Lost, Season 6, Episode 1&2 Review

ABC's Lost is a series of mysteries and never-ending questions. That's why fans of science fiction are hooked on this show-it shocks the imagination. Tuesday's opening episode of Season 6-the last season ever-was no exception. But can you suspend your disbelief for all the twists and turns Lost will take you?

Season 6's opening night began with an hour-long review episode of the first five seasons. This was an absolute necessity for anyone who wanted to see what all the hype was about but never bothered to tune in until now. Heck, I needed a review just to get the story straight, and I had watched the first five seasons on DVD just last summer. After studying up on the history of the show, the two hour double-episode began.

With the revelation of just what Jacob looks like in the finale of Season 5, a lot of pressure had been put on this episode to explain the unexplainable-especially since the island should have been destroyed by a nuclear explosion back in 1978 (if you never saw Lost, I don't have time to explain all that). So how does Lost solve this much anticipated dilemma? With two alternate realities, of course. Time travel is left behind as the series heads straight into a world of multiple dimensions.

Where will this season go from here? Wherever it wants to. The plot is as wide open now as it was in Season 1. And while this is a great attribute of the writing, the writing is not perfect. I winced when I heard Frank Lapidus, the pilot played by Jeff Fahey, say "I'm seeing it, but I'm not believing it" as John Locke, played by Terry O'Quinn, emerges-alive-on the beach where his dead body lays. But that was right after one of the best lines of the night. Ben Linus, played by Michael Emerson, says to Locke, "You're the monster." To which Locke replies, "Let's not resort to name-calling." All fans of the show must have chuckled at that one.

I was happy to see the character of Jack Sheppard, played by Mathew Fox, has continued to move squarely away from his ultra-skeptic mindset. I am a skeptic myself, but the whole "skeptic vs. believer" struggle from the last few seasons was wearing thin. Now, when Jack is not able to save Sayed, Naveen Andrews, from a gunshot to the stomach, he doesn't even argue about the voodoo proposition of taking him to a mysterious healing temple. His character has finally broken free from its static past.

The best part of all, Locke is now evil and more bad-ass than ever! Except, of course, when he's back in the other reality and those trick legs have the better of him. So if you like the alternate realities of multiple dimensions, smokey monsters, good vs. evil where neither side is defined, and dead men walking all over the place, then Lost, Season 6 is for you.