On Lost: "Ji Yeon"

Lost is at its best yet. We are only 7 episodes into this shortened 4th season and the new breath of life invigorating this show seems to be the fact that Lost has an end date in its future and a set number of episodes remaining. The pacing is just brilliant and the stories are getting so rich and deep that I haven't had this much fun watching Lost since Season One.

Last night's episode, "Ji Yeon," was another great example of Lost's new lease on life. There is no filler anymore. You can just feel it when Juliet goes for broke and tells Jin that his wife, who promised him that there was no one else, had lied and cheated on him. Juliet's lay-it-all-out reveal parallels what the Lost writers are giving the viewers. The story is beginning to lay itself out and it looks marvelous. Sure, Michael's return was no big shocker to most people. But the flashback/flash-forward switch between Sun and Jin was a very nice twist that raises the bar even higher for the writers. Now the viewers who throughout this season have had to figure out whether or not they are seeing a flashback or flash-forward need to consider, "Are we getting both at the same time?" Here are some thoughts, observations, and Easter eggs...

Sun and Jin

I, for one, was really pleased with how they treated Sun and Jin's post-island story. Their experience on the island has turned their marriage around and made them into a great couple. It would have been disappointing to see all of that washed away once they got off the island, to find out that Jin is working for Mr. Paik again and that their marriage is on the rocks. Instead, the writers took the high road with the touching birth of Ji Yeon and reveal that Jin was in fact dead...or is he?

The date of death on the tombstone read 9-22-2004 - That's right, the date of the plane crash. So the rest of the world must think that Jin died in the crash of Flight 815. Obviously, Jin did not die in the crash. Did he even die at all? Is he still on the island, sacrificing himself to get Sun to the mainland so she could give birth to her baby? Or worse, is he really dead? If so, how did he die?

Jin and Bernard: Karma Wielding Good Guys?

I thought the scene between Jin and Bernard was great. Bernard had a good point. They are each half of the only two married couples on the island. They have to look out for not only what is best for themselves, but also need to protect their spouses' well-being. Jin, who at the beginning of the first season could have been voted the most hated Lostie, is now one of the most loved. To acknowledge the fact that he was flawed and that he had a hand in Sun's decision to have an affair was great character development. His choice to forgive Sun for the affair and his promise to do anything it takes to get her off the island gave me a big smile and relief that their relationship would continue.

Michael is Back!

Since the reveal at Comic Con 2007 that Harold Perrineau was going to return this season, fans have been theorizing how that would happen. Since Ben's reveal that "I have a man on their boat," most fans believed it would be Michael. Still, it was a great feeling seeing Michael's character return. It's exciting to know that his story is back and will continue. Now that Michael is all but confirmed as Ben's "Man on the Boat," how will his return affect the Losties? Can we trust him? Will they trust him? What has he done and what will he do?

The Captain and His Boat

I think everyone would agree that Sayid and Desmond's storyline is the one we are all most interested in. Last night, we got the captain's confirmation that Charles Widmore is the man in charge, his reveal of the "faux" black box from Flight 815, and his accusation that Ben may have had something to do with the staged plane crash. That certainly thickened the plot quite well. It's going to be one hell of a he said, she said. If Sayid is working for Ben in the future, then Ben must be the one to trust, right?

The other Freighties aren't holding up too well. Characters that we thought would be integral characters like Minkowski and Regina didn't last too long at all. The rest of the crew doesn't seem to be holding up too well either. What is causing this severe cabin fever? What role is the island playing? Michael playing? Or Ben playing?

Easter Eggs and Side Notes:

• The TV that Sun had on in her flash-forward was showing none other than "Expose" -- the TV show that "Buried Alive" Nikki was on.
• On Jin's tombstone we had three dates: 11-27-1974, which we can assume was his b-day; 9-22-2004, which is his faux date of death; and 3-20-1980. Assuming that this is a dual-plot, March 20, 1980 must be Sun's birthday, making Jin 5-and-a-half years older than his wife.
• That book that Regina was reading quite intently, albeit upside down? Jules Verne's The Survivors of the Chancellor. What is it about? Oh, just about a shipwrecked crew told from the perspective of one of the passenger's diary. The crew itself goes crazy in the end by committing suicide on a raft and resorting to cannibalism. A bit of a parallel to what's going on with the Freighties, perhaps?
• The toy store workers offer of a stuffed dragon in honor of the Year of the Dragon. This was our first clue that Jin was having a flashback, since the Year of the Dragon was 2000. The next one is not until 2012 -- Sun got pregnant in 2004; her pregnancy wouldn't have lasted 8 years!
• Am I the only one getting sick of Kate's childish antics? Was she really acting in Sun's best interest by tattling on Charlotte and Faraday? And then by sending Sun and Jin off to looney Locke's town?

With only one episode left before a 4-week hiatus (ABC changed their planned schedule from a 7/6 episode split to an 8/5 episode split), I am excited to be a Lost fan. Week after week, the story gets bigger, better, more mysterious, more complicated, and far more superior to any other drama on television. The story is still moving forward, and we the audience can feel that. The writers aren't stopping and with less than 2-and-a-half shorter seasons left, there is no reason to.

What did you think? What are your thoughts, questions, comments, and/or theories? Let's open up the discussion in the comment section below.

Be sure to also check out my podcast "The Lost Podcast with Jay and Jack" or on iTunes by searching "Jay and Jack" or "Lost Podcast".

Comments

[RoseMerry]

Juliet is EVIL! And this was the one of the saddest shows I have seen in ages.

"Might as well face it, I'm addicted to LOST"

[poomplet]

I love the show...and think this season has been superb, even last week's Juliet episode that lotsa fanboys seemed to think stunk.

But last nights ep. was hands-down one of the worst, most boring, least revealing in the show's history! Everyone knows Michael's back...that wasn't a surprise. Sun had a baby & Jin died...big whoop.

There was NOTHING about the big mysteries; Jacob, the time warpage, Ben, Penny, etc.

Sorry, but it was the middle slice of bread in a club sandwich....pure filler that 's best removed for easier digestion.

[TJinSoCal]

I have to admit, this season has been incredible. Add the circumstances of the writers' strike and virtually no other shows worth watching and "Lost" has been like an oasis in a desert. The whole flash-forward plot device was pure inspiration.

Yeah, this week fooled me. The first thing I thought was "it's Oceanic 6 not 7... didn't they count Aaron?" But I've been hoping that Sun would make it off the island along with her baby, so that was nice. And I really like Jin's character development as well.

I look forward to finding out Michael's story and especially Walt's. And getting answers....
Jacob?
The smoke-monster?
The origins of the Others?
The Temple?
The referred-to original 8 survivors in Jack's testimony? (Aaron doesn't count and we don't know that the rest of the world knows that Claire is his mother, so she might not be one of the 8...)

And many more!

[Jessyca34]

Before I start, can I just say that I love this blog and I love you Jay!?

Ok, on to the good stuff, this season is blowing my mind. Last season I know alot of people felt the show was going downhill, and now I'm proud to say they're eating those words. The whole idea of having simultanious flashbacks/flash-forwards reaallyy threw me off while I was watching it, but in the end I have to admit I felt a little had. I kind of said "oohhhhhhh!!" and then was mad at myself because I should've picked up on all of the little clues! I love the relationship between Jin and Sun especially since they were so rocky in the beginning and have really come together. I don't know if I'm convinced that Jin is actually gone for good, but the idea of it brought a tear to my eye that's for sure.

The previews for next week mentioned that a character is going to die next week. Now we know that Jin is gone in the future, and we know that Kate ends up with Aaron, so could it be him or Claire? Or could it be someone we don't expect?! It's so sad that I look forward to LOST all week long..

Also, I think I need a recap: how many of the Oceanic 6 have been revealed!? Kate, Hurley, Jack, Sayid, Sun....am I missing anyone!?

[lettice]

According to the episode promos, this episode would reveal the "last" of the Oceanic 6. If that is actually true, then Aaron has to count, since he is the only other confirmed survivor of the crash who has also been revealed to exist off island.

The show's writers did say that after the 8th episode, we would know who all the Oceanic 6 were, so maybe something gets revealed next week?

[wwoodsm]

Is Ben considered one of the Oceanic 6? He is the one directing Sayid's assasinations. Or is there an-Other?

[lettice]

I loved the episode. I got completely fooled by the twist despite the clues. For example, I should have noticed that Jin was using a very old cellphone. In other flash forwards, we see the Oceanic 6 using fancy modern phones not the clunky one Jin had knocked out of his hands.

I loved it when Sun slapped Juliet. Juliet has been taking a serious beating lately, which has been fun. Sadly, they have not yet managed to wipe that smirk off her face.

I loved Zoe Bell's brief appearance. Jumping into the water with those chains was quite a stunt, so it made sense to get a stunt woman to play the role. She almost beat that guy who got sucked into the jet engine for shortest speaking role on the show!

[Cathexis]

Conversely, Ben (the master manipulator) is not likely to be a Good Guy, unless a clone of Machiavelli.

It was recently indicated that the sunken Oceanic 815 was a "plant." This after I assure dmy wife there was no way it could be a plant -- the logistics, costs, and ramifications of mocking up an oceanic 815 replica, replete with bodies -- just defied all logic. I'd sooner believe some alternate timeline/reality plotline.

Seems I am mistaken, if the revealer of this tidbit speaks true. MAN, but that is one powerful person/organization!!!! Not to mention the question of "where did the bodies come from?" Personally, I'm not convinced the bodies had to be dead, before placement.

This is a significant insight into the nature/psyche of the person/persons responsible for that particular charade.

[em0199]

I got the impression that the person responsible was Ben that he somehow had that set up which would make sense because he would not want anyone to actually find the island if they were out searching for survivors of the crash.

[lettice]

of course, we aren't supposed to trust the captain, so if he says Ben set up the fake crash, we maybe shouldn't believe him 100%.

[Cathexis]

Kate's childish antics?

I dunno ... if a person from a strange group (whom you're not quite certain is here to rescue or harm you) whacks you in the head with wrench or what-not ... you'd probably raise them up on the old Suspicio-Meter and be warning your friends about their trust-worthiness.

Now admittedly ... how could Kate have NOT known she was going to end up "knocked unconscious" when she turned her back on them to inspect the bag?!? THAT little interaction seemed to be screamingly forecast.

The question as to whether Locke is, indeed, looney or not seems to be still up in the air ... moreso after Charlotte's attack. If the Freighty's are "the Good Guys," why is Charlotte so quick to smack other women upside their turned heads with blunt objects? Seems a bit extreme, as opposed to explaining onesself.

[IndependentJones]

She really should have expected it. Kate can't go anywhere without someone pointing a gun at her or knocking her over the head.