"The Candidate" Online Buzz

Lost News
I have finally found a confirmation about the extra time rumor from a source I trust. On The Official Lost Video Podcast, which is produced by abc, the host Kris White confirmed that the Lost Finale on May 23rd will be 2 hours and 30 minutes long. What a wonderful Mother's Day gift to me! The start time will be the same. The extra time will bump back Jimmy Kimmel's special: "Aloha to Lost."

Online Buzz
Fans were united in shock at the high death toll of this episode. Doc Jenson of Entertainment Weekly wrote "Behold the deadliest hour in Lost history." I heard of a Facebook status which read "When Hurley cries, I cry." Damon Lindeloff himself even tweeted the day after it aired: "If it helps, I'm sad too."

There has been some debate about the Kwons' death. There are three different arenas:
1. Should Jin have saved himself for the sake of Ji Yeon? Some feel it was irresponsible of him to die knowing he would be orphaning his daughter. Those defending his actions reason that he had never met Ji Yeon and had no garauntee he would ever get off the island. During their podcast, "Darlton" explained that Jin had only about 20 seconds to decide and he wanted to die with the love of his life.
2. Was Sun the "Kwon" who was the candidate? Those who believe that none of the candidates can kill themselves believe we have our explanation that it must have been Sun. Jin chose to stay behind and thus committed suicide. This logic makes sense but I don't believe that the candidates can't kill themselves or UnLocke's plan, which assumed they would tamper with the bomb, shouldn't have worked.
3. Did they chose the right closing shot for this couple? I did not have a problem with the scene when it aired. But I've read some commentaries pointing out that Jin and Sun's story has always been about them being together or trying to get back together so the final shot should not have been of their hands coming apart.

The redeeming value of all these deaths is that UnLocke's plan wasn't completely successful. And with that fail, he has "tipped his hand." There is no longer any debate about him being evil. We know it and the survivors know it. The question is 'how will Jack and Company use this knowledge to their advantage?'

Details and Easter Eggs
There is not much to complain about in this episode but observant fans were bothered by some of the set dressing on the sub. When Jack sent Hurley to find a first aid kit, Hurley came back and said he couldn't find one but there was one visible on the wall.

During Jack's visit to Sun Palms Nursing Home, there was an announcement over the loud speaker which said "Housekeeping dial 23, Housekeeping extension 23."

According to Jorge Garcia's podcast (Geronimo Jack's Beard) there was one of John Locke's lines edited out. While Sideways John was talking in his sleep, he also said "It's a two man job." That would have been a reference to his speech to Jack when he was trying to convince Jack to commit to pushing the Swan station button.

For many episodes fans have wondered why UnLocke has been carrying a backpack. What would a Smoke Monster need to carry around with him? But after this episode, I believe that there may not have been anything of value in it. It was part of his long con. He just carried it all the time so it wouldn't arouse suspicion when he needed to transport a secret object, like a bomb.

Irony
Claire has been compared to Rousseau a lot during this season. Claire received a music box from Christian. The only other character to own a music box was Rousseau.

James does not trust Jack because Jack detonated the bomb which killed Juliet. That distrust led James to detonate a bomb which killed three other castaways.

Theories
A theory held by many was defused in this episode. Many people believed that UnLocke could not touch water. Especially since water puts out smoke. This would make an island a perfect prison for him. But when Jack pushed him in, he didn't seem to be effected by it.

It sounds mean to say but many people feel Anthony Cooper got what he deserved in the sideways world. It seems likely he was still the Anthony Cooper who conned James' parents leading to their deaths. Maybe he was conning John out of his kidney but their plane crash happened before the con was complete. But even if he was different in the sideways world, his counterpart in the original time line, who ruined countless lives, deserved to live in a vegetative state.

Only four and a half hours of Lost left!
Namaste!