4.01 - The Beginning of the End

Title’s significance: Ben warned Jack that contacting the freighter would be “the beginning of the end.” It’s also a metafictional way of letting us know we’ve passed the halfway point of the series.

Recap: As the freighter approaches, the survivors celebrate but worry about where Locke scampered off to. Ben asks Rousseau to take Alex far away, but she refuses, saying Alex isn’t his daughter. Hurley expresses relief that his money will be gone when he gets back as Desmond returns from The Looking Glass with the news about Charlie and the not-Penny’s boat. Jack worries when the freighter people want to talk to Naomi, especially because her body is gone; as the rest of the survivors head to the beach, Jack tracks Naomi. While heading for Jack, Hurley stumbles upon Jacob’s cabin, in which he finds Christian Shephard and which seems to move. Meanwhile, Kate follows a blood trail that leads her to Naomi, who contacts the freighter. Hurley meets up with Locke, and they catch up with the reunited survivors; Locke and Jack come to blows over what’s best for the survivors, who split into two camps: Jack leads survivors (Kate, Sayid, Rose, and Bernard) who believe in rescue, while Locke’s group (Sawyer, Hurley, Claire, and Ben) believes Charlie’s words and doubts that the freighter people are well-intentioned. A second parachutist – a man this time – comes to the island. Flashforwards reveal that Hurley is one of the Oceanic 6 – six survivors of Flight 815 who made it off the island. Arrested by Ana Lucia’s partner for going crazy in a convenience store, Hurley has a vision of Charlie before being committed to an institution. Hurley gets a visit from Matthew Abaddon, who claims to be an attorney for Oceanic Airlines but who asks, “Are they still alive?” Hurley is visited first by Charlie and then by pre-beard Jack, who disagrees with Hurley and claims that there’s no reason to go back to the island.

Thoughts: What a great way to start off the fourth and shortest season of LOST, and it’s no surprise that Damon & Carlton are responsible. Since the Season Three finale was mostly self-contained and only left one big lingering thread, this season kicks off with a brand new focus – the freighter people – and continues the pattern of flashforwards, clueing us in that six people have made it back. But who? How? I’m staying tuned.

Favorite moment: Ben’s nonchalant shrug when Jack asks where Naomi is.

Characters introduced (in order):

• MATTHEW ABADDON, a mysterious figure asking after the survivors of Flight 815
• LEWIS, Hurley’s buddy in Santa Rosa
• DANIEL FARADAY, the second parachutist

What we learned:

• The Oceanic 6 are six survivors of Flight 815 who make it back to the real world.
• Jack is one of the Oceanic 6.
• Kate is one of the Oceanic 6.
• Hurley is one of the Oceanic 6.
• Minkowski’s first name is George.
• There are parties suspicious about the story the Oceanic 6 sold.
• Christian is in Jacob’s cabin.
• Jacob’s cabin apparently moves.

Questions:

• Who else is in the Oceanic 6?
• Why did only six return?
• What makes Ben think the freighter people are trouble?
• Who does Matthew Abaddon really work for?
• Matthew Abaddon asks, “Are they still alive?” Who’s he looking for, and *are* they still alive?
• What’s Christian doing in Jacob’s cabin?
• How can Jacob’s cabin move?
• What’s up with the visions of Charlie?

Things that are going to be important in Season Six:

• In Season Five, Ilana remarks that Jacob’s cabin hasn’t been occupied in some time. If that’s the case, what the heck’s been going on there?
• We still don’t quite know what it is the Oceanic 6 are meant to do when they return to the island. Is it the Jughead plan, or is there something else afoot, some other unexplored part of their destiny?