All Good Things Must Come to An End

Tonight is the beginning of the end. The innovative series Lost – that has consistently combined drama and sci-fi – will air the two-hour season premiere of its sixth and final season, starting at 9 PM on ABC.

What exactly will happen in the premiere is anyone’s guess, as the shows executive producers, Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof, have been tight-lipped about this season, much as they have been throughout the show’s entire run. But late last week the first four minutes of the season premiere were released online for fans to salivate over. Like many others, I decided to take a look at the four minutes, as my curiosity simply got the better of me. What I saw was a rehash of the final scenes of the season finale from last year plus one other scene.

Rather than be spoilerish, I will say I wasn’t expecting this one other scene yet it didn’t seem to provide any more clues to the mystery of the island or what happened after the bomb dropped. That seems to be the case for the last few seasons, causing harm to the show’s appeal and driving away viewers. Hopefully, however, many of the overwhelming questions that have lingered since the show debuted in 204 will be answered, starting tonight, and viewers will flock back to the show because this is the LAST season.

If I may be self-indulgent, I most want to know the answers to the following questions:

1. What in the world is the smoke monster?

Perhaps it is the spirit of the island, protecting its inhabitants – both those willing and willing to be there. Or perhaps it is a supernatural force with dark and sinister plans for all who end up on that strange island.

2. If John Locke really is dead who the FRAK is the Locke we saw inside the statue?

One of the most chilling revelations from last season was not only that John Locke was indeed dead but that he had a strange doppelganger, leading the others, and convincing Ben to kill Jacob.

3. Who were the skeletons found in the cave in Season 1?

Though this is one of many puzzles from the series that has been mostly overlooked, I still want an explanation of who they were, what – if any – role they played with the Others. Or were they “victims” of the island like the Oceanic 815 survivors?

4. What intentions do the writers have in bringing back not only Claire (Emilie de Ravin) and Charlie (Dominic Monaghan) but also Boone (Ian Somerhalder), Michael (Harold Perrineau) and Libby (Cynthia Watros)?

Seeing as how all of these characters perished – or at least in Claire’s case her death has been presumed – their reappearances can only be in flashbacks (right?) unless, of course, if the bomb blast really works and resets all the incidents of the past.

5. Lastly, why are they (the survivors) on the island [which is the big question that’s been posed in the latest promos for the two-hour premiere]?

Given how many people were on Oceanic 815 when it crashed, why were those specific people spared? Why did they survive and the others on the plane didn’t? What key does each one hold to the mysteries of the island?

If you are a fan of Lost, if you used to watch it but got turned off by all the mysteries that never got resolved or if you are like many others who simply wait for the DVD to come out, you owe it to yourself to watch the show in real time this season. Record it and watch it each week or watch it live: just watch it. And, enjoy the beginning of the end of one of the most innovative programs to ever graced television screens.