4.02 - Confirmed Dead

Title’s significance: The rest of the world believes Oceanic 815 to be “confirmed dead” since the plane wreckage was apparently discovered underwater.

Recap: The episode begins with the curious discovery of Oceanic 815 wreckage – in an ocean trench near Bali; the news distresses Daniel Faraday, though he doesn’t know why. Flashbacks continue to explore the pasts of the freighter people; Miles Straume was some kind of ghost whisperer, Charlotte found a Dharma polar bear skeleton in Tunisia, Frank Lapidus (the original pilot of Flight 815) knew the crash wasn’t legit, and Naomi was hired by Matthew Abaddon to protect the freighter team. On the island, Daniel (who is kind of fritzy) tells Jack he’s here to rescue the survivors, but he admits that it’s not a primary objective. Locke leads his team toward Jacob’s cabin, revealing that he’s “taking orders” from Walt. Jack, Kate, and Daniel find Miles, and Kate reveals that Locke is at fault as Miles demands to see her body; Miles communes with the body and learns that Kate’s story is true. Ben tries to manipulate Sawyer by taunting him about Kate, but Locke spares Ben by saying that Ben has useful information; Locke’s team finds Charlotte in a pond and tell her they don’t want to be rescued as Juliet and Sayid catch up with Jack’s team. Sayid tracks Charlotte’s signal, but they find it attached to Vincent, knowing that Locke gave them the slip. Having stolen Karl’s gun, Ben shoots Charlotte, revealing in the process that she’s wearing a bulletproof vest, while Jack’s team finds Frank and his fully-intact helicopter. As Locke tries to kill Ben, Ben reveals that he has a man on the freighter and that he knows the freighter crew are after him.

Thoughts: Really good episode with some stellar introductory work on the freighter characters. The new characters are interesting and pretty well-developed, and we know almost instantly what motivates all of them. Even on rewatch, I’m on the edge of my seat.

Favorite moment: “Karl, now if you’re gonna sleep with my daughter, I insist you call me Ben.” That, or Sawyer’s snide “Who are we to argue with Taller Ghost Walt?”

Characters introduced (in order):

• CHARLOTTE LEWIS, scientist with the freighter crew
• FRANK LAPIDUS, helicopter pilot on the freighter
• MILES STRAUME, the freighter’s ghost whisperer
• MRS. GARDNER, grandmother of a ghost, aided by Miles
• REGINA, woman on the freighter

What we learned:

• “Oceanic 815” was discovered by The Christiane while searching for sunken treasure.
• If Locke had had a kidney where Ben shot him, he’d probably be dead.
• Miles claims to communicate with ghosts.
• “Tell my sister I love her” was just a code Naomi used to tip off the freighter.
• Daniel notices that sunlight “doesn’t quite scatter right” on the island.
• Charlotte refused to believe the story about Oceanic 815.
• A Dharma polar bear made it all the way to Tunisia.
• There are four freighter people on the island, not counting Naomi.
• Frank Lapidus doubted the story of Oceanic 815.
• Frank Lapidus was meant to be the original pilot of Oceanic 815.
• Naomi was hired by Matthew Abaddon to protect the freighter.
• Matthew Abaddon and Naomi know that the Oceanic 815 crash was staged.
• Miles reveals that the freighter crew’s primary objective is to find Ben.
• Ben claims not to know what the smoke monster is.
• Ben has a man on the freighter.

Questions:

• Who is the woman with Daniel?
• Why was Daniel so upset about 815?
• Why do the freighter people have gas masks and guns if they’re on a rescue mission?
• What is the primary objective of the freighter crew?
• Is Miles’s ability for real?
• How did the Dharma bear make it to Tunisia?
• Why was Charlotte so happy to see the Hydra logo?
• Who planted all the bodies underwater in Oceanic wreckage?
• Why would someone fake Oceanic wreckage?
• Why can’t Minkowski come to the phone?
• Does Ben really know about the monster or not?
• If the freighter mission is to apprehend Ben, why do they need scientists and ghost whisperers?
• Who is Ben’s spy on the freighter?

Things that are going to be important in Season Six:

• Nothing of great mythological import here.