The "Lost" Diary -- Cabin Fever

LostHey, Daniel from TMZ here -- welcome to another edition of the "Lost" Diary.

I've had a really hard time writing this part of the Diary and I think that goes back to the fact that I have had a hard time putting my finger on this season. Flashforwards are unpredictable, the Losties are spread out in many different places, the Freighter is looming and Jacob is hanging over my head worse than final exams. I don't think I have had less of a clue of what is going to happen from week to week than I do now.

For all you "Lost" Diary newbies, here's how it goes: I gather with a group of friends watching "Lost," writing what happens on the show as it happens, and throwing in my two cents along the way. For the third week in a row, I am flying solo tonight -- I just can't stay up late enough to watch it with a whole group of people.

10:02 -- My clock says 10:02, but I think "Grey's Anatomy" is still on. I don't think I can handle Locke with McNickname.

10:03 -- "His name is John!" -- Locke's mom

10:04 -- Three minutes into the show and we have our first Locke/Ben scene. As far as I am concerned, that's a good sign for a good episode.

10:05 -- We're back on the freighter and frankly it's about time. Whatever happened with Michael?

10:06 -- As to be expected, Michael is chained to a pipe in a room. Seems like he got off easy ... til now.

10:07 -- Keamy pulled the trigger, there were bullets in the gun, but the gun didn't fire. Just saying.

10:12 -- Locke encounters Horace in the woods, building a cabin. You might remember Horace as the guy who was there when Ben was born, helped Ben's dad get a job with Dharma, and there was one other thing. What was it? Oh yeah -- he died in the Purge!!!

10:13 -- And he's completely aware of the fact he's dead. And now we know the Purge was 12 years ago.

10:14 -- "Godspeed, John." -- Horace. And it was all a dream. Yeah, right.

10:15 -- "I used to have dreams." -- Ben

10:16 -- A fairly innocuous scene about how even when Locke was in an incubator people treated him like crap has just been kicked up a gazillion notches because RICHARD WAS THERE!!! So many questions ...

10:17 -- "He did it." Locke explaining the Purge to Hurley. There's something about a mass grave that rubs me the wrong way. I just can't put my finger on it.

10:21 -- "Mind if I show you a couple of neat things?" -- Richard to Locke. I am pretty sure that's a line preferred by some of the finest pedophiles in all the land.

10:24 -- I stand by belief that any scene of "Lost" over two minutes is just phenomenal. This one was no exception. I wonder what those items mean in the grand scheme of things? The vial of sand could relate to the sand around Jacob's cabin. Not sure if I get the compass yet. Oh, and I'll have a theory about Alpert/Dharma later on.

10:25 -- Though I am willing to bet Locke will find the compass on Horace's body.

10:26 -- Nope, he just found cabin blueprints instead. Not sure how that helps.

10:27 -- So Keamy's a d**k, right? Anyway, he's picked up the secondary objective and he says that in it, Widmore explains where Ben is headed. Does Widmore know where the cabin is? How could he?

10:28 -- The captain, who seems on the level, now wants to help Sayid and Desmond. Next time Keamy leaves for the island, the captain should just sail off. That's what I'd do.

10:33 -- Every time Locke and Ben talk lately, I can't decide if Ben likes Locke or hates him. On the one hand, it's like Locke is now Jacob's new favorite and he's jealous. On the other, he sees Locke as being the person who can save him and island.

10:34 -- It's high school now and life still sucks for John Locke. Dr. Alpert has eye on Locke, but his guidance counselor keeps telling him what he can't be. What are the odds this scene ends with John saying, "Don't tell me what I can't do"?

10:35 -- "Don't tell me what I can't do!" -- Locke. Too easy.

10:36 -- What the hell are they strapping to Keamy? Prediction: Lawnmower Man takes one for the team and crashes that helicopter into a mountain or something.

10:37 -- With everything that has gone on, would you want to ride that little dinky boat back to the island? I'd take my chances on the freighter.

10:42 -- "Destiny is a fickle bitch." -- Ben. Someone has lost their mojo, big time.

10:43 -- "Cabin." -- Hurley

10:44 -- Giant leap forward in our flashback and Locke is in rehab. And the voice of that nurse can't get past me (thank you, "The Wire") -- it's Abaddon, the guy who visited Hurley in the mental ward and recruited all the Freighter people. Creepy.

10:45 -- "You need to go on a Walkabout." -- Abaddon to Locke

10:46 -- "When you're ready, Mr. Locke, you'll listen to what I'm saying. And then, when you and me run into each other again, you'll owe me one." -- Abaddon to Locke

10:49 -- After a tense stand-off on the boat, and the morse code message coming true, Lawnmower Man is going to fly Keamy and company back to the island. I stand by my prediction -- they never make it.

10:52 -- Back on the beach Jack has recovered nicely and everyone has gathered on the shore to watch the helicopter. I can't wait to see the look on their faces when it explodes.

10:53 -- Nope. Instead, Lawnmower Man throws them a sat phone so they can find Keamy. I like my idea better.

10:54 -- Hurley and Ben are passing on going into the cabin.

10:55 -- And do you know whose voice that is? It's Christian Shephard, but he says he ain't Jacob -- just his publicist.

10:56 -- CLAIRE!!!!!

10:57 -- "How do I save the island?" -- Locke

10:58 -- Great little scene between Hurley and Ben. Candy bars, bringing fat people and mass murders together for generations.

10:59 -- "He wants us to move the island." -- Locke. Sounds reasonable enough.

Everyone watches TV for a different reason. Me, I can't stand shows that wrap up their show in a neat little bow every week and solve the murder and everyone is happy. I like long-reaching story lines that last for awhile. I want my television to make me work a little bit.

At its best, "Lost" is that show (and then some). What I loved most about tonight's episode is that it focused entirely on the mythology of the show. Seeing Richard and Abaddon in Locke's flashbacks was awesome. Watching Locke and company search for the cabin was fantastic. This is the kind of episode I enjoy.

Thus, I am giving tonight's ep an A -- watching Ben react to Locke's journey tonight was fascinating. Seeing Richard again gave me goosebumps. I hope every episode from here on out focuses on the same kinds of things that tonight's did.

Here's my thing with Richard tonight (besides the fact he seemingly never ages). He was off the island. We have been told the submarine is the only way on and off the island, but Locke was a baby some 45 years ago and the Purge only happened 12 years ago. Didn't Dharma arrive on the island in the 70s? So shouldn't Richard not have had access to the sub yet? Is this proof there is another way off the island? Or am I missing something?

Anyway, here is my question to you this week -- Are you like me in that the more an episode of "Lost" delves into the mythology of the show, the better it is?

Filed under: Lost

Reader Comments

(Page 2 of 8)Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. I look forward to this blog ALMOST as much as I look forward to the new episodes. Last night's show was awesome and completely creepy-- when Claire and Christian were just chilling in the mythical cabin, I had goosebumps. Such a great episode. Also I forgot about the busted compas-- good memory! Is next week the season finale, or how many more episodes do we have?

Posted at 1:10PM on May 9th 2008 by IheartLost

17. I love LOST but the 10 pm timeslot is a killer for me especially trying to figure out what the heck is going on. I need to watch it again. Enjoy your blog, btw!!

Posted at 1:11PM on May 9th 2008 by NotFamous

18. Addition? Subtraction? Were you trying to be funny, or did you mean edition. If it was supposed to be funny, I am really stupid because I didn't get it.

Posted at 1:12PM on May 9th 2008 by Are you paid as a professional?

19. What struck me about Richard's first meeting with John is that he asked him which objects belonged to him already. Made me think there is some reincarnation thing going on.

Posted at 1:14PM on May 9th 2008 by Aliasgirl

20. I love reading your play-by-play. You are hilarious! Does anyone have any thoughts on this....if Sayid left the freighter before the ship's doctor had his throat slit by Keamy why didn't he arrive back on the island before the doctor's body washed ashore?

Posted at 1:15PM on May 9th 2008 by Kelly

21. First of all, I don't think I could be any more in love with you! You're the best - adore your posts, and I don't consider an evening of Lost officially complete until the next morning when I read your take. Inevitably I laugh out loud - love it. Secondly, I agree with you on the mythology of the island making the best epi's. Truly, it's what hooked me in the very beginning (the noises in the jungle, the smoke monster, what ate the pilot??). The soul of the island is really the soul of the show, and when we veer too far away from it, it begins to feel more like regular TV. I'm all for immersion in the mystery of it, and (of course) count the days until Thursdays ... and Friday mornings :)

Posted at 1:15PM on May 9th 2008 by CateyP

22. Its obvious that Claire is dead from her attitude. Besides, he said "best not to tell anyone you saw her"... Well Duh. They don't want people knowing she's dead. Sucks, but we knew it had to happen for Kate to get Aaron. Locke doesn't know that Christian is Jack and Claire's dad, so whomever he tells about that (and we know it won't be Jack because they are in the hate part of their love-hate relationship) won't know whom he's speaking of. But if he mentions Claire, then everyone will think he's crazy, and also know she's dead.

That whole scene really fascinated me. You could tell Claire had been getting "dirty" in the forest... possibly by the smoke monster?

And WHEN are the producers gonna give us a real name for it? I mean Ben knows how it works, and what it does...Why not get a real name for what it's called...

Posted at 1:16PM on May 9th 2008 by Manda

23. Last night's episode was great. It was what some of the episodes this season were missing ... new wtf moments.

Posted at 1:17PM on May 9th 2008 by k

24. YES!!! That was an awesome episode ... I got the chills four times! 1)Seeing Richard watching through the window when Locke was a baby. 2)Abaddon talking to Locke 3)The doctor (whos body was already found!!!) just got killed 4) Christian AND Claire in the cabin.
I absolutely loved this episode! It was like it was made as a gift for all of us longtime viewers ... no big answers yet, but now at least we seem close to some!

Posted at 1:19PM on May 9th 2008 by Jessica

25. Well, I think we already know that there's another way on and off of the Island because of Tom & Michael's New York meeting. Wasn't that after the sub was blown up? Not sure, I can't keep track of the timeline anymore!!

Posted at 1:19PM on May 9th 2008 by RM

26. This show gets dumber and dumber by the second. Wish ABC would just cancel this crap show.

Posted at 1:22PM on May 9th 2008 by Eric

27. There was definitely a big change in Claire..either she is dead or Christian told her the "big" picture, so she understands her/Aaron's role. Also, how long before did the doctor wash up on the beach? Keamy threw the Doctor in the water right before they left, but the doctor's body got there (how long?) long before them....I know there is something funky with freighter vs. island time...but they left the freighter the same time...and I'd think a helicopter would get there faster! Questions and more questions...I loved this episode...who can't with Des, Sayid, Locke, Hurley and BEN!!

Posted at 1:23PM on May 9th 2008 by mjn

28. Plus does Claire know she is with her father????

Posted at 1:24PM on May 9th 2008 by Jen

29. I agree there's something going on with Claire, but I'm not totally convinced she ~ or Christian either, for that matter ~ is dead. She was completely different in the cabin than she's even been on the show before, that's for sure. Her sort of knowing grin, totally cocky and un-Claire like, was a bit creepy. And is there any significance, I wonder, to the fact that when the sat phone was thrown from the copter, it crushed Claire's beach hut? If it's true that the writers never do anything by chance, than that must mean something ~ but what??
I definitely think Richard is part of something much deeper, and older, on the island than the Dharma Initiative, and has other means besides the sub of traveling between the island and the "real world".
Interesting catch about Locke & Ben both having mothers named Emily. If that's true, could they be brothers?? It would make a weird sort of sense.
I have no idea where they're going with all this, but it's a fun ride so I'm just going to go with it!

Posted at 1:27PM on May 9th 2008 by mommykate

30. I was really addicted to this show. After being on, not on, new show, repeat, not knowing when it was on again. It lost me.
They should have kept to a schedule like most other shows that are on tv.

Posted at 1:28PM on May 9th 2008 by Lisa

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