Episode 10 - Tricia Tanaka is Dead

What follows is my recap from TVGasm.com verbatim.
Unfortunately I was unable to add the pictures from the site.

The Needs of the Mommy Outweigh the Needs of the Son.

First and foremost, before we delve into the nuts and bolts of this week's episode, let's take a moment.
A moment to bask in the glory of a return to the Lost we all know and love, led by the most lovable of the castaways.
Hear that? That's laughter. Out loud, sincere, laughter.
Nobody is forgetting that they're trapped on an island full of danger and mystery. We laugh despite those looming dangers and perhaps because of it.
With just the right mix of humour and pathos, Hurley once again comes through and restores our faith in the show.
Sure, no great mysteries were solved, no Doctors were rescued, and no one (well, almost no one) had any sex, but this episode had more heart than the first nine episodes of the season combined.
On top of heart, there was Vincent, beer, Cheech, a solid gold Jesus, a headless Workman and Mr. Cluck's was leveled by a meteor. What more could you ask for in a tv show?
Ahhh, that's some good basking.

A very young Hugo Reyes hauls his Dad's tools out to the driveway where a Camaro waits for some attention. After popping the hood, his Dad appears and with some gentle coaxing, gets Hugo behind the wheel. Hugo doesn't think that they can get the car started without the new carburetor, but his Dad thinks that if he has enough hope, it will start. He's trying to teach the boy that having hope is never stupid and everyone makes their own luck in life. That doesn't get the car started, but it sure sounds Fatherly.
Speaking of luck, Dad's off to Vegas, where he's got some work.
With a "Glacier" bar, some fatherly advice to "live a little" and a promise that they're only postponing their Grand Canyon road trip, he's on his bike and gone.

Cut to Hurley pouring his heart out at Libby's grave. He's telling her about recent events and admitting that he is as frightened as the rest of the survivors. And that he misses her. For a minute, it seemed like he might have been talking to his old buddy Dave, but no such luck.

You remember Dave, don't you? Dave was that possibly imaginary guy in the hospital who used to try to get Hurley to eat things that would make him fat. Cheech Marin's character is credited as "David Reyes" and Hurley obviously has chocolate abandonment issues. Coincidence? In this show? I'd say that the odds are about as good as being hit by a meteor...

After his chat with Libby, Hurley seeks out more lively conversation. He and Charlie have a chat about Charlie's impending doom and the big man confides that he thinks he's cursed.
"Death finds me, dude."
Just then, Vincent bounds out of the jungle.

Those Lost writers. So subtle.

Vincent's got something in his mouth. It's an arm. Carrying a rabbit's foot. The rabbit's foot is a keychain, with a key.

Hurley figures that they should get it from the dog. Charlie is less than convinced.

"Yeah. Chase the dog with the skeletal arm into the creepy jungle. You be my guest."

Hurley chases the dog through the creepy jungle, all the way to an overturned Micro Bus. "Awesome."

In front of Mr. Cluck's, Hurley is being interviewed about his lottery win and buying the chicken shack. When he starts detailing some of the bad things that have happened to him since he won the money, Tricia Tanaka calls for a cut. She wants a puff piece, not a heavy interview. She asks Hurley's permission to go into the restaurant to shoot some b shots and Randy, Hurley's former boss, tells her to go ahead. He knows that Hurley is superstitious about the public going in before the ribbon cutting, but everything is off and they don't start cooking until tomorrow, so what could happen?

Well...

Sounding remarkably like flight 815 as it fell out of the sky over the Pacific, a meteor streaks down from the heavens and slams into the chicken shack.

That's ONE.

As they panned over the wreckage of the store, I was struck by how airplane-like the burning restaurant looked. Coincidence? In this show?

Hurley runs back to the camp and tries to recruit some help in his new automotive venture. No one is really interested in starting a car. Paulo asks one of two very important questions. Why would they want to start a car? He gets points for this in my book. He also gets points for pulling Darling Nikki back to the kitchen by her daisy dukes.

No one asks where the HELL a car would come from or why it would be out in the jungle on a tropical island with no roads. Obviously, the group has stopped questioning the odd things that crop up around them almost daily. Couple that with an apparent lack of enthusiasm for rescue and I'm really starting to wonder what's in the Dharma Oat Bars besides fiber-ee goodness.

Kate and Sawyer are making their way back to camp when Sawyer steps on what looks like a pub dart. Now, if only they could find some beer...

Kate suggests that Sawyer need only say he's sorry and the two of them can start fresh, with a clean slate.

"A clean slate? Like on 'Little House'?"

Kate seems confused by his reference to "Little House". As he explains that he meant "Little House on the Prairie" she mocks him, saying "You call it 'Little House'?" Now, I never watched the show, but even I knew what he was referring to. Coming as it did on the heels of last week's "Brady Bunch" reference that went over Karl's head, we are left wondering just a wee bit more about Kate...

When he refuses to apologize for whatever it is that she's seeking an apology for, she stops calling him "James" and welcome's Sawyer home. I can't help thinking that James missed a crucial opportunity in that moment. For all his con-man skills, he sure has a hard time with Kate.

There is a joyous reunion on the beach when the two finally arrive at the camp. It's happy smiles all around as they are welcomed back to the beach of doom. Heck, Sawyer gets an almost hug from Locke for cryin' out loud!

Hurley comes home to his upscale estate and tells his Mom all about how Tricia Tanaka and her camera dude and Mr. Clucks all got hit by a meteor. When he tells her that it's because of the money and the curse, she slaps him. Hard.

"Ow!"

That's TWO.

To prove that he's not cursed, his Mom takes him by the hand to show him something. It's his Dad. Returned after 17 years.

"Your Mom wasn't kidding about those candy bars."

That's THREE.

Hurley and Jin are examining the wrecked Micro Bus and it's occupant, Roger. When they open the back they find it full of beer.

"Dude. Roger was on a beer run."

Jin tries to explain to Hurley what he intends to do, using primitive sign language.

"Ah man, I suck at charades. You wanna what?"

That's FOUR.

When the two men try to hoist Roger's desiccated corpse from the van, his head gets caught in the door frame and snaps off. Holding the headless body, Hurley tells Jin, "We'll get that later."

That's FIVE.

As Charlie and Desmond discuss the finer points of precognition, Sawyer storms up in search of his missing stash. When he lists off the items that are missing, the bottle of scotch comes up and Desmond gallantly offers his apologies. He explains that there were three of them that night.

"You, the munchkin and who else?" Hobbit. Not Munchkin, Hobbit. HAW-BIT. Say it with me now.

The third scotch thief was, of course, brotha Hurley, who is getting the Micro Bus back on it's feet with Jin's help. In return, he's teaching Jin about English. Pretty much the blind leading the blind in this case.

When Sawyer comes looking for some retribution, instead of his scotch he gets a big, sweaty man hug from Mr. Reyes. Jin puts in a "Good see you" hug for good measure.

"Somebody's hooked on phonics." Sawyer's form seems no worse for bear...

When Sawyer learns that Hurley not only doesn't plan to give his stuff back but also intends to draft Sawyer into helping him fix the car, he asks why he would do that.

"Cuz, there's beer."

That's SIX.

Hurley has a new, positive outlook on life, thanks to what he sees as signs of good things to come: Sawyer's and Kate's return, the car, all point to things starting to get better for them. He figures it'll all be ok.

Saayid and Locke aren't so sure. They're questioning Kate about her escape, wondering why Jack told her not to come back. She explains about his sacrifice, the other island, the zoo, the boats and Karl. Then she heads off to find some help to get Jack back.

The Reyes family is sitting down to a dinner of burgers, fries and lasagna (finally, something other than taco night for my Wednesday night pre-Lost meal!) and Hugo's Mom is telling the Prodigal Father about the solid gold Jesus and the butlers that the lottery money has allowed Hugo to procure for her. Despite the tasty lasagna and burger combo, Hugo seems pensive. When the Prodigal Pop asks what's wrong, Hugo says what we've all been thinking. It's just a tad suspicious that Dear Old Dad happens to return to his family shortly after a huge lottery win. Dad claims that he's back because Hugo's Mom called to tell him that his son was in trouble. She didn't know how else to handle her son's obsession with the lottery numbers and curses. Hugo figures that the only reason his Dad came back was for the money, but Hugo plans to divest himself of the funds. He fires the butlers Tran with a hefty severance in cash and tells his parents that he plans to get rid of the money, the houses and the livestock (The livestock???) and he's starting with his Father.

Mrs. Reyes doesn't want Mr. Reyes to leave. She has needs. Sure, cover up Jesus's ears, but not Hurley's. No wonder the big man was in therapy.

She suggests that Hurley show his Father what he has in the garage. It's the Camaro. Still on blocks, still in need of a new carburetor.

Back in the jungle, Hurley, Jin and Sawyer manage to flip the Mystery Machine back onto it's wheels. Sawyer immediately sets to scavenging, while Hurley and Jin check out the engine. Sawyer finds a map, some beer and a head.

"Oh, that's just Roger."

That's SEVEN.

Despite Jin's protest, Hurley tries to start the bus. He has hope. He believes that it will work. He has a dead battery and no amount of hope is about to start the engine without a battery.

It's flat, and it stinks. The beer, not the battery. But Skeletor seems to like it.

That's EIGHT.

Jin doesn't think he can fix it, but Hurley thinks that it's worth a try. Sawyer wonders why it's so important to the big man. Hugo figures that getting the car running is a way to bring a little hope to the group.

"If it's hope you're looking for, Ese, you're on the wrong damn island. Cuz' there sure as Hell ain't no hope here."

Hugo's Dad wakes him up to take him on an adventure. They're going to break the curse.

A tarot card reading psychic sees Hurley winning the money and how the money has brought great misfortune. She sees numbers. The numbers.
There is darkness around these numbers. Great tragedy. She's sorry, but the next card is death. Death surrounds him and more is coming. She sees a curse on Hugo, but it can be removed. She starts gathering her mystic ingredients to remove the curse. She needs Hurley to take off his clothes.

Something about that makes Hurley just a mite suspicious.

"I'll give you a thousand dollars right now, if you admit that my Dad told you to say this stuff.."

"The mystic arts are not subject to bribes. How dare you..."

"Ten thousand."

"Your Dad put me up to it."

That's NINE.

*Side note. You gotta wonder what the next step in the "exorcism" was going to be...*

Back in the jungle, Hurley is praying for help while Sawyer give Jin some English lessons. "International House of Pancakes." Sawyer, back in the saddle.

When he tosses Hurley some help in the form of a beer and it sails past the big man and on down the hill, Hurley realizes that his prayers have been answered.

He goes to the beach to share the good news with Robin...er, Charlie.

Hurley wants to snap his buddy out of the moping he's been doing. When Charlie protests, Hurley uses his Mom's technique and slaps the Hobbit. Hard.

"OW!"

That's TEN.

"It is dangerous. And there's a very good chance that you will die."

"That's supposed to convince me to come with you?"

That's ELEVEN.

Hurley wants to use starting this car to turn his and the group's luck around. He needs a victory after all the crappy stuff that's happened to him lately.

Sawyer and Jin are going over Jin's English lessons.

"I'm sorry."
"You were right."
"Those pants don't make you look fat."

The only three things a woman needs to hear. How is it that Sawyer has so much trouble sweet talking Kate?

Hurley wants Sawyer and Jin to stop drinking and help him.

"What's your problem Jumbo-Tron."

"Shut up...Red...Neck...Man..."

"Touche."

That's TWELVE.

With some gentle persuasion, Hurley gets the boys to push the Micro Bus to the edge of a hill. Sawyer sums it up for them all. "Oh, this is gonna be real good."

Hurley is packing for Australia and his Dad is still trying to change his mind. He tries to convince his son to stay, suggesting that the big guy just give away the money and just keep enough to buy that new carburetor for the Camaro. It doesn't work, and the sincerity of the offer is questionable at best.

"Are you nuts?"

Sawyer is understandably skeptical of the big man's chances of surviving the plunge over the hill in the Mystery Machine. Hurley figures he'll pop the clutch at speed and start the bus with no trouble. Charlie came to ride shotgun. He wants to face possible death and see if his number really is up. Victory or Death.

"There is no curse. We make our own luck. There is no curse."

When he pops the clutch, the bus roars to life, eight track blaring "Shambala" by Three Dog Night.

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

[Chorus:]
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

How does your light shine, in the halls of Shambala

I can tell my sister by the flowers in her eyes
On the road to Shambala
I can tell my brother by the flowers in her eyes
On the road to Shambala

How does your light shine, in the halls of Shambala

"Shambala" is also the name of a mystical Buddhist Kingdom said to lie somewhere beyond the Himalayas as well as being a Sanskrit term meaning "peace" or "tranquility".

Those Lost writers. So subtle.

At the bottom of the hill, Scooby and the gang pile into the Mystery Machine and go for a joyride.

Jin returns to camp bearing a flower for Sun. I bet that during that slow motion hug he told her that those pants don't make her look fat.

Charlie returns to Claire and regales her with the story of his adventure. Sawyer scans the camp for Kate, but she's nowhere to be found.

Hurley takes the Micro Bus for another spin, basking in the glow of his victory.

Ahh, that's some good basking.

Out in the jungle, Locke and Saayid catch up with Kate and ask her why she didn't seek their help to rescue Jack. She explains her reasons, and while Locke doesn't disagree that he isn't motivated to find Jack, he does think he knows where to look. He has a compass bearing and thinks that following it will lead them to Jack. Saayid seems less than convinced, as he knows that the source of the bearing is the way that the sunlight hit Mr. Eko's stick when Locke was burying him, but he doesn't seem opposed to trying.

"Now that we've told you our secret, why don't you tell us yours."

When shots ring out all around them, Kate gets a reprieve from answering Locke's question. She calls for the shooter to show themselves, that she just came to talk. The shooter is Rousseau. Kate asks for her help but Rousseau has no reason to help them.

Until Kate reveals the existence of a sixteen year old girl, named Alex, who bears a strong resemblance to Danielle....

Oh, baby!

And for those wondering what I was counting? The times I laughed out loud when I watched this episode the second time through. That's a dozen laughs in forty-two minutes of television. Humour, Pathos, Drama. When they get it right, nothing is better than Lost.