Messages in a Bottle: LOST Thoughts #4

In last night's fairly lackluster installment of Lost ("The Whole Truth"), the writers didn't give us very much to go on. In fact, the entire episode, felt like we were treading water before a big wave breaks next week... with only two more episodes to go before sweeps, something better start happening and soon. Meanwhile, this week brought us a glimpse of reclusive couple Rose and Bernard (you could almost forget they're on the island), a secret that Sun had been concealing, and a wild goose chase in the jungle.

Back in Korea, Sun and Jin unsuccesfully tried to conceive a child and that their fertility doctor blamed Sun for their problems, but in reality it was Jin who was infertile. Meanwhile, we also learn in flashback that Sun's English tutor was none other than her former paramour, the son of that luxe hotel owner. While we never see the two consummate their star-crossed romance, it lends credence to the thought that Sun's pregnancy might not be the island "miracle" that Jin is making it out to be... Could someone else be the father of her unborn child? Sun's suspicions about her pregancy are confirmed by a home pregnancy test that Sun obtains from Sawyer. A home pregnancy test with the eerie brand name of Widmore Labs (see screencap, via Humpys.net). Where did the pregnancy test come from? Who would travel with one stowed away in their carry-on luggage? (It should be noted that, among other things, Widmore Labs can be an anagram for "womb derails," which hopefully doesn't mean that Sun will be miscarrying soon...) And finally, on this note, Kate reveals that she has used a home pregnancy test in the past, but didn't disclose whether the results where positive or negative... or who the father was.

Looking to make things even more tense down in the hatch, Locke surprises the good doctor in the shower and tells a naked Jack that he told Ana-Lucia about their prisoner, Henry Gale. Ana, a former cop, questions Gale and gets him to eventually draw a map of his balloon's location, unbeknownst to Jack and Locke. Ana sets out with Sayid and Charlie to disprove Gale's cover story and reveal him to be an Other. Sayid is out for revenge--he blames the Others for Shannon's death and not Ana--but Ana is not so sure what to believe. After all, she indirectly caused Nathan's death because she suspected him of being an Other, when it was Goodwin all along.

Meanwhile, Bernard forgets Rose's birthday and looks for a pearl to give her as a present, but of course theren't even any oysters around... Hurley still has a stash of food hidden somewhere in the jungle and he appears eating one of those Apollo chocolate bars we haven't seen in a while. Speaking of which, did Rose ever give Bernard the Apollo bar she was saving for him?

Looking to get back at Locke, Jack goes against orders and lets Gale out of his cage for a little breakfast chat over a bowl of cereal. A curious Henry spies the computer and asks about its purpose, as he takes in his surroundings (stupid, Jack!)... and then surprises Jack and Locke with the news that he had given Ana-Lucia a map to his balloon. This is a shock to them and Gale soon turns creepy again by saying that if he were an Other--which he's not saying he is--but if he was, he would have drawn a map leading the troika not to the whereabouts of the downed balloon, but to a secluded place, the perfect spot to spring a trap. Come on, people, does it need to be any clearer, he's EVIL!

Lost Literary Allusion(s) of the Week: Sawyer reads "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" by acclaimed children's author Judy Blume. The young adult novel is about Margaret, a pre-teen girl, who--because her parents are Christian and Jewish--grows up without religion. The book details her ongoing questing for a single, unifying religion (a light bulb should have just gone up over your head there), and also confronts many issues facing young girls, including having her first period... which is a rather interesting juxtaposition given what Sun is going through right now. Astute viewers will also have noted that the map that presumptive Other Henry Gale makes is on the back of the title page of "The Brothers Karamazov," the book which Locke had given Gale in a previous episode.

On next week's episode ("Lockdown"), something scary is loose in the hatch as the blast doors descend around Locke, who must seek help from an unlikely source (Henry Gale?). Hehehe, Locke down. Meanwhile, Ana-Lucia, Sayid, and Charlie find Gale's smiley face balloon in the trees... but are they being led into a trap?

What’s On Tonight

8 pm: College Basketball (CBS); Will & Grace/My Name is Earl (NBC); Smallville (WB); Extreme Makeover: Home Editon (ABC); That '70s Show/The Loop (FOX); Everybody Hates Chris/Love, Inc. (UPN)

9 pm: My Name is Earl/The Office (NBC); Supernatural (WB); American Inventor (ABC); The OC (FOX); Eve/Cuts (UPN)

10 pm: ER (NBC); Primetime (ABC)

What I’ll Be Watching

8 pm: Everybody Hates Chris.

It's about time that we got a new episode. I've been having severe Chris withdrawal. In this week's episode, "Everybody Hates Funerals," Rochelle's father (Jimmie Walker) dies unexpectedly and, when Rochelle acts as if nothing is wrong, Julius and the kids become concerned. Hilarity ensues.

9 pm: My Name is Earl/The Office.

Unfortunately, the comedy power duo is only 50 percent new tonight. On a new flashback episode of My Name is Earl ("Y2K"), in 1999, Earl and the Gang manage to confuse Y2K with a global apocalypse and believe they are the only survivors on Earth. (I blame Joy.) Meanwhile, on a classic episode (read: repeat) from Season One of The Office, ("Health Care"), Dwight goes power-mad when Michael puts him in charge of choosing a health care plan for the Dunder Mifflin employees. It was this and the "Diversity Day" episode that made me begin to love this show, so if you haven't seen it before (and don't want to pay $1.99 to download it on iTunes), check it out tonight!