There's No Place Like Home, Part One

Was it me, or was last night's episode of "Lost" even more packed with detail, drama, and intrigue than usual? I guess that is pretty typical for the penultimate episode of a television season, although as devotees of Lost know, not much about this show can be described as typical. To start with, it seemed like some aspect of almost every major character got touched upon last night. The off island flash forward involved the entire complement of the "Oceanic Six" who we now know includes "Kate's Baby" Aaron, as well Kate, Jack, Sayid, Sun, and Hurley.





Here are some nuggets, that I think sum up some of the hightlights of the episode:





1. Sun uses the money from the Oceanic settlement to buy a controlling interest in her father's company. Then she blames him and one other person for Jin's death and promises that she'll be back after she has the baby to run their company. Brilliant. Way to go Sun. Stick it to yer Old Man, right where it hurts.





2. Hurley enters his house and hears the "Island Whispers", picks up a statue of Jesus to defend himself against a prowler before walking in to his surprise birthday party. A few minutes later, sitting in his hot rod (that we saw him driving in the season premier) the infamous numbers show up on the odometer. 48151.6 total mileage, 234.2 on the trip odometer. Those pesky numbers just won't leave poor Hurley alone. Is his father as naive as he claims to be or does he play a more sinister role? Hurley is not so sure. Neither am I.





3. Nadia and Sayid are re-united. I can't think of a happier reunion that seeing two, truly in love, back together after so much struggle, separation, and heartbreak. Except that we can't enjoy it, because we know, long before Sayid does, that Nadia's days are numbered, and that their reunion will be painfully short.





4. Speaking of reunions! After Jack eulogizes his father and shakes some hands in the greeting line, it turns out that one more person, a blonde woman, wants to say hello. Although it was very obvious to me who she was and what she was going to say, it still hit with the impact of a ton of bricks. This women's daughter was on Flight 815 as well. And she was Christian Shepards' daughter. Her name? Claire. Poor Jack looked as lost as ever before, staggered by the double shocking news. Here we ge the first true insight in to why Jack has such a time with Baby Aaron and how Aaron's presence with Kate is one of many complicated factors keeping Jack and Kate apart. The questions has to be asked as well, will Claire's mother ever figure out that she is Aaron's grandmother? And if she does...then what?



So, overall, I was really happy with last night's episode. There were times when I was watching, I did feel like the episode's true goal was to set up a truly phenomenal season finale. Clearly, sparks will fly, questions will be answered, and tears will be shed. But, I have no doubt we are in for a treat next week. (Thursday, May 29th.) And then, the long waiting game will begin again. June through January to think about what we've seen this season and in the forthcoming season finale. My guess is that after Thursday, there will be lots to ponder.

E.T. Meet PopeBenedict, Pope Benedict Meet E.T.

Thanks to Pope Benedict for saving me from the guilt I've been ravished with about my belief that somewhere in the infinite vastness of the universe there just might, possibly, be life elsewhere than just here on Earth. I'd been reading and re-reading Genesis for the elusive 8th day of the week where God created alien life, but despite that still had not seen where he had done it. But, I guess now I can watch Star Trek and ponder life on other planets without feeling like all it will get me is a one way trip to hell. Thanks again Pontiff. You're the coolest pope in the universe.

For those of you who have NO idea what the point of this posting is, see here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080513/ap_on_re_eu/vatican_aliens

With love, and from Earth,

Dan