TV Review: Lost – 316
Posted by Adam Sweeney (adam@filmschoolrejects.com) on February 19, 2009
Lost, ABC, Airs Wednesdays 9/8c
Episode: “316″ (Season 5, Episode 6)
Synopsis: The way back to the island is revealed to members of the Oceanic 6, but there’s trouble ahead when not all of them wish to return.
Review: Well, that wasn’t so difficult, now was it? On second thought, maybe the return to Oz didn’t go quite as planned. 316 probably won’t register with some fans as being as exciting as some of the previous fifth season chapters, but the dialogue was much smoother and the message more insightful. It was a more methodical and comfortable pace of storytelling than the breakneck speed we have become used to, and return to the episodes of the first season, full of poignant moments and monologues that revealed the struggle many of our characters dealt with back in reality.
Matthew Fox’s performance was one of the strongest I have seen since the beginning of the show. It’s been a while since the show has focused so intently on one character.
The strength of the show has mainly come in sequences on the island, yet this episode was almost entirely focused on the events happening back home. It was handled well and displayed the merging mentalities of Jack (Matthew Fox) and Locke (Terry O’Quinn), as they both are becoming men of faith. What that faith will bring them remains to be seen.
A quick message to the writers of Heroes: THIS is how you create a show. 316 found a way to bring us full circle, as the flight to Guam was a direct parallel with the opening sequences of the show’s Pilot, and they were able to do it in a clever way. Compare this to the inability for Heroes to stop telling the same story over and over. Don’t worry, we’re not bitter.
Did anyone else get a distinct The Wizard of Oz vibe from the 316 episode. Eloise Hawking’s (Fionnula Flanagan) demand for Jack to offer something of his father’s to Locke’s corpse reveals a bit of a ruby slipper sequence. In order to get home, rather, the island, Jack must put his father’s shoes on Locke to get back.
The opening sequence of 316 caught me off-guard, as I never expected Jack and friends to get back on the island so quickly. “Idiot, they have technically been off the island for two seasons,” you say? Well, allow me to clarify my statement.
The relative ease in which the Oceanic 6 … well, 5 got on the plane was surprising. Let me get this straight, you can’t get any liquid on a plane after 9/11 without nearly having a cavity search, but Jack and friends can bring anything they want on a plane? Wouldn’t you have to phone in advance to get a corpse on the plane? I mean is it that hard to hit up Priceline.com? The way the airline attendant reacted when Jack walked up to the front of the plane was a bit blase as well. “You want to talk to the pilot, sir? Wait just one second. Wait, you’re not a terrorist, are you? Eh, I will trust you. You’re wearing a nice tie.”
It was a bit surprising how quickly the events took place that brought the gang back to the island. Perhaps in future flashbacks, and other contradictory statements, we will find out what everyone else was doing while Jack was preparing for his journey.
Even though we’re back on the island, it doesn’t mean there isn’t unfinished business or questions left to be asked back on the homeland. How and why did Locke meet his sad demise? Who did Benjamin (Michael Emerson) go meet? Penny (Sonya Walger)? Did he get his ass kicked by Desmond? (Henry Ian Cusick) Why the hell is Jin (Daniel Dae Kim) in Dharma Initiative clothing? What happened to Aaron (William Blanchette)? Why is Kate (Evangeline Lilly) so hot and bothered after losing her “adopted” child? We demand answers for all of these … and we’re fairly confident we will get them.
P.S. We miss the polar bears on the island. Just saying.
Up Next Week: Locke’s fateful mission off the island as Jeremy Bentham is revealed.
Did you watch the 316 episode? What are your thoughts and theories? We have a right to know!
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