"Through the Looking Glass" (Season 3, Episode 22)

After starting the week with some underwhelming season finales (24 - ugh, Heroes - eh), I was thrilled with the Season 3 finale of "Lost". It was the most jam-packed two hours of action, excitement, emotion, and anticipation. A fitting end to an incredible year. And if the final scene is any indication of what next year has in store for us (flash-forwards instead of flashbacks for all the characters?), I can't wait. The show that re-invented the one-hour drama has re-invented itself.

Best Lines

• "I am a dentist. I am not Rambo." At Rose's request, Bernard keeping things in perspective.
• "It's Charlie. Tell him I said hi!" An upbeat captive Charlie shouting to Bonnie on the phone with Ben.
• "If you say 'Live together, die alone' to me, I'm gonna punch you in your face." Rose to Jack in anticipation of him repeating his oft-spoken mantra.

Did You Notice?

• So whose death in the future upset Jack so much? What do we know? It was never revealed whether it was a man or a woman. Jack considered himself neither a friend or family to the deceased. Kate was surprised Jack thought she would go to the funeral. My initial thought was that it was Ben and that Jack felt he was his last, best hope of getting him back to the island. Or perhaps it was Juliet? Or could it have been Locke? Only time will tell.
• Yet another car accident to add to the list.
• Jack's ex-wife Sarah was pregnant.
• Ben told Richard to take his people to "the temple".
• Dr. Hamill, the new chief of surgery, referred to Jack as "a hero twice over." Our first hint that this may be Jack after the island.
• I was quite surprised at Juliet kissing Jack.
• What was up with all of Ben's talk about everything he did, he "did for the island"? And that the island was "under assault by forces stronger than it's had to deal with in many, many years"?
• I loved Sawyer and Juliet's conversation of alien runways and who's screwing Jack.
• Ben's map had an area marked "Pascal Flats". Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist, and religious philosopher.
• What a surprise to see Walt (or at least an incarnation of him).
• So Jack loves Kate. And still does even after the rescue.
• Another subtle hint as to the scene's final twist can be found in the name of the funeral home that Jack visits. Hoffs/Drawlar is an anagram for "flash forward".
• According to Ben, Naomi is not who she claims and works for the bad guys. And Penny doesn't know who they are either. Yet, it would seem they do end up rescuing the survivors. Unless next season holds some surprises as to what eventually happens between the rescue and their return to the real world.
• It was great to see Hurley drive to the rescue. And in Ben's dad's VW bus no less!
• Penelope's appearances (when not in flashback) seem to be limited to brief moments in the season finales.
• Is there any significance to the fact that a musician programmed the code for the jamming equipment?
• I loved the moment when Rousseau finally met her daughter Alex. I also loved when she elbowed Ben in the face.
• Rousseau's message translates from French as "It is outside and Brennan took the keys. Please help us. I will try to go to the Black Rock. It killed them. It killed them all. They died. They are all dead. Help us."
• What did Locke mean when he told Jack "You're not supposed to do this"? Did he have some vision of the future where Jack reacted differently?
• So who is the "he" in future Kate's life? Could it be Sawyer?

The Numbers - 2 3 4 5 6 8 15 16 23 42 (108)

• Future Kate's phone number was 310-555-0148.
• The survivors expected 3 explosions but there were only 2.
• Jack was driving around at 2 in the morning.
• Only 3 people (Ben, Bonnie, and Greta) knew the jamming equipment code.
• The Others caught 3 of the survivors (Sayid, Jin, and Bernard).
• The mother from the car accident had surgery scheduled for 6 a.m.
• The accident victim's son was 8 years old.
• The accident was covered by Action 8 News on the hospital television.
• The accident occurred on the 6th Street Bridge.
• Ben wanted 5 minutes of Jack's time.
• Kate saw only 2 sets of tracks (Ben's and Alex's).
• The jamming equipment code was 545877554376113.
• After the attack on the beach, the Others were left with 3 guys and 4 guns.
• Dr. Hamill left 3 messages on Jack's voice mail.
• When Dr. Hamill was talking with Jack, the accident victim had woke up 2 hours ago in recovery.
• Rousseau had recorded the S.O.S. message 3 days before Alex was born.

Death Toll

• Seven Others (including Diane and Ivan) in the beach attack
• Greta, one of the lovely ladies of Looking Glass station
• Bonnie, the other lovely lady of Looking Glass station
• Sayid, Jin, and Bern- oh, wait, they're still alive!
• Ryan the Other thanks to Hurley's driving
• The unnamed Other whose neck Sayid broke with his legs of death.
• Tom aka Mr. Friendly who paid for his first season kidnapping of Walt
• Naomi stabbed in the back - literally - by Locke
• Charlie - famous then failed musician, recovering drug addict, a hero in the end

And now begins the long, numbers-free, colors-less, nine-month wait. See you back here in February 2008 (or maybe before as information on the new season becomes available). Until then, have a good summer, a nice autumn, a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a good Ground Hog's Day. Namaste!