The TV Chick

There are so many lengthy reviews and recaps of the 6th season premiere of Lost out there, that I’m not going to even attempt 3,000 words. I absolutely adore this show, and the season premiere was (as most episodes are), pretty mind-blowing. Questions were answered, but now there are even more questions I have, and theories I am milling around in my head. I thought I would post my thoughts, and I’d love to hear yours as well.

First of all, I want to address the two alternate realities. It was an ingenious idea on the part of the Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse (creators) to show us a world where detonating that bomb did work, and one where it didn’t. In the one where it did work, and the crash never happened, I absolutely loved all the call backs that were made to season 1: the whole plane ride exchange between Jack and Rose, Sun and Jin, and Boone (can I just swoon for a second and say how much I loved seeing Ian Somerhalder back on Lost). What happened after the plane crashed (that never actually happened in the pilot) was fantastic too — Charlie, Sawyer and Kate! I think one of my favorite exchanges was between Jack and John Locke after the plane landed. And if the plane landed safely in Los Angeles, where is Jack’s dad’s body? On the island? (See, I said I had questions)

In the world where the plane crash did happen, the crew is still on the island, but they aren’t stuck in the 1970s anymore. Somewhere else on the island (presumably?) Ben kills Jacob because “John Locke” told him to do so. One of the best lines of the episode was “I’m sorry you had to see me like that,” when we learn that the smoke monster can turn into a person (possibly one who is dead since he takes on John Locke’s identity), and that the smoke monster wants to go home.

Once the crew wakes up from the whole time traveling extravaganza, Juliet is alive, under the rubble! Sawyer finds her, but it’s too late. She wants to tell Sawyer something important, but before she can, she dies in his arms. Why, Juliet?! Sawyer then asks Miles to find out what she wanted to say. Apparently she wanted to say “it worked.” This could mean so many things — but of course, my main guess is she somehow knows that the plan to reverse time and make it so the crash never happened actually worked. Which leaves me with about 800 questions — but mostly, is this a dream? Are they not really on the island? Can they be two places at once?

Meanwhile, also on the island, Jacob finds Hurley, who can see him because he’s dead. Jacob tells Hurley that the only way to save Sayid (who was hurt when time traveling) is to bring him to the temple. They can enter through a hole in the wall — which Jin will know how to get to — and he should bring his guitar case. Finally! We will see what’s in that guitar case! Hurley, Jack, Sawyer and Kate get to the temple with Sayid (although not without being captured and threatened). When Hurley tells the strange John Lennon looking guy and his ruler that Jacob sent them, they are spared. And he gives them the guitar case which has a ahnk in it. The ahnk is broken open and a note is pulled out that we never get to see. John Lennon lookalike and friend try to save Sayid and it appears as if they drown him in the “healing waters.” Jack tries to save him, but he clearly is dead. Of course, nothing is ever as it seems on the island, and when Jack is on the brink of trying to kill the people that drowned Sayid, Sayid is suddenly alive again.

Obviously, this season is all planned out in some sort of perfect way to send off such an innovative and wonderful show. It wouldn’t be Lost if I wasn’t left scratching my head a little bit. My main question is, how long will these alternate realities exist? Will we have to wait until the finale to find out what really happened? I have faith in “Darlton” as the creators are so fondly called in the TV critic universe and I’m going to go out on a limb and say I don’t think that the finale will leave us with too many unanswered questions. I would love for the alternate reality to cease to exist by episode 2 or 3 but of course, that won’t happen. I loved the smoke monster answers. I think there is some sort of curse or he doesn’t belong on the island — where is home for this mysterious smoke monster? When will Ben encounter the others again?? (Not THOSE others but Sawyer, Jack, Kate, Sayid and Miles) Will real John Locke come back to life? And is Charlie alive on the island or just in the alternate reality?

I know this much, though — I cannot wait to see more!

What did you think of the premiere? What are some of your questions?