What is wrong with AMC?

I know very little about the television business behind the scenes. I don't know what it really takes to make a show/movie/etc. The money, the organization, shooting, I know it's a large effort. A 30 minute episode usually takes at least a week to shoot. That's all I know.

So anyway, AMC has been producing quality programming since 2007 with Mad Men. Between Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and Walking Dead, they've got three of the best shows right now in television on their network. Usually that's something only HBO could ever claim. But this small (lame) cable channel which usually only plays old movies 8 times a day pulled it off. The shows are winning multiple Emmy's for Best Drama, Acting, and so on. This isn't happening by accident.

These shows cost significant money to make. Again, I don't know the financial scheme that goes into making these shows. What I do know is that AMC is trying to cut costs to make these shows. They did it a few months ago to Mad Men, trying to cut characters, lowering costs of production, etc. Then they cut production costs to Walking Dead by about $200k an episode (which speculated why show creator Frank Darabont left the show). Now they're taking on Breaking Bad - opting to cut $250k an episode or making the show's fifth (and presumed last) season to 6-8 episodes.

I know everyone wants to save money to make more money of spending less money. BUT -- when you are making an established, quality product, it will eventually cost more to maintain the level of quality. Cutting the costs of a show can consequently cut the quality, which cuts the fans faithfulness to the show.

AMC doesn't really have any leverage here. They have 3 top of the line shows that cost money. It's not like this is a terrible show on CW that is barely staying alive. The shows have all the power because of their critical acclaim, so AMC just looks selfish instead of honoring the shows that made the channel actually worth watching. It's definitely brought in more business and helped boost revenue for the station, so why can't they respect that? What does that say about AMC when future shows consider having their show made by AMC? Might steer them away towards a HBO or something else.

I don't know, it's annoying that shows that so many people enjoy/adore cannot be seen the way it was intended. Shows cost money. Making shows that are critically acclaimed usually cost more money. To keep making critically acclaimed shows costs more money than that. That is business. And AMC is showing their lack of knowledge over business. All this arguing over a few million dollars? You're going to tell me AMC doesn't have it? Their parent company doesn't have it? Can't they charge more for advertising? Seems to make too much sense.

The Sopranos

Okay, so I finally saw The Sopranos all the way through for the first time ever. I know, I wanted to have it done much longer ago too. Whatever.

Preface: I had seen bits and pieces of the show, I received Season 6 Part 2 on DVD as a gift when it came out in 2007ish, but I never saw the episodes prior to. Seeing the last season of a 7 season show is as brutal as it gets; no clue what was really going on, just enjoying 9 episodes and saying "okay, well, that's how it ends." In between I had seen some of seasons 3/4/5 through friends and On Demand, but I never really saw the whole thing. This past December Best Buy had a deal on it (and I was going stir crazy) so the timing was great. Add in the cold weather and lots of long Bolt Busses between NYC and Philly, I've had enough time on my hands to bang this out. That's also why I haven't been blogging much. I didn't forget you kids. I'm coming back to you.

So my verdict? I really enjoyed it. I didn't love it. I think it really messed me up that I knew much of what happened - especially key things in the second half of the series. Especially the ending. Try watching Lost for the first time when you know how it ends with all the smoke monster/Jacob/flash sideways crap from the very beginning. It ruins the whole show.

To be honest, the first and second seasons really weren't that great to me. It felt like an early Mad Men where every episode has a new "client," and the new "client" is "dealt with," and then you never hear about it again. There wasn't as much flow, so it didn't work for me. In that same sense, some of the story lines really didn't add up - and I think it's because "x" amount of time is supposed to pass between each episode, but for me it was about 3 seconds. AJ goes from coming out of suicide ward to getting a girlfriend, blowing up a car, getting a job, and getting a new car in about a episode and a half. When did Bobby Bacala become a serious player? Some of the things shows do to keep it interesting - new characters, or the short story arc characters - most of it felt forced, like you knew they weren't going to be here past the season anyway. Like Julia Stiles' character on Dexter.

I think there's two things that lead me to my verdict: a) I'm 100% biased by The Wire, and because I believe that they set the bar so high, it's hard for anyone else to really compete with it (in my mind anyway). In seeing that first, Sopranos never had a chance to be the best. Reason b) because everyone says Sopranos is good/greatest/best ever, it makes you look harder at the series because you want to be able to justify it for yourself. I can justify The Wire, I don't know if I can justify this in the same way. Not yet anyway - let me watch it again in a couple months knowing the whole story and let me analyze it again. I said the same thing about Mad Men, when I first saw it, I thought it was as boring as a PBS telethon. Now I can justify it better after having it in my system for almost a year. It's also been almost 14 years since the original premiere of the pilot. It's safe to say a lot has happened in the real world that effects the way we tell stories - mainly with the way we communicate over cell phones and the internet.

Quick side note: I would love to see one more season of Seinfeld with e-mail/cell phones/texting/facebook/youtube/twitter/wikileaks/Antoine Dodson and just see the dysfunction. They started with e-mail on the finale, but now that we're so techy, it would be great to see how George would handle the Facebook breakup. Kramer could make a killing on eBay. Elaine is on match.com. Jerry's get's videos on YouTube of how much his acting sucks, etc. It would be beautiful. That's what season 7 of Curb was missing.
It's so different watching a show on demand/DVD in succession because you can go through episode after episode without having time to really process/think/ponder/speculate on what's next, instead you just go into the next one. Obviously I used this blog last year as my Lost brainstorm, where every week I'd go "OMFG THIS IS WHAT I THINK MIGHT HAPPEN, BUT IF IT DOESN'T, THEN IT WILL BE THIS, BUT I COULD ALSO SEE SOMETHING BETWEEN THE TWO, BUT, THEN AGAIN, I'M TOTALLY WRONG WHAT IS GOING ON AHHHH." That conversation basically went on in my head for a week straight, until a new episode, when I'd start the process all over again. I'm not kidding. Anyways, you don't do that when you can watch multiple episodes at a time. Or maybe I'm just growing up. Probably not though.


There felt like there was too many people on the show. I couldn't keep up, they all looked the same and would come/go/die too quickly for me to tell the difference or to care about the minor characters. I say the same thing about Boardwalk too. Speaking of that - I realized I just really don't like Steve Buscemi's style. He plays Tony's cousin in Sopranos, and I wasn't sure the difference between that and Nucky Thompson except for speaking style and attire. Feels like the same character. Clearly I'm in the minority, as Stevie is winning all these awards for Nucky. Good job kid.


As for my take on the "final scene" - I don't think he died. That's such a stupid idea. They called a truce, it was over. The smash cut to black is just a way to end the show. Meadow walks in, they sit down, it's all fine. It was a way to have it go out with a bang instead of a "fade to black" as they all sit at that diner. Whoop-ti-do. It got your attention. It worked. Everyone can't be content with the way a show ends, that's just how it works. You love it or you hate it.
I think we're a little obsessed with the idea of the mafia, and as we heard in the news lately, it's much more real than some of us admit/realize. I have no idea how "real" any of this really is. I'm sure some of that stuff goes on. I'm sure some of it doesn't. I would like to believe that the FBI would have developed enough technology to stop these shenanigans, but I also believe that since 9/11 our attention has turned towards protection than fraud - similar to the cry we hear in The Wire, where nobody cares about the drug addicts as long as no bodies are dropping. This story isn't totally about the mafia, that's where people who haven't seen it are misled. It's called The Sopranos, not The Mafia. The story is about impact of real family as it's impacted by it's father is a mafia boss. How Tony balances being a boss while being a father. The special treatment by others. The arrests. Etc. That's the story here, not just the mafia. That's the wrong answer.

Speaking of The Wire (is it clear how hard I crush on that show? This post is about another show and I'm already over it) I've got two great articles I've been meaning to share - the first is from Wire creator David Simon, as he bashes back against the Baltimore PD who claims Baltimore will take years to overcome the "smear" that was left from The Wire. Awesome "Eff You" letter.

The other is very stupid, but I love it. Social Media According to The Wire. If you've seen the show, you'll agree, if not, don't waste your time.

If you don't laugh at this then we can't be friends.

I'm getting very sidetracked, so before I stop, I do want to say that James Gandolfini did an excellent job as Tony Soprano, the mob boss we all kind of picture in our head, really is one of the reasons of the shows success. An actor like him who has such a presence and ability to play so many different roles on one; Mob boss, father, husband, nephew, cousin, therapy patient, etc.
I'm looking forward to watching The Sopranos again in a couple months, and I'm sure upon a second take will have further appreciation for it. Next up on my TV conquest - Breaking Bad. or I'm re-watching The OC. That wasn't a joke.

The TV 'Hook'

I've been posting my TV thoughts over the past couple weeks and talking with my friends about shows etc and I keep talking about the "hook" and nobody seems to understand what I'm talking about. I think I know a bit more on shows than my friends - maybe I have too much time on my hands or I'm a loser, either/or I'm okay with. I am who I am.

When I talk about the "hook" it's really simple - it's something to get you really invested into the whole show. When you watch a new show you're really "eh" on it until something happens that really makes you want to come back next week. The problem is we typically don't have the patience for it to develop - or the patience to watch. As critically acclaimed as The Wire is, they were on the verge of being canceled almost every season because it didn't see any success at the time with the limited viewership. Arrested Development was recognized as the best comedy on TV, but couldn't stay alive because of ratings. That new show - Lone Star - was heralded as one of the best new shows of the fall, but it couldn't make it past two episodes.

My point is - the best shows don't always make it because they don't have a hook - they can't keep people's attention. I wouldn't necessarily say it has to be some cliff-hanger or truly "shocking" event, just something that says "I really want to keep watching." And when it's a new show fighting to survive it needs it in the pilot or it's going to need a network with enough faith in it to see a few more episodes.

Easy examples of "the hook":
Dexter: Dexter was able to do it in the first episode - establish Dexter the character and the antagonist of the Ice Truck Killer in the opening 60 minutes. The end of the episode where Dexter says "Yes, I want to play." actually got me really excited to watch more.

Lost: This one is too easy. Watch "The Pilot" and there's so much you want to know - what happened? Where are they? What is that noise? What's everyone's background? And can I marry Evangeline Lilly?

24: Mmmm, how about every episode? When I was younger and first started watching it every week and was innocent and thought that Jack might actually could die, I thought to myself "Ohmygod what's going to happen?"

Sometimes though, the hook doesn't really come in the pilot, and it takes the whole first season to really get into it. Surprisingly, these shows turn out being some of my favorites.

The Wire: I'll be completely honest, when I first started watching it I didn't like it. Too slow, too boring, not enough actually happening it was all talk. I think a few things - I was spoiled by Lost and 24 where every episode you'd go "what the hell" and think about it all week until the next episode. The Wire kept building and building and building. It's real 'wow' (read: I was hooked) moment came when Kima got shot and they ended the episode with Foxtrot and police everywhere. It was gripping and real, and I was addicted ever since.

Mad Men - I'm in the middle of re-watching the whole series - the first time since I've first watched it and didn't know what was going on. The hook here didn't really come till around the 5th episode, "5G", when we find out that Don's not really Don. The entire show then becomes, who the hell is Don? It takes some turns and doesn't just stick to Don, but let's not kid ourselves - Don Draper is the focal point here. His past, his present, his free-fall, and the unknown of where he'll end up, all encompassed in the 1960s.

Boardwalk Empire - I really should watch this again before I can fairly say when it is, but I'm going to commit anyway. The pilot was great, but I didn't think the show was great until about halfway through, when the FBI came and arrested some of Nucky's Irish 'brothers' for illegal possession of alcohol. It was the first real confrontation - and outside of the pilot it's felt like the only action in the whole season. There was a lot of talking and everyone literally looked the same - too much abstract talk to follow everything.

Sometimes though, shows need a game-changing moment to recapture people's attention after waning interest - a few years on air. The moment leaving you staring at your TV with your jaw open and the only thing you can say is either "what just happened" or "holy shit." (Queue Fred Ward's "Pardon My French". What a classic line.)

The perfect example of this is:

Lost. In season 3 when everyone's going "they're just spining their wheels, they don't know what they're doing, they ran out of stuff" they drop the "WE HAVE TO GO BACK" bomb that literally shocked everyone. That was when I went nuts for the show. Even I was losing interest in season 3, as they had such bogus episodes that felt like wastes of time. Of course, the Season 4 island-disappearing act was just as game-changing. That's part of what made Lost Lost. It's why there were endless discussions on sites like Lostpedia and other outlets to discuss and try to theorize what in the world was going on.

Other "game changing" examples:

24 - Two things, all happened in the same episode of season 6. Come season 6, we sort of know a few things, mainly that Jack won't die and that he'll always protect the country. But then they actually detonate a nuclear device. The post-bomb chaos was uncharted territory that showed more than we ever wanted to see. It wasn't the worst terrorist attack ever, but it was devastating. Then, Jack shoots Curtis. I never thought he was actually going to do it. But that is why Jack Bauer is Jack Bauer. Didn't hesitate, didn't miss. It upset him - the most upset we've seen him since Teri was murdered - and that was part of what made it so important and qualifies as game changing

Entourage - I know it seems random that I included this in here, but I really believed that the end of season six - Ari's Terinator scene, E dropping the "will you marry me" bomb, really got the "feel-good nature" of the show back and gave me renewed interest.

You see other shows pulling some kind of a stunt at the end of the season to make the next season seem interesting - Nip/Tuck moving from Miami to LA, Weeds moving from the rich white suburbs to Mexico, the ever-evolving name of where Don Draper works, Jack Bauer moving from LA after 6 years to DC then New York, when Heroes introduced Villains. It's all kind of a cheap way to renew interest.

Anyways, I'm starting to ramble, but I've gotten my point across. I'm not sure why I really felt the urge to post this, and realize I probably watch way more TV than most of my friends.

Do you guys still want to be my friend?

Fall TV Thoughts

1) Walking Dead

I'll be honest, I didn't hear anything about this until right around the day of the show's premiere. And I originally wasn't hearing how great it was, just that it was super scary. It wasn't. It was however, instantly compelling because of the way the story was told - and the aftermath. It's kind of Lost-like, in that we have to pick up the pieces after something catastrophic - like Oceanic 815 crashing or a virus turns everyone into the undead, hungry for more flesh - and the story is about how the survivors have to 'live together or die alone'. Man I really miss Lost.

I caught on late, but really like the overall concept. It's not just blood/guts/gore/death, it's really about the human connections made in times of panic. It's weak that the first season was so short and ended on such a rather open-ended note. There's alot of things that leave me scratching my head (how the doctor was going to let everyone die, how they didn't save Merle but went back to try to find him, etc).

With all that said though it is easily my favorite new show, and I have huge expectations for season two now that it's a a 'real' show and has been picked up.


2) Boardwalk Empire

I've said it before how I really want to like this show, but I just need a hook. Something to get me saying "wow." I realized I was treating it more like a Entourage when it's like The Wire in that the story is best appreciated after the last chapter is told. I couldn't agree more - they finally tied up some of the loose ends that started 12 episodes ago, with a really well-shot murder/press conference montage of Nucky.

I'm still not sold with Steve Buscemi. I said it before, I'm still not. I talked before how I think sometimes the people on Mad Men act too proper, and Boardwalk they act even more proper. That's our perception of how things were, we'll never know if it actually was. Maybe I just cannot fathom being in that time period and speaking in that manner. In the future they won't believe how we speak I suppose.

The end of the season set things up for an amazing second season with Darmady and Nucky's brother trying to truly "take back" AC. It was finally worth the long three months of the show.

3) Dexter

This season is really great. I originally thought that the first few episodes were so weak that this season was going to be such a drag. It picked up very, very quickly and getting Jordan Chase has become this huge priority. I still don't think it's better than the Trinity Killer of season 4, but it is interesting. I'm also guessing Lumen dies or takes the fall or something. It wouldn't be Dexter without him losing something.

Also, real quick - that might be the worst promotional poster I've ever seen. Just looks dumb.

4) Treme

Okay, so this isn't a new fall show, but it's been on my list since the summer and for some reason I didn't get around to it. I finally am getting around to it on round two of my "funemployment" experience.

I knew Treme as David Simon's latest creative show since the end of The Wire. Clearly, I'm a huge Wire guy and still believe it is the best show ever created on so many levels. That's what originally draw me to Treme. I heard about Treme as "Serious Glee." I've never seen Glee, but from what I've heard it doesn't sound like the type of thing I would be into. Except if they do a Bruce Springsteen episode, and even that might be brutal. Anyways, the Glee comparison scared me a little bit, but I gave it a shot because of The Wire connection.

I believe Treme is actually excellent. It looks at something that we as a country never really wanted to acknowledge - the aftermath of New Oreleans following Katrina. We were too worried about how we failed - on so many different levels - to worry about what the people still there were doing, and how this devastating event actually changed them and their way of life. I really don't think we can ever comprehend. Our country is so East Coast Bias with regards to the Northeast that we tend to ignore things going on elsewhere. It's a big country.

I personally didn't know much about the New Orleans musical history, or Indian heritage, and found it all to be fascinating and captivating all at the same time, mainly because it really happened. We can waste all the time we want talking about Lost, Dexter, Walking Dead etc, but none of them actually happened. Treme actually happened. Maybe not the exact way it's portrayed, but similar types or stories did occur all over the area.

I realized what makes David Simon so great is his authenticity. The Wire felt real. Treme feels real, as if you're watching a real reality show. Or reading a graphic novel. Other shows dumb things down to appease the viewer. This doesn't. The thing that's interesting is there hasn't been a hook - something that really captures my attention, but for some reason it has. Nothing really happens, there is no resolution to even the smaller plot lines. And I love it. Really looking forward to season two.

Is it time for Jersey Shore Season 3 yet?????

The Genius of Larry David

This post can't even begin to do justice to Larry, but I'm going to try.

I'm a huge Seinfeld fan. I used to watch three episodes a day when it was on TBS and Fox. I've seen every episode and can usually tell the episode within a line.

I think I'm an even bigger Curb Your Enthusiasm fan, because it gives the Seinfeld fan in me insight into how the series was made, and the basis of George Costanza, which of course is Larry David.

Larry is an interesting guy. He doesn't like how society operates - in fact he's got plenty of problems with how "we do things". He's a smart ass. He plays with a huge system - broadcast television - and created a show that was literally about nothing. A billion dollar industry is turned on its head by such a backwards concept that only a twisted mind like David could conjure it up, pitch it, and see it become the most successful sitcom in television's short history.

Larry's perspective of the world is interesting - it's what we should think, but instead we've told ourselves to think otherwise. For example (which could be one of many) - The doctor sign in sheet. It's something everyone does when we get to the doctor's office, and usually don't think twice about it. Larry hates this idea for a few reasons; people seeing his name listed, and for the pecking order - why schedule an appointment if your order goes based on when you sign in?

Such simple concepts like that irk Larry (I just used the word irk). It makes sense when you think about it. But we don't. We go along and don't ask questions. It's these type of thoughts that put him into trouble on the show - and put George in trouble on Seinfeld. It's surprising how much real-life instances that happened to Larry inspired the George story lines.

I've obviously never met Larry, but there's a part of me that thinks his self portrayal on Curb is pretty accurate to how he acts in real life. He may not always find himself in situations where he is getting yelled at by everyone, but he has some kind of a problem with everything that goes on. He'd rather not comment on things because it gets him in trouble, but chooses to anyway.

I thought of Larry when I wrote my post about tips. It's very Larry-esque. He's talked about it on Curb - how much to tip, to leave the same tip, were they worth the tip, etc. These are all things Larry would talk about, get caught up in, and it would bother him for the rest of the day.

The funny thing is the Seinfeld curse. Aside from Julia Louis-Dreyfus' recent success with that show I've never watched, none of four have been successful at another show. Larry David is the most successful person coming out of Seinfeld. Curb is really just Seinfeld without the national TV boundaries. No holdback from the FCC about language or content. Part of the genius of Seinfeld was them playing around with words and using innuendo to reference what they couldn't say. Larry comes straight out and says it - which makes it even more hysterical.

It's weird, because when I talk about my favorite TV shows, Curb and Seinfeld don't usually come to mind - mainly because it's something you don't get invested into like The Wire, Lost, Dexter, Mad Men, etc. The comedies are simple and you can watch one episode at a random time and still enjoy it. I think most comedies suck - that's why I don't watch them. In fact, outside of Larry's brainchildren, the only other two I watch are Eastbound & Down and It's Always Sunny. All the rest are lame.

Anyways, I'm starting to ramble, but my point is, I think Larry David, to sum it up in his own words, is pretty good.

Pret-tay, pret-tay, pre-tay, pretty good.

Entourage Season 7 Finale

I'm sorry I'm behind. Having a real job is exhausting. Trying to keep a social life is even more exhausting. I still love you, I promise.

I personally was thrilled with the Entourage finale. The season was kind of eh, but the finale validated the downturn. Because they already had everything fall apart, but it was magically fixed for a feel-good end. That was how the show was supposed to go. Everything feels good.

But this time it went bad, real bad. The biggest problem isn't Vince becoming addicted to drugs and is out of control; it's that he's turning his back on his friends - especially when he's there for them. The point of the show is the friendship. They're losing that. It's far more serious than it's ever been. Medellin was just a terrible movie. Turning your back on your friends and going on a downward spiral is far worse - something you can't just "get out of".

I immediately thought about the celebrities you hear about who have these crashes - Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears come to mind - who go crazy and reach a breaking point (jail, DUI, shaving your head, among other things) and are making a desperate cry for help. That's Vinny right now. That's what the whole season has been. Really when you think about it, it's been building to this point since the season 5 freefall when Vince loses control and actually did fire Eric. I think we forgot that it happened because everything was fixed 6 minutes later. Season 6 was nice, but it was clearly temporary.

Even with Ari - the once powerful agent who was an ass at work and the hero at home, his worlds have collided, and now everything COULD fall apart.

It's the celebrity lifestyle going to the head of these people - they don't stay the same. The only one that's really the same is Drama - and isn't that a relief.

You get the feeling that going into a short season 8 and with a predicted movie coming, the ship will right itself before the ultimate end, but Doug Ellin's created enough drama to keep people interested. The friendship will stay true, but there's still a little bit more to come until then.

Comparing the LOST and 24 Finales

This week I lost a bit of my entertainment soul. For the past 6 and 9 years, I've had Lost and 24 to watch every Monday and Tuesday. It made my week go much quicker. These were shows I was heavily invested in. Of course 24 has been declining steadily for the past few years (I would say Season 5 was the last awesome season, and 6 was just decent. 7 and 8 bordered on absurd, but the change of scenery helped keep it somewhat interesting.)

The shows are two different entries - obviously one that attempts to be "real" and another that started as real and crossed into the sci-fi realm. Both played with time constraints, one on purpose and one using it more liberally than it should have (no way Jack Bauer could stay awake, not eat, not go to the bathroom, and always have a charged phone available for 24 consecutive hours.)

Regardless, the shows provided me with enormous amounts of entertainment during my adolescent and college years. It's kind of fitting that both end at the same time I end college. It's also interesting the main characters of each show is named Jack.

In both of the finales, I realized the differences in the shows. 24 really is a tragedy. It's the story of a man (Jack Bauer) who gives EVERYTHING to preserve the judicial system, including his family and his health, and the system keeps trying to literally tie him down. He's been ordered to be shot on site multiple times, had martial law applied against him, and so on. I already blogged about this. The thing with Jack is that he never gets what he wants. Each season ends with him having to be on the run or on the verge of death or being abducted or something ridiculous. The minute he gets what he wants it gets taken away.

The series ends with Jack literally having to flee the country, but this time for good. He can't speak to his daughter ever again, see his granddaughter, etc.

Lost was a different animal. Beyond all of the mythology and mystery involved, the show was about a group of characters. Although Jack Sheppard died, it ended with him sacrificing himself to save everyone. Technically Bauer sacrificed himself, but never had actually given his life. He came very VERY close, but never all the way.

Jack Sheppard also had a happy ending because of the flash sideways (purgatory) timeline that Jack Bauer will never see. It's never going to be how he wants.

Lost, as I said, was a community-driven storyline. It was about how the people survive and live together. 24 was not. I was actually much more upset about the finale of 24 over Lost because Lost had that happy ending or sorts - they defeated the MIB and were able to move on to the "afterlife" together. Jack Bauer was exiled or would have to face prosecution of the law FOR TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. It's the true tragic hero that I believe American storytellers are continually drawn towards because of the characters flaws. For as much excitement and great things Jack Bauer has provided, he's flawed, and only has 2 people he can really count on, but he has to leave them behind to keep his country and them safe. It never ends.

These shows were great for television, specifically network television, and I hope that we see shows that match their intensity in the upcoming years.

In the meantime, anyone have any good shows for me to watch?

The Final LOST Post Before The Finale - I Think

Wow. It's finally here. After six season of polar bears, buttons, time travel, others, black smoke, flashbacks, flashforwards, and one strange island, this is the finale. I'm going to use the This Is It reference here, and if you read my previous post, you get the joke. If not, I'm sorry, please keep reading.

The thing I absolutely love about a series like LOST is that we are 2.5 hours away from the complete end of a series, and I still have no clue what is actually going to happen. There's too many possibilities and the writers have done a great job of keeping it wide open to speculation and thought.

SO WHAT I THINK WILL HAPPEN

Desmond is the key here. Jack has assumed role of protector, and Smokie cannot kill him (or any of the other candidates really.) It's also been established that one cannot really kill Smokie. They can push or hit him like a normal human, but they cannot truly kill him. He represents a higher being.

Smokie's plan is to sink the Island. I assume that means to lead Ben to the Source, allow him to take it (how one takes it is a mystery) and then the Island --- and humanity --- ends. However, I'm having a feeling that Ben has something up his sleeve. In my crazed head, he's going to have Miles go back to Widmore's body, find out the purpose of Desmond/why Widmore came back, relay that to Ben, who will then try to help Richard (if he's still alive) and Jack.

I think the way to kill Smokie is the same way he came into the world - throw him back into the Source. Only Jack or Desmond can do this, and seeing as how Jack has to protect the Island, I'm assuming that it will be Desmond. Smokie probably will not go willingly, but Desmond has proven to be able to handle the electromagnetism that comes with the Source, meaning he can literally drag Smokie into the Source. Then the spirit that is Smokie is entrapped back in the Source, and there is no evil spirit. Jack truly has nothing to protect the Source from, because everyone will want to leave the Island -- I'm assuming Ben dies somehow.

HOW THIS RELATES TO THE ALTERNATE TIMELINE

I'm still not sure. Which is what is so confusing. It seems to me that the people who are still alive/on Jacob's side are all heading to this concert - ALL CANDIDATES WELCOME - Kate, Jack, Sawyer, Miles, Faraday, Widmore, Desmond, Hawking, probably Charlie, they'll all be there. This massive group brought together SHOULD spark something. Jack seeing Kate (after operating on Locke - which somehow will relate to the OT and having to kill the body of Locke in Smokie)

Sayid is off to another area with Hurley. Probably somewhere with Claire and Jin and Sun - maybe all to the Hospital? Forming of the sides. Hurley is taking Sayid there - but why Hurley? Is this a foreshadow of Hurley? Sacrifice to get Locke dead?

THE THINGS I WANT RESOLVED BUT PROBABLY WILL NOT HAVE RESOLVED

WHAT THE $%^$ IS THE ISLAND

Seriously, how does this thing work. How did the light come to be? How did Mother come? How was the statue built? How special is the "Protector" ? Can he really control the destiny of the people chosen to come? WHY DOES THE SOURCE EVEN EXIST? HOW DOES THIS STUFF WORK??

What I'm kind of thinking, but know I'll never know --- The source represents power. Human nature is to be powerful. Everyone wants more. We have the ability to be powerful in our own right - controlling our lives and the lives of those around us - for good or evil. Hence what the MiB turned into. He turned into incarnate evil - exactly what he wanted. It's helping him the ability to leave, but not fully granting it.

The light is so powerful it's leaking out - hence the several electromagnetic pockets around the island. By Dharma digging into the electromagnetic pocket it allows for a release that COULD release the Source - hence why the button had to keep being pushed - "just savin' the world" - because the release would be the end. How this all relates to the ability to travel through time and the donkey wheel I'm not entirely sure. Humans have been working to chip away at the core of the island and access the power - but because they're dumb they don't realize they're destroying humanity.

ANOTHER THING --> If Smokie is trying to use people to get off, why does he kill them all in "Ab Aeterno"? He needs them to get out.

Who let the Dharma Initiative come and stay? How did they know about the electromagnetic fence that would keep Smokie out and why didn't Smokie kill the "Others"?

How did the Temple/beneath the Temple happen? I doubt Smokie wanted to create that himself. Was it always there?

Finally, just a retrospective - it's been a long six years. I think it's safe to say that Damon and Carlton had no clue what they were getting into when they first started. The topics have moved so quickly from season to season.

Season 1 - What is the Island/Survival/Strange Things

Season 2 - What is the Dharma Initiative/Walt/The Button

Season 3 - The Others/Desmond's Time Travel/Communicating with the outside world

Season 4 - Widmore & Ben/Rescue/Torching the Island

Season 5 - Getting Back/Time Travel/Dharma/Jughead

Season 6 - Saving The Island from Smokie/The New Jacob

Looking back, was all of this relevant to telling the ultimate story? Was all that nonsense over Walt really necessary? It all seems so drug out for this point I'm not sure I'm wholly satisfied that I've watched the series over and over for this. There should of been more of an endgame from the beginning, and slowly introduce them. We shouldn't of first heard of Jacob in Season 3 and never actually seen him until the end of Season 5. I guess part of it creates the mystery of the show - we've sat and asked who is Jacob for 2.5 years. The show just seemed to move so slow in the beginning to set up the characters that it was frustrating.

In the end, I'm going to watch the finale and I'm sure my jaw will be on the floor. And I'm sure I'll write another post about how epic the show is. It can't possibly be better than The Wire, but from a passionate/speculative perspective, this show rocks.

Namaste.

OMG WHAT IS GOING ON IN LOST

It's starting to get serious. Really really serious. There's only like 300 some minutes left, and we still have SO MUCH TO FIND OUT.

Let's get started gang!!! (True Life - I'm Peter Klaven)

1) Flash sideways SLASH Desmond

Can't really figure out what is the deal here. The OT Desmond seems to be calm, collected, and care-free. He knows Locke isn't Locke.

I think (but it's a stab) is that Desmond is "aware" of the flash sideways timeline. He knows that something else is going on - and that he's the key to merging the two or some how affecting the outcome. So far, we've only seen people realize their alternate realities via near-death experiences, love, or constants.

Desmond is trying to help everyone realize their other selves. He helped Hurley follow Libby (which was such a corny storyline) and is doing something to Locke.

1.5) WHY DID DESMOND HIT LOCKE

There's a few potential reasons that I'm pondering.

a) My original thought was that the timelines are connected. If Locke dies in the flash, he dies in the original. That doesn't sync up though, because Locke is already dead. Smokie has only taken his shape, not his body. So that doesn't totally work.

b) Locke in Flash Sideways needs to remember the island, so he can become "self aware" - the best way to make that happen is to have something traumatic happen to him, similar to when his father threw him out of the building.

c) Locke will have surgery from Jack, and their touch/interaction will spark the memories of them on the island - which will then lead Jack to become Jacob, and preserve the Island.

2) The Boy

WTF. Seriously. This was a different kid than we saw in The Candidate, but imdb says it's the same actor. The hair is definitely different for a reason though. Makes me think of a young Jacob/Smokie. But Desmond saw him too - is Desmond a candidate? Or is he just special?

The boy could be Aaron, or a young Desmond. Or maybe it's the higher power that Jacob and Smokie adhere to. More on that in another post.

3) The Well

Before I talk about the well, how the hell are we seeing all these things this year that the losties never found before? The lighthouse, Smokies cave, the Temple, this new well. How does that happen? I thought Sayid was some kind of explorer.

The Well HAS to be something, but what? Smokie mentioned the electromagnetism - similar to that in the Hatch/Orchid? Can Desmond move the Island or dig deeper to find the pocket to kill Smokey? (PS - Smokey or Smokie? I can't decide. Smoke is a strange word to say. Try it.) WHICH BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER IDEA ---> When the hatch detonated, shouldn't that have done something to Smokey? It's clear he can't get past the fence, so if a large pocket of electromagnetic energy is emitted, I would think this would do something to him.

random unimportant point - can Jack Bauer just come and drop an EMP ? Wouldn't that do it?

The well has some purpose. It's not just to hold Desmond until he's out. That's foolish. I don't think it's another donkey wheel - how many of those can we have? I think it's just a temporary prison until next week.

4) The Whispers

I'm REALLY unsure about this whole thing. It supposedly can't be Smokie - so far as Ilana knows - because he's supposedly stuck in his current form. Some questions I have:
Why is Hurley the only one that can see the dead people on the island?
Why wouldn't Libby come around to talk to Hurley?
They aren't just stuck on the Island - Hurley saw Ana Lucia off the Island.
It doesn't explain Yemi.
How is Isabella on the Island?
Why was Walt able to do the same things? Where is Walt?
Where/How do these spirits determine when to come out and be visible and where do they go?
Charlie was off the island playing checkers with Hurley. How.

So I don't know what Michael is doing, but I feel like it's not legitimate. I'm not convinced the plane is the way off the Island. Last I remember, it was broken in the cockpit, probably doesn't have enough fuel, and the runway most likely isn't long enough. ALSO HOW DID BEN KNOW TO MAKE A RUNWAY IN THE FIRST PLACE - INTERESTING STUFF.

Maybe if Smokie were to leave, the dead spirits would be free as well. OR another thought - maybe Desmond ignites an electromagnetic release that would stop the plane from crashing - bringing his purpose full circle. He brought 815 here, now he would bring the plane that would destroy the world down.

So what's the point of Michael coming out now? Hurley's been back on the island for a little bit now, but then again I don't know how you count the "being in 1977" thing on the time line.

Lastly I was so souped by the Bruce references - Spanish Johnny's and Rosalita. Good work by the writers - as if I need another reason to love the show.

Conan to TBS

Well, Conan finally found a new home, and apparently it's going to be TBS, also known as Turner Broadcasting Station, also known for holding the tag line "very funny".

This move strays from the conceived thought that he would end up at Fox. I feel like Fox would have never worked out. Too many affiliates would have to rearrange their schedule to pull it off on a real risk/gamble.

I think I like the move. Certainly Conan has to go SOMEWHERE. He can't just stay on this tour. He won't make it. TBS provides him with an outlet that is relatively visible (most people have at least basic cable) and he can come in with NO expectations. Fox would want him to knock off the main broadcasting stations. He won't. He can't.

By being on TBS he gets to be a little more risky than the national channels. He can be who he was at 12:35. But at 11. Again, with no expectations, he can do whatever. If he flops, it's not an issue, if he succeeds, TBS looks like geniuses.

I'm curious to see how the deal is structured with money and years. I would think that eventually Conan would like to be back in the national spotlight (Letterman's job???) and I hope he doesn't get stuck in this deal doing that.

What is also interesting is the growth and development of cable television. Outside of the HBO/Showtime, most cable stations don't generate nationally-recognized original content. Most of their shows would be syndicated. Family Guy is on every channel. Slowly we're starting to see that shift however. Obviously the big winner is Mad Men, but there's been other great shows that are starting to develop/have developed as well, like Breaking Bad, The Shield, Nip/Tuck, etc. I think it's great - the ability of options. No longer do we have to watch shows that appeal to literally everyone because there are only 5 outlets. I can watch ESPN and you can watch TLC and both be perfectly happy. The options out there (on every outlet, not just TV) is what makes technology so great - everyone can have their niche.

24 Is Cancelled

This isn't news. I actually said it was coming back in January on this blog. It's really unfortunate, because I believe that 24 has been one of the best action shows over the past 8-9 years. Sure, it strays a bit too far from reality (how many bad days can Jack Bauer/America really have in a few years?) but that's part of the excitement of the show.

The show is being cut because it's not bringing in the ratings it used to. How could it - the storylines are getting weaker because they're running out of things to do. There's a mole on the inside every season because it's so hard to string 24 episodes together. They need something to carry it over. Most TV shows are only 15-18 episodes (even less if your on Premium channels) so 24 being 24 episodes really pushes it towards its limit. The story has to stay within the realm of "real" but not necessarily "conventional."

The other interesting thing about 24 was how the first season happened after 9/11 - obviously the worst terrorist attack our country has and hopefully will ever see. I don't like to get too metaphorical and read into something that isn't there, but it wasn't a secret that the American psyche was shaken. It needed it's confidence back. I'm not saying that Jack Bauer/24 was that hope, but they definitely were a positive light during a negative time. (Of course, The Rising was the best positive thing to come from 9/11 - thanks Bruce!)

Regardless, Jack Bauer is awesome. He is always able to overcome any and every situation for his country. Things that have happened to Jack while on the job:

He lost his wife.
His daughter constantly is getting into trouble and endangering her life.
Jack became addicted to heroin.
He played Russian Roulette trying to save a prisoner that he would be a double agent for.
He faked his own death and had to hide it from his daughter and the woman he loved (Audrey)
His best friends Tony Almeida, David Palmer, and Michelle Dessler were slain because of him.
Entered Chinese Consulate to capture terrorist containing information of national security.
He captured and tortured the President of the United States to reveal him as a fraud, but was taken away by Chinese consulate and tortuted for a few years.
After being bartered for to return to the US, he was handed over to terrorists who were to kill him had he not escaped. His country gave him away.
Following his return, he learns his brother and father are involved in a conspiracy plot against the United States, and leaves his father to die while having to save his nephew.
Secretary of Defense told him he would have to leave his love alone because of the torture and life he put her through.
Was tried and arrested for breaking interrogation rules in attempts to save his country from terrorist attacks.
Almost sacrificed his life several times on behalf of his country to save the President.
Was infected with a pathogen bomb and could barely function.

Sure, it's not all real. It all can't possibly happen to one man. But it's awesome. Jack is the best example of a patriot. Someone who gives everything he can and has for his country. He lost it all and still is playing the game. Unfortunately, this season will be the last go around, although there is a supposed movie.

I'm starting to ramble, but I'm just trying to emphasize how great 24 is and was and how great Jack Bauer has been for America.

LOST - What Richard Alpert Taught Us

Wow, what an episode. Easily the episode that reveals the most about any single character (and the Island) and answers some of the questions we've been curious about now for quite some time. In that sense, I would argue it was the best & most revealing single episode we've seen.

However, as always, there's still more questions to be answered.

First a continuity error that I question:

At the beginning of the Incident, we see the Black Rock on the outskirts of the Island. MiB and Jacob sit and converse, talking about humans coming etc. The sea is calm, it's a beautiful day. But when the Black Rock actually comes, it comes in a gigantic storm, powerful enough for it to run into Jacob's statue. While it's easy to see that happen (can Jacob/MiB control the weather?) it didn't seem to make sense. In the long run, it's not as big of a deal, but it's still interesting to note.

Okay, so now it's game time - What we learned and new theories:

The cork-in-the-bottle metaphor that Jacob was the single best explanation we've ever had regarding the island, Jacob, and the Man In Black. But what exactly is the cork? Is the cork Jacob? Because one would think that since Jacob is dead, Man In Black would be gone by now. Or maybe his cause is to kill all candidates (but it seems like he personally cannot do that) before he can be free. That is who's "coming" in reference to the end of Season 5.

It's abhorrently apparent that MiB is lying and manipulating about everything and always has. He tried to manipulate Richard, and he's done the same thing to Claire, Sayid, and trying to reach out to Kate and Sawyer. He promises something to accomplish his means, following Jacob's statement that MiB tries to tempt others and prove that human are corruptible. What does this mean when he gets off the Island? Because as we already know, humans are corruptible (see Anthony Cooper, Sawyer, etc.)

Jacob seemed different in this episode. He wasn't the calm, poised man we've seen. He was yelling at Richard, almost making fun of him, very much the Dexter side of him we've seen from Mark Pellegrino before. We learn about how Jacob doesn't want to interfere and allow humans to come to the Island "to have a second chance" - something almost all of the Losties needed on 815.

INTERESTING QUESTION: How do/did the others live on the Island? When the Black Rock was shipwrecked, Smokey killed everyone but Richard, and looked into him the same way he looked into Locke and Mr. Eko, then left, then takes the form of a loved one (but as far as we know Isabella was never on the Island, making it unusual for him to her shape - possibly changing the rules we previously thought) Regardless, if Smokey kills everyone when they get there, how did the others ever "survive"? And how do they/Ben get the ability to somewhat summon Smokey as a "security system" as we see in Season 4? Jacob mentions in last night's episode that everyone previously brought the the Island is dead, and I would assume that is because of Smokey. Maybe Richard was the beginning of human civilization on the Island (plus Jacob allowing Dharma to have the appropriate sonic fences to keep Smokey out.)

Another question: The killing of Jacob/MiB. We find out that Dogen was in fact not lying regarding letting them speak and it's over, as MiB says the same thing. So how is Ben able to kill Jacob? As leader? As he is inside the Temple? Need to know more about the rules here.

Overall, the episode confirmed much of previous speculation regarding Richard, although told through a compelling and somewhat heartwarming story that now re-focuses the effort for everyone to stop Locke from leaving the Island. I would love to see more episodes on even more of Jacob/MiB's history, during the Dharma period and so on, but we're just running out of time (que Jack Bauer)

I THINK I KNOW HOW LOST WILL END

It's Tuesday after 10, and I'm home on Spring Break. There isn't much else to do BUT blog.

BEFORE WE GET INTO TONIGHT'S EPISODE -- I watched last week's again at the 8PM slot and it said that Smokey had recruited Kate. CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS BELIEF.

So tonight's Lost was VERY subliminal. Alot of things were said but not alot of time was given to the time to analyze. But I believe it was very revealing at the same time.

What we learned:

1) Jack is learning his importance (as Jacob believed he would following the Lighthouse incident) and is gaining confidence in his abilities and wants to stand up for the fight. That's why he was so confident that the dynamite would not explode.

2) The Flash Sideways is quickly becoming the timeline of people getting a second chance to help those they care about - but from a distance. We saw it last week with Sayid. We see it this week with Ben. He wanted to help Alex so badly he didn't blackmail the principal. I'm led heavily to believe that he blackmailed Widmore previously to get off the island. I'm still not sure how this applies to Hurley being lucky, but that's just how it seems.

The question is how much to the Losties know the difference i.e. if Ben is given the chance to bring Alex back to a normal life, does he live knowing the consequences that he can never be her father? Or does he just have some unconscious attraction to her that he can't explain? Similar question for Sayid and Nadia.

P.S. Alex looked SO MUCH HOTTER than she ever did on the Island. I'm not sure if she's growing up or it was make up or what, but I was surprised. ALSO --- WHERE IS DANIELLE IN THIS EQUATION?

3) Alpert came from the Black Rock (SOMETHING I CONFIRMED EARLIER) -- BUT why this is important is because when Smokey first spoke to Alpert post-Jacob's death, he said "It's nice to see you free of those chains." Meaning --> Smokey saw Alpert as a slave on the Black Rock. Smokey wasn't on the Black Rock because he saw it coming to the Island with Jacob. But he had seen Alpert somehow.

What we need to know:

1) Following off point number one from earlier, Richard said, whoever is touched by Jacob cannot die by their own hand. My initial assumption was then that Michael had to be touched by Jacob at some point. But not EVERYONE that came to the island was touched by Jacob. Hell, Sayid & Hurley were touched after they were off the island the first time. So what exactly does this do? Is Jack/Hurley/Kwons/Kate/Sawyer destined to live forever as long as they stay on the island similar to Alpert?

2) Smokey's real plan

What exactly is his deal? He told Sawyer that the island doesn't need a protector. He told Ben that someone would need to be there when Smokey and his recruits leave. Why the flip flop? Is Ben even a candidate? What's the reality? Why didn't Smokey kill what's left of Illana/Team Jacob? It would be a pretty easy Smoke through. That perplexes me the most.

3) Illana's plan

Illana was furious about Ben killing Jacob, but then she accepted that Ben was mad at himself - with good reason. So now what? How exactly can she protect the candidates from Smokey? She needs more than a gun. But she also mentioned that Jacob was like a father to her, so I'm sure she knows a lot more than we think.

4) The Island in the Flash Sideways

Ben's dad (who is still alive in the alternate timeline) mentioned DHARMA and the Island. So it existed at some point. At some point they left (obviously) and the Island is now underwater. How? Why? What? Who? Hanh? Was it by Jughead being set off that caused the island to implode therefore DHARMA still existed but Oceanic 815 never crashed. The timeline we're in still happens because that was their present. The Flash is what happens if the Island went underwater. Danielle never comes, Alex is therefore not on the Island.

5) Widmore

Obviously this was the bombshell at the end of the episode. How did Widmore find the Island? What's his plan? The line "There's people on the Island, should I stop?" makes me think that Widmore has some plan to destroy the island/self-destruct because the "wrong side" is going to win and Widmore needs to prevent that from happening.

THE KICKER ---> HOW I THINK IT WILL END

I had a revelation that I firmly believed when I first saw the episode. Since then (only a hour later) I've kind of had a change of heart, but I'm still throwing it out there anyway, because it's fun to take a stand. If I'm wrong, I'll edit this post and you'll never know.

What was important in this episode was two crucial things: Jack acknowledging his higher-calling following the Lighthouse, and Smoke Monster's offer to Ben to stay on the Island and protect it. You can almost feel the good vs. evil vibe. It's great. I'm also probably wrong because somehow the Flash sideways is supposed to intercede with the current. But I really believed it.

I think Widmore throws a cog in that potential plan, but every episode I get more and more excited to see how it plays out. It's my anti-drug. So come May, I'll NEED to find a new anti-drug.

LOST - WHAT DID I JUST WATCH

Wow, what a transition from a crappy episode to UTTERLY EPIC. I literally had my mouth open and goosebumps for five straight minutes after the episode. I turned my TV off and sat there. I am supposed to be finishing this PR plan for class, but writing this post suddenly became MUCH more interesting and a worthwhile outlet of my time.

So let's get started gang! (WHAT)

1) SAYID

Clearly, he's not so much infected as he is broken (more on that later.) He keeps trying to get rid of his killer-past and move on and be "normal". As we see, being normal wouldn't let him be with the only thing he really wanted: Nadia. Instead, he keeps having to kill people. It's just in his nature. Even in the sideways timeline, he still has to kill people (Nice addition adding Keamy PS.) It's in his nature. That's what Dogan saw when he determined Sayid was "evil" - because Sayid is naturally an evil man. He tries to be good, but life calls upon him to do other things.

I also think SPECIFICALLY because Smokey said "Hello Sayid" that therefore Sayid couldn't kill him. Dogen made it clear that if Smokey spoke it was over. He spoke. It's over. Smokey used that to turn him against Dogen.

He lost his trust in the people at the Temple, and Smokey must have told him something (besides the "I can get you whatever you want" line) to make him want to kill Dogen. Smokey must have said that by killing Dogen, Smokey can fulfill his mission, and "go home." I don't really believe Sayid is infected, he is just tired of the BS that the Island keeps throwing at him time after time.

Back to the broken thing I mentioned - it seems like everyone from the O6 except Hurley is really broken. Jack obviously. Sawyer lost the woman he loved. Kate is struggling to understand why Claire won't come with her - The ONLY reason Kate came. Sun doesn't count cause she's so brutally insignificant these days that I don't care to justify her.

2) Candidates

It's clear that Sayid's crossed himself off the list. I'm assuming the same for Sawyer - but where is he??

So that leaves us with - Jack, Hugo, and "Kwon" - I'm assuming it's Jin (mainly because I'm sexist - SARCASM.) It's gotta be Jack. It just has to be. It has to be.

3) Dogen

I'm glad the baseball storyline was wrapped up - it really bothered me that this stupid baseball seemed to have some higher meaning - and not that it's not significant, but it doesn't have to deal with the over-arcing issue going on.

But WHY was he the reason that Smokey was staying out - not the ash? Is the ash insignificant? What would the point be of laying down the ash if IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING? By him dying, Smokey gets into the Temple. What sort of logic is that? I really hope that angle is answered.

4) Illana/Lapedis/The Good Guys

Clearly this is going to be an episode with some form of a backstory that I assume will happen next week. How they got in/How they know/What they know.

It's got to be the room that Illana found is something secret from Smokey. Another special place on the island. And I personally believe that it will do something that can help protect the island or reincarnate Jacob. That's where the ashes that Illana scooped up come into play. There has to be something there obviously, as that's the only play they have left.

To sympathize with Sun (and cause I made a sarcastic sexist comment earlier) - Where is Jin? Claire left him at the tent, or did he get turned? In that case we cross him off the list. Is he with Sawyer?

MEETING BETWEEN 3 and 4 - WHY DOESN'T DOGEN KNOW WHAT ILLANA SEEMS TO KNOW ? Instead, he just kinda mooks around.

RANDOM ---> WHERE'S ALPERT? He clearly hasn't been at the Temple, but he told Sawyer that was the only safe place on the Island, so why didn't he go there? Unless he got caught by Smokey again.

5) Smokey

So what's his deal eh? Unless I missed something, there was nothing that he did in the Temple that he NEEDED to do. He already killed Jacob. He was "free." Maybe the Temple murder was just a revenge thing. A big kick in the guts to everyone that's ever been against him. Seems unnecessary though.

I write this in every post about Lost - something's not right. Team Jacob tells one story, and Team Smokey tells something else. I can't tell who's right or who's wrong. Sometimes I almost want to believe what Smokey is saying is true. Someone obviously is lying. We've been lead to believe that Jacob is the light and the best. I don't know. They're too secretive. Smokey seems so open. Why would he want people to come with him? Why wouldn't he just kill all of them (except for those that he 'recruited'?) Does he really want those who lived in the Temple to switch just like that? Does he expect their loyalty to switch that easily? It doesn't make any sense to me.

6) Kate

Kate doesn't know what's going on. She just wants to save Claire. But by her going with Smokey, she provides an interesting complex. I highly doubt she gets recruited. She's too smart. She's going to find out more - and then will probably run into Sawyer and Jin, and can somehow help everyone. She's definitely on the good side I think. She's too worried about Claire. I know I mentioned this earlier, but that's her sole mission.

7) Now what?

Jack and Hurley clearly are the only ones that seem safe from everything. And with Jacob there to aide Hurley, that's a huge help. Apparently next week Ben "pays for his sins" or whatever the ABC Promo said. Hope it's more interesting than the first 54 minutes of this weeks, but is just as powerful as the last 6.

PS --> Only 12 more hours of LOST. WHAT WILL I DO WITHOUT IT. This blog might actually die when Lost dies. It'll go underwater like the Island. Get ready.

LOST - NO MORE QUESTIONS ?

Spoiler. Spoiler. Blah I get tired of saying it.

Okay so LOST just ended and it was so awesome I had to write about it immediately. Prepare for a typical scattered post as I try to gather my thoughts.

1) THE NUMBERS

So the numbers actually DO have a purpose - sort of. Somehow these specific numbers connect to each of the people remaining from 815 - EXCEPT KATE OR CLAIRE. It's possible Claire was removed because she is dead/infected/sick/pick your word. That doesn't explain no listing for Kate - unless she was crossed out. Maybe she's not a "candidate" she's just a random girl. Or maybe she was already dead. Maybe Jacob visited all of the survivors pre-crash, but we only see those few. In trying to focus on the story while observing the room, I could of swore I saw Rutherford (for Shannon or Boone) inscribed, so Jacob could had listed everyone originally. Why wasn't Kate on the list? Is this technically Jacob's list? Can they not die (putting more emphasis on Sayid - although Locke is dead.)

HOW DO THE NUMBERS CONNECT TO THE SWAN - "THE NUMBERS"

My concern is maybe that Smoke Locke isn't being totally truthful. Why would Jacob come all the way down here when he had the Cabin/Statue? Maybe it's Smokey's list. Clearly the pendulum could of been for either of them. The concept of Jacob's ladder also could apply here.

Also though, we've been dealing with Jacob for so long we assume he's the good superpower. He's also white in the light vs black literary device (so we think.)

2) SMOKEY/NEMESIS

My gut tells me that he's still trying to get into the Temple. He needs someone to get past the ash so he can get in there and kill everyone. Right now thats Sawyer - a broken man desperate for answers. That's how they can get off the island "together." Sawyer helps Smokey, Smokey either kills him or lets him go, and Smokey is free to rule the island (or worse.) He's playing the part of the liberator by talking to Richard as if he's been enslaved by Jacob without any real knowledge for of what's going on. I'm sure Jacob told Richard whatever Richard needed to know.

BUT Smokey cheated. He technically killed Jacob by pushing him into the fire. There's a chance Jacob may not of died by being stabbed from Ben. That's where that boy comes in - who JUST HAS TO BE AARON. HAS TO BE. Because Smokey cheated, Jacob can rise again, or some other power (maybe one of the candidates - also remember Lapedis is a candidate too) can become the new Jacob to put Smokey back in his place. Maybe it's Aaron - providing him more of a purpose. It's interesting that Smokey has something he's scared of - and that he doesn't just transform to take him out. Maybe a power higher than Jacob/Smokey. Maybe Aaron is a reincarnation of Jacob, which was the purpose of allowing him to be born.

TO NOTE: Alpert couldn't see the kid. Sawyer could. Alpert probably isn't a candidate.

But does the Island need a new Jacob? Was Smokey lying in saying this Island didn't need anything? Is that what we see in the "sideways" time line - a world where the island doesn't 'exist' ? It's definitely possible, but I have my doubts about Smokey.

3) INTERESTING SIDEWAYS TIME LINE NOTES

-Hurley's doing great - different

-Rose still has cancer but she's loving life
-How can Rose and Hurley be on the same plane if Hurley is her boss? Wouldn't Hurley notice?

-LOCKE IS WITH HELEN - that's a huge change, but he's still depressed as ever.

-Locke as a teacher and him saying "John Locke - Substitute" is an interesting - but definitely serves as a metaphor - for being Smokey's Substitute - and potentially could have been Jacob's as a candidate. The writers are too smart.

-Also of note for Locke is that Helen mentioned his father attending the wedding. Meaning that they probably are on better terms than they were on the original time line. Meaning that Locke was paralyzed by other means.

-BEN AS A EUROPEAN HISTORY TEACHER - interesting. If he was Egyptian history I would have died. What does this sideways time line have to do with his rivalry with Widmore - if that even exists with everything else going on)

-SIDE NOTE FOR BEN --> By Ben being off the Island, that means that the Island had been underwater PRE-Dharma. Here's why: Ben in 1977 was last seen at the Temple, being healed from Sayid shooting him. So, were the bomb to go off, it would have killed him and everyone else. Ethan from last episode is fine because he would have been evacuated on the sub. Ben was not on the sub - as far as we know of course.

-Did anyone else think that the kid that Locke grabbed was going to be Walt? Obviously they can't capture Walt in 2004 form, but that would of made the sideways time lines that much more unbelievable.

I can't figure out if the sideways time line is to prove anything outside of how their lives would have been without the island - but why did some people have different pre-island experiences? Why is Hurley not cursed? Kate may be innocent for whatever she did? There's a lot of questions still left to be answered.

I think I read where Damon & Carlton are working towards proving that the lives of everyone on the island was going to be linked regardless of the events of the island - but was it because of the island?

4) Illana

She had to pick up those ashes for a reason. There must be some connection. Maybe they can reincarnate Jacob. Maybe it's to prove it to Dogen. I can't be sure, but there's definitely a connection. We still don't know how she knows about Jacob/Island/Temple or any of that.

PS REALLY CAN'T WAIT FOR JIN AND SUN TO GET BACK TOGETHER SO THAT CAN STOP BEING A STORYLINE.

Overall though this episode was the best of the season. I'm back on board the LOST train and will have a long 7 days until next week's episode.

LOST --> STILL NOT FOUND

SPOILER LOST SPOILER LOST. You're warned. I'll keep this one short cause I have other things to worry about this week (probably healthy to be honest)

THIS WAS THE WORST EPISODE IN 3 YEARS. IT MADE ME WANT TO SCREAM, HENCE THE CAPITALS.

Now that we've gotten past that moment, seriously, wasn't that episode awful? The name of the episode is "What Kate Does"--- what is Kate doing exactly?? Drive Claire to the Hospital? I'm pretty sure people were expecting everything BUT that. Seriously. She kills someone. Gets away. Jack saves her. I don't know, something more pro-active than being a chauffeur.

Is the "Does" part reflect to following Sawyer? Another non-active step to allow us see Sawyer drag out the loss of the only girl he ever loved - right? Or does/did he love Kate too? Hmmmm. Way too dragged out. Way too emotional. He had his moment in the last two episodes to be sad and then mad and then more sad. There's bigger things at stake here.

This Temple nonsense is straight-up bizarre. It's taken three years for us to get here, and I think everyone was expecting something other than this Dogan figure. He's mysterious, seems to be some sort of ninja, and very short with words (when he actually speaks English.) Of course, this sticks to the concept of Lost, that they reveal as little as possible to make people go nuts. It's working, but at a more frustrating level than usual. Given that it's THE FINAL SEASON TELEVISION EVENT SHA-BANG, I was hoping for more.

SOME NEW THOUGHTS/REACTIONS

Was totally spot on about Sayid. Going to revise it a bit though: By drowning in the dark water, he is becoming essentially a disciple of Smokey. He doesn't know it. He had to die to be reborn. It's almost the concept of being like a zombie or ghost in human form. Sayid will quickly lose his memory (as Ben did when he was saved - in CLEAR-JACOB-APPROVED water) and live for Smokey - ideally, killing everyone inside the Temple.

What doesn't totally make sense is how Claire has been infected. Unless Christian/Smokey killed her when she chased after him, there must be another way to infect. Why wouldn't Smokey do this to everyone though? So did Claire die? Does Smokey have another outlet to infect? OR Is she even infected at all, or is Dogan BS-ing. Is Claire crazy like Rousseau (love the cyclical nature of the show - Rousseau is just like Claire in every way. Claire still being operated on by Ethan. Kate still being there for her birth. Smart guys write this show.)

This all has to be taken with a grain of salt because I personally don't know if I/we can trust Dogan/Templies because of their mysteriousness. Sure, Ben said that it was the safest place on the Island, and they should be very pro-Jacob, thus pro-life/saving Sayid/not lying to Losties, but something doesn't make sense. Or it's just Lost and I'm tired of it.

I'm looking forward to next week's episode - the way ABC promotes it, it seems like its going to be a 4 episode season. Way to milk it ABC.

LOST - Season Premiere Reactions/Theories/Hopes/Dreams

DON'T READ THIS IF YOU DON'T CARE OR DON'T WANT TO KNOW SPOILERS

#$%^$$%^$%^$%))(#$*%#$%!#($)%!*@#$)%!(#$%)!(#$%)!(#$)%!*#$)%!

What happened last night? There was so much going on so fast, it's hard for me to wrap my head around any of it, let alone ALL of it.

My current thoughts/theories:
1) The original "Others" were a servant of Jacob. Protectors of the island and thankful for his blessing. Only a select few were chosen to live behind the Temple wall. Ben was determined not worthy of ever seeing Jacob/Temple because he had to be healed by Jacob as a child to live.

What this does NOT answer is how the Smoke Monster was affiliated with the Temple for Rousseau's team. Ben was never actually in the Temple when he was "judged." Flocke cut him of before he could get to the real Temple.

2) Sayid - two potential plots here

Sayid is either the Smoke Monster or Jacob. I'm leaning towards the Monster, mainly because: The water Sayid was submerged in was dark. They said that it used to be light. By Smokey using Sayid's body, he is already inside the Temple, as the others try to protect it wish ash. Smokey went into the body of Jacob to talk to Hurley, which took Sayid to the Temple, so now Smokey is inside.

The Jacob that Hurley saw also could legitimately be Jacob, and Jacob could be using Sayid's body or had the healing power to save Sayid.

Both these ideas break my typical stance that these two entities can only inhabit people who have died prior to coming to the island. But anything is possible. Just like Kevin Garnett.

Not to read too much into color good/versus - but Sayid's shirt is black.

3) The Alternate Timeline

I think what we're seeing right now is the "What if they never crashed" and the "They did detonate the bomb but their job isn't finished," also known as the "whatever happened, happened" timelines.

It's still very complex coming out of the Time Traveling season. Faraday had too many thoughts and not enough clearly decisive visions for us to figure it out.

WHAT I AM THINKING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW (SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN 2 MINUTES): The Island in 2004 is underwater because of the detonation. The 1977 Losties only thought about how detonation corrected THEIR timeline, but not how it would affect everyone else. The detonation may have sort of inverted the electromagnatism that kept the island visible/afloat whatever. Dharma died in 1977. The island died. But because they were ALREADY on the island, the Losties have to finish what they started in terms of the Jacob/Smokey conflict.

This also ran through my head though - Partially because I'm a huge Pirates of the Carribean nut - but in the concept of the island being underwater doesn't mean it's gone. In the third Pirates there's an alternate universe - for the dead - on the 'other side' of the water. Could be a similar circumstance here. Doubtful. The only reason that could work is the ABC/Disney connection. Longshot.

It is very interesting to note the differences between the original Losties in Season 1 vs the Reset Timeline. Hurley is lucky. Charlie believes he was meant to die. Shannon is happy with a man. Kate is still a fugitive, but apparently she didn't kill her father. Jack believes that nothing is irreversible. Locke believes his condition is. Lots of interesting changes in moods/attitudes/situations. Is it because the island doesn't exist anymore?

This also provides us with the theory that these people are still MEANT to come together. Locke and Jack. Sawyer and Kate. Somehow the alternate timelines come together.

4) Smoke Monster/Flocke "Going Home"

It's either the Temple or off the island. I doubt it's to "The rest of the world" to destroy everyone. Maybe like a mythical heaven or underworld. But first he will probably like to seek revenge on everyone on the Island who has held him prisoner - mainly on the Temple.

5) Christian's Coffin

Where is it? The Island didn't 'steal' it. Is there a chance that it never was on the plane originally? His body was never found in season 1. Yet in Season 6 Locke's dead body is found.

That's what I've got right now. I'm sure between now and next Tuesday I'll have entirely new theories. Maybe another post. This show sucks my life away.

LOST - MORE THINGS I DON'T KNOW BUT I REALLY WANT TO

This is part 2 of a 2,000 part series on more things I need to know about Lost. After watching the Season 5 Finale again last night on ABC, it brought up new things that I am just so confused about.

I'll give a disclaimer now, if you don't like Lost and don't want to hear me question the universe, stop reading now. Go read something more interesting.

QUESTION 45) Where is DHARMA post-Purge?

This builds off my last point in my previous Lost post regarding The Swan site/The Button. In Season 3 we learn that Ben and the Others lead "The Purge" and killed/removed DHARMA from the Island. But then what happened to the Ann Arbor team? Someone HAD to have known what happened on the Island regarding the "Incident" (pending we find out what exactly the incident is - the effects of Juliet potentially detonating the bomb) so why wouldn't they have sent someone to keep pushing the button to prevent "the end of the world." Even if the University of Michigan were to drop the project, they would still owe it to continue to clean up the mess they made.

So maybe I'm taking to far/literal there including UMich. Next point.

QUESTION 92) Eloise Hawking
Things we know: Her and Charles Widmore were leaders on the Island. They gave birth to Daniel Faraday. At some point, she leaves to Island to raise Daniel, alone, without Widmore. She did not leave with him.

Things we don't know: How does she know about The Lamp Post station? How does she know that Desmond will need to push the button before he's even on the island (based off the S3 Episode "Flashes Before Your Eyes")? How does she even know about the button?

Eloise MUST be free from time in a similar way that Desmond is. She must be able to see things previously and in the future. How did this happen? Was this a result of the incident (that again may be changing pending Jughead's detonation)? She KNEW in 1990s that by sending Faraday (PS WHY IS HIS LAST NAME FARADAY AND NOT HAWKING) that she will kill him in the 1970s. BUT HOW.

Eloise also mentions the end of the world/war coming post-button. How does she know about this if she is not even on the Island? Is this about Ben and Charles or Jacob and The Man in Black (as ABC called him last night.)

Another point related to but not directly towards Eloise - How did the 1954 US Army turn from the Army to the Others. This builds somewhat off of the Richard Alpert questions earlier. How can he be the "leader" of the Army? He's clearly been on the island for a while. Somehow the Army troops turned into the "Others" slash "Hostiles." My guess was that this was another coming of "them" that Jacob and the Man in Black spoke of. Some were on Jacob's List to stay, while others did not.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT JUST POPPED IN MY HEAD - The Lamp Post was a Dharma Station. Probably made post-1954. Given that idea, how did the US Army find the island and be able to bring Jughead & set up camp there? Did they just find it (maybe at the help of Jacob)? Remember, the picture of the island from 1954 was in the Lamp Post Station, so someone must have returned.

PS - I really love and hate this show. It causes me to think about so much of it, but then random thoughts like that entire last paragraph pop up in my head and causes me to change my mind/opinion/creates an entire new opinion. And that will only last until I form something new, or I find out a little bit of what is actually going on. A gift & a curse.

QUESTION #42) Time Travel - Why, How, and WHEN ?

Lost has reset the rules of time travel that at least in my head was set by movies like Back to the Future and probably some Star Trek or other time-traveling series. The thesis used to be: You can't interfere with anything in the past, because it will affect the future - potentially your future. Marty McFly almost disappeared completely.

Our only real guide to the time complex is Faraday.

It's strange because Faraday flip-flops his opinion. First it's "Whatever Happened, Happened" then it turns to "Variables" - like the Losties in 1977 - CAN alter the past. We still don't know what's right or wrong. Based on events like Ben being shot by Sayid but still living, it would almost make sense that Whatever Happened, Happened. The Variable concept is what most people are familiar with. Is it real though? What actually happens? Obviously we intend to find out in the premiere, but it still raises a lot of questions, like:

If Juliet's detonation works, do the Losties just jump back to 2004, erasing EVERYTHING that has happened? The writers have said that doesn't happen, at least to end the series. The first episode is called LAX though. Everyone is coming back in some capacity. Something happens. I could speculate for days, so I'll just stop now. At least this is one of the answers that I know I will be getting in less than a week. Partially anyway.

Don't worry, I'm sure I'll think of something else the minute I hit Publish Post. And I'll probably post it soon.

LOST - I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON

SPOILER ALERT. IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED LOST UP TO SEASON 5 BUT PLAN ON IT, DON'T CONTINUE READING. IF YOU DON'T WATCH LOST, THIS POST IS WORTHLESS AND FULL OF GEEK SPEAK. THANK YOU.

Okay, so, now that we got that out of the way. This post is going to be long and I'm going to look like a total nerd. Deal with it.

This is it. The Final Season. We supposedly have all our questions answered. I'm SO excited for the premiere next Tuesday. It's great that the shows creators opted for the show to end on its own terms instead of dragging out until it was ultimately canceled (like The O.C. - RIP.) I'm sure ABC wants Lost to stay around. Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof said no though and apparently have had the ending set in stone since season 3 (which is really weird because it seemed like season 3 they were stalling)

This probably won't be my first Lost post before the season starts. So for this one, I'm going to post 3 (out of a possible 1000) things I need to know - and what I think - before the show is over.

Overall Question 1) What is the deal with Jacob and his nemesis?

We had no clue who Jacob really was until the last episode of the season. We didn't even know he had a "nemesis." Hell, we didn't even know if he was real or if Ben made him up. But he is indeed real, and wow, he lives in that damned statue that's been in our heads since season 2.

So clearly Jacob and his nemesis are clearly a good vs. evil metaphor. One wears white one wears black. Jacob seems nice and concerned and the nemesis only wants to kill Jacob but needs a loophole.

I believe - and so do many others - that the nemesis is the smoke monster, and he can assume the body of the people who die before they are on the island. My basis is clearly he's in Locke. Then when Ben went to the Temple, the smoke monster (via Alex) told him to trust Locke no matter what - setting up Locke ordering Ben to kill Jacob. Smokey was definitely involved in Mr. Eko's brother Yemi, because after Eko talks to "Yemi" the smoke monster kills Eko. I'm not sure what I think regarding Christian. Maybe it's Jacob. Maybe it's his nemesis. Maybe they rotate.

RANDOM QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS SITUATION - If Smokey is "inside" Locke in 2007 when he's at the smoke monster, who is in Christian in 2007 when talking to Sun? Is there a third variable? And what exactly are Jacob and his Nemesis? Are they gods? Egyptian Gods? Anubis? What role do Illana and Bram play - are they like worshipers of Jacob? How do they know about the Island? What happened to the statue?

Overall Question 2) The Black Rock & Richard Alpert

Okay, so maybe this is more of a two-part question (with 20 follow up questions)

How did the Black Rock ever get that far in the middle of the island? The only logical (and normal) possibility is that a storm lifted it (maybe the same storm that broke the statue/the black rock broke the statue because of the storm/dynamite????) However it's entirely possible that Jacob and/or his nemesis did something to bring it here. Maybe the nemesis brought it, used the dynamite to blow up the statue, but Jacob was still alive. It seems likely that the ship at the beginning of the last episode of season 5 was the Black Rock.

According to Lostpedia, The Black Rock was captained by Magnus Hanso, grandfather of Alvar Hanso, the main supporter of DHARMA. Is there any connection between Alvar knowing the island? Supposedly Magnus' burial site is at the Black Rock, so it can't be known if Alvar ever knew.


Now Ricard Alpert. Or Ricardus. I'm not sure. It's obvious that him and Jacob have some kind of a connection. Obviously I don't know what it is. It seems too easy to think that Richard was on the Black Rock. Given that the Black Rock was sometime in the 1800s and Richard is known by Illana and Bram as Ricardus (which is Latin) it makes sense to think he's from an even earlier time. What exactly is his role though? Is he just like Jacob's minion? Is Jacob like Yoda and Richard is a young Luke Skywalker? Well, that's a stretch, but I liked it. Does anyone else love the Star Wars references in Lost besides me? Some Like It Hoth. (I'm laughing on my end, which means you probably aren't)

Overall Question 3) The war between Ben and Charles Widmore - what is actually going on?


We've been told to trust neither of them. What are their actual intentions? I still really want to know if Widmore told Keamy to torch the island after they got Ben. It doesn't seem to make sense. Doesn't Widmore want to go back? Is he truly banned from coming back? How did he technically get removed as leader anyway? Who am I supposed to trust?

For some reason, I feel like Ben is the better of the two - with the best intentions of the island. That's also based on the fact that we don't see much of Widmore. He seems like he is more involved in getting as much information as possible in trying to bring down Ben. Ben just wants to be on the island in peace.

Something else I thought of after watching season 2 - what would the others do without Desmond? Did they know the significance of the button? If Desmond died, would they have stepped in and keep pressing it? Damon Lindelof says that the others 'probably didn't know,' so had Desmond died or quit or went insane, the island (and the world) would be destroyed. Supposedly. I'm thinking that if this were true then Widmore/Hawking would need to make more of an effort towards getting someone else on the island to keep the button pressed.


So that's what I'm thinking right now about Lost (another good day at work, right?) It's something that my brain obsesses over and I can't wait to see how it plays out.