Get Ready: Tricia Tanaka is Dead

After a while, we finally got another Hurley-centric episode last night with the airing of season 3, episode 10 of LOST, Tricia Tanaka is Dead. Got any thoughts? Get them to us by posting them here, sending us an email or calling our automated audio comment voicemail at 206-666-2278. We'll be podcasting this weekend!

Comments

[David]

Well, the episode was 'funny' but in my opinion decidedly average, I'm more impressed with the preview of next week's episode, which, if it continues the story of the final 2 minutes of these episode, should be a cracker.

[Tahir]

Good heart-warming episode.Some true laugh out loud moments.
I say we needed an episode like this.Nice big Hurley Sawyer hug......Ahhhhhh.

Some points:-
The van and a possible dirt road to Othersville ???
Have they changed the actor dog who played Vincent ?
The Vincent in this eppy is not as fat.
Charlie becomes fun again.

[Jamie (c)]

Much better episode! Lots of fun, however the "cliff hanger" just left me (and no doubt YOU) saying "duh".

Unless of course IMDB is in on fooling us to think that Alex is Danielle's kid, and she really isn't.

As for Roger's VW Van, sweet. I think the roadway (if they can restore it) could become something interesting. Perhaps a way to quickly strike at the uh?thers village.

Maybe there's Scooby Doo homage in a future episode? With Sawyer as Shaggy and Jin as Scooby (because of his broken engrish)

[Jamie (c)]

OBTW- As a mechanic, I really had to suspend my disbelief about the Van starting. (too many reasons why it wouldn't)

But this is Lost and like Hurley, I really wanted that Van to start.

And if this is how Charlie gets free from fate's death list, kind of lame but I'm sure the writers feel like they got out of that corner they painted themselves into.

[Jason]

Overall not an earth shattering episode mythologically, but it was just all around good episode.

I personally felt it did a lot to advance the relationships. It's much clearer where Kate and Sawyer stand now, Charlie's back to his usual self, and thats to say nothing of the discovery of Dharma beer. Any episode with a drunk Sawyer and Jin is fine by me.

And, personally, I felt very satisfied by the last two minutes. Kate telling Rousseau that she saw Alex felt like characters were finally sharing information. I know it wasn't a huge thing, but I was expecting Kate to stay quiet about it for atleast half of the season. Maybe I'm just being overly optimistic but hopefully characters will actually share information with each other.

[Taylor]

Loved the episode...just a feel-good romp and that's what we need right now! As someone who drives an old VW bus everyday, I also had to suspend my disbelief, but it was worth it.

But why did no one question why Vincent was there?!

[Courtney]

I think this was a great episode. I really feel like the LOST writers are going back to the types of things that worked for them in season 1.
I found it oddly random that Roger had the title "Work Man" on his DHARMA jump suit. I'm pretty sure that wasn't really necessary.
Maybe all Hurley needed was a lucky rabbit's foot to overcome his bad luck!
Oh, and one more thing, we have yet another character with "daddy issues" (i.e. Kate, Jack, Locke, Sun, Sawyer as a father, etc) Seems Hurley's dad is the reason he got so large.

[Experiment 626]

I posted this in the section for the previous episode. It might be better if the "get ready" page is added just before the episode airs, if possible. If it can't be done that way, oh well ...

I've noticed that many people say "the plot didn't advance" when what they really mean is, "The plot didn't advance as much as I wanted." ;-)

My thinking is, "Enjoy the ride, see the sights along the way, and stop asking 'Are we THERE yet?' every five minutes. When we get there, it's OVER. So if you need to know when and where the end comes to continue watching, just wait for the DVD box set when the series ends. Otherwise, let the producers tell the story. I swear, I'd hate to read some of you a bedtime story!

In other words, to quote The Princess Bride: "Yes, you're very smart. Shut up." ;-)

Question: near the beginning of "Tricia Tanaka is Dead," when Hurley was rattling off the bad luck he'd had since winning the lottery, he talked about someone falling off a roof or something like that, but I couldn't make out exactly what he said. Anyone know?

I suspect the reporter's name was an homage to Family Guy, especially since her full name was always given in dialogue. I guess it would have been TOO obvious and much too silly if she'd been called "Asian reporter Tricia Tanaka."

SSB

[Experiment 626]

RE: my question -- never mind. According to Lostpedia, he was talking about the guy who jumped out the window while Hurley was talking to his accountant -- we saw this in "Numbers," I believe.

SSB

[Deviant]

The Family Guy reporter is "Tricia Takanawa", which isn't a great difference, but I thought I'd be "that guy".

This was a cute, fun, nothing episode. I'd be more content with the episodes if the flashbacks accomplished anything or told us something new. Anything, really.

Also, did anyone else want the Mystery Machine to speed over the hill, keep going at full speed, and then crash right through the front wall of a house in Othersville? It wouldn't have made much sense for Othersville to be that close to the beach, but I really would have liked Hurley, Charlie, Jin and Sawyer found that village. They'd be an ideal group to search the houses.

But alas, Hurley finds a van, everyone says it's pointless to drive it, and then it proves to be pointless. It was a fun show, and the Danielle appearance was too predictable to leave me fully satisfied.

I'll still take episodes like this over the first 7, though. Just seeing the beach cast again made it all worth it. I find it annoying that Locke and Sayid have literally been just sitting there doing nothing rather than going on that walk, looking for Patchy, or just doing something. Really just drove home the point that those cast members have been neglected and forgotten about up until now.

[Brian]

@ Deviant
I don't think its fair to say Locke and Sayid were just sitting around. If this ep was the day after Flashes, they had gone to the Pearl yesterday. Kate arrived around 24 hours after they came back to tell Charlie and Hurley that Eko was dead, so even though its been 4 episodes, they've barely had any time to regroup. Clearly Locke wants to go north since he told Sayid about the John 3:05 bearing. Its tough to realize, but so far this season, just over a week has passed.

[Courtney]

@ Brian: Good point with the time issue. I think with all our intense chat each week over the show, we sometimes forget how the time scheme in LOST works in comparison to ours!

[ryan]

probably my least favorite episode.

:[

i can't ever recall another time when i actually considered fast-forwarding through just to see previews for next week.

[Jamie (c)]

@ Brian - the time line IS really getting whacked. How long were Kate and Sawyer away? How long has it been since Echo's demise? When does the tsunami hit?

I agree the story felt like the writers went "we need to bring Lock and Sayid in somewhere" and just did, especially at the end while Kate was looking to hook up with Danielle, who by the way looked smokin'! (I wonder if Kate swings that way?)

As for the comments about Vincent being there, he never left the beachies, did people think Walt and Mike went back for him?

And the only 3 things a woman wants to hear moment, priceless.

[Mike]

This was one of the worst episodes ever. I am so disappointed with season 3.1 and I am someone who has continuously held out hope for this show. We didn't get anything new and the big reveal was figured out by fans more than a year ago. Why do we care about Hurley's flashback? The flashbacks used to give us clues as to what was happening on the island, or why they were there but now they're just used as poor character development devices for pieces of character info that are pointless. I wonder what the actors think when the script reads "This episode Hurley finds a Volksdharmawagen van and contemplates his relationship with his father." What garbage.

[Bobby]

Tricia Tanaka is Dead. But why? I think it is to show that this episode was truly not a "puff" piece. True, the episode was hilarious and made me feel good inside, but I think it advanced the mythology quite a bit and therefore was a significant episode. Think about it, for the past couple of episodes we have been relentlessly hammered with the idea of fate, predestination, and inevitability. What this episode did was, to quote Hurley, "look death (fate) in the face and say 'whatever, man.' I feel that this episode brought back the idea of free will to oppose our steady diet of the island's sovereignty over our castaways. Curses can be broken and fate can be altered. I'm on the lookout for Hurley to be an important and influential character as the episodes progress.

[Disappointed]

The worst episode of Lost - ever. I keep hoping each week that Lost is going to get back to it's roots and after the Desmond-centric episode, I thought Lost was back, but it looks like I'll continue to be disappointed.

We learned NOTHING in this episode. I wish I had that hour of my life back!

[daviboy]

I don't care what anyone thinks about last night's episode other than it felt like it could have been straight out of season one. It totally reminded me of everyone playing golf in the first season. Hurley was totally right that everyone needed "a little fun" and I think that applies to the viewers as well.

Sawyer namedropping "Skeletor" brought a smile to this geek at heart!

With "Frenchy" back in the picture, all we need now is for the whispers in the jungle to return and Ol' Smokey to demolish some trees so we get back to things being more mysterious.

As far as I'm concerned...LOST IS NOT lost!!!

Keep up the great work guys!

[daviboy]

@ disappointed

You say you wish LOST would get back to its roots...am I missing something here? Let's not forget the premise of the show or should I say "roots" is about a group of people trying to survive on an island. To add to that...one of the biggest "roots" was the numbers 4 8 15 16 23 42. Was that not mentioned throughout last night's show?

The defense rests!

[Jin's hooked on PHONICS!]

the episode didn't really advance anything on the island, in terms of freeing jack or what not, mythology, etc. But I thought it was easily the funniest ep in the series, like taylor said...it was a feel good episode.

Hurley, "........I like chicken?"

Anybody thought that was hilarious?

[Jeff]

Bobby hit the nail on the head. Hurley's dad (Cheech) said twice "You make your own luck" and Hurley finally began to believe that. He wouldn't let anything defeat his belief that he would get the VW running - and he did. I'd be surprised if we don't end up seeing that van play a bit part in future events.

[Lorne]

@ Daviboy.
That was probably the most frustrating part! They mention the numbers over and over, and then, they don't do anything with them!
When Hurley says he's going to Australia to discover the meaning, I was jumping for joy and looking forward. Then it didn't happen!
People who liked this ep are the reason why a movie like Road Hogs can make millions of dollars...

[waitingforlost]

@Lorne

We already know what happened with Hurley in Australia. He met the lady with one leg (Mrs Toomey?) in the middle of the outback and found that the numbers were cursed for her too. Her husband was Lennys friend I think and they'd moved to the outback to escape the curse but it had followed them. He'd died somehow and she'd lost ler leg in a car crash.

I guess we can't all like the same episodes. Like men don't like the same women. Some like blondes, some brunettes, some like them skinny, some like them large. I liked this episode alot, won't go into my preferencwe for women now. I will not be watching Road Hogs.

[Lorne]

@waiting
Thanks.. There are some holes in my Lost memory it seems!

[smokem]

THANK GOD! finally a fun episode, maybe its just me but this season has been depressing as hell...

Chong as Jacob would be awesome.

[Joop]

Like the last episode, you have to let this one sink in a little. It's not just fun fluff or filler. I think Charlie & Hurley testing fate was important.

Whether you liked it or not, the cosmic CLUCK YOU was worth the price of admission.

[Justin (AKA Locke Junior)]

***spoilers***

Loved the episode - although I am haunted by the spoilers show by Lost Moments, esp with the hand by Vincent and the VW Dharma Van. I don't think the title should have been called TTID as it does give away a would be shocker of an astroid, the spoiler is in the title. Again we see the 'Daddy Issues' pop up again ( as it always does) and how Hurley became what he is. But after this we may see a tougher Hurley, bringing the smackdown on the others! Oh yeah and that little ride going down the hill, freaked me out and I was glad at least one surprise was still unspoiled!

Remember to look after yourself and each other!

J-L-J

[daviboy]

@ Lorne

I will have to take offense to that remark...are you comparing this episode to a movie like Wild Hogs? I for one am the first to admit that I love the mythology aspect of this show. I spend a lot of time listening to LOST podcasts and reading info online concerning the mythology. To take it a step further I spent several years watching the X-Files mythology unfold.

As far as this episode goes I have to come to it's defense because it showed the human aspect of our LOSTIES. At the end of the day, in order for a show to succeed you have to be able to relate to the characters. I know "mythology" is fun but you can't have it with every episode. Like Stephen King said "the journey is sometimes more important than the end."

If you are more concerned with mythology I would suggest tuning out until the show is over and then reading the wikipedia article for the series to get your fix.

If not, then be prepared for more frustration!

[Andrew (from Cambridge)]

Really liked it. Anything that gets us away from the cages and the claustrophobic Others camp on Alcatraz would have been great but this was better because it was actually fun (which is one of the reasons I started watching this show).

Also Hurley's hope is a good contrast to the predetermination of the Desmond episode.

And another wrecked vehicle found on the island: ship, plane, now car.

Vincent with the hand/arm reminded me of the scene in the Kurosawa movie Yojimbo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055630/) where Toshiro Mifune's character walks into a town and sees a dog trotting by with a human hand in its mouth. It turns out the town is in the middle of a battle between two groups and Mifune proceeds to play both sides against each other. Maybe a connection to the "interesting" discussion of Jack being among both groups but not of them.

[Mark B]

@ Experiment 626

The reason that I mentioned the plot not moving forward in TTiD (see comments section for previous episodes podcast) is that it didn't, well it did but not much. I'm not complaining just stating fact, I really liked this episode. Kate going off to find Danielle to get her to help get Jack back is plot advancement, predictable but advancement. Who else was she going to go and find to get help ? Everyone else is accounted for as an Other or on the Beach. The rest was pretty much just fun for funs sake. There was the overall "Hope is a good thing and belief in yourself" theme, this was as someone said a good counter to the Desmond "Destiny rules" episode.

The plot does not need to rocket forward at the pace of regular shows but it does have to move forward. LOST is a show that moves at a different pace to other shows, it is essentially one long story arc (people stuck on a weird island trying to survive whilst encountering strange stuff) being told over about 100 hours with a bunch of sub-plot storylines and flashbacks to keep it interesting and flesh out the characters. Imagine sitting down to watch a movie and being told it would last about 100 hours - that's what LOST is, a 100 hour movie. Episodes like last nights are fine, it was a fun filled extravaganza of witty one liners and people having a good time, something we've seen very little of. We got back to the beach crowd and our old friends. I wouldn't want too many episodes lake TTiD in a season but last night it was just what we needed, some entertaining character interaction and pointless fun. It was a nice way to segway from Alcatraz to the Beach. The last nine epis have been damned by some for being "too dark", last night was a feel good episode about hope, generating your own future rather than believing destiny holds all the cards as well as the promise of better things to come.

I think next weeks epi looks like a real old style episode with Kate, Sayid and Locke investigating the island.

In my opinion LOST is back on track and based on this episode Jorge deserves more air time.

[daviboy]

@ Mark B

Great comment! Sums up everything!

@ Lorne

Hope I didn't offend you with my comment. This is my favorite show and the amount of negative press for this season has gotten to me a little bit. Stay LOST!

[Justin]

finally?
S2E18 was too long ago for you?

[Kathy aka Fangirl]

This episode was about hope and "Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane." On the other hand, "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." This episode took us back to a Season 1 type episode that was all about character which it needed to get back to. It gave us hope that Lost is getting back on track. However, since it has been so long since we've had an episode like this that it feels like we're moving backward instead of forward. We hope that this show will give us what we need. Sadly, it seems its not giving us what we want. I hope they will balance this a bit better and next week looks to be some more anwser/clues.

@ Lorne from the previous thread

I think it's an interesting idea the Danielle is lying ala Ben/Henry. It would be an awesome twist. Damon and Lindleoff have said that we need to question the answers.

[Sobaika]

Loved this episode! It was goooood Hurley fun, and little bits of plot advancement were strategically placed in between Hurley's adventures. Random thoughts:

- There is definetely a new Vincent. Either that or Madison got a makeover.
- Sayid, Locke, Kate, & Rousseau - BEST COMBINATION EVER. More than anything, this episode got me excited about next week.
- Hurley's storyline was fun but not fluffy. I wonder where they're going with the Roger/road/beer thing.
- I heart Jin and the rest of the Lostaways. This entire bit reminded me of S1's golf scenes.
- Nikki & Paolo were in this for about 2 seconds, but is it just me or is there presence on the island getting less awkward?
- I thought it was weird how so many of the survivors ran up to hug Sawyer. I'm sure they're glad he's not dead and all but since when is he so loved (by anyone other than Kate?)
- Speaking of Sawyer and hugs, that was a classic moment with him and Hurley.
- Hurley's backstory, while entertaining and in line with the theme of "hope for the best, free will, etc." didn't show us anything that we didn't already know. We know the Cluck place was gonna get hit, we knew about Hurley's bad luck, we knew he was going to Australia, the psychic thing turned out to be a wash - the only thing we didn't know was that like everyone else on the island, Hurley has daddy issues. But you know what? Still a good story.
- This was not the worst episode of Lost, the best episode of Lost, this was not the end of the writers, nor the sign that Lost is officially back. So please, stop saying that for EVERY. SINGLE. EPISODE.

Looking forward to the podcast!

[Sobaika]

Sorry for the double post, but Kristin @ eOnline has an interview with Lindelof and Cuse where they answer some things - including what happened to Kate after her breakfast brunch with Ben, something a lot of us have wanted to know. Here is the link:

http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/blog/index.jsp?uuid=f46807ea-530f-4664-a44f-5c2febb16636

[Craig]

I'm really thinking about ditching Lost and just reading what the hell it was all about online when it ends.

How many times have we heard Lindeloff and Cuse promise "a gamechanger" then nothing happens. In the 3 month break they were full of promises about how the pace picks up etc etc. We've had litle other than more questions, characters introduced to an already bulging cast and many, many threads left hanging from over two years ago.

The powers that be *really* need to stop introducing more questions and wrap up a lot before moving on again. I used to look forward to watching but episodes like this and Stranger In A Strange Land just make me wish I hadn't bothered.

[Justin]

Wow, it was just a deleted scene. I wonder how many other bits of "mystery" could be cleared up by filling in a deleted scene.

[ebonX]

I piggyback on Mark B. (and everyone else) ... I liked this "feel good" episode of LOST. It was definitely a 180 from the tone of the previous S3 eps. I found it funny how this episode pretty much played alot of things fans have been talking about, like that the Losties don't talk to one another ... Kate had like a 5min scene where she pretty much "sync'ed up" with Locke & Sayid.

@Kathy - I am on board with the idea that Danielle is an Other ... Here is my post from a previous thread ...

You guys got me thinkin on the whole Danielle deal ... What if she is Jacob (or the leader of the Others above Ben)? We only took her info to be true in S1 (Alex, shipwreck, French message, etc.) because we didn't know any better. What if Rousseau took that name the same way Ben took the name Henry Gale? Remember that Sayid was the one to mention the message in French, not Rouseau ... This would also explain the whole Eastern European accent and her speaking English (as I agree, if one spoke English, why would one make a distress call in French).

[Cameron]

I loved this episode and think that overall, season 3 is better than a number of episodes in season 2.

Re Danielle: I am sure at one point she was an Other, but I'm guessing that she got kicked out of their group, but it was judged by their tribunal that Alex had to stay with them.

I would wager quite a bit that Danielle has one of those marks on her back that we saw in the last episode on Juliet.

[Kathy aka Fangirl]

@ebonx: I looked it up fast and thought it was Lorne who typed that sorry.

I'm on board with you. Her story never added up. She's never seen them, yet they took her baby. The whole sickness thing.

[johnathan]

Although this episode did not really go into to the mythology of lost i still loved it. It was really rewarding to see characters we like talking to each other which is what most of season 1 was. it was also nice to see danielle.

[alex's slingshot]

I don't know about anyone else, but I got a strange sense of foreboding toward the end of the episode when Kate find Rousseau in the jungle and Rousseau asks her what she's doing there. I think there is a possibility that Rousseau is an Other or is in cahoots with the Others (maybe a plan to get Alex back?) and that when asked Kate "what are you doing here?" she meant more generally on the big island rather on Alcatraz where she supposedly should still be being held in captivity. Maybe it's nothing, but it stood out to me because it reminded me of when Rousseau had Ben in a net, clearly knew something about him ("he will lie for a long time"), but nevertheless handed him off to Sayid. If she wanted to interrogate him herself she easily could have, or if she preferred she could've let him hang there until he died of starvation. Since there is so much about Rousseau's story that hasn't been corroborated by anyone else or by a flashback I think it's certainly possible her story is intentional more deceptive than appears. Only time will tell, I guess, but I hope next week we get some insight into whether Alex really is her daughter and she wants to get her back ASAP or if it's some other kind of ploy.

[Cihan]

I cant believe the luke-warm reception to this episode by some people, I'm beginning to actually detest those who just want mythology 101, and who automatically dismiss episodes like the one we just saw, as if its 'filler'. There's an actual story to be told here, not some videogame-style montage of cutscenes you people seem to want. An actual story that is not going to stoop to characters lumbering from point A to point B like automatons. This story involves something called characterization and without it a story is crap, no matter how good the universe its set in is. (are you reading Lucas?)

The show some of you people seem to want is a show where characters spend all their time and resources to covering every inch of the island like a human comb, (not even taking breaks to sleep, eat or shit) regularly spouting lines and lines of expositional dialogue at each other every five minutes, ('sharing information' according to you) spelling everything out for the viewer, then continuing to go around the island solving every Dharma-related mystery in the space of one season. This show isnt about the godamnit Dharma plot, godamnit, Dharma is window-dressing, OK!?. GODAMNIT MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS RISING.

Anyway, my lame theory of the day (no doubt already made up by others long before tonight): Vincent died on the plane and every instance we've seen Vincent since the plane crash, is actually the monster in dog-form. Dont ask me why, it just is.

Also: when the meteor hit I was gobsmacked. One thing I love about this show is the reaction it gets out of me, I'd totally forgotten about the meteor incident so when it happened I actually laughed out loud in disbelief. This episode had everything that's made Lost successful, believe it.

[Jason]

I was touched by this episode. Hurley's tearful sentiments towards Libby. The vulnerable moment between Hurley and his dad just before he takes off for Australia (wasn't sure whether to believe that his dad really would be okay with Hurley giving away all the money, but I wanted to believe it). Kate reaching out to Sawyer, trying to maintain a connection (though I'm not sure exactly what she wants an apology for - anyone figure that out?). Hurley overwhelming Sawyer's usual bad attitude with a big bear hug, and Sawyer actually breaking down and receiving it. Hurley forcefully shocking Charlie out of his despair, getting him to man up and take control of his destiny.

Awesome character episode! Maybe the best yet, IMO. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

And I agree with some of the other posters. Lost isn't just about revelations. Sit back and enjoy the many facets of Lost. If we learn everything, it's over. Take it ALL in, not just the facts about the nature of the Island and it's inhabitants. Enjoy the unfolding.

[biolite]

Yeah this episode was great, a light hearted character episode, a nice aside from the struggle with the others.

My biggest complaint with this episode? The people complaining about it. I know it's all been said before but this show isn't totally about the mythology. It is a character heavy show. Character moments and character development are a big part of the show that's something that people need to deal with. Look back on this season so far:

We've seen where the other live, we've seen where the others work, we know there is another island with a station on it, we know there is ANOTHER station on the main island with some patchy guy in it. We know ben had cancer, we met Juiliet, Carl, Isabel. We know Cindy and the kids are alive, we know desmond can see the future, we know the others have(had?) contact with the outside world AND we know that Roger knew how to party... to name a few things.

Don't underestimate what we've been told this season. They can't give us everything in a season, every episode can't be filled with mythology, otherwise the show would be done. If you don't have the patience to sit through the character stories (which are just as important as the myth) then wait for the DVD or just read the recaps, you'll enjoy it more.

[OPPinoy]

I liked how they showed what actually happened to Hurley to make him realize that he's cursed, but the episode did nothing to further the plotline of the show. At the end of the episode, I was thinking that I liked the Hurley-centric episode, but it felt like a filler episode. Just fluff. If they implied that Hurley will stop being lazy and take charge, then I'd be excited. But it seems that Hurley is just there for comic relief and levity. And Cheech was a bad choice for his dad since it was so obvious that he looked the same age before and after his 17 year hiatus, about 90 years old. I hope his wig was an inside joke, because it was yet another horrible wig that looked more like roadkill than hair. I thought Donald Trump was playing Hurley's dad, until Cheech turned around.

[Nimrod]

About Danielle possibly being another:

According to Danielle, wasn't Alex stolen from her very shortly after she was born? If so, why is she called "Alex" by the others as well? How would they know her name? Wouldn't this be a sign that Danielle at least at some point would have had some kind of contact wiht The Others?

Hmmmm

By the way: I liked the episode. Maybe not all that much happened, but is was a setup episode for what is to come, I think. Also, it was a reminder that faith is an important part of the mythology of the show.

And I agree with whoever asked us not to judge every single episode the worst, best, or whatever episode EVER. Let them do that at the Fuselage!

[Joni]

First let me say that your podcasts circulates my office. All my computer illiterate older woman who love lost but couldn't download a file to save their lives.

All in all this episode was like any other tv show. That said, Lost on it's worst day is slightly above any other show on an average day.

Normally, I can't take my eyes off the screen while Lost is on but last night I was able to do some overtime while I watched.

This is really what Hurley is. He is the softspot of the show. He brings the emotional release. He is laid back and more about looking for a bright side.

Remember the golf course in the middle of the jungle? Another Hurley inspired seemingly pointless plot.

I mean . .the van will run out of gas. . and they have NO WHERE to go. .

Now next week . . .I am expecting a season 1 Lost episode. Full of WTF? and Oooooooooh!

At the end where it said "To communicate with the main land press 38" . . .I don't think Locke is going to do that. He wants to stay on the island, says the Entertainment Weekly article. And why would Sayid be angry with Locke for opening up a line of communication?

The thing to remember is they LOVE to mislead us with those previews.

Funny. . .I've been waiting to get back to our Losties. .and now that we are. . I want to get back to Jack and find out more about Cindy & the kids.

[Staghead]

Here are my thoughts on the episode for what they're worth (hey this is a comments section ain't it).

- Pleasant enough episode, I know peeople expect there to be a constant plot advancement but I'm sure there is a lot of foregrounding going on, some of which might pass by us now and become important later on. And of course some is just character building.

- With the van, surely they would have just pushed it a little to the left/right so if it didn't start up they wouldn't crash into some f'n rocks?! That bit was illogical.

- They just threw away all them maps/pieces of paper from the van without even bothering to keep them/read them?!

Sawyer: Ooooh looks like DHARMA were building a little dirt road *throws map away*

What an idiot. That bit totally defied logic. Maaaan the writing is getting a little sloppy methinks.

- When disgarding 'Roger' they losties don't seem fazed at all, considering they're manhandling a DEAD BODY. I don't think you'd be making skelator jokes if you found a decomposed body either.

- They're really overdoing it with the 'lets get Sawyer to give everybody silly nicknames, them fans will lap that up won't they'. It seemed like most of his dialogue was 'nickname' based. There are limits, we all get it, it works much better as a subtle gag within some actual dialogue rather than being the basis for the dialogue.

Looking forward to the podcast fellas. Keep up the good work and sorry for the loooooooooooooong comment but I thought I'd be thorough haha.

Staghead

[Kathy aka Fangirl]

It's not like Roger was the first dead body they've all seen. There were the couple in the caves, the bones in the polar bear cave, not to mention Ekko's brother and the pilot. Dead bodies are getting to be common place for most of them.

Was anyone else waiting to hear Joshua's computer voice saying "how about a nice game of chess?" during the preview. Yes, I just made a War Games reference.

[Kai Olav Ellefsen]

Just the kind of laid-back and funny episode Lost needed right now. Good to see lost got back on track after lasts weeks poor episode.

[col_mustard]

Great episode and very interesting. Answered many questions by way of strategically and seruptisously placed "clues"!

[David Ryan]

Hey guys...

The episode last night was pretty funny and Hurley is always awesome but here is my question...

IS ABC TRYING TO KILL LOST?

between the shitty "3 mysteries revealed" promo for last week and the "you CAN'T miss this episode" promo for this week it makes me think that they WANT people to stop watching.

If thye are trying to boost ratings why would you lie to your audience...???!!!???

if they just promoted them as is that wouldn't be so dissapointing....

but they are hyping every week like they are the next "Lockdown"...

Like you were saying last week, if I was on the fence and I watched the promo hoping there would be a revelation this week I would never watch the show again...

I almost think the show would be better off if they did no promos at all...\

who is in charge of these promos anyway, they need to be fired!!!

[ebonX]

@smokem - Tommy Chong as Jacob ... lol ... Here is some sample dialogue ...

Jacob?
Jacob's not here man!
No, it's Jacob!
Jacob's not here man!

@Cihan - Great Lucas bitchslap!

@Nimrod - I am in agreement that the TPTB are really trying to hammer us with the whole Faith vs. Science dichotomy.

[Kathy aka Fangirl]

Question: What the hell does Kate want Sawyer to apologize for? For not going back to get them killed/captured?

[Mark B]

@Nimrod

As I said in the comments for the last podcast:

The assumption has always been that Danielle wandered the island shouting for Alex in the style of Micheal calling for Waaaaalllllllt and the Others overheard her. No idea why they'd have kept her name though.

Of course Danielle could be lying and she may have spied on the Others, found out they had a girl called Alex and made up the entire story. She could be an Other or even one of the other Others that may or may not exist. Or she could just be some loony woman with a dodgy eastern european accent who happens to speak French and English.

Later on I said .....
I guess TPTB want us to think Alex is Danielles Alex so give her that second name. No one on the show, to my knowledge has ever refered to her as anything other than just plain Alex. It's not like they've run a DNA test or anything. I think Cuse and Lindeloff have refered to her as Danielles daughter in the official podcasts.

The viewer assumption has always been we believe the crazy French-Croatian-Bosnian-Latvian-Polish woman who told us about the Others in the first place and not Ben. Not sure why really. I can't recall Danielle being caught in a lie but Ben has on a bunch of occasions so her beliveability quotiant is higher.

Sorry to have repeated myself.

[riverfr0zen]

I believe that Locke and Rousseau will shack up together. Also, Nikki will get with Hurley once Paulo dies.

[Lorne]

I'm sorry for being so negative. It was entertaining enough (except for the Hurley's mom's sex life joke, didn't need that). I just feel like there's 2 different shows in Lost, one about mythology and one about the characters. But they seem to go one or the other, and haven't really combined them lately. Or at least it seems that way.
I guess when I listen to the official podcasts and listen to them say that the rest of this season was going to be a thrillride with lots of answers, getting the past 2 episodes kinda threw me for a loop. Especially during sweeps weeks... I thought those were supposed to be gamechanger weeks.

[sam]

did anyone else think that while watching Hurleys dad leave, did it kinda reming you of Dave? Just the whole calm and reassuring voice, how he gave Hurley the candy, that kinda stuff. Maybe Dave sprung from Hurleys memory of his dad. Just a guess.

-Sam

[Kara]

Did anyone else notice the song that was playing in the van was Shambala by Three Dog Night. According to Wikipedia, Shambala (also spelled Shambhala) is a mystical Kingdom of peace, tranquility, happiness and enlightenment in Tibetan Buddhism. This can either be an actual place or located within a person. I found this quite interesting considering the episode. Just something to think about. Here is the link to the article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shambhala

[Eliza B]

@Sam

I think it's no coincidence that Hurley's father is named David and his imaginary friend is named Dave.

[Mike in the Box]

It seems like this ep is split between those who hated it and those who appreciated it. I for one enjoyed it. There were a few things that stood out:
1) Hurley stands up to fate. This undermines the predestination storyline of Desmond.
2) We finally get Rouseou back, hopefully this means we get a "crazy French woman-centric episode."
3) I think the discovery of the van IS a plot device. It allows the Losties to cover more of the island faster, so that a trip from one side to the other will only take one episode instead of 3. This will potentially move the story along a bit faster.

enjoy the ride, we still have 15 or so episodes to go. be patient and take in the full story.

[Mike M]

LOL, I couldn't help but laugh at Asain reporter Trica Takanawa reference.

[Jeff Bailey]

@Mike in the Box
You stole my thunder on your comment #1. I found it "interesting" how Hurley's new attitude ('Make your own luck') flies in the face of Desmond's new attitude ('Everything is pre-determined').

Maybe, this will put Hurley more in the forefront as a contributor as opposed to being more of a wallflower up to this point.

[Jeff Bailey]

I'm having a thought:

#1
If the sub was the Galaga, what was the name of the big-a$$ boat in 'Stranger'? The Galaxian.

#2
And what was the name of the van? {Insert obscure 80's arcade game reference here}

#3
Did anyone else think that Hurley was going to smash into that rock and find another hatch under that rock?

[Jeff Bailey]

The next Lindelof/Cuse?

ABC has signed Lost writers/executive producers Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz to a mid-seven figure overall deal developing and creating new projects for the studio through 2010. (Variety)

[Nimrod]

By the way, the best line of the show (spoken by Hurley's dad):

"Now, that's a hell of a Jesus!"

Now, that's a hell of a funny line!

[riverfr0zen]

@Lorne:
"I just feel like there's 2 different shows in Lost, one about mythology and one about the characters."

Well, duh. Maybe there's 3 or 4. Those about location and those about dealing with pederasts.

"But they seem to go one or the other, and haven't really combined them lately. Or at least it seems that way."

Are you a kind of person who prefers to live during the mythology, or after it? That's kind of an important question, brotha.

"I guess when I listen to the official podcasts and listen to them say that the rest of this season was going to be a thrillride with lots of answers, getting the past 2 episodes kinda threw me for a loop. Especially during sweeps weeks... I thought those were supposed to be gamechanger weeks."

Now, that's just dumb. Who here really cares about 'gamechanger weeks'?

[my-2-cents]

Has anyone done a close comparison of the road map from the van and the blast door map? The lower left end of the road map seems to show similar scribbling / notation as the upper right end of the blast door map marked “roads or other route of travel.” If the 2 maps do join together that way, will the winding road lead some future group of van-going castaways to that Dharma complex at the northeast end of the island?

[my-2-cents]

This unfolding of events in this episode doesn’t really dovetail WELL with “The Numbers” episode (1x18) from Season 1. There’s a rough disconnect between the 2 flashbacks. Yes, we can all stitch the timeline together for these events in a logical order, but the layout we were handed in 3x10 just seems very sloppy for this team of writers. How much time really should have gone by between (1) Hurley’s visit to see Leonard, (2) the opening of the chicken shack, and (3) Hurley’s SUDDEN and once only visit to Australia? Originally, the storyline from Season 1 seems to build up to Hurley’s very impulsive quest Down Under for some answers; but in 3x10 he buys a restaurant first? What ever happened to the burning desire to go question Sam Toomey’s wife that was so palpable in 1x18? Both back stories technically fit, but one seriously waters down the dramatic build-up of the other. The reworking of events is now less satisfying than it had been. Clearly a step backwards, but really fun to watch otherwise.

[my-2-cents]

“DEUS EX CANEM?” Just how does Vincent know to take a key-toting-corpse-arm to Hurley at that moment? The peculiar way Vincent seems to pop out of the jungle gratuitously with something special to show certain people is at times reminiscent of Jules Verne’s “Mysterious Island” (noted for inspiring some story elements on LOST). In the old classic, the dog is always aware of the presence of a mysterious benefactor who miraculously rescues/helps the castaways from behind the scenes on a number of occasions while all the humans are completely oblivious to him till the end. Vincent led Shannon to a sighting of Walt, dropped Virgin Mary statues at Charlie’s feet, and now this. I really hope he’s not just a manifestation of the Smoke Monster. It would be so much more interesting if he were employed by “THE ISLAND” for some purpose or working with some dark Wizard of LOZT behind a curtain of jungle vines or something. For now, we could just refer to Vincent as the show’s “DEUS EX CANEM.”

[Deviant]

- What if it's not a road, but a tunnel?

- I wish Hurley found a dune buggy, so then the find would make sense. They could have then tore around the island on the beach, covering the vast area in less time, and thus giving us some damn answers. Do you think the writers know how many viewers' patience they are testing?

[Inta]

Quite a good episode, only give it a lockedown rating of 6 but despite being an obvious filler it was a welcome break from the heavy duty "others stuff"
One question though, if Ben is supposedly Alex's biological father and Russeou is her mother then does that mean Ben and Russeou were an item at one time?! didnt she "capture" Ben in the first place!

So perhaps there really is a second splinter cell of others which she leads after her split from Ben...

Keep up the great podcasts guys!

[waitingforlost]

@Inta

We have no proof that Ben is Alexs biological father or even that Danielle is Alexs mother.

As other posters commented we simply believe Danielle and not Ben so assume Danielle is Alexs mother and Alex was stolen by the Others and Ben is her "adoptive" father. It could be that Danielle is making it all up and Ben is infact Alexs father.

There has recently been a lot of speculation here that Danielle is lying and is an Other or at one time was or is making the whole Alex is my daughter story up for her own ends -- probably to get the Lostawys to side with her. To further muddy the waters Alex never refers to Ben as her father just as Ben others have refered to Ben Alexs father. Perhaps Alex knows she is adopted and refuses accept he is her father so calls him Ben.

I suspect we'll find out one way or another who Alex really is by the end of this season. Could this be one of the game-changers that TPTB have refered to..... Alex not being Danielles daughter or Danielle being in cahoots with the Others all this time. Don;t think that would be a game-changer as Danielle has hardly been a prominent character.

As someone said before it's pretty odd that we believe this crazy French woman.

[Sam]

ok, so I liked this episode. I really do agree w/ whoever said it (sorry, can't remember who) that we all need a little fun. Now, this show, becideds the last 2 min, didn't further any plot, but it did make me smile almost the whole time, which is something LOST hasn't done in a while. Just wanted to keep this in prespective because LOST can't be all mythological every week If it was, we would get board and beg for an episode like this. So, I think that the next few eipsodes will appeal to those viewers who love the mythology ONLY!
Stay LOST
-Sam

[Mark B]

@riverfr0zen

Please define what "gamechanger" means to you.

To me it is something pretty much totally unexpected that changes your perspective entirely on a character (or plotline). An example would be the Others living in suburbia it totally changed our perspective of them from ragged dressed hillbilly types to "normal" people.

So a gamechanger week would be one that changed a character or plot maybe not on it's head but certainly through 90 degrees -- I would guess to most people they are important.

[frankmorris]

I don't understand the need to separate mythology & character. Name me one myth or legend that doesn't have great characters or comic relief.

Anyway...great episode. I think it's interesting that starting the camero was the way Hurley’s dad taught him about hope or making your own luck. Him keeping the car on blocks all those years was a great metaphor for their 'stagnant' relationship & the same song that's playing on the radio during the last moments together w/ his dad, kicks in on the 8 track when he 'jump starts' his hope again. It was also a good counter part to the 'flashes' episode. Great writing.

Also J. Garcia is proving to be a great actor. The look on his face as he's being interviewed is priceless.

[blue tarp]

alot of people seem to be moaning about how the end was predictable and how we knew that alex was danielles daughter already, well isnt this the exact type of sharing information between characters that probably the same people were moaning about never happens!! can you people ever be pleased !! aaaaaarg
end of rant
x

[Vaibhav]

This was a good one...

I really wish people would stop whining about bad episodes... I totally understand that some episodes aren't as great as others (though I have no issues with this one)... but would you guys chill out!!

Its just a TV show... we don't lose anything if its a bad episode and the good episodes are great!

If you don't like it, whats the big deal?!

This episode was for you guys! seriously, watch it again and try to have a bit of fun!

[Mike]

Did I hear it right that Hurley was heading BACK to Australia? Had he been there once, met with Toomey's wife, came back to the states, and is now going BACK? Did anyone else hear this?

[Vaibhav]

and while we are on the topic of bad episodes...
Not all great episodes "advance the mythology"... the "whiners" talk as if ANY Answer would make them happy... if you ask me.. ANY Answer would actually seem unsatisfactory... I know the writers have promised closure but I at least have no high hopes... the best part of this show is the unknowns, coz they leave answers to the imagination (without requiring the tiresome bit about everything actually tying up together - the so called "Overall Theory")

I mean, did you guys go "aaaargh! They haven't revealed who the Cigarette Smoking Man is!" after each episode of the X-Files...

If Lost was a person, it probably couldn't have handled its celebrity status and ODed on something!

[Vaibhav]

@Mike
"Had he been there once, met with Toomey's wife, came back to the states, and is now going BACK?"

dude! when he was coming back to the states after meeting Toomey's wife, he got into a certain plane crash remember? :)

[riverfr0zen]

@Mark B: Well, I had had a few drinks when I made that comment :) but the essence holds true.

I guess what I was trying to express was the immense boredom settling upon me by exposure to all this 'metadata' regarding Lost. "Ooo this week, it's gamechanger week." or "Check it out guys - the sweeps!"

Just seems all these external constructs are needlessly taking precedence over enjoyment of the actual show. It's the same thing as paying attention to those silly promos, and then being disappointed by them to the extent that the show becomes unentertaining for oneself.

Of course, by 'metadata', I'm not referring to conversations about the story, theories and such - actually those are the things I come here (and to other boards) for. That kind of discussion.

Eh, maybe I'm just mumbling about nothing. I'm off to nurse my hangover ;)

[swed'n]

another abc-related-thingy.
the two doctors on lost, jack and juliet, is called dr shepard and dr burke.
the same name as two of the doctors in greys anatomy

[Mark B]

@riverfr0zen

So that'd be the Dharma beer talking then.....

[riverfr0zen]

heh

[balyn avalon]

To everyone saying that Vincent was portrayed by a new dog, IMDB has Madison listed in the cast of Tricia Tanaka Is Dead.

[Cihan]

I'm pretty tired of people boxing episodes into either 'character' or 'mythology', its pretty simplistic. Sure an episode can concentrate more on the history of the island than the present of a character's life, but if an episode does not have characters growing or regressing or being in some kind of conflict, its a crap episode period. This episode was not filler, because filler is an episode that does not have any consequences whatsoever. This episode will have consequences and DID move things forward, because without developed characters there is no plot worth watching. We saw multiple characters progress this episode, from Jin & Sun, to Charlie & Hurley, Kate & Sawyer, all which will have ramifications in later episodes. Anyway.

Question: Whats the significance of the dart that Sawyer stepped on in this episode? I think it was a regular dart as opposed to a jungle warrior dart. Maybe it flew out from the Swan bunker during the explosion?

Also: the shot of Hurley at the grave site is one of the best of the entire season. Really shows the cost of living on the island.

[Jamie (c)]

@ Cihan re: the dart Sawyer steps on.

Perhaps he’ll get tetanus and increase the need for them to retrieve Jack? :)

When he asked "What's this doing here?" I was like, DUDE on this island, that's a question?

Now, my question is - of all the vehicles to bring to this island WHY a 1970(or so) VW Bus?

At some point they need to play the Who track "Magic Bus" because for it to start up after lying on its side since before Rocky 3, and not not not make a major cloud of smoke (forgeting all the other technical problems) is very magical.

[Cihan]

When I saw the VW I thought it was really apt for some reason, I can just see the DeGroots driving it back in the 70's for sure.

Also:

"The mystic arts are not subject to bribes. How dare you?"
"Ten thousand."
"Your dad put me up to it."

:D

[Joop]

I loved Hurley's attempt at a sawyerism.

Hurley: You....redneck....man

Sawyer: Touche'

[Jamie (c)]

Just hit me (sorry if I'm slow) but of course they got Cheech to play David, Hurley's dad.

"Daves not here man" (what we here always called S2-18)

I'm confident it was an after thought but it made MORE sense than having Tommy play his dad. ;-)

Man, I do miss Libby.

[riverfr0zen]

@Joop

"I loved Hurley's attempt at a sawyerism."

Ha ha ha. I did too. It's the common response all of us have when faced with some greater threat, and suddenly feel inclined to attack it. Sawyer's response was more interesting - he must not get too many people responding to his sawyerisms.

[Steve]

The greatness of this week's Heroes only made this Lost episode all the more painful to watch. Obviously it seems as though our crowd is polarized, and I'm on the glass is half empty side. Hopefully I will change my mind.

Does anybody else think that the departure of Javier Grillo-Marxuach might have had something to do with the decline of the show?

[col_mustard]

The show is tracking the stock market. It was no coincidence that Wednesdays show and this weeks market action were the same.

[ebonX]

@Jamie - It is no coincidence that David is the name of Hurley's dad and his imaginary friend from S2 ... However, I do think it was more serendipitous luck that they got Cheech to play the role of Hurley's Dad ... having played the character of a Dave before in the famous "Dave's not here" Cheech & Chong skit.

@Cihan - I think the significance of the dart was simply a plot device to remind the audience that Kate & Sawyer did not know what happened to the Swan Hatch ... Yes, the dart was from the Swan Hatch.

@Steve - I actually found it kind of amusing comparing Heroes & LOST this past week because Heroes (which BTW, was a great episode) was done in the LOST format of flashbacks (and how they relate to the current storyline of that episode) ... In regards to Javi leaving the LOST team, I think creatively, in general, LOST is declining from so many of their "creative team" who have left for other projects prior to S3.

@Jeff Bailey - ABC signed up a Beatie Boy "Ad-Rock" ... ;-P ... jk, but that's what I first thought when I read the name Adam Horowitz

[AVDJ]

I must say that I did not even realize how much I was missing a funny, feel-good episode of LOST, until this week's episode aired. It has been so long since they had one of these, I totally forgot they could do this.

It made me feel great, especially when our friends finally got the van working, and drove around in circles. Fun city.

Also, I wonder if Carl and Alex are brother and sister, with Carl being genetically cloned from Alex. Maybe Ben doesn't want them to get together because sister/brother romance does not fly on LOST island.

[Joop]

@ riverfr0zen

Yeah, his victims usually just grin & bear it.
Did you see the look on charlie's face when he was dubbed Jimminy Cricket? He actually looked like Jimminy Cricket.

[Jamie (c)]

@ ebonX - (slaps forhead) DUH! The dart was from the hatch! And good of them to not make that obvious in dialog. "What's this dart from the hatch doing here?" Bravo to the writers.

They left it to us to connect the darts. (ar ar)

And in regards to this week's Heroes, uh...it was so good I couldn't bring myself to remove it from the DVR.

And that's all that I'll say about that.

[Max B]

a few anagrams for 'Roger Work Man' just for the hell of it:

make wrong error
anger remake rom (Ethan?!!! ZOMG!!!!ONE!!!)
err moron gawker

This means something. This is important.