Only three episodes remain as Lost's fifth season heads into the stretch, gaining speed on a collision course for what's sure to be a gobsmacking season finale May 13. When last we spent time on the island in "Some Like it Hoth" Daniel Faraday returned from Ann Arbor, where he had been working at a DHARMA research center.


Presumably Faraday has news from the mainland that will disrupt the dynamic of the story, but what news? Perhaps more importantly, what is The Incident and how is it responsible for the disaster at The Swan station? Who will end up together? Who will die? Is Desmond alright after being shot? How will Ben develop as a member of the Others? Who will end up pushing a button every 108 minutes for the next 540 days? Will the survivors continue to live in 1977 or will they travel again?

This week promises a mind numbing clip show but on April 29 Lost will return with "The Viariable," marking the 100th episode on the series history. According to the official press release, Jack and Kate find themselves at odds over the direction to take to save their fellow island survivors, Locke further solidifies his stance as leader of "The Others," and Sawyer and Juliet come under scrutiny from the Dharma Initiative.

The episode promises to be Daniel Faraday-centric, with Spencer Allyn playing a young Daniel Faraday. In a really striking coincidence (which surely isn't a coincidence at all) blond bombshell Alice Evans, who has made a career guest starring on series like Curb Your Enthusiasm and the Chris Isaac Show, will play a young Eloise Hawking. We may learn whether Eloise is in fact one in the same with Ellie.

With Locke continuing to rise in power as one of The Others it will be interesting to see what role he plays in shaping young Ben's development. John knows they'll share an intense rivalry later. But it's hard to imagine him doing anything to change the future. That just doesn't seem like his style.

Sonya Walger is scheduled to appear as Penny but whether Henry Ian Cusack will show as Desmond (and therefore confirm that he's alive) is far less clear.

And given Lost's obsession with numerology can we expect the number 100 to be prominently featured?

Lost airs Wednesday night at 9pm EST/8pm CST on ABC.



-Henry Jenkins, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of ABC)