Nestor Carbonell may not return to LOST

Nestor Carbonell, the actor who plays Richard Alpert, the “immortal” other, may not be able to return to LOST. He is going to be a regular in the new CBS series Cane. Jonathan Pryce, Cane’s producer, is willing to allow Nestor to do a guest spot for LOST. Jonathan even acknowledges that it would be good PR for his show. However, the network, in this case, CBS, is not willing to release him. I am attaching a copy the actual article wherein this topic is discussed.

Lost at CBS

A press tour perennial: anytime an actor who had a recurring role on a popular series joins the cast of a new show, they’re asked whether they’ll have a chance to appear from time to time on their old show. Inevitably, the answer is, “I’m so happy to be here on my new show, but if an opportunity to visit my old pals presents itself, I’d like to take it.” Even more inevitably, such a reunion doesn’t happen until/unless the new show gets canceled — especially if they’re on different networks.

Today’s contestant in this age-old game: Nestor Carbonell, who played Richard, a seemingly-immortal member of The Others on “Lost” last season, and is now a regular on “Cane,” CBS’ Cuban-flavored “Godfather” homage, with him as the Sonny Corleone figure in a family of rum and sugar magnates.

So, I asked, would he be able to go back to “Lost,” even just to solve the mystery of Richard’s well-preserved face? And would his “Cane” character age?

“You’d probably know the answer to that second one better than I would,” Carbonell laughed.

As for the first, he gave the stock answer to the question, but “Cane” producer Jonathan Prince acknowledged that it’s good PR for the show to have its actors appearing in other popular media, whether it’s a small role in a “Batman” film or hopping back to “Lost” for a quick guest spot. The ultimate decision, though, would be up to the network.

I tracked down the ultimate decider on that, CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler, and asked her whether she’d let Carbonell do a guest spot if the “Lost” producers asked.

“Probably not,” she said, arguing that they’re trying to establish a new show and a new character, and she felt it would confuse the audience to see Carbonell playing roles on two different series at once.

Left unanswered (and, admittedly, unasked): would Tassler consider it so confusing if “Lost” was also a CBS show?

Posted by Alan Sepinwall July 18, 2007 2:12PM

Alan Sepinwall can be reached at asepinwall@starledger.com

Source: The Star-Ledger

Exclusive Interview: William Mapother, from 'Lost'

From what I understand, there is a "Radio Silence" imposed by the producers of LOST. However, the actors are still able to give interviews, as many of them have no clue what Season 4 is about to bring, least of all, William Mapother, the infamous Ethan Rom. He, most certainly is not in the what-is-going-to-happen-in-Season-4 loop. So, BuddyTV.com has a great interview, which I am posting here for your enjoyment...


Interview conducted by Amy J. Johnston., BuddyTV Staff Writer
July 5, 2007

Of all the mysteries related to the ABC television behemoth Lost, one that may never be revealed is how someone as nice and engaging as William Mapother can play a character as duplicitous and sometimes terrifying as Ethan Rom on the show. Sure, our glimpses of Ethan in Juliet's flashbacks may soften his edges a bit. But there are few Lost fans out there who will ever forget the moment at the end of "Raised by Another" when Hurley tells Jack that there is one person who's name is not on the manifest – then we screen cut to Ethan with Charlie and Claire. Yikes!

This week, BuddyTV had an opportunity to talk to William Mapother in "his own skin," rather than Ethan's. In the interview, he talks about how he got into acting, getting the role of Ethan, as well as about the new show K-Ville, that is coming to Fox this Fall and on which he had a role in the pilot episode.

This is Amy Johnston, and I'm speaking with William Mapother, who many of you know as – well, he's played many roles, both on television and film, but we know him most recently from his work on Lost as the he-doesn't-like-you-to-call-him-evil Ethan Rom. He's also got some other guest work that we're going to talk about as well, so hello.

Hello, Amy.

I guess my first question is the "in the beginning" question – when did you first get into acting? Was it something that you always wanted to do? Or came upon by accident?

I was always interested in movies, and ex-girlfriends I have run into have told me in high school and college I used to drag them to every screening I could. But I never – I always imagined I'd be writing and directing, which I'm still interested in. But I took a few acting classes soon after college and went and worked as a P.A. in script development and taught high school. And I went back in on the periphery of the industry.

I moved to New York for awhile, and I took some acting classes there. And acting proved to be a lot more interesting and difficult and intellectually challenging than I had expected. And I got bit – I got bit by the bug. So I came back to L.A. and went to a two-year school and, knock on wood, I've been acting ever since.

Awesome. Now, I can't believe that I didn't know you were a Domer before.

The way you say that, it sounds like you've had some past experience with Domers.

I live very close to South Bend, so for those who don't know "Domers" are what you call a graduate of (the University of) Notre Dame. In fact, if you get a graduate degree, you are called a "Double Domer."

No, I'm not a "Double Domer" – just a regular Domer.

Do you ever get a chance to get back to Notre Dame? Do you ever go to football games or anything like that?

Oh, I do. Absolutely.

Do you really?

Oh yeah. Both my sisters went to Notre Dame as well, and my father did, so whenever we can we try to meet back for games. I'm still close to a bunch of guys I graduated with, so we try to coordinate schedules so that we get back for at least one game every Fall.

Oh, that's fantastic. You know, a car almost ran into The Linebacker.

Sure…oh, The Linebacker. The tales that inn could tell.

A car almost hit it. Almost ran into it.

What happened?

It was like a big news story. Oh, I have no idea. I'm sure it was late at night, and I'm sure there was no drinking involved.

That's almost as much an institution as the Dome and Touchdown Jesus.

Oh yeah, well it was. It was the big news on the TV for days.

That would paralyze South Bend, if they lost The Linebacker.

That would have been horrible.

For people that don't know The Linebacker, it's a little inn, very close to campus. And it's been a favorite place for students and has been in South Bend for a long time.

It's more like a dive.

It is a dive.

But it's a very historical dive.

It is a historical dive.

You have done many roles on both television and film. Do you prefer to do television over film, or film over television? Or is it all pretty much acting to you?

Well, it is all acting so far. There's been no point involved. But – they are not exactly the same. They each have their own advantages and disadvantages. And I feel about them the way a lot of actors do – look, I'm going to go where the jobs are and where the good roles are. So, I don't necessarily distinguish between them.

Film has the advantage of allowing you, generally, to delve a little more deeply into a character and have the opportunity to do more takes, because there's more time. Television has the advantage of allowing your work to appear sooner, because sometimes films can get shelved or take a couple of years to come out. And, you do television, you have the opportunity to explore a greater number of roles typically. Because film roles are fewer and far between.

So each has its advantages and I've had the good luck to have good roles in both.

You've taken advantage of both.

That's a way to say it.

Now, how did you come about getting the role of Ethan [Rom on Lost]?

That's an interesting story. In the Fall of 2002, I organized a reunion of my Notre Dame friends. We were going to rent a house on Lake Michigan, which is near campus, then go to a game that weekend. And the week before I was going to go back, I was called out of town and couldn't go and caught all kinds of abuse for it. So Fall of '04, I did the same thing. It's two years later, and they said, "You're going to make it this time?" And I said, "Absolutely. I put all this time into finding a place and organizing all of you clowns to go. I'm absolutely going to be there."

A week or two before my agent had said, "I'm working on this possible job for you." And I said, "Yeah, yeah, great, great." Because those things never come through. Well, on this given Thursday, I was supposed to fly east to Chicago, and meet all my friends. Wednesday morning, my agent calls me and says, "I got an offer for you for two episodes on this show Lost." I said, "I've never heard of it." She said, "It premieres tonight." I said, "I don't really want to." She said, "I'm telling you, it's supposed to be good." I can't pass up an opportunity for work, so I had to spend that afternoon, Wednesday afternoon, calling my friends and telling them I have to take this job on this show Lost. And of course, I caught all sorts of abuse.

So the next morning, instead of flying east to Chicago, I went west to Honolulu. My agent had proposed me to the casting director, and she had proposed me to J.J. [Abrams], who evidently recognized my work from In the Bedroom, a feature that had been out a couple of years earlier, and said, "That's the perfect guy. That's Ethan. Just bring him in for the show."

So I was lucky enough to get an offer for two episodes and then it has kind of rolled on from there. When I got on the plane the next morning, Lost had just premiered the night before, and it came out of the gate a huge hit. It was all over the papers and already a cult favorite. So I'm very lucky – I stepped on the train at just the right time.

Perfect timing. Have there been any reveals about Ethan since you first played him that have been surprising to you? Stuff that when you first played him, then later on you came back and you're a doctor.

I did not know that Ethan was a surgeon. I must have slept-walked through my medical training. That was a surprise to me.

Then all of your post-mortem appearances probably.

My post-mortems were obviously a surprise. When I first started, I didn't know anything about the Others or Dharma, and I had no idea I'd be participating in recruiting Juliet. Those were things I had no idea, and I don't believe any of the other actors did.

You'd have to ask Damon [Lindelof] and Carlton [Cuse] and the other writers how much they even knew about it. They know the direction they're headed, but how they're going to get there is something that they...

Play with along the way?

Play a little with along the way, exactly.

Have you been able to watch [Lost] fairly regularly?

Oh yeah. I'm a big fan. And that's part of the fun for me with the show. It's not always the case, when an actor is a fan of the show he's on. So while it's fun, at the same time it is a little bit odd for me to be participating in something and helping to create something that I also so much enjoy as an observer. Like, seeing yourself on the screen in an episode, I'm like "Get the hell off of there, Mapother! Let's let the other guys do their jobs so you can enjoy the show!"

"Where's Hurley? I don't wanna see Ethan!"

Exactly. "Get on with the action!" That's kind of the way I feel when my character comes on screen. In a way, it intrudes on my fandom. It's a very funny thing, to watch an episode with me. I cringe and I cheer and I yell. It's very fun.

So did you watch the Season 3 finale?

Oh absolutely.

So, the whole "flash-forward" thing, did that kind of freak you out?

Well, it surprised me, like it did a lot of people. I had no idea it was coming. I'm as interested as anybody else is in where it's going.

Did you think that Charlie's death was some sort of an "island justice" because he killed your character?

Oh Amy, that's cruel. I swear to you that had not crossed my mind.

Oh, but it has now!

But does that mean that - we've just seen Sawyer kill two people in cold blood. Does that mean in two seasons we're going to lose Sawyer?

Well, I don't know.

I'm just saying, if you take that and run with it, then well, I don't know.

I just thought that – there was so much with Dominic [Monaghan] coming off of Lord of the Rings and going to Lost. He had his own personal fan base. Then there was the "hanging of the hobbit" – which is what you did.

Wait a second, Amy. Sorry for interrupting, but I'm going to make the first correction of the interview – how do you know Ethan did that? Not only did it occur off-screen, but Charlie's never said that Ethan did it.

So he shot you because you took Claire?

Exactly.

And not because you tried to strangle him?

Well, he cared about it. It's not as if I refused him a stick of gum. But you remember how obsessed he was with Claire in that first season? And his flashback was about how he'd dropped the ball and had not been responsible previously in his life, before he got to the island. So, my taking Claire hit a little button on ole Charlie.

So you were just the button pusher?

I was the button pusher! I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Dr. Rom missteps. But just to clarify, I don't think its ever been made explicit that Ethan's the one who hanged Charlie.

You're just gonna keep telling yourself that.

Amy, Amy, Amy, Amy – feet on the ground, please! Please stay in touch with us here on Earth. You can only assert that which has been on-screen. That which you've seen.

And Lost is SO based in reality.

Well, if you're going to argue these things that occur off-screen, there's no end to it.

Well, there's gotta be some interpretation.

You can say, in your opinion – if you want to throw in those four, five syllables, I'll totally grant you that freedom. In Amy's opinion, Ethan's the one who hanged Charlie. Granted.

I'm sure I'm not the only one with that opinion.

There are a lot of people who believe George Bush is an alien. Does not make it any more true. I don't know. That's a different interview. Go ahead.

Obviously, K-Ville [new Fox TV show coming this Fall] has not premiered, but there have been previews and gee, you're in them.

Yes.

I don't know how much you can say about your character – I don't know if there is much. But was that actually filmed in New Orleans?

Yeah, we shot it in New Orleans. I hadn't been to New Orleans in a long time. We shot it in March, I believe. And it made me wish I had been in New Orleans more recently, specifically before [Hurricane] Katrina and then more recently after Katrina to help. It's a gem. It's an absolute gem. For anybody who hasn't been there, I strongly encourage them to go. It's one of America's most beautiful cities, and unlike any other city in America. Vastly different than the rest of ours.

So we shot it in New Orleans, and the story is actually set there. It's about two policemen, and one of them is trying to keep people in the city. You know, because so many people have left after the hurricane. And K-Ville refers to how some residents refer to it since Katrina. Katrina Ville.

My character is the head of security at a casino, and also part of…a security firm which has done some work for the Homeland Security Department and maybe the FBI. They've done some work in New Orleans; they've also done some work over in Iraq. He appears to be involved in some dealings that may not be "above-board," let's say.

I'm shocked.

You're shocked.

Completely shocked. But you know, I think it is one of the things that I've always loved about your work and the roles you do, because there is literally some kind of a switch. And I've met you in person and I've seen the switch "flipped" and it kind of freaked me out. You can be this totally normal, nice, easy-going guy and then SNAP. It's fantastic to watch.

But wait, when you met me in person, what do you mean you "saw it in person"? What did I…

Well, you attacked me with a pen.

I think for those who weren't there, I think there should be a little clarification.

It was at a fan party, and we were posing for a picture, and I said, "Pretend to attack me with the pen." And you did, and it was scary! Stop laughing at me!

I'm not laughing at you, Amy.

It made an impression, how's that?

I made an impression, that's fair enough. You know, this show Lost affects a lot of people, and my character happened to be in a certain way, again, in the right place at the right time, in terms of revealing the first person on the island who hadn't been part of the crash. You know, it made an impression on a lot of viewers. And particularly that "look" – the shot of me right before the end of that episode, when it was revealed that I wasn't on the manifest and then I took Claire and Charlie.

So, I'm certainly not laughing at you. It's only funny to me because, you know, I'm in my own skin and I'm not a violent, angry person. My friends and family say, "How do you play those sorts of roles?" It's only amusing that I can have that sort of effect on people.

Well, obviously it is benefiting you in the work department, so don't knock it.

It is. I'm lucky enough that I'm getting work that isn't entirely of that color.

Yeah, you definitely get both sides of the coin.

I did another pilot his year called Skip Tracer with Stephen Dorff and directed by Stephen Frears, who got nominated for directing The Queen. I played a small comic role as a brother who is fighting with his half-brother over their father's hat. Their father passed away and they are fighting over his father's prized possession – a hat from Bonanza. It was Hoss' hat – this big cowboy hat.

And I just finished one thriller, an indie thriller called Hurt, and I'm about to start a horror film set in the Old West called The Burrowers. That's going to be a lot of fun. We're starting in about a week in New Mexico. I play a guy who goes after some kidnapped settlers.

So, I'm fortunate enough to get a wide-range of roles, but you're right, people seem to trust that I can, how'd you put it, "snap" if necessary.

Bring the scary, pretty much is what you do. You bring the scary.

I "bring the scary" – that's funny. I'm going to give my agent that phrase. That's funny.

"William Mapother – he can bring the scary." I'm getting t-shirts. And bumper stickers.

Well, let me ask you...what attracts you to Lost? What do you like so much about Lost?

Even before the show started, I have been a huge J.J. Abrams fan. More specifically, I was a huge fan of Alias. The genius of writing – I'm a big fan of good, well-scripted shows that I can't predict what's going to happen. I have a very logical mind and I can watch a show and figure out what's going to happen before the end a lot of the time. Which is okay sometimes, but sometimes it gets kind of boring.

Yes.

I like when people break the rules – when they take you outside the box, and it's fun and enjoyable. That is something J.J. does – in spades. So I was already a big fan of J.J.'s before I came to the show, and have watched it since Day One. The acting is just absolutely amazing. The sets, the music – I mean, I'm just a big fan of it all around. I've been involved with the fandom and it is really some of the most dedicated fans, as well as some of the more overly-dedicated fans. There are some that can be really out there, but it's been such an amazing experience. The people who are involved in that show are just really some of the most outgoing, gregarious people you've ever met.

Yeah, they really are.

And I don't think all the fans appreciate that. I know I am part of a good little select few that get that. But those people love what they do, and don't ever think that they are going to give you something that isn't 100 percent of what they felt they could do.

Yeah, it really is a terrific group. Very dedicated, very talented, very professional.

Yes, very much so. Well, I don't want to keep you too long.

Not at all, I've enjoyed talking to you.

Well, I really appreciate you calling me, and like I said, I've met you in the past; I hope to see you again in the future. It's always a pleasure.

Well, thank you, Amy, I feel the same. Call me any time, and we can have a chat whenever you like.

Alright, well thanks for talking with me.

And I look forward to next season.

So do we all!

Bye. Thank you.

To listen to the interview, follow the link at the Source.

SOURCE: BuddyTV

‘Lost’ Star Andrew Divoff Reportedly Joins ‘Indy 4′

We don't know whether the character Mikhail Banukin, affectionately known as "Patchy" by LOST fans, is actually dead. He survived so many obvious deaths in the last few episodes of Season 3, that is actually quite possible that he will return sometime during Season 4. Being dead on LOST does not necessarily mean that you are not coming back as an actor to reprise your character either in a flashback, or in Andrew Divoff's character's case, the character is still actually alive. Banukin seems to be like a cat with nine lives, like the Eveready Energizer bunny, or even like a Timex watch: He takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Andrew Divoff, however, is not putting all his eggs in one basket. According to an article I just read in Cimetical.com, he will join the cast of Indy 4. Here's a copy of the actual article, which was posted Jul 4th 2007 12:31PM by Jessica Barnes:

So this latest Indiana Jones 4 news isn't exactly up there with the first picture of Harrison Ford in a fedora, but there is so much attention directed at the movie that we should just resign ourselves to reading every little update that comes our way. JoBlo is reporting that Andrew Divoff from TV's LOST has just signed on for an unnamed role. Since I don't have my flow charts with me, it is probably way too complicated to explain who Divoff plays on LOST, but let's just say he has some experience playing shadowy Russian types. So, his part in Indy just might be along those lines. The return of Indiana Jones has sparked a fan frenzy already with news of locations, casting, and things like the "will he or won't he" questions surrounding Sean Connery's return ... it's enough to exhaust anyone.The basics that have been reported are that Indiana Jones and the City of the Gods will catch up with our favorite bull-whip wielding archaeologist during the Cold War and pit him against some nefarious Soviets who are after alien technology. While details on the plot are being hidden like national secrets, there is plenty of speculation about the story focusing on the infamous spot of Area 51. The Las Cruces Sun-News had reported that the film was set to start shooting in Deming, New Mexico, and the production had constructed an Air Force base that has some striking similarities to the Area 51 of conspiracy lore. Since the assumption so far has been that the bad-guys in the film would mostly be Russian, one could safely assume Divoff is on board to play a baddie. This is hardly the last we are going to hear from the project though, so we'll keep the updates coming.

SOURCE: http://www.cinematical.com/

Michaelemerson.net is mentioned on radio

I created http://michaelemerson.net website, and it is mentioned in a radio show. In fact, Michael Emerson was interviewed when they mentioned it. Here's the link for you to listen:

http://www.prestonandsteve.com/audio/580.mp3

"The Greatest Hits" recap/review

Charlie’s Greatest Hits


#5. The first time I heard myself on the radio.
#4. Dad teaching me to swim at Butlins
#3. The Christmas Liam gave me the ring
#2. The woman outside Covent Gardens calls me hero
#1. The night I met you

Charlie was never a character that I paid much attention to. He was not my favorite, but neither did I hate him. Like Boone, as far as I was concerned, he was just there. There to help the story go along, but if he weren’t there, the story would go on anyway. So when I heard rumors that Charlie would die this season, I didn’t feel bad. If anybody needs to die in this show–although, I wish nobody had to–Charlie would be a good choice. Claire, had she not been Aaron’s mom, would be another character that I could deal to be without. Charlie’s death would cause a big buzz. The former hobbit has enough fans to mourn his passing onto Redemption Island.

This episode was a Charliecenric episode. We learned a bit more about Charlie that we did not know before. I found that as far as flashbacks were concerned, the way they were handled in this episode was just perfect. They were short and sweet. They definitely showed that it was Charlie’s’ memories that we were missing. It was not the long, drawn out flashback that bore us to tears when we witnessed yet another Jack flashback.

We start by seeing someone running like crazy in the forest, getting a canoe, and rowing out to sea. Then we see our castaways trekking through the fields where Jack shows them how they will be defending themselves: They will be dynamiting the tents in which Juliet will mark as the tents wherein the pregnant women are supposedly in and hence killing off the Others once and for all. (This would be the castaways way of doing a purge.) While trekking, Desmond seems to be getting a flash of the future. Charlie notices it, but when he questions Desmond, he denies it. In order to be able to detonate the Others, everyone will have to strip wires and attaching it to the dynamite. The whole procedure is to take about 20 hours. Plenty of time before the Others are to arrive.

The first time I heard myself on the radio
Our first flashback was Charlie remembering the day he first heard his “You all Everybody” song on the radio. The band seemed to be going nowhere, and suddenly there they were on the radio.

During island time he finds out that Naomi heard of him. When the plane wreckage was found, a huge deal was made out Charlie’s death. There even was a “Greatest Hits” album. I find that funny. Drive Shaft, a one-hit-only bad, had a “Greatest Hits” album.

Dad teaching me to swim at Butlins
Meanwhile on the island, Desmond once again foresees Charlie’s death. He is to drown while flipping an underwater switch that will enable Claire and Aaron to be rescued. First time in his life, Charlie does the selfless thing. He volunteers for the suicide mission. Apparently, signals to the outside world from an underwater hatch are being jammed by Ben. Charlie needs to switch to allow the signals from the island to reach the outside.

As Charlie remembers his past and jots down his memories on a piece of paper, we learn that he once was a champion swimmer, which started with his father teaching him how to swim while they were on vacation.

This flashback is strange. In season 1, Charlie told Jack that he was not able to swim. Desmond saved Claire because Charlie was going to drown if he were to save Claire. How could a champion swimmer not be able to save Claire? Also, Charlie’s father seems to b a caring man. Not the man we saw in season 2, “Fire and Water.” Did Desmond alter the future when he back into the past in “Flashes before Your Eyes”? Or was the future altered each time Desmond saved Charlie from death?

At the camp, the canoe peddler reaches the beach. It is Karl. Sayid captures him, but Sawyer vouches for him. Karl informs them that the Others are coming for them. Sawyer tells him that they already know. Then Karl tells them that they are not coming the next day; they are coming at night. There is no time to prepare.

Back at the Other’s campground, Ben comes back to the camp looking like a crazy loon. He moves up the schedule to attack the LOSTies camp. His daughter is no longer (if ever) is on his side. Ben is quite angry at her and gives her back her gun: The gun that she gave Locke hours before. Ben claims that Locke had an accident and starts assuming his leadership role. Alex goes to Karl’s hiding place and asks him to warn the LOSTies about the eminent attack.

The Christmas Liam gave me the ring
Charlie’s other great moment is the time his brother gives him the DS ring. DS stood for Dexter Stratton, their grandfather. I wonder whether we will learn more about him F
We find out that the ring is to stay in the family. Liam gives Charlie the ring, because Liam felt that he would not live long enough to pass it on to his child. The irony of it all is that Liam got sober and ended up a family man. Charlie became a drug addict, lost on an island without a family, had it not been for Claire and Aaron.

Just before Charlie is to leave with Desmond to face his suicide mission, Charlie leaves the ring to Aaron, by discretely leaving it inside Aaron’s crib.

The woman outside Covent Gardens calls me hero
We see Charlie buskin in London once again. The scene is similar to the one in Flashes before Your Eyes. However, Charlie is wearing another shirt, the location is slightly different, and Desmond is not there. It starts raining, and Charlie leaves the premise. As he walks away, he hears a woman crying for help in an alley. She is being attacked. Charlie fends the attacker off. She calls him a hero. She is also Nadia, Sayid’s girl.

Back on the beach, Desmond and Charlie are on their way to find the Looking Glass hatch. Hurley comes by and asks to go with Charlie. Charlie refuses him by saying that he is too big. Why are they constantly harping on Hurley’s weight? I think it is insulting to Jorge. I am insulted by the constant reminder that he is fat.

The castaways decide that as they cannot rig all the tents with TNT, they will rig 3 tents and shoot the tents to start the dynamite to explode. Bernard, Sayid, and Jin are elected to be shooters. Jack and Danielle are to lead the people to the radio tower. Charlie will flip the switch and Jack will use Naomi’s phone to call for help.

Hurley, holding onto Vincent’s leash, helps Claire to start the walk to the radio tower. Aaron smiles at Hurley. If Charlie is to die, will Hurley be his new surrogate father?

The night I met you
Out at sea, Charlie writes his last memory, his greatest hit. He remembers the day he met Claire right after the crash. She was pregnant and he gave her his blanket. That to him was his best memory. (And I cried like a baby.)

When Desmond finds the place the underwater hatch is, Charlie asks him to give the note he just finished writing to Claire. Desmond offers to go in his place. Charlie pretends to accept, knocks Desmond with an oar, and jumps into the ocean. He swims to the moon pool and realizes that he did not drown. He climbs onto the pier, and his happiness is burst as two women run out with guns in their hands aimed at him.

Save Now

Click on the picture to view the larger version.

Screen captures courtesy of michael.emerson.net

"The Man behind the Curtain" --A recap, review, and lots of questions.

Well, LOST and Michael Emerson did not disappointment me. What an episode this one was! What a wonderful, scary ride “The Man behind the Curtain” was.

The episode began with a woman screaming her head off. She was in premature labor, in the middle of a hiking trail with nobody around her but her husband. She delivers a healthy baby boy, whom she names Benjamin. Roger Linus, Benjamin’s father, manages to bring his bleeding wife and newborn son to the highway and he is helped by a wealthy couple driving a 1960 Karmann Ghia. The woman, Emily [more about that later (1)], magnificently played by Carrie Preston (Michael Emerson’s wife), dies shortly after giving birth inside the Karmann Ghia. The birth took just 32 miles outside of Portland. We now know that Ben was not born on the island. He lied about that.

At the Other’s campground, Locke brought his dead father’s body on his back. Ben was not pleased at that sight. (2, 3) He was also experiencing dissent among his people. The tape recorder was gone, but was not in Juliet’s possession as he thought it would be. Tom did not answer to his questions. Locke started insisting that as he did accomplish his part of the bargain by bringing his dead father to the camp, Ben should now fulfill his part of the bargain and take him to see Jacob. As much as Ben wanted to stall, John Locke would not allow it. This time Ben had no choice, but to keep his word.

In the flashback, about 10 years after Ben's birth, Roger and Ben arrive on the island via submarine. They are to be part of the DHARMA Initiative. Roger was hired to be a workman (a janitor), something the man resents. (For those of you who cannot remember it properly, Roger Workman was the skeleton that Hurley found inside the VW bus in the “Tricia Tanaka Is Dead” episode.)


At the beach, Sawyer shows the castaways the tape recorder that Locke gave him. They now had proof that Juliet was a mole. Upon being discovered, she told them that after she examined Sun, she told Jack what Ben was making her do. The LOSTies were surprised that Jack did not inform them. “It was time to catch up,” Jack said. However, he had a plan.

At the camp, Mikhail came running to tell Ben about Naomi’s arrival and the need to attack the LOSTies’ camp right away, Locke’s insistence to Ben to go see Jacob, and Ben’s insistence to Locke that he would need to wait, was resolved by Locke beating up Mikhail and by neither Tom, nor Richard helping despite Ben’s orders for them to stop the carnage.(4) Ben had lost his power among his people. He had only one recourse: To show everyone that Locke was not special. So he took Locke to see Jacob.

We find out that Roger was a lousy father, did not care for his son, was constantly drinking, didn’t care about his son’s education, and always failed to remember his own son’s birthday. And Roger’s word, “Kinda hard to celebrate on the day you killed your Mom. She was just seven months pregnant, we went for a hike, but you had to come early. Now, she's gone, and I'm stuck here on this Island, with you.” (No wonder Ben is messed up. He has daddy issues as well.)

When Ben arrived on the island, he was a quiet, weepy child, and always pining for his mother. He made a friend named Annie, who for his birthday carved two wooden dolls. One represented her, the other represented him. He also learned through Annie that the natives, who were known as hostiles, were people to fear. The DHARMA Initiative, which was created to find harmony, found hostility.

Ben’s pining for his mom enabled him to see her spirit come to him on the island. The first time he saw her was in his house, the second time was around the pylons. She told him not to follow her. It was “not yet time.”

Ben found the code to disable to pylons and used his pet rabbit to make sure that the pylons were turned off. As he ventured outside of their compound, he met up with Richard. Not a younger Richard, but the same-age-as-today Richard. The only difference was that Richard was wearing what we might call "pirate clothes." (5)

Upon some questioning, Richard found out that Ben was looking for his dead mother who did not die on the island and was communicating with Ben. This information was very important to Richard. It made Ben special, and his mother’s message of “not yet time,” told Richard to await Ben’s growth. Ben, who wanted to join the hostiles, had to wait patiently.

A few years have passed, Ben was now a young adult, and a “chatty Cathy” his father called him. The DHARMA education paid off. This young and shy child evolved into a confident young man. We learn that DHARMA, however, is a cast-system-based society. Ben, despite his great education, was now a workman, simply because his father was a workman.

Once again, it was Ben’s birthday, and Roger forgot. To make up for his faux pas, his father invited him to go drinking beer at the mesa together. Roger somewhat apologizes to Ben about forgetting his birthday. Roger is no longer bitter about his wife’s death. But it is too late. Ben murders him by placing a gas canister that inflicts a terrible death. Ben just sits there and watches his father die.

Meanwhile, we find out that this was the day of the purge. (6) A number of DHARMA Initiative people were killed off. The hostiles were wearing masks, so they were saved. We find out that Ben, not only is a murderer, but he is a mass murderer.

So, are we to believe that in order to be in the Other’s good graces, one must be able to kill one’s own father? So Kate should be a great candidate.

Ben takes Locke to see Jacob. Just before he goes, he and Locke stop at a brook to fill up their canteen. Alex shows up and tells him that as he is going to see Jacob who should take the gun that she gives him. Ben is obviously stunned and angry. Alex in a snide remark wishes him a happy birthday. (7)

The cabin that Jacob lives in is dilapidated and surrounded by a mysterious powder that Ben made sure to skip over. Upon entering the cabin, Locke sees nothing but run-down furniture. Ben is talking to Jacob, but there was nobody sitting on the chair. Locke sees Ben as a pathetic man who was grasping at straws. Just as he was about to leave the shack, Jacob speaks to John by saying, “Help me!” Ben can’t hear Jacob. Locke, thinking that Ben was the one saying the words, asks him what did he say, and attempts to repeat what he heard when Ben denies saying anything, Jacob starts making a rumpus to make a disturbance. He throws the lantern that Ben brought in on the floor, smashing it to pieces and creating a small, contained fire. During these events, we see Jacob for a fleeting moment. Ben, who was not able to hear Jacob as Locke was able to, is now thrown aside by Jacob. Sadly, Ben realizes that he is no longer the favored son. (8)

Locke runs out of the cabin somewhat shaken up. Ben follows a few moments later and he hangs a now-completely recovered (as if it was never broken) lantern on the hook outside the house.(9)

Ben upset with Locke being the favored one now, takes Locke to the mass grave wherein all the bodies of those he killed a number of years ago. Ben tells Locke that he is not a native son, and then shoots Locke. He asks Locke to tell him what Jacob had said to him. When he heard that it was ‘help me,’ he tells Locke that he hopes that Jacob helps him, and walks away. (10)

Final thoughts

Terry O’Quinn and Michael Emerson are just great together. I hope that the powers to be do not kill either character off in the near future. They have a gold mine in their hands with these two seasoned actors. They definitely steal the scenes when they are among other actors, but together, they are so good. Neither one upstages the other. Both just compliment each other. If I had my druthers and I was a director, I would cast those two on Broadway on a revival of the Odd Couple. I would love to see them both weaving their magic in front of the audience: Terry as Oscar and Michael as Felix. Maybe one day my dream will come true.

Questions

(1) Not only was "Emily" Ben's mother's name, it was also John Locke's mother's name. Both women did not raise their children. Is Ben a mirror image of John Lock? Is he the evil and Locke the good one? Is it the case of black and white stone, ying and yang?

(2) Would Ben feel differently had he known that Locke did not kill his father?

(3) Would Ben get angry had he found out that Richard helped Locke find a loop-hole in his performing patricide?

(4) Why did Tom and Ben let Lock beat up Mikhail?
(5) Was Richard an original member of the Black Rock boat? Why didn’t he age?

(6) When did the purge occur? Could it have occurred about 16 years ago? That was about the time that Alex was born and the time that Danielle described the sickness. Could they have been affected by the poison gas? Danielle and her crew were not near enough to the actual massacre, but some poison may have crept over to their quarters.

(7) What is with Alex? Why is she so against Ben? Is it because the dislikes her boyfriend? Why does she have daddy issues? Was Ben a lousy father? It looked as though, like Locke, she was not able to do her own dirty work. Hence, she was almost begging for Locke to do it for her. Is patricide on of the major issues in LOST?

(8) Why is Ben no longer the favored son? Is Ben holding Jacob hostage to enable him to rule over the Others?

(9) What is with the lantern? How did it get to be fixed? Was it course correction? Did the past get altered to save the future?

(10) Is Locke dead? Probably not. Maybe Jacob will help him. He was shot in the kidney area, and guess what? Locke’s daddy stole his kidney. Locke should be fine.

There are still many questions left to answer. LOST is still going strong. Next week’s episode is “Greatest Hits,” a Charliecentric episode.

Source for photos: Michael Emerson Web Site

Click on the pictures to view the larger versions.

Lost has an end date

One mystery solved: 'Lost' to end in 2010

Enlarge ABC What's Sawyer's fate?: Three seasons for Josh Holloway and company. By Gary Levin, USA TODAY The end is in sight for ABC's acclaimed island mystery Lost, but fans will have to wait until 2010 for all the answers. In a highly unusual move, the network announces plans today to end the show after three more shortened seasons of 16 episodes each. The episodes will air consecutively, repeat-free, from February to May. ABC's bold step marks a response to the show's producers, who have been eager to set a finish line to better plot out their convoluted mystery of plane-crash survivors and to placate fans who are frustrated that the show seemed to be vamping its way to a conclusion. "Among fans there was an unease that they were making an investment in a show that's complicated without any sense of where that's going to lead them," co-creator Damon Lindelof said in an exclusive interview. "From the very beginning, fans and even critics have been saying, 'Are you making it up as you go along?' " which was "a legitimate question." Now, with a still far-away ending in sight, Lindelof says he and executive producer Carlton Cuse have "specific designs for ending the next two seasons" and promises that with the answer-filled season finale May 23, viewers "will begin to get an idea of what that design will be, and it will not be at all what they expect." The finale completed filming in Hawaii on Saturday, a day after Lindelof and Cuse signed new contracts that will keep them working on Lost exclusively for the duration. With 48 more episodes due, the show will have completed 60% of its planned six-season run. "It's practically unprecedented in network TV to announce the end of a show this far out," Cuse says. ABC Entertainment president Steve McPherson says the unusual long-term commitment is "a unique situation" he would be unlikely to repeat for other series. "It's one of the best shows that's ever been on," he says. "It's got brilliant storytelling, incredible character work, and takes chances beyond anything that's on the air now." With Desperate Housewives, Lost re-energized ABC in fall 2004 and became a top 10 series. But after two time-slot switches, interruptions for low-rated repeats and a mystery that tried the patience of some fans, Lost has lost some steam. Ratings are down about 14% this season, though Lost still ranks highly among young adults and is the most heavily recorded show on DVRs. McPherson concedes that splitting the current third season in two "was not the best for the show" and says the network also is discussing a return to an earlier time slot to draw more family viewership. Shorter seasons will allow plots to be more tightly constructed and "will make it a real event," Lindelof says. "We won't have to do episodes where people are standing on the beach looking at the water and wondering what's going to happen next." Will Lost risk losing fans' interest with an eight-month lag? "People wait longer than eight months for the next books and films in the Harry Potter story and they don't seem to lose interest," Cuse says. "We have faith that our audience, knowing exactly how much of the story we have left, is going to be with us for the rest of the ride." But, Lindelof says, "the last five minutes of (this month's) finale are going to seal our fate." SOURCE: USA Today

Interview With Lost's Michael Emerson

I guess that, since THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN is a Bencentric episode, we will be seeing a lot of interviews with Michael Emerson and some with Carrie Preston. Here's one with Michael....

Friday, May 04, 2007

Interview With Lost's Michael Emerson

I always thought Michael Emerson was a good actor and a great villain ever since he joined the cast of "Lost" as Ben Linus, leader of The Others.

But Emerson is a better actor than I thought. If you expect him to be creepy and evil like his alter ego, you couldn't be more wrong — he's a very pleasant fellow with a good sense of humor.

I spoke with Emerson because his wife, Macon-born actress Carrie Preston, will appear in the May 9 episode of "Lost," in which she plays Emily, the mother of the Ben character in a series of flashbacks.

But I took advantage of the opportunity to speak to Emerson about what it was like to be a member of the cast of one of TV's most talked-about shows, especially since he started out as a guest star whose part grew and grew.

Emerson got the role in part because of his Emmy-winning work in 2001 on "The Practice."

Though Preston was reluctant to do an interview initially because she was worried she might reveal too much of what happens, Emerson was more comfortable talking about the show, although he said revealing something is also in the back of his mind.

"It's hard to tell," he said. "I'll say something, then I always wonder, 'Can I say that?' But I've never heard of a big reveal anywhere."

Perhaps part of the way the producers of the show ensure its secrecy is by keeping the rest of the cast as in the dark as the viewers. Emerson said he and the other stars have no idea what is coming up next, and often spend as much time trying to figure out the show's meaning as do the fans.

"It's very much a mystery to the cast," he said. "We only know what is going on when we get the script in our hands. We don't know what is going to happen in two or three or four episodes. The writers might give you a clue, but they tease you with it. They'll say something cryptic like 'Be ready for a big change.' You get greedy to get your hands on a script, because you want to see if you live or die."

Death has been a big part of the series during its three seasons, killing off castaways Boone, Shannon, Mr. Eko, Ana Lucia, Libby and Arzt. TV Guide is reporting four more deaths this season on "Lost" following the killing of Locke's father this past Wednesday night. Is Emerson worried about Ben's survival?

"Luckily, the season finale is pretty much in the can," he said with a laugh. "Anyone who is alive in the finale will probably live on into next season."

Just because the finale is shot, however, doesn't mean that what will happen still isn't a mystery to Emerson. He said only the actors involved in the final scene know how the season ends for sure - the rest of the cast has a blank page on their scripts.

"Only the regulars involved know," he said. "We're sitting around trying to figure out what is going on. I can say there is a big revelation in the final episode this season, but only the actors involved have seen it. I'm going to have to tune into the season finale!"

Emerson and Preston met 12 years ago working in a production of "Hamlet" together as part of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. As a couple, they worked together in "29th & Gay," which Preston directed, and "Straight-jacket." Other movies Emerson has done include "Saw," "Unfaithful," and "The Laramie Project." On the TV side, he has had guest roles on "Law & Order: SVU," "Without a Trace" and "The X-Files."

Emerson said he and most of the cast try to avoid reading the various Web sites and message boards devoted to "Lost."

"I think most of the cast tries to keep their distance from that," he said. "It kind of blurs the boundaries a little bit. If you go there, you have to use your e-mail address, and suddenly you're a pen pal to the world. It raises some privacy issues. Most of us have friends who check on things.

"One of the reason I don't look at the chat spaces is that even if you look at just one, it can be annoying or discouraging. There might be a thread saying, 'Is Michael Emerson the second- or third-ugliest man on TV?' Who needs to hear that?" Emerson added with a laugh.

The only problem with Emerson's success on "Lost" is that it ties him up for long periods of time, making it difficult to do other work.

"It's interesting to have a stable job after having an unusual life as a gypsy actor," he said. "The show shoots in the mid-Pacific, away from other opportunities. It's all 'Lost,' all the time. It's a little bit of a tradeoff."

But for Emerson, playing Ben has its own rewards. Even though the character is shrouded in mystery, he is able to take a straight approach into playing him.

"I'm surprised such a thing has happened for me," he said of Ben's popularity. "I knew it was a good character from the first time I read it. But I was surprised the way he took off.

"(The writers) came up with a good thing, because they had not put a face on the enemy. It was something people craved. ... I play pretty much everything straight. The story is the context on how they apply the mystery."


SOURCE: http://tvguymacon.blogspot.com/2007/05/interview-with-losts-michael-emerson.html

Carrie Preston, Michael Emerson's wife, to play his mother on LOST

Well, it's official Carrie Preston will play Ben's mother in "The Man behind the Curtain," the Bencentric episode of LOST.


Posted on Fri, May. 04, 2007

Macon native to guest star on 'Lost'

By Phillip Ramati - pramati@macontel.com

Actress Carrie Preston, above, will play the mother of Ben, her real-life husband's character on the show 'Lost.'

Once, while hanging out with her husband, actor Michael Emerson of the hit TV series "Lost," Carrie Preston joked that a good part for her would be playing his character's mother.

The Macon-born actress got her chance and will appear in Wednesday's episode.

Emerson said Preston's "Lost" appearance came from an off-the-cuff suggestion.

"Carrie sent a wish to the universe, and like so many of her wishes, it came true," Emerson said. "She joked that she wanted to play the part of my mother in a flashback. There was never a formal pitch or anything. I might have mentioned it at a party or something, and maybe a keen producer heard it, and lo and behold, it was something they already had on their mind."

Because of the nature of "Lost," which features episodes full of plot twists and big revelations, Preston is close-mouthed about details of her appearance.

"I'm sworn to secrecy," she said.

Wednesday's episode revolves around Emerson's character, Ben, the leader of the mysterious "Others" who live on the island with the show's castaways. One of the series' hallmarks is flashback sequences that provide background information about the show's characters.

Preston appears as Ben's mother, Emily, but didn't have scenes with her husband. Instead, she's in scenes with another actor who is playing the part of the young Ben.

Preston said although they don't share any scenes in next week's "Lost" episode, they've shared them before.

"We shot a movie called 'Journey' and one called 'Straight-Jacket,' we did a commercial, we've done two productions of 'Hamlet,' " she said. "It's fun being on the same call sheet as him."

It was playing Ophelia in "Hamlet" 12 years ago at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival where Preston, a Central High School graduate, met Emerson, who was playing Guildenstern. Preston went to work with the festival after attending Juilliard because her brother, actor John Preston, also was in the cast.

Since then, Preston has worked on a wide range of theater shows and television series, including guest-star roles on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Arrested Development" and "Numb3rs." She also has worked in movies such as "The Stepford Wives," "Transamerica" and "The Legend of Bagger Vance."

For an actor, the difference between a guest-star role and a regular role in a TV series can be a mixed bag. On one hand, as a guest-star, Preston can work on a variety of projects. But being a series regular means steady work, which is what Emerson now enjoys with his "Lost" role that grew out of a guest appearance.

"We're gypsies," Preston said. "We go where the work is."

Emerson won an Emmy in 2001 for his guest-starring work on "The Practice." That led to his work on "Lost."

Emerson's character initially was only supposed to appear in a few episodes, but he grew to be very popular among "Lost" fans, and his contract was extended. Finally, Emerson became a cast regular this season.

Preston spends a lot of time at airports these days, commuting among three residences in New York, Los Angeles and Hawaii.

She's currently at the Miami Film Festival, where she will show her short film "Feet of Clay."

Preston said she's been living in Los Angeles to be closer to Emerson, even though she considers New York her home.

"We see each other every two or three weeks," she said.

During the next few months, Preston is preparing to shoot a movie in San Diego called "Ready? OK" about a boy who wants to become a cheerleader, and she has a part in a still-untitled Woody Allen film to be shot in Barcelona this summer. Preston said she visits her family in Macon on a regular basis, including her parents, Pam and Ray Preston.

When she isn't acting, Preston also works as a director. Her film "29th & Gay" was shown at the Macon Film Festival last year, and she is hoping to adapt a play called "Girl Talk" into a movie.

Preston remains coy about whether she will have another "Lost" appearance.

"Anything's possible on that show," she said with a chuckle. "It'd be really fun if I could."

SORCE: Macom.com

D.O.C.

This episode begins with Sun working on her garden. She is approached by Jack, who asks her about her pregnancy. Sun is suspicious of Jack’s intentions. Even though he is a doctor, before he was kidnapped, Jack had no such concerns with the castaway’s health. He never approached them, they had to approach him. Does Jack know about the fact that pregnant women die on the island? Is he, as Juliet is, working for Ben? I wouldn’t put it past that Ben promised Jack that he would get off the island if he cooperated with whatever instructions Ben gave him. As far as I have seen, Jack has been acting suspiciously ever since he helped Ben get better. (Question: Why is Jack wearing red shirt lately? Is he next to go? Are the creators playing a joke on us?)She is approached by Jack, who asks her about her pregnancy. Sun is suspicious of Jack’s intentions. Even though he is a doctor, before he was kidnapped, Jack had no such concerns with the castaway’s health. He never approached them, they had to approach him. Does Jack know about the fact that pregnant women die on the island? Is he, as Juliet is, working for Ben? I wouldn’t put it past that Ben promised Jack that he would get off the island if he cooperated with whatever instructions Ben gave him. As far as I have seen, Jack has been acting suspiciously ever since he helped Ben get better. (Question: Why is Jack wearing red shirt lately? Is he next to go? Are the creators playing a joke on us?)

We are taken to Sun’s flashback. She is a newly wed who is approach by a stranger who threatens divulge the secret that Jin’s mother was a prostitute. She blackmails Sun to give her $100,000.00 to keep this secret quiet. To make a long story short, Sun finds out where Jin’s father lives and visits him. She finds out that, indeed, Jin’s mother was a prostitute and his father was not even sure that he was the biological father. One thing that I found that Jin, more than likely, except for his shame for having a fisherman for a father, must not have many, if any, father issues. The elderly Kwon seemed to be wise and nice.

At the beach, we encounter Desmond, Hurley, Charlie, and Sun trying to figure out who the woman parachutist is. She moans in Spanish that she is dying and, Hurley, being of Mexican descends understood it. They found that a branch cut into her lungs, and she was slowly dying. Hurley accidentally fires off a flare gun that the parachutist had in her backpack. The flare attracts none other but Mikhail, whom we thought to be dead after his encounter with the security system around Othersville. Desmond has no idea who the man is, but Hurley and Charlie inform him that Kate had told them where Mikhail lived and that he was killed by the security system.

Mikhail, after kung-fu fighting with Jin, promises to fix the injured woman if he is allowed to leave afterwards. The woman starts talking in Italian that she is dying. Mikhail understands her and translates it to Desmond. As far as I could tell, it seemed to me that Mikhail was awaiting the flare gun. Could it be that the parachutist was expected?

Meanwhile, Sun finds out from Juliet that pregnant women on the island die before giving birth. Juliet offers the possibility of some hope. She is to follow her to the medical station. Sun informs Julie that she heard from Claire and Kate that the station was empty. A beautiful way to show the fans that, yes, indeed the castaways do communicate among each other. First, we find such information from Hurley and Charlie and now Sun. There have been complaints that the castaways seem clueless and don’t seem to be communicating with each other, as they would have done had the story been real. So, once again, the creators give a nod to the audience. The interactivity among the producers and the fans is just one of the many things that makes me absolutely love this show.

Juliet tells Sun that Kate and Claire did not know where to look. All the furniture that was used to lure Claire was hidden away. Juliet informs Sun that the woman were brought to the station to die. Sun, however, may have hope. If her baby was conceived off the island, she will not die. If the baby was conceive on the island… that bridge would be crossed when needed.

Sun was sure that the baby was conceived off the island, as Jin was declared to be sterile. Juliet, unfortunately, informed her that the sperm count of males on the island was five times that of males off the island. Jin may not bee infertile.

We are given some more hints regarding the powers of the island. Mikhail’s uniform is caked with dried-up blood. He was badly injured by the security system. Now, we don’t know whether he did indeed die. No one checked his pulse when the security system perforated his ears. My hunch tells me that he was injured, but he healed.

In fact, after Mikhail saved the parachutist life, he did tell them that she would heal in one day. Charlie was stunned at the news, but Mikhail told him that “On this island, the rules are a bit different.”

While Mikhail was removing blood from the parachutist lungs, she whispered in Portuguese that she was not alone. Mikhail translated it that she had thanked him. Now why would she divulge this secret? Did she want to warn Mikhail? Did she give some vital information to Mikhail to take to the Others?

Meanwhile during Sun’s flashback, we find out that Jin was just a simple floor manager in her father’s company. However, because she asked her father for the $100,000.00 she needed for the blackmail money, he decided that from then on, Jin was to work for him. In essence, it was Sun’s desire to protect Jin that caused the rift in her marriage. Either way, she was damned if she did; and damned if she didn’t.

Juliet informed Sun that she conceived on the island. She was doomed to die. Although Sun was happy that the baby was Sun’s, ironically he would never be a father. Sun would more than likely die before the second trimester of her pregnancy ended.

Although, Juliet seemed genuinely concerned for Sun. She seemed to be on Sun’s side. However, when Sun was not looking, Juliet sends a tape-recorded message to Ben regarding Sun’s pregnancy. She informed him that more information will be forthcoming about the other women on the island, especially Kate Austen. Juliet does whisper after she turns the tape recorder off that she hates him, nonetheless, at this time, it is hard to decide whose side Juliet is on—probably on her own side. She wants to be off the island so badly, that she will do anything at all. Is that what Jack is doing as well? Only time will tell.

Had not the title of the previous episode been “Catch 22,” it could have been used for this one. Sun, as Desmond, faced a catch-22 situation. She is damned if Jin is the father of the child, and she is damned if the father of child is not Jin. She would have been damned if she didn’t give the money to the blackmailer; and she was damned for giving the money to Jin’s mother.

I could end my recap here, but I would cheat my readers of one of the best ending lines so far. While the parachutist was recuperating, Hurley informed her that he was a survivor of Oceanic flight 815 from Sydney to Los Angeles. “Not possible,” she said, “They found the plane; there were no survivors.” To this Hurley says, “What?” He was so stunned that he didn’t even say “Dude.”

So how can we account for her statement? Well there are a few possibilities. One possibility might be that LOST may be dealing with different parallel time lines. I would like to interject my theory.

Flight 815 was not supposed to have crashed on the island, but it was not supposed have reached its destination either. According to the pilot, just before the smoke monster killed him, the plane was 1,000 miles off course. They were not on the way to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, Desmond did not press the button on time. The plane was drawn into the island by its magnetic field. The fake crash was already set up for the press. Whether I am right or wrong, we won’t know for a few weeks or months. We shall see.

Next week’s episode is “The Brig,” a Lockecentric episode.

Addendum:

My crackpot theory

The killer of the babies and mothers is not the island, but the supercharged sperms that the men on the island produce. Because Jin was sterile, Sun is safe. Jin's sperm became of normal count. Sawyer, however, is now supercharged and his sperm may kill Kate. Now, there is a another possibility to this theory that would save Kate. The women on the island had older uteri. Maybe Kate, being younger is still safe.