Episode 3.7, "Not In Portland"
Original Airdate: February 7th, 2007

We're getting old.

We all are, each and every one of us. You just got older as you read that. And that. And this. As They Might Be Giants so wisely sang, "You're older than you've ever been/And now you're even older/And now you're older still."

I point out this obvious fact simply to bitch about how damn LATE Lost is on now that it's returned for the conclusion of this season. I've got an eight-month-old baby and a full-time job and an exhausted wife. I'm typically asleep by 9:30 p.m.

Now ABC expects me to stay up till 11:00 PM to watch all of Lost? A show that can be confusing and confounding even when one is not half asleep?

Grand.

I guess the big question is this: Was it worth it? Did I regret my loss of an extra hour of sleep last night, or was I glad to sacrifice a little consciousness at work on Thursday morning for my time spent on the island?

Regret and gladness mixed together bittersweetly, friends. That's about how I feel.

My problems with the series are going to become a boring litany to all y'all, so suffice it to say that for me, I don't know if Lost will ever again demonstrate the kind of storytelling momentum that makes for a satisfying TV experience. That's something Lost used to pull off, back when the number of unanswered questions was actually manageable. When we were all still learning what was what and the show's plotting and development were a relatively novel approach for television, it was easy to get carried away.

These days, not so much. The mysteries behind the show have never been more shrug-worthy for me than they are right now. If you're wondering whether or not to check out the show on iTunes for the first time as you read this, let me tell you now: There are no answers coming, and there weren't many real answers in the past few seasons of the show. Questions begat only more questions.

Which leaves us with the here and the now of the show--each episode filled with characters and situations unique pretty much to itself. The big picture is ugly to behold, but do the little pictures maintain any interest?

They do. I'm very much drawn into the Sawyer/Kate relationship at this point, even though there isn't much of one to get drawn into. What little tantalizing bits we've seen, along with the whole Sawyer-as-Han-Solo vibe, is inordinately compelling to me, and maybe it's just because I'm an unrepentant Star Wars nerd, but whatever. Like Han before him, Sawyer's love for Kate is redeeming, to the viewer if not to the universe he inhabits.

Benjamin Linus continues to be a creepy villain whose chilling vibe is only enhanced by his relationships with his fellow Others. His story with Juliet will be fascinating, if we ever get to really see it.

And of course, the trippy flashing room was WICKED and freaky. When it wants to, Lost can be genuinely disturbing and fascinating. It's just SUCH a big turn off when you see something like that slideshow with the horrible loud music and the nearly comatose kid, and you realize you may never know what the hell it means.

All told, not a bad kick-off to part two of this season. There was enough gravy for me to ignore the stale taste of mystery meat.

(Okay. Next week, no pointless complaining about all the unanswered questions. Scout's honor.)

iTunes Links:

Lost Series
Lost Season 3
"Not In Portland"