The "Lost" Finale: An Incident To Remember (Major Spoilers)

I almost gave up on this season's "Lost" finale.

Yes, I was shocked and surprised to actually see Jacob (Mark Pellegrino) in the flesh.  Yes, I was I was stunned and pleased to see Rose and Bernard.  Yes, I was thrilled and excited by the rock 'em, sock 'em action.

But nearly two hours of all that walking on the beach with Locke and Richard and Sun and Ben and the Others was making me nuts! 
Until the payoff.

The thing that made all that walking and confusion and frustration worthwhile.  Remember how at the end of last year's season finale, I said it didn't eject me out of my chair?

Well man, what a difference a year makes!  When those New Others opened up that trunk and dumped out John Locke's body, my own body flew out of my chair as if propelled by a rocket.

Wow!

Here are some more incredibly wonderful and startling things/questions/observations about this season's finale:

• Someone give Josh Holloway an Emmy nomination and then submit that scene of him trying to hold onto Juliet as she's being sucked into the Swan magnetic pit.  She was wonderful, he was wonderful and I was nearly sobbing like a baby.  Great, great scene.
• Just when I'm ready for someone to poke a sharp metal stick into Ben's brain, they make him almost, kinda sympathetic again.  That scene where he's like a jealous little boy, accusing Jacob of ignoring him in favor of John?  Really good stuff from Michael Emerson.
• All that going back and forth by Kate, Sawyer and Juliet:  "Should they stop Jack?" "Shouldn't they stop Jack?" "They're stopping Jack." "They're helping Jack."  God, it was just as bad as popping in and out of time!   I was getting a nose bleed.
• What was so fabulous though was Jack thinking the bomb was going to change things and Juliet, Sawyer and Kate thinking the bomb was going to keep them the same. It seems Miles got through to somebody. They all wanted the bomb to go down the pit, but I'm pretty sure they expected different outcomes.
• Who the heck is that Ilana chick and how did she get her face bashed in?
• Notice how Jacob touched Kate, Sawyer, Jack, Sayid, Hurley and Locke when he met them off the island?
• Notice how Sayid and Hurley were the only Oceanic survivors Jacob approached after they returned from the island?
• Notice how Jacob saved Sayid's life, but not Nadia's by keeping him from walking into the street?
• The book Jacob was reading before Locke came slamming to the ground was "Everything That Rises Must Converge" by American novelist Flannery O'Connor.  And I'll admit it, I've already ordered the book from Amazon.  The publisher couldn't have asked for a better plug.
• "What lies in the shadow of the statue?"  According to Lostepedia, Richard responded in Latin, "Ille qui nos omnes servabit." Translation:  "He who will protect/save us all."
• What do we call Locke now?  Locke 2.0?  Fake Locke?  Evil Locke?  Island Locke? Lively Locke?
• Hearing Jin actually speaking English all season long.
• Miles saving his own father's life.  Hee, hee.
• Rose and Bernard living happily ever after.  If they don't get blown up.

It's a horrifying thought but next season is the final one for "Lost."  So in honor of that, here are some final season predictions:

• Jacob ain't dead.
• Sayid is dead.
• Real Locke is dead.
• Juliet is dead.
• Claire will return and reclaim Aaron.
• Ben will die in the very last minutes of the next to the last episode.
• Jin and Sun will live happily ever after.
• Desmond and Penny will live happily ever after.

Love, love, love this show!

Photos courtesy and copyright ABC

10 Things "Lost" and President Obama Have In Common

Last Wednesday was President Barack Obama's 100th day in office and it was also the night ABC's "Lost" aired its 100th episode. 

Both events got me thinking about the similarities between "Lost" and our new president.

So here are 10 things "Lost" and President Obama have in common:

1. Similar Origins:  "Lost" is shot in Hawaii.  President Obama grew up in Hawaii.
2. Limited Runs:  "Lost" will end in 2011.  President Obama's administration will end either in 2013 or 2018.
3. Multicultural Casts:  "Lost" has blacks, whites, Asians, and Others.  President Obama, as the first black POTUS has blacks, whites, and Hillary Clinton.
4. Fresh, New Storytelling:  "Lost" broke new TV ground with it's flashback/flash forward storytelling technique.  President Obama broke new political ground with his flashy Twitter tweets and campaign websites.
5. Knowing The Value of Consensus:  "Lost" had Jack telling the crash survivors, "Live together or die alone."  President Obama is telling the country, "save together or default a loan."
6. Some Serious Spending:  The "Lost" pilot was one of the most expensive ever produced for television.  President Obama's recovery plan is spending money faster than the dollar machines in D.C. can print it.
7. Collaborating with Former Opponents:  The crash survivors on "Lost" had to collaborate with the evil Benjamin Linus to get off the island.  President Obama has had to collaborate with Hillary Clinton.
8. People Were Skeptical At First:  There were a lot of doubters that a show about crash survivors on an exotic, mysterious island could be a success.  There were a lot of doubters that a black man from an exotic, mysterious island could become president.
9. Critics Demanding Answers:  Many viewers got frustrated with "Lost's" lack of answers to plot questions.  Many politicians got frustrated with President Obama's lack of being able to say when he could clean up the economic mess it took about 20 years to create.
10. Mysterious Oracles Who Don't Make Any Kind Of Sense:  "Lost" has Jacob.  President Obama has Rush Limbaugh.

So tomorrow night when you watch "Lost's" 101st episode, just remember all the things this excellent show has in common with our excellent 44th President of the United States. 

TV Quick Hits: "The Bachelor," "BSG," "Ugly Betty," "Lost," & "American Idol"

It's been one crazy week on TV what with "The Bachelor" dumping his "true love" for his other "true love," "24's" hostage taking at the White House of all places, and "American Idol's" Tatiana hysterics. 

Here's my take on some of the action this week and be warned...there are spoilers aplenty:

The Bachelor: 

Am I the only one in the country who thinks it's time to break-up with "The Bachelor?"  At the beginning of the season all I heard was women sighing all over the place, "Oh Jason, he's a single Dad!"  As if somehow that was going to make him better husband material than the other "princes" they've had on that show.

Well a few weeks and some dead roses later, Jason Mesnick ditched his fiancee, his "one true love" Melissa, for his other "really one true love," Molly.

That all happened on Monday and since then Jason's replaced Bernie Madoff as the most hated man in America.  The producers of "The Bachelor" have been accused of fixing the results, there were not so secret angry emails back and forth between Jason and Melissa, and the whole country was in an uproar.  So much so that Jason's had to start his own national apology tour.

People, can I just tell you, take a page out of former fan, Kelly Ripa's book and stop watching that blasted show.  There's never going to be another Trista and Ryan, there will be no happy endings, and "The Bachelor?"  He's just not that into you...or Melissa.

American Idol: 

Continuing on the reality TV front, y'all know I'm a fair weather "Idol" watcher meaning I almost never write about "American Idol" until the final 12 are chosen.  Well this week that milestone came to pass.  Thursday night, the judges made their wild card choices.  That meant adding the very worthy Jasmine, Matt and Megan.  

Jasmine was especially moving with her rendition of Christina Aguilera's "Reflection." That kid's got potential

Then came the big surprise, Simon announced that this year there was going to be a final 13!  And the 13th contestant was...Anoop, this year's answer to Sanjaya.  Now if I were as crude as say, Dr. Gregory House, I would say that "American Idol" had picked their own "Slumdog Millionaire." But I'm not, am I?

And like on "The Bachelor" the emotional train wreck was the entertaining part.  Namely, Tatiana del Toro. You know, the "thank you, thank you, I love you, I love you," girl. The judges finally puts her and us out of our collective miseries and dumped her. 

Next week, Megan's "Idol Chit Chat" returns.

Let the singing begin!

"Lost" Explodes With Answers

"Lost" this season is giving us so many answers to plot questions I can't keep track of them all, but I'm going to touch on some highlights.

***Major Spoilers Ahead, Stop Now If You Haven't Watched Last Night's Episode***

Reveal:  The whole time popping business is a brilliant plot and not only explains a lot but also allows the producers and writers to go wherever and whenever they want.  That means we can see Shannon or Boone or Charlie again.  And by having Desmond as Daniel's constant, there's the possibility that Daniel will be able to communicate with the outside world through Desmond.

Questions This Reveal Brings Up:  Why do the Oceanic Six and Locke need to go back to save their fellow survivors?  What will their going back do?  Is Charlotte, who I can't stand, gonna die before she makes me nuts?  How long is it going to take Sawyer and Juliet to hook up just from the stress?

Questions This Reveal Answers:   Why Widmore is so obsessed with the island.  Why he thinks Ben stole it from him.  Why Richard went to see Locke as a kid. 

"Lost" Recaps Have Been Lost

One of my favorite shows, "Lost" returned to the ABC schedule last week and though I'd fully intended to continue full length "Lost" recaps this season, I've come to the conclusion it's not going to happen.  I simply don't have the time.

In fact, I don't know if you've noticed but there are three "Lost" recaps from last season I never even wrote.  All through the summer I was like, I'll get to those recaps, I'll get to those recaps.  Well I never did and it's obvious now that I won't.  I've got too much going on.

I will write about "Lost every so often---I'll have a post this week about "Battlestar Galactica," "Lost" and "Grey's Anatomy"---but weekly recaps are beyond me at this point.

So for those of you who were waiting for "Lost" recaps, I apologize and I hope you'll understand.

Emmys' Top Ten Finalists

The 60th Annual Emmy Awards will be held on September 21st at 8pm on ABC, but before then, we have to have some nominees.

Those won't be announced until July 17th, but the Academy did announce the top ten drama and comedy finalists.

The top ten comedies are:  "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Entourage," "Family Guy," "The Office," "Pushing Daisies," "30 Rock," "Flight of the Conchords," "Two and a Half Men," "Ugly Betty" and "Weeds."

The top ten dramas are:  "Boston Legal," "Damages," "Dexter," "House," "Lost," "Friday Night Lights," "Grey's Anatomy," "The Tudors," "The Wire," and "Mad Men."

According to the Academy announcement:

Step two in the process will be the Blue Ribbon Panel screenings, which will be conducted throughout this weekend of June 28-29.

The results of those panels, who will watch and judge the work of each finalist, represent 50 percent of the vote. Both results will be averaged together to come up with our five nominees in each category.

Now I have to admit, the only show I watch on the comedy list is "Ugly Betty."  So my final five comedies would be "Ugly Betty," "Ugly Betty," "Ugly Betty," "Ugly Betty," and "Ugly Betty."  I would have included "Desperate Housewives," but it seems the Academy didn't find "DH" worthy this year.  Boo on them.

My top five dramas are much more varied because I watch everything on that list except, "The Wire," "Boston Legal," and "Friday Night Lights."  So my drama nominees would be "Dexter," "House," "Lost," "Damages," "Grey's Anatomy," and "The Tudors." 

Oh wait...that's six. 

Too bad.  I can't choose just five.

I'll leave that to the Academy and then rip them apart when they get it wrong.

"Lost" Recap: "Something Nice From Home" (5/1/08)

We start with the standard "Lost" closeup of Jack's eye opening.  Juliet's calling his name 'cause there's mutiny among the Losties.

Bernard and Rose, et al are trying to get the truth out of Daniel and Charlotte and Charlotte especially is stonewalling.  When she gets snippy with Bernard, Rose tells her, "Just watch your tone, Red."  Heh.

Jack makes peace, telling the Losties he knows Charlotte and Daniel are lying.  Jack doesn't look so good as he gives his pep talk about getting all of them off the island, and before we know it, he collapses.

Flash forward to Jack in a comfy bed somewhere and the phone is ringing.  He picks it up and someone is confirming a consult he has at eleven o'clock.  He gets out of bed and puts some lacy underwear in the hamper.  Jack, who knew?

As he goes in the kitchen he steps on a Millennium Falcon model on the floor.   He puts two wine glasses in the sink and makes coffee.  He checks out the paper, sees the Yankees have beaten the Red Sox in a series sweep and is disgusted.  Finally he goes in the bathroom where someone is in the shower.

When the shower shuts off he takes a towel and hands it to...Kate, as she steps out.  They're all lovey dovey and it's nice to see them happy for a change. 

Opening credits.

The "Lost" Finale: An End To A Fabulous Season

Though last night's "Lost" season finale didn't eject me out of my chair like last year's did, it was still a very good ending to what has been a spectacular season for the show.

Stop now if you haven't seen the show because there are***spoilers***a plenty coming up.

This isn't a recap---I know, I know, I owe you guys, counting last night's two episodes, five hours worth of recaps.  They're like my own Sword of Damocles, but if it takes another lifetime, I will get them done.  This is just a short post with some thoughts.

But back to last night, it was an episode that answered several questions, tied together several plot threads and gave Keamy the end he deserved, even though it meant the end of some of the Losties.

We had to know, after seeing all those explosives on the Mystery Freighter that it would eventually blow up, but who knew the fate of the Mystery Freighter would be so closely tied to the fate of Keamy?  Michael finally got his wish to cross over to the Great Beyond, but unfortunately Jin went with him.  Or did he?  Is it be possible he jumped into the water and swam far enough away not to get blown into a million pieces?  I hope so.

And if they don't nominate Yunjin Kim for an Emmy this year, I'm gonna be really pissed.  What an incredible job she's done this season.  Matthew Fox and Josh Holloway as well.

My friend and I had a bet about who was in the coffin and I won.  Even though they faked me out at the beginning of the episode with that "Jeremy Bentham" pseudonym.  Mr. Locke, I presume?

Ben got his vengeance against Keamy, but as soon as I start to hate him a little less, in answer to Locke's fear that Keamy's death was going to kill the Losties on the Mystery Freighter, Ben says, "So?"

So??? 

Bastard!

Other Finale Observations: 

• I loved that Ben moved the island using a frozen Wonder Wheel.
• I loved that we got a continuation of the scene between Kate and Jack at the airport in last season's finale.
• I loved how heroic Sawyer has been all season long and especially last night, trying to save everyone on the helicopter by jumping out.
• I loved that we got to see Walt, even if he does look about eighteen years old.  That's okay, we suspend so much other reality for this show, we can do that for Walt.
• I loved that Juliet's still stuck on the island.  Couldn't happen to a better person.
• I loved that the Fearless Foursome, minus Frank, are stuck there as well.  Hee.  Good times.
• I loved that the Losties on the island think the Oceanic Six are dead...blown up with the Mystery Freighter.  It's a great plot point.
• I loved that Sun is going to join up with Widmore to go after Ben---I'm pretty sure that's who else she blames for Jin's death.
• And I really, really loved that Desmond and Penny are finally together---for now.

Recaps are pending.

Photo courtesy and copyright ABC

"Lost" Recap: "The Shape Of Things To Come" (4/24/08)

This episode was the first after a hiatus of three weeks.  it was the first post-strike episode and also the first episode where formal war was declared between Ben and Charles Widmore.  Lots of things went "Boom."

Last time we saw the Losties, Michael was being exposed by Sayid to the captain of the Mystery Freighter and Alex, after nearly being being shot by the people who killed Karl and Rousseau, surrendered to the enemy.

We open at the beach.  Jack's under the weather and popping pills.  Kate suggests he eat some crackers and then wonders why Sayid and Desmond aren't back yet.  Jack says he's not worried.

Vincent starts barking like crazy and Bernard yells for help from the shoreline.  Kate and Jack get there in time to help Bernard pull a body out of the water.  A crowd that includes Daniel and Charlotte gathers and when they turn the body over, we see it's Doc Ray from the Mystery Freighter.  His throat's been cut.  He didn't last long, did he?

At Chez Ben, Sawyer, Hurley and Locke are sitting around playing Risk.  Hurley's got Aaron on his lap as Sawyer's attacking Siberia.

Out in the jungle, a blindfolded Alex is being led around by guys with guns.  They force her to turn off the security fence to Lockeville.  As soon as she does, a phone at Chez Ben rings.  Locke picks it up and a computerized voice says "Code 14J" over and over.

In another room, Ben's at the piano playing some kind of morose concerto when Locke and Sawyer burst in.  They ask him about the code.  Ben looks panicked and immediately takes a sawed off shotgun from the piano bench.  Locke and Sawyer are suitably stunned.  Ben orders them to go to "the other house" because it's easier to fortify.

Locke's like, "What are you talking about?"

Ben announces, "They're here."

Opening credits.

"Lost" Recap: "Meet Kevin Johnson" (3/20/08)

Hello ladies and gentlemen, my name is Kevin Johnson, a.k.a. Michael Dawson, a.k.a. Walt's Dad, a.k.a. the killer of Ana Lucia and Libby.  Good to meet you.

We open at Lockeville in Ben's living room.  Clair, Rousseau, Karl, Sawyer and Hurley are waiting there when Locke comes in with a still tied up Miles. 

Locke announces to the gathering he's going to tell them everything. No more secrets.

Locke brought Miles for a visit so that he can tell the assembled...Lockevillers?  Lockevillites?  Lockevillians?  Lockvilliagers?  Take your pick---why the Fearless Foursome came to the island in the first place.

Miles obliges.  "We're here for him."  "Him" being Ben.

Hurley's like, yeah, and...?  Tell us something we didn't know.

Sawyer's all for turning Ben over right then and there, but Locke says they can't because once the Fearless Foursome have Ben, the crew of the Mystery Freighter has orders to kill everyone else on the island.

Everybody looks at Miles and Miles doesn't deny it.  Claire then says something about how now we're protecting this scum bucket?  Hurley's like, why should we believe Ben when he won't even tell us who the Mystery Freighter spy is?

Ben pipes up, "It's Michael."

Sawyer like, you mean Michael, a.k.a. Walt's Dad, a.k.a. the killer of Ana Lucia and Libby, a.k.a the betraying skunk who let this plague known as Ben out on the loose in the first place? Then sold us all out so he could get off the island? That Michael??

Sawyer man, I understand your pain.

"Yes James," says Locke. "That Michael."

On the Mystery Freighter, Sayid and Desmond are sleeping when emergency sirens start going off.  When they get out on deck they see Gault wailing away on a couple of his crew.  Evidently they were trying to get off the ship in a rubber raft.

Gault's giving them a lecture while he pummels them.  "The rule of desertion...POW... still applies...WHAP...to everyone." He punches them a couple more times. "Nobody leaves this ship without my say so."

The captain continues his heart warming pep talk about how he beat those guys up for their own protection. Remember Minkowski and how he went cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs?  If you don't want that to happen to you, keep your heads until we get the engines fixed. 

Gault then calls for Johnson.  When Michael walks up, the captain tells him to "clean this mess up."  I love how it's the only black guy on the ship who has to clean up all the bloody messes.  Coincidence?  I think not.

Michael's like, aye, aye, sir.  After the captain leaves, Sayid goes to Michael and says they need to talk.  Michael's like, can we wait 'til we're somewhere just a little more private?

But Sayid won't be put off.  "Why are you on this boat?"

Michael pauses a beat and then says ominously, "I'm here to die."

Opening credits.

"Lost" Recap: "Ji Yeon" (3/13/08)

You thought I forgot about the "Lost" recaps, didn't you?  You thought I said, "The heck with it, this is too much work," didn't you?  Well, no I didn't.  So here in the long line of much delayed "Lost" recaps is "Ji Yeon."  Pass around the Kleenex everybody, 'cause this was a heartbreaker.

It's dusk and we're following a tracking shot over the water to the Mystery Freighter.  Frank is carrying a bag on deck when Keamy approaches him and asks if he's ready.  It seems the captain is having a meeting and Frank is supposed to go.  Keamy warns him not to be late.

Cut to Frank below decks.  A woman is sitting in front of a closed door reading a book when Frank walks up.  Frank calls her Regina and tells her the captain said he could bring Sayid and Desmond some food.  Remember, during Daniel's Mr. Wizard experiment in "The Economist," Regina was the one who shot that electronic gizmo to the island.

The book Regina's supposed to be reading is Jules Verne's The Survivors of the Jonathan," but as Frank points out, she's holding the book upside down. 

"The Survivors of the Jonathan" is about a man who lives on an island and helps the indigenous people.  When a ship is wrecked on the island, he helps the passengers of the ship as well, but this all leads to anarchy and stress.  Sound familiar?

After Regina lets him in, Frank tells Desmond and Sayid he has food for them.  Sayid wants to know why they're being held captive and Frank says it's because the captain didn't like them busting out of sickbay.  When Sayid says they didn't bust out, they thought Frank left the door open, Frank denies it.  Puzzled, Sayid presses for more information:  have the crew heard anything from the island?  Frank says something must have happened to their phone.

He then dumps out the "food."  It's a bunch of rusting cans of lima beans.  Frank says they're having a little problem in the kitchen.  Heh.  I'll bet.

Not quite finished, Sayid insists he wants to talk to the captain.  Frank pauses just an instant before saying ominously, "No you don't."

Cut to Jin and Sun at the beach on the island.  It's night and they're speaking in Korean.   Sun is worried that Sayid and Desmond haven't returned from the Mystery Freighter, after all, it's been three days.  At least to her.  Jin reassures her and instead wants to talk about baby names. 

Sun doesn't want to because she thinks that's bad luck.  Uh oh.  You know when anyone on a TV show says anything is bad luck, they go ahead and do the thing that's bad luck...and then they have bad luck.  Oh noooo!

Playing right into the hands of the bad luck cosmos, Jin says since he's sure it's a girl, he likes the name Ji Yeon.  Sun likes the name too, but refuses to talk about it until they get off the island.  Jin agrees.  They're so cute. 

We cut to either a flashback or a flash forward, at first I'm not sure which.  We're on a medium shot of Sun taking a Korean labeled toothpaste out of a medicine cabinet.  She's packing what looks like a very nice Brighton overnight case.  I love Brighton bags. Sun's got excellent taste. 

Looking in a mirror, Sun's about to put on some lipstick when she doubles over in pain.  She grabs for the phone and calls the Korean equivalent of 911.

She tells them she's pregnant and she thinks something's wrong.  Cut to a long shot of a very pregnant Sun going into labor.  Ladies and gentlemen, we are once again flashing forward.

Opening credits.

Megan's TV Recap Update

If you're a loyal Megan's Minute reader, you know that I've written full length recaps of "Desperate Housewives" since the beginning of the 2007-2008 TV season.  During the writers' strike, I began recapping "Lost" and picked up my recapping of "American Idol" from last year.

I now find myself over extended.  I continue to write weekly posts for Blogher.com (which I love), and daily posts for Video Runway (which I also love), and am trying to keep the quality and frequency of posts at Megan's Minute as high as always.

Well, I'm only half succeeding.  My priorities have to be Blogher and Video Runway since they're helping keep Daisy in dog food, and me in fancy handbags, but I'm determined to keep Megan's Minute the blog that I started and get such joy and pleasure from writing.  So something's gotta give.

What I'm going to do, starting with the 4/13 episode of "Desperate Housewives" is write shorter recaps, or what I call "Snap Recaps" of "DH" for the rest of the season.  I will continue to write full length "Lost" recaps---I realize I'm still two episodes behind on those, but I'm working on it---and when the season is over, I'll reassess where I'm at in time for next season.

I will however, no matter what, continue to write full length recaps of "Damages" whenever it returns.  (The latest estimate is January of 2009.)

So please bear with me as I try and get this time management thing down, and I hope you continue to come back often and enjoy Megan's Minute as much as I enjoy writing it.

"Lost" Recap: "The Other Woman" (3/6/08)

This is the continuation of my much delayed "Lost" recap series.  Anyone can do these things on a timely basis.  But not everyone can write these weeks later.  The suspense is killing you isn't it?  Okay, I won't torture you anymore.

This week's episode is all about the "Lost" blonde we love to hate, Juliet.   

We open on a closeup of someone playing with one of those lame Zen rock gardens that people buy for their offices.  The ads for those things promise to help the stressed office worker "clear the mind of chaos associated with everyday business life."

Turns out the mind being cleared of chaos is Juliet's.  The first thing I notice is she's got on makeup and her hair's done.  Not done well, but done.  She's seated on a sofa in what looks like a doctor's consulting room.

The door opens and Harper Stanhope enters.  Harper introduces herself and when she calls Juliet, Dr. Burke, Juliet asks her to call her by her first name.  Harper's a therapist and though Juliet says she doesn't need therapy, Harper says, "Let's just call it talking." 

Harper starts off the discussion by asking Juliet, since she's been "there" for a week, "What's her least favorite part so far?"

Juliet says she doesn't like being treated like a celebrity.  Harper implies that's not surprising since she's "big news right now."

Okay now I'm thinkin', this is it.  Juliet's one of the Oceanic Six and this is Oceanic enforced therapy after returning from the island.

Juliet continues that she doesn't like being the center of attention because it makes her feel isolated and lonely. 

Then surprisingly, Harper basically says in a blunt and untherapist-like manner, you'll soon realize you're not that special, Blondie.

There's a knock on the door.  Harper calls, "Come in," and in walks...Tom!

He's very much alive and delivering a message, "Ben wants to see the Doc."

Ah, these "Lost" writers are such sneaky fakeout artists.  Welcome to our first flashback of the season.

Harper gives Juliet permission to leave and then says, "Welcome to the island."

Yeah, welcome indeed.

Tom escorts Juliet through the bustling barracks and tells her if she doesn't watch it, within a week Harper will have her "crying about your Daddy."  And he says he's speaking from personal experience.  Heh.

They arrive at a charming little barrack's cottage and who's in the front doorway with a bouquet of fresh flowers?  None other than Ben at his most charming.

He welcomes Juliet and informs her the charming little cottage is hers.  It's got 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, washer, dryer, fresh linens, a well stocked fridge, and all the opera CDs she can listen to.

Yo Ben, does it have a panic room for when you decide to gas everybody in a hundred mile radius?

Juliet, with island stars in her eyes, isn't thinking about such things when she tells Ben he shouldn't have gone to so much trouble considering she's only going to be on the island for six months.

Oh, poor misguided Juliet.

Ben gives her one of those smiles that never quite reaches his eyes and tells her they want her to feel right at home. 

And considering she's never leaving there and she'll eventually become his love slave, why shouldn't she be as comfortable as possible?

Flash forward to the island at night.  Juliet is trying to fix some poles for a shelter to sleep under.  Sun comes over to help and wants to know why Juliet's bothering since they're going to be rescued soon.  Right?   RIGHT?

Juliet's like, sure, sure, but we still have to sleep somewhere tonight, don't we?

Jack walks up and asks if Juliet knows where Charlotte and Daniel are.  All their stuff is gone.  Jin says he saw them going into the jungle.  Jack gets all agitated and wants to know why Jin didn't say anything.  Jin says in halting English, "You said they are friends."

Sun's like, "Aren't they?"

Cut to Jack with the posse of Juliet, Jin and Sun.  They have torches and head off in the pouring rain to search for the missing twosome of the Fearless Foursome.

Juliet runs off into the jungle by herself and all of a sudden she starts hearing the island "whispers of death."  She whirls around as the whispers get louder and then...Harper appears out of nowhere. 

"Hello Juliet.  Long time, no see."

Opening credits.

R.I.P. Anthony Minghella

Film director Anthony Minghella died unexpectedly yesterday in London from complications related to surgery he had last week.  He was 54 years old. 

There were several reasons I felt the need to take note of his passing.  First off, one of his greatest screen achievements, "The English Patient" is a sprawling epic that wasn't necessarily to everyone's taste---did you see the "EP" Seinfeld episode?---but it was a lovely movie and for me had one of the most romantic scenes I've ever experienced at the movies.  Which brings me to my second reason, the scene involved co-stars Naveen Andrews (Kip) of "Lost" and Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche (Hana).

Theirs was the secondary, and I thought, more interesting of the two love stories in the movie.  As most people know the primary love story was between Ralph Fiennes (the aforementioned "Patient") and Kristen Scott Thomas.

"The English Patient" was my first glimpse of Naveen Andrews and he was just as incredibly hot then as he is now.  I won't give away the scene, but it involved the ruins of an old church that Kip takes Hana to, using a very unique way to show her the beauty hidden within the ruins.  The movie's worth renting for that scene alone.

Minghella's other two movies which I loved were "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Cold Mountain."  "Cold Mountain" was much too long, but I saw the movie on television, and I have a feeling it was much more tolerable on the small screen than on the big one.  Renee Zellweger won a much deserved Oscar for her role as Ruby Thewes and nearly stole the movie right out from under Nicole Kidman.  Jude Law co-starred with Kidman which brings me to my third reason, "The Talented Mr. Ripley."

"The Talented Mr. Ripley" had its problems as well, but it was very entertaining and that had a lot to do with Law and star Matt Damon.  It's a sumptuous, visually stunning movie where everyone is beautiful, but that beauty hides secrets, blackmail and eventually murder.

From Minghella's NY Times obituary:

With a large, bald head, and a thick frame, Mr. Minghella had the physical affect of dockworker, but when he opened his mouth, it was clear he was an omnivorously literate person.

“I can’t think of a conversation that I had in the last five years that didn’t include a reference about what book he was reading,” said Scott Rudin, who produced a number of films with both Mr. Minghella and Mr. Pollack. “He was the first person to pick up the phone and talk about some amazing play he had seen in North London, and a few days later there would be a script on my desk.”

His last completed work, "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" was produced for the BBC and will air in the United States on HBO. 

The man had talent and I, for one will miss his work.

"Lost" Recap: "The Constant" (2/28/08)

It's late, I know, but finally, here it is.  What can I say, I've been busy.

"Lost" was already a great show.  In my TV book, already one of the best shows ever.  But after "The Constant," "Lost," for me, is approaching, "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" status.

Brotha, from beginning to end, this episode was spectacular. 

We start in the helicopter that's winging it's way from the island to the Mystery Freighter. Sayid's looking at the island, Desmond's looking at the picture of him and Penny, and Frank is looking at Daniel's navigational "cheat sheet."  There's a thundercloud in their path and Sayid asks Frank uncomfortably, why they're flying right into it.  Frank basically tells Sayid to mind his own beeswax.

So Sayid turns to Desmond gesturing to the picture of Penny and asking what Desmond expects to find on the Mystery Freighter.  Desmond says, "Answers."

Frank flies right into the thunderclouds and the helicopter pitches and rolls.  There's thunder, there's lightening and it's pretty obvious Frank's being knocked off course. The music is blaring, the sound effects are throbbing, Des and Sayid are holding on and...

..."On your soddin' feet!"

Desmond bolts awake in a military bunk. He's in his underwear, got much shorter hair, and looks really confused.

There's no music, no sound effects...nothing but a military Sergeant straight out of central British casting yelling at the top of his lungs.  Desmond jumps to attention.

This is where I'm thinkin', okay after all those flashes forward, this is our first flashback episode of the season.

Anyway the Sergeant wants to know why Desmond was so slow getting up.  When Desmond tells the Sergeant he was having a dream, the Sergeant wants to know what he was dreaming about that it took him "so soddin' long to get to his mark?"

Desmond tells him he was dreaming about being in a helicopter in a storm. 

The Sergeant's fabulous response?  "Well, at least it was a bloody military dream."  Heh. Talk about an actor (Graham McTavish) making a lot out of a small part.

Cut to the soldiers doing push-ups in an absolutely drenching rain.  The Sergeant then switches them to crunches.  Ick, messy.

While they're mud crunches, Desmond's fellow soldier says he hopes his dream was worth it.  Desmond tells him it was the most vivid dream he'd ever had.  He felt like he was really in a helicopter.  The Sergeant appears and wants to know if Des has something to say to him.  Desmond hesitates and the Sergeant yells, "I asked you a question..."

Cut to the helicopter, still rocking and rolling amidst the thunder and lightening.  Desmond looks panicked and starts to take off his harness.  When Sayid calls him by name, asking if he's all right, Desmond, in full freak out mode demands, "How do you know my name?"

Opening credits.