Episode 314 - Expose

Written by six from the blog The Lost Chronicles on 14 Jun 2007
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Episode 314
Exposé

In a show that’s built on very strange and weird foundations, this episode has got me saying “what the f*ck” in a way that no other Lostisode has done before. This just seems a bit too random to me – why introduce two new characters, keep them almost alienated so we know absolutely nothing about them and then kill them off?

Well, whatever the reason may be, being buried alive ensures that no-one will forget your name in a hurry – even if just about every single Lost viewer thought that you were the most useless waste of space. I just simply can’t believe that their role in this whole story is over – before it even began.

We learnt that pre flight 815, Nikki and Paolo had murdered a man to get their hands on some diamonds. What I found incredibly cool was how their time on the island was shown intertwined with footage from the first two seasons. We got to see some old favourites again – namely Boone. Also present were Shannon, Ethan and Artz. I wonder why Eko, Ana-Lucia and Libby didn’t feature though; because apart from them, just about every single “main” character (including Vincent and that damned monster) appeared in this episode. Really cool.

While this side storyline did absolutely nothing in terms of advancing the current plot, it did reveal quite a bit about Paolo and Nikki and what they got up to on the island. Most specifically, it revealed that Paolo and Nikki knew about the following things before any of the losties - the aircraft that killed Boone and the Pearl station. And yet they said nothing! You can’t help but wonder what would have happened had they just told someone. Would Boone still be alive? Would Eko still be alive?

Furthermore, Paolo also overheard a conversation between Benry and Juliet re Jack well before anyone even knew who Benry was!! And yet he said nothing. Nothing! It all makes me glad that these two were killed off!!! To think of all the misery that could have been avoided, or the lives saved had these two just spoken up. This just further reiterates the point that on this island, communication and trust between the losties is severely lacking.

Benry appearing in that flashback was really cool. We see that the entire ruse was to get Jack to operate on Benry. It makes me wonder the depths that this man would go to get what he wants. Honestly, I have to admire this absolute gall of this guy. He knows exactly what he wants and exactly how to get it. How can you not admire him??

I see that Charlie finally confessed to Sun about his part in her kidnapping. I’m quite proud of him for doing that, even if he did defer blame to Sawyer and his confused state of mind after Locke’s beating. I’ve always been worried that the truth would come out and that Charlie would once again be an outsider. Sun seems to be more upset at Sawyer than at Charlie though. But I can’t help but wonder if this is the last we’ve heard of this. For both Charlie’s and Sawyer’s sakes, I hope it is. I can’t imagine what Jin would do if he ever learned the truth.

Sawyer deciding to bury the diamonds with Paolo and Nikki can be interpreted in two ways. The first could be that he is finally turning over a new leaf. After seeing what greed and mistrust can do to two people who apparently love each other can do, he decides that it’s not worth it. My own personal belief is that Sawyer has actually given up all hope of being rescued. Being the hoarder that he is (I mean, the guy got worked up that his shaving cream was missing), him giving the diamonds up is a big thing. I think that he really believes that there is no hope.

Anyway, I’m quite surprised at the speed in which the losties dug up and buried the two of them though. Every other funeral has occurred at least a day after the deaths. Why were the losties in such a hurry to get them buried? And why did Vincent steal the blanket of Paolo’s ‘dead’ body? Bad dog!!!

I really enjoyed this episode. I wondered how they would follow the mind-blowing moments of last week’s episode. What could have possible compared? I’m glad that they did this instead. Firstly, they got rid of two of the most disliked characters, and they did it in an incredibly awesome way.

I take my hat off to the shows creators. In no other show have I ever come across a scenario in which two actors are cast as leads, given menial lines and limited screen time. And then, when the fandom of the show is still reeling from previous events, they strike. They give these two characters an entire episode of their own. And it’s got absolutely nothing to do with the incredible events of the previous weeks. And to make all of fandom happy – they kill them off. Brilliant, genius writing!

What we learnt this week

• Benry is just such an awesome evil sneak.
• Paolo and Nikki were buried alive
• Artz was quite the entomologist
• 8 million dollars worth of diamonds lay buried with Paolo and Nikki
• Hurley and Sawyer have excellent chemistry

Interesting Trivia

• Paulo's line "Maybe it's a dinosaur" when discussing the monster, alludes to the now proven false rumors and discussions during the first season of Lost that the sounds and movement from the jungle was a dinosaur.
• In his speech from an episode in Season 1, Jack mentions "Live together, die alone" which is the name of an episode in the second season. He also says, "Every man for himself" which is from the third season.
• Sawyer is reading "Evil Under the Sun" by Agatha Christie.
• Dr. Arzt refers to his Medusa Spider as Latrodectus regina. Latrodectus is the genus which the widow spider is a member of and includes approximately 31 recognized venomous species. However, there is no Regina species of widow spider. "Regina" is a Latin word and translates literally as "Queen."
• The dolls within other dolls are known as Matryoshka dolls, named after the Russian diminutive for 'Matryona', which is associated with a strong and robust Russian woman. And although it may mean nothing, the number of nested figures of the Matryoshka doll shown in the episode was three while the actual number is usually six or more.
• Zukerman refers to Paulo as the "Wolfgang Puck" of Brazil. Wolfgang Puck is an Austrian-American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and businessman based in Los Angeles. This is also likely to be a reference to Rodrigo Santoro's nickname in the media of "The Brazilian Tom Cruise."
• This is the first time an actor has guest starred as himself – Billy Dee

This episode has some really excellent quotes, my favourites are

• Hurley: Nikki and Paulo. I guess we didn't know you very well. But, it appears you killed each other for diamonds. But, I know there are good parts to you too. You were always nice to me. And, you were a member of the camp. And, I really loved Exposé. Okay then. Goodbye!
Sawyer: Wait. Rest in peace, Nikki and Paulo.
• Hurley: (to Desmond) No offense, dude, but, as far as super powers go, yours is kind of lame.
• Locke: Things don't stay buried on this island.
• Sawyer: I'm telling ya, this is the trail.
Hurley: What do you know about tracking?
Sawyer: Well, I know what a footprint is.
• Hurley: Dude, what are you doing?
Sawyer: Two people are dead. You ever think they might have been poisoned?
Hurley: That's evidence! You're messing up the crime scene!
Sawyer: Crime scene? There a forensics hatch I don't know about?
• Hurley: Dude, Nikki's dead.
Sawyer: Who the hell's Nikki?

Apologies for the excessive quotes, but I just love them. Hurley and Sawyer really bounce off each other really well.

Interesting Screencaps