Lost-vivor: “The Constant”

Posted on February 29, 2008 @ 12:04 am

Lost-vivor

Welcome to Lost-vivor — all the mystery and adventure of Lost with an added dash of Survivor-style competition! Please note that the section ahead contains spoilers for last night’s episode of Lost. Proceed at your own risk.

Desmond has always been among my favorite Lost-vivors, so it’s no surprise that I really dug “The Constant.” The time travel element was unexpected (I’m striving to avoid reading spoilers this season), and I’m a total sucker for Penny and Desmond’s relationship. Yeah, yeah…I was getting all misty-eyed when they were declaring their love for each other. Go ahead, laugh it up. So what if I’m emotionally over-invested in Lost? That’s my job as the Keeper of Lost-vivor, right?

Right.

Aside from all the mushy romantic stuff, Daniel Faraday is quickly ascending the list of my favorite Lost characters. I’ve mentioned how much I enjoy Jeremy Davies’ performance before, but I also love that we finally have a character around who has some clue about what’s going on with the Mysterious Island (even if his memory is a little spotty). If next week’s promo is any indication, Daniel and company are going to continue to figure prominently in future episodes. So, what do you think, Lost-vivor Nation? Is it time to officially add the Freighter Folk to the rankings?

Oh, and did anyone else wonder if the “side effects” Desmond experienced in tonight’s episode might be the same “sickness” that Rousseau and others have associated with the Island? Hmm…

With five episodes down, I’m very pleased with Lost’s fourth season. As far as I’m concerned, the series has finally regained its momentum and sense of purpose. In fact, I don’t think I’ve looked forward to new episodes with such anticipation since the bygone days of the Hatch. Yes, I was one of those fans who totally adored the whole “push the button/don’t push the button” phase. Anyway, from what I’m reading on the Lost-osphere, this is how the rest of the season is shaping up:

As I said last week, I’m glad that ABC extended Lost’s season by a few episodes now that the writers strike has ended. Where’s the fun in awarding the Lost-vivor championship after just eight episodes? Thirteen episodes, on the other hand — that’s a warrior’s number. Now, let’s start tallying up some points…
Desmond:
 
  • “Apparently, my consciousness is jumping through time again, brotha”: +4
  • “Only this time, it’s leaving me with swiss-cheesed memory, brotha — just like that show Quantum Leap: -1
  • Chewed out by his drill sergeant. They act like that in the Scottish military, too?: -1
  • Stuck doing push-ups and crunches in the rain. Reminded me of that movie Biloxi Blues where Ferris Bueller joins the army: -1
  • You know, as Desmond’s beard gets bushier, he’s starting to look a little like Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees: +1
  • Penny didn’t want to see him in the past. Poor Des: -2
  • Remembered the settings Future Daniel gave him, convinced Past Daniel that he really was from the future: +2
  • 1996? That guess wasn’t even close: -1
  • Started blacking out randomly: -2
  • Suffered the Nosebleed of Certain Death (a time-honored television and film staple). You’re gonna die, brotha: -3
  • Found Penny’s father. I’m not entirely sure how, but he found him: +1
  • Tracked down Penny, convinced her to give him her phone number: +2
  • Remembered Penny’s phone number in the future: +2
  • Contacted Present Penny. Or, is she Future Penny? Either way, she still loves him: +5
  • And got his memory back: +3
  • And he’s Daniel’s constant. For whatever that’s worth: +1

    •  
    Net gain/loss: +10
    Current score: 113

    		 Desmond
    Charlotte:
     
  • Called Jack “doctor.” It’s about time somebody started showing some respect around here: +1

    •  
    Net gain/loss: +1
    Current score: NA

    		 Charlotte
    Daniel:
     
  • Spilled the beans about the Island’s time discrepancy: +2
  • Arranged a rendezvous with Desmond in the past: +2
  • Thought ahead — or is it behind? — and provided Desmond with a code phrase for his time traveling adventures: +1
  • Demonstrated every “absent-minded professor” cliché imaginable. As a professor, I’m personally offended: -1
  • Holy frijoles! Daniel invented rodent-based time travel: +19
  • Uh…Des is right. You might want to get some protection for your head if you’re going to insist on playing with radiation. Might I suggest a tinfoil hat?: -6
  • Roughed up by Des in the past, got his chalkboard knocked over: -1

    •  
    Net gain/loss: +16
    Current score: NA

    		 Daniel
    Eloise:
     
  • Consciousness traveled through time, successfully completed maze: +17
  • Brain short-circuited, died: -117

    •  
    Net gain/loss: -100
    Current score: NA

    		 Eloise
    Sayid:
     
  • Quizzed Frank on the night/day time discrepancy: +2
  • Gave up his gun in exchange for the satellite phone. I dunno…it’s going to be harder to kill people with a phone: -3
  • Roughed up the ship’s doctor: +2
  • “Can you fix the comm system, brotha?” “I’ll need a minute.” How awesome is Sayid?: +2
  • Fixed it. Of course. Oh, and saved Desmond’s life in the process (without even knowing it): +3

    •  
    Net gain/loss: +6
    Current score: 127

    		 Sayid
    Jack:
     
  • Knows how to put the satellite phone on speaker mode. Hey, that’s something, right?: +1

    •  
    Net gain/loss: +1
    Current score: 107
    Frank:
     
  • Flew back to the freighter with only one casualty — Desmond’s sanity: +3
  • Talked Sayid into giving up his gun. That’s no easy feat: +2
  • Took Sayid to sickbay: +1

    •  
    Net gain/loss: +6
    Current score: NA

    		 frank1.jpg

     

    Not too many characters to score this week, but here are your updated standings:

    1. Sayid (127) (+6)
    2. Locke (126)
    3. Sawyer (119)
    4. Ben (116)
    5. Desmond (113) (+10)
    6. Hurley (112)
    7. Juliet (108)
    8. Jack (107) (+1)
    9. Vincent (105)
    10. Bernard (101)
    11. Jin (101)
    12. Sun (101)
    13. Kate (99)
    14. Claire (96)
    15. Rose (97)

     
    With episode five in the books, Sayid reclaims the lead from Locke. Meanwhile, Desmond — last season’s fan favorite — finally started racking up a few points. Tune in next week to see if he can continue to build on that momentum. As always, thanks for reading Lost-vivor, and I’ll see you next time!

    Posted by Jess | Filed Under Lost-vivor |

    24 comments so far...

    1. Babs February 29, 2008 1:19 am

      Awesome recap and commentary. The only problem I see with adding the freighter four to the regulars is that Jeff Fahey (Frank Lapidus) is still relegated to guest star status.

      I don’t want to sound like a Buttinski, and I enjoy seeing all the points you have racked up, but Jack could have mentioned to Daniel that Desmond had been sitting in the hatch for 3 years entering numbers in a computer next to some mysterious ELECTROMAGNETIC wall…

    2. Matt February 29, 2008 2:51 am

      “1996? That guess wasn’t even close: -1″

      Probably you’re best work ever :) But then again this was one of the best episodes ever!

      I think it may be almost time to include the 4 new guys. (Daniel at least) seems to have a much larger role coming up than say… Claire.

    3. daye February 29, 2008 7:13 am

      go Daniel with your +16

    4. David February 29, 2008 7:41 am

      Can I just say that the inclusion of Eloise is brilliant?! Thank you so much for making a great show that much more enjoyable.

    5. Jeannie Porter February 29, 2008 8:37 am

      This was was of the best LOST episodes ever! I am really excited that you have added Daniel to the list…he is fast becoming my favorite character. Lost-vivor is the best part of my Fridays!

    6. Gaelic Gopher February 29, 2008 9:22 am

      So Mr. Whitmore says “Walk with me” and they end up in the men’s room. Is this a common place for estranged potential fathers-in-law to take suitors? Kinda creepy if you ask me…

    7. jmanna February 29, 2008 9:30 am

      If you included a rat that never even set foot on the island, might as well include the floaties on the frieghter. And Penny. Penny’s had some influence.

    8. David February 29, 2008 9:45 am

      Desmond and Sayid are my favorites so last nights episode ranked as one of the best ever! Daniel and Frank are climbing on my list as well. They both seem to be genuine good guys. I was expecting Minkowski to make the rankings like this: Understands Desmonds problem +50, has a nice ride on a ferris wheel +5…same fate as eloise -55

    9. Datadog February 29, 2008 10:40 am

      Definitely one of the best episodes they’ve done to date. Who needs Kate dealing with mommy issues when you’ve got Daniel playing Doc Brown in Desmond’s mind-twisting version of “Back to the Future?”

    10. Datadog February 29, 2008 10:43 am

      Wait a minute - if Eloise was brought back one hour from the future and knows how to run the maze… does Dan still have to teach her?

    11. Julep February 29, 2008 11:04 am

      I’d say it’s definitely time to add the freighter folk, since Daniel technically got his own flashback (even though it was embedded in Desmond’s time travel). Daniel & Frank are both awesome and very likable, and Miles is very cool in his own devious, blackmailing way - with really intriguing powers. Charlotte is just irritating so far, but hopefully there may be more to her soon besides her sneers and snotty comments!

    12. Joe February 29, 2008 11:22 am

      Minkowski should have gotten some points for this being his second dealing with time travel ala My Science Project. Though he did fair alot better that time, so maybe he should get negative points for this time.

    13. Jess February 29, 2008 11:49 am

      Thanks for the feedback, everyone! It looks like public opinion is in support of adding the Freighter Folk. Who knows? They may just join the rankings next week.

    14. Michael February 29, 2008 11:59 am

      Great recap, as always Jess. I’m excited for this season of Lost as well, I was just telling my brother last night that it’s like every good thing about every other show all rolled into one show. And he totally riffed on Quantum Leap just like you did. (Although, to be fair, I’m sure lots of people who watched both shows were reminiscing last night…) Anyway, cast my vote for including the Freighter Folk among the Losties. I’ve loved ‘em since day one. And add me to the people who are claiming Daniel as a new fave character.

      Only one question: what’s up with the point for 1996? I feel like I lost a joke somewhere along the way. I’m loving all of the time travel, though, I feel like it’s such a central part of how they’re going to make everything make sense, which makes my finite-story-telling-loving heart so so so happy.

    15. Jeff Schiller February 29, 2008 1:14 pm

      @Datadog: “Wait a minute - if Eloise was brought back one hour from the future and knows how to run the maze… does Dan still have to teach her?”

      I think Faraday taught the rat the maze while Des was snoozing on the comfy chair.

      Count me among the clueless re the 1996 joke…

    16. Thom February 29, 2008 1:15 pm

      Another great write-up - but I didn’t think looking like Barry Gibb would be a plus…

      At the very least you should add Daniel to the list. I’m not sold on the others right now, as they seem somewhat superfluous. But Daniel seems like he’ll remain an important character, and is the first guy who knows anything that doesn’t think he should be completely secretive.

      Oh, and he should also get a couple bonus points for his awesome Kurt Vonnegut reference.

    17. Jonathan February 29, 2008 2:38 pm

      I really thought this episode was not as good as others. Time travel, boooooooo! How about giving Sayid some points for “Okay, but after this somebody’s going to have to give me some answers.” Its probably only the second of third time that anybody on the show has pointed out that everyone likes to hide innocuous information that could help everyone figure out what’s going on.

      Also, looking like Barry Gibb is a PLUS? That’s a MINUS in my book, holmes.

    18. Rhubarb_Runner February 29, 2008 3:16 pm

      “Minkowski should have gotten some points for this being his second dealing with time travel ala My Science Project”

      Minkowski has been in a WHOLE LOT of time travel projects. What about “Early Edition”?

      I prefer him in “Short Circuit”: “You can say that again, two times.”

      Nice work, Jess. btw, “but here are your updatED standings”

    19. Erin March 1, 2008 12:39 am

      I’ve never commented, but I love reading your Lost-vivor’s every week.
      Absolutely hilarious, every time. My personal favorite this week was: “Holy frijoles! Daniel invented rodent-based time travel: +19″

      I agree that this was one of the best episodes I’ve seen, and not only because it centered around Desmond. The time-travel is a bit confusing, but I love it.

      Also, you should definitely add Daniel into Lost-vivor, and maybe Frank as well (and as for Miles and Charlotte…depends on their screen time?)

      Can’t wait until next week.

    20. Aly March 1, 2008 10:06 pm

      I love LOST-vivor :) Agreed that your posts are a must read, and so hysterically clever…
      The plus points for Bee Gees, (Des stayin’ alive)…absolutely cracked me up!!

    21. BuzdRider March 3, 2008 10:05 am

      “The Constant” was the best Lost episode yet. I am with everyone in the love for Faraday, but anyone not in the front section on Flight 815 has overwhelming odds to overcome in surviving on the Island. So far: All but but Russo of the French Expedition dead, all but Des of the button pushers are dead, all on-site Darma employees dead in a ditch, only a small part of the others are alive now after the failed raiding party, and two of the Freighters have died already. The numbers don’t lie. I wouldn’t add them to the list until the season Finale and then give them booku points for making it that far.

    22. Iain March 4, 2008 12:42 am

      If Faraday is entered into the rankings, right now he’d be equal to Sayid in first place. So do it! Sayid could use some serious competition this season.

    23. Erikalin March 5, 2008 1:55 pm

      Please put the freighters in the rankings. I love what Miles (aka Asian Sawyer) and Daniel bring to the show: irony, hilarity, and more to the STORY! LOST is back on track!!!

    24. Trint March 5, 2008 2:52 pm

      I’m not a lost fan (despite your best efforts) and I’m not sure if this is a “repost”, but I thought I’d pass this along.

      http://lostmap.blogspot.com/


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