In Lost Season 4 Premiere, Easter Eggs Abound and Few Questions Resolved

Lost season 4 has finally screened and the plot keeps getting curiouser and curiouser. The mystery box that is J.J. Abrams riveting creation leaves us with more questions, few answers and several Easter Eggs, those hidden little clues that inspire speculation. This episode entitled "The Beginning of the End" was a showcase for the talents of Jorge Garcia as Hurley. Mr. Garcia shows a greater depth and range in his acting than he had been called upon for in previous episodes.

Much of the episode takes place at some time in the future where we see that Jack has taken up the drinking habit that he once judged his father so harshly for. Hurley is fleeing the ghost, or vision, of his dead friend Charlie, however it's a ghost that others can see. We learn that Hurley is one of the "Oceanic Six", does this mean that only 6 make it off the island? From previous future flashes we learned that Kate makes it home as well, but who was it that was shown in a coffin, last season? We are introduced to 2 new characters, Matthew Abbadon, who asks Hurley "Are they still alive?" and another parachutist in search of Naomi.

Hurley has an encounter with Jacob at the cabin, who is Jacob, and whose dog is that in the painting? Too many questions, it boggles the mind, is it just me or is your head starting to spin as well. Many fans are clamoring for answers surfing the web for Easter Eggs, more clues and spoilers and press leaks. But I believe that the real strength of the series is the depth of the characters and the interplay of their well developed histories and psyches. Each character is provided with a very well developed back story, some more than others, and an excellent vehicle for interjecting the effect of their history into the story plot.

Hurley indeed steps up to take charge of several situations and we see his character developing into a true hero. At the end of last season he saved the day with his kamikaze van attack at the beach. This season he surprises us by grabbing the walkie from Sawyer and tossing it into the waves, brushing Desmond aside to break the news about Charlie to Claire, and siding with Locke against Jack. Even in the future he challenges Jack about returning to the Island, whereas Jack appears lost and unsure.

The character interactions continue to sustain the series, Kate and Jack continue their sparing, Ben and Danielle form an uneasy alliance to protect "their" daughter, Locke continues along his destiny, and the rest of the survivors have to choose what to do, what to believe. The beginning of the end? It's hard to imagine that we will ever have an answer to all of these questions, something believable, incredible, and deep. We've been promised a couple of more seasons in which to wrap it all up nicely, we can only hope that we survive to see the conclusion.