Revisiting Lost’s Third Season: Episodes 8-11
We’re hitting the calm before the storm here with this batch of episodes. We’re on our way off the second island, Sawyer and Kate are going back to camp, the seeds are being planted for Desmond and Charlie, and Hurley finds his van. There is one episode in this group that most Lost fans seem to believe is the worst episode of the season. They’re probably right.
Episode 8 – Flashes Before Your Eyes
The Desmond episode. The writers decided to buck the typical formula in this episode by bookending an extended, uninterrupted Desmond flash back with minimal on-island action. This was by far the longest flash back in the history of Lost, and if you wanted any more evidence as to how important a character Desmond really is, this episode is all you need. Desmond saves Claire from drowning when he should have had no idea she was drowning and, suspicious, Charlie gets him drunk so he’ll spill the beans. We then see what Desmond saw after he turned the key in the hatch – a day in his life while with Penny. However, was it a flash back? From what I’ve read, the Lost producers have said that Desmond actually time-traveled in this episode. If that’s the case, I don’t like it. And, it doesn’t make much sense. If it was his subconscious, all the hidden imagery (on Penny’s father’s painting, for example) makes a helluva lot more sense. The kicker is in the end, and it may include the best final line from any episode this season. Explaining why he knew about Claire and why he knew to create the lightning rod, Desmond tells Charlie that he was saving him. “Charlie, you’re going to die.”
Rating: 7/10
Enjoyable episode, though I suspect it might have been a long-winded way of setting up Charlie’s eventual death.
Episode 9 – Stranger in a Strange Land
Everyone hates this episode. I guess the reason is that nothing all that substantial goes down. The on-island stuff isn’t half bad, with Jack and Ben working to save Juliet’s life, the introduction of Isabel, and Sawyer giving Karl a pep talk that begins with a hard punch in the shoulder. But, the flash back is where people have problems. Bai Ling plays Achara, a secretive Thai lady living in Phuket, who strikes up a relationship with Jack while he’s on vacation. She’s secretive about her work, but we eventually learns she’s a tattoo artist, but not a normal one. She can “see into people” and tattoos what she sees, or some crap like that. It’s annoying and pointless, especially after Jack forces her to give him a tattoo and is beat up by Thai thugs as a result. Worst overall episode of the season.
Rating: 4/10
A scantily clad Bai Ling can’t save an episode where not all that much happens.
Episode 10 – Tricia Tanaka is Dead
I kind of have a love-hate relationship with Hurley. Sometimes he’s nice to have around, sometimes he’s worthless to the point of frustration. I enjoyed this episode, mostly because it was a happy one after a whole bunch of really intense, often sad ones. Hurley finds an old Dharma VW bus and decides he will resurrect it. He enlists the help of Jin first, and then Sawyer (who has just returned) and finally a depressed Charlie. Sawyer finds beer, Jin works on his English and Hurley gets the victory he needs so bad. They push the bus down the hill and Hurley pops the clutch just in time to save he and Charlie’s lives. I loved having Sawyer back in camp with some other foils around to work off of. It had been a while. Hurley’s back story was endearing, especially with Cheech as his father. I love the song “Shambala” that is featured too, which helps.
Rating: 8/10
What felt like a superfluous episode when it aired was an excellent set up for the finale. Also, big ups for the meteor (or asteroid) hitting Mr. Cluck’s.
Episode 11 – Enter 77
Eye patch guy finally shows up in the flesh as Mikhail, an Other who poses as a Dharma worker. Kate, Locke and Sayid (a pretty bad ass, no nonsense trio) enlist Rousseau to help them search for The Flame, another Dharma station where Mikhail stands guard. They find it, Sayid is shot in the arm, Mikhail engages the trio in a battle of wits, and then they attack. Another Other is in the basement of the Flame, Locke plays some chess and discovers Dharma’s former connection to the outside world, and after a standoff, the other Other is dead, Mikhail is taken prisoner and Sayid owns a map to the barracks, where he assumes the Other’s camp is located. Mikhail assures them that he will attack when he gets the chance and everyone wants Sayid to kill him, but…Sayid’s flash back explains why he won’t. I always love when the flashbacks show clear reasons for on-island behavior. Sayid is in Paris, working as a chef, when he is recruited by the husband of one of Sayid’s former torture victims. She shows mercy on him in the end. It’s emotional stuff from Naveen, and it reminded me how little he was utilized over season three. Let’s hope he gets more screen time in season four.
Rating: 8/10
Mikhail is an awesome character, and the stuff inside the Flame was great.
Great stuff here Oscar, although I have to wholeheartedly disagree with you on the episode “Flashes Before Your Eyes.” It had two of the most incredible twists in Lost history. One of the biggest WTF moments in Lost was when Mrs Hawking reveals that she somehow knows Desmond is supposed to go to the island instead of buy the ring. Add to that: “you’re gonna’ die Charlie,” and an overall plot that became the first game changing episode of Season 3, and you’ve got one of the best episodes of Lost thus far. I may be bias because Desmond is my favorite character, but I think many would agree that “Flashes Before Your Eyes” is a definite 9/10 if not 10/10.
Comment by roomforhuman — January 4, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
Oscar, how much Mr. Jack Daniels was on board for this set of eppys? Cause you are missing some MAJOR stuff!
Most Losties thing FBYE was a HUGE Lost event that threw everything up in the air again.
SISL Actually, quite a bit happened in the episode. Cindy and the kids from the Tailsection are alive, and quite happy living with the Others. The Others have a judicial system. Jack and Juliet are now marked in exactly the same way–You’re not one of us. Jack has continued to seek external validation, now through mysticism–and in fact is so desperate for it that he hits a girl to get her to give it to him. I’m not going to recap the entire episode–that’s your job? LOL But less Jack Daniels will only help.
TTID was mainly about hope.
E77–You’re missing so much from the FB!!!
Comment by KeepingAwake — January 4, 2008 @ 5:29 pm
I don’t know how Tricia Tanaka could get a better rating than Flashes, which for my money was a top 10 episode of the entire series. And vital to the overall plot of Season 3. Also, why would the time travel not make sense?
Comment by JEM — January 4, 2008 @ 5:35 pm
Believe me, I love FBYE and the first time I saw it I thought it was spectacular. I assumed that he never actually went back in time, but it was just a enhanced dream while knocked out. I like it better that way and it felt like a dream - disjointed, bizarre logic, lots of imagery. Now that I’ve been told it wasn’t a dream and Desmond indeed traveled time for a couple days, I don’t get it. Wouldn’t Charlie recognize him, or wouldn’t Desmond at least ask if Charlie was singing on that street corner on that day to verify whether he actually traveled time? There are two many coincidences too - like all of the ads in the soccer stadium and Dharma filled painting from Penny’s father.
Comment by Oscar — January 4, 2008 @ 5:44 pm
I know these are just your opinions, but after 11 ridiculous ratings, I can’t take these reviews seriously anymore. I mean, you’re missing SO MUCH information from all of these episodes and judging them purely on face value. It’s getting annoying.
Sure, a lot of people hate Stranger in a Strange Land, though, in my opinion, it’s the most underrated LOST episode, but to give it a 4/10 just for, as you said, having bad flashbacks is kind of, well, absurd.
Another thing, you give little to no reasoning for why you gave Flashes Before Your Eyes such a low rating. However, you got the ending line completely wrong, which you should know based on how much you LOVE it, so I figured you didn’t know what you were talking about.
Comment by Upset Fan — January 4, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
Oscar I’m not sure who has been watching Lost longer you or I, for the sake of full disclosure I have to admit I didn’t start watching until after ABC started airing repeats of the first season. When ABC decided that showing all the episodes wasn’t all that important I decided to wait for the first season DVD to come out. I watched the entire thing in two days totally shunning my social life. I lent them to my ex to watch when we broke up she kept the set.
I did the same thing for season two last year only I rented the DVDs that time. So for Christmas this year I used some gift certificates I received and bought all three seasons. I then watched them. But I’m a fanatic though, although I’m a quiet one; I don’t post and I keep my theories to myself. In my social circle I’m the only Lost fan so that probably contributes to my silence, plus I’m not really big into message boards.
Now I’m saying all this because in your introduction to this series of articles I got the impression that you were treating this project of watching a single season as a chore. That bothered me, but, I figured I’d just let sleeping dogs lie since this is your soapbox. Granted season three was a little mishandled: Nikki and Paulo, the Cages, the “Rattlesnake in the Mailbox” being leaked (although I have to say even though I didn’t read the spoilers within the first 5 minutes of that episode I figured it out, although when Jack told the pharmacist that his father had filled the prescription I thought I had been wrong), Mr Eko’s undignified death. But FBYE was undoubtedly in my opinion the best episode of the year and is in my top five favorite episodes of the entire series (If I hadn’t figured out the twist too early TTLG would have been my favorite of the year).
If you don’t think that Desmond actually traveling back in time makes sense then I must ask the question does any of this series make sense to you. You talk of all the hidden imagery only being logical if he was having a dream (not your words), then what kind of sense does it make that Hurley was on a TV screen winning the lottery in Korea, or that Christian is Claire’s father, or that Shannon’s father was killed by the future ex Mrs. Sheppard. What kind of sense does it make that there is a giant ship in the middle of a jungle, or a seemingly intelligent mass of black smoke. If in your opinion the only logical conclusion to the series is that the whole show is nothing more Vincent’s dream maybe you ought to be on a St. Elsewhere blog.
What is the scientific explanation behind Desmond pulling a Doc Brown when he turned the failsafe? I’m not sure and frankly I don’t think that Darlton will ever tell us, but it really doesn’t matter. For whatever reason turning that key created a loop and Des was forced (I’m pretty sure about this) his entire life not just what we saw. Now obviously I’m getting into one of my theories which is something I didn’t want to do and if anyone is interested at all in it I’ll gladly post, I think what your real problem with FBYE really is is that it was experimental, When season two came out with “The Other 48 Days” I loved it and was fascinated by it until the last three minutes or so of that episode, I now feel betrayed by that episode as it seems like it was a total waste of time to included the tailies at all since only two of them are still living and neither of them more than occasionally seen. But some how I can’t see them making the same mistake twice. Yes, character wise the episode turned out to be more important to Charlie then to Des but I think that is one of the shows strong points to be able to plant seeds that last seasons and even longer such as Adam and Eve. I’m sorry for rambling and thank you if you did indeed take the time to read this post.
Comment by jojo323 — January 5, 2008 @ 1:34 am
Jojo323, the Desmond thing, I think, isn’t really even worthy of discussion. We have to wait. If it is resolved, then great. My only thing about the time travel was that, to me, I perceived it originally (as a viewer) as a dream. My bias comes from the fact that I loved the episode as a dream, something from Desmond’s subconcious. I thought it worked beautifully. If there’s a pay-off regarding the time-travel, and Lost ends up being more sci-fi than I had anticiapted, then I’ll be on board. I just think we should reserve judgment.
Comment by Oscar — January 5, 2008 @ 2:01 am
i was also confused when the producers confirmed that desmond time traveled in FBYE. after watching it again, i think it’s very clear that he came back to the present when he got hit by the cricket bat (and didn’t just relive his life all the way up to the point of turning the failsafe key AGAIN). desmond said his “life flashed before his eyes” instead of something like “i relived the last 5(?) years of my life”, and i don’t think it would make sense to have continuing flashes of the future if he relived his life either. who knows though.
SIASL had the only cheesy moment i can remember in Lost history. that last scene where karl and alex are looking at the stars and the cheesy music is building and jack goes to stand next to juliet… BARF!! i felt like i was watching another tv show at that point.
TTID was one of the funniest Lost episodes ever, and Enter 77 had a very emotional flashback (the woman’s monologue about the cat). p.s. i don’t get this rule that you can’t post more than 1 comment within a set amount of time, considering the fact that i commented on a different entry before this one.
Comment by david — January 5, 2008 @ 7:16 am
Maqn you are way off on some of these episodes. Flashes before your eyes which you gave a 7/10 is up for awards this year. Many other episodes are much better than you say. Are you even a fan?
Comment by temple1234 — January 5, 2008 @ 11:01 am
You are also wrong by saying everyone hates “Stranger in a stange land.” I like this episode and I don’t like you speaking for the rest of us. You should probably just watch the episodes and keep your opinions to yourself if they’re going to suck so badly.
Comment by temple1234 — January 5, 2008 @ 11:04 am
hiw in the WORLD do you give Tricia Tanaka is dead a higher score than arguably the best episode of the season(aside from the finale) in Flashes Before Your Eyes???
Comment by Matt — January 5, 2008 @ 1:34 pm
Flashes Before Your Eyes - 9/10…
Loved the whole new dimesnion to the show, loved Desmond seeing thngs from the future he couldn’t quite place… Loved hearing ‘Make Your Own kinf od Music’ again - loved the reveal of Charlie going to die, and it actually scared me. Imagine if you were meant to die, but someone was preventing your death; it would make the hwol experience a lot harder, so you can feel for Charlie…
A great, different episode
Stranger in a Strange Land - 5/10
First time I watched it, I thought LOST had gone bad… The flashbacks were unbearable… The ending was rubbish, the island stories were rushed - especially the entrance of what could have been the most engaging character of the Season - WE ONLY SAW ISABEL ONCE!? lol
But, after a second viewing as a collection, this episode struck me as much better as I first thought… and the ending seemed good to me, as it hadn’t before…
Tricia Tanaka Is Dead - 7/10
Get exavtly what you mean - how at first it seems pointless, but in the finale seems so vital… Even though I don’t think that was the plan, but they resurrected it fantastically lol A great, heartfelt episode - and loved Sawyer’s interactions with everyvody again - especially when Hurley hugs Sawyer… Love it… And the underlying message of hope - ahhh, it’s a good ole’ episode… concluding with Russeau’s first appearance of Season 3 =]
Enter - 77 9/10
One of my faves of Season 3… Mikhail has got to be the best character of Season 3, even if he is responsible for Charlie’s death. The whole episode rocked, with Mikhail’s introduction - ‘My name is Mikhail Bakunin, and I am the last living member of The Dharma Initiative’, through to the little games when he chucks his Iced Tea at Sayid and Kate; pure Gold…
Locke’s battle for the Chess game, Bea Klugh’s return, the foods drop realisation, Mikhail killing Bea, Locke blowing up The Flame, Sayid getting the map to The Barracks…
And the flashbacks - at first seemed pointless, and wearisome - but as it goes on, they become more important.
And loved the edning, ‘cos I didn’t know what to make of the fact that the cat6 was there, and Sayid stared at it… Was it the Smoke Monster? Was it the cat from the flashback? Or was it Nadia? (Plus, loved Sayid’s observation that there another person in The Flame, due to teh horses stirrups being fit for someone else other than mihail)…
Exciting stuff =]
Comment by jacob_lost — January 5, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
hey whats up. first of all desmond is one of the best characters on the show. him and ben are two of my favorites. but what i wonder about this strand of episodes is if locke, charlie, and eko had any similar experiences when desmond turned that key. we heard nothing of charlie other than not being able to hear for a while. so wtf. eko died shortly after. and locke was then hellbent on rolling with the others soon after that. WTF. also desmond is totally going to save charlie. hes not dead.
Comment by Csongei — January 5, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
I agree with a few of the posters here that FBYE is one of the best of the season. If I had to rank my top five of season three, it would go like this:
1. The Man From Tallahassee
2. Through the Looking Glass
3. The Brig
4. Flashes Before Your Eyes
5. The Man Behind The Curtain
Comment by Joe D. — January 6, 2008 @ 11:55 am
If you watch the lost previews on ABC the graphic at the end shows the island, and reflect in the water is the skyline of what I imagine is los angeles.
anyone else see it?
Comment by Iantlove — January 6, 2008 @ 9:50 pm
hey whats up. flashes before your eyes is one of the best episodes ever. desmond is the shit. normally a ton of flashbacks aggrevate me, but this was sweet. many questions arise. like W-T-F? desmond is without a doubt a vital part of everything. my main question is even though i dont believe charlie is dead; are desmonds visions going to continue? enter 77 is a great episode as well. mikhail is awesome, in this episode and in up-coming ones. leading me to question 2… why cant mikhail die? locke as much as i love him on the show, sort of pisses me off with trying to keep rescue from coming. question 3 is… if locke doesnt want to be saved, than why not just hang out in the jungle when rescue arrives. he can stay if he wants. but why ruin it for everyone else? unless he is keeping someone specific on the island for a reason. (jack)
Comment by Csongei — January 6, 2008 @ 10:43 pm
flashes before your eyes is one of the best episodes to date, tricia tanaka is dead being one of the worst, and when i say worst, i’d still watch it above most any other show’s best episode… love enter 77, mainly because it gets us closer to seeing nikki and paolo being buried alive, you gotta love the writers, they have a great sense of humor, no doubt…
Comment by mr dave — January 7, 2008 @ 7:57 am
Hi Oscar. First off, thanks for your time reviewing these episodes. They’ve been entertaining to read, however I have to say that I agree wit a lot of the people who posted responses in this thread in regards to FBYE. I give it a 10/10. Now to respond to some of your concerns…
“Wouldn’t Charlie recognize him, or wouldn’t Desmond at least ask if Charlie was singing on that street corner on that day to verify whether he actually traveled time?”
No. Charlie would not recognize Desmond, because Charlie hadn’t met him yet. Desmond recognized Charlie because after he turned the fail safe key, Desmond basically woke up on his past and began to remember things from his future. Then back on the island he woke up naked, kind of like Arnold in Terminator when he time traveled. I think the naked bit was the clue that he time traveled.
From your other comment:
“There are too many coincidences too - like all of the ads in the soccer stadium and Dharma filled painting from Penny’s father.”
The Dharma painting in Widmore’s office along with the painting that Claire’s ex-boyfriend painted on the other wall in his office point to Widmore’s involvement in the overall scheme of things on Lost. These were hints to how deeply Widmore is involved/connected imo. As far as the ads in the soccer stadium, just easter eggs perhaps or maybe further clues? If you noticed the name on the red paint can, it was very similar to “Future” paint.
Comment by jon — January 7, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
Oscar, you’re just digging yourself further and further into a hole with every post in which you defend your opinion on FBYE. Just admit you’re wrong, even if you personally don’t understand the time travel stuff. I think it would have been a cop-out for Darlton to make the episode a dream. This is much more intriguing if a little incredulous, just as the hatch, the black rock, the healings, etc. are unexplainable.
In the words of Christian Shephard, “Let it go, Jack.”
Comment by Nathaniel — January 7, 2008 @ 5:10 pm
I agree with the few posters who said that “Stranger In A Strange Land” is one of the most underrated LOST eps to date; nowhere else in the series has the concept of ‘namaste’ been better…..illustrated; Ashara is as much subconsciously trying to provoke Jack into compromising her control as he persistently seeks insight into who he really is, gain an understanding of his life’s path - as a result, it reveals more about Jack’s motivations than any other Jack-centric ep before it. 7/10, believe it or not…..
Comment by ogam5 — January 8, 2008 @ 10:58 am
Flashes is THE key to this show. That’s all I gotta say. Those who doubt me…just wait.
Comment by CraigG — January 8, 2008 @ 12:50 pm
…oh, and the “Post” button on the bottom of this comment box should say “Execute” and maybe throw in “the numbers” for the security code.
Comment by CraigG — January 8, 2008 @ 12:52 pm
Lost didn’t end after 11 ep….. c’mon lets get crankin on the rest of the S.3 reviews.
Comment by Dr. Nope — January 14, 2008 @ 1:08 pm