Merry Christmas, Lostophiles (or, more accurately, Happy Boxing Day). Before we get to this week's piece of the map (the bottom of the middle third, from the "Swan" hatch down), a preview of what's to come down the home stretch of LLL's posts during the Lost hiatus:
Week of January 1: Tour of the map, part 5.
Week of January 8: Tour of the map, part 6.
Week of January 15: A look at the Swan hatch mural.
Week of January 22: What the whispers are saying.
Week of January 29: Recapping spoilers leaked during the hiatus.
Week of February 5: Lost returns on Wednesday! A new episode recap!
Please note that, with Lost moving an hour later on Wednesday nights, the weekly recaps will probably come a bit later (between afternoon Thursday and Friday morning).
So back to the map:
"CV I"
Decoded: As discussed last week, there appears to be no context from which we can ascertain what "CV" stands for, or determine why the "CV's" on the map are numbered with Roman Numerals. What's interesting about "CV I" (and "CV II" and "CV III") are the rectangular shapes in which they are found on the map. These rectangles are situated in very close proximity to the Swan hatch, discussed below, and suggest actual structures that the map-maker(s) may have uncovered. Although Locke and co. are no longer spending much time at the Swan (since the hatch imploded), this proximity suggests we may get some stumbled-across answers soon.
Mysteries: As discussed last week, the acronym "CV" is itself a mystery. Until we figure that out, any further mysteries remain unidentified.
Degree of Certainty: Not much at this point, but since we're in the most detailed portion of the map, I believe the mapmaker was pretty certain about something.
"MS(?)"/ "H3"
Decoded: Various versions of annotated images of the map unline have alternatively labelled this section "MS(?)" and "H3". The question mark seems to denote the annotater's uncertainty, so I'll go with the "H3" at this point. "H" certainly seems like it could stand for "Hatch," and we know that the Swan was "station 3 of 6." The "H3" is located in a diagram-like room at the end of a forked corridor, with both forks Xed out by the mapmakers. We know that the ladder leading down into the Swan from "quarrantine" hatch was damaged even before Locke, Jack, Kate and Hurley blew the hatch open. Perhaps that inaccessibility is what is marked off by the terminated corridor.
Mysteries: If "H" is not "hatch," or if "H3" is really "MS," this is wide up for grabs as to what can be going on here. Also, if my interpretation is correct, what happened in the Swan to cause the ladder to be broken off, and is related to the "quarrantine" label on the hatch? For that matter, why make the station so inaccessible from the hatch when there's an easily-discovered door to the Swan (or, there was, until the station imploded).
Degree of Certainty: In light of the way different versions of the map read differently in this spot, not a lot of certainty. But the explanation seems plausible.
"The Swan/ [logo]/ ?"
Decoded: A great deal of Season 2 was spent in The Swan, which unfortunately imploded in the second season finale before most questions about the station were answered. Given the relatively detailed diagramming of the rooms and corrdiors of The Swan on the map, it would seem this portion of the map is meant to be a fairly literal representation of this piece of the island. As discussed above, several of the corridors are Xed out at their ends, and the mapmaker made an extra notation, a "?" on the other side of the X that cuts off the northern corridor leading out from the main chamber. This could represent the powerful electromagnet that those walking the halls of the hatch felt. As Sayid commented to Jack, areas in the hatch were sealed off in much the same way the Chernobyl nuclear plant was. This could explain the Xed out corridors.
Mysteries: For all the time we spent there, the implosion of the Swan got in the way of so many of the characters' (and our) ability to solve the hatch's mysteries. For example, if button-presses were needed every 108 minutes to prevent the overcharging of the magnet powering the hatch, why tie that to entry of the Numbers, and not just program the simple terminal to vent the charge itself every 108 minutes? What was the "incident" (alluded to in several spots on the map)? And why on Earth did the Pearl orientation video suggest the activities in the Swan were meaningless and meant as just a psychological experiment?
Degree of Certainty: As certain as we are about some aspects of the Swan, its backstory remains a mystery. Fear not - the Powers that Be have promised that the truth about what happened when the Swan imploded will be revealed this season.
"CV III"
Decoded: See "CV I," above.
Mysteries: See "CV I," above.
Degree of Certainty: See "CV I," above.
"CV II"
Decoded: See "CV I," above.
Mysteries: See "CV I," above.
Degree of Certainty: See "CV I," above.
"Ut Sit Magna, Tamen Certe Lenta Ira Decorum Est"
Decoded: Translated, the Latin phrase means "The wrath of the gods may be great, but it certainly is slow." At first blush I attribute this to some depressed stinkin' thinkin' on the part of the mapmaker, who (as discussed last week) has several such choice words to describe his fate to be stuck in the Swan pushing the button. However, "wrath of the gods" suggests more than just torture - it suggests the mapmaker somehow felt he was being punished for something he had done before. Certainly these thoughts could apply to Kelvin, the former CIA spook and map editor who truned Sayid into a torturer, and by now it seems to be no coincidence that many of the island's unfortunate visitors had some dark episodes in their pasts (with the apparent notable exception of Jack, who we know was "not on Jacob's list.")
Mysteries: Is the phrase just a metaphorical bit of lamenting, or is there indeed something spiritual about the torment of those consigned to the Swan? How exactly is the "wrath" manifested? And who wrote all the darn Latin phrases on the map?
Degree of Certainty: I'm putting a lot of faith into these online translators, but without more context concerning when and by whom the phrase was written, I reserve judgment.
"I am Here"
Decoded: This simple phrase, in a circle from which an arrow points to the Swan (discussed above) may be something of a rosetta stone to the map. By clearly identifying a point on the map that is meant to be geographically accurate, the mapmaker suggests which of the map's notations provide direction and distance, and which may be just idle thoughts.
Mysteries: Isn't the mapmaker's location fairly obvious? "The Swan" logo is all over the hatch where the map was located, and the map was going nowhere. In other words, why bother writing this? More to the point, if the hatch is meant to be a 2-man operation, why "I" and not "we?"
Degree of Certainty: The directness of the message is hard to get around. I'm pretty certain of this. But as mentioned above, there are potentially more questions to ask.
"Multiple Escape Conduits Blocked After Incident"
Decoded: Another reference to the "incident." Sure do wonder what that might have been. The good thing this tells us is that a number of discrete island backstory mysteries are tied together. If we learn what the incident was, we will presumably learn why so many tunnels in the Swan are sealed off, and why the "multiple mouse-hole" design of the Dharma installations no longer seems to exist.
Mysteries: But what was that incident? And why did it necessitate the blocking off of escape conduits? Or was the blocking off of the conduits an unforeseen consequence rather than a remunerative measure?
Degree of Certainty: That these issues relate, pretty high. What actually happened back in the day, before the Swan film was made? None whatsoever.
"The Swan: (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42)"
Decoded: Discussed ad nauseum elsewhere, there is little "new" information to be found in this notation. It again suggests multiple mapmakers, as there is no good reason to list "The Swan" in the bottom of the map while drawing its location and layout in the middle. Given the releative inaccessibility of the map most of the time (i.e. except during a hatch lockdown) it does not seem the numbers being written down here serve as a cheat sheet so much as random doodling on the part of the mapmaker.
Mysteries: Why write it down? Was there no better medium for jotting notes in the hatch than fluorescing ink on blast door? For that matter, why are the numbers so linked to this one station?
Degree of Certainty: Not a lot of serious wiggle room here. Call this pretty certain.
"Home (?) of H. G. Delegation Inspection of 12.07.81"
Decoded: Jackpot! In an earlier post, I suggested that the "D.I." of "D.I.H.G." stood for "Dharma Initiative." Here we have the "H.G." segregated out, suggesting a separate group that sent a "delegation" to inspect in December of 1981. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the "incident" predates 1981 according to the orientation films. If that's the case, it could be that the "incident" involved the Dharmaites breaking off from another group ("the Hanso Group?") that was then forced to send a delegation to investigate. Geographically, this seems to be around the beach where our flight 815 survivors have their camp. Coincidence?
Mysteries: Again, "Hanso Group" is purely supposition, though a fairly astute guess (if I do say so myself). If I'm wrong, this whole thing is wrapped in mystery.
Degree of Certainty: Again, we're in "educated guess" territory here. Some confidence, but far from total.
"System Wide Failure of Dharmatel intranet 4.08.00, 8.15.01, 01.06.03"
Decoded: Again, we don't know specifically what "Dharmatel" refers to. What we do know is that it failed on multiple occasions in the past 4 1/2 years (of Lost time). Assuming the number sequences are dates, the last one, and possibly the last two, would have occurred with Desmond on the island. Perhaps our newly-clairvoyant Scotsman will be able to offer some insight? Indeed, perhaps these failures are of the same button-not-timely-pushed type that brought down flight 815, and the 8.15.01 (see the connection?) date is roughly the time Desmond arrived on the island. Also, we know that, in the wake of the Swan implosion, the Others lost their communication network. Could that be the most recent occurrence?
Mysteries: If my suppositions are correct, what about a late push could make a boat toss its passenger and beach itself? On that note, what happend in 2003? Might that be the date the real Henry Gale crashed in his balloon?
Degree of Certainty: Pretty much the same as the last one - an educated guess. No more, no less.
"No Connection to Islandwide E.E.P. Network"
Decoded: There may be more than one network on the island - the "Dharmatel" and the "E.E.P." Whatever E.E.P. is, it does not seem to be connected anywhere near the Lostaways' beach.
Mysteries: Why a second network? How is it distinct from Dharmatel? And why not connect that part of the island just to the Southeast of the Swan?
Degree of Certainty: Certain of what? We don't know what E.E.P. means. Period.
"Complete Shutdown in Effect"
Decoded: This seems to be a message out of time. It could refer to the end of the Dharma Initiative, or perhaps a shutdown of some specific aspect of Dharma or some other mechanisms on the island. Still, it would be odd for this to be a notation of just an apparently temporary state without some sort of date or time reference. Whatever it means, the mapmaker suggests a condition that was not subject to change.
Mysteries: The lack of a reference to any particular time, place or thing makes this one big mystery.
Degree of Certainty: Not much.
"P.R.D. Every 6-8 Months Fatalities: 5"
Decoded: I can offer little insight into this one. Something occurs every 6-8 months, and the mapmaker is aware of this event killing 5. It could stand for "positive radiation dispersal" or "polar bear rapid destruction" or even "pretty red dress."
Mysteries: What does "P.R.D." stand for? Did the 6-8 month cycle begin on the mapmakers' watch, or has it been the case for longer? Did the 5 people die at once, or each time there is an occurrence?
Degree of Certainty: Eh?
"Possible CV II - Inactive Since Accident"
Decoded: This provides further evidence that the map was not made all at once. As discussed above, there is a pretty confident placement of "CV II" right next to the Swan. Whatever CV stands for, the mapmaker in question at one point suspected a location (right near the beach). The "accident" may refer to the "incident" or it may be another occurrence altogether. Whatever the "accident" was, though, the "CV" designated "II" stopped doing whatever it was doing at that point, which may have made it hard to locate.
Mysteries: If it seems like I just winged it with this one, that's because I did. I have no idea what remains a mystery about this, since there's no clear way to know what it means.
Degree of Certainty: Not a lick.
So that's it, folks. Over the next to weeks, we'll look at the Eastern third of the island. I beg and implore you to post or email you thoughts about these mysteries and what these vague references may mean. Until next time, have a safe and happy new year.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Tour of the Map - Part 3 of 6
In this week's section of my series exploring the blast door map from the Swan Hatch, we look at the upper portion of the middle section of the map. Specifically, this post deals with the interior of the octagon from the top down to the section marked off by what looks like a river (and which contains the logo for the Swan).
The Shape - Octagon with Circle in the Middle
Decoded: The mapmaker appears to try to arrange the Dharma installations geographically in some layout that corresponds with the Eastern-religion themed Dharma logo. Implicit in these assumptions is that something key is located in the middle of the map, and the roughly eight prongs of the logo are associated with bunkers. However, the mapmaker (or mapmakers) made the decision to cross out some of the bunkers. This could signify that the placement of the facilities is less deliberate than the mapmaker would have thought.
Mysteries: Given the rugged geography of the island, could Dharma really have placed its installations so geometrically? Why the revisions and cross outs? Was the logo actually selected to correspond with the labs that Hanso and the de Groots had built?
Degree of Certainty: Not much - the inconsistent mentions of the installations elsewhere on the map suggest this feature is more conceptual than geometric or geolographic.
"Sursum Corda Sursum Corda Sursum Corda"
Decoded: Again, I trust others online with the Latin translations, which tell us this means "Lift up your heart Lift up your heart Lift up your heart." This could be a reference to Alvar Hanso's claim in the Sri Lanka video that Dharma also means "the one true way."
Mysteries: Is the Initiative seeking enlightenment and inspiration? Is the mapmaker, separate from the Dharmaites? Does the placement in the top-left portion of the octagon have separate meaning? Is our mapmaker just seeking for some sort of meaning in a fairly bleak existence in the bunker?
Degree of Certainty: Little at this time.
(Crossed out) "C1?"
Decoded: Your guess is as good as mine. Seriously. Could stand for "cave," which we know the island has, but there's no context here at this point.
Mysteries: Everything about this (and its' related "C#" references) remains mysterious.
Degree of Certainty: Certainty about what?
"Credo Nos In Fluctu Edden Es"
Decoded: In Latin, "I think we're on the same wavelength." This could be metaphorical, but it could also signify a few things. For example, we know there are radio broadcasts on the island (i.e. the numbers transmission turned to Rousseau's repeating message). There are also extra-sensory mental phenomena, such as Walt's ill-defined powers, Desmond's newfound clairvoyance, and the whispers. The emergence of Desmond's abilities after some time on the island suggests the mapmaker may have "tuned in" to something he previously could not detect. Plus, Smokey has been able to download thoughts and memories.
Mysteries: At this point, the metaphor can relate to any of these ideas. The biggest mystery is who wrote this and what was going on at the time.
Degree of Certainty: As with many metaphorical statements, not much certainty at this point.
"The Staff"
Decoded: A visible reference to the Caduceus hatch, with logo to match. We've seen this hatch in operational form (in Claire's flashbacks) and abandoned and picked clean when visited by Kate, Claire and Rousseau.
Mysteries: Is the map accurate about placement? Is the medical hatch really so close to the Swan (talked about next week)? It seemed oppressively far away and hard to reach when explored. What was the actual purpose for this hach in the Dharma Initiative?
Degree of Certainty: Pretty darn sure. Been there. Seen it. Nothing is still there, and precious little really seems left to learn with this one.
"Mallum Consillium Quad Mutari Non Potest"
Decoded: "It's a bad plan that can't be changed." This could refer to Dharma as a whole, or to the handling of "the incident." It could refer to the attempt to stave off whatever event brought the Dharma Initiative down (and freed the polar bears).
Mysteries: What is "it?" Whatever "it" is, why could the bad plan not be changed, even after the flaw in the plan was detected?
Degree of Certainty: Very little. We need more backstory. Fingers are crossed.
"C3?"
Decoded: See above ("C1")
Mysteries: See above ("C1"). Also, why is C3 not crossed out?
Degree of Certainty: ?
"Why So Many Dharmatel Relays in Such an Untenable Location?"
Decoded: The term "Dharmatel" is new to us, but we know the island has plenty of wired-up and wireless communications methods (the broadcast tower, camera feeds, linked computer terminals, etc.). We also know the island has some rough patches to reach and traverse, and from this it appears the Dharma folks used such an area for some infrastructure.
Mysteries: What exactly is "Dharmatel?" What do the relays do? And as the mapmaker pointed out, why in a bad spot?
Degree of Certainty: Well, the mention is itself a question, so not much.
"? Designation Uncertain? Purpose Unknown? Relation to D.I.H.G. Unknown."
Decoded: These are the labels in the circle over the "?" on the map. This is the one salient feature, in the central spot, that John Locke was able to remember from his brief, leg-impaled look at the map. When he heard Eko (and later "Yemi") say they had to go to the "question mark," they found a natural vegetation free patch of ground that, from high above, looked like a "?" in the area in the jungle near where Eko's drug plane went down. What we know, but the mapmaker never seemed to discover, is that this spot marks Dharma's "Pearl" hatch, with its video screens, camera, bathroom and pneumatic tubes.
Mysteries: The mystery here is why the long-time residents couldn't find the Pearl. Of course, the "Yemi" visions led John and Eko there. Perhaps the mapmaker was not judged "worthy" by whatever "Yemi" really is. Also, there is the remaining mystery of what the Pearl is really for. It's apparent purpose seems incorrect - I've discussed this in prior episode recaps. Of all the installations we've seen, the Pearl is still the most mysterious.
Degree of Certainty: That this is the Pearl? Pretty high. What the Pearl is all about? Not much.
"The Flame"
Decoded: SPOILER ALERT!!!!! Skip to the next note if you're particularly sensitive to coming attractions, but if not....
The Powers that Be have positively stated recently that we will see another Dharma installation, called "The Flame," this season. There is some speculation that this may be where Mr. Eyepatch, spotted on-screen by the viewers at the Pearl, was lurking.
Mysteries: Until we get there, it's all a mystery, including what the mapmaker knew about the flame. While we're at it, why did Dharma chose the names it did for these installations?
Degree of Certainty: That this is a hatch, pretty high. What goes on there? None whatsoever.
"Nil Actum Reputa Si Quid Superest Agendum"
Decoded: "Don't consider that anything has been done if anything is left to be done." We all know the Dharma Initiative failed in its attempt to save the world by changing the Valenzetti Equation. That could be what this refers to. Of course, without more background on the Swan's prior inhabitants, and the fate of Dharma, this is pretty up in the air.
Mysteries: Other than being some sound advice, everything about this is open to interpretation.
Degree of Certainty: This coda smacks of uncertainty on its face. Why should I be sure what it means?
"A Mouse Does Not Rely on Just One Hole"
Decoded: I can't find the original latin (it's obscured in the map to the bottom right) but I've found this translation. Sayid pointed out that part of the Swan had been blocked off by concrete. With all these hatches mysteriously embedded on the island, it stands to reason there would be multiple access points. Given the "rats in a maze" lifestyle of hatch residents, perhpas Dharma had some secret passages in and out of the hatches, which the mapmaker either discovered or began to speculate about.
Mysteries: Who is the mouse? Where can we find the other hole(s)? Are the hatches interconnected?
Degree of Certainty: Only mouse-sized certainty here.
"CV IV"
Decoded: Another abbreviation without a reference. This is found in a box on the map. This seems distinct from the "C" references, in that there is no question mark and the "IV" seems to be a roman numeral.
Mysteries: We just don't know. I like the idea that either "C" or "CV" refers to "cave." But there is a lot to learn about this.
Degree of Certainty: Somewhere between a "I" and a "II" on a scale of "I to X/"
"C4?"
Decoded: See above.
Mysteries: See above.
Degree of Certainty: See above.
"[Square Root of] 16, [Squre Root of] 64, [Square Root] of 225"
Decoded: Well, mathematically this refers to 4, 8, 15, the first three of "the numbers." Perhaps the square root notation offers some insight into the actual Valenzetti Equation.
Mysteries: Why take square roots of the squares of three of the numbers? Why just the first three?
Degree of Certainty: Moderate. The numbers themselves are still so mysterious, but this seems a pretty clear reference to some of them.
"Cogito Ergo Doteo"
Decoded: "I think therefore I am depressed." "Thought" itself may be a growing theme on the show, in light of Desmond's new abilities and Locke's visions. Also, it's pretty clear that life in the Swan hatch was pretty bleak (it sure seemed to make Radzinsky, Kelvin, Desmond and Locke pretty miserable."
Mysteries: Not a lot of uncertainty here...other than why the Latin, and who is our dead language scholar?
Degree of Certainty: Sigh....trying to nail this down is depressing.
"X4 Y8 Z15 Subterrranean Conduit"
Decoded: Again, the first three numbers. Here they seem arranged as 3D Euclidean geometric coordinates. We know there are underground tunnels, both obviously in the hatches and in the unseen areas under and around the hatches.
Mysteries: What do these coordinates indicate? How does the conduit relate to the numbers? Which conduit is this? And what is 0, 0, 0 point from which we find this conduit?
Degree of Certainty: It is what it is, which may not be much.
"Liberte Te Ex Inferus"
Decoded: "Save yourself from hell." Again, we know that the Swan was no picnic. This reference is close to the Swan on the map. I assume this follows from the depressed Latin ramblings above.
Mysteries: Same as above. Also, does this indicate that there is a way to save oneself from the hell of the need to push that button? And does the author think others can save themselves when he or she could not?
Degree of Certainty: It's just a hell of a guess.
Well, folks, not a lot of illumination in this section, other than the general sense there's a lot left to learn about the island on "Lost." How odd that most of these mysteries are so close to the spot in which the map was found. What do you all think? Any suggestions of explanations I may not have thought about? Send me your emails (link to the right) or post your comments.
The Shape - Octagon with Circle in the Middle
Decoded: The mapmaker appears to try to arrange the Dharma installations geographically in some layout that corresponds with the Eastern-religion themed Dharma logo. Implicit in these assumptions is that something key is located in the middle of the map, and the roughly eight prongs of the logo are associated with bunkers. However, the mapmaker (or mapmakers) made the decision to cross out some of the bunkers. This could signify that the placement of the facilities is less deliberate than the mapmaker would have thought.
Mysteries: Given the rugged geography of the island, could Dharma really have placed its installations so geometrically? Why the revisions and cross outs? Was the logo actually selected to correspond with the labs that Hanso and the de Groots had built?
Degree of Certainty: Not much - the inconsistent mentions of the installations elsewhere on the map suggest this feature is more conceptual than geometric or geolographic.
"Sursum Corda Sursum Corda Sursum Corda"
Decoded: Again, I trust others online with the Latin translations, which tell us this means "Lift up your heart Lift up your heart Lift up your heart." This could be a reference to Alvar Hanso's claim in the Sri Lanka video that Dharma also means "the one true way."
Mysteries: Is the Initiative seeking enlightenment and inspiration? Is the mapmaker, separate from the Dharmaites? Does the placement in the top-left portion of the octagon have separate meaning? Is our mapmaker just seeking for some sort of meaning in a fairly bleak existence in the bunker?
Degree of Certainty: Little at this time.
(Crossed out) "C1?"
Decoded: Your guess is as good as mine. Seriously. Could stand for "cave," which we know the island has, but there's no context here at this point.
Mysteries: Everything about this (and its' related "C#" references) remains mysterious.
Degree of Certainty: Certainty about what?
"Credo Nos In Fluctu Edden Es"
Decoded: In Latin, "I think we're on the same wavelength." This could be metaphorical, but it could also signify a few things. For example, we know there are radio broadcasts on the island (i.e. the numbers transmission turned to Rousseau's repeating message). There are also extra-sensory mental phenomena, such as Walt's ill-defined powers, Desmond's newfound clairvoyance, and the whispers. The emergence of Desmond's abilities after some time on the island suggests the mapmaker may have "tuned in" to something he previously could not detect. Plus, Smokey has been able to download thoughts and memories.
Mysteries: At this point, the metaphor can relate to any of these ideas. The biggest mystery is who wrote this and what was going on at the time.
Degree of Certainty: As with many metaphorical statements, not much certainty at this point.
"The Staff"
Decoded: A visible reference to the Caduceus hatch, with logo to match. We've seen this hatch in operational form (in Claire's flashbacks) and abandoned and picked clean when visited by Kate, Claire and Rousseau.
Mysteries: Is the map accurate about placement? Is the medical hatch really so close to the Swan (talked about next week)? It seemed oppressively far away and hard to reach when explored. What was the actual purpose for this hach in the Dharma Initiative?
Degree of Certainty: Pretty darn sure. Been there. Seen it. Nothing is still there, and precious little really seems left to learn with this one.
"Mallum Consillium Quad Mutari Non Potest"
Decoded: "It's a bad plan that can't be changed." This could refer to Dharma as a whole, or to the handling of "the incident." It could refer to the attempt to stave off whatever event brought the Dharma Initiative down (and freed the polar bears).
Mysteries: What is "it?" Whatever "it" is, why could the bad plan not be changed, even after the flaw in the plan was detected?
Degree of Certainty: Very little. We need more backstory. Fingers are crossed.
"C3?"
Decoded: See above ("C1")
Mysteries: See above ("C1"). Also, why is C3 not crossed out?
Degree of Certainty: ?
"Why So Many Dharmatel Relays in Such an Untenable Location?"
Decoded: The term "Dharmatel" is new to us, but we know the island has plenty of wired-up and wireless communications methods (the broadcast tower, camera feeds, linked computer terminals, etc.). We also know the island has some rough patches to reach and traverse, and from this it appears the Dharma folks used such an area for some infrastructure.
Mysteries: What exactly is "Dharmatel?" What do the relays do? And as the mapmaker pointed out, why in a bad spot?
Degree of Certainty: Well, the mention is itself a question, so not much.
"? Designation Uncertain? Purpose Unknown? Relation to D.I.H.G. Unknown."
Decoded: These are the labels in the circle over the "?" on the map. This is the one salient feature, in the central spot, that John Locke was able to remember from his brief, leg-impaled look at the map. When he heard Eko (and later "Yemi") say they had to go to the "question mark," they found a natural vegetation free patch of ground that, from high above, looked like a "?" in the area in the jungle near where Eko's drug plane went down. What we know, but the mapmaker never seemed to discover, is that this spot marks Dharma's "Pearl" hatch, with its video screens, camera, bathroom and pneumatic tubes.
Mysteries: The mystery here is why the long-time residents couldn't find the Pearl. Of course, the "Yemi" visions led John and Eko there. Perhaps the mapmaker was not judged "worthy" by whatever "Yemi" really is. Also, there is the remaining mystery of what the Pearl is really for. It's apparent purpose seems incorrect - I've discussed this in prior episode recaps. Of all the installations we've seen, the Pearl is still the most mysterious.
Degree of Certainty: That this is the Pearl? Pretty high. What the Pearl is all about? Not much.
"The Flame"
Decoded: SPOILER ALERT!!!!! Skip to the next note if you're particularly sensitive to coming attractions, but if not....
The Powers that Be have positively stated recently that we will see another Dharma installation, called "The Flame," this season. There is some speculation that this may be where Mr. Eyepatch, spotted on-screen by the viewers at the Pearl, was lurking.
Mysteries: Until we get there, it's all a mystery, including what the mapmaker knew about the flame. While we're at it, why did Dharma chose the names it did for these installations?
Degree of Certainty: That this is a hatch, pretty high. What goes on there? None whatsoever.
"Nil Actum Reputa Si Quid Superest Agendum"
Decoded: "Don't consider that anything has been done if anything is left to be done." We all know the Dharma Initiative failed in its attempt to save the world by changing the Valenzetti Equation. That could be what this refers to. Of course, without more background on the Swan's prior inhabitants, and the fate of Dharma, this is pretty up in the air.
Mysteries: Other than being some sound advice, everything about this is open to interpretation.
Degree of Certainty: This coda smacks of uncertainty on its face. Why should I be sure what it means?
"A Mouse Does Not Rely on Just One Hole"
Decoded: I can't find the original latin (it's obscured in the map to the bottom right) but I've found this translation. Sayid pointed out that part of the Swan had been blocked off by concrete. With all these hatches mysteriously embedded on the island, it stands to reason there would be multiple access points. Given the "rats in a maze" lifestyle of hatch residents, perhpas Dharma had some secret passages in and out of the hatches, which the mapmaker either discovered or began to speculate about.
Mysteries: Who is the mouse? Where can we find the other hole(s)? Are the hatches interconnected?
Degree of Certainty: Only mouse-sized certainty here.
"CV IV"
Decoded: Another abbreviation without a reference. This is found in a box on the map. This seems distinct from the "C" references, in that there is no question mark and the "IV" seems to be a roman numeral.
Mysteries: We just don't know. I like the idea that either "C" or "CV" refers to "cave." But there is a lot to learn about this.
Degree of Certainty: Somewhere between a "I" and a "II" on a scale of "I to X/"
"C4?"
Decoded: See above.
Mysteries: See above.
Degree of Certainty: See above.
"[Square Root of] 16, [Squre Root of] 64, [Square Root] of 225"
Decoded: Well, mathematically this refers to 4, 8, 15, the first three of "the numbers." Perhaps the square root notation offers some insight into the actual Valenzetti Equation.
Mysteries: Why take square roots of the squares of three of the numbers? Why just the first three?
Degree of Certainty: Moderate. The numbers themselves are still so mysterious, but this seems a pretty clear reference to some of them.
"Cogito Ergo Doteo"
Decoded: "I think therefore I am depressed." "Thought" itself may be a growing theme on the show, in light of Desmond's new abilities and Locke's visions. Also, it's pretty clear that life in the Swan hatch was pretty bleak (it sure seemed to make Radzinsky, Kelvin, Desmond and Locke pretty miserable."
Mysteries: Not a lot of uncertainty here...other than why the Latin, and who is our dead language scholar?
Degree of Certainty: Sigh....trying to nail this down is depressing.
"X4 Y8 Z15 Subterrranean Conduit"
Decoded: Again, the first three numbers. Here they seem arranged as 3D Euclidean geometric coordinates. We know there are underground tunnels, both obviously in the hatches and in the unseen areas under and around the hatches.
Mysteries: What do these coordinates indicate? How does the conduit relate to the numbers? Which conduit is this? And what is 0, 0, 0 point from which we find this conduit?
Degree of Certainty: It is what it is, which may not be much.
"Liberte Te Ex Inferus"
Decoded: "Save yourself from hell." Again, we know that the Swan was no picnic. This reference is close to the Swan on the map. I assume this follows from the depressed Latin ramblings above.
Mysteries: Same as above. Also, does this indicate that there is a way to save oneself from the hell of the need to push that button? And does the author think others can save themselves when he or she could not?
Degree of Certainty: It's just a hell of a guess.
Well, folks, not a lot of illumination in this section, other than the general sense there's a lot left to learn about the island on "Lost." How odd that most of these mysteries are so close to the spot in which the map was found. What do you all think? Any suggestions of explanations I may not have thought about? Send me your emails (link to the right) or post your comments.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Break in the Action
Lostophiles -
While there is a break in the schedule this week on "LLL," I promise to return next week with the third installment of the tour of the map.
In the meantime, I want to refer to you a better-than-average bit of speculating from EW.com's Jeff Jensen, who tackles the mystery of "Jacob" in this week's column (which you can read at http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1566980_3_0_,00.html).
Jensen notes that, while there is some speculation that Jacob replaced Ethan as an infiltrator (I doubt this - once Hurley detected Ethan's absense from the passenger manifesto, I doubt he would have let another slip by), Jensen briefly teases the idea that Jacob is new character Paolo, someone who supposedly was there all along. After a lengthy and thought-provoking discourse on Jacob, the biblical third patriarch of Judaism (who had a son named, (pause for effect) Benjamin), he offers another more-than-interesting suggestion of which of our Lostaways may actually be Jacob. I have my reasons to disagree with his last suggestion, but it is a thought-provoking one.
The column also analyzes the notion that Lost is in a "stall" in that the producers know how they want to end but don't know how long they have to wait or if they will actually be allowed to be the ones to end the series. And it points out an important change to the Lost schedule - it will air an hour later (10 pm on the Coasts) when it returns February 7 (to get it out of the way of American Idol....sigh).
While there is a break in the schedule this week on "LLL," I promise to return next week with the third installment of the tour of the map.
In the meantime, I want to refer to you a better-than-average bit of speculating from EW.com's Jeff Jensen, who tackles the mystery of "Jacob" in this week's column (which you can read at http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1566980_3_0_,00.html).
Jensen notes that, while there is some speculation that Jacob replaced Ethan as an infiltrator (I doubt this - once Hurley detected Ethan's absense from the passenger manifesto, I doubt he would have let another slip by), Jensen briefly teases the idea that Jacob is new character Paolo, someone who supposedly was there all along. After a lengthy and thought-provoking discourse on Jacob, the biblical third patriarch of Judaism (who had a son named, (pause for effect) Benjamin), he offers another more-than-interesting suggestion of which of our Lostaways may actually be Jacob. I have my reasons to disagree with his last suggestion, but it is a thought-provoking one.
The column also analyzes the notion that Lost is in a "stall" in that the producers know how they want to end but don't know how long they have to wait or if they will actually be allowed to be the ones to end the series. And it points out an important change to the Lost schedule - it will air an hour later (10 pm on the Coasts) when it returns February 7 (to get it out of the way of American Idol....sigh).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
