Wow. WOW!!! What an episode!!! It was great to see the Mira Furlan character of Danielle Rousseau return... and I loved the bear-hug!

"She says 'hey'." That was hilarious, as was Jack's reaction.

I gotta say, I love this show. More and more questions keep coming up! Let's just hope there are satisfactory answers, but I actually have a feeling that there are. TPTB in charge of Lost seem to know where they are going with it.

In the part where Lenny goes totally bonkers, I half-expected him to start chanting, "Ia-R'lyeh! Cthulhu fhtagn! Ia! Ia!"

Who knows? R'lyeh is suppose to be somewhere in the south Pacific. Maybe that's where they are.

I wonder how many people will play those numbers in the Powerball this weekend...

Too bad there wasn't a "47" among them! Although the "Power" ball was 42, which may be a slight allusion to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

The thing which I almost forgot about -- Obviously Hurley/Hugo spent some time in the psych ward before the curse, as that's where he learned the numbers. And he did speak of some rough times before winning. Another flashback story, perhaps?

So as of this episode, we have the following probable causes for the plane crash:
1) Claire's baby
2) cursed numbers
3) the kid that makes polar bears appear
4) hubris

It was interesting to see how Hurley's backstory would unfold, since he's previously been used mainly as comedy relief in previous episodes. Indeed, some of the unfortunate events which he experiences had a slightly comical feel (judging from the music played during the scenes). Being falsely arrested could have been depicted in a more traumatic way (Hurley mistaken for a gang member, that would seem more credible than the police showing up the second he reaches for his cell phone to report arson).

Hurley's homelife doen't seem all that idyllic. The chicken shack worker's mother doesn't want him watching "G-string mujeres". That sounds pretty innocent. He could be watching worse things. His mama wants him to find a girlfriend. Apparently, Hurley isn't the biggest ladies man. He likes his chicken though. Mama wants him to eat better.

At first, Hurley thinks the money is cursed. When he suggests that to his mama, she smacks him and accuses him of "blasphemy" (because they're Catholic). Later, he assumes it must be the numbers that are cursed, not the money. Speaking of the money, he buys a Hummer. He obviosly isn't too progressive. Environmentalists are very critical of those who buy Hummers. Hurley's political incorrectness extends to refering to Ms Rousseau as that "French chick". He may be an amiable guy, but it is improper to refer to adult women as "chicks". On the beach, when he yells, "Yo, French chick", did he expect Ms Roussseau to respond by saying, "Yes dear, are you referring to me?"

We learn that Roussseau's team was drawn to the island by the numbers heard on a radio call. Like Hurley, she assumes the numbers brought bad luck. Hurley hugs her and thanks her for thinking he's not crazy (apparently, Hurley spent time in a mental hospital and he's a bit sensitive about being called "nuts"). He's quite forgiving. A few minutes earlier, Rousseau had been firing a gun at him. Presumably, she didn't intend to hit him as such a slow-moving large target wouldn't be that hard to hit.

Hurley suggests the possibility that the monster in the jungle might be a "pissed off giraffe". Please, don't let the monster turn out to be a giraffe. That would be too implausible! He does state a sensible view that it is "wierd" that no one is looking for the plane or its survivors.

Locke eases up on his mystical explanations in this ep. He does tell Claire that he's "good at putting bits and pieces together" (while making a crib). Are we to infer that he's been putting bits of information on the island together to form a broader view of what's going on?

Michael's second raft is even less impressive than the first. Walt should still 'fess up to burning the first one though.

I need to ask a question. Dan Gunther's tape of In Translation hasn't showed up yet in the mail, and I'm wondering if I should wait to see it before watching my tape of Numbers. Would watching this episode spoil the secrets revealed in the previous one? Are the only references to those revelations in the opening recap, which I can easily avoid? If anyone can let me know, I'd appreciate it. Thanks. :-)

Erm... I'd wait, personally. There are a couple of things with Jin and Sun's character that come up in this episode that are a direct continuation from "...In Translation." And, it should be arriving soon!

I think Hurley has been the most likeable "resident fat guy" I've ever seen on a show, without resorting to just being "comic relief". Sure, he had some funny lines, but has actually had a hand in getting things together.

Maybe we'll see why he changed his name from "Hugo" -- I was wrong in my first assumption. He was still going by "Hugo" at the time of winning the lottery, and he didn't do much between then and going to Australia. (edit -- they didn't show much. There may be a lot more backstory.)

Remember, an important point is that Lenny (the guy in the psycho ward that Hurley got the numbers from) got them from a guy who heard it on a ham radio broadcasted from somewhere in the South Pacific. This could be some sort of circular event...

Grrr. I should have said "somekinda" circular event.

Thanks for the advice, Dan. It's gonna be hard waiting until Monday, but if it comes then, at least I'll have two eps back-to-back to watch, with a third one only two days later!

Yeah, sorry about that, I guess it takes a little longer going across the border...

BTW, I do have some "minor" connection to Hurley, as I really was on Wheel of Fortune... although it was more than 25 years ago...

Speaking of the money, he buys a Hummer. He obviosly isn't too progressive. Environmentalists are very critical of those who buy Hummers.

Sheesh, do you have to drag your left wing politics into every post you make?

Hurley's political incorrectness extends to refering to Ms Rousseau as that "French chick". He may be an amiable guy, but it is improper to refer to adult women as "chicks".

Only to the hypersensitive.

if it comes then, at least I'll have two eps back-to-back to watch, with a third one only two days later!

Well, the third one will be a rerun, as the show isn't going to be new again for, I think, six weeks. Sorry. I'm bummed about it myself.

BTW, I do have some "minor" connection to Hurley, as I really was on Wheel of Fortune... although it was more than 25 years ago...

Cool! Did you win anything? And if so was that back when they did that shopping thing at the end, where the contestants bought their prizes with their winnings? The show just isn't quite the same without people buying ceramic dogs at the end of a round.

Remember, an important point is that Lenny (the guy in the psycho ward that Hurley got the numbers from) got them from a guy who heard it on a ham radio broadcasted from somewhere in the South Pacific. This could be some sort of circular event...

I think that much is a given. Lenny and the other guy picked up the transmission that the radio tower on the island had been sending before crazy French chick changed it.

Anonymous: Well, the third one will be a rerun, as the show isn't going to be new again for, I think, six weeks. Sorry. I'm bummed about it myself.

Dan Gunther: Well, I'm glad you said it. I... I was dreading telling him. I hate being the bearer of bad news.

Luigi, yes I would wait to watch last week's before watching this week's. READ NO FURTHER!!!




Sheesh, do you have to drag your left wing politics into every post you make? - Anonymous

She was making an observation about the character, not making a judgement on his beliefs. Had she said something akin to "Hurley is a jerk for buying a Hummer because they're not environmentally friendly" then I can see your point.


Hurley's political incorrectness extends to refering to Ms Rousseau as that "French chick". He may be an amiable guy, but it is improper to refer to adult women as "chicks". - Rona

Only to the hypersensitive. - Anonymous

You must not be living in the 21st century. It is certainly improper by our standards today.

And perhaps that's part of the reason he has trouble finding a girl.

Ironically, this observation comes from the person who a few weeks back concluded that Hurley clearly was getting bigger based on nothing more than what she visually perceived and recalled from previous episodes... also rather improper, I would say.

Rona: Hurley suggests the possibility that the monster in the jungle might be a "pissed off giraffe". Please, don't let the monster turn out to be a giraffe. That would be too implausible!
Oh, I don't know. I think that one may be my favorite "theory" about that thing.

Oh yeah, I forgot that you live in Canada, Dan. And no apology is necessary, as I'm lucky someone was willing to help me out.

(Videotapes in Canada work in the U.S., right?)

Cool! Did you win anything? And if so was that back when they did that shopping thing at the end, where the contestants bought their prizes with their winnings? The show just isn't quite the same without people buying ceramic dogs at the end of a round.

Um, in the neighborhood of $15K. Yes, that was back when it was a daytime show with Chuck Woolery and you had to shop for prizes, so I got very little cash out of the deal. Funny you mention the ceramic dog because I did buy one, a dachschund. Too bad it was broken when it was delivered -- not worth the hassle (or embarassment) of getting it replaced. I still have one of the paws, though.

Luigi Novi: Oh yeah, I forgot that you live in Canada, Dan. And no apology is necessary, as I'm lucky someone was willing to help me out.

(Videotapes in Canada work in the U.S., right?)

Dan Gunther: Well, it's actually a burnt DVD, as I said on the In Translation board, and I think that they are non-region specific. Even if they weren't, Canada and the US are both Region 1 anyway.

As for videotapes, you guys use Beta still, right? (KIDDING!!!)

(Still kind of on thread, I think...) The tape that I have my WOF shows on is 1-inch videotape. I was lucky in that my uncle was a schoolteacher and had access to the industrial-size videotape recorder. This was before everybody (or anybody!) had vcr's in their homes. I eventually transferred it to VHS, and am now transferring the VHS to DVD. Wow, the way things evolve over the years...

Wow, two good eps in a row. Now I know what it feels like for Charlie to pop one of those pills.

Interesting ep, btw. I think this is the first time that the creators deliberately made a backstory humorous, particularly when that guy fell out of the building when Hurley was talking to his accountant. Also, why did the curse affect everyone around Danielle but her? The episode seemed to establish that the curse befell anyone around the individual who contracted it, but gave that individual good luck. Was Rousseau the one who received that transmission on the ship?

Speaking of which, if the curse gives its recipient good luck, then why did Rousseau and Hurley end up stranded on an island?

So will Hurley’s curse continue? Or did his exchange with Rousseau somehow “reset” it?

Charlie tells Hurley by the fire near the end of the episode that before the plane lost control, he was snorting heroin in the bathroom. Well no, he was popping pills, not snorting. Also, does heroin come in the form of pills? I thought it could only be either snorted or injected.

Gordon Lawyer: Who knows? R'lyeh is suppose to be somewhere in the south Pacific. Maybe that's where they are.
Luigi Novi: Or perhaps they’re on Ponape?

Influx: Obviously Hurley/Hugo spent some time in the psych ward before the curse, as that's where he learned the numbers. And he did speak of some rough times before winning. Another flashback story, perhaps?
Luigi Novi: Ah, but was he a patient of the ward, or an employee?

Rona: He obviosly isn't too progressive. Environmentalists are very critical of those who buy Hummers.
Luigi Novi: In other words, he’s about as progressive as all of the millions of other people who own them. Why is this a revelation?

Rona: Hurley's political incorrectness extends to refering to Ms Rousseau as that "French chick". He may be an amiable guy, but it is improper to refer to adult women as "chicks".
Luigi Novi: No more than it is to refer to men as “dude” (which Hurley does often), or “guy,” or “buddy,” or “hey, man.” I think I can agree that he shouldn’t address her as such, but referring to her as such outside of her presence would be no different than using any of the other shorthand words for men or women.

Influx: Maybe we'll see why he changed his name from "Hugo" -- I was wrong in my first assumption.
Luigi Novi: I never understood that he changed it; only that “Hurley” is a nickname. I mean, if someone found out that their friend was posting on the net under the name of “Influx,” would it follow that they’d say, “Whoa, dude, when did you change your name?”

Influx: BTW, I do have some "minor" connection to Hurley, as I really was on Wheel of Fortune... although it was more than 25 years ago...
Luigi Novi: When was WoF mentioned in the ep?

Whoa. I just realized something. Hurley is told by his accountant that he owns a box company. Is this the same company that owns the box factory that Locke works for, as revealed in Walkabout?

I just meant that I won a lot of money (prizes, actually) and that there were some "cursed" times related to that, along with the good.

Is this the same company that owns the box factory that Locke works for, as revealed in Walkabout?

Good catch, Luigi. I wonder if we're going to find out that everybody on the island actually met Kevin Bacon at some point, too.

Or Forrest Gump.

Charlie tells Hurley by the fire near the end of the episode that before the plane lost control, he was snorting heroin in the bathroom. Well no, he was popping pills, not snorting. Also, does heroin come in the form of pills? I thought it could only be either snorted or injected. - Luigi Novi

I'd rewatch the scene if you have it (I don't)... I could swear it was heroin (or some kind of powder) he was using... and snorting at that. not pills.

The question is whether he actually was snorting heroin in the lavatory. My recollection was that he was disposing of the heroin (and he later retrieved the bag when he, Jack, and Kate found the cockpit of the plane). Though maybe he snorted and then decided to dispose of it... or maybe my recollection was completely wrong.

No more than it is to refer to men as “dude” (which Hurley does often), or “guy,” or “buddy,” or “hey, man.” I think I can agree that he shouldn’t address her as such, but referring to her as such outside of her presence would be no different than using any of the other shorthand words for men or women.

Thank you! I knew I couldn't be the only one to think that!

Luigi Novi: The episode seemed to establish that the curse befell anyone around the individual who contracted it, but gave that individual good luck.
Are you sure about that? Hurley was mistaken for a drug dealer. Though it did lead to more money for him.

Darth Sarcasm: The question is whether he actually was snorting heroin in the lavatory. My recollection was that he was disposing of the heroin (and he later retrieved the bag when he, Jack, and Kate found the cockpit of the plane)
Yeah, I thought that he was trying to flush it.

Luigi Novi: Luigi Novi: Ah, but was he a patient of the ward, or an employee?
I wondered that too. Though many I've read have speculated that he was a patient, due to his comment on putting his family through a lot and his reaction to Charlie and others calling him crazy and nuts.

Luigi Novi: Whoa. I just realized something. Hurley is told by his accountant that he owns a box company. Is this the same company that owns the box factory that Locke works for, as revealed in Walkabout?
That's what I assumed. All part of the creators' "The survivors are connected" thing.

On thinking about the "curse" and Hurley's good fortune... I'm wanting to rewatch his backgammon game with Walt, where Walt kept getting the lucky rolls.

Does someone who still has the episode want to print the numbers here? Obviously they will be significant.

(But I'm not gonna do it!)

4 8 15 16 23 42

Notice the second and third numbers are 8 and 15, the same as Flight 815, Safety Deposit Box 815, et al. You may want to add it to your 815 watch, Luigi.

Nice knowin' ya, Dan! ;)

Oooh, and the 8 and 15 are surrounded by 4 and 16 -- a 47?? And we all know that "42" is the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything...

That leaves the significance of 23.

As far as I know, the 42 was intentional, as one of the writers is a Hitchhiker's Guide fan, and I'd imagine the 8 and the 15 were intentional too, too big of a coincidence...

The difference between 4 and 8 is 4.
The difference between 8 and 15 is 7.
47!

Some more possible significance is that Numbers is the 4th book in the Bible. From Numbers, 8:15-16:

15 And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them [for] an offering. 16 For they [are] wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, [even instead of] the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.

A reference to Claire's kid?

Maybe... or Walt?

Well, if the correlation holds up, Claire's little demonspawn would be a "firstborn" of the island. Walt was born in New York.

I don't know, Luigi. Those verses are about the change in the inheritance of the priesthood away from the firstborn of every family to the tribe of Levi, and descendants of Aaron.

So it might be that someone (perhaps Jack Shepard = shepherd = pastor = priest) who is exchanged for and redeems Claire's baby.

Or more likely, the whole book of Numbers speculation is a red herring. After all, it does not account for the 23 or 42.

So I'm reading A Wrinkle in Time in the hopes of getting some kind of clue a to what's going on. After reading two chapters, two things come immediately to mind: 1. The book is about a father who I believe becomes lost in time. 2. There's mention of a tesseract.

Could those be clues as to what's happening on the island?

Hah, I just finished re-reading that last year. One of the first "sci-fi" books I ever read. (Hope you didn't spend time watching the bland TV-movie version of it. I had really been looking forward to it.) I don't think I would ever have made a connection between that book and the show. But if Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Whatsit show up on the island, I'm leaving...

By the way, only after many years did I find out that there were three more books in the series. The paperback set has lovely cover paintings by Jodi Lee. However, while the following books have the same characters, there is no sense of continuity at all as they never (or rarely) refer to the amazing events that happen in the previous books. The last one, Many Waters, has probably the most disappointing denouement I've read in quite a while.

A Wrinkle in Time is the only book I know of that actually begins "It was a dark and stormy night."

This episode has literally just finished airing and so I felt I had to come on and say that this episode contained the worst Australian accent I have ever heard since the Simpsons visited Australia many moons ago.
Seriously, there are many ex-pat Aussies living in the US (not to mention the myriad of high quality actors that live and work down here as well). Do you REALLY need to hire an American to put on a phony accent????
Absolutely no-one in Australia speaks with that accent, except Americans trying to pass themselves as Aussies.

They get beaten up.

Otherwise, another brilliant episode and the best back story of the bunch so far.

Rodney, which character's accent was fake?

J- the lady that Hurley visits in Australia, the one in the outback.

Oh okay. I'll have to pay attention when they rerun this ep.

I thought that maybe you meant Claire, and then I would point out that the actress actually is Australian (this actually happened at some other board I lurked at once), but I really barely remember that other woman.

Are you sure she was intended to be Australian? Maybe she moved there from somewhere else. Australia does have immigration, right?

Influx: re your WoF tapes.

My Jeopardy & BenStein tapes are VHS. I have a DVD burner and a video capture card, but I'm not sure if my PC is powerful enough to capture from VHS. I guess I'll be trying that this weekend...

Good episode. Was expecting that Hurley's way of breaking the curse was to get rid of all the money he'd won, and the last thing he did was buy the airplane ticket. However, as he says he is (not was) worth some millions of dollars, I guess not. Still, he doesn't seem very cursed since the crash.

What's the significance of 47 that everybody's talking about here?

What's the significance of 47 that everybody's talking about here?

It was a standing in-joke in the Star Trek series (notably TNG and Voyager) that they managed to fit a "47" quite often into the script or the visuals.

Some details here
The 47 Thing

or search for Menosky around this board and find out how it started.

That Hurley still has considerable money was established in a prior episode or two, including one in which Walt told someone (I think his dad) that Hurley owed him a large amount of money that he lost to him playing backgammon. I also think he indicated to Charlie in Numbers that he was still rich, but I'd have to check my tape to be sure.

Prior to this episode, I doubt anybody took Hurely's owing $80,000 to Walt seriously. It was just a bit of comic relief and I don't think it really consitutes establishing that Hurely was rich. Though once you find out that he is rich in this episode (or the prevous one if you read the Korean subtitles on the tv the girl was watching), you realize it may be more than just a joke.

I'm only saying that since the crash, Hurely doesn't seem very cursed. He's clearly still rich.