OT: LOST Season 3 Discussion **** SPOILERS ****

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:24 pm

Zeppo wrote:Heroes really does indicate that good serial television can be made

Glad to see someone else is enjoying Heroes. I'm really enjoying the show. The darkness of the show kinda caught me off guard. Definitely one of my favorites this year.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:25 am

I enjoyed last night's episode, but that weird, non-questioning vibe rears its ugly head again. Sawyer and Kate have a genuine, somewhat forthcoming Other with them, and they ask no real questions. "You've lived here all your life... there's this black smoke thingy that may have killed a few of our people. Would you know anything about that?" Not to mention, an enemy of Ben's who happens to know the ins and outs of the Others' society would be a valuable asset! Not that Ben's necessarily their enemy, really, but how would they ever find that out? They don't ask questions and generally act like @ssholes. And Kate's never been less appealing, in my eyes. Crowing about turning back as soon as they escape, JEEZ it never ends... going somewhere, coming back, going back to rescue someone, then home again, another rescue, back and forth, rinse, wash, repeat. If Sawyer had listened to her, I'd have thrown something through my TV set so hard it would have turned into an electrical impulse, traveled through space and time and hit the two of them in the face on the day they were shooting. But it looks like they're gathering the cavalry next week. Great, more brilliant plans from Sayid.

I know I sound bitter, but I still look forward to the show every week. For some reason. I guess it's that "Dark Tower-esque" vibe of abandoned research stations and slippery timelines. Eh.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:29 am

Slumberland wrote:I enjoyed last night's episode, but that weird, non-questioning vibe rears its ugly head again. Sawyer and Kate have a genuine, somewhat forthcoming Other with them, and they ask no real questions. "You've lived here all your life... there's this black smoke thingy that may have killed a few of our people. Would you know anything about that?" Not to mention, an enemy of Ben's who happens to know the ins and outs of the Others' society would be a valuable asset! Not that Ben's necessarily their enemy, really, but how would they ever find that out? They don't ask questions and generally act like @ssholes. And Kate's never been less appealing, in my eyes. Crowing about turning back as soon as they escape, JEEZ it never ends... going somewhere, coming back, going back to rescue someone, then home again, another rescue, back and forth, rinse, wash, repeat. If Sawyer had listened to her, I'd have thrown something through my TV set so hard it would have turned into an electrical impulse, traveled through space and time and hit the two of them in the face on the day they were shooting. But it looks like they're gathering the cavalry next week. Great, more brilliant plans from Sayid.

I know I sound bitter, but I still look forward to the show every week. For some reason. I guess it's that "Dark Tower-esque" vibe of abandoned research stations and slippery timelines. Eh.

Good post.

What had me scratching my head was why Jack would go so nuts on that girl while on vacation! I mean, one second he's flying kites and drinking cokes on the beach, the next second he's following some strange girl, confronting her about her work and basically forces her to brand him. It just didn't seem believable that he would be so aggressive to someone who was perfectly innocent.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:37 am

fanatic wrote:
Slumberland wrote:I enjoyed last night's episode, but that weird, non-questioning vibe rears its ugly head again. Sawyer and Kate have a genuine, somewhat forthcoming Other with them, and they ask no real questions. "You've lived here all your life... there's this black smoke thingy that may have killed a few of our people. Would you know anything about that?" Not to mention, an enemy of Ben's who happens to know the ins and outs of the Others' society would be a valuable asset! Not that Ben's necessarily their enemy, really, but how would they ever find that out? They don't ask questions and generally act like @ssholes. And Kate's never been less appealing, in my eyes. Crowing about turning back as soon as they escape, JEEZ it never ends... going somewhere, coming back, going back to rescue someone, then home again, another rescue, back and forth, rinse, wash, repeat. If Sawyer had listened to her, I'd have thrown something through my TV set so hard it would have turned into an electrical impulse, traveled through space and time and hit the two of them in the face on the day they were shooting. But it looks like they're gathering the cavalry next week. Great, more brilliant plans from Sayid.

I know I sound bitter, but I still look forward to the show every week. For some reason. I guess it's that "Dark Tower-esque" vibe of abandoned research stations and slippery timelines. Eh.
Good post.

What had me scratching my head was why Jack would go so nuts on that girl while on vacation! I mean, one second he's flying kites and drinking cokes on the beach, the next second he's following some strange girl, confronting her about her work and basically forces her to brand him. It just didn't seem believable that he would be so aggressive to someone who was perfectly innocent.

agreed. they should have got that f***er to tell them everything..and that STARS bullshit at the end...expected the girl and that kid to start singing that song from that mouse movie...

and bai ling was HOT..that is why he did it.

she does have a butterface though

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:05 am

Sudz wrote:
fanatic wrote:
Slumberland wrote:I enjoyed last night's episode, but that weird, non-questioning vibe rears its ugly head again. Sawyer and Kate have a genuine, somewhat forthcoming Other with them, and they ask no real questions. "You've lived here all your life... there's this black smoke thingy that may have killed a few of our people. Would you know anything about that?" Not to mention, an enemy of Ben's who happens to know the ins and outs of the Others' society would be a valuable asset! Not that Ben's necessarily their enemy, really, but how would they ever find that out? They don't ask questions and generally act like @ssholes. And Kate's never been less appealing, in my eyes. Crowing about turning back as soon as they escape, JEEZ it never ends... going somewhere, coming back, going back to rescue someone, then home again, another rescue, back and forth, rinse, wash, repeat. If Sawyer had listened to her, I'd have thrown something through my TV set so hard it would have turned into an electrical impulse, traveled through space and time and hit the two of them in the face on the day they were shooting. But it looks like they're gathering the cavalry next week. Great, more brilliant plans from Sayid.

I know I sound bitter, but I still look forward to the show every week. For some reason. I guess it's that "Dark Tower-esque" vibe of abandoned research stations and slippery timelines. Eh.
Good post.

What had me scratching my head was why Jack would go so nuts on that girl while on vacation! I mean, one second he's flying kites and drinking cokes on the beach, the next second he's following some strange girl, confronting her about her work and basically forces her to brand him. It just didn't seem believable that he would be so aggressive to someone who was perfectly innocent.

agreed. they should have got that f***er to tell them everything..and that STARS bullshit at the end...expected the girl and that kid to start singing that song from that mouse movie...

and bai ling was HOT..that is why he did it.

she does have a butterface though

I agree fellas. I love the show but my biggest gripe is that, when given the opportunity, they NEVER ask questions about WTF is going on. Sawyer and Kate had the perfect opportunity last night and didn't ask. Holy s***, you have the whole night in front of the camp fire to ask the kid questions and didn't. Son of a .... Oh well.

Also, what the hell was with the scene of Jack in the cage and those people (a few kids and Cindy, the stewardess) walking by the cage saying they were there to "watch"...as if nothing weird or wrong was going on? Jesus, thats the kind of s*** that pisses me off!

As far as Bai Ling's character, I think I saw her in a clip from another episode and she was on THE island. I may be wrong though.

Arkin710 · Post by **Arkin710** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:08 am

It actually reminds me very much of the Dark Tower. I said to my wife last night that I think it will likely end in very much the same way as the Dark Tower ended.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:13 am

Arkin710 wrote:It actually reminds me very much of the Dark Tower. I said to my wife last night that I think it will likely end in very much the same way as the Dark Tower ended.

If true, that will piss a lot of people off.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:27 pm

Watch that Thai chick turn up on the island. Just another coincidence. But they have to keep killing some characters off and introduce new ones so they can have more back stories.

Looks like the Tailies are going to get more back stories too.

Someone synopsize Dark Tower?

Anyways, I can see a scenario where they're forced to wrap up real quickly because ratings continue to decline and ABC cuts the cord. Lot of questions go unanswered so they have to have some webisodes or they decide to so a "special event" TV movie to tie up everything. Or an excuse to do a feature movie. And they still don't answer everything.

Oh and another thing. The thing about them executing Juliet is probably another ruse, to use her to win his confidence.

Jack sure is a tortured boy. The wife he cured, the Thai chick, Kate and now Juliet.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:31 pm

I thought last nights episode was really good. At least we know what part of Jack's Tat means. I liked his line at the end "that's what it says but it's not what it means".

As for asking questions, this is what always pissed me off too. But as I wrote here once before. The guys behind the show said they have written and even filmed scenes of them sitting around discussing events / asking questions and it didn't work, it was boring. You (I) may not agree with that, but this is what they have said, so don't hold your breath we will ever see those kind of scenes, I've made my peace with it and it make watching the show less stressful.

My take on the Jack thing, he had been with the chick for a month and she was coming and going at all hours of the night and basically just showing up to f*** him. he followed her because he thought she was a hooker and also because that is who jack is, if anything I thought this fit perfectly well into his characters personality.

The brand me stuff was a bit odd, but he was clearly drunk so I just chalked it up to that.

I was disappointed that the showing of Cindy, the kids and some other passaengers was so light. She said something about it not being that simple and the being there to watch was obviously about the trial. But that whole part of the episode was a let down for me.

Other tidbits, they work on the island jack was on, but don't live there and as new b*tch lady said most of them don't even prefer coming there. So they live on the Island with everyone else according to the kid.

Also in the last scene the boat they used to kidnap Walt is back, and if I'm not mistaken wasn't that boat given to Walt and Michael to leave at the end of season 2?

I'm very happy with the last 3 episodes and think they are definetly giving out information. With 13 weeks left I expect we will know a lot by the end of season 3.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:36 pm

wco81 wrote:Anyways, I can see a scenario where they're forced to wrap up real quickly because ratings continue to decline and ABC cuts the cord. Lot of questions go unanswered so they have to have some webisodes or they decide to so a "special event" TV movie to tie up everything. Or an excuse to do a feature movie. And they still don't answer everything.

You're crazy. ABC ran Alias for 5 seasons and that show never gained more then 4 or 5 million viewers and it's story jumped around much more then Lost.

Last week was there worst ratings week and they still drew almost 13 million and still scored extremely well in the magic advertising demo, which is more important then total viewers to the suits. Considering last week was Valentines day and Lost has no leadin show again I think they can live with it.

If the show drops down to the 4-5 million range by season end then you may have a point, but otherwsie this show isn't going anywhere.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:52 pm

BAH! I'm just about ready to give this show up. If it turns out that they make sone sense in the end, I can always rent the DVDs.

I'm getting tired of trying to figure out what all of these little tidbits of info mean and how they all tie together. Too many things just don't make sense, and I'm afraid the writers don't even know how all these things tie together.

What about the numbers? What happened to Michael and Walt? What is with the 4 toed statue? What is the black smoke? And so on....

Hell, I don't even remember the stewardess from the first season? Apparently she was one of the ones kidnapped, but I don't ever remember her being on the show. It was 2 years ago our time that the show began, and now they choose to bring back a character all but the most hardcore fanatics have totally forgotten about?!?

If I had one of the Others, I wouldn't let him go without, at the least, LOTS of questions first. Oh, so you have a backyard? WTF was that !?! How about you follow it up with "Take us there"? Instead, let's let him go off by himself.

Maybe it's like watching Pink Floyd's The Wall You need to be heavily doped up in order to get the desired affect from the show.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:56 pm

beer helps.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:05 pm

Why would any of you ask questions of any of the Others? You really think you'd get the truth? After everything that the Others have pulled why would you trust any of them? Isn't it possible that the whole "rescue the boyfriend from the Clockwork Orange torture" thing was contrived? It's all a big mind@#% and a lot of you guys are just getting frustrated because you're not in on it. I personally enjoy the show and like that they don't spoon feed me everything about the story. I like having a lot of things open for interpretation. It's refreshing to me to watch a show that doesn't feel the need to answer everything to cater to an audience that has been spoon fed answers their whole life. Shake things up a bit and keep 'em guessing. It certainly keeps things interesting. The only complaint I have with the show is that there's long stretches without certain characters.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:15 pm

matthewk wrote:What about the numbers?

The numbers are referenced in every single episode. You mean you want the answer to what they mean? I would think we won't get that until the series final.

What happened to Michael and Walt?

Not coming back this season at all. Think about it, show timeline they have been gone maybe a week, 2 tops.

What is with the 4 toed statue? What is the black smoke? And so on....

I believe these have been confirmed as going to being answered this season.

Hell, I don't even remember the stewardess from the first season? Apparently she was one of the ones kidnapped, but I don't ever remember her being on the show. It was 2 years ago our time that the show began, and now they choose to bring back a character all but the most hardcore fanatics have totally forgotten about?!?

Are you kidding?

She was one of the tailies from season two and It wasn't like she was in the bacvkground for 10 minutes of one episode either. She disappeard right before Shanon got shot. A pretty memorable episode for most people, not just the "hard core" fans. Not to be a dick but if you can't remember that, then yeah I would stop watching, this show is too much work for you.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:18 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:Why would any of you ask questions of any of the Others? You really think you'd get the truth? After everything that the Others have pulled why would you trust any of them? Isn't it possible that the whole "rescue the boyfriend from the Clockwork Orange torture" thing was contrived? It's all a big mind@#% and a lot of you guys are just getting frustrated because you're not in on it. I personally enjoy the show and like that they don't spoon feed me everything about the story. I like having a lot of things open for interpretation. It's refreshing to me to watch a show that doesn't feel the need to answer everything to cater to an audience that has been spoon fed answers their whole life. Shake things up a bit and keep 'em guessing. It certainly keeps things interesting. The only complaint I have with the show is that there's long stretches without certain characters.

I see what you are saying Scoop and I agree somewhat. My gripe is with the main characters not even asking questions like why the hell have you kidnapped us....what kind of "work" do you do on the island, where the hell are we, etc. I wouldn't expect answers from the "Others" but you can't tell me no one wouldn't at least ask some of those questions.

I am totally with you on the show being different and making you think. Thats the main attraction for me at least.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:26 pm

I would argue that we have very little idea of what the Others actually "pulled", and that of ANY of them, Carl (with his apparent opposition to Benry) would be in a position to divulge information... unless they handed him to Sayid to do the interrogation, which I wouldn't put past them. What it all amounts to, in my book, is not so much a problem of there not being any 'answers', but that the show is now almost entirely action without any discernable motivation. Jack's getting beaten up on the beach. Perhaps I should care, but I can't because sometimes the 'why' of it is actually important when it pertains to whom I should identify with. Lost right now (and really since season 2) is a parade of clashing signifiers with no human element. When I think back to the excellent character episodes of season one, with Sawyer, Kate, Charlie, Locke, even Hurley all trying to overcome something within themselves (not to mention excellent flashbacks that informed the "present day" storyline), it's like a different show. I like mystery as much as anyone, but at this point it's like some game where the creators want to see if they can elicit a response from the appearance of action without actual substance, like dogs salivating at the bell... forget the food. I continue to hold out hope that future information will fill in the blanks of why I should have cared about the Others' treatment of Jack in the shark tank (and other recent supposed injustices against our heroes), but it's a weird way to tell a story. I mean, theoretically I like that approach, in moderation, but that's been all there is for a while now.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:06 pm

I don't need to be "spoon fed" everything, but this show has gotten to the point where it seems like things are just being thrown out there for the viewers to dissect. I no longer really care what happens to any of them like I did the first 2 seasons. At first I enjoyed the mysteries, but the show has accumilated WAY too much baggage at this point, and is on the verge of collapsing under its own weight.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:07 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:I like having a lot of things open for interpretation. It's refreshing to me to watch a show that doesn't feel the need to answer everything to cater to an audience that has been spoon fed answers their whole life. Shake things up a bit and keep 'em guessing. It certainly keeps things interesting.

Surely there's a difference between having things open for interpretation, and blatantly contradicting reality, plausibility, previously demonstrated character traits, or deliberately screwing with your audience's minds (the teacher/ black rock/ TNT thing, I will not let it go). As it goes on, I get less and less of the 'stick with it, it will all pay off' feeling and more and more of the 'oh come on, now what?' feeling. Keeping us guessing is all well and good, but at some point won't you tire of the guessing and hope for some kind of plausible explanations? Not necessarily realistic (I love sci-fi as much as anyone), but plausible within the framework of the world they have created. The only thing about the world that they have created that I trust is that they will change the rules willy-nilly as they feel they need to, and not in the service of some necessary thematic purpose, but rather with a sense of 'got to keep them guessing.'

Danimal wrote:
matthewk wrote: What about the numbers?
The numbers are referenced in every single episode. You mean you want the answer to what they mean? I would think we won't get that until the series final.

Where did they appear in this episode? How have they had any signifacance at all since the destruction of the hatch? If they're there, I've missed them entirely.

Danimal wrote:
What happened to Michael and Walt?
Not coming back this season at all. Think about it, show timeline they have been gone maybe a week, 2 tops.

But what about the boat? Was that the same boat or not? If so, what of Michael and Walt?

Danimal wrote:
What is with the 4 toed statue? What is the black smoke? And so on....
I believe these have been confirmed as going to being answered this season.

What is that supposed to mean, 'have been confirmed?' They've issued a press release or something? If the show requires us to do homework in order to keep up, well, then I think they're failing to do their job. I'm all for having ancillary material available to the fans, and a robust online community that can help fill in the blanks, but to keep falling back on the 'if you read this website' or 'if you got the latest official fan club neslwetter, you'd understand' kind of thing is a little much. If they don't show it to us in the show, then as far as I'm concerned it doesn't exist.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:15 pm

Danimal wrote:
matthewk wrote:What about the numbers?
The numbers are referenced in every single episode. You mean you want the answer to what they mean? I would think we won't get that until the series final.

Hell, I don't even remember the stewardess from the first season? Apparently she was one of the ones kidnapped, but I don't ever remember her being on the show. It was 2 years ago our time that the show began, and now they choose to bring back a character all but the most hardcore fanatics have totally forgotten about?!?
Are you kidding?

She was one of the tailies from season two and It wasn't like she was in the bacvkground for 10 minutes of one episode either. She disappeard right before Shanon got shot. A pretty memorable episode for most people, not just the "hard core" fans. Not to be a dick but if you can't remember that, then yeah I would stop watching, this show is too much work for you.

"Not to be a dick"......followed up immediately by being one.

Please forgive me for not remembering her. I don't recall her being in season 2. It was probably pushed out of my brain by more important things over the past year like work, family, etc... Maybe they should have made her character a little more memorable. If I remember right, she was the one that disappeared when they were climbing the cliff with an injured Sawyer, right? Well then, she may have been a plant all along, just like Ethan and never really kidnapped at all.

Forgive me again for not noticing the numbers in every episode. I usually have to contend with kids running about while watching the show. And I don't frequent the fansites that dissect the angle of the sun in every scene, so maybe that's why I'm not up on everything.

Oh, and a TV show should not be "work". It should be entertaining. I don't want mindless entertainment, but I don't want my TV shows to be work either.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:55 pm

Zeppo wrote:Keeping us guessing is all well and good, but at some point won't you tire of the guessing and hope for some kind of plausible explanations?

Actually, I won't grow tired of it. It works perfectly with the show and I honestly think a lot of people are looking a little more into the show than is necessary. I think it's ingenius that they're making us relate to the characters by putting us in the same boat so to speak. Making the audience feel like the cast is the point of the show, IMO. Anyone who tries to make Lost into something that is not sci-fi just isn't getting it, IMO.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:58 pm

jack knew her from the plane

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:59 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:Making the audience feel like the cast is the point of the show, IMO.

Except that the audience would be asking questions and trying to find out just what the f&*k is going on

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:01 pm

If they don't bring the kid back until next year he's going to probably be an adolescent with voice changed, even though it's only suppose to be a few weeks or months at most since the Losties last saw him.

Even the adult cast looks a lot different from season 1.

Anyways, the creators claimed that there was a scientific explanation for everything, that they weren't going to resort to sci-fi or the supernatural.

What was that business last week about the world ending if he didn't push the button and time travel?

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:21 pm

matthewk wrote: "Not to be a dick"......followed up immediately by being one.

Yeah I know I was, please forgive it is one of those days, I am just in that mood.

If I remember right, she was the one that disappeared when they were climbing the cliff with an injured Sawyer, right? Well then, she may have been a plant all along, just like Ethan and never really kidnapped at all.

Yes, that's where it happened. She could be a plant, don't really know they didn't do enough with it.

Forgive me again for not noticing the numbers in every episode. I usually have to contend with kids running about while watching the show. And I don't frequent the fansites that dissect the angle of the sun in every scene, so maybe that's why I'm not up on everything

Where did they appear in this episode? How have they had any signifacance at all since the destruction of the hatch? If they're there, I've missed them entirely.

I didn't say they played a signifcant role, I said they appear. last week Desmond looks at the clock and the time on it is the same time they have to pushe the button in the hatch. I can't recall exactly what last night but 815 was mentioned, so was one of theo ther numbers.

Again i don't know if they mean anything important or not, I'm just saying they keep poping up, even on other shows (ie Hereos this week)

But what about the boat? Was that the same boat or not? If so, what of Michael and Walt?

I have the same questions, but they said in an EW interview that they aren't coming back to season 4. An since the actor who plays Michael signed on for another show next year, who knows if that will even happen.

What is that supposed to mean, 'have been confirmed?'

No Zep, there was an EW article online and in the magazine that answered a lot of questions. I posted the link in this thread twice, if you don't want to read it or don't think you should have to that's fine by me, I ams simply passing alogn what I've read.

Oh, and a TV show should not be "work". It should be entertaining. I don't want mindless entertainment, but I don't want my TV shows to be work either.

What is that supposed to mean, 'have been confirmed?' They've issued a press release or something? If the show requires us to do homework in order to keep up, well, then I think they're failing to do their job. I'm all for having ancillary material available to the fans, and a robust online community that can help fill in the blanks, but to keep falling back on the 'if you read this website' or 'if you got the latest official fan club neslwetter, you'd understand' kind of thing is a little much. If they don't show it to us in the show, then as far as I'm concerned it doesn't exist.

No one is falling back on anything, I don't read every fan site or get a newsletter. Once in a while they do an article on Lost in EW, and there is a blog I check out once in a blue moon.

Bottom line is no one is forcing you to read these things to enjoy the show, it's not required and people who make it out to be so are just wrong IMO.

I am simply providing information I have based on things I've read and you guys want to attack me for it. To be honest Lost ins't even my favortie show, Hereos is at this point followed by BSG. I could gice two s*** if you watch or enjoy it, I was just trying to provide some responses to your questions.

As for the show being work, I agree the show is work. It requires you to watch, listen and put together your own theories into what is happening. Its been on for almost 3 full season and this surprises anybody why exactly?

I'll go back to what I sad a year ago, if the show frustrates the hell out of you or you feel it has no direction stop watching, PK is a perfect example.

If you want to come here and b*tch about the show, then come here and b*tch to your hearts content. I'm not defending the show I am just trying to provide information I have or my opinions.

If you prefer I don't reply to your questions, stop putting question marks after them

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:00 pm

Danimal, I'm not trying to attack you, I'm trying to attack the show!

Scoop, i think one of the main things for me is the degree to which the show seems to take itself so seriously, not to mention the kinds of things said by the creators about it not being sci-fi and everything having a plausible explanation. For example, a B-show like Stargate Atlantis would explain Locke's ability to walk in some crazy, 'superpowers' way, but they would at least explain it, and thenceforward do their best to keep consistency with the consequences of that explanation (like, in a later episode there is a problem, someone will suggest 'what if we took so and so back to that planet where Locke got healed,' or something, and then they would invent a reason why that wouldn't work in this particualr case). Lost seems to be saying 'we don't need to explain it, because you don't need to know, and in the end it's not improtant because we are telling you not to worry about it; we are dealing with more important, heavy, profound thematic issues.'

I love the show, I enjoy it for many reasons as I have explained. But last nights episode, to me, demonstrated quite well how much the creators/ writers are using the flashbacks as a crutch to explain or add depth to whatever the theme of the episode at hand is. When was this trip to Thailand supposed to have taken place in the life of Jack we know so far? While he was married? Before? While he was on his way to get his father's body? In the end, it doesn't matter, but it does seem a touch inconsistent with what we know about Jack so far, at least to me, and served to generate a sense of mystical importance about the tatoo (i hardly realized he even had a tatoo before last night, much less that it was a magical one).

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OT: LOST Season 3 Discussion SPOILERS