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Archive: Lost
'Lost' Dueling Analysis: Cabin Fever
In which Jen Chaney and I try -- and possibly fail -- to cover every single significant detail from last night's nutrient rich episode. Jen: Last night's episode was chock full of all kinds of "Lost"-ian goodness, so much so that it's hard to know where to begin. Do we start with that wacky, repetitive, tree-chopping Horace Goodspeed? Locke stalker Richard Alpert? (I so want to go to Mittelos Science Camp this summer! It'll be a lot like the camp in "Meatballs," right?) The return of Abaddon, who clearly seems to be working in tandem with Alpert? No, I say we start with the observation that so much of the Locke mythology that's previously been established wove its way back into this episode. Apparently he's always been a backgammon player. The phrase "Don't tell me what I can't do" -- which we heard John say, pointedly, back in season...
By Liz | May 9, 2008; 10:29 AM ET | Comments (112)
'Lost' Dueling Analysis: Something Nice Back Home
In which fellow "Lost"-obsessed over-analyzer Jen Chaney and I pick apart the latest episode of what is truly the best show on TV (now that "Rock of Love" is in hiatus). Liz: A slow moving episode, but important, I'd say, as pinpointing the genesis of Jack's descent into addiction, general nuttiness and (we can assume) what shall henceforth be known as "the bearded era." Where are we in this mini-arc, Jen -- episode three out of five? It's all starting to run together. Jen: That was just episode two out of five, hour two out of six since the finale is a two-hour extravaganza. I didn't find it slow-moving, actually, although I understand the tendency to see it that way after last week's shootapalooza. I thought we got back on track -- this was more like a "Lost" episode I recognize rather than an installment of "Benjamin Linus and...
By Liz | May 2, 2008; 10:42 AM ET | Comments (113)
'Lost' Dueling Analyses: The Shape of Things to Come
In which Jen Chaney and I jump back in to our weekly regurgitation of last night's episode. But this is merely prelude to this afternoon's "Lost" chat-a-thon: 1:30 p.m. ET -- Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond). 2 p.m. ET -- The "Lost" Hour. Liz: That was some show. As promised in your pre-show tips yesterday, Ben channeled Carol Ann, there was a dead body and we heard more from Charles Widmore -- throwing his relationship with Ben into an entirely new light -- than we ever have. But (and this is where the spoilers start, so stop reading now if you haven't yet watched last night's episode) I think the endgame is beginning to reveal itself -- like a real-life version of "Lost" Madness, Ben is going to travel the globe, and possibly time, trying to avenge Alex's death by killing Penny. An eye for an eye and all that....
By Liz | April 25, 2008; 10:42 AM ET | Comments (95)
'Lost' Madness: The Champion
Desmond Hume is your constant. He is also the champion of "Lost" Madness. I had expected a very, very tight contest between Mr. Penny Widmore and Sayid Jarrah. But the final round of our island-based bracket ended with a landslide for Desmond, who easily won with 62.5 percent of the vote. It's been an exciting two weeks of "Lost" Madness. (This is the part where you should start singing "One Shining Moment.") Some great players went down too early (Hurley). Some advanced farther than we ever expected (Jacob). But in the end, all of our contestants were winners. Okay, maybe not Nikki. Or Paulo. It wasn't the NCAA tournament (no, it wasn't SUPPOSED to be seeded like the tourney), but hopefully "Lost" Madness provided an enjoyable diversion. Thanks for playing, brothas....
By Jen Chaney | March 25, 2008; 01:27 PM ET | Comments (18)
'Lost' Dueling Analyses: Meet Kevin Johnson
In which Jen Chaney and I debate the merits of last night's mid-season cliffhanger -- such as it was. Many spoilers follow. So if you haven't yet watched last night's episode, please avert your eyes. Michael (Harold Perrineau), totally played by Ben. Again. (ABC) Liz: It is possible that by the time "Lost" returns to TV on April 24 I will no longer be steamed about last night's bait-and-switch. How LindeCuse thought it would be in any way acceptable to promo the fact that someone was going to die, spend almost the entire hour on Michael and then kill off Karl and Rousseau in the last two minutes is just beyond me. Talk about getting Scooby-Doo'd. Jen: You know what? I was not wild about last night's episode either. I think it was important to spend time telling us more about Michael's, aka Kevin Johnson's, backstory. But that's virtually all...
By Liz | March 21, 2008; 10:42 AM ET | Comments (114)
Lost' Dueling Analyses: Ji Yeon
In which Jen Chaney and I contemplate last night's mid-season, lima-bean spritzed episode. Desmond (Ian Cusick) and Sayid (Naveen Andrews) flank Captain Gualt (Grant Bowler) on the deck of the freighter. (ABC) Jen: So we don't know exactly how Jin died. But we know he is being mourned in what may be the most elegant use of flashback/flash-forward in the series so far. Instead of seeing the flashback/forward of one character, we watched the off-island stories of one unit: Jin and Sun. The fact that Jin's was a flashback and Sun's was a flash-forward tells us that, at some point, these two irrevocably intertwined people are ripped apart. Let's assume that Jin catches a case of the so-called "cabin fever" -- otherwise known as Desmond's time-shifting disease -- upon attempting to leave the island. Let's further assume that's what causes his death (obviously we'll discuss this further). It only makes...
By Liz | March 14, 2008; 10:44 AM ET | Comments (196)
'Lost' Madness: First Votes Are In...
"Dude, I lost?" (ABC) The first round of "Lost" Madness, our attempt to turn the island into a pseudo-NCAA Tournament, is over. That means it's time to vote in round two, which will determine which characters wind up in the Sweet 16. You can see who advanced and make the latest selections right now by clicking here. Quickly, here is a rundown of the initial match-ups that proved most interesting:...
By Jen Chaney | March 11, 2008; 12:51 PM ET | Comments (10)
'Lost' Dueling Analyses: The Other Woman
In which Jen and Liz dissect last night's episode, introduce today's new 2 p.m. ET "Lost" chat and unveil a new "Lost" feature. Liz: Last night's episode title was clearly meant to throw the spotlight on to Juliet, the hour's prime mover and first flashback of season four. But I'm thinking this was really all about Ben, who deftly shifted between his portrayals of the puppet master and the man-child who smashes his toys when they don't bow to his desires. I worship at the altar of Michael Emerson, whose diabolical portrayal of an emotionally stunted basket case with brains to spare is a performance for the ages. But I have to ask: Ben (Michael Emerson) spins a tale for John (Terry O'Quinn). (ABC) How's that theory about Ben actually being one of the good guys faring? I'm wondering if it's a little anemic after last night's episode in which...
By Liz | March 7, 2008; 10:52 AM ET | Comments (119)
'Lost' Watchers (and Chatters) Take Note
Where's the weekly live "Lost" chat forum? It has given up its place on the site to make way for a bigger, better Friday "Lost" discussion -- kicking off tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET. So save your comments and questions and we'll get to them then. In the meantime, catch up by reading (or re-reading) last week's analysis. Remember, we're all still together in spirit. And if you really feel moved to say something now, well there's this nice empty comments thread just sitting here minding its own business....
By Liz | March 6, 2008; 07:02 PM ET | Comments (8)
'Lost' Dueling Analyses: The Constant
In which Jen Chaney and I try to wrap our brains around last night's revelations without becoming unstuck in time. Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) is led into the Kahana's sickbay by Omar (Anthony Azizi) and Keamy (Kevin Durand). (ABC) Liz: As one chatter put it in last night's live "Lost" forum, "between Penny and Desmond ... maybe that is really what the show is about and the rest of the airplane people are fuzz." I don't know about you, Jen, but I'm feeling fuzzy. We were given a lot -- a LOT -- to chew on last night. The hour-long episode felt more like two (maybe we were unwittingly the victims of some time travel) and many dangling threads were tied together. And no question, the knot centers on Desmond and Penny. For today's analysis maybe we can do something a little different -- take last night's most complex complexities...
By Liz | February 29, 2008; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (182)
Live Now: 'Lost' Chat -- 8:30 to 10 p.m. ET
Don't touch that dial. Or that mouse. It's time for this week's "Lost" watch-and-chat along session and, really, it won't be the same without you. Click here to join the chat. Jen Chaney and I will be on hand at 8:30 p.m. ET to start handicapping tonight's episode, "The Constant." Then, at 9 p.m. ET our washingtonpost.com moderator will take the helm as we chat our way through this week's episode of "Lost." Have a little time before the chatting starts? Read last week's episode analysis....
By Liz | February 28, 2008; 08:25 PM ET | Email a Comment
Live Now: 'Lost' Chat -- 8:30 to 10 p.m. ET
Fear not -- you don't need complicated doodads to participate in tonight's chat. Just an Internet-enabled laptop. (ABC) Don't touch that dial. Or that mouse. It's time for this week's "Lost" watch-and-chat along session and, really, it won't be the same without you. Click here to join the chat. Jen Chaney and I will be on hand at 8:30 p.m. ET to start handicapping tonight's episode, "Eggtown." Then, at 9 p.m. ET our washingtonpost.com moderator will take the helm as we chat our way through this week's episode of "Lost." Have a little time before the chatting starts? Read last week's episode analysis....
By Liz | February 21, 2008; 08:25 PM ET | Comments (1)
'Lost' Dueling Analyses: The Economist
Sayid (Naveen Andrews) examines Naomi's bracelet. (ABC) Post.com Movies editrix Jen Chaney and I write our 50,000th word about this dang show. Liz: As I was trying (unsuccessfully) to fall asleep last night, I was overtaken by a wave of paranoia. "What am I missing?" I wondered. While "Lost" has always been all about working on multiple levels and teasing us with an enigma here or there, this season the show's creators seem to have steeped every detail -- from split-second shots to off-handed conversation -- with significance. And so the doubt sets in. Should we give undue weight to Ben Linus's passport name (Dean Moriarty -- a shout-out to Kerouac's "On the Road" or a comparison to Sherlock Holmes's lifelong nemesis) or dismiss it as a wink from the writing crew? It's confounding. Frustrating. I love it. I think I have to agree with one of the chatters...
By Liz | February 15, 2008; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (170)
Live Now: 'Lost' Chat Room, 8:30 - 10 p.m. ET
Silly Dan (Jeremy Davies) -- you can't join the live 'Lost' chat on a sat phone! (ABC) Hey there, Valentine: It's Thursday night and time for this week's "Lost" watch-and-chat along session. Click here to join the chat. Jen Chaney and I will be on hand at 8:30 p.m. ET to start handicapping tonight's show. Then, at 9 p.m. ET our washingtonpost.com moderator will take the helm as we chat through this week's episode of "Lost." Have a little time before the chatting starts? Read last week's episode analysis....
By Liz | February 14, 2008; 08:25 PM ET | Comments (4)
Live Now: 'Lost' Chat Room, 8:30 - 10 p.m. ET
Ben Linus (as played by Michael Emerson). (Photo courtesy ABC) It's Thursday night and time for this week's watch-and-chat along session. Click here to join the chat. Jen Chaney and I will be on hand at 8:30 to start handicapping tonight's show. Then, at 9 p.m. ET our washingtonpost.com moderator will take the helm as we chat through this week's episode of "Lost." Have a little time before the chat starts? Read last week's season opener analysis....
By Liz | February 7, 2008; 08:30 PM ET | Comments (5)
'Lost' Dueling Analyses: The Beginning of the End
In which post.com Movies editrix Jen Chaney and I hungrily resume our favorite weekly obsession: overanalyzing 'Lost.' (Warning: If you haven't yet watched last night's season premiere, tons of spoilers follow.) Juliet, Sayid and Bernard (Elizabeth Mitchell, Naveen Andrews and Sam Anderson) await the arrival of the freighter crew. (AP) Liz: Well Jen, was it all you thought it would be or did last night's season opener leave you confounded? Me, I liked it though I felt ABC was a bit disingenuous with the previews -- some of them showed exchanges with the "rescuers" (or should we call them the "boaties") that obviously weren't a part of this episode. Jen: I was pretty happy with the episode overall. I thought Jorge Garcia was genuinely moving. I also really don't want to hear the usual bellyaching about how "we didn't get enough answers," "why won't they explain the polar bear?" etc....
By Liz | February 1, 2008; 11:43 AM ET | Comments (115)
'Lost': Questions We Need Answered
Another puzzler: Who are all those people behind Claire (Emilie de Raven)? (ABC/Mario Perez) "Lost" returns to TV tonight after an eight-month hiatus in which we may well have lost sight of the questions left hanging at the end of season 3. Below, fellow "Lost" blogger Jen Chaney and I noodle the top three (or so) we'd each like to see resolved -- or a least heavily hinted at -- in tonight's season opener. Liz's Questions: 1. If it's not Penny's boat, as Charlie messaged at the end of last season's finale, who is on the freighter and at whose behest? (Screengrab courtesy losteastereggs.blogspot.com) Season three ended as contact was made with a freighter suddenly in radio range of the island. The assumption was this was a rescue team sent by Desmond's well-heeled girlfriend, Penelope Widmore, until Charlie's chilling message just before he died: "Not Penny's Boat." Which runs...
By Liz | January 31, 2008; 10:48 AM ET | Comments (58)
'Lost' Book Club: 'Through the Looking Glass'
An image from 'Through the Looking Glass.' All the world's a stage, for sure, and the people in it merely players. When it comes to "Lost," there may be more to that idea than SAG cards and camera-ready smiles. While we've been distracted by pretty faces, smoke monsters and some of the best dialogue on TV, "Lost's" main characters have been sliding in and out of precise positions -- think chess board here -- in what is building up to (we hope) one hell of an endgame. But who is the pawn and who the prime mover? This month's selection -- the final book we'll be reading in the "Lost" Book Club discussion series -- also draws heavily on chess imagery ... and we all know how much John Locke loves his chess. Like last month's selection ("A Wrinkle in Time"), it also takes our understanding of time and...
By Liz | December 19, 2007; 12:50 PM ET | Comments (10)
'Lost' Book Club: 'A Wrinkle in Time'
We decided to let you, the readers, vote for our next "Lost" Book Club selection. And despite a strong showing by "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," the overwhelming winner was... "A Wrinkle in Time," which makes Madeleine L'Engle's beloved fantasy our official choice for December. Originally published in 1962, this tale was a tad controversial in its day. Although many of its characters had comforting names (e.g. Mrs. Whatsit), critics viewed all those references to crystal balls and witches as heretical and accused the author of challenging Christian beliefs. Still, despite the mostly forgotten static it generated, "A Wrinkle in Time" remains one of the all-time best-loved works of young adult science fiction. The writing is fluid without being flowery, the characters are likable and it's a quick read (we love that, especially during the busy holiday season). Why It Matters to 'Lost': Of all the books...
By Liz | November 28, 2007; 12:50 PM ET | Comments (6)
Choose Your Own 'Lost' Adventure
From the Desk of Jen Chaney Regular members of the "Lost" Book Club are undoubtedly immersed in our November selection, "A Brief History of Time." And they are probably thinking, "Liz, Jen, what are you trying to do to us? This is a book about science. And the speed of light. And the theory of relativity. It hurts our brains. And none of it explains how polar bears could end up on a tropical island, or whether 'Lost' will even come back if the writers' strike continues. I could choose something better than this for the 'Lost' Book Club." To which Liz and I say: Oh, YEAH? Um, that's cool. Go ahead. Seriously....
By Jen Chaney | November 19, 2007; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (28)
'Lost' Book Club: Time for 'Time'
After weathering the challenging but mercifully short "The Turn of the Screw," Book Club regulars might assume our November choice to be easy and breezy; something to set the tone for the onset of the holiday season. Perhaps the Sawyer fave "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" or the well-worn high school standard "Of Mice and Men" so we can all fake it a bit. (Bantam) No such luck. As we close in on February's season opening shows, we owe it to ourselves to kick our literary sleuthing up a notch. So like Juliet, who downed the drug-laced orange juice to find her way to the island, or Locke, who didn't let reason prevent him from blowing the hatch wide open or Matthew Fox, who bravely allowed the make-up department to spirit gum a patchy beard to his face in last season's finale, we too must push past our...
By Jen Chaney | October 31, 2007; 12:50 PM ET | Comments (24)
'Lost' Book Club: 'The Turn of the Screw'
(Norilana Books) It's only fitting that as we enter October, a month known primarily for its association with Halloween and tales of the creepy-spooky-altogether-ooky variety, that we turn our collective attention to a ghost story as the next selection in the "Lost" Book Club. And so it is with great foreboding (and, unfortunately, without any shrieking audio or spooky fonts) that we utter the name of this tome: "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James. Why We Chose It: In the episodes "Orientation" and "Live Together, Die Alone," the first in a serious of mysterious orientations films is stored on a book shelf, directly behind a copy of -- you guessed it -- "Turn of the Screw." Coincidence? Well, maybe. But in "Lost" World, literary references are usually the result of a calculated formula calibrated for the right mix of "aha" and "hmm" from we unwitting innocents. James's...
By Jen Chaney | September 26, 2007; 12:55 PM ET | Comments (15)
'Lost' Book Club: 'Watchmen'
(DC Comics) Entertainment Weekly "Lost" guru Jeff "Doc" Jensen totally called it back in February when he opined that Desmond was possessed of a set of qualities he'd seen somewhere before. And it's no surprise considering "Lost" co-creator Damon Lindelof called this graphic novel the "greatest piece of popular fiction ever produced." We're talking about Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's "Watchmen," our next selection for the "Lost" Book Club. "Watchmen" follows the lives of a handful of all-too-human decommissioned superheroes as they navigate the murky waters of post-glory day life. Each is motivated by a deeply personal struggle and faces different challenges in a world badly in need of saving. Hidden agendas, a bumbling shadowy government and sketches of a seedy, not-too-distant future make for an oppressive, yet addictive, read. Why We Chose It: Because of the obvious "Lost" parallels: Like "Lost's" Desmond, Dr. Manhattan experiences the past, present...
By Liz | August 29, 2007; 12:55 PM ET | Comments (10)
'Lost' Book Club: Off to See the 'Wizard'
(Harper Collins) We read "Watership Down" and had a discussion worthy of Bigwig himself. It's time to move on, though, to the next selection in the "Lost" Book Club. (Gosh, we feel a little like Oprah.) For those of you who momentarily forgot the drill, each month Liz and I will choose a work of fiction (or, potentially, non-fiction) that is directly referenced in or inspired by the "Lost" universe. On roughly the last Wednesday of the month we will reconvene online to chat about what we read and how it informs our understanding of Jack, Sawyer and the rest of ABC's castaways. So that's the recap, aka our equivalent of "Previously on 'Lost'." Without any further ado, here is the big announcement: August's "Lost" Book Club selection is "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum. Why We Chose It: Even the most casual "Lost" watcher knows...
By Jen Chaney | August 1, 2007; 12:56 PM ET | Comments (6)
Join the 'Lost' Book Club
(Image courtesy Scribner) Jen: Ever since our dear Charlie made the sign of the cross and floated off into the deep blue sea during the season finale of "Lost," Liz and I have been adrift. With no "Lost" in our lives, we have turned to DVDs of previous episodes; futile Google searches for news, any news, about the show; and, on at least one occasion, hard liquor. Liz: The hard liquor was, of course, after Jen gave birth. And it wasn't Dharma brand, so it was really a hollow kind of high. Jen: Fortunately, we have now come up with a way to continue feeding our (and your) "Lost" obsession during the long hiatus until the show returns in February. We call it: "Lost" Book Club. On the first Wednesday of each month, Liz and I will announce the "Lost" Book Club selection of the month in a post...
By Liz | July 11, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (33)
'Lost' Analysis: Finale Thoughts
This week, Jen Chaney and I were again joined by leading "Lost" scholar J. Wood to draw conclusions about "Lost's" two-hour season finale. Massive spoilers and a summer reading list ahead. R.I.P. Charlie. (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: No need to embellish or qualify this statement: last night's finale was phenomenal. In fact, it was so good that I didn't even realize until it ended that we didn't really get that many answers and were in fact left to ponder a whole new set of questions until "Lost's" return in January 2008. Jen, J., let's get down to it. Maybe we can start with what we think was the most significant moment from last night's show. For me, it was bearded Jack's offhand reference to his father. It underscored my pet theory that the Losties inhabit an alternate universe and this bearded Jack another in which Christian Shepard never died. So...
By Liz | May 24, 2007; 10:33 AM ET | Comments (206)
'Lost' Finale Countdown
In which our season-long "Lost" watchers, Liz and Jen, handicap tonight's season finale. Liz: I'm told the world is abuzz about the season finale of some tacky sing-song show on Fox tonight. But we know where the people who expect more out of primetime TV than a British guy with a bad attitude (We've got two. Nyah!) will be -- watching the two-hour "game changing" season finale of "Lost" tonight at 9 p.m. ET. There are tons of sites out there spoiling the experience with leaked details. I'm not looking. How about you, Jen? Jen: I've done the peek-and-run -- looked at spoilers for a sec, then dashed away because I don't want to ruin everything. I still want my holy you-know-what moment. The big question, though: Who is going to die? Liz: Good question -- we've got several candidates: Charlie, of course. Ben, who seems to have turned entire...
By Liz | May 23, 2007; 01:29 PM ET | Comments (29)
'Lost' Dueling Analyses: Greatest Hits
washingtonpost.com movies editrix Jen Chaney and I overanalyze ABC's little freakshow for the second-to-last time in 2007 and have an epiphany of sorts. Warning: Spoilers ahead. Missing from last night's episode: John Locke (Terry O'Quinn). (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: Since our purpose here is analysis, I think we need to start by acknowledging that last night's episode didn't provide us with much fodder for discussion. It was a good episode. Not great, but good. In some ways it reminded me of the Death to Poochies episode in that it seemed designed to pay off loyal viewers who have long griped about things like the absence of Rose and Bernard (they're back!) and the whereabouts of Vincent (he's back!) and Jack's backbone (it's back!). The rest of it was one long Valentine to Charlie. By the time we reached No. 1 on his "Greatist Hits" list, I was ready for some...
By Liz | May 17, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (152)
"Lost" Dueling Analyses: The Man Behind the Curtain
Washingtonpost.com movies editrix Jen Chaney and I attempt to make sense of a particularly enigmatic episode. Warning: Spoilers ahead... Man-child Ben Linus. (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: So little Ben Linus, like Walt, was a special kid -- capable of seeing and feeling things that others did not. And that made all the difference in last night's whiplash-inducing episode. Is Jacob real or the manifestation of Ben's unhappy childhood? Why would he say "help me?" Does Richard Alpert not age? Is Locke down for the count? I don't think we're in Kansas anymore. Jen, help us out here. Jen: Ah, Liz, you have just touched on the detail that led to my little "Lost" epiphany last night. Climb aboard with me now as we travel through my Theory That Explains "Lost." (Sort of.) I believe you are quite right about Richard not aging (told you his eyebrows held secrets). Not only...
By Liz | May 10, 2007; 10:38 AM ET | Comments (211)
Celebritology: 'Lost' Dueling Analyses: 'The Brig'
If you thought last night's "Lost" was dense, wait till you read the following post-show analysis in which post.com movies editrix Jen Chaney and I welcome special guest blogger, J. Wood. Warning: Loads of spoilers, subtext and mind-bending theories follow. Proceed at your own risk. John Locke (Terry O'Quinn) catches up on a little light reading. (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: So many revelations, I hardly know where to start: Ben is deliciously evil, Kate is an idiot, Locke is disappointing, Sawyer is coming apart at the seams, Sayid is back (yay!), Cindy has highlights, Jack and Juliet know something we don't know, the Others are planning a raid on the beach camp and there is some kind of ruin to which one can tie murderous deadbeat dads for purposes of ritual sacrifice. This almost makes up for the Bai Ling incident. Almost. But first, Jen -- much like Naomi's sudden...
By Liz | May 3, 2007; 11:33 AM ET | Comments (140)
'Lost' Dueling Analyses: Revelations Aplenty
Yet again, post.com movies editrix Jen Chaney and I get together to talk about our favorite escape from reality (and reality TV). Warning: Spoilers ahead! Sun (Yunjin Kim, right) and Jack (Matthew Fox). (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: Maybe it was the lack of Sawyer or the zillionth shot of the Losties arranging a tarp on a lean-to or perhaps Sun's semi-irrelevant flashback -- but something about last night's episode killed some of the momentum picked up over the past couple of weeks. Don't get me wrong: There were plenty of juicy bits (Mikhail is alive, Sun is directly responsible for Jin's induction into the Korean underworld, Juliet hinted that she's no fan of Ben and -- the big shocker -- Naomi says Oceanic 815 like totally crashed), it's just that they were surrounded by so much blandness. We received several important plot points, but the episode as a whole was...
By Liz | April 26, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (211)
'Lost' Dueling Analyses: Forward Motion = Good
This week, post.com movies editrix Jen Chaney and I agree that we excel at disagreeing and continue in that vein for approximately 1,500 words. Desmond, brotha... (Photo courtesy ABC) Jen: Although not as good as last week's installment (note to "Lost" producers: That's the one you should submit for Emmy consideration), last night's episode was still pretty thought-provoking. Liz, this time I don't think there is any way you can doubt that religious themes are a major part of what's happening. When monks start showing up, you know a show is getting kind of biblical. I found it interesting that Desmond's dissed fiancee is named Ruth, who in the Bible is the daughter-in-law of Naomi, the woman who fell out of the sky and onto our swell little island. (They didn't tell us her name yet on the show, but the character's identity already has been revealed.) Liz: Yes, yes...
By Liz | April 19, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (98)
Lost Dueling Analyses: The Plot Thickens
Two out of two washingtonpost.com analysts (movie editor Jen Chaney and I) agree: last night's "Lost" rocked. Warning: Spoilers aplenty ahead. The duplicitous Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell). (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: With five shows to go, we're finally getting somewhere. I knew the episode would deliver the second Sayid opened his mouth and asked Juliet the questions any marooned crash survivor who has been antagonized by a hostile native population would ask given the opportunity. The questions that Jack, Kate, Locke and Sawyer somehow failed to form in their many dealings with the Others: "What are you people doing on this island? Why are you terrorizing us? Making lists? Taking our kids? I want to know everything. Who are you?" We didn't necessarily get answers to any of those questions, but our little show finally returned to form -- the plot was taut, the dialogue was the right mix of flippancy...
By Liz | April 12, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (109)
'Lost' Dueling Analyses: Something For Everyone?
This week, post.com movies editrix Jen Chaney and I disagree yet again, but in a Bizarro World kind of way. Warning: Spoilers ahead. Sawyer (Josh Holloway) beer batters a wild boar. (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: To borrow the sentiment from a famous Abraham Lincoln quote, you can't please all of the people all of the time. Last night's episode, though, attempted to do just that: We had action unfolding in both major areas of the island, muddy girl-fighting, the return of the smoke monster, Hurley getting one over on Sawyer, a handy Sawyer tie-in via Kate's flashback and, ultimately, promise of an interesting episode next week when Jack, Kate, Sayid and Juliet return to the Losties' main digs. And I, for one, find myself pleased. Maybe I'm a cheap date, but a little Hurley and some smoke monster will get me every time. Jen: We have switched roles this week,...
By Liz | April 5, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (99)
Lost Dueling Analyses: Death to Poochie(s)
washingtonpost.com movies editrix Jen Chaney and I overanalyze last night's episode of "Lost." Warning: There are spoilers. Buh-bye Nikki (Kiele Sanchez) and Paolo (Rodrigo Santoro). (Photo courtesy ABC) Jen: I never thought I'd say this, but I actually enjoyed the Nikki/Paolo episode. Okay, so the twist ending was basically stolen from an episode of either "The Twilight Zone," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Amazing Stories" or all of the above. Still, it was nice to have a new mini-mystery to distract from the larger mysteries. I also thought it was interesting to follow the Locke episode with another installment about paralysis. What did you think? Liz: I'm out of sorts because last night played like one big wet desperate Valentine to longtime fans who despised the bungled addition of Nikki and Paolo (AKA the Poochies). The execution (no pun intended) was manic -- part "Scooby Doo," part "Murder She Wrote," part Edgar...
By Liz | March 29, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (120)
Lost Analysis: Un-Locke-ing Some Island Mysteries
If you haven't yet watched last night's episode, "The Man from Tallahassee," you may want to do so before reading the following dispatch, in which post.com movie editrix Jen Chaney and I bicker, make lame jokes and generally kvetch about this week's episode of "Lost." John Locke (Terry O'Quinn) looks down the hatch of a submarine. (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: A week ago I was despondent after being subjected to the third in a series of weak episodes. Last night's revealing Locke-centric hour pulled me back into the fold, though. The writers again managed to craft a show in which the back story is integral to the events unfolding on the island and that, my friend, makes all the difference. But since I can never be totally satisfied, I'd like to register my growing annoyance with Kate. Her insistence on stalking Jack to the Others' compound, her visible jealousy of...
By Liz | March 22, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (80)
Lost Analysis: If You Don't Know Claire By Now...
The usually elf-like Claire (Emilie De Ravin) does her best Neve Campbell impression. (Photo Courtesy ABC) If you haven't yet seen last night's episode of "Lost" please avail yourself of the opportunity to watch it online before proceeding downpage to take in this week's picky-point analysis from post.com movie editrix Jen Chaney and me. Liz: Jen, it happened again. The disappointment, the filler, the melodrama. Let's just say it -- the network has won. "Lost" has been turned into a nighttime soap whose only goal is to keep us hanging on for one more episode each week for as long as they can continue to sell advertising. And, damn them, they keep me coming back with final minutes like last night's view of Jack playing a Kennedy-esque game of football in the Others' village. Am I overreacting? Jen: I don't think you're overreacting necessarily. When I watch "Lost" now,...
By Liz | March 15, 2007; 10:13 AM ET | Comments (74)
'Lost' Dueling Analysis: Win/Win -- No Cheech Marin and a Few Answers
Warning: If you haven't watched last night's "Lost" yet, do so before proceeding to read an enthusiastic, yet measured, discussion of episode "Enter 77" between myself and post.com movie editrix Jen Chaney. Kate (Evangeline Lilly) and Sayid (Naveen Andrews) gun for some answers even as I flail around for a witty caption. (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: Since crashing into our living rooms three years ago, "Lost" has managed to hit a sweet spot. Its "Twin Peaks" meets conspiracy theory as acted out by Gap ad models formula appeals to a wide swath of viewers. Me, I'm in it for the hidden meanings (I practically drool every time I catch an oblique pop culture reference or yet another nod to Stephen King or "The Watchmen") and the slowly unraveling mystery, which I still believe is leading to an end as ironclad as the fate to which Desmond says we are all...
By Liz | March 8, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (61)
'Lost' Analysis: Hurley's Magic Bus
With Liz out this week, Jen Chaney has parked her VW bus in the Celebritology spot reserved for "Lost" analysis. Read on for a breakdown of last night's Hurley-O-Rama. As always, SPOILERS FOLLOW SO DON'T CONTINUE IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED YET. After last week's episode -- a.k.a. the Bai Ling Debacle -- I was hoping that the "Lost" plot development train would get back on track. But once again we were treading Dharma Initiative water (or was that beer?) last night, with a mildly entertaining episode that delivered scarcely any meaty information about The Others or the island's umpteen unsolved mysteries. Still, this Hurley-centric installment about the father he lost and the beat-up VW bus he found on the island delivered a few decent moments. Among them: Hurley's touching graveside speech to his lost Libby; a cameo appearance by Cheech Marin as Hurley's pops; the reappearance of beloved dog Vincent;...
By Jen Chaney | March 1, 2007; 10:51 AM ET | Comments (77)
'Lost' Episode 9 -- A Big Distraction
Spoilers Ahead: If you haven't already watched last night's installment -- "Stranger in a Strange Land" -- please do so now at ABC.com. Achara (Bai Ling) greets Jack in Phuket. (Photo courtesy ABC) Tonight on "Lost": Will Bai Ling distract Liz enough to ruin her enjoyment of an otherwise watchable episode? Well, almost. For anyone out there who just checks in on Thursdays for show analysis, I spend the rest of the week immersed in the world of celebrity news. Don't get me wrong. I love me some hot celebrity scoop, but "Lost" and these Thursday posts function as a sanity-saving oasis for me, a DMZ free of break-ups, breakdowns, deaths, arrests and... oh wait. Nevermind. Anyhow, imagine my dismay when settling in for an evening of "Lost" -- where the closest thing to a celebrity would have to be Hurley -- only to be slapped in the face with...
By Liz | February 22, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (70)
Lost Analysis: Episode 8 -- Time Travel, Anyone?
Warning: Spoilers ahead. Proceed at your own risk or head over to ABC to watch last night's episode first. Last week's episode kicked off a frenzy of theorizing not seen since the early days of the hatch, the button and the numbers and suddenly talk of "Lost" as a rudderless ship have evaporated, like so much black smoke. Why? Turns out that the scene in which Karl (Alex's Other boyfriend) is subjected to some kind of sensory overload chamber -- and I dismissed as an homage to "A Clockwork Orange" -- held what looks to be a king-sized clue (or one whopper of a red herring). Thanks to some industrious fans, we now know that the scene contained a backwards message. That's right, a genuine Paul-is-dead moment right here in our very own "Lost:" NewbrainUploaded by DarkUFO Listen closely or you might just miss the voice repeating this cryptic message:...
By Liz | February 15, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (70)
Lost Episode 7 Analysis: It's Back, Baby
***Spoilers Ahead*** If you haven't yet watched Wednesday night's mid-season premiere, please visit ABC.com to do so before proceeding. Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell), a woman with a lot on her mind. (Photo courtesy ABC) Yesterday in the comment section of the look-ahead post here in Celebritology, reader Janie used the term "nerdgasm" to describe the frenzied next-day discussions of "Lost" in her office each week. Thank you, Janie, for giving our bliss a name. Let the nerdgasm begin. I was skeptical going into last night's show. After three long months to stew over a mediocre fall season, I didn't have high hopes for the return. After all, the six fall shows had only served to dilute the plot, drop vital threads and kill off one of my favorite characters (Mr. Eko). Then I made the mistake of watching the hour-long infomercial preamble at 9 p.m. Hosted by Damon Lindelof and Carlton...
By Liz | February 8, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (96)
Ready to Get 'Lost' Again?
Tonight on "Lost": Not in Portland -- Jack is in command as the fate of Ben's life literally rests in his hands. But do we care? Yet another chance to post this photo of Sawyer (Josh Holloway). (Photo courtesy ABC) It feels like forever since we talked about "Lost" here on Nov. 9. Still, a lot has happened in the intervening weeks -- the holidays, the return of "24" and "American Idol," the kickoff of the Hollywood awards season and, speaking of kickoffs -- the Super Bowl. A few new shows have also quietly crept into our daily routines -- "Ugly Betty" and "Heroes" emerged as keepers from last fall's cornucopia of pilots. Me, I've used the time to Netflix some of my favorite old shows (and am here to testify that the "Larry Sanders Show" is still puts latter-day imitators to shame -- sorry Tina Fey). With all the...
By Liz | February 7, 2007; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (24)
Matthew Fox, Still 'Lost'
Matthew Fox as 'Lost's' Jack. (Photo courtesy ABC) After Matthew Fox made the trip to New York to host last weekend's "Saturday Night Live," speculation among Those Who Watch "Lost" (TWWL) has been rampant that the actor's character must've been cut from the ABC drama, currently on hiatus until February, but busy filming in Hawaii. Turns out Jack is safe -- for now -- as Fox told washingtonpost.com movies editor and fellow "Lost" watcher Jen Chaney in an audio interview that will be posted on washingtonpost.com early next week: "That's not true," Fox said when asked whether he plans to leave "Lost" to focus on a movie career full time. "I completely understand that these opportunities I'm doing outside of 'Lost' are because of 'Lost.' And I have absolutely no intention of doing that [leaving the show] whatsoever." The star of the upcoming "We Are Marshall" -- who bundled...
By Liz | December 8, 2006; 02:56 PM ET | Comments (1)
'Lost' Fall Finale: Dueling Analyses
Sawyer (Josh Holloway) getting all cagey. (2006 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.) Jen: May I start out by saying, holy &!@#, how are we supposed to wait until February -- date of next episode 02/07/2007; figure out the numerology there -- to find out what happens next? So much in tonight's episode -- sex, lies, surgical shenanigans. I'm not sure where to begin. Liz: In case you missed it, BREAKING NEWS tickers are incredibly annoying during a frigging "fall finale." I'm as much of a news junkie as the next girl, but not when Sawyer is macking on Kate. I seriously need to have my head examined. Maybe before the next election. I'll put it on my to-do list. Anyway, last week's flashbacks fleshing out Mr. Eko's story were an intrinsic part of wrapping up his storyline. They fit in perfectly with the parallel island story and worked on so...
By Liz | November 9, 2006; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (84)
'Lost' Episode 5 Dueling Analyses
washingtonpost.com movies editor Jen Chaney and I messaged last night into the wee hours of the morning about the penultimate episode of the "Lost" fall season. ***SPOILER ALERT*** If you haven't yet watched Wednesday's episode, please watch online before reading what follows. Mr. Eko (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje). (Photo courtesy ABC) Jen: This is apropos of nothing, but I feel compelled to mention this before we start discussing tonight's episode. Remember how a couple of weeks ago I mentioned something about Scientology? Since then, I've thought about more connections between "Lost" and L. Ron Hubbard, or at least Tom Cruise. 1. Crazy Claire-kidnapper Ethan? Played by Tom Cruise's cousin. 2. J.J. Abrams, "Lost" co-creator? Directed "Mission: Impossible III." 3. Most interestingly of all: At the end of the closing credits for "M:i:III," there is a thank you to... the Hanso Foundation. I realize this is probably just a funny Abrams inside joke,...
By Liz | November 2, 2006; 10:44 AM ET | Comments (157)
'Lost': Episode 4 Dueling Analyses
With two episodes left in the six-story fall mini-season, washingtonpost.com Movies editor Jen Chaney and I get into it over last night's revelations and reveal where we stand on the great Jack/Sawyer divide. Sawyer (Josh Holloway) -- despite all his rage, he's still just a rat in a cage. (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: Okay, I'd like to start by personally extending my thanks to J.J. Abrams, Josh Holloway, Bill Duke and the fine citizens of Hawaii for making last night's episode possible because it more than made up for the last couple of weeks of lost momentum (no pun intended). So much rich material -- we had Sawyer with his back up, Kate declaring her love for him (under duress), Jack figuring out another piece of the puzzle, some masterful sadistic manipulation from Ben and a little help triangulating the whereabouts of the Others' prison compound. Okay, first off: Desmond...
By Liz | October 26, 2006; 10:44 AM ET | Comments (109)
'Lost': Episode 3 Dueling Analyses
washingtonpost.com movies editor Jen Chaney and I discuss last night's "Lost" and find we don't agree on, well, a lot. If you haven't watched, beware of SPOILERS. Charlie (Dominic Monaghan) looks on as Locke (Terry O'Quinn) prepares to enter the sweat lodge. (Photo courtesy ABC) Liz: So last week you were missing Hurley. Was tonight's re-introduction his best "Dude" ever? Jen: That was a pretty awesome "Dude." I wasn't sure who I was happier to see: Hurley or Boone. If I may wallow in shallowness for a brief moment, is it possible for Ian Somerhalder to be any hotter? Speaking of Boone, let's discuss that dream sequence... Liz: Ya, it was interesting to see John go all "Man Called Horse" and do the vision quest thing, but the overlong airport sequence struck me as so much filler. In fact, the whole episode -- minus a couple tidbits -- was filler...
By Liz | October 19, 2006; 10:44 AM ET | Comments (80)
'Lost': Episode 2 Dueling Analyses
Last night after the show ended, washingtonpost.com movies editor Jen Chaney and I talked "Lost." How did the Red Sox, Aldous Huxley and teen angst figure in last night's episode? Read on... Dude, long time no see. (AP) SPOILER ALERT! LIZ: Some juicy new information to process. Not surprisingly, most of it came in the last five minutes when Ben told Jack he'd lived his entire life on the island, proved they had some knowledge of the outside world and asked for Jack's cooperation in a yet-to-be-revealed way. We also had the short exchange between Kate and Rousseau's daughter, who seemed to be interested in the whereabouts of the previous occupant of Kate's cage -- who many last week suspected was an Other playing the role of a prisoner. Now it seems he may have been a bona fide prisoner named "Carl." The nicest touch in their exchange, though, was...
By Liz | October 12, 2006; 10:44 AM ET | Comments (88)
Tonight's 'Lost' Preview
'Lost's' Daniel Dae Kim. (AP) Just a quick heads up to remind folks that tonight is "Lost" night. The cryptically titled "Glass Ballerina" airs tonight on ABC at 9 p.m. ET. From the official site: "Sayid places Sun and Jin's lives in danger while trying to locate Jack, while Jack gets a tempting offer from his captors." I'm guessing it's not another grilled cheese. Hopefully this means we'll get some answers about the wellfare of Sun, Jin, Sayid, Locke, Hurley and the rest of the crew. Feel free to leave comments here before, during and after the show. Then tomorrow morning come back for post-show dueling analyses from washingtonpost.com movies editor Jen Chaney and me. P.S. Looks like ABC is now asking viewers to help build a new, official "Lost" wiki....
By Liz | October 11, 2006; 04:00 PM ET | Comments (6)
'Lost': Rehashing the Season Opener
Can I be in your book club? (AP) SPOILER ALERT A few quick thoughts on last night's season premiere. Please add yours to the comments section. - How bizarre is it that the Others have a quaint little suburban-ish compound and spend their days arguing over book club selections? Anyone catch which Stephen King book they were reading? And was the Other village as shocking as last year's season opening revelation of Desmond inside the hatch? - Juliet: Like her or hate her? She definitely proved untrustworthy, yet some groundwork for a power struggle with Ben (aka Henry Gale) seems to have been laid. - Why the different treatment for Jack? Why is he being kept inside and fed actual food while Sawyer (and apparently Kate) are being kept in some sort of decaying zoo enclosure eating kibble? - Any thoughts on what the "unpleasantness" promised to Kate over...
By Liz | October 5, 2006; 09:00 AM ET | Comments (52)
Countdown to 'Lost'
For us East Coasters, it's t-minus five hours until the "Lost" season opener, not that I'm getting ridiculously over-excited or anything. I take comfort in the fact that I am not alone. We'll pick apart the episode in the morning, but if by some chance you can't watch or record tonight's premiere, ABC will make it available here tomorrow. While we wait, let's talk about our favorite character and speculate about his/her fate in episode one. I've got two -- Sawyer and Eko -- and both left off season two in pretty tight jams. I'm expecting we'll find out how Eko fared after the hatch blast and we'll get lots of lip, but no really forward motion in the story, from Sawyer....
By Liz | October 4, 2006; 04:03 PM ET | Comments (10)
Ready to Get 'Lost'?
Dude, I'm like so ready. (Reuters) I thought I'd hold off on posting about "Lost" until Thursday morning so we could kick off the season-long conversation actually having some new information with which to work. But, duh, wouldn't it be much more practical to spend the next 60 hours or so swapping speculation, rumors and predictions about the coming season? Absolutely. All we officially know about Wednesday night's episode is its title "A Tale of Two Cities" and, from an ABC press release, that "Jack, Kate and Sawyer begin to discover what they are up against as prisoners of 'The Others.'" The rest is, as they say, a big ol' cliffhanger. Did Mr. Eko and Locke survive the exploding hatch? What about Desmond -- did he save the island or set the castaways on a collision course with the Others? Will Michael and Walt really leave or will Michael's...
By Liz | October 2, 2006; 10:58 AM ET | Comments (27)
