - I don't think that the "Foot of the Statue" people (FOTS) are of Dharma. It seems to me that the statue is certainly pre-Dharma and, what's more, it seems that the statue is gone by the time that Dharma gets there.
I don't know if there is another battle that we don't know about between a whole different group of people, or if the Others' factions broke into two. Keep in mind, we now know that it was Widmore lying about Ben in regard to the fake 815. That was a big debate about a year ago, or so, right? All of the people from Widmore's boat claimed that Ben had to be stopped, after all, he purchased a plane and filled it with dead people. They used it as an example of his wealth, power and evil. We now know that all of those things belong to Widmore.
The question still remains concerning who Ben answers to. I think that the FOTS are on the same side as Ben, although they didn't necessarily answer to him, or he to them. There is a "higher power". The FOTS are from pre-Dharma, in my opinion.
5. Shrode
- 04/16/2009 12:51 pm CDT
Bill,
I love you man... but you're wrong. :)
I really liked this episode. It reminded me of the first couple seasons. It's been a while since they have done an "exposition of a character" episode, where all the flashbacks tell you about that persons background. It was really nice to have that with Miles. Now we need another really good Faraday episode.
I thought Hurley was great, but then...I always think Hurley is great. I thought the part where he tries to get father and son to talk was consistent with his character. Yeah, it was assertive but Hurley cares about people, and the only time he is assertive is when he is trying to "help." Remember the golf episode? Remember the VW van episode? Hurley's been assertive before.
As for the numbers, yeah, it almost seemed too easy...but don't fret. The numbers aren't done yet. Why did Hurley pick those numbers for his lottery ticket? Are they cursed? Do they have a deeper meaning? I think so. Why does a door need a serial number anyway? Something is still up with that...
And the Star Wars script? I thought that was awesome! Go Hurley Go! (Hurley is Han Solo...or maybe Chewbacca and Sawyer is Solo?)
6. Bill
- 04/16/2009 4:00 pm CDT
but you're wrong. :)
I resemble that remark.
I really liked this episode. It reminded me of the first couple seasons. It's been a while since they have done an "exposition of a character" episode, where all the flashbacks tell you about that persons background.
I sort of liked this episode. I think the backstory could have been done way better. Here we have a guy who talks with dead people. Did we need the punk-rock scene, or a scene of him not talking to a dead guy, but only pretending to?
I thought Hurley was great, but then...I always think Hurley is great.
I always think that too. That's why this was a bit disappointing.
Remember the golf episode? Remember the VW van episode? Hurley's been assertive before.
Yes, but less cr@ptastically.
Why did Hurley pick those numbers for his lottery ticket?
Because one of the inmates in the insane asylum he lived in for a few years repeated those numbers over and over every day, while playing "Connect 4". I've wondered - was that crazy guy Radzinsky? They kind of look alike, if memory serves (although I'm pretty sure Radzinsky was in the Swan with Kelvin and committed suicide.
Hurley is Han Solo...or maybe Chewbacca and Sawyer is Solo?
Sawyer is definitely Solo. It seems like Sawyer and Jin made a really good Han and Chewy. I also know there were Star Wars references in the relationship with Michael (father of WAAAAAAALLLLT!) and Jin.
I think this episode was set up to be kind of like the Hurley Van episode that rescued Season 3. I don't think it was as good as that episode (that one's one of my all-time favorites) and I also don't think this season needs the rescuing that season three did, with all its Kate in a dress love triangle polar bear cageness.
It did fill in some details though.
I'm really looking forward to getting all the Losties into the same time zone, getting Jin and Sun reunited, etc. I wonder if/when that will happen.
7. Bethany
- 04/16/2009 6:38 pm CDT
Did we need the punk-rock scene, or a scene of him not talking to a dead guy, but only pretending to?
I don't understand why you're bothered by the fact that he pretended to be dead. I mean, it's just showing he has limitations. I thought it was interesting- although, I agree with you that the scene was a little... I don't know dry. Not much emotions and it was really short.
Sorry to disagree with you like everyone else. Haha.
I liked the episode. I guess it wasn't as cool as I expected. The Hurley Star Wars thing could've been funnier if he didn't try to hide it. But, I wasn't too bothered by that.
And I'm glad Danny is back! And himself! (:
8. Bill
- 04/16/2009 9:26 pm CDT
Sorry to disagree with you like everyone else. Haha.
Everyone's wrong but me**
** and Evan.
9. Michele
- 04/17/2009 9:49 am CDT
Sorry, Bill, I really liked it. I agree with Shrode; The flashback episodes, the ones that take their time in character developement and dialogue, are what make us care about these people and what will become of them.
I had begun to dislike Miles, but a glimpse into his past gave me so much insight into why he's sometimes a jerk. (It also continued the reoccuring father-issues theme of LOST) The fast-moving, affects-laden eps are fun, but these are the best.
I loved Hurley. He's tender, insightful, not afraid to talk to people about deeper issues. I thought their conversations were pretty realistic.
I am totally confused over the corpses, though. Why do you guys think they have something to do with the plane? Did that come out somewhere?
Kate was pretty annoying this show. Something about the way she chugged beer and sat like one of the guys irritated me. Also, Juliet's pink blouse was way too modern, not 70s.
And, you're right, there are way too few Dharma houses for the amount of people wandering about.
10. Quaid
- 04/17/2009 11:48 am CDT
I think the "corpses" reference may have come from Miles' "audition" with Naomi. When he started speaking to the body, he mentioned that prior to his death, the body had seen papers concerning empty graves and purchasing an old plane.
This insinuates that Widmore was behind the fake 815 crash that his people claimed was Ben's doing upon landing last season. This proves that Widmore is just as evil as Ben is in all of this mess and that Widmore doesn't really represent anything "good". (Although, now I think about it, there's nothing definitive about the body belonging to Widmore - it could have been one of Ben's men in the outside world . . . gah.)
Concerning the FOTS, I know we have another season to go, but isn't it a tad late to introduce a brand new faction into this show? They have four episodes left this season and eighteen next season. They're going to introduce, explain and deal with an entire new group of people in what amounts to one season? (The typical TV series has app. 22 eps per season) That seems to be a lot to push through a show if it's still going to be good.
We're putting a lot of faith into this series, if you think about it (and by "we" I mean "I"). I defend the honor of this show to all I come into contact with, but I'm seeing some doubt creep into my thoughts concerning LOST. I've invested over 100 hours into watching this show and as many hours, if not more reading/writing on this blog and spending time at Lostpedia discussing the Lostaways and Others. The end to this thing better not stink.
11. Evan
- 04/17/2009 12:34 pm CDT
Bill, it just shows we are the most smartest ones. But of course, you only get to stay most smartest as long as you agree with me.
Michele, it's funny because I think we largely agree in principle about what is best about the show. But this episode didn't have that for me. The Miles stuff tried to follow the template of interesting character backstory, but it seemed way too rushed and forced and for lack of a better word - 'false'. The only nice moment that made me care a little was when Miles looked through the window and saw his dad holding him. And by then, it was largely too late for me.
I don't know, it's probably just a matter of taste or life experience. I really like the Miles character and just thought he deserved better than this.
12. Bill
- 04/17/2009 3:07 pm CDT
Bill, it just shows we are the most smartest ones. But of course, you only get to stay most smartest as long as you agree with me.
LOL!
Well, since you have yet (in your entire history of commenting here on Thinklings) to leave a comment that wasn't extremely well thought-out, cogent, and spot-on, that should be easy. :-)
Seriously, I wish you had a blog. Your Lost theories always have me slapping my head and saying "Why didn't I think of that?"
13. Jared
- 04/17/2009 3:11 pm CDT
This ep got even cooler after I went to YouTube and watched the very first scene of the very first episode of this season:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0adL4B-udM
It's all there.
Candle and Miles.
Fan of country music.
Faraday in the past.
The construction project
Etc.
Awesome of the writers to take a flashback from within a flashback from Ep 1 and tie it up with Ep 12 (or whatever this one was).
14. Quaid
- 04/17/2009 11:12 pm CDT
Nice catch, Jared!
Now - if what happened with Faraday in the YouTube clip is to be taken to have occurred after the scenes from this past episode, then we're in for an interesting ride. It looked like Faraday was about to introduce a game changer that might push everyone back into their proper time zone.
I wonder if what is to be the incident with the hatch that requires numbers to be typed in each 108 minutes corresponds with the same event that causes the time warp at the Orchid . . .
I wouldn't be surprised if the first scene of this season that you've posted is the next to last scene from this season - right before Faraday beams his fellow Losties back to the future where they stand face to face with the FOTS. That's my theory as of right now. (independent of other theory sites or people, so there's no spoiler here unless I'm dead on - this is not meta-LOST)
: )
15. Bill
- 04/18/2009 8:09 am CDT
Good theory, Quaid.
The only issue I have with us seeing the incident in Swan station this season is that it looks like it's a good six months from even being built. In other words, I wonder how long the Losties are going to be in 1977? From the previews, it doesn't appear that the charade can last much longer.
I do think you're right about Faraday. He's obviously been off studying this thing to figure out a way of getting them back. The Orchid is the key.
Which brings me to another issue: Just a day or two ago, Radzinsky was planning Swan (building models of it, etc). Now, it's already under construction?
Leave a Comment:
Yeah, I thought it was a weak episode as well, although it probably doesn't help that I'm not a Star Wars fan either.
My guess that "What lies at the foot of the statue?" was a code phrase now seems correct, but it does appear that I was wrong in that they are not 'Others', and not working for either Widmore or Ben. What seems most likely is they are Dharma Initiative members/decendents trying to take back the island from the Others, regardless of whether those Others are led by Ben or Widmore (or any of the Losties for that matter).
The only other interesting thing to me was the dead body the Dharma Initiative used which tends to support that Lost time-loop guys theory that Dharma was experimenting by sending dead people into the past to see if they somehow are resurrected, i.e. dead isn't dead if you go back in time when you were still alive. Which also might mean that Locke, Ben, et al. are not really in the 'present' 2007, but that Ajira 316 somehow also slipped back in time, at least to a point in time before Ben killed Locke.