S5 EPISODE 14 THREAD 29-APR-09 : The Variable (LOST's 100th Episode)

[Brian]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v698/Leuthen2/LTV/S5_Lost_400x225.jpg (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60047)

This is the discussion thread for the next LOST episode, "The Variable"

(LOST's 100th Episode)

Writers:

Edward Kitsis (http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Edward_Kitsis) and Adam Horowitz (http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Adam_Horowitz)

Director:

Paul Edwards (http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Paul_Edwards)

Please utilize this thread to post all your episode comments, reviews, simple questions and general thoughts regarding the episode.

Any new theories or big issues raised by the episode may be started in a new thread.

Enjoy the episode!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v698/Leuthen2/LTV/fastforwardlost2.png
Click here after the episode airs to bypass the live discussion. (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2693176#post2693176)
Episode Description:

On the 100th episode milestone for the series, the time of reckoning has begun when Daniel Faraday comes clean regarding what he knows about the island.


(Episode Transcript) (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60258)


Previous Season 5 discussion threads can be found in Episode Discussion Threads: Season Five (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=329).

There are just a few things that I'd like to mention in order to hopefully make everyones viewing of the Episode Discussion Threads a little more enjoyable:

* First off, if you haven't already, please take a moment and read the forum guidelines (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31509). Many questions can be answered by simply taking a few moments and reading them over.

* For those who don't want to "flip" through so many pages while reading the episode discussion threads (or any large threads), you can set the number of posts to view per page as high as 60. Just go to UserCP > Edit Options > Thread Display Options > Number of Posts to Show Per Page. The available options are Use Forum Default, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 60. Forum Default is 10. *NOTE: Increasing the number of posts to view per page may increase page loading times.*

* Want to revisit a topic that has possibly been discussed already? Then please view the Guys? Where are we? (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=4) forum where any and all topics from all seasons of LOST are open for discussion.

* Have a new twist on a possibly older theory? Then stop by the What I think is going on (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=5) forum and let us hear about it.

* Both "Guys? Where are we?" and "What I think is going on" are where you can re-hash old ideas, concepts, and theories to your hearts content without worrying about your posts being merged or moved.

* If you have a question about how to add an avatar, a profile picture, a signature picture, how to get into chat, or how to edit your location, please visit the LOST-TV Help Desk (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=48). You can most likely find the answer to your question there. If you cannot, then feel free to start a new post there about the problem you're having. The moderators, administrators, as well as some regular members here keep a very close eye on that forum and your question will not go unanswered for long.

* If you have a question how to find past episodes of LOST, please take a look at the Miss an Episode? (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6657) thread. *Please note that discussing illegal downloading of episodes is not allowed here.*

* If you have a question about what so-and-so may have said in a past episode, please take a moment and look through the transcripts (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=204) of past episodes. These episodes have been transcribed by members of the forum.

* If you have a website related to LOST that you'd like to mention for everyone to check out, please post it in the Advertise your LOST site/RPG here! (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36018) thread.

* If you're looking to see if something has been posted here before related to LOST, please take a moment and perform a Search (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/search.php) of the forums. That link will allow you to search the entire forum in the event that you may not know where something has been mentioned or is currently being discussed. A great deal of work has gone into ensuring the Search function here is very thorough so please utilize it.

* If someone uses a word, acronym, or slang that you're unfamiliar with, please check the LOST-TV Dictionary (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39798) as it will likely answer your questions.

* If you're having a problem unrelated to LOST and need help from the moderators and/or administrators, feel free to PM any of us. We'll be glad to help you out. You can find a list of the mods/admins here (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showgroups.php) as well as at the bottom of the thread listings for each individual forum.

Thank you all for your time.

[The_Monster_Mash]

YYEEEAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!

[jmb3rg3r]

OBAMAAAAAAA!!!!!!! TALK FASTER!!!!!!!!

[Thomas Hobbes]

Looking forward to this one!

[LoonyLuna]

omgggggggg i'm so nervoussss and excited. I'm torn between going to pee now or later muahaha

[Thomas Hobbes]

There better be no post-Obama commenting on ABC tonight.

[Selestina118]

Woo!! ON TIME! :D

[wandering_aimlessly]

Time for the 100 that we really care about (not the 100 they just had on)

[Thomas Hobbes]

Time for the 100 that we really care about (not the 100 they just had on)
Nicely put.

[LoonyLuna]

ugh eloise. go AWAY murder she wrote

[snakey]

Now Hawking is all done up, they took her in a left field direction. ick.

[Diamondduste]

This one should be a doozy....

[wandering_aimlessly]

as predicted so long ago.

[snakey]

Daniel is whispering, hee, the whispers.

[Dew]

Thank you for starting on time. :worthy:

[Dew]

Jack got conned. :rofl1:

[wandering_aimlessly]

seems that Daniel doesn't have a lot of faith in Mommy Eloise

[Selestina118]

Coolest LOST Logo EVER!! :D *FLAIL*

[Dew]

That Star Trek trailer was awesome. A big frozen badger. :whistling And a frakking alien mouth on that red thang. :eek:

[chud]

Time for the 100 that we really care about (not the 100 they just had on)

Coincidental? I think not.

[Thomas Hobbes]

Dan has Mommy issues, everyone else has Daddy issues. It's ok with me.

[LOSTForever]

Coincidental? I think not.
:yeah:

[Selestina118]

Aww . . . cute! Little Daniel! :p

[Thomas Hobbes]

I like how young momma Faraday sounds just like Ms. Hawking!

[wandering_aimlessly]

Daniel is Rain Man!

[LoonyLuna]

wow. mama eloise can suck it. let danny play!

[LoonyLuna]

all those engines sound like smokey..or something does.

[Diamondduste]

Back to the opening scene of the season!

[Thomas Hobbes]

Dan is Outatime! Que back to the future:
http://www.starstore.com/acatalog/back-future-l-plate.jpg

[Selestina118]

=O Beginning of the season scene!!!

[wandering_aimlessly]

Deja seen it all before!

[Diamondduste]

Whoa!

The details of the Incident!

[Thomas Hobbes]

The Accident = The Incident?

[wandering_aimlessly]

Gotta love that line. "I'm from the FUTURE"!!!

[Selestina118]

Ooooohhhh . . . . info about the Incident and electromagnetism and such . . . coolness!! :D :D

[LoonyLuna]

Anyone else kinda wish dr chang's reaction woulda been "Great SCOTT"

[thatbutton]

"Benjamin Linus is your son?"

"God, no."

For some reason, that line cracked me up.

[Diamondduste]

EM energy 30,000 x's stronger than the energy of the Donkey Wheel will be released in 6 hours island time...

Hmmm...

I see a window opening.

[LOSTForever]

Anyone else kinda wish dr chang's reaction woulda been "Great SCOTT"
:rotfl:

[Bren Keller]

Anyone else kinda wish dr chang's reaction woulda been "Great SCOTT"

LOL True that!:clap:

[snakey]

Gotta love that line. "I'm from the FUTURE"!!!
but you have to whisper it like Daniel.

[Greg Gregson]

Daniel is the First to say it.:)

Predict:
How many of the Losties will say " I'm from the future"

[Selestina118]

Did anyone just see the black smoke commercial with the flash and "What did you see?" . . I wonder what that's all about??

[MagneticLocke]

Daniel is trying to break his own rules! Trying to create a new street.

[klh]

Anyone else kinda wish dr chang's reaction woulda been "Great SCOTT"

There's still time - maybe it will be, after the commercial.

ETA: maybe not...

[Selestina118]

HO SNAP!!! Daniel, you did not just do that!!!?? O.O

[softmachine]

Did anyone just see the black smoke commercial with the flash and "What did you see?" . . I wonder what that's all about??

Yeah, I saw one with what looked like a coffin... and one with a wedding?
WTF?

[wandering_aimlessly]

Poor Daniel, nobody ever believes him. But he believes in destiny......

[snakey]

what an array of wigs for Daniel, this is the funniest at his graduation.

[Bren Keller]

Daniel looks so cute with long hair!

[wandering_aimlessly]

Eloise = uber-bitch

[Thomas Hobbes]

There are Monster sounds in the background like whoa in this episode. What is Chang gonna do!?!

[MagneticLocke]

Is that the journal?

[Selestina118]

Daniel looks so cute with long hair!

^I agree! :p

[Thomas Hobbes]

My mom b-tches about never seeing me, and I don't even time travel. I kinda feel for Ms. Hawking.

[wandering_aimlessly]

Back to the beginning??

[Dew]

Twitchy. :lol:

[Thomas Hobbes]

I can't wait for a flashback where someone calls a young Mr. Charles Widmore "Chucky". I give that line to Sawyer. Even if it isn't a true Sawyer nick-name, it'd still be awesome.

[MagneticLocke]

BRUCE! BRUCE, YOU A$%$%#$! GET OFF THE SET!

[klh]

So has Hawking been popping on and off the island like Richard was, or is Hawking not his real mother?

[blaze98]

I am starting to think that the "WLITSOTS" people are being controlled by Ellie:coffeedunk:

[Brian]

Did anyone just see the black smoke commercial with the flash and "What did you see?" . . I wonder what that's all about??

If no one has answered yet, it's all about a new show coming this fall to ABC (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=334).

[*l.o.s.t*m.e*]

Eloise Hawking- not a Dharma chick, a Hostile.

[andromana]

What did you see commercial - Me thinks it is the to be new show "Flash Forward".

"I'm from the future"

Heavy.

[LOSTForever]

Now that it is confirmed that Ellie=Eloise, could one of the Others be Daniel's dad?

[wandering_aimlessly]

Eloise Hawking- not a Dharma chick, a Hostile.We already knew that from the Jughead episode, No?

[Thomas Hobbes]

Back to the beginning??
I'm about 2 mins back on my DVR rechecking things. Great line. I fast forward through the commercials. Let me know if there are any other important ones, like earlier mentioned about Smokey something else. I always watch the first airing rewinding constantly via DVR looking for things, reading everyone's comments, then after the airing I just let it play through, except I still ffwd through commercials. So if we have any good commercial things I need to watch, let me no. Sorry for the way too long comment for a live airing.

[snakey]

wired mag

[SheerSpice]

So has Hawking been popping on and off the island like Richard was, or is Hawking not his real mother?

I kind of wondered that. For one think Hawking has a British accent and Daniel doesn't but that probably could not mean anything.

[MagneticLocke]

What did that comic say?

[Dew]

Oh so the caretaker is just that, no one special, just a caretaker. :hmm:

Oh so he is bonkers is over Theresa. A human soul.

[Selestina118]

If no one has answered yet, it's all about a new show coming this fall to ABC (http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=334).

Thanks, Brian! XD I was about to go and look for some semblance of a new ARG site. lol

[LoonyLuna]

I think i'm officially in love with weepy daniel.

[Dew]

OH man this episode is answering questions non stop. :hyper:

[Thomas Hobbes]

Oh my god (I hate OMG), with the Daniel super flash back on the fake plane crash.

[Dew]

Daniel is TT?

[Diamondduste]

Gotta love the tease there...

[klh]

I kind of wondered that. For one think Hawking has a British accent and Daniel doesn't but that probably could not mean anything.

After thinking about it more I realized that all the scenes with her and Daniel happen after the island, so she doesn't need to be popping back and forth, and now that he's gone back to 1977 she would be there as a hostile.

[Diamondduste]

H.G. Wells.... classic.

[*l.o.s.t*m.e*]

I think's pretty clear that Widmore was the one behind faking the crash.

[wandering_aimlessly]

I kind of wondered that. For one think Hawking has a British accent and Daniel doesn't but that probably could not mean anything.
I've got a British accent, but my kid doesn't (although he makes fun of it all the time!), but you're right it's strange as we would assume Daniel grew up in England, went to Cambridge etc.

[Thomas Hobbes]

Widmore doesn't give a crap about anyone but his old wishes. Cept that old friends mother line through me for one.

[Selestina118]

Little Charlotte!!!!

[MagneticLocke]

Charolette...

[*l.o.s.t*m.e*]

What is Juliet doing?

[Greg Gregson]

Charlotte!

[MagneticLocke]

Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppppppp ppppppyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[wandering_aimlessly]

Mommy, there's a creepy man talking to me!

[Thomas Hobbes]

I think's pretty clear that Widmore was the one behind faking the crash.
Completely clear now. This just states that Ben was not lying about everything he showed [Sayid?] earlier. Widmore is a bad man who would do anything.

[Thomas Hobbes]

141717 = The code to the fence

[Diamondduste]

So Chang evacuates the women and children before the Incident... interesting and gives a proper exit for both young Charlotte and Miles.

[wandering_aimlessly]

Man I hate Radzinsky.

[MagneticLocke]

NO

[blaze98]

I don't think Sig Sauer's were around in 1977

[LoonyLuna]

nooooooooo please let that just be a graze. dont kill daniel

[*l.o.s.t*m.e*]

"I'm not allowed to have chocolate before dinner." Charlotte is so cute.

[LOSTForever]

Not good. Not good at all.

[Thomas Hobbes]

Dan, it's not cool to be in love with a 9 year old. But it's cool what you're doing.

[Dew]

Crap. Radzinksy is still alive. :mad:

Gotta love Jack. Yes the solution is guns. :vomit:

[Bren Keller]

Holy crap balls - these guys cant aim worth a darn!

[MagneticLocke]

Star Trek was never a great show because of special effects. Just sayin...

[Diamondduste]

More reasoning for Chang to get the children off the island.

[Selestina118]

That Dan-Charlotte scene was waaaaay cute! :p Too bad the shot on Radzinski missed and only hit his arm . . . >.>

[ScoobMaster]

Man I hate Radzinsky.

Yeah, Radzinsky's a jerk, hopefully everyone is okay

aww, little charlotte was cute, but Danny needed to hold it together a little better around her

[SheerSpice]

I've got a British accent, but my kid doesn't (although he makes fun of it all the time!), but you're right it's strange as we would assume Daniel grew up in England, went to Cambridge etc.

After thinking about it more I realized that all the scenes with her and Daniel happen after the island, so she doesn't need to be popping back and forth, and now that he's gone back to 1977 she would be there as a hostile.It's interesting. Daniel is definitely a complex character. I agree, maybe it will be cleared up when he visits her as a 'hostile'

[snakey]

was the big blonde guy with Rad supposed to be Tom? The one who drove the van.

[*l.o.s.t*m.e*]

Why does Kate always have to mess up? No matter what she does it's always wrong.

[SheerSpice]

"Anyone of us can die Jack" <~ That's some sort of foreshadowing. I wonder if it's either of them??

[Diamondduste]

Why does Kate always have to mess up? No matter what she does it's always wrong.

Because when she does do that right thing, it'll make it that much more important.

[wandering_aimlessly]

What's the deal with Eloise Hawkinge??? She knows everything and seems to be 'guiding' people to achieve what they are pre-ordained to do. There is definitely more to her than any of us know.

[Dew]

I used to really like Hawking. Not so sure anymore. :hmm:

[MagneticLocke]

No urgency, guys. Take your time.

[*l.o.s.t*m.e*]

This is so cool having scenes we saw in the past tying into events from this episode.

[Randy Nations]

If Charlotte grew up on the island, why does she have a British accent?

[Thomas Hobbes]

The fence never made that 'powering down' sound before...
Reminds me of Ben Kenobi in the Death Star.

[klh]

"Anyone of us can die Jack" <~ That's some sort of foreshadowing. I wonder if it's either of them??

You're a few minutes ahead of me - I'm watching it live and Daniel just said that.

[Diamondduste]

If Charlotte grew up on the island, why does she have a British accent?

You adopt the vocal patterns of those who teach you how to talk. Her parents probably had accents.

[wandering_aimlessly]

Not Sawyers day, is it?

[noop]

Radzinsky is a bad ass.

[wandering_aimlessly]

You adopt the vocal patterns of those who teach you how to talk. Her parents probably had accents.
Plus she spent her formative years growing up in England.

[Thomas Hobbes]

"I just got shot by a physicist". Sawyer better already have a gameplan. I expected more.

[Mechanical_Vader]

Radzinsky is a head case! What a loose cannon.

[*l.o.s.t*m.e*]

Is Juliet turning into a redshirt?

[blaze98]

wow

[Diamondduste]

I love how everything has come full circle.

[Thomas Hobbes]

Here. Comes. The. Incident!

[Dew]

Change? Things can change? :faintthud

[wandering_aimlessly]

Daniel says YOU CAN CHANGE WHAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED!!! I love it!!!!!!

[Diamondduste]

Going to be a fun remainder of the season!

[MagneticLocke]

What did he say?

[Thomas Hobbes]

I love how everything has come full circle.
I agree. Finally getting answers for questions on this season. Now we want answers for all our previous questions. Swan was given. I want more. Button!

[klh]

Oh no, it's looking iffy for all those people who argued the single timeline theory based on what Daniel said...

[MagneticLocke]

Oh, Jughead!?

[wandering_aimlessly]

Thank you Daniel!!!!!!

[Selestina118]

Ooooooh . . . nice! Everyone is the variable. Wonder what will happen to Des then if he never crashes on the island in the first place??

And oh my God . . . . they are going to blow up the island!!! :eek:

[*l.o.s.t*m.e*]

So the Lost crew has split up. Jack, Kate and Faraday are with the Hostiles. Sawyer, Juliet, Hurley, Miles and Jin are going to hide out at the beach.

[GreenDayStoleMyGirlFrieND]

mi head asplode.

[snakey]

C'mon as if the island would allow him to detonate a bomb? We watch the show, dont they realize we know that.

[Dew]

Sawyer, Juliet are being held by Radzinsky. :eek:

[Diamondduste]

C'mon as if the island would allow him to detonate a bomb? We watch the show, dont they realize we know that.

Yeah... I'm assuming there will be a course-correction or two along the way.

[Thomas Hobbes]

I thought we couldn't change the future? All has changed? The hydrobomb was already detonated.

[Dew]

C'mon as if the island would allow him to detonate a bomb? We watch the show, dont they realize we know that.

How could there be a S6 with no island? :boggled:

[LOSTForever]

What did he say?
I'm going to detonate a hydrogren bomb."

[SheerSpice]

Wowww for Charles/Hawking interaction! [won't say it I know I am some minutes ahead]

[*l.o.s.t*m.e*]

Wow, Dan wants to make it so the crash never happened. That sort of sucks.

[Thomas Hobbes]

WTF are up with these random commercials? "What did you see?" I rewound and didn't see much. We're gonna have to screen grab and zoom to see anything.

[Dew]

42 is the answer to everything Michael. ;)

[MagneticLocke]

Wowww for Charles/Hawking interaction! [won't say it I know I am some minutes ahead]

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[WayneInNYC]

C'mon as if the island would allow him to detonate a bomb? We watch the show, don't they realize we know that.

You mean the Characters?
No they don't know, because in 1977, it hasn't aired yet. :nanabobo:

[Diamondduste]

WTF are up with these random commercials? "What did you see?" I rewound and didn't see much. We're gonna have to screen grab and zoom to see anything.

Promo for a new series.

[Thomas Hobbes]

Wow, Dan wants to make it so the crash never happened. That sort of sucks.

He can't do that. If he did, Jack, Kate, everyone wouldn't be there. You can't change the past or future. It'll be interesting to see how they try to change this and have it make sense.

[Selestina118]

Desmond better be okay!! :mad:

[SheerSpice]

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Sorry!!

[Dew]

I smell a set up.

[Thomas Hobbes]

Come on Dez! Say something crazy!

[wandering_aimlessly]

I call BS on Hawkinge. She knew EXACTLY what was going on with Des.

[Diamondduste]

Poor Des is going to get sucked back one way or the other.

[Diamondduste]

And we have confirmation!

[Selestina118]

I KNEW IT! I knew Dan and Penny were bro and sis!! :D \o/

[WayneInNYC]

AAAAAAAAHHHHH!

[blaze98]

Penny and Daniel are brother and sister....whoa......

[Mechanical_Vader]

Widmore + Ellie = Daniel's Parents...YAHTZEE!!!

[LOSTForever]

OMG! Daniel's Widmore's son too!!!!!

[wandering_aimlessly]

"BACK" to the Island??? Daniel was born there?????

[SheerSpice]

Finally. I know crazy huh!?!?!

[Thomas Hobbes]

Haha @ Jack and Kate's "insane" convo. Yea, nothing makes sense. Why try explaining?

[WayneInNYC]

I KNEW IT! I knew Dan and Penny were bro and sis!! :D \o/

Probably half-siblings. Penny prolly has a different mother.

[LoonyLuna]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Diamondduste]

And the island just issued a course-correction.

[wandering_aimlessly]

Mommy dearest...........

[Selestina118]

NOO!!! NOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOOO! :mad:

[GreenDayStoleMyGirlFrieND]

wow.

[SheerSpice]

Tragic =( and unexpected

[MagneticLocke]

OH. MY. GOD.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Bren Keller]

NOOOOOOOOOO! Not Daniel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dew]

The hour is done?

[Greg Gregson]

"My son too, Eloise"

Great Episode Tonight!-Lots of Answers.
Amazing Ending

:Cheers:


-

[wandering_aimlessly]

this can ONLY get better!!!

[Mechanical_Vader]

Holy flirking schnit! FARADAY!!!

[brdmom]

"Anyone of us could die" - who knew it would be Farraday??

[Dude Im Lost]

bro and sis....i knew it...i think i even called it a while back

[LoonyLuna]

this really sucks :( i love daniel. but..you dont walk into the hostiles with a gun. UGH

[MrSocko]

Wow. I can't believe that.

[ScoobMaster]

I liked Faraday. Aww well, he probly shouldn't have rolled up on richard with a pistol

[LOSTForever]

This episode ranks right up there with the best of them! I am a very happy camper right now.

[Randy Nations]

so what was the point of Daniel going back? To tell Jack his plan, so Jack detonates the bomb? Hmmm......why did Daniel have to go back? Why did Eloise send him back?

I'm confused......

[Dew]

Daniel dies. No Frank this episode means Frank outlived Daniel and Charlotte. Only 2 Freighties left.

[ScoobMaster]

Richard is a gangsta, you don't roll on him like that

[MagneticLocke]

I liked Faraday. Aww well, he probly shouldn't have rolled up on richard with a pistol

Changing wouldn't have hurt, either.

[WayneInNYC]

All I can say is that I'm glad I steered clear of spoilers!!

Cuz knowing the end of the episode woulda sucked.

[AceOfDiamonds]

GOD DAMN IT

WORST EPISODE EVER

I don't even care so much about Faraday dying.

I DO care about how absolutely pathetic a travesty it's going to be if Damon and Carlton effectively erase five years of their own damn show.

If you reset everything, what the hell was even the point?!?

[softmachine]

Eloise sent him back so he'd tell them about the variables.

[twilightsun]

Blogging While Watching LOST: The Variable (http://unchartedisland.com/blogging-while-watching-lost-the-variable/560/)

Answers we never expected, some we did. Eloise Hawking is Mommy Dearest. The LOSTies are screwed. How could Mrs. Hawking do that? The whole time she knew and she didn't try to change it!

[Mechanical_Vader]

"BACK" to the Island??? Daniel was born there?????

Not necessarily. Eloise told Daniel he had to go to the Island in 2004 after his talk with Widmore. But obviously, she knows that she'll shoot Daniel in 1977. It'll only be a more sinister act by Hawking if Faraday actually dies. Daniel will just be another sacrifice to the Island.

3 out of 4 of Widmore's team down. Only Miles to go. Get it? Muhahahaha!

[snakey]

Richard is always around, appearing out of nowhere, never aging, always calming. that was the only scene I liked.

[Diamondduste]

All I can say is that I'm glad I steered clear of spoilers!!

Cuz knowing the end of the episode woulda sucked.

The synopsis that was released in regards to this episode was highly off the mark. Dan's death, well, was known for a while... but a lot of the details tonight were vastly different.

[SheerSpice]

So sad. Did Hawking know that this would happen? Was Daniel a sacrifice? =(

[MagneticLocke]

GOD DAMN IT

WORST EPISODE EVER

I don't even care so much about Faraday dying.

I DO care about how absolutely pathetic a travesty it's going to be if Damon and Carlton effectively erase five years of their own damn show.

If you reset everything, what the hell was even the point?!?

What are you talking about? This episode was AMAZING.

[snakey]

GOD DAMN IT

WORST EPISODE EVER

I don't even care so much about Faraday dying.

I DO care about how absolutely pathetic a travesty it's going to be if Damon and Carlton effectively erase five years of their own damn show.

If you reset everything, what the hell was even the point?!?

it was a let down.

[The_Monster_Mash]

YYEEAAAHHHH great episode! i don't think Dan will die. they never showed him die, just laying on the ground with a bad wound

[Diamondduste]

GOD DAMN IT

WORST EPISODE EVER

I don't even care so much about Faraday dying.

I DO care about how absolutely pathetic a travesty it's going to be if Damon and Carlton effectively erase five years of their own damn show.

If you reset everything, what the hell was even the point?!?

I seriously doubt they hit the reset button. If I had to wager a guess, season 6 is going to bring EVERYONE - Richard, Locke, Ben, Hawking, Widmore, the Castaways, etc. together and it will basically be a last-man standing match.

We know the Incident happens. When you have energy 30,000x what the Donkey Wheel can produce, I'm guessing the final effect will be sending the castaways back to 2007... possibly along with some remnants of the past.

[truffula]

brains....melting.....

notes later......

*boom*

[WayneInNYC]

GOD DAMN IT

WORST EPISODE EVER

I don't even care so much about Faraday dying.

I DO care about how absolutely pathetic a travesty it's going to be if Damon and Carlton effectively erase five years of their own damn show.

If you reset everything, what the hell was even the point?!?

It's not about the destination, it's about the ride along the way.

For the viewer it will have always happened. Lighten up, cause you know that this is what's going to happen. I called it almost a season ago. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so.

[Bren Keller]

Did anyone notice that Hurley was caring a guitar like Charlie's?

[Jackface]

GOD DAMN IT

WORST EPISODE EVER

I don't even care so much about Faraday dying.

I DO care about how absolutely pathetic a travesty it's going to be if Damon and Carlton effectively erase five years of their own damn show.

If you reset everything, what the hell was even the point?!?Chill, man. It's not going to work.

Whatever happened, happened.

They are going to end up CAUSING the Incident, not stopping it.

Daniel tried to be a variable and stop Charlotte from coming back. He failed.

They will also fail, but I bet they somehow get back to 2008.

[suprememilo]

I assume if they do nuke the island and the plane doesn't crash maybe the losties instantly remember everything that happened since the crash, like Desmond woke up having talked to Faraday?

[snakey]

When he went into their camp with a drawn gun, lil weepy had to know how stupid it was, it was a death wish to do that.

[Selestina118]

This was a really good episode, but it's sad to see that happen to Dan. He was up there right with Des and Richard as my top favorite characters. :( I can't wait to see where this goes now.

:Cheers:

[Chinamom]

S5E14 “The Variable”

BIG QUESTIONS:
Will Dr. Chang and Miles ever acknowledge each other as family?
What is Eloise doing as a hostile/Other?
Why doesn’t Eloise know what’s going on anymore?
Who is Penny’s mother?
Is Daniel going to make it?
Will Jack, Kate, et al be able to use the bomb?

QUESTIONS ANSWERED:
Eloise is Daniel’s mom
The “incident” was a massive release of electromagnetic energy caused by Chang’s drilling
Daniel tested the experiment on himself and developed a condition that affected his memory
Widmore’s description of the island: special, with unique scientific properties, it will heal Daniel
Widmore and Eloise are “old friends”
Widmore wants Daniel for complex space/time calibrations.
Daniel is Widmore’s son.

QUESTIONS SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE ASKED:
.O6 et al to Daniel: What is your mom doing with the hostiles and how can she get us back to where we belong?
Daniel to Widmore: How will the island heal me?

BEHIND THE EP TITLE:
Daniel forgot about the variables in time travel: the people

LOST LOCATIONS:
Ann Arbor
Oxford

LOST FOOD:
Chocolate

NUMBERS:
30 years earlier
864 beats on the metronome
6:00 AM
Daniel back in 10 minutes
Don’t go 1 cm further
Explosion 30,000x stronger
Some equations won’t be discovered for 20 years
81.5 million lb research grant from Widmore
2 votes for square 1
1954
Security code 141717
4 hours
3 seconds until Daniel shoots Richard

MUSIC:
Desmond/Penny hospital scene music, so pretty…

PARALLEL LINES/SCENES:
Well not exactly parallel, but the Daniel crying about the crash from S4

FAVORITE LINES:
Little Daniel: “I can make time.”

FAVORITE SCENES
O6 and freighties meeting in Sawyer/Juliet’s house…for some reason that struck me as funny
Desmond and Penny…now there is genuine love and appreciation. I’ll take them as a couple any day over Jack/Kate/Sawyer/Juliet combos.
Eloise/Charles scene…very prickly and great finally having them onscreen together

NICKNAMES:
Twitchy (Daniel)
H. G. Wells (Daniel again)

GREAT CINEMATOGRAPHY:
The scenes by the security fence are always really pretty.

OUCH:
Daniel’s grazed bullet wound

SERIOUSLY CREEPY:
Eloise. Sheesh. Mother of the Year. NOT.

MINOR QUESTIONS:
Do we already know who Penny’s mom is?

JUST CAN’T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THIS:
I still struggle with the time travel. I enjoy LOST more if I don’t think about it.

SUMMARY:
WOW!!! I almost jumped out of my skin when Phil banged in the closet and the Dharma guys heard it. SO suspenseful. I LOVED IT!!!

[Bren Keller]

Carrying...I'm meant carrying Charlie's guitar. Brain melted = bad spelling

[Stujoe]

I liked Faraday. Aww well, he probly shouldn't have rolled up on richard with a pistol

As soon as he pointed a gun at Richard, I told my son "Bad move. No one pulls a gun on Richard. Bye Danny."

[Randy Nations]

So sad. Did Hawking know that this would happen? Was Daniel a sacrifice? =(

Yes, I think she did. When she was speaking to Widmore, she said something like "don't talk to me about sacrifice, I sent Daniel back to the island knowing..." and doesn't finish. She knew she would kill him.

[Selestina118]

brains....melting.....

notes later......

*boom*

:p *hands over a bucket and mop for the brains*

:Cheers:

[twilightsun]

Bookmarking to read more in the morning. This episode blew my mind so much that my head hurts and I have to go lie down!

[MagneticLocke]

I'm beginning to think more and more than Desmond and Penny are Adam and Eve, not Rose and Bernard. The whole "I'll never leave you thing" makes me think she's going to follow him to the island. As for baby Charlie, who knows. Maybe he even got kidnapped.

[wandering_aimlessly]

Great episode, no doubt about that. They are filling in the gaps and peeling off the layers at the same time. I love it.

[suprememilo]

Hurley brought that guitar to the island on the 2nd plane.

[SheerSpice]

Yes, I think she did. When she was speaking to Widmore, she said something like "don't talk to me about sacrifice, I sent Daniel back to the island knowing..." and doesn't finish. She knew she would kill him.

Oh yes, that conversation when she's telling Widmore "I sent my son to the island" and then the mention of sacrifice. Wow that's so deep and hard to comprehend but it must be necessary for the scheme of things .

[webcricket]

Did anyone else think Richard looked scared of that gun? Why look so scared if he "knew" Dan wasn't going to shoot?

[AceOfDiamonds]

I think y'all are misconstruing my point.

I think it's practically sacrilegious that Damon and Carlton would even threaten to potentially course-correct every single episode of LOST we ever watched.

Think about it. The hundreds of hours we all wasted watching and debating the first five seasons all rendered moot because all the characters would forget everything that happened. Every relationship we've invested in is destroyed, every theory we've concocted is moot, all the character development to folks like Sawyer is eradicated, the love quadrangle implodes...well, okay, at least one good thing comes out of this travesty.

It's terrible. A reset before Season Six means that the real story of LOST -- once all is said and done -- is only one season long, with the first five seasons reduced to fluff because it didn't actually really happen in the ultimate timeline and no one remembers it anyway. It's quite possibly the worst 'plot twist' to offer ever because there's no substantive answers to mythological questions we've been asking or answers regarding the characters we love, it's essentially just hitting a 'reset' button and starting from scratch. Which, frankly, leaves me surprised that I'd be practically the only one up in arms at the thought.

[Thomas Hobbes]

Re-watching now. That Lost logo being busted through by the Enterprise was awesome! Go JJ!

[MagneticLocke]

Did anyone else think Richard looked scared of that gun? Why look so scared if he "knew" Dan wasn't going to shoot?

Why would he have known? What is interesting to note is that, even though he doesn't age, he did appear scared of being shot. So maybe he can be killed. Then again, maybe he just doesn't want to get shot.

[suprememilo]

Maybe Daniel was sent to the island to cause the event, the energy is stuck and he has to nuke it?

[Jackface]

I think y'all are misconstruing my point.

I think it's practically sacrilegious that Damon and Carlton would even threaten to potentially course-correct every single episode of LOST we ever watched.

Think about it. The hundreds of hours we all wasted watching and debating the first five seasons all rendered moot because all the characters would forget everything that happened. Every relationship we've invested in is destroyed, every theory we've concocted is moot, all the character development to folks like Sawyer is eradicated, the love quadrangle implodes...well, okay, at least one good thing comes out of this travesty.

It's terrible. A reset before Season Six means that the real story of LOST -- once all is said and done -- is only one season long, with the first five seasons reduced to fluff because it didn't actually really happen in the ultimate timeline and no one remembers it anyway. It's quite possibly the worst 'plot twist' to offer ever because there's no substantive answers to mythological questions we've been asking or answers regarding the characters we love, it's essentially just hitting a 'reset' button and starting from scratch. Which, frankly, leaves me surprised that I'd be practically the only one up in arms at the thought.I can't believe anyone actually believes this is going to work.

It's going TO CAUSE the Incident!

Whatever happened, happened.

[Kud-Dukan]

I called that ending half way into the episode! :D

Daniel's final words were chilling, when he realized his own mother had sent him back to be killed...by his mother. It seems pretty clear, at least to me, that he was sent back to start the chain of events that will lead to the Incident.

Goodbye Daniel. :(

EDIT: And still, whatever happened, happened. We KNOW they are going to fail to prevent their arrival on the island...but we HAVE to see these characters attempt it, because that is exactly what they WOULD do if they had the chance.

[Peggy Sawyer]

Enjoyable episode.

We finally get verification that Daniel is Eloise and Charles' son. Ellie and Charles are an official ship!

Time travel has taken a pleasing turn back to Back to the Future rules (as I've always maintained, the only logical, cause-and-effect rules there are). The past CAN be changed, and thereby, the future. (Not being handled perfectly yet, though--memories of things that haven't happened for the first time is an awkward device!)

Superior character play, including the delicious Mrs herself, Eloise Hawking. She plays the feisty strict schoolmarm as no other--I relish her every scene as I do Charles Widmore's. Old-school acting at its finest.

Daniel (new-school acting at its finest) verifying that the island has been curing his twitchiness, and showing some classic examples of all his emotions and phases. He ain't dead.

Desmond, lovey-dovey again with Penny. The wild card that will be back in play soon.

The whole team together again.

Jack in perfect form. No longer Super-Ego Jack, but not Wimp Jack either. A perfect balance.

Drama, twists, explosions...great but for the still awkwardly-handled and uncertain time travel rules.

[Homer Noodleman]

Well, good riddance Twitchy, and here's hoping the time travel detour goes with you when they drill into the Swan and do one final jump.

I've spent Season V diligently ignoring the ever more ludicrous Time Travel schtick as it crashed and burned, and I'm glad it looks like it is being put behind us. When they first floated the device I said they would be too sloppy to pull it off, and in retrospect I was too optimistic. It went from Desmond sloshing around in his consciousness, to the screw-up of them talking to each other in real time over the radio while they were supposed to be 40 minutes out of sync, to bodies washing ashore at random times, to physical time travel, and finally -- they just gave up and had Hurley and Miles sit around a kitchen table spewing out gobs of expository dialog.

Expository dialog that Daniel just changed with his heap-o-expository dialog this episode. Gah... just shoot me. Give it up TPTB, you made a hash out of it.

Anyhoo... I was heartened to hear Ms Hawkings, who hilariously enough as usual spent the episode in a panic that what ever happened wouldn't happen, finally say that she didn't know what was going to happen next. I may be wrong, but I think Season VI is going to throw them all into the same time line where the story will finish out without anybody having the advantage of knowing information out of temporal sequence.

BTW, Daniel should have blown his parents up like Kate did. Things would have worked out a whole lot better for him (well, assuming he managed to hire Kate's lawyer that is). Yeesh, hard to imagine Mums could be worse than Pops when your dad is Charles Widmore, but she was.

Oh Sawyer, you should have drank another six pack of beer and done some more of your power thinking, 'cause your plans are beginning to look positively Jack-like in their execution.

The Triangle was a hoot. I loved it when Sawyer asked "Freckles" to come along and Juliet, with an aghast look on her face, immediately gave Kate the combination to the sonic fence.

At any rate, free will has raised its head again.

[Stujoe]

I think I am not buying that they are going to reset and then do another year of the series. If this was 3 hours before the end of the series instead of the season, I'd worry.

I think it is a good plot twist and keeps ya guessing.

[MagneticLocke]

I think y'all are misconstruing my point.

I think it's practically sacrilegious that Damon and Carlton would even threaten to potentially course-correct every single episode of LOST we ever watched.

Think about it. The hundreds of hours we all wasted watching and debating the first five seasons all rendered moot because all the characters would forget everything that happened. Every relationship we've invested in is destroyed, every theory we've concocted is moot, all the character development to folks like Sawyer is eradicated, the love quadrangle implodes...well, okay, at least one good thing comes out of this travesty.

It's terrible. A reset before Season Six means that the real story of LOST -- once all is said and done -- is only one season long, with the first five seasons reduced to fluff because it didn't actually really happen in the ultimate timeline and no one remembers it anyway. It's quite possibly the worst 'plot twist' to offer ever because there's no substantive answers to mythological questions we've been asking or answers regarding the characters we love, it's essentially just hitting a 'reset' button and starting from scratch. Which, frankly, leaves me surprised that I'd be practically the only one up in arms at the thought.

Do you really think they're not going to explain the mythology? They obviously are, one way or another. Maybe if it "resets" they all end up on the island again, only in a different time. You're jumping to conclusions way too soon.

[MrNovember]

I think y'all are misconstruing my point.

I think it's practically sacrilegious that Damon and Carlton would even threaten to potentially course-correct every single episode of LOST we ever watched.

So you're upset about something that didn't happen and given all available evidence has no potential for actually happening.

[Greg Gregson]

Widmore: "He's my son too, Eloise"
Mrs. Hawking; (No response-Slaps face of Widmore)

Widmore + Hawking = Daniel.

[Can-Am]

Well, she and Widmore haveto send Faraday back? I guess she needs his formulas. If he doesn't go back in the past, she and Widmore would (I guess) have no way of getting back to the island after Widmore is expelled.

[chaos28]

Daniel dies. No Frank this episode means Frank outlived Daniel and Charlotte. Only 2 Freighties left.


It'll be just like the Tail Section cast members; all dead except for the "series regular" that isn't quite a cast member (Bernard). Miles is next, methinks!

Also, people are assuming Faraday was right about the drill being the cause of the incident. The work he was doing was the instruction of his mother's, and she only knew what would happen up to a certain point. Obviously the setting off of the hydrogen bomb will be what leads to the incident, not what prevents it. Making the incident not caused by driller, I'm sure.

AceofDiamonds: you're the only one up in arms because the rest of us realize that no matter what, there will NOT be a reset switch. Or at least not one that'll last more than a few episodes (though I could definitely see that happening).

[Thomas Hobbes]

Ms. Hawking has always stated: You cannot change the future. Or the past. It's already happened. But Dan tried. He said his mother was "wrong". Even though Dan stated the same before. Setting off the 'jughead' might change things? I think, "No", it i what already happened. If they try doing a: we're back in the past, we can change the future, and we do, after super crazy events, and the future is changed, Losties arrive safe and sound via their plane and peanuts, I will be pissed. What a great epi! I'm sad we only have one more season. So many questions.

[Homer Noodleman]

Daniel's dialog was a complete repudiation of his Mum's "the universe course corrects itself" malarkey.

"ou make your own luck, Mr. Reyes. Don't blame it on the damn numbers. You're looking for an excuse that doesn't exist."

[suprememilo]

wait this has probably been gone over but where are all the other plane crash survivors (815)? They aren't all dead yet are they?

[brdmom]

wait this has probably been gone over but where are all the other plane crash survivors (815)? They aren't all dead yet are they?
This has been the season-long question...

[suprememilo]

I thought about it a couple episodes but forgot about it, I haven't been on the forums at all this season and everyone I know has stopped watching Lost : /

Edit: I figured it out already, the people who weren't on the list are on the 2007 island and never time flashed.

:-D

[stephew]

Ms. Hawking has always stated: You cannot change the future. Or the past. It's already happened. But Dan tried. He said his mother was "wrong". Even though Dan stated the same before. Setting off the 'jughead' might change things? I think, "No", it i what already happened. If they try doing a: we're back in the past, we can change the future, and we do, after super crazy events, and the future is changed, Losties arrive safe and sound via their plane and peanuts, I will be pissed. What a great epi! I'm sad we only have one more season. So many questions.

you guys are talking about the grandfather paradox. if you go back in time and shoot your grandfather, you are never born. But you HAVE to be born to go back and shoot your grandfather. My guess is (based on soooo many clues- adam and eve, the fact that the losties have to be there to prevent the incident, but can only be there if the incident happens, ) that what happened, happened.

In any event its all about the journey, as i always said. So who do you t hiink is adam and eve?

[wxman]

OK, I know this is probably obvious but if Faraday is killed over and over again in 1977, how does he make it to the 2000s to be sent back to the island?

[stephew]

those who stop watching basically say that its become too much of a full time job watching the show. I think it is -almost by necessity- whittled down to its core audience. Its been very good this season but requires attention.

[WASTE]

I was kind of disappointed. I feel like the episode was overhyped. The electromagnetism/concrete/Incident stuff was all pretty obvious, and the only major thing we learned was that Daniel is Widmore's son...but that doesn't mean much now because Daniel is dead.

I'm sure the rest of the season will be great, but this definitely wasn't the INSANELY AWESOME 100th EPISODE EVENT they made it out to be.

[concusion]

Odd that even Jack would choose to try and reverse events.

Why would Daniel, he was healed by the island?

Why would Kate? She was going to jail

Jack was already divorced and it was not like his life was peachy then....

[stephew]

OK, I know this is probably obvious but if Faraday is killed over and over again in 1977, how does he make it to the 2000s to be sent back to the island?

because the daniel that is killed has yet to be born to eloise. She will still have a baby w/whidmore, and he will grow up to go back to the island and be killed by his mother who will go on to give birth...etc. see?

[Lily23]

Wow guys, I'm absolutely speechless. That was just brutal. Poor Daniel.

Anyway, a lot of speculations I've read on these forums were right on the money.:Cheers:

[AceOfDiamonds]

Well, the other thing that sucked about this episode (aside from my prior complaints) was how Faraday's big revelation after (presumably) years of research in Ann Arbor is that "the variable" is human beings.

Then he proceeds to quote high-school level philosophical arguments about free will that any scientist would have known (and that really has no correlation to Faraday's line of work, anyway.)

So that's Daniel's huge reveal? We can change the past because "we're human beings and we have free will?" What upsets me even more than TPTB using this crap as an 'answer' is that TPTB seriously expect us to believe that Daniel, a bona fide scientific genius, seriously believes this bull, enough to ultimately lose his life over it. And after all Daniel's yammering about "Whatever Happened, Happened," he completely reverses course and yet has no evidence whatsoever (aside from aforementioned high-school level human free-will lecture) that the past can be changed.

This was just an exceptionally poor episode. Daniel's entire absence in Ann Arbor, a series of flashbacks that could have been fascinating to see (complete with the DeGroots and Hanso) is passed up for a bunch of mother-son angst and Daniel's own behavior in this episode isn't explained at all, aside from having our scientific mastermind succumbing to a bout of sheer stupidity. If Daniel changes the past and Flight 815 never crashes, then Daniel never goes back to the past to ensure that Flight 815 never crashes. If Daniel's plan had any mechanism with which to explain away this paradox, it'd be a reasonable plot development, but just shouting "human beings are variables!" is just plain lazy writing by TPTB.

[suprememilo]

I was kind of disappointed. I feel like the episode was overhyped. The electromagnetism/concrete/Incident stuff was all pretty obvious, and the only major thing we learned was that Daniel is Widmore's son...but that doesn't mean much now because Daniel is dead.

I'm sure the rest of the season will be great, but this definitely wasn't the INSANELY AWESOME 100th EPISODE EVENT they made it out to be.


They are gonna try to set off the H-Bomb thats a pretty big deal...

[Gaffa]

Wouldn't hitting "reset" be the worst thing in the world for Kate? It would mean she's going to prison.

[webcricket]

I'm sure the rest of the season will be great, but this definitely wasn't the INSANELY AWESOME 100th EPISODE EVENT they made it out to be.

I agree. I would have liked a big answer or two, or even half an answer.

We already suspected what the incident was...we already knew Eloise was Dan's mother. The only big reveals were that Desmond lived (I didn't think he died, he did have enough gusto to beat up Ben pretty bad) and Charles is Dan's dad (which leads to more questions). IMHO, we now have a lot more questions that need answering, and we already had plenty of those before tonight.

[wxman]

because the daniel that is killed has yet to be born to eloise. She will still have a baby w/whidmore, and he will grow up to go back to the island and be killed by his mother who will go on to give birth...etc. see?


Yup, thanks! I wonder why that loop apparently ended with Eloise saying for the first time she doesn't know whats going to happen.