http://versesfromtheabstract.wordpress.com

Its taken me a very long time to write this, too long. Lost season 5 was epic beyond all proportions. I think if I go on about it too much I will run out of superlatives for one of the, if not the best tv program of our. Season 5 managed to continue the flawless character development that is consistent throughout the show and combine it with fantastic action scenes, twists galore, a surprising amount of answers, and of course an overwhelming number of questions. The acting as usual was outstanding, particular praise should be reserved for Elizabeth Mitchell who managed to turn a character round completely in the space of only a few episodes. It is up there with Seasons 1 and 4, and the wire seasons 3 and 4 as the best piece of tv i’ve ever seen. Below I write a short bit about each character, a few awards...and a few ideas for Season 6 (the last ever season of Lost :’( )


Jack (Matthew Fox)
People complained about him being underused, but that wasn’t the case at all. Matthew Fox gave his best performance of the series, and kind of surprisingly, I was sympathetic to his cause by the end. Jack started and ended the season as a broken man, in both cases with a plan...albeit a pretty crap one. It is strange to think I always thought it would/should be Jack/Kate right up until this season. My mind has been changed majorly; there is surely no chance for them now. Jack has now essentially become Locke, and Kate can’t stand that. Upon his return to the island, Jack makes a feeble attempt to assert his authority, in that first scene by the coast with Sawyer, but fails. The leadership dynamic between the 2 is fantastic from Namaste onwards.
Character Development: A
Best moment of the season: Conversation with Kate after Faraday’s death, basically telling her he wants to erase any memory of ever knowing her.
Kate (Evangeline Lily)
I have always loved Kate, but Evangeline Lily was never one of the best actors on the show. That changed dramatically this season. Off island Kate annoyed me for the first few episodes, she was very different from the all action heroin we had seen on the island. But the old Kate returned, and almost returned as the moral centre of the show, taking the lead in the efforts to save young Ben, and being the leading faction of the “stop Jack” crew. Special mention has to be given to “Whatever Happened, Happened”, in which Evangeline Lily gave the performance of her life. A welcome return to the traditional flashback/flashforward format, the episode showed the chain of events leading to Kate giving up Aaron, in what was a pretty heartbreaking scene.
Character Development: A
Best moment of the season: The scene where she says goodbye to Aaron.
Sawyer (Josh Holloway)
Nobody on Lost has developed the way James Ford has. Sawyer has become a true hero. I thought maybe this season Josh Holloway would get the recognition he deserves with an Emmy nomination but alas not. Sawyer was the most consistently brilliant character of the season, both pre-Dharma, encapsulating the audiences confusion in the time flashes, and especially as Jim LaFleur. His struggle in the latter half of the season to protect all the losties in Dharmaville was fantastic. Special mention should go to the episode “LaFleur”. I was so sceptical when I heard the Juliet/Sawyer spoilers, before I knew of the 3 years time jump; I thought it was a point less plot device. However, due to immaculate performances from Holloway and Mitchell, Sawyer and Juliet became a believable, great couple. After just 1 episode, they were considered the best of the quadrangle couples on a poll on DarkUfo. Dynamics between Sawyer/Kate/Juliet in the finale also brilliant.
Character Development A*
Best scene: Sawyer putting Jack in his place in Namaste.
Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell)
Juliet has always been a good character from her “good cop” days with the others on Hydra island, to her betrayal of the others and her flailing relationship with Jack. I always expected her to die soon, and until season 5 would not have been too bothered. How times change. Who would have thought Juliet would be the hero of the season 5 finale? Mitchell’s portrayal of Juliet, especially in the last half of the season, was epic. The audience watched as Juliet witnessed the life she had built fall apart around her. On the island that Ben had kept her on, she was finally happy...until the o5 returned. Whether she’s dead or not (i think she is), Juliet’s story is ultimately tragic. On the sub, she is ready to finally get away...and then Kate turns up. Her performance in the finale was just immaculate and very very upsetting. I never thought I would be so upset by her death. Her flashback in the finale (notably not involving Jacob), the look she gives the sub as it disappears as if its her last chance of freedom, her conversation with Sawyer about how they were never meant to be, falling down the hole and the final scene banging on the bomb, were all heartwrenching. I think we will see some of Juliet in season 6, but I would be surprised if Mitchell were a regular.
Character development: A*
Best scene: Falling down the Swan hole.

Hurley (Jorge Garcia)
Over the years I have grown to love Hurley, and many believe as the only “good” person on the island. Garcia still knocks the emotional scenes out of the park (The Lie), and for comedy there is none better. Hurley and Miles interactions in Dharmaville were one of the highlights of the season.
Character Development: B
Best scene: Hurley explains the last 4 seasons of Lost to his mum in the Lie.
Sayid (Naveen Andrews)
After a season 3 demotion to a lesser role and a season 4 revival, Sayid shrunk into the shadows again for most of the season. He’s Our You was a fantastic episode, and gave us more great Sayid scenes than the rest of the season combined. In the Incident, Sayid seems resigned to death; he believes he has sinned too much to be forgiven. I would put alot of money on Sayid dying next season.
Character development B
Best scene: Sayid shoots young Ben
Sun (Yunjim Kim)
Very underused, not alot to say about her this season. Jin and Sun need to be reunited! I think they will be soon.
Character development C
Best scene: “Do you have any alcohol?” to Richard Alpert
Jin (Daniel Dae Kim)
Similarly to Sun, not much to say about Jin, except he’s alive! And he can speak English now!
Character development C
Best scene: Discovers Sayid in the forest and has to pretend not to know him.
Ben (Michael Emerson)
A third consecutive Emmy nomination says it all. Benjamin Linus is still one of the most interesti ng, complex, ambiguous characters in Lost. His performance in The Life and Death of JB was flawless, and Dead is Dead was out of this world. From having Locke round his little finger for 3 seasons, upon his return to the island Ben was bossed around and trodden on by the man he thought was Locke who eventually persuades him to kill Jacob!!! Dead is Dead was terrifying. I hope he joins with Jacob’s team next season, but i fear he will continue with Flocke.
Character development A
Best scene: Ben kills Locke
Locke (Terry O’Quinn)
Before his death, i really liked season 5 locke. After his death, he was one of the most terrifying characters i’ve ever seen. His determined, condescending, manipulative nature was alarming and when Ben told Sun “the thing that is about to come out of the woods is dangerous and I can’t control it” or something along those lines and Locke walks out, it was very disconcerting! O’Quinn gave a sterling performance, especially as Flocke, right up there with Holloway and Emerson.
Character development B
Best scene: As FL-kicking Jacob in the fire, As locke-falling down the well
Miles (Ken leung)
Finally Miles got a centric episode in Some Like It Hoth, showing the origins of his ability, how he first met Naomi, and strange interactions with Bram. His relationship with Chang (his father) was so well done!
Character development A
Best scene: All the scenes with Hurley
Faraday (Jeremy Davies)
A tragic death for a character I thought would last it til the end. Turns out his whole life has been manipulated by bitchface Hawking so he went to the island and was eventually killed by her. When the island was flashing all over the place, he acted as our guide, and vitally planted the idea of detonating the bomb in Jack’s head. One of the best additions to the show in season 4, he will be missed.
Character development A
Best scene: opening scene of the season, with Chang in the Orchid
Charlotte (Rebecca Mader)
Sad death, but mainly because of Daniel’s reaction. Good character, but it was her time to go.
Character development C
Best scene: Her death
Desmond! (Henry Ian Cusick)
He was barely in this season at all! Im praying he will be in season 6 majorly, I think he is still important and as Hawking said “the island isn’t done with you yet”. Desmond is a legend!
Character development B
Best scene: Saves Penny from Ben
Other characters:
Ilana-great addition, could be very important
Jacob-yayayayayayyay we finally saw who he was! Not some crazy old man, but a now deceased young one.
Jacobs nemesis-very scary, very disconcerting. Very important
Frank-so glad he came back, “We’re not going to Guam are we?”
Penny-Great as usual, don’t think we’ll see alot of her in s6, she has a starring role in FlashForward.
Bram-too soon to say
Radzinski-complete and utter dickhead
Horace-weak and feeble
Phil-best.death.ever.
Alpert-LEGEND

Awards!
Best character: Sawyer
Best actor: Micheal Emerson (Ben)
Best actress: Elizabeth Mitchell (Juliet)
Best episode: The Incident
Best couple: Sawyer and Juliet
Best death: Juliet

Getting ready for season 6
• Comic-con is next week, Jorge Garcia will be there with Darlton, as will a special guest, Dominic Monaghan anybody?
• Jeff Jensen has written this awesome piece on 4 potential paths Lost could now take. Read it here
• Countless rumours are going round about old characters returning. Read about the latest one here if you dare (link). I can’t help but thinking that particular one isn’t true. I could see Charlie, Shannon, Eko, Boone et al returning in some way or another, but not Arzt! Unless everything is reset and the plane either lands at LAX or they relive the crash...
• I think alot of the major characters will die next season. Ben, Jack, Sayid, Miles, Ilana, are all goners imo.
• Claire will be returning for definite, can’t wait to see what shes been up to!!!
Only a few more months to go now.....

The Shape of things to come?