SEE A PENNY, PICK HER UP

(SCREENCAPS COURTESY OF LOST-MEDIA.COM) We can now add "monk" to Desmond's muddled resume', as per "Catch-22," an equally muddled episode that pulled us in early on with a heart-pounding, prophetic dream sequence, but never quite lived up to our initial, high expectations. I guess I should point out, yet again, that Des is one of my favorite television characters of ALL time -- a good-hearted rogue who had no direction in his life until, in the grand tradition of great cosmic jokes, he was lost at sea. The sweet, gray-haired shopkeeper who refused to sell him a ring in "Flashes Before Your Eyes" told him that pressing the Swan station button was the most important thing he would do in his life. And, yes, that was her, in that odd-looking photo on the monk's desk, when Des was dismissed. (So, who is she? And when will she pop up again?) Almost everything we know about Desmond suggests a man whose life is perpetually off-kilter. With that in mind it probably makes perfect sense that he would meet the love of his life the day after the monastery gave him his walking papers. He looked at Penny, she looked at him and -- twinkle, twinkle -- the rest is history, interrupted by the occasional race around the world, and (perhaps) the prophecy he mangled by saving Charlie yet again. OK, so let's get on with things: THE BOOK: Considered one of the great satirical works of the 20th century, Joseph Heller's "Catch 22" takes place...

...during World War II, and involves a series of events told from multiple points of view, all of which lead to a great siege. (Which, we suspect, is how Season Three will also wind up.) I'd rather not go into too much detail about the book for those who haven't read it, but the title has become part of the English language -- referring to a bureaucratic (or any) problem which cannot be resolved. How it may apply to the episode: Like Maria in "The Sound of Music," Desmond isn't cut out for the order to which he says he received "the calling." But (unlike Maria) he can't seem to do anything in his life that DOES work. Everything he attempts seems to take him on a circuitous route to nowhere. And, since we like to connect each episode's flashback with its real-time action, there is another "Catch-22" at work in Desmond's ongoing and generally valiant efforts to prevent Charlie from dying. For the first time we can recall, Desmond fears that altering the future will have repercussions -- and yes, this all qualifies as your classic "Catch-22" -- or no-win situation. He believes that Penny will arrive on the island -- but only if Charlie dies. On the other hand, he knows (or thinks he knows) that Charlie WILL die eventually. So...what does he do? (Oh, and speaking of no-win situations: If I recall correctly, the first race between Superman and Flash, a classic 1970s comic book story, ended in a tie. A quick Google search shows that this race -- I believe there was at least one rematch -- appeared in Superman No. 199, and that the date was June 10. And, perhaps like much of "Lost," the race was tossed together by two intergalactic evil-doers for their amusement and personal gain.) Anyway...where was I? Oh, yeah: In the dream sequence that opens the show, Penny's arrival is only implied. The photo of her and Desmond flashes in his mind. And, despite saving Charlie's life, the photo does magically appear on the island. But this photo -- altered slightly in "Flashes Before Your Eyes," has its own spotty history. Des and Penny posed for the photo in "Flashes..." and, as near as we could tell, only one copy of it was made. And yet we saw it in the Swan station after Des appeared in Season 2, and we saw it again at Penny's bedside in the S-2 finale. The photo somehow survived the Swan explosion -- even though Des wound up naked in the jungle -- and now we see another copy of it inserted into the copy of "Ardil-22" -- which is the Portuguese translation of the novel's title. The language is significant since the men in the listening station who contacted Penny at the end of S-2 were speaking Portuguese. The bag in which the book was found also contained another book wrapped in plastic, a satellite phone, and -- perhaps -- a small hula dancer doll. We have no idea why our mysterious visitor might have wanted to take a doll with her on a trip like this. But we do know that every movement in hula has a specific meaning -- a note from the writer's, perhaps, that "Lost" is constructed with the same attention to detail. MADAME X -- She apparently fell from the sky in a parachute -- kind of like ballloonist Henry Gale. Although, let's face it, there are only so many ways to get onto this island. The fact that she said Desmond's name may or may not be proof that she was sent there from the outside world to find him. We have to doubt that anyone on a mission of this kind would arrive so haphazardly and do so with a communications device that is without power. Could it be that whatever plane or copter that left her there was also lost for a very long time? If so, then why would they let someone out? We may also wish to consider the possibility that our mystery girl has been on the island for a while; and/or that she was among those monitoring Des during his time in the Swan. I've read theories that Desmond really is the main character of "Lost" and that his odyssey -- made while his beloved Penelope waits for his return -- is based on Homer's heroic saga. I'm curious who you guys think this woman is, where she came from, and what part she may play in the remaining episodes this season. According to production notes, her name is Naomi. The biblical Naomi was the mother-in-law of Ruth, and in this episode Ruth is the fiance who Des left just prior to their wedding day. The bible's Book of Ruth was a lesson to the Israelites, and according to gotquestions.org, "It teaches that genuine love at times may require uncompromising sacrifice." BACK AT JACK: Once again, Sawyer tried to prove his manhood over a game of ping-pong, although, from the looks of things, all of his parts appear to be in working order. (Sometimes it makes sense to be on at 10. Those tent scenes were pretty steamy.) Jack, meanwhile, is still cozying up with Juliet, chit-chatting for hours on end. Frankly, we find it hard to believe that they haven't gotten around to the perennial WHERE ARE WE?/WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE? conundrum. So, what in the name of Benjamin Linus are they talking about? Speculation -- fueled by snippets of coming attractions -- suggests that Jack (unlike Sawyer) may not be in working order. Was he brainwashed before his release? The last few weeks have shown us an awful lot of his tattoos -- he seems to grow another one every week -- and we're reminded of the one translated a few weeks ago: "He walks among you, but he is not one of you." Has that saying taken on new meaning? While I'm on that subject, I was agonizing last week over the bandage on Locke's wrist. I happened to revisit "Not in Portland" a few days ago, and -- thank you God for TiVo -- stopped in mid-frame on the shot of Karl in that razzly-dazzly Room 23 hotseat. As part of his reassignment therapy, Karl had an IV tube running into his hand. Did the same thing happen to Locke? Did the same thing happen to Jack? Where we all kidnapped three seasons ago and brainwashed? Is that why our non-"Lost"-loving friends think we walk among them but are not one of them? MORIAH -- The winery name was explained to us as the place where God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac. There is a parallel, of course, in Desmond's "test" with Charlie. But...what gives? Since when are the writers doing the Googling for us? They usually make us search into the wee hours for stuff like that, and force us to connect the dots ourselves. QUOTES: The most baffling exhange of the evening was Desmond saying to Hurley: "If I tell you [the prophecy], it will change the picture in the box." So many boxes on this island, so little time. Funniest line of the night went to the monk who stumbled across Des getting smashed in the wine cellar: "Something tells me, Desmond, that you're not cut out to be a monk..." FAR-FETCHED: I found it hard to believe that Hurley could lure Jin away from his pregnant wife with marshmallows and the promise of a "camping trip." Who gets all excited about leaving their tent on an uncharted island to go camping? JUST CURIOUS: Even more than finding out who Naomi is, I'd like to know what that blinking red light in the sky was. On the night of Sept. 11, I saw similar lights in the sky over Manhattan. I assumed they were some sort of military surveillance planes, although had I seen them on any other night -- actually I saw them at around 3 a.m. -- I would have reported UFOs. Eventually one went straight up and the other shot across the sky (heading south) faster than any planes I've ever seen. (And please don't write in to say I'm nuts. I was awake. I saw 'em.) OVERALL: Maybe I was too stunned by Sanjaya's page one departure to get overly involved in "Catch-22." It reeled me in quickly, but kept running out of steam. I guess that means I'm giving it a B, although I may have second thoughts after a second viewing. Even on a so-so night, though, I am a true Des-aholic. Is he the perfect drinking buddy, or what? (I guess that means I'm not cut out to be a monk, either.)

Comments

[cb2746]

I think the helicopter, the beacon lights, and the parachute with hanging pilot, are all part of a ruse to insert a sympathetic Naomi into the beach group.

The helicopter isn't seen, just heard. Cue the speakers.

A flashing light descends into the jungle. Cue the laser.

Hang Naomi and the parachute, and the stage is set.

It shouldn't take too much to have them swallow this scenario because

(a) Des has been telling them that someone is coming... and

(b) They WANT SO MUCH to believe this is the beginning of a rescue.

Regarding that bandage on Locke. I've never had more than a band-aid on my hand after the removal of an IV, so I think you need to find another reason for it... although I'm sure it is significant. Somehow. Like the wine label.

Don't get me started on how much time I've spent on that so far, with only the silliest results. Scrambling the letters of Moriah only turned up "mohair". Maybe the Monk's "mom" in the picture with him (Finnoula Flannigan) is named Moriah. Stay tuned, eh?

[Chris]

CB,
I think that Naomi is for real, as I don't think the Others knew about Desmond and/or Kelvin.
Bill,
The blinking red light was her rescue beacon. If you noticed, it was still blinking when they found her.
Thanks for the shout out last week. Thinking about it, the only other explaination that I can think of is somehow the communications ran through the Swan, but not the power. I still think that Ben is lying about the COMS though.

This episode is an A for Flashbacks for me, but a C on Current happenings on the island.

[cb2746]

Chris...

But how could the Others NOT know about Kelvin and Des? They were in the Swan, and Mikhial (?) could monitor the Swan, right? Back in November we saw Mikhial on a monitor, and we know that Jack was being viewed when he was in the Swan.

Regarding Naomi, I would love for her to be "real", as that would start to move things along. This story of "ship wrecked" people stuck on a mysterious island with Others who persecute them without reason and supernatural happenings thrown in is certainly unique and enjoyable, but we keep hearing the same line... "I want some answers" .... from character after character, but very little gets revealed.

What is the black cloud? Why does it sound like something out of Jurassic Park, instead of just being silent ... like any other self respecting cloud?

Why hasn't Jack moved the beach people to the now deserted barracks? There's houses, and plumbing, and electricity... and up until last week, chickens! Yes, there are tunnels, but if Juliet wants to prove her new loyalty, have her reveal them, block them, and then move everyone in. They could reset the sonar defenses with a new code to keep the Others out. I would think sleeping in a real bed instead of on a bunch of rags on a crab-infested beach (they crawl all over you at night! Ugh!)would be a big incentive to trek inland.

This series is in danger of turning into one long version of Beach Blanket Bingo. :)

[Barry Smith]

Naomi has a Portugese version of Catch-22 (the same language that Penny's arctic station dudes speak), the pic of Desmond and Penny, a satellite phone, and she calls Desmond by his name...all this circumstantial evidence makes me think she was sent by Penny to find Des and to report her findings to Penny via the sat. phone. The actual rescue would happen later, and it makes sense that Penelope doesn't have to risk her own life by venturing into the unknown, since if she dies, it's all in vain.

Bill, I like that idea that Lost is really all about Desmond, a la Homer's Odyessy. I can't explain all the copies of the pic of Des and Pen, but I think that pic has great signifigance...remember the time-travel episode and how the pic came to be. It was nice to hear about Lost Horizon and the similarities to Lost (in the earlier Blog entry)--thanks for that. I missed the Jewelery store woman in the Monk's picture, but I was worried about the Devils (the New Jersey Devils, who were in overtime as the clock struck 10. Happily, they won to tie their series!).

[Michelle]

My thoughts on Naomi are that she is part of the Portuguese team hired by Penny to find Desmond. They found the island by tracking the "anomaly" caused by the hatch explosion. And they knew to look for it from the info Desmond gave his friend in "Flashes before your eyes".
We also know, from Ethan, that the trip to the island can be "intense". Does this mean that even if you know where the island is - getting to it is difficult - and caused the helicopter to crash?

The only real problem I have with this "rescue" is that it was done at night. Desmond has been missing for 3 years - they couldn't wait a few more hours until it was light?

This episode was okay. I agree giving us the info on Moriah took the fun out of looking for it myself.
The only question answered was why Desmond calls everyone brother - but I don't remember anyone asking that one.

[Bill Ervolino]

FROM BILL: Thanks to all for the thoughtful comments. (But Barry! You deserted us for hockey? Have you no shame?)
After mulling it all over, though, I'm still confused by Naomi's "arrival." On the one hand, I find the Portuguese connection to be difficult to explain. On the other, there was an undeniable stageiness about her dangling there in a tree, especially since we didn't really see her coming down. Also the placement of the doll makes me suspicious. It seemed planted there for the express purpose of leading Des to the bag and its contents.
Of course, if we back away a bit -- and I'm really pushing the envelope here -- there is a possibility that Penny's dad had something to do with it. He's another billionaire industrialist who could be linked to Hanso and who could be monitoring his daughter's attempts to find the man he detests.
Mr. Widmore knew Des wanted to prove something to him (ie: the boat race) and Des seemed to find (via Libby)a boat out of thin air. And since Des can get a bit drunk now and again, it IS possible that his landing on the island and winding up locked in an underground hatch for three years was -- ahem -- a well-hatched plan.
If he then learned that Penny and her listeners (who may also work for Mr. Widmore) found the island, then perhaps he intervened yet again by placing an assassin in his midst, who could arrive with a photo of Des with Penny, tell him some wild story to gain his confidence, and then stab him in the back.
OK maybe that sounds a little crazy. But...
No matter what happens on this show, I always have this sneaking feeling that there are some very rich guys sitting around, watching all the action and playing with everyone as if they're pieces on a chessboard.

[Barry Smith]

Bill, I like your theory, and it's not so far-fetched. This show always has a new surprise, so nothing really surprises me anymore..you know what I mean. Mr. Widmore certainly has the means to try something like this, but we'll just have to wait and see. But I do like your ideas here. Maybe Desmond has a spider-sense (like Peter Parker) that will kick in and warn him, through another vision let's say, before the assassin has a chance to kill him.

As for hockey, I did not miss one moment of Lost, I missed some of the overtime period, including the game-winning goal. My lame excuse for failing to notice stuff--like the jewelry store lady in the pic--is that my mind was elsewhere, namely, on the Devils game. But I'm glad others noticed, and I'm glad the Devils won, cause it was huge, and after tonight's shutout, now they lead the series 3-2. OK, no more about hockey, I promise.

[Miriam S]

Hi I'm new to this.......... did anyone find it incredibly humorous when Jin told the supposedly "scary story" with the flashlight to his chin, etc..... It was pure poking fun in the midst of all the "heavy stuff"...

[Bill Ervolino]

FROM BILL: Yeah, Miriam, I thought that was a nice touch to incorporate such a well-worn campfire ritual to their 'trip' -- and even better that they couldnt understand what he was saying. But, as I wrote in my piece, whats probably more funny is that anyone on this island would get excited by the idea of 'going camping' since they've been basically doing that for months now.