I've been writing LOST episode recap blogs on my own for years now. Posting them everywhere from my large email friend-base to Myspace, to Lost board websites, to Facebook, to the blog site's of other friendly 'Losties'. I am honored to be posting the LAST recap EXCLUSIVELY for Cultural Compulsive Disorder!!! Join me here each week for my futile Lost TV show ramblings, but tune in daily, for an endless array of movie, TV, music, comic book, fashion, and general geekdom that Mr. Mike D and his staff provides. Take a moment right now to make C.C.D one of your favorites, and please become a follower of the blog. (Just click follow over on the right hand side, sign in using one of the accounts provided Google, Aol IM, Yahoo, etc and watch your picture pop up.) Comments are always appreciated.
Although this is one of my last recaps. I will be cleaning floors, and doing laundry here at the C-C-D compound until I am called upon to navigate the waters of the "Grand LOST Rewatch' that will be upon us beginning in June!
The series finale episode has come and gone. I allowed us some time to process all of the overwhelming aspects of the show, which were a culmination of over six years worth of hard work and dedication. Dedication, not just from the shows creators, actors and producers but from all of us...the fans, who've dedicated a small portion of our lives to see this vision through. I was asked to sum up the finale episode with one word and I chose 'Epic'! Fortunately for me, however, I don't have to leave it at just one word. The following is my recap for that 'Epic'....
PART 2
At the concert, night time, David Shepherd, his aunt Claire Littleton-X, and his mother Juliet Carlson-X wait on line together, amongst others, to enter the concert benefit featuring the musical stylings of 'Drive Shaft'. Juliet-X's phone rings and she been made aware, by the hospital, that she must come in to work. David is very understanding and tells her to go and not to worry about them as she apologizes. "We'll get to know each other better when we meet up later," Juliet-X promises Claire, who has been recently revealed by the Will of Christian Shepherd-X to be Jack's half sister. Juliet-X exits the line and Claire-X and David continue in to the concert. "Well, I...uh, guess it's just you and me kid," Claire-X relieves the tension.
Inside the backstage area, Charlie-X lies sleeping after being tranquilized and brought to the concert, by Hurley. A concert that he has been scheduled to play at with his band 'Drive Shaft' with the accompaniment of Daniel Widmore-X. He is awakened by Charlotte-X, who works for the museum in charge of the benefit show. Charlie-X grunts as he opens his eyes. "Just following orders," Charlotte-X comments. "You're in the band, right," she asks. "How do ya know that," Charlie-X wonders, perplexed. With that, Charlotte-X produces a large note which lays upon Charley-X's chest reading: 'Bass Player Wake Me Up For Show'. As he slept someone, most probably Hurley who brought him there, must have left the note in case he didn't awaken on his own. "I was shot by a fat man," Charlie-X mutters. Charlotte-X helps him to his feet. She stops to look in a MIRROR where she sees, first herself and then, the reflection of Daniel Widmore-X who puts the finishing touches on his look for the show. "Excuse me," Charlotte-X calls out to him, "do you know where the band is" she asks. Daniel-X apologizes. He most likely slightly remembers her somewhere in the crevices of his subconscious as being the love of his life but for now he just stands awkwardly stuttering. "I think he's in the band," she continues, motioning to Charlie-X who has since begun rummage around, looking for another drink. "Uh, of course, he's the bass player for 'Drive Shaft'," Daniel-X confirms. "He's accompanying me tonight," He adds, I play piano. I'm Daniel, Daniel Widmore," He introduces himself. Charlotte-X introduces herself as well. She then turns to leave since Charlie-X seems to be in the capable hands of a possible band mate and Daniel-X gives her that second glance alerting us that he may have just had a experience of LOST Deja Vu.
Outside at the guest tables, David and Claire-X search for their seats. "Excuse me," Claire-X says to the man seated, "is this table 23," she asks. "Claire," Kate-X seated at table 23 wonders. The two recognize each other from Kate-X's LAX hijacking of Claire-X's taxi cab and subsequently her partner for a short trip to the hospital and sonogram of Claire-X's unborn baby, Aaron. While wondering how Kate-X might have come to be there, Claire-X is equally as puzzled to find that the man at the table is revealed to be Desmond who is in this midst of trying to get these versions of the Oceanic 815 survivors to wake up and 'let go'. "Aye, I think it is," Desmond responds referring to the table number (Number 23 by the way. Not only one of the 'candidate' numbers...but Jack's number, specifically, and almost all the guests at this table are members of Jack's family.)
Pierre Chang-X, Miles-X's father and the benefit's host, asks for the audience's attention. As he looks around we notice both Miles-X and Charlotte-X seated at table 29 together (not the numbers) and Eloise Widmore seated nearby at a full table. Pierre-X informs the crowd that they have a 'special' night ahead and wastes no time introducing Daniel Widmore-X accompanied by 'Drive Shaft'. Daniel-X enters the stage and begins playing the piano, flanked by Charlie-X, Charlie-X's brother Liam-X and the rest of the band. As Daniel-X finishes up his solo, Charlie-X is shown to be very taken by the sight of Claire-X in the front row. He continues to stare at her as Claire-X begins to have a few labor pains and excuses herself from the table to head for a bathroom. Noticing the disturbance, Kate-X follows after her, all to Desmond's delight.
Claire-X enters the backstage area of the 'Golden State Natural History Museum' at which the benefit is being held. As she enters I note a large shark hanging above the entrance way. (Yes it's a natural history museum so that's not much of a shocker but it does, somewhat, act as a wink to me for our friend the DHARMA shark.) She stumbles further into the room and grasps hold of some of the bands crates as she experiences more pains...labor contractions! She asks a roadie, who is tuning guitars, the whereabouts of the museum bathroom but, he shakes his head as if he doesn't know. (rather bad acting...I wonder if he was a writer or something on the show) Kate-X wanders in behind her just in time. Claire-X won't be making it to the bathroom. Contractions are becoming much stronger and it looks like the baby is going to come right here, right now. "...get a doctor," Kate-X pleads with the band engineer as she helps Claire-X get comfortable. "Small world, eh," Kate-X quips referring to their 'chance' meeting at the airport and now here. "Yeah, well, what are you doing here," Claire-X gasps as she's hit with more contractions.
Outside, the band continues playing as Daniel-X plays through another solo. Eloise pulls up a seat next to Desmond. "I thought I made it clear to you that you were to stop this," Eloise says forcefully in regards to his meddling. "I CHOSE to ignore you," Desmond responds in turn. "And once they KNOW, then what," Eloise demands. "We're leaving," Desmond cuts in, matter-of-factly. With that, Eloise seems visibly frightened. "Are you going to take my son," She asks, tearing up. "Not with me, no," Desmond assures her resting his hand atop hers in comfort.
Claire-X now is in the midst of violent contractions. Kate-X coaches her to keep breathing. "Help is on the way," Kate-X comforts her, hoping her words are the truth. "This is happening RIGHT NOW," Claire-X vents to her. "Just relax and breathe," Kate-X repeats. With that, Charlie-X exits the stage and walks to the area the baby is being delivered. "Who are you," Claire-X asks, a bit exposed. "I'm with the band," Charlie-X explains. Kate-X implores him to retrieve for them some blankets and some water. 'Water and blankets," Charlie-X nods, heading off on his mission. (the missions seem a bit more plausible off island, no?) Kate-X tells Claire-X that she's going to have to start pushing and Claire-X reveals to her that she is scared. "I'm scared too, all right," Kate-X relates. "I'm gonna need you to push because I can't do it without you," she insists calmly. "1-2-3 push...1-2-3 push," they repeat. Kate-X looks into Claire-X's gaping, dilated vagina and is immediately 'awakened', as some of her fellow Oceanic passengers have been before her, by bright light and images of their shared past. A true 'Vaj Vision', if you will. Kate tears up as she gets a glimpse of the baby making his way out into the 'Flash Sideways' world. As the baby is placed in the new mother's arms she names him 'Aaron' and she too is 'awakened' by the images of their past. Meanwhile, Charlie-X has come back with the blankets just in time to miss all of the 'heavy lifting' so to speak. "I couldn't find any water," Charlie-X announces, wrapping the blanket around mother and child. Both Claire and Kate look up at him, with complete knowledge of their past together on the island. Claire takes Charlie by the hand and refers to him by name. Charlie, too, is enlightened as he experiences a similar heavenly awakening to the others. One riddled with visions of his love for Claire...and her baby. "Oh...Aaron," Charlie stutters, upon seeing the newborn baby cry. Charlie nuzzles the the mother and they kiss. Desmond sneaks up behind Kate. "Do ya understand," he asks. Kate nods. "So now what," she asks...crying tears of joy.
At the hospital John Locke-X is being wheeled OUT of surgery on a gurney. The nurse commends Dr. Jack Shepherd-X on his work. Jack-X smiles graciously as he walks alongside the gurney reviewing the patients chart. "What happened to your neck," the nurse wonders. Jack-X feels for the mysterious wound that seems to bleed on his neck spontaneously. "Dammit," he says, realizing it to be bleeding once again. Jack-X applies pressure to the wound and announces to the nurse that since the patient is stable, he's going to shower so that he can catch up with his son at the concert. He informs her to call him if anything comes up. "Dr. Shepherd.." the nurse utters, trying to remain calm, "..he's waking up," she announces as John-X blinks and moves slightly awakening out of the anesthesia. Jack-X stops and comes back in to the room to check things out for himself. She informs the doctor that she watched the anesthesiologist administer the appropriate dosage. "OK, I'll take it from here," Jack-X excuses her. "Mr. Locke, can you hear me," Jack-X asks, noting his movement. "John, are you awake," he asks. John-X is visibly awake. Jack-X smiles. "You just had major surgery so I need you to try not to move and just relax, OK," the doctor looks to him to confirm understanding. "It worked," John-X proclaims. Jack-X tries to explain that the surgery went well but, that they won't know HOW well until some time passes. "No, Dr. Shepherd," John-X cuts the doctor off, "it worked, I can feel my legs," He exclaims. "John, it's highly unlikely that you would gain sensation that quickly, so let's just take..." Jack-X begins, cut off by the sight of his patient wiggling his toes beneath the sheet. Jack-X removes the covering to see John-X with new control over his extremities. Upon seeing it for himself, John has flashes of, first the cure of his paralysis on the island and than some of his adventures there. (Look everybody...Walt!) John, too, has now been enlightened and he seems to have a new purpose as well. "Whoa did you see that," John asks his friend. "You don't remember," he persists. With that, Jack-X also has flashes of his time with John on the island but, Jack-X shakes them off before they can grab hold of him. He tries to calm his patient. "Mr. Locke, please, just relax. What we need to do is...," he begins, again. "What we need to do is GO," John cuts him off. "Will you come with me," he pleads to Jack-X removing his own i.v. needles. "You're not going anywhere," Jack-X instructs him. "You just had extensive spinal surgery," he adds "and I need to go see my son," Jack-X finishes. "YOU DON'T HAVE A SON," John tries to enlighten him. "What" Jack-X responds, somewhat worried. (One of these guys are confused and they better get this straightened out before they confuse me as well!) Jack-X turns to leave and instructs the nurse to give him some drogas to help him rest in his absence. "I need to go," the doctor informs them both again. "Jack," John calls out to him stopping him from leaving once more, "I hope...someone does for YOU what you just did for ME," he wishes. The two stare at each other for a moment before Jack-X decides to turn and leave for real this time.
In the maternity ward, Detective James Ford-X opens the door to Sun's room. Sun and her lover in the 'Flash Sideways' world (and husband in Universe 1.0) Jin are up and about fully dressed preparing to leave after having been 'awakened' what appears to have been just hours before. More surprising is that Sun shows NO signs of being pregnant as she did just hours ago. "Excuse me, Miss Paik," James-X inquires. Jin and Sun stand smiling at the man they clearly are very familiar with from their time together on the island, although HE appears to have no recollection of them. "Yes," Sun confirms. "Detective," Jin greets James. "I came by to check if you've seen this man," James-X quizzes them, showing arrest photos of Sayid Jarrah (who, you'll remember has now been 'awakened' himself along with his love interest Shannon thanks to the help of Hurley and Boone.) "He escaped custody and we're worried he might come after you," he continues to the visibly unstirred couple. "I'm gonna assign a 'uniform' to keep an eye on you," James-X adds. With that the couple walk passed the detective as if to leave...to his dismay. He makes it known that it is is duty to keep his witness safe. "It's OK," she says calmly, "I AM safe," she assures him. James-X seemingly giving up speaking to the victim, reverts his eyes to her partner for help with the matter. "We'll see you there," Jin affirms. "SEE ME WHERE," James-X pleads bewildered as the two exit the room...and ultimately the hospital itself.
James-X walks through the hospital hallway trying to shake off the outcome of his last encounter and fight back hunger pangs. Walking towards him is the equally mixed up Jack-X who has since dressed for the concert benefit and is heading out to try and catch up with his family. "Hey you know where I can get some grub around here," James-X inquires of him. Jack-X informs him that the cafeteria is now closed but, that there's vending machine at the end of the hall. "Thanks, Doc," James-X delivers, looking the surgeon up and down as if shaking off a feeling of LOST Deja Vu. "Yeah, no problem," Jack-X shoots back as they part ways.
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At the vending machine, James-X pushes a dollar bill into the slot and keys in the code for, you guessed it, the elusive 'Apollo' bar! As luck would have it, much like Jack's attempt at purchasing an 'Apollo' bar in the flashback that featured Jacob's touch, the candy bar gets stuck in a near release position from it's shelf. "Oh, C'mon," James-X sighs, annoyed at the 'icing on the cake' that has been his day so far. James-X shakes the machine a bit than tries the old arm-up-the-vending-machine-slot trick to try and free his late night meal.Nothing seems to work for him. With that Juliet, clad in her concert dress with an unbuttoned lab coat over it, appears in the doorway. "It's OK," James-X assures her, excusing the appearance of the petty theft, "I'm a cop," he explains. "Maybe you should read the machine it's rights," Juliet-X offers sarcastically. "That's funny," James-X admits. "Can I tell you a secret," Juliet-X asks. "Please," James-X...well...pleads. "IF YOU UNPLUG IT AND THAN PLUG IT BACK IN AGAIN, the candy just drops right down," she says. (This is a direct wink at what Jack and Desmond need to do in the light cave after Desmond has drained the special water replacing it with red smoke and quakes and making the Smoke Monster mortal again so that he could be stopped.)
"Is that right," James-X sighs sneakily. Juliet-X concurs, noting that it is 'technically legal'. "I'll give it a shot," James-X responds, crouching down behind the machines to grab at the plug. As he pulls the plug out, it appears as though, the lights not only go out in the vending machine but, if I'm not mistaken, the whole vending machine room itself. They chuckle and he replaces the plug knocking the candy bar down to the receipt door. "IT WORKED," Juliet-X announces to him, grabbing the 'Apollo' bar and offering it to the desperately hungry man. (It worked, eh? I'm thinking maybe THIS might be what Miles heard her saying to James in the after life when he was reading the thoughts of her freshly buried body after the 'Incident'. Not that the 'Incident' itself worked at landing them all back in LAX unharmed as Jack had hoped, because we now know that never happened and they ALWAYS crashed on that island that fateful day. It seems, now, that I may also want to pay special attention to the the things Miles translates from our buddies bodies in the the afterlife. Amazing!) James-X reaches for the candy bar and as he does, his finger brushes over hers and he flashes to some of their private island memories together. Surprising to him, having never met her before in this universe. "Whoa," he exclaims. "Did you feel that," he asks as they both back away from each other a bit. (Apparently she does.) "WE SHOULD GET COFFEE SOME TIME," Juliet says robotically. "I'd love to but the machine ate my dollar," James responds saddened, "I only have one left," he finishes. "WE COULD GO DUTCH," Juliet blurts out. (This explains her random muttering of the phrases back as she was trapped in the chaos of the 'incident' her life being squeezed away from her. It seems that, then, she was just speaking to James in the afterlife at the vending machine and not directly to the 'James' that crouched before her trying to save her life. At this moment, like Desmond, she had a direct line to the incarnation of herself in the afterlife.) They touch again and both are fully awakened by scenes of their three years together as a couple, their triumph and tragedies together as island inhabitants...and her death scene for, the 17th time, at the site of the incident. She's probably had the most 'flash backed' death scene in the history of death scenes. "Juliet," James reacts. "Juliet is that really you," he hopes. "It's me, baby," he assures her. "I had you...I had you, baby," he apologizes, for his shortcoming as her savior back at the hatch. (I break down like a bawling mess and immediately OK their relationship together after I didn't really 'get it' last season for lack of development between time jumps.) And with that, Juliet pleads for James to kiss her. "You got it Blondy," James quips, pulling her in as they passionately kiss and understand something about where they are at this point that I wish I was privy to. (Yep, these two were definitely better together than he and Kate. I'm suddenly more interested, now, in the moment in 'LeFleur' when James arrives home with a sunflower for the love of his life. This is going to make for another bunch of 'must see' moments for me during the Grand LOST Rewatch.)
Jack -X enters through the back way of the church as he was told. As he enters, he passes a back room packed with memorabilia representant of all major the world's major religions. There are large gold crosses, a Tibetan statue. Different books connected with world religions. There are menorahs and other symbols. He passes a large stained glass window reflecting some of the major religions. There is a pane of glass with the Jewish 'Star of David'. One with the Christian cross. One with the Asian Yin and Yang symbol. One pane of glass with a crescent and star representing Islam and one with a Dharmachakra wheel. Upon passing the symbolism he comes upon his father's coffin. He walks closer to it and lays his hands upon it's cover...and he has flashes of the time on the island and the rest of his existence. He is finally 'awakened' like the others. He opens the door to the casket to find that it contains nothing. His fathers body is still missing. "Hey, Kiddo," Jack hears from over his shoulder as his father, Christian Shepherd appears behind him. "Dad," he wonders, unsure. His father says hello and Jack admits that he doesn't understand what's happening. "You died," Jack insists. "Yeah...yes I did," Christian confirms. "But than how are you here right now," Jack wonders. "How are YOU here," his father responds, answering Jack's question with another. "I DIED TOO," Jack realizes, tearfully. "It's OK...It's OK...It's OK,son," Christian comforts him, hugging his boy as he breaks down in his arms. This, for sure, is one thing we never saw much of in Jack's flashbacks to his upbringing. "I love you Dad," Jack gushes. "I love you too son," his father reciprocates. "Are you REAL," Jack asks, still unsure of the situation in front of him. "I sure hope so," his father laughs. He confirms that not only is he real, and that Jack is real but EVERYTHING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED to Jack is also real. "All those people in the church," he finishes, "they're real too Christian explains. "They're all dead," Jack asks knowingly. "Everyone dies sometime, Kiddo" his father assures him, "Some of them BEFORE you, some of you LONG after you," Christian stresses. Jack wonders why they are HERE NOW. "Well," his father attempts to explain,"there is no NOW...HERE," he states. "Where are we Dad," Jack inquires. "Well," Dr. Shepherd begins, "this is a PLACE that YOU ALL MADE TOGETHER, so that you could find one another," he offers. "The MOST IMPORTANT time of your LIFE was the time you spent with THESE PEOPLE," he adds. "That's why all of you are here" Christian continues. "Nobody DOES IT alone Jack, you needed ALL OF THEM and they needed YOU," Christian informs him. "For what," Jack wonders. "To REMEMBER and LET GO," his father insists. Jack reports that Kate tried to explain to him that they were all 'leaving'. "Not 'leaving', no" Dr. Shepherd amends the description given to his son. "MOVING ON," he distinguishes. Jack wonders where they are going. "Let's go find out," Christian finalizes......
"We're gonna get you out of here. All right," Kate reassures Ben who is still pinned down by the massive tree trunk. James tries to no avail. "It's just too damn heavy," he rages as the storm engulfs them. "There's no way we're getting it off him," he adds. Hurley insists they have to try. Kate calls out a count..."1-2-3....." and on three they all push with all their might to try and free their fallen frenemy. (This sequence is a direct reminder of Kate-X heading up the baby delivery committee back in Universe-X where she leads a '1-2-3...push' chant as well.) With that, more quakes rock the island. "What is Happening," Kate begs, fighting through the storm. "I'll tell you what's happening," James replies. "Locke was right," pessimistically referring to the MIB's prediction that the island would sink into the ocean after he had his way. Tension is added to an already suspenseful situation as Miles walkie-talkies in from near the Ajira plane. Richard and Frank are reassembling a punched out windshield with a blowtorch and generally repairing the plane for take off. Kate takes control of Ben's walkie talkie and asks about Claire, ignoring Miles' questions involving the quakes. "She's here but she doesn't want to come with us," he informs Kate. Kate's not sure 'where' he means and he fills her in that they are working on the plane "...than we're taking off," he promises. Behind Kate, James and Hurley continue to in their attempt to free Ben by using large tree limbs as levers. "How much longer 'til we get this thing in the air," Miles shouts out to Frank who has his hands full. Frank confirms that he still needs to check the electrical and the hydraulics and that it may take up to six hours. Richard judging the storm and tremors predicts that he may have one hour...if he's lucky. "Get your asses over here, "Miles relays to Kate and the group. "We're leaving in an hour," he deadlines them. "SON OF A BITCH," James replies for the 815th time (not literally...but you catch my drift.) "How the hell are we supposeda get over there in time," he vents, not expecting a response. "I know how we can get there," Ben hisses. "Locke has a boat," he informs them referring to Desmond's boat which is now in the clutches of the Man in Black.
At the cliffs where the man in black once escorted James to the dark side cave, MIB prepares to descend down the steep ladders in the rain to the boat anchored in the raging waters below. MIB releases a broad smile (and what I imagine to be a evil Disney villain cackle) as his plan edges toward fruition. "LOCKE!" A voice cries out from above him. MIB turns to see Jack, battered, yet standing heroically atop a cliff above him as rain pounds down around him. MIB turns and unsheathes John Locke's knife, brandishing it between the heavy downpour and winds. With that they both charge in each other's directions in full force (My head swirls as I'm reminded of the epic battle that is about to be waged. I'm thinking everything from Matrix's Neo vs. Agent Smith to Lion King's Simba vs Scar...inject your own, please.) MIB runs uphill while Jack runs down. Jack jumps at him delivering a flying punch (reminding me of Brad Pitt's, now cliche', 'Troy' running downward sword stab) as MIB connects with a dropkick of equal force. They fall to the floor, both effected by the blows. MIB stands and removes his backpack casting it aside while charging at Jack. Jack quickly punches his enemy. He grasps MIB into a sleeper choke hold and begins choking the life from him. MIB frees himself with a devastating head butt utilizing his slick, bald cranium. He follows up with a few punches stopped only by the force of another island quake that sends him stumbling backward. MIB hears...and then sees his knife slipping down the surface of the cliff's incline and darts after it. Jack charges after him, tackling him to the ground and sending them both inches from the edge of the cliff. A whole front section of the cliffs face is seen sinking into the ocean in the distance. The island is sinking...an outer layer at a time. Jack regains superior position atop Locke's form. Straddling him and again choking the life from him using his bare hands. MIB, in one quick swoop, regains possession of the hunting knife plunging it into Jack just below his ribcage (NOOOoooooooooooooo!... This is the wound Jack-X cannot distinguish from an appendix scar in Universe-X.) MIB maneuvers Jack off top of him. He removes the knife from his side, covered in Jack's blood. It's abundantly clear, at this point, that our two leads have become extremely mortal. MIB now kneels above his fallen enemy in a sacrificial pose, thrusting the knife downward toward Jack's heart. Jack manages to forcibly move the knife away from his heart but fails to stop it from nicking his throat as MIB plunges the knife into Jack's neck (Universe-X's unhealing neck wound!! This is all starting to 'bleed' though now. Bad pun intended.) MIB seems to be aiming to decapitate Jack and if not for the strength Jack shows in keeping him at bay he may just succeed. "I want you to know Jack," MIB remarks, "you DIED for nothing," he yells, cut off by a single gunshot that echoes through the storm. MIB doubles back off of our fallen hero a gaping wound in his back. (YaaaaaaY) "I saved you a bullet", Kate quips reminding him of the bullets he insisted she stop wasting on him back when she began unloading on him in the open field when last they met. MIB picks himself up a bit. "You're too late Kate," he admonishes, as the island is rocked once again by the force of the quaking that hasn't let up. With that, Jack picks himself up and forcefully nudges MIB, with his foot, over the edge of the cliff in a final death inducing gesture all too reminiscent of MIB nudging Jacob into the fire pit after Ben succeeded in plunging a dagger into his heart. MIB crashes against the rocks below, in a mangled death pose.
Outside the cave, Ben rests something soft under Desmond's head who lays unconscious on the jungle floor. (A far cry from shooting at him and his family on the pier back in L.A.) Hurley sits on a rock nearby peering into the mouth of the cave as if willing Jack to emerge. "You, know I think Desmond's going to be OK," Ben tries to lighten the situation with good news. "Jack's...gone, isn't he," Hurley asks knowingly. Ben nods. Hurley begins to sob. "He did his job, Hugo," Ben reassures him. "It's my job now," Hurley realizes. "What am I supposed to do," Hurley asks him. "I think you do what you do best, take care of people." Ben offers. "You can't start by helping Desmond get home," he adds. "But, how," Hurley asks. "People can't leave the island" he reminds him. "That's how Jacob ran things," Ben acknowledges, "maybe there's another way...a better way," he suggests. "WILL YOU HELP ME," Hurley cuts in. "Excuse me," Ben asks as if not believing his ears..or just wanting to hear the invitation again (finally...the invitations he's waited his whole life for!) "I'm gonna need someone with experience...for a little while," Hurley insists sounding authoritative already. "Will you help me Ben?" He repeats his offer.
*Jack sees John Locke. He smiles and shakes his hand. "We've been waitin' for ya," Locke greets him. Jack Smiles.
*Jack understands
-Jack understands.
PART 2
At the concert, night time, David Shepherd, his aunt Claire Littleton-X, and his mother Juliet Carlson-X wait on line together, amongst others, to enter the concert benefit featuring the musical stylings of 'Drive Shaft'. Juliet-X's phone rings and she been made aware, by the hospital, that she must come in to work. David is very understanding and tells her to go and not to worry about them as she apologizes. "We'll get to know each other better when we meet up later," Juliet-X promises Claire, who has been recently revealed by the Will of Christian Shepherd-X to be Jack's half sister. Juliet-X exits the line and Claire-X and David continue in to the concert. "Well, I...uh, guess it's just you and me kid," Claire-X relieves the tension.Inside the backstage area, Charlie-X lies sleeping after being tranquilized and brought to the concert, by Hurley. A concert that he has been scheduled to play at with his band 'Drive Shaft' with the accompaniment of Daniel Widmore-X. He is awakened by Charlotte-X, who works for the museum in charge of the benefit show. Charlie-X grunts as he opens his eyes. "Just following orders," Charlotte-X comments. "You're in the band, right," she asks. "How do ya know that," Charlie-X wonders, perplexed. With that, Charlotte-X produces a large note which lays upon Charley-X's chest reading: 'Bass Player Wake Me Up For Show'. As he slept someone, most probably Hurley who brought him there, must have left the note in case he didn't awaken on his own. "I was shot by a fat man," Charlie-X mutters. Charlotte-X helps him to his feet. She stops to look in a MIRROR where she sees, first herself and then, the reflection of Daniel Widmore-X who puts the finishing touches on his look for the show. "Excuse me," Charlotte-X calls out to him, "do you know where the band is" she asks. Daniel-X apologizes. He most likely slightly remembers her somewhere in the crevices of his subconscious as being the love of his life but for now he just stands awkwardly stuttering. "I think he's in the band," she continues, motioning to Charlie-X who has since begun rummage around, looking for another drink. "Uh, of course, he's the bass player for 'Drive Shaft'," Daniel-X confirms. "He's accompanying me tonight," He adds, I play piano. I'm Daniel, Daniel Widmore," He introduces himself. Charlotte-X introduces herself as well. She then turns to leave since Charlie-X seems to be in the capable hands of a possible band mate and Daniel-X gives her that second glance alerting us that he may have just had a experience of LOST Deja Vu.
Outside at the guest tables, David and Claire-X search for their seats. "Excuse me," Claire-X says to the man seated, "is this table 23," she asks. "Claire," Kate-X seated at table 23 wonders. The two recognize each other from Kate-X's LAX hijacking of Claire-X's taxi cab and subsequently her partner for a short trip to the hospital and sonogram of Claire-X's unborn baby, Aaron. While wondering how Kate-X might have come to be there, Claire-X is equally as puzzled to find that the man at the table is revealed to be Desmond who is in this midst of trying to get these versions of the Oceanic 815 survivors to wake up and 'let go'. "Aye, I think it is," Desmond responds referring to the table number (Number 23 by the way. Not only one of the 'candidate' numbers...but Jack's number, specifically, and almost all the guests at this table are members of Jack's family.)
Pierre Chang-X, Miles-X's father and the benefit's host, asks for the audience's attention. As he looks around we notice both Miles-X and Charlotte-X seated at table 29 together (not the numbers) and Eloise Widmore seated nearby at a full table. Pierre-X informs the crowd that they have a 'special' night ahead and wastes no time introducing Daniel Widmore-X accompanied by 'Drive Shaft'. Daniel-X enters the stage and begins playing the piano, flanked by Charlie-X, Charlie-X's brother Liam-X and the rest of the band. As Daniel-X finishes up his solo, Charlie-X is shown to be very taken by the sight of Claire-X in the front row. He continues to stare at her as Claire-X begins to have a few labor pains and excuses herself from the table to head for a bathroom. Noticing the disturbance, Kate-X follows after her, all to Desmond's delight.
Claire-X enters the backstage area of the 'Golden State Natural History Museum' at which the benefit is being held. As she enters I note a large shark hanging above the entrance way. (Yes it's a natural history museum so that's not much of a shocker but it does, somewhat, act as a wink to me for our friend the DHARMA shark.) She stumbles further into the room and grasps hold of some of the bands crates as she experiences more pains...labor contractions! She asks a roadie, who is tuning guitars, the whereabouts of the museum bathroom but, he shakes his head as if he doesn't know. (rather bad acting...I wonder if he was a writer or something on the show) Kate-X wanders in behind her just in time. Claire-X won't be making it to the bathroom. Contractions are becoming much stronger and it looks like the baby is going to come right here, right now. "...get a doctor," Kate-X pleads with the band engineer as she helps Claire-X get comfortable. "Small world, eh," Kate-X quips referring to their 'chance' meeting at the airport and now here. "Yeah, well, what are you doing here," Claire-X gasps as she's hit with more contractions.
Outside, the band continues playing as Daniel-X plays through another solo. Eloise pulls up a seat next to Desmond. "I thought I made it clear to you that you were to stop this," Eloise says forcefully in regards to his meddling. "I CHOSE to ignore you," Desmond responds in turn. "And once they KNOW, then what," Eloise demands. "We're leaving," Desmond cuts in, matter-of-factly. With that, Eloise seems visibly frightened. "Are you going to take my son," She asks, tearing up. "Not with me, no," Desmond assures her resting his hand atop hers in comfort.
Claire-X now is in the midst of violent contractions. Kate-X coaches her to keep breathing. "Help is on the way," Kate-X comforts her, hoping her words are the truth. "This is happening RIGHT NOW," Claire-X vents to her. "Just relax and breathe," Kate-X repeats. With that, Charlie-X exits the stage and walks to the area the baby is being delivered. "Who are you," Claire-X asks, a bit exposed. "I'm with the band," Charlie-X explains. Kate-X implores him to retrieve for them some blankets and some water. 'Water and blankets," Charlie-X nods, heading off on his mission. (the missions seem a bit more plausible off island, no?) Kate-X tells Claire-X that she's going to have to start pushing and Claire-X reveals to her that she is scared. "I'm scared too, all right," Kate-X relates. "I'm gonna need you to push because I can't do it without you," she insists calmly. "1-2-3 push...1-2-3 push," they repeat. Kate-X looks into Claire-X's gaping, dilated vagina and is immediately 'awakened', as some of her fellow Oceanic passengers have been before her, by bright light and images of their shared past. A true 'Vaj Vision', if you will. Kate tears up as she gets a glimpse of the baby making his way out into the 'Flash Sideways' world. As the baby is placed in the new mother's arms she names him 'Aaron' and she too is 'awakened' by the images of their past. Meanwhile, Charlie-X has come back with the blankets just in time to miss all of the 'heavy lifting' so to speak. "I couldn't find any water," Charlie-X announces, wrapping the blanket around mother and child. Both Claire and Kate look up at him, with complete knowledge of their past together on the island. Claire takes Charlie by the hand and refers to him by name. Charlie, too, is enlightened as he experiences a similar heavenly awakening to the others. One riddled with visions of his love for Claire...and her baby. "Oh...Aaron," Charlie stutters, upon seeing the newborn baby cry. Charlie nuzzles the the mother and they kiss. Desmond sneaks up behind Kate. "Do ya understand," he asks. Kate nods. "So now what," she asks...crying tears of joy.
James-X walks through the hospital hallway trying to shake off the outcome of his last encounter and fight back hunger pangs. Walking towards him is the equally mixed up Jack-X who has since dressed for the concert benefit and is heading out to try and catch up with his family. "Hey you know where I can get some grub around here," James-X inquires of him. Jack-X informs him that the cafeteria is now closed but, that there's vending machine at the end of the hall. "Thanks, Doc," James-X delivers, looking the surgeon up and down as if shaking off a feeling of LOST Deja Vu. "Yeah, no problem," Jack-X shoots back as they part ways.
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At the vending machine, James-X pushes a dollar bill into the slot and keys in the code for, you guessed it, the elusive 'Apollo' bar! As luck would have it, much like Jack's attempt at purchasing an 'Apollo' bar in the flashback that featured Jacob's touch, the candy bar gets stuck in a near release position from it's shelf. "Oh, C'mon," James-X sighs, annoyed at the 'icing on the cake' that has been his day so far. James-X shakes the machine a bit than tries the old arm-up-the-vending-machine-slot trick to try and free his late night meal.Nothing seems to work for him. With that Juliet, clad in her concert dress with an unbuttoned lab coat over it, appears in the doorway. "It's OK," James-X assures her, excusing the appearance of the petty theft, "I'm a cop," he explains. "Maybe you should read the machine it's rights," Juliet-X offers sarcastically. "That's funny," James-X admits. "Can I tell you a secret," Juliet-X asks. "Please," James-X...well...pleads. "IF YOU UNPLUG IT AND THAN PLUG IT BACK IN AGAIN, the candy just drops right down," she says. (This is a direct wink at what Jack and Desmond need to do in the light cave after Desmond has drained the special water replacing it with red smoke and quakes and making the Smoke Monster mortal again so that he could be stopped.)"Is that right," James-X sighs sneakily. Juliet-X concurs, noting that it is 'technically legal'. "I'll give it a shot," James-X responds, crouching down behind the machines to grab at the plug. As he pulls the plug out, it appears as though, the lights not only go out in the vending machine but, if I'm not mistaken, the whole vending machine room itself. They chuckle and he replaces the plug knocking the candy bar down to the receipt door. "IT WORKED," Juliet-X announces to him, grabbing the 'Apollo' bar and offering it to the desperately hungry man. (It worked, eh? I'm thinking maybe THIS might be what Miles heard her saying to James in the after life when he was reading the thoughts of her freshly buried body after the 'Incident'. Not that the 'Incident' itself worked at landing them all back in LAX unharmed as Jack had hoped, because we now know that never happened and they ALWAYS crashed on that island that fateful day. It seems, now, that I may also want to pay special attention to the the things Miles translates from our buddies bodies in the the afterlife. Amazing!) James-X reaches for the candy bar and as he does, his finger brushes over hers and he flashes to some of their private island memories together. Surprising to him, having never met her before in this universe. "Whoa," he exclaims. "Did you feel that," he asks as they both back away from each other a bit. (Apparently she does.) "WE SHOULD GET COFFEE SOME TIME," Juliet says robotically. "I'd love to but the machine ate my dollar," James responds saddened, "I only have one left," he finishes. "WE COULD GO DUTCH," Juliet blurts out. (This explains her random muttering of the phrases back as she was trapped in the chaos of the 'incident' her life being squeezed away from her. It seems that, then, she was just speaking to James in the afterlife at the vending machine and not directly to the 'James' that crouched before her trying to save her life. At this moment, like Desmond, she had a direct line to the incarnation of herself in the afterlife.) They touch again and both are fully awakened by scenes of their three years together as a couple, their triumph and tragedies together as island inhabitants...and her death scene for, the 17th time, at the site of the incident. She's probably had the most 'flash backed' death scene in the history of death scenes. "Juliet," James reacts. "Juliet is that really you," he hopes. "It's me, baby," he assures her. "I had you...I had you, baby," he apologizes, for his shortcoming as her savior back at the hatch. (I break down like a bawling mess and immediately OK their relationship together after I didn't really 'get it' last season for lack of development between time jumps.) And with that, Juliet pleads for James to kiss her. "You got it Blondy," James quips, pulling her in as they passionately kiss and understand something about where they are at this point that I wish I was privy to. (Yep, these two were definitely better together than he and Kate. I'm suddenly more interested, now, in the moment in 'LeFleur' when James arrives home with a sunflower for the love of his life. This is going to make for another bunch of 'must see' moments for me during the Grand LOST Rewatch.)
At the benefit concert, Jack-X rushes to meet up with his son and the rest of his family, already too late to catch any of the show. Kate, already awakened, approaches him from the seating area. "It's over," she informs Jack-X who has taken out his phone to locate his son. "Excuse me," he responds, not recognizing her as the woman he had crossed paths with at LAX twice. Kate reiterates that the concert is over and asks if Jack-X is looking for someone. Jack-X informs her that he is looking for his son who he was supposed to have escorted to the show before he had work to do at the hospital. Jack-X laughs to himself as he searches the crevices of his mind to figure out where he and Kate may have met each other before. "I stole your Pen," she replies, to a still unsure Jack-X. "Um, Oceanic 815 from Sydney," she begins, "I bumped into you coming out of the bathroom and I stole your pen," she finishes. "And that's how I know you," Jack-X dismisses her, believing there is more to the connection. "No," Kate changes her response,"that's not how you know me," she begins as they both step closer. Kate grabs Jack-X by the face with both hands as she may have done on the island to reason with him in the past. "I've missed you sooo much," she tears up. With that, Jack-X has a quick flash again...and again he shakes it off. "What's happening to me," he demands. "Who are you...I don't," he begins to stutter. "I know," she cuts him off, "you don't understand, Jack," she continues. "But if you come with me," she adds, "...you will."
John Locke arrives by taxi cab to the church that Christian Shepherd's body was delivered to by Oceanic cargo truck earlier in the day. The taxi cab driver steps out of the car and heads to the trunk where he removes John's wheelchair and pushes to the back passenger door where he aides in removing Locke from the car and helping him into his chair. John thanks him for his help, pays him, and wheels toward the holy building smiling a knowing smile. As he nears the entry stairs, he comes upon Ben Linus who sits outside staring at the church. They exchange hellos and John asks if 'everyone' is already inside. "I believe most of them are...yes," Ben confirms. "I'm very sorry for what I did to you John," Ben apologizes, referring to his cold blooded murder of John, one of the show's biggest heroes, at a motel where John was about to take his own life. "I was selfish, jealous...," he continues. "I wanted everything YOU had," he finishes. "What did I have," John asks, not very sure himself. "You were SPECIAL John but, I wasn't," Ben reveals. John offers his forgiveness if it will help Ben move on. "Thank you, John," Ben responds, sincerely. "It matters more than I can say," he nods. "What'r you gonna do now," John wonders. Ben informs Locke that he still has somethings he needs to work out. I'm assuming waiting by the church to apologize to John Locke may have been one of the thing's on Ben's to do list. "I think I'll stay here a while," Ben confirms. John turns to wheel closer to the church and is stopped once again by Ben who injects that he doesn't think John NEEDS his wheelchair any longer. In a magical moment, John Locke clicks up the foot rests of his wheelchair and stands, pushing the chair aside. "Goodbye, Ben," he closes out their conversation as he does a medium sprint up the church staircase.
What appears to be moments later, Hurley emerges from the church, stands at the second floor landing, and looks down upon Ben who is still seated outside, possibly making amends with others as they arrive. "Oh, hey dude," Hurley says, slightly surprised he is still seated there. "We're all inside," he informs Ben. "I don't think I'm coming in," Ben declines. Hurley nods understandingly and turns to head back inside. He stops himself when he realizes he has one last thing to say and turns back around. "Ya know," Hurley begins, "you were a real good 'Number 2'," he offers. "And you were a great 'Number 1', Hugo" Ben concurs. "Thanks, dude...I'll see ya," Hurley says turning ad disappearing into the church.
Jack-X and Kate arrive at the church in Jack-X's beat up truck. "Do you know where we are," Kate quizzes him. Jack-X correctly responds that they have arrived at the church at which he had planned to have his father's funeral. "He died in Australia," he tells her, unnecessarily. "I'm sorry," she consoles. Jack-X wonders why she has brought him there "Because," she begins, "this is where you're gonna have your father's funeral," she parrots him. She informs him that he can enter through the back and that she will head in through the front where she will be waiting for him once he is 'ready'. "Ready for what," Jack asks with an uneasy laugh. "TO LEAVE," she enlightens him.
Jack -X enters through the back way of the church as he was told. As he enters, he passes a back room packed with memorabilia representant of all major the world's major religions. There are large gold crosses, a Tibetan statue. Different books connected with world religions. There are menorahs and other symbols. He passes a large stained glass window reflecting some of the major religions. There is a pane of glass with the Jewish 'Star of David'. One with the Christian cross. One with the Asian Yin and Yang symbol. One pane of glass with a crescent and star representing Islam and one with a Dharmachakra wheel. Upon passing the symbolism he comes upon his father's coffin. He walks closer to it and lays his hands upon it's cover...and he has flashes of the time on the island and the rest of his existence. He is finally 'awakened' like the others. He opens the door to the casket to find that it contains nothing. His fathers body is still missing. "Hey, Kiddo," Jack hears from over his shoulder as his father, Christian Shepherd appears behind him. "Dad," he wonders, unsure. His father says hello and Jack admits that he doesn't understand what's happening. "You died," Jack insists. "Yeah...yes I did," Christian confirms. "But than how are you here right now," Jack wonders. "How are YOU here," his father responds, answering Jack's question with another. "I DIED TOO," Jack realizes, tearfully. "It's OK...It's OK...It's OK,son," Christian comforts him, hugging his boy as he breaks down in his arms. This, for sure, is one thing we never saw much of in Jack's flashbacks to his upbringing. "I love you Dad," Jack gushes. "I love you too son," his father reciprocates. "Are you REAL," Jack asks, still unsure of the situation in front of him. "I sure hope so," his father laughs. He confirms that not only is he real, and that Jack is real but EVERYTHING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED to Jack is also real. "All those people in the church," he finishes, "they're real too Christian explains. "They're all dead," Jack asks knowingly. "Everyone dies sometime, Kiddo" his father assures him, "Some of them BEFORE you, some of you LONG after you," Christian stresses. Jack wonders why they are HERE NOW. "Well," his father attempts to explain,"there is no NOW...HERE," he states. "Where are we Dad," Jack inquires. "Well," Dr. Shepherd begins, "this is a PLACE that YOU ALL MADE TOGETHER, so that you could find one another," he offers. "The MOST IMPORTANT time of your LIFE was the time you spent with THESE PEOPLE," he adds. "That's why all of you are here" Christian continues. "Nobody DOES IT alone Jack, you needed ALL OF THEM and they needed YOU," Christian informs him. "For what," Jack wonders. "To REMEMBER and LET GO," his father insists. Jack reports that Kate tried to explain to him that they were all 'leaving'. "Not 'leaving', no" Dr. Shepherd amends the description given to his son. "MOVING ON," he distinguishes. Jack wonders where they are going. "Let's go find out," Christian finalizes......
Down in the cave of light, Desmond Hume unties the rope from around his waist and scours over his surroundings. From his viewpoint we see several full skeletons and many hidden tunnels leading to underground passages from the cave's interior. In the middle of the cavern lies a glowing pool of water and in the middle of that lies a huge stone which appears to have carvings, etchings or ancient writing of some sort carved into it. Desmond steps into the glistening body of water as he stares at the large rock. As he does so, what we may assume is a grand electromagnetic pulse similar to that of the electromagnetic trial room that his father-in-law, Charles Widmore, trapped him in to test his tolerance. The pulse begins to cause Desmond's nose to bleed and he let's out a roar of pain which echoes throughout the cavern to the onlookers above.
Jack, the island's new protector, stands perched atop the waterfall with his nemesis The Man in Black, who has taken the form of John Locke as they peer over the waterfall wondering what Desmond's growls might indicate.
Below, Desmond takes strenuous strides toward the great rock. Each step a painful one, but seemingly not detrimental to Desmond's health. Upon reaching the stone, Desmond gives it a bear hug of a grasp and tries to dislodge it from it's perch. As he tugs on the boulder, the stone is revealed to be more of a pin than a circular mass and it's job was plugging a drain of sorts. As the pin is removed the water empties from the pool and an even greater light is projected from it's drain causing Desmond to stumble backward. The electromagnetic pulse that we hear seems to dissipate as the water completely dries up and the drain burps up a red gas which causes Desmond to cry out in agony once again.
Above, we see that the waterfall itself has stopped flowing and that Jack and MIB stand listening to Desmond's cries of pain. "Looks like you were wrong," MIB gloats to Jack, breathing heavily and referring to Jack's assessment that Desmond's actions below would put MIB out of commission and possibly himself along with him. "Goodbye Jack," he says as he doubles back fleeing through the entrance of the cave. The water is shown to be dried up outside the cave, as well, and, as MIB struggles to maintain his footing, it is also revealed to us that the island is now engulfed in violent quakes which cause nearby rock formations to crumble down around our villain. Jack quickly emerges from the cave, moments after him, tackling MIB him and bringing him to the ground. MIB tastes the unfamiliar tartness of a mouthful of blood as he licks his fingers to assess the damage done. Jack notes the bleeding as well and assumes, as we do, that Desmond's action have now affected the limits of MIB's immortality. Jack smiles at the realization and begins to choke his adversary from his straddled position above him. "Looks like YOU were wrong too," Jack counters. MIB reaches for a large, nearby stone and bashes Jack off of him rendering him unconscious. Jack's immortality becomes questionable to us, now, as well. MIB picks himself up, grabs the backpack which rests nearby, and heads off into jungle.
Jack, the island's new protector, stands perched atop the waterfall with his nemesis The Man in Black, who has taken the form of John Locke as they peer over the waterfall wondering what Desmond's growls might indicate.
Below, Desmond takes strenuous strides toward the great rock. Each step a painful one, but seemingly not detrimental to Desmond's health. Upon reaching the stone, Desmond gives it a bear hug of a grasp and tries to dislodge it from it's perch. As he tugs on the boulder, the stone is revealed to be more of a pin than a circular mass and it's job was plugging a drain of sorts. As the pin is removed the water empties from the pool and an even greater light is projected from it's drain causing Desmond to stumble backward. The electromagnetic pulse that we hear seems to dissipate as the water completely dries up and the drain burps up a red gas which causes Desmond to cry out in agony once again.
Above, we see that the waterfall itself has stopped flowing and that Jack and MIB stand listening to Desmond's cries of pain. "Looks like you were wrong," MIB gloats to Jack, breathing heavily and referring to Jack's assessment that Desmond's actions below would put MIB out of commission and possibly himself along with him. "Goodbye Jack," he says as he doubles back fleeing through the entrance of the cave. The water is shown to be dried up outside the cave, as well, and, as MIB struggles to maintain his footing, it is also revealed to us that the island is now engulfed in violent quakes which cause nearby rock formations to crumble down around our villain. Jack quickly emerges from the cave, moments after him, tackling MIB him and bringing him to the ground. MIB tastes the unfamiliar tartness of a mouthful of blood as he licks his fingers to assess the damage done. Jack notes the bleeding as well and assumes, as we do, that Desmond's action have now affected the limits of MIB's immortality. Jack smiles at the realization and begins to choke his adversary from his straddled position above him. "Looks like YOU were wrong too," Jack counters. MIB reaches for a large, nearby stone and bashes Jack off of him rendering him unconscious. Jack's immortality becomes questionable to us, now, as well. MIB picks himself up, grabs the backpack which rests nearby, and heads off into jungle.The remainder of the island's tribe, Hurley, James, Ben & Kate are shocked to feel the effects of the island's quakes in the as they rest in the jungle outside the cave. A humongous tree topples and pins Ben beneath it at the waist line.
Jack is awakened by a tempestuous rain storm at the mouth of the cave, where he was left unconscious by the man in black. He runs to the edge of the cliff inside the cave, dodging falling rocks and debris caused by the quaking island. At the cliff's edge he cries down to Desmond pulling on the slacking rope that now is NOT connected to his friend below. There is no response. An angry Jack, runs from the cave hell bent on finding and stopping the man in black.
"We're gonna get you out of here. All right," Kate reassures Ben who is still pinned down by the massive tree trunk. James tries to no avail. "It's just too damn heavy," he rages as the storm engulfs them. "There's no way we're getting it off him," he adds. Hurley insists they have to try. Kate calls out a count..."1-2-3....." and on three they all push with all their might to try and free their fallen frenemy. (This sequence is a direct reminder of Kate-X heading up the baby delivery committee back in Universe-X where she leads a '1-2-3...push' chant as well.) With that, more quakes rock the island. "What is Happening," Kate begs, fighting through the storm. "I'll tell you what's happening," James replies. "Locke was right," pessimistically referring to the MIB's prediction that the island would sink into the ocean after he had his way. Tension is added to an already suspenseful situation as Miles walkie-talkies in from near the Ajira plane. Richard and Frank are reassembling a punched out windshield with a blowtorch and generally repairing the plane for take off. Kate takes control of Ben's walkie talkie and asks about Claire, ignoring Miles' questions involving the quakes. "She's here but she doesn't want to come with us," he informs Kate. Kate's not sure 'where' he means and he fills her in that they are working on the plane "...than we're taking off," he promises. Behind Kate, James and Hurley continue to in their attempt to free Ben by using large tree limbs as levers. "How much longer 'til we get this thing in the air," Miles shouts out to Frank who has his hands full. Frank confirms that he still needs to check the electrical and the hydraulics and that it may take up to six hours. Richard judging the storm and tremors predicts that he may have one hour...if he's lucky. "Get your asses over here, "Miles relays to Kate and the group. "We're leaving in an hour," he deadlines them. "SON OF A BITCH," James replies for the 815th time (not literally...but you catch my drift.) "How the hell are we supposeda get over there in time," he vents, not expecting a response. "I know how we can get there," Ben hisses. "Locke has a boat," he informs them referring to Desmond's boat which is now in the clutches of the Man in Black.
At the cliffs where the man in black once escorted James to the dark side cave, MIB prepares to descend down the steep ladders in the rain to the boat anchored in the raging waters below. MIB releases a broad smile (and what I imagine to be a evil Disney villain cackle) as his plan edges toward fruition. "LOCKE!" A voice cries out from above him. MIB turns to see Jack, battered, yet standing heroically atop a cliff above him as rain pounds down around him. MIB turns and unsheathes John Locke's knife, brandishing it between the heavy downpour and winds. With that they both charge in each other's directions in full force (My head swirls as I'm reminded of the epic battle that is about to be waged. I'm thinking everything from Matrix's Neo vs. Agent Smith to Lion King's Simba vs Scar...inject your own, please.) MIB runs uphill while Jack runs down. Jack jumps at him delivering a flying punch (reminding me of Brad Pitt's, now cliche', 'Troy' running downward sword stab) as MIB connects with a dropkick of equal force. They fall to the floor, both effected by the blows. MIB stands and removes his backpack casting it aside while charging at Jack. Jack quickly punches his enemy. He grasps MIB into a sleeper choke hold and begins choking the life from him. MIB frees himself with a devastating head butt utilizing his slick, bald cranium. He follows up with a few punches stopped only by the force of another island quake that sends him stumbling backward. MIB hears...and then sees his knife slipping down the surface of the cliff's incline and darts after it. Jack charges after him, tackling him to the ground and sending them both inches from the edge of the cliff. A whole front section of the cliffs face is seen sinking into the ocean in the distance. The island is sinking...an outer layer at a time. Jack regains superior position atop Locke's form. Straddling him and again choking the life from him using his bare hands. MIB, in one quick swoop, regains possession of the hunting knife plunging it into Jack just below his ribcage (NOOOoooooooooooooo!... This is the wound Jack-X cannot distinguish from an appendix scar in Universe-X.) MIB maneuvers Jack off top of him. He removes the knife from his side, covered in Jack's blood. It's abundantly clear, at this point, that our two leads have become extremely mortal. MIB now kneels above his fallen enemy in a sacrificial pose, thrusting the knife downward toward Jack's heart. Jack manages to forcibly move the knife away from his heart but fails to stop it from nicking his throat as MIB plunges the knife into Jack's neck (Universe-X's unhealing neck wound!! This is all starting to 'bleed' though now. Bad pun intended.) MIB seems to be aiming to decapitate Jack and if not for the strength Jack shows in keeping him at bay he may just succeed. "I want you to know Jack," MIB remarks, "you DIED for nothing," he yells, cut off by a single gunshot that echoes through the storm. MIB doubles back off of our fallen hero a gaping wound in his back. (YaaaaaaY) "I saved you a bullet", Kate quips reminding him of the bullets he insisted she stop wasting on him back when she began unloading on him in the open field when last they met. MIB picks himself up a bit. "You're too late Kate," he admonishes, as the island is rocked once again by the force of the quaking that hasn't let up. With that, Jack picks himself up and forcefully nudges MIB, with his foot, over the edge of the cliff in a final death inducing gesture all too reminiscent of MIB nudging Jacob into the fire pit after Ben succeeded in plunging a dagger into his heart. MIB crashes against the rocks below, in a mangled death pose.
The rain subsides and the sun emerges. Kate aides Jack away from the cliff as he bleeds profusely, through his shirt, from his open side wound . Jack, now laying on the surface of the cliff, lifts his t-shirt revealing his wound. "Oh, my GOD Jack," Kate shrieks (too late now honey, he's not god-like anymore...just a mere mortal.) "I'm fine, Jack smiles. "Find me some thread and I can count to five," he jokes, referring to their first real heart-to-heart on the island when Kate helped stitch up his shoulder and he told her about his father's version of the five second rule. "Hey, what happened," James breaks the stroll down memory lane, flanked by Hurley and a freed, yet tortured looking Ben Linus. "Oh my GOD," Hurley echoes. (You too? Look bud, he's mortal again...keep up with the program!) "Locke's dead," Kate informs the rest of the group, kind of disrespectful of the cool wizard of hunting that actually died over three seasons ago. "It's over," Kate assures them. James, still one to not trust anything or anyone, unless he sees it with his own eyes, peers over the cliff at MIB's dead form below. Just than, another quake shakes up the reunion party. "Sure don't feel like it's over," James grunts.
Meanwhile, at the Ajira plane, Frank checks out their handy work. "It ain't pretty but it's gonna work," he says of their 'bubble gum and strings' craftsmanship. He informs the crew that they'll have to reset the electronics. After a few other checks, Frank tells them that there is something wrong with the hydraulics down in the nose wheel. "Either one of you guys mechanical," he calls to Miles and Richard in inquiry. Miles quietly confirms that he did some work for a contractor renovating apartments. (There, ya see...he's come in handy again after all!) "Good enough," Frank OK's Miles' unwitted volunteering, tossing him notes from his clipboard and, more importantly, some Duct tape. "Go down and make sure every thing's hooked up all right," he orders Miles who hesitates. "GO," he follows up with a bark. Ben cuts in through the walkie-talkie to follow up on their take-off time frame. "Don't bother me," Frank shoots back, throwing the walkie-talkie to the empty co-pilot's chair beside him. "Sounds like they're making progress," Ben jokes to his group. Another quake rips through the island and James insists they should all leave immediately to head toward the plane. "I don't understand it," Kate vents. "Why is it still happening," she remarks to anyone that'll pose a response for her. "Because whatever Desmond turned off, " Jack admits, "I'll need to turn back on again. If I don't get it turned on," he continues, "you'll need to leave now. You need to be on that plane," he finishes. "You can come with us too Jack," Kate says. "You don't have to do this," She pleads. Jack insists he does and Kate further protests suggesting he let the island sink. "Kate I can't," Jack finalizes, shifting his immediate focus, instead to James as he asks if he'll be able to get the rest of them across the channel to Hydra island via Desmond's boat. "Yeah, I can manage," James confirms. "Good luck to you James," Jack says standing up and shaking James' hand for what will be a final time. "Thanks Doc, for everything," James acknowledges. Jack smiles....James nods. Ben throws James the walkie-talkie. "If the island is going down than I'm going down with it," Ben insists. "You better get going," Jack says to Hurley. "Unh huh, no way," Hurley protests. "You think I'm going down THAT," gesturing to the bamboo ladder that scales the face of the rocky cliff in a response Mr. Mike D. can agree with from his sofa at home. Jack smiles. "OK," he says. "Kate you gotta go and get Claire on that plane," Jack says turning to his love. "Tell me I'm gonna see you again," Kate responds tearfully. Jack shakes his head in what I believe to be equal parts 'I don't know the answer to that' and 'No'. The two kiss passionately and first prompted by Kate, share 'I Love yous'. Jack turns and limps off aided by Hurley and flanked by Ben.
Back at the Ajira plane, Miles and Richard tend to the planes ruptured hydraulics hose with large amounts of Duct tape. "You think that'll fix it," Richard asks Miles. "I don't believe in a lot of things," Miles answers, "but, I do believe in Duct tape," he jokes. Their moment is silenced again by the quakes.
"Yo 'Chesty'," James barks into the walkie-talkie for Frank informing that it is 'Sawyer and Kate' on the other end of the communicator. Richard hears the chatter and grabs the device. "We're on our way down to the sailboat," James briefs him. "Than we're heading over to you," he adds. "DON'T leave without us," He demands. Frank snatches the walkie-talkie from Richards hand and tells James that the plane is getting off the ground while there's still ground to get off. "If you wanna go," he announces, "you better get your asses in gear," he signs off to James' dismay, throwing the walkie-talkie into the co-pilots seat once more. "What now," Kate asks James, who throws his backpack to the floor. "We jump," he orders as they both look over the rocky edge of the cliff. "I'll see you at the boat," Kate announces jumping immediately from the cliff to the ocean below them, followed by a frustrated James. Both swim to the waters surface successfully and press on toward the boat.
Hurley helps Jack, who does his best to direct them toward the cave in his condition, through the jungle. "How are WE getting down there," Hurley wonders. Jack informs him that THEY aren't, and that he will press on alone. "Dude, you're not gonna go alone," Hurley protests, reminding him that Desmond couldn't it make down in his fit condition. "How the hell are YOU gonna SURVIVE." Hurley pleads, noting Jack's condition. With that, both Hurley and Jack exchange knowing looks. Jack knows he will not be returning once he travels down into the cave...and now Hurley understands as well. "NO. No way I'm gonna let you die," Hurley tearfully pleads to his heroic leader. "Hurley," Jack stops him, "I'm already dead," Jack insists, applying pressure to the wound in his side. "You said you'd protect the island," Hurley says. "And that's what I'm doing," Jack assures him. "You're committing suicide," Hurley insists. "I'm not," Jack corrects his friend. "This is what I'm supposed to do," he tells him, sounding the most like John Locke that I've ever heard him sound. Hurley insists that Jack isn't supposed to die because the island needs it's protector. "Hurley," Jack cuts him off, "It needs you," he enlightens Hurley as he stands before Jack confused once more. "It needs to be YOU, Hugo," Jack insists. Hurley protests some more, in a an intensely emotional moment, insisting that Jack's role was ALWAYS destined to be the island's protector. " It was only supposed to be me so I can do this," Jack corrects him, referring to his sacrifice at the light cave, "but, if someone has to take care of the island, if someone has to protect it, then it should be YOU," Jack corrects him. Jack tells Hurley that he believes in him to which Hurley seems to drop his defense. "All right, I'll take it," Hurley accepts, "but it's only temporary. As soon as you get that light back on, I'm pulling you up and I'm giving it right back to you," He bargains. "Deal," he asks Jack. "Deal," Jack confirms. Island rumbling cuts the verbal contract off. Jack asks if either has anything to drink to which Ben produces a grungy old water bottle. "S'that OK," Ben asks eager to help the process. "It's perfect," Jack confirms bending down and filling it with water from a nearby rain puddle. He offers the newly filled bottle of water to Hurley and orders him to drink it. "Is that it," Hurley asks after downing the whole bottle. "Now you're like me." Jack anoints him.
Frank prepares for another shot at take off. "Second times a charm! It better be because we sure as hell don't have the battery power for a third time," he responds to his own wishful thinking, switching the engines on. "That my friends is pure music," Frank remarks after hearing the hum of the plane engines.
Hurley and Ben lower Jack down into the cave rigged by rope in the same fashion Desmond was. Hurley takes the forward position on the the rope while Ben stands behind him feeding more rope to as MIB did for Jack. The cave shakes as the duration between island contractions tighten causing the two to lose their footing and their grasp of the rope...sending Jack tumbling down into the cave.
Jack pulls himself up noticing Desmond close by. He manages to get himself over to his exhausted friend and wake him from his unconscious state. "The light," Desmond mutters, "I put it out...It didn't work," he offers. "I thought I'd leave this place," Desmond finishes apologetically. Jack helps Desmond to his feet and walks him over to the rope they used to descend into the cave, tying it around Desmond's waist. "We're still here," Desmond continues. "You were right Jack" Desmond admits. "There's a first time for everything," Jack admits...finding the energy to joke. Another quake (every time some one jokes it seems!..just sayin') "I have to put it back...It was like a drain" Desmond alerts Jack. "That's what you did," Jack takes mental note. "You took that stone out of the hole over there," Jack makes sense of things. Desmond notices he's being tied to the rope and insists to Jack that he reconsider. The effects of putting the stone back in its drain will kill Jack. "It has to be ME," Desmond insists. "Haven't you done enough," Jack asks gratefully. "You wanna do something...go home and be with your wife and son," Jack orders him. "What about you Jack," Desmond wonders. "I'll SEE YOU IN ANOTHER LIFE, BROTHER," Jack mimics him.
Kate and James reach the shore of Hydra island and Kate sees Claire immediately. "Are you OK," Kate asks her. The Ajira plane begins to wheel out for take off in the distance. James barks at the two ladies that they need to go. Kate begs Claire to com.e with them for a final time, the only time that truly counts. "Look at me, The island's made me crazy," Claire cries. "I don't want Aaron to see me like this. I don't even know how to be a mother anymore," she admits. "Sweety, none of us do," Kate relates. "...but you're not alone. Let me help you." Kate offers seemingly getting through to Claire with her suggestion.
Aboard the plane the new Ajira crew prepares for take off. Miles stands at the open side door navigating it out to Richard who relays information back to Frank, the pilot. "He says we're clear," Richard yells over the hum of the engine. "You better pray we are Ricky 'cause I'm gonna swing her around...hold on," Frank orders them.
Aboard the plane the new Ajira crew prepares for take off. Miles stands at the open side door navigating it out to Richard who relays information back to Frank, the pilot. "He says we're clear," Richard yells over the hum of the engine. "You better pray we are Ricky 'cause I'm gonna swing her around...hold on," Frank orders them.
James, Kate and Claire are half a mile away from the plane and see it making sudden moves toward take off. "Tell him to stop," Kate yells to James. James tries to get through to the crew via walkie-talkie with no luck.
Miles shuts the door and he and Richard return to their seats and buckle up for take off. "What the hell," Frank calls out, as he notices James,Kate and Claire running toward the plane flailing there arms in the air. "Miles, we got some late arrivals...open the door," he orders.
In the light cave, now reduced to a sporadic burp of gaseous red smoke and shmegma. Jack stumbles toward the drain hole and grabs the stone pin strenuously dropping it into place, clogging the hole.
Miles opens the door and let's out a rope so that the final three passengers can board the plane. "Way to wait 'til the last second," Miles scolds. "Good to see you too Enos," James greets him. "Everyone hold on tight," the pilot announces. "Here we go Frank," he whispers to himself. The plane races down the runway toward a climbing mountainous cliff ahead. Frank pulls back on the controls and the plane lifts of at the last possible moment rocketing itself vertically into the air. Kate clutches Claire's hand. "Amen," Frank mouths as if finishing a private prayer.
Jack backs off away from the clogged 'drain', falling against what was once the side of the light pool. As he does the light turns on and water begins refilling itself into the middle of the cave.
Above Ben announces that the light has been turned back on...that Jack has been successful. "Dude...PULL," Hurley yells ham-handedly yanking up the rope they believe is tied at the other end to Jack. "Hang on Jack," Hurley yells to the human cargo below. A final tug reveals the roped passenger to be Desmond and not Jack as they thought. "Desmond, NOoo,' Hurley yells, realizing the ramifications of the light cave refilling itself with Jack still trapped below.
Above Ben announces that the light has been turned back on...that Jack has been successful. "Dude...PULL," Hurley yells ham-handedly yanking up the rope they believe is tied at the other end to Jack. "Hang on Jack," Hurley yells to the human cargo below. A final tug reveals the roped passenger to be Desmond and not Jack as they thought. "Desmond, NOoo,' Hurley yells, realizing the ramifications of the light cave refilling itself with Jack still trapped below.
Light engulfs Jack below as Hurley screams for him from above.
Outside the cave, Ben rests something soft under Desmond's head who lays unconscious on the jungle floor. (A far cry from shooting at him and his family on the pier back in L.A.) Hurley sits on a rock nearby peering into the mouth of the cave as if willing Jack to emerge. "You, know I think Desmond's going to be OK," Ben tries to lighten the situation with good news. "Jack's...gone, isn't he," Hurley asks knowingly. Ben nods. Hurley begins to sob. "He did his job, Hugo," Ben reassures him. "It's my job now," Hurley realizes. "What am I supposed to do," Hurley asks him. "I think you do what you do best, take care of people." Ben offers. "You can't start by helping Desmond get home," he adds. "But, how," Hurley asks. "People can't leave the island" he reminds him. "That's how Jacob ran things," Ben acknowledges, "maybe there's another way...a better way," he suggests. "WILL YOU HELP ME," Hurley cuts in. "Excuse me," Ben asks as if not believing his ears..or just wanting to hear the invitation again (finally...the invitations he's waited his whole life for!) "I'm gonna need someone with experience...for a little while," Hurley insists sounding authoritative already. "Will you help me Ben?" He repeats his offer."I'd be honored" Ben accepts.
"COOL," says the island's new head honcho.
-Jack awakens in the jungle, spit out by the water of light onto the jagged rocks surrounding the stream. (Much like the the man in black was in 'Across the Sea')
*Jack walks into the church followed by his father. He see his friends from the island hugging, shaking hands, greeting each other. Sayid hugs Shannon. Locke greets James. Jin hugs Libby.
Jack smiles.
Jack smiles.
-Jack stumbles in the jungle, his clothing bloodied.
-Jack struggles to keep his eyes opened...struggles to keep his footing.
*Jack sees Penny and Desmond. Desmond shakes his hand but brings it into a tight hug. He sees Boone, they walk toward each other and embrace. He sees Juliet standing behind Boone as they hug.
Jack Smiles.
Jack Smiles.
-Jack somehow makes it through to the clearing of the jungle. The beginning of the bamboo field. He grasps at bamboo stalks as he passes by them using them to help him continue on. We see a white shoe hanging from the nearby bamboo shoot. A white shoe from a pair of shoes he put on his father's shoeless feet before leaving with his body from Australia. The shoe has been there for 3 long years collecting rain and dirt.
*Jack sees Hurley 'Hugo' Reyes and hugs him and as he does, Hugo scoops him up into a giant bear hug and he laughs.
-Jack fights to stay awake.
*Jack sees Claire and Charlie...and they hold baby Aaron. Jack hugs Libby than He hugs James 'Sawyer' Ford and, as he does, James smiles his biggest grin for him. He sees Kate and she steps closer toward him and brushes the hair away from her eyes. They smiles at each other and she takes his hand and leads him to the church pew.
-Jack can barely stand anymore.
*Jack sits down in the pew next to Kate.
-Jack stumbles to the ground on to his back. He lays on the jungle floor covered in his own blood which shows no signs of letting up.
*Jack takes Kate's hand in his.
-Jack attempts to apply pressure on the huge gash in his side.
*Jack smiles his largest smile as the others sit down too in different pews. Sayid and Shannon. John...Boone. Penny and Desmond. Claire,Charlie and Aaron. Rose and Bernard. Jin and Sun. James and Juliet. Hurley and Libby. Christian walks between the two sections of pews and stops to squeeze Jack's shoulder.
-Jack can barely keep his eyes open as he looks to the sky above. Vincent, the island's dog, runs from the jungle to Jack's rescue. He makes a bee-line for Jack. He licks Jack's wounds and lays beside him perfectly still.
*Jack watches as his father walks down the aisle towards the large doors in the back. Christian approaches the doors which stand between two angel statues. Christian throws open the doors to reveal a magnanimous light. A light that showers all of them with it's brilliance.
-Jack's eyes glaze over as he lay on the jungle floor. Above him he sees the escaping Ajira plane through an opening in the treeline. Jack laughs...Jack cries.
-Jack understands.
-Jack's eye is shown close up....it shuts.
THE END
...Jeff sobs uncontrollably
I can't say enough good things about the finale. I loved every moment of it even though I know a lot of you did not. I've watched it twice already and each time I watch it I love more things about. I notice more nuisances. I appreciate new connections I see to the episodes of seasons past. I am renewed in, if not watching all six seasons again, at least wanting to view all of the 'Flash Sideways' aka 'Afterlife' sequences over now that I know the brilliance of it's outcome.
Things I'm Pondering:
- The backstage birth sequence not only reminds me of the time Kate helped Claire give birth to Aaron on island but, also of Charlie's island dream way back when in season 2. A dream in which baby Aaron rests inside the top of a stand-up piano and Claire sits patiently at the shore dressed like the Virgin Mary...a costume that is reminiscent of the stashed heroine from Mr. Ecko's plane and equally as symbolic to Charlie. This piano didn't make any particular sense to me at the time...being that Charlie was a bass player but, now with Daniel playing piano out on stage during the babies birth, it gives a bit more credence to the vision.
- "IF YOU UNPLUG IT AND THAN PLUG IT BACK IN AGAIN, the candy just drops right down," Juliet says. 'This is a direct wink at what Jack and Desmond need to do in the light cave after Desmond has drained the special water replacing it with red smoke and quakes and making the Smoke Monster mortal again so that he could be stopped.
- "IT WORKED," Juliet-X announces to James-X, grabbing the 'Apollo' bar and offering it to the desperately hungry man." It worked, eh? I'm thinking maybe THIS might be what Miles heard her saying to James in the after life when he was reading the thoughts of her freshly buried copse after the chaos of 'Incident' took her life. Not that the 'Incident' itself worked at landing them all back in LAX unharmed as Jack had hoped, because we now know that never happened and they ALWAYS crashed on that island that fateful day. It seems, now, that I may also want to pay special attention to the the things Miles translates from our buddies' bodies in the the afterlife when we rewatch all 6 seasons. Amazing!
- "WE SHOULD GET COFFEE SOME TIME," Juliet says robotically. "I'd love to but, the machine ate my dollar," James responds saddened, "I only have one left," he finishes. "WE COULD GO DUTCH," Juliet blurts out. This explains her random muttering of the phrases back as she was trapped in the chaos of the 'incident' her life being squeezed away from her. It seems that, then, she was just speaking to James in the afterlife at the vending machine and not directly to the 'James' that crouched before her trying to save her life. At this moment, like Desmond, she had a direct line to the incarnation of herself in the afterlife.
- Generally I believe each character created their own likeness in this after life place as people they aspired to be to solve their unsolved issues. James 'Sawyer' Ford chose to be a cop to deal with his revenge issues. That's cool in infinity ways! Jack chose to be a successful doctor and, more importantly, a father to a son both to work out the issues he had with his own father. I feel as though this season's 'side ways' episodes need new attention paid to them since we've learned every life choice, every word and deed is on that our favorite characters chose for themselves AFTER death
- It should be noted that punch for punch, blow for blow, MIB and Jack, our island smoke monster and our island protector, the embodiments of men of science and faith, were evenly matched throughout their epic struggle. A wink at the age old harbingers of the powers of faith over science. It was not until Kate stepped in and slayed MIB that the 'scale' was tipped toward a specific outcome. Brilliant writing. The debate over the symbolism in the scene could fuel an eternity of blog site nerdery. (Not to mention answering my longstanding plea to the shows creators , each week, never to let faith or science be the dominant underpinning of THIS show....thanks LOST creators, got what I wanted!)
- I wonder if Jack, as island protector, could have been testing the final candidates on the edge of the cliff before heading back to the cave to try an reignite the light. He seemed directly involved in asking where EACH player's heart lied before coming to Hurley and smiling at his welcomed response. The pieces of this show...and this final episode are absolutely astounding and ripe for interpretation once dissected down to it's bare parts.
- Is it possible that MIB didn't want to LEAVE the island in the way we were led to believe. I got the feeling upon second viewing that it's quite possible that MIB knew full well that he couldn't LEAVE the island but, in the form he's been taking for centuries now, he's not even able to DIE. Maybe he just wanted to DIE and go to his afterlife and not LEAVE the island. Remember when 'Mother' thanked MIB for killing her and apparently releasing her from being bound eternally to the island as protector? It seems to me she had to groom MIB all his life to WANT to kill her if she wasn't aloud to just ask him to do it for her. I pose the theory that MIB had to make Jack and his group WANT to take him out so badly that they put themselves in harms way just to do so. He couldn't have been killed unless the team got in there and unplugged and replugged the drain making MIB mortal for a time. I think the outcome of MIB laying dead on the rocks may have been exactly what he wanted...and if anyone was down there to cradle his head they may have heard him say 'Thank You'.
- As for the final scenes, I understand by now that it is not up for much debate. The events on the island over the passed 6 seasons ALL occurred. You weren't tricked or deceived for 6 years. The plane really crashed there and the survivors really had limitless encounters with the unknown.
- People preoccupied with DHARMA's of lack of involvement in the final season are handed the realization that the DHARMA Initiative was merely just another group of castaways brought to the island at some point by Jacob that got out of hand and had to be dealt with by the island's protector because they got too close to the light. That's it. They were a great little mysterious group of scientists...but they too were just as corrupt (and equally defeatable) as a group of 3,000 year old villagers that happened to find themselves upon the island....or, for that matter, a small collective of misfits on an passenger plane bound for L.A.
- Jack's mantra used to be 'Live Together Die Alone' but his father tells him that "..no one dies alone". One of the shows greatest revelations for he and us at least, is that after this fantastic equal portion science fiction mystery/equal part religious fable was complete, Jack's mantra was proven to be false. There was no need for them to live together and then die ALONE when they could all move on TOGETHER. Yes, in this world some died in season 1, some in season 2 and some in season 6. Some even died decades, possibly centuries later but, their connection to each other was so strong, that they all created niches for themselves in their afterlives to WAIT for all of their friends to catch up to each of their deaths and move on to the next chapter of their lives...TOGETHER. Depending on your faith you may believe that they next enter heaven, or that they are reborn as other people, or even animals but, when they get to the next chapter of their 'being', they will find that their connection with each other is so strong that they will continue to bump into each other no matter where they end up as they prepare for the next stage of their existence. Even Daniel and Charlotte, Miles, Ben and Eloise belong to their own 'crew' of beings that have prepared their own after life with each other. When they are ready to move on, they will converge in a place especially set aside by them, for them, to move on in their special way.
I want to take a moment to thank my best friend Kristen for sticking in there with me for six long years waiting seven days each week for a new mind-bendingly great episode and also sticking it out through the occasional argument over what she thought she saw. (You were always wrong BTW...I'm just sayin'). My girlfriend Briana, who realized after watching just a few episodes with me last year that she would show her support for what has become a hobby of mine by catching up on all 5 seasons in less than 2 months. (It's your favoritest show ever now, don't lie.) To Mr. Mike D., creator of C-C-Blogspot for asking me to come aboard and offering a place where I could reach a new group of readers and include some great photos along with my sometimes mediocre blog. And to all of you, my readers, whom I consider my friends. For for the passed six years, you guys have called me and sent me emails, text messages, and i-ms 3 seconds after each episode ended in hopes that I would get my recaps out as fast as possible so that you could vent, or share your thoughts with me...or in the rare occasion have something that I understood and you may not have explained to you so that we could move on to next weeks episode with a better understanding of the show that kept us guessing right up to the last credit rolled on it's series finale. Thanks guys!
Nice brother.... real nice. Thank u for doing a great job on the blog and for summing up some great points (i liked ur explanation for dharma as just another group). I thought the finale was well done, but now for the venting...
ReplyDelete- what the fuck... where is walt? Im not trying to be a dick, but jeff and I went to see Lost Live, which was an interview with Cuse n Lindelof, and they said Walt would be resolved...they said it!!! All we got was 2 sec of Walt throwing his knife with Locke. Bullshit.
- Why did mib turn to smokey when Jacob threw him down the well, but Jack came out whole and bleeding? I get Desmond surviving because he is an anomaly, but it seems as if mib spirit was seperated from his body and became smokey, while mib's human body was dead, found on the rocks.... why was Jack not smokified, and why did he live (albeit only for a little while) after cave diving?
- This is more a complaint about season 6.... Dues ex maxchina is a literary technique that requires the author to hold back important details/characters on purpose till the final act in order to build suspense. I think its bullshit, but it has been used many times in books, tv, and movies. Thats not my beef.... if you are going to make it impossible to figure out, cool. But once you do reveal your secret hidden info, you have to explain!!!!! The light on the island, the lighthouse, jacobs cave, all were revealed to us in season 6, yet none of their purposes or true meaning was ever explained. Thats weak. U want to hold ur cards until the end to build suspense... fine. But once you put em on the table, you could at least explain them in some detail. Who were all those names on the walls? Seemed like a lot of numbers on the lighthouse wheel? Forget telling us what the light actually is, how bout explaining why it does certain things to certain people.
Thats all for now. Good job Jeffy.... be back with more comments later!
Great job, Jeff! I loved the finale, holes and all. I knew there wasn't any possible way for them to tie everything up neatly, but I was happy with what they did! I am very glad I started watching!!!
ReplyDeleteJeff, your recaps have always been a joy to read! I hope another show starts to captivate you as much as this did, so you can get some awesome new material. I'll let you know if I come up with any!
yeah, what he said . . .
ReplyDeletelove your blogs, sorry I came to them so late in the game. and in your thoughts section, about Charlie's dream sequence, didn't we see Hurley dressed as Jesus in that scene? I loved that then and I love it now. I love that Hugo became the new new Jacob.
I loved the James and Juliet scene (I cried liked a baybee)
I liked "The End" until the end. WTF! seriously, this was all about some religious afterlife crap! That made me so mad. I am still mad.
i need a new show - FOUND - the story of Hurley and Ben on the island.
Mike D says: "where is walt? Im not trying to be a dick, but jeff and I went to see Lost Live, which was an interview with Cuse n Lindelof, and they said Walt would be resolved...they said it!!! All we got was 2 sec of Walt throwing his knife with Locke."
ReplyDeleteI DON'T RECALL THE CREATORS SAYING THE WALT ISSUE WOULD BE 'RESOLVED'. I THOUGHT THEY SAID THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING TO SEE WALT AGAIN WOULD NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. TECHNICALLY WE DID SEE WALT IN JOHN LOCKE'S 'AWAKENING' VIGNETTE. THEY DIDN'T LIE. JUST BENT THE TRUTH. SORRY, I HAD MY HOPES UP AFTER THAT 'LOST TALK LIVE' ANSWER AS WELL.
Mike D. says: Why did mib turn to smokey when Jacob threw him down the well, but Jack came out whole and bleeding? I get Desmond surviving because he is an anomaly, but it seems as if mib spirit was seperated from his body and became smokey, while mib's human body was dead, found on the rocks.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL EVER HAVE THE EXACT REASONING ON THIS. IT'S JUST ONE OF THE ISLAND'S UNEXPLAINED MYSTERIES. IN RELATION TO REAL LIFE, IT'D BE AKIN TO ASKING WHAT HAPPENS IF WE'RE BAD PEOPLE AND WE DIE. THE CHARACTERS ON LOST NEVER CAME INTO CONTACT WITH ANYONE THAT KNEW OR DIVULGED THE ANSWER TO THIS RIDDLE SO WE WEREN'T PRIVY TO THAT INFORMATION EITHER. THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS COOL ABOUT THE SHOW. THEY POSED SOME MYSTERIES THAT CAN NEVER FULLY BE EXPLAINED OR UNDERSTOOD. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT WE INFER..OR BELIEVE BY FAITH. A GOOD CHRISTIAN MIGHT SAY THAT A DEMON THAT POSSESSED MIB'S ACTIONS ALL HIS LIFE WERE SEPARATED FROM HIS BODY BY THE DIVINE LIGHT AND THAT JACK DIDN'T HAVE ONE TO SEPARATE FROM. NO TELLING HOW MUCH LONGER MIB WAS ALIVE AFTER BEING SPIT OUT AT THE MOUTH OF THE CAVE. HE MAY HAVE LASTED A FEW MINUTES HIMSELF..BUT CHOSE TO JUST DIE THERE INSTEAD OF WASTING HIS LAST BIT OF ENERGY WALKING AIMLESSLY TO A PLACE HE FELT MORE COMFORTABLE. IT'S THE BEAUTY OF 'LOST', INFER A FEW THINGS ON YOUR OWN THAT MAKE THE LOOSE ENDS MAKE SENSE.
AS FAR AS 'DUES EX MACHINA' GOES, I'VE NEVER READ A REVIEW WHERE PEOPLE LOVED THE OUTCOME THAT PLOT DEVICE. EVEN IF YOU CAN NAME ALL THE MOVIES OR TV SHOWS WHERE THAT WORKED, ISN'T IT BETTER TO HAVE SOMETHING NEW, DIFFERENT, SOMETHING NEVER DONE BEFORE...THAN TO HAVE A SHOW THAT NEVER FOLLOWED RULES OF WRITING ALL OF THE SUDDEN TIE EVERYTHING UP INTO A NEAT PACKAGE AND DELIVER IT TO THE MASSES LIKE EVERY OTHER SUMMER 'POPCORN' MOVIE OR CONTRIVED NETWORK TELEVISION SHOW? THE WAY IN WHICH THIS SHOW WAS CREATED LEAVES OPEN A WINDOW OF VIEWING PLEASURE THAT CAN BE OBTAINED FOREVER. I MAKE NEW CONNECTION A DECIDE KNW TAKES ON WHAT I SAW...EVERY TIME I WATCH AN EPISODE NO MATTER WHAT THE EPISODE IS.
Kate says: "I knew there wasn't any possible way for them to tie everything up neatly, but I was happy with what they did! I am very glad I started watching!!!"
ReplyDeleteSAME HERE KATE. WHEN I LET GO OF THE FEELING I HAD THAT THEY SHOULD EXPLAIN EVERY CLUE TO ME DOWN TO IT'S MINUTIA, I ENJOYED IT EVEN MORE. I MAY TRY AND STILL FIGURE OUT WHAT ALL OF THAT MINUTIA REALLY MEANS...BUT I'M OVER THE IDEA THAT I HAVE TO HAVE IT ALL CONFIRMED FOR ME BY THE CREATORS.
Alyson says: "in your thoughts section, about Charlie's dream sequence, didn't we see Hurley dressed as Jesus in that scene? I loved that then and I love it now. I love that Hugo became the new new Jacob."
SEE I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT THAT, AND IT'S A GREAT NOD TO THE FINALE. I BET THERE'S MANY MORE 'EASTER EGGS' PLACED IN THE FIRST 5 SEASONS THAT ELUDE TO THE FINAL OUTCOME. I'M GOING TO START REWATCHING THE SERIES THIS WEEKEND AND POSTED THINGS THAT I'VE NOW NOTICED IN A NEW LIGHT HAVING SEEN THE WHOLE THING PLAY OUT.
Alyson says: "I loved the James and Juliet scene (I cried liked a baybee)"
ME TOO, BUT MOREOVER...I REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY NAILED HOME TO US HOW STRONG THEIR CONNECTION WAS IN THIS 8minute SCENE. SOMETHING I THOUGHT THEY FAILED TO DO LAST SEASON WHEN THEY KINDA DID AN 'OH, BTW JULIET AND JAMES HAVING BEEN LIVING TOGETHER AS A COUPLE FOR 3 YEARS IN THE 70s..SO JUST PRETEND LIKE THEIR CONNECTION IS STRONGER THAN JAMES' CONNECTION WITH KATE'. I'M NOW A 'JAME-LIET' DHIPPER FOR SURE.
Alyson says: "I liked "The End" until the end. WTF! seriously, this was all about some religious afterlife crap! That made me so mad. I am still mad."
I'M SAD TO READ THAT YOU RESPONDED THIS WAY. I DON;T THINK IT WAS 'ALL ABOUT' THIS RELIGIOUS AFTER LIFE AT ALL. TO ME IS WAS ABOUT THESE 6SEASONS OF MYSTERY, ACTION AND SUSPENSE THAT OUT 815 PASSENGERS HAD TO DEAL WITH. THE 'AFTER LIFE' WAS ONLY 1/12th OF THE WHOLE SERIES. IT WAS A PLOT DEVICE USED ONLY IN THE 6th SEASON AS AN AFTER THOUGHT TO EVERYTHING WE SAW. AFTER WE CLOSED THE DOOR ON THE LIVES OF THESE PEOPLE THAT HAD BECOME SO DEAR TO US...WE GET AN COOL OTHER ADVENTURE WHERE THE CREATORS NOT ONLY PRESENTED THEIR THEORY ON WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY DIE, BUT WE ALSO GET TO SE IT PLAY OUT. IT'S LIKE WATCHIGN OUR FAVORITE MOVIE IN WHICH EVERYONE DIES AT THE END...BUT THAN GETTING A 1 HOUR MINI MOVIE INWHICH WE GET TO SEE THEM IN THEIR AFTER LIFE BEFORE THE CURTAIN CLOSES SO TO SPEAK. TO ME THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT ADDITION. FOR THOSE NOT VERY ACCEPTING OF THEIR ULTIMATE DEATHS..I SUGGEST YOU JUST IGNORE THE 'FLASH SIDEWAYS' OF SEASON 6. EVERYTHING ELSE HAPPENED ON EARTH IN A AWESOME SCI-FI ADVENTURE!
...THANKS AGAIN FOR READING AND POSTING ALL THESE YEARS, GUYS. I STILL HAVE A FEW IDEAS UP MY SLEEVE ABOUT HOW TO CONTINUE BRINGING YOU 'LOST' CONTENT IF YOUR AS BIG A 'LOSTY' AS I AM.
good news for some of you, but first of all...you rock Jeff! great thoughts as always and I love the picture choices throughout.
ReplyDeleteokay, the good news that I don't believe anyone has mentioned in the comments, we WILL see a conclusion to the WALT story and Alyson will get her wish.. "the story of Hurley and Ben on the island."
the season 6 DVD will include a 12-14 minute epilogue that will showcase Hurley and Ben's time on the island until they pass the torch. since I also heard that Walt's story and the answer to why the DHARMA food drops were still coming 12 years after the purge, my theory is that Walt will take over as #1 for Hurley and they will somehow explain the food drops in the epilogue as well.
by the way, I have a really tough time finding significant holes or inconsistencies with the story and don't understand why people feel there are huge gaps. take midicholorians in Star Wars. you know, the life force that makes up the force. where did THAT come from? did the Egyptians create them and immaculately conceive Anakin? do you see where I'm going? every story has to start and end somewhere and I think some folks feel robbed because we didn't see a creation story and we didn't get to see the deaths of a lot of other characters. that's the great thing about great stories, we all get to take something different away with us and I love what I'm taking with me and can't wait to watch the entire series with my kids someday.
Namaste my fellow LOSTies and thanks Jeff!
As usual great writing. I loved the finale & found it a fitting end to the entire series. I think your ideas on Miles ability & Juliet's death/afterlife mutterings are spot on. You're right LOST is right up there as one of my all time TV faves...right next to another JJ great FELICITY ;)
ReplyDeleteYou had me until you compared it to 'Felicity', baby. C'mon!? That show was like 'Gossip Girl' or something wasn't it?!
ReplyDeleteHow dare you sully the name of Felicity & JJ by associating it with that trash(that shall not be named).Don't hate on what you don't know. I'll forgive you for this travesty just don't let it happen again ;) Felicity Forever!!!
ReplyDelete