Cover them eyes!
If spoilers aren't your bag, run for the hills now. This edition of Tube Talk contains an unprecedented number of teasers all related to one of the most addictive and enigmatic series of recent times, Lost!
And now, the end is near...
Earlier this year it was confirmed that Lost will conclude at the end of its sixth season in May 2010. Seasons four to six will each comprise sixteen episodes, airing uninterrupted from February to May from 2008 to 2010 in both the US and the UK. Sky One has secured the UK rights to Lost for the remainder of its run.
On the island, off the island
After the shock conclusion of the finale - in which we learned that Kate and Jack both make it off the island - the series will now feature both flashbacks AND flashforwards. "Moving forwards, you'll get a mix," explains exec producer Carlton Cuse. "Every week will hopefully be a guessing game as to not just who will be focused on, but when we're focusing on them."
As for how they get off the island, Jack's radio call to a nearby freighter will play an important part right through season four. "The situation is going to be very intense this year," Cuse adds, warning: "Charlie wrote on his hand 'not Penny's boat', and the message he wrote on his hand was very important."
News of Charlie's death will reach the islanders in the premiere and, as you'd expect, the magnitude of his passing will be huge - not least for his psychic pal Desmond. "Desmond will have to deal with the after-effects and the guilt of [Charlie's death]," says co-exec producer Damon Lindelof. "He will question whether or not Charlie would have made this sacrifice, had he not told him that was what he was going to do. He will question the role he played in Charlie's death."
The Beginning of the End ... is the title of the fourth season premiere, which has been confirmed to have multiple flashbacks and/or flashforwards. These include both Sawyer, who is caught up in a police car chase, and fan favourite Hurley. Surely this means at least one of them makes it off the island?
Hello strangers! Season four will see the return of several characters from seasons past, beginning with Harold Perrineau as Michael, who was last seen at the end of season two sailing away with son Walt. He rejoins the cast as a series regular from early on in season four.
Meanwhile Walt will also be back in some form, and the issue of his unnatural growth will be "addressed". Says Lindelof: "As for Walt, we've always known Malcolm was going to grow faster than we could shoot the show. And we planned for it. Trust us. Please trust us."
Cynthia Watros has signed up to appear in multiple episodes next season to wrap up Libby's mysterious backstory. As the character was killed off by Michael towards the end of season two, the explanation of her connection with multiple castaways will be entirely posthumous. The execs explain: "There's really one significant missing piece to Libby's story. We saw in the season [two] finale that she met with Desmond, she gave him his boat, and we know that her husband died — and then we know that subsequent to that, she spent some time in a mental institution, the same one as Hurley. The question the audience wants answered is, 'How did she get from A to B — from Desmond to the mental institution?' We know the answer to that question, but the only way to tell that story is through another character's flashback, and that character would have to be another character on the show who is not among the beach dwellers."
And the newbies... The cast will also be welcoming fresh blood next season, with a whole host of new characters joining the fray and hoping they won't be the next Nikki or Paolo. (Poor, poor Nikki and Paolo!)
Fisher Stevens (Short Circuit) will play the mysterious Minkowski, who has been mentioned several times previously and was actually heard responding to Jack when he made contact with the freighter last season. Ken Leung has joined as a "brilliant mathematician" named Russell, who is "capable of great insights and has a tremendous knowledge across various scientific fields". Jeremy Davies has signed on for an eight-episode arc playing Daniel, a man who may have come to rescue the islanders.
Season four tidbits In a flashforward airing in the fourth episode of the new season, Kate faces trial for her pre-island crimes, including charges of murder and assault. A very much together Jack comes to support her as a hostile crowd chant "murderer!" in the face of her "not guilty" plea. We also find out if Kate is pregnant.
The Simpsons-style, four-toed statue has a "very important" significance and will finally be addressed next season. "The four-toed statue is something we will get to next season," promises Cuse. "Sometimes we're surprised by the things people get fixated on. We tried to answer a fair number of questions this year, but that's one we just didn't get to."
We will also see "a lot more" of Jacob, whoever - or whatever - he may be. Says Cuse: "We do know how Jacob will be depicted. Notice the careful wording of my answer. And no, Jacob did not appear before he was met by Locke."
Amidst all the gloom there may be some cause for celebration for the islanders. By current rate they have been stranded for around 100 days following their September 22, 2004 crash - meaning that Christmas may be celebrated early on in the new season!
Behind-the-scenes
Now for a treat - an exclusive behind-the-scenes clip from the Lost season three DVD, out now!
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Next time: News on E4's new teen drama, Nearly Famous!
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Last Words: “Not Penny’s boat.”
How He Died: Drowned in the Looking Glass station by one of Ben’s henchmen.
Why His Last Words Are So Good: Admittedly, Charlie (Dominic Monaghan) doesn’t actually speak his last words, but they’re powerful nonetheless.
In an effort to unjam the transmissions from the island and get everyone rescued, Charlie dives down to the Looking Glass station. He’s fully prepared to sacrifice himself for the good of the group when – surprise! – a few of Ben’s cronies are staking out the place. After an altercation, two of the cronies end up dead, but one escapes. As Charlie hooks up on a video chat with a well-meaning Penny, he finds out that the boat offshore isn’t hers just as the remaining bad guy tosses a grenade toward the station. The window busts, and Charlie locks himself in the room to save his friend Desmond. However, before the room floods, he scrawls a final, potentially life-saving message on his hand: Not Penny’s boat. It was a shining moment for Charlie, and a fitting send off to a guy who we all knew was a hero the entire time.
Erin Qualey
I still don’t understand when Charlie said not penny’s boat. It’s been years and I don’t get it. from lost