LOST: Season 3

If the seasons of LOST were written as books, the first book would probably be called "Survivors." The second would probably be called either "Dharma" or "The Hatch." Season 3 could very easily be called "The Others."

That's right, in a controversial move, LOST: Season 3 focuses on the mysterious and hostile inhabitants of the equally mysterious and hostile island. We've already met a few, with Ethan Rom in Season 1 and Ben Linus and Tom Friendly in Season 2. But now that the gloves (and beards) are off, it's time to really expand on what happened after the second season's massive cliffhanger. And it takes a while.

This is the problem with Season 3, which is lessened by my watching the DVDs: for about the first six episodes or so, the show only focuses on a couple of major characters at a time. We don't even hear anything about the hatch until the third episode. Really, there's a six episode prologue of sorts that could have used some trimming down.

But the farther in we get, the more the characters develop, and there are some side stories which, while they aren't really all that necessary, are a lot of fun and worth watching. And then, toward the end, the show turns it to 11, giving us a really powerful season finale that makes the desire for Season 4 instantaneous. So, while there was a bit of a dip, and this is a weaker season than the first two, it's still immensely enjoyable and good for some great head-scratching entertainment.

Some favorite episodes of mine:

I Do: Awesome points for the show: Kate was married to Captain Malcolm Reynolds from Firefly. It does my heart good to see Nathan Fillion again.

Flashes Before Your Eyes: This episode is amazing, making Desmond one of my favorite characters. I mean, it's really weird. But GOOD.

Tricia Tanaka is Dead/Expose: These are both of very little significance, but they're so much fun to watch! One involves Hurley and a hippie bus, and the other makes me think Twilight Zone, with a Poe-esque ending.

The Man from Tallahassee: It's about time we found out how Locke got in that wheelchair to begin with. By the way, it's just a tad shocking.

The Brig: In which two birds are killed with one stone. Literally. I mean, metaphorically. I mean, wow, it's tense but showcases fantastic acting.

Through the Looking Glass: This is the ultimate season finale. Charlie is redeemed, major characters are killed, and a twist shows up at the end that will surely shake the world of LOST to its core. Wow.

So there you have it. FYI, I'm already well into the fourth season, and so far it's even better.

My rating: 9/10

Coming Soon: A week of mystery and thrills.