Finally! A new episode after three weeks of reruns. So you know what time it is... time to send us your thoughts on this latest episode of LOST, The Whole Truth. Is Sun really pregnant? If she is, who's the baby's daddy? Is Henry Gale an other, and what will happen to Sayid, Ana Lucia and Charlie. Notice anything interesting about the pregnancy test Sun took?
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Stay LOST.
I entered this at the end of the last post, but thought it should probably be here instead. I have a few questions about Sawyer. Did anyone see any connection to the Judy Blume book, "Are you there God it's me, Margaret?" that Sawyer is reading. Are we to think that Sawyer is so bored that he is reading Judy Blume? Maybe he just hears someone coming and grabs the first book he sees in order to look like he isn't really up to anything. Why have we not had any friction over the fact that he still has the majority of the fire-power on the island? I don't trust Sawyer any more than I trust Gale.
Posted by: Michael Box | March 23, 2006 at 11:04 AM
Good solid episode. Might seem kind of pedestrian on a first glance, but if you dig a little bit you can see the writers flexing their muscles and having a little fun with the audience.
The Sun and Jin intro was a textbook example of how to pull the emotional bait and switch with a scene. We think it's all sweet and romantic and bam with one sentence the mood completely shifted. It reminded me that the writing above all else is what drives Lost.
The best joke of the episode by far was Sawyer Reading "Hello God." This worked on so many levels. First, it's funny to see a grown man reading Judy Blume. And second, it felt like the writers were poking fun and reminding us Lost geeks that not every book referenced holds the key to understanding Lost. Most of the time they are only there because their themes tie in with the theme of the episode.
And now I know who Henry Gale is. He's us - at least for this episode. He was the writers injecting the fans into the show. He grilled Jack and Locke with all the questions that the fans would ask. It's like they went to a message board and copied it verbatim. The other great meta moment was Anna telling Henry that, "people don't like her." Talk about the writers channeling the voice of the fans.
As far as my thoughts on the major plot points. The baby is Jin's. The Island cured him. The problem is Sun doesn't know the island fixed him so she thinks the bald guy knocked her up. Also it looks like Jin will be learning English.
I'm still not sure about Henry. Even if they find a balloon who's to the say that Dharma didn't plant it. But at the same time I think Henry may just be trying to get Jack and Locke to leave him alone in the bunker. Which makes sense if he is an Other or not. I think he might be memorizing the clicks in the combination lock. Time to put the pliers to used. By the way. How good is that actor playing Henry?
The Anna, Sayid reconciliation was also big. It gave us insight into Sayid's state of mind. It also opened up some new questions. Is he falling for her? Or, does he just understand that she is a good person to have on your side if you’re planning to go all jihad on the Others?
Posted by: Matt Jones | March 23, 2006 at 11:19 AM
Even if they find the balloon, I believe Henry Gale, who is being played brilliantly as Matt points out, is an Other, or at least someone who knows more. He said something about the Others "supposedly being their enemies," which is sort of another reference to the "good people" mantra.
Gale is incredibly perceptive and a genius manipulator. He's been there for 3 days and has already found the cracks he needs to pry open in order to cause disruption in the camp.
First off, and you don’t have to be too observant to get this one, Gale has realized that Jack and Locke are fairly clueless, but they are mindlessly playing along by pushing the button – which must be of some importance to the Others, whether it is a psychological experiment or not. I think that’s why he was asking those questions – they’ve infiltrated their hatch and he needs intel on what they know, which isn’t much.
He also understands the leadership struggle between Locke and Jack, and encourages the division between them. “Oh, trust issues, right.”
And he’s already picked up on several weaknesses of each character and manipulated them – Locke doesn’t want to be in the shadow of Jack; he gained some sort trust with Ana Lucia - Gale realized she doesn’t want to make another mistake; he won the battle with Sayid by switching the focus to Shannon’s death during interrogation.
And he’s right, he's now in control of the whole situation with Sayid and company - if it's trap, then everything he says would probably happen. But more likely, there is no trap, there is a balloon and a grave, and he further gains the trust of his subjects. Just my take.
I do think it is a questionable decision by Sayid, Ana, and Charlie to go off searching for the balloon, because, like I mentioned, it doesn’t really prove much (not on this island) and it very well could be a trap.
However, it still makes sense for the characters to make this choice. Sayid is so bent on revenge that he is completely irrational and not himself – not sure he even cares what Gale is; he just wants to take his anguish out on someone. Ana Lucia is so bent on not making the same fatal blunder as she did with Nathan that she is going to do all she can to discover the whole truth. And Charlie, well, he’ll tag along with anyone so he can feel significant.
Widmore Labs pregnancy test? There is obvious significance to the brand/company name as it was seen, or supposed to be seen, in another episode – the Battersea Power Station skyline scene in “Fire + Water.”
Did Sawyer just find it the luggage, or was it already on the island – they do have a medical station and an interest in newborns, so it makes sense that they would have one.
As for who’s the daddy, well, they certainly left it open. Sun seemed sincere, but also, after embracing Jin, she had a mendacious expression upon her face – not sure if that was supposed to indicate that she did, indeed, have an affair, or that she is concerned to be pregnant on THIS island (especially because she was sort of relieved not to be able to conceive pre-island), or is she just like, “Holy %$&, this island healed Jin’s gonads!!!”
And finally – Charlie with the gun. Seemingly no one was really interested how he got one. Obviously, we know Sawyer and Charlie were in collaboration, but does it cause suspicion among the others that he was, in fact, in on it.
Now Sayid has it; that will obviously have ramifications since he is in Terminator mode. Whoa, Ana Lu-Lu might have even been a more responsible alternative in regards to handling the gun.
Overall, for a filler, transitional episode, it was well done – it set the gears in motion for what is to come in the next episode, and probably the rest of the season as it is resolution time in this story arc. It also presents us with another possible target, in Sun, for the Others.
And the deterioration between Locke and Jack’s relationship as well as their loss of control over the group continues, while bonds between unlikely lostaways such as Ana, Sayid, and Charlie are forming. Good stuff.
Posted by: Raz Minder | March 23, 2006 at 12:54 PM
I think when they whent to find the ballon they crossed ther line the others made.
And I would have punched the ballon dude in the face after what he said at the end.
Posted by: BG | March 23, 2006 at 04:13 PM
Posted this on the Fuselage too but thought I'd stick it here too ...
Didn't think that much of the episode (predictable back-story for Jin/Sun, predictable on island story, best part was Henry Gale and the cornflakes but the trailer for last week was something else …. I think they are screwing with us and putting the snapshots in the wrong order.
If you watch the trailer it contains in order ….
Jack gets in a fight with Henry ---- I missed this totally the first time.
The faces are Kate (jungle), Jack (jungle), Sawyer (on beach ?), Charlie (where??) and Sayid (where???).
At the end we see A-L but this moves into the 'balloon' finding "Why isn't it raining here?" scene with Charlie.
Locke looks like he falls while looking at a speaker.
Jack and Kate are walking in the forest at night (with flame torches) Kate says "Did you see that ?" Jack says "What you found ?"
Henrys head pops up in the air ducts
Sayid is in a hatch with a gun and says "Step back right now" but unclear if it is 'our' hatch or another -- you can not see who is it Sayid is pointing the gun at -- in the background is a speaker but it could be from 'our' hatch or another.
Locke is spinning around as all the doors close then slides Indiana Jones like towards the main door as it slams shut.
I'm sure we are seeing them out of order.
Watching the trailer again in the very first scene where Jack slams Henry into the wall in the background you can see someone that looks like Sayid (he's only there for a second but I'm sure it's him).
Perhaps sequence is:
A-L/Charlie/Sayid find the balloon
BIG MAYBE the Others take A-L/Charlie and Sayid (?)
Sayid is not caught and goes back to 'get' Henry or is released to set-up the deal to get Henry or more likely Sayid (once again full or remorse for torturing an innocent man -- will he ever learn), A-L and Charlie go back to tell everyone Henry is not an Other then ….
Sayid does the gun thing with Henry -- but what is he getting him to step back from -- the computer ! Henry has done something to start the doors closing -- sent a message on the computer to the Others or perhaps to the outside world, or even he's broken the computer ?
Jack assuming Henry is now an Other harasses Henry - probably saying unless you tell me what's going on I'm going to let Sayid 'have' you -- so Henry fesses up telling him something -- either where A-L and Charlie are or further proof he's not an Other or perhaps (unlikely) where they can go to fix the problem Henry started by whatever he did to the computer.
Jack and Kate take off to find A-L/Charlie or the proof of Henrys non-Otherness or to stop the countdown and first see then find something -- not the balloon but something else. Could they see one thing and find another ? Could the thing they see lead them to the thing they find ? Could they find another hatch or a parachute drop of food ?
Meanwhile back in the hatch ---- weird noise from speakers, countdown, doors start to close, Locke does his Indiana Jones impression as doors finally clag shut.
Later Locke falls breaks leg trying to check speaker -- why he's now checking the speaker is odd -- perhaps there are voices/noises or he's looking for a way to trace where the speaker is attached to.
Henry is not escaping through the top of the 'cell' but is going to find help for Locke.
So now the big five events are from:
1. Finding the Balloon (hardly a revelation now) or is it a balloon could it be a parachute ?
2. Doors closing (also hardly a revelation now)
3. Whatever Kate/Jack find
4. Some flashback revelation -- much spoken of Locke/Sawyer connection how Locke got into the wheelchair ??
5. Lockes injury in the hatch
6. Gales' run for help rather than escape as we were led to believe.
Is it only Thursday ?!?!?
Mark
Posted by: Mark B | March 23, 2006 at 04:31 PM
Wow, that was a good one. This episode was very good for a Sun and Jin-centric story. I think this could be the beginning of the end for Jin's subtitles. The part where Bernard and Sawyer are being listened to by Jin showed that he is tired of not understanding anyone on the island.
The Widmore Pregnancy test was interesting. I'm beginning to think that Widmore might have something to do with the planes crashing as well. It seems that Hanso or Dharma own the Oceanic planes or are tied in with them somehow, so this makes me wonder if Oceanic and Widmore are tied together. Perhaps there's an Aerospace division of Widmore.
I really liked Charlie in this episode. He was funny like in Season One, but with a dark side. Very cool. I liked his little fake-out when he gave the gun to Sayid instead of Ana Lucia. Haha!
Hurley's little bit in the jungle with Sun was cute too. Seems he's still got a bit of grub in his stash. "I just found this in the jungle. It wasn't melted or anything..."
I'm not sure what's going to become of the 3 that are looking for Henry's balloon, but after his talk with Jack and Locke I don't know what to think. I was beginning to think that he was innocent until the last few minutes of the episode.
I laughed out loud when he criticized Jack and Locke for not being more curious about stuff. A good little nod to the "Curiosity Amnesia" that you guys always bring up.
Next week looks to be pretty killer. I'm willing to bet that the lockdown is thanks in part to Henry Gale. He noticed the computer this week and I'm sure he overheard all the drama about pushing the button, so this might be his ticket out of the hatch or his ideal chance for some revenge.
All in all, great episode! I'm looking forward to this weekend's podcast! Oh, and thanks for mentioning me.
Kris with a K.
Posted by: Kristopher H | March 23, 2006 at 04:39 PM
I nearly jumped out of my seat when I saw the Widmore on the pregnancy test box. I want to know what these people are into, they do construction as well as pregnancy tests? What the hell? Reminds me of how Dharma makes pretty much any item imaginable and brands it with their logo.
Posted by: Edward James Olmos | March 23, 2006 at 05:21 PM
i think I saw "widmore labs" on the pregnancy test.. but it was so small & blurry... maybe it was "widmore construction"....
and seriously, Henry Gale... what's your problem... How do you expect people to be nice to you and let you out to eat cereal ever again by being such a jackass. It's just plain bad business, dude... I don't care if he's an other or not.. let sayid have another go at him... or let jack punch him in the face at least once for talking like that...
Was vincent ever at widmore labs???
Posted by: Scott | March 23, 2006 at 05:44 PM
Widmore LABS...GET IT!?!?
(Vincent is a Yellow Lab...)
Posted by: Kris H | March 23, 2006 at 06:20 PM
i dont know if its of any importance, but the piece of paper henry wrote the map on had something written on te front of it
Posted by: a.j. | March 23, 2006 at 07:58 PM
The piece of paper was torn from the Brothers Karamazov book that Locke gave him.
Posted by: Biolite | March 23, 2006 at 08:16 PM
Henry drew the map on the title page from 'The Brothers Karamazov'
Posted by: c. e. r. | March 23, 2006 at 08:17 PM
I dont think Henry is an other, I think he is just a smart guy who likes to mess with peoples heads. If he was an other why would he choose a lame unbelievable story like the hot air balloon thing. Why wouldnt he say something like they crashed their boat and the wreckage washed out to sea? It seems he smart enough to know not to pick a cover story that no one would believe. I also like how Henry asked the Jack & Locke why they arent curious about anything.
Also i guess Dharma owns a food company since we saw them eating Dharma-o's
Posted by: smokem | March 23, 2006 at 08:50 PM
I would like to clear up something right now! Despite what some irresponsible posters have been saying on 'The Fuselage' I totally DID NOT sneak a peek at Jack's package in the shower scene. I have a proper girlfriend, even if she does cost $89.95* per 60 minutes.
*additional charges may be incurred if calling from a cellular service or from outside the continental US.
Posted by: John Locke | March 24, 2006 at 12:13 AM
If I was Sayid, seeing that balloon wouldn't prove crap. A grave doesn't mean crap. I'd dig up the body. Is it female? How rotted is it? Is it wearing clothes with no tags? Could it be Cindy (the stewardess that silently and suddenly went missing just before Anna-L popped Shannon)?
And where is the "basket" to this balloon? It would be too big to drag around, so if the balloon is caught in the trees, the basket has to be just below it somewhere. And an around-the-world trip would require more than a wicker basket. It would likely be an enclosed cockpit type of thing. Easy to spot, impossible to move.
Posted by: Andy | March 24, 2006 at 08:37 AM
Right with you... even if they find a balloon, it doesn't PROVE he's not an other.
Posted by: John | March 24, 2006 at 11:34 AM
anyone else notice when the doctor was trying to get Sun's attention while she was walking the dog... there was one of those big no smoking signs, (the ones with the big red circle with a line through it), except there was a trumpet instead of a cigarett. whats up with that...
And we only see the balloon for a second in the trailor, the basket could be there, but just not in the split second clip. But even if there is a basket he could still be an other...
except the only problem I have with Henry being an other is, it seems that Henry's identity will be a fairly big part of ending the season, and it wouldnt be much of a shock if it turns out the guy who everyone thinks is an other and acts like one, turns out to be one. That would be totally weak, I think who Henry is, is going to be a total shock and hes gonna be an alien or something crazy like that.
Posted by: wooptydoo | March 24, 2006 at 11:57 AM
You're right about Henry's identity being the big twist. Henry gale is ACTUALLY the Real Sawyer who just so happens to be the guy that Jack's wife left him for AND The guy Desmond was waiting for AND Rousseau's husband. Oh, and his REAL last name is Degrute. SHOCKER!
Posted by: Biolite | March 24, 2006 at 02:40 PM
Enjoy this sound clip with a lost-ian name:
8:15 to nowhere
http://vp.research.colostate.edu/vpsnd.htm
Posted by: jon | March 24, 2006 at 02:52 PM
Something to remember...something that Danielle said...
"He [Gale] will lie for a long time."
She may be crazy, but I believe her.
Posted by: Dave with a D | March 24, 2006 at 03:26 PM
I haven't seen anyone mention it, but the song playing in the background when Locke is checking out the Geronimo Jackson album is "Pushing To Hard" by the Seeds. You can check them out at
http://myspace.com/theseeds
Posted by: Rinjo Njori | March 24, 2006 at 03:43 PM
Given that Sun wasn’t feeling sick for two months, maybe she conceived on the island when she was having problems with Jin, possibly with Michael?
I rewatched the pilot episode recently. Not sure if anyone picked up on this. But the sound of the “monster” in the woods (black smoke?) was very similar to the sound heard right before the plane went down.
Posted by: Christine O | March 24, 2006 at 05:31 PM
As a follow up to my previous post.. I e-mailed the latest incarnation of The Seeds and they had no idea that the song "Pushin' TooHard" was featured in Lost. Check out:
http://rnanothersunnydayinpop.blogspot.com/2006/03/seeds-pushin-too-hard-featured-on-abcs.html
for more details!
Posted by: Rinjo Njori | March 24, 2006 at 06:49 PM
There were two things my friend and I noticed last night.
One was that when Sun was talking to her doctor while she was walking her dog, her doctor ussed the wrong "your" word. He should have used "your", but instead used "you're". That wasn't a big deal, but I'm just a freak about that sometimes.
Another thing, though, is that when rewatching the scene with Anna Lucia and Henry Gale, she never gave him her name. While it's possible that it was given off-screen, it is something to think about, because he later mentions her name. My friend pointed out that he didn't think Henry would have rembered her name anyway, although I'm not sure about that. But, if Henry is an Other, then it would make sense that he would either already know her name or have been able to pick it up, since that was the job of the spies sent in: to get lists of names. Just a thought.
Posted by: James | March 24, 2006 at 10:27 PM
My question to Matt's post (at the very top o' the page) is are we to assume that Sun lied to Jin about her faithfulness?
I thought she had probably had an affair with baldy, given her inexplicable reluctance to tell Jin. But I also want to believe her when she tells Jin that she has been faithful.
I guess that's just good television writin'.
As for Henry...he seems to calculating to be just some dude. His subtle manipulation of Locke, and now Jack and Ana Lucia, suggests (to me) that he has some sort of psych training, or perhaps something even more sinister, like counter-intelligence training. I have to believe that a guy who simply got lost in a hot-air balloon and whose wife died on the way would exhibit much more fear than Henry has, heretofore. I thought his conversation with Jack, regarding setting a trap for Ana Lucia was especially chilliing.
But, as it is, he'll probably turn out to be a normal guy. Again, good telervishun writin'.
Ok...here's a question of my own: does anyone else feel like some fans assume too much when they tacitly accept the premise that we are omniscient observers? I mean, there's so much that we don't know about the characters, as illustrated by the flashbacks. How can we assume that what we see on TV is all that is supposedly happening amongst these people?
I only ask this question because there seem to be a lot of people who reject or accept ideas simply because we, the viewers have or haven't seen it. For talented writers like the LOST crew, I think we can expect it to be less simple.
Posted by: Andrew | March 24, 2006 at 11:34 PM
A further thought for the 'what to do over the summer' discussion from the last podcast.
For non-Lost material, could I cast a big vote for a discussion/analysis of the Shane Curruth film 'Primer'. To anyone who hasn't seen it, but loves Lost, I think it would be worth checking out.
It lends itself to the intense speculation that we enjoy, and there is a bit of fan generated material on the Internet about it.
Posted by: Cameron | March 25, 2006 at 02:34 AM
First time responder, long time listener.
I thought that this episode was very well done. Granted it was more of a filler episode but like someone said earlier, it put a lot of things in motion. I don't believe that Sun is pregnant because of who was the maker of the pregnancy test and however if she is, it's not Jin's.
Posted by: Jenai | March 25, 2006 at 03:35 AM
My bet is that when they find Henry Gale's wife gravesite they will dig it up and find two bodies. One being his wife, one being the real Henry Gale.
Peace,
Conrad
Posted by: Conrad From Pennsylvania | March 25, 2006 at 05:19 AM
Damn Conrad, that's a good theory and exactly what the writers would pull!
One variant would be that there are two graves, but one has some brush pulled over it. The trio find the first, maybe don't bother to dig it up, but head off to return to the hatch confident that they have the truth.
At that moment (or in the last 10 seconds of the episode), we get a shot of the second grave that they have totally missed.
Posted by: Cameron | March 25, 2006 at 06:37 AM
Henry Gale is an other, no doubt. His wife died less then a week ago and he got captured. Instead of sitting hostage beeing sad, he read a incredibly booring book. yeah right. He manipulate jack and locke. Fools AL and sayid. The only person he havent got a chance to outsmart yet is Eko, and him he only think is mr wierd dude.
Jin is going to be a father... in about 7 seasons. congratulations.
The baloon story is a great story. Telling about a boatcrash would only be impossible to proove. However telling a ballon story, and back it up with a ballon and a dead female corpse, will just proove himself not guilty and he will be trusted.
And the cereal scene was just idiotic. He was given a break, no normal man would use that chance to make himself look more freakish to his guards. Thats just silly and stupid and so far, he havent looked that stupid.
He's a plant from the others. And he is there to turn them against eachothers. By far the losties outman and outgun the others, and i bet they do this to fight 5 small 'groups' instead of one big.
Posted by: Shma | March 25, 2006 at 07:10 AM
http://usera.imagecave.com/thinbluemime/Ozama3_s02e16-0254.jpg
Sayid is Iraqi
We have an Iraqi that served in the Gulf war under Saddam Hussein
We have an Iraqi, that is a known torturer and murderer
We have a known torturer, on a blood lust quest to seek a revenge killing
This same murderer is holding in HIS hand a map with his fingers juxtaposed just right to reveal the word
OSAMA
DoooH!!
Posted by: thinbluemime | March 25, 2006 at 07:28 AM
That screencap is funny, but lets try not to propagate the belief that Osama has anything to do with Iraq, and that Iraq, in turn, had anything to do with 9/11. (btw I'm really not digging Paul Greengrass's new film 'United 93', horrible poster and bad trailer imo).
Anyway, enough rambling, sorry. (although Lost does comment on the post-9/11 climate, so I'm not too offtopic)
OK IM REALLY GONNA STOP NOW. So anyway, a good ep and a great last 5 minutes. I think if Gale has set a trap it would be awesome, however my first impression in that scene was that he was making them see a worst case scenario and when Sayid and co find his baloon he will appear innocent in their eyes. This has already been mentioned above I think, so yeah, I agree with this outlook.
Posted by: Cihan | March 25, 2006 at 08:39 AM
Hey guys, don't know if you have started recording yet or not, but just wanted to point out that it could very well have been Zeke running past Shannon in the pilot episode. Even if he wasn't credited on IMDB, or even credited in a much credible place, it still possible he was in it. Actors can remain uncredited as long as there is a mutual deal between the producers and the actor(also possibly the actor's agent, I'm not sure). Just wanted to point out, Zeke might have been there.
P.S. He could also appear anywhere else in the season without being credited if he doesn't have a speaking role. Zeke could be . . . anywhere. Spooky, huh?
Posted by: Pirate Guy | March 25, 2006 at 12:09 PM
Pirate Guy,
But but but... what in the heck is the BENEFIT of having Zeke run by in the crash scene? From a dramatic point of view, I think it's completely worthless--IF he was on the plane, will the big revealing moment flashback to... a blurry image of him running Shannon screaming (an image which I think summarizes the primal reaction anyone would have after a crash: a gut-wrenching, deep terror at everything having gone so wrong that the only hope is to scream so that someone, anyone, can help)?!
This is NOT the same as "the creepy bald guy staring at his toes," which if not memorable while watching the pilot episode, was memorable enough that it could be replayed a few episodes later once the Locke flashback was completed and we knew what his situation was. This is NOT the same as "the angry Southern guy" sadly reading a letter, which was memorable enough that it could be referenced a number of episodes later in the Sawyer flashback. This is a scene of a captivating dramatic performance (from Shannon) with a middle aged white guy running by.
Let's call him what he is--AN EXTRA--and be done with it! Anyone and everyone can go and research Screen Actor's Guild union rules about non-dialogue credits to actors as part of the Grand Conspiracy to Cover Up the Blurry Existence of the Uncredited Appearence of M.C. Gainey in the Lost Pilot Episode--or you can accept the fact that M.C. Gainey (the actor who plays Zeke) has appeared in ONE HUNDRED AND THREE separate works of television and motion pictures since 1981 and that the cost of a plane ticket and hotel room doesn't justify flying ME to Hawaii to be an extra, let alone an established actor who certainly commands a minimal salary of which most of us would probably be envious.
As far as I'm concerned, this is one theory we can put to bed: the blurry extra running past Shannon is a blurry extra running past Shannon.
Posted by: Matt Lafferty | March 25, 2006 at 12:44 PM
any word on when the podcast will be up?
Posted by: kyle | March 25, 2006 at 01:33 PM
When will the podcast be released?
As for the episode, I feel that Henry is definately an "Other". No prisoner would be bold enough to talk that way to complete strangers. His calm demeanor when speaking reminds me a lot of Ethan Rom and Goodwin, whom both were "Others".
Posted by: Michael R. | March 25, 2006 at 01:34 PM