RJ's Blogtastic Universe

All right, I was wrong about Juliet. I can’t tell you how pleased it made me to think she might have survived, but she was an intelligent female character, so she had to go. Though it was hard seeing Sawyer’s heart break again, it was also emotionally satisfying to see him beat the daylights out of Jack. Why do I hate Jack so much? A) he’s a martyr. I can’t stand this type of behavior, even on TV. Get off the cross, Jack – we need the wood. B) He’s the guy that everyone keeps following, even though he makes horrible decisions. Sawyer does have some defects, but he was a much better leader. He never gave people guns when they were in a rage. He actually thought about things before he made decisions. At any rate, no matter how much Jack screws it all up, people are still willing to put aside their better judgment and trust him. Which brings me to C) white male all-American studboys are always the hero. It’s the formula that even LOST could not break from. Eventually, our society may break from that, but that day is not today.

Originally, Jack was supposed to die in the pilot, and Kate was to be the leader. I still think that it would have been much more interesting. However, would the writers have been able to go that far afield of the normal TV plot? Maybe we’ll never know the answer to that one.

So. There were many interesting elements of last week’s episode, and this list will be far from exhaustive. However, I will make my best attempt. Obviously, this flight 815 is not the former flight 815. Shannon isn’t even on it. Our characters are also different – it is as if they have led different lives up to this point. Hurley is likely the best example, with his statement about always having good luck. We didn’t focus on Sawyer too much, but I have a hunch that he is not a con artist in this timeline. My evidence here is that con artists generally do not draw attention to themselves, and Sawyer was constantly bothering people (Cindy the stewardess, the police in the elevator, etc). It just seemed very odd for him. Another oddity – Jack seems older. His face had more wrinkles, and his hair was much longer than it had been on the first flight. It only stood out to me because no one else seemed older.

I can’t say enough about the actor who plays John Locke. I’ve witnessed a lot of bad acting in my lifetime (and so have you) where it seems that from movie to movie, the actor is playing the same character over and over again. (Think Tom Cruise.) However, Terry O’Quinn has earned his mantelpiece display with this show, and this episode in particular. When he talks about wanting to “go home”, the look on his face is striking. I’ve been watching this character for five years, and I’ve never seen that look before. Most impressive.

Seeing our LOSTies relate to each other as if they were all meeting for the first time was very “Twilight Zone” (my favorite show when I was a kid). The theft of Jack’s pen was classic, as was the implied reference to the pen Boone was trying to find for Jack in the pilot episode. This episode mirrored the pilot in many ways. I almost did a direct comparison this week, but I actually do have other responsibilities.

Predictions? I’m not sure. Who was Juliet talking to right before she died? Many are saying Sawyer, which I find plausible. Will Sawyer and Kate get together again? God, I hope not. Cliche relationships suck rocks, and there is so much more to women than whatever dude they happen to be sleeping with. The romantic relationships are seriously the most boring part of the show. I know that I would like to see Richard’s (aka Manscara’s) back story. I know that I would also like a moratorium on new characters. I know that I flat don’t believe the text on the screen at the end of the episode – “the time for questions is over”. Right. It might be over by the series is over, but I’m not counting on it.

One more thing, and then I’m done for the night – Sayid’s accent when he wakes up at the end of the episode sounds a lot more like his natural English accent. Has anyone else noticed this? Am I making this up? True, I have had the DVR on repeat since Tuesday… you’ll have to forgive me. It’s LOST – I’m going to miss it so much. Until next week…

Those of you in the know are even now preparing for tomorrow’s festivities. Yes, LOST returns for the final season tomorrow night at eight, Central time. I will be sitting in class, eagerly awaiting the moment when we are dismissed.  The DVR is set, the pummelos are ready, and just to kick things off a little early, I have a few predictions for my fellow LOST fans.

1. The mysterious Man In Black – the one we have been nicknaming all summer long because his name was never shared with us – his name is Jacob. I don’t know why I know this, but I do.
2. This season’s major time/space continuum disruption will be alternate timelines. These timelines run parrallel with our own, only people made different choices at different points.
3. When Jacob was making visits to Kate, Sawyer, John Locke, and Jack, something struck me. He told them each something that it would have been very good for them to hear, something that might have changed the course of their lives. When I listen to all the podcasters and read the blogs, people seem to think that Jacob has already made these visits. i disagree. he hasn’t made them yet. I think they were flashing us forward again – to the end of the series. Jacob hasn’t made those four visits yet at all, but he will.
4. Many of us are concerned with the fate of Juliet – did she die in the blast? What happened there, anyway? Many have been pointing out that she was wearing a red shirt at the time of her apparent demise. I disagree with this, as well. According to my television, her shirt was technically magenta. There’s hope for her yet.. Juliet is one of my favorite female characters, next to Kate.
5. Support for the alternate timeline theory – remember the waterfall, where Sawyer and Kate found the suitcase, and where Paolo and Nikki were looking for the script bag? I’ve never heard anyone mention this, but it struck me the first time I saw it, and I think it’s going to be important. Under the water, there are a couple of seats from the plane wreckage, and sitting on them are a couple of bodies that look suspiciously like Kate and her Federal Marshal friend. I’m going to put forth that this is no coincidence.
6. The whole light vs dark game is a red herring. That’s right, I said it. The producers have a way with sleight of hand, and this is only more evidence. We’ve been led to believe since the very beginning that what is happening on the island is some sort of battle between good and evil. Sorry, kids, but I don’t think that’s it. Jacob, and his “bad twin” (other Jacob) are not two separate entities – they are two sides of the same coin. Two different perspectives, to be certain, but not two powerful god-like figures who are in control of everything that happens on the island.We are much more responsible for our destinies than we would like to believe.
7. I think that may be the central point of the show, actually. If anyone’s read anything about the Law of Attraction, you’ll recognize it all over the show. Characters are continually manifesting what they are thinking about. The island is a metaphor for the world.

Well, I know I’ll have more to say tomorrow. For now, I’ll just bid you all good night.

Concerning the season 3 finale, when we find out a musician has programmed the jamming code – it has to be Charlie. I have nothing to substantiate this, but it was him, trust me. We’ll see in Season 6.