Lost: Season 4, Episode 1 "The Beginning of The End"

The fourth season is finally off and running, and obviously I have some new questions. Just a quick run-down until I have a few minutes for a deeper examination and hi-def screen caps.

- Who are the "they" which are refered to many times in this episode? (Did I phrase that right?) "They" need you. Are "they" still alive? (creepy fake Oceanic lawyer dude). I can assume it means the "Oceanic Six," but could it in a far off way mean the ones who were left behind on the island? We don't know at this point if they were killed... of course that could change as the show goes on (whenever that may be after these first 8 episodes). What we do know is that Hugo was rescued even though he went with Locke. We also know that he knows something... some sort of secret that Jack wants to make sure doesn't get out. We also know that Hugo's Flash Foward happened before Jack's (see the Season 3 finale) because Jack still somewhat had it together and had not yet grown his beard.

- Who are the other members of the "Oceanic Six?" We know of Jack, Kate, and Hugo. Didn't Claire show up in a vision as being off the island? I can't remember. If that is the case, would Aaron count as the fifth? And could that also mean that the person in the casket was the sixth?

- It's was nice to see Charlie. I wonder how often we might see him as he is now the island's official reeper of sorts calling those who got away back. And why would the island need them there? Is it because that is where they belong and in order to keep everyting copasetic in the universe, they need to be back on the island (in a Final Destination kind of way? Fate catching up with them and pulling them back.

- Not wanting to get ahead of myself, but do you think that Kate falls in love and marries the rescuer (I think he said his name was George McKowski)? Maybe that is how they are able to get off the island. He falls for her and stowes her, and the other five away and the ship. Later, whoever that group is finds out about the stow-aways and goes after them. Just a thought... but like I said, I don't want to get too far ahead.

- The whispers at Jacob's cabin. I need to listen again... and probably a few more times after that.

There is still a lot to discuss and I will be digging into the episode again tomorrow. Right now I'm waiting for the heavily hyped Oceanic commercial that is supposed run during the "Eli Stone" premier. Nothing yet. And I still haven't cracked the "Vantage Point" puzzle... arggggghhhhh...

Season 4 Premier Week is Finally Here!

January sure went by fast. I did finally pick up Lost: Season 3 on Blu-ray and it looks incredible. There is also a ton of stuff in the bonus features some of which is exclusive to the Blu-Ray collection. I haven't compared it to the normal box set yet to see exactly what material is left off though. On the Blu-ray, there is a section called Access Granted where Carlton and Damon answer many lingering questions, many of which I think we already knew the answer to.

There is an AP article out today which confirms what Stefanie had said back in December. Only 8 episodes have been produced for this season (because of the writer's strike). ABC though has promised another 40 to follow... and I quote, "eventually..." leading up to the series finale in 2010. Speaking of the series finale, Mikey from the new Star 94 morning show told me this morning that the series finale had been leaked. I told him NOT to send me the link. I'm in it until the end; although, if the writer's strike persists and continues to mess up television, I would love to see Cuse and Lindelof team back up with J.J. and finish it in a major motion picture. They have said from the start of the series that they know how it will end. It could be a 3 hour movie and I'd still go see it many times (probably leaving the theater scratching my head and kicking myself for getting sucked in and waisting a chunk of my life...)

Here's the run down for this week:

Wednesday - Last Season's Finale "Through The Looking Glass" will air at 9:00p on ABC. This will be a special enhanced episode complete with on-screen facts and backstory. Watch for the text on the lower third of the screen.

Thursday - "Lost: Past, Present, and Future" starts at 8:00p and will essentially bring everyone up to speed on where we are in the show. Then at 9:00, Season 4 begins with "The Beginning of The End"... a reference to what Ben tells Jack in "Through The Looking Glass." Ben - "This'll be your last chance, Jack. I'm telling you, making that call is the beginning of the end.

Only 8 episodes, huh? This may very well be "the beginning of the end" for me as well. At least it will give me time to over analyze the episodes we do get and speculate on what is and is going to happen. I'll also have time to experiment with my HD Capture. I did a test a few weeks ago and it worked pretty well. A one hour show did take up 4 gigs, but it looked damn good. I'll have to dump the shows after I get screen caps each week.

Happy Viewing! I'll see you back here on Friday Morning.