Top Ten Cases: Favorite Lost Finale Scenes - READERS' CHOICE

According to my recent survey, here's how you guys ranked the Lost finale scenes:

10. Team Jack and Team "Locke" confront each other

My ranking: 10; average ranking: 8.58

9. Locke Remembers

My ranking: 8; average ranking: 7.42

8. Locke forgives Ben

My ranking: 5; average ranking: 7.33

7. Sawyer and Juliet Remember

My ranking: 4; average ranking: 6.75

6. Jack and "Locke" Fight

My ranking: 9; average ranking: 6.50

5. Kate, Claire, and Charlie Remember

My ranking: 6; average ranking: 6.08

4. Christian and Jack/Jack Remembers

My ranking: 1; average ranking: 4.58

3. Jack and Kate Sideways Reunion

My ranking: 7; average ranking: 3.17

2. Jack and Kate Kiss

My ranking: 3; average ranking: 2.25

1. The Final Scene/Jack Dies

My ranking: 2; average ranking: 1.92

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"Your father's dead...."

I can't embed the video, since the option has been disabled, but click the link to enjoy this hilarious scene from Louie (give this show a shot!), in which Louis CK (acting as a cop) tells Matthew Broderick's character (in a Godfather remake involving Jews) that his father is dead:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD3yrKQGAWQ

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Vampire Diaries

The following e-mail comes from long-time reader and frequent contributor Javier (slight spoilers within):

Hi Matt! I just finished watching season 1 of The Vampire Diaries and what a finale it was! I was wondering what were your thoughts on the season as a whole and especially the finale? Seeing as maybe you're going to add this show to your TV reviews at the blog, I thought it would be interesting to see a column or even a Top Ten Cases about the best of what this season had to offer. I wasn't digging it at first, took me about 3 or 4 episodes to get me hooked, but once I did, I never went back. Out of all the characters I believe Damon showed the most growth, from being an egotistical jerky villian, to a somewhat less egotistical, less jerky, pseudo-hero. He is so in love with Elena and I can't wait to see his reaction when he figures out the it wasn't Elena the one who kissed him at the porch. Anyway, it was a great freshman season and I will be looking forward to your thoughts on it.

I completely agree with Javier here. I think the show got off to a bit of a slow start, but once it found its footing it really exploded into an exciting and well written series. I actually had to convince a co-worker into sticking with the show (she considered dropping it from her line up when it wasn’t an immediate “hit”), but by midway it had catapulted to becoming one of her favorite shows.

For me, the show had a lot going for it before it even premiered. I have always been a big fan of vampire lure (not Twilight), I’ve had a crush on Nina Dobrev since her Degrassi days, and one of the show’s stars is a Lost alum. I mean, they had to do a lot wrong before I stopped tuning in.

And while Damon was phenomenal this season, I might go one step further and say the true highlight of the freshman year was the relationship between Damon and Stefan. They started out completely adversarial, and it seemed that Damon was only sticking around to aggravate or torture his younger brother. Through time, however, it became obvious that these two truly cared for one another. How many times have these two risked their lives to save the other? Damon saving Stefan when he was being held captive by Pearl’s men. Stefan going after Damon when he went to find Katherine in the cave. And leading up to (and including) the finale, they came to each other’s aid countless times (particularly in the fiery climax). And yet, they weren’t just a happy family. When it became obvious that Damon has feelings for Elena, Damon taunted Stefan. And while he did show signs of heroism, he did many, many awful things this season.

And for what it’s worth, I never, ever imagined that Ian Somerhalder had such charisma. Vampire Diaries has afforded me the insight to recognize how underutilized he was on Lost.

It might be tough for me to do a Top Ten Cases at this juncture, just because I honestly don’t believe I can come up with a substantial list without “stretching” it so that I have ten. But I do think I might pick up the show to review next season.

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Interesting article on Raw audience today vs. Attitude Era

Courtesy of InsidePulse Wrestling:

http://wrestling.insidepulse.com/2010/07/27/wwe-raw-audience-matches-attitude-era-numbers/

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LIVE Raw thoughts

11:04 - Well I was wrong with my prediction....this time. As I mentioned earlier, I like the way they've segmented the conflicts to specific pairs, and I hope they continue with those particular problems. Continue to build the tension between Cena/Jericho, Edge/Khali, and Morrison/Truth, until, just prior to SummerSlam, these groups become united. In the midst of a Nexus attack, Jericho comes to the aid of Cena. Edge rescues Khali. Morrison saves Truth. Have them go into SummerSlam as a united front.

Overall it was a good episode. Not quite as explosive as last week, but did a nice job of building the story.

10:56 - "Did you say the GM said 'if you're not down with that' in his e-mail? Do you know who's from San Antonio, Texas?" Yep, no references to Michaels allowed at all....

10:46 - By the way, nice continuity with Miz checking to make sure Sheamus was conscious before cashing in the briefcase. Next week (or next attempt) I foresee him looking around to make sure nobody is there to attack him.

10:36 - PREDICTION! In tonight's main event, everybody comes to the rescue of the person they're at odds with. Jericho saves Cena, Edge saves Khali, and Morrison saves R-Truth.

10:33 - Eh, John Morrison was kinda overreacting.

And c'mon people! The WrestleMania on NBC commercial practically centered on the Undertaker/HBK match!

10:28 - For those of you not aware, apparently John Morrison is growing a mustache. If Eli Cottonwood survives the next round of eliminations, JoMo will rock a mustache next week.

10:22 - Shawn Michaels appears pretty heavily in the Elimination Chamber DVD promo as well. Sure, it was produced weeks ago, but if this ban is as severe as it seems, you'd think they'd recut it.

10:21 - Told ya.

10:20 - Okay, that article is pretty long. Read it for a little bit then move on. Jillian's about to get beat up, I assume.

10:16 - During this commercial break, take a moment to read about the Double Rainbow guy:

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/paul-vasquez-the-guy-behind-the-double-rainbow-video-isnt-dull/19567314?icid=main|main|dl8|link3|http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/paul-vasquez-the-guy-behind-the-double-rainbow-video-isnt-dull/19567314

9:54 - I hope this goes without saying, but WWE would be wise to have Nexus win without a single elimination on their team.

9:40 - It's pretty clever the way they're dividing up the 7 man team into separate stories (Edge and Khali, Jericho and Cena) otherwise they might spread themselves too thin. Khali's involvement is pretty curious, though. Doesn't Evan Bourne make far more sense? He had Cena's back since the beginning, and he's been on the receiving end of multiple Nexus attacks. And he's in the midst of a push. Even if Khali is removed tonight, and replaced by Bourne later in the night, I would still scratch my head and say, "Well why wasn't he asked to begin with?"

Oh, and the fact that the match is now elimination makes it even MORE awesome!

9:38 - For what it's worth, Shawn Michaels is featured pretty heavily in that Twix SummerSlam Rewind promo. I'm not sure I buy this whole "ban" thing.

9:29 - I'm really enjoying this Miz Money in the Bank bit, because he's the absolute perfect character for that role. And I honestly could see the roof absolutely exploding when he does finally pull through with the challenge (note I said the challenge, not actually winning the match). Sure, it runs the risk of getting old....but I for now it's keeping me entertained.

Oh, but I do have to wonder -- why would Miz go for the challenge after a single RKO? That's hardly a guaranteed victory.

9:20 - After last week's absolutely exhilarating episode of Raw, there was a lot weighing on this week's opening segment. Overall, I think they did an adequate job. However, I was a bit surprised they didn't involve Edge, who -- I would think -- would fit in perfectly with the egotistical and confrontational tone of the segment. Nonetheless, I don't particularly mind seeing them focusing on a Jericho/Cena uneasy alliance, perhaps leading into a feud next month.

Oh, and I still can't get used to the white ring ropes on Raw. It's jarring since NXT and Smackdown use their bright, trademark colors.

Check back at 9:00 for my LIVE Raw thoughts...

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A Tribute to the Color Orange!

A few months ago WWE Magazine (great publication!) did a graphical feature on the color teal. It was basically just a collage of wrestlers who once used teal in their attire at one point or another. As a uniform-nut, I loved it! And I thought I'd do the same thing, but with orange -- a great summer color! Check it out:

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/4493/orangecollage.jpg

And, fine blog readers, I encourage you to point out any obvious omissions! Who's missing from this graphic?

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And now I want YOUR opinion!

A while back I posted a ten-part Top Ten Cases that ranked my favorite scenes from the two and a half hour Lost finale. Now I'd like to know how you -- my loyal blog readers -- would rank the scenes. Using the same options from my list, please rank the following scenes from your favorite (1) to your least favorite (10). It was a bit tricky figuring out HOW to formulate this survey, but I think I did it. I hope you take a moment to fill it out. Please take the survey at this link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HGYFZJG

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See what all the fuss is about....

If you haven't already, watch the latest YouTube phenomenon:



My favorite part is how he begins to freak out over what he's seeing a solid 30 seconds or so AFTER he rationally acknowledges that there are indeed two rainbows.

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My two favorite segments from a stellar Raw

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LIVE Raw thoughts

11:05 - I have to say, that was one of the most incredible endings to Raw I've seen in recent memory. Probably since the initial Nexus introduction. It was just exhilarating stuff, and it really felt like a big deal. And I loved the way in which each person was introduced, first with Edge to really give the visual of enemies standing together to take down this common threat. And it all pretty much made perfect sense, especially with guys like Morrison frequently standing up to the group. However, I don't really recall R-Truth being a victim. The most curious inclusion, however, is Great Khali. He's basically a comedy act and isn't even threatening. And has he been involved in a single Nexus segment? Honestly, Mark Henry would've made a better choice! Odd that they didn't just ditch Truth and Khali in favor of the Hart Dynasty.

Anyway, great ending to Raw....and I'm legitimately looking forward to SummerSlam.

10:40 - Just as a sidenote, it seems like everybody who fantasy books something for Nexus, it involves somebody being revealed as their leader, whether it's Chris Jericho or Triple H or Sheamus or Miz. I don't see why this is necessary. The angle has been working. Really well. And a huge reason for that is because these guys genuinely do come off as outsiders -- they're a group of people that barely anybody knows anything about, and they're just trying to make an impact. They're united, and we understand their common history. And while Barrett is clearly the "leader," none of these guys outshine the others. If any of the names above were revealed as the leader behind it all, they'd completely dominate the spotlight.

10:35 - So what's the story behind Zack Ryder wearing normal trunks now? They took away the one thing that sets him apart from everybody else.

10:19 - I have to admit that I've grown a tad tired of Miz's act over the past few months -- although I think he's a great breath of fresh air -- but did you hear the way the crowd exploded when they thought Miz was going to cash in the briefcase? Man, the place blew up! I think this little story of Miz "stalking" the champion in hopes of picking him off has some real legs.

10:11 - Fun little dynamic between Miz and Sheamus. Come to think of it, all night they've been doing a great job developing some tension between heel characters.

9:34 - The Edge/Jericho/Nexus segment was absolute gold. Edge and Jericho are always great together, but Nexus was icing on the cake. Part of what makes the Nexus segments work so great and what helps them avoid the repetitive feeling are the little touches. I love the way the Nexus slowly begins to surround their prey so that there's no chance of escape. And I love when the hapless victim comes to the realization that they're completely screwed. And the fact that this mega heel group attacked the two biggest heels on the roster -- yet it worked -- is quite remarkable.

9:20 - Okay the triple clothesline was awesome.

9:16 - Randy Orton dominating this match has REALLY shown how limited his moveset is. How many times has he gone for or done that DDT second rope move?

9:08 - Based solely on the face/heel dynamic, Orton has to be a heavy favorite here. Truth be told, I'd like to see either of the other two guys take it.

Well, thanks to my softball playoffs game getting cut short due to rain, I'm back in time for Raw. Albeit five minuets late. So why not provide my live thoughts again?

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Money in the Bank thoughts

I'm back from my camping trip, which was a lot of fun but very tiring, so I thought I'd post some quick thoughts on tonight's Money in the Bank PPV. I won't be ordering the show, but I'm mildly interested in what they have planned.

I doubt it'll happen, but I'd love to see one of two things happen (or maybe even both). I'm hoping that they'll think outside the box here. I'd love for them to fully put their faith behind somebody new, and have that person win the briefcase. Then have that Superstar state that they're holding onto the briefcase so that he can main event WrestleMania for the first time in his career. And then actually go through with the stipulation. Somebody like Kofi Kingston would fit that role perfectly. It'll also add some intrigue to the Royal Rumble match, because the victorious Superstar wouldn't have his choice of champion for the first time since the brand extension. Or, they could create an interesting argument of which stipulation carries more weight.

Secondly, I'd like to see one of the winning Superstars NOT succeed in winning the title. I think having the briefcase holder win the title thus far has been extremely wise. It was the nudge Superstars like Edge, CM Punk, and RVD needed to finally break through to legitimate main eventers. It's also genuinely legitimized the Money in the Bank match at WrestleMania. But now, it's become such a foregone assumption that the MITB winner will capture the title that a lot of the allure is gone. In order to save face, why not have a fan favorite choose to cash in the briefcase on the up and up -- such as the next PPV -- only to come up short in a very competitive match (guys like Evan Bourne, John Morrison, Christian, or even Kofi Kingston could fit that role).

I'm not sure I even have any prediction, but I do have a feeling about a few things. If Edge wins the MITB match, I see him cashing in that night, and winning the title. I could see the same thing POSSIBLY happening with Miz, depending on how saucy they feel.

On the Smackdown side, I think Kofi Kingston is the most likely candidate, but -- like many others -- I do have a bad feeling about Drew McIntyre taking home the gold (and in a creepy way, I could even see HIM cashing in the opportunity that night and winning the title, to further his feud with Long). Of course, I'll be rooting for Christian, but I think that might be a long shot.

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Gone camping!

Alright guys and gals, I'm going to be out of commission from tonight until Sunday evening. Every year the gents in my family go out on a camping expedition for a long weekend. So let's hope Mother Nature is done with the rain and is ready to offer the sunshine again.

So I'll be back sometime Sunday. The Asian dude who keeps posting comments is in charge while I'm gone!

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Quoth the analytical website...

I write like
Edgar Allan Poe

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

I submitted several blog posts from my latest Top Ten Cases series. Overall I got two Edgar Allan Poes, two Dan Browns (yipes!) and one James Joyce. So I'm pretty convinced they're just randomly selecting famous authors. But whatevs.

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Talk about jinxing yourself....

In all seriousness, as somebody who has grown up in the New York City area -- and the Yankees are the only time I come remotely close to caring about -- my deepest condolences to the man's friends and family. Much like Vince McMahon, I sorta imagine that Steinbrenner's public persona is often shed in a negative light because he can be a ruthless businessman. Well, just because you're able to make tough decisions doesn't mean you're not a good person undearneath.

At least Don Mattingly can finally grow out those sideburns again.

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Top Ten Cases: Favorite Lost Finale Scenes - #1

1. Christian and Jack/Jack Remembers







After a week and a half, we finally arrive at my favorite scene of the finale – and it’s likely not much of a surprise.

Following this scene, I think anybody who argues that this show wasn’t about Jack’s journey is either too biased or simply in denial. Consider the fact that the entire latter part of the finale focused almost entirely on instigating Jack’s enlightenment. And that’s also why I so enjoyed Jack’s “remembering” scene. While other characters had flashes of their loved ones (Sawyer and Juliet, the Kwons, Hurley, Sayid, etc.) and some had memories of significant moments (Locke), Jack had a series of recollections that included each of the central characters. Check on Claire. Saving Rose. Rescuing Charlie. Protecting Hurley. Conversing with Locke. Staring down Sawyer. Finally, the memories honed in on Kate and the love they shared. But the point was clear: Jack had touched the lives of each and every one of the Flight 815 survivors, and they made a lasting impression on him as well. Like Christian would say moments later, Jack needed all of them, and they need him too. And just as an aside, the musical score that plays during these enlightenment scenes is absolutely phenomenal. Beautiful stuff.

I also appreciated the fact that Christian’s casket – a bit of an albatross around Jack’s neck – was what forced Jack to remember the island. One could argue that Jack’s search for his father, only to find an empty casket, led to the first great island discovery. As such, it was fitting that a nearly identical scene paved the way to the climax of the finale.

For much of the series I’ve theorized (as many have) that the ghost of Christian Shephard was actually a manifestation of the Smoke Monster. However, after we learned that Smokey was “stuck” being Locke, I began to question this theory. If the Smoke Monster could only appear as Locke, that would imply that we’ve seen the last of Christian. And after playing such a significant role over the prior five years, I had a hard time accepting that he’d be written off so casually. So I was rather thrilled to see Christian’s spirit return in the final moments of this episode, to guide Jack as he made a difficult and painful discovery. And while this is likely to become my catchphrase after this list, I absolutely loved the tone of the scene. Christian, normally so harsh and cold, was gentle and caring. I loved the way Christian asked Jack, “How are you here?” The way he sighs right before he says it, realizing that his son is about to make a grim discovery. And then when he sympathetically nods his head, tenderly prodding his son to verbalize what he already knows. Finally, when Jack says, “I died too,” Christian assures him that “it’s okay” before giving him a big hug.

For what it’s worth, I also loved the way Jack expressed his emotions. One can only imagine how difficult it would be to come to the realization that you have died. And Jack goes through various stages when he makes this discovery. The most powerful moment for me, though, is when he begins to break down and cry. Perhaps Jack is thinking of the life he left behind. Or the opportunities he’ll never have. Or the fact that he never got to grow old with the woman he loves. Whatever was going through Jack’s head, it was a profound feeling of loss. And there his father was, gently comforting and supporting him. And the moment was nicely accentuated by an exchange of “I love you,” something we’ve never heard from the Shephard men.

I also appreciated Christian’s playful chuckle after Jack asks if he’s real. It helped lighten the mood significantly, which was important considering the explanation that was forthcoming. It was an undeniably powerful scene, but the levity allowed it to steady its pace.

And just like I said regarding the episode’s final scene, I really enjoyed the fact that this reunion was completely devoid of any bitterness or anger. Instead, it was just a beautiful, loving scene between father and son. And honestly, that’s a far more satisfying conclusion to the significant Jack/Christian story arc than any vengeful confrontation would have been.

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Emmy Award Nominations

So the Emmy Award nominations have just been announced. Nothing terribly shocking, and thankfully, a lot of talented people and entertaining shows are being properly recognized. This year, I predict Glee has the chance to sweep in the comedy categories, while The Good Wife may take ‘em in the drama department. I don’t watch either program, so I wouldn’t mind being wrong there! Here’s how it breaks down:

Best Series, Drama
'Breaking Bad'
'Dexter'
'Lost'
'Mad Men'
'The Good Wife'
'True Blood'

Who I’d like to see win: Lost
Who will probably win: Lost, if only for sentimental reasons. Although I wouldn’t be surprised to see The Good Wife win, just for shock value.

Best Series, Comedy
'Nurse Jackie'
'Curb Your Enthusiasm'
'30 Rock'
'Glee'
'The Office'
'Modern Family'

Who I’d like to see win: Modern Family or Curb Your Enthusiasm, my absolute favorites right now.
Who will probably win: Most likely Glee, but wouldn’t be shocked to see Modern Family nab it.

Best Actor, Drama
Bryan Cranston 'Breaking Bad'
Michael C. Hall 'Dexter'
Hugh Laurie 'House'
Jon Hamm 'Mad Men'
Matthew Fox 'Lost'
Kyle Chandler 'Friday Night Lights'

Who I’d like to see win: Matthew Fox, because – if I’m not mistaken – he’s never even been nominated in this category. And his work this season has been exemplary.
Who will probably win: Doesn’t Hugh Laurie always win this category?

Best Actress, Drama
Connie Britton 'Friday Night Lights'
Glenn Close 'Damages'
Mariska Hargitay 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
Kyra Sedgwick 'The Closer'
January Jones 'Mad Men'
Julianna Margulies 'The Good Wife'

Who I’d like to see win: Actually, I don’t even watch any of those shows. But let’s just go with Glenn Close, since I heard she’s really good.
Who will probably win: And doesn’t Mariska Hargitay always win THIS category?

Best Actor, Comedy
Alec Baldwin '30 Rock'
Tony Shalhoub 'Monk'
Jim Parsons 'The Big Bang Theory'
Steve Carell 'The Office'
Larry David 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'
Matthew Morrison 'Glee'

Who I’d like to see win: I’m rooting for Larry David. But it’s nice to see Tony Shalhoub get some much-deserved recognition for his stellar work as Adrian Monk.
Who will probably win: Alec Baldwin.

Best Actress, Comedy
Tina Fey '30 Rock'
Lea Michele 'Glee'
Julia Louis-Dreyfus 'The New Adventures of Old Christine'
Amy Poehler 'Parks and Recreation'
Toni Collette 'United States of Tara'
Edie Falco 'Nurse Jackie'

Who I’d like to see win: I don’t watch any of those shows, so I’ll go with Lea Michele, who grew up in my hometown (I think we may have even gone to high school together).
Who will probably win: Tiny Fey. Although Lea Michele does have a shot.

Best Supporting Actor, Drama Series
Andre Braugher 'Men of a Certain Age'
Aaron Paul 'Breaking Bad'
Michael Emerson 'Lost'
John Slattery 'Mad Men'
Martin Short 'Damages'
Terry O'Quinn 'Lost'

Who I’d like to see win: Terry O’Quinn. Michael Emerson is amazing, but this year Terry O’Quinn just knocked it out of the f’n park.
Who will probably win: If Terry O’Quinn doesn’t win, there’s something severely wrong with this process.

Best Supporting Actress, Drama Series
Rose Byrne 'Damages'
Christine Baranski 'The Good Wife'
Archie Panjabi 'The Good Wife'
Elisabeth Moss 'Mad Men'
Christina Hendricks 'Mad Men'
Sharon Gless 'Burn Notice'

Who I’d like to see win: Don’t watch those shows, so Rose Byrne.
Who will probably win: Christine Baranski.

Best Supporting Actor, Comedy Series
Eric Stonestreet 'Modern Family'
Neil Patrick Harris 'How I Met Your Mother'
Chris Colfer 'Glee'
Jon Cryer 'Two And A Half Men'
Ty Burrell 'Modern Family'
Jesse Tyler Ferguson 'Modern Family'

Who I’d like to see win: Ty Burrell, who is the absolute breakout character of the absolute break out comedy series.
Who will probably win: I could see Neil Patrick Harris walking away with the trophy. But I do think this could go to any of them.

Best Supporting Actress, Comedy Series
Jane Lynch 'Glee'
Kristen Wiig 'Saturday Night Live'
Sofia Vergara 'Modern Family'
Jane Krakowski '30 Rock'
Holland Taylor 'Two and A Half Men'
Julie Bowen 'Modern Family'

Who I’d like to see win: Despite the fact that I don’t watch Glee, I think Jane Lynch is amazing, so I’d like to see her nab it here.
Who will probably win: This is likely Jane Lynch’s award to lose.

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Top Ten Cases: Favorite Lost Finale Scenes - #2

2. The Final Scene/Jack Dies



While there’s a lot that I can say about this scene (and I’m sure I’ll say it all), I think it was stated so eloquently in Jeff Jensen’s finale review over on EW.com:

With fear and trembling, Jack stepped out of the cloakroom and into the sanctuary where his soulmates were waiting for him. Was he fully enlightened by that point? I think no. I think a few more things needed to happen, and they all did. I think he needed to be greeted by John Locke. Greeted with that smile and that handshake and be told, ''I'm glad you decided to join us.'' I think he needed to be touched by his friends. Hugged by Boone, the man he couldn't save. Hugged by Sawyer, his enemy turned ally. Hugged by Desmond, his brother in Island salvation. Bear hugged by Hurley, who takes care of everyone. Then he needed to be led by Kate to his seat, and he needed one act of love from his father, that touch that said, ''I'm proud of you.'' Christian opened the doors. Light flooded into the church. Jack smiled. It was real. It was all real. And in that moment, he was complete. Redeemed. Reconciled. Restored. He remembered his last moments on The Island. He remembered his sacrifice. He remembered he had lived a life, a hard life, a life full of mistakes and pain, but that in the end, the good in him won out, and that he died with heart in the right place. He was a hero. And he let go. The End.

There are a couple of things I didn’t quite agree with in the above passage (I think Jack became fully enlightened just before he saw his dad, and I’m not entirely convinced Jack was actively remembering the moment he died throughout the church scene), but I think the excerpt does a fantastic job of acknowledging the people Jack came contact with when he entered the church. The man he argued with but never got to thank. The man he would cross paths with in various lives and locales. The man he “let down” and couldn’t save. The man who always had his back. The man he once competed with, but would later call a friend. And finally, the woman he loves. It all felt deceptively deliberate.

But more than anything, I loved the scene’s tone. There was no anger. No resentment. No bitterness. No hostility. Just a group of people who went on an amazing journey together, legitimately touched and glad to be reunited with one another. It was just pure, genuine, unadulterated happiness. After becoming so invested in this motley crew, knowing that they end up in a peaceful place devoid of any negativity and pain went a long way for me. The good feelings weren’t restricted to Jack – take note of the way Sawyer affectionately slaps Locke’s shoulder. Hard to believe that it was only a few seasons ago that Sawyer threatened Locke’s life if he did anything to put Hurley in harm’s way.

And one of the final images we’ll have of Lost is of the characters sitting next to the person they love, completely at peace, as they are enveloped by a soothing bright light (similar to the light they were destined to protect). And I loved that it was virtually completely absent of any dialogue.

Jack’s death scene was an obvious throwback to the series premiere – waking up in the bamboo forest, with Vincent being the first living thing he sees – and his repeated claims that they won’t die alone as long as they live and together. And the symbolism there was spot on. However, after taking a while to think about it, Jack’s final moments actually remind me of the third season premiere, “A Tale of Two Cities.” The flashbacks retold the Jack story we’ve seen countless times before. Our hero was constantly jealous, constantly insecure, and demanded to control everything around him. And after he and his wife broke up, he obsessed over her new boyfriend. Yet at the conclusion of the episode, when Jack was given the opportunity to ask any question about his ex wife, instead of getting the answers he once so desperately wanted, he simply asked if she was happy. It was meant to show us how he had grown and let go of those flaws. I felt that here when he smiled as he looked up in the sky and saw the Ajira plane flying away. He seemed genuinely happy that his friends were escaping this island, returning home for another opportunity at a normal existence. He wasn’t upset that he was going to die, or disappointed that he wasn’t on the plane as well. He didn’t even mind that Kate was on the plane with his former rival. He was just selflessly happy that the people he cares for succeeded in their quest to leave the island.

In the end we know that Jack fulfilled his promise to get everybody off the island, Kate came through with her promise to reunite Claire and Aaron, Sawyer, Miles, and Alpert are leaving the island for the first time in years, Ben has a renewed, noble purpose, and Hurley is doing real good and finally escaped whatever curse he felt was looming over him. It may not have ended glowingly for everybody, but I’d say it was a happy – and damn good – ending.

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Top Ten Cases: Favorite Lost Finale Scenes - #3

3. Jack and Kate Kiss



C’mon, you had to know this would AT LEAST be in my top five, right?

One of the criticisms about Kate “picking” Jack – usually from those who had hoped she would end up with Sawyer – is that the two of them have been so distant over the past couple of seasons. And, quite honestly, that’s a fair observation. If you look at the first season of Lost, Kate wouldn’t sneeze without first checking with Jack. These two were attached at the hip, yet for the last few years, it seems like their island interactions have been limited to brief discussions before separating again (whether by choice or circumstance). However, I think this was a deliberate decision and was expressed greatly by the subtle tone and body language of this scene.

So, yes, Jack and Kate have had a wall between them over the past two or three seasons, but I think that should be expected. Consider the fact that when they returned to the island, they had gone through a pretty messy break up. It’s not even that they hate each other – clearly, they don’t – but they were both hurt and felt betrayed by the other. Jack because he felt she was hiding things from him (related to Sawyer, no less, which played into his insecurities), and Kate because she finally opened up her heart and allowed herself to fall in love with Jack, and as a result she ends up heartbroken, and her “son” is without a surrogate father. Imagine how difficult it is for Kate to forgive Jack for what he had done, and consider how tortured Jack must be as he comes to terms with the mistakes he made.

Hell, his break up with Kate motivated him to return to the island (otherwise his life had no meaning), risk all their lives by blowing up the hatch, and deciding to spend the rest of his life on the island as its keeper. He had so convinced himself that his future with Kate was such an impossibility that he was making decisions that would have infuriated the Jack we met in season one.

I think the distance created between them was meant to symbolize the protective wall they had built. They clearly cared for one another, but were afraid to be together. And this isn’t coming from a Jack/Kate fan – I honestly believe that several hints were dropped throughout seasons five and six. Consider Kate’s reluctance to go “all the way” with Jack. When trying to convince Jack into helping young Ben, she told him she doesn’t like the new Jack. When Jack responded that she didn’t like the old one either, she seemed taken aback and had no idea how to respond. When she wanted to talk Jack out of setting off the hydrogen bomb, she assured him that not all their time together was bad. When Jack said that enough of it was, she seemed hurt. But she didn’t press it. And finally, despite all of the efforts she put into stopping Jack, she relented and even aided him when he placed his cards on the table and asked if she’s with him. When push came to shove, she couldn’t bring herself to go against him.

And there are more examples. How about in the season premiere when she saw Jack and Sawyer lying there lifelessly and she immediately ran over to Jack? Or when Jack and Sawyer emerged from the submarine, and she ran to Jack with tears on her eyes, talking about how she couldn’t find “him.” Yes, their screen time together and heart-to-heart moments were severely minimized over the past couple of years, but make no mistake – her heart always belonged to him.

Was there a point to that long winded and likely completely unnecessary synopsis? YES! The reasons above are why I loved the scene so much. I think it was important for us to recognize how difficult it was for these two characters to express themselves in this way. It wasn’t until Kate realized that she would never see Jack again that she finally tore that wall down and said, “I love you.” And perhaps my favorite moment of the scene happened immediately afterwards. Jack releases this massive sigh of relief, his body loosens, and he says in contained elation, “I love you.” You can just sense how long he’s wanted to say those words, but that he needed to hear it from her first because of his past transgressions.

A few side notes (just to make this a little longer): Once again, this was a fantastic visual. Jack and Kate were more beaten and bruised than any of the other characters. You had Kate with a gunshot wound to the shoulder, and Jack with a stab wound in his gut. Perhaps it was symbolic of the rough journey their relationship endured to get to that climatic point? And also, this scene showed me why Jack understands Kate more than Sawyer ever did. Sawyer excluded Claire from the escape plan, and kept this information from Kate. Jack, on the other hand, knew how important it was for Kate to rescue Claire, and used that to motivate her to leave him. Just an observation.

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Top Ten Cases: Favorite Lost Finale Scenes - #4

4. Sawyer and Juliet Remember



This may surprise a lot of people, but I actually think that the sideways reunion between Sawyer and Juliet was the most anticipated one of the entire season. Unlike other couples on the show, their meeting wasn’t teased and it was left until the last possible moment. If I’m not mistaken, after they were reunited, they didn’t appear in the sideways world again until the final scene. Perhaps more than any other two people, their sideways world existed so that they could find each other. And in many ways, the creation of the sideways world coincided with the conclusion of the Sawyer/Juliet romance. Juliet was the one who seemingly detonated the hydrogen bomb (which we all thought caused the alternate reality), and her final words appeared to be some sort of code for when they come together in another life. So this short scene really was the climax to something that was hinted at within the first few minutes of the premiere.

And not to fan the flames, but this scene accentuated (to me, anyway) why Sawyer and Juliet go together so much better than Sawyer and Kate. When Sawyer and Kate do their flirtatious dance, there’s always this angry, threatening undertone to it. But with Sawyer and Juliet, things just seemed so much more playful. Kate’s passion seemed like it might stem from aggravation, whereas Juliet’s feelings seemed to be based on enjoyment (again, just one man’s opinion). And their banter here exemplified that perfectly. Juliet steps into the scene, catching Sawyer in a precarious situation, and proceeds to playfully chop him down with her typical deadpan delivery. It actually reminded me of the way they interacted with each other in “Through the Looking Glass,” when Sawyer asked what they were working on when he and Kate were being held captive by the Others.

I also have fun trying to figure out at what point these two became “enlightened.” Was it before they went through their coffee discussion, as if they were going through a familiar routine, or was it when they locked hands moments later? Whatever the case may be, I absolutely loved the way their facial expressions shifted as their flashbacks told the story of their romance. At first they seemed jubilant to see each other again. Then they became overwhelmed with the powerful emotions as they suddenly remembered all they had gone through. And finally, they appeared to both be overcome with grief as they recalled Juliet’s tragic end. Between Juliet’s pained expression and Sawyer’s shocked “is it really you?” look, this scene arguably did a better job than any other of capturing the raw, powerful emotions one must go through when being reunited with your soul mate in the afterlife. I really don’t know if I want to smile or cry.

And much like the Jack/Kate sideways reunion I referred to earlier in this list, this is a fun scene where you can imagine what Sawyer’s life was like when he returned to the island. Juliet is dead, but does he fall in love again? Does he help raise his daughter? Does he live a long life? Does he continue his reformed lifestyle? No matter what he ends up doing, when he does eventually pass away, his heart still belongs to Juliet.

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Top Ten Cases: Favorite Lost Finale Scenes - #5

5. Locke forgives Ben



Happy Independence Day to my American friends, and Happy Fourth of July to everybody else (hey, it’s still the date….)

As I had noted all season long, one of the true pleasures of the sideways world was seeing how certain relationships played out when the island was no longer a variable. And the result was most interesting with John Locke, ironically enough. Despite the fact that the island gave him a new lease on life – a feeling of significance and meaning –he was able to develop healthy, beneficial relationships with Jack and Ben (the two people had the most antagonizing relationship with on the island) in the universe in which this place didn’t exist. And I have to say, it was surprisingly nice seeing Locke create a casual “work friendship” with Ben. Without that sideways world development, this fantastic scene might have been a lot harder to accept. Nonetheless, this was an extremely necessary moment, as it finalized the redemption of Benjamin Linus.

Everything about this scene played out perfectly. I thought it was appropriate that Locke was the one who initiated the conversation, because it accentuated Ben’s shame over what he had done. And it was just like Locke to ignore the 800 pound elephant in the room, instead opting to keep the conversation light and cordial. I really don’t think Locke needed to hear the apology for his own peace of mind. Simply having a civil discussion was enough for him to be able to “move on.” Ben, on the other hand, needed to rinse out his dirty laundry – and his delivery was impeccable. I loved the way his voice shook when he apologized. And I thought it was great how he said he was sorry “for what I did to you,” as if Ben couldn’t even bring himself to verbally admit that he had killed him.

And finally, I personally appreciated Locke’s brief but subtle acceptance that he wasn’t special, at least not in the sense that he had always thought. When he asked Ben, “What did I have?” I think he was admitting that, in the grand scheme of things, he may not have been as special as he once thought. But at the same time, Ben was right when he said that Locke was special but he wasn’t. At the end of the day, Locke was the Others’ preferred leader, and Ben was seemingly always the backup plan. And once Locke arrived on the island, there was a contingent of high powered Others officials (like Alpert) who wanted to put him in power. So Ben’s insecurity wasn’t unfounded.

And while it’s been noted by pretty much everybody else already, I enjoyed the fact that Ben urged Locke to get out of his wheelchair for a different reason. If there was one thing that did make Locke special – or at least create the impression that he’s special – it’s that he suddenly had the ability to walk when he arrived on the island (a stark contrast to Ben, whose life was threatened by a spinal ailment). So for Ben to proverbially “push” Locke out of his chair so he can walk on his own two legs is significant. It shows how much Ben has grown.

By the way, for some reason, part of me loves the fact that at this point Locke is now aware that he’s in some sort of afterlife and that the world he’s in isn’t actually real. Yet he still takes the time to pay the taxi fare. That’s pretty decent.

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Top Ten Cases: Favorite Lost Finale Scenes - #6

6. Kate, Claire, and Charlie Remember



Yes, believe it or not, it’s a scene that doesn’t involve Jack!

In my prior edition of Top Ten Cases, when discussing “Through the Looking Glass,” I commended Lost for scripting an exceptionally emotional death scene for Charlie without relying on his relationship with Claire. And while I stand by that assessment, the one downside of that decision (for lack of a better word) is that it left things between these two love birds unresolved. Claire never got to say good bye to Charlie, and for that matter, a great deal of the luster behind Aaron’s character had lost its luster. And as a result, this “Remembering” scene acted as a genuinely beautiful opportunity for closure.

And there are just so many reasons why this scene “worked.” By this point in the episode, the island story was beginning to wrap up, and viewers (I think) understood that the REAL resolution was going to occur in the sideways world. And as such, people became truly invested in having these characters become enlightened. In my initial review of the episode I credited the Jin/Sun “remembering” scene as the moment I began rooting for the sideways world, it’s actually this scene that has stuck with me as the finale becomes a memory. I think it’s because the scene played out exactly as we expected it to.

Another thing that struck me was how sentimental I got when I saw the old clips of Charlie and Claire together. I always liked these two, but I wouldn’t say I ever truly considered myself significantly invested in them. But Claire has been such a physical and mental wreck this season – after being off the grid for a year – that it was legitimately sweet and almost surreal seeing older clips of her cute, quirky smile. It almost felt like a completely different person. For that matter, almost every single time we’ve seen Charlie since his death, it’s either been as a damaged drug addict in the sideways world, or (I’d assume) a manipulative ghost. So it was equally sweet seeing fragments of his happy island romance. The look on Claire’s face when Charlie walked into the room with the blanket – the first time she’s really seen him since before leaving for the underwater Dharma station – was fantastic as well. But nothing beats the visual of Claire, Aaron, and Charlie embracing each other – finally getting that shot at being a family.

And finally, this felt like the first time that any of the characters, completely devoid of Desmond, “made” their enlightenment happen. After Claire and Kate retained their memories, Kate instructed Charlie to go over to Claire, and in turn Claire grabbed hold of his hand, forcing him to remember as well.

Leading up to the finale I noted that I hoped Jack was the one who forced Kate to remember her island life, but ultimately I think this was the right decision. I appreciate the fact that Kate’s character wasn’t defined by the men in her life – whether it’s Jack or Sawyer – and that her story ultimately concluded with her being motivated by her surrogate son. Kate returned to the island to find Claire, and she left with the hopes of helping her raise Aaron. And so it’s appropriate that Kate’s enlightenment was spurred by Aaron’s birth, and it was symbolic that both remembered when Kate handed him over to Claire and the two locked eyes as they welcomed “their” baby to the world.

I should also note that all three actors and actresses really did a wonderful job as well. They nailed it.

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Top Ten Cases: Favorite Lost Finale Scenes - #7

7. Jack and Kate Sideways Reunion



I was tempted to rank this higher, but I submitted and accepted that it was a bit too biased and that my affection for Jack and Kate ending up together was swaying my opinion. I’ve gotta try to keep this list somewhat credible! However, I think this is one scene that is immensely more powerful in hindsight. One of my favorite lines of the entire episode is when Jack tenderly places her hands on Jack’s face and professes, “I’ve missed you so much.” Upon initial viewing, it seemed like a basic sentimental comment referring to how she had “forgotten” about their island lives, and how grateful she was to remember their time together. But once we’ve learned the truth – that they declared their love for each other in what would be the last time they’d see one another, as Jack would die shortly after – the line suddenly has a far deeper and much more emotional meaning.

And in this short scene, you can sort of imagine Kate’s post-island life as it relates to Jack. Did she ever find out about Jack’s fate? If so, how? Who did the news come from? And how long did she live? She probably found love again. Maybe she even got married. But when her life ended – likely as a happy old woman – her heart still belonged to Jack (and that’s not a Jack/Kate fan speaking, that’s just my interpretation of their purgatory – they end up with the person that owns their heart). And to me, that’s what makes her simple “I’ve missed you so much” line so beautiful. Despite all she had felt and experienced in her post-island life, she had longed for the day that she would be reunited with Jack.

Another thing I loved about the scene was the general role reversal here. Throughout the series – and particularly this season, as he reverted to the “Man of Faith” role – Jack has seemingly always had all the answers. Even when he really had no idea what was going on (or he stubbornly resisted what was happening), the good doctor still carried himself with a certain confidence that gave off the impression that he had the situation under control. And there was Kate, almost always following his lead. Yet in this scene, Jack was openly clueless and confused. He had no idea what was going on with him. And there was Kate, now enlightened and with all the answers. For the first time in their complicated relationship, Jack was completely at her mercy, and it was up to her to gently bring him to the realization that this happy little world of his was not real.

As an aside, it’s interesting to note that this situation is not completely foreign to Jack. There were numerous times on the island that something unexplainable was happening, and another character (usually Locke) attempted to convince him to accept a difficult truth. In almost every case he would angrily refuse. Perhaps this scene was attempting to show us that Jack is able to reveal a vulnerable willingness to Kate that he hid from everybody else. Or maybe I’m reading too much into it. Whatever. I really like the “I missed you so much” line.

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Top Ten Cases: Favorite Lost Finale Scenes - #8

8. Locke Remembers



Three scenes in a row that revolve around Jack and Locke….

Terry O’Quinn, rightfully so, has received a great deal of praise for his incredibly facial expressions when portraying the role of the Locke Ness Monster. Well I think he deserves equal accolades for this scene, when Locke suddenly remembers his island exploits. In particular, I was amused and extremely touched when viewing his facial reactions to Jack.

When Locke first becomes enlightened and sets his eyes on Jack, he’s nearly brought to tears as a huge smile takes over his face. He’s genuinely thrilled to see Jack, and to me that makes sense. While Jack may have felt a degree of disdain towards Locke, I really believe that Locke had a certain affection for Jack. Actually, in a lot of ways, I see Locke and Jack having a father/son relationship. It’s a bit ironic, really. Jack tried and tried and tried to get his father’s love, affection, and acceptance, but always came up short. Like I said earlier, despite their different ideologies, I truly believe that Locke cared for and respected Jack for who he was. Yet it was Jack who rejected him (the various connections between John Locke and Christian Shephard warrants a column in and of itself).

And then when Jack begins stubbornly arguing with Locke about how he’s not leaving the hospital, Locke’s smile shifts from tender to amused. You could read his face, which you could imagine saying in a reminiscent tone, “Man, I’ve missed this!”

And then, for one final time, Locke attempted to convince Jack of something he just wasn’t willing to accept yet – that he doesn’t have a son and that something isn’t right about this life he’s living. And just like in the past, Jack resisted and retreated, delaying his enlightenment for another time.

I also appreciated Locke’s heartfelt appreciation for what Jack had done for him. One of the pure joys of the sideways world, for me, has been the building friendship between Jack and Locke. It showed us that once you take the island out of the equation, these two antagonizing but ultimately caring characters could share a very positive and mutually beneficial relationship. It was nice to see this tone continue even after one became “enlightened.” It’s also worth noting that on the island, Jack has had his own reawakening, but never had the opportunity to thank Locke for the significant role he played. In the sideways universe, Locke has that opportunity, and it was nice to see him take advantage when it was presented to him.

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