Well, how many wrinkles did that episode throw at us? Boy, shocking deaths, lots of little clues to the future, and some concrete references which start to put the "history of the future" into perspective. I guess as usual, we'll start at the beginning. Or is it the end, or somewhere in the middle....argh.

Next week's episode is entitled, The Shape of Things to Come. This is, of course a direct reference to H.G. Wells' novel of the same name. In it, he gives us a "history of the future," where mankind destroys itself through endless wars, taking us back into the stone age. Luckily, we manage to rebuild, and eventually find ourselves launching a mission of space exploration. Unfortunately, those same seeds of mistrust lead to yet another conflict, as the population storms the launch site in protest....

So what does this have to do with LOST? Other than just another scifi reference, I would say it's an allusion to LOST's own "history of the future," as is playing out in the various flash-forwards.

Further, I guess you might even draw a parallel between the two "factions" which have established themselves on the island. The islanders are tearing themselves apart, and we all know that it can't end well. Fortunately, Wells gives us all a bit of redemption and reconciliation towards the end, and maybe that's what we can expect?

Also, you've got the Valenzetti equation, which is (I believe, I didn't get too much into the whole alternate reality thing) supposed to deal with the likelihood of humanity killing itself off. With the island as a microcosm of the world, and even without, are we to believe that there can't be a solution to the equation? That we're all doomed to eventually destroy ourselves?

Hard to say without seeing it, and I'll be honest, I've not read any plot synopses of the show yet, so I'm just shooting blind here. But we know that they don't throw out titles like that without some kind of relevancy, at least in some respect.

Or maybe they're just baiting guys like me into trying to draw parallels that aren't there who knows?

On a side note, the 1936 screen adaptation of "Things to Come" is really a trip. The whole 1930's "Flash Gordon" aesthetic is at the same time a laugh-a-minute riot, and is all strangely beautiful and ingenius. Wells' prediction of the 1940 London Blitz is also quite astounding, as is the forward-thinking to get us into the stars. Even if its via a giant "space gun."

Yikes! Is no news good news! Probably. But here's a bit of good news anyway.

Looks like they'll be adding an additional hours worth of material, enough for another episode, that's just awesome! Including another big two-hour finale.

When the plan for Lost's final three years was initially announced, each season was supposed to have 16 episodes. However, the writers' strike soon came along and derailed this nice little idea. The Lost producers were only able to complete eight episodes before the strike, and after it wrapped up they announced that five additional installments would be produced. While the show's fourth season would be somewhat truncated, the writers would at least have enough time to tie up certain story threads.

It's a lucky day for fans who were bemoaning the shortened schedule, as TV Guide's Michael Ausiello has announced that one more episode has been added to the show's fourth season. Not only does that bring the episode total to 14 for this year, but it allows Lost to wrap up with a huge two-hour event.

Link: (Among many) 'Lost' Season 4 Will Have One Additional Episode

We find out the real story behind Michael's return, along with a few surprising twists, a few new questions, and a couple of things that make you go hmmmm?

The boys have done it again, they've renewed my faith in the show to just plain kick my ass! In Meet Kevin Johnson, we get a look into how Ben Linus' spy would up on Widmore's freighter, and a whole lot more.

Be prepared more some major spoilers this time, as this is the last episode of LOST until late April, so enjoy!

They sort of deviated again from the "LOST formula" for this episode, as we don't do a lot of bouncing back and forth between now and then. If you remember last time, we discovered that Michael Dawson, traitor to beachies, friend to Others, was Ben's "man on the boat." This time, we discover just how he found himself in this situation.

Who's on the freighter? Does Sun's baby survive!? Who's the last of the Oceanic Six? Who impersonates a boat anchor!?

All these questions and much more answered!

Ugh, that writers' strike was a b--ch, no? I gotta be brutally honest, I was wholly unimpressed by Ji Yeon. This recap will reflect it. I took a lotta notes, but the more I think about it, the less important to the 'grand plan' this episode really seems to me.

Although the 'three-way' timeline was kind of interesting, although really you could see it coming.

Oh, and then there's that whole "who's on the boat?" thing. But yeah, we all saw that coming as well.

Much to talk about! Just read on already!

Whoa, it looks like Carlton and Damon seem hell-bent on handing out lots of juicy tidbits as of late, and "The Other Woman" is no exception.  It also marks a return to the "traditional" LOST "formula" of character-related flashbacks, this time focused around Juliet, our favorite Other.  We also get a glimpse into a new DHARMA station, and a look at who is possibly behind the freighter mission.

As they've returned to the "formula" for this episode, I will too, re-organizing the episode into its plots, instead of how it actually played out.

Is anyone else just totally in shock after that?  After last week's ho-hum (but still good) episode, they throw this at your head, and it hits with full force like a brick.  I'm still trying to make sense of it all.

But I'll start here.  Time travel, anchors, dead rats, night turning into day, dogs and cats living together.....  I've got some strange ideas about the things this episode tells us, so bear with me.