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« Lost
Episode Recap: "The Beginning of the End"
“Are they still alive?”
That prophetic question, posed to Hurley by the (presumably) bogus Oceanic representative (Lance Reddick, who seems to come by creepy characters very naturally), sets the tone for the mini-season to come. Eight episodes don’t seem like much, but after tonight’s satisfying, emotionally resonant, fourth-season premiere, I am supremely grateful for them.
As expected, we didn’t get many answers. (Heck, who wants them anyway.) But here is what we now know (Or, at least, what we think we know.) The buzzed-about “Oceanic Six” appear to be the survivors who made it off the island. We knew about Jack and Kate going in and now we can add Hurley to the list. Sadly, Hurley’s post-island life has not panned out very well, and our first glimpse of him is as a fugitive taking police on a wild, televised chase – a scene that is witnessed by a vodka and orange juice-swilling Jack. The joy with which Hurley spoke of his imagined, cannonball-inducing freedom on the beach has apparently dissipated into the same melancholic guilt that will soon overtake Jack. I use the future tense in regard to Jack’s breakdown because it appears that tonight’s flash forward can be mapped on the timeline prior to the total disintegration we witnessed in the season finale. (A hint is offered to confirm this – “I’m thinking about growing a beard.")
I have to say, as I was warned by a few people who had screened this episode ahead of time, Jorge Garcia’s work tonight simply blew me away. His Hurley has always been one of my favorite island-dwellers, mostly because his humor and vulnerability often provide a much-needed anecdote to all the chaotic drama. I waited with dread to see Hurley’s reaction when he learned about Charlie’s sacrifice, but nothing could have prepared me for the moment when he gently broke the news to Claire that their friend was gone. Jorge Garcia says so much with his eyes and watching him share that moment with the other person who really cared deeply about Charlie had me crying buckets. (On an unrelated note, I have to mention here that the musical score for this show always strikes exactly the right chord for me. I am one of those people who is very easily manipulated by a stirring musical moment, but I find that the familiar score that frequently accompanies these emotional moments always seems perfectly understated.)
Knowing that Charlie’s fate would have been challenging to overcome, how pleasantly shocking it was to see Dominic Monaghan turn up at the mental hospital where Hurley was convalescing. It was a vision of Charlie at the convenience store that had triggered Hurley’s Camaro incident. Whether Charlie really did find a way to visit his friend from beyond (“I am dead, but I’m also here,”) or whether Hurley was simply summoning his own doubts and remorse, the message was clear—“They need you.”
We were reunited with Locke again tonight as well, though questions about his loyalty and mental status still remain wide open. As Hurley struggled to clear his mind of the vision of the cabin in the woods (complete with a quick flash of the seemingly indestructible Mikhail and—I think—the elusive Jacob) he happened upon Locke who quickly leveraged his emotions over Charlie’s death to regain his trust. Meanwhile, Kate followed her instincts despite Jack’s best efforts and quickly located the mortally-wounded Naomi, convincing her to lie about her condition as she made contact with the alleged rescue team.
As the survivors were once again united, two camps were quickly formed, setting the stage for what's to come. Locke, believing that the rescue was a lethal trap, urged the survivors to follow him to safety at the Other’s abandoned campground and was joined by Hurley, Sawyer, Rousseau and Ben. Jack, however, held fast to the hope that rescue was imminent and legitimate and Kate maintained her allegiance to him.
Like I said earlier, we are left, once again, with a dizzying array of unanswered questions. What will be the repercussions of this split? What are the true motives of the rescue team? Which three people round out the Oceanic Six, how do they get off the island and what the heck is haunting them? Are they still alive? Why wouldn’t they be? If you are like me, the questions are what keep you coming back for more. Let the games begin.
Need to get a little more Lost? Visit the Online Video Guide for clips and full episodes. Also, check out Matt Mitovich's conversation with Sayid himself, Naveen Andrews.
More Lost coverage:
• Poll: Rate the premiere from 1 to 10!
• News: Could the "Oceanic Six" Add Up to More?
• Cheers & Jeers goes nuts for Hurley's visitor.
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Jan 31, 2008 11:35 PM
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OMG No way I am the first to post? My head is still spinning from this awesome episode. Who are the Oceanic 6? Here is my guess, we know the three, Kate, Jack and Hurley-the other three could be-Benard and his wife and what about Michael, if everyone believes he is in the coffin, could he make his way back to the beach to be resucued as well? I don't have any idea-I can't think I think I need to rewatch it tomorrow so I can really see what is going on. But I do have a question, in season one didn't the plane crash on the beach? How is it everyone met up at the crash site, that wasn't on the beach, but in the middle of nowhere. I just found that to be strange, that and we've never seen it until tonight since season one.
On another note, (my mind is spinning now)Was that Jacob in the chair and did Hurley see him? I knew that was Locke's eye-where else would he go after he tried to kill Namoi? A safe haven would be at Jacob's place, right? So much more to process, I will watch it again and I can't wait to read everyone's ideas as they are so much better then mine! Until then! Good Night!
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Jan 31, 2008 11:45 PM
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Oh and PS Good Recap Trish! Sorry I forgot to tell you that! Look forward to much more, ok at least 8 more! Writer's strike needs to end soon!!!!!!!
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Jan 31, 2008 11:47 PM
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I think the Oceanic 6 defintely includes Sun due to her pregnancy and need to get off the island. I don't think it will include rose and bernard because even though they stayed with Jack I don't think Rose will ever leave due to her cancer. Overall loved the episode.
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Feb 1, 2008 12:00 AM
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Nothing like easing gently into a new season. "I'm one of the Oceanic six!" that had such an ominous sound. Seems to indicate that only six survived and that they all achieved some sort of celebrity status.
Amazing range from Jorge Garcia. He went from lovable to scary and hit everything in between.
I wonder why Hurley lied to "Bull" about not knowing Ana Lucia?
Parachuting into a jungle at night? Not something you do when you're planning to rescue people who will still be there in the daylight.
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Feb 1, 2008 12:03 AM
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"Mind is spinning" is a good way to describe it. I am watching the show again right now as I type this, so hopefully I'll pick up some more clues.
The crash site in the middle of nowhere we have seen before--it's the front of the plane where they found the pilot. That's why Jack was so emotional about it--it was him, Kate and Charlie there at the very first. And boy, does it seem like 100 years ago!
Whoever was sitting in the rocking chair in the cabin had white tennis shoes on this time, I saw that clearly.
Trish, thanks for the recap. I totally understand what you mean about Charlie--he was my favorite character. I cried when I watched the finale episode again last night, I cried during the recap tonight, I cried when Desmond told Hurley, I cried when Charlie showed up to talk to Hurley but more than anything, I boo hooed when Hurley told Claire. Gosh, that was awful!
I am not sure whose eye that was in Jacob's cabin. My first thought was Locke but looking at it close up and paused, I am not sure. Though it makes the most sense, I guess.
Can't wait till next week!
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Feb 1, 2008 12:04 AM
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"Whoever was sitting in the rocking chair in the cabin had white tennis shoes on this time, I saw that clearly."
Jacks father has white tennis shoes
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Feb 1, 2008 12:21 AM
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Roxymarie, ITA! The very first time I saw "Jacob" last season I thought it might be Jack's dad. This time the guy/Jacob/whoever had shorter hair and I thought again, "Looks like Jack's Dad." Would that be wild or what? We know his body is missing from the coffin.
By the way, I just watched the part where Jack tried to shoot Locke. I think Jack would have done and wouldn't have cared at all at that moment. Sure glad the gun wasn't loaded but why wasn't it? Wasn't it loaded in the bottom of the grave pit? Interesting.
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Feb 1, 2008 12:29 AM
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Awesome episode. I thought it was cool how they let you know that Hurley's flashfoward comes before Jack's. Jack seems in good shape now. I wonder if he sees Charlie too. I find it hard to believe that Hurley is imagining Charlie. After all, the other guy there saw him too. By the way, Charlie looked good! It kind of bummed me out when Hurley said that he should have stayed with Jack and shouldn't have gone with Locke that night. This was probably the only time I've been with Locke over Jack.
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Feb 1, 2008 1:03 AM
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I saw a link somewhere that's a still shot of the things in Jacob's cabin. It may show us who Jacob is. Either way it shows who was in the cabin. I assume that I can post the link here since it's not a spoiler but maybe someone can let me know if that's within tv guide's rules.
They hinted that the secret that is being kept is that anyone else ever survived the crash, let alone is on the island. I'm pretty sure that most of us already assumed that but theres probably more to it than that. Ana Lucia's partner asked Hurley if he ever met her on the plane. I'd imagine that if he had any inkling that she could have possibly survived the crash he might have asked Hurley if he met her on the island.
That would also explain while it's eating away at Jack cause not only did he leave them behind but he can't even attempt to ask anyone to look for them.
I thought that the episode was great btw.
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Feb 1, 2008 1:05 AM
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What a great start to the season! There were so many things in this episode that spark even more interest in the show's mysteries. Just a few notes since it is rather late. I think the Oceanic 6 are definetely hiding a lot. My theory is that the public think the Oceanic 6 are the only people to survive the crash. When the cop was talking about Ana Lucia to Hurley, he said, maybe you know her, maybe you saw her on the plane before it crashed. There was no mention of "maybe she was alive with you after the crash." Also, if paused, you can see that there is something written on "Charlie's" hand when he breaks through the window in Hurley's interrogation room. It says "They need you." As with the last experience there, I was really creeped out, yet intrigued, by the cabin scene. I definetely think that the person in the rocking chair was different this time. I noticed the white tennis shoes and I really think it was Christian Shepard. The person's hair was shorter and it really looks like him. As to the other person who popped up right in the window, I have no thoughts yet. Anyways, I am definetely going to watch it again to get more clues. Looking forward to hearing from the rest of you about this episode.
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Feb 1, 2008 1:07 AM
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I am so glad our show is back!
First a shout out to some dear friends that I met right here!
Hello my lovely friends, Rosie, Daesey, Pinkie, Justme, Weezy, and Capta! We have been waiting for this!
Trish - an absolutely terrific write up. I am all a tingle with questions right now. I cannot wait to find out where this wonderful show is going to take us next.
I took notes. LOL
Here's a couple of things I wrote.
Who's in the car? Hurley???!!!!
I'm one of the Oceanic 6!!!?????
Who was the creepy dude that came to visit Hurley? He was very scary!
Ben asks Jack if he can have permission to go with Locke. HaHaHaHa
jwtrout - I too believe that Jack was ready to kill Locke and that would have been that.
I loved Sawyer trying to comfort Hurley and when he chose Locke, telling Kate that he was just doing what he always does...surviving.
I agree Trish that this is pre-breakdown Jack. He seems to just be starting his spiral down. Perhaps seeing what becomes of optimistic Hurley is his tipping point.
Questions.
What did the Oceanic 6 do? Hurley made refernce to something.
Of course who are the Oceanic 6? (why would Rose want to leave the island? I was so stunned when she said she wouldn't go with Locke)
How does Hurley ending up getting rescued if he chose Locke? This really throws off picking who are the Oceanic 6.
Charlie's appearance was very interesting.
Ben said that "every living person on this island would die." I keep going back to that and wonder what, if anything, that meant. At the time of the rescue Charlie was dead, but we know dead doesn't mean dead on this island.
Finally, I thought the Jacob shadow looked a lot like Jack's dad too, and thought it was Mikhail's eye.
CQ
P.S. In the pre-LOST special (which I thought was very well done) did they even mention Michael and Walt?
I'll leave on an inappropriate note, but I know, I am absolutely positive, that I am not the only one to think that death really agrees with Charlie. He was looking smokin' HOT when he showed up to visit Hurley! YUM ![]<img border=](http://community.tvguide.com/images/emoticons/devil.gif) ">
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Feb 1, 2008 1:18 AM
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What did the Oceanic 6 do? Hurley made refernce to something.
Like some of us said i think the mere fact that they left everyone behind and probably can't talk about it is what they did.
why would Rose want to leave the island?
As much as she probably wants to live i'm sure that she'd rather be in comfort instead of on a mysterious island.
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Feb 1, 2008 1:25 AM
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I think that guy that visited hurley knows about the island and wants hurley to take him there.
And something about the way the cop questioning hurley doesn't sit right. He asked him if he met ana-lucia on the plane. He never mentioned the island. Maybe the 6 that got off the island agreed to keep it a secret when they got back. Maybe they were the only 6 who wanted to come back. We don't know what happens between now and the flashforward just yet.
And just because this episode ended with what seemed like a rescue doesn't mean it actually is. There could be another rescue attempt down the line in a future season that gets the 6 off.
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Feb 1, 2008 1:41 AM
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Rose wasn't choosing to leave the island, she was refusing to go with Locke.
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Feb 1, 2008 1:45 AM
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