A Case of the.... Lost - Episode 6-5 Revisited

So last week’s episode of Lost received some mixed feedback amongst my family and friends who watch the show. And this surprised me a bit, as I thoroughly enjoyed the episode. Granted, I’m a confessed fan of Jack, so maybe my interest in his character made an otherwise lackluster episode seem pretty satisfactory. Or maybe I’m just too positive – something I’ve been accused of in the past. Those are distinct possibilities, but ultimately I think my philosophy for how I watch each episode explains it.

Basically, when I watch an episode of Lost, there are a few things I factor in when I determine how much I enjoyed it. Most importantly, was it entertaining? I mean, they can answer all the questions in the world, but if it’s not in an interesting manner, does it really matter? Which brings me to my next criteria: Does it answer any questions? I’m not naïve (or unfair) enough to think that they’re going to give us these massively significant answers in an episode that isn’t a premiere or finale, so – to me – I can find satisfaction in simply learning what Jacob’s list refers to. And last – and this is where last week’s episode comes into play – how significant is the episode in the grand scheme of things?

So at face value a lot may not have happened this past episode, but I have a big feeling that certain actions that were taken in this episode will play a big part in future episodes. There’s Jack’s quest, Hurley’s servitude to Jacob, Jin taking Claire to the Temple, Claire’s “friendship” with Locke, and so on and so forth.

Okay, there ya’ go. That’s my methodology. Shall we move onto the thoughts and theories of last week’s episode?

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As many people have noted, Kate was on the lighthouse dial, next to the number 51. A lot of people are making a big deal out of the fact that she wasn’t on the cave wall, but I’m not sure that’s necessarily true. There were LOADS of names on the wall that the Locke Ness Monster didn’t mention, for one reason or another. I believe Kate was one of those unmentioned people. I’m intrigued by why she wasn’t named, though.

And for those of you wondering, the name next to 108 – which, if you recall, is the sum of The Numbers – was “Wallace.” As far as I can tell, we’ve never met this person before. Perhaps he’s the person heading to the island?

Now let’s discuss some of the comments left on my blog. The following comes from long-time contributor Kyle:

As for Christian, it's also possible Smokey switched forms on her, ala him appearing to Ben as Alex and Locke right after the other. You may very well be right, but I'm not sure.

I just find it hard to believe that Christian is going to be written off in such an inconsequential way after playing a relatively significant role over the past five years. If Christian is the Smoke Monster, who we now know can only appear as Locke, that would imply that we’ve seen the last of Christian. I just don’t see him going out with such a whimper. Kyle adds:

Rewatching Season 5, and Christian specifically told Sun (according to her) that if she wants to see Jin again, she has to wait for John Locke. Who goes on to claim he has some ideas about finding Jin.

Seems like an odd thing for someone with Jacob to say, considering who Locke is at this point. Who knows, of course, but it's something to think about.

I do not believe that Christian is Jacob, but I’m just not entirely convinced that he’s the Smoke Monster either. I’ll be discussing this aforementioned scene a little later, as well. Finally, Kyle brings up this point about Claire:

As far as Claire and time traveling goes, I'm not sure if it was the Temple or something else. Not everyone on the Island time jumped, I don't think...or were all of the Others in the Temple at that point? I thought someone was out, but perhaps not.

I think Kyle is right about the Others not being in the Temple during the time traveling. I had initially assumed that they were, since they spent pretty much all of the prior season hiding out there. But I now remember that Locke met up with them in the jungle, where he began time traveling but they did not. This brings me back to a question I had been asking since the beginning of last season, which I hope we get an answer to, and that’s what determines who time travels and who doesn’t? The Oceanic survivors did, but those survivors that ended up with the Others (like Cindy) did not. Then on the Ajira flight, Jack, Kate, and Hurley did travel while Sun, Frank, and Ben did not. And Claire? Well, that remains a mystery at the moment.

Also on my blog, DaBooty offered this (I’m going to respond to each point individually):

I was surprised that Jin didn't explain the whole "Kate was raising Aaron" thing a little bit more. Like hey remember when the Dharma barracks blew up and then you disappeared and left Aaron alone in the jungle? Well we weren't going to let Aaron just lay there and die so we SAVED HIM! Then again, maybe talking rationally to Claire wouldn't have worked.

While it did seem a little odd that Jin didn’t try to explain the scenario a bit more rationally, I think he recognized that Claire wasn’t quite right, and that for his own protection – not to mention Kate’s – he’d be better off lying, taking her to the Temple, and hoping that they have some way of “curing” her.

I loved this episode, mainly because of Hurley and Jack's interactions. It did feel very old school except Jack is not quite the same. I guess because he is still "broken".

I still think Jack is the candidate and not Christian. That is why Jacob needed to get him and Hurley out of the temple. Jacob seems to be putting all his eggs in one basket with Jack and Hurley (or 2 baskets i guess) by separating them from the rest.

Yes, but for all we know, Jacob needs Jack as a means to getting to Christian. In fact, I could totally imagine Jack believing the hype and thinking that he’s something special, only for it to all come crashing down when he discovers that his father is actually the special one.

I love how the writers answer the question of "how have we not seen this giant lighthouse that isn't too far from where we lived for a while" with "i guess we weren't looking for it". Maybe it wasn't there before? Who knows. i wish Jack was a little more intrigued by this magic mirror instead of instantly angry and smashed it. It would have been nice if he stopped on some of the other names so we could take a peek.

I agree, his reaction was a bit annoyingly impulsive and arguably selfish, but I guess that’s the reaction Jacob was expecting and perhaps hoping for.

So now we know that the numbers are degrees, but i still want to know what they have to do with the hatch.

I’m not quite sure we do “know” that the Numbers are degrees. In my view, this is just another example of the Numbers popping up. I don’t think we quite know what the Numbers are yet, though.

Looking in the mirror in the ATL is clearly important, and Jack definitley remembers or feels something. Remember, he got his appendix out on the island, which is why his attention was drawn to it.

Yes, but I find it curious that only Jack seems to be aware of the fact that something just isn’t right. And for that matter, the only other character who appeared to experience déjà vu was Kate….when she saw Jack.

Alright, now let’s take a look at the always enjoyable review at EW.com. The first idea actually coincides with the appendix issue above:

Consider this: If we assume that Jack is about as old as Sawyer, then that means it's very likely that Sideways Jack had his school collapse/appendix episode the very same year that a certain group of time traveling castaways were blowing up Jughead on the Island. What if Young Jack's collapse was caused by Castaway Jack's mind/soul getting blown into him? What if Young Jack's appendicitis was reflexive a psychosomatic response to the appendix-free Castaway Jack's sudden psychic migration into his mind? What if Castaway Jack's mind/soul has lain dormant within Sideways Jack ever since, but now is starting to stir and take hold?

Eh, not sure I see this coming to fruition, but it’s a fun little observation. But one thing about Jack that did seem curious was the fact that his son’s mother – presumably his ex-wife – went specially unmentioned. No mention of her name. No photos of her at her home. Was it the same ex-wife he had in the “regular” universe, or was it somebody different? The reviewer proposes this possibility:

Who's David's Mom? Who's the female participant in the creation of this inexplicably conceived Sideways child? Who's this phantom woman that Sideways Jack was once with and now isn't? Wouldn't if be totally ironic and fitting if she was the Sideways iteration of Lost's resident fertility doc/Jack dumpette, better known to us as Juliet? And you wanna know why she wasn't home last night? That's right, kids: Going dutch on coffee with new boyfriend Sawyer.

One problem with this: David’s mother was “out of town” not “out on a date.” That’s not to say I don’t see this being true. I’m just not sure why they’d hold off on this revelation. Why not show a photo of her in her home, and later on we find out she’s dating Sawyer? But as a few people noted, do we really need to see Jack and Sawyer competing over the same girl in yet another reality? Shifting gears to the island world:

Along the way, Jack tried to pick up some baggage: Kate. But Hurley said No, that Jack had to come to Jacob alone. It made sense: Kate is now part of the painful past that Jack has to learn to let go of, part and parcel of the Something (Allegedly) Nice Back Home dream/nightmare that he has to grieve and detach from.

I don’t have much to add to this idea other than the fact that I dig it. Jack has always had issues with letting go of the past – a character “flaw” that seems to be true in both universes (this must also make us wonder: What ended his marriage in the alternative reality?) I was further intrigued by Hurley’s resolve to make sure Jack takes this journey by himself. This Jacob-guided-Hurley is no pushover.

The Lighthouse doesn't cast light outward. It casts light inward, and reveals the state of your heart. For Jack Shephard, his heart is still locked up in his childhood home, his father's house, his past, and he won't be free and realized until he leaves all of it behind.

Possible. Although I still prefer my theory, that Jack’s childhood home is more an allusion to the senior Shephard. Here’s another interesting observation:

The episode was filled with conversations about truth telling. It began with Jack and Dogen praising each other for their mutual honesty. Claire demanded total honesty from Justin the Other as well as Jin, who told the truth about Aaron, then lied about telling the truth to save his life. The episode ended with Hurley scolding Jacob for not playing straight with him. Interesting: the Lockeness Monster professes to be the straight-shooter of the two Island deities, and after this episode, we have no reason to doubt him; the revelation of the Lighthouse didn't contradict anything UnLocke told and showed Sawyer last week in the cave. Meanwhile, Jacob has resorted to lies, puzzles, and possibly supernatural coercion to get people to do what he wants them to do. And yet, I STILL find myself thinking that Jacob is the good guy and Lockeness is the bad guy in their feud. What do you think?

Somebody in the EW.com comments section responded to this idea far more eloquently than I would have:

MIB gives people the "truth" to shape their choices. Jacob allows people to discover the truth to make their own choices...........alternately known as free will..........

This is indeed an excellent point. Sure, Smokey tells people the truth – at least, we assume he does – but he’s doing so with the intention of manipulating them so that they can do his bidding. He convinced Alpert to tell Locke to kill himself. He influenced Ben to kill Jacob. He managed to get all of the Others to confront Jacob – something they had never done (that being said, he’s also not completely honest – he lied to Claire about the Others having Aaron). While Jacob appears to mislead people, it seems evident that he’s leaving the decisions up to his followers. Like he said to Ben in the statue, he has a choice and he doesn’t have to do this.

tonight's episode almost guaranteed my theory that Jacks story arc is leading towards him not being the new Jacob but to ending "the game" breaking the endless stalemate (tic-tac-toe). he has struggle since season one to breaking the cycle from turning into his dad now that was mirrored with him breaking the cycle with his sideways son

I’m not entirely positive I see Jack and Sawyer becoming the new Jacob and Man in Black, if only because I don’t foresee them ending the series with Sawyer in such an obviously villainous role. However, that’s not to say the series will ultimately end with two characters (perhaps familiar ones, like Locke and Christian) taking over those roles, essentially saying that this cycle will continue on and on. As another commenter said in response to this remark:

Good observation. I think you are right. Did you notice Hurley and Miles playing tic tac toe and tying every time?

Oh, and that scene with Christian, Frank, and Sun? Consider this observation:

Not only does Christian talk to Sun and Lupidos, doesn't he point out John Locke outside. Doesn't JL give one of those signature smile/nods? I don't think MIB can be two places at once.

That may be the biggest bit of proof that Locke and Christian are not both incarnations of the Smoke Monster. For that matter, if you recall that Christian seemed more or less unaware of the fact that Locke needed to die in order to bring the Oceanic Six back to the island. And we now know that Smokey – as Locke – came up with the plan to begin with.

That’s it for this week. I’ll be back Tuesday night with my next review!

And here's your latest dose of Lost Untangled:

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An extended snow day for some

So WWE.com today announced the release of several Superstars and Divas. The first two announcements were Shane Helms and Paul Burchill. I can't say I'm entirely surprised. Burchill had basically become fodder and he hasn't been used in months (even though his on-screen sister returned a few weeks ago). Shane Helms, on the other hand, recently had legal issues. While relatively minor, he did seem to be the one at fault, and his actions brought some negative press towards one of their bigger stars (Chris Jericho) and an apparent innocent bystander (Matt Hardy). So firing him could have been a mixture of wiping their hands clean of a possible trouble maker, and warning the roster to watch their behavior.

The most surprising announcement, in my opinion, was WWE Diva Maria. For one, she's been featured pretty prominently on Smackdown the past few weeks. She was even in the main event of last night's edition of Superstars. On top of that, she's going to appear on Celebrity Apprentice, so why cut ties with somebody who could only bring you some extra attention? Along with that, she does seem to have an upside: She's comfortable on the mic and adequate in the ring.

Nonetheless, it looks like some more releases are coming, which is unfortunate. I wouldn't want to be one of those former ECW Superstars right now.

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View from my front door this morning....

I just KNEW today was going to be a fun day upon seeing this:

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A Case of the.... 24 - Episode 8-9

A pretty good indicator of how “into” a series I am is my eagerness to write a column. What is it, Wednesday now?

Truth be told, this week’s episode of 24 was a vast improvement over the past few weeks. I actually got the sense that this was the token “turning point” episode in which many of the characters who have been portrayed as antagonists begin to show a lighter side in comparison to far more villainous and perhaps dangerous individuals. That happened a few times here, actually. Hastings was clearly uncomfortable when the President’s Chief of Staff pressured him into laying the blame on Renee. He argued with him, and again defended her with the lawyer. Yes, he ultimately relented arguably blackmailed Jack, but this was certainly the first time we saw him in a semi-noble role.

http://tv.insidepulse.com/2010/02/24/24-episode-8-9-review/

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Another top-notch video montage

Back in high school when my friends and I would order pay-per-views, one of my friends would remark on how WWE always made the most amazing montage videos. Honestly, these people might be the most talented people in television, period. Of course, the Steve Austin/Rock "My Way" video is typically referred to as the gold standard, but this promo -- made to hype the upcoming Shawn Michaels/Undertaker WrestleMania rematch -- is about as good as they come. Please give it a watch:



And I must say, for the first time EVER, I honestly believe there's a distinct possibility that they'll actually end Undertaker's streak. I am very psyched for WrestleMania.

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A Case of the.... Lost - Episode 6-5

So interestingly, my Revisited columns have received even more feedback and interaction than my regular column. I’ve had a lot of fun discussions on my blog, be sure to drop by and lend your thoughts.

Speaking of my Revisited column, earlier this week I reiterated an idea proposed by the reviewer at EW.com, that “Shephard” actually refers to Christian, and not Jack. I think this is a distinct possibility, which I daresay solidified a bit with this past episode. When Jack turned the dial to the “Shephard” dash, in the mirror he saw a vision of his childhood home, which he admitted he hadn’t lived in since he was a youngster. While it’s entirely possible the Shephard family moved, I think it’s more likely that this was Christian Shephard’s house up until the day he died. So it wasn’t so much Jack’s childhood house as it was Christian’s home.

Continue reading "A Case of the.... Lost - Episode 6-5"....

Another idea that has been tossed around is if Christian and the Smoke Monster are one in the same. This has been the assumption for quite some time. However, as I noted in my Revisited column, Christian seems significantly less adversarial than the Locke Ness Monster. Could we have received a hint this week? Claire noted that she’s been with her father AND with a friend. We learned that the Locke Ness Monster is that friend. And it’s also apparent that Claire recognizes that this person ISN’T John Locke (so she would likely understand that Smokey as Christian = Smokey as Locke, if that were the case).

Honestly, so much time and attention has been devoted to Christian Shephard that I’d be surprised if it turned out he was merely a manifestation of the Smoke Monster. After all, if that were the case, would they really call an 11th hour audible and say, “Okay, let’s just have him appear as Locke now”? There’s just something deeper about his character to have him written off so nonchalantly.

My current line of thinking? I’m intrigued by this idea that Christian is a candidate. In fact, I’m starting to tempt the idea that Christian is the next incarnation of Christian, and that his various appearances in other people’s flashbacks (Claire, Sawyer, Ana Lucia, in addition to Jack, of course) is the equivalent of Jacob appearing in people’s lives and touching them.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the stuff with Hurley and Jack. Hurley acted quite humorously as the voice of the audience, bringing up the fact the island’s Adam and Eve were pretty much all but forgotten, and how the concept of a couple of characters voyaging out into the jungle for Lord knows what reason is really “old school.” He also made all the right theories (the skeletons could be one of them, through time travel), made the right observations (the inhaler belonging to Shannon), and asked the right questions (like why Jacob essentially arranged for Jack to react to the situation in this way). And I thought their conversation about Kate was, well, just really authentic. These two have grown to be close friends, and it makes perfect sense that they’d open up to each other about this sort of thing. If the show lacks anything, it’s this sort of typical humanity. Just all around great stuff here.

Oh, and Kate saying, “Jack, I almost shot you!” so casually was strangely adorable.

So what do we have going in the Sideways World? Well, one difference is that Jack’s mother is apparently so inept that she can’t find her late husband’s will as it sits on a bookshelf in an envelope labeled “Last Will and Testament.” And the existence of the island is ultimately irrelevant when it comes to determining whether or not Christian Shephard bags an Australian chick. But other than that, Jack apparently has a son. And while in the reality we’re all familiar with, self-reflection is not exactly Jack’s strong suit, in this universe he seems to make a conscious effort to not make the same mistakes his father made. He wants to have a close, healthy relationship with his son, and he reaches out to him in order to make that happen. And when he realizes that his behavior might be the issue, he attempts to change accordingly.

One of my favorite scenes of the episode was when he left a message for his son when he was trying to find him. I was so worried we were going to see that Jack with a short fuse, yelling about how he’s worried sick. Instead, we saw Jack acting calmly and compassionately, apologizing for what he may or may not have done. What made the scene even more powerful was that it was such a stark contrast to the way he would react in the lighthouse.

And for those of you keeping score: Yes, there was another “look at your reflection” Flash Sideways scene. It’s interesting, though, that Jack has had two instances where he’s noticed a physical imperfection that has thrown him off guard.

And then there’s that little whackabee Claire. So on the one hand, she remembers Jin and Aaron (and Kate), but on the other, she doesn’t seem to recall abandoning Aaron to live in Jacob’s cabin. I do find it interesting that she was held at the Temple, though. This could explain how she survived all that time traveling fun (if you recall, the Temple was apparently immune from time traveling). So is the obvious thought the right one? That Claire is the “terrible thing” coming to the Temple? Intriguingly, all of the central characters have left the Temple for one reason or another, except for Miles and Sayid. Ya’ know, the guy who’s ALSO infected with the darkness? Hmmmm….

Nothing really jumped out at me as “assignment” worthy, but if you have any thoughts, feel free to send them my way for our next Revisited column. The last couple of weeks have brought me some great feedback, so keep up the good work!

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Is this for real?

Has anybody seen this infomercial? Where this self-help guy tells us to go after our best friend's girlfriend and our brother's wife? That we're an alpha male and that we take what we want? Some interesting stuff...

Indeed, the guy's got a website and everything!

http://hawkpanther.com/

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A Case of the.... Smallville - Episode 9-14

Throughout the first half of this episode I was ready to write it off as filler, but this actually ended up being a really enjoyable, surprisingly significant episode. Although I do find it somewhat amusing – and odd – that the writers have said in the past that they hate doing holiday themed episodes, and it seems like they’re doing them now more than ever (of course, Lex-mas will always be the bar in which all other holiday episodes are measured against).

http://tv.insidepulse.com/2010/02/22/smallville-episode-9-14-review/

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A Case of the.... Lost - Episode 6-4 Revisited

Between this being a Locke episode and the audience becoming more comfortable with the “Flash Sideways” concept, “The Substitute” is the first Revisited of the final season that really feels like its delving into hints and topics that I may have missed the first time around.

Now, before we get to last week’s episode, there is an important matter we have to discuss. Quite simply, we really can’t avoid this topic any longer….it’s something we have to deal with in order to continue on with this season. And that matter is – what are we going to call the Smoke Monster in Locke clothing? The most frequent nicknames are as follows: Smocke (a combination of “Smokey” and “Locke), Un-Locke (clever in a cutesy way), and The Locke Ness Monster (my personal favorite). So unless anybody has any better suggestions, I’m going to go with my preference. So from here on out, I’ll refer to Fake Locke as “The Locke Ness Monster.” There ya’ go.

Also, in last week’s original review I noted that while I did recognize that the numbers next to each Losties’ name was one of THE Numbers, I didn’t quite catch whose name was attached to which number. I now have that information:

Locke: 4; [Hurley] Reyes: 8; [James ''Sawyer''] Ford: 15; [Sayid] Jarrah: 16; [Jack] Shephard: 23; [Jin or Sun?] Kwon: 42

Continue reading "A Case of the.... Lost - Episode 6-4 Revisited...."

I know my Revisited column typically attempts to unravel theories, but I’m going to open this particular topic up for discussion throughout the season. Any idea what these numbers mean? However, there is one tidbit that’s fun to consider. If you remember way back when, one of the Others mentioned that Jack wasn’t on Jacob’s list. Yet we clearly saw “Shephard” on the cave wall. Over on his Twitter page, the very talented author of the EW.com Lost reviews offered this idea:

So maybe "Shephard" doesn't refer to Jack. Maybe it refers to.... Christian?

After all, there definitely seems to be several similarities between Jacob and Christian. Both have a proclivity for popping up in the lives of the Losties before they ended up on the island. Sometimes in very significant ways. And Christian has appeared on the island more than any other dead person. Plus he shacked up in Jacob’s cabin and he’s responsible for that whole island moving thing. There could be something to this.

Before I get to some more observations and comments I picked up from my e-mails and other reviews, I thought I would discuss a fun idea that didn’t quite occur to me after I initially viewed last week’s episode. For the first five seasons of Lost, we’ve been acting on this theory that the island saved these characters from an overall unhappy existence. Kate was a fugitive guilty of murdering her father. Sawyer was a conman, without a family and fueled by vengeance. Locke was paralyzed, stuck in a body that could never fulfill his greatest desires. Jack was obsessed with fixing things and controlling every situation he encountered. Sun and Jin were in a deteriorating marriage. Yet, the island allowed them to escape from these lives, and after their “rebirth” on the island, they were eventually able to overcome these insecurities. So the island saved the, right?

Not so simple.

One of the neat parts of the Flash Sideways is not that it shows what would have happened if they never crashed, but instead it shows what would have happened if the island essentially never existed. “The Substitute” revealed to us, should we choose to believe the Locke Ness Monster, that Jacob had essentially arranged for these characters to end up on the island. Well, if that’s true, we learned that if these interventions were never made, the characters (so far) would have lived a far happier and better adjusted life than what they ended up having. Before this season, one could have argued that there was something noble and altruistic about Jacob and the island. That’s a little harder to swallow now.

This idea was echoed in some of the comments left on the EW.com episode review. One person noted:

Enough of this faith nonsense. Locke was finally happy because he had transcended the need for faith.

I think this is a fair point. In a lot of ways, Locke’s blind faith is a crutch that he completely relies on. Not to sound like Monk or Spider-Man, but it was a curse just as much as it was a gift. Much like Jack, who once refused to acknowledge the supernatural – even as they were happening in front of his eyes – because of his inability to accept anything that could not be explained by science, Locke was hindered by his absolute faith in, well, faith. Hell, he was willing to commit suicide because a bunch of people, most of whom he had never even met before, told him that he had to die.

Perhaps what Locke really needs is to not be a man of faith or a man of science. He just needs to be a man – one who isn’t defined by his beliefs. Here was a somewhat related remark:

Surprised by Locke's glee in the sprinkler? If we follow the similarities to the original timeline, that to me just echoed locke sitting on the beach smiling peacefully as the rain came down on his face.

That’s a fun point, but you also have to acknowledge that the sentiment between their smiling is quite different. In the former, Locke was able to find humor in an unlucky situation. In the latter, he felt a sense of peace and belonging in an otherwise unsettling situation. Visually they were quite similar (and I’d like to give the writers the benefit of the doubt here and assume that was purposeful), but thematically there are some disparities.

Okay, so let’s take a look at some of the theories that popped up in the recent EW.com episode review. The first is a rather throwaway observation, but one I still enjoyed:

For the third straight episode, the episode's lead character was given a conspicuous moment in the bathroom, looking long and hard in the mirror.

So I guess “looking at your reflection” is the new “eye close up” token effect on Lost, huh? And while I suppose this can also be considered a throwaway observation, as the information was revealed in the passing, but I have a feeling this may prove to be a lot more significant:

We were told nothing about how this Locke and Helen met. But we were told they have an October wedding date, and given that it's late September in the Sideways world, I'm predicting that their Big Day will serve as a key moment for the entire Sideways arc — perhaps the time and place when all the disparate story lines will converge.

I actually quite like this idea. We’re starting to see the characters come together in different ways, so I can totally buy the idea that somehow, some way, they all end up at Locke’s wedding. Could this also coincide with when the castaways all reunite on the island? Speaking of the Locke nuptials…..

We know from season 1 that Boone Carlyle's mother, Sabrina Carlyle, owned a massively successful wedding business, and that Boone served as the company's chief operating officer. Methinks the Carlyle family biz will play a role in solving Helen's catering crisis….

Ha. Neat!

There were a few miscellaneous observations that I thought I’d touch upon, such as the identity of the boy that appeared throughout the episode. I initially figured it was a young version of Jacob, and that perhaps only “candidates” could see him (hence why Richard didn’t). The EW.com article proposed this idea, however:

The boy functions as a referee in the Jacob-Man In Black skirmish. He got that honor because the boy represents the first person the Man In Black ever killed.

Now that I think about it, I actually quite like the possibility that this boy is the Man in Black’s first kill. Besides which, visually, the adult Jacob that we were just introduced to would be a more compelling casting choice, in my opinion. Speaking of casting decisions, this comes courtesy of the comments section of the EW.com review:

The woman at the temp agency who asked Locke what kind of animal he would be was the actress who played the phony spiritual reader in Tricia Tenaka Is Dead.

Building this idea of rules and referees, there’s this observation from Mees and Only Mees, who left a comment on my original review:

I think it's interesting how there are "rules" that Jacob and MIB know about, yet thre were also rules that Ben and Penny's father knew about. Where is Penny's father anyway?

It’s funny that you mention that, because during last week’s episode, one idea that popped into my mind (rather randomly) was: I really hope that Widmore doesn’t end up as a passing thought in the grand scheme of things. His role was made so much more significant last season. I really hope he plays a crucial role this year as well.

And on the topic of the candidates, this comes from david, who also commented on my original review page:

There seens to be a balance...black and white. jacob and MIB.
Since Jacob is looking for a replacement, does that mean that MIB will have a replacement as well? maybe Sawyer is his replacement??
Ilana seems to know what is going on and who Smokey was and about the temple etc. im pretty sure she would know the rule about the MIB not being able to kill Jacob directly. so does that mean she knows Ben was lying when he said he MIB killed Jacob?

I think a fair argument could be made that Locke was the Man in Black’s replacement. I mean, he essentially took over his body and mind (memories, anyway). Perhaps this “replacement” idea isn’t necessarily physical (after all, Locke’s actual body has been buried) but a spiritual and visual thing, instead. And I’m not sure if Ilana knows that Ben was lying, but I’m sure she has her suspicions.

And this excellent point comes from the comments section as well:

If Ben is alive in the sideways world, then there is an issue with the bomb destroying the island in 1977. Ben would have been killed when the island sank. He was at the temple at the time of the explosion and could not have been on the submarine.

Ah, very interesting point. In last week’s Revisited column I was corrected that Ethan was likely on the submarine. But, based on what we saw last season, Ben was still in the Temple with the Others when the Incident occurred. So how did Ben survive and get off the island? Apparently there’s a Richard Flash Sideways episode coming up this season (on a side note, it’s a bit disappointing that this guy never got a FLASHBACK!) and I have a feeling we might get the answer to that question then. And now, let’s end things with a final thought from the EW.com review:

Because I believe as heartbroken and furious as Sawyer may be… he ain't betraying the castaways to this monster.

While I do agree with the popular theory that Sawyer is essentially “using” the Locke Ness Monster in order to gain important information, let us not forget that just one season ago he was more than willing to leave everybody he cares about (including former flame Kate and best friend Hurley), knowing full well that they were being left in a life threatening situation.

Oh, one final idea I’d like to briefly bring up: Do you believe the Locke Ness Monster when he claims that the cave belonged to Jacob? There was definitely something a bit "gates of hell" about that cave. This leads me to believe that the Man in Black actually lived there. This could make sense thematically, with the supposedly “evil” Man in Black finding residence in the dark, dreaded cave surrounded by sharp rocks, while the allegedly “good” Jacob lives out in the open in paradise. Of course there’s also the biblical "Jacob's Ladder," which is a ladder to heaven. So who knows?

Anyway, next week’s review is going to be a little late. Tuesday night I’m going to see my alma mater, Rutgers, face off against my dad’s alma mater, Seton Hall, in some college basketball fun. But I’ll try to have it posted late Tuesday night, depending on how late I get home. Go Scarlet Knights!

And, as always, here's the latest installment of Lost Untangled!

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A Case of the.... 24 - Episode 8-8

Remember last week when I said that these two guys extorting Dana have basically just become a bad cliché? You know, drinking and driving, acting rowdy and listening to loud music? Well, you can now add going to a strip club to that list. Next week, expect to see black hats, spitting, and possibly littering as well.

That is all I will say about this particular story arc. It’s for the best, trust me.

This was an improvement over last week’s episode, as they shifted the focus back to Jack. And while it was a bit silly that Jack (who was just stabbed in the gut) managed to survive repeated shocks against his bare, perspired skin, while a single shock – with his feet, no less – managed to knock out his fully clothed torturer, overall I think the scenes worked. Truth be told, at this point in the series, we really needed to see Jack in his element.

http://tv.insidepulse.com/2010/02/17/24-episode-8-8-review/

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A Case of the.... Lost - Episode 6-4

“What was that all about?”
“Inside joke.”

I have to say, I didn’t expect to be so touched by seeing Locke, in the Sideways universe, so legitimately happy while living a normal existence. Sure, he “found” himself and a purpose on the island, but there was something sweet about him living happily, with his bride-to-be, as part of a loving family. And there was something nice about him seeing the humor in unfortunate situations, like falling off your van, onto the front lawn, just as the sprinklers go off. He doesn’t seem tortured by his condition, he seems at peace with it.

I also found it interesting that, in the original timeline, John Locke can’t catch a break. Both of his parents used him, his father essentially stole his kidney, used him again, and then tried to kill him. He lost his true love. Nothing worked out. Yet in this reality, he catches break after break after break. You can’t keep this guy down!

Continue reading "A Case of the.... Lost - Episode 6-4"....

And, assuming that their Sideways lives are fairly representative of the Losties’ pre-crash lives, we learned another connection: Rose used to work for one of Hurley’s companies (even though he had bad luck and seemed pretty out-of-the-loop, Hurley still owned a number of businesses)! Perhaps not surprisingly, Locke also came in contact with other familiar characters – in fact, far more than Kate (and presumably Claire). He met and had extended interactions with Jack, Hurley, Rose, and Ben. Did anybody half expect (how do you half expect something?) to see Walt at the high/middle school?

I am curious, though, if we’re going to see Locke eventually take Jack up on his offer. Perhaps during a Jack Flash Sideways?

How surreal was it seeing “Locke” – visually, anyway – promising people that if they follow him, he’ll tell them everything they want to know? After the amount of times we’ve seen him fall for that line, it was interesting seeing him deliver it. And, of course, I LOVED Fake Locke yelling that classic line, but with anger instead of desperation, “Don’t tell me what I can’t do.”

It’s also fun and unusual seeing Richard and Ben at the mercy of people who know more than them.

Speaking of Richard, I find it curious that he didn’t see the child, but that Sawyer did. What’s the significance? But I have to wonder, why didn’t Locke go all Smokey when he was chasing the kid? And what’s the current guess – that this kid is a younger version of Jacob?

It was nice that Sun told everybody that they need to bury Locke’s body. It was a nice reminder to the audience that despite all they’ve seen and experienced, they’re still human beings that are affected by the loss of one of their comrades. And although it was obviously ironic, it was also strangely sweet seeing Ben carrying Locke’s body to the gravesite, digging his hole, and then performing his eulogy. These two have a twisted relationship, for sure, but I did find Ben’s speech quite genuine.

Part of me thinks that Ben realizes what his insecurities brought him to do – murdering Locke and Jacob – and that he’s no closer to having what he wants, or knowing what he wants to know. For the first time, I really do think he has regrets. Of course, he’s still not above lying, though.

The scenes between Sawyer and Fake Locke were interesting (except for Sawyer in dirty boxers. That was….unsettling). I do have to wonder, though: After that ladder fell apart, how on earth are they going to get back to the top of the mountain?

So it seems that Jacob has everybody’s name written on the walls of the cave, with a number next to each person’s name. I didn’t catch all of the corresponding numbers, does somebody want to help me out with that? And I also find it interesting that Fake Locke made it a point to reveal each person’s name, but we never saw Kate’s.

Some questions to ponder for my Revisited column:

What is the significance of the numbers next to each person’s name?

Is there a reason why we didn’t see Kate’s name?

Of the remaining names, do you foresee anybody taking over for Jacob?

And in your “chicken or the egg” question: What came first, Jacob’s list or the names on the wall?

In the Sideways reality, it appears that Locke’s father never betrayed him. So how did Locke become paralyzed? And what impact did the lack of island have on Locke’s father?

And, perhaps most interestingly, why isn’t Fake Locke able to transform into anybody else now?


As always, you can comment below, visit my blog, or send me an e-mail! I look forward to your responses!

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A Case of the.... Lost - Episode 6-3 Revisited

There was one moment from last week’s episode that I forgot to mention (which is surprising, considering the pro Jack/Kate stance I took), but that was Kate’s strange moment of familiarity when she saw Jack talking on his cell phone moments after she carjacked the cab (cabjacked?) I’m not so much surprised that this happened, more surprised that I didn’t make a big deal about it. Most notably because Kate shared extended scenes with Claire and Sawyer, yet showed no sense of “have I seen this person before” with them. Why was she so struck by seeing Jack? Very interesting. Here’s one theory, from the EW.com review:

As they took off, Kate looked out the window and saw Jack talking on his cell phone, and it looked to me like she had a moment of déjà vu akin to Jack's experiences last week. Now, there was another moment in the episode in which Kate looked at Jack and something like a rush of recognition filled her eyes. It was the tender moment in the Temple, when Jack grabbed her gently by the elbow and pulled her close and wished her well and a safe journey in her pursuit of Sawyer. I submit that when Kate saw Jack at the airport, she established a psycho-spiritual circuit with her doppelganger self on he Island, and specifically the moment between Jack and Kate in Temple.

Essentially, a powerful emotion transmitted from one consciousness/reality to another. I might take that idea one step further and say that Kate’s guardianship of Claire in the Sideways world acted as her renewed motivation to find her on the island. I can buy into this theory. The only problem is, one reality is in 2004, the other in 2007.

Continue reading "A Case of the.... Lost - Episode 6-3 Revisited"....

So anyway, many, many readers brought to my attention that Ethan was likely evacuated from the island with the rest of the women and children, once rumors of the Incident started spreading. I did recall this happening when I originally wrote the column, but I didn’t remember if Ethan was one of the escapees. But, to me, that sounds like the most logical answer. So thank you Andy, Max, Kate, and, ahem, DaBooty1 for bringing that to my attention. Actually Kate Astin – whose name is remarkably close to the heroine of this past week’s episode – added that Miles and Charlotte were also obviously on the sub, so it makes sense that Ethan was as well. And hence, he remained a Goodspeed instead of becoming a Rom.

Our friend Andy, who was a regular contributor to the Revisited columns last year, also had this to say:

Overall, I thought it was a pretty weak episode, as Kate-centric episodes often are. I don't find her character very compelling, and I don't care if she ends up with ANYONE in the love quadrangle. The best bits of the episode, I thought, didn't involve Kate... e.g. anything in the Temple, Sawyer's sadness, Claire the BAMF.

Anyway, I'm glad they got the Kate episode out of the way early. Hopefully next week's will focus on those characters who were left out of this episode, as I find them a lot more interesting!

You know it’s funny: I was worried the premiere would get mixed reviews and the feedback ended up being overwhelmingly positive. I didn’t really think much of how well received this episode would be, but then after I read a few articles, I remembered that it’s a Kate episode.

I’ve found since last season that most people are indifferent about who Kate ends up with. They either stopped caring, like Andy states above, or they feel like the series has “outgrown” that particular story (which is alluded to in the EW.com review). Those are fair points, but for better or worse, Kate’s character is still very much centered on whether she’ll end up with Jack or Sawyer. Just consider the recent edition of TV Guide, in which Lost was featured on the cover. The big questions were asked, like if Locke is really dead….and who Kate will choose. And, quite honestly, if the series ties up WITHOUT tying up this loose end, I feel like most people, including many of those who don’t care, will feel a little unsatisfied. I know I would.

TV Obsessed had this to offer:

The return of the “sickness” and talk of infection turned my theory on its head, but this is my new theory. MiB is the one who revived Sayid (he may not be able to enter the temple, but he can do things from afar), and that process infected Sayid. MiB infects Sayid to make him a follower, and Sayid becoming crazy and killing people would fit. Sayid is Judas in the Last Supper poster, because as an infected person, he will follow MiB, but there will be a part of humanity in him that in the end betrays MiB.

There is most certainly something diabolical going on with Sayid’s revival, and I think that can certainly be tied to Mr. Smokey. Plus, there’s still the belief that Christian is a manifestation of the Smoke Monster. And he’s been interacting with Claire. Who, as we came to learn, was also infected. This is certainly a possibility. Over on my blog, Christopher left this comment:

I still believe that the alternate events we're seeing, the "flash-sideways" as some call it, are the epilogue to the story of Lost. The idea is that the series of events on the island will cause a changing of the reality we know, causing a new series of events. This would be the 'happily ever after' section in the final part of the film or book, though not everyone's final chapter is ends happily.

I do think we’re in for a twist when it comes to the flash sideways, I’m just not sure what it is. I’m going to wait and see how these flash sideways play out before making a determination on this particular theory, because I have to wonder if people will accept an ending that sees these characters essentially never developing the relationships we have grown followed so closely for the past six years. Of course, we may learn from this season’s unique method of storytelling that they DO in fact end up having those relationships, just in Los Angeles instead of Crazy Ass Island.

Now let's close things out with one last observation from the EW.com review:

I keep waiting for SOMEONE to ask the Ghost-Hustler for his Talks With Dead People perspective on Sayid. Given his wary-spooked eyeballing, I get the sense he's got something to say, if only someone would ask him.

At this point, everybody on the show is aware that Miles can talk to dead people, right? At the very least Hurley is. So why aren’t they utilizing this opportunity? I guess one could argue that in the excitement and intensity of the moment, it just hasn’t come up (as in, it could happen in the forthcoming episodes). I hope they at least acknowledge Miles’ ability as it regards to Sayid’s situation.

Okay, that’s it for Revisited. Thanks to all of those who sent me e-mails and comments. I’ll be back Tuesday night with my review of the new episode. See you then!

And, additionally, here's the latest installment of the increasingly creepy Lost Untangled:

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TV Renewal Scorecard!

I posted this last year and thought I would do it again. Here's your guide to which "bubble" shows are getting canned and which ones are getting renewed, courtesy of the Entertainment Weekly website:

ABC
The Bachelor: A sure thing.
Better Off Ted: A long shot.
Brothers & Sisters: A sure thing.
Castle: A sure thing.
Cougar Town: Already renewed.
Dancing with the Stars: A sure thing.
The Deep End: A long shot.
Desperate Housewives: A sure thing.
FlashForward: Could go either way.
The Forgotten: A long shot.
Grey’s Anatomy: A sure thing.
Hank: Already canceled.
Lost: Series finale airs May 23.
The Middle: Already renewed
Modern Family: Already renewed
Private Practice: A sure thing.
Scrubs: A long shot.
Ugly Betty: Already canceled. Series finale airs April 14.
V: Could go either way.

CBS
Accidentally on Purpose: Could go either way.
The Amazing Race: Already renewed.
The Big Bang Theory: Already renewed.
Cold Case: A long shot.
Criminal Minds: A sure thing.
CSI: A sure thing.
CSI: Miami: A sure thing.
CSI: NY: A safe bet.
Gary Unmarried: A safe bet.
Ghost Whisperer: A safe bet.
The Good Wife: Already renewed.
How I Met Your Mother: Already renewed
Medium: Could go either way
The Mentalist: A sure thing.
NCIS: A sure thing
NCIS: Los Angeles: Already renewed.
New Adventures of Old Christine: Could go either way.
Numb3rs: A long shot.
Rules of Engagement: Could go either way.
Survivor: Already renewed.
Three Rivers: Already canceled.
Two and a Half Men: Already renewed.

FOX
24: Could go either way.
Brothers: A long shot.
American Dad: Already renewed.
American Idol: A sure thing.
Bones: Already renewed.
The Cleveland Show: Already renewed.
Dollhouse: Already canceled.
Family Guy: Already renewed.
Fringe: A safe bet.
Glee: Already renewed.
House: A sure thing.
Human Target: Could go either way.
Lie to Me: A safe bet.
Past Life: A long shot.
The Simpsons: A sure thing.
‘Til Death: Could go either way.

NBC
30 Rock: A sure thing. (UPDATE: Renewed!)
The Biggest Loser: A sure thing.
Celebrity Apprentice: A safe bet.
Chuck: A safe bet.
Community: A sure thing. (UPDATE: Renewed!)
Friday Night Lights: Already renewed for fifth and final season.
Heroes: Could go either way.
Law & Order: Already renewed.
Law & Order: CI: Could go either way.
Law & Order: SVU: A sure thing.
Mercy: Could go either way.
The Office: A sure thing. (UPDATE: Renewed!)
Parks and Recreation: Already renewed
Trauma: A long shot.

THE CW
90210: A sure thing. (UPDATE: Renewed!)
America’s Next Top Model: A sure thing. (UPDATE: Renewed!)
Gossip Girl: A sure thing. (UPDATE: Renewed!)
Life Unexpected: Could go either way.
Melrose Place: A long shot.
One Tree Hill: Could go either way.
Smallville: A sure thing. (UPDATE: Renewed!)
Supernatural: A sure thing. (UPDATE: Renewed!)
The Vampire Diaries: A sure thing. (UPDATE: Renewed!)


My perspective: Not surprisingly, popular new shows like Vampire Diaries, Modern Family, and the NCIS spinoff have either already been renewed or will likely be. Likewise, struggling shows like Melrose Place probably won't, which is disappointing because the original series didn't pick up steam until its second season. And it ended up having a long and successful run. I'm not surprised to see that Heroes could go either way. I'm hopeful that ABC will give V and FlashForward another shot, though. A bit surprised that 24 is so questionable, but they might want to consider going out before the show becomes a parody of itself.

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A Case of the.... Smallville - Episode 9-13

Long time viewers of Smallville, such as myself, have come to expect certain things. One of the top things on that list is that they typically follow up an “event” level episode with one that can be described as “filler.” It’s totally excusable in my opinion, especially when you consider how many epics they’ve had this season alone, but it doesn’t erase the fact that I don’t have a whole lot to say about it.

For the most part, I feel like this episode was designed as one giant “wink, wink” to the audience, having fun with all of the comic book references. But was I the only one a bit taken aback by all of the overt Star Wars references? Isn’t Star Wars a part of the 20th Century Fox family, while Smallville is produced by Warner Bros? Is there an affiliation here that I’m missing? It seemed really odd.

http://tv.insidepulse.com/2010/02/14/smallville-episode-9-13-review/

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Basically BFF's now....

So a while back I had discussed my mission to get a celebrity -- whatever "grade" level they might be -- to respond to one of my messages on Twitter. Well, WWE Magazine was the first to give me some much appreciated attention....and they're now the second, as well.

Earlier today WWE Magazine asked us to guess which Superstar would be gracing the cover of their March issue. I rather snarkily guessed John Cena, Triple H, Batista, Rey Mysterio, or Undertaker, asking "has anybody else ever been on the cover?" This was a direct "shot" at the fact that, since taking its much improved "men's magazine" direction, the same main eventers have been featured on the cover.

Well I guess I hit a little close to home, because this was their response:

Click here to view full size

The irony, of course, is that they're using a John Cena cover as their icon, and a Rey Mysterio cover as their background. But oh well.

For what it's worth, WWE Magazine is truly one of the most entertaining publications out there, and it receives my highest recommendation. I hope they realize I was just having a little fun at their expense.

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A Case of the.... Smallvile - Episodes 9-11 & 9-12 ("Absolute Justice")

So I had off of work Wednesday due to weather, so I had the opportunity to watch “Absolute Justice,” the two-hour Smallville event. And my wording there was deliberate. I don’t know if it was the extended episode, or the fun new/classic characters, or what seemed like improved production values, but the two parter truly did feel like an “event.” It felt genuinely special and unlike anything else we’ve seen on this show. It really was epic. And possibly even flawless.

And I don’t think I’m exaggerating there. The pacing was great, the right characters were used (and for the right amount of the time, for that matter), they brought up many of the observations I had noted in my prior columns, and best of all, the episode didn’t seem obligatory: it really felt like it set the characters and stories in motion for the rest of the season.

Sure, the episode seemed a little Watchmen-esque, but I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. And to tell you the truth, I don’t really know enough about the Justice Society OR the Watchmen to determine who’s lifting from whom. But I enjoyed the episode, so in the end isn’t that what matters?

Honestly, I’m not even sure where to start. Okay, how about with the glaring differences between the Justice Society and the future Justice League – and this is one observation that I hadn’t consciously taken note of. Basically, the Justice Society is a family. And this goes beyond their emotional ties, this includes the mundane things like eating dinner together. Truthfully, I hadn’t even realized how much Clark and Chloe, and to a lesser extent Clark and Oliver, had degraded on an emotional level. If you watch earlier seasons of Smallville, you’ll see that Clark and Chloe had a legitimate friendship, where they shared feelings and gave advice, and it just so happened that every now and then they’d fight crime. Now, the only time any of these characters interact – excluding Lois and Clark – it’s centered on whatever threat they’re currently facing. It’s really rather jarring if you think about it. And because of that, I legitimately smiled when Oliver came by simply to go out for a meal together. It seemed real. And, again, it made the episode feel like it’s about something more than merely whipping out some cool new costumes.

And, make no mistake, the costumes kicked ass. Hawkman’s outfit was particularly awesome. Like, high budget movie level awesome. And the actor who portrayed him did a wonderful job, hitting the right combination of attitude, compassion, wisdom, and general bad assery. Dr. Fate, who I’m not all that familiar with, looked pretty damn cool. And how incredibly awesome was it seeing, ever so briefly, Martian Manhunter in his alien form? And Green Arrow actually decided to wear his hood and shades for a scene or two!!! Although, I must say, his decision to not wear it was a mistake in that rooftop scene with Hawkman.

I recently voiced my concern that Chloe’s morally questionable behavior wasn’t necessarily going anywhere. This episode soothed those fears quite well. Clark and Oliver had voiced their concerns over the past few episodes, but it was nice seeing peripheral characters like Martian Manhunter and Star Girl take note of her behavior as well. It was actually very refreshing seeing these characters bring up the lack of humanity in her work, instead of marveling at her amazing (and borderline preposterous, all things considered) technological gadgets. I do hope that this episode is a turning point for her character, because I noted in a recent review, between her quips and techno-babble, she barely even sounds human anymore.

And finally, I really appreciated the fact that this episode offered a new perspective on Clark Kent and his specialness. In the past, it was always assumed that he took the leadership position because of the simple fact that he’s the most powerful – by a rather significant margin. But Absolute Justice showed us what makes Clark truly special, and what actually sets him apart from the rest, is his motivation for doing what he does. While everybody else is out there for vengeance or exhilaration – or both, in Oliver’s case – Clark’s out there saving people because he truly, genuinely wants to help those in need. And because of that, he really is a cut above the rest.

Oh, and I didn’t forget about the introduction of the Suicide Squad or Amanda Waller. I’m actually pretty eager to see how this plays out, and, again, I don’t really know much about the Squad to begin with. Although I loved the revelation that Tess is an agent with them. That was pretty neat. As was the sly little allusion to Lex being alive. So….can you tell that I liked the episode?

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A Case of the.... 24 - Episode 8-7

Did I really just see Jack Bauer get stabbed in the gut, only to use that very knife to stab a guy in the neck from across the room and then proceed to blindly shoot all of his adversaries moments before calmly talking down the person who had stabbed him in the first place? I’d love to say that the preceding scene was incredibly bad ass, but to be honest it was borderline satirical.

http://tv.insidepulse.com/2010/02/10/24-episode-8-7-review/

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Ah, the tipping thing...

So I know I always say this probably makes me sound cheap, but I was reading an article on AOL.com about whether you should be tipping on takeout orders – which I discussed a couple of months ago. And, surprisingly, the writer said it’s not necessary or expected. But, not as shockingly, the comments were the parts that annoyed me. I thought one commenter, “John,” put things very logically and eloquently (much of what I said in my prior post):

Menu prices should reflect the labor as well as the cost of materials and the restaurant's operating costs. The game of: let's give the customers a chance to look like cheap jerks so we can bitch about them behind their backs (and on the internet) - is lame.

Customer's are not your employers - we don't want to learn about restaurant tax policy - that's your employer's job. If you are unhappy with your wages, talk to your employer. Do not complain at people who are obligated to pay you exactly nothing when they provide a decent chunk of your income.

This recurring column does little more than make servers seem exceptionally greedy and whiny, thus justifying the behavior of poor tippers (in their minds - which is in control of their wallets). It is also frequently demeaning. Instead of this negative tact, a more positive approach would probably serve your purpose better.

But then “D,” a professional waiter, responded with this:

I am neither Greedy or Whiny. I am taking care of my family since my husband was laid off. I make $300 to $600 a week. I have a very good memory and recognize those who do not tip. I know you in other places and also, when you come back. You will get a commment if I see you out and ifyou come back in, your service will go down the toilet. Grow up!! If you can't afford to leave a tip then go to McDonalds.

So this person isn’t whiny, but she’d confront somebody in a social situation for not leaving a tip for a takeout order? And how ironic that this person says that we should “eat at McDonalds” if we can’t afford to leave a tip for a takeout order, when in reality, a McDonalds employee does just as much work as somebody who handles a takeout order: They take the order, bag it, and hand it to the customer. If we tip a waiter, why not tip a McDonalds employee? And honestly, if you read through the comments (unfortunately I can’t find the direct link), it’s amazing how some of these professionals can honestly argue that they believe they have earned extra money for literally putting plastic utensils, napkins, and a couple of meals into a bag. These people need to live in the real world, where you don’t get extra compensation for every single task you perform. It’s like that Curb Your Enthusiasm episode.

And I do love how many of the people who make this argument can make these grand blanket statements like, “if you eat out, you can afford a tip,” yet they get all uppity if you say that they’re waiters because they can’t get a better job.

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A Case of the.... Lost - Episode 6-3

“So, as you can see, Hugo here has assumed the leadership position. So that’s pretty great.”

As was that line, Miles. As was that line.

I have to admit something. To tell you the truth, Jack and everybody kinda did deserve to get their asses kicked at the beginning of the episode. After all they’ve seen and all they’ve been through – first during their 108 days on the island, then during the three years off of the island, and finally during the TIME TRAVELING that occurred when they returned to the island – are they really STILL at the point that they’re demanding answers to questions? I’m not going to pretend to be even close to understanding what they’ve been through – and I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be for them to go through so many unbelievable things and for them to get so few answers (a lot of what the audience has learned has not been shared with the characters), but it just feels like they’ve outgrown the phase of making threats and demands. And to be fair, the Others should acknowledge that the Losties aren’t exactly some flash in the pan stranger who’s just flying through (Henry Gale!) I think these guys have earned their stripes, and deserve some solid answers.

Continue reading "A Case of the.... Lost - Episode 6-3"....

I’m a rather outspoken Jack-Kate shipper, but honestly, how can anybody watch tonight’s episode and possibly argue that Sawyer and Kate should end up together? Sawyer is a man so immensely in love with Juliet that for him to end up with Kate so shortly after her death would seem like a betrayal of that relationship. That being said, I thought the scenes between Kate and Sawyer were magnificent. Kate’s acknowledgement of her role in Juliet’s death (which I discussed in my Revisited column) showed a self awareness that is sometimes lacking in the Jack-Kate-Sawyer love triangle. Sawyer’s heart wrenching response, that it’s his fault because he convinced her to stay on the island all those years ago, was utterly powerful. These two did a phenomenal job.

I also really enjoyed yet another fake out, where we’re led to believe that Kate’s motivations are her (possible) feelings for Sawyer, only for us to later learn that she’s truly determined to reunite her adoptive son with his biological mother. And for that matter, I really enjoyed the Kate/Claire story in the flash sideways, as well. It showed that these two characters are eternally linked. Or, at the very least, that Kate and Aaron will always have a bond. Kate was there for his birth on the island and later raises him as her own, and he assists his mother during a difficult time – at great personal risk – in the flash sideways. This tied in nicely with that constant theme of destiny. And hey! Doyle the Puppeteer was the cowardly cab driver!

I initially felt like Ethan as the doctor was some great casting, as it showed what some of these Others could have been had they not been brought to the island. Yet, upon closer thought, it created a bit of a contradiction. In the flash sideways, the island is underwater. But the barracks are built, which means that the Dharma Initiative had come to the island, which leads me to believe that the hydrogen explosion of 1977 was responsible for the sinking island. However, as we know, Ethan was on the island in 1977. Theories?

Of course, I don’t want to completely overlook the Jack and Kate stuff. Sure, they only shared two or three scenes together, but you couldn’t have missed their longing gazes. I also liked the way Jin called her out on her crap.

Oh, and did anybody else think that the test Sayid had to go through was to make sure he’s actually alive, and not some ghostly incarnation of Smokey D? Although, it seems, there might be a connection between “dark” Claire and Christian after all. And perhaps Claire did “die” in that barracks attack, as many of us (including me) have theorized.

And is anybody else thrilled that Dogen evidently won’t be speaking in another language – sans subtitles – for the entire season? Thank goodness for small favors!

Anyway, that’s it for me this week. I think I’ll be posting my Revisited column Sunday night, so be sure to send me your thoughts. You can e-mail me, visit my blog, or simply sound off below! I got some great feedback last week, so keep up the great interaction!

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A Case of the.... Heroes - Episode 4-18

I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I think Heroes was better than 24 this week. And, like, by a pretty large margin as well. Even I’m surprised to say this, considering how lackluster this season has been, but this may have been their best finale yet. And truth be told, if that’s where things are headed, this episode provided a suitable and somewhat satisfying conclusion to the series.

You have Peter at peace with his brother’s death, Sylar turning a corner and becoming an unexpected hero, Tracy achieving true redemption, Hiro fulfilling his quest (in a rather selfless way, incidentally) and doing something truly heroic — which would not have been possible without Ando’s ability, HRG and Claire coming to an understanding about their complex relationship, and the ushering in a brave new world in which those with abilities are now out in the open. And, in a rarity for this series, they actually SHOWED us an epic battle. The characters were all used pretty perfectly as well, with “minor” characters like Tracy and Parkman appearing minimally, and unnecessary characters like Mohinder being absent altogether. This allowed the major characters to all play crucial and individually heroic roles: Claire and HRG stopped Samuel, Peter fought him, Hiro and Ando weakened him, Sylar fought Doyle, etc. I’m pretty impressed, to be honest.

http://tv.insidepulse.com/2010/02/09/heroes-episode-4-18-review/

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