Review: Lost 5.2: The Lie

Hurley is in trouble.

"Why is there a dead Pakistani on my couch?"

After the relatively sedate premiere, The Lie stepped things up a gear and had a lot more action to chew on. Unlike most premieres, this episode took a larger focus for Jorge Garcia's Hurley, and with that storyline really examined the entire history of the show. It was a fun episode, but it had it's share of poignancy as well - just as Lost should be.
     The suvivors left on the island end up in 1954. After an attack from the primitive version of The Others that decimates all of the none-main characters, Sawyer and Juliet are ambushed by Others. Soon after they meet John Locke. Hurley, trying to take care of Sayid while framed for his actions, sees a vision of Ana Lucia (from Season 2) who tells him what to do; change his clothes and get Sayid to safety. He goes home, explaining The Lie to his parents and then getting Sayid into Jack's care. Later that day, Ben comes to collect Hurley to take him back, but Hurley rejects Ben completely and hands himself over to the police. Kate, worried about the men trying to find her, meets up with Sun who tells her to do what she must do. Ben goes to an old woman, who informs him that they have 70 hours to bring the Oceanic Six back to the Island.
     Rather intentionally, the character of Neil "Frogurt" is perhaps one of the most irritating single people on television. He really is just Adric on steroids, it's frighteningly similar. The character was an in-joke by the producers in response to viewer speculation about new characters, and it's fitting that his inclusion allows for some of the most annoying Lost this side of Eggtown. On the other side of the coin, acotr Jorge Garcia was perfect as the slightly unstable Hurley, and his storyline allowed him to express all the sides of his character; apprehension, improvisation, optimism and sheer naivity. Kate and Sun had some nice moments together, but their little scene only really served to remind us that Jin is supposed to be dead (and, as we'll see in a forthnight, that's not strictly true.)

Damn you, Neil. Damn you.

      It was a little odd, from my point of view, hearing the characters regret telling the eponymous lie when for me they only conceived it two episodes ago. It's a problem that we'll encounter again and again in Season Five; due to the disparity of time in Season Four, there's a huge chunk of it that just falls from our perceptions. I can't appreciate the four years between the Oceanic Six leaving and Ben trying to return with them - that happened last season.
     The Lie was the archetypal Lost episode, stymied by some deliberately irritating performnces and a plot that didn't feel right in context. But, as usual, it was compelling to watch and helped to set up this season's key themes and characters. And that's no lie.

Thanks.

NEXT WEEK: The US Army make an appearance in Jughead.