Introducing the LOST Questions/Quality Scale
February 15th, 2008
For far too long, fans of Oceanic 815 have woken up the next morning with that all to familiar LOST hangover [or LOSTover if you will]. Like clockwork, the phrase, “sure it was an interesting episode… but why so many questions?” echoed throughout the blogosphere.
That is, until this season.
As LOSTerminds Damon Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse continue to serve up episodes that surpass fan’s expectations, this TV Addict has had an epiphany. A mysterious black smoke monster style vision if you will. Much like Barney’s Hot/Crazy scale, LOST is all about the questions to quality ratio. When the show throws up a dud of an episode like last season’s bore-fest involving Jack and his tattoo, the internet is ablaze with cries of, “When are we going to get some answers!” Yet this season, the ever expanding list of questions becomes inconsequential as Lindeloff, Cuse and the entire LOST cast and creative team continue to deliver phenomenal episode after phenomenal episode.
Take last night installment for instance. As LOST fans feverishly debate the finer points of “The Economist’s” multitude of mind-numbing questions. There is one point every fan seems to agree upon. To quote Entertainment Weekly commentator Steph, “One of LOST’s top 5 episodes!” Added commentator Maggs, “I don’t think I’ve yelled so many profanities at my TV than I did last night. I was confused, excited, mad and whatever else kind of emotion a person can feel. My night went something like this: Sayid, OMG, WTF, YES, Hurley, WTF, NO, Ben, NOOO!” In other words. LOST is firing on all cylinders and naturally and this TV Addict is not about to miss out on the fun.
Here are my five most pressing questions surrounding last night’s episode.
SAYID
As much as I absolutely loved watching Sayid morph into a mash-up of James Bond and Dexter, the question remains. What led to his flip-flopping on the issue of trusting Ben? Did he not mention to Locke earlier in the episode that “the day he trusts Ben is the day he’s sold his soul.”
BEN
What was the deal with Ben’s passports, foreign currency and suits? How does he travel so seamlessly on and off the island? And most importanatly, is he or isn’t he part of the Oceanic Six (My guess is that he’s not).
THE BRACELET
How is it both Naomi and Elsa have matching silver bracelets? In the world of LOST nothing is coincidental and I’m pretty sure the answer doesn’t involve one really great sale at Zale’s.
THE OCEANIC SIX
Now that Sayid has joined Hurley, Jack and Kate as members of the infamous Oceanic Six. Who are your bets for the two remaining members?
THE ISLAND
Sayid is the first of our castaways to legitimately leave the island. Why does Frank (the pilot) have to travel a very specific route to reach the freighter? What happens if he doesn’t? 
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Common Sense Says:
February 15th, 2008 at 8:18 am
The final reveal, with BEN! tending to Sayid’s gunshot, left me just wanting to scream in ecstacy, for some reason. My entire week is focused on 60-minutes of time, and it sure doesn’t involve Mike Wallace and Morley Safer. We can only thank the creative geniuses (yes, it took pure genius to create this world we escape to) behind the greatest show ever.
Oh, and I’m so glad we’re not hearing the whiney folks complaining about repeat episodes at 8pm. Geez, I NEED to watch them…in order to digest and re-examine what happened in the episode, because there are so many shocking twists, I’m too stunned to absorb it the first time. The graphic pop-up clues add to the encores, as well.
(P.S. Not that it really matters, but I’d guess that Claire is one of the O-Six, since Desmond saw her leave in a vision. And why didn’t Locke, Ben & Co. activate the force-field protection around the camp? And why does Jacob’s cabin disappear? And why did the guy Sayid shot on the golf course drive up to him, then seem afraid & try to get away from him? And………………..)