JOpinionated has left the building. And the country. I’ll be back next week with some movie and music reviews. Long flights and relaxation have lead to new lists of pop culture favorites. Stay tuned!
Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble, gobble.
Read MoreAlthough everyone will assume that the title of this episode, “I Do,” refers to Kate’s marriage flashback, I prefer to think of it as the two words that Kate didn’t say when Sawyer asked if she really loved him.
Something tells me that there aren’t two islands after all. How else do Kate and Sawyer return to their beach? Was Ben pulling another con on Sawyer by showing him an island across the way that just resembled the one he was taken from?
Was Kate telling Jack that she can’t run to escape because she believes they’re on a separate island? By the way, notice that she said “I” can’t leave you behind, not “we.” So much for her ‘we’re a team’ assertions to Sawyer earlier that day…
What kind of walkie-talkies would work that many miles away, from island to island? Jack is assuming that the Hydra Hatch he’s in is on the same island as the other Hatches…which I believe to be true.
If Juliet really wanted to help Jack, as her video suggested, why not tell him in the operating room that Kate and Sawyer can’t run because they’re stuck on another island? Oh yeah, because they’re not!
Jack made Ben promise to get him off the island, not get him ‘home’ or to a specific locale. So if they really are on a different island, Ben could just take him from Other
Are Kate and Jack working as a team right now – are their actions a part of their own secret plan? Remember that look they exchanged right before the bags went over their heads in the Season 2 finale. I have a feeling that they created an emergency plan together after realizing that Michael was leading them into a trap in that episode. The question is – is Sawyer in on it too?
So the Others didn’t have the proper medical technology to save one of their own (Colleen) just days earlier, but happened to have everything necessary and ready for Jack to perform a complicated surgery on Ben? If they didn’t have the defibrillator paddles to try and revive Colleen, what were they planning to use should the same situation arise during Ben’s procedure?
Last season in Claire’s flashback, she was in a Medical Hatch on the main island, surrounded by a team of doctors. When she returned to it later, they found that it had been abandoned. So where are those doctors now? Were they just Others in costume? Was Ethan pretending to be one too? He was seen administering the vaccine to Claire’s pregnant belly. And was Juliet among them that day? She is the fertility doctor after all. So where are these doctors now that their leader is in need? I don’t believe they were real physicians, and I also think that the Medical Hatch was a temporary set up just for Claire; that they didn’t bring her back to the Hydra hospital on their supposedly separate island for some reason.
Was Kate following orders when she slept with Sawyer? Was it all part of the master plan for those two weeks, as outlined on the beach by Ben during breakfast in Episode 1 of this season? Kate didn’t answer Sawyer when he asked if she loved him…because I don’t think she actually does. Her actions over these last few episodes speak volumes about her true feelings for Jack. She wouldn’t run away after escaping from her cage…without Jack. And she keeps telling Sawyer that they’re a team, that they all live together or die alone. Poor Sawyer thinks she is acting out of love and concern for him, and is oblivious to both Kate’s deal with Ben and the cameras watching their every move.
I think Ben and/or Juliet purposefully left Jack’s door unlocked so he would discover Kate and Sawyer together on the monitors; they knew Jack would change his mind and operate on Ben after seeing for himself that Kate has feelings for Sawyer. Jack knew that Sawyer would be killed if he didn’t operate, so he did it for Kate.
Ben certainly didn’t seem surprised to see Jack out of captivity, nor did he seem concerned with the fact that Jack had a gun. Did Jack surrender the gun after agreeing to the surgery?
Crazy Theory: We know how the Others are obsessed with/fascinated by children, and that Juliet is a fertility doctor. So did Kate’s deal with Ben include a demand to procreate with Sawyer or Jack? Kate and Sawyer were being watched and they certainly weren’t stopped – even with their cage door broken wide open. Why else feature a pregnancy test storyline in Kate’s flashback during the same episode…
Why would Ben ask about Alex, of all people, right before going under anesthesia? She must be more important than we thought. We know that she is Rousseau’s daughter, ‘taken’ when she was just a baby. Did Ben raise her as her own? Is that why she seems to have more freedom to roam than the other Others?
Juliet lied to Ben when he asked if Alex had asked for him. She ordered Alex to be returned ‘home’ after disrupting the work camp with her slingshot. So ‘home’ isn’t Other
Juliet’s loyalty to Ben is questionable, and Pickett couldn’t wait to go after Sawyer once Ben was under the knife. So why was Tom (Zeke) the only Other to stay behind and follow Jack’s orders? Perhaps because Tom and Ben are a couple. Think about it…there is zero sexual chemistry between Ben and Juliet (just a palpable power struggle), and Tom has said that Kate isn’t his type. Frankly, if he was a straight man with a pulse, Kate would be his type.
Ben’s last words before going under were “see you on the other side.” The other side of the island perhaps? Or was that supposed to be a variation of Desmond’s ‘see you in another life, brother’ statement?
I’m still curious as to why the island’s miraculous healing powers did not affect or heal Ben, as they did Locke, Rose and Jin.
Was the phrase on Eko’s stick an actual message for Locke? Remember, Locke is the only one who saw the map on the hatch blast door and has a pretty good idea where all six Hatches are. Perhaps Eko’s engraving will lead Locke to the North to find Jack, Kate and Sawyer.
So…is Kate still technically married? We know she abandoned her husband, but that’s about it. The fact that she married a police officer adds credence to my theory that she’s much more likely to pick Jack the Doctor over Sawyer the Criminal. Remember, the crash and the island are a fresh start for her, so why side with the one who constantly reminds you of your less than stellar past?
Pickett is overheard saying that Jack wasn’t on ‘Jacob’s list.’ This is the first time we’ve heard that name on the show. Is Jacob the infamous ‘Him?’ According to the Bible (which I had to research online – it’s not my forte), Jacob is the name of Benjamin’s father and Jacob has a twin brother. Interesting thoughts to ponder for the next few months…
* Here is what we can expect after the hiatus, when Lost returns for 16 straight episodes beginning February 7 (Warning: Spoilerish – Do Not Read If You Don’t Want To Know Anything About The Rest of This Season):
The first episode is a Juliet flashback. It seems she did not spend her entire life on the island like Ben did.
The second episode is a Desmond flashback, and Charlie makes an appearance. We will also finally find out what happened to the kidnapped Tail Section children of Flight 815, as well as the disappearance of flight attendant Cindy.
At some point in the season, we will be told how Locke wound up in the wheelchair and the story behind Jack’s tattoos.
We will see Penny Widmore again (Desmond’s ex).
THE PRESTIGE
I would like to christen writer/director Christopher Nolan the King of Contemporary Movie Mystery. His films (Memento, Insomnia) are equally puzzling and smart, far from run-of-the-mill or Hollywood glamorous. The Prestige is Nolan’s follow-up to last year’s very successful Batman Begins, and reunites him with co-stars Christian Bale and Michael Caine. But this movie belongs to Hugh Jackman, who will make you forget about Wolverine in an instant. To be perfectly honest, this is the first time I’ve ever found him even remotely convincing in a lead role. There are twists and turns in The Prestige that will keep you on your toes throughout the film, a very enjoyable whodunit that also includes the ubiquitous Scarlett Johansson.
For what it’s worth…although both movies cover similar territory (i.e. magicians in turn-of-the-century
RUNNING WITH SCISSORS
I am going to state the obvious. Annette Bening is an amazing actress; her talent is unrivaled among her contemporaries. If for no other reason, see Running with Scissors because this is the one that should net her that long overdue Oscar. I thought American Beauty was her pièce de résistance, but she is simply phenomenal in this film. Bening’s performance brings to mind Ellen Burstyn’s brilliant, disturbingly realistic insanity in Requiem for a Dream. But believe it or not, it is none other than Jill Clayburgh who almost steals the show; her small but memorable role in Running with Scissors is worthy of a Best Supporting Actress nomination (she was up for Best Actress in both 1979 and 1980!). In addition, the extremely reliable Brian Cox is hysterical in this movie; his lengthy oeuvre does not include much light-hearted fare, so his physical comedy in Scissors was a welcome surprise. And not that he went anywhere, but it seems Alec Baldwin is making a comeback of sorts. His brief appearance in this film is surprisingly understated and appreciated, quite the opposite of his current gig as head honcho on 30 Rock. Overall, this movie is very funny, eccentric and slightly scattered, but the acting supersedes the few flaws from first-time director Ryan Murphy (Nip/Tuck).
NEW MOVIES ON MY MUST-SEE LIST
For Your Consideration
Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy are back, along with the same quirky, improvisational cast and script. Rumor has it that Catherine O’Hara may finally get the attention she deserves for this performance; ironically enough, the film is about a group of actors who receive and react to major award nomination buzz.
The
Two words: Kate Winslet. Regardless of the fact that it also stars Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black, I will be first in line simply because a Kate Winslet comedy is long overdue. Also, it is a Nancy Meyers film, the Queen of Chick Flicks That Also Appeal to Men (see: What Women Want and Something’s Gotta Give).
RENTAL OF THE WEEK
Add Thank You for Smoking to your Netflix queue or run out and rent it this weekend. It is a very clever and entertaining glimpse into the world of big tobacco, and features an amazing ensemble (Maria Bello, Adam Brody, Robert Duvall, Aaron Eckhart, Katie Holmes, Rob Lowe, and William H. Macy, among others). This is a very impressive debut from writer/director Jason Reitman, and you can follow his journey from script to screen here: http://thankyouforsmoking.typepad.com/.
To be perfectly honest, this was my least favorite episode of Lost…ever. I am not thrilled with how the new characters are being introduced; their integration among the other survivors on the beach is awkward and not at all organic. The only highlight for me last night was Juliet’s video. But don’t get me started with the freaking black smoke or Eko…
First and foremost, I have been the recipient of 2 MRIs and several sets of spinal x-rays during the last few months because of back pain. So I am quite familiar with the location of the L4-L5 lumbar spine, which is in your lower back. Last week when Jack noticed the x-rays in the Hatch, he noted that the tumor was located there. But last night, he focused on the neck. I think Jack is testing Ben, plying him with questions about pain and symptoms in the wrong location to see if he has a medical background or the tumor is indeed his.
Assuming the x-rays are Ben’s…we don’t know when they were taken. We know that the Others have a hospital in their Hydra Hatch, with broken and missing equipment, so it’s very possible that those x-rays are old. Has the island healed Ben too? Jack is not aware that Locke used to be in a wheelchair or that Rose had cancer before the crash, so he wouldn’t assume that Ben is healed. Although…perhaps only the island where the plane crashed has healing powers, and not the island where the Others live.
I don’t buy Ben’s new honesty act for one minute. He is a master manipulator, not a normal guy who would open up to Jack about his actual game plan. I think he was thrilled that Jack thought the x-rays were his, but it might backfire given Jack’s line of questioning about the tumor. I still don’t think the x-rays are Ben’s; I think he is toying with Jack, testing his ethics and moral fiber. I also still believe that the Others weren’t surprised to see the plane crash, that it wasn’t a miracle or coincidence that a spinal surgeon fell out of the sky to heal Ben. And frankly, if the Others do have contact with the outside world, why on earth wouldn’t Ben leave for medical treatment, to save his own life?
And what is with Jack’s lack of bargaining skills? Obviously Kate made a deal with the devil over breakfast with Ben about these two weeks, but Jack operated on Colleen and will probably choose to operate on Ben without so much as a ‘what do I get out of it?’ Remember that they supposedly have a file all about Jack’s life, so perhaps the x-rays and video were a set up, and Jack’s reaction is part of yet another big social and psychological experiment.
Juliet’s loyalty is also questionable. How did she make those large cue cards, then film & edit together a video tape, all without Ben finding out? He seems to appear in every single place she does, so that seems sketchy. Is she working in conjunction with Ben?
If Ben does have said tumor, he would die soon anyway. Why involve Jack?
Also, wasn’t Juliet wearing the same outfit in the video that she had on in Episode 1 of this season? If so, the tape was premeditative, made in anticipation of the very scenario that unfolded last night.
To be honest, I don’t think Juliet looks much like Jack’s ex, Sarah, either in real life or on the show. Did they honestly think that putting a blonde woman in close contact with Jack would result in any additional insight into him?
What was with the matching white outfits for Colleen’s funeral? Now we’re to believe there are cult-like characteristics of the Others?
Regarding the mysterious man with the eye patch seen on one of the
Eye Patch Man seemed to know that he was being watched, and thus he covered up or broke the camera. How did he know that someone was in the
They seem to be killing off Tail Section survivors, so is Bernard next? And what the heck ever happened to Cindy, the flight attendant who disappeared during last season? No one has been concerned about her life or fate since it happened.
Sayid was seen back at the beach, so where were Sun and Jin?
Did Eko tell Locke that he was next, or that ‘they’ were? It certainly seemed like Eko whispered more than just that one statement before dying, and I wouldn’t put it past Locke to keep that information close to the vest until using it to his advantage at a later date.
We now know for sure that Eko was building a church on the island. He was told he owed his brother one after killing the men in Yemi’s church. So will Charlie or someone else continue building his church now?
Does Eko have a connection to Charlie, who lived in
Is it a coincidence that there were vaccines being delivered to Eko’s village and Dharma vaccines on the island?
Why was Eko able to confront the Smoke Monster last season but it killed him this time? Is it because he refused to repent for his sins?
Apparently the producers want us to now believe that the Black Smoke Monster is a veritable shape shifting Ghost of Christmas Past, appearing as a manifestation of the survivors’ pasts. Clearly the Smoke took the form of Yemi last night. Since Locke looked into the eye of the Monster, saw a bright white light and survived, does that mean he really is a ‘good’ person and the Others truly are interested in him?
What happened to Desmond’s newly acquired psychic skills? Did he know that Eko was going to die? And how did Desmond know that the computer in the Hatch could be used for something other than entering the numbers? He must have tried at some point. Did he have contact with the Others, like Michael did when he thought he was instant messaging with Walt?
Wasn’t Locke on a mission just two episodes ago to save Eko? Why bother having him save Eko from the polar bear cave, only to kill him a short time later?
Regarding my overall thoughts about this episode, as both Locke and Eko have said on various occasions…I’m going to have to watch that again.