Daily Loaf

True to form, the season five premiere of Lost last night was enthralling, dramatic — and thoroughly confusing. As an avid fan of the show from day one, I have struggled to follow the show’s basic —  and by basic I mean unpredictable, often nonsensical and chronologically out-of-whack — plot lines. But, as if the flashbacks and introduction of more characters than I ever thought possible on a show about a desert island weren’t enough, executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse are messing with time.

The two-hour show attempted to explain last season’s mysteries by, naturally, throwing in more characters and more island history.  Three years into the future from where we were left off in season four, Ben and Jack are desperate to get back to the island. We’re not really sure why, but it is stated emphatically by various characters that humanity will need otherworldly help if the characters who left the island do not return, and soon. Meanwhile, on the island, they are jumping around through time— like a repeating record on a turntable — Locke is meandering alone in the woods, and Sawyer is angry and shirtless.

The episode was so characteristically Lost, answering questions without really answering them, while simultaneously prompting more. But the real strength of the show continues to come from its actors. Michael Emerson, as Ben, was delightfully creepy, characteristically vague and a great juxtaposition to Matthew Fox’s headstrong Jack. Jeremy Davies as Daniel Faraday emerged as one of the greatest central figures in what will surely be a whirlwind of a season. His grounded intellect is reassuring, plus he’s a little nutty. And why the hell was he walking by that creepy Dharma guy (from the instruction videos) down in the polar bear cave?

These issues will inevitably be attended to — or not — this season. (The producers promise more answers than questions.) But the one smaller question that lingers in my mind: Why did Ben leave Locke’s body with a butcher?

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