Lost recap, episode 04×12: “There’s No Place Like Home”

(Adam takes a crack at writing a quick Lost recap this week, and he does a great job at it. Thanks Adam for helping out…Mike needed a break!)

There’s No Place Like Home, No Place Like Home…

The scene that I have personally been waiting four years for happened tonight, and that was the reuniting of our castaways with their families. I think that’s only natural — I mean, here’s a show about a group of castaways stranded on an island… the natural resolution is that they somehow get rescued. But back in the season one days, I assumed that would just be at the end of the show.

Of course, back then I didn’t know how complex and groundbreaking this show would be. Even if you’re not a fan of Lost, there’s no denying that it’s hard to find something to compare it to. What other should would take what seemed like a natural ending and put it right in the middle of the series, and do it in such a way that the on-island story hasn’t even finished being told yet? It makes me wonder what the real ending to the series will be. Not that I haven’t been wondering that all along, but you know what I mean.

The scene was just as I imagined, really. Even the music was a throwback to season one, and I admit I got a little choked up seeing our survivors greet their loved ones. Hurley grabbing Sayid and introducing him to his parents and having his mom go in for a hug and kiss was one of those great character moments. But underlying this rewarding scene was something else that ordinarily might take something away but, since it is Lost, just added to the experience: you knew something was wrong with them. They were glad to be back, but you could cut the tension with a knife. They’re hiding something.

Hiding what, we still don’t know, but it must have happened quick. Sun says they’re all in shock, and by episode’s end we had one of the Oceanic 6 in various places, including one staring down a literal boat-load of C4. How they’re all going to end up together is anyone’s guess.

A heavy plot point in this episode was another Dharma station, the Orchid, or “the greenhouse.” And as is the case with all of our Dharma stations, it came complete with an orientation video. However, this one didn’t come in tonight’s episode, but rather last summer as the result of some online game I didn’t get involved with. Make of it what you will, because the producers have said everything you absolutely need to know is in the show. But it can’t hurt to watch:

It’s going to be interesting to see how this finale proceeds. This episode was just the set up.

Thoughts? What did you catch tonight? The radio interference, the C4… does that have something to do with Keamy’s arm strapped transmitter? If he dies… does everyone on the freighter die, too!? Sun being sent to the deck makes me think yes, which would mean Jin is dead, after all, but c’mon… Desmond was down there, too!