Big Daddy Gouda

Tonight marks the 100th episode of LOST, the best show on TV.

For a TV show to hit its 100th episode is a crowning achievement; the gold standard in episodic television. It’s the equivalent to a movie making 100 million dollars at the box office or an album selling 1 million copies.

In the television world, when a show hits 100 episodes, it is officially deemed a success, and, more importantly as far as network execs are concerned, the show can then be neatly packaged and sold in to syndication, ala Seinfeld, The Simpson, The X-Files, etc. etc.

But who cares about all that. I’m most excited about the 100th episode, titled The Variable, because supposedly it’s filled with revelations and will serve as the launching pad to the season’s finale episodes all leading up the the 5th season finale “Game Changer”, which will finally explain “The Incident.”

I’m also excited because tonight’s show centers around Daniel Faraday. Remember him? He finally made it back to the island last week. Where’s he been? What’s he been doing?

It appears this episode will loop around the Season 5 premiere from January where Faraday was shown in Dharma gear,  underground near the site that I believe will someday be the Frozen Donkey Wheel that controls time travel.

In a clip I saw, and stop reading if you don’t want to know, but Farady finally says to Dr. Chang what I’ve been waiting for someone to say to the Dharma crew for eight weeks now:

“I’m from the future.”

Here’s to hoping his next sentence is, “I came here in a time machine that you invented.”

If that quote makes no sense to you, I suggest you Google it….stupid.

Last week’s episode was crazy good!!

As I’d predicted, Ben did indeed have killing on the mind when he paid Penny a visit. Thankfully, Desmond was there to kick some serious ass. That scene with Ben falling into the water after the beat down and then sinking as blood poured from his mouth is definetly one of the most memorable Lost scenes ever!

So, the smoke monster “judged” been and while deeming him an utter fuck-up, still spared him and gave him one more chance to straighten up. Come on. We all know it’s only a matter of episodes before he pulls a gun on someone again…probably Locke.

Speaking of Locke…he’s awful weird these days. Weirder than usual that is. Is it really him? Let’s remember, the name of the episode last week was, “Dead is Dead”, so maybe he indeed did die when Ben strangled him and the Locke currently roaming around is merely an island manifestation like Jack’s dad and Mr. Ecko’s brother from season 3. Remember him?

For a more in depth re-cap of  watch the “Untangled” below.

The name of tonight’s all new LOST has the word, HOTH in the title. How cool is that!!

For some, that title makes absolutely no sense what-so-ever. However, to Star Wars fans across the globe, it may just be the best episode title ever!

Hoth, for those of you who don’t know, is the ice planet from Empire Strikes Back, the greatest of the Star Wars movies in my opinion.

Tonight’s episode centers around Miles. We’ll hopefully learn why Miles  was really on the freighter  and get a return visit with bossy freighter babe Naomi  as well as learn how/if he’s been on the Island before.

Remember, this guy supposedly talks to the dead and I’m sure that will serve some greater purpose in the overall mythology of the show.

And as far as tonight’s title, “Some Like It Hoth”, I can only assume that before he saw dead people, Miles musta been a Star Wars geek.  God Bless Him.

That is the title of tonight’s all new Lost which centers around Ben Linus.

So, as expected, young Ben did not die at the hands of Sayid’s bullet. However, since Jack refused to save him, Kate was forced to bring him to Richard Alpert and The Others.

It appears Richard is taking little Ben into the temple where The Smoke Monster lives and after Richard warned Ben would never be the same once taken, I’m expecting some pretty serious shit must happen in there.

It appears Ben will have his memory wiped somehow, which would explain why older Ben does not remember Sayid shooting him as a little boy…or….maybe he does remember. This time travel stuff can be confusing, as Hurley and Miles proved from their dialogue last week where they basically debated all the time travel questions that us Losties have.

A few mysteries were solved last week.

We found at that Sawyer “whispered” to Kate to find his daughter Clementine and see that she is financially taken care of.

We found out that Aaron has been left with his grandma (Claire’s Mum)

And lastly, we found out that Kate returned to the island, not for Saywer, but to find Claire. Well, that’s what she’s saying anyway.

I’m really hoping this week we learn why Ben showed up on the return flight to the island all banged up and shit. And while my gut tells me it’s because he tangled with Desmond while trying to kill Penny, I really really hope that’s not true.

Where’s Desmond? Where’s Farady? Where’s Claire? Where are Rose and Bernard? Then again…who cares about Rose and Bernard.

I’m quite certain, because I’ve seen previews that show otherwise, that Ben Linus is NOT dead, even though Sayid put a bullet in his chest.

I’m no expert in time travel but I would think that the moment young Ben was shot and killed, adult Ben from  2007 would simply disappear. Having not seen that with my own eyes, and having seen clips of young Ben in a hospital bed, I’m fairly certain that Sayid missed the heart, which is understandable considering the day he had up to that point.

I’m more apt to believe that Jin will bring a wounded Ben back to Dharma camp and Jack, with the assistance of Kate, will perform miracle surgery (again) on Ben, thus earning Dharma’s trust and finally acclimating them to the group….or something else might happen.

It is also my theory that Ben spent three years molding Sayid into a killing machine and tormenting him because he WANTED Sayid to go back to the island and kill his younger self. Ben knew that Sayid, with his military background and weak mental state after his wife’s murder, would be the only castaway capable of shooting a 12 year old boy.

The question is Why? Why would Ben want Sayid to shoot him. He obviously knew that The Island wouldn’t let him die, but what ultimate purpose will the shooting serve? How will it tip the scales in Ben’s favor?

And more importantly, Where the FUCK IS DESMOND!?!!?

So here’s what we know for sure:

- Sawyer, Juliet, Miles, Jack, Kate, Hurley, and Sayid are in Dharma camp circa 1977. Farady, according to Sawyer, is missing, and young Ben Linus is walking about.

- Locke, Sun, Lapidus, Adult Ben Linus, and the survivors of the most recent crash are on the island circa 2007, according to Jack’s dad, who Sun and Lapidus met up with in a distinctly altered Dharma Camp.

-Apparently, whatever happened in 1977, whatever the Losties did, changed the future somehow and by the way that camp looks, burning and in shambles, I’m not sure if it was for the better.

According to a preview for tonight’s episode, Sayid is heard uttering the line, “I know why I am here.” I can only guess it’s to kill young Ben before he grows up to be powerful, scary, lying Ben.

Lots of questions to be answered. With so much going on these days it’s easy to lose track. If you find yourself (ahem) Lost, I recomend checking out the two study guides below:

An in-depth analysis of last weeks episode, “Namaste” can by found by clicking HERE.

And, a more visual recap can be seen below:

….that is the title of tonight’s all new Lost. Namaste….it’s always been one of my favorite words. That and Gravitas.

Season Five of LOST is at it’s halfway point and the gang is officially back together, albeit in 1974, smack in the middle of the Dharma Initiative.

Lost left us with an old fashion cliff hanger last week, as Jack, Kate, Sayid and Hurley were brought to Sawyer, thanks to Jin, who’s obviously been on the lookout. Sawyer and Kate made eye contact, having not seen each other in three years, and then…..credits rolled.

I’m looking forward to a lot of reunions besides Sawyer and Kate. Especially Jin and Sun.

Before too long, I’m betting the frozen donkey wheel will be turned and the castaways will eventually end up in the correct time period, but not before more fun happens in ’74. I mean, come on, young Benji Linus has not even arrived yet.

I’m told, young Ben gets a major story arc that will explain who he is and more importantly “why” he is. I’m thinking, if the Losties were smart, knowing what they know now, maybe one of them should just kill the kid.

I’m thinking a nice old fashion Iraqi leg choke from Sayid should do the trick.

According to various published reports this week, original castaway, Kate Austen may not live to see LOST’s Finale Episode next year.

Rumors are swirling that Evangeline Lily, who plays purty Kate, has been spotted in Hollywood recently auditioning for new shows set to debut next fall. Further reports even suggest that her agent has let networks know that Freckles is indeed looking for work.

To me it’s pretty cut and dry: She’s gonna die!

I have faith in the writers of LOST. I know that if Kate is set to bite the bullet, her death, like Charlie Pace before her, will be meaningful and serve some greater purpose to the overall storyline. I mean come on! They are not  going to just kill of the third biggest charachter on the show (behind Jack and Locke) without it serving some ultimate greater purpose.

If Kate is indeed set to go, then it will be her death that will drive the series final 20 or so episodes.

Lost producers, as well as Evangeline’s people have denied the reports, going so far as to call them “absolutely false” but isint’ that what they said about Michelle Rodriguez leaving the show after her dwi. Then, about a month later Michael put two bullets in her chest.

I’m on the fence about this one. These rumors tend to start somewhere. I’m more apt to believe that, yes, she’s leaving the show and is free to seek other work, with the conditon that she return, possibly for handful of episodes next year as the series closes out it’s run in May 2010.

On another note, whispers have been heard that LOST will feature another one of those “game-changer” episodes in a few weeks.

The last episode revealed as a “game-changer” is when we found out that Kate and Jack were off  the island and had to go back. Remember that episode? The season 3 finale.

Apparently, this new “game-changer” will serve as a catalyst for the shows finale next year, which producers and writers have already described as “mind blowing”.

Speaking of that, showrunners Damon Lidelof and Carlton Cuse have said Matthew Fox, aka, Jack, is the only cast member who knows how the show will end. Rumor has it they offered him the choice between a 3percent salary raise or secrets of the finale, and he chose the latter.

Any predictions?

btw…I’m thinking if Kate’s gonna bite the big one she’s either gonna do it at season’s end…..or in about 2 weeks.

I’m just going to say it; all episodes from this season are amazing. Last weeks journey back to the island left us with plenty of questions. Here’s is what Losties in cyberspace are wondering about:

• How did hero Hurley learn of Ajira flight 316 from his jail cell, with time to spare to buy up all the seats? Why did Hurley bring a guitar? Was it to re-create Charlie’s presence on the original flight, or is it for Charlie on the Island?
• Why is Sayid in cuffs, and how did he learn about the flight?
  
• Are passenger Caesar and Sayid’s escort Ilana  just unlucky schmucks who are about to land on Lost Island, or are they undercover O6 escorts sent by Team Hawking? 
• What kind of magical childcare did Kate find for Aaron?
• Who beat up Ben Linus and why? I mean, beating up Ben is all in good fun, but it’s hard to get the drop on the dude, so who done it?!
• If there was no crash of Ajira 316, did the Losties just flash out of the plane, and if so, how is that going to be explained short of an episode of Fringe?

More specifically here is what I’m thinking:

Why was ben black and blue? Did he get in a fight with Desmond while trying to kill Penny? Did he kill Penny? Where is Aaron? Did Kate seduce Jack and get pregnant before boarding the plane to re-create Claire’s pregnancy on the original flight? Is that why Sayeed got arrested? To re-create Kate being on the plane with a Federal Marshal? Did Sayeed confess to killing those Whidmore guys so Hurley could be set free from jail? Hurley with Charlie’s guitar? It was all so subtle, yet so perfect.

Tonight, like a bunch of unfortunate polar bears and Ben Linus before him, Locke turns the wheel and ends up in Tunisia and then the Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham plays out.

It appears more and more likely that John Locke’s existence will not end in that casket. Too much left to do.

While I pretty much let LOST do what it wants, I was really hoping that the entire season 5 would not be spent TRYING to get back to the island, only to finally end up there during the season finale.

It looks as though the Oceanic 6, plus Desmond, Ben and (dead) Locke may actually be on their way back to the island by the end of tonight’s episode. And that’s neato!!

It appears Eloise Hawking, Faraday’s mom as I predicted, will show the Losties how to get back to the island to save their friends. I for one am really looking forward to the hows and whys of island travel being explained. Even if it’s just a little nugget, I’m stoked for the details we may get tonight. Actually, we’ve pretty much been getting little answers every week this season haven’t we?

LOST has been in a dark room for five seasons and the light is finally starting to seep in through the corners.

So, shortly before Charlotte died last week (sniffle, sniffle), she told Farady that she remembered him as a scary old man on the island, telling her to stay away or risk death, and also, seemingly offering her chocolate before dinner. Remember her last words? “I’m not supposed to have chocolate before dinner?”

What if?

What if Daniel Farady is Jacob? What if Farady, being so distraught over losing the love of his life, dedicated his life to mastering the art of time travel and going back , waaaay back in time, to the early days of the island, to try and prevent the whole time traveling donkey wheel from being built. But instead, he messes everything up, fucks with the space time continuum and creates a spooky, time traveling, twisted,  backwards, magical island. The island we know today. The island we’ve been learning about for five season? What if the island is what it is, all electromagnetic and mysterious, because of Daniel Farday, traveling through time to save his dear Charlotte?

Too much to think about? Yeah, I thought so.

I’m man enough to admit, when it was revealed at the end of last week’s show that Jin was still alive, I actually shouted, “YES!”

For some reason that quiet Asian with the broken english has always been one of my favorite characters.

And how cool was it that the one who found him was Rousseau, aka The French Woman. I’m delighted by this, espcially since her back story may end solving a lot of the LOST mystery. As in, how did her crew all die? Remember she said they mysteriously got sick. Sick like the time travelers or a different kind of sick? Hmm.

I hear rumors that someone will bite the bullet on tonight’s show. My money is on the Asian dude, and I can’t believe I forgot his name. Miles! Yeah, I’m thinking Miles may get it.

I’m cutting this one a bit short tonight. After a working a 10-hour day, four of which were spent at a Winsted Board of Ed meeting, I just don’t feel like writing.

btw, if at times you find yourself a bit…LOST (ahem), this new video from ABC may help. It’s called LOST Untangled.

However, I do not recommend watching it for the sake of trying to play catch up. That is a NO NO! Each episode must be enjoyed to its fullest. No cliff notes!