Recap: LOST (S4E13)

by Paul (3 Comments) StumbleUpon

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

    What we Learned
    Wow. Time travel, space relocation, dead people, dramatic rescue, dramatic reunion, dramatic death and seeing a brother in another life. It all happened. With 2 seasons left until LOST is found, we're starting to see the finish line -- with a few loose ends that may not be that significant -- and Season 4 ended as it bang, astoundingly, breath-takingly confusing, mind-numbing and addictively awesome. So, I'm trying to formulate a theory, but I think I'll just look at the new viral site.
  • Locke is the rightful heir of the island (Ben was merely his placeholder -- his brothers keeper if you will). There's a very Jacob and Esau, birthright feel to Ben and John.

  • Richard never ages, though, seems to have no real power

  • Penny reunites with Desmond -- obviously she's battling her father

  • The island can move -- between space and time. Though ... what did Ben do (he didn't follow the directions; he seems to have manually overrode the mechanism that moved/transported objects)

  • Sun, with her newfound power, finds Widmore and seems to want to partner with him (to do what?)


    What we don't know
  • What did you all think?

  • Was Hurely really playing chess with Mr. Eko?

  • Why did Claire warn Kate not to go back?

  • Why was Locke finding the survivors, and pleading with them to go back (and why did he leave, and how did he die?)

  • Is Christian Shepherd a literal "shepherd" -- taking people back to their "true' time and place?

  • Is Jin really dead?

  • Where did the island go!?

  • Will Ben be able to lead them back?



I know I missed a ton, but -- any thoughts out there?

May

Thu, 29th

2008

Recap

Recap: LOST (S4E9)

by Paul (2 Comments) StumbleUpon

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
I've been lax (to say the least) in doing any sort of comprehensive recap. But let's be honest, what can you say about this season of LOST, other than "I'm so confused" and have meaningful insight (which I rarely have as it is). And let's be further honest and say that I've lax about everything (except work) lately. I have been keeping my parenthesis quota up though -- 3 cheers for that. Regardless, here's a synposis of the confusion that has ensued.

    What We('ve) Learned
  • Time and reality are not at all what it seems -- time seems inexact in as much as we're unsure who's living in "real" time and who's living in "trapped" time (we know for sure Desmond and are living in seemingly parallel times -- relying on their "constant").

  • Jacob is the man with the answers -- but only seems to "appear" to those he wants to speak to

  • The "security" on the boat -- those hired by Widmore to find the island -- they've killed off a good 8-10 people in about one afternoon -- including Alex, Rousseau and nearly Claire

  • Somehow the island has "portals" into other places -- like the Sahara desert (I guess one of the polar bears stumbled up on it as well?). Ben somehow winds up there -- in the future -- and then proceeds to find Sayid (and it appears to be something he's done often).

  • There was never any intent to rescue anyone. Daniel caved to this reality when grilled by Jack after he Morse-coded with the ship about the dead doctor (who washed ashore); trying to get away with a lie -- and for once Bernard was useful and deciphered the correctly). Daniel tried to pass it off as "things are fine, helicopter coming in the morning", but what he really recieved was "what are you talking about, the doctor is fine". This seems to indicate that the island is now ahead(?!) of the timeline of the boat?

  • Ben can make the "smoke monster" (or "security system") appear when he wants. Ben disappeared into his closet, and into some dungeon corridor and moments later reemerges sooty/dirty and the black smoke swoops in and attacks the guerrilla fighters from the boat.

  • Ben knows where Charles Widmore lives, and has his penthouse key -- and apparently, they have some unforeseen "rules" that they must abide by

  • Sayid married Nadia, only to have her killed (by WIdmor) which is how he comes into being the "gun for hire" of Ben


    What We Don't Know
  • What is the black smoke -- A machine? An entity? Who controls it and how?

  • What are the "rules"?

  • What time period is it truly -- and which is reality -- are the flashfowards merely the "now" and the island merely a "nowhere" -- but more a holding cell for traveling consciouses?

  • Statue foot? Anyone?

  • The Black Rock (boat) and the book which Widmore obtained ?

  • How does Widmore "own" the island? Why can't Ben kill him?



I know there are a TON more questions, what are so of your observations and questions?

Apr

Fri, 25th

2008

Recap

Recap: LOST (S4E08)

by Paul (2 Comments) StumbleUpon

MEET KEVIN JOHNSON
This is it; till the end of April.

    What We Learned
  • Flashfoward: Michael
    So Michael's on the boat, and he's there because he wants to die. But Ben wants him to sabotage the boat and "save his friends" or some such lie. So, Michael gets off the island, confesses his sins to Walt, who gets freaked out and never wants to see him again; and Michael tries to kill himself; over and over (but can't).

  • Apparently Tom is ... gay? He liked to "indulge"; as he tells Michael. He also shows Michael all the evidence of Widmore's plan; buying an old plane, digging up graves for bodies, and skinning the plane and corpses deep and declaring it as Oceanic 815 (knowing it'd cost to much to retrieve the bodies).

  • Ben is a lying liar who tells the truth, sometimes.

  • Michael is on the ship to sabotage it; and keep Widmore from killing everyone and keeping the island for himself (or so we're told).

  • Sayid confronts Michael on the boat; and takes him to the ship's captain; revealing his identity and motives.

  • Rosseau is dead, sniped down on her way to the "Temple" with Carl and Alex.

  • Carl is dead, also sniped.

  • Alex is alive, somehow; raising her arms in surrender saying she's Ben's daughter.



    What We Don't Know
  • Who's sniping? Is there a temple? Will we find some people we though were dead at the Temple?

  • What will the captain do with the news of Michael?

  • Is Ben telling the truth about Widmore? Is Penny in on the story? Is Widmore Dharma? Is Dharma even relevant anymore?

  • How does Tom manage to get off the island, roughly around the same time he's on the island beach in combat against Jin, Bernard and Sayid

  • Are their dual consciouses (the ones on the island being "past" ones; and the flash forwards being the actual?) -- and thus the "healing", inability to die, and strange "visions"?

  • Black smoke, 4 toes statue, the vanishing cabin of Jacob -- what are these things? Will we ever know?



Good stuff... it'll feel forever to get some answers; but what did you see (that I probably missed)?

Mar

Thu, 20th

2008

Recap

Recap: LOST (S4E4)

by Paul (1 Comments) StumbleUpon

    What We Learned
  • Flashforward: Kate
    After being rescued, Kate is on trial for all her past crimes. Jack testifies as to her "character" (lying about how she protected and fed the "8" survivors -- 2 other dying? -- and that he did not love her; whatever relevance that has).

  • Locke is a dictator, with a heart of gold.

  • Hurley got "Scooby Doo'd" by Kate, so that she could talk to Miles about what he knows

  • Miles gets 1 minute with Ben, and extorts $3.2 million to keep his mouth shut on Ben's location (to his boss). Ben doesn't even blink about the amount (and Miles said something to the effect, "Don't treat me like one of them, I know who you are")

  • Locke lovingly kicks Kate off the compound for her breech of trust. She finds solace with Sawyer.Where'd all this Kate might be pregnant talk come from?

  • Sun and Jin talk about where they want to raise their child; fully expecting to get off the island.

  • Jack keeps trying to call "the boat" to find out if Sayid is ok. No response. He demands Charlotte to call another line (for emergencies only). She asks Regina if the helicopter arrived, since it left over a day ago -- response; "No".

  • Kate's mom shows up during her trial (in the future) -- in a wheelchair -- and says she won't testify against Kate; that she just wants to see her grandson. Apparently Kate is a mom.

  • Kate gets 10 years probation (time-served) and goes home to see her son -- AARON!!! (now the final remarks made at the end of Season 3; Kate to Jack "I need to get back to him" make sense.


    What We Don't Know
  • How did Kate get Aaron? Does Claire die? Does she ask Kate to take him?

  • There's just one more survivor to find (we have Kate, Jack, Hurley, Sayid and Aaron) -- unless you count Ben (which I wouldn't).

  • Who are the other "2" that Jack mentioned as surviving the crash, but not on the island?

  • How does Ben have $3.2 million (we know he has currency and identities)

  • Next Week: We learn about the helicopter and the true intent of the "rescuers"

Feb

Fri, 22nd

2008

Recap

Recap: LOST (S4E3)

by Paul (3 Comments) StumbleUpon

THE ECONOMIST
It's been awhile since I've recapped, hope you'll forgive, but there's some amazing stuff to dive into. Quick Recap Recap: What's happened up to this episode? Well, in the future Hurley see's visions of Charlie, freaks out, goes on a police chase, ends up in a Psych hospital seeing dead Charlie again. Locke and Jack split up the survivors into groups those who want to be rescued and those who think its a trap. These 4 rescuers unknowingly work for Dharma -- looking for Benjamin Linus. In the real world the wreckage of Oceanic Flight 815 is discovered and confirmed the dead. And ... that does it.

    What We Learned
  • Flashfoward Focus: Sayid
    Sayid is playing a lovely round of golf, looking trim and fit and content (it can't be the future, can it -- aren't the Oceanic 6 deshelved and crazy?). A man drives up in a cart, challenges Sayid to make a chip-shot to the green with a 7 iron. They wager who can get close to the hole with which club. The man innocently asks what Sayid does, "Nothing. I got a large sum of money in a settlement. I'm one of the Oceanic 6". The dude looks panicked, hits his shot (and get closer to the pin) and begins to leave saying he doesn't want Sayid's money, Sayid calls him by name "I insist, Mr Avellino" (which the fellow never told him) and shoots him.

  • Back in the past -- or future -- or present -- whatever -- The potential rescuers are figuring out how to get Charlotte from Locke. Sayid volunteers.

  • The rescue shunners are still trying to find Jacob's cabin ... and when Locke leads them to the place he thinks it ought to be, its not there. Ben does his normal mocking (and by this point, with all the beatings he's taken, should he be like blind and barely able to walk?).

  • Kate, Sayid and Miles go to "retrieve" Charlotte and go looking for Locke and the others at the old village compound. As they explore Ben's old house (by the urging of Miles) Sayid discovers a secret room behind a bookcase. Inside Locke finds a large closet full of nice suits, suitcases and drawers full of foreign currency and a multitude of passports. While exploring, Kate, Sayid and Miles are ambushed by Locke and the gang while at the compound (having used Hurley as a decoy). Sayid chats with Locke about taking Charlotte so that he can gain access to the boat and figure out what the "rescuers" intend.

  • Back in the future, Sayid is now in Germany getting coffee and meeting a nice young lady. They exchange some information -- Sayid works as a "headhunter" (nice) and Elsa works as a buyer for an "economist". He asks her for a date. We then find out that Sayid has been hired to take her out (much like he did Mr Avellino). They start a relationship. Kissy kissy.

  • Sayid returns with Charlotte (but not Kate or Miles), but Frank (the pilot) still agrees to take whomever to the boat because he was no fan of Miles.

  • Desmond grills Frank about who has hired them --- showing them the picture of he and Penelope that was on Naomi. Frank and Charlotte give glances to each other but say nothing

  • Frank, Sayid, Desmond and dead Naomi get on the helicopter and head toward the boat.

  • In the future Sayid is in bed with Elsa, and her pager goes off -- its her "boss". Sayid spills the beans about what he is (sorta) and tells her to get away from Berlin. Elsa is frantic and angry and then shoots Sayid; and proceeds to call her "boss", explaining (in German) that she got him, but he's not dead and that she will bring him in for question. Meanwhile Sayid inches his way toward his gun, and shots and kills Elsa. While examining her body he discovers a bracelet -- a bracelet that is exactly like one Naomi had on (unless he took that and gave it to Elsa?).

  • Daniel attempts a little experiment with Regina back on the boat; telling her to launch the pay load (toward a beacon he just set up). She begins to countdown the moment till impact -- Daniel searches the sky. When Regina reaches zero -- nothing has come. No payload. 31 minutes later the payload enters the sky and hits right near the target.

  • Sayid carries his broken body to what appears to be a animal shelter or animal hospital (reminiscent of the facilities that Juliet was in). He lumbers into a veterinarian office -- cabinets, shelves an operating table and a man in a white coat. The man asks Sayid to take off his jacket and beings to treat his wounds. The man asks Sayid what Elsa was trying to do; and says he has a new identity for him and a new name on the "list". And we see .... the man is BEN!. He tells Sayid he has to keep doing this if he wants to protect his friends.


    What We Don't Know
    What do we know? Not much. There are so many questions, so we'll just dive in.
  • Who is R.G. (the initials on the bracelet that both Naomi and Elsa had on)?

  • How is there a time gap on the island (31 minutes)?

  • Who is Regina?

  • Where is Penny -- we know she didn't hire these people (Matthew Abaddon did), was she involved with the Christine I ship (that discovered the "wreckage")

  • Why are the rescuers after Ben? And are they there to discover more about the island?

  • In the picture that Miles has of Ben, where is Ben (it doesn't appear to be the island at all)

  • How does Ben get off the island so frequently (we know he came to the island as a boy ... but with all those suits and passports and currency, its obvious he's able to leave)? Where does he go and what does he do?

  • Where'd that cow come from?

  • Frank claimed in episode 2 that the pilot found on in the wreckage of Flight 815 wasn't the guy they said it was -- who was it then, and how is Frank connected to it? Why would Oceanic purposely plant a fake wreckage plane? Are the bodies even real?

  • Who are the other 2 (of 6) survivors -- I say 2 because I don't think Ben can be considered a survivor of 815, since he wasn't on 815.



What a great new season thus far. The sad news -- only 5 more episodes to go. The good news -- the writers strike is over and there (supposedly) will be another 4 episodes produced (which we might get by early summer). What are your thoughts? What are the other big questions (I missed)?

Feb

Fri, 15th

2008

Recap

Recap: Heroes Season 2 and a few episodes

by Paul (3 Comments) StumbleUpon

So, what the heck I decided I would tackle a large summary of Heroes since the last time I did a recap. I stopped doing them for a few reasons (in no particular order): 1) no one really interacted much, so I thought that probably meant no one cared; 2) the show was mostly doing nothing new that warranted an episode by episode recap. C) I had about 4 episdoes DVR'd and hadn't seen them till a few days ago.

What We Learned

  • Peter
    Peter jumped to the future, saw the destruction of mankind (again); grimaced about it, lost his girlfriend, opened a box that had a ticket to Montreal or something, met a man who helped him remember who he was -- which flashed back to "the company", where Peter was imprisoned after the "explosion" at the end of Season 1, met a sadist chick with lightning hands, helped Adam (an old old man in a young man's body) escape on a quest to rid the world of this virus that kills 95% of the world in the future (again).

  • Claire
    She likes West. West likes her. Daddy doesn't like West. West doesn't like daddy. West finds out daddy is HRG, freaks out. Claire gets found by "The Company", daddy and West make up. Claire has healing blood -- which in turn will be useful to daddy, because he's dead (at least she thinks he is)

  • Noah (HRG)
    He finds out Mohinder is a stupid jackass who decides that "The Company" isn't so bad. Also finds out that Claire's boyfriend (mentioned above) is a kid he has to "experiment" on when he was with "The Company". Mohinder plots to bring him down, and get Claire to help those people who are "infected" with the virus. Noah puts up a fight, and almost kills Bob (of "The Company"), but instead jackass Mohinder shots Noah in the eye. Ouch. Dead. But wait -- nope -- depth-breath-jumping-from-a-sleep-coma camera shot later; Noah's alive, saved by Claire's blood (administered by jackass Mohinder).

  • Mohinder
    The jackass gets fooled into thinking "The Company" is just trying to do some good for those bad Heroes out there. So, he shoots Noah in the eye. And brings him back to life. I have no idea what he's there for; other than to mess everything up.

  • Matt
    Matt has learned how to control people's minds. Gets drunk with power -- and forces Molly to eat her dinner. Then forces Angela Petrelli to tell him what they (her and her cohorts) did. She tells them about Adam and the virus. Matt looks stunned and shocked.

  • Hiro
    Hiro manages to make enemies with Kensai by taking his girl; and Kensai isn't happy, and most likely holds a grudge about it for 400 years. Hiro finds out about his fathers death, goes back in time to try and stop it, and realizes that death is inevitable, but does get to learn who killed his father.

  • Adam
    Might be the cause of all the destruction in the world. Adam can't die. Depending on when he was "born", Adam might be the Adam (of Adam and Eve). Adam is Kensai. Adam has seen alot in his time and thinks that man isn't worthy of living. Thus, he convinces Peter that he's only trying to destroy the "virus", but actually wants to get it to kill off everyone. He does reveal to Peter (since now by proximity, Peter cannot die) that if you're head gets cut off or blown off, well, its curtains



That sum it up?

Nov

Wed, 28th

2007

Recap