I’ll say this for Lost: Tricia Tanaka Is Dead, they kept the linear/island story moving at a good clip this week.

The Flashback was all Hurley/Hugo Reyes and it was about our ability or power to change fate. In the words of Hurley’s dad, “Hope. Make your own luck.”

Here are my thoughts, hurriedly typed since we were behind in our timeshifting.

• Luck

Sure the numbers were initially lucky for Hurley, he made the choice to use them and it payed off, but their lingering effect was terrible which begs two questions:

1. Did Hurley knowingly put Tricia Tanaka and his loved ones in harm’s way?

He obviously didn’t want it to continue, hence the trip to Australia, but he had to know more bad news was coming.

I’m actually quite surprised the dad and/or the psychic didn’t buy it.

2. Are the numbers objectively bad or is their effect mitigated/affected by those that wield them?

See Locke’s/Desmond’s/etc. use of the numbers in the hatch as reasonably good in this instance.

• Beer

It’s good to know the Dharma Initiative isn’t entirely puritanical, although Light Beer seems a bit Americanized.

• Shambala by Three Dog Night

The place itself, Shambala, seems like our islands (potentially)

The song has it’s own echoes:

Wash away my troubles, wash away my pain
With the rain in Shambala
Wash away my sorrow, wash away my shame
With the rain in Shambala

Ah, ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Everyone is helpful, everyone is kind
On the road to Shambala
Everyone is lucky, everyone is so kind
On the road to Shambala

• Slaps

It seems none of our characters (save maybe Jack) wants to truly grapple with destiny head on. They all need an outside force (Hurley for Charlie; Hurley’s Mom and Dad for Hurley) to jump start (pun intended) their lives.

I think this is a clear sign – among many this week – that the Losties can control their destinies, but it isn’t easy. People need to want to change and they need to be lead, sometimes kicking and screaming.

Take Jin being taught English by Sawyer instead of his wife or Sawyer learning the hard way that forgiveness wouldn’t have weakened him, but strengthened him (He would’ve had a story and a person to share it with).

• Sharing

This episode, more than any other I can remember featured a ton of revealing moments by the Losties. Nothing earth-shattering, but their guards are now down much more than they ever were.

If anything is going to drive them to whatever the conclusion of this show/story is, it’s the embracing of the “live together, die alone” ethos.

• Randy Burgess

I just think the name is funny. Plus, how does he go from Chicken Shack shrapnel survivor to Locke abuser?

Other bits:

I liked that Hurley got an Apollo Bar from his Dad and that he kept the car.

I loved the tender moment between James and Kate that almost became love (and not just sex).

I cringed at the thought of Rousseau being more helpful, but I think her (non-French woman) story will get a whole lot more interesting now.

In the end, I think the show is turning from an “Oh woe is me” kind of a tale to one about true redemption. Sure, life is 10% about what happens to you, but 90% about how you deal with it.

Hope.

Make your own luck.

It’s late. Go to bed.