TOP TEN 'LOST' QUESTIONS WE WANT ANSWERED IN THE 4TH SEASON FINALE

**MichaelDoran** · 05-29-2008, 12:25 PM

by William Clark

Tonight (Thursday, 5/29) the ongoing TV phenomenon known as Lost completes its fourth season with a special two-hour finale. During its four year run, Lost has intrigued viewers with its various ongoing mysteries and complexities. While the show's creators have made it known that they'll produce two more seasons to [hopefully] answer all those unanswered questions, no doubt many fans will be tuning in tonight hoping some mysterious are solved.

So here's at look at Newsarama's wish list of the Top 10 Lost Questions We Would Like to See Answered in Tonight's Season Finale…

1.) What is the meaning of the Four-Toed Statue?
Ever since it made its ominous appearance, we have wondered, who built it? Why is it there? What is its meaning. Lindelof and Cuse have promised we would find out, but when?

2.) What do the numbers (4, 8, 15,16, 23, 42) mean?
Meanwhile, both Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have stated we might never find out a basic meaning of the numbers, but they have caused plenty of havoc in Hurley's life, haven't they? The numbers have shown up on one of the hatches, as Hurley’s winning lottery numbers that led to his boarding Oceanic Flight 815, and usually signify danger. While the creators might never give us a definitive answer, we want to know more about their significance.

3.) What exactly is "The Monster" aka The Black Smoke?
One of our most burning questions, what exactly is The Monster aka The Black Smoke? Is it The Island's security? How does it do what it does? Is it Judgment for those "not worthy" or something far more sinister? How did Ben summon it? There are many questions when it comes to the agenda of The Monster.

4.) How does Charles Widmore know about the Island?
Not only does he know about the Island, he believes it belongs to him. How does he even know about it? Was Charles part of the DHARMA Initiative or did he fund it? And if it is his, why can't he access it? And what does Ben have to do with all of that? What does Desmond have to do with any of it or is it the Island protecting itself from Widmore?

5.) Who is in the coffin?
In one of the flash-forwards, Jack shows up to a wake or funeral for someone. All we see is a coffin. No other people are there. Obviously this death is of some importance to Jack. Is it one of the Oceanic Six? Could it be Ben? Someone else from the Island? We want to know!

6.) What is the connection between the passengers and the Island?
What is the connection of the passengers of Oceanic Flight 815 and The Island? It is obvious by now that these people were gathered together for a reason. And the Island's healing powers have seemingly cured Rose and Locke and even helped Jack heal faster than he normally would when recently injured while it either made Ben sick or saved him by delivering Jack.

Plus there's the mystery of Aaron. Walt's powers, Vincent's tracking ability, all of it. Why did the Island need these specific people and how did either the Island or Oceanic Airlines know they would be so interconnected?

7.) Who is Richard Alpert?
Does this guy even age? How is it possible that he can meet Locke when he was a child and be around the same age when Locke is now an adult? Richard recruited Juliet for Mittelos Bioscience Project. He helped Ben with the takeover from the Dharma Initiative. And he hadn't aged a day in any of these encounters. What is this guy's deal?

8.) Who is Jacob?
There is much speculation as to the identity of the ever-elusive Jacob. A part of Ben and Locke's psychosis or is Jacob truly this "higher power" that Ben subscribes to? Maybe Jacob is truly real. Whoever or whatever Jacob is, the answer is probably coming for season five. And we are taking bets; it will be one of the surprises of the year....

9.) What exactly is the mission of The DHARMA Initiative?
Going back to the beginning, the DHARMA Initiative has been looming over the legend of the island. Ben claimed he drove the Dharma people off (killed them, actually), but we must remember this is Ben talking. It's all in the exact phrasing. The DHARMA Initiative has spread its influence over "Lost" since episode one and we suspect it isn't over yet (btw, we think Charles Widmore has something to do with it).

10.) How does time travel play a crucial role in the whole Lost universe?
This is the new question for us. Ever since Desmond time traveled, we've wondered about the flash forwards, flashbacks, and everything in between. The time difference that Daniel has found between the ship and the Island, who is whose "constant", and can anyone time travel? That would explain what year it is when the Oceanic Six come back "home", wouldn't it? All in all, the time travel aspects of Lost have opened up a whole new dynamic that we are very intrigued by and have opened up a whole new ton of questions.

That covers the questions Newsarama most wants answered. How about your "Losties" … ot is that "Lostites?" Feel free to add your own here and discuss among your fellow fans…

Mindkiller · 05-29-2008, 02:52 PM

Another couple I can think of would be "Why does Sawyer stay on the island", and "What is the favor that Kate had to do for him in the flash forward that she couldn't tell Jack about?"

I have a feeling that one or both of those will be answered in tonight's finale...

Oh, and the significance of the Mystery Tales #40 comic... I just found this site where some fans of the show bought the comic and have scanned most of it... Kind of noteworthy:

http://www.mysterytales40.com

SirChasm · 05-29-2008, 02:52 PM

I cannot wait to see this - I'd be happy if even one of those gets answered

DavetheAvata · 05-29-2008, 02:55 PM

Aren't the numbers the key figures in the Valenzetti equation that predicted the end of humanity? I know that was from The Lost Experience but I'm pretty sure that was canon.

I love all the mysteries of LOST, especially the Monster. I'm definitely curious to see what's going on with Richard Alpert but I can't see that being explained in the finale. It's probably going to be about the Oceanic Six more than the overall mysteries of the Island.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindkiller

Another one would be "why does Sawyer stay on the island", and what is the favor that Kate had to do for him in the flash forward that she couldn't tell Jack about?"

I'm thinking it has something to do with his daughter...um...Clementine? Kate met his girlfriend before the Island didn't she?

Skatonic10 · 05-29-2008, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindkiller

Another one would be "why does Sawyer stay on the island", and what is the favor that Kate had to do for him in the flash forward that she couldn't tell Jack about?"

Who said Sawyer is still on the island?

And according to some spoilers, the answer to who is in the coffin will be revealed tonight. I know it was one of my 2 guesses when I first saw it. But it may come as a surprise to some people.

The Stampede · 05-29-2008, 02:57 PM

Five was answered already. It was Jack's father. It can't be Ben because we saw him working with Sayid and talking to Widmore afterward. They've already stated we won't find out what the smoke monster is until about season 6. Alpert's lack of aging seems likely to be the result of time travel as they've said time travel is a factor in things. The year has nothing to do with it. It's already been shown that each season is about a month.

The Stampede · 05-29-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindkiller

Another couple I can think of would be "Why does Sawyer stay on the island",

He's already said that he wants to stay. There's nothing for him off of it.

Elixir · 05-29-2008, 03:03 PM

The fact we are at this point in the shows life and still have ALL these questions plus many more is pretty ridiculous to me. Watching it has become annoying and almost painful. It's like, it's basically only gonna all pay off when the final episode airs.

I like the island stuff but all the flashbacks/forwards, time travel and countless plotlines have just made ot too convulted to be enjoyable anymore.

DavetheAvata · 05-29-2008, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Stampede

Five was answered already. It was Jack's father.

No it wasn't, we saw two different funerals. I have a feeling that'll be answered soon though.

luckybucky · 05-29-2008, 03:16 PM

Amazingly, I haven't watched LOST since the Season 3 finale... and these questions give away nothing!

We moved, and we left our TV behind, and have yet to buy another.

Having been outside of TV-land for a year now, I imagined I'd be baffled by the status quo once I returned.

For those of you still wrapped inside the weekly LOST experience, it may not be as obvious as it is to me reading this list that absolutely no significant plot advancement has happened this year.

Every one of those questions was looming for me at the end of Season 3, and about 90% of them were looming at the end of Season 2!

AirDave817 · 05-29-2008, 03:19 PM

This one episode is not going to answer all the questions. I'm convinced that Lost is a puzzle that fits together over the course of its run. probably the final episode will fit all the pieces together as much as possible. As long as it doesn't turn out to be happening in an autistic boy's snowglobe from the airport gift shop, I'll be happy.

I'm wondering at what point Claire "crossed over". Was it when her building was blown up? Did she not come back from being kidnapped by Ethan? Or is the larger question really is Jack's Dad alive?

What was left undone that Hurley thinks that everybody has to go back to the island? I think that's the answer that we'll get close to.

Winteriscoming · 05-29-2008, 03:23 PM

This explanation may not be enough for some, but I thought they gave away what the numbers were in that summer long online game a couple years back?

From www.lostpedia.com:

Quote:

It has been revealed in The Lost Experience that these six numbers are the core values of the Valenzetti Equation, a mathematical formula designed to predict the end of humanity. The numbers in actuality are said to represent human and environmental factors in the equation (given numerical form), though their precise meaning is uncertain. The purpose of the DHARMA Initiative was to change the factors leading to humanity's demise, which will be indicated by an alteration in at least one of the human/environmental factors - i.e. the numbers. However, in all its years of research, the Initiative failed to reach its goal. Despite much research and manipulation of the equation's values, the end result was always the numbers.

That explanation seems to answer question #9 as well....

danielsummer · 05-29-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelDoran

How about your "Losties" … ot is that "Lostites?" Feel free to add your own here and discuss among your fellow fans…

I believe the proper term is 'Lostitutes'

AirDave817 · 05-29-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckybucky

Amazingly, I haven't watched LOST since the Season 3 finale...
We moved, and we left our TV behind, and have yet to buy another.

You left your TV behind?!! What do you aim your furniture at now?

Aaron_W · 05-29-2008, 03:34 PM

I would hope that they would adress the numbers and whatnot in the show, 99% of the people who watch it probably don't even know there were online games and whatnot. Plus answering core series questions in other media is beyond lame.

Travel Exiter · 05-29-2008, 03:38 PM

in the flash forward episode my gf mentioned that the coffin was kind of small, maybe a child size coffin.

Sluggo · 05-29-2008, 03:43 PM

I could care less about Lost anymore, but I have a question:

Besides the fact that there have been a couple of comic books appear in the series, how is this actually comics-related? Or is Newsarama going the Wizard route and becoming a catch-all entertainment site now? Because lord knows there are none of them around.

Travel Exiter · 05-29-2008, 03:44 PM

by the way, does anyone else think VALIS was a clue?
the island could be some kind of humongous artificial intelligence system

CaptMonkey · 05-29-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Stampede

Five was answered already. It was Jack's father.

Nope. Notice that the funeral director asks "Friend or family?" to which Jack answers "Neither." My guess is it was Michael. It makes sense, given Jack's answer. Kate's disgusted reaction of "Why would I have gone to the funeral?" also makes sense given Michael betrayed them to get himself off of the island. Other evidence points to it being a suicide of someone living in a high-rise who is from New York and has a teenage son, all of which describes Michael.

I would be more shocked if it was anyone else.

StevieCool · 05-29-2008, 03:49 PM

I guess I am bridging the gaps with unproven facts too much.

1. Ancient Mystic Island, I doubt we'll see four toes aliens. I thought the four toes meant four dimensions, hence the 4th = time.

2. Answered already

3. Island Kharma. It heals quietly with its good, attacks violently as a smoke monster with the bad. A.k.a. Frosted Min-Wheat Theory.

4. Whidmore owns Dharma. Wants to live forever, wasn't he a sailor previously, which is why Desmond did the sailing thing? I imagine he also was on the island, then left. Now wants back since he's old.

5. I thought Locke, hoping it's not Sawyer.

6. 8 and 15 are two of the numbers. I'm sure the plane was previously flight 423 and 1642. The people were just passengers on a cursed flight.

7. Original "Guardian of the Island" - like Ben was, like Locke was - and like Whidmore was.

8. The spirit of the island. You can't call the island "The Island". It's only cool when "The Rock" does it.

"The Island says it will layeth the smacketh down on trespassers!"

9. Dual. Whidmore wants back on the island, or just to pilfer eternal youth. The official pitch is to save humanity.

10. I thought the island was outside time, and too much farting around, entering and leaving would mess you up - unhinge you from time.

LongtimeMarv · 05-29-2008, 03:54 PM

I believe its already been revealed that it was Ben in the small coffin.

Skatonic10 · 05-29-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Stampede

Five was answered already. It was Jack's father.

Yeah.... that's not entirely accurate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongtimeMarv

I believe its already been revealed that it was Ben in the small coffin.

No it wasn't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptMonkey

Nope. Notice that the funeral director asks "Friend or family?" to which Jack answers "Neither." My guess is it was Michael. It makes sense, given Jack's answer. Kate's disgusted reaction of "Why would I have gone to the funeral?" also makes sense given Michael betrayed them to get himself off of the island. Other evidence points to it being a suicide of someone living in a high-rise who is from New York and has a teenage son, all of which describes Michael.

I would be more shocked if it was anyone else.

Right now, does Kate even know Michael's on the freighter? She just thinks that he has lef tthe island to live a happy life, correct? There's a good reason Jack was the one who went to the funeral - from a thematic standpoint.

artjunkie · 05-29-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sluggo

I could care less about Lost anymore, but I have a question:

Besides the fact that there have been a couple of comic books appear in the series, how is this actually comics-related? Or is Newsarama going the Wizard route and becoming a catch-all entertainment site now? Because lord knows there are none of them around.

That's funny. Here you are in a thread that is not 'comic-related', posting away asking a question that has such an obvious answer. Forever ago when Newsarama became a part of the Imaginova web conglomerate, it was clearly stated that they would have more features that were more ancillary to comics. LOST clearly fits that description in many ways.

Sometime the answers to your questions just require a little more thought and intelligence from the person asking them.

Simon DelMonte · 05-29-2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sluggo

I could care less about Lost anymore, but I have a question:

Besides the fact that there have been a couple of comic books appear in the series, how is this actually comics-related? Or is Newsarama going the Wizard route and becoming a catch-all entertainment site now? Because lord knows there are none of them around.

Brian Vaughan is a writer. The show references comic books. Paul Dini was a writer.

And simply, this is the biggest big deal of the month for a lot of us. Bigger than Indy, bigger than Iron Man, bigger than Final Crisis. This is THE show for the fannish community in America now.

Skatonic10 · 05-29-2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

4. Whidmore owns Dharma. Wants to live forever, wasn't he a sailor previously, which is why Desmond did the sailing thing? I imagine he also was on the island, then left. Now wants back since he's old.

One theory says that Whidmore was the captain of the Black Rock, and that he was the one who discovered the island.