Lost: Season 1, Episode 10 Supplemental

It came to me this morning that "Ethan Rom" is an anagram of "Other Man." Also, I don't think Sayid was injured when he left Danielle Rousseau. Did he run into someone else on the island?

Also, I think Locke might know more about Ethan than he's telling.

Lost: Season 1, Episode 10

Title: Raised by Another

Original Air Date: December 1, 2004

Key Character: Claire

New characters: Thomas, Mr. Melkin (psychic), Pauline & John Stewart (adoptive parents)

Highlights:

I KNEW IT! I KNEW Ethan wasn't one of the survivors! 20 main characters on this show, and he just pops up out of nowhere. I'm still suspicious about Steve & Scott, and that hypochondriac guy.

Anyway, this is a Claire episode, and it's kickass. In Claire's backstory, she got pregnant by a kid named Thomas, who quickly turns yellow and dumps her. She met a psychic who insisted she raise the baby at all costs. He talked her out of giving the baby up for adoption, and gave her a plane ticket to California to meet a different couple. Now Claire believes he knew the plane would crash.

On the island, Claire has a nightmare, then believes someone tries to attack her. Hurley takes a census for everyone's safety. He discovers that Ethan Rom's name isn't on the flight manifest. Sayid returns to camp, and tells Jack there are others on the island--information that might have been useful YESTERDAY!

Insights:

• The eyeball open is becoming a thing.
• In Claire's nightmare, Locke has weird eyes: one white, one black.
• Oh yea! The psychic played the Russian president on 24.
• Sawyer looks cool in those Kurt Cobain sunglasses.
• If you can't tell red from pink, maybe art isn't your thing.

Grade: A+++. This show kicks ass!

Lost: Season 1, Episode 09--Supplemental

Holy crap, it occurred to me this morning that Ethan and the hypochondriac are two different characters. I guess I wasn't following closely and just assumed they were the same person. Anyway, it's still surprising that they would introduce two new survivors without at least showing them in previous episodes.

Lost: Season 1, Episode 09

Title: Solitary

Original Air Date: November 17, 2004

Key Character: Sayid

New Characters: Danielle Rouseau, Nadia, Ethan

Highlights:

This episode focuses on Sayid's backstory. An interrogator in the Republican Guard, Sayid met a childhood friend, Nadia. He was commanded to torture her until she cooperated. Instead, Sayid brought her bread and water and begged her to talk. After a month, his superior ordered him to execute her. Instead, he helped her escape, killing his superior and intentionally shooting himself in the process. He never saw her again, and believes her to be dead.

On the island, Sayid finds an electric cable on the beach and follows it into the jungle. He falls into a booby trap and is apprehended by Danielle, the French woman heard on the transmission. She tortures him with electricity and asks him in several languages where her son Alex is. Sayid offers to fix her music box in exchange for his freedom. She tells him how she and her lover, Robert, were shipwrecked on the island with a science team. She says there were Others ("carriers") on the island who trapped her team at "Black Rock." Hearing a loud animal growl, she climbs out to investigate, leaving Sayid alone. Sayid escapes with a gun and a map of the island. Danielle catches up with him, and releases him after a tense confrontation. We discover that Danielle killed Robert and the rest of the science team. Sayid asks her to join him and the survivors, but she refuses. Sayid then heads out but gets lost in the jungle.

Meanwhile, Hurley builds a golf course and everyone has fun. Except Locke, who teaches Walt how to throw a knife. Creepy.

Insights:

• I wonder why we haven't seen Ethan before this episode.

Grade: A+

Lost: Season 1, Episode 08

Title: Confidence Man

Original Air Date: November 10, 2004

Key Character: Sawyer

New Characters: Jess and David, Kilo

Highlights:

This is a great episode about Sawyer's backstory. He was a conman trying to swindle a couple out of $160,000. He cancelled the deal when he discovered the couple had a young son. Apparently, Sawyer was the boy's age when another conman named "Mr. Sawyer" caused the death of his parents in a murder/suicide tragedy.

Boone thinks Sawyer has stolen Shannon's asthma medicine, because the book he's been reading, Watership Down, belongs to Boone. Sawyer first offers to give the medicine to Kate in exchange for a kiss. She refuses. When Shannon's condition gets worse, Jack and Sayid agree to torture him until he surrenders the drugs. He doesn't last long, and again agrees to give the medicine to Kate in exchange for a kiss. This time she concedes, but he confesses he never had the medicine. Then there's a struggle between Sawyer and Sayid, who thinks Sawyer attacked him and destroyed his equipment. Sayid stabs him in the shoulder.

Fortunately, Sun convinces Michael to find some eucalyptus in the jungle. She makes a rub that heals Shannon. Sayid, regretting his attack on Sawyer, leaves the camp to scout the island.

Insights:

• Sawyer likes playing the victim, and almost wants everyone to hate him. He feels guilty for turning into the man he hated. But he's still an asshole.
• It still isn't clear who attacked Sayid and destroyed his equipment.

Grade: A+

Lost: Season 1, Episode 07

Title: The Moth

Original Air Date: November 3, 2004

Key Character: Charlie

New Characters: Liam

Highlights:

In this episode, we learn Charlie's backstory. Charlie came close to quitting his band, Driveshaft, because he felt the party lifestyle betrayed his Catholic beliefs. His brother Liam convinced him to stay, promising they could quit at any time. Once the band got big, however, he reneged on his promise, leading Charlie to begin using heroin. Years later, Liam quit the band after missing the birth of his daughter. Just before Flight 815, Charlie tried to convince Liam to come back to Driveshaft on a reunion tour. Liam refused, and Charlie walked away.

On the island, Charlie hassles Locke to give back his stash. Locke says he'll give back the drugs if Charlie asks him for them three times. The first time, Locke explains how the power of choice differentiates men from animals. The second time, Locke uses an analogy about moths to explain how struggles make us stronger.

During an argument with Charlie, Jack gets trapped in a cave-in. Most of the the men on the island, led by Michael, try to dig him out, but quickly discover that someone needs to crawl inside to help Jack. Charlie volunteers. He crawls inside, digs Jack out and helps relocate his shoulder. Charlie spots a moth in the cave and realizes there must be another way out. Jack and Charlie dig upward to safety. Afterward, Charlie asks Locke for his drugs a third time, and throws them in a campfire.

Meanwhile, Sayid, Kate and Sawyer try to plant antennas to find the signal broadcasting on the island. Just when Sayid gets the signal on the transceiver, someone knocks him unconscious.

Insights:

• Why did Boone ask Shannon to watch for the flares? She's a ditz. She came through, but she's still a ditz.
• Sawyer is just an asshole.

Grade: A+

Lost: Season 1, Episode 06

Title: House of the Rising Sun

Original Air Date: October 24, 2004

Key Character: Sun

Highlights:

This episode focuses on the courtship and marriage of Asian Guy (Jin) and Sun. Jin, a waiter, agrees to work for Sun's father for two years in exchange for her hand in marriage. The couple drift apart, however, as Jin spends more and more time away on business. Then one night, he comes home covered in someone else's blood. Sun hatches a plan to escape her husband and leave for America. At the last minute, however, she decides to stay with Jin.

Jin starts off the episode by beating the crap out of Michael. Jin refuses to explain his actions, calling Michael a thief to Sun. Sayid and Sawyer apprehend him and handcuff him to some wreckage. I thought he found out Michael saw Sun bathing, but he actually found an expensive watch that belonged to Sun's father. Michael explains the situation and chops the handcuffs apart with an ax. Tough loss--they'll probably need those cuffs again.

Meanwhile, Jack, Kate, Locke and Charlie go to the spring for fresh water. Charlie finds a hive of angry bees, Kate loses her shirt, and finds two dead bodies. Jack confirms that the male and female have been dead for 50 years. Jack decides to convince the camp to move to the caves. Sayid, Kate, and Sawyer, et al, decide to stay on the beach.

Locke confronts Charlie about his heroin addiction, and convinces him to give him last of his stash. Charlie finds his precious guitar.

Insights:

• This is the first episode with a recap.
• Another eyeball open. I think that's three so far.
• I kinda had a feeling from the beginning that Sun could speak English. Also, I'm not convinced that she doesn't still want to leave Jin.
• Jack finds two stones--one black, one white.
• They didn't explain how the watch got on the plane, or whether Sun's father was one of the victims.
• I don't understand why half the gang wants to stay on the beach. Why can't they watch the beach in shifts?

Key Quote: "Are you sure this is where you want to be?" (Willie Nelson)

Grade: A+

This is a great show. All the characters and stories are extremely compelling so far.

Lost: Season 1, Episode 05

Title: White Rabbit

Original Air Date: October 20, 2004

Central Character: Jack

New Characters: Mark Silverman, two bullies, Jack's mom & dad, Joanna

RIP: Jack's dad (?), Joanna

Highlights:

• A woman drowns.
• Sawyer is reading Watership Down.
• Wow, Jack's mom is Veronica Hamil.
• Jack hasn't slept in a while, and keeps seeing his dead father. Jack chases him in the jungle. Locke saves him from falling over a cliff.
• Jack finds his father's empty coffin and a fresh water stream.

Insights: First, Locke discovers he can walk after four years. Then Jack keeps seeing his dead father. But what's really weird is that THERE ARE NO HAIRBRUSHES ON THE ISLAND!

Key Quotes:

• "Living is easy with eyes closed." (Charlie's arm)
• "I looked into the eye of the island. And what I saw was beautiful." (Locke)
• "If we can't live together, we're gonna die alone." (Jack)

Grade: A+

Lost: Season 1, Episode 04

Title: Walkabout

Original Air Date: October 13, 2004

New Characters: Randy, "GL12", Helen, Boars, Australian Tour Guide

RIP: At least one boar. Oh, and one fish.

Highlights:

• Locke's got a knife. Wow, he's got a bunch of knives.
• Seems he's a colonel and a cripple. Not so much a cripple though. Hmm not much of a colonel, either.
• Sayid finally decides to look for the other transmitter. I had that idea yesterday, go me.
• Michael leaves Walt with Sun, who asks Walt in Asian if he's ever been in a Turkish prison.
• Jack sees a guy in a suit. I think it was Rod Serling.
• Wow, someone from Denton was on the plane. I'm sure that'll be a huge factor later in the show.
• Locke comes face to face with the Monster. And lies about it.

Insights:

• Watching the show is much more interesting with my roommate, Michael. Mike actually thought they were hunting the Borg. Then again, he thinks the Monster may have killed the boar, not Locke.
• So did Michael get gored by the boar, or was he just careless with his knife?
• I think if I moved my toe for the first time in four years, I'd get up and walk before I put my shoes on.
• I still hate Shannon.

Key Quotes: "Don't tell me what I can't do." and "THIS IS MY DESTINY!!" (Locke)

Grade: A+

Lost: Season 1, Episode 03

Title: Tabula Rasa

Original Air Date: October 6, 2004

New Characters: Ray Mullen, the Australian farmer

RIP: US Marshal

Highlights: Jack and Hurley find Kate's mugshot. Asian Chick's name is Sun. She enjoys bathing alone and looking hot all the time. Bald Guy's name is Mr. Locke. His hobbies include telling secrets to children and making dog whistles. Black Guy gets chased by the Monster and runs into Sun.

The marshal kills Kate.

Kate kills the marshal.

Sawyer kills the marshal.

Jack kills the marshal.

It takes me three days to spell "marshal" correctly.

Key Quote: "Three days ago we all died. We should all be able to start over." (Jack) BTW, Tabula Rasa is Latin for "clean slate."

Insights: I wonder why Charlie writes on his fingers. In the pilot, he wrote "FATE." In this episode, he wrote "LATE." Maybe "OPIATE" is next. The marshal probably could have used some of those bandages. Locke is creepy. Shannon is a beating.

Grade: A+

Lost: Season 1, Episode 02

Title: Pilot Part 2

Original Air Date: September 29, 2004

New Characters: US Marshall, Polar Bear

Highlights: Charlie's a junkie. Bald Guy likes backgammon. The kid's name is Walt. Fat Guy's name is Hurley. Asian Guy's an asshole. Sayid knows his way around a radio. Sawyer shoots a polar bear. Kate's a fugitive.

Insights: I think I remember Bald Guy from The Lion King.

Grade: A+

Lost: Season 1, Episode 01

Title: Pilot Part 1

Original Air Date: Sept 22, 2004

New Characters: Jack, Kate, Sayid, Charlie, Shannon, Boone, Vincent, Asian Couple, Unconscious Guy Who Sat Next to Kate on the Plane, Black Lady Who Sat Next to Jack on the Plane, Blonde Guy Who Smokes, Bald Guy Who Sits in the Rain, Black Man and Son, Pregnant Lady, Fat Guy, Pilot, Monster.

I hope some of these people get names in the next episode.

Highlights: A plane crashes. Kate stitches up Jack, and Jack teaches Kate how to count to five. Kate steals a pair of shoes. Bald guy eats an orange. It starts to rain. Jack, Kate and Charlie find the pilot and the transceiver. The pilot eats it bigtime.

Insights: Hey, that's the cop from Heroes!

Grade: A+

The Journey of a Thousand Miles...

Tonight I will begin watching Lost. Disc One of Season One is already in the changer, and I will push the "PLAY" button as soon as I pick up dinner from Pizza Champ.

Of course, I've heard a lot about the show, and I've even listened to weekly reviews from TV, radio and friends. I'm familiar with most of the main characters and plot lines, and I even have a faint idea how the whole thing ends. But there's a lot about the show I don't know and/or understand, and I never found the time or, frankly, the interest to start from scratch and scale the formidable learning curve.

However, when I decided recently to start a blog, I decided to start a series called "Behind the Curve," where I review all the shows and movies that everyone has seen but me. And the first show on this list is Lost. I hope to watch and review one episode a day for the next few months until the triumphant finale, which most of America saw last week. So hop on the Lost party train, tell a friend, and let's have fun!

Coming Soon!

Watch this space for my new blog, "Behind the Curve." Join me, the last man on earth to start a blog, as I finally start watching "Lost."