9 posts from May 2007

What was your favorite TV season finale this year? 
Submitted by Kristine.

Well this one, of course!  I've already seen it twice and will probably see it many more times before the new fall schedule begins.

Wow.  Riviting episode!  Did not disappoint!  First off, I wanted to tape this episode so I'd have something to watch for the next 8 months until the new season starts.  First mistake is that I did not rewind my tape and it shut off after about 5 minutes.  By then, no time to reset.  I'm bummed.  Oh well, I guess that's what DVDs are for.  On to the show...!

I wasn't spoiled because I wanted to live in "the moment" of the show.  However, I read somewhere that Jack had a beard and thought he was using it as a disguise to look like one of the Others, so color me surprised when it was actually Jack in a very badly done beard get-up in a flash forward.  By the way, nice use of a flash forward instead of a flash back this time.  Too bad Oceanic offered them frequent flyer miles instead of therapy to cope with post-traumatic stress syndrome.  Jack was a hot mess.  For us this means that maybe the last season will consist of Jack trying to return to the island after spending 4 seasons trying to get off.  Oy!

Unfortunately, I wasn't unspoiled for long.  When the Others captured Jin, Sayid and Bernard, I had to find out if they were going to be okay.  Hey, it was possible they might not have been, especially with all the rumors going around that there would be 8 deaths. I was practically a nervous wreck!  It's a good thing I did find out, because I would have totally lost my $#!* if I thought they had actually been shot by Tom.  Nice Benry beatdown by Jack, by the way.  That moment alone almost made up for all the dumbass things that Jack has done all season long.  Almost.

As much as I enjoyed the Alex and Rousseau reunion, I have questions.  Oh so many questions.  Why didn't Alex question Benry about why he kept her mother from her all those years?  Why does Alex, who grew up around crazy-assed Benry and friends act so "normal" and not as bat$#*! crazy as Ben?  I would have demanded an explanation as to why he raised me all this time instead of the woman who actually bore me?  Why didn't she ask if he was really her father?  Ok, maybe she already knew that but I wanted to know!!  SIGH.  I don't know why I do this to myself!  Anyway...nice little bonding moment there and Rousseau elbowing Benry was a nice touch.

Meanwhile, back at the future/present, Jack is all destroyed over being back in the real world.  Then, he's surprised that nobody attended a funeral for someone n/either friend n/or family.  Much speculation as to who the deceased was.  People that didn't have friends or family: Sawyer, Benry, Locke.  Any of those would be feasible.  However, I'm sure at least some of the original Losties would have attended Sawyer or Locke's funeral.  Much as they may have had differing points of view about being rescued, they've been through the ish together.  And, I don't think Khate would be as opposed to attending their funeral as she would be for Benry.  However, what would Benry be doing living amongst people in the real world?  After this episode, one would think he'd rather die while fighting to stay on the island than live away from it.  Other gueses were Waaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllttttttttt! or Michael, neither of which I don't think Khate would be vehemently opposed to paying her last respects, IMO.  Did anyone else think that meeting in a parking lot at the airport was strange?  Have all the Starbucks franchises gone bust in the future? As far as Khate's "him" goes, I'm voting it's her kid.  Interesting that she's not in jail, either.  She beat the rap better than Paris!  Actually, on second thought, I think she's referring to her parole officer and she's supposed to be under house arrest.

Speaking of Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllltttttttttttttt!, nice to see him again, albeit not entirely a surprise since his name appeared in the opening credits.  But, boy has his voice changed!  (Not to mention he probably grew about 10 inches taller since the last time he was featured.)  Interesting that they had him raised on a platform -- he's probably 6' tall IRL!  Good on him for saving Locke from off-ing himself.  Perhaps he's a figment of Old Smokie or Jacob?  The world may never know.

And, of course, we had the Cholly moment.  I knew Mr. Peanut (my new name for McPatchy) wouldn't be dead, but I didn't see his little waterproof hand grenade coming!  Poor Cholly.  This has been one of the rare episodes that I didn't find him totally annoying.  He actually rawked this episode.  And that's just not the ding-dong-he's-dead talking.  I actually liked him in this episode.  Perhaps he could have saved himself by swimming through that little porthole (he is a hobbit, after all), but he was trying to fulfill the vision of Claire and Turniphead getting rescued by dying in the process.  So gallant.  And, nice touch with the hand-written (HA!) note to Desmond at the end.  (Mmmmmmmmmmm, Desmond!)  My guess?  Jack will perform another miraculous save on hobbit boy next season.  If he didn't die hanging by a noose in a tree, he may not die by drowning.  I'm just saying!

My favorite moment was Hurley to the rescue!  Go Hurley!  Though it didn't come as a surprise to me (because my ticker couldn't take it!), it was good to see the boyz, Sayid, Jin and Bernard alive and kicking.  Especially badass Sayid.  Sayid for island president!!!  That's what I'm talking about!!  And, when Hurley contacted what he thought were the Others on the walkie-talkie and instead got Jack and everyone got to hear the boyz were fine -- it was a happy moment, indeed.

Now for the creepy: who was Naomi and if it wasn't Penny's group who sent her, who did?  Rumor has it that the Dharma-ites are still around and they are not nice people and that Naomi is one of them.  If that's so, and Jack just contacted them, they are probably going to be in worse trouble because I imagine them having a more sophisticated plan than Benry and his (significantly decreased) army of Other-ites.  Dun-Dun-DUN!

Bring on season 4!!

What item(s) do you have to prevent yourself from buying at the grocery store? 
Submitted by Places Unknown.

Cookies.  Definitely cookies.  I NEED to LAY.  OFF.  THE.  FREAKIN'.  COOKIES. already!!

...Except for this episode.  Sucked very badly.  Especially compared to last week's.  The best was seeing Rose and Bernard again.  And in more than one quick scene!  Cholly is probably one of my least favorite characters on the show and they had yet another boring-#$&#* flashback for him.  There was so much talk about him "dying" in this episode I'm totally convinced he won't...much to my chagrin.  I was worried for a moment when he smacked brotha Desmond in the noggin with that oar, but when I realized it meant he wasn't going to go into the Looking Glass Hatch of Doom, then all was good.  Hmm, another Alice in Wonderland shoutout?

Speaking of which, Cholly was making an awful lot of noise upon entering that underwater hatch.  Granted, he was gasping for air, but what's with the loud "WHEW, I'M GLAD I'M STILL ALIVE AND MADE IT HERE. YEE-HA. YAY FOR ME!" yammering? Geez, at that point, I totally knew he wasn't going to be alone for long.  Dumbass.  I don't care if he gets offed (because we all know it won't happen now), but he hadn't flipped the magic switch yet.  Oy!

Of all the shows to tape, I had to go and pick this lousy episode.  The only thing that could have topped, or equalled last week's Benry flashback would have been a Rousseau flashback.  THAT would have been worthy of the second-to-the-last episode of the season.  So, next week we get a throwdown between the Losties and the Others.  Why the Losties are still turning to Jack for "leadership" is beyond me.  I'd speak out and say, Sayid for island President! -- Who's with me?!  Everyone would raise their hands and the ayes would have it.  Jack gets kicked to the curb and everyone gets to listen to the one person with actual experience in combat.  Hello?  Jack is a crappy leader!  That really irks and I'd blame him of any of the Losties died in next week's battle.

As much as I know there's a good chance of disappointment, I wonder what the deal is with the Looking Glass Hatch and it's soldier-like guards.  Do they get many intruders that they have armed guards at the ready like that?  Weird.  I sure hope there's a good explanation for all this.  Last week it was the mysterious Jacob and now it's the inhabitants of yet a new hatch.  And why couldn't they just cut the long extension cord that lead to it instead of making the trek to flip a switch?  sigh.  This show is making my head hurt and like an abusive relationship, I'm going to miss it for the next 8 months and experience the dt's while complaining about the season finale.  This show is like crack.  And crack is whack, y'all.

Which band or artist which is no longer performing or alive would you have loved to have seen?
Submitted by Rev Stan.

By far, hands down, QUEEN.  I even had a dream that they were coming to concert and everyone was suprised but me (until I realized that the late Freddy Mercury was no more).  Then I was bummed. 

Wooooooooooow...what a ride!  This episode was interesting, informative and downright CREEPY!  We finally (finally!) get a Benry flashback.  Man, did he have some serious daddy issues.  Poor kid.  Now we know why he's so bat$#!% crazy.  I just got through reading 22 pags from the forums.  I haven't seen those numbes done in so little time.  I am fading right now and have to go to bed but will continue tomorow.  I just hope I don't have creepy Ben/Jacob/ dreams.  *shudder!*  Happy Birthday, indeed!

Ok, now that I've had some sleep (hey, four hours is better than none!) and discussed the show with several other Losties, I'm ready for more analysis (of the show, anyway).  I am so happy we got ANSWERS!  And a Benry flashback.  Ah yes, Benry.  Benry, Benry, Benry.  You had a sucky childhood and your father was an angry drunk.  So you didn't turn out exactly like Jeffrey Dahmer, but you're still one sick puppy.  You brought back all my childhood fears when you took Locke to "see" (and I use the term loosely) Jacob. In fact, I had to keep my eyes closed for almost that entire scene.  Hearing that "help me" voice nearly had me jump out of my skin.  I'm going to have to watch it again this weekend because I know I missed some really good craziness.

Among my favorite moments was when Locke put the smackdown on McPatchy and Ben was asking for enforcement from Tom and Richard, and they just sat back and enjoyed the show.  I also LMAO when Ben started talking to Jacob and Locke told him he was off his rocker.  I laughed for about 10 minutes (before the voice scared me $#!%less)!  Another was Jin's reaction to the tape by Juliet, and Sayid being snarkastic to Khate. I'm really disappointed that I was wrong about Sayid and Khate putting on a show for Jack...she's really that idiotic.   I hope the next two deaths are of Khate and Jack...in that order because they are just so hatable these days.  I enjoyed seeing how Uncle Rico, I mean, Roger: Work Man came about, and all the VW vans.  What I didn't like so much (besides the dumb$#!% Khate and the pompus-assed Jack) was the creepy Jacob and all the mystery surrounding him.  It's not that I dislike it, but I just don't want to wait another 3 years to find out what the real deal is.  Why does he live like Howard Hughes and consider a flashlight "technology?" 

The thing that I both hate and like about this show is that it brings about too many questions.  What's the deal with Jacob and why does he need help?  Why does Richard seem to age in reverse, and what's with him rocking the eyeliner?  Is he supposed to be a reincarnation of Jack Sparrow?  How did Benry become the leader of the Hostiles?  What happened to Annie?  Why does the electric fence have settings - why not just ON and OFF?  And, once and for all, if the Island heals all things, why does McPatchy still wear an eye patch?! 

I loved this episode.  My eyes were closed through most of the scaryness, but I am going to watch it again.  I heard the season ending was going to be a melee.  I hope the next flashback is of Rousseau.  In a throwdown, I'd definitely want her on my side!  She's got the dynamite!  Oh, and Lock's totally not dead.

I found this fabulous site that made me feel good about not being the only one duped into thinking VZW was an acceptable cell phone co.  Boy, was I wrong!  My phone is probably a year old.  In all the other years I've had a cell phone, the battery hasn't run out as quickly as this one had.  I have to charge it daily because it hardly holds one for very long.  I went to the local store to get a replacement battery.  I thought the dude knew what he was doing because he pulled up my account on the computer and proceeded to order me a new battery.  At $40, it was worth as much as the actual freakin' phone.  Therein lies ripoff #1.

The eagerly-anticipated package arrived today and I couldn't wait to replace my battery.  However, much to my chagrin, it was the WRONG battery.  Frustrated, I decided to go to another VZ store to exchange the damn thing.  I mean, I already paid for it, how difficult could it be to exchange it for one that actually works on my phone?!  I should have known...

I don't know how many employees they had working in there, but the ratio seemed to be 1-1.  Again, how difficult would it be to exchange one thing for another?  Especially at a main store?  This, my friends, is the phenomenon known as VZW's customer "service."  I walked in and was greeted by some lackey at a computer.  He asked me what my issue was and I was hopeful that he was going to be able to help me right then and there.  Wrong-o. He merely put me into the computer where I was "queued" into being called upon when my turn came up.  In the meantime, there were various customers milling about.  A couple wanting new phones; a gentleman wanting a new plan; parents with kids contemplating the headache of getting their child a cellphone.  What I found "interesting" the longer I waited, was that the employees weren't helping customers 1-1, some were standing in front of terminals madly typing away at what either seemed like a novel being written or a frantic game of brick breaker.  One customer had 3 sales reps "helping" him with his transaction.  I don't know what kind of cellphone he bought, but it must have been the shiznit to have one person ring him up, one person tell him how to work it, and the other typing madly away on a terminal while throwing casual glances his way.  (See photo below.)  Either that, or between the three of them, there had to be at least one cumulative brain cell with which to function. 

What should have been a 1-2 minute exchange for me never occurred.  After waiting over 30 minutes, I realized that I had only moments to pick up my son from tutoring.  I approached the lackey at the entrance again and expressed my urgency.  I kid you not, he handed me a blank post-it and told me to approach the customer service center and tell them that I was "in a hurry."  I guess the blank post-it made me look "official" or most certainly certifiably crazy.  Nevertheless, it didn't work.  Not only did I waste 30 minutes of my life there, but I still have no cell phone battery and I was one pissed-off [still dieting, still cranky because of it] customer!   Lethal combination.

I hate VZW.  Once my contract is up, I'm switching.  But not before I tell them exactly where I think they should stick their network!   

VZW Suckz

Much like last week, this week's show was quite awesome in a Lost-y sort of way.  I mean, if you consider murder, deceit, pathological lying and constantly wanting to throttle a certain dingbat (Khate, I'm looking at YOU, beeyotch!) good times, then this episode brings it.

First off, we get answers.  I like answers.  Especially when the ratio of questions to answers is about 1001:3, every little bit helps.  Of course, with this show, each answer brings another question which is why the ratio is so high.  Nevertheless, we find out how Cooper, Locke's dad aka the "OriginalRecipeSawyer" got to the island (or is it?!) and what his purpose was.  Unlike the teaser that I was led to believe last week, it wasn't Benry that Locke had kidnapped for Sawyer (aka James Ford) to kill, but it was actually Johnny Gage's partner from Emergency.  Anyone out there old enough to remember Emergency?  Anyone?  Bueller?  Just me?  Mmmmkay then.

Anyway, who would've thunk DeSoto could be such an evil bastard? NewRecipeSawyer would, that's who!  Oh yea, and Locke, the long-lost son he coerced to donate a kidney and promise to cultivate a relationship just to constantly reject him before pushing him out a high rise window crippling him.  Yea, him too.  Benry the puppet-master ordered Locke to kill his dad to cleanse him of any issues holding him back from his greatness.  Or somesuch nonsense.  Anyway, Locke buys it because Benry threatened to kick him out of the exclusive Others' Club if he didn't do it.  Besides, heavy eyeliner dude (who we surmised may be The Jacob) also plays Locke like a fiddle and hands him a personnel file on James Ford.  (Dude, I worked in Personnel many a time and none of the corporate offices I've worked for kept such detailed files on their people.  None.  If the Others ever decided to quit mind-!#$%^ with people, they could go into business as indepedent contractors!)  Locke concludes that he's found the perfect murderer for his dad.  I don't understand, though, how Locke could get the credit for offing his dad if someone else actually did the deed?  I guess Benry isn't that anal after all.

Meanwhile, back on the beach (because, you know, beachfront living is a lot more swanky than those nasty, old, abandond houses inland with running water and electricity that the Others left), our favorite campers finally found someone with half a brain to share their findings with.  By the way, what was Sayid digging up?  Me hopes it ain't Paolo and that chick whose name escapes me at the moment!  I liked that he was questioning Naomi about her arrival.  For some reason, I don't trust that chick.  However, Sayid?  Trying to repair the satellite phone in the middle of the beach in broad daylight where stupid, nosy Khate would be snooping by was NOT smart. I truly want to believe that Khate's sophomoric ranting to Jack about ..bla bla bla your friends don't trust you bla bla bla I'm acting a fool because I need you to pay attention to me bla bla bla because I'm jealous of your new BFF, botox-woman bla bla bla...was all a part of some master plan of yours.  Please don't disappoint, Sayid!  Oh, and when you get a moment, could you please smack the smirk off of Jack's face.  Thanks loads.  (Btw, I'd also ask you to smack the perma-smirk off of Juliet's face, but all that botox might injure your hand.)  

Funniest part of the show?  Rousseau and Locke's oh-so-casual exchange at the Black Rock while a gagged and tied-up Cooper was making all kinds of noise behind the door.  And I want to know how Benry coerced his lackeys to haul around his bedroom furniture through their little trek through the woods.  Maybe that's what all the child kidnapping is all about.  Cheap labor.

The scene closes with Locke carrying the body of Cooper to show Benry he's worthy of some "greatness" mumbojumbo.  I was waiting to freak out over the reanimated corpse of OriginalRecipeSawyer to come back to life ala McPatchy.  THAT would be both awesome yet creepy.   Show of hands, who thinks Benry planted that dictaphone for Locke to find?  I thought so.

I started dieting this week.  Ok, this is only the second day but still.   I did okay yesterday.  I was doing okay this morning.  I'm trying to follow some sort of "structured" plan, but I'm so darned picky I can't really follow it religiously.  I don't like 'shrooms, cottage cheese, asparagus, celery, mustard or cauliflower just to name a few.  I also follow an exercise regimen.  I broke some rules (surprise) this afternoon, so now I have to exercise to make it up.  I am CRANKY. (alright, more so than usual) No wonder skinny people are generally surley and "fat" people are jolly.  Hell, I'd be jolly too, if I could throw down some ice cream, donuts and potato chips right about now. I'd be downright hysterical. 

sigh.