Tricia Tanaka is Dead

Technical difficulties last night prevented me from bringing you this post when I'd planned, but depending on how regularly you stop by (and when in the day), you won't even know the difference.

This newest episode of Lost was not fantastic, but it did continue the general season three trend: episodes about The Others are not as good as episodes focusing on the rest of the group.

The Hurley flashbacks were fun, but more for getting to see Cheech Marin worked into the tapestry as his father than for any way it which they illuminated Hurley's character. It is interesting that he would still carry the "gotta have hope" lesson with him in life 17 years after the man who taught it to him had abandoned him. But then, since Hurley believes he's cursed, he'd probably grasp at anything that might convince him that can be changed.

Which takes us the story on the island. I was impressed at the way the "let's fix the car" storyline put me so squarely in the emotions of the characters. When Hurley was all gung-ho about it at the beginning, I very much shared everyone else's view: who gives a crap? But damned if at the end, I didn't really feel some of the euphoria that he, Charlie, Jin, and Sawyer felt as they cruised around the meadow in their odd version of Little Miss Sunshine. (Two years before that movie existed, in the timeline of the show, of course.)

I don't think we've seen the last of the "Charlie marked for death" plot thread, though. (At least, I certainly hope we haven't.) Still, it was a nice bonding for he and Hurley. They've been good friends since the beginning, and you could see why in this episode.

Other nice touches: Hurley visiting Libby's grave, him welcoming Sawyer back to the group, the nickname "Jumbotron," Sawyer's teaching to Jin ("the three things a woman wants to hear"), and the revisiting of Rousseau. Although curse me and my opening credits curiosity, because I'd spotted Mira Furlan's name at the beginning of the episode, taking away all the surprise and getting me even a little exasperated when Kate didn't actually even find her until the closing minute.