By Faith McQuinn
Tonight was the season four premiere of LOST. This was, by far, the most anticipated premiere of the year for me. And now, I have a boatload (pun intended) of questions. But first, a quick summary for all the forgetful viewers out there.It’s been eight months since the last time an original episode of LOST aired, and I’m sure some of you need a recap. When we were on the island last, a woman named Naomi parachuted in and said she had a rescue boat off shore. Convinced that Desmond’s girl Penny sent the boat, Charlie (Dominic Monaghan) and Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) head to an underwater hatch to unblock the radio signals to the island.
While the guys are swimming, Jack (Matthew Fox) takes on the role of Moses and leads his band of survivors to the radio tower. Meanwhile, Bernard (Sam Anderson), Jin (Daniel Dae Kim) and Sayid (Naveen Andrews) stay behind to blow up the Others. They succeed…sort of. Hurley (Jorge Garcia) runs over the ones that are left, and Sawyer (Josh Holloway) takes out Mr. Friendly (M.C. Gainey).
So, Charlie drowns. Jack beats up Ben (Michael Emerson). Locke throws a knife in Naomi’s back and runs away. But Jack still calls the boat and they’re all going home. Oh, and Jack and Kate successfully get off the island thanks to that ingenious flash-forward. All is well.
Not so fast.
Now for this week and all those damn questions. Usually on LOST, at least one question is answered. I mean, granted, about a dozen are brought up, but still questions get answered. In the season four premiere, however, I didn’t get anything answered.
The episode picks up where the season three finale left off. Jack has just called the boat, and the guys are on their way to rescue them. Hurley and company are still on the beach when they hear the good news. Hurley, realizing that he will finally be free of all of his money troubles, cannonballs into the ocean.
His happiness is soon stomped upon when Desmond brings news of Charlie’s death. Right away, Hurley becomes Locke’s biggest supporter and decides that they need to get to Jack before Jack gets to the beach to meet Not Penny’s Boat.
In the flash-forward, Hurley gets himself into a mental institution because, turns out, he’s seeing Charlie. But Charlie’s dead, right? Right?! Yeah, he’s dead. Charlie even says so. Then why is Hurley seeing Charlie? And to whom is Charlie referring when he says, “They need your help”? And when Jack and Hurley are talking, what does Jack want to make sure Hurley’s not going to tell? And the hell are the other three in the Oceanic Six?!
Back on the island, Hurley’s already begun to see things. When he gets lost in the jungle, he happens upon Jacob’s creepy shack. When he turns to run, low and behold, there’s the shack again. Is the island playing tricks on Hurley, or is he really losing his mind?
Whatever is, one thing is for certain. Hurley is hurting from the loss of Charlie. In honor of what his friend sacrificed, Hurley is the first to join Locke in escaping the supposed rescue party. Claire (Emile de Ravin), Sawyer, Ben, Rousseau (Mira Furlan), Alex and Karl follow suit. Jin, Sun (Yunjin Kim), Rose (L. Scott Caldwell), Bernard, Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell) and Kate stay with Jack. Sides have been chosen, but who’s right? Is there a right?
If you are not a fan of LOST, you may actually think I didn’t like this episode. But you are so wrong. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what good television is. I may be frustrated by all the damn questions, but that’s what keeps me watching. Every week, I find some other aspect of the show to love. I may have had had to wait 251 days (yeah, I counted), but they were worth it.
LOST is back. The stakes are higher, and writers’ strike or not, I’m in for the long haul.