Thursday, March 15. 2007
LOST: "Par Avion" [SPOILERS]
Well, I have got to say that was another excellent episode, for lots of reasons. And of course, we learned what the big "hooha" was that's been hyped for a while now.
The title, of course, is French for "by air." Now you could read that to be related to Claire's rather brilliant rescue plan, or you could go all out to say that it's even how they ended up on the island...
...read on for the recap and what it might mean. Spoilers as usual...
The title, of course, is French for "by air." Now you could read that to be related to Claire's rather brilliant rescue plan, or you could go all out to say that it's even how they ended up on the island...
...read on for the recap and what it might mean. Spoilers as usual...
The Bird Lady of Alcatraz
The "beach" plot this time focused on the Charlie-Desmond-Claire "conflict" that's been brewing up since "Flashes" first told us about Des's newfound powers.
Charlie's come up with a plan to get further into Claire's good graces, and prepares a breakfast picnic for the two of them. They run into Desmond, who tries to get Charlie to go hunting with him. Charlie seems to know why Des is doing this, when Claire sees a flock of seagulls round the cove. "I know how to get us off the island!" And she runs off leaving Charlie and Desmond with concerned looks.
She returns to the beach and tries to enlist the help of the other survivors, notably Jin and Sun. Sawyer (of course) doesn't want any part of it. Charlie and Desmond continue to look concerned and try to talk her out of it, which doesn't go so well. The plan is to attach something to the birds' ankle tags, since somebody will eventually see the tags at some point.
She's also starting to suspect something is up between Charlie and Desmond.
So...Jin, Sun, and Claire are on the beach building a bird trap. There's an interesting conversation that takes place between Claire and Sun, about mothers and expectations.
The most interesting part was something one of them said (and I don't remember which.) "They don't always turn out like their mothers want." If you consider the "Future Aaron" theories that are bouncing around the nets, that's kind of an interesting statement.
Anyway, just as they're ready to spring the trap on an unsuspecting winged-sea-rat, Desmond fires off a couple of rounds and scares off all the birds. Of course the other three are furious, and Desmond tries to snow them with a "wild boar" tale. She is not buying it. At all.
Later, Charlie and Claire are back at their "tent" having a nice little domestic squabble. Charlie is still trying to talk her out of her plan, he doesn't "want to advocate false hope" (more on that later) and once more she throws Charlie out of the picture. (Sheesh! Talk about tempermental!)
She sees Charlie and Desmond talking from a distance, and Desmond heads off down the beach a bit. She goes "to get some answers," and follows him. He's at an outcropping of rock, going after a nested bird when she confronts him, wants to know how he knows about this bird, at this exact spot.
He tells her about his vision of Charlie getting killed here trying to get the bird. And surprisingly, he spills it all about Charlie's fate, and his visions.
She brings the bird back to Charlie (and of course it does have a tag). She tells Charlie what Desmond said, and it looks like their little squabble is over.
The end of this segment puts Charlie and Claire on the beach putting a note onto the gull's tag. (And a shot of Sawyer reading Ayn Rand, the title I couldn't make out.) I didn't copy the contents of the note, but it was the expected story of the crash, along with the message "We are alive, don't give up on us." (Which fits with the flashback.) She says she's not giving up on Charlie either (whatever that's supposed to mean) and that it's "going to be OK"... and they send the bird off.
Alas, Mikhail, We Hardly Knew Ye!
Ah yes, lets get back to Locke, Sayid, Kate, Rousseau, and old Mr. Eyepatch, our friend and yours, Mikhail.
They are arguing about what to do next, and about what took place at the Flame Station. Mikhail listens with a knowing half-smile on his face. They argue some more about Mickey's fate, and they agree once more that he's necessary to the plan.
At the river, Kate asks Danielle why she hasn't wanted to know more about Alex. It would seem that 16 years apart has "hardened" her against it. She knows that Alex won't even remember her, and that it really doesn't matter. She doesn't want to know the answers. They make their way through some more spooky-looking trees, and there was a conversation (which I missed most of! Thanks kids!) with Mikhail, something about the EM Pulse, and how "its impossible to come back." (^!#$% Why do these interruptions always happen at the worst time!?)
He tells them they are incapable of understanding, because they're "not on the list." Locke smirks at this, since he's got some clue of what he means, but Sayid does not? (I thought Hurley told everyone about the list?) He says something about the man who brought us here, and that it is decidedly not Ben he's talking about.
They are not on the list because they are flawed, angry, afraid (and he seems to be pointing those each at individuals.) Sayid says that he doesn't know them, and he proceeds to rattle off everyone's (except Danielle..) proper name and a bit about them that he shouldn't know.
And most interestingly he mentions something about knowing Locke, a "fleeting memory." Locke seems intrigued by this, like maybe he knows what he means(?), and cracks that curious grin of his.
And then they find "the fence." Mikhail's grin gets a little bigger, like he knows what it is. "Looks like we're here!"
He tells them it is a "security" perimeter, and that like most things on island, hasn't worked in years. They confirm that this thing does surround "The Barracks" on the map. While they are trying to figure out what to do next, it would take too long to go around, etc....
...Locke grabs Mikhail and throws him across the boundary. He says, "Thank you" and he painfully dies an ugly and slow death as he starts foaming at the mouth and bleeding from the ears.
"Sorry," says Locke with a shrug. He and Kate argue about the Mikhail-tossing incident, and Locke's motives for his being on this expedition are questioned. It also turns out he did know that the Flame was rigged to blow, as he managed to snag one of the bundles and had it in his pack the whole time! "Never know when it'll be handy!" But the rest of the crew is starting to question Locke's intentions now.
The plan is to go over the fence, without actually crossing between the bell-shaped doodads on the poles. They cut a couple of trees down and rig up a ramp they use to climb over it. We see Kate cross over successfully, and take a couple of pokes at the now deceased Mikhail.
We're spared the act of watching all of them shimmy up and over, and they arrive at "Othersville", the same compound we saw at the beginning of this season. They start taking a survey of things, when Kate spots Jack running towards them at full throttle. She tries to jump out after him, but is pulled back.
Just then Jack turns and catches a football! Turns out he was "going long" and is having a scrimmage with some of the "Others." Kate is stunned by this. Really stunned. And thats where the show ends. (BONK!)
Obiwan Never Told You What Happened To Your Father
Ah, I'll bet you were wondering when I would get around to this!
The flashback, as you probably knew, was all about Claire. Look, I could go into a lot of detail here, but I won't. I'll give you the short version.
The show opens with a black-haired-and-mucho-pierced Claire waking up from a rather nasty car wreck. Her mother's been tossed from the car and is lying in the road unconscious.
We return to Claire getting stitched up in the hospital being questioned about the wreck, since its SOP in a "fatality." In other words, the constable doesn't think that her mother will make it, but since she's not dead yet, he closes up his book and leaves. She yells at him, "It's not my fault!" And him, "I never said it was." (This stuff will be important later...)
Later, Claire goes into her mother's room (the walls of which are painted "Dharma blue" I might add), and her aunt Lindsey is there. If memory serves, we've seen her before? When Jack's dad was turned away, she was the one on the porch? Anyway...
They argue about Claire leaving for a bit, which probably furthers her guilt trip about the whole thing. She probably won't wake up from this, and they learn that the expenses are being taken care of by an unknown person....
Again, later still, Claire comes back to the hospital, and is told about the "new American doctor" that is in with her mother. Guess who! It's Dr. Shepard Sr.! (Of course we knew that was coming.)
Lindsey knows who he his, and they argue for a spot, and eventually the bomb is dropped. He is her father. (No! That's not true! That's impossible!)
Returning to the flashback we find Claire working in a tattoo(!)/piercing establishment, and Shepard comes in. He talks her into a cup of coffee, and they talk some about the situation, the circumstances, why he hasn't been around. He had been to see her when she was a baby, but she doesn't remember (see Rousseau's statements above.)
He tries to talk her into "pulling the plug" on her mother, but since its illegal apparently in the land of Oz, she'll have to find a way. She refuses, but he's adamant.
"Listen to me! Don't keep her alive for the wrong reasons. I know the difference between hope and guilt." (<-- further importance here)
Even more important (to the big picture anyway) is the fact that not once has his name been dropped, and she explicitly says she doesn't want to know....
The last bit of the flashback is Claire, obviously right before she's leaving on flight 815, since she's now blonde and quite obviously pregnant. She profusely apologizes to her mother, and seems to have gotten over the guilt of it all with this.
But not the hope. She says "I'll see you soon." And the flashback is over.
Conclusion
Well unless you're completely new to the show, haven't seen the previews (or read the rumors), or just plain dense, you probably saw the Claire->Father->Jack thing coming. Of course since she never knows his name, will they ever figure the connection out? I'm guessing the Others, with their extensive dossiers on everyone will either spill it or it will be discovered by accident. At least I'm guessing it will come out.
And what is up with Mikhail?! Just as soon as we get this brand new enigma he's snuffed out!? Nooooo!!! At least he shared some knowledge with us before his departure, and I'll go back and get that important conversation to be sure. I think his knowledge of "the list" was telling, that he is in fact one of the "Others." Connect Klugh with the list, with Patchy, with Ben and Tom, and it does seem clear that's who he was.
But Locke, ah Mr. Locke. What are you up to? You'd think you'd have learned your lesson at the cave, er I mean the Swan hatch. Your misguided beliefs had a substantial cost there, and it would seem you're up to the same old tricks here.
In true LOST fashion, the flashback tied into the Claire/Charlie story quite beautifully, with her guilt giving way to hope. Her not "giving up" on anyone, and beseeching the finder of the banded bird to not give up hope either.
Could it be also that she's not going to feel any guilt about Desmond's impending visions of Charlie dying on her behalf? Like three times now? Or is that why she's giving Charlie the benefit of the doubt here?
And I'll throw this one out: Could it be that Claire knows something, too? I'm remembering her trip to the psychic and how she was turned away because of Aaron. And what about the tattoo parlor connection!? Was that on purpose? Does she possibly have the same "gift" that Jack's Thai babe had and doesn't realize it? There has got to be something more to Claire. There just has to.
Questions and Answers
So, first the answers
Ah, at last we get another Locke episode. It looks like we'll learn what put John in his wheelchair, and that Ben knows all about it. Also seems that Locke has made this journey for the purpose of coming across "Henry" once again. I hope this will be as twisted and evil as previous Locke stories, but I doubt they can top the "Sweat Lodge" episode...
Technorati Tags: LOST, tv, par avion, review, spoilers, theories, rumors, claire, charlie, desmond, jack, sayid, mikhail, others, dharma, rousseau, kate, locke
The "beach" plot this time focused on the Charlie-Desmond-Claire "conflict" that's been brewing up since "Flashes" first told us about Des's newfound powers.
Charlie's come up with a plan to get further into Claire's good graces, and prepares a breakfast picnic for the two of them. They run into Desmond, who tries to get Charlie to go hunting with him. Charlie seems to know why Des is doing this, when Claire sees a flock of seagulls round the cove. "I know how to get us off the island!" And she runs off leaving Charlie and Desmond with concerned looks.
She returns to the beach and tries to enlist the help of the other survivors, notably Jin and Sun. Sawyer (of course) doesn't want any part of it. Charlie and Desmond continue to look concerned and try to talk her out of it, which doesn't go so well. The plan is to attach something to the birds' ankle tags, since somebody will eventually see the tags at some point.
She's also starting to suspect something is up between Charlie and Desmond.
So...Jin, Sun, and Claire are on the beach building a bird trap. There's an interesting conversation that takes place between Claire and Sun, about mothers and expectations.
The most interesting part was something one of them said (and I don't remember which.) "They don't always turn out like their mothers want." If you consider the "Future Aaron" theories that are bouncing around the nets, that's kind of an interesting statement.
Anyway, just as they're ready to spring the trap on an unsuspecting winged-sea-rat, Desmond fires off a couple of rounds and scares off all the birds. Of course the other three are furious, and Desmond tries to snow them with a "wild boar" tale. She is not buying it. At all.
Later, Charlie and Claire are back at their "tent" having a nice little domestic squabble. Charlie is still trying to talk her out of her plan, he doesn't "want to advocate false hope" (more on that later) and once more she throws Charlie out of the picture. (Sheesh! Talk about tempermental!)
She sees Charlie and Desmond talking from a distance, and Desmond heads off down the beach a bit. She goes "to get some answers," and follows him. He's at an outcropping of rock, going after a nested bird when she confronts him, wants to know how he knows about this bird, at this exact spot.
He tells her about his vision of Charlie getting killed here trying to get the bird. And surprisingly, he spills it all about Charlie's fate, and his visions.
She brings the bird back to Charlie (and of course it does have a tag). She tells Charlie what Desmond said, and it looks like their little squabble is over.
The end of this segment puts Charlie and Claire on the beach putting a note onto the gull's tag. (And a shot of Sawyer reading Ayn Rand, the title I couldn't make out.) I didn't copy the contents of the note, but it was the expected story of the crash, along with the message "We are alive, don't give up on us." (Which fits with the flashback.) She says she's not giving up on Charlie either (whatever that's supposed to mean) and that it's "going to be OK"... and they send the bird off.
Alas, Mikhail, We Hardly Knew Ye!
Ah yes, lets get back to Locke, Sayid, Kate, Rousseau, and old Mr. Eyepatch, our friend and yours, Mikhail.
They are arguing about what to do next, and about what took place at the Flame Station. Mikhail listens with a knowing half-smile on his face. They argue some more about Mickey's fate, and they agree once more that he's necessary to the plan.
At the river, Kate asks Danielle why she hasn't wanted to know more about Alex. It would seem that 16 years apart has "hardened" her against it. She knows that Alex won't even remember her, and that it really doesn't matter. She doesn't want to know the answers. They make their way through some more spooky-looking trees, and there was a conversation (which I missed most of! Thanks kids!) with Mikhail, something about the EM Pulse, and how "its impossible to come back." (^!#$% Why do these interruptions always happen at the worst time!?)
He tells them they are incapable of understanding, because they're "not on the list." Locke smirks at this, since he's got some clue of what he means, but Sayid does not? (I thought Hurley told everyone about the list?) He says something about the man who brought us here, and that it is decidedly not Ben he's talking about.
They are not on the list because they are flawed, angry, afraid (and he seems to be pointing those each at individuals.) Sayid says that he doesn't know them, and he proceeds to rattle off everyone's (except Danielle..) proper name and a bit about them that he shouldn't know.
And most interestingly he mentions something about knowing Locke, a "fleeting memory." Locke seems intrigued by this, like maybe he knows what he means(?), and cracks that curious grin of his.
And then they find "the fence." Mikhail's grin gets a little bigger, like he knows what it is. "Looks like we're here!"
He tells them it is a "security" perimeter, and that like most things on island, hasn't worked in years. They confirm that this thing does surround "The Barracks" on the map. While they are trying to figure out what to do next, it would take too long to go around, etc....
...Locke grabs Mikhail and throws him across the boundary. He says, "Thank you" and he painfully dies an ugly and slow death as he starts foaming at the mouth and bleeding from the ears.
"Sorry," says Locke with a shrug. He and Kate argue about the Mikhail-tossing incident, and Locke's motives for his being on this expedition are questioned. It also turns out he did know that the Flame was rigged to blow, as he managed to snag one of the bundles and had it in his pack the whole time! "Never know when it'll be handy!" But the rest of the crew is starting to question Locke's intentions now.
The plan is to go over the fence, without actually crossing between the bell-shaped doodads on the poles. They cut a couple of trees down and rig up a ramp they use to climb over it. We see Kate cross over successfully, and take a couple of pokes at the now deceased Mikhail.
We're spared the act of watching all of them shimmy up and over, and they arrive at "Othersville", the same compound we saw at the beginning of this season. They start taking a survey of things, when Kate spots Jack running towards them at full throttle. She tries to jump out after him, but is pulled back.
Just then Jack turns and catches a football! Turns out he was "going long" and is having a scrimmage with some of the "Others." Kate is stunned by this. Really stunned. And thats where the show ends. (BONK!)
Obiwan Never Told You What Happened To Your Father
Ah, I'll bet you were wondering when I would get around to this!
The flashback, as you probably knew, was all about Claire. Look, I could go into a lot of detail here, but I won't. I'll give you the short version.
The show opens with a black-haired-and-mucho-pierced Claire waking up from a rather nasty car wreck. Her mother's been tossed from the car and is lying in the road unconscious.
We return to Claire getting stitched up in the hospital being questioned about the wreck, since its SOP in a "fatality." In other words, the constable doesn't think that her mother will make it, but since she's not dead yet, he closes up his book and leaves. She yells at him, "It's not my fault!" And him, "I never said it was." (This stuff will be important later...)
Later, Claire goes into her mother's room (the walls of which are painted "Dharma blue" I might add), and her aunt Lindsey is there. If memory serves, we've seen her before? When Jack's dad was turned away, she was the one on the porch? Anyway...
They argue about Claire leaving for a bit, which probably furthers her guilt trip about the whole thing. She probably won't wake up from this, and they learn that the expenses are being taken care of by an unknown person....
Again, later still, Claire comes back to the hospital, and is told about the "new American doctor" that is in with her mother. Guess who! It's Dr. Shepard Sr.! (Of course we knew that was coming.)
Lindsey knows who he his, and they argue for a spot, and eventually the bomb is dropped. He is her father. (No! That's not true! That's impossible!)
Returning to the flashback we find Claire working in a tattoo(!)/piercing establishment, and Shepard comes in. He talks her into a cup of coffee, and they talk some about the situation, the circumstances, why he hasn't been around. He had been to see her when she was a baby, but she doesn't remember (see Rousseau's statements above.)
He tries to talk her into "pulling the plug" on her mother, but since its illegal apparently in the land of Oz, she'll have to find a way. She refuses, but he's adamant.
"Listen to me! Don't keep her alive for the wrong reasons. I know the difference between hope and guilt." (<-- further importance here)
Even more important (to the big picture anyway) is the fact that not once has his name been dropped, and she explicitly says she doesn't want to know....
The last bit of the flashback is Claire, obviously right before she's leaving on flight 815, since she's now blonde and quite obviously pregnant. She profusely apologizes to her mother, and seems to have gotten over the guilt of it all with this.
But not the hope. She says "I'll see you soon." And the flashback is over.
Conclusion
Well unless you're completely new to the show, haven't seen the previews (or read the rumors), or just plain dense, you probably saw the Claire->Father->Jack thing coming. Of course since she never knows his name, will they ever figure the connection out? I'm guessing the Others, with their extensive dossiers on everyone will either spill it or it will be discovered by accident. At least I'm guessing it will come out.
And what is up with Mikhail?! Just as soon as we get this brand new enigma he's snuffed out!? Nooooo!!! At least he shared some knowledge with us before his departure, and I'll go back and get that important conversation to be sure. I think his knowledge of "the list" was telling, that he is in fact one of the "Others." Connect Klugh with the list, with Patchy, with Ben and Tom, and it does seem clear that's who he was.
But Locke, ah Mr. Locke. What are you up to? You'd think you'd have learned your lesson at the cave, er I mean the Swan hatch. Your misguided beliefs had a substantial cost there, and it would seem you're up to the same old tricks here.
In true LOST fashion, the flashback tied into the Claire/Charlie story quite beautifully, with her guilt giving way to hope. Her not "giving up" on anyone, and beseeching the finder of the banded bird to not give up hope either.
Could it be also that she's not going to feel any guilt about Desmond's impending visions of Charlie dying on her behalf? Like three times now? Or is that why she's giving Charlie the benefit of the doubt here?
And I'll throw this one out: Could it be that Claire knows something, too? I'm remembering her trip to the psychic and how she was turned away because of Aaron. And what about the tattoo parlor connection!? Was that on purpose? Does she possibly have the same "gift" that Jack's Thai babe had and doesn't realize it? There has got to be something more to Claire. There just has to.
Questions and Answers
So, first the answers
- It would seem that Mikhail was indeed one of the "Others"
- (Something about the conversation I missed, the tail end sounded important! Argh!)
- Jack seems to be having a good time in "Othersville"
- Yes, Virginia, Jack's daddy is also Claire's daddy
- Even Patchy has access to the Others' data
- Why is Rousseau even bothering going after Alex? Seems like she's pretty indifferent, at least on the surface. Morbid curiosity or genuine motherly love? We'll find out soon enough.
- Why was Mikhail so eager to die rather than face the Others? Through his connection to Klugh, there has to be ties there, but what kind? Will we ever know?
- Will the characters make (or be told) the Jack<->Claire connection? How will this play into the story?
- How did Mikhail know John? What was that all about? Was it just from the video feeds between stations or is there more to that story...?
Ah, at last we get another Locke episode. It looks like we'll learn what put John in his wheelchair, and that Ben knows all about it. Also seems that Locke has made this journey for the purpose of coming across "Henry" once again. I hope this will be as twisted and evil as previous Locke stories, but I doubt they can top the "Sweat Lodge" episode...
Technorati Tags: LOST, tv, par avion, review, spoilers, theories, rumors, claire, charlie, desmond, jack, sayid, mikhail, others, dharma, rousseau, kate, locke
Trackbacks
The PlanetLOST Season Three Recaps
Now that the fun is over (for a while it seems!) Here's a quick reference to the season three recaps and analysis threads.... Man, some of these feel like soooo long ago!A Tale of Two CitiesThe Glass BallerinaFurther InstructionsEvery Man for Himsel
Now that the fun is over (for a while it seems!) Here's a quick reference to the season three recaps and analysis threads.... Man, some of these feel like soooo long ago!A Tale of Two CitiesThe Glass BallerinaFurther InstructionsEvery Man for Himsel
Weblog: Planet LOST
Tracked: May 30, 20:10
Tracked: May 30, 20:10
From the previews last week I thought Patchy ran into the fence - I missed that he was pushed. Still, he had to run a few feet to get into it; if he didn't want to, he could have stopped himself. But Locke pushing him into it--that is a REAL game-changer. And sneaking C4 and intentionally (it appears now) blowing up the Flame! Who is this person calling himself "Locke"?
From wikipedia: "...the ego is supreme, and individualism and selfishness are virtues to be treasured."
Interesting that Sawyer was reading this book.
What am I missing?