Lost (TV Series) 316 (2009) User Reviews

"We're not going to Guam, are we?"

[gridoon2024 · 9/10 · 19 February 2009]

So you thought with the Oceanic 6 finally on their way back to the island the answers would start flooding through, right? Think again! "316" contains far more questions than answers, but hey, that's why we love this series! What happened to Kate and Aaron to make her so heartbroken? Who beat up Ben? Who is that (beautiful, I might add) female officer escorting Sayid to the plane and why? How were the non-believers "convinced" to board flight 316? What's going to happen with Desmond now? These and many more questions are raised, which is good news, because it increases the interest (and the expectations) for the upcoming episodes. Different from the previous episodes of the Season (there is very little time-shifting and island action in general) and calmer in pace, this also features superb acting from everyone, particularly from Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly, a surprising appearance by an old friend (see the summary line above), and probably the most jaw-dropping cliffhanger since "The Economist".

IMO, easily the best episode of the season so far. ***1/2 out of 4.

Big Revealing Episode. Yawwn.

[ZTrainExpress · 7/10 · 13 May 2010]

This episode really should really have been a 10. Crazy revelations, mystery and intrigue, twists, turns and another plane crash! That was unfortunately also the problem with it. I felt like they were practically begging for attention by serving up doses of cheap thrills. The 6 return to the island. OK great, but I still don't feel they've made a good enough case for each of them wanting to go back to that God-forsaken place. The fact that the rest of them are suffering on the island might be a reason NOT to go to the island. All being on the same plane? Laughably implausible (which is saying a lot for this show) Instead of intrigue, I find myself dreading the convoluted explanations that are to come explaining how each was convinced to go back. Finally, when Kate said "don't ask me about" why Aaron isn't with her, I felt it was the writers who couldn't figure that one out. This is another mystery that I know will take a full episode of flashbacks to reveal. Great mystery or a desperate grasp at new plot lines?

All that being said, after watching and loving 80+ episodes of LOST, this less than stellar one amounts to little more than petty theft.

Another phenomenal, emotional, and above all satisfying episode

[ametaphysicalshark · 18 February 2009]

"316" is a good deal less frenzied than last week's "This Place is Death", and probably less 'exciting'. Still, the two are on the same level overall, though for different reasons. The emotional content and strength of writing for the characters is at the same (very high) level as last week, but with a clear focus no episode since last season has really had, and an emotional depth which is given more time to sink in than any of the individual scenes in the last episode. I didn't realize how much I missed a clear focus on one character until tonight, although I still prefer "This Place is Death" slightly.

"316" is notable for including only two, very short on-island scenes. This is easily the shortest amount of time spent on the island in any episode thus far and surprisingly, almost preposterously given its obvious importance to the show, the episode didn't really need the island to work. The island's presence is felt constantly through the episode, thematically and when literally referenced, so it never really feels like we're gone for too long. It helps that both scenes (and the latter is really the opening scene replayed with an added thirty seconds or so) are excellent, and it was really surprising to see the iconic first minute or so of "Pilot" play out again. Many were guessing we'd see that at the end of the series, but right now this show is unpredictable in the best way: you may guess the big reveals or guess the story, but you'll never guess how they will tell the story. Unless it's an Elizabeth Sarnoff episode, anyway. You could read all the spoilers available and still be surprised by an episode of "Lost". How great is that?

I think this is possibly Jack's best episode as a character. Not necessarily the best Jack-centric episode (although it is a contender), but the one I felt did most with his character. It was oddly touching to see him go through the little stuff, the awkward morning after with Kate, his visiting his grandfather, etc. It's probably Matthew Fox's best performance, just in how quiet and reserved and subtle it is. The scene with Locke's body in the butcher shop, and the scene where he finally reads Locke's suicide note were genuinely heartbreaking, but not in an over-dramatic way. Stunning, subtle, wonderful writing and acting.

The episode raises some mysteries which will be answered relatively soon (why was Ben so bloody? What happened to Aaron? Desmond? Penny? Sayid?! Who's the middle-eastern-looking guy? etc.), but none of them are annoyingly big ones to add to the many significant mysteries which haven't been answered yet. The whole episode had a creepy, foreboding air, and the near-complete sadness of Jack's existence over the hours in which the episode took place only added to it. Some really nice photography and direction here too. I was personally satisfied with how they got back (especially with the 'proxies', Sayid in Kate's cuffs, etc.) and the conclusion of the episode, though obviously we are still left with some big questions at the end. "316" and "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham", next week's episode, were written concurrently by the same writers ("Lost" auteurs Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse), and I have a feeling I'll appreciate this episode even more when its companion piece, which promises to be even greater, airs next week.

Lost, So far (Contains spoilers from this episode)

[bunnysareevil · 10/10 · 18 February 2009]

So far, the Lost writers have put a cement block on the gas pedal of a car and jumped out.

And that's a good thing.

In this episode we see that Jack and the rest of the Oceanic Six successfully return back to the island, but in a different time. By now, we are hinted at what the survivors who stayed have been doing for the past 3 years. They joined the Dharma Initiative. How do I know this? In the beginning of the First episode of the 5th season we see Daniel Faraday working with other Dharma workers underground, and we see Jin in a Dharma Initiative Uniform at the end of this episode.

I don't want to go into much detail about the rest of this episode because everything was just Perfect.

9/10

Searching for soul

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 10 July 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 4 was a solid season, with high points such as "The Beginning of the End", the three part finale and particularly "The Constant" and the only disappointments (though they were still decent) being "The Other Woman" and "Eggtown". "Because You Left" couldn't be a better way to start Season 5, definitely among the stronger 'Lost' season openers and one of the most confident and most settled. The episodes between that and this were also good to great, with the weakest "Jughead" still having a lot of great values.

"316" is one of the season's and show's best episodes. It has pretty much everything that 'Lost' is all about. It's taut and thought-provoking, providing new mysteries and questions if not exactly resolutions or answers here, but what could have been a problem in this regard was not annoying at all because everything else was so exceptional. The on-island events are minimal here but what there is is foreboding, tense, emotional and above all gripping.

On top of all that, it advances characters, shows plot progression rather than repeating itself or being filler. There are surprising moments and also illuminating ones, Jack's development here is some of his most intriguing and tells us more than what we already know and doesn't reiterate. As far as Jack-centric episodes go, "316" is a strong contender for the best.

Also found "316" to be a non-stop thrill ride of insane entertainment value, edge of your seat tension, unsettling spookiness and very emotional moments. The more dialogue-driven parts is a case of it being thought-probing, relevant and adding a lot rather than slowing things down and rambling.

Can't fault the performances, particularly from Michael Emerson and Matthew Fox, the latter giving some of his best acting of the show.

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).

In summation, exceptional. 10/10 Bethany Cox.

Unconvincing and Implausible Situation

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 19 April 2013]

Jack awakes in the island and rescues Hurley and Kate from a lake. Two days ago, Ben, Jack, Sun and Desmond meet Ms. Hawking, who is Daniel's mother, and she shows a device to them to locate the island that moves through time. She also tells that, if they want to return to the island, there would be a window that could bring them back. But they need to be together to reproduce the original situation. Jack decides to come back to the island bringing Locke's coffin. In the plane, the pilot is Frank Lapidus and Kate, Sun, Hurley, Sayid and Ben also embark in flight 316. When Jack asks Ben what will happen to the passengers, he replies who cares.

"Lost – 316" is an unconvincing episode that shows an implausible situation, with the Oceanic Six returning to the island after so many deception in that place. Aaron is conveniently left behind. The worse, the Machiavellian Ben continues to manipulate the group like puppets as if they where dummies and not intelligent and experienced people. The shallow explanation of Ms. Hawking is unconvincing to make them back to such traumatic place. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "316"

Terrible and lazy writing

[louismeynadier1 · 1/10 · 22 August 2019]

When the characters are told about the whole plane thing none of them seem to care what will happen to the passengers, they don't even ask the question. When Jack actually does ask the question, Ben says who cares and Jack moves on. Also Hurley buys 78 seats to save some people but apparently buying all the seats was too expensive for him. I give this episode one star for making the characters terrible people and because it's also really dumb. Can't watch Lost anymore. The characters are practically terrorists.

Another gem

[LolUrSoGai · 19 February 2009]

This episode blew me away, and not because it was so action packed or full of reveals. It blew me away because it brought back the essence of "old" Lost... the character focus the and amazing dialog that defined the first 2 seasons.

I'm glad the writers chose this approach to tell the O6's return story over the "boom boom bang bang" one, which I feared would happen given how fast paced the show has become.

This episode was a gem. Yes, there were some seemingly weird and convenient plot elements in it(suddenly everyone appearing on the plane), but it's all because we saw it from Jack's perspective who has obviously become a man of faith now, much like Locke.

Besides I'm sure we'll get flashbacks later on from Kate/Sayid/Ben/Hurley/Sun that will explain how they all ended up on the plane.

Overall I think "316" is on level with "This Place is Death", but is brilliant for different reasons. Both are among the show's bests.

The second worst episode of the show, after "The One with Jack's Tattoo"

[hristinab-650-685348 · 2/10 · 21 July 2023]

Lazy writing, terrible reactions from most of the people involved (only Hurley acts kinda normal), Sayid with NO lines, no answers to anything, just an endless line of more and more questions.

In its first seasons, Lost was able to generate mystery in an interesting and stimulating way. This episode creates questions because, apparently, it's *mandatory* -- it's like the writers think that the viewers won't be able to understand it's a Lost episode if it has no new questions.

But EVERYTHING about this installment is just SO. BAD. Yeah, sure, we'll probably get our answers later on -- preferably NOT in Mrs. Hawking's infodump way -- but, boy, the *way* the questions were posed really, *really* sucked.

Lost is losing its quality

[kaczkahans · 24 April 2021]

Wow. That was a really cheap way to bring all Oceanic 6 survivors back to the island. Hurley, Kate and Sayid suddenly forget that they haven't wanted to go back? Jack just accepts the fate of the others passengers. I don't believe that. Hurley doesn't buy all tickets so they can just fly alone but buys at least 78? Why? That doesn't make any sense. As if he didn't have enough money (or at least his parents). I mean, it would have been to dragged out if it had taken a whole season just to bring them back but couldn't they do it more convincing? I'm starting to think if the last two seasons just exist to get more cash without caring about the script anymore because there will be enough people watching it since many mysteries haven't been resolved. The problem probably is that the writers have created such a complex story that they don't know how to end it properly. Ben's face implies that he has done something bad. I'm 100% sure that * Possible Spoiler*

he has killed Penny. Desmond will avenge her death.