Almost Found: Lost finale part 1

(Editor’s Note: Here is the long awaited LOST series finale recap and review. David will parse out the events of the finale and their meaning. There will be some big picture talk in terms of mythology, but for a larger retrospective about the show you’ll have to wait a few months. P.S. I look forward to those months. Sooo sick of LOST. Oh yeah, this is just PART 1.)

“This is the end. Beautiful friend. This is the end. My only friend, the end. Of our elaborate plans, the end. Of everything that stands, the end. No safety or surprise, the end. I’ll never look into your eyes…again.”

And that’s true, because as Jack’s eyes closed for the final time we saw his journey come full circle and the end of our ride with LOST.

It was a journey that begun with a bumpy plane ride full of troubled souls searching for redemption, absolution and wholeness. In the end, it took a limbo medium to provide the ultimate level of oneness that allowed our Oceanic passengers to move on in their journey.

The finale provided meaning to the big question of the season: WHAT ARE THE FLASH SIDEWAYS?!?!?!?

From the episode and Christian’s summation we are to understand that the sideways world is a post-death limbo created by the friends of Oceanic to ensure that they’d all meet up and proceed into the afterlife together. We’ll get to that big picture stuff in a bit, but let’s deconstruct the episode first.

In the penultimate episode we got the successor to Jacob, and it was the obvious Jack. Jack, the man without a purpose, except that he thought everything constantly needed his fixing. The role of island protector represented the perfect task for him, as it was a job that he would never complete and would live longer than him. It was Man in Locke (MiL), who put this all in context for the viewers, when he characterized the transition as predictable. Sawyer gave us the first, albeit brief analysis of the move, which was that it would feed Jack’s god complex. And so what if it did? Now Jack had a task worthy of his religious devotion to fixing.

As the new Jacob, Jack only knows that he needs to stop MiL at all costs. He is vaguely aware of the precise nature of the stakes, but he recognizes their potent meaning. In the first half of the episode, this manifests itself primarily in grandiose marches through the jungle accompanied by the swooping score of LOST. (I would go on hikes if someone would pipe this stuff in throughout the mountain. Seriously, I would charge up mountains with the purpose of saving the island or fighting The Others.) But the marching isn’t without purpose, as Jack has taken his task quite literally. His role as protector of the island’s light means that he will guard it like a goalie, and essentially set up camp in front of it.

This idea is sidetracked by the presence of Desmond, who represents the wild card. He may be a tool for MiL or the saving grace for the castaways. MiL and Jack both believe that Desmond is a weapon for their side, which is why they each have no problem utilizing Desmond.

As the weapon, Desmond is the third variable in this equation. Luckily, he too is fully committed to playing things out. His belief stems from the fact that he is aware of the sideways world.

DESMOND HAS SEEN THE FLASHES!!!!
Desmond is keenly aware of what awaits the castaways. In the aftermath of his exposure to the light by Widmore, Desmond caught a glimpse of the sideways world. Unfortunately for Desmond, he thought this world was the product of his actions.

To be fair to Desmond, he’d been told constantly that the he was special and that the island wasn’t done with him.
It makes sense that he would have inferred his purpose as the creator of the sideways world. His confidence was based in strong logic, since he’d experience the sideways world not once, but twice. Yeah, that’s what I said. And here’s why…

So yeah, I’ve been preaching the importance of the season three episode, “Flashes Before Your Eyes,” for a while now. Remember the episode? In the aftermath of Desmond blowing up the hatch, and letting out a lot of light, he woke up in a world where he didn’t belong. Why didn’t he belong? Because he wasn’t dead!

Ok, so I was a little misleading, because I don’t think Desmond was actually in the sideways world we saw in season 6. I think we were seeing a Desmond-centric sideways world in that brief exposure (we’ll get to the Jack-centric sideways world in a bit). In Desmond’s flash he is able to relive the most important time for him, which was the evolution of his relationship with Penny. In this reality he was poised to make Penny his wife, a momentous step that he’d flubbed the first time around. If he had been able to pull this alternate future off he would have moved on too early, which is why Eloise cautioned him against bucking his future. She was basically ensuring that he wouldn’t move on too early.

The other important aspect of this episode is that it lends credence to the idea that the season 6 flashes were a product of “the incident.” If we think about the explosion of the bomb, we know that Jack blew it up to erase the past. He wanted to create a world where the departed wouldn’t have died on the island and all the bad experiences could have been avoided. Turns out Jack couldn’t make all of that happen, at least not in terms of his understand. But, and this is an important but (like J-Lo’s butt) he succeeded in this goal.

JACK REUNITED EVERYONE!?!?!??!
So yeah, Jack may not have saved everyone in their actual lives, but by detonating Jughead he created the sideways world and ensured that everyone would be reunited and have a chance to avoid the bad things of the island. He made sure that Oceanic did land, even if it was in a separate reality.

My belief in this idea stems from the fact that Desmond’s reality was the product of an explosion of light. With “the incident” we had a larger version of Desmond’s explosion, so it’s fair to believe that we could see amplified effects.

Don’t believe me? Well dead Juliet believed me. She said, “it worked.”
Ok, so it didn’t work in recreating the timeline, but the goals of the bomb detonation were achieved. Everyone was united and our castaways were given a new lease on life.

MORE TO COME....

This is The End

(Editor's Note: A retrospective about LOST will be coming soon. For now, try to gnaw on the unrefined meat of Dave's immediate reflections. For all non-LOST fans, don't worry, Dave will be writing about other shows soon. For non-Dave fans, there are other blogs to read and plenty of porn on the internet.)

I am satisfied with the finale of LOST, and the show as a whole. In terms of the finale specifically, it was an amazing ride that kept me captivated and provided a resolution true to the style of LOST. That may not mean we were given the most complete set of answers, but as i have accepted, that's not the way LOST does things.
In the midst of Christian Shepard explaining the sideways world to Jack my mind was working a mile a minute as I tried to process what he was saying. On it's face, it felt very similar to a scene in the seventh Harry Potter book. Harry's mystical talk and walk with dead Dumbledore offered the same sort of crossing over/limbo scene that the sideways world represented. In Harry's case the brief respite was just a momentary stop back on his previous path, whereas in the case of LOST it was a chance for the castaways to grow/move on/let go. (I'll try to parse this out more in the future.)
RIght now I'm dealing with the revelation that the voices people hear on the island are people trapped in the sideways world. THose people are unable to move on (or something), in much the same way the castaways hold onto the sideways reality until they're ready to move on.
Like i said, though, more mythology talk to come.
For now, let's deal with the episode itself, which was very funny. The show was packed with jokes, but also expressed a level of self-awareness that allowed itself to crack a ton of jokes. My favorite involved Man in Locke's (MiL) realization that Jack was chosen as a successor for Jacob. Fans expected this move, and when MiL refers to it as the predictable choice I burst out laughing.
The finale did a great job with making the sideways world count. It may have tugged a little too hard on our heart strings and tasted a little too sweet from all the sappiness, but it was a good payoff. We were reminded of friendships (Hugo and Sayid, Hugo and Charlie, Hugo and his hummer), love (Juliet and James) and the dynamic of the Man of Faith versus (together with) the Man of Science. I think the best measure of the effectiveness of the sideways stories were their ability to keep me whimpering throughout the episode.
Finally, the events on the island were rolled out very nicely in a fashion grounded in 6 years of tromping around the island with no idea what's going on. I loved the fight scenes, the twists, the sight of Vincent, Rose, Bernard, guns, cliff diving, and Lapidus calling Richard, "Ricky."
Maybe some people feel unfulfilled by the whole experience in the wake of this finale. They think the show never offered an adequate return on their investment. I'll accept that some people can feel this way, but only in terms of them wishing a certain character lived or hoping a plot point unfolded some other way (More Widmore or Kate succumbing to the bullet wound infection.)
What I won't accept, nay, what I won't stand for, is people who argue it was all meaningless and they wasted their time. (Editors' Note: Will someone please tell this moron to calm down!?!? It's a tv show! It's as real as those stupid sideway stories!)
My only gripe for now is the lack of Penny and Desmond canoodling in the finale.
But like i said, hopefully I'll have more about the finale and the series tomorrow after I rewatch the show and take notes.
And oh yeah, GLK, this is for you, the island wasn't purgatory! The castaways basically created their own version of purgatory.
Anybody else have immediate reactions? Did it leave a bad taste in your mouth like a rotten Apollo Bar or was it delicious like fish you catch with Jin???

LOST: What We Watched For

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Given Some Answers, But Still LOST

In last week’s episode of LOST we got (90% of) our answers regarding the mythology of the show. Disagree? Maybe you do, and maybe there’s some validity to your discontent. Few points were explicitly spelled out for us and major questions were left with some ambiguity. (Like what is the smoke monster?)
But we were provided the gist of the castaways’ predicament. We know Jacob’s back story (Mama’s boy). We know the main conflict (Smoke monster versus Jacob). We know why the castaways were brought to the island (For a scripted drama that would capitalize on the success of CASTAWAY and SURVIVOR. Oh, and something about the good of mankind….)
The showrunners for LOST, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, said that answers will not be meted out in a manner that satisfies follower of the shows with a checklist of questions. To me that means we’ll get an idea of the big picture, but some of the finer points will be left up to debate. If this surprises or angers any viewers of LOST, I would say that it is unreasonable to expect a complete understanding of a magical world. We don’t ask why Superman gets powers from the yellow sun, but we accept it as fact. Similarly, we should just accept the power of the “light” on the Island, and not demand to know its molecular structure. Basically, get over it.
The recent episode of LOST, Across the Sea, basically lets us know that further into the wormhole aren’t more answers, but more questions. We’ll get the correct premise to view the show under, something we’ve been denied before since we had a limited view. This theory was embodied by the original crazy island mom’s (MOTHER) disclosure to Jacob and Man in Black’s (MiB) real mother, Claudia, that: ““Every question I answer will simply lead to another question.” We should have realized all this when we had the slew of issues raised by The Hatch. Eventually you need to just blow it all up, which is basically what’s about to happen on the island anyway…
I’m more intrigued by simple questions; like why doesn’t anyone arrive safely on the island? People are always having their planes crashed and ships wrecked. What’s the deal with that? (Also, why do they call it ovaltine? It should be called roundtine.)
One of the major problems in getting any answers from LOST is that we can rarely trust what we’re hearing. We always need to consider who is speaking, who they’re speaking to and what motives they might have. I think the only conversations we’ve ever heard that can be accepted on face value have occurred between Jacob and MiB. They’re both operating with the same basic understanding of the island and they both understand each other’s motives. The same cannot be said of their MOTHER, who provides us with the earliest understanding of the island.
We learn from MOTHER, played excellently by Allison Janney as the doting mother perfect for a PSYCHO prequel, that she came to the island on accident. If we assume this is true, then we’re left to wonder if she was recruited to protect the “light” she later describes to her adopted boys. I think she was brought to the island, and I think her extended stay is what caused her eclectic personality.
I do think it is clear that MOTHER yearned for company, which is why she saw the new born babies as untainted companions she could mold into her successor. That’s why I think she always intended on killing Claudia.
In the aftermath of that killing I was struck by the contrast of the blankets for the two babies, Jacob and Baby in Black. The show goes out of the way to highlight the difference in colors between these two characters, as if there was a stark difference in what they represent. I believe this is a flawed dichotomy, since they don’t really offer balanced alternatives. It’s not black and white, but rather shades of grey with overlap between the two characters. (I think Lapidus represents the grey. He shall live on! This is all part of my Lapidus=Gandalf theory.)
I think the show tried to emphasize the definitiveness of this differentiation with the attempted submarine explosion. Prior to that incident there was some debate about the motives of Man in Locke (MiL), and whether he was the bad guy we thought he was. Early in this season I thought we might see a switcheroo, with Jacob being revealed to be less good than we originally thought and more credit lent to MiL’s cause. This was essentially eradicated with the submarine explosion, but I still reject the show’s characterization of good and evil as it is embodied by Jacob and MiB/MiL/Smoke Monster.
The actual battle, though, isn’t between MiB and Jacob. The conflict is Jacob’s attempt to contain the smoke monster, which has taken the shape of MiB/MiL. So then you have to wonder, what exactly is the smoke monster??
I think the smoke monster is death. MOTHER said that the “light” contained “Life, death, rebirth. It’s the source, the heart of the island.” What death means is debatable, but to me it embodies evil, which is where I think we see our battle between good and evil, as Jacob is good (at least according to MOTHER).
So what comes out of the cave thing is death. That’s what wants to escape. It’s what Jacob called “hell” in the Ab Aeterno episode. He also tells Richard that it is a “darkness,” contained by the island. Jacob suggests that if it gets off the island it would spread and cause death.
I think we see the first signs of the smoke monster (Smokey) trying to escape in the early actions of Boy in Black (BiB). The first time it pops up is when Jacob asks how he knows how to play the game he finds, and says “I just know.” You see this trend of inherent knowledge more meaningfully in BiB’s belief that there is more off the island than just the island. He doesn’t really have any reason to believe this, since MOTHER has told him that nothing exists beyond the island, which is why I think it was SMOKEY who ingrained the knowledge in BiB. Although it’s possible that his reluctance to accept MOTHER’s understanding of the world stems from the fact that he understands how to lie, and therefore realizes that people could be lying to him. The mere fact that he assumes MOTHER would deny him the game should lead him to believe that there might be other things she would be denying or hiding from him (other people, secrets of the island and who their real mother is).
Regarding the game, it would make sense that MOTHER would claim to have provided the game for BiB and Jacob, as any other explanation would refute the reality she has crafted for them.
The reality she designs for Jacob and BiB is parsed out throughout the episode. It begins with her telling her adopted children that “dead” is “not something (they) will ever have to worry about.” At the time she says this, though, I doubt the validity of her statement. It’s not until she finally gives Jacob the taste of the wine that he given everlasting life and probably a commitment to the island/“light.”

That scene with the wine seemed akin to the last supper, where Jesus has everyone drink from the cup of everlasting life. In that instance the disciples basically bond with Jesus through the experience of drinking his “blood,” which is basically repeated by MOTHER claiming that the experience makes her and Jacob “the same.” It is a little strange that Richard didn’t receive the same warning from Jacob when he drank the sacramental wine. Most likely I think the differentiation stems from the fact that Richard was merely recruited into Jacob’s army, and was not on pace to become the island’s protector. To that end, I wonder how the next protector will live forever or share any sense of communion with Jacob. (Additionally, how will they know what to protect? Did they get to see the most recent episode?)
But back to the reality crafted by MOTHER, which includes the declaration that Jacob and BiB can’t hurt each other. I sort of just trust that statement in much the same way as Jacob and MiB accept it. I think the extension of that “rule” to Jacob’s recruits is a consequence of Jacob crafting his own game. This is based on BiB telling Jacob that “One day, you can make up your own game and everyone will have to follow your rules.” And that’s what we’re witnessing now, Jacob’s little game, but with dire consequences.
Jacob’s little game also includes a test of something his MOTHER tells him and BiB. Upon the revelation that there are other people on the island, she tells her adopted children that “They come, they fight, they destroy, they corrupt and it always ends the same.” This idea is echoed by MiB during the season five finale, which Jacob cryptically responds to with “It only ends once. Everything that happens before that is just progress.” I have no idea what it means, but I think we do know that almost everyone who comes to the island is just a pawn in Jacob’s attempt to disprove his MOTHER’s/MiB’s theory about humans. (The people on Oceanic are an exception to this game.)
(Editor’s Note: At this point, we’re going to dramatically edit this rambling rant that Dave has put together. Now you’ll be able to conclude David is an idiot much faster, but in bullet point fashion!)
What are they protecting????
o They’re protecting the “light.” It’s basically the soul of the world. If you want more than that then you’re never going to be satisfied. It’s magical, and if it goes away everyone dies. Happy?
o When MOTHER says people are trying to harness it, she is basically predicting the Dharma initiative people and the current efforts of Widmore’s crew.
o I think the upcoming episode, entitled “What They Died For,” will explain the struggle over this “light.”
o Beyond keeping the “light” alive, Jacob is also tasked with keeping “death” from escaping.
Not everyone is a candidate.
o Some people will come to the island by accident. Not everyone is a candidate, as represented by Jacob’s number cave and the lighthouse. The people who come to the island “don’t belong here,” according to MOTHER. These people that aren’t potential recruits, but part of the game testing MOTHER’s hypothesis about men.
MOTHER’s hypothesis
o He says she kept Jacob and BiB away from other people so that they would “stay good.” This seems to indicate that people aren’t inherently bad, but that they are corruptible, which suggests the potential is there. I think Sayid represents this struggle, as he is prone to evil acts when other people are around him and believes he can be good when he’s alone.
o So MiB agrees with MOTHER’s characterization of men, but views them as a means to an end. Ok, I understand that, but why does Smokey kill everyone?

Can the Boy in Black see dead people or was that Smokey?
o I do think that BiB was driven by Smokey in his knowledge about the island and his drive to see the “light.” Yet I’m hesitant to accept that Smokey appeared to BiB as his dead mother to join the men on the island. It would make sense if we knew for sure that Smokey could leave the cave, but I want to hedge my bet. That’s basically why I’m open to the idea that BiB can see dead people, including the fact that he’s labeled as “special.” It would make sense that Claudia is a dead soul that is trapped on the island, as her work was cut short by her premature death.
The wussification of Jacob.
o Jacob did not come across in a great light during this episode. My least favorite moment came when he decided to stay with MOTHER, even after she revealed that she’d killed their real mother and he had been presented by BiB with a chance to escape her control. He just gives in to an authority figure in a very unflattering manner. This insistence on trust is later manifested in his emphasis on people blindly following his commands (think Ben).
So that’s basically everything from last week’s episode. Jacob was a mama’s boy who grew into his role as container of evil and protector of the light. Also, our understanding of the skeletons as Adam and Eve is a little creepy considering they were sort of mother and son.
(Editor’s Note: Even his conclusion is too long. Bring on the bullet points!)
• Based on her hair net, MOTHER was a lunch lady off the island.
• We still don’t know who built the lighthouse.
• What will Desmond’s final duty be? (see next bullet)
• Now that we have a conclusion to the island’s mythology, we’ll see how our castaways finally meld with this larger challenge. I think Jack will accept his role as Jacob, Kate will unfortunately survive, Sawyer will die tragically, Hurley will live to let heart disease kill him and the Man in Locke will be crushed by Desmond. How? Well Desmond will harness the good “light” and cancel out the death that Smokey/MiL represent. They’ll both die. How tragic. I’m crying already.

Like Mother Like Crazy Person

(Editor’s Note: As a testament to how great this episode was, Dave was unable to continue his live blog throughout the episode as a result of its total awesomeness. He was too selfish to pause it and watch it for the ninety minutes it normally takes him. Instead, he watched the episode straight through and “enjoyed” it. Luckily, his writing sucks, so your loss is really a plus for you. Alas, he’ll be coming at you with a real recap after he watches it again. For now, though, please enjoy the pathetic dribble he came up with.)
This episode is such a big event I’ve brought in extra help to break it down. Joining me tonight is Dharmaville resident, Alex Ventre. Let’s make this happen…
• Why all the wood in the water? I thought submarines were made of iron…
• I like how they’re doing a crossover with Lord of the Rings. Allison Janey is speaking elfish, right? Calling it right now, she will raise Claudia’s kid. She’s like the reverse Russo.
• Alex: “Her stomach is still big.” Dave: “I think there’s another kid coming.”
• Love the contrasting blankets. Definitely a good sign for the unnamed baby. Who knew he really was the Baby in Black at one point? To be honest, it’s more of a dark earth tone, suggesting a gradual transition toward evil. Scratch that, he’s obviously evil as a kid, as hammered home by the color differentiation. I do love that they got a young Zak Effron to play the Boy in Black.
• Alex: “I’m pumped to find out his name.” Dave: “Don’t think that’s going to happen.”
• It’s nice to see that hunting boar has always been the national pastime of the island.
• So the light is what Widmore is searching for... That and a cure to male baldness.
• I don’t think we’re going to learn anything about the dharma initiative in this episode.
• Boy in Black: If you’re my mom, then what’s my name?!?!?!
• Jacob: “Mother said-” Alex: “Sounds like Al Borland (from Home Improvement).”
And that’s all I had. I just enjoyed the show. But don’t worry, I’m going to rewatch the episode and deliver a recap worthy of the price you pay for this…

And Down Go The Kwons...

(Editor's Note: This is the promised second part of "THE CANDIDATE" recap. It's not great. IT's not good. Masochists will love this.)
"We'll never be apart again." - Jin
Ok, so Jin was depressingly on the mark with his statement upon reuniting with Sun, as their reunion was cut short by the mischievous doings of Man in Locke (MiL).
My first reaction was that Jin should have swam away. He had a responsibility to his daughter, which he couldn't fulfill if he went down with his wife. Apparently other viewers got riled up about his decision, much more than I did, but the show's exec producers defended their decision on the basis that it was a split second decision and he probably wasn't seeing the whole picture.
In retrospect I understand his decision and can't argue with his choice to live up to his promise.
This was the reunion I'd been doubting since Jin was captured by Widmore's crew. I really thought it would be a "better to have loved and lost, then never to have loved at all" sorta thing. I should have realized that we had a variation of that with Sawyer and Juliet, who actually did die.
Ultimately, I'm satisfied with the end to the Kwons. My co-worker George isn't nearly as content with the result, which he characterizes as a poor payoff after investing so many seasons waiting for their reunion. He thinks that it doesn't matter anyway, as they'll get to live their lives together in the sideways world. He doesn't think the island reality is meaningful, and that ultimately it will be revealed to be a distraction akin to purgatory. (I think he has things backwards, but I'll get to that later.)
The main disappointment in the conclusion of the island story of the Kwons was the fact it didn't mean that much to me. Sure, it hit at my emotional core a little, peaking when Jin spoke to Sun in Korean. But it wasn't nearly as gut wrenching as Juliet's demise in the end of season 5 (the opening of season 6 never happened), which still tugs at my heart strings during the eighth viewing.
I think my steely reserve stemmed from my general willingness to part with these two characters. When I honestly remember the history of the Kwons I'm reminded of all the times i found them insufferable, both together and as individuals.
Jin may have evolved into a very likable character with comedic delivery and heroic tendencies, but there was a time when I thought he was annoying and unwatchable. Apparently something was lost in translation back then, because he eventually shed the awful perception i had of him. I remained pretty indifferent towards Sun, who never really got enough screen time to fall into my good graces. She was just there, maybe practicing ancient Asian medicine or secretly hitting on Michael, but never really winning me over.
Then again, maybe that's the point. They were just an ordinary couple with an extraordinary bond. Yeah, they would have been content living like Rose and Bernard, who found a nice piece of island property to shack up on. Things just didn't work out for them, though, with barriers and challenges constantly popping up.
I thought I would have more to say about the Kwons, and I really don't. Unlike Sayid, who died with purpose, they were casualties of love. Sun would have been safe if she never came back and Jin would have lived if he had swam away.
(Editor's Note: We waited for this? I could have been reviewing the pages of the erotic novel i'm editing, but instead I wasted time on this crap. If anything this killed my boner.)
So while I mourn the Kwons and Sayid, I'm left with an empty feeling about Lapidus, who was denied a definitive conclusion. Is he dead? I think he is, but this uncertainty is quite annoying.
This is a guy i'm really going to miss if he's gone. He didn't need a back story or character development, just a solid one liner and a new Hawaiian shirt each week. The man was useful in a pinch and always on the right thing of sides. He deserved better than death by a door. Unless of course, the gray man returns even more powerful as the white wizard! (Was that Lord of the Rings reference a stretch???)
As for the final direction of the show, I think tonight's episode will give us more context about the island and hopefully set the stage for the final 3.5 hours. I think we'll learn more about the "rules" of the game, and what the game really is.
On tonight's episode Allison Janey will make an appearance, presumably as the crazy mother who ruined the Man in Black. Although i'd prefer it if she came back as her press secretary character from the West Wing, so she could just lay things out in a comprehensible manner. (Then again, you can trust a press secretary as much as you can trust the Man in Black.)
I firmly believe that the island reality is the reality of the show, and that the sideways world is either a consequence of the bomb blowing up or something that hasn't happened yet.
So excited about tonight.

In Emergencies: A Bomb is not for floating

(Spoiler Alert: This recap talks about the most recent episode of LOST, including the many characters that died)
Death by itself is not a powerful tool. I can watch a war movie and not blink as soldiers get mowed down while charging a beach. Context is what makes a viewer give a damn about what they’re witnessing.
For that very reason, though, I didn’t give a damn when Boone, Shannon, Libby, Anna Lucia and Arzt died on the island in LOST. In their cases I wasn’t flooded with apathy, but with joy. In those instances context ensured that I would treat their individual demises as a savory treat to enjoy. I currently think I’ll be denied the feeling of this warmth with Kate, who miraculously had a bullet wound immediately above her heart become superficial at best.
All this talk of death stems from the most recent episode of LOST, The Candidate, where we said goodbye to three (debatably four, but we’ll talk to that later) main characters.
Let’s take these deaths in the order they occurred, which means we’re starting with Sayid. In many regard the Sayid we had known on the island, the reluctant torturer, reluctant killer and reluctant human, died from the wounds he sustained in the season five finale. Since then we’ve had the Zombie Sayid experience, which slowly had been devolving to the point where he felt more like a lifeless pawn in the service of Man in Locke (MiL).
I had held out hope and a firm belief that he would find salvation in the close of this season. While he had been killing for MiL and appeared to have given up the last of his ties to humanity, he showed his true colors during his discourse with Desmond. We were supposed to believe that conversation had ended in the execution of Desmond, but it was obvious that Sayid had unilaterally granted a stay of execution. But why?
I think the answer revolves around the fact that his fellow Losties reaffirmed his ties to human society. With MiL he was just an island unto himself, where all he had to cling to was a promise that MiL couldn’t really deliver. The Losties offered him friendship and some sort of meaning, which might not have made him whole, but prompted him to make the ultimate sacrifice. (Although, I think he was probably dying on the submarine and probably could have avoided his death by throwing the bomb or something. That reminds me, did Charlie really need to die?)
The death of Sayid didn’t really hit me that hard and I was satisfied with how he was killed. It might not have been on par with Randy Quaid’s gesture in INDEPENDENCE DAY or Bruce Willis’s move in ARMAGEDDON, but it was touching.
His death embodied the way he lived. It was courageous, but underplayed. It was dramatic, but without any sense of urgency. It was selfless. I think it’s important to note how selfless his actions were, since for most of the season he had been motivated by a selfish desire. Sayid had been killing on behalf of MiL for a chance to be reunited with the love of his life, and in the process denying others that same realistic possibility. I previously wrote about how Sayid’s humanity is grounded in the presence or hope of Nadia, since in real life and the sideways reality it inspires him to be better than he is.
At this point I want to pause and briefly remember Sayid:
When we first met him we were supposed to believe he had the hots for Kate. I was glad to see that tangent quickly killed off, but still can’t forgive him for his infatuation with Shannon. I know he’s a torturer, but that was painful for me to watch. Before falling for the blonde bombshell he went on a sabbatical from the camp that led to his connection with Russo, who in my opinion gave him a second chance at life.
A constant theme with Sayid is his humanity, his connection with other people on an emotional level, which was always in doubt. Even when he seemed driven to protect his fellow Losties, it always felt like he was a man apart. He was a soldier on a mission. He may have been fighting for the good side, but his morals were driven merely by the master he currently served.
Off the island he was a man at ease with the world and himself. In Nadia he had a nurturing figure that quelled his inner demons. In a cynical sense she was just another distraction. I want to believe that for a while she balanced him and he felt genuine love and devotion, in lieu of devotion to a mission.
In the aftermath of Nadia’s death we saw the first signs of Zombie Sayid. A man without a nation, and while he tried his hand at building house and killing for hire, he was doomed to his fate one way or another. Not so much a fate of death, but a fate of destruction. In his final moments he broke that cycle and in doing so guaranteed his final ties to civilization and his friends.
(Editor’s Note: This is the end of THE CANDIDATE recap PART 1. Dave will be back to explore the death of the good Koreans, our favorite beach bum and provide context for the episode.)

All Candidates Must Be Amphibious

It’s been a while since I watched LOST, so I’m not sure what’s been going on lately. If I remember correctly, Gilligan and the Skipper were trying to use the Professor’s coconut phone to contact Widmore on the submarine. It was either that or Johnny Cash was battling philosopher John Locke about an inherent right to property in the sideways reality.
Ok, so I’m kidding, but it feels like a lifetime ago that I watched LOST. Tonight I’m hoping for the huge collision of events in the flashsideways world that I anticipated last week. And with that, let’s begin this live journal…
(Editor’s Note: This style has been met with mixed reviews so far, in so much as Dave likes it and his friend Casey thinks it sucks. Will others please voice their feelings about the current style of LOST posts.)
• So based on the last second of DWTS, it appears that Pamela Anderson is going home. This should mean nothing to me, except that I watch some entertainment show at the YMCA and she has appeared on it in their DWTS coverage. As a male, I appreciate seeing her, um, face pop up on this show.
• Jack loves Dural Sacs. He loves cutting them on purpose, cutting them by accident and sometimes even fixing them. Speaking of fixing, he seems pretty adamant about living up to the “Mr. Fix It” mug that David got him in the sideways world. Too bad he never got the “#1 Follower” mug.
• I love the dry humor of Zombie Sayid. He’d probably want me to suggest that Sawyer get in the cage immediately, as it’s a huge turn on for Kate. Actually, maybe she’d like wearing cuffs and sex in cages because she’s into bondage! I’d say she’s super kinky, except I assume sex with Jack is missionary style with shirts on and the lights off. In case you were wondering, with Hurley there is a large emphasis on incorporating food into the foreplay and the actual event.
• Really thought Bernard would suggest a threeway with Jack after he called him on his flirting during the flight. I like how zen Bernard has been ever since he came out of the woods in season five sporting his beard, and I’m happy it continues in the sideways world.
• Man in Locke (MiL): “You know I would ask him, except I don’t think he’s going to give me a straight answer.” Would it be too soon into this dynamic to assume MiL and Sayid could make a hilarious interracial buddy cop movie? Maybe team up with Ford and Miles?
• MiL’s insistence on incorporating Jack and the other candidates into his escape plan is fascinating. I can’t tell whether he actually needs them to leave with him or whether he has more nefarious plans. I’m inclined to believe he needs them dead, except that he could have picked them off one at a time. With that caveat my guess is a third option. While we’re on big picture questions, I’m still stuck on why Kate’s name was crossed off. In the vein of what makes this one different from the rest, we can forget about her leaving the island or not meeting Jacob. I think it has to do with some failed test, like taking Aaron or failing to heed Jacob’s advice from her childhood.
• Anyone else feel shades of Jurassic Park when the power goes off on the fence? We’ve got cages and a threat that now can’t be contained. In the immortal words of Samuel L. Jackson’s character from that movie, “Hold on to your butts.”
• Hugo: “And we’re dead.” Is this a drama or a comedy? Chop it down to half an hour and it should run with Modern Family.
• So we now have all the camps combined and Jack seemingly destined to take on the role of Island Protector, except it’s not that simple. First of all, we’ve got Richard, Miles and Ben wandering in the jungle. Additionally, Jack is going to get some sign to stop MiL. And oh yeah, Lapidous hasn’t kicked ass or taken names yet, although he seemed poise to kick his way out of the cage.
• It’s nice to finally see the effect of bullets on MiL. Also, I loved the ramp onto the plane. I think this will eventually part of the LOST theme park in Disney. The cages will be for adults only…
• In the continuation of the season four themes, the plane is totally wired to explode in something akin to the freighter. MiL’s cavalier transportation of the C-4 is also reminiscent of the original Locke, who loved explosives. He loved blowing up hatches, submarines and people’s dreams. I miss that guy. MiL’s man cans just don’t bounce and jiggle with the same natural rhythm and buoyancy. At least Sawyer is still conning people, since I firmly believe his reaffirmation oath to MiL was total crap … and now we’re seeing that play out with his “get it in the water” plan.
• I would like to burn down every Macys that I run across after seeing this terrible advertisement about their jewelry. Wait, I DVR’d this. Why am I watching commercials?
• I’m for letting MiL get off the island if it means the end of Grey’s Anatomy.
• What’s this “Mr. Locke” and “Miss. Littleton” stuff in the sideways world? Everyone gets one name, duh. He’s Locke, she’s Claire, you’re Jack and everyone else gets a nickname from Sawyer.
• MMMMM… An Apollo bar. I really could go for a fictional candy right now.
• Is this the first time we’ve confirmed how Jack’s dad died? I can’t remember learning about the actual cause in the normal reality. I’m doubtful of these supposed circumstances. I smell foul play. I smell the bare footed, unwashed clothes scent of Jacob.
• At this point in the sideways world, I think it would be easier to discover who wasn’t on OCEANIC 815.
• Not sure what I’m looking for in Claire’s mirror. They didn’t seem to flash on anything and I didn’t notice anything. Maybe she’s supposed to use it for her monster calves, as a sign that her high socks and kankles will never woo a man like Charlie Pace.
• If Lapidous was ever going to die, it seems like now is a good possibility. Definitely a good move sending in Hurley with the strike force on the submarine. What was with the backpack move by MiL?
• Love that Kate got shot and the possibilities of that. Can’t believe Jack didn’t catch a bullet when he turned in rage mode and began firing shots without any attempt to seek cover. A little disturbed by MiL’s gun working after going in the water. Felt genuinely bad for Claire as she saw the submarine dive. And oh yeah, why is MiL so calm? Maybe it has something to do with those backpack shenanigans…Based on the bomb in the backpack, I’d say yes.
• Jack seems to think this was MiL’s plan all along. I’m inclined to agree, except I wonder why he planned it in this fashion. What is the meaning to this group death? If it’s all about subverting Jacob’s will, why did he create a scenario that was so dangerous for his plans.
• First thing is first with a bomb, “does anyone have something we can freeze it with?” No. Second thing is to hope Jacob won’t let it explode, like on the BLACK ROCK. Third thing is to miraculously survive like when the hatch blew up. Love that Jack has opted for choice two. I like that for the first time he is reasoning things out with some sort of vision of the big picture. I feel really dumb that he is connecting the dots faster than me. Based on that ghost kid’s reiteration of rule I think Jack is right, and now I need to take a shower because I feel dirty saying that. Too bad his skills of persuasion are as lackluster as ever.
• Everyone calm down! Can’t Hurley float the entire submarine????Also, shouldn’t Mikhail be floating in the water????
(Editor’s Note: At this point Dave began crying way too much to take any notes. The rest of the show, post-explosion will be documented in the traditional style of his blog. It will include his immediate emotions and thoughts. More will be following after this monumental episode of LOST)

The Man in Locke wants you!

(Editor's Note: Dave was bleeding from the nose while watching this episode, so it may not make any sense. Luckily, regular readers shouldn't recognize a difference.)
• Just caught the last second of the Dancing With The Stars results show. It appears that Kate was sent home, but the real losers in this are her kids.
• Love the idea that Jack deferred to Hurley. I hope he had a good time captaining the ship, but now daddy’s home and he’s psyched up to make some decisions that will get a lot of people killed (e.g. Get on that boat, we got to go back, and we got to blow up a bomb).
• I feel like I’m cheating on a test, because we’re getting answers! It has now been confirmed (with some room for doubt) that the Man in Black (MiB) is the one masquerading as dead people. I think I believe him, if only because he knew where Christian led Jack. Still a little confused about whether he pretended to be Dave, since that guy existed in Hurley’s mind…. My guess: Dave, donning bathrobe and slipper will return as real head honcho of the island. (kidding)
• Totally forgot about Sun! This coincides perfectly with my theory that all the Losties will be coming together in the sideways world. Hopefully, though, we don’t have a CTU situation here where there’s only one capable surgeon and someone ends up dying. Good thing Charlie hasn’t killed Ethan yet, because he could come in handy, especially if we need to stick someone with a needle.
• “It’s him!” Apparently sideway Sun should be called Conscious-Sun, because she recognizes Locke.
• It’s a family reunion! What a happy moment, except for the fact that Claire wants to kill Kate, her possible sister in law. Her logic is flawed though, since Richard resisted the urge to join MiB after he heard his spiel. However, I do find it amusing that Mr. Freewill can supposedly remove someone’s free will by talking to them…
• As if I didn’t have a big enough boner already (always a full two inches when watching LOST), they bring back the Star Wars references! Plus it’s great to have Han (Sawyer) and Chewbacca (Hurley) reunited.
• Here’s the plan sideways Kate: When you’re in the holding cell you can have hot cage sex with Sawyer. Not sure what this accomplishes, but it sounds hot… On a more serious note, I love that Sideways Sawyer references their run in and contemplates fate.
• “Here we go.” You’re darn right Man in Locke. Maybe not as compelling as Heath Ledger’s, “And here we go,” in the Dark Knight.
• I’ve brought this up in the past, but I think it is worth repeating: Ilana is a babe. Her, Libby and Naomi make up the underrated All-Stars. Their rival would be Kate, the overrated hussy who needs to die, ASAP.
• Vintage LaFleur! I missed this guy so much. It’s nice to know he was working a long con on MiL, especially since he appeared mentally checked out after Juliet died.
• Sideways Sawyer is totally around back. Nice to be validated.
• “Of course note, it’s a terrible idea.” Sawyer delivers my favorite line of the night, and also points out what an idiot Kate is for the double whammy. Sawyer is the only one on this show who has ever been able to appreciate his surroundings and adequately judge the people around him, as evident by the fact he realizes Claire is a lost cause and Sayid’s a zombie. By the way Kate, who did you make this promise to? And another thing Kate, is Loreal pissed that your hair looks so terrible on the island? And finally, will you please kill yourself?
• I don’t think Claire wants to get abandoned again. I wonder what will happen. Are there different levels of crazy? Like now she’s crazy enough to still play connect four with Hurley, but pretty soon she’ll be rambling off numbers? 95,81,80,76,72,20. (Spoiler Alert: That’s Kate’s decreasing IQ through the seasons)
• No way Sayid killed Desmond. Pretty soon we’ll be spelling redemption, S-A-Y-I-D!
• Anyone else bothered by the LOST finale airing on a Sunday? I’m pretty pissed. On a sidenote: I want to put together a LOST party. WE’ll have dharma rum, nicknames and bathing suits for everyone!
• At this point I’m pretty confident that Jack’s ex-wife is Juliet. It’s his prodigy son’s blue eyes that give it away. That and Elizabeth Mitchell’s complete absence from any of the sideways stories so far. It won’t be his normal ex-wife, since that won’t mean anything to us.
• What is making this boat go? The sails aren’t up. Is there an engine?
• “Doesn’t feel right.” Classic Jack. Love that he’s going with his gut again. His “the island’s not done with us yet,” line is reminiscent about Eloise’s proclamation about Desmond. I think he is right. I’ve always been a Jacobite, and for the first time it feels like Jack is actually in touch with my god. WE’RE HEADING TOWARD A FACEOFF BETWEEN MiL AND JACK, which will basically be a substitute for the MiB and Jacob standoff. Now more than ever I’m also convinced there is a higher power on the island, a referee of sorts. Right now there are four people playing the game, or at least aware of it, and they’re MiL, Jacob, Widmore and Eloise.
• Three things: Jack should have gotten run over by the boat and guy’s love jumping into that water to get away Kate. (That’s why he jumped, right?) The third thing is how quickly LaFleur became season four Jack, with his intense desire to get off the island. This is pretty depressing, unless of course Sawyer gets to grow a beard.
• My heart stopped for about a minute, as we finally got the reunion we’ve been waiting for since we learned Jin was alive in season five. The payoff didn’t reach the epic proportions we saw in the season four finale when Penny and Desmond saw each other, but it was still sweet.
I had basically given up hope at this point that their reunion was even in the cards anymore, so I’ll take what I can get.

And that’s basically it. Before I comment on the tone and flow of this episode, which reminded me of earlier episodes before the show was steeped so heavily in its own mythology, I want to talk about the sideways story.
Until now I haven’t had a real theory about the sideways world, except for the idea that it stemmed from the detonation of Jughead. But now I’m ready to posit the beginning of a theory, and it doesn’t involve Jughead. I think Jughead was a red herring, as far as the sideways story is concerned, and that it only served to transport out Losties through time.
The real initiation for the sideways story hasn’t happened yet. I think it will play out in the finale, and the sideways story will be a consequence of actions on the island in that episode. This makes more sense than dual realities occurring at the same time, since you’ve got dead characters and Desmond’s attitude on the island. His attitude could reflect his belief that whatever happens on the island is meaningless, as they’ll ultimately end up in the sideways reality.
After saying all that, though, I don’t think the end game is the sideways story. Actions there will end up being the deciding factor for the island, which is why sideways (conscious?)-Eloise was so adamant about Desmond’s path. It felt like she had plans for the Losties, and my guess is that they involve restoring the correct order.
How this ties into cask’o’wine and everything else, I don’t know.
Finally, this was an episode not really weighed down by the lore of the show. Sure, we got answers, but they weren’t the focus. This episode relied heavily on action, like something from the end of season four when we were dealing with the people on the freighter. I’ve made this comparison earlier, and I think it deserves real consideration. Both situations involve Widmore’s water traveling vehicles and characters faced with the choice of leaving/serving on the island. Plus, in both cases I doubt the intentions of Widmore. He still hasn’t answered for the first time he tried to destroy the island…
So what did you think about the episode? Excited about where the show’s heading? Like this format again??? Ilana is hot, right????

ALMOST THERE

I rarely try to anticipate anything on LOST, but I think I have an idea about tonight's episode. (If you don't want to read a possible spoiler, stop.)
The episodes of LOST lately have been pushing toward a culmination of events. This is pretty obvious, as we're coming to the series finale. But specifically i'm referring to the tribal council we'll have tonight with the Jacobites and the Men in Locke.
In my opinion, though, the more interesting come to jesus moment is occurring in the flashsideways world. It appears that Desmond has taken it upon himself to wake everyone up to the previous reality. I think he was successful with Locke when he hit him with the car, as it seemed vaguely reminiscent of when he was pushed out of the building by his dad. Ok, so this time he didn't die, but i think it works.
Where is Locke going to go now? Why to the hospital. But what hospital, Sacred Heart? No, wrong show. He'll go where all-star surgeon Jack works. This could possibly bring about his awakening too!
Anyway, that's where the show is heading. It makes sense if you consider that the flashsideways could then mirror the island events, since in both scenarios Locke (or MiL) would be dealing with Jack. No idea what's going to actually come from all of this, but that's the setup I think we'll get tonight.
Crazy? Possibly on the right track? I'm going to watch TOTALLY LOST now and listen to people smarter than me talk about Lost.

I actually like Hugo now

(Editor's Note: Dave's column is taking a different format for this episode. Normally he treats this blog like a toilet, where he leaves his crap. But something happened during the note taking process, and he put together an admittedly good live blog. Can't guarantee it next week. In fact, he probably made a mistake by setting the bar so high. Enjoy this one, and next week he'll disappoint you again.)
• Heading into this episode I assumed it was about the people in Venezuela who love Hugo Chavez.
• With tonight’s episode I’m drinking Dharma Rum. Well technically, Bacardi Rum.
• Always nice to spend time on Boone Hill. “Whose grave is this?” Why, the most underrated babe of the show, Libby. Oh yeah, she was crazy too. If you don’t believe the mysterious footage, then trust the fact she would risk a picnic with Hugo. I mean the guy could eat her…
• SO why does Michael have to appear as Kevin Johnson? Couldn’t he get some nicer threads in the afterlife?
• Jack knows Hurley is full of crap.
• Is it a cliché that the Spanish guy takes the Spanish girl to a Spanish restaurant?
• You know how I know you’re crazy? You think Hugo is your soul mate.
• So in Libby’s little speech we get shades of what we’ve heard all season. Granted, there is a certain amount of doubt introduced as a consequence of the mental hospital aspect, but I believe her. It seems like she is conscious of her experience on the island, and maybe that’s causing her mental instability. Either that or she was committed because of her obsession with Spanish fatties.
• Ok, let’s take a second to mourn the death of Ilana. Well, once I stop laughing that is. And there it is… Wow. I was a little caught off guard by the way she perished, especially before she got to fulfill her lifelong training. Dynamite has now killed Leslie Arzt and Ilana! So broken up about this, except not at all.
Nice to see LOST is finally shedding some of its characters, albeit it in strange ways. I think it would have been more worthwhile to have her die by the hands of Man in Locke (MiL), who kills her for her loyalty to Jacob. That would have at least given her death meaning, and not forced her to red shirt status. (The guys who are brought along for the sole purpose of dying.)
Anyway, this really changes the dynamic of the Jacob-ites, who are without a leader. Her forceful demeanor put her in charge, even if they were following Richard’s lead. Now Hurley has a legitimate chance to utilize his 6th sense abilities as the leader, considering Richard is a broken man and Jack is a wuss. I guess there’s always the possibility of a Ben resurgence…
• So we need everybody to come back and everybody to leave.
• I find comfort in the fact that Sayid doesn’t endorse pointless bloodshed. Maybe there is a bit of his soul that hasn’t been corrupted by MiL. I’m holding out hope that he will have a redemption moment.
• “Maybe she died to show us to stay the hell away from dynamite.” C’mon Jack, you love dynamite. You like secretly holding it in your pack and using it to play chicken with Richard. But seriously, what’s with Hugo’s flip flop? Does he want to be a 2004 Democratic Presidential nominee? ZING!
• I love this Sideways Conscious Desmond (forever known just as conscious-character’s name). He smells that something is up, and I think he’ll be the catalyst for a lot of action in the sideways world.
• “How can you be sure what he blasted you with?” And the winner for the dirtiest line of the show goes to MiL!
• Hi, my name is Ben and I’m a killjoy. Seriously man, unless your dour attitude is part of an awesome master plan, I don’t want it. Give me light. Give me some witty repartee. Give me some knowledge bombs. Blast me with knowledge bombs in the face!
• Dy-No-Mite! I love that Hugo pulled the reverse John Locke. In season three Locke prevented their escape by destroying the submarine, and now Hugo has preserved their escape by blowing up the Black Rock. Unless, of course, they were supposed to sail away on the Black Rock…
• The ole “fajita fieldtrip.” Libby is a ridiculously sane crazy person. Maybe this is just me, but I want to see Libby in a sequel to Shutter Island. On a more serious note, why didn’t Hurley have the same flash? Was she just more open to the possibility than he was?
• So Hurley hits on a crazy person? That seems morally dubious.
• “If I didn’t know better I’d say this island has it in for you.” I think MiL knows this is the case, and probably feels it is important to negate Desmond before the island can finish with him. Seeing the mysterious kid pop up, the fact Desmond can see him, MiL’s annoyance with his presence and the kid’s smile reaffirm my belief that Desmond is key to the story. Ok, that’s not a stretch or too insightful. But if we imagine the kid is the island’s referee, it is interesting to take note of the fact he was amused by what he was seeing. As if he knew MiL’s plan for Desmond would be fruitless.
• “Are you trying to get us killed?” Thank you Ben for at least giving us a little humor. He’s become the “I’m too old for the sh*$ “ cop who has great one-liners. His rebel sidekick? Obviously ship blowing up Hugo. The guy has demons, literally. Richard is the by the book Lieutenant who just gets in their way. Maybe that doesn’t work, since Ben went with Richard… On the plus side, I love Jack’s allegiance to Hurley/Jacob.
• The important thing to note in the new divide is that the candidates are on one side and the non-candidates are on the other. I don’t think MiL will have any qualms about killing everyone on the latter side. They mean nothing and are therefore expendable. Frank Lapidus being the superstud causes a slight contradiction in my hypothesis, but that’s fine. He’s the man. Heck, he’s probably a candidate. Would explain why he keeps popping up. (Seriously, though, he is totally dreamy. As far as I’m concerned this guy invented chest hair, gravely voices and painful sexy grimaces.)
• “How do you break the ice with a smoke monster?” Funniest line of the night goes to Hugo.
• Um, wow. Jack has given up his fixing ways? Doesn’t even care that Hugo was lying. Love this version of Jack. Love that he has embraced another mentality, now characterized by letting go. It used to be man of science, then man of faith and now Man of the flow. Dude, just go with it! Unless, as Hugo points out, it gets them all killed… Hey Hugo, try smoking whatever Jack is on and calm down.
• I hear whispers! And now we’re getting answers! I’m practically a full three inches right now. They’re the voices of dead people! This is amazing! “The ones who can’t move on!” We’ve got answers and it feels so good. I feel like Libby moved on, which is why we haven’t seen her on the island. (How about a message for your son, Michael???)
• Good thing Hugo remembered the blanket for this picnic… Why does she want to be with him? Because her dream is to be crushed during sex.
• Hugo flashed! It would appear that when Castaways relive moments from the island they become conscious of their island experiences. This could become conscious-Desmond’s task on the island.
(Modern Family promo looked amazing. I haven’t really written about this show, but I love it. It’s a poor man’s version of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, which puts it head and shoulders above every other sitcom out there.)
• BACK AWAY FROM THE WELL DESMOND!!! Penny is not in the well. “What is the point in being afraid?” Well, you might get thrown down a f’ing well!!! (P.S. We’ll totally see Desmond again)
• Now that the gang’s back, can Claire finally kill Kate? I don’t know the answer, but I hope it’s a resounding YES!
• Random thought: Instead of blowing up the plane, why didn’t Richard just kill Frank Lapidus?
• You know, I think conscious-Desmond might be aware of Locke trying to kill him…
Well that was fun. No final thoughts except that I loved the use of Gene Wilder’s voice from Willy Wonka in the trailer for next week.
What did you think? Good transitional episode? Was it a waste? Happy with the answers?