Loving LOST: LA X

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't seen both hours of the Season Six premiere, 1) you won't understand my cryptic references, and 2) you'll be spoiled.



Five reasons why I’m already loving the sixth season of Lost:

1. Everything old is new again.

Think that dialogue sounds so 2004? Probably it is. Jack and Rose once again discuss turbulence, word for word as they did in our 2004 world, which is their present. This time, however, Bernard really does return from the bathroom. Cue Bernard’s and Rose’s love theme one more time.

Even when the dialogue isn’t the same, the scene looks eerily familiar. Jack vainly attempts CPR on a castaway too long oxygen deprived to be brought back. Kate begs him to stop, knowing it’s too late. The corpse this time is Sayid, not Charlie, but the results, like the dialogue, turn out the same.

The Marshal is destined to suffer a headache during Kate’s escape; Sun has to button her sweater, as well as her English-speaking lips; Charlie can’t escape that fugly striped shirt. It’s déjà vu all over again.

2. Jack is not a physicist, or even a very good time traveler.

As I suspected, Jack’s Plan A for setting the future to rights by meddling with the past didn’t exactly account for all the variables. So what’s his Plan B?

Should I worry that island-bound Jack seems far too OK with letting other people lead? Or is he quietly agreeing with Fate that he really should let go of his avocation as a “fixer”?

3. Parting is such sweet sorrow.

With one line, Shannon’s story is forever changed in Lostlore. Boone at least gets a handshake and a smile before we send him on his way. I only wish Charlie fared as well. I realize that in the original timeline, or an alternate version of the timeline that might’ve been, he hasn’t overcome his problems with heroin. Still, I ached to make it better when he growled at Jack, “I should’ve died.” Maybe the writers should’ve left well enough alone, at least for some of the gone but more fondly remembered castaways than the sorry lot departing Oceanic 815. At least Rose and Bernard seem happy, but I worry for her health.

4. I’m making a list and checking it (off) twice.

What’s/Who’s Smoky? Check. Whatever happened to Zach and Emma? Check. Might Richard have arrived on the island as a slave? Check.

5. The island is under new management.

And I wouldn’t tick off the boss. He seems to hold a grudge.

That’s just my Top Five from the first two hours. I haven’t even mentioned how much I love the resonances in music between Seasons One and Six, the symbolism of light and shadow (especially in fLocke’s scenes), the liberal use of irony, or the many symbols old and new. I expected an intriguing, somewhat nostalgic premiere, and I wasn’t disappointed. Suddenly May 23 seems too near, in any timeline, but I’m re-making some great memories to take with me.

Now excuse me. I have to reinforce the magic black circle around my house. Just in case. I’m not sure what may arrive with next week’s episode.