Lost "The Beginning Of The End" Review (Major Spoilers)

[matt_zimmer]

Lost "The Beginning Of The End"

Oh, boy...

"I'm one of the Oceanic Six!"

And so begins another season of Lost which in one of last year's most bizarre twists (the reveal that yes, some of the survivors DID get off the island in flash forwards) basically reset all we thought we knew about the show and changed everything. This season premiere showed that the show isn't quite done messing with our heads.

First off, it was a GREAT idea to put in an appearance by Charlie in the first episode in which he ISN'T a regular. I enjoyed following Hurley's story off the island in which he finds comfort in the mental hospital. I also love how the episode FINALLY split up the castaways into Jack's and Locke's groups FINALLY even though I was sure surprised to see Hurley go with Locke.

Having Hurley go with Locke was brilliant because Jack said EXACTLY the wrong thing to the group regarding Locke ("We're not crazy"). Easily the thing that pushed Hurley over the edge.

The opening of the episode with the car chase was exciting too. I'm interested that the flash forwards will not be aired in any particular order since this one obviously took place before Jack's spotlight in Through the Looking Glass. I also love that Hurley "met" Jacob.

It's interesting that in the flash forward Hurley said he regretted going with Locke. That MIGHT mean that Naomi's friends ARE there to rescue them even if they aren't with Penny.

I liked the episode a lot. A good start to a short season that never-the-less will almost certainly prove to be a doozy. ****1/2.

Comments

[style92.livejournal.com]

Well, it's clear something traumatic happened, leading to only 6 people making it off the island. I would surmise from the things said that the rest of the survivors had an ambiguous fate. The 6 that made it off and other interested parties think they may still be alive somewhere, (the island?) And while the six try to deny responsibility, guilt gets to Hurley and eventually Jack to go back for them.

I think both Jack and Locke each made there own major mistake that led to this situation. I think Jack made the mistake of summoning Naomi's people. But I think Locke also did something that made the situation even worse. But what gets me: Why would Jack, Kate, Hurley, and supposedly 3 other survivors abandon the rest for rescue? I can't believe Hurley would. Unless, at the time, they decided "Everyone else is probably dead," but they weren't sure?
Interesting...

I choose to believe Charlie is an angel now. I think it's appropriate to Charlie's own arc.

[mattzimmer.livejournal.com]

Something tells me a deal was struck between the Oceanic Six and whoever rescued them that they wouldn't tell anybody about the rest of the survivors being alive. I think the guilt is driving Hurley nuts and later Jack. I want to know who was in the coffin but Matthew Fox said it hadn't been revealed in the eight episodes produced. I THOUGHT it would be Micheal but if only six got off the island it doesn't seem likely.

And yes, Charlie became an angel. That makes perfect sense to me.

[stewie-14.livejournal.com]

The vibe I'm getting is that The Six claimed everyone else was dead in order to protect them. I'm thinking that at some point between the split between Locke's Jack's followers, everyone realized that Naomi's crew (Jeremy Davies, score!) was bad news. They couldn't all hide out in the jungle. Someone had to be found on the island. For whatever reason, these six people agreed to be rescued and cover for the rest.

When they played basketball, Hurley implied that Jack was there to make sure he kept the secret. I find it hard to believe that Jack would agree to do something bad for the other survivors and then coerce Hurley to go along.

What coffin? Oh yeah, is Michael back on the show at some point or not? And Walt? I haven't been following behind the scenes news.

Angel, demon, physical representation of The Island's powers, figment of Hurley's mentally unstable mind, whatever. I think I need Charlie back in some form or another. As much as I disliked him in Season 2 and just barely liked him after that, seeing everyone (mostly Hurley) react to his death was too much for me.

[mattzimmer.livejournal.com]

"The vibe I'm getting is that The Six claimed everyone else was dead in order to protect them. I'm thinking that at some point between the split between Locke's Jack's followers, everyone realized that Naomi's crew (Jeremy Davies, score!) was bad news. They couldn't all hide out in the jungle. Someone had to be found on the island. For whatever reason, these six people agreed to be rescued and cover for the rest."

This is a REALLY good theory and would explain why they want to go back. But it doesn't explain why Kate doesn't.

"What coffin? Oh yeah, is Michael back on the show at some point or not? And Walt? I haven't been following behind the scenes news."

The coffin in the season finale that Jack visited who died alone. It was most likely one of the Oceanic Six. Micheal's back later in the season. No word on Walt.