CRAZY: Lost (Season Finale)

Reminder: all my TV articles contains spoilers, and "Lost" fans will want to be sure that they watch this episode before reading.

Lost: Season 3, Episode 22 "Through the Looking Glass, Parts 1 & 2" (A-)

Wow. I suspected from the very beginning that Bearded Jack was Jack of the Future. More on that later, of course. This was an amazing episode, mostly because it utilized that secret weapon that "Lost" used to use in its first season, but has since neglected: its ensemble cast. If I am correct, this episode showcased the entire cast, including long-absent Walt (who I think is definitely a hallucination). Charlie goes out in the best possible way - as a hero knowing that he has to die, but that he has succeeded both in turning off the jamming signal and in getting a desperately important message across to Desmond. Dominic Monaghan should be very happy with his character's send-off, and the fan base that is sure to spring up in his character's memory.

This was a through-and-through thrilling episode, providing certain scares along the way, some easily dismissed (Sayid, Jin, and Bernard were not all just killed) and others more ominous and potential dangerous (Penelope is not on the ship Naomi came from). The "how did you get this frequency" line uttered by both Penelope and the potential rescuer is creepy and intriguing. As far as giving Lana Parilla more screen time, as I had hoped for in my review last week, so much for that, as she utters about three lines before being killed. I am sure she will find herself another show or film soon enough. We do get to see the true motivations behind the other main characters - Sawyer needs revenge, Juliet needs a clean conscience, and Hurley is just cool.

This episode left me wanting so badly for more, but in a good way. Unlike the rest of the episodes this season, enough was revealed, and while more questions were posed, it is satisfying in a suspenseful kind of way. The impending rescue is perfectly mixed with the mystery added to by warnings from Ben, aggression by Locke, and a shocking revelation from Penelope. The craziest thing of all is the flashforwards which carried through this episode. Jack cannot cope in the future because he needs to be back on the island, presumably because he is unimportant and unrespected, after months of having everyone on the island look up to him. The funeral in question I thought for a while to be Sawyer, but after seeing Kate, I tend to agree with other people who say that is Ben, or possibly Locke.

Many people suspect that this episode is the start of a new format for "Lost": having flashforwards instead of flashbacks. This episode for the first time in a while at least felt like it really knew where it was going, but I hesitate to recommend that strategy. It did not end up working out as well as planned for recent TV flops "Reunion" and "The Nine." What is happening on the island is far more interesting, and it merely becomes a guessing game as to who will in fact survive. I would hope that "Lost" does not take that tactic on, but I am more than excited to know what will happen this season. What I can say is that this was a spectacular episode, far better than any other "Lost" this entire season, and sets up the third season so well with thrilling expectations. A terribly uneven season is made better by this stellar finale, which I would have "Lost" submit for Emmy consideration in the Best Drama Series category over the Locke-centered "The Man From Tallahassee." I would also encourage Dominic Monaghan to submit this episode for consideration.

Season grade: C