Hurley: If I take you to this Lighthouse, will you throw one of your weird fits? Jack: Nope.
Questions will be answered! —ABC Lost promo.
Ummm, or not. Haters of Lost were given some pretty good ammunition last night with "The Lighthouse," an episode that perfectly exhibits Lost's foundation of thickening the mystery while the story progresses at a leisurely pace. There weren't any gigantic reveals, but there were certainly a heck of a lot more questions. This is the kind of episode that will leave some frustrated and others pleasantly entertained.
Seven days after the amazing cave scene with Sawyer and UnLocke, our grand destination in last night's episode was yet a new edifice, the Lighthouse. Jack said what's on all our minds: "Why haven't we seen it before?" Now, if you're a faithful Lost fan, you were probably biting your nails with anticipation over this mysterious new place and it's mystical mirrors. But if you're a fairweather Lost fan, you probably threw your arms up in the air, exasperated by another inexplicable turn, while thinking it's time for the writers to stop bringing things in from left field. What is the Lighthouse? Who is this person coming to the island? What's up with Claire?
Lost is in danger of losing those viewers whose interest has been rejuvenated because this is the series' final season and there are promises of answers, and I don't think "The Lighthouse"—with its teasing and new questions—helped that at all. But for those of us who've stuck with the program, "The Lighthouse" triggered a little something in the back of our heads: It was very similar in spirit to episodes from Season 1, just as producers promised Season 6 would be. And that's a good thing.
The Flash-Jack was a very personal story, much like Locke's was last week and very unlike Kate's from two weeks ago (that episode just seemed like a "here's what happened when she landed in LA" story). The on-island Jack-tion had a very solid singular direction: Get Jack to the Lighthouse. That's the same formula Season 1 employed to great effect, and this is really the first time we've seen it done in Season 6 to great effect (remember, in last week's John Locke-centric episode, one of the John Lockes wasn't even John Locke). That said, the off-island and on-island stories still aren't meshing like they did in Season 1.
But enough of that. Let's talk about the Lighthouse. Jack had a classic inexplicable Shephard tantrum and destroyed the heart and soul of the thing (way to go, Jack, maybe you should pick up a stress ball), and Jacob got all Zen with an "it's the journey, not the destination"-type speech. Maybe it's my weird obsession with lighthouses, but I hope it's not the last we see of it. It certainly appears that it's simply a "house" now, thanks to Jack's spastic redecorating.
Each degree on the rotating thingamabob corresponded to a name (very Myst-like, no?), presumably the same names written on Jacob's cave walls. Are we to assume that there are 360 candidates? Also, who was at 108 degrees? Lighthouses are typically used to direct things toward them, but this Lighthouse seemed to serve as both a way to bring things in and possibly a way to keep an eye on things in the "outside world." We saw Jack's house, a building of traditional Japanese architecture (Dogen's old pad?) and one more European setting that vaguely looked like Faraday's Oxford stomping grounds. But what do they all mean?
Elsewhere on the island, we saw Claire, who is experiencing a whole new brand of post-partem craziness. We still know little about exactly what Claire's been doing on the island other than setting booby traps for Others and not using conditioning shampoo, but I don't care. I'm all for this new Claire. She's insane. She lumberjacks people in the gut. She's got crazy eyes!!! And in one of the least surprising, unnecessarily built-up, last-minute reveals in Lost history, we find out her "friend" is UnLocke.
I'd love to theorize about the Sayid/Claire "infection" that the Temple Others (Temps?) are rambling on about, but honestly, I've got nothing on it. The writers haven't given us enough information, and I don't want to sound like any more of an idiot than I already do. If you have any insight, please, let me know.
Oh and I agree with henke_ed, the whole lighthouse thing was just to get Jacks head straight. Jacob basically told Hurley its just to get him on the right track.
I still believe most questions will be answered. I miss a lot of characters though. Where is Desmond? Would also like to see characters come together, ala season 1. And most importantly would like to see Jack back to his normal leader 'live together, die alone' self....although I suspect thats still coming.
just to let you know, the japanese looking building wasnt japanese at all, it was korean. it's the same temple that sun and jin got married in front of.
There wasn't anyone who was coming to the island. This was all to get Jack on the right track again. I don't think we going to see more of the light house. Jack was ment to destroy the mirrors.
It's Walt coming to the island!!!!
It's Desmond who's coming back to the island!
It answered a very important question, where Shannon's inhaler was.
this show is getting no where
"The lighthouse" was a great episode, though not as good as "The Substitute." For those complaining about not getting answers, there may not have been definitive answers, but we did learn a lot about Claire. I think several other questions are closer to being wrapped up as well (though certainly not definitively answered). I prefer it this way. It is boring if Jacob or Smocke or any other character in the know just starts answering all our questions.
@Amber132: I think I can see where Jack's coming from after all the manipulation, the years of misery he endured, and the fact no one has been up front with about why all this is happening to him. But yeah, I was as pissed as you were when he broke the mirrors. And you are not alone in your suspicions, about the mirrors looking into the lateral timeline - after all, we didn't see Jack's childhood home for the first time until this episode, both from the Island and from the lat-flash. But I'm not 100% certain about this. The mirrors could have been looking into either reality. But because Jackers smashed that @#@$!@ mirrors, it might be a while before we ever find out.
Im really getting fed up with Jack being an idiot I mean I get that he's mad that Jacob has been watching him the entire time but come on! When you find a mirror with names and numbers written on it that shows you people's home and stuff of island I'd at least take the effort to look up a couple names look up 108 so you atleast know why you had to come there and maybe get a clue about what the hell si going on on the island of mysteries but no, Jack has to be an idiot and smash the entire thing. Nice job, dumbass.
But as for the whole mirror thing, am I the only one who thinks that the mirror may show not people of island but people of island in the parallel universe. you know, since it is a mirror; it shows you your mirror image but just a little different, left is right, right is left and so on. Hell, maybe the people Jacob was bringing to the island were people from the parallel universe, with the mirror positioned in the right way it could be some kind of way for finding the island from the paralel universe.
Or you know it could just be showing people from of islandmoreless
All the 6 numbers featured throughout the series, 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42 add up to 108
claire is back & feeling choppy! & she talks to her dad. jack's flash-sideway was good. i'm glad we didn't get close-ups of his mom, her plastic surgery was horrible.
To sorta take a stab at the question below...I am thinking that Charles Whidmore might be candidate 108. Hence why Smokey has been using Ben (even when he was an other), since Jacob never really communicated with Ben.I think Christian wanted the Island to be hidden from Charles. Since we still haven't seen him get the boot as the other's leader in the past. I know there was a short scene with him leaving and Ben taking over...but perhaps since Charles was the one looking for the island and Christian/Smokey wanted the island moved so he wouldn't find it. Just a guess, but I think Jacob was a much more passive leader, letting free will decide what the candidates did. I also hope 108 is Desmond, but I am thinking either Desmond or Whidmore. The one thing I am worried about...is dead Jacob really Jacob? Or is he under control of smokey as well? Why would Jacob want Jack to destroy the lighthouse, which seems to lock onto a candidate and draw them to the island...Either way this is gonna be a heck of a season, and I can;t wait for the answers.moreless
I'm one of the lovers of this episode. Matthew Fox was great, and the Hurley-Jacob scenes were very good. As for the homework: 1- I have NO IDEA about the infection, but I do have a question. Okay, probably nobody will have a concrete answer, but I wanna make a point: When Locke visited the Cabin and Jacob wasn't there, he talked to Christian Shephard, and he told him to move the island. Claire, already infected I believe, was there, too. Now, if Christian and Claire are on Smocke's side, what the hell was that all about? Did the Smoke give the order to move the island instead of Jacob? I hope this will be clear by the end of the season. 2- Well, 108 leads me to ONE name: Desmond. And I really hope Desmond get to the Island SOON. He's one of the best characters and unfortunately we haven't seen much of him in season 5 and 6.moreless
This was a fun episode. I love the Hurley and Jacob dynamic. Hurley is comfortable with his conversations with the dead now and it adds to the humor. I like that they are able to continue to use Hurley in this way.
First off all I'd like to say that I agree completely with AlexanderLost's comment. Jack's perpetual father issues have been plaguing him all his life and now in this sideways flash we see him dealing with that same issue yet the roles are reversed. He is now the father figure that has trouble relating to his son, while the shadow of his recently deceased father looms over him. Jack manages to learn from his own relationship and his own issues with a bit of help from his mother to reach out to his son and perhaps improve their relationship. It was a touching, dramatic episode as far as the sideways flash is concerned and I believe it was the best sideways flash so far, followed closely by Locke's. The conversation between Hurley and Jack in which they discuss their reasons for returning to the island follows the trend of everyone "finally" revealing why they've returned. Kate wants to find Claire, Jack felt like he didn't have what it takes unless he was on the island and Hurley.. he's always had a rather unique way of dealing with things and I am liking his new proactive role very much. In many ways, I believe Jack is actually quite similar to Locke. Locke refused to be told what he CAN'T do, while Jack refuses to be told what he MUST do, and instead he follows his own path - the mark of a leader and not a follower. That is clearly shown as he refuses to give the pill to Sayid and when he destroys the mirror in the Lighthouse. Some people may find it frustrating that he would just throw a tempter tantrum, but I believe Jacob explained it best - Jack needs to find his own way, he can't be lead there. I've seen a lot of people complain about this episode because it was just giving us more answers.. well Lost wouldn't be Lost without providing us with some more questions, but that doesn't mean we won't soon be receiving answers as well. The entire season can't very well be one huge answering session. Besides, I don't think this episode posed a great deal of questions.. the ones I noticed were "What is the purpose of the Lighthouse?" and "Who is the new person coming to the island?" and perhaps to a lesser extent "Why didn't they see the Lighthouse before?" and "What does Jack have to do?" The first one was more or less answerer, as far as I can tell - the Lighthouse had a dual purpose - to observe the "candidates" and to lead people to the island in some way. The second is not really a mysterious Lost-mannered question, but more of an indication that someone is coming (and we will soon find out who). The third is more or less unimportant, on an island where a cripple walks, people are miraculously healed, a smoke monster roams and various other mystical things occur, is it really a huge leap to assume that the Lighthouse can't be seen unless one knows about it, or unless its keeper wants you to see it. And the fourth question... well we can't really be sure about that, but given the previous episode I'm assuming Jack needs to succeed Jacob as the island's protector. I've also been toying with a theory (which will probably end up being wrong, like all my other ones) about the candidates. If we look at Hurley, Miles and Desmond they all have a special power and I believe they are all candidates, Hurley and Miles can talk to the dead and Desmond can travel through time, or perhaps recall the memories of a past life (I'm not sure). Now given that, I am assuming that the other candidates have some sort of dormant powers or abilities as well, that they perhaps do not even know about. Given that Jack is a doctor I believe he might have an ability to heal, perhaps even this "infection". I am basing that theory on the fact that Jacob himself wanted Sayid taken to the island so that he could be saved, now we may not know a lot about Jacob, but we do know that he knows an awful lot, probably more than anyone else (with the exception of un-Locke) and given that fact it's pretty safe to assume that he knew of the possibility that Sayid might get infected as well. Now I'm not sure why Sayid was so important or why Jacob wanted him to be saved (possibly because he's a candidate), but we do know that he DID want him saved. Given this episode I'm also inclined to believe that Jacob considers Jack to be best suited to fill his shoes.moreless
But there isn't anyone new coming to the island that was just an excuse to move 2 candidates away from the Temple before Claire, who has been taken over by the smoke monster goes looking for Aaron. Does it matter who was at 108 degrees? That number was chosen because the 6 numbers quoted throughout the series, which are the numbers corresponding to the 6 candidates add up to 108, I believe that's far more relevant than showing whose name was at that number. Don't planes contain about 300 people? If so a name at each degree up to 360 sounds right. Maybe I'm the only person that is not expecting to be spoon fed every answer, the answers are there if you look and think about the show as a whole.moreless
yay, my locked got picked :DI think the infection has something to do with the smoke. We've seen that it's impossible for the smoke to go over ash. And we saw Dschingis Khan (I forgot his name) blow ash over Sayid, who failed the " test". If we put those two together, it seems as if there has to be a connection. Then again we saw Locked as Claire's friend. And Locked said that he once was human. so what if the infection within you is something that can take control over you. (For those of you who know Stargate Sg-1 something like the gua'ulds) .. man I hope i'm wrong it just sounds stupid..BUT if the infection was something very dangerous, then why did the temple-others let Sayid walk among them (here comes jacks tattoo in my mind "he walks among us but he's not one of us"). The new person first I thought of were Desmond/ Walt, but it could be as well someone else, Jacob already gave instructions to ( like Ilana)moreless
The season finale has been great thus far. I was thinking yesterday, I mean both Jacob and Smocky are kind of recruting, Jacob has Hurley and Jack. Smocky has Sawyer and will probably turn Jin to the dark side. That's when it hit me; there is a war coming, and at the end of that war we could probably see Sawyer and Jack sitting on the beach wearing black and white respectively, the way we saw Jacob and the MIB at the beginning of this season. A bit far fetched I know, but is just a theory, one of the many out there...
108 is very briefly shown the name was crossed out and is 'wallace'screenies: http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Wallace
It was Jack's house, a building of traditional Eastern Asian architecture : this was Jin & Sun Kwon's Wedding place and one more "European" setting was Sawyer's parent's funeral home
The "new" person coming to the island is probably Walt. :)
i just started watching lost like a week ago i just got done watching season 1 but the only thing i dont care about this show is the flash backs but i do understand why there are flashbacks but ill still watch the show i dont give up on shows that easily
@Tim SuretteI actually think the full circle motif was most prominently seen during "The Substitute", because Locke's lat-flash captured much of the spirit of the 1st Season and because it was the 4th episode of this season, much like the first Locke-centric episode was #4 of Season 1. Though technically, I think the writers were going for this throwback quality during Kate's episode "What Kate Does" which also parallels one of her episodes in Season one (Ep: 3) "Tabula Rasa". "Lighthouse" is a continuation of this pattern because episode 1x05 was also a Jack centric episode during the 1st Season. If this is true, then next week's episode will center around Sun.
@jmanislostI don't count myself as a bandwagoner since I've been on board since season one and have seen every season as they aired. I know not all of the questions will be answered, and I don't need all of them answered. Besides, some of them are totally unimportant to me, like what happened to Vincent or who Kate ends up with. And I also appreciate making viewers think and keeping a sense of discovery by creating new questions, which sometimes end up answering old questions, but part of me worries that the show may leave too many loose ends unresolved. And given the nature of the unresolved questions raised up this point, no, I don't think the showrunners could successfully wrap everything up in a mere two episodes. With that said, I'm happy with the season so far, and thought this was an excellent episode - despite Jack's frustrating temper tantrum - and a worthy follow-up to last weeks episode.moreless
@AlexanderLostI know exactly what you mean about the showrunners referencing fan theories and audience expectations in some of the episodes, but this is the 5th episode (out of a total of 18) of the last season. Stop jerking me around and give me some friggin' answers already!I haven't read enough of Mr. Surette's articles to judge whether or not he's biased against Jack, but "Stranger in a Strange Land" was just awful. It offered no insight into Jack's character, did nothing to move the story, and was one of the many missteps made during the weak (in my opinion, weakest) season of the series.
@bvgamerxThe first thought that came to mind when I saw the Asian architecture was of Jin and Sun's wedding where they met Jacob. I had no theories about the church, but it might be where Jacob met Sawyer. As for the Rose and Bernard theory, yeah, I've heard that a while ago, too. It seems quite possible, but that doesn't explain the white and black stones found on one of the bodies or the lack of labels on their clothes. Whatever the case, I was hoping I'd get an answer.
Just because it is the last season, it doesn't meant that we're getting all the answers right away. That could be taken care of in 2 episodes if the writers wanted that. Why should they try to please the viewers who just now tuned in for the final season after ditching the show a couple years? Screw those bandwagoners. Damon and Carlton are doing their thing like always and they don't give a crap what anyone else thinks, which is why I admire and respect them. As a loyal viewer from the beginning, I'm very happy about the direction of this season and am enjoying its pace that has been consistent with the past seasons. The whole point of the show is to make you think and it would be nowhere near as interesting if they didn't pose new questions each week. And for those of you bandwagoners who expect everything to be answered by the end of the season, you may as well stop watching because Damon and Carlton have already said that won't happen.moreless
the number 108 was someone named wallace, but if you look back 108 was the total of the numbers that had to be punched in (hurleys numbers) to the computer in the hatch, as well as the span of time with which they had to be pushed. I'm not sure whats up but the island seems tot have a thing for the number 108. I think "the infection" just means you are a candidate for the MIB. I dont think Locke was his intended vessel. Locke was too loyal to the ideals of the island to be the MIB. I really want to see what happens when "Locke" makes it to the temple. Another quick question: Whatw as up with JAck having a kid? Wouldn't he have a kid int he normal timeline anyway? I mean that kid looked like 12 or 13. So maybe his mom was one of the others? idk whats up with thatmoreless
What do you think the "infection" is? Who do you think is coming to the island? If it's an entirely new character, will you be disappointed? My theories: I think the infection is that while those that are unaffected continue to be candidates for Jacob, the ones that are infected might end up being candidates for Smokey. Smokey was trapped on the island against his wishes so obviously he serves some higher purpose and I think that Sayid and Claire might be in the running to take over his spot. Since Jacob wants these people, it might be the same people we saw in an earlier Jacob flashback with him on the beach with MIB. If its an entirely new character, i will be disappointed unless this character has something to do with the history of the island (meaning they give answers ASAP)moreless
Yay my suggestion "Lock-A-Like" was picked LOL now seriously indeed the episode was kind of frustrating cause it didn't answer any questions and instead it generated some more BUT it was still very enjoyable and HOPEFULLY the last "FILLER" type episode of the series (considering that there are like 10 episodes left).
As for the skeletons, is it not obvious that they are Rose and Bernard? They wanted to stay behind in the past and we have yet to see them since everyone else returned to the present (along with Vincent for that matter).
Maybe it was just me, but wasn't the reflections shown in the mirror obvious? Jack was watching it as the pointer rolled over the names and they were all places (except for Jack's) where Jacob met the candidates.1. The Chinese structure--was where Sun and Jin were married and met Jacob2. The white building was the church were Jacob met Sawyer3. Obviously Jack's parents' houseWhich just adds more credence to the fact that they had been watched and groomed for the position.
Wow, I've noticed you (the writer) seem to have a strong preference for Locke-centric episodes and seem to dismiss Jack-centric ones. I say this because you have numerously made references to what a horrendous episode you found "Stranger in a Strange Land" to be... That's fine if you're more of a Locke fan, and you prefer his back story, but you should make it known, that it's you're preference and not make it sound as if the episodes are formulaically better. (Sorry if it sounds like I'm attacking you, I've seen the comments on some of your other articles, but I was a bit peeved by this article)Lighthouse is, and this is in my opinion, the best episode of the season so far. In terms of human drama, and let's not forget this is one of the foundations of the LOST series, this episode has put the rest of this season to shame. The lateral-flashes not only portrayed an engaging story, that followed much of Jack's character development from past seasons, but more and more Jack seems to be the only character who really keeps taping into the alternate time line. The episode, for me, also helped raise the question, is this really an alternate timeline or has this all somehow been fabricated for some as of yet unknown reason. I get the whole butterfly effect scenario, and that the detonation of the hydrogen bomb could have had a serious ripple effect, causing changes nobody could anticipate, but Jack's appendix rupturing 31 years earlier in this timeline? It certainly has me wondering, plus the fact that he couldn't remember having it out. There was also a scene in the airplane bathroom where he discovered blood on his neck.The drama between Jack and his mother and Jack and his son was fantastic. Jack doesn't fail where his father did. Jack may constantly be afraid of failing afraid that he doesn't have what it takes, but he does. He proves it when he talks with his son. He ensures that his son knows he loves him. I must admit it has been awhile since an episode made me cry, but this definitely accomplished that.As for on island, we learn a LOT about what happened to Claire. Honestly I'm not sure if a lot of people are thicke or shallow-minded, but we learn that Claire was kid-napped by the Others and tortured, in the same fashion, by her telling, as Sayid. She escaped and has been alluding the Others and trying to find Aaron for the past three years. We know that she has been completely on her own, and has been constantly hunted by the Others. I think anyone who wants to Claire-bash or make fun of her "craziness" should seriously put themselves in her shoes. We also know that she appears to have been "infected" so I think it can be assumed, if this is indeed the case" that the infection kept her from shifting through time. She was altered, much in the same way Sun was altered. (Sun was pregnant when she left the island and not when she returned, the best explanation that I've come up with as to why she stayed in the present).Yes Jack destroyed the Lighthouse and it was a bit sad considering how old it was and cool, but I think it had served it's purpose and getting up there was never about seeing degree 108 or helping someone find the island it was about Jack seeing what he saw. In the end, this will all come down to Jack, and it terms of getting further into Jack's mind and seeing his motivations and what drives him, this was a fantastic insightful episode, and was probably the most eventful episode yet in terms of furthering Jack's character development was placing dominos in a row to be knocked down later. The answers are coming but the reveals still need to be set up.As far as the skeletons go. LOST has always been great about touching on fans theories in a way that pays homage to the theory but also discredits it, think back to season 2 Is the Island all in Hurley's mind? or season 3 is the Island Purgatory? I believe the writers were again doing this with the identities of the Adam and Eve skeletons, who are probably people we know nothing about yet...moreless
I was thinking the 'infection' is just the word used to say that a person has been recruited by MiB. But beyond that I'm really not sure what to think. And in case anyone was wondering, the person at #108 is Wallace (whoever that is). You can pause the episode directly on that number. I don't think Walt is short for Wallace, but it's close...
When Hurley commented on the old bodies inside the cave from Season 1, I thought that the show would finally answer that long-standing mystery, and was a little disappointed they didn't. But, I think that Hurley's theory about the bodies possibly being people who were shifted in time to the distant past might be a clue toward, what I hope will be, a definitive answer.
This weeks episode was simply.. meh..
4+8+15+16+23+42 = 108 whatever that mean....
Oh man, I was sure my suggestion of "the smoky man in black who looks like John Locke or occasionally Christian Shepard but isn't really them (Unless it turns out that they are)." was going to win.
OMGOSH i loved last nights episode. i thought it was really good, and yes it asked more questions but it got us closer to answers to other questions. Like in the flsh sideways the characters lived different lives from their childhood. E.g Jack having his apendix out age 7 and not on the island. But i love the introduction of Jack having a kid
okay, here's my theory: the whole point of the flash-sidewayses will be that if the plane hadn't crashed, they'd all end up in....THE VERY SAME PLACE . Whoa.
I think the last two episodes were pretty good ... but still both of them left me a little frustrated with respect to introduction of newer unsolved/unanswered mysteries...
#108 the new Jacob...who will it be? Desmond? Charles Whidmore? I can only guess.
Jacob knew Jack would destroy those mirrors Im pretty sure he was meant to.