The first episode of the Third Season of LOST was A Tale of Two Cities and, for LOST fans, it was definitely the best of times and the worst of times.
There's no way around it, LOST lost steam this season, the wacky scheduling didn't help (a six episode 'mini-series' and then three months off the air before 16 straight episodes), but the larger problem lie in the heart of the show itself, characters that we knew and loved took a back seat to new people and locales. The same thing happened with the Tail-Section survivors last season, but by the ninth episode, things were back to status quo. It took sixteen episodes this year for Jack to make it back to camp. The show suffered as a result, and once all our regulars were reunited you realized that the chemistry of the cast cannot be taken for granted. As soon as Jack got back, it was our show again.
This is not to say that this season was horrible, as some have claimed. On an individual episode basis, the show still delivered (with a few glaring exceptions), but the show seemed to lack a steady overall direction, and the flashback sections of each episode seemed less and less important to the development of the characters.
And then, Jack showed up with a strange new beard.
From the beginning of Through the Looking Glass, you realize something's amiss: this hyper-depressed Jack doesn't seem to fit in with his timeline as we know it. By the end of the episode, you know it's Kate coming out of that car by the runway. But that doesn't make you any less giddy at the prospect: the show is now flashing forward.
This is not only brilliant from a story-telling standpoint, it essentially saved the show. My only hope with the flash forwards, and the continuing island story is that by Season Five or Six, they come looping into one another, Memento style.
But it's not just the last episode that was brilliant, LOST's writers, directors, and actors proved their worth to their fans, their detractors, and (most importantly) ABC with a May sweeps run of episodes that rank among the show's finest. In The Brig, Sawyer finally confronts, in brutal fashion, the man the he's been chasing all his life. The scene where he wraps the chain around Cooper's neck and screams "You wanna see hell?!" may be LOST's most intense moment ever. But the next week, we had the show's best cliffhanger yet when Ben shoots Locke and leaves him to die in the mass grave that holds the remnants of the Dharma Initiative. The following episode was a long goodbye to one of the show's most loved characters, as Charlie considered his mortality, counting down his 'greatest hits', a genuinely moving episode, not a mere set-up for the finale.
And what a finale. The best episode of LOST ever; from Jack's head-spinning flash forward, to Charlie's death, to Hurley's rescue of the folks at the beach, to Jack's pummeling of Ben, every minute is gripping.
So here's a look at where we are, three seasons into a show that can still be called the best on network television.
JACK
We lost track of Jack for a large part of the middle of the season, and that was part of the reason that the season drug. Because as often boring and prickish Jack can be, he's our guy. And his role as a leader on the island came under fire after his stay with the Others and his trust in Juliet. Not much was fleshed out about Jack's past in the flashbacks, so little in fact that the necessity of flashbacks at all was called into question. After the finale, we know why we've seen no great tragedy or secret in Jack's past; we've been watching the great tragedy in Jack's life. His role as leader to the survivors and whatever mistake it was he made in getting them off the island. Credit to Matthew Fox for scaling back the 'crazy Jack face' he relied on so often in Season Two. Season Three Jack is, like Season One Jack, someone you'd want believe in, even if he struggles to believe in himself.
And I loved future Jack with his chia-beard. Especially in his SUV blaring Nirvana's "Scentless Apprentice" on the way to the funeral of...somebody (apprentice? another Locke in the casket clue?). Future Jack and the way he bounces off his fellow 815 survivors has suddenly made LOST fun again.
LOCKE
Welcome back the wild-card, welcome back the hunter, welcome back the potential psychopath. We believe more in this John, but what (still!) is his connection to the island? And why did he have to ace poor, beautiful Naomi like that? Locke in the coffin makes the most sense, because no survivor would want to attend his funeral after witnessing him attempt to keep them on the island, and especially Kate who was admonished by Locke for being a bad person the last time she saw him before he joined with the natives. And who would attend John's funeral? He has nobody.
Although, it seems unlikely that John will ever leave the island. And even if everyone else gets off, it will be through John's eyes that we learn the island's remaining secrets, like the nature of the bad ass Smoke Monster.
SAWYER
Instead of great relief at finally accomplishing his life's mission, after James Ford killed the man whose name (and life) became his own he became even darker and more withdrawn, killing Tom in cold blood and snapping at Kate's notion of a pregnancy. But did he really kill the right man? He has a history of that kind of mistake, after all. And the island can conjure up pretty much anyone it wants. The island gives you want you want: so of course Locke's dad shows up, and when faced with Sawyer he tells him what he wants to hear. Was the real Anthony Cooper the 'real Sawyer'? We may never know.
And all this after Sawyer was coming to a kind of peace with his role in the camp. In the last few episodes, Josh Holloway brought a depth to the character that he never had before.
KATE
All the big question marks for Kate's character lie ahead. Is she with Sawyer? Someone else? And why didn't she end up with Jack? Perhaps because thanks to the island's super-sperm count, Sawyer did indeed knock her up? Kate served mostly as a grounding presence for the show this season, a familiar face to bounce off of the Others, and go running through the jungle tied to Juliet.
Oh, and why is Future Kate free? She did kill a man, you know.
DESMOND
I was perfectly happy with Desmond saying 'Brotha' all the time because he was, you know, Scottish. But not so, according to the Catch-22 flashback. He was going to be a monk, you see. Or, a 'brother', if you will.Whatever.
I am so glad, silly flashback aside, that Michael Ian Cusick made the regular roster and survived last season's hatch explosion because I think he's one of the better actors on the show. And I like Des, and I like Penny, and I like that love story so much, cheesy as all hell though it may be.
Desmond seeing the future is an interesting twist, and I liked how he played off of Charlie, maybe it's just the 'fun with accents' thing, but I thought Michael and Dom Monaghan worked great together.
But what happens with Desmond after he gets off the island and reunites with Penny? Will he be willing to go back with Jack, or will comfortable, cowardly Des take over?
SAYID
Sayid's flashback in Enter 77 was a great part of a bad episode, probably the highlight of the middle of the season, especially Naveen Andrew's performance. Sayid stepped up a bit in importance during Jack's absence and had one of the season's great, camera winking lines: ("How do you know to go North?" "By the way the light hit Eko's stick at his funeral.")
Also: during the finale, when Jack thinks Ben is about to kill Sayid, Jin, and Bernard, you heard the Iraqi Sayid Jarrah saying over Ben's walkie "We do not negotiate with terrorists." Ha!
SUN & JIN
Sun and Jin's arc over the season, while a minor note, was well played. From Sun unwittingly setting holy hell on Sawyer by killing Danny's woman, Colleen; to Jin's confrontation with a man that he doesn't know slept with his wife; to Sun's weeping acceptance of her fate as she finds out that the baby is Jin's. Just another example of the show's ability to keep characters in the background most of the time, and then pack a wallop with them when the spotlight's on.
JULIET
An excellent addition to the cast, and really the first new character since the pilot episode with real depth and motivation (well, there was Mr, Eko, but, well...). Her back story was well fleshed out, and she may be the largest piece of the 'why is future Jack a mess?' puzzle. HURLEY
Oh, maybe he didn't do much this season but we like Hurley. And we learned that Cheech Marin was his dad! No wonder he's so screwed up and ran to the comfort of Apollo bars and ranch dressing. But Hurley's episode was great fun, and his VW bus rampage through the camp in the finale was pure, crowd-pleasing bliss. I wonder: what happens to sweet old Jabba after he gets off the island and back to his millions of dollars?
CLAIRE
She's Jack's sister. She has a baby. Charlie loves her. That's pretty much all we know or need to know about Claire, but every once in awhile you get hints at greatness from her character. I think Emilie De Ravin is capable of more, maybe her flash forwards will give her more purpose, especially as Aaron grows up.
BEN
Oh, thank you. Michael Emerson is the sickest fuck that you ever had a blast watching be the heavy. Evil is so much fun, especially in his theater-ready delivery. And Ben's flashback was fascinating, even if we still don't know who or what Jacob is.
And how evil is Ben Linus? Does he, in his own twisted way, really have the best interests of the survivors and his own people at heart? Future Jack certainly seems to think he's made a mistake getting off the island, just like Ben said he would.
And, after all, he gave he order to pretend to kill Sayid, Jin, and Bernard.
Who is he really, at his core? I'm more interested in that mystery than the four-toed statue.
CHARLIE: R.I.P.
He was expendable, sure. And had they chickened out of killing Charlie after half a season of build up, fans probably would have given up on the show for good. But what a way to go.
There is a moment right before Charlie dies, when he's already completely underwater, after he's given the message 'NOT PENNY'S BOAT' to Desmond. He nods, and Des nods, and Charlie realizes (maybe for the first time) that he's really going to die. It's amazing acting from Dom Monaghan, particularly while submerged. And then he floats back, crosses himself, and Charlie Pace dies.
It hits harder than you ever would have expected. We'll miss you, mate.
EKO: R.I.P.
Maybe he was a prick on set, but surely he could have stuck around a little longer? Eko was a great character, he played off of Locke brilliantly. I thought he was important to the future of the show, but I guess he did prove again that the monster is not to be underestimated. MICHAEL & WALT
So hands up, who thought the producers were lying, or at least vamping, when they said they had Walt's growth 'accounted for' in the overall arc of the show?I certainly did, but with the flash forwards it all makes sense now. Oh, but what becomes of Michael after the survivors get off the island, and reveal his dirty little secret? Or are they not able to? Jack said he was 'sick of lying'. Lying about what?
And apparently many people think that's Walt in the casket, but why would Kate be so adamant about not attending poor little Walt's funeral?
Seeing how these guys play into the future storylines of the show is something I'll be anxiously awaiting in Season Four.
EPISODE RATINGS
A Tale of Two Cities
We meet Juliet and see the Other's camp for the first time; meanwhile Jack keeps crying and makes a witless escape attempt. Good job, buddy.A
The Glass Ballerina
We officially learn that Sun is in fact a slut and that 'Henry Gale' is actually Benjamin Linus. To celebrate the revelation, Ben takes Jack to a baseball game.A
Further Instructions
Placeholder Locke flashback; Boone with inexplicably long hair; bad CG polar bears.B-
Every Man for Himself
Ben tortures a bunny. A bunny! Fucker.A-
The Cost of Living
Wherein we learn absolutely nothing new about Mr. Eko, and then he dies. Boo.C-
I Do
Mid-Season cliffhanger, whatever that means. Not a bad one, though: "Kate, dammit, run!"A-
Not in Portland
Trippy Clockwork Orange videos and people shooting other people (Juliet icing Danny) with no apparent motivation? LOST is back!B+
Flashes Before Your Eyes
Better than you thought it was, but yes, confusing. You're not the only one checking your watch. B
Stranger in a Strange Land
Give me a tattoo, damn you! Worst. Episode. Ever. D-
Tricia Tanaka is Dead
Advances the story in zero ways, but so damn fun nobody notices. A
Enter 77
First episode in a long time where the flashback (Sayid's) was much better than the on-island stuff. And what's up with Locke?C-
Par Avion
Can be summed up in one of two sentences, depending on what kind of person you are: 'Yes, Claire is Jack's sister.' or 'Goth Claire is yummy.'B-
The Man from Tallahassee
Locke's dad pushes him out of a window. Ok, he's a dick, we get it. Amazing acting by Terry O'Quinn, just amazing.B-
Expose
Poochie's dead!Unloved newbies Nikki and Paolo kill each other, which ironically breathes new life into the show.
A
Left Behind
What's this? Kate episodes can be entertaining? Go on.B+
One of Us
Juliet's evil. No, she's not. Wait-yes she is. Oh, ummm...help.A-
Catch-22
Desmond and Charlie do a little male bonding in the woods. B-
D.O.C.
Sun's baby really is Jin's, which means she's going to die, but that she's happy. So now I feel bad for calling her a slut before.B+
The Brig
So this is what sweeps are all about! Sawyer meets the man of his dreams. "You wanna see hell??!!"A-
The Man Behind the Curtain
Ben goes from sadistic little weasel to Adolf Hitler. Great, great cliffhanger with Locke in the mass grave.A
Greatest Hits
Dom Monaghan makes us care about Charlie for the first time since he kicked smack. A+
Through the Looking Glass
More exciting, intelligent, mysterious, and inventive than any blockbuster film in years. This is what television can be.A+
LOST; Season Three: B+
Matthew Guerrero
