cine + octo = boo

LOST
ep.0502 – The Lie

If the wizards behind Lost have made one thing apparently clear, it’s that they are certainly attentive to pacing. OK, I’m sure that many of you out there will disagree with that statement, but hear me out.

Damon and Carlton didn’t set out to stretch the Lost story arc into a thinly strained line that tests the limits of sustainability. Truth be told, they did their best to keep the arc on track while juggling the trials and tribulations of network jockeying. Sometimes this resulted in an ebb and flow that frustrated many viewers — tell the story that satisfies, then tell the story that lays the groundwork.

It’s understandable that many took umbrage with the amount of time spent in “foundation laying” mode, but these episodes have typically paid off in the long run. Getting back on course, Damon and Carlton’s attentiveness to pacing was proven in their successful pitch to ABC to set Lost story arc firmly upon a fixed timeline. By doing so, we now have an end date, and I like to picture the sigh of relief that filled the writer’s room upon hearing the news. Finally, we can plot this thing out and tell the story accordingly.

So far, so good. Last season certainly knocked it out of the park with it’s concluding run, and Season 5 shows promise with the season premiere. The fan base was given a spoonful of the good stuff with Because You Left, and the team set squarely to work on foundation building with the Hurley-spun yarn, The Lie.

Truth be told, had The Lie not aired as the second half of the premiere, disappointment would have certainly won over. Don’t get me wrong, there’s an important story here. While he was certainly not the only one with difficulty coping, Hurley is the one fragile link in the group of “survivors” with potential of breaking loose. In fact, The Lie suggests that Hugo’s institutional stint may have actually been influenced by his desire to tell the truth.

The lie in question refers to the “survivors’” story, post-island. Essentially, Jack urges the group to tell a different tale, one that involves more deaths in the actual crash, and less “survivors” on the island itself. The reasoning here is to protect those still on the island, but the underlying truth is that no one truly thinks that anyone would believe the real story. Hurley, the sole voice of reason, stands firm against the group. More specifically, he pleads that if they all support the same story that people would be forced to believe them. Betrayed by all, Hugo finds himself in a mental hospital once again.

The brilliance behind this episode is really in testing the limits of Hurley’s dedication to truth. He endures a lot, and even after telling Sayid that he will never forgive his betrayal (or help him again), Hurley goes against his own word and saves Sayid from peril at the hands of some would-be attackers. In a funny cameo, we see the return of Ana Lucia to the show, in the form of a ghostly apparition who advises Hurley along the way.

This episode stresses importance in Hurley’s ability to believe. When advised by Sayid to never trust Ben, Hurley takes heed. After delivering Sayid to Jack, Hurley hides at his parents’ home. When Ben shows up to fetch Hugo and return him to Jack and Sayid, Hurley trusts his Sayid’s word despite his betrayal and turns himself into the police.

While not the strongest episode, the truth in The Lie will be told in Hurley’s seasonal arc. There’s a reason for dedicating this level of detail to the big guy, and I’m certain the implications will play out in time.