‘Lost’ - Lighthouse

Another slow paced episode in what is shaping up to be a pretty unspectacular final season.

By DAN COMPORA Feb-25-2010

This review may contain spoilers.

I have been with “Lost” since the first episode and I was looking forward to this final season answering some questions and bringing the series to a satisfying conclusion. So far, this season has had just as many lows as it has had highs, and has produced more yawns than thrills.

This episode fit the pattern of the final season, alternating between the primary timeline and the alternate one. This week, Jack takes center stage. While the episode was decent, it simply wasn’t all that interesting and, in my view, ranks as an early season filler episode.
In the alternate timeline, Jack Shepherd (Matthew Fox) has a teenage son named David (Dylan Minnette). It is never stated who his mother is, but Jack only sees the boy about once a month. David plays a pretty mean piano, a fact that Jack discovers late in the episode.

Also, Jack’s father’s will is opened and Jack’s mother asks him if his father ever mentioned Claire Littleton. Jack is obviously struggling with his role as a father, and Matthew Fox did a fine job here, but this part of the storyline simply wasn’t that interesting.

Back on the island, at the urging of Jacob’s apparition (Mark Pelegrino), Hurley (Jorge Garcia) leads Jack to a lighthouse which, by some twist of fate, they simply never noticed before. The lighthouse has a set of mirrors, and when they are directed to the coordinates that correspond with each of the survivors, it is clear that they have been spied on for quite some time. Of course the numbers for each person are the same ones that were written on the cave ceiling, and the ones Hurley played in the lottery.

Meanwhile, Claire (Emilie de Ravin) helps Jin (Daniel Dae Kim) with his wounded leg, courtesy of a bear trap Claire herself planted. Justin (Dayo Ade), the Other who is captured by Claire, is bound, and he pleads with Jin to untie him, insisting that Claire intends to kill them both. Jin tells Claire that Kate (Evangeline Lily) has her baby and has raised him, but Claire kills Jusin anyway. Jin later retracts his story when he realizes that Claire would kill Kate.

While this episode introduced a couple of interesting elements, the episode lacked a sense of urgency. Perhaps there are fans out there that weigh every little piece of trivia and symbolism and ascribe a great deal of importance to it, and they could probably find a few intriguing little Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the episode. Unfortunately, dotting a relatively weak script with a few tiny insignificant nuggets of information does not make for must-see television. At some point, the story that is being told has to matter. This one simply did not.

What Worked

Apparently, some events are fated to occur. Jack finds a scar from having his appendix removed, but in the new timeline, this occurred when he was a child. Also, Jack apparently was fated to meet up with Dogen (Hiroyuki Sanada), whom he encounters at his son’s piano recital.

I like how the alternate timeline includes sweeping changes and shows what could have been. It makes the stakes much higher. If it comes down to only one reality left standing in the end, then regardless of which timeline wins, some stories are bound to end in disappointment and tragedy.

What Didn’t Work

Jack came back to the island because he was broken and he thought the island would fix him. Am I the only person who has trouble with that line of reasoning? It seems like the island is what broke Jack in the first place. Sure, the island fixed John Locke (Terry O’Quinn) and Rose (L. Scott Caldwell), but I just can’t seem to get my head around what Jack exactly means by this. Perhaps I’ve just grown weary of all the dialogue that attempts to elevate the island to the level of a god.

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

"Lighthouse" was written by Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. It was directed by Jack Bender. “Lost” stars Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Terry O’Quinn, Josh Holloway, Jorge Garcia, and Michael Emerson.

"Lost" airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

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