Really???? Is this a joke????

The following is a (relatively scathing) response to a Lost review that was posted in Sunday's edition of The Record. It includes spoilers regarding "Meet Kevin Johnson," the episode that aired on March 20th. Click the "Read More" link for my review of the review!

Also, be sure to vote in the Aaron/Oceanic Six poll! Only a few days left before it closes...

UPDATE: Click here to read A Case of the.... Lost - Episode 4-8

As you will find out in my upcoming Lost column, I was a big fan of "Meet Kevin Johnson," as I think it did a fantastic job of tying up a lot of the logistical issues, like why Michael would help the people that had kidnapped his son. I also think it did a suitable job of telling us what Michael has been up to, while still leaving enough gaps for another Michael or Walt flashback episode in the future. Perhaps most importantly, it answered a fair amount of questions, and it provided more than a couple of scenes that made you scratch your head (in a good way). Along with all of that, it was an entertaining episode!

As such, I was surprised to read a less-than-complimentary review of the episode. But that's not even what bothered me. Within the first two paragraphs, this article -- ever-so-cleverly titled "Lost & Found," written by Bill Ervolino -- lost any and all credibility. The second paragraph starts off by saying "In an attempt to explain how Michael wound up on the freighter -- as Ben's spy, no less -- the writers brought back Tom (who is apparently alive) and Libby (who apparently isn't) and squished them together into a wheezy Mission: Impossible episode..." and it goes on. Is this a joke? Are you kidding me? Tom is "apparently alive"? Are you daft? Was it not made extremely clear that this is a FLASHBACK and occurred BEFORE Tom was killed off in the finale?

I mean, hell, how much clearer can it be? At the time of the finale, Naomi had already arrived on the island. Therefore, obviously, the freighter had already left its port. At the time of its departure, Michael was on board, and had already conversed with Tom. So naturally, all of the events within this episode occurred before the events of the finale. While I totally respect that the episode wasn't universally loved, I simply cannot respect an article that makes such a glaringly stupid comment. What makes it even worse is that he references Tom being alive (or not being dead) several more times throughout the article!

A slightly more fair argument he made was that Rousseau fell into what was an obvious trap that Ben had set up, and that she's far too cunning and un-trusting of Ben to do that. I can understand that point, but I didn't quite see it that way. To me, it felt more like Rousseau was willing to do whatever it takes to protect Alex, and I think that she truly believed that Ben would not harm Alex. So she was willing to sacrifice her own life if it meant keeping Alex safe.

Finally, the author was critical of the fact that the island apparently won't let Michael take his own life, referring to this particular twist as "borderline ridiculous." Really? Is this any less believable than time travel? Or a smoke monster that can pose as dead people? Or a cabin that can magically teleport from one place to another? Or people magically healing of physical and biological ailments? This is definitely the type of revelation that must be considered in the appropriate context.

Of course, I'm not suggesting that Lost has free reign to do any and every unbelievable thing that wanders into the writers' heads. There must be a limit, and it should correlate to the logic and suspension of disbelief that the series has established. Personally, I believe this has. If nothing else, it provides a reason for certain characters to return to the island (in this case with Michael, and later on with the Oceanic Six).

To sum things up...

Tom IS dead, and this flashback occurred before he was killed in the finale...
Rousseau probably knew it was a trap, but she was willing to give up her life to protect her daughter...
And the island not allowing people to kill themselves is an interesting plot device that I'm sure will, at least in part, play a role in the Oceanic Six returning to the island...

And now, I'm going to throw out that article. It doesn't even deserve to be recycled.