The odds on who is the next candidate ...

What are the odds on who will replace Jacob?

Doc Jensen at Entertainment Weekly made this lists of odds before the tragic deaths of Jin and Sun and the heroic death of Sayid. But it's still interesting to see what he thought about their possibilities as The Candidate, as well as our remaining Losties.

The entire article has more info. But here are the odds, as Doc Jensen sees them:

JACK
You got the sense from “Lighthouse” that Jacob really, really needs Jack to get over his bad self and dial into his Island destiny. The safe money is that said destiny is to spend eternity eating fish, spying on damned souls with magic mirrors, and plotting intricate redemption narratives for Island visitors.
ODDS: 3-1

BEN
It’s a fake-out! Jacob’s master plan all along has been to groom Ben as The Island’s new supreme being—but first, he’s had to break Ben of his pride and purge him of his sin, not to mention protect him from the Man In Black’s assassination plot. Bringing the castaways to The Island accomplishes both tasks. The most flattering theory of bad guy Ben is that knowingly or unknowingly he’s been producing challenges of character designed to prepare the castaways for their final conflict with Smokey. Actually, the total opposite is true. Jacob brought the castaways to The Island to test Ben’s character, intended to shape him into the kind of man worthy of Jacob’s loom-of-fate stool. Also, by deceiving Smokey into thinking Jack et. al. were his candidates, Jacob has been shielding Ben from Smokey — and co-opting Smokey into his plan to refine Ben’s soul.
ODDS: 5-1

SAWYER
Next to Ben, he’s the best yarn-spinner on The Island. He’s a precise judge of character. He’s also extremely well-read; judging from his library, he has a great grasp on universal themes like redemption and damnation, faith and reason. He also has great motivation to stay on The Island, as he killed a guy in Australia and should surely go to jail if he ever got back the civilization. Then again, maybe that sin makes him unqualified for Island divinity.
ODDS: 7-1

SUN
It’s about time The Island was ruled by a woman, don’t you think? She’s got a great name for a god. Also, Sun’s got the will and stamina for long-term redemption projects, as demonstrated by her unflagging search for Jin, who per my guestimations will be allowed to remain on The Island as her consort. They’ll get to bring Ji-Yeon over to The Island, too. I also think they can make the most of Island life. He fishes! She gardens! They know how to keep warm during cold evenings on the beach! Happily ever after on The Island will be like one long honeymoon for them.
ODDS: 9-1

HURLEY
Maybe the guy least interested in the job — which makes him the most dramatically interesting candidate for the job and therefore makes him an irresistible choice. Even though my Sun theory allows for Jin to stay, I suspect that the Jacob job is probably a solo act, and I think being alone would crush Hurley’s soul. The again, he’s got plenty of dead people for company. And really, who wouldn’t want to spend the rest of time hanging out with Ghost Michael?
ODDS: 12-1

SAYID
Zombie.
ODDS: 23-1

Tonight on LOST: 'Happily Ever After'

ABC's official summary of tonight's Lost episode: "Desmond wakes up to discover he's back on the Island."

And as Tweeted last week by showrunner (and co-scriptwriter, with Carlton Cuse, of tonight's ep) Damon Lindelof: "In one week, the conversation is going to change."

Taken all together, this means we can probably expect some real revelations from tonight's installation of Lost.

That title, for instance. Last week, in "The Package," we heard the phrase "happily ever after" from the sarcastic lips of killer-for-hire Martin Keamy, taunting poor English-less Jin as he was being duct-taped up in that walk-in fridge.

It appears that Des was drugged, put on a submarine and brought to the Island against his will by his formidable father-in-law, Charles Widmore. Obviously, as Eloise Hawking told Des at the Lamp Post station in LA, the Island is not yet done with him. Tonight's ep does not bode well for Desmond's "happily ever after" with his little family.

Widmore's apparently willing to sacrifice his already-rocky relationship with daughter Penny (and by extension, grandson Charlie) if it means saving the Island, and the world at large, from MiB. What's more, he expects Des to sacrifice too -- not just for his Lostie friends this time, but for the sake of Penny and Charlie's very existence. At least, that's what Widmore implied last week when he spoke to Jin about how Sun and their little Ji-Yeon would "cease to be" if MiB escaped from the Island.

Tonight, I hope we'll get at least some hints about how the alt-reality is connected to what is happening on the Island, and to the war that has now begun in earnest.

It will be fascinating to see what's happening in Desmond's alt-reality. Is he still married, and if so, is his wife still Penny? Does he still have psychic powers? Does he cross between realities, as he did in "The Constant" and "Flashes Before Your Eyes"?

Check back here as soon as the show ends to discuss "Happily Ever After" in the comments!

What did you think of 'The Package?'

Sun and Jin.

What do you think?

I'm reminding of what Jacob saying that it only ends once and everything else is just progress.

What progress do you think Lost is making toward resolving story lines before it all ends?

By the way, if you hadn't heard, the final episode will be called "The End."

LOST: episode 6-06, 'Sundown'

Tonight's Lost episode, "Sundown," is summarized by ABC: "Sayid is faced with a difficult decision, and Claire sends a warning to the temple inhabitants." Which seems to indicate it will be Sayid-centric. Which mean Episode 6 breaks the S6 pattern of mirroring Season 1, and it won't be a Sun/Jin-centric episode, as expected. Which, considering the title is "Sundown," is kind of a big tease.

We can probably expect to see more of the Temple and its inhabitants, along with whichever Losties are still there. But with Kate, James, Jack, Hugo, and Jin gone, that just leaves Miles and Sayid. Sun, Frank, Ilana and Ben were heading to the Temple, the last we saw of them.

If the episode does focus on Sayid, what will his Sideways World be like? We know he got to LA with every intention of finding Nadia, his long-lost love. Does he find her? Will his alt-life be better, overall, than his Jacob/Island-affected life has been? (It could hardly be worse.)

We'll see. Come back when the show ends and we'll talk about it here, in the comments.

What did you think of 'He's Our You?'

So, is Ben dead? If so, is the Ben of 2007 dead, too?

I really was shocked that Sayid just grabbed Jin's gun and shot him.

He could have gone with the idea of saving Ben from himself. But has Ben already gone too far since he's been wanting to join The Others for four years.

Ben is a manipultive little shit. It's shown really well when he shows up to tell Sayid that Widmore's people killed Locke.

When are we going to find out why Ben had the crap beat out of him? Did he go after Penny?

What did you love? What did you hate in this epsiode?

What's your vote for line of the night? How about (not sure on the exact wording): "A 12-year-old Benjamin Linus just fed me a chicken salad sandwich...how do you think I feel?"

There's a lot of debate about whether if you could go back in time and kill Hitler, would you? If you could go back in time and kill Ben, would you?

Is it wrong? Is it right? Is it the right thing to do for the greater good but still wrong?

Bring on the gray Lost, bring on the gray.

Season finale spoilers

Someone's getting married in the season finale of Lost, reports EW's Michael Ausellio.

Because of reports that the show is looking for actors of Asian decent, there's speculation that it could be a flashback to Jin and Sun's wedding. Could this mean that Jin and Sun will reunite in the finale. (Speaking of the reunion, any idea how Jin could go back to the future or how Sun could return to the past?)

But the "wild rumor" is that Aaron and Jin and Sun's baby marry in the future. Hmmm.

What do you think it is?

That's not the only rumor to surface.

The bewitching Elizabeth Mitchell, aka Juliet, has reportedly been cast in the ABC pilot "V." Could she be the major charater marked for death this season?

What would that mean for the show?

SPOILER: Someone is getting offed before the season ends

UPDATE: Look at the bottom of this post to for a list of five names. One of the five will die. Don't read if you don't want to know.

A "major character" is dying on Lost, reports Kristin at E!Online.

She says this a a real death like Shannon or Charlie. Not like Locke's death and resurrection.

It's not Kate.

Apparently the actor/actress who's character is dying didn't find out until last week.

Any thoughts on who it might be and why?

According to Spoilerfix.com the character who bites the dust is one of these five: Ben, Sawyer, Daniel, Jin, Miles

More reunions coming in episode "Namaste"

Check out this reunion coming up in next week's epsiode, "Namaste."

It's just a tiny sneak peak to make up going a week without Lost.

A little prep work for viewing 5.06, entitled "316"

I wouldn't exactly call it homework, but this essay by Doc Jensen at Entertainment Weekly provides a bit of insight into what we'll be seeing tonight.

The C.S. Lewis connection continues with parallels being drawn between Lost and The Chronicles of Narnia. Check out this excerpt from the sequel to Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian.

''I felt just the same,'' said Edmund in a breathless voice. ''As if I were being dragged along. A most frightful pulling — ugh! It's beginning again!... All catch hands and keep together! This is magic — I can tell by the feeling. Quick!''

Here's more from the article:

From the book The Magician's Nephew:

In this mythology-revealing installment, the book's child heroes find a pair of matching magical yellow rings in an ancient box from Atlantis. The kids think that the rings give them the power to transport themselves to Narnia — and they do. But the story reveals that the rings belong to Narnia, and because they do, they want to return there.
LINK TO LOST: Thematically, the off-Island castaways are like the rings, wanting/needing to be returned. In ''This Place Is Death,'' Sun received a gold band — Jin's wedding ring — which inspired/compelled her to return to the Island.

THE LAMP-POST
From the books
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and The Magician's Nephew (SPOILER ALERT!) One of the most iconic landmarks in Lewis' Narnia saga, the lamp-post is an eternally lit street light located in the enchanted woods of the Lantern Wastes. After Lucy pushes her way through the wardrobe closet that leads into the Lantern Wastes, the lamp-post is the first marker she encounters. It literally lights her way into Narnia.
LINK TO LOST: As you will learn tonight — unless you've already had this spoiled for you in the teaser clip ABC has posted online — ''The Lamp-Post'' is the name of an off-Island Dharma station that the weird science enclave used to find the Island. It is certainly located in an unlikely place — you know it better as the computer lab underneath Ms. Hawking's church.

So, how did it go?

What did you think of episode Five?

Was it what you expected? What surprised you?

Will Ben ever not get his way?

What do you think about the smoke monster?

Remember, your comments post in real time, so you will be able to respond to each other's thoughts and questions.

Can't wait until tonight for your Lost fix?

Check out these video clips from tonight's episode, courtesy of Watch With Kristin at E!Online.

One clip is Sun-centric and the other is about Jin.

Tonight, Sun finds out Jin's alive. And the smoke monster returns. So does a pregnant Rousseau.

Wonder what Smokey is up to? Killing, no doubt.

Will we find out why the smoke monster sounds mechanical? Kind of like riding a wooden roller coaster.

A bit of Watch With Kristin Lost scoopage

This is taken from Watch with Kristin's most recent chat on E!Online:

Amy in Portland, Ore.: Is Jin really back on Lost?

He really is, and Daniel Dae Kim really is still a series regular. Yay! My source tells me "He's not going anywhere," meaning, off the show. But of course, Jin is going lots of places! He's stuck a good two decades in the past right now with preggo Rousseau. Our East Coast correspondent, Breanne Heldman, met up with DDK at New York's ComicCon (lucky girl) today, and he hinted that the Rousseau storyline would last for a while, saying, "She's around, let's put it that way." And get this. When asked if Jin will learn French, Daniel said slyly, "Who's to say he doesn't already know it?" We get the feeling he may already speak it, so this could be the beginning of une belle amitié (a beautiful friendship!) for young Rousseau and Jin.

Margo in Acton, Mass.: Will Jin and Sun reunite?

"Definitely," a source close to the show tells me. "And it may be sooner than you think." DDK says: "That, I think, you'll be surprised if and when you see it." I'm expecting lots of tears—onscreen and off (i.e. mine).

DapperGirl in Atlanta: Lost!

Lance Reddick (now on Fringe) tells us he's coming back to Lost in the Feb. 25 episode. So get ready for more Matthew Abaddon freakiness!

Max in Syracuse, N.Y.: On Lost, is it just me or does it seem like Charlotte and Daniel knew each other before they got on the Island?

Ding, ding! I think you're on to something. Here's what Rebecca Mader herself told me on their relationship: "They must have a history. Because it's like they just got to this island and all of a sudden they appear to have—he apparently loves her, he's in love with her, which is huge." Hopefully we'll find out about it soon since someone is kicking the bucket this week, and it very well could be Charlotte.

Mary in Miami: Will Charlotte die?

Rebecca Mader told me she's safe for now, but the emphasis was a bit too strong on the "for now" for my liking, and I'm hearing she may have been released from the show at some point to shoot a movie with George Clooney. (Yeah, we shouldn't feel too sorry for her if that's the case, but I personally hope she's sticking around!)

What's in and not in this photo and why?

You'll have to check out Kristin's insights at E! Online for the spoilers. But I'm posting some thoughts from Kristin to ponder below:

Where is Jin Kwon?

...

They went for the postapocalyptic vine-covered Brooklyn-scape, huh? Is this a convenient aesthetic shorthand that integrates the Oceanic Sixers out in the world and the Left Behinders back on the Island, or could it be a portent of actual scenes to come?

...

Is there a hidden meaning in the bottles of Dharma pop, Dharma beer and Dharma saltines? What about the busted computer monitor and old TV?

What happened to Jin, tidbits on a Hurley scene

Michael Ausellio at Entertainment Weekly tells us a bit about Jin's fate and an upcoming Hurley scene.

Question: I don't know if I can wait until January or February for Lost. Got any scoop on it? --Nick

Ausiello: Sawyer, Juliet, Daniel, Miles, Charlotte, and ***** will learn Jin's fate at the precise moment we do: in episode 4. In other news, ask yourself this question: Why was Jorge Garcia shooting a scene in jail last week?

(For those you don't read Michael Ausellio regularly, each * stands for a letter.)

SPOILER: What happened to Jin?

Actually, the news I have for you is "when will we find out?"

Kristin at E! Online reports that Jin's fate will be discovered in episodes four and five.

Apparently, he'll be discovered floating on a door.

Dead? Alive? If dead, will he appear in corporeal form like Jack's dad?

Poll: Which Character is Still Alive?

Only two of our five choices received votes.

You could choose from Jin, Claire, Jacob, Christian Shephard and Michael.

Jin received 60 percent of the votes and Claire got 40 percent.

Be sure to check out the next poll and comment here about who you think is alive or dead and why?

SPOILER for Season Five

Stop reading now if you don't want to know.

Daniel Dae Kim, who may or may not have been blown to itty bitty pieces on the freighter, just returned from Hawaii, according to this video interview with Michael Ausiello from Entertainment Weekly.

He may or may not have been shooting. Or he may have just been getting sentenced for his DUI.

Daniel Dae Kim Guilty of DUI, Loses License

Daniel Dae Kim, who plays Jin, pled no contest to DUI and lost his license, reports E! Online.

No contest is basically just not contesting the charges against him. The result is the same as being found guilty.

His blood alcohol level was .168 -- more than twice the legal limit -- when he was arrested in October 2007.

When we last saw Jin, he was one the exploding freighter.

Do you think Jin is dead or alive? And is there a Lost curse for the stars who get in trouble?