"The End ..."

"The End ..."

 

    Though season six of LOST gave us so much to talk about, I found myself unable to write much.  I honestly did not know what to think about the events leading to the climatic final episode, simply titled "The End."  Now, having seen the conclusion, I find myself slightly unsettled with the final message of the show.  I enjoyed every second of it, and I was speechless when the word "Lost" floated on the screen at 11:30, but I found myself wondering how I was supposed to react.  Was it a happy ending?  Cheerful?  Pessimistic?  Like so many shows before it, the finale of LOST has left fans torn between praise and disgust and gratefulness and disappointment.

    I can't help but feel like audiences are too tough on season finales.  While much of the blame is on the network for hyping their finales so much, our expectations have surely changed.  Consider the historically praised endings of shows like St. Elsewhere or Newhart.  How would we react if the entire series was the imaginative story of Jack's son, David, or if Hurley woke up on the set of Becker claiming to have dreamed about being on an island?  The creators would have to call David Chase for advice as to where to hide.  People still carp on The Sopranos creator for not giving the audience at nice, tie-up-all-the-knots ending.  Yet, LOST has given us a definitive ending, and yet, so many of us will debate it until the next big series ends (I hear Fringe is good ...)

    The wonderful thing about the finale was the culmination of the main themes: redemption and community.  These characters had nothing in 2004, but fate (or Jacob) brought them together and showed them how they needed (and had) a purpose.  Most importantly, they needed someone.  Each one of them needed that other person to help them move on.  But ultimately, each member needed the entire group to get to where they were going.  The interesting thing about this doorway to the beyond was not the characters who were present, but the characters who were not.  While we see Ben Linus decide that he is not ready (or worthy enough) to go yet - he still has some things to finish with his daughter and possibly new lover -, we do not get this from Rose and Bernard, Michael and Walt, or Charlotte, Miles, and Daniel.  Did these characters not deserve heaven?  Obviously, a ticket on Oceanic Flight 815 was not the ticket needed to get into heaven, since Desmond, Penelope, and Juliet appear to be apart of this community. 

    While some of the moments seemed self-mockery (Kate asking about the name "Christian Shephard"), the episode was a beautiful collection of religious symbolism, yet so brilliantly never got preachy.  The heaven that these survivors experience in clearly their own, despite their diverse backgrounds.  After six years, we walk away with the lesson that heaven is made on Earth with the people and experiences that matter most to us.  When we love others, we are rewarded, such was shown by Hurley, who escaped unharmed and happy simply for being our ultimate symbol of love.  Though many religions were used throughout the series (as shown in the stained-glass window behind Jack as he observes his father's coffin), it was the popular Christian (get it?) religion that dominated the episode, with Jack as our ultimate Christ figure who dies for the community, being led by a need to please his father, the man who finally opens the doors to heaven.  This may have been overdone with the Communion scene between he and Hurley.  The dialogue might have well been, "drink this; this is my blood; do this in memory of me."  Though there were clever moments, such as Fake Locke stabbing his side where Jesus has been scarred by the whip of the Romans. 

    In the end, it seems most of our characters get to spend eternity with those they love.  Even our Jesus gets to be with his Mary Magdalene, the self-admitting guilty Kate with a heart of gold.  But I can't help but wonder: where is Walt?  Michael?  Why doesn't Locke get to be with Helen?  Perhaps the writers felt they needed to be so honest as to say, "Sometimes we can't get everything.  Literally, some things get 'lost' and we just aren't meant to get them back."  Okay!  I'll buy that!  Was it the best finale of all-time?  Nope.  But for an allegory-filled series, it surely gave the common viewer the neatly-wrapped package they wanted, while still giving the theory-craving viewers something to think about for years to come!

    Thank you, LOST.  For six years, you were a constant in our lives.  You filled us with so much debate, discussion, and analysis.  You challenged audiences to think, which I so much admire.  Thank you for the future years we have of re-viewings and re-debating!  It has been, and will continue to be, a pleasure!

The Fall of the House of Kwon

     I have not had a reason to write a blog for the last few weeks.  I've sat back and just watched.  While being excited about certain moments, I've been disappointed by others.  So many have been surprised of my disgust in "Ab Aeterno."  What did I learn from such an episode?  That Richard came to the island as a slave on The Black Rock?  That's he's been alive for a very long time?   Well, stop the presses!  Furthermore, I am sorry, but I have no interest in Isabella, Richard's long long long long long long lost love.  Additionally, was it a big surprise that Hurley can talk to her?  Hurley talks to dead people.  I got it.  Move on.

    "The Package," however, was wonderful.  It was filled with intrigue and surprises.  The biggest surprise not being what happened - Desmond's back -, but what didn't happen - Sun and Jin did not find each other.  I got news for you, folks, they're not going to.  It is not the words of the prolific Flock or Jacob, but of the villainous Keamy, who tells Jin that they are not meant to be together.  Right in front of us, the lives of Sun and Jin are moving backwards.  Sun has lost the ability to speak English, a reverse of her biggest progression, and Jin is forming a partnership with a questionable figure.  Widmore is still questionable, right?

    Let's look at some important moments in the package:

• Sun's loss of English: While this could mean so many things, like what I mentioned above, it's most likely the joining of the two worlds.  If "Sideways" Sun knew English, we would know it by now.  She doesn't.  The Sun of the island is slowly losing it.  Eventually, we'll probably see her lose her ability to understand English as well.  Slowly the worlds are becoming more and more similar. 
• Sun's long glance in the mirror: Sun cuts her finger on the island and then notices it in the mirror in the sideways world.  This is similar to Jack's cut on his neck, Jin's cut on his head, and Sawyer's cut on his hand - from a mirror.  The worlds are converging slowly and subtly.   From the very beginning, when Jack found his cut in the cramped bathroom on the plane, we were clued in on the fact that these are not separate worlds.  Is it time?  Is the island further in the future than we think?
• Mikhail's eye: Did anyone else cheer when Jin shot Mikhail in the eye?  It was awesome!  It was also another sign that the worlds are converging.  Again, I can't escape the idea that the sideways world is really just the past and that eventually, these people will end up on the island and experience the events we are watching them experience, or the island world is moving backwards (Sun forgetting English).  Mikhail's loss of an eye also calls on the literary figure of Polyphemus from The Odyssey.  Not only was Polyphemus a cyclops and a loner who lived in a cave all by himself (similar to Mikhail living in a shack all by himself), but he was the son of Poseidon, god of the sea.  It was after Odysseus poked his son's remaining eye out that Poseidon swore to destroy Odysseus before he returned back to his home in Ithaca to reunite with his wife.  What god will stop Jin and Sun from getting back together?  Is there more to learn about Mikhail?  Does this have a connection to Desmond the traveller who is dedicated to his true love Penelope (the name of Odysseus' wife). 
• Kate: Though not a main character in the last few episodes, her role seems important.  Notice that she has become involved in many of the sideways story lines.  She helped Claire, she stole Jack's pen, and she has been captured by Sawyer.  Is she the constant that brings the two worlds together?  Assuming she is not a candidate (which I am still not positive of), she is still very important.  She has touched too many lives not to be.  It is also not clear if she is actually on Flock's side.  Her overall goal is blurry at best.  Sawyer might be right that she wants to get off the island, but she wants to do it on her own terms and not before her work with Claire is done.  But Claire has her own agenda.  Let's not ignore the playing of "Amazing Grace" during the preview for next week's "Happily Ever After."  Someone's number is up!  Is it Kate?

    I still don't have a theory of how this is going to end.  Hopefully, after a few more episodes, I will have more insight.  Right now, I am just enjoying the final episodes and getting "lost" with the rest of you.

More Questions ... Or Answers? A Look at "The Substitute"

     First of all, thank you to all my readers who have harassed me for a blog.  I am honored.  Honestly, there is not much for me to say.  I am truly "lost" with this season.  But I mean that in a fun way.  This season has taken me for a very satisfying ride and we are only on the third episode.  Well, I think it's clear to say that "The Substitute" was the first episode of the season that we know will be considered a classic.  Events such as Ben revealing himself as the European History teacher, the young stigmata child saying, "You know the rules.  You can't kill him," and even Helen suggesting inviting Locke's father to their eloping were even more satisfying than Jack sitting on the plane next to Rose in the first moments of the season.  But as I've been thinking what I want to say in this blog, I've come up with some questions and possibly some concerns about what we are going to see in the last thirteen hours of Lost.

    

The Stigmata Child ...

    Perhaps I am being too hasty by calling him the "Stigmata Child," but after many years of Catholic School, I know a Christ Allusion when I see one.  Though it's worth noting that the blood is running down his arms and not coming out of his hands.  Perhaps the child is actually bleeding from the heart (literally and figuratively).  Many are saying that the child is a young Jacob, which is completely possible.  Though one can't help but think that might be coming out of left field (that's a lot to say about a show that has a character who becomes a puff of smoke).  Why would a young Jacob be on the island?  Consider this: Aaron was wanted by the others because he was "special."  Could it be that a version of Aaron (perhaps the one that will eventually reunite with his mother, the rifle-baring Claire) is wandering the island making warnings to the Man in Black (and Jacob I would assume).  It seems to me that this specter is acting as a referee between the two opponents.  But who exactly is the "him" that the child speaks of?  Is is the already killed Jacob?  Is it Sawyer?  Or is it the already deceased and "ripe" John Locke?  

 

Is Jacob Dead? ...

    Was it just me or did Ilana look more upset about the death of her "What Lies Beneath the Shadow of the Statue" companion that she did about the death of Jacob?  It is my suspicion that the death of Jacob happens quite often and is the actual source of the white ash this group of followers uses to protect themselves from the Man in Black.  I also noticed that Ben doesn't even flinch when he watches her take the ashes.  To the naked eye, it seems that even Ben is out of the loop lately, but I am started to think more of our ambiguous friend.  Not to mention, he is a history teacher now ... those people are smart!

 

The Flight ... ¹

    Are we sure that the flight we saw Jack and Rose on is the same flight that we saw Locke and Boone on?  What about Claire?  It has been noticed by many that Claire's sonogram contained the date October 22, 2004, one month after the date of Flight 815.  Blooper?  No way!  The producers would never let that happen.  First I considered the possibility that the flight in the "non-island" world took off a month later.  But then Helen (portrayed beautifully by Katey Sagal) mentions to Locke that their wedding is coming up in October.  Assuming the producers would not blow something so important, I am going to go out on a limb (at the risk of falling off) and say that Claire and Locke were on two different flights.  Could the same be said for some of our other castaways?  We know that Kate and Claire were on the same flight.  We know Kate and Jack were on the same flight.  We know Charlie and Sayid were on the same flight with Jack.  But did we see Locke with anyone but Boone?  Also, it has been reported that Shannon will be returning to the series.  Perhaps she is on the same flight as Claire, Jack, Rose, Kate, and the rest of the gang, following her brother one month later.  One more note: If Rose works for Hugo and they were on the same flight, wouldn't they have said hello or something?  Not if they were on a completely different flight one month apart!

 

     There is so much going on.  We have Kate helping Claire after kidnapping Claire (I think there is a lot of symbolism in Claire giving Kate her credit card - talk about identity theft!!).  We have Sayid coming back to life but being affected by something.  We have Richard's confrontation with the Man in Black.  What is it that he wants from Richard?  Also, we are one step closer to finding out what the hell those damn numbers mean ... or did we take two steps back?  We'll soon find out!

 

notes

¹ It's worth noting that after some comments and further thought, there probably was only one flight.  A comment was made that the date on Claire's sonagram was most likely her due date.  That's a possibility.  I'm still wondering ...

"Look's Like We Made It ..."

 

    "It's okay.  We made it."

    "Looks like we made it."

    Occurring in the first minute of the Season Six Premiere in a conversation between Jack and Rose, these lines may be the key to the entire season - and the entire series.  The creators have introduced what seemed like alternate realities.  But is that what they are?  I'd rather not think of it so simply (despite the complexity of alternate realities).  But are they flash forwards?  Flashbacks?  Flash anything?  Notice that our normal sound initiating a flash did not occur last night.  The sound was different.  If we are dealing with alternate realities, perhaps we can call these "Flash-sideways.¹"  But again, I don't want to think of them as alternate, because that implies that one of them is not real.  They are both definitely real!

    The writers seem to be giving us a "What if?" look at the series.  Science Fiction often asks the question "What if?" concerning an aspect of humanity.  In an egotistical sense, the show is not asking about life, but asking about the series itself.  What if Oceanic 815 never crashed?  What if they "made it"?  Apparently, the castaways' lives would have merged together anyway.  We are left with so many bonding relationships in the premiere episode.  Jack meets Locke and offers to save him (I must admit, it had never occurred to me that Jack is a spinal surgeon and Locke broke his spinal cord - DUH!).  Kate meets Claire and "steals" her (and Aaron).  Sayid and Jack save Charlie's life - who is "supposed to die."

    The big question of the season will be how these two realities will come together - if they ever do.  According to Juliet (our tragic figure), the plan "worked."  She must know something.  I want to point out that she says something to Sawyer about meeting for coffee.  How much do you want to bet that somewhere along the way, the Sawyer who never got to the island meets Juliet at Starbucks at some point?  Juliet knows something.  She feels it.  Or she knows it.  Perhaps the group that is on the island in 2007 is actually the same group that did NOT crash in Oceanic 815.  Did they ever say that's how they landed?  No.  Maybe this group that landed safely will eventually get to the island in another fashion and will find themselves in the situation we are seeing on the island.

    It was not a shocking revelation to us when the "Man in Black" revealed he was the Smoke Monster.  Though Ben's realization of it was a great moment!  Go back now and watch all the moments where Smokey had influence.  Ask yourself why?  Why did he kill Eko?  Why did he kill the pilot in the pilot (ha)?  Could that pilot have gotten them home safely, so the MIB felt the need to kill him?  Does Lapidis not have the same talent for saving his passengers?

    I always love to look closely at the BOMP!  Last night's BOMP did not come to me as a surprise, but the symbolism behind it is fascinating.  Sayid was baptised and then rose from the dead.  I seem to remember someone doing that at some point.  I'm not sure.  I went to Catholic School for thirteen years, so maybe my information is a little scrambled.  The writers have given us characters like "Christian Shephard" and "Jacob," but none of us thought that the Middle-Eastern man would be the Christ Figure?  Again ... DUH!  I expect we will see more Christ-like action coming from our resurrected torturer.

    So many things to look at and there will be more viewing of the two-hour episode before next week.  For right now, I've asked a lot of questions and I hope to answer them with more theories as we get further into the season.  What a great start!  I can't wait to continue! 

    

notes

¹ For the record, I came up with this term BEFORE reading any other analyses of this episode.  So, suck it, Darlton!

Holiday Favorites

 

    As the holiday season approaches, I like to enjoy the art of film.  I have always loved movies, but Christmas lends itself to some classic cinema.  While Hollywood keeps pushing out "Holiday Movies," I think it's safe to say that most of us enjoy the old classics.  Just recently, I went with my family to see Disney's A Christmas Carol on the IMAX screen in Atlantic City.  Marketed as Disney's first A Christmas Carol, (which is not true ... remember Mickey's?) Jim Carrey portrays the infamous miser as well as multiple other roles, including the three specters that are sent to salvage what is left of his heart (which is three hundred sizes too small).  Gary Oldman is a highlight as Bob Crachit and The Ghost of Jacob Marley.  The movie was excellent and deserved all the praise it has received from the critics.  My mother exclaimed, "That was the best version I've ever seen."  Well, with all due respect, I would not give it that distinction, but I would argue it's the best in a few years.  After enjoying the IMAX experience, I was inspired to write about some of my favorite holiday movies and suggest them to my readers.

    

Scrooged (1988, starring Bill Murray)

    Richard Donner (director of the original 1978 Superman film) takes the reigns of this modern adaptation.  One of my favorites, it follows Frank Cross, a shrewd television executive who cares more about being on top than taking part in the Christmas Festivities.  In an attempt at meta-theatricality, he also happens to be in the middle of producing a live television broadcast of Scrooge, starring Buddy Hacket (who actually appears in the film).  Joined by his love interest, played by Karen Allen, Murray brings the story to the 20th century and is hilarious along the way.  Besides the great comic moments, such as Murray being hit repeatedly by Carol Kane (as the Ghost of Christmas Present), Donner accomplishes the hard task of giving the slap-stick comedy the sentimental ending it needs.  Does it pull at the heart strings in the end?  Absolutely!  But it's exactly what the Spirits of Christmas call for!  Rent this film right away!  Side note: Notice an appearance by John Glover (Smallville, Roundabout's Waiting for Godot) as Murray's adversary and Kathy Kinney (Mimi on The Drew Carey Show) as a bit part of the Nurse. 

 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989, starring Chevy Chase)

    Recently, I brought this film up to my father-in-law, who replied, "I've never actually seen the whole thing ... it's just silly slapstick!"  Well, Bah-Humbug to you, too, Dad!  This film, starring Chevy Chase once again as Clark Griswald, combines the terror of the visiting family with the tending of the ... visiting family.  Possibly the best of the "Vacation" movies, this one makes us laugh constantly and reminds us that families are not perfect.  It also makes us appreciate everything that our parents did for us during the holidays while we sat back and took it all for granted.  I suggest turning on TBS right now because it's probably on!  Laugh, laugh again, and then laugh harder!  I'll get my father-in-law to agree eventually.

 

A Christmas Carol (1984, starring George C. Scott)

    Forgive me, but George C. Scott is hands down the best Ebenezer Scrooge of all time.  Sorry, Mr. Sim, you were wonderful, but your movie is long and drawn out (and sometimes you're too creepy to look at).  This 1984 version (actually made for television) depicts the classic, Dickensian skinflint we all grow to adore.  It also gets to the point quickly.  With a running of time of 100 minutes, this is the perfect version to sit and watch after Christmas Eve dinner.  You can get into the true spirit of Christmas and still be in bed before Santa arrives.

 

It's A Wonderful Life (1946, starring Jimmy Stewart)

     Frank Capra had no interest in creating a "Christmas" movie.  It just so happens that his everyman tale takes place during the holidays.  Actually, the majority takes place during the life of it's protagonist, George Bailey, and only in the final half hour do we see Bedford Falls decorated for the holidays.  When the movie was first being advertised, it was marketed as a romance film between it's leading man and Donna Reed.  Audiences were pleasantly surprised to find a story that everyone could relate to and enjoy on a personal level.  Probably one of the most quotable movies of all time, it's become a staple during the holiday season.  In fact, until NBC purchased the rights, the movie could be found on television practically every hour from Thanksgivings to New Years Day.  Amazingly, there are still people I talk to who say, "I've never seen the whole thing!"  There is no reason for that!  I order you to go out and watch it from beginning to end, and I challenge you not to tear up when George is proclaimed to be "the richest man in town!"

 

 Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

    While I give Jim Carrey at lot of credit for his portrayal of the green goblin in 2000, no one can argue that it's the stronger version.  With a running time of a meager twenty-six minutes, the original story is by far the superior.  Brilliantly narrated by Boris Karloff, this animated classic touches the heart of all who view it.  After we watch him steal everything from the families in Whoville, we still sympathize with the lovable ogre as he tries his damnedest to stop his sleigh from crashing into the morning celebration!  What other movie convinces its audience to change their view so quickly?  As fast as the Grinch falls in love with Christmas, we fall in love with the Grinch!  Watch and feel your heart grow three sizes!

 

    No matter what your traditions are, take some time to cuddle up with a cup of tea, hot apple cider, or hot chocolate and enjoy yourself!  Christmas may not be about gifts, but that doesn't mean you can't give yourself the gift of getting lost in a beautiful holiday film!  Merry Christmas to all!   

More Religion on LOST ...

 

    I feel terrible!  I have not been writing nearly enough about LOST.  That does not mean I am not watching.  Bonnie and I are almost done with the second season (remember the Hatch?).  We are still discussing and debating the idea that John Locke has actually been the "Man in Black" from the beginning.  Sometimes that theory works beautifully and other times not.  While usually I would dismiss a theory for its inconsistency, one should not do that with LOST.  Bonnie has suggested that in the third episode, when John Locke meets Smokey, is the "Man in Black" enters him, thus using Locke as a vessel throughout the show that he can enter and exit as he pleases.  This would explain why sometimes Locke is very "Man in Black"-ish and other times he is not.

    But this posting is not about that.  I've often discussed the correlations between religion and LOST.  By now, it's easy to assume that the writers are using religion as a basis for many plot points, yet we still don't know what they mean.  108?  Jacob and Esau?  What else?  Recently we viewed the episode entitled "S.O.S."  In this often-forgotten episode, the flashback is about Rose and Bernard (the first guest stars to get flashbacks).  In this episode, we discover that Rose was diagnosed with cancer not too long after she meets, and is courted by, Bernard.  After their marriage, Bernard takes her to Australia to see a "Faith Healer" named Isaac.  Isaac fully admits that he is unable to heal Rose, though Rose decides to tell Bernard that he was successful, hoping Bernard's constant worrying will cease.  Of course, on their way out of Australia, they crash on the island, where all diseases are "cured," such as Locke's need for a wheelchair. 

    The name “Isaac” appears approximately eighty times in the King James Bible.  Isaac is the son of 100-year-old Abraham, who is destined to not to have children until God blesses him and his wife, Sarah, with a son.  God then asks Abraham to sacrifice young Isaac to show his devotion.  Eventually, God changes his request to a minor circumcision, the first on record.  So why name a Faith Healer “Isaac”?  The connection is not as strong as some of the others in the show, but, in the Bible, Isaac bares two sons: Jacob and Esau. 

    Let’s assume for a little while that the “Man in Black” is Esau.  According to the story, Isaac goes blind due to old age but before he dies, is supposed to bless the eldest son with the blessing he received from his father, who received it from God.  Esau, jealous of big brother Jacob, pretends to be Jacob by gluing hair on his arm (apparently Jacob was quite hairy).  This naturally begins a battle between the two brothers, much like the battle between Cain and Abel (see my Cain & Abel / Locke & Ben theory on this blog). 

    If the writers are following the Bible as a guide, we may find out that Isaac the Faith Healer is the father of Jacob and the “Man in Black.”  It would seem that, like in the Bible, Jacob is the favorite son and Esau hates him for it (“Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” Malachi 1:2-4).  It could be that while Jacob is the one responsible for sending the Oceanic Six to the island, it is his father, Isaac, sending the others.  It stands to reason that if Isaac had healed Rose, she may have wanted to stay in Australia longer, therefore avoiding the fated Oceanic Flight 815. 

     Before we know it, we’ll be heading into Season Six!  Another topic that needs to be discussed is the titles to the first few episodes of Season Six.  We’ll get to that soon … For now, tune into ABCs new hit, FlashForward.  It’s terrific for any LOST fan!  I’m sure I’ll be commenting on it in The Correct Opinion soon.

 

A Look Back at John Locke

 

    At the conclusion of LOST's fifth season, we learned about a certain "Man in Black" (let's call him Esau) who appears to be the adversary of the mystical Jacob.  This character made a clear threat to Jacob that he will try to kill him at some point.  Jacob did not seem concerned until he was being killed by Ben, who was being guided by Esau disguised as John Locke.  We also learned that the John Locke of season five was actually dead, and we were watching Esau pretending to be John Locke in order to fool Ben into following him.  Wow!  That was confusing!  Nevertheless, we need to take a second and answer a question: Why was John Locke chosen by Esau?  Why not Jack?  Sawyer?  To investigate means to watch the series from the beginning; it will also gear me up for the final season, beginning in January 2010. 

 

    Only three episodes into the series, it's interesting to look closely at Locke.  While Jack is trying to save Kate's U.S. Marshall and Sayid is playing with blocked radio frequencies, Locke is busy observing.  Call this a hypothesis, rather than a theory.  What if Locke died on the plane?  What if Locke has never been "Locke"?  What if he is Esau?  While there might be many holes in the hypothesis, there is evidence as well.  We know that Locke's flashback's will reveal that he was crippled by his father's window push and somehow began walking on the island.  But is this actually possible?  Or is it Esau walking on the island?  Further, we must remember that the flashbacks are not memories.  They are flashbacks that provide information.  We learn information about John Locke off the island.  This is not proof that the John Locke "on the island" experienced any of those events.  Further, in the Locke flashbacks, have we ever seen evidence that this wheel-chair-bound man would know how to kill a wild boar?  No.  But Esau, who has been on the island for centuries, would.

 

 

    In the first three episodes, John Locke observes the other islanders trying to survive.  After helping Jack move victims in the first few moments of the series, John Locke does nothing to help others until he finally finds Vincent - Walt's dog - by creating a dog whistle.  Before this, he does have a very interesting exchange with the young boy about the game of backgammon.  Not only does he talk about how the ancient game is over 5000 years old (how old would Esau be?), but he also points out the battle between the white and black pawns.  On the surface, this appears to be something of a race reference since Walt is African American, but it could also refer to Jacob (who was wearing white at the top of season five's finale) and the "man in black." 

 

 

    One must also point out the unusual ending of episode three, entitled "Tabula Rasa."  We hear the song "Washed Away" coming out of Hurley's earphones as we see the first acts of kindness and community of the island.  Boone (oh, remember Boone?) gives Shannon (OH, remember Shannon?) a pair of repaired sunglasses, Sayid gives Sawyer a piece of fruit, and Michael brings Walt his dog (found by Locke).  Locke does not do anything but watch.  There is definitely a creepy feeling emulating from the still-mysterious Locke as he watches the father and son finally communicate.  Though the "bomp" is more calming that what we will get used to in the series run.  Could it be that Esau, our "man in black" is watching his plan form?  If so, is that the secret "miracle" he tells Walt about and not the fact that he could not walk before crashing on the island?  If the miracle is their arrival on the island, that would explain Locke's insistence that they remain on the island.  It should also be mentioned that the title "Tabula Rasa" refers to a theory by the philosopher John Locke.  Simply, it states that we are born blank.  We have the freedom to be the author's of our own souls.  It is actually Jack who makes the reference to the theory when he tells Kate that he believe they should all "start over" since they are not on the island.  Perhaps Esau agrees.

 

    After more episodes, many of these thoughts might be proven wrong.  That is my new project.  I will look closely at Locke and write as frequently as possible about whether or not John Locke might actually be Esau, the "Man In Black" the entire series!

Though a Slow Start, Hung has Potential

 
    HBO has been known to give us some "out there" shows.  Some, such as Six Feel Under have proved to be great, award-winning shows.  Others, such as The Comeback, have proved to ... you know ... not be.  Anyway, like its lead character Ray Drecker, HBO's newest half-hour comedy Hung started off slow but definitely shows great potential to be the next big thing on HBO.  The plot is quite simple: History teacher / basketball coach Ray Drecker needs money so that he can have custody of his two distant teenagers.  To leave the kids with their beauty queen mother (played by Anne Heche) and her rich, successful husband would be terrible!  So with the help of his "motivational class"-mate Tonya, Ray finds away to use his "best tool" to his advantage; Ray becomes a gigolo.  Tonya, a past one (two)-night stand, acts as his pimp. 

 

    HBO's 45-minute pilot received some poor reviews.  As usual for HBO series, the show focused merely on exposition with very little action.  As always, viewers were a little doubtful of whether or not this was the show for them.  For those of us that stuck around for episode two, we were disappointed to see there was simply more exposition.  What viewers forget is that if you go back and watch all the favorite HBO series' pilots, exposition has always been the focus.  Go watch the pilot of The Sopranos or Sex and the City and tell me what actually happens.  But after three episodes, like it's predecessors, this series has shown true promise to be entertaining, even if it simply takes The Full Monty a small step further. 

 

    As individuals, the cast is strong.  Some work might need to be done on getting them to work on the same plane.  Anne Heche, while a talented actress, seems unsure as to what role the ex-wife is really going to play.  Is she a friend or foe?  The writers seem to be more interested in her relationship with the troubled teenagers (who are more troubled in the parents' eyes than in reality) that she does with her ex-husband.  The best part about Heche on screen are her loud-mouth mother and new husband Ronnie, played brilliantly by Eddie Jemison of Ocean's Eleven.  Hopefully, the writer's will give her character more motivation and direction.

 

    While the character of Lenore is a great start, the shows needs to bring more women for Ray to share his "gift" with.  Starting off with such an attractive woman like Rebecca Creskoff was too easy for Ray.  Was it really that difficult to be with such a woman?  If the show wants an audience to believe there are actually trials and tribulations to being a male prostitute, it better give us some women that we believe are hard to fornicate with.  Lenore has promised more clients to come, but it's doubtful that Lenore is friends with many upper-class, ugly chicks. 

 

    With all that said, this show is written really well and it's two leads Thomas Jane and Jane Adams are a lot of fun together.  While the sexual tension between them is acknowledged from the start, the subtext of the romantic tension is subtle and terrific.  Hopefully the writers will fine tune a few of the relationships and get us more involved in the comedic side of the situation.  With that said, don't give up on this show!  The next few episodes may prove that this show is not meant to be hung out to dry. 

We Finally Meet Jacob ...

 

    So the Producers of LOST finally allowed us to meet the mysterious Jacob and now we have more questions than ever!  Who is this guy?  Why are we not meeting him until now?  Why did he agree to see John Locke and not Ben?  Was he really meeting with Richard Alpert all those times?  Why did he want these people on the island?  Is he really dead?  What does it mean if he is dead?  My head hurts!

    Like past season finales of LOST, season five seemed to not end a story, but begin a new one.  While the entirety of Season Five dealt with science, mainly physics and time travel, this two-hour episode entered with full force, the world of religion.  While Jack has been slowly becoming a man of faith, Faraday has contrasted him with the question of whether or not we can change the past.  The appearance of Jacob completely changed the theme of the season.  While Jack continued the mission that Daniel Faraday started, the producers revealed how the power of Jacob has influenced the islanders for many years previous to their arrival.  This was all concluded with Ben's angry rant about being denied divinity after being so faithful.  Like many believers of God, Ben breaks down and questions how someone so powerful and so good can do so many bad things and still expect people to be have faith. 

    Ben's questioning of Jacob, the god of the island, was not the only religious theme of the show.  Ben made it quite obvious that Locke was acting like Moses, leading his people to the Promised Land.  It was a great moment when he said that, making it easy for anyone who was confused!  We also had the surprise appearance of Bernard and Rose (and Vincent).  Their short, but adorable, scene questioned people's belief about life.  While many people would agree with Sawyer and think they are crazy for living out in the jungle, it made so much sense when Rose and Bernard looked at it as a beautiful retirement.  After all is said and done, who really cares?  Death is inevitable.  One might say that Bernard and Rose have hit the nail on the head!  Now that they have figured out the secret to happiness, it seems even more likely that these two (being the first to figure it out) will eventually be the "Adam and Eve" skeletons that are discovered earlier in the series.  The atomic blast most likely will be the cause, leaving them to be found almost thirty years later.

    The biggest question is, surprisingly, not about Jacob.  It's about the other gentlemen who was with him at the beginning of the episode.  The man said that he wanted to kill Jacob and that someday he would find a "loophole."  Eventually, he does find a loophole by disguising himself as the deceased Locke and having Ben Linus do Jacob in.  This answers the question about why John Locke just "knew" things about the island.  But who is this guy?  If Jacob is the god of the island, is this guy Satan?  It looks like Season Six is going to be about the ultimate battle between good and evil.  It's not looking too good for the good side since it seems that Jacob was killed as soon as we met him.  But why are we assuming that Jacob is good?  LOST has fooled us before in thinking the obvious is true.  Perhaps Jacob was actually the "Satan" of the island and this "new guy" represent God.  Those questions will surely be answered in Season Six, when we explore the religious side of the island.  We will probably also see this man (Esau, perhaps? ... to cite Jacob's Biblical enemy brother) take the shape of other characters.  Most likely, we have already seen him take the form of Alex, Ben's daughter.  I was wrong.  It wasn't Smokey.  But I was right, something was taking the form of dead people.  Does this mean Christian Shephard is also NOT walking around the island?  Further, is it only dead people?  Even further, is it only dead people?  Can the people be alive?  Can it be other creatures such as the black stallion that Kate was so enthralled with in "What Kate Did" of Season Two?  Could Esau be SMOKEY?  My head is hurting more and more!

 

    While all of that is well and good, there is still the issue with the nuclear explosion.  Juliet's desperate attempt to stop Kate and Sawyer from being together was extreme, but will be the catalyst for the top of the final season.  What does this explosion mean for the islanders?  Will this mean that Flight 815 will not land?  Despite my past theory that if the flight does not land, there is no way for them to actually cause the explosion, there is another scenario.  If the theme of the next season is fate and destiny, then it's their destiny to show up on the island one way or another.  With this thought in mind, here is my theory: Ajira flight 316 will still crash on the island in 2007.  Nothing is preventing this crash from occurring.  Somehow our travellers (even the ones who died previously) will end up on that flight.  When it crashes, the people will find themselves in the exact same predicament as in Season One, but they will not know this has already happened to them even though the audience will.  Talk about dramatic irony!

    It will most likely be Richard that has to explain what has happened to them.  Locke and Jack will still battle out the science and fate war while Sawyer attempts to sleep with as many passengers as he can, finally falling for Kate ... or Juliet, who will be with the "Others."  No matter what happens, the door is open for so many possibilities since we now have a man who can take the form of dead (and living?) people.  Also, if this all happens, Jacob will also still be alive if and when flight 316 lands. 

    It's been an amazing season.  Here's looking forward to the sixth and finale season (especially episode 108).   Let's all relax for a bit and then spend the next few months coming up with more theories and predictions.  I am sure I am not the only one planning on putting all the previous episodes on my NetFlix queue and reliving the adventure!  One thing is for sure, we can thank the writers, cast, and crew for a season well-done!

Palace High School Gets "Cool" with West Side Story!

 

    

      The Palace High School's production of West Side Story, directed by Mrs. Kathleen Marshall, was performed last night with such terrific zest!  As soon as the young cast appeared on stage, it was obvious you were in for two and half hours of pure, delectable fun.  It was adorable how the two groups danced the difficult choreography of the great Jerome Robbins, while at the same time pretending to hate each other.  It was obvious that the two months of rehearsal after school paid off.  Sophomore Matt Cavenaugh did such a nice job with his sweet-voiced Tony.  It was very smart of Mrs. Marshall, Palace School's Theater Arts director, to give him no movement during "Maria."  It reminded us of all the times we've seen him in his voice recitals singing "This is the Moment" and "Anthem."  Who doesn't love being reminded of that?  Other highlights included Karen Olivo, now a senior, stepping back from playing the lead in last year's production of Bye Bye, Birdie, to playing the show-stealing supporting lead of Anita.  Also featured was George Akram, finally stepping out of the chorus during his junior year, as Bernardo.  But the true highlight was our exchange student Josefina Scaglione, playing the sweet Maria.  She simply stole the show whenever she held out those nice notes written by the great Leonard Bernstein.  If only Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents were able to see this!  They would have been so proud to know that there are still high school theater programs that can handle their challenging work.  There are still a few more nights to catch West Side Story.  Tickets are only $7 at the door, but $6 if you are a student or if you buy them in advance!  See you at the theater!  

     I'm so sorry.  I got confused.  I knew I wanted to write a review of the production of West Side Story at the Palace Theater in New York, but I got confused as to what I was actually watching.  Now that I've come back to my senses and I remember that I was not at a high school production last night, here is my review of the highly anticipated Broadway Revival of West Side Story.  

    When the original production of West Side Story opened in 1957, audiences were terrified.   The first line of the New York Times review stated that play was "horrifying."  I would say the same thing about this production, but I doubt for the same reason.  What horrified me was the lack of conviction in any of the movements originally created by the legendary Jerome Robbins.  Instead of providing the exposition information about the hatred between rival gangs the Jets and the Sharks, this cast simply danced.  Granted, they danced well.  If I was watching a high school dance recital, I would have been blown away.  But I wasn't.  I was watching professional Broadway dancers and actors performing West Side Story.  With no sense of intensity or drive, these young (and I mean young) performers executed timeless choreography without giving a shred of the timeless story behind the moves.   

    

    Rumors flew when 91-year-old Arthur Laurents (writer of the book) announced his plan to revive the musical after his hit production of Gypsy, for which he also wrote the book.  The two big rumors were that he planned on having the Puerto Ricans speak Spanish and that it would be a contemporary, updated version.  Both had the theater world curious what the theater icon had up his sleeve.  Though the idea of updating the show went out the window, someone forgot to tell the actors who carried themselves as if they were hanging outside the mall in North Jersey on a Friday night.  While "giving the finger" has been a gesture since the ancient Romans, I am pretty sure that it was not the most popular gesture circa 1957 (please feel free to correct me if I am wrong).  I counted about fifteen can only hope there are directors more deserving of a Tony this year.   

    As for the other rumor, Laurents did have the dialogue of the Sharks translated into Spanish, which was both distracting and effective.  While I know the show inside and out, I felt that some people were lost, especially in Act II.  It also did not help to put the English translations of "I Feel Pretty" and "A Boy Like That" in the program, causing multiple people to have to open their cell phones to provide reading light.  However, at times, it helped show the struggle of living in America for these characters and demonstrated the ethnic tension.  Was it worth it?  Probably not.  

    While it's hard to accept the love-at-first-sight scenario, audiences have learned to accept it for years.  But one of the reasons it usually works in West Side Story is the obviousness of Maria's attraction to Tony.  He's just a great guy.  Who would not want to be with him?  Well, in this production, it would probably be because Maria wants a man and not a boy.  Matt Cavenough, from Grey Gardens, performs the leading male as a youthful sissy who would be more appropriate as Freddy in My Fair Lady.  Tony should be a man who strongly announces that "Something's Coming" and that he is in love with a girl named "Maria."  Mr. Cavenaugh seemed like he was calling Mr. Hankle requesting to speak to Penelope Ann (theater people know the reference).  It did not help that Mr. Laurents gave him absolutely no movement for either song.  The first was done on a ladder and the second was done downstage, just off center.  In fact, a good majority of the action happened downstage, practically on top of the floor lights.  I'm pretty sure that Mr. Laurents knows that there is some power upstage.  It's not just for the chorus people.   

    Karen Olivo of In the Heights fame played the role of Anita.  While I did not see In the Heights, I am going to assume that Ms. Olivo simply took her role in that and brought it to this show of a completely different generation.  Olivo seemed completely out of place and did not provide any of the spitfire attitude that Anita requires to make her lovable.  It did not help that I could not understand a word that she said most of the time.  There were moments were I assumed that she was speaking Spanish, but I later found out I was incorrect.  One must wonder what has happened to Broadway when we've gone from Chita Rivera and Rita Moreno to a one-hit wonder such as Karen Olivo.  What is sadder is that she is the front-runner for the Best Featured Actress Tony Award.  

    Ms. Olivo was not the only one who was hard to understand.  The cast sped through the dialogue as if the half-priced appetizers ended at 10:00, rather than started.  There was not a sensitive moment sustained throughout the whole production, ending with Maria's monologue of murder and hatred where Ms. Scaglione held the gun to the temple of Action (a 2009 skinhead who I assume had a Nazi sign tattooed on his back).  Eventually, Maria finished her speedy monologue while holding the gun to the back of Action's head execution style.  Further, her reason for dropping the gun was not so much her realization of the rage inside her, but the fact that Lt. Shrank appeared and would have seen her eventually shoot the young, hatred-filled gang member.  Once she was back crying over the body of doomed Tony, the curtain could not have come down faster, eliminating any sense that these gang members learned the lesson that was taught to them.  

    Many moments have been left out of this review, but I feel I have said enough.  Of course, I can't help but mention the attempt at youthful symbolism when the creepy red-headed kid who lurked in the background sang "Somewhere," then disappeared.  While the idea that their childhood has been destroyed (I would think a lot earlier than this play) is a pathetic tug at our heartstrings, Nicholas Barasch did have the nicest voice in the production.  But why listen to a little boy sing "Somewhere" when I already listened to a little boy sing "Maria"?    

    I leave you with one question:  How easy is it to get a standing ovation on Broadway nowadays?  Especially on a Friday night  Well, this production left the audiences in their seats for the entirety of curtain call, which was also rushed.  I hope the cast enjoyed their potato skins more than we enjoyed West Side Story.    

 

 

Follow the Who?

    The most recent episode of LOST, "Follow the Leader," has us all wondering who holds this title.  Though thirty years apart, we again see the split leadership of Jack and John, who have a semi-reversal of roles with Jack talking about crazy illogical things like fate and destiny.  In case you didn't get that, Kate tried to clarify it with the brilliantly written line, "You know who you're beginning to sound like?"  Thanks for clearing that up, Kate!  Of course, we also have the god-like leadership of Jacob, who once again becomes the Holy Grail for John Locke.  Could it be that we are finally going to learn who Jacob really is?

    There is always the chance that Jacob is a new character.  He may be someone we've never seen before who has been looming in the shadows waiting to make his grand appearance, like the Wizard hiding from behind the curtain.  Don't forget the allusion to The Wizard of Oz earlier in the series - Ben first introduced himself as Henry Gale (Dorothy's Uncle Henry).  We all trust LOST to keep us interested and riveted, but we'd all be slightly disappointed if the revelation of Jacob was not someone we are familiar with.  Let's go through some options as to who Jacob could really be.

 

Jack Shephard

    Our fearless leader has once again proven that you just can't mess with him.  Though Kate has decided to give up on him and head back over to her back-up guy, Sawyer, Jack has convinced Sayid that perhaps he still has a few tricks up his heart-wearing sleeve.  Due to the time-travel element introduced this season, there are opportunities for everyone to actually be Jacob.  While it seems logical that Jack could become Jacob in 2007 after living from 1977 to the present, our audiences seem to forget that Jacob was in existence in 1977 already for what seems like a long time.  Richard Alpert, our timeless right-hand man has reference Jacob numerous times to the horse-riding Charles Widmore, bringing about a sense of respect not seen with anyone else.  Still, I can't help but think back to the odd visit between Jack and his granddad, who gave Jack his father's shoes that were eventually worn by the deceased John Locke.  Theories jumped around that Granddad was actually Jack.  If so, was he also Jacob, there is make sure that young Jack went back to the island?  Not so impossible, thanks to the record-skipping wheel opening the time-travelling door. 

 

Jack's Granddad

 

    Okay, stick with me for a minute.  He shows up to give Jack his father's shoes.  He doesn't discuss the island, but talks about destiny.  Soon after their meeting, Jack decides to head back.  What a coincedence that we meet Jack's grandfather at this important point in Jack's destiny.  Furthermore, if the grandfather is Jacob (God), his son is Christian Shephard (Christ / Shepherd), making Jack the son of Christ.  Though the Bible never addresses the grandson of God, LOST might just be taking the next step.      

 

John Locke

    How does John Locke just "know" things now?  Is it because he is in fact, Jacob.  Or is it that Jacob is taking the form of dead people by either entering their bodies or forming into their shape (ala Smokey)?  Either way, John Locke seems a little too confident.  Ben seems to think so, too.  Though it's doubtful that is really "following John," as he says, Ben does seem interested in nothing but where John Locke plans on taking his people.  But if John is Jacob, why does he want to "kill Jacob"?  Does he mean kill the idea of Jacob by showing everyone his true identity, like if Clark Kent showed Metropolis the Fortress of Solitude?  Ben and Richard seem very interested in John Locke right now, though they are not too happy about his blunt "I-don't-give-a-crap-what-you-think" style of leadership.  I personally loved the exchange:

Richard: I'm starting to think John Locke is going to be trouble.

Ben: Why do you think I tried to kill him?

This exchange seemed to show a true alliance between Ben and Richard and one that does not seem to include the new leader, John Locke. 

 

 

Richard Alpert

    Our ageless friend is too mysterious, don't you think?  It's about time we learn why he never ages (and what brand of eyeliner he purchases).  Since he is the only person who claims to have spoken to Jacob, it is reasonable to suspect that he is actually Jacob and his fears of John Locke lie in the fact that John Locke does not trust Jacob and is starting to create a rebellion against him.  If Richard does fall victim to the mutinous islanders, how does that affect the Richard of 1977?  Well, if Richard is in fact not ageless and just a time-travelling junkie, it might affect him colossally.  

 

Sawyer

    I never would have thought about Sawyer being Jacob until I watched the submarine containing him, Juliet, and Kate leave the island.  Side note: why did LOST all of a sudden become a cartoon when they showed the sub floating away?  Has the economy gotten so bad that ABC can't afford good computer graphics?  The guy in charge should be fired!  Anyway, if Sawyer leaves in 1977 and continues in the 70s and 80s, his story could continue with him going back to the island, travelling back further into the past and becoming the social-phobic leader, Jacob.  Furthermore, the same could be said for his two love interests.  Second Side note: Elizabeth Mitchell deserves an Emmy simply for the moment when Kate enters that sub.  Brilliant!

 

    The sad thing is that even though the water coolers are crowded with theories of who Jacob actually is, we might not find out in season five.  While I suspect the revelation of Jacob will be the "bomp" of the season, the producers might keep us dangling until the concluding season.  Either way, don't miss the Season Finale of LOST next Wednesday, and don't forget, it starts at 8:00!  Maybe we'll finally learn that Locke and Ben are brothers ...

A Major Paradox?

 

    I hate to gloat, but how often did I have to say that there were loopholes in the whole "we can't change the past" thing before someone finally believed me?  As mentioned by the ill-fated Daniel Faraday in last night's LOST episode, "Variables," the past can be changed or, at least, adjusted.  The new mission on LOST: prevent the hatch from ever being built by destroying the island with a Hydrogen bomb.  If they succeed, Desmond will not have the push the button every 108 minutes, Desmond will not fail at pushing said button, Flight 315 will never crash, and the passengers arrive safely in Los Angeles.  Awesome!  Great operation for the Season Finale, but is it possible? 

    After bragging for a moment about being correct, now I'm going to contradict myself.  In this case, it is NOT possible to change the past.  Particularly, it is not possible to change your own past.  This is a mistake that Back to the Future also makes.  Marty McFly cannot be the cause of his never being born.  If he succeeds, he would never go back in time to prevent his never being born.  Confused?  Okay, let's make it easier.  Forgive the harshness of this example, but let's say you travel back in time and kill your mother when she is a child.  If you succeed, you would never be born, right?  But if you are never born, then who would go back and kill your mother as a child?  No one!  So if no one kills your mother, your birth would eventually occur.  It's a cycle which getting out of is simply impossible.   

    Let's take this theory and apply it to our passengers of Flight 815.  In September of 2004, they crashed on the island.  After traveling back to 1977, they now have the opportunity to prevent the crash from ever happening.  Let's say they succeed.  They land in Los Angeles.  Jack buries Dad, Hurley escapes his fortune, Kate goes to jail, Charlie does crack, etc.  Now that this crew is busy continuing on with their lives, who is going to travel back in time to stop the Hatch from being built in 1977?  No one!  And if no one prevents the Hatch from being built, Flight 815 still crashes on the island.  There is no way to prevent the crash.  But what if they actually succeed in their mission?  Doctor Emmett Brown would probably warn them that this even would create a major paradox - "A paradox?  You mean one of those things that can destroy the universe?"  "PRECISELY!" 

    My guess: the characters will never succeed in their mission, avoiding the paradox angle.  Locke and Ben (whom I still believe are brothers) will prevent their precious island from ever being decimated.  I would guess that some attempt at messing with the newly discovered "wheel" in 1977 may begin a new stream of time travel for the characters.  Perhaps it will send them back to 2007 to meet Locke, Ben, Sun and the "shadow of the sculpture" people.  I hope so.  I really want to see Jin meet Sun again.  What a moment that will be! 

    Again, at the risk of bragging, I must remind you that my prediction about Widmore being Faraday's father was right!  But will Penny ever find out that her half-brother (I say half-brother because I am now doubting my prediction that Eloise is Penny's mother) is the time travel genius who Desmond had to visit at Oxford?  I doubt it.  That will be left for only the audience to know!  But who knows? 

    We are getting to the end of a terrific season!  While I am sad, I can't help but fill with the excitement for the sixth and final season.  Remember, the producers told us that Season five was going to be boring compared to the final.  Is that possible?  They've set my expectations high, but this show has never failed to beat my expectations!  We shall see.  Tune in next week! 

The Judgement of Benjamin Linus

 

    Benjamin Linus is finally judged.  Smokey came out of the floor and surrounded him with his sins, much like we saw the Monster do for Mr. Echo so long ago (well, to us, not them).  I hate to say, but there really wasn't anything that amazing in that huge cloud of smoke.  We knew about these sins.  Further, we knew that he felt bad for these sins.  What about his treatment of the islanders?  What about killing Locke?  Was Smokey trying to tell us that these actions were justified?  So is Ben the good guy of the island who simply made a few mistakes?  If so, when will the other islanders be judged?  Let's face it!  They all have made mistakes. 

    While I was quite underwhelmed by the episode, I was interested to see how wrong I was about my "Eloise + Charles = Penny and Daniel" Theory.  It seems that Charles had relations with an outsider, according to Ben.  Naturally, we may find out that Eloise was, at some point, banished from the island, hence becoming an outsider.  This doesn't seem too far fetched considering the plot lines of LOST.  There is also the notion that the Ellie of the island is not Eloise Hawking.  I think this is a stretch, but still a notion to mention.

    While it was another disappointing "Bomp," we did watch Ben receive a visit from his dead, adopted daughter, Alex.  Earlier in the episode, we learned how he apprehended her from Danielle in an attempt to keep her safe.  Quick question for other LOST fans: did anyone really care about how that occurred?  I apologize if I see too negative towards the show, but if we needed to know that, it should have been told to us earlier.  At this point, no one cares.  Anyway, I digress.  Alex told Ben that, despite his plan to kill Locke again, he will listen to everything that Locke says and will follow him in his every move.  It was a clever way to reveal that Ben was planning on killing Locke again.  I can't help but mention that this goes well with my Cain and Abel theory.  Ben really wants Locke dead.  It was not just because the island wanted it.  I'm telling you: they're brothers!

    While we are used to seeing dead people on the island, this is the first character who was killed on the island to make a Lazarus-like appearance.  Alex's appearance seemed to complement Smokey's, but I must bring up that she, Locke, or the Monster never appeared together on screen at any point.  Also, where had Christian gone when Locke showed up at Ben's house?  What if this Smoke Monster had the ability to take on the form of people, particularly dead ones.  I know.  I know.  You're thinking, "Joe, that's crazy and totally unrealistic!"  You know what, the moment we started watching (and loving) a show where there was a Smoke Monster, we threw away reality.

    Anyway, I now am starting to wonder if Alex was the Smoke Monster.  Further, are Locke and Christian Sheperd also the Smoke Monster performing impersonations of dead LOST characters?  This raises the question of whether or not the island can actually bring back the dead.  Apparently, Ben didn't actually think this was possible.  He seemed pretty surprised to actually see John Locke in front of him. 

    One more thought: assume for a moment that Smokey can become the image of dead people.  This Monster seems to have many crazy abilities, almost as if it were a god of the island.  Who else is a god of the island that Ben seemed to worship?  Jacob!  It may be that Smoke Monster is actually Jacob and takes the form of different dead people.  Remember: Christian Sheperd was sitting in the rocking chair in the cabin and later appeared with Claire in the cabin.  That was our best link to Jacob so far.  Also, John Locke seemed pretty confident that he "just knew" what to do to get Ben to his judgement place.  Jacob would "just know" as well. 

    Next week's episode looks very promising.  I can't wait to finally learn more about Miles, one of the more intriguing characters on the island.  He also may be able to shed some light on the dead-people-waking-up conundrum.  But seriously, writers, where is Daniel Faraday?  This many episodes without him is like Back to the Future III with Doc Brown!!  Great Scott!

    

Poor Hurley ...

 

    Poor Hurley!  He's always the one who gets picked on.  Now that Sawyer has finally laid off of our beefy friend, wise-guy Miles gives him a hard time about his lack of understanding of time travel.  Though I felt empathy for the large islander, it is about time that the writers gave the viewers some explanation as to exactly how time travel on LOST works.  For those of us using Back to the Future as a guide, this was a wake-up call.  As you know, my friend Jeff and I argue often about time travel.  Jeff made no hesitation to call me and compare me to the feeble-minded Hugo.  Sometimes my friend underestimates me.  Nevertheless, time travel is now a little clearer to all of us.  We know that the writers' intention is that Ben knew Sayid long before the crash of Flight 815 and that Kate is actually responsible for bringing Ben to the Others. 

    Though Jack was attempting to save them by not saving Ben Linus, he indirectly became responsible as well.  As John Locke would say, we cannot stop our fate.  In an attempt to save them from the future wrath of Benjamin Linus, he created the situation that will eventually bring on Ben's hostility.  It only makes one wonder what else Ben knows and what else he is responsible for.  For instance, does anyone else out there wonder if Ben knows why Mr. Echo died at the hands of Smokey?  Since everyone else who was killed by Smokey was someone Ben wanted to off, should we assume that Ben had a reason to end the life of one of the most interesting characters in LOST.  If it means that Mr. Echo will make another appearance, I'm all for finding out.

    Along with a clearer explanation of time travel, we got a lot of answers last night.  We now know that Kate's abandonment of Aaron was not rooted in evil at all, but a move to save the child and reunite him with true family and hopefully find his mother.  Here's a motive to get back to the island I didn't see coming.  Did anyone?  What is the true connection between Kate and Claire?  Does Kate see a bit of herself in the young mother?  Is Claire Kate's chance at penance for all her wrongs?  Or is there more?  I think we shall see, but probably in the sixth season.

    Another note on Jack.  While I was torn as to whether or not I agreed with his insistence on not saving the twelve-year-old Ben, I was even more thrown on the awkwardness of the "shower" scene.  Did it seem unusual to anyone else that neither Jack nor Juliet were concerned that Jack was naked?  "I really don't care that your naked crouch is right there, I want to know why you won't save that kid!"  I guess Juliet is no longer enthralled with Jack now that she has Sawyer!  Another note: those tattoos were clearly present on Jack's arm ... think we'll ever hear more about what those mean?  

    Finally, we saw how Ben entered the world of the Others.  While this was intriguing, the most interesting part was clearly when one of the Others asked Richard if he was concerned about Elie or Charles finding out.  Richard obviously did not to care, but the audience was given a subtle clue.  Was this Other telling us that Charles and Eloise were lovers?  Further, has there been any mention of Daniel Faraday's father or Penny's mother?  If Eloise (assuming Elie and Eloise Hawking are the same person) and Charles are ... were ... (whatever) lovers, then Faraday and Penny are siblings (again, assuming Faraday is, in fact, the son of Eloise Hawking).  This may also explain why Widmore is financing Faraday's experiments: he is simply supporting his son.  To further the irony, Faraday's constant is Desmond and Desmond's constant is Faraday's sister, Penny. 

 

 

    Finally, the "bomp!"  Weak!  It was obvious that Ben was going to wake up to Locke at some point.  I like a nice revelation to keep me guessing.  Granted, "Welcome to the land of the living," was a great line, but not worthy of the "bomp!"  However, the next episode looks very intriguing.  Is this it?  Is Ben going to meet his end?  They certainly want us to believe it.  In fact, they lead us to believe it so much that now I'm doubting it.  I would also be shocked if Ben died in an episode in the middle of the season and not in the season five finale.  Perhaps this is the episode where we will find out that Ben and Locke are actually brothers!  At least we'll finally find out why Ben was covered in blood when we arrived on Flight 316 ... at least I think so!

    I want to give a shout out to a LOST fan and a good friend of mine: Jessica Krenek, who has been accepted into the University of Maryland's PhD program in theater history and performance studies!  This is a huge achievement and could not be earned by anyone brighter and smarter!  I've known Jessica for many years and her success never ceases to amaze me and fill me with pride!  Congratulations, Jessica!  Please promise me that all the hard work will not prevent you from watching LOST! 

    Feel free to share theories and thoughts!  We'll in deep now and there is no turning back!  Sadly, the season finale is getting closer and closer!

    

Can Ben Die?

 

    If you missed LOST on Wednesday night ("He's Our You"), stop reading!  Then, go order it via ABCONDEMAND now!  If you did see "He's Our You," you saw what was arguably one of the "Bomps" the whole fifth season.  By "Bomp," I mean that sound that occurs at the end of the episode when the word "LOST" appears.  You all know what I'm talking about!  There is a big surprise, then "BOMP!"

    Now that you understand the vocabulary of LOST, let's look at the ending.  Sayid shoots a twelve-year-old Ben Linus in order to prevent Ben from ever becoming one of the Others, from ever getting caught in the tree as "Henry Gale," or from ever meeting the passengers of Oceanic 815.  Assuming Sayid is able to change the past (we will talk about this debate in a moment), this would have huge ramifications in the show.  Think about it.  Ben would never show up.  Walt would never be kidnapped.  Michael would never kill Libby and Ana Lucia.  Alex would be alive.  The list goes on and on.  Ben not being alive might even mean the passengers of Flight 815 would never land on the island (if we would eventually find out that he had something to do with the crash). 

    My friend Jeff and I constantly fight about whether or not someone can "change the past."  According to the island's time-travel expert, Daniel Faraday (where has he been?), you cannot change the past.  If something happens in the past, it happens and that's it.  Meaning if Sayid shoots a twelve-year-old Ben, then the child must survive the gunshot wound and when Ben met Sayid back in season two, he knew that this was the man who shot him back in 1977, even though we, the audience, did not see it until season five.  When you think about it, it's pretty much taking the "flashback" idea one step further.  Ben just knew something before the audience and the other islanders.  What else is new?

 

    If I am correct and the past can somehow be changed, it doesn't really matter in the case of Ben's death.  He can't die.  Though a little more confusing and complicated, it is almost impossible to kill someone in the past, especially out of revenge.  Bear with me.  I will try to put this as simply as possible.  Circa 2000, Sayid meets Ben and gets very upset about things Ben does (that is really simplifying it).  So when Sayid travels back to 1977, in an attempt to prevent Ben from doing these things, Sayid shoots Ben at a young age.  Fine.  Let's say that young Ben is now dead.  If he is dead, then he cannot grow up to perform the acts that upset Sayid so much, therefore taking away Sayid's motive to kill him.  This means that the Sayid of circa 2000 would not shoot the young Ben when he travels back to 1977.  Now young Ben is alive.  Now he can perform the "bad acts."  Now Sayid will go and kill young Ben ... and the cycle would continue.  Confused?  Read it again.  You'll get it.

    What does this mean for LOST?  I predict that, like my friend Jeff says, Ben will survive the gunshot wound.  It will turn out that Ben recognized Sayid the whole time as the man who shot him when he was twelve.  This would explain how he knew Sayid was a "killer."  Either way, the writers of LOST have not disappointed in delivering great television that keeps us guessing at every turn. 

 

    Some other questions I expect will be answered in the next few episodes:

• 
  
  Where are Bernard and Rose?  Good theory from Jeff: somehow they traveled back to the time where the statue was standing and got stuck there.  They will eventually die and become the "Adam and Eve" skeletons.  My theory (though not as strong) is that they also travelled to 1977 and now are members of the "Hostiles" led by Richard. 
  
  
• 
  
  How is Desmond going to get back to island? 
  
  
• 
  
  Is Penny dead?
  
  
• 
  
  Where are Lupidus and Sun?
  
  
• 
  
  Where is Faraday?
  
  
• 
  
  Remember when John Locke was alive?  What's he up to?

    

    So many questions left to be answered.  I am still betting that John Locke and Ben Linus are brothers.  I also hold on to the theory that Desmond will kill Ben (the adult Ben) at the end of this season, avenging Penny's death at Ben's hands.  Season Six, despite the disappointment of the audience, will be Ben-less.  This also fits with Jeff Jenson's - LOST column-writer for Entertainment Weekly - theory that the seasons are repeating themselves.  He often speaks of season four repeating season three and five repeating two, so if season one is going to repeat itself in season six, Ben should not be present.

 

    Please share with me your thoughts and theories!  As crazy as it is, I never seem to tire of this!  Looking forward to next Wednesday!

 

 

An Astonishing Feat

 

    Okay, so I tend to be a musical theatre snob.  It's true!  I admit it.  But if you knew the people that I went to college with, you'd understand why.  We were all snobs!  I started my time at Muhlenberg College thinking Jekyll & Hyde was a terrific musical.  Things had to change.  Eventually, someone has to teach you that Frank Wildhorn and Andrew Lloyd Webber are no good.  It's a hard fact to face, but it's the truth.  *Side note: I still listen to Jekyll & Hyde ... I call it my guilty pleasure.

    You can only imagine the fear that went through my body when my friend, Jessica Berger, told me that she was in a production of Little Women at the historic Strand Theatre of Lakewood, New Jersey.  I remember when I found out the Strand was doing Little Women.  I thought, "What?  Wildhorn's Dracula wasn't available?"  Terrible show!  I mean terrible!  The show ran on Broadway for 55 previews and 137 performances.  I was "lucky" enough to see one of those performances.  Forgive me, please!  Sutton Foster was starring and I just couldn't resist!  She's just terrific!  Anyway, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  There were more happy and upbeat songs in this production than Forever Plaid.  If I remember from high school, wasn't Little Women a sad story?  Am I not supposed to cry when the young Beth dies (sorry to those who have not read it, yet ... but get on that!)? 

    Anyway, Jessica Berger has been a friend for many years.  A talent rival when we were young, but nevertheless, a friend whose talent I can't help but admire.  She can act, dance, and sing better than many of the "professionals" I've seen on the Great White Way.  She texted me one day and said (all in caps), "I'M PLAYING JO IN LITTLE WOMEN AT THE STRAND!!!"  My reaction was a mixed feeling of happiness and illness.  While I loved the prospect of hearing Jessica sing "Astonishing" (the power-ballad that makes the show possibly worth seeing), I felt sick thinking I was going to have to sit through that show again!

    Months went by and I honestly forgot about the production.  She would text me occasionally, but I didn't pay too much attention.  You know when you know you should see something, but you don't want to, so you kind of ignore it?  Sort of like when you didn't really want to see Slumdog Millionaire, but you just knew you "had to see it."  Anyway, signs were all over town and people were telling me good things.  I hate it when people say good things about bad theater.  It's just depressing.  I also received about four Facebook messages a week reminding me (and a bunch of other people) to see the show!  Thanks for those, Jess.

    Anyway, I finally planned a night to see the show.  It was sad to walk into the theater and see that the entire balcony was empty, as well as a good portion of the orchestra.  This sadness was combined with a little satisfaction.  I felt like finding the producer and saying, "I told you so."  Nevertheless, I grabbed a seat in the front of the balcony, even though my seat was in the orchestra.  I wanted to sit alone and away from the stage in case I fell asleep.

    The lights finally went down and the overture began.  Already, I was bored.  Then Jessica appeared on stage.  She began to sing and I was reminded why I sacrificed a Friday night to see Little Women: The Musical.  Her voice was miraculous; she rivaled Sutton Foster, one of my favorites on Broadway.  The real pleasure was thinking back to her performances in high school and seeing how she has grown so much in seven years.  She was always a talented girl.  Looking back, I was often jealous of her.  Being a boy, it was easier for me to get attention because I could sing.  But this girl, Jessica, got attention even though she was a girl - a dime a dozen.  But the truth was she was anything but just another singing female.  She did have her problems; she had a weird thing where she threw her hands in the air and walked around back and forth when she sang.  Still, it was obvious that she would go somewhere.  After graduating high school (two years after me), she ended up attending the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, despite my advice to attend a four-year college.   

    I still cannot help but think that she would be better off with a degree like me.  But then I think about the fact that she is actually trying.  She auditions.  She works.  She struggles.  But she keeps pushing.  I admire her very much.  I can't be easy to be so talented and not get the respect and admiration one deserves.  I know that she will be something someday.  Though I know it can't always be easy for her, I admire her dedication and determination.  But most of all, I admire her talent and her willingness to hone her craft.  She never stops learning, which is the most important thing about being a performer.  Though I rarely miss performing and love being a teacher, seeing Jessica reminds me of the joy I experienced when I was on the stage.  Maybe someday, if Bonnie and I ever start a theater like we talk about doing, we'll invite Jessica Berger to come and play Annie Oakley and perhaps I'll be worthy to be her Frank Butler (we should have in high school, but our director was blind to the obvious).  That is, unless Jess is too big of a star to come to Bucks County to entertain.  The New York audiences might miss her too much!

    When the Act I finale, "Astonishing," began, I was propelled to the edge of my seat.  She had me with every word and every note.  The audience was captivated.  It was stunning.  All readers can hear the beautiful rendition at the link below - I taped it with a digital voice recorder.  I defy you to not marvel in the voice.  Though you'll hear the acting, it's nothing compared to watching the emotional performance live. 

    While I know Jessica experiences disappointments along the way - and she will experience more to come - I hope that she never gives up her dream of being a performer in bigger and better venues.  It would be a huge waste of talent, skill, and entertaining nights for audiences all over the world.  Furthermore, she fixed the throwing-of-the-hands thing!  She didn't do it once the whole night!  Congratulations, Jess.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QANf7vsa4qI

 

 

 

 

 

Visit to H&R Block

    Tax season!  It's part of that old expression: The only definite in life is death and taxes.  We all have to pay them, as soon as we start working.  I was fortunate.  My father had an accountant who just "got it done."  I never knew what was going on.  I didn't really care.  Would you?  I usually would get a small refund check of about $300.  To a teenager, that's like Christmas!  To a married adult, that's like ... well, Christmas!

    Since I was just married back in December of 2008, the time has come that I get my own taxes done.  My father's accountant was getting a little expensive, so I thought, why not try H&R Block?  Their commercials seem good.  People seem to trust them.  I had only gotten one bad review from a friend, Shawn Foster.  I just hoped that his experience was a fluke.  Many other people had gone and were out of there in 30 minutes.  That's what I was shooting for: the 30-minute experience.

    March 2nd was a snow day so I decided to take advantage of the free time.  After Bonnie went off to work (poor thing), I headed out with all my tax stuff (basically it was a folder of all the crap that got mailed to us since January 31st).  I also grabbed the "$50 Off" coupon Bonnie had received for using H&R Block on-line last year!  I had called ahead and they told me to come in around 11:30.  I entered the room and was hit immediately by the bright green walls.  I didn't exactly get that warm feeling the commercial wants us to get, but I wasn't scared either ... yet.

    A gentlemen came up to me and told me that Kerry was going to be helping me today.  I couldn't see anything except the top of her head, but I got the feeling Kerry was young.  Well, I was wrong.  After less than a minute, Kerry got out of his desk and came over.  Let's see, how do I explain what Kerry looked like.  Kerry, the man, was a mix between Gary Oldman and Adolf Hitler. 

 

                   +                           =        My Tax Guy!

 

    Anyway, he shook my hand for about 2 seconds longer than the average handshake.  That scared me right there.  It was now 11:33 and I had plans to be there for 45 minutes top.  Bonnie and I each had two incomes - she has her old and current job and I have my teaching job plus my summer job.  Then there are school loans and such.  Of course, I knew that the fact that I work in New Jersey and now live in Pennsylvania was going to be an issue.  God forbid this be easy!

    We start off looking through the forms I bring.  The look on his face was priceless.  "Boy, you have a lot of forms," he starts off! 

    "I do?  Don't you have a lot of people with two jobs and school loans?"

    "Not really," he replies.  Oh God!  The crazy thing was the fact that Frank, who seemed to run office, could hear his comments and said nothing.  After about 45 minutes of Kerry (or Mr. ****, as he introduced himself) commenting on my job, he started to talk about his real life goals.  He wants to be a teacher, too.  But as we got further into the session, I noticed how his eyes seemed to linger and always with a look of concern about what I was thinking.  I had the distinct impression that he was not a person to be left alone with young children. 

    He had to ask for help repeatedly, which didn't bother me too much because it meant Frank, who seemed to know what he was doing, could help.  What got me nervous was when he had to GOOGLE  a form because he had never seen it before!  Oh God!  Finally, after 90 minutes, we were ready to start.  He showed me everything he was doing step by step.  I had the urge to tell him I did not care and that he should just get it done, but I felt bad.  It was obvious that this guy had no one to talk to.  He told me how he was trying to get teacher certification in New Jersey and that he wanted to go alternate route (which is how I got my teaching certificate).  He said that he started applying for jobs in December, but still had not gotten a job.  What a crazy notion?  You mean schools don't hire in the middle of the school year?  Crazy, right!  The scary thing is this guy will probably get a lot of offers come July because he's a science teacher!  Why are science teachers the creepy ones?

    Anyway, after two and half hours, he was done with MY income.  Bonnie's was yet to come!  I told him that I had to leave and that I would come back at six to pick up a completed tax return.  He seemed surprised.  I told him that Bonnie would come back with me to sign all the forms she needed to sign.  I got to my car and wanted to shoot myself.  I called Bonnie and told her about the ordeal.  She seemed very concerned (but later I found out she did not take me as seriously as she should have). 

    I called the office at 5:30 to confirm that I would be there at 6:00.  Fortunately for me (sense the sarcasm), Kerry had stayed to make sure he was there to explain things to me when I got there.  I know I'm new at this, but I think I understand what needs to be done.  Since everyone does this, I assume that any idiot can do it.  No offense to the idiots out there!

    Bonnie and I walked in and he immediately jumped up to greet us.  Again, his handshake lingered too long.  It wasn't until we got in the car that Bonnie told me the exact same thing about shaking his hand.  She also apologized for not taking me seriously.  This guy was absolutely crazy.  He stared at us as if he wanted to be friends.  Perhaps this is why we sat there for another 45 minutes while he finished explaining what would be coming to us, what we would owe (that's right, owe) and how we would pay for his services.  We were charged quite a lot because of "all our forms."  I have no doubt that I will be getting a phone call from Kerry very soon to make sure I am happy with the service, but really for him to talk to someone. 

    The point is, ladies and gentlemen, go to "TurboTax.com" and do your taxes yourself.  If H&R Block is stupid enough to let people like Kerry have a job after the first interview, this is not the company to help prepare your taxes!  I can only hope he did everything right and that I will not be in jail come April 15th!