For all its character development, flashbacks, flashforwards, sidestories and coincidences, "Lost" is essentially a story about redemption and a reflection on the human condition. As a result of listening to its constituency, the show's writers and producers have promised that Season 5 will convey a sense of moving toward something, and finally, providing more answers than questions—with the main query being, "When destiny calls, will you answer?"
The Season 4 finale was as well-done as any aspect of the series has been thus far, leaving us with a lot of believable cliffhangers and a myriad of questions that weren't frustrating, but challenging. And as always, we're struck by the anomaly of the horror of the island contrasted with how beautiful it looks from the air.
"Lost" does the dramatic slow-motion final scene better than anyone, and we see Kate looking back toward the sea, recognizing that the ocean and Sawyer mean freedom while the land and Jack equal stability. Meanwhile, in the final moments, Jack had the following exchange with Desmond:
"Don't let them find you, Desmond."
"I'll see you in another life, brother."
"Aye, I guess you will."
This back-and-forth between Desmond and Jack echoes the first meeting between the two. "Lost" is getting better and better at bringing plots and storylines full circle so that certain moments and lines make sense. If you would have told me that George Lucas would somehow find a way to bring the entire "Star Wars" six-ology together in a way that was brilliant and cohesive, I would have laughed. Yet, he did it; and now "Lost" is attempting to pull off the same minor miracle.
While the Season 5 premier primarily involved the flashback to three years prior, it also introduced us to the role of time travel in the development and relevance of the island, a theory that has long been posited as a major aspect of the show. Sawyer's sarcastic question of "So when are we now, Whiz Kid?" is one that we find ourselves asking along with all of the characters as the island, as described by Daniel, is "skipping" around time like a record. We see Locke reverting back to his knife-throwing ways, the reappearance of the heroin plane as it crashed (alas, no appearance of Ecko) and other previous events and occurrences. The overriding question of whether they are stuck in the past and thrust into the future pervades everything that is going on, in a fascinating—rather than an annoying—way.
Back in the "real world," Hurley struggles with sanity, bumping into a virtual Ana Lucia while wearing his new "I Heart My Schitzu" T-shirt. Sayid fights to stay alive and resolve his indentured servitude to Ben, Jack works to regain sobriety and earn back Kate's trust, Kate battles to avoid lawyers who want to take Aaron from her, and Sun conducts shady dealings with Charles Widmore and learns off the "Oceanic Six's" plan to try to return to the island.
As a snapshot, here are just a few of the ever-growing and sometimes-diminishing list of questions that still nag us as we remain glued to the set:
What the hell do the whispers mean or represent?
What is the true nature of Benjamin Linus? Who do we believe regarding his relative goodness or badness?
When are we going to find out more about Charles Widmore and the backstory about his running feud with Ben?
Will Walt and/or Michael somehow come back into this storyline?
What is wrong with Charlotte and was she, in fact, born on the island?
Will Claire continue to play a role after warning Kate not to bring Aaron back?
Why was Charlie not included in any of the flashbacks or pre-premier discussion?
Again, what was the promise that Sawyer asked Kate to keep before he jumped from the helicopter?
What role does Ms. Hawking play in the entire Widmore-Linus conflict?
What are we supposed to believe about Richard, his agelessness and his possible role in Locke's death?
What is at the root of the name Jeremy Bentham?
How are the "Oceanic Six" planning to embark on the process of returning to the island?
Where are Desmond and Penny and how will they be assisting in this effort to go back?
If the first two hours of this season are any indication, we're in for another rip-roaring jaunt around the island, around the world — and across dimenstions.
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