Exposed And Buried

One of the reasons why I love "Lost" is the way it can surprise you with things you already know. For instance, Nikki and Paulo became immediately the show's most hated characters, even with minimal screen time. Everyone, including myself, was quick to assume that these characters were to play some important role and their awkward introduction was there to mislead the audience. Wrong! Nikki and Paulo's purpose was exactly that : be hated!

Their episode was a very fun flashback of life on the island from their perspective, and basically a tribute to the "extras"; all those other survivors we never hear anything from, and don't care about. The attitude of the show towards them is clear. It happened with poor Dr. Arzt (featured on this episode, as well as other dead characters like Shannon, Boone and Ethan), and now it has happened again in the most disturbing way. Nikki and Paulo end up being buried alive when they manage to paralyze each other over a handful of diamonds. One of the darkest episode finales, and another unusual episode overall. Sure, the main plot is ignored, but "Lost" is so much more than its main story. If you appreciate this fact, you will enjoy the show much more!

Nikki foreshadows their demise with her very ironic line "you know what happens to the extras". I hope Locke's line "things don't stay buried on this island for long" is not another foreshadow!

Not Quite In Portland... *spoilers*

It's been 3 months without "Lost". Some people were frustrated, some were waiting patiently, some forgot the show's existence. It's too early to say whether this long break was as good an idea as it first seemed. What's pretty safe to say is that those who are really into the show's spirit and pace will not be disappointed by the returning episode.
Juliet, the seemingly cold and determined Other, gets her first flashback where we learn that she is not who we think she is. There are several new things we learn in this episode, and several new questions arise (as always) :
The Others are not above using aggressive brainwashing technics. What we don't know is for what purpose and why poor Karl?
Alex is Ben's daughter. Adopted daughter of course, because we know she is Danielle's daughter and Danielle was pregnant when she arrived on the island. Alex probably ignores Danielle's very existence. It is mysterious though that she would turn out to be so rebellious considering she was raised by the leader himself.
Finally, we learn why Juliet wants Ben dead, or we can begin to suspect why. She was manipulated into joining the Others' jolly team of scientists and has been a prisoner on the island for three years, forced to abandon her life and her pregnant sister. We also see that she is not above murder to accomplish her escape from the island, removing that annoying Picket from the picture.
In the end, the status changes once again. Kate and Sawyer find their way back to the home island, and Karl joins the castaways. Let's hope the brainwashing didn't erase some valuable info he could have about the Others. Jack remains a prisoner and we can't be sure what Ben's reaction will be to his ploy that freed Kate and Sawyer.
We will learn soon enough. Lost is on every week until the season finale. Finally!

There Never Are Guarantees

The 4400's third season ends in a way that would serve for the end of the series itself. Smart, but fortunately there will be a fourth season next summer.
In this final episode, we finally see the confrontation : Isabelle vs everyone else. But let's take things from the start.
Jordan Collier films Devon taking a shot of promycin and urging the viewer to do the same in order to get a 4400 ability. The video is then circulated all over the internet. Tom and Diana, who are looking for the missing promycin, manage to track down Devon only to find her dying in Shawn's arms. The shot of promycin was fatal to her. Shawn, arrested, does not betray Collier's plan...until Ryland brings in Isabelle to question him personally. It is clear that Isabelle has replaced Shawn with power as her infatuation. She ends up leaving him hurt and unconscious but learns the location of the promycin. Accompanied by Ryland's troops, Isabelle arrives at the location soon and finds what she thinks is Jordan Collier along with the promycin. But it's a trap : the promycin is fake, and Jordan Collier is a disguised 4400 prepared to martyr himself for the cause. He gives Collier's message to Isabelle, "This is a new world, and there's no place for you in it", and activates an explosive device which kills Ryland's men, injures Ryland but only manages to anger Isabelle. Furious, she plans to attack the 4400 center, kill everyone in there to force Collier to appear. Ryland, seeing her madness, informs NTAC.
Tom knows it's time to use the shot given to him by the future. He and Diana arrive at the center just as Isabelle locks herself in Maia's class. Would she be able to murder children? Considering she has never been one, I don't find it hard to believe. She never gets the chance because Diana empties her weapon on her, and Tom hurries to use the syringe. Unfortunately, Isabelle recovers very fast and stops him. She incapacitates Diana with a move of her hand and in seconds the roles are reversed. Tom is about to be strangled by Isabelle and the syringe is out of his reach. It's at this time, that Richard appears and tries to convince Isabelle to stop her murderous urge. She knows it's too late for her to change and ignores him. Richard's telekinetic abilities, regretfully, come into play. Isabelle is shocked when the syringe flies into her neck. She convulses for a moment but comes around intent on retaliating and killing her own father. But the syringe's effect wasn't supposed to kill her. Her powers are gone forever. Tom can't risk it, however, and shoots her on the shoulder to make sure. Isabelle ends up in the hospital, next to Shawn.
The episode ends with several important events: Kyle is ready to inject himself with promycin. Alana is being kidnapped from the future. Diana chooses to quit NTAC and move to Spain with Ben and Maia, while her sister decides to give herself a dose of promycin. "There are no guarantees", the distributor tells her. "There never are" she thinks walking away. Then, the distributor turns to the viewer and offers promycin...would you take it?

The Manhunt Begins

I admit that I didn't expect it, but the premiere of Prison Break's second season blew me away. An episode that tied all loose ends, kept you at the edge of your seat throughout, built a basis for the entire season and, as expected from all great episodes, shocked you in the last minute. Don't read below this line if you don't appreciate spoilers.
The former prisoners, and now fugitives, run like they've never run before in their lives. While Bellick's dogs are behind them, this time Michael's enemies are far more dangerous than police force simpletons. For the first time, he receives attention from the real bad guys who manage to decifer his tattoo...a bit. This allows them to apply pressure even though Michael is one step ahead. I am a bit bothered, however, at how fast agent Mahone was able to find the graveyard or how he assumed that Michael must have thrown evidence in the river below his apartment. Anyway, in the end, the party manages to blend with the crowd and escape. Which direction will they go next? Considering that Michael's plans no longer require anyone other than his brother, we can expect some conflict, especially since Westmoreland's money is involved. I am sure though, that Michael will cross paths again with Dr. Tancredi who I was very glad to see survive her attempted suicide. Michael and Sara's story is one that could either end happilly or tragically and I hope they give some emphasis on it in the course of the season
In the meantime, Veronica is really at the end of the puzzle. Having found Steadman alive, she thinks everything is over. Steadman's warnings about the prison-like nature of his habitat do not sway her. She sees through his lies that there's no signal to make a phone call here. She calls the police and asks for help. She keeps reassuring Steadman that everything will be ok while waiting. When help finally comes, Lincoln chooses this most dramatic and fateful moment to call Veronica. She is not finished urging him to give himself up and reassuring him that everything's over, when it becomes clear she's been fooled. The help that arrived is no other than Steadman's keepers. Lincoln hears the gunshot that ends Veronica's life and is devastated. The episode ends with a scene of Michael, in a most formal suit now, removing his handcuffs...

Jordan Collier's Gospel

What summer has been lacking for a very long time was a good tv series. I'm pretty sure, though, that USA Network's "The 4400" did not go unnoticed by most of you. Indeed, the series is very near the ending of its third season so I will assume you know what it's about and move on with reviewing the latest episode.
Jordan Collier is back and he is very much alive, despite being shot and killed at the end of the second season. This is bad news for Isabelle because it ruins her wedding and she remembers that as a baby, she had given a vision to Collier that ultimately lead to his death. But where has Jordan Collier been all this time? He claims that he has been alive for hundreds of years and he has seen the future. Alana helps him remember and she is shocked by a glimpse of his visions. The 4400 and the rest of the world welcome Jordan Collier as a messiah and he does not deny the title. He seems confident and with a clear mission. Returning to the 4400 center, he resumes the leadership he was violently forced to abandon and his first job is to deal with Isabelle. He names her for what she is : the enemy of the 4400. Her protests about being free to choose are lost on Collier. He asks her to leave and never return.
So far in the season we had to suffer Isabelle as the most powerful character but also the most immature and prone to evil. Despite her claims about having a choice, she had already made her choice when she helped Ryland build his anti-4400 army. Finally, there is now someone able to oppose her. Of course, the future humanity's agenda is still unclear and the parameters are now numerous. We cannot be sure of much because the "good" guys could be responsible for the catastrophe as much as Isabelle. For now, let's wait to enjoy the confrontation that is sure to come.

Two Deaths For The Road

SPOILERS AHEAD!

As the second season of "Lost" comes to a close, extraordinary events take place that will change the picture for the third season, much like the hatch's contents did for the second. It is hard to tell what it will be like, but one thing is sure : it will be violent.
This episode was a wealth of information and shockers. Michael returns and he claims the Others are miserable, poorly armed and waiting to be owned by the fully equipped survivors. Kate should open her damned mouth about the disguises she has discovered at this point, but the hope for revenge is clouding everyone's thoughts. Ana Lucia tries to resolve her guilt over the murder(s) that made her a failure as a cop and a daughter. In the process, she assists Christian Sheppard (Jack's father) locate his daughter in Sydney. I'm sure Jack would like to know this, but by the episode's end it's clear it won't happen. Ana Lucia figures out that killing Henry will make her demons go away. Getting a gun from Sawyer to accomplish this is no small task, but Ana Lucia's resolve is strong. She seduces him and gets to steal the gun after sex. It's a big clue to how psychologically messed up she is. In the end though, she finds herself unable to do it. Still, she doesn't think much when Michael asks for the gun to do it himself. I believe his speech about the Others being animals and killers is genuine, and Ana Lucia is convinced. This is when things get wild : Michael says "I'm sorry", shoots Ana Lucia who dies with a depressing expression of surprise, and an unlucky Libby who walks in the scene while picking stuff for a picnic with Hurley. The episode ends with Michael opening the door to Henry's prison and shooting his own arm.
It's obvious at this point that the Others have blackmailed Michael to help them free Henry and possibly be a mole at the survivors' camp in exchange for his son. Despite the fact that a father will do anything for his son, Michael's actions are terrible and his deception will not last long. I doubt his character will continue much into the third season. Libby's death is the most frustrating event of the season. She is the only character we have had no flashback from, and the teaser from Hurley's episode was a promise for interesting plots that are now hanging in the air. I hope these issues will be resolved in some flashback before the season ends. Three more episodes to go, and the writers promise a finale that will top the one of first season. It seems "Lost" will keep people at the edge of their seats for quite some time.

Showdown Draws Near

WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD.

Don't read below if you have not seen last Monday's "24" episode.

The 5th season is quickly becoming a favorite one. What is ultimately at stake this time is not human lives at the mercy of terrorists, but the integrity of an idea. The show has always presented its characters with terrible moral dillemas that could drive a normal person crazy at the short time they have to be resolved. Jack Bauer, of course, is the guy of right and fast choices. But let's see things in more detail.
Hendersson slashes Audrey, slowing Jack down as he has to stop her from bleeding to death. He is also slowed though, because he has to deliver the recording to a safe place. It is his security against any attempt by President Logan to use him as a scapegoat. I should mention here that the transformation of Logan from an apparently dependent and weak person to a subtle mover of strings was handled convincingly and smoothly. It appears that Logan is again supported by a previously unseen cast of people which is consistent with his flawed personality. Their appearance suggests that something is on the move that hasn't happened yet. This is also supported by the diplomatic flight where Jack is led to when following the recording. Something of international importance is happening that is at the heart of the whole buisness and which will finally explain the high risks Logan has taken in this season. Other highlights of the episode was of course Heller's sacrifice, but I have a hunch he may have survived, and Karen's change of sides when her suspicions are verified. 5 more episodes to go for the finale and I'm sure the surprises will not stop.

Pre-prison Flashback

Finally, a different episode for Prison Break. This much-needed flashback will make you like Michael's team in Fox River, even T-Bag (ok, a little). If you thought that freeing criminals as a part of the whole thing is questionable, you may change your mind. You will also learn what motivated Michael to pursue his elaborate plan and how he designed it. Finally, new information about Dr. Tancredi and Captain Bellick provide an updated context and some possible future plots that could prove very interesting. Let's hope it will be so when the series returns to the present, where things are quite grim for our escape artist. In the photo, the moment of inspiration for Michael's tattoo.