I’m one of those folks who spends so much time clutching my couch cushions during Lost that I often miss the little details that more sharp-eyed (and likely less freaked-out) viewers pick up on. Case in point: While I noticed that one of Juliet’s book-club guests (pictured, left) was clutching a copy of a Stephen King novel during the mind-blowing season premiere, my colleague Gary Susman used his DVR slo-mo to spot the book title, as well: Carrie. (Scary!) Could that be a passing reference to a certain young castaway with special powers (Walt) or, Gary wonders, the hint of a bloodbath yet to come?
Just as intriguing (or maybe just as random): Did anyone else note that as Juliet popped Petula Clark’s ”Downtown” into the CD player, she was actually holding the jewel box for Talking Heads’ Speaking in Tongues? (I didn’t, probably because I was making a mental note to try out a little Petula at my next karaoke session, but once again, keen-eyed Gary spotted the little brain-teaser.)
Finally, the significance of the moth is change of the identity of Sarah’s new manfriend is… massive? Inconsequential? It remains to be seen. But considering how badly Jack wanted the dude I.D.’d, and considering Sarah’s refusal to do it, one has to wonder…what’s in a name? I leave it for you all to discuss, or to once again remind me PopWatch is way too obsessed with this series.
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Why is everyone in such a fuss about finding out what’s going on on Lost? Just sit back and enjoy the show.
I hope we never find out who Sarah ended up with. I really think this is a case where it SHOULD be inconsequential. First, as much as I like the occasional connections between the flashback characters, the show has to be careful not to overdo it. Secondly, and more importantly, what matters is not who the guy is, but what Jack is not (as Sarah says herself).
Did anyone else notice the pilot was at Jack’s dad’s therapy session? Creeeeeepy!
great catch on the pilot, i havent seen that mentioned anywhere else!
Once and for all — PopWatch is NOT too obsessed with this show! Lost is becoming (if not already) a classic TV series, and is certainly a part of the pop-culture lexicon: which is what this blog is supposed to be about, anyway. And a major part of the show’s enjoyment (and our comprehension of it) is the water-coolering afterwards. Last night’s episode was spectacular, and the discussion afterward (just like every week) only enhances the viewing experience.
Michael, Gary, and everyone else: keep blogging about this fantastic series as much as you like!
Didn`t Henry Gale ask to read a Stephen King novel while being held in the hatch? It was probably cause he didn’t get a chance to read it when the plane crashed.
I agree – continue blogging about this show because whenever I see something new about it, I get excited. The more LOST the better!
Wasn’t the Talking Heads CD a DualDisc? It looked like one to me. If so, it was only released in February 2006, so was it a goof or what?
Free at last, free at last! After last night’s season premiere, I can officially, comfortably, and unreservedly reclaim one more hour per week of my life back from TV.
I had an inkling this would happen when I read EW’s Lost article in the fall TV preview, and one of the producers was quoted as saying that this season would be all about the Others the way last season was all about the hatch. But my broken, battered heart couldn’t really believe it was true until I saw the show last night. Even though they had chosen to focus Season Two on the dullest, least intriguing, most cliched cipher/symbol of all the many puzzles presented in Season One, I still couldn’t imagine that they really intended to make the same mistake again.
But bless their hearts, they did. I didn’t think it was possible for me to care less about a group of characters than I did last year’s Tailies, but son of a gun, I do! I care even less about the Others!
Obviously it’s me, my problem – I’m the one out of sync. It’s my imagination that while the way they’re arranged together might be different, the ideas, plotlines, characterizations, and even individual scenes are hopelessly familiar to anybody who read so-called “young adult” fiction in the 1970s or took a basic experimental psychology course in college. I’m just hallucinating – the Dharma Initiative has gotten inside my head through the Internet and Sprite commercials.
Please . . .
The producers (and Stephen King) have hinted that the sudden swing from any notion of spirituality and the supernatural to rats-in-a-Skinner-box dystopia between Seasons 1 and 2 was decreed by the network, and if so, that’s a shame. Because for me at least, it has completely killed the show. I didn’t mind a mix; I didn’t mind not knowing which was true – I actually loved the whole mystery-wrapped-in-a-conundrum feeling of the faith-versus-logic dichotomy. But if all we have to believe in is the Dharma Initiative and their mathematical formula of Armegeddon, what’s the point? It’s just dumb.
I’m done. I spent all last season being ticked off because I loved the darn thing so much, I couldn’t let it go, no matter how dull, silly, or infrequent the episodes became. Now I’m just tired – not even the promise of Sawyer shirtless can seduce me any more.
And trust me, that’s really sad.
I think that the Stephen King book was just a shout out to Stephen saying thanks for being a fan – but one has to wonder how long they have been on the Island if her favorite book is Carrie and they still have it in the original hard cover format…. hmmmmmm (that came out in 1974 btw) – would have been funnier if it was a Harry Potter book.. LOL
I have to assume that the song “Downtown” was a last minute change, due to poor test results, or inability to get rights to “This Must Be the Place.”
What else would Juliette have listened to to calm her nerves? “Burning Down the House”? “Girlfriend is Better”? “SWAMP”?!?
Lost is great TV. I loved the show last night. The more blogging about it the better! If you’re not a fan of the show or the blogging, don’t watch or read. Go watch “Flava of Love”……..
Thank goodness for you people who notice things like the pilot was in the AA meeting. I was proud of myself figuring it out was a Stephen King novel (which was obvious – clearly indicated when they all came out to watch the plane break apart) but no way I pick up it’s “Carrie”. If I had more time – I read more Lost chat rooms and blogs. Lucy – nothing wrong with you gaining an hour of your life back – but the first 6 minutes before the title has hooked me for the season!
I’m glad other people noticed the pilot, I thought i was going crazy, no one believed me!
Thanks, kitty – my husband feels the same way; he thought last night was the best ep ever. And if my choices are watching Lost or Flava of Love . . . oh, the horror . . .
I got real excited when I saw the Speaking in Tongues cover. I was only mildly disappointed when Downtown played. I second GeeMoey’s notion to just sit back and enjoy the show.
“Speaking in Tongues” — A sign of future (satanic) things to come?
I just checked my tape and i’m confused. You guys claim that the “pilot” is in the AA group meeting, but I don’t see Greg Grunberg anywhere. You are referring to the pilot in the pilot episode, right? Greg Grunberg played the pilot (and a character in almost every one of JJ Abrams’ other projects).
Oh, and as for hardcover vs. softcover, there’s a softcover copy of Carrie on Adam’s knee in the picture. Different book club members had different editions.
I feel that EW as a whole devotes way too much space to this show…when I saw the insert guide to Lost recently, I screamed aloud. How many stories have you guys already written on this show? I thought I subscribed to Entertainment Weekly, not Lost Weekly. Granted, I have never seen it, and don’t have a lot of room to hate..but it all does sound rather silly to me, personally. Let’s get down to talking about another show…maybe Heroes?
There can never be enough space devoted to this show! Not saying something else isn’t worthy of attention, just not at this show’s expense! I am unabashedly hooked, despite my self-imposed summer detox. As for the AA meeting, I was sure that I saw Grunberg (the pilot) looking around someone’s shoulder to see what Jack was making a fuss about, too, however, someone on the Tvwatch page said absolutely not…
I just hope the show keeps messing with us — answering questions, raising more, etc. LOVE IT!!!! I was cackling with glee at everything they threw at us last night. No other show can keep you guessing and thinking like LOST can. Keep on writing and talking about this show and just sit back and ENJOY the ride.
Did I see the same episode as everyone else? The opening segment was cool, but nothing interesting happened during the rest of the show. Jack’s backstory was boring. Luckily, it looks like things pick up next week. I think people were so desperate for a new episode that they are going wild for anything.
I’m disappointed they said Rodrigo Santoro was going to be in this episode and either a) he was briefly and I missed him or b) he wasn’t at all and they lied to us! Lied! Can’t wait for him…my eye candy has arrived. Oh yeah, and I’m happy Lost is back with new episodes.
I think the identity of Sarah’s friend is inconsequential. It all went to show Jack’s obsessive nature & his stubbornness. That was his story arc for this episode. All during the flashback he was obsessed with the answer to his big question; finally, when he had the opportunity to learn the answer, he realized the more important question wasn’t this little shred of knowledge, but is his ex-wife (and someone who he still clearly cares about) happy? That’s the question he should have been asking all along. Perhaps if he’d asked that earlier, it might’ve saved his marriage.
Walt was covered in water in the “vision”, and where’s Jack being held?
Also Henry said in season 2 finale, we are the good guys. Then bad guys must also be on the island. Henry and the others must also be telepathic or employee telepaths – i.e. the Jack Dossier and voices in the jungle.
Is the lady in this book club shot the doctor that was talking to Michael or Walt in the huts?
I think it would be cool if it turned out Sarah’s mystery man turned out to be Sawyer.
dude, isnt it something that the hatch had a record player while juliet had a cd player???????
abc.com’s photos of Wednesday’s episode also show a little girl sitting and watching over an unconcious Jack…presumably it was cut out. I’m thinking maybe one of the kids from Sarah’s school? Anyone else here notice it? It’s photo #33