Monday, November 24, 2008

Ajira Airways: Another LOST ARG?

(image courtesy of TheODI)

I didn't want to care, get involved, research, overanalyze. Not this time, not again. After experiencing the less than stellar Alternate Reality Game that was Dharma Wants You this summer, I was ready to move on and focus back on the show itself. And then there was a quick flash during the new LOST promo video: Ajira Airways.

A series of events led me to start pondering the significance of this new website and tie-in. First, I happened to be looking back and gathering my favorite LOST quotes last week; specifically, Locke's. Second, my Facebook friend Sonia tagged me in a note, asking a group of us Losties whether or not we were excited about this potential new ARG. My initial response was a resounding 'no.'

And then I started thinking about Locke's belief in destiny and how we're about to discover just how his island leadership resulted in the off-island Bentham pseudonym and eventual death. Pair that with the tagline for Ajira Airways (Destiny Calls), and all of a sudden I'm quite intrigued.

Here are some of Locke's thoughts about destiny (the fickle bitch, as Ben referred to it); integral, foreshadowing conversations between the man of faith and the man of science.
Locke: "The island brought us here. This is no ordinary place, you've seen that, I know you have. But the island chose you too, Jack. It's destiny."

Jack: "I don't believe in destiny."
Locke: "Yes, you do. You just don't know it yet."

Locke: "You're not supposed to go home."
Jack: "And what am I supposed to do? Oh, I think I remember. What was it that you said on the way out to the hatch - that crashing here was our destiny?"
Locke: "You know, Jack. You know that you're here for a reason. You know it. And if you leave this place, that knowledge is gonna eat you alive from the inside out...until you come back."
Just something to think about.

I plan to check the Ajira site on occasion, but not religiously. When the Season 4 DVD set comes out in a few weeks, I plan to devour that instead. It will keep me busy through the holidays and before we know it, Season 5 will arrive.

Anyone else playing along or believe this to be an actual ARG?

5 comments:

memphish said...

Interesting topic. The destiny that is. Not another ARG. I for one was so disappointed in the last ARG that I'm perfectly content for Lostpedia or others to tell me what the jist of an ARG is/was rather than follow it myself.

But as for destiny, boy is she a fickle bitch. Let's take Jack just as an example. From the time Jack finds the caves he's content to merely survive not escape from the Island, but fate intervenes in the form of Ben and his tumor to change all that. Jack sees the Skate cage sex and for the rest of Seasons 3 and 4 all Jack wants is to get off that Island even when the Island seems to intervene to prevent his leaving via an exploding submarine and appendicitis. But he does get off. It's even my feeling that Christian in usurping Jacob's position facilitated Jack and Aaron's leaving.

But maybe that's a misreading give the appearance of Christian back in LA? Maybe Locke wasn't supposed to keep the secret of Claire's location, but was supposed to reveal it so that Jack would come looking for her and miss his ride off the Island. What? Locke getting in the Island's way? Locke misreading the Island's message? Oh yeah, the more I think about it maybe that is what happened.

maven said...

I'm not holding out too much hope that this is going to be a major ARG. It's seems more promotional and to build excitement for S5 (as if there isn't enough already!) Just the fact that the site actually mentions the start date of Jan. 21st leads me to believe that ABC is doing a promotional campaign.

I just hope I'm proved wrong!

whiterabbita said...

I'm a woman of science, but still have faith in the Arg. Maybe Aijira Airways will give us only some cool preludes of season five. Season five is too near now for an other ARG? But still! There must be an "important ARG", when season 5 will finish and we will have to wait season 6! I really hope someone will let fans enjoy themselves with the coolest ARG of all Lost!

Anonymous said...

Not going to try and play it, but will keep tabs on it. I can't wait for S5 and hear that my cable provider has reintroduced the channel that shows Lost over here. Not bad, but I've kind of got used to other methods now.

Capcom said...

Great post! I thought about Locke's destiny speeches when I saw the Ajira ad too. Guess we'll have to wait to see what it means.

Interesting thought about CS, Memphish.

As for the ARG, bprbprpbprrrp! :-p