LOSTCasts 25: S.O.S.

This latest podcast focuses on season 2 episode 19 of LOST, entitled "S.O.S." With a special guest host joining us, we discuss Rose & Bernard's backstory, the healer "Issac", Eko's church, Locke's "problems", Jack's attempt to set up a trade for Walt, and the return of Michael. As always, we end the show with LOST links, spoilers, and some thoughts about our next episode of LOST, airing on May 3rd.

Download podcast #25 here

Here are some links related to this podcast:
ABC offering free streaming of LOST
Wikipedia entry on Uluru (Ayer's Rock)
More about special properties of Uluru
More on "dream time"
Wikipedia entry on "dream time"
Discussion about Issac's wall
Images from Issac's wall
Video of the "ghost" behind Jack

LOST Links:
Cafe Press products featuring the numbers
Amazon page for "Bad Twin"

Spoiler Links:
Latest LOST Diary entry
Audio of Preston & Steve interview with Michael Emerson (Henry Gale)

Outro Music:
Otis Redding's "These Arms of Mine"

We've got a little bit of a break the next few weeks, so we won't be podcasting next weekend, but we'll be back the week after that with some more discussion on the blast door map, and speculation about what the end of this second season of LOST may have in store.

Stay LOST.

Comments

[Shonda]

Yay! I was about to burst if I had to wait any longer. *squealing-girl-bouncy-hugs-for-all*

[David]

"Cerberus"

Thank you :)

[Scott]

Dreamtime: some of your pics, etc on your links about dream time make me think of the movie "Donnie Darko" - you should check it out & see if it fits

[mike]

Best intro music EVAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[David]

Weather predicting events / reflecting moods is a literary technique known as "Pathetic Fallacy"

[Shonda]

Hey, ya'll. Great podcast! I liked Joy's input. I hope to hear more from her.

I'm so excited that ya'll mentioned my email! (And you pronounced my name correctly - much appreciated.)

FYI, IIRC, The arrow keys on the keyboard above the comma and period are just called less than and greater than. Like from math. They are also called angle brackets. (Not to be confused with the set type brackets next to the backslash key.)

For the record, I like the white on black layout of your site. It is very Lost-ey.

[David]

My Theory: Neil Frogurt is writing the diary.

[Matt Lafferty]

Just wanted to make a general comment before I sit down and listen to this weeks podcast: I think it's great how flexible John, Robert, and Brian are with simulateously doing their own thing for the podcast while looking for ways to change/tweak in favor of the fans.

A mom complains about some cursing, you guys don't curse; one or two of you can't be there, you've got awesome backups; weeks of breaks and nothing new to talk about, you bring in someone who hasn't seen the show before and watch an episode with him; some people are interested in a female point of view, and you get yourselves a female guest!

I was listening to one of your theory shows (maybe #19?) while working outside today (which, by the way, I recommend to anyone who will be feeling the pinch of no podcast OR episode this upcoming week!) and it's just a darn enjoyable show you guys do.

Any word on where the idea of doing a broad couple (or more?!) of episodes over the summer? We've followed you all through string theory and literary analysis and smart dust, and I bet most listeners would stick around for discussions on X3, graphic novels, and whatever else comes your way.

Keep up the great work!

[Cameron]

Agreed: Best intro music EVAR!!!!! Also - excellent podcast once again. Joy was great.

One clarification for fellow non-US Lost fans: the free streaming deal from ABC will NOT be available outside the US. This is to protect the foreign TV broadcast rights.

Like the US I-tunes store, if you have a IP address that is not associated with a US entity, you are plain out of luck.

Damn that sucks.

[Pirate Guy]

Hey guys, this would be a good thing to put in the next Lost Links section whenever the next podcast comes out. I was searching around on iTunes and I found this one recently released album called Red Tree by Moneen in which it's first song on the album is entitled: Don't Ever Tell Locke What He Can't Do. It sounds like the crappy kind of music I don't listen to, but for hardcore Lost fans, or for crappy music enthusiasts, it might be a good thing to check out. Hopefully this hasn't been posted yet, and if it has I'm sorry I wasted 30 seconds of your time. Well, that's about it. Stay Lost, and arrrrrrrrrr.

[sam]

love the intro music!!!! The podcast seems to be getting a little bit longer, which is nice because i get a little more, but just pointin it out.

[rubycalaber]

Australian Dreamtime scares the hell out of me BTW.

[Matt Lafferty]

A few thoughts about how the healing powers of the island could have "skipped over" some. Concerning the mortal wounds of Boone and Shannon (and everyone else who has died), I think they can be called that--mortal wounds. I'm reminded of a storyline X-Men did once where Professor X had a secret "Just In Case" file about the X-Men that had ways to kill them... you know, just in case. The info on Wolverine (who of course has healing powers) was that the only way to kill him was to cut his head off--and even that wasn't a guarantee, so his head needed to be removed from his body fast, before the healing started. My point is that what can fix Locke's legs, Jin's jewels, and Rose's cancer can heal those things while not being powerful enough to heal massive internal bleeding, a gunshot wound to the chest, drowing, Ethan breaking your neck, etc.

As for Shannon's asthma, what I'm about to suggest may sound crazy but I'm just stealing it from David McCullough's nonfiction bio on Teddy Roosevelt titled "Mornings on Horseback." Aparently there is evidence that asthma, particularly childhood asthma, can be caused BY the the sick person--they create their own attacks. McCullough cites a study where asthmatic kids were taken out of their home and put in a hospital room that was loaded up with dust from the home (dumb dust, not smart dust) and the child was fine. He, his medical references, and I aren't saying that kids purposely "fake" the attacks, but that it's a subconcious thing which is in no way connected to air quality. Hence, Shannon could have been having an attack that her mind started. Why wouldn't the island fix a mental condition like that, as has been argued for Libby (and perhaps others--though don't forget Hurley saw Dave)? This kind of asthma attack isn't a mental sickness per se--at least, that's my understanding from the Roosevelt bio. It's more like feeling scared when someone jumps out and says "Boo!"; the subconcious and/or uncontrolable part of your mind does its thing and you have an uncontrolable reaction.

"Mystery Island can fix most types of illnesses, but not gunshot wounds and certain types of asthma. Consult your doctor before going to Mystery Island."

[Michael Box]

i have to second the idea that the podcasts are getting a little lengthy....i love it, but the only time i can listen without interuption is on my way to and from work, so i burn it to a cd. 120 minutes tops is available on the cds...so i have had to cut the intro and outro music and some of the welcome stuff in order to get it to fit. not a huge deal, but if it we maybe cut into two 60 minute episodes it would be more convenient for everyone...just a suggestion.

[Matt Lafferty]

Michael Box:

Um... I guess this isn't technically safe or anything but I just listened to the podcast while driving... I just popped my MP3 player's headphones in and kept it low enough so, you know, honks and stuff would get my attention. I did it at night, but you could probably get away with it during the day if you had one headphone in, ala a cell phone headset.

And don't forget to buckle up too!

[Shonda]

I like the extra length of the podcasts. I find that the shorter podcasts are not very satisfying, with the official podcast being the least satisfying of all since it is so tiny and only lasts like 15 minutes.

Regarding listening while driving, there's all kinds of adapter thingies for iPods so that you can listen to them through your car's stereo. Probably a little safer that way.

[Matt Lafferty]

Yeah... probably MUCH safer!

[Sam]

ok, this is completely random. BUT, I was out to dinner at a chinese restaurant, and we got our fortune cookie at the end. Anyways, on he bottom where 6 numbers that read: 4 15 16 8 23 42. IT CREEPED ME OUT!!!! It was the numbers in a different order. I just thought that it was cool.

Now, onto the episode. At the end when Michael came out of the forest, I noticed two things. 1. Michael left with about 5-6 guns and some amo. Where were those? And 2. How did he get that torch? I mean, he left with nothing to make a fire and had nothing to make a fire on like the stick that he had in his hand. I was just puttin this out there. Also, don't you gusy think that Michael would do anything to get his boy back? I mean, he locked either Locke or Jack (can't remember) in the place where the guns were just to get some guns and run after his boy. He might be working for the others. Don't think that this is true, but as we all know, LOST is the essence of the saying "expect the unexpected."

STAY LOST!!!!!
Sam

[goat]

great podcasts! the longer, the better in my opinion. I have to ask -what kind of beer do yall drink during these shindigs?
Off topic, my elixir of choice has been Anchor Steam.

I don't know if anyone has made this reference, but many of the themes, as well as a lot of the imagery in Lost (in both the 1st and 2nd seasons) are very similar to a book titled, "the wind-up bird chronicle" by Haruki Murakami. The premises are vastly different, but the characters, relationships, and bizzare events have enough similarities to make a mention of this. I'll draw examples from the imagery later if anyone's interested.

Now, about the episode: I think S.O.S. was very important in terms of character development - we really saw the humanity of some of these losties, and Rose & Bernard's backstory was heartwarming. In terms of the sci-fi aspects of the show, the questions revolving around the mysteries of the island, etc. this episode didn't have much to offer. There was the obvious connection between the magnetism of the swan hatch with healing powers similar to ayers rock, but I think that was it. I don't think anything else such as the ghost blur behind jack or the pictures up on the healer's wall were meant to be read into. I just don't think they were significant - for an average audience to pick up on these background details as vital elements to the story they would have to've had more on-screen time, at least. The one thing that could be read into, using this logic, could be the large black rock at the "line you're not supposed to cross" - but even that is a bit far fetched, methinks. So, this episode was good for what it was, with relationships between jack and kate, rose and bernard, etc. (montage) but was lacking for all us theorizers. at least michael's back.

[Dharma Bum]

howdy dr giggles,
i have a thoguht regarding the healing powers of the island. i am begginning to think, because of the similar responses of the 'healers' of claire and rose (focusing and then looking shocked and saying they cant help them) that these healers are somehow connected to dharma or hanso and were in some collusion to get the certain folks who had the right traits ie weaknesses to be experimented on on the island. This means btw that sun and jins mercedes driving doc who didnt want his practice burned down is also one of these connected docs and hurleys shrink may be too. anyhoo once these certain mideal guniea pigs are on the island the crazy possibly magnetic healing begins. some of the collateral damage is that those who are on the island that wernt specific targets for experimentation arnt healable like the rutherfords or cant be subjected to these forces like all the abducted children. just my grand thought
ps love the long podcasts keep up the good work
pps who sent locke then, was it jacks dad? oooooo
("im sorry uncle locke i didnt know, lets go cry in the jungle")

[goat]

ps - is joy single? kidding. but it was refreshing to hear a female nerding-out to lost

[James Wicks]

Great show again guys!

BUT.... Not only does the comment section hurt my eyes, your new intro music hurts my ears :)

AND.... I was listening to the podcast on my ipod (via speakers) in the bathroom and cut myself shaving when you mentioned my name :)

Lostcasts are clearly bad for my health! Hehe

I'll try and make my next comment relevant to the show!

James

[Nasher]

The ultimate (Christmas) Theory

Dudes.. i think they have it! The monster is Santa Claus!

He judges who's been naughty and who's been nice and deals with them accordingly. If your nice he gives you the gift of healing or mind powers and if you are bad it gives you some coal by taking you underground to go fill your stockings.

The Island is Santa's hide away and the others are his elf army. Santa will do anything to protect his secret and sends his evil Oompa Loompa's out to keep the survivors from his toy making station with is transmission tower for collecting the transmissions of children's letters to him.

He had to magic reindeer to use to pull his sleigh but accidentally brought some polar bears through at the same time.

[Tilandra]

I remember reading somewhere that Matt Fox's "Eagle flies in unlimited skies" is actually from a translation of a chinese poem, or a famous poem. Don't ask me what the name of it is cause I read it a year ago.

[tracic67]

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that the rain really doesn't have anything to do with anything. I was in Hawaii, up in the north short where they film and during the time of last episode and the next two, there will be a lot of rain. It rained it Hawaii for 40 days. Production couldn't help but keep their schedule. Sorry!