In this week's edition of Jeff Jensen's piece of Lostology on ew.com, the Doc ceded the floor, er, screen to Lost executive producers Damon Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse. Alas, the site seems to have pulled the artilcle, but most of it appears in sidebar in this week's Entertainment Weekly print edition (surrounded by another Jensen piece on the state of the show), but the online version was a bit more complete. Some of it is spoilerish - again, in the vein of when questions will be answered, but not what those answers will be so I won't reprint it here. Click on the title of this post and you'll be whisked away (alas, TPTB chose not to answer my question about just how many toes Ben has). The one spoiler I will give here are the two mysteries the honchos say will never be solved on the show, which appeared online but not in print:
1) the construction of the rope bridge;
2) Rousseau's Yugoslavian accent.
In any case, check out this week's Entertainment Weekly (with some Lost cast members on the cover) to see what the producers had to say.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Episode 307 - Hurley or Paolo? "Not in Portland."
Yeeeeeehaaaaaw! We're back, ba-beee! Backstory! Death! Logical conundrums!! Right out of gate in 2007, Lost definitely dazzled us with a fantastic episode in “Not in Portland” (AKA “Others: Miami”).
First, the backstory. Dr. Juliet Burke was once a meek research scientist in Miami working in a lab run by her oppressive ex-husband, Edmond (24 season 1 villain, Zeljko Ivanek). (Does anyone else note the strong connections to Florida in Lost? Kate was married there, Sawyer did time there, and now Juliet worked there…) Her specialty? Extreme fertility. She successfully impregnated a male mouse (though she modestly pointed out it didn’t carry to term). She also had been stealing samples of some chemical which, when injected into her cancer-stricken sister, Rachel, induced pregnancy. In the first scene at Rachel’s apartment, we saw a familiar face – deceased Other Ethan Rom walked past Juliet in the hallway and said “hello,” though it’s clear from Juliet’s reaction she did not know him at this point. (Did you catch the other imagery around Rachel? At her bedside was a sculpture that looked like a Dharma logo with a yin/yang symbol in the middle, and her pregnancy test was the same Widmore Labs model that Sun used).
Edmond caught Juliet stealing the chemicals she was giving Rachel and threatened to report her to the authorities and ethics boards unless he got publication credit on her research. Juliet was also approached by Mr. Alpert of the Portland-based Mittleos Bioscience, who somehow seemed to know about both her mouse experiment and her secret project with her sister. Alpert wanted Juliet to bring her research to their campus, but she commented in an off-hand way that would only happen if Edmond were hit by a bus. On “Mittleos,” three things: 1) I see an obvious anagram for “Lost Time,” which Juliet’s reveal at the end of the episode suggests is no accident; 2) EW.com notes that “mittleos” is German for “poor” or “bereft of funds” (implications currently unknown); and, 3) perhaps a bit of a stretch, but some similarity to “Mittlewerk,” the Machiavellian scientist who, according to Bad Twin and The Lost Experience, wrested control of the Hanso Foundation from Alvar.
As soon as Juliet revealed her success with Rachel to Edmond, he was, indeed, hit by a bus (which sported an ad for Apollo candy bars, favorite of Hurley and Lost Experience fans everywhere). The creepy factor of this shocking death hit a new high when Alpert showed up at the morgue where Juliet had just identified Edmond’s body, and introduced her to his colleague, Ethan (!), who seemed familiar to Juliet (remember the hallway?). Alpert told Juliet he knew about Rachel’s pregnancy and assured her she would be back within six months for the birth. He also conceded that the Mittleos facility is “not exactly in Portland.” All of this of course took on new meaning at the end of the episode…
Back on the island, still in their hiatus-beginning walkie-talkie chat with Jack (“dammit, Kate, Run!”) Kate and Sawyer make their move and kick some Pickett arse, complete with a fish-biscuit button shock. They steal a gun, lock Pickett and his cohort in the cage and run. Juliet gives the order to have her fellow Others retrieve Kate and Sawyer, even if they have to kill them, defiantly telling Jack he won’t let Ben, who is still on the operating table, die. Jack reveals Juliet’s murderous plans for Ben, and Tom gives her the boot.
An angry Pickett is set free and he and two fellow Others begin their chase. Kate spots the beach (and their “home” island) and finally the reality of the situation sets in. She radios Jack for a boat, when a lucky shot from Pickett blasts her radio. Gunplay, running, and jungle dodging ensue. A few shots later, Sawyer is out of ammo. One of the Others closes on Kate, only to get pegged by Alex’s slingshot! The inexplicably French-accented Alex leads Kate and Sawyer to a trap door, where they hide while the Others pass overhead.
Ben, having overheard Tom’s questioning Jack about Juliet’s instruction to kill him, awakens and demands, of all things, Juliet’s return to the O.R. Ben asks Jack, “one gentleman to another,” for three minutes alone with Juliet. From the gallery, Jack sees them speaking but can’t hear what they’re saying. Tom introduces himself by name to Jack and explains of Ben and Juliet “they’ve got history.” A teary Juliet leaves the O.R. and asks Jack to finish the surgery, promising to help Kate and Sawyer escape. Tom looks on with a surprised look but makes no move to stop her.
Alex tells Kate and Sawyer she has a boat, which they can use if they help her to rescue Karl.
Oprah plans to reveal her biggest secret…no, wait, that’s just a commercial – maybe I watch this show a little too closely.
Juliet spots Kate, Sawyer and Alex on the Hydra monitors as they approach the place where a young Other named Aldo is guarding over Karl (actually, more than guarding, Aldo was reading A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. Wonder what that's all about?). With just one unloaded gun, they hatch a quick plan – Alex marches Kate and Sawyer to the door at gun point and claims to have caught them in an escape attempt. Aldo warns Alex that her dad won’t be happy she’s there. Alex’s dad? Aldo calls “dad” and asks for…Ben! Sawyer jumps Aldo and says he fell for the “ol’ Wookie prisoner gig.” Kate threatens to kneecap Aldo with the rifle they captured from him, and Aldo coughs up Karl’s location. Kate assures Sawyer this was not a bluff. In cell “23” they find Karl, being bombarded with loud noise and bizarre imagery. Karl is hooked up to an i.v., messages blaring and flashing on screen like “we are the causes of our own suffering” and, tellingly, “God loves you like he loved Jacob” (another reference to “Jacob!”). Sawyer carries Karl out of the cell and demands the boat. As an aside, could this be the “room” that Miss Klugh threatened to return Walt to last season? As another aside, what goes on in the cells numbered 4, 8, 15, 16 and 42?
Pickett angrily wakes Aldo. Juliet tells Pickett to let Sawyer and Kate go, claiming it’s Ben’s request. Pickett’s response – I know Ben would rather die than let them go.
Tom begins to explain to Jack that they couldn’t take Ben to an off-island facility because, ever since the sky turned purple…but then an unexpected bleed interrupts! More on this later…
Loading Karl into a boat on the beach, Sawyer tells Alex he is surprised to learn she’s “the boss’s daughter.” Pickett appears and is about to shoot Sawyer (oh, how he hates Sawyer), when Juliet calls to him and guns him down. This cannot possibly play well with her fellow Others…Juliet won’t let Alex go with Sawyer, Kate and Karl because the only way her father will let Karl live is if Alex is around when he wakes up.
Kate radios Jack and lets him know they’re safe. She repeats the story Jack told her on their first day on the island about his first botched surgery (their code for a signal of safety). Just as Kate reaches the part of the story where Jack saved his first surgical patient, Ben stabilizes. Jack demands that Kate promise she will not come back for him. Kate and Sawyer shove off with the dazed Karl on board, Juliet and Alex looking on.
Later, Jack stares at Ben, in recovery, when Juliet returns. Jack tells her he was able to remove the tumor, and suggests a biopsy to see if it’s malignant. Juliet says Jack will go back to his cell until “they” figure out what to do with him. What did Ben say to make Juliet want to save his life? Juliet tells Jack she’s been on the island 3 years, 2 months, 28 days (a lot more than 6 months!) Ben told her he would finally let her go home if she let him live and helped Jack.
So that’s what happened. What does it mean?
Juliet
In light of the first scene of the season, we know Juliet’s story pretty well by now. Always a sucker for domineering men (like Edmond, Alpert and Ben), she was suckered into research in this “not exactly in Portland” facility by off-island agents of the Others, she found a message of empowerment in her favorite novel, Stephen King’s Carrie (about a similarly weak high school girl who eventually explodes with telekinetic rage). We now know the reason Juliet cried in that first scene of the season when she listened to the song, “Downtown” – as idyllic as Othersville seemed, she is nonetheless a prisoner. We also know now what the Powers that Be meant when they teased during the hiatus that Juliet’s agenda is more in line with the 815 survivors’ than the Others’ – she wants to leave the island. The nature of her research and the baby-napping obsession the Others seem to have suggests they have 1) a fertility problem and 2) a real need to sustain their society on the island. Finally, we also know how long she’s been with the Others: just over three years, or almost exactly since the moment Desmond arrived on the island, as well. Will this turn out to be a coincidence?
Deepening Mysteries, or Shark-Jumping?
We got two reveals in “Not in Portland” that seem to throw our sleuthing for a loop. 1) The Others claim that Ben is Alex’s father, and 2) Tom seemed to suggest they needed Jack to operate on Ben because the implosion of the Swan hatch cut them off from the outside world.
We’ve long been led to believe that this French-accented Alex is the teenage daughter of Rousseau, who was abducted as an infant by the then-unseen Others. Rousseau claimed she was pregnant when her ship was marooned on the island, but Ben told Jack he had lived there his whole life. Granted, Ben also once told Jack he was Henry Gale from Minnesota, but still… There is an obvious explanation, particularly in light of the Others’ apparent fertility problems: Ben is more Alex’s adoptive (abductive?) father than her biological one. Still, until anything is stated plainly, it will be hard to know for sure.
As for the Others’ needing Jack to operate on Ben because of the “sky turning purple,” let’s recall the order things went down – the Others selected Jack, Kate and Sawyer (and Hurley) before Michael returned to camp. They ambushed the group, then the Swan Hatch imploded, and then they sent Walt and Michael off on the little ferry. If the implosion cut off their contacts with the outside world, then Walt and Michael never escaped, the Others didn’t need Jack to do the surgery until after they already had him, and they didn’t need Kate and Sawyer to manipulate Jack until then, either. So there must have been a different plan in mind for these captives, which was further supported by Pickett’s snarl that Ben would rather die than let Kate and Sawyer escape (i.e. they had more in store for the pair). I’m also intrigued that the same event that seemed to momentarily reveal the island to the outside world in last season’s finale also somehow cut off the Others’ access to the outside world. I’m hoping for more on this next week, when the Powers that Be say we’ll get more on the Penelope Widmore Arctic Research Bonanza.
Finally, unlike most questions-answered-with-questions moments on Lost, I’m relieved by the idea that the Others’ master plan was not simply to force Jack to do one surgery by threatening Kate and Sawyer. As master plans go, that was kind of weak. Still no idea what they in fact wanted from the trio, but it’s gotta be better than that. Of course, they never just come right out and tell you, so maybe Tom’s cut-off explanation about the “purple sky” wasn’t going in that direction. We’ll have to wait and see.
Until next time, I’m signing off.
First, the backstory. Dr. Juliet Burke was once a meek research scientist in Miami working in a lab run by her oppressive ex-husband, Edmond (24 season 1 villain, Zeljko Ivanek). (Does anyone else note the strong connections to Florida in Lost? Kate was married there, Sawyer did time there, and now Juliet worked there…) Her specialty? Extreme fertility. She successfully impregnated a male mouse (though she modestly pointed out it didn’t carry to term). She also had been stealing samples of some chemical which, when injected into her cancer-stricken sister, Rachel, induced pregnancy. In the first scene at Rachel’s apartment, we saw a familiar face – deceased Other Ethan Rom walked past Juliet in the hallway and said “hello,” though it’s clear from Juliet’s reaction she did not know him at this point. (Did you catch the other imagery around Rachel? At her bedside was a sculpture that looked like a Dharma logo with a yin/yang symbol in the middle, and her pregnancy test was the same Widmore Labs model that Sun used).
Edmond caught Juliet stealing the chemicals she was giving Rachel and threatened to report her to the authorities and ethics boards unless he got publication credit on her research. Juliet was also approached by Mr. Alpert of the Portland-based Mittleos Bioscience, who somehow seemed to know about both her mouse experiment and her secret project with her sister. Alpert wanted Juliet to bring her research to their campus, but she commented in an off-hand way that would only happen if Edmond were hit by a bus. On “Mittleos,” three things: 1) I see an obvious anagram for “Lost Time,” which Juliet’s reveal at the end of the episode suggests is no accident; 2) EW.com notes that “mittleos” is German for “poor” or “bereft of funds” (implications currently unknown); and, 3) perhaps a bit of a stretch, but some similarity to “Mittlewerk,” the Machiavellian scientist who, according to Bad Twin and The Lost Experience, wrested control of the Hanso Foundation from Alvar.
As soon as Juliet revealed her success with Rachel to Edmond, he was, indeed, hit by a bus (which sported an ad for Apollo candy bars, favorite of Hurley and Lost Experience fans everywhere). The creepy factor of this shocking death hit a new high when Alpert showed up at the morgue where Juliet had just identified Edmond’s body, and introduced her to his colleague, Ethan (!), who seemed familiar to Juliet (remember the hallway?). Alpert told Juliet he knew about Rachel’s pregnancy and assured her she would be back within six months for the birth. He also conceded that the Mittleos facility is “not exactly in Portland.” All of this of course took on new meaning at the end of the episode…
Back on the island, still in their hiatus-beginning walkie-talkie chat with Jack (“dammit, Kate, Run!”) Kate and Sawyer make their move and kick some Pickett arse, complete with a fish-biscuit button shock. They steal a gun, lock Pickett and his cohort in the cage and run. Juliet gives the order to have her fellow Others retrieve Kate and Sawyer, even if they have to kill them, defiantly telling Jack he won’t let Ben, who is still on the operating table, die. Jack reveals Juliet’s murderous plans for Ben, and Tom gives her the boot.
An angry Pickett is set free and he and two fellow Others begin their chase. Kate spots the beach (and their “home” island) and finally the reality of the situation sets in. She radios Jack for a boat, when a lucky shot from Pickett blasts her radio. Gunplay, running, and jungle dodging ensue. A few shots later, Sawyer is out of ammo. One of the Others closes on Kate, only to get pegged by Alex’s slingshot! The inexplicably French-accented Alex leads Kate and Sawyer to a trap door, where they hide while the Others pass overhead.
Ben, having overheard Tom’s questioning Jack about Juliet’s instruction to kill him, awakens and demands, of all things, Juliet’s return to the O.R. Ben asks Jack, “one gentleman to another,” for three minutes alone with Juliet. From the gallery, Jack sees them speaking but can’t hear what they’re saying. Tom introduces himself by name to Jack and explains of Ben and Juliet “they’ve got history.” A teary Juliet leaves the O.R. and asks Jack to finish the surgery, promising to help Kate and Sawyer escape. Tom looks on with a surprised look but makes no move to stop her.
Alex tells Kate and Sawyer she has a boat, which they can use if they help her to rescue Karl.
Oprah plans to reveal her biggest secret…no, wait, that’s just a commercial – maybe I watch this show a little too closely.
Juliet spots Kate, Sawyer and Alex on the Hydra monitors as they approach the place where a young Other named Aldo is guarding over Karl (actually, more than guarding, Aldo was reading A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. Wonder what that's all about?). With just one unloaded gun, they hatch a quick plan – Alex marches Kate and Sawyer to the door at gun point and claims to have caught them in an escape attempt. Aldo warns Alex that her dad won’t be happy she’s there. Alex’s dad? Aldo calls “dad” and asks for…Ben! Sawyer jumps Aldo and says he fell for the “ol’ Wookie prisoner gig.” Kate threatens to kneecap Aldo with the rifle they captured from him, and Aldo coughs up Karl’s location. Kate assures Sawyer this was not a bluff. In cell “23” they find Karl, being bombarded with loud noise and bizarre imagery. Karl is hooked up to an i.v., messages blaring and flashing on screen like “we are the causes of our own suffering” and, tellingly, “God loves you like he loved Jacob” (another reference to “Jacob!”). Sawyer carries Karl out of the cell and demands the boat. As an aside, could this be the “room” that Miss Klugh threatened to return Walt to last season? As another aside, what goes on in the cells numbered 4, 8, 15, 16 and 42?
Pickett angrily wakes Aldo. Juliet tells Pickett to let Sawyer and Kate go, claiming it’s Ben’s request. Pickett’s response – I know Ben would rather die than let them go.
Tom begins to explain to Jack that they couldn’t take Ben to an off-island facility because, ever since the sky turned purple…but then an unexpected bleed interrupts! More on this later…
Loading Karl into a boat on the beach, Sawyer tells Alex he is surprised to learn she’s “the boss’s daughter.” Pickett appears and is about to shoot Sawyer (oh, how he hates Sawyer), when Juliet calls to him and guns him down. This cannot possibly play well with her fellow Others…Juliet won’t let Alex go with Sawyer, Kate and Karl because the only way her father will let Karl live is if Alex is around when he wakes up.
Kate radios Jack and lets him know they’re safe. She repeats the story Jack told her on their first day on the island about his first botched surgery (their code for a signal of safety). Just as Kate reaches the part of the story where Jack saved his first surgical patient, Ben stabilizes. Jack demands that Kate promise she will not come back for him. Kate and Sawyer shove off with the dazed Karl on board, Juliet and Alex looking on.
Later, Jack stares at Ben, in recovery, when Juliet returns. Jack tells her he was able to remove the tumor, and suggests a biopsy to see if it’s malignant. Juliet says Jack will go back to his cell until “they” figure out what to do with him. What did Ben say to make Juliet want to save his life? Juliet tells Jack she’s been on the island 3 years, 2 months, 28 days (a lot more than 6 months!) Ben told her he would finally let her go home if she let him live and helped Jack.
So that’s what happened. What does it mean?
Juliet
In light of the first scene of the season, we know Juliet’s story pretty well by now. Always a sucker for domineering men (like Edmond, Alpert and Ben), she was suckered into research in this “not exactly in Portland” facility by off-island agents of the Others, she found a message of empowerment in her favorite novel, Stephen King’s Carrie (about a similarly weak high school girl who eventually explodes with telekinetic rage). We now know the reason Juliet cried in that first scene of the season when she listened to the song, “Downtown” – as idyllic as Othersville seemed, she is nonetheless a prisoner. We also know now what the Powers that Be meant when they teased during the hiatus that Juliet’s agenda is more in line with the 815 survivors’ than the Others’ – she wants to leave the island. The nature of her research and the baby-napping obsession the Others seem to have suggests they have 1) a fertility problem and 2) a real need to sustain their society on the island. Finally, we also know how long she’s been with the Others: just over three years, or almost exactly since the moment Desmond arrived on the island, as well. Will this turn out to be a coincidence?
Deepening Mysteries, or Shark-Jumping?
We got two reveals in “Not in Portland” that seem to throw our sleuthing for a loop. 1) The Others claim that Ben is Alex’s father, and 2) Tom seemed to suggest they needed Jack to operate on Ben because the implosion of the Swan hatch cut them off from the outside world.
We’ve long been led to believe that this French-accented Alex is the teenage daughter of Rousseau, who was abducted as an infant by the then-unseen Others. Rousseau claimed she was pregnant when her ship was marooned on the island, but Ben told Jack he had lived there his whole life. Granted, Ben also once told Jack he was Henry Gale from Minnesota, but still… There is an obvious explanation, particularly in light of the Others’ apparent fertility problems: Ben is more Alex’s adoptive (abductive?) father than her biological one. Still, until anything is stated plainly, it will be hard to know for sure.
As for the Others’ needing Jack to operate on Ben because of the “sky turning purple,” let’s recall the order things went down – the Others selected Jack, Kate and Sawyer (and Hurley) before Michael returned to camp. They ambushed the group, then the Swan Hatch imploded, and then they sent Walt and Michael off on the little ferry. If the implosion cut off their contacts with the outside world, then Walt and Michael never escaped, the Others didn’t need Jack to do the surgery until after they already had him, and they didn’t need Kate and Sawyer to manipulate Jack until then, either. So there must have been a different plan in mind for these captives, which was further supported by Pickett’s snarl that Ben would rather die than let Kate and Sawyer escape (i.e. they had more in store for the pair). I’m also intrigued that the same event that seemed to momentarily reveal the island to the outside world in last season’s finale also somehow cut off the Others’ access to the outside world. I’m hoping for more on this next week, when the Powers that Be say we’ll get more on the Penelope Widmore Arctic Research Bonanza.
Finally, unlike most questions-answered-with-questions moments on Lost, I’m relieved by the idea that the Others’ master plan was not simply to force Jack to do one surgery by threatening Kate and Sawyer. As master plans go, that was kind of weak. Still no idea what they in fact wanted from the trio, but it’s gotta be better than that. Of course, they never just come right out and tell you, so maybe Tom’s cut-off explanation about the “purple sky” wasn’t going in that direction. We’ll have to wait and see.
Until next time, I’m signing off.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
The Powers that Be in their Video Podcast
This follows on the coattails of the spoiler post. This is the Powers that Be and certain members of the cast in their end of break video podcast. Enjoy!
Friday, February 02, 2007
Running down the Spoilers
With only 6 days to go until Lost returns, you should know I've spent the past 12 weeks hitting the bricks of the internet, rounding up hints, spoilers, and coming attractions. Before we get to all that, a programming note. Want a reminder of what was going on three months ago when Lost left us longing for more? The Powers that Be, Damon Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse, will be hosting a recap special on ABC on Wednesday, February 7 at 9:00 EST/PST, 8:00 CST/MST, before Lost returns at its new time, 10:00 EST/PST, 9:00 CST/MST. So now, with special thanks to Doc Jensen, the "Ask Ausiello" column on TVGUIDE.com, and the good folks at ABC.com, here is what we know will be on the horizon next week and beyond....
The return episode, "Not in Portland," will focus on Juliet, and will reveal quite a bit about her past.
Juliet's duplicity takes on new levels of complexity. Tom will reveal to Jack that the Others know Juliet told Jack to kill Ben, but will threaten to kill Jack if Ben dies. Meanwhile, Juliet will order the more militant Others, like Pickett, to prevent Sawyer and Kate's escape, even if it means killing them.
The subplot from the last scene of last season's finale involving polar researchers working for Penelope Widmore will resume in episode 8 (February 14), but will only connect to the main action on the island in this season's finale.
Charlie's about to get his comeuppance for kidnapping Sun last season. According to Carlton Cuse, "Sun finally finds out who actually did that to her. It takes place in another character's episode, but it becomes an important ancillary part of that episode." Cuse adds that it's a "reasonable assumption" that the reveal will cause problems between Charlie and Claire.
Vincent is still on the island, per Cuse, who reveals, "The dog is coming back very soon."
When Vincent returns, it will be with a rotting human arm clutching a mysterious key on a rabbit's foot keychain in his mouth. He will lead Hurley and Charlie into the jungle, presumably to the lock the key opens.
Desmond continues to suffer as a result of whatever happened in the hatch implosion, and his newfound prognostic ability is not making him any happier.
Hurley will suspect that, a-la the Fantastic Four, whatever gave Desmond his new abilities may have impacted Locke and possibly Charlie.
Sawyer will definitely make it back to the main island, where he and Jin will drink some Dharma beer in an old VW bus.
The meaning of Jack's tattoo will be revealed, as will the story behind where he got it (in a sultry Southeast Asian locale, it would seem).
We will learn how Locke became paralyzed.
There will be a more overt mention of "Jacob," but we will not meet Jacob this season.
Bearing in mind that in "Lost time," we're somewhere in November 2004, a real-world event will soon impact the island. Internet buzz suggests this may be the Indonesia tsunami (which may also provide a hint as to just where the island is located).
We have not seen the last of Walt or Michael.
We will see the last of the island housing the Hydra station about three weeks from now.
Ben and Juliet will be around for a while.
Cindy, the flight attendant/ girlfriend of late author Gary Troupe, and the last of the tailies to be abducted by the Others will return, and she and other Other abductees will be sent to "watch" something that will happen to Jack.
Nicki and Paulo's story will be told around the 14th episode.
We will see another Dharma installation, "The Flame."
Hopefully by the end of this season, ABC will anounce the planned endpoint of Lost. This will enable the Powers that Be to better pace the show and avoid the "X-Files phenomenon" of lasting two seasons too long, or creative stall.
When Lost returns next season, it will be in January, and there will be no breaks in the schedule like the hiatus we've just endured.
Jeff Jensen reports that background materials that will make "Not in Portland" work better for you include: Edmund Burke, A Clockwork Orange, and A Brief History of Time.
For some very heavy (and possibly ridiculous) additional spoilers, go to...http://www.thetailsection.com/lost_news/lost_february_preview_spoilers.php#more
Namaste, fellow Lostophiles. Until the recap of "Not in Portland," I hope I've kept you interested during the hiatus.
The return episode, "Not in Portland," will focus on Juliet, and will reveal quite a bit about her past.
Juliet's duplicity takes on new levels of complexity. Tom will reveal to Jack that the Others know Juliet told Jack to kill Ben, but will threaten to kill Jack if Ben dies. Meanwhile, Juliet will order the more militant Others, like Pickett, to prevent Sawyer and Kate's escape, even if it means killing them.
The subplot from the last scene of last season's finale involving polar researchers working for Penelope Widmore will resume in episode 8 (February 14), but will only connect to the main action on the island in this season's finale.
Charlie's about to get his comeuppance for kidnapping Sun last season. According to Carlton Cuse, "Sun finally finds out who actually did that to her. It takes place in another character's episode, but it becomes an important ancillary part of that episode." Cuse adds that it's a "reasonable assumption" that the reveal will cause problems between Charlie and Claire.
Vincent is still on the island, per Cuse, who reveals, "The dog is coming back very soon."
When Vincent returns, it will be with a rotting human arm clutching a mysterious key on a rabbit's foot keychain in his mouth. He will lead Hurley and Charlie into the jungle, presumably to the lock the key opens.
Desmond continues to suffer as a result of whatever happened in the hatch implosion, and his newfound prognostic ability is not making him any happier.
Hurley will suspect that, a-la the Fantastic Four, whatever gave Desmond his new abilities may have impacted Locke and possibly Charlie.
Sawyer will definitely make it back to the main island, where he and Jin will drink some Dharma beer in an old VW bus.
The meaning of Jack's tattoo will be revealed, as will the story behind where he got it (in a sultry Southeast Asian locale, it would seem).
We will learn how Locke became paralyzed.
There will be a more overt mention of "Jacob," but we will not meet Jacob this season.
Bearing in mind that in "Lost time," we're somewhere in November 2004, a real-world event will soon impact the island. Internet buzz suggests this may be the Indonesia tsunami (which may also provide a hint as to just where the island is located).
We have not seen the last of Walt or Michael.
We will see the last of the island housing the Hydra station about three weeks from now.
Ben and Juliet will be around for a while.
Cindy, the flight attendant/ girlfriend of late author Gary Troupe, and the last of the tailies to be abducted by the Others will return, and she and other Other abductees will be sent to "watch" something that will happen to Jack.
Nicki and Paulo's story will be told around the 14th episode.
We will see another Dharma installation, "The Flame."
Hopefully by the end of this season, ABC will anounce the planned endpoint of Lost. This will enable the Powers that Be to better pace the show and avoid the "X-Files phenomenon" of lasting two seasons too long, or creative stall.
When Lost returns next season, it will be in January, and there will be no breaks in the schedule like the hiatus we've just endured.
Jeff Jensen reports that background materials that will make "Not in Portland" work better for you include: Edmund Burke, A Clockwork Orange, and A Brief History of Time.
For some very heavy (and possibly ridiculous) additional spoilers, go to...http://www.thetailsection.com/lost_news/lost_february_preview_spoilers.php#more
Namaste, fellow Lostophiles. Until the recap of "Not in Portland," I hope I've kept you interested during the hiatus.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
LOST Whispers
LOST Whispers
In this, my last "review the clues" post before season 3 resumes, I discuss the whispers that can be heard from time to time on the island, from no obvious direction or location. This post comes with several caveats.
1. People with far more time than I have (and presumably better equipment) have deciphered the whispers. Everything I "know" about them, I found on the internet.
2. I have tinnitis, or a persistent high-pitched ringing in my ears, which means I can't make out 90% of what they claim to have heard.
In other words, this may all be a load of hogwash. Or it may offer some very interesting clues. Lawyers typically must evaluate not only the content of evidence, but also the weight it is to be given, considering the source. Lost loving lawyers are no different.
You can get a glimpse of what I'm talking about at the above link (or by clicking on the title of this post). The information comes primarily from two frequent posters to the official Lost Blog, thefuselage.com, who themselves Penyours and RVTurnage.
Penyours and RVTurnage postulate, and purport to prove, that the whispers are found, not just in the obvious jungle scenes when the sound mixers ramp them up and the characters seem to hear them, but also buried in many of the more climactic scenes of the series.
Some of the more interesting notes from these whisper transcripts are presented here, but I invite you to check out the full panoply at the above link and let me know what you think.
From the season opener, "A Tale of Two Cities," the scene in which Jack could not hear Juliet through the glass of his tank. The whispers appeared (and were followed by Christian Sheppard's voice on the intercom). Here's the transcript (references in parentheses are lines of dialog from the main scene):
Has she tried to talk to him (or) shall we talk to him Look on Has he answered (or) His head is hurtdon't (won't) talk We're not sure if he knows that much (or) We’re not sure if we’ll find out muchThat's what I was thinkingLet him go freeIt's not easy keeping something that secret (sacred) (Jack: If you're trying to talk to me, I can't hear you)What are you gonna do (or) go on and do it Let it go Jack (Christian's voice?)Now I can tell what you're doing Bring it back to her
So who are these voices? In this and several other scenes, they seem to offer a running commentary, not to mention some apparently unheard advice to the characters. This is also evident from last season's finale, "Live Together, Die Alone," in which the voices were clearly audible (though perhaps indecypherable) when Jack's party was ambushed by the Others in the clearing near the pneumatic tubes from the Pearl stations:
This is no good (or) Let's do something (or) We're near themHe's asking him somethingYeah but what happenedThey saw a smoke signal Elizabeth Did (does) somebody see you (or) It looks like her but You' re on her right Behind you I'll have to listen to the dreams (trees) to learn (find) something He'll need to instruct you (or) Do we ambush Why can't you (two) do it (or) Can't you see(Sawyer gets hit with dart) Got to have a team with you Okay crank it up(Kate: Sawyer!) I knew that something bad would happenI assume this is how you would do itDon't tell anyone he wants it done (or) Don't want anyone to dieLets assemble them (or) This is similar (or) What's this symbol of(Jack: Run! Go! Go!) It was herSo she was never taken (or) So she must never take it (or) I'm sure it's just new to youSaid I was about to (or) Someone attacked them Get your butt out of there Try the sequenceHad to be given lessonsTurn it on beside youDon't do it Don't see (Gunshots)You're gonna have to do itYou are too Why can't we choose (or) I can't reach itTwo more people (or) Too young peopleI'm frightenedPleaseCome on it's simpleIntruder alertDo you think I should I lock thisNo , I've seen them beforeClose the doorYou all need me.
In this, my last "review the clues" post before season 3 resumes, I discuss the whispers that can be heard from time to time on the island, from no obvious direction or location. This post comes with several caveats.
1. People with far more time than I have (and presumably better equipment) have deciphered the whispers. Everything I "know" about them, I found on the internet.
2. I have tinnitis, or a persistent high-pitched ringing in my ears, which means I can't make out 90% of what they claim to have heard.
In other words, this may all be a load of hogwash. Or it may offer some very interesting clues. Lawyers typically must evaluate not only the content of evidence, but also the weight it is to be given, considering the source. Lost loving lawyers are no different.
You can get a glimpse of what I'm talking about at the above link (or by clicking on the title of this post). The information comes primarily from two frequent posters to the official Lost Blog, thefuselage.com, who themselves Penyours and RVTurnage.
Penyours and RVTurnage postulate, and purport to prove, that the whispers are found, not just in the obvious jungle scenes when the sound mixers ramp them up and the characters seem to hear them, but also buried in many of the more climactic scenes of the series.
Some of the more interesting notes from these whisper transcripts are presented here, but I invite you to check out the full panoply at the above link and let me know what you think.
From the season opener, "A Tale of Two Cities," the scene in which Jack could not hear Juliet through the glass of his tank. The whispers appeared (and were followed by Christian Sheppard's voice on the intercom). Here's the transcript (references in parentheses are lines of dialog from the main scene):
Has she tried to talk to him (or) shall we talk to him Look on Has he answered (or) His head is hurtdon't (won't) talk We're not sure if he knows that much (or) We’re not sure if we’ll find out muchThat's what I was thinkingLet him go freeIt's not easy keeping something that secret (sacred) (Jack: If you're trying to talk to me, I can't hear you)What are you gonna do (or) go on and do it Let it go Jack (Christian's voice?)Now I can tell what you're doing Bring it back to her
So who are these voices? In this and several other scenes, they seem to offer a running commentary, not to mention some apparently unheard advice to the characters. This is also evident from last season's finale, "Live Together, Die Alone," in which the voices were clearly audible (though perhaps indecypherable) when Jack's party was ambushed by the Others in the clearing near the pneumatic tubes from the Pearl stations:
This is no good (or) Let's do something (or) We're near themHe's asking him somethingYeah but what happenedThey saw a smoke signal Elizabeth Did (does) somebody see you (or) It looks like her but You' re on her right Behind you I'll have to listen to the dreams (trees) to learn (find) something He'll need to instruct you (or) Do we ambush Why can't you (two) do it (or) Can't you see(Sawyer gets hit with dart) Got to have a team with you Okay crank it up(Kate: Sawyer!) I knew that something bad would happenI assume this is how you would do itDon't tell anyone he wants it done (or) Don't want anyone to dieLets assemble them (or) This is similar (or) What's this symbol of(Jack: Run! Go! Go!) It was herSo she was never taken (or) So she must never take it (or) I'm sure it's just new to youSaid I was about to (or) Someone attacked them Get your butt out of there Try the sequenceHad to be given lessonsTurn it on beside youDon't do it Don't see (Gunshots)You're gonna have to do itYou are too Why can't we choose (or) I can't reach itTwo more people (or) Too young peopleI'm frightenedPleaseCome on it's simpleIntruder alertDo you think I should I lock thisNo , I've seen them beforeClose the doorYou all need me.
I highlight "Elizabeth" because I heard this myself in the scene. In context, in the episode we had just discovered that Desmond's future boat, the Elizabeth, was named by its original owner after his wife, Libby. Because I was able to catch that at the time, I think there may be some credence to these transcripts. That said, they tend to be a bit more abstract than I like my clues to be.
Other whisper sequences give the sense that the whisperers are the masterminds pulling strings on the island. Take for example this transcript, of what the whispers supposedly said the first time we clearly heard them, when Sayid had just fled into the jungle from Danielle Rousseau's bunker in "Solitary":
(Man's voice) Just let him get out of here (Second Man's Voice) He's seen too much already What if he tells (Woman's voice) Could just speak to him (Man's voice) No
Much like Desmond, the whispers also seem to have some ability to tell what is about to happen. See this transcript from "The Other 48 Days," from the scene when the whispers appeared, disoriented Ana Lucia, and she inadvertently shot Shannon (who had been having a tender moment with Sayid before chasing a vision of Walt):
Relax Dude, I think she likes the guy You're life Ich Weiss Nicht (German for 'I don't know')Look out Ana’s the trigger You're gonna kill her Move on (Gun shot) See ya (Like a chorus singing just after the gunshot)------Shannon She likes the guy, she likes the guy Shannon Your life and and time is up Help me Shannon, meet me on the other side Her song('Ana-Lucia' when reversed)(Gun shot)------Relax dude, she likes the guy, she likes the guy Shannon(In the background) I know it all I know it all...(In the background) Dying sucks Shannon I don't think you should tell her when she comes Obviously she likes youWho's the guy?I want to see ShannonEye to eye(In the background) Who's the guy? Fire Lucia The brothers that help us Are you done with it? Her song('Ana-Lucia' when reversed)(Gun shot)Fire
Finally, here is a series of whispers from "One of Them," in a scene in which Sayid was interrogating "Henry," which suggests the whispers may be alligned with, or have some interest in, the Others:
Maybe we should have stopped it / him Try to execute We've got to see if we can get through to him (Sayid: Tell me about this balloon) Get off for a second (Henry: What?) Something's blocking it / It's right beside him (Sayid: This balloon that brought you here with your wife)Go ahead and do it Might have heard from him / My eyes hurt (Henry: What do you want to know) Is he gonna give it away He's interrogating him (Sayid: Everything) Calmly begin speaking and act completely...So it's okay...We can get you through this ordeal We are minding the radio (Henry: She's a hundred and forty feet high, sixty feet wide...) It ain't sixty feet...It can't be much taller than that... maybe a hundred footer (Henry: and when she's up in the air, 550,000 cubic feet of helium...) Clearly he thought you were on top if it / Clearly he's not too on top of it That gives more to do (Henry: And if you could look down on her...)He's on to him Probably blew it (Henry: you'd see a...) So he buys it He played him(Henry: big yellow smiley face on top) It's not quite ready I need help They don't believe him (Sayid: Why would you travel in that way?) Tell him "for my business" Why else would he do it (Henry: Because I was rich...) Any country might have fit Just stay calm and he won't hurt you(Henry: It was my dream) I know you're doing something Screwed something up / He *beep* it up I don't know how else to put it
There are of course other whisper sequences supposedly decoded by Penyours and RVTurnage, which you can find on the page linked above, or by googling "lost whispers." As with the clues found on the map and in the mural (see prior posts below), these transcripts offer more insight into some of the phenomena we have clearly seen: Walt's abilities, and his reverse-speaking apparition to Shannon and Sayid; Desmond's clairvoyance; smokey's brain image download; Locke and Eko's visions and dreams. Again, I don't have any idea if these transcripts are accurate, or what to make out of some of the less obviously contextually-linked lines. The stream of consciousness that seems to be reflected suggests a form of telepathy, as in thoughts not fully organized into language. Either that, or Penyours and RVTurnage just have too much time and imagination, but not particularly good ears.
Please, go to the link and take a listen. Let me know what you think.
Next week, before "Not in Portland," my rundown of spoilers of hints for the rest of the season...
Friday, January 26, 2007
LOST - The Final Episode Revealed
Some of the cast members had some fun shooting this video bit for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that took place earlier this month in Las Vegas. It depicts the ending of "Lost." It isn't side-splitting funny, but it is cute.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Lost - The mural page
After the six-part series LLL just completed on the blast door map, I considered doing something similar with the less obvious but equally intriguing wall mural for the Swan hatch's library. But as it turns out, someone in Iowa has already done a fantastic job of this, so I'll direct you to the site at the link above.
Some highlights that jump out:
1. The mural apparently changed over time. It could have been modified by John, Jack, and the other button-pushers. Or it could have changed itself. In any case, the precise meaning of the changes is hard to decipher.
2. Stylistically, it is very similar to the abstract artwork created by Claire's ex/ Aaron's father, the artist. The simple explanation is that the Powers that Be hired only one background artist. The more interesting explanation, and more in keeping with Lost, is that Aaron's dad has had some greater connection to the island after leaving Claire (or before)...
3. Symbols found on the mural include boats with people falling off (Sun?), recurrences of "108", fish biscuits, separate islands with water in between, houses (a-la Othersville from this season's opening sequence), a one-eyed man (Mr. eyepatch?), a plane crash, an arrow at the precise heading along which Michael left the island, references to Walt, etc.
So look at this exceptionally well-done website, and think about the content. We're only two weeks away from episode 307 ("Not in Portland"). If it seems odd that so many Lost plot points would appear on this mural before they took place, bear in mind that whatever forces are at play on the island that gave Desmond his new clairvoyance may have done so with someone else in the past...
Monday, January 15, 2007
The Future of Lost
This weekend, at the Television Critics Association tour, the Powers that Be (Lost producers Damon Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse) again brought up their hopes that Lost will be given a definite endpoint in the not too distant future, allowing the writers a roadmap to avoid the appearance of creative stall while they wonder how long they have to string out their master plan. Unlike prior such comments, which seemed to be an attempt to rally the public behind the idea of a firm end date, now the network has gotten involved and a decision seems likely to come soon. As reported by Entertainment Weekly:
"ABC confirmed that discussions were ongoing, but nothing has been finalized. Obviously, a lot rides on the strength of the net's current crop of shows and whether its 2007-08 dramas can someday take the place of a strong performer like Lost, which remains ABC's third-most-watched drama behind Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy. Lindelof has said he hopes Lost will sunset after 100 episodes (they're producing No. 62 now). 'We look at The X-Files as a bit of a cautionary tale,' adds Cuse. 'That was a great show that probably ran two seasons too long. Lost has a much shorter shelf life.'
Meanwhile, it appears likely that ABC will avoid rerun breaks next season and run back-to-back episodes of Lost in either the fall or spring of 2008. The network had considered running the current season without an (interminable) down period over the holidays, but it needed the show in the September to launch The Nine, which bowed with critical acclaim but still faltered in the ratings. (Ultimately The Nine was yanked and canceled after 13 episodes, some of which have yet to air). 'Now our Sundays and Thursdays are really strong, so we'll run 22 straight through either in the fall or the spring,' said ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson."
So at some point next year (either from May 2007 to January 2008 or from February 2009 to September 2009), we'll have a very long Lost break, but, a la 24, it won't be midseason. You can read EW's full coverage by clicking on the title to this post.
My take? As much as I love Lost, this is a good thing. A story is only as good as its ending. If the Powers that Be can determine when that ending will come, they can more effectively pace the plot points and big reveals to get to their rumored pre-planned finale. I'll miss Lost when it's gone (my guess would be after Season 6, in a compromise with the network, but the writers seem to prefer Season 5 for the finale), but better to have it end well than run too long.
Of course, given the scope of the mythology and the world-shaping nature of the Dharma Initiative and the Hanso Foundation (not to mention the Lost Experience, which in story time takes place two years after the crash of flight 815), I see no reason the Powers that Be couldn't work in a jump-off point for some sort of spin-off...
"ABC confirmed that discussions were ongoing, but nothing has been finalized. Obviously, a lot rides on the strength of the net's current crop of shows and whether its 2007-08 dramas can someday take the place of a strong performer like Lost, which remains ABC's third-most-watched drama behind Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy. Lindelof has said he hopes Lost will sunset after 100 episodes (they're producing No. 62 now). 'We look at The X-Files as a bit of a cautionary tale,' adds Cuse. 'That was a great show that probably ran two seasons too long. Lost has a much shorter shelf life.'
Meanwhile, it appears likely that ABC will avoid rerun breaks next season and run back-to-back episodes of Lost in either the fall or spring of 2008. The network had considered running the current season without an (interminable) down period over the holidays, but it needed the show in the September to launch The Nine, which bowed with critical acclaim but still faltered in the ratings. (Ultimately The Nine was yanked and canceled after 13 episodes, some of which have yet to air). 'Now our Sundays and Thursdays are really strong, so we'll run 22 straight through either in the fall or the spring,' said ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson."
So at some point next year (either from May 2007 to January 2008 or from February 2009 to September 2009), we'll have a very long Lost break, but, a la 24, it won't be midseason. You can read EW's full coverage by clicking on the title to this post.
My take? As much as I love Lost, this is a good thing. A story is only as good as its ending. If the Powers that Be can determine when that ending will come, they can more effectively pace the plot points and big reveals to get to their rumored pre-planned finale. I'll miss Lost when it's gone (my guess would be after Season 6, in a compromise with the network, but the writers seem to prefer Season 5 for the finale), but better to have it end well than run too long.
Of course, given the scope of the mythology and the world-shaping nature of the Dharma Initiative and the Hanso Foundation (not to mention the Lost Experience, which in story time takes place two years after the crash of flight 815), I see no reason the Powers that Be couldn't work in a jump-off point for some sort of spin-off...
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Tour of the map - part 6 of 6
Finally, fellow Lostophiles. Together over the past several weeks, we have walked the length and breadth of the island map that was spotted by John Locke on the back of the blast door in the Swan Hatch. Today, finally, we finish this expedition with the notations made by Kelvin, Radzinsky, and who knows who else in the lower right corner.
"CV IV?"
Decoded: Well, see prior posts about these references (and, please, if you have any ideas, send them my way.)
Mysteries: What does "CV" stand for? Why the Roman numerals? Why is the mapmaker so unsure of this location?
Degree of Certainty: Not a lick.
"The Pearl?"
Decoded: By now we know quite well that the Dharma Initiative's two-person video monitoring station, codenamed "The Pearl," is actually located under the giant "?" both as drawn on the map and as seen from the cliff face above. What is interesting from this notation, way off to the side is that the mapmaker knew 1) that there was a station called "Pearl" and 2) that something important lay beneath the central spot on the map, but didn't manage to connect the two. On the other hand, this could be a notation suggesting that The Pearl is located beneath the "?", but I prefer the interpretation that the island (as manifest to both Eko and Locke as Yemi) felt these two were worthy of finding The Pearl while the mapmakers were not.
Mysteries: How did the mapmaker know about the Pearl if he or she had not been there? What key to the facilities is out there that we have not seen? And what provided the clue to place it here, off to the Southeast of the actual Pearl?
Degree of Certainty: This is one of those rare situations where I feel like we the viewers actually know more than the mapmakers.
"Hic Sunt Dracones"
Decoded: "Here there are dragons." Dragons, mystical monsters from all sorts of mythologies, are sources of wisdom, solitary guardians, and dangerous beasts. In this Southeastern portion of the map, we have encountered the whipsers (both Rousseau and Sayid heard them here), and got our first Smokey sighting. Either or both of these could be the "dragons."
Wikipedia has this to say about the phrase: ""Here be dragons" is a phrase used to denote dangerous or unexplored territories, in imitation of the infrequent medieval practice of putting sea serpents and other mythological creatures in blank areas.
...
In another context, software programmers sometimes use it to indicate especially difficult or obscure sections of code in a program so that others do not tamper with them. [2]
The title of a short science fiction story by Ray Bradbury, 'Here There Be Tygers' is an allusion to this expression."
Mysteries: As we know from Rousseau, this area is what she called the "Dark Territory." What is so mysterious or dangerous about this part of the island?
Degree of Certainty: Hey, if it's on Wikipedia, it's gotta be right!
"CV III"
Decoded: See above - but note that "CV III" is not followed by a "?".
Mysteries: See above.
Degree of Certainty: See above.
"Primary Nexus of Cerberus-Related Activity"
Decoded: As we've speculated before, "Cerberus" seems to refer to the Smokey monster, referred to by Rousseau as a "security system." The presence of this notation near other sightings of Smokey serve to confirm this connection.
Mysteries: If Cerberus is smokey, why is this a primary nexus in this spot? Why the name "Cerberus," i.e. Greek mythology's underworld guardian? What is being guarded?
Degree of Certainty: I'm feeling pretty comfortable about this one.
"CV IV?"
Decoded: Well, see prior posts about these references (and, please, if you have any ideas, send them my way.)
Mysteries: What does "CV" stand for? Why the Roman numerals? Why is the mapmaker so unsure of this location?
Degree of Certainty: Not a lick.
"The Pearl?"
Decoded: By now we know quite well that the Dharma Initiative's two-person video monitoring station, codenamed "The Pearl," is actually located under the giant "?" both as drawn on the map and as seen from the cliff face above. What is interesting from this notation, way off to the side is that the mapmaker knew 1) that there was a station called "Pearl" and 2) that something important lay beneath the central spot on the map, but didn't manage to connect the two. On the other hand, this could be a notation suggesting that The Pearl is located beneath the "?", but I prefer the interpretation that the island (as manifest to both Eko and Locke as Yemi) felt these two were worthy of finding The Pearl while the mapmakers were not.
Mysteries: How did the mapmaker know about the Pearl if he or she had not been there? What key to the facilities is out there that we have not seen? And what provided the clue to place it here, off to the Southeast of the actual Pearl?
Degree of Certainty: This is one of those rare situations where I feel like we the viewers actually know more than the mapmakers.
"Hic Sunt Dracones"
Decoded: "Here there are dragons." Dragons, mystical monsters from all sorts of mythologies, are sources of wisdom, solitary guardians, and dangerous beasts. In this Southeastern portion of the map, we have encountered the whipsers (both Rousseau and Sayid heard them here), and got our first Smokey sighting. Either or both of these could be the "dragons."
Wikipedia has this to say about the phrase: ""Here be dragons" is a phrase used to denote dangerous or unexplored territories, in imitation of the infrequent medieval practice of putting sea serpents and other mythological creatures in blank areas.
...
In another context, software programmers sometimes use it to indicate especially difficult or obscure sections of code in a program so that others do not tamper with them. [2]
The title of a short science fiction story by Ray Bradbury, 'Here There Be Tygers' is an allusion to this expression."
Mysteries: As we know from Rousseau, this area is what she called the "Dark Territory." What is so mysterious or dangerous about this part of the island?
Degree of Certainty: Hey, if it's on Wikipedia, it's gotta be right!
"CV III"
Decoded: See above - but note that "CV III" is not followed by a "?".
Mysteries: See above.
Degree of Certainty: See above.
"Primary Nexus of Cerberus-Related Activity"
Decoded: As we've speculated before, "Cerberus" seems to refer to the Smokey monster, referred to by Rousseau as a "security system." The presence of this notation near other sightings of Smokey serve to confirm this connection.
Mysteries: If Cerberus is smokey, why is this a primary nexus in this spot? Why the name "Cerberus," i.e. Greek mythology's underworld guardian? What is being guarded?
Degree of Certainty: I'm feeling pretty comfortable about this one.
"Sightings Coincide with Emergency Shutdown of Intranet Services of Heightened Security."
Decoded: This one is rich. Given the location on the map (i.e. next to the prior note), I will go out on a limb and say this refers to sightings of Cerberus/Smokey. The map is riddled with references to "emergency shutdowns" and "intranets." Is there some phenomenon we have not yet seen that predicts the appearance of Smokey, something link to the various computer and telecommunications networks put in place by Dharma?
Mysteries: The bad grammar alone begs some questions. What emergency causes the shutdown of intranet services? How on Earth was this correlation spotted?
Degree of Certainty: Rife with speculation, but if the Cerberus fits...
"Known Final Resting Place of Magnus Hanso/ Black Rock"
Decoded: After many strange references to a "black rock" in the first season (Charlie's dream, the black and white stones found with the skeleton's, and Rousseau's French-language recording), we finally saw "The Black Rock" was a wooden tall ship somehow marooned in the middle of the jungle in what Rousseau called "the dark territory." During this Summer's "Lost Experience," we learned that the Black Rock was a slave ship bound for Africa from England owned and captained by Magnus Hanso, ancestor to Alvar Hanso.
Mysteries: How did the mapmaker know that Magnus Hanso was aboard? Why did Magnus die in this ship? For that matter, how did a tall ship full of unstable explosives make it so far inland without getting pulverized or blown up?
Degree of Certainty: High. We don't the "how" of this, but we do know the "what."
"Activity Minimal During Lockdown and Restocking Procedures."
Decoded: As we know from the episode entitled "lockdown," from time to time the Swan hatch would go into a secure, shut-in mode, with the blast doors dropping and keeping the hatch's inhabitants locked inside. In fact, it was just such a lockdown that gave us our glimpse of the map. During the one lockdown we witnessed, a huge plat of food and supplies seemingly was air-dropped, which the Losties used to restock the beach. And we learned in the Lost Experience that the Dharma Initiative was set up with perpetual food drops. Again "activity" seems to refer to Cerberus, and, indeed, if Cerberus is the Dharma Initiative's security system, it would make sense for it take a break during these restocking procedures.
Mysteries: Why is the lockdown necessary? Does it prevent the Swan inhabitants from seeing the "man behind the curtain?" Did Dharma really control Smokey? Or is this just a coincidence? For that matter, if stuck in lockdown, how did the mapmaker know that Smokey's activity was minimal?
Degree of Certainty: Pretty good, given what we know. But we don't know about this is intriguing.
"Rev - 4-2-02 Possible Location of Zoological Research Facility"
Decoded: Perhaps, as with the weather notations North of here, the mapmaker assumed from the Swan orientation film that there must be a zoological station somewhere. We don't know where the mapmakers may have thought it was before this, but apparently in April of 2002, they decided it must be near the Black Rock. April of 2002 is during the three-year period when Desmond and Kelvin were in the hatch, so perhaps Desmond will be able to shed some light on this. In any case, this is another situation where we know more than the mapmaker - the zoological facility is about as far from this spot as possible in this island chain - it's all the way around the island to the North West, then a mile or so offshore on a second island. And it's called the "Hydra" facility, where Jack, Kate and Sawyer were taken by the Others.
Mysteries: Is there another facility here that was mistaken? What did the mapmaker detect in April, 2002 that misled him to this conclusion? Is it wise to take the orientation film at face value.
Degree of Certainty: Both what this note refers to, and that it is mistaken - very high.
"Stated Goal Accelerated De-Territorialization of Ursus Maritimus Through Gene Therapy and Extreme Climate Change."
Decoded: As has been discussed on this blog in the past, ursus maritimus is the Latin name for a polar bear. We all know how odd it is to have found at least two polar bears on a tropical island in a jungle. It should be too hot, and too hard for them to feed without their usual ice-shelf surroundings. But, aha! A purpose for their presence in the Hyrda station and on the island - some Dr. Moreau-esque attempt to alter the polar bear genetically and by altering its environment. Why do this? If Dharma is meant to stave off humanity's imminent demise at its own hand, perhaps the polar bears were brought to the island to experiment in breeding the aggession out of one of the most viscious animals on Earth, to see if such a change could be made to humanity, as well. Note to theoreticians - from the polar bear sightings we've seen, they've been successfully deterritorialized, but they're still mighty nasty buggers.
Mysteries: Who stated this goal? Seriously, why would we want to adjust polar bears to tropical climates (since global warming wasn't really an active theory in the 1970s and 1980s)? And what went wrong, since the bears are now free and Sawyer has been living in their cage?
Degree of Certainty: Hey, unless this note refers to some other polar bears on the tropical island, I'm pretty sure I nailed this one.
And speaking of things, I've nailed, that's it for the map. This was a prett exhaustive (and exhausting) look at one "Lost's" most intriguing clues. There's still so much left to uncover, and that's just what the mapmaker thought to tip us off to. I hope you've enjoyed reading these posts at least half as much as I've enjoyed writing them (in which case I will have had twice as much enjoyment as you, so there!)
Next Week: A look at the mural that formerly resided on the wall of the Swan Hatch.
And we're only a month away from new Lost episodes!!!!!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Tour of the map - part 5 of 6
Greetings, Lostophiles. Before we hit the home stretch in the map tour (and get to some really interesting notes), a couple of asides.
As you may or may not be aware, most episodic TV shows go on "hiatus" during the Christmas/ New Years holidays. While the cast and crew of Lost spend their "work" weeks mired in Oahu, during this recent holiday season, they got out and saw some other hot spots. Matthew "Jack" Fox's film, "We Are Marshall" opened, and Fox was on-hand for the premiere at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in L.A., where he was joined by fellow cast members Harold "Michael" Perrineau and Josh "Sawyer" Holloway. But for a bigger break, Daniel Dae "Jin" Kim took his family skiing in Park City Utah, where my brother, another Lost Loving Lawyer named Carl (who lives and works in D.C.) spent New Years with his wife, Kate, and friends from law school.
In other "Lost" news, Jeff Jensen's column on ew.com returned this week, with some minor new theories (not a fan of the "Dharma films are red herrings planted after the initiative went bad" idea) and a chance to email in the one big question you want him to pose to the Powers that Be. Mine was "who were the 'Others' before Danielle Rousseau started calling them 'the Others'?"
But now, on to this week's somewhat late post, where we look at the Northeastern corner of the Swan hatch map...
"Possible Manufacturing Facility with Light Industrial Equipment"
Decoded: Hey, the Dharma Initiative was meant to last as long as it took to get its job done. We know they had a pretty good infirmary, and food supplies literally fell from the sky from time to time. We know (though presumably the map maker did not) that an entire suburban oasis exists on the far North shore of the main island. It stands to reason some machinery to build and replenish these facilities would be present. Alternatively, maybe the Dharma Initiative went bad before the building phase was completed, with some equipment inadvertently left behind.
Mysteries: What's with the "possible?" And can we be more vague? Professional sewing machines and car-manufacturing robots could both be described by this note. Also, unless I'm mistaken, geographically this note is not far from the thick cable leading to Rousseau's former bunker from the ocean. What was going on there?
Degree of Certainty: When even the mapmaker says "possible," I can't be too sure.
"Or Other Route of Travel"
Decoded: As we know by now, some spots on the island are less accessible than others, and the Others certainly like to corral the stowaways into confined areas. But ideally, the people who designed the island facilities would want multiple ways to get around.
Mysteries: Travel to where?
Degree of Certainty: Folks, something got cut off here. If even the freeze-framed internet geniuses couldn't see the entire map, maybe we're just not meant to know...
"Suspected Shutdown Date 10.28.84"
Decoded: This is a later date for the "incident" than we've seen in other references. And it seems the mapmaker is uncertain. As this note is at the extreme corner of the map, perhaps different parts of the island continued to function for different lengths of time. In any case, these dates are all more than 20 years old (which explains the old-school computers in the hatches).
Mysteries: Why the different date? The mapmaker seemed certain at other points on the map when things were discontinued, so why "suspected?"
Degree of Certainty: Something ended on October 28, 1984. Or it didn't. It's hard to say.
"Mountainous Terrain Most Likely Used by D.I.H.G. for Meterological Research Due to..."
Decoded: From the Swan orientation, recall that "meteorology" was one of the phenomena studied by the Dharma Initiative. We've seen stations clearly devoted to other prongs of the initiative (psychology, parapsychology, zoology, electromagnetism), and we know there are undiscovered stations out there. Also, odd weather could explain smokey's cloud-like form, a plane that gets seemingly pulled apart in mid-air, and a sudden rising tide that carries away the plane's remains.
Mysteries: So this spot is still "D.I.H.G." and not "D.I." or "H.G." Again, why the split? What weather-related phenomena were being studied? Why is "mountainnous" a sign of weather? And "due to" what? Could this station be the Flame? If so, why so far away from the other supposed location on the map?
Degree of Certainty: We saw the Swan film, and know there are mountains. The rest will have to wait until someone takes a stroll in that direction, which seems out of the way from the current plotlines.
"Geogological Composition Likely to Cause Magnetic Interference with Weather Project."
Decoded: More evidence that the multiple prongs of Dharma may have accidentally collided to form smokey. What happens when you have funky weather mixed with crazy electromagnets? A semi-sentient, telepathic, electric cloud? If the mound that Rose and Bernard visited in Australia was though to have geological properties that heal, and the island clearly does, perhaps its geological makeup explains Locke's walking and Rose's remission.
Mysteries: Well if the geology is bad for the weather project, what mook stuck it in this location?
Degree of Certainty: Things are beginning to take some shape here...but a lot remains to be clarified.
"Interference Might Also Prevent Location from Use as Listening Station Cryptography Research or Analysis."
Decoded: Well, clearly the magnetic issues on the island, and in this corner of the island in particular, caused problems. This notation suggests secret messages or bugs were involved during the Dharma days. This is hardly a surprise, in light of what we've seen in The Pearl. But again, why put so much stuff on a bad island, and in particular, a bad spot on the island?
Mysteries: What cryptography? What has been encrypted? Who is researching and analyzing? Listening to what?
Degree of Certainty: Afraid we're still in in the dark on this one, and not just because of the interference.
"High Potential for R.V.S./ K.V."
Decoded: Well, a part of the problem here is lack of consensus about what this note says. Is it "R.V.S." or "K.V.?" I suspect the former, because the "R" can stand for radio (as in the broadcast tower that sent the numbers and, later, Rousseau's message) and "S" could stand for "station."
Mysteries: In either situation, what is the "V?" Could it be like the Latin version of "U"? Does the island have Rodents of Unusual Size? (bonus points if you get that reference).
Degree of Certainty: Minimal. Don't know what it says, and only know the mapmaker thought there was high potential.
So that's it for this week, folks. Not the busiest section of the map, but perhaps the most telling. The combined magnetic and weather-based smokey theory springs from this corner. Next week, we finish the tour in the Southeast corner.
As you may or may not be aware, most episodic TV shows go on "hiatus" during the Christmas/ New Years holidays. While the cast and crew of Lost spend their "work" weeks mired in Oahu, during this recent holiday season, they got out and saw some other hot spots. Matthew "Jack" Fox's film, "We Are Marshall" opened, and Fox was on-hand for the premiere at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in L.A., where he was joined by fellow cast members Harold "Michael" Perrineau and Josh "Sawyer" Holloway. But for a bigger break, Daniel Dae "Jin" Kim took his family skiing in Park City Utah, where my brother, another Lost Loving Lawyer named Carl (who lives and works in D.C.) spent New Years with his wife, Kate, and friends from law school.
In other "Lost" news, Jeff Jensen's column on ew.com returned this week, with some minor new theories (not a fan of the "Dharma films are red herrings planted after the initiative went bad" idea) and a chance to email in the one big question you want him to pose to the Powers that Be. Mine was "who were the 'Others' before Danielle Rousseau started calling them 'the Others'?"
But now, on to this week's somewhat late post, where we look at the Northeastern corner of the Swan hatch map...
"Possible Manufacturing Facility with Light Industrial Equipment"
Decoded: Hey, the Dharma Initiative was meant to last as long as it took to get its job done. We know they had a pretty good infirmary, and food supplies literally fell from the sky from time to time. We know (though presumably the map maker did not) that an entire suburban oasis exists on the far North shore of the main island. It stands to reason some machinery to build and replenish these facilities would be present. Alternatively, maybe the Dharma Initiative went bad before the building phase was completed, with some equipment inadvertently left behind.
Mysteries: What's with the "possible?" And can we be more vague? Professional sewing machines and car-manufacturing robots could both be described by this note. Also, unless I'm mistaken, geographically this note is not far from the thick cable leading to Rousseau's former bunker from the ocean. What was going on there?
Degree of Certainty: When even the mapmaker says "possible," I can't be too sure.
"Or Other Route of Travel"
Decoded: As we know by now, some spots on the island are less accessible than others, and the Others certainly like to corral the stowaways into confined areas. But ideally, the people who designed the island facilities would want multiple ways to get around.
Mysteries: Travel to where?
Degree of Certainty: Folks, something got cut off here. If even the freeze-framed internet geniuses couldn't see the entire map, maybe we're just not meant to know...
"Suspected Shutdown Date 10.28.84"
Decoded: This is a later date for the "incident" than we've seen in other references. And it seems the mapmaker is uncertain. As this note is at the extreme corner of the map, perhaps different parts of the island continued to function for different lengths of time. In any case, these dates are all more than 20 years old (which explains the old-school computers in the hatches).
Mysteries: Why the different date? The mapmaker seemed certain at other points on the map when things were discontinued, so why "suspected?"
Degree of Certainty: Something ended on October 28, 1984. Or it didn't. It's hard to say.
"Mountainous Terrain Most Likely Used by D.I.H.G. for Meterological Research Due to..."
Decoded: From the Swan orientation, recall that "meteorology" was one of the phenomena studied by the Dharma Initiative. We've seen stations clearly devoted to other prongs of the initiative (psychology, parapsychology, zoology, electromagnetism), and we know there are undiscovered stations out there. Also, odd weather could explain smokey's cloud-like form, a plane that gets seemingly pulled apart in mid-air, and a sudden rising tide that carries away the plane's remains.
Mysteries: So this spot is still "D.I.H.G." and not "D.I." or "H.G." Again, why the split? What weather-related phenomena were being studied? Why is "mountainnous" a sign of weather? And "due to" what? Could this station be the Flame? If so, why so far away from the other supposed location on the map?
Degree of Certainty: We saw the Swan film, and know there are mountains. The rest will have to wait until someone takes a stroll in that direction, which seems out of the way from the current plotlines.
"Geogological Composition Likely to Cause Magnetic Interference with Weather Project."
Decoded: More evidence that the multiple prongs of Dharma may have accidentally collided to form smokey. What happens when you have funky weather mixed with crazy electromagnets? A semi-sentient, telepathic, electric cloud? If the mound that Rose and Bernard visited in Australia was though to have geological properties that heal, and the island clearly does, perhaps its geological makeup explains Locke's walking and Rose's remission.
Mysteries: Well if the geology is bad for the weather project, what mook stuck it in this location?
Degree of Certainty: Things are beginning to take some shape here...but a lot remains to be clarified.
"Interference Might Also Prevent Location from Use as Listening Station Cryptography Research or Analysis."
Decoded: Well, clearly the magnetic issues on the island, and in this corner of the island in particular, caused problems. This notation suggests secret messages or bugs were involved during the Dharma days. This is hardly a surprise, in light of what we've seen in The Pearl. But again, why put so much stuff on a bad island, and in particular, a bad spot on the island?
Mysteries: What cryptography? What has been encrypted? Who is researching and analyzing? Listening to what?
Degree of Certainty: Afraid we're still in in the dark on this one, and not just because of the interference.
"High Potential for R.V.S./ K.V."
Decoded: Well, a part of the problem here is lack of consensus about what this note says. Is it "R.V.S." or "K.V.?" I suspect the former, because the "R" can stand for radio (as in the broadcast tower that sent the numbers and, later, Rousseau's message) and "S" could stand for "station."
Mysteries: In either situation, what is the "V?" Could it be like the Latin version of "U"? Does the island have Rodents of Unusual Size? (bonus points if you get that reference).
Degree of Certainty: Minimal. Don't know what it says, and only know the mapmaker thought there was high potential.
So that's it for this week, folks. Not the busiest section of the map, but perhaps the most telling. The combined magnetic and weather-based smokey theory springs from this corner. Next week, we finish the tour in the Southeast corner.
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