What a terrific premiere for the fourth season of LOST! The purpose of such an episode is to hook you in for the rest of the season, and "The Beginning Of The End" does that brilliantly, by setting up a dozen new plot points and questions. The flash-forwards are a daring device: we learn that at least 6 people were rescued from the island and brought back to civilization - but how? When? At what price? We meet 2 of the 6 - Jack and Hurley - and their lives don't exactly seem to be in perfect order. Jack is back to doing "surgical stuff", while Hurley is having visions of his dead friend Charlie. But are they really visions? They must be, because when he opened his eyes, Charlie was gone. But wait - another man saw him too. And he did feel that slap. Back on the island, things are more uncertain than ever. There is a strong possibility that the level-headed Jack is wrong and the seemingly out of his mind Locke is right. The Others have been set up as a threat from the start of the series - could Naomi's people, the mysterious "rescuers", be even more dangerous? How much does Ben know? Was that Jacob's cabin that Hurley bumped into? Jack Bender's direction is pacy and offers a couple of stunning shots. ***1/2 out of 4.
13 Reviews
More LOST than ever......
ThanosBickle4 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Once again i am LOST.. This is why this series blows your mind away.. I was expecting season's 4 premiere for too long, and i surely can say that it was a great start for the season.
Instead of giving us answers about past episodes, they start using the flash-forwards of what goes on the future. This episode made me have more questions and think more about what will happen next. I suppose it's one of the most important episodes because of the dialog between Jack and Hougo in the end.
My anticipation for the next one is high and i can't imagine what will happen in the end. I just hope to give us answers and not leave us wondering!
Instead of giving us answers about past episodes, they start using the flash-forwards of what goes on the future. This episode made me have more questions and think more about what will happen next. I suppose it's one of the most important episodes because of the dialog between Jack and Hougo in the end.
My anticipation for the next one is high and i can't imagine what will happen in the end. I just hope to give us answers and not leave us wondering!
"Lost" is back... feels so well
ogqozo1 February 2008
"The Beginning of the End" isn't one of those episodes that makes you fall down from your chair. It doesn't shock you like the last episode of Season 3 would. But it's still a great piece of movie work. The acting is great (with Jorge Garcia reaching his career high), the pace is snappy, and the scenario uses all the disturbed chronology fun for its own advantage. You get a chance to see all of the show's most important characters, a few main threads combine together well - it's a great introduction to a new season, considering we've had so long, 8-month hiatus.
"Lost" is still "Lost", so don't suppose you won't get as much emotions and mysteries as possible. There are a few new questions that you'll wonder about for some time. You also meet a new character, which is definitely evil and unsetting. "Lost" remains American TV's unique show - good to see it back, it's the only one of its kind.
My vote is 9. I really enjoy and appreciate it, but I am sure we'll see some better episodes this season.
"Lost" is still "Lost", so don't suppose you won't get as much emotions and mysteries as possible. There are a few new questions that you'll wonder about for some time. You also meet a new character, which is definitely evil and unsetting. "Lost" remains American TV's unique show - good to see it back, it's the only one of its kind.
My vote is 9. I really enjoy and appreciate it, but I am sure we'll see some better episodes this season.
Lost returns with a vengeance
ametaphysicalshark3 February 2008
A thoroughly satisfactory follow-up to "Through the Looking Glass" did not feel anti-climactic to me after waiting all those months for the show's return, and on DVD seems about as good. It's not a brilliant episode, but it's an emotional gem pretty much throughout, and it's got some winning moments of humor and heart which elevate it beyond the typical season opener. It doesn't quite hit the highs of "Man of Science, Man of Faith", but it's significantly better than "A Tale of Two Cities", and the shift from Jack to Hurley works very well, although Jack is still featured prominently in the flashforwards.
The on-island events are a logical extension of "Through the Looking Glass", and work as both follow-up to that episode and a setup for the rest of season four, and pretty much cover all bases in relation to the characters involved in season three's climactic stages (unlike season three's opening stages, which took several episodes to even get to some of the characters impacted by season two's finale, and only set up the Hydra pod of episodes). I don't care at all for Naomi's not being dead, which pretty much redefines 'plot contrivance', or for Rose's line about Claire treating Charlie 'real good' when (sigh) he returns. The rest of it is pretty great, especially the only real surprise in the episode, Hurley's encounter with Jacob's cabin.
The flashforwards are clearly happening well before "Through the Looking Glass", and work well as a setup for the rest of the flashforward stories which would ultimately lead to Drunk Bearded Jack's visit to the mystery coffin. All in all this is a good script, very well-performed and nicely-directed which functions as a pleasingly efficient and rewarding season opener.
The on-island events are a logical extension of "Through the Looking Glass", and work as both follow-up to that episode and a setup for the rest of season four, and pretty much cover all bases in relation to the characters involved in season three's climactic stages (unlike season three's opening stages, which took several episodes to even get to some of the characters impacted by season two's finale, and only set up the Hydra pod of episodes). I don't care at all for Naomi's not being dead, which pretty much redefines 'plot contrivance', or for Rose's line about Claire treating Charlie 'real good' when (sigh) he returns. The rest of it is pretty great, especially the only real surprise in the episode, Hurley's encounter with Jacob's cabin.
The flashforwards are clearly happening well before "Through the Looking Glass", and work well as a setup for the rest of the flashforward stories which would ultimately lead to Drunk Bearded Jack's visit to the mystery coffin. All in all this is a good script, very well-performed and nicely-directed which functions as a pleasingly efficient and rewarding season opener.
warning!contains spoilers!!!
demmie564 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
What an amazing episode.Hurley says that he's one of the oceanic six. So, we assume that 6 people escaped the island. We know for sure that Jack, Kate and one more made it to the "real world". But when dead (?)Charlie appears in front of Hurley and tells him that "they need you", who is he talking about? Those who made it off the island, or those who chose(?) to stay there? I strongly believe that the oceanic 6 are not the only survivors of the plain crash. Some of our favorite characters did not follow Jack and the others to their way off the island, but stayed there. And who is trying to bring them back to the island, as Hyrley says? Smart trick from the creators to use Hurley in this important episode for the plot. His sanity is in question, and viewers can not understand what's happening...He saw Jacob because Jacob exists, or was that another figment of his imagination?very smart move from the creators...very smart...The only thing that concerns me is that the standards for this show are extremely high and i wonder how it will end... I hope it won't be disappointing!!! I can't wait until the next episode.
Fantastic!
erikkanstad451 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
" Possible spoiler " A great start of the 4th season.Jack Bender has always been my favorite episode director.I found this episode both heartbreaking( the parts about the loss of Charlie )but at the same time very exciting,and full of suspense and action.It seems like the producers are changing a part that has been important through the past seasons..the flashbacks.Its now about the future.A newbie from Naomis boat arrives, is he the rescue that they have been waiting for?The actor seemed familiar, though, you remember Upham from, Saving Private Ryan?The only bad thing about this, is that we have to wait one more week for the next episode.I didn't want this episode to end, ha ha.Well thats the price you have to pay, when you're an addict like me, i guess.
Lost is back 10/10
Lost is back 10/10
Absolutely BRILLIANT
davidcahilldesign4 February 2008
well this was great. it never had the shocker at the start like season 2 and 3, but i still think that start was great and baffling.
and i didn't like the start episodes as of season 2 and 3 as much as this, nothing happened in them apart from the shocks.
this had great confrontation, emotion, story.
and whoever said Smallville makes good television, HA, don't make me laugh. They aren't going to answer all the series question in the opening episode of season 4.
I cant believe Locke tried to kill Jack as well, i like Locke more than Jack and Locke wouldn't have done that
and i didn't like the start episodes as of season 2 and 3 as much as this, nothing happened in them apart from the shocks.
this had great confrontation, emotion, story.
and whoever said Smallville makes good television, HA, don't make me laugh. They aren't going to answer all the series question in the opening episode of season 4.
I cant believe Locke tried to kill Jack as well, i like Locke more than Jack and Locke wouldn't have done that
Didn't want it to end
TheLittleSongbird27 May 2018
When 'Lost' was in its prime, it was must-watch television. Remember first watching it, found it remarkably easy to get into, was hooked from the start and was on Season 3 by the end of one week. The general consensus is that the final season is a disappointment and cannot disagree.
Season 3 was for me a solid if uneven season, with many brilliant episodes but a few slightly underwhelming ones and containing one of 'Lost's' low points "Stranger in a Strange Land". Season 4 had a good amount to live up, and its first episode "The Beginning of the End", carrying on from where the shocking events of the previous season's finale "Through the Looking Glass", couldn't be a better way to start. Also found it the best 'Lost' season opener since the first season's pilot, if not quite as good as that, and can totally see its universal critical acclaim.
The episode has pretty much everything that 'Lost' is all about. It's taut and thought-provoking, with utterly gripping on-island events. It may be primarily setting up and putting into place what is to come, but does that extremely well.
On top of all that, it advances characters, shows plot progression rather than repeating itself or being filler. There may not be many shocking revelations/moments, apart from Hurley's cabin encounter and with Naomi (slightly contrived but can be overlooked), and other episodes may provide more answers, but you know what? Neither were in any way a problem.
Also found "The Beginning of the End" to be a non-stop thrill ride of insane entertainment value, edge of your seat tension and very emotional moments.
Can't fault the performances, particularly from Jorge Garcia giving some of his best acting of the whole show and some of his best ever even.
Nor the stylishness and atmosphere of the visuals, nor the effectively understated and chilling use of music, taut writing and the tightly controlled direction (one of the best of the season and perhaps of the show).
All in all, wonderful season opener and didn't want it to end. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Season 3 was for me a solid if uneven season, with many brilliant episodes but a few slightly underwhelming ones and containing one of 'Lost's' low points "Stranger in a Strange Land". Season 4 had a good amount to live up, and its first episode "The Beginning of the End", carrying on from where the shocking events of the previous season's finale "Through the Looking Glass", couldn't be a better way to start. Also found it the best 'Lost' season opener since the first season's pilot, if not quite as good as that, and can totally see its universal critical acclaim.
The episode has pretty much everything that 'Lost' is all about. It's taut and thought-provoking, with utterly gripping on-island events. It may be primarily setting up and putting into place what is to come, but does that extremely well.
On top of all that, it advances characters, shows plot progression rather than repeating itself or being filler. There may not be many shocking revelations/moments, apart from Hurley's cabin encounter and with Naomi (slightly contrived but can be overlooked), and other episodes may provide more answers, but you know what? Neither were in any way a problem.
Also found "The Beginning of the End" to be a non-stop thrill ride of insane entertainment value, edge of your seat tension and very emotional moments.
Can't fault the performances, particularly from Jorge Garcia giving some of his best acting of the whole show and some of his best ever even.
Nor the stylishness and atmosphere of the visuals, nor the effectively understated and chilling use of music, taut writing and the tightly controlled direction (one of the best of the season and perhaps of the show).
All in all, wonderful season opener and didn't want it to end. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Easter Eggs In 'The Beginning of the End'
eddietorbalinda27 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
"The Oceanic Six"
This is a shout out to Gilligan's Island. Many don't know that a Gilligan's Island movie was made in the late 1970's. In the movie, the castaways finally get to leave the island and return home. Once home, they deal with many problems that certainly served as an inspiration for the writers of Lost. Although Gilligan's Island had seven castaways during it's TV run, only six of the original cast members starred in the movie of the 1970's. Absent from the cast was Tina Louise, who played the original Ginger in the TV series. Therefore, only six of the original Gilligan's Island cast members actually made it home.
Also, the "Oceanic Six" bear unmistakeble similarities to the castaways of Gilligan's Island.
In Gilligan's Island, Mr. Howell was an eccentric millionaire. In Lost, Hurley is an eccentric millioniare.
In Gilligan's Island, The Professor was the techno wizard of the island. In Lost, Sayid is the techno wizard of the island.
In Gilligan's Island, The sophistciated Ginger always wore dresses. In Lost, the sophisticated Sun is known to wear dresses. However, since the original Ginger never made it off the island, Sun is most probably Lost's version of Mrs. Howell. Sun, like Mrs. Howell, is married. And, as seen in the flashbacks, the Kwon's seem to be doing well for themselves like the Howell's.
In Gilligan's Island, The Skipper was the authority figure. In Lost, Jack is the recognized authority figure on the island.
In Gilligan's Island, Mary Ann was a country girl from Kansas. In Lost, Kate is a country girl from Iowa.
That leaves Gilligan and Aaron. We'll have to wait to see how that one shakes out.
There you have it, the "Gilligan's Island Six" of Lost.
If the Oceanic Six isn't a shout out to Gilligan's island, then why use the number six when you could use one of Hurley's lottery numbers instead?
This is a shout out to Gilligan's Island. Many don't know that a Gilligan's Island movie was made in the late 1970's. In the movie, the castaways finally get to leave the island and return home. Once home, they deal with many problems that certainly served as an inspiration for the writers of Lost. Although Gilligan's Island had seven castaways during it's TV run, only six of the original cast members starred in the movie of the 1970's. Absent from the cast was Tina Louise, who played the original Ginger in the TV series. Therefore, only six of the original Gilligan's Island cast members actually made it home.
Also, the "Oceanic Six" bear unmistakeble similarities to the castaways of Gilligan's Island.
In Gilligan's Island, Mr. Howell was an eccentric millionaire. In Lost, Hurley is an eccentric millioniare.
In Gilligan's Island, The Professor was the techno wizard of the island. In Lost, Sayid is the techno wizard of the island.
In Gilligan's Island, The sophistciated Ginger always wore dresses. In Lost, the sophisticated Sun is known to wear dresses. However, since the original Ginger never made it off the island, Sun is most probably Lost's version of Mrs. Howell. Sun, like Mrs. Howell, is married. And, as seen in the flashbacks, the Kwon's seem to be doing well for themselves like the Howell's.
In Gilligan's Island, The Skipper was the authority figure. In Lost, Jack is the recognized authority figure on the island.
In Gilligan's Island, Mary Ann was a country girl from Kansas. In Lost, Kate is a country girl from Iowa.
That leaves Gilligan and Aaron. We'll have to wait to see how that one shakes out.
There you have it, the "Gilligan's Island Six" of Lost.
If the Oceanic Six isn't a shout out to Gilligan's island, then why use the number six when you could use one of Hurley's lottery numbers instead?
Good episode, but nothing special.
peterjaybee2 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I personally thought this episode was very clever and good to watch, but so are the other 71 episodes of lost (not counting stranger in a strange land because it was awful) and for a season premiere it left me wanting more. I was expecting a repeat of the season 2 and 3 premiers which left me in a state of shock for days. It will not make it into my lost top 5 episodes.
The episode revolves around Hurley so you can expect to see a lot of weird things that bring Hurley's sanity into question again.
There were some very interesting moments that leave you with a reel of questions, which will no doubt be answered in this season. For example (do not read on if you have not seen this episode)...
...when Hurley is in the grounds of the hospital he sees Charlie, but he is not the only person to see him. One of the other patients tells Hurley that Charlie is there, so at least two people can see dead(?) Charlie.
...when Hurley sees Jacobs cabin. Does he find Jacobs cabin or is it him going crazy again? In season three, the white ash around the cabin is pointed out by Ben, but it is not referenced in this episode - is this left out for a reason?
The episode revolves around Hurley so you can expect to see a lot of weird things that bring Hurley's sanity into question again.
There were some very interesting moments that leave you with a reel of questions, which will no doubt be answered in this season. For example (do not read on if you have not seen this episode)...
...when Hurley is in the grounds of the hospital he sees Charlie, but he is not the only person to see him. One of the other patients tells Hurley that Charlie is there, so at least two people can see dead(?) Charlie.
...when Hurley sees Jacobs cabin. Does he find Jacobs cabin or is it him going crazy again? In season three, the white ash around the cabin is pointed out by Ben, but it is not referenced in this episode - is this left out for a reason?
Wait Until You See All Of The Previous Seasons Before Watching!
filmbuff19742 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
BE WARNED!!! The two hour premiere gave a one hour recap of all that went on in season three. Since I had not seen season three yet this was a unwelcome surprise.
I became a Lost fan after purchasing the first two seasons in a thrift shop. I really got hooked and my only regret about seeing the two hour premiere was having that first hour recap destroying any surprises from season three which I hadn't seen yet. So believe it or not I am not going to follow the fourth season until I view the third season. I will catch the fourth season when it's released on DVD. So I will be waiting a lot longer than eight months to follow the series I have become completely infatuated with. I love the "Lost" series!
I became a Lost fan after purchasing the first two seasons in a thrift shop. I really got hooked and my only regret about seeing the two hour premiere was having that first hour recap destroying any surprises from season three which I hadn't seen yet. So believe it or not I am not going to follow the fourth season until I view the third season. I will catch the fourth season when it's released on DVD. So I will be waiting a lot longer than eight months to follow the series I have become completely infatuated with. I love the "Lost" series!
The Oceanic Six
claudio_carvalho16 February 2008
In the future, Hurley is scared and questioning his own sanity. After a police chase to his Mustang, the paranoid Hurley, who is a celebrity and called one of the Oceanic Six, is arrested and sent to an asylum, where he has a vision of Charlie and is visited by Jack. Meanwhile in the island, when Desmond informs that Charlie had advised that it was not Penny's boat and the rescue team has actually other intentions but rescuing the survivors, the group splits between the leaderships of Jack and Locke.
Eight months and eight days after the last episode, in a complete lack of respect of the producers with the fans and viewers of this series, the fourth season begins without any answer to the many questions in the previous seasons, and raises more questions showing the future of Hurley and Jack. I am really afraid that the writers are lost and expecting that the fans forget the countless questions left open along these three years. In my opinion, it would be better off resolving the mysteries instead of raising more. With regard to "The Beginning of the End", it is intriguing as usual, but I honestly would rather see the answers. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): Not Available
Note: On 13 April 2013, I saw this episode again on DVD.
Eight months and eight days after the last episode, in a complete lack of respect of the producers with the fans and viewers of this series, the fourth season begins without any answer to the many questions in the previous seasons, and raises more questions showing the future of Hurley and Jack. I am really afraid that the writers are lost and expecting that the fans forget the countless questions left open along these three years. In my opinion, it would be better off resolving the mysteries instead of raising more. With regard to "The Beginning of the End", it is intriguing as usual, but I honestly would rather see the answers. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): Not Available
Note: On 13 April 2013, I saw this episode again on DVD.
What The F**k?
m-hoban011 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I dunno what it was, writers strike in the USA or not this was a pile of crap - it was an anticipated episode due to the fact it could answer the big *how the hell did they escape? and who's funeral at season 3 end?* instead all we get are more road blocks and unanswered questions and stupid turns to kinda sway from the big WTF is it all about, instead we are left with the big question being "How stoned are these so called writers?" IMHO others may disagree but this has been another continuance of the down slide of Lost and yet another disappointment...Thank god Smallville and Supernatural were on too at least they made for good Thursday Night TV! loll
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