Happy Anniversary, Lost: Reflections in My Rear View Mirror (Updated)

It only seemed appropriate on the anniversary of its debut to look back at where and who I was when Lost first aired on September 22, 2004. Below is a timeline of significant personal memories, fondly flashing back in time to the early days when I was just a fan without an online presence, voice or forum. 


A television show can change your life. Lost altered my path in more ways than one. 


It Doesn't Matter Who We Were, It Only Matters Who We Are


9/22/04: Lost debuted on ABC

10/20/04: I was officially hooked, thanks to episode 1.05 (White Rabbit) 

8/13/05: Purchased the name and URL for JOpinionated, and started a pop culture blog

3/14/06: Posted my very first Lost entry, after episode 2.15 (Maternity Leave)

1/23/08: Created this site in order to share Lost-specific analysis only, separately from other TV/film reviews

6/20/08-7/23/08: Created Jeremy Bentham website and Facebook profile with Lost anagrams and puzzles; a short-lived summer project

7/25/08: Attended Comic-Con for the first time, asked Damon and Carlton at an EW panel about the use of the name Bentham  

7/26/08: Attended the Lost panel at Comic-Con 2008

8/19/08: My first Lost interview: William Mapother (Ethan Rom)

2/18/09: Experienced the official Lost tour on Oahu via KOS Tours

4/4/09: Met writer/script supervisor/continuity guru Gregg Nations at the Lost Weekend charity event, as well as Sterling Beaumon (young Ben) and Andrea Gabriel (Nadia) - both of whom have become good friends [sidenote: I help run their FB fan pages]


6/4/09 - 1/16/10 Completed 5-season rewatch project with comprehensive analysis of each episode

7/09: Attended the Lost panel at Comic-Con 2009, met Josh Holloway, Nestor Carbonell and Jorge Garcia in the press room [also interviewed Dom Monaghan in the FlashForward press room]

1/29/10: Attended a private meet and greet party for the S6 premiere press in Waikiki; spoke with Damon and Carlton, Michael Emerson, Jeff Fahey, Daniel Dae Kim, Yunjin Kim, Nestor, Harold Perrineau and Zuleika Robinson, as well as writers/executive producers Adam Horowitz, Eddie Kitsis and Liz Sarnoff


1/29/10: Hosted a party or 120 Lost fans from around the world; Fahey made a brief appearance

1/30/10: Went on a private press tour of Lost filming locales with executive producer Jean Higgins

1/30/10: Was on the S6 premiere red carpet on the beach, interviewing the above plus Evangeline Lilly and Josh Holloway 

3/15/10: Met and interviewed Elizabeth Mitchell on the set of V in Vancouver

5/23/10: Moderated a Lost panel at Jay and Jack's finale party at the Orpheum in LA, featuring Sterling, Andrea, L. Scott Caldwell (Rose), Neil Hopkins (Liam Pace), Malcolm David Kelley (Walt) and Eric Lange (Radzinsky)

8/21/10: Attended Lost Auction in LA, was a guest judge for the costume contest


I realize that I'm leaving out a few important events, but those were the first that came to mind. By the way, you can find articles about each of the above in the archives to the upper right or by searching by category in the Tabs. 


First Theories


For the sake of nostalgia, I looked up my first Lost entry from 2006 and am posting some of it below. I think you'll be amused by my initial thoughts, but I have to say that I'm proud of my Looking Glass station prediction!

3/14/06

• When Sayid first went exploring by himself in season one, he came across a thick black cord buried in the sand. He tracked it into the jungle but never questioned where the other end led. My theory is that there is an underwater hatch, and that cord is somehow providing electricity or power to it.
• Why did flight attendant Cindy disappear and where did she go? She doesn't seem like someone that the Others would be interested in.
• Isn't it a tad coincidental that Hurley would be attracted to a clinical psychologist when he used to be institutionalized? He even comments to Libby that she seems familiar. I'm sure we'll find out that she worked where he was a patient. Libby is a mystery; perhaps an Other or perhaps just an odd bird.
• When Jack came across his father's coffin, it was broken but empty. Is his dad still alive and on the island? Is he an Other or somehow involved with the Dharma Initiative? Or did the airline send the coffin without the body?
• The airplanes on the mobile above the crib had Oceanic logos on them. Dharma is obviously involved with Oceanic - do they own the airline?
• Could the HIM they're referring to be Henry Gale, the stranger held captive in the hatch?
• Claire took a drink from Ethan's canteen, much like Jack did from Desmond's canteen in his flashback. She mentioned that it tasted sour. Is water one of the methods that Dharma folks use to poison and/or drug people?
• Henry Gale was the name of Dorothy's uncle in The Wizard of Oz. And the Wizard himself arrived in Oz via hot air balloon, the very method of transport that this Gale is claiming to have crashed in on the island. Keep in mind that the Wizard also departed Oz in a hot air balloon, so we'll see what happens with Lost's Gale. 
• Why on earth would Sawyer have a pregnancy test among his hoarded supplies? If a female passenger had packed one, does that mean that one of the survivors thought they were pregnant or are pregnant now?
• Is Mr. Eko building a church?
• The hatch has a magnetic field below - did it have something to do with bringing the plane down? Or why the Black Rock ship is in the middle of the jungle? Does it have something to do with Locke's ability to walk?
• Locke's biological father talked about how everyone gets conned. And who is our favorite con man? Sawyer. There is indeed a connection between those two, but I have no idea what it is. 

Picture a Box. You Know Something About Boxes, Don't You?

What if I told you that somewhere in my house, there is a very large box...full of Lost memorabilia to give away. Simply leave a comment below by 10/1/10 and let me know how Lost has changed YOUR life; you will be entered to win a piece of memorabilia (I have plenty of goodies left to give away). 


Thank you for strolling down this road with me. And for the past six years. Because without your eyes and words and support, I would still be an anonymous fan without a voice.


Happy anniversary of the day our lives changed collectively and forever.


-Jo 


*UPDATE: Here are the names I randomly pulled; please email me your shipping address (jo at jopinionated dot com) and I will send you a little something from my Lost collection!

1. Andrea
2. Chelsea
3. Froy
4. HankG
5. HumaneBean
6. JasonBunch
7. Mandazoid
8. Stupescommaruth

The New Man in Charge: Epilogue Analysis

There's a new sheriff in town, boys (and girls), and I could get used to it.

The long-awaited release of the new Lost epilogue, The New Man in Charge, was finally unveiled (officially) on the Complete Collection and S6 sets. And as I am apt to do, I have overanalyzed this little feature for your reading pleasure.

The thoughts and theories below are purely speculative, and only one perspective among what will likely be hundreds of interpretations. The series has ended but the theorizing will continue on forever in the incredibly analytical online Lost community.

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read any further until after you've watched The New Man in Charge

My $.02

I enjoyed the epilogue for exactly what it was - a extra treat for the truly dedicated fans. Nothing more, nothing less. I feel as though the critics out there who are reviewing it rather harshly are missing the point and the spirit with which it was created. The looks on the faces and in the eyes of Michael Emerson and Jorge Garcia throughout the epilogue speak volumes; this was created and filmed with a clear sense of mischief and mirth.

The negativity and disappointment surrounding The New Man in Charge is puzzling to me (then again, I absolutely loved the series finale and am baffled by those who didn't after spending six years of their lives so emotionally connected to these characters). I understood from the get go that the epilogue was never meant to be an additional standalone episode, nor would it address every lingering mystery. Perhaps some prefer darkness and death to the lighter tone and feel of the epilogue. After six intense seasons of danger and disaster, I welcomed the amusement and lighthearted, redemptive nature of it.   

So without further ado, let's embrace the improbable and unlikely, take advantage of our launch window and drop some theories down where they belong...

Episode Nods

Season 1: Exodus, Part 2

A large bird appeared to say Hurley's name as he trekked through the jungle in the S1 finale. Now we know that Dharma created hybirds, and clearly heard one of them saying Hurley's name in the orientation film. 

Season 2: Orientation

Jack and Locke watch their very first Dharma orientation film in the Swan hatch, and Locke says that "we're going to need to watch that again." In the New Man in Charge, the two Dharma food folks watch their very first Dharma orientation film and one of them says that "I think we're going to need to see that again."

Season 2: Everybody Hates Hugo

Hurley was responsible for taking inventory in the newly discovered Swan hatch Dharma pantry. Now he is responsible for discontinuing the same food from being delivered after 20 years. 

What I love about that S2 episode is that Jin appeared in Hurley's vision and told him that everything was going to change. Never had a truer statement been uttered. 

Season 3: Not in Portland

Alex's boyfriend Karl was being brainwashed in Room 23 on Hydra island, to keep him away from Alex. Now we have confirmation that Room 23's original purpose was to "acquire" island hostiles for research purposes. 

Season 3: The Man Behind the Curtain

Ben oversaw the purge of the remaining Dharma folks on the island. Now he is overseeing their unemployment. 

Season 3: Through the Looking Glass

Taller Ghost Walt appeared to Locke after Ben had shot him, and instructed him to get up because "you have work to do." Ben says the same thing to Walt in The New Man in Charge. Tom also said the same thing to Walt's dad Michael in S4 (Meet Kevin Johnson).

Missing Pieces mobisode: Room 23

We discovered that after Ben had the Others kidnap Walt because he's special, they put him in Room 23. Ben reminds Walt that he's special in The New Man in Charge. 

Season 4: There's No Place Like Home

Walt went to visit Hurley at Santa Rosa. In the epilogue, Hurley and Ben went to get Walt at Santa Rosa. 

Fertility

Talk about an egg recall...

With one simple line, we receive a explanation as to why the island prevented women from successfully delivering babies that were conceived there. "The electromagnetic levels at the Orchid have an extremely harmful effect on early term gestation."

We will never know if this was the case or not, but it is possible that Ben had seen the Hydra orientation film and knew exactly why women were unable to deliver children on the island. He may have lured Juliet there under completely false pretenses, for his own purposes and obsession. That would be evil and unforgivable, but that is exactly what Ben was in S3.

On a related note, if you enroll in the Lost University Masters Program via your Blu-ray, you will find my guest thesis ("Fertility Futility: All the Best Islands Have Mommy Issues"). Of course I wrote that long before I saw The New Man in Charge, and my analysis is more psychological than it is scientific. 

Games People Play

I was half expecting Walt to start mumbling a new set of numbers (like the ones Hurley used in the flash sideways to win the lottery) when we saw him playing Connect Four.

Guam

Lapidus' infamous line, "we're not going to Guam, are we?" has taken on a whole new light. He mentioned to Jack when they reunited on Ajira 316 (S5) that he had picked up that route about 8 months prior and had flown it frequently. I'm not suggesting that Lapidus was working for ex-Dharma or Eloise Hawking, but you have to love this particular connection.

If You Seek Amy

There was one line in the Hydra orientation film that made my conspiracy antlers tingle - Dr. Chang's mention of the temporary truce with the hostiles. 

I was never a fan of Amy Goodspeed and believed that she may have been a traitor or double agent of sorts. From her strange picnic outside of the Barracks to the fact that she was the only one who never had to wear a Dharma jumpsuit, her behavior was always odd and stood out from the rest. The New Man in Charge has renewed my suspicion that Amy was working with the hostiles, perhaps even under the tutelage of Jacob himself. That also might explain the healthy, miraculous birth of her son Ethan - the only child to have ever been conceived and born on the island. Some might go so far as to imply that Jacob may have been the father, but I'll stop now because I don't have all night to further explore this path. 


Jacob


We learn that the Dharma folks were concerned with the hostiles' "worship of an island deity they refer to as Jacob." Ironically, it was Jacob who brought THEM to the island, plucked out of their miserable lives with no knowledge of such recruitment. They had no idea that they were all candidates at some point. 


The Johnson Family


When Michael returned on the freighter in S4, Other Tom had provided him with the name and passport of Kevin Johnson. In the New Man in Charge, we discover that Walt is now known as Keith Johnson.


My theory is that once Hurley and Ben took over the island, they took steps to protect Walt. Thus, the fake name and inpatient status at Santa Rosa. In my mind, Ben was only a temporary #2 (as Hurley had indicated in The End); Walt was going to be Hurley's permanent second in command once they were able to get him back to the island, "where you've always belonged." That was the "job" that Hurley referred to in the van as they left Santa Rosa.


Walt was special, and combined with Hurley's ability to communicate with the deceased - they'd make a hell of a one-two punch in terms of island leadership and power. 


As for Michael, I would love to find out how Walt was able to help him on the island. Perhaps Walt had the ability to release his father's spirit so he was no longer stuck on the island, allowing him to linger instead in their own version of the flash sideways, where he would await his son before moving on together.


The Lamp Post


Given that the Dharma Initiative originally located the island using this station, it was not surprising to hear that the flight coordinates for the food drops were being delivered from the Lamp Post to the Guam warehouse via automated printouts. 

In S5 (316), we learned that this station was able to determine WHEN the island was going to be, as well as where. So if the Guam-based pilot used those exact coordinates to make the food drops, the question remains - where were the pallets actually dropped for the past 20 years? 


Although we do not know how frequently the launch windows were utilized, and only witnessed island activity for a few years, it seemed as though the food drops discontinued shortly after 815 crashed on the island. If there were other drops, the island's various inhabitants would have heard the helicopters. 


One possibility is that when Ben jammed all transmissions to and from the island in S3, the Lamp Post station was unable to determine its location; thus, the food drops were made using coordinates and launch windows that were educated guesses. After the island came back online, so to speak, the Lamp Post may have been unable to resume that function.


Otherwise Known As

I admit that I laughed when Dr. Chang made a joke about not wanting to use aliases, given his future as Dr. Candle/Halliwax/Wickmund. Logistically speaking, it makes sense that he filmed the Orientation video for the Hydra first, when you consider that joke plus his intact left arm. 


Phantom Limb


For a long time, I was convinced that various characters we'd met on Lost with missing limbs had likely spent time on the island at some point in their lives. I dedicated an entire post to it in 2008, as a matter of fact. After we saw that Dr. Chang lost his left arm due to the Swan construction disaster (The Incident), I thought I had to put at least one conspiracy theory to rest. Not anymore!

Seeing the poor Dharma dude with the missing forearm in the Hydra orientation film, I am back on board with the thought that other characters may have been previously employed under the same capacity. Don't tell me you can prove that Ray Mullen didn't lose his arm to a polar bear incident. Or that Martha Toomey lost her leg in similar fashion. [Diehard Lost fans will know exactly who I'm referring to.] As far as we know, Mikhail may have lost his eye after an unfortunate encounter with a pissed off bear. 


Polar Bears

Back in April of 2009, I suggested that the polar bears were originally brought to the island to be guinea pigs for time travel; that they were brought down below the Orchid to turn the frozen donkey wheel (which they kept at that temperature because they needed the polar bears to acclimate, creating a false sense of comfort) and exit in Tunisia. Thus, Charlotte's discovery of the Dharma polar bear collar there (which Dr. Chang shows in this new Hydra orientation film).


When I heard Dr. Chang's description of the polar bears, it reminded me of Desmond. They "possess a keen sense of memory and adaptability. These traits make them ideal candidates for electromagnetic studies." In the end, Desmond was Widmore's ideal candidate for electromagnetic study. 


The Supply Station


The two men working solo for 20 years at the food warehouse in Guam (I call them Curly and Larry) were part of an inadvertent Dharma experiment of their own; stuck in a remote locale, following orders and more than likely being watched in some capacity. Perhaps in this case the Lamp Post operated like the observational Pearl station. 

As far as I know, the DVD player was introduced in 1994. That Curly and Larry had such technology in their warehouse indicates that they received supply drops of their own. The pilot who delivered the food pallets to the island may also have delivered food and supplies to the warehouse. 


"We Deserve Answers!"


Seriously, there is not a more obvious nod to us than that. Unanswered questions never bothered me throughout the six year journey, but I appreciate the ones that were addressed in S6 and in The New Man in Charge. There is zero fun in completely resolved mysteries, at least in my book. 


---
Thank you for taking the time to read through my thoughts and theories about the new epilogue. I am often wrong, but there is no greater joy than sharing my perspective with fellow fans. I have missed writing about Lost and exercising that analysis muscle more than I will ever be able to articulate. Sources of inspiration have been few and far between since May, but your continuous support fuels my creative fire and for that I am very grateful. 


Please feel free to leave comments below. As always, I ask that they are constructive in nature. 


Appropriately enough, we are off to Australia next week! I will be posting pictures on my new photo site if you're interested, and have a few Lost-related activities planned during the vacation. Of course I will have plenty to think about during the 14 hour LAX-Sydney flight, and am quite relieved that Oceanic is not a real airline. : )


It has been an honor and a pleasure to write about our favorite show, as a fan and for the fans.


-Jo

A Few Final Finale Thoughts about The End of LOST & The Flash Sideways

To my surprise, but probably not yours, I have moved on from but am unable to let go of this show. After watching the series finale four times, I have a few more thoughts and observations about The End. 


Based upon feedback from friends and online comments, there appears to be lingering confusion about the Flash Sideways and when everyone actually died. Below is my attempt to shed some light (pun intended).  


WHATEVER HAPPENED ACTUALLY HAPPENED


As Christian Shephard said, "everything that's ever happened to you is real." The flashbacks, island experiences and flash forwards all occurred in a linear timeline. The Flash Sideways existed above, beyond, aside and under that timeline; as Christian said, "there is no now, here."  


GUYS, WHERE ARE WE?


Jack asked his father, "where are we." Christian's response explained exactly what the Flash Sideways was: "this is a place that you all made together, so that you could find one another.

I call this the Lobby of Letting Go (LLG), an ideal world created by this specific group of people to reunite and remember their time together before "moving on" to whatever afterlife awaits each of them. Because after all, "the most important part of your life was the time that you spent with these people. That's why all of you are here. Nobody does it alone. You needed all of them, and they needed you...to remember, and to let go."


That being said, keep in mind that WHEN people move on varies. Thus, Ben chose to stay behind, presumably to wait for Alex and Danielle to experience their island epiphanies and make amends with both of them before all moving on together. 


Daniel and Charlotte just met, so logic would follow that they will soon remember their island time together and then meet in a LLG of their own creation. The same can be said for the remaining characters who were not in the church at the end with Jack and co. 


SECOND CHANCES

If you think about it, almost all of the relationships and issues from the past were flipped in the Flash Sideways; this group of people created an improved set of circumstances for themselves after their souls were all tested in various ways before and on the island...  

• Alex had a real relationship with and was raised by her mother Danielle.
• Ben was able to apply his book smarts as a teacher, mentoring Alex as a real father figure. He also took care of his ailing father Roger. 
• Claire was able to meet her half brother Jack and have a family environment in which to raise Aaron. 
• Daniel got to be a musician rather than a physicist. 
• Desmond was friendly with Widmore, and found love with Penny seemingly free from Widmore's judgement. 
• Hurley had good luck and was able to finally have that beach picnic with Libby. 
• Jack was able to fix people with confidence as a spinal surgeon, and be a far better father to his son than Christian ever was to him. 
• Jin and Sun got to start over and then conceive a child without fertility issues. 
• Juliet was able to deliver healthy babies to healthy mothers. 
• Kate started off on the run but had a change of heart after meeting Claire. 
• Locke was engaged to Helen and his father was the one stuck in a wheelchair.
• Miles had a good relationship with his father.
• Sawyer was on the other side of the law as a detective, and he got to partner up with his Dharma sidekick Miles.
• Widmore was married to the mother of his son Daniel, Eloise Hawking, and allegedly had a good relationship with his daughter Penny.

Ana Lucia, on the other hand, was a corrupt cop - not too far from the vengeful, trigger happy cop she was before she died. That she created that role for herself in the Flash Sideways seems to indicate that she didn't think she was capable of change. Perhaps that is why, according to Desmond, "she isn't ready yet."


As for Sayid, he clearly created a situation where he would not wind up with Nadia. After Desmond asked him (while down in the well on the island) what he would tell the woman he loved about how he was able to see her again, Sayid realized that he did not deserve to be with Nadia in the end. 


And while I understand that is why Nadia was not with Sayid in the LLG, I am still entitled to dislike the fact that Shannon was there with him. In my opinion, Sayid should have been alone in that church. Whether he would have acknowledged it or not, Shannon was always a substitute and second choice for Sayid, even in the afterlife. And yes, I realize that Shannon made sense to include because Boone was there, and because she had been on the island (whereas Nadia had not). So I understand but am still disappointed in her inclusion in that final scene. 


One scenario that baffles me more than the others is Rose. In her ideal Flash Sideways world, she still had cancer. We will never know why she chose to be in that state before moving on, but I find it to be a fascinating choice. On a similar note, although Charlie placed himself in rock star shoes once again, he also chose to still have a drug and alcohol problem. 


WHERE, WHEN & HOW THEY DIED


As Christian told Jack, "everyone dies sometime; some of them before you, some long after you."

Those we saw die on the island really died on the island. Those who took off on the Ajira plane died at some point, but we will never know when, where and how each of them died. 

• Aaron: unknown, last seen off island with his grandmother
• Alex: on island, murdered by Keamy
• Alpert: unknown, after leaving the island on the Ajira plane
• Ana Lucia: on island, murdered by Michael
• Ben: unknown, last seen on island as Hurley's #2
• Boone: on island, after crashing down with Yemi's plane
• Dr. Chang: unknown, last seen on island before Jughead detonated
• Charlie: on island, after drowning in the Looking Glass station
• Charlotte: on island, after experiencing side effects from time shifts
• Christian: in Sydney, before Jack put his body on Oceanic 815
• Claire: unknown, after leaving the island on the Ajira plane
• Desmond: unknown, last seen on island with Ben and Hurley
• Eloise: unknown, last seen off island talking to Penny at the hospital
• Faraday: on island, after getting shot by his mother during a time shift
• Hurley: unknown, last seen on island as the new leader
• Ilana: on island, after blowing herself up with dynamite
• Jack: on island, after getting stabbed by notLocke
• Ji Yeon: unknown, last seen off island with her grandmother
• Jin & Sun: on island, after drowning in the sub
• Juliet: on island, after falling down Swan shaft
• Kate: unknown, after leaving the island on the Ajira plane
• Lapidus: unknown, after leaving the island on the Ajira plane
• Libby: on island, murdered by Michael 
• Locke: off island, after Ben strangled him
• Michael: on island, after getting blown up on the freighter
• Miles: unknown, after leaving the island on the Ajira plane
• Penny: unknown, last seen off island with son Charlie
• Rose & Bernard: unknown, last seen on the island in their drama-free beach condo
• Sawyer: unknown, after leaving the island on the Ajira plane
• Sayid: on island, after blowing up the bomb on the sub
• Shannon: on island, after Ana Lucia's accidental shooting 
• Walt: unknown, last seen off island with his grandmother
• Widmore: on island, murdered by Ben

Jacob died after Ben stabbed him and notLocke kicked him into the fire, and the Man in Black died after Jacob tossed him into the heart of the island (a.k.a. the magical watering hole). Of course his spirit lived on in other bodies as Smokey until Jack and Kate finally extinguished the smoke (seemingly) forever.     


While I've heard rumblings about why everyone looked the way they did or how old they were at the time of their LLG reunion, I have no problem with those elements. THEY created this place, it represented THEIR ideal situation. 


In the LLG, Sun was pregnant with Ji Yeon because for she and Jin...their happiest time together on the island was the beginning stages of her pregnancy. Remember that shortly after that, Sun thought Jin died on the freighter. He never had the chance to meet his daughter - so it would have been odd for Ji Yeon to be in the church as a child. 


Along the same lines, Claire's ideal situation was to be with baby Aaron. Although Claire eventually did get off the island via the Ajira plane, she spent the first three years apart from him and we never saw their relationship after they reunited. 


HEAL THE WORLD


I didn't notice it the first few times, but island epiphanies resulted in instant healing. As soon as Sun experienced her island flashes with Juliet and Jin, she was up and out of that hospital bed within minutes - regardless of her gunshot wound. The same happened to Locke, who was up and out of bed mere hours after major spinal surgery after having his island epiphany. A short time later, he no longer even needed the wheelchair. Sound familiar?


Just as those who ailed before landing on the island were healed instantly upon arriving there, the memories from that very location served the same purpose in the Flash Sideways.


Of course it could be as simple as...you realize you're dead, you're no longer susceptible to or feeling an actual injury. But that is not as fun to ponder. 


THE LAMP POST


Could there be a more appropriately named locale? The Lamp Post served to illuminate the paths of this particular group. It was the heart of the off-island, and it was not mere coincidence that it was located below the very church where they chose to meet before moving on into that light.   


BOONE & LOCKE


We did not see how Boone experienced his island epiphany, but in the end I found it appropriate that both he and Locke were the only ones in the LLG without a soul mate. Although it is debatable whether or not Locke is Boone's Constant, "the most important time" in Boone's life was spent with Locke on the island. Remember that on the new 815 in the Flash Sideways world that they created together, Boone told Locke that "if this thing goes down, I'm sticking with you."


DESMOND


It turns out that Desmond was "uniquely and miraculously special" in more than one way. In addition to his immunity to electromagnetic energy, Des had an acute awareness of the Flash Sideways and LLG. 


Although at first it was not entirely clear why Penny was with Desmond in the LLG, as she was never on the island, I understand her inclusion for a few reasons. First of all, she did rescue the Oceanic 6 and was certainly in close proximity to the island. Second of all, she's Desmond's Constant and was allowed to accompany him because the rules did not apply to him...even in the afterlife.  


HURLEY & BEN


In case you haven't heard, Michael Emerson revealed that there will be a brief epilogue scene featuring Hurley and Ben's island leadership on the Lost DVD sets (which will be released in August). Remember that although we never saw this awesome duo in action as the new Jacob and Alpert, it did happen! 


I have a strong suspicion that Hurley's ability to converse with the deceased came in handy during his reign as #1. From Libby to Faraday to Sayid, the ghosts of Hugo's past may have helped him figure out a new way to allow people to leave the island.  


JACK

After watching the opening scene with Jack in his office in the Flash Sideways several times, I felt as though the writers were messing with us when they deliberately filmed Jack through the brain x-ray. It was as if they were teasing us to believe that the entire show and story really WAS inside of Jack's head. 


In retrospect, I appreciate how the cut on Jack's neck in the Flash Sideways represented a slow bleed of memories, seeping into his subconscious.


I loved that while touching his father's coffin, Jack's quick flashes of his time on the island were primarily memories of him attempting to fix/rescue/save people, from Claire to Rose to Shannon (inhalers) to Boone to the freighter call. 


Final Flight

Despite the unfortunate network decision to show images of the fake 815 wreckage on the beach after the actual finale had ended, the plane that Jack saw flying above as he was dying on the island was the Ajira plane carrying Alpert, Claire, Kate, Lapidus, Miles and Sawyer.
---


To have received almost 100 comments on my final analysis post was such a treat and welcome surprise. Thank you all very much for politely pointing out my errors, for the feedback and very kind words.  


The randomly pulled winning name for my last giveaway, a Kate action figure, is Cinematically Correct - please email me your shipping information!


I do have another Lost item up for grabs, but I have a small favor to ask in return...in the spirit of the charitable Lost community and in support of someone I know you all love and respect. Earlier this week, Jorge Garcia's beloved dog Nunu was hit by a car and passed away right before he and Beth were moving back from Hawaii. Thanks to Ryan (from The Transmission) on Twitter for this idea - here is a link to the Hawaiian Humane Society, where you can make a donation of any size in honor of Nunu. 

If you make a donation of $5 or more, you will be entered to win this Lost Weekend tee (size L) autographed by Jorge. I've had it on my memorabilia shelf for a while now but would love to give it to a fellow fan for making a small contribution in Nunu's honor. Please email me your receipt to be eligible by next Tuesday, June 8. Thank you in advance!


*UPDATE: Congratulations to Joseph L, who won the tee above after he made a donation on behalf of Nunu & his name was pulled from a hat with others who made contributions.


As always, I appreciate and encourage constructive feedback and thoughts/theories in the comments section. Namaste, and good night.


-Jo

LOST Episode 6.17: "The End" (The Final Analysis)

I looked into the eye of the series, and what I saw was beautiful.

I appreciate your patience, Lost friends. After first watching the series finale among 2,000 fellow fans in LA on Sunday night at Jay and Jack's party, I sat down to watch it alone two additional times. The first was to enjoy and absorb without commercials and reactions from others, and the second was to take extensive notes.


Because this was the final episode, I will spend more time analyzing what happened rather than theorizing about the possibilities. I choose to celebrate the reveals and revelations rather than dwell or focus on questions/mysteries that remain unanswered. Answers are great, but they do not weigh me down to the point of anger or distraction.  


I have been avoiding other coverage and feedback about The End until after I am able to publish this, but I am very aware of the mixed reactions from fans and the media alike. This will become more obvious once you read my analysis below, but I absolutely loved the series finale of Lost. I thought it was perfect (with one exception) and it exceeded my expectations - especially the last ten minutes. You are entitled to your opinion about it, and I respect that, but nothing anyone says will ever change how it made me feel. 


Before we get started, a few housekeeping items need to be addressed. First of all, for those who are new to this site (better later than never!), I'd like to let you know that this is and always has been a spoiler-free theory site. My analysis is purely speculative and should be interpreted in that light, I am wrong quite frequently, I make mistakes and miss key points on occasion. I love and appreciate feedback, but politely ask that it is constructive in nature and moderate all comments. 


In addition, I needed a new name for the Flash Sideways - at least the last few minutes or conclusion/resolution of it. So I have dubbed the gathering of souls at the church above the Lamp Post as the Lobby of Letting Go (LLG). 


Without further ado, let's brace ourselves for startling epiphanies and then prepare to move on together... 


The Great Purgatory Debate


I'm sure that this will be the subject of great debate for years to come for all Lost fans, but I do not consider the Flash Sideways world to be Purgatory. This world did not already exist; it was created by this particular group of people to be reunited before they all moved on to wherever they were going after death. It was a necessary gathering point for them to convene once every single person was ready to remember and move on. 

That almost all major religions and faiths were represented by items (Buddhas, crosses, Hindu paintings, menorahs, rosary beads, the star of David, Virgin Mary statues) in the church office where Jack reunited with his father seems to indicate that beyond those doors - each of those people were destined for various places. After all, when Jack asked his father where they were going, Christian responded with "let's go find out."

[sidenote 1: I am not religious by any stretch of the imagination, so I may be misinterpreting this symbol, but...there was a wheel in the stained glass window of the church which immediately brought the Frozen Donkey Wheel to mind.]

[sidenote 2: the two angels next to the doors that Christian opened at the very end reminded me of Charlie's hallucination in S2 (Fire + Water); he had a vision of his mother and Claire as angels on the beach in similar attire.]

If anything, the island served more as Purgatory than the Flash Sideways; it certainly tested the souls and character of those who had suffered in the past. Which leads me to...

THE ISLAND vs THE LLG

For six seasons, I believed (like many of you) that the island was a place where people had a shot at redemption. As it turns out, the island was just a stepping stone and testing ground for souls to then congregate in the Lobby of Letting Go; the adventures and anguish on the island provided them with the necessary emotions and experiences to prepare them for memory epiphanies when they were finally ready to move on in the LLG.

When Des told Kate that "no one can tell you why you're here," the same could be said for everyone who ever landed on that island. And, in shades of Jacob, Hurley told Sayid that "it's your choice; if you stick with me, you'll be happy you did."

I realize that some people might still question what the island is, but I consider it both context and character. 

One of the more interesting differences between the island and the LLG is that the island prevented women from having children. In a way, the fertility issues were the island's way of thwarting repeat mistakes from future generations of island inhabitants, resulting in the infamous Progress.

I really appreciated the parallels occurring concurrently in the LLG and on the island between Jack and Locke. Some of their dialogue was equally telling and entertaining.

Hospital, as Jack and Locke each believe their plans will work on the island:

Locke: "Are you sure this is going to work?"

Jack: "Yes, I'm very confident that it will. There's always the chance that I could kill you."

Hospital, after Jack kills Locke on the island:
Nurse: "Nice work, Dr. Shephard."
Locke: "It worked."

On the island:
Jack: "I'm already dead. This is the way it has to happen."

AWARENESS EPIPHANIES


One of my favorite aspects of the memory epiphanies each person experienced in the Flash Sideways and LLG was the sense and look of absolute joy and recognition on their faces. I was particularly fond of Hurley's grin at Charlie and Jin's smirk at Sawyer.

I do love that they collectively created a new version of Oceanic 815 that safely landed in LA, leading them all to the LLG.  And that Desmond noted that Jack was happy when they spoke on that flight. 


THE COFFIN


To me, the coffin was empty both on the island after 815 crashed and in the LLG church because it represented and was for every single one of them. 


CONSTANTS


To those who are displeased that love played a major role in the conclusion of the series, I would simply remind you that they have been headed in this direction since The Constant. So many people list that as their favorite episode of all time, and mention the emotional resonance of THE phone call between Desmond and Penny. I'm not sure why anyone would be surprised or discontent to learn that matters of the heart are a major factor in the lives of those in the LLG; that love has the ability to help them remember, understand and then move on. 


Desmond tried to explain to Jack on the island that "it doesn't matter" because he was going to "a place where we can be with the ones that we love." 


What I find fascinating is that Locke and Boone were the only two who were alone in the end. We will never know who Boone's Constant was, but the island seemed to be Locke's. 


In Happily Ever After, Charlie revealed to Desmond that on flight 815, he had a vision that we knew was Claire but witnessed in this episode. "A woman, blonde, rapturously beautiful - and I know her. We're together, it's like we've always been and always will be. This feeling, this love...I saw it, just for a moment; I saw what it looked like." Charlie was on the verge of his memory epiphany but Jack disrupted it by resuscitating him. 


I am a bit baffled as to why Penny was in the LLG, given that she is the only one who was never on the island. Perhaps she was there because the rules don't apply to Desmond and he was able to bring her along to move on with his Constant.


DISAPPOINTING DISCREPANCY


My one complaint with the series finale is the inclusion of Shannon. For six seasons and in flashbacks, flash forwards and the Flash Sideways, Nadia has been Sayid's Constant. Sayid and Shannon shared a few weeks together on the island before she died, and I don't consider their time together and Flash Sideways reunion to be worthy of a memory epiphany. 


In S1 we saw that Sayid carried Nadia's photo with him wherever he went, and that almost everything he did was motivated by his love for her. In Solitary, he revealed to Rousseau that her inscription on the back of that photo read "you will see me in the next life, if not this one." And yet we get Shannon in the next life? COME ON.  


I feel as though they chose Shannon simply because Maggie Grace was available and agreed to appear in the finale. I realize that Nadia wasn't on the island and would not have been in the LLG with him, but I would have rather seen Sayid experience his epiphany through Hurley and then move on alone in the LLG. 


FAHEY LESS THAN FRANK


As many of you know, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Jeff Fahey on the eve of the series finale. I posted it on Sunday morning, only to find out during the episode that he had lied about the fate of Frank. 

Given the secrecy surrounding the finale, I can't blame him; it's his job. I actually found it quite amusing, and we have since spoken and laughed about it together. Stay tuned, as I will be posting his thoughts about the finale soon.


FARADAY and THE FREIGHTER FOUR


I am aware that such speculation will never be addressed, but that does not stop me from pondering the actions of other familiar faces in the Flash Sideways. When Eloise asked Desmond if he was taking her son Daniel, Desmond responded "not with me, no." I interpreted that to mean that Daniel would be moving on, but not with that particular group.  Personally, I envision him having the epiphany on a first date with Charlotte, and they would then join Miles, his father, Naomi and Frank (both of whom we never saw in the Flash Sidewasy) to move on together.  I was a bit surprised that Daniel's first handshake with Charlotte did not result in the epiphany, but I suppose that neither of them were ready yet.

THE FATHER, THE SON and THE HOLY GHOST

Locke, to Jack: "You don't have a son."

Jack needed both David and his father in order to experience the awakening and awareness. To me, David Shephard only existed in the Flash Sideways as an an emotional anchor and bridge for Jack to the LLG. It was a place that they all created together, and Juliet and Jack were the last two to experience the epiphanies that allowed them to remember and then join their friends in the LLG. They created David together, knowing (subconsciously) that they would need him in order for it to work, for them to eventually let go and move on.  

FATHER OF MINE

I have to say that I have been hoping for that father/son embrace since the fifth episode of the series, White Rabbit. Whether or not you have daddy issues, you have to admit that when Jack and Christian shared that long overdue hug, it was very moving.


THE FINAL FOUR

As I've mentioned a few times this season, it does not appear to be mere coincidence that Jack, Kate, Hurley and Sawyer were the final four from 815 battling it out to save themselves and the island. They were the very four that the Others kidnapped after Michael lured them into a trap to get Walt back, the very four on the dock in the S2 finale.

I laughed along with everyone else when notLocke pointed out that Jack was "the obvious choice" to replace Jacob, but I wasn't surprised at all when it turned out that Hurley would be the chosen one. After all, when he was taken along with the other 3 above, it was because the Others thought he would be the best person to deliver the message back to the remaining survivors on the beach. An early contender indeed. 

GREY GUYLINER

When Desmond uncorked the heart of the island, it not only rendered Smokey useless - it made Alpert mortal again.

THE HEART OF THE ISLAND


I did not love the Disney sparkles in the magical light emanating from heart of the island. But I did enjoy the Indiana Jones feel and score that accompanied the Jack and Desmond scenes down there. 


I am a fan, however, of the light behind the doors of the church in the LLG as a nod back to the light both at the heart of the island and shooting up from the Swan hatch where Locke's journey took a major turn. 


I'M GOING HOME, BACK TO THE PLACE THAT I BELONG


The Man in Black mentioned his desire to go home (both in his and Locke's form). Given what we know now, I have to question whether or not he knew he was already dead and actually meant that he wanted to "leave" via the LLG. 


Additionally, when he promised Sayid that he would see the love of his life again (NOT Shannon, I might add), he may have been referring to the LLG or afterlife.


IT ONLY ENDS ONCE


The last scene in the LLG represents the end that Jacob referred to. Desmond himself said that "we're all going to the same place. Then it ends."


THE KATE FACTOR

Earlier this season I suggested that perhaps Kate was a variable that notLocke underestimated, and it appears as if that is true on some level. Although she was inconsequential to his master plan because she was no longer a Candidate, he never bothered to kill her. Even after she shot him several times when they encountered one another in the middle of this episode, notLocke ignored Kate. When she shot him in the end, I actually cheered out loud for Kate for the first time in six years.


While I have been openly critical of her character, I admit that I am pleased with how they ended her time on the island. She followed through with her original reason for returning to the island (to bring Claire home) rather than making a decision based on Jack or Sawyer. Yes, she was with Sawyer when they joined the Ajira plane, but after that kiss with Jack it is quite obvious she and Sawyer were merely and coincidentally on a mission together to get home. 


It is worth noting that Kate has the distinction of being the only person who was on all four flights: 815 (crash and Flash Sideways) and 316 (returning and leaving the island).


LOCKE'S S3VISION

In Further Instructions, Locke created a sweat lodge and experienced a very vivid vision with the assistance of a hallucinogenic paste. A few scenarios from his dream are now quite relevant to the Flash Sideways reunions in the finale.

• When Boone appeared to Locke, he pointed to a wheelchair and said "you're going to need that." In The End, Ben told Locke that he doesn't need a wheelchair any longer.
• Claire, Aaron and Charlie appear to Locke as a happy family of three.
• Boone told Locke that Sayid will take care of Jin and Sun, and in The Package - Sayid killed Keamy and the other Widmore thugs after they kidnapped and tied up Jin.

NICKNAME GENERATOR


I laughed out loud when Sawyer actually referred to notLocke as Smokey, like most of us have been doing. And, of course, you had to love that he referred to Lapidus as Chesty again.


Other nickname highlights included Sawyer's use of Magic Leprechaun (Desmond) and Lapidus' use of Ricky Boy (Richard Alpert).

Did you notice that in the Flash Sideways, Sawyer called Jack 'Doc' even though he was wearing a suit and no ID badge? Sawyer then paused in a moment of deja vu, right before experiencing his epiphany thanks to Juliet.


NOT READY TO MAKE NICE


In What They Died For, Desmond said that Ana Lucia was "not ready yet" to go with them. I assume he meant that she had not experienced her island memory epiphany yet (which we know because she didn't recognize Hurley), and no one from that group was the person who was supposed to help her remember. 

When Ana Lucia does finally experience the jarring realization that she is dead and needs to move on, I have to think that she might postpone that journey until she makes amends...much like Ben has chosen to do ("I have some things I still need to work out").


PARALLELS


S1: Pilot
Jack saved Hurley's life by yelling at him to move right before the wing of the plane crashed down the beach. In The End, Ben saved Hurley's life by pushing him out of the way of a tree that crashed down during one of the island's uncorked quakes.


S1: Deus Ex Machina, S3: I Do
Both Anthony Cooper (to Locke before kidney surgery) and Ben (to Jack before spinal surgery) said "see you on the other side." In the end, Jack said the same to Locke before his spinal surgery.


S1: Born to Run, S2: Lockdown
The Flightline Motel is where Kate used the pseudonym Joan Hart and where Anthony Cooper stayed when Locke helped him retrieve money from a safe deposit box (which led to his break up with Helen in the parking lot). In The End, Charlie was staying there when Hurley shot him with a tranquilizer gun. 


S1: Do No Harm
Jin brought Charlie to help Kate deliver Claire's baby in the jungle. He told her "I have water, I have towels." In The End, Charlie brought a blanket to Claire just after giving birth to Aaron, but "I couldn't find any water."

S1: Exodus
Jack and Locke look down into the Swan hatch (where Desmond was living) for the first time after blowing off the door. In The End, Jack and Locke look down into the heart of the island for the first time after lowering Desmond down the waterfall.

S2: Man of Science, Man of Faith
Jack operated on his future wife Sarah after a car accident and she was miraculously able to wiggle her toes after he 'fixed' her. In The End, Jack operated on Locke and he was miraculously able to wiggle her toes after he 'fixed' him.


S3: Flashes Before Your Eyes
Eloise Hawking told Desmond in his flash back in time that "pushing that button is the only truly great thing that you will ever do." In The End, Hurley told Charlie that "playing this show is the most important thing you'll ever do."


S3: D.O.C.
Juliet took Sun to the Staff station to give her an ultrasound. In The End, Juliet gave Sun an ultrasound that resulted in her memory epiphany. 


S3: Through the Looking Glass
On the beach, the Others captured Bernard, Jin and Sayid. When contacted by Ben via walkie talkie, they were instructed to kill them but shot into the sand instead. In The End, Claire shot into the sand in front of Alpert, Frank and Miles while Kate was on walkie talkie and horrified that she might have shot them. 


S4: Meet Kevin Johnson
Right before he was shot and killed, Alex's boyfriend Karl said "I just have a bad feeling about this." In The End, Hurley says "I got a bad feeling about this." [sidenote: that phrase is a well-known Star Wars reference]


S4: There's No Place Like Home
After Penny's boat rescued them, Jack and co. parted ways with Desmond and he said "see you in another life, brother." In The End, Jack's last words to Desmond on the island were "see you in another life, brother." And indeed, that is what happened.


S5: Because You Left
Sayid brought Hurley to an apartment 'safe house' and was shot by a tranquilizer dart. In The End, Hurley brought Sayid to a motel and then shot Charlie with a tranquilizer dart.


S5: This Place is Death
Before turning the Frozen Donkey Wheel, the Man in Black (as Ghost Christian) told Locke that "I believe in you, John. You can do this." In The End, Hurley told Jack that "I believe in you" and Jack said the same thing to him a while later.


S5: The Incident
Locke (as the Man in Black) kicked Jacob into the fire after Ben killed him. In The End,
Jack kicked Locke off of the cliff and to his death after Kate shot him.


Jacob handed Jack an Apollo bar from his hospital vending machine. In The End, Juliet handed Sawyer an Apollo bar from that same hospital vending machine.


S6: LA X, S6: The Last Recruit
When Locke told Jack that his condition was irreversible, Jack responded with "nothing is irreversible." Desmond later warned Claire that "you could find yourself in a situation that is irreversible." In The End, Kate told Jack that "nothing is irreversible."


S6: LA X
Right before she died, Juliet told Sawyer that "I have to tell you something. It's really, really important." Miles later revealed that she wanted to tell Sawyer that "it worked." In The End, Juliet said "I have a secret" and then "it worked" (about the candy bar) right as they touched hands and experienced their memory epiphanies together.


PROGRESS


According to Jacob, "it only ends once; anything that happens before that is just progress." To me, Hurley and Ben represented another iteration of island leadership, taking over for Jacob and Alpert.  Together they were another round of progress.


I am not at all in favor of a Lost spin-off or movie, but it would be fantastic to see a comic book or graphic novel chronicling the adventures of Hot Pocket and Bunny Boy. 


QUITE LITERALLY


I don't know about you, but I was rather surprised to see that the wine allegory was real; that there is a giant cork keeping the island afloat. 


TOUCH ME, TAKE ME TO THAT OTHER PLACE

Jacob traveled off island to make physical contact with specific characters at various points in their lives, designating them as Candidates. In the Flash Sideways, the same type of contact served to stir up memories of their pasts on together on the island. Claire taking Charlie's hand. Juliet's ultrasound instrument on Sun's stomach. Kate grabbing Jack's face. Juliet handing Sawyer the candy bar. Jack touching his father's coffin. 


WHATEVER HAPPENED, HAPPENED


Jack: "There are no short cuts, no do-overs. What happened, happened. Trust me, I know. All of this matters."


That statement holds true and is very significant. Everything we witnessed happened in one timeline; the Flash Sideways world and LLG exists without time attached to it. All flashbacks and flash forwards actually took place, as did everything on the island (from the very early notMom days with Jacob and his brother Zac Efron to the military days of young Widmore to the time shifting years in the Dharma Initiative).


Everyone died, but at different times, including the next generation. Ji Yeon and Aaron were alive and with their grandparents off island, and died eventually. The same goes for Charlie Hume. *CORRECTION: Sadly, Jin never actually met his daughter - but as so many of you pointed out in the comments, it is possible that Sawyer met his daughter Clementine after leaving the island on the Ajira plane. Good catch!


Everyone who died on the island, died on the island. Jin, Sun and Sayid perished in the submarine, Jack in the bamboo field, etc. 


We don't know WHEN or where the passengers of 316 died (Alpert, Claire, Frank, Kate, Miles and Sawyer), but they did eventually after finally escaping the island. 


BEN


When Jack confirmed to Hurley that "it needs to be you," the look on Ben's face in the background was heartbreaking. He finally realized that he was never meant to be a #1. Jacob never believed in him or gave him a real shot, but Hurley did and he humbly accepted the offer. His surprise and joy was reminiscent of the moment he shared with Ilana when she told him that "I'll have you."


BOONE


Correct me if I'm wrong, but we didn't see Boone experience his island epiphany. Given his chat with Hurley about and involvement with reuniting Shannon and Sayid, he clearly had one.


CHARLES WIDMORE


Although I remain a tad confused about Widmore's role in the big picture, I am leaning toward the idea that he knew that everyone on the island was already dead. Assuming he was on the same page as his wife Eloise, who was definitely in the know, I have to believe that he told Desmond about the bright light; about the sacrifice he needed to make to save them all (Happily Ever After). 


Widmore wanted Des to uncork the heart of the island because he knew that it would render Smokey powerless (no matter whose form/body the Man in Black was currently in), making him human and susceptible to injury and death again.  Ironically, Jacob thought that if the cork was taken out of the bottle/island, evil would escape rather than be quelled.


CHRISTIAN SHEPHARD


I had often wondered how it could be that Christian appeared to Jack off island in his medical office when the Smoke Monster (in any form/body) could not leave the island. I now believe that Flash Sideways Christian was the one who appeared in that particular scene.


By the way, I loved that Kate made fun of his name. I've been doing it for years.


JACK


Jack never needed redemption, at least in my eyes. But he certainly earned his hero status this season, and I really loved his final journey. Jack's scenes in the finale with Locke were electric, intense and epic. 


It is interesting that even though he was the newly anointed island leader, Jack could be killed. It look centuries for the Man in Black to find a loophole that would allow him to kill Jacob, and obviously Locke he knew he could kill Jack because he was no longer the Man in Black.


For what it's worth, I have never been a 'shipper but always believed that Jack and Kate belonged together. I was also never a huge fan of either character (and received more than my share of grief for it over the years), but am very satisfied that they reaffirmed their love for one another on the island and were together in the LLG before moving on.


JULIET


It is safe to say that no one was surprised to discover that Juliet was Jack's ex-wife in the Flash Sideways. That being said, I was ecstatic to just hear her voice again before she then entered the room to meet Sun and Jin. As always, it is a treat to see Elizabeth Mitchell on Lost. 


ROSE and BERNARD


They were still alive when everyone else either died or left the island, so I love the idea that they eventually passed away together there in the Drama-Free Jungle Condo. Of course it would have been fitting and appropriate for them to have been the real Adam and Eve skeletons.


VINCENT

Let's not kid ourselves, most of us cried at various points throughout the finale, but the waterworks turned on at full capacity when Vincent appeared to keep Jack company as he passed away. Full circle from that very spot on 9/22/04, and....scene.


Final Giveaway


The winner of the cool Dharma shark tee, randomly pulled from a hat with names of those who left comments on my last episode post, is Kyle S! Please email me your shipping address. 

For my final giveaway, a Kate action figure is up for grabs! To be eligible to win it, simply leave a constructive comment below and I will announce the winner next week.  


---
Christian Shephard said that "the most important part of your life was the time that you spent with these people," and that is how I feel about this show and the fans. Whatever happens in my life, I will always look back fondly at this entire experience and regard these six years as some of the most profound and significant of my life. 


The last line ever uttered on Lost was, appropriately enough, delivered by John Locke: "We've been waiting for you." I wasn't aware of it at the time, but I had been waiting for all of you...and am now ready to move on when you are.


Right now I feel strangely at peace and have a somewhat guilty sense of relief, but I'm sure both are stages of grief and denial. The book of Lost is not closed for me - it will always be a major chapter in my life, one that I can reopen and revisit at any time. 


I am unable to express just how much your support has meant to me over the years, and will dedicate an entire post soon to doing just that. 


It is just after 3am and I am experiencing a wide range of emotions with the realization that this is my very last Lost episode analysis post. So I will close with the only words that come to mind at this hour and this point in time. Thank you.


-Jo