Lost - The Constant

**** / ****

Although the helicopter endures a brief trip into thunderclouds, causing some interference (and explaining why Frank hadn’t landed it sooner on the freighter), eventually Frank, Sayid, and Desmond land on the freighter. Those on the boat, however, aren’t exactly the most hospitable welcoming committee. Desmond experiences time travel, alternating back to 1996 and “present day” (is it present day if we have seen events happening in the future off island?) 2004 (Christmas Eve to be exact!), learning from Daniel (both 1996 and 2004 versions!) that he must find a “constant” between the two in order not to die by eventual brain “short circuit”. That constant is, of course, Penny. So it is the mission of Desmond to make sure Penny is there when he calls her in 2004 by getting her phone number in 1996 (despite her anger at him for breaking off their romance due to her father). Ironically, it is her father, Charles, responsible for giving Desmond Penny’s address so he would be able to see her, therefore retrieving the number (and making sure she keeps it and is in place on Christmas Eve 2004).

The efforts by Cuse and Lindelof paid off unbelievably. I was in awe of how they take us back and forth without convoluting the storytelling, and Cusick certainly gives us a time traveling hero to get behind. The use of Jeremy Davies’ physicist, Daniel Farraday, is especially noteworthy. The settings directed by 2004 Farraday’s to Desmond for his 1996 professor self at Oxford (equipped with a lab containing an experiment complete with a maze meant for a mouse he successfully sends forward in time, with said mouse finishing the maze once “returned” to 1996) is definitely a real headtrip. The importance of connecting Penny of both times is established with great effectiveness, particularly when Fisher Stevens’ own communications officer on the freighter suffers similarly, dying eventually by brain trauma due to being “unstuck in time”. Because Stevens’ Minkowski never did find his constant and perished as the 1996 Farraday mouse, it was imperative Desmond accomplishes his mission. So not only does the time travel give us thrills, the excitement and suspense of the frightening prospects of mission failure for Desmond hold us in the episode’s grasp.

Daniel and Charlotte no longer avoiding Jack and Juliet’s concerns about Frank’s helicopter not yet reaching the freighter and confronting the issue of Desmond’s time travel dilemma due to his experience with electromagnetism gives us brief returns to the island, but this episode is devoted with great depth and detail to Desmond. Desmond believes for a bit that his awakening in the military is but a dream, but when he returns to the helicopter not recognizing Sayid or Frank, this episode jolts us all. It is a real knockout. Then the trips backward and forward in time, never bogging us down in confusion, which is a real success considering the potential such a plot often brings. The extraordinary results of communication between Desmond and Penny just the cherry on top of a very delicious and satisfying sundae. Cusick’s disorientation, confusion, and determination all arise in his bravura performance as Desmond. I truly believe you could indeed watch this episode on its own, as it doesn’t altogether tie into the series’ mythology…that gives it a special quality. Considering the fact that not a great deal of the story involves the island, instead focusing its energies on Desmond’s character, I further believe The Constant could be quite a treat not just for Lost fans but simply sci-fi fans of time travel. And the further development of Desmond and Penny’s story is only a pleasant addition of the oft-used device (a device that is rarely used as well as it is here). A triumph. Probably my own favorite episode of the series to this point (and I have doubts any episodes after this will best it).

Could Desmond finally get in touch with Penny?

I learned that the tenth anniversary of the Lost episode, The Constant, happened in correlation (without my knowing!) with my first viewing of it just today. I was exhilarated when my friend told me about it without even realizing the significance of this particular viewing within the particular time that I just finished it. He had sent me a text mentioning the episode without his realizing I was watching The Constant as he was doing so! How’s that for coincidence. But when we Lost fans know that there’s a big difference between coincidence and fate. I just decided to watch the episode because I was in the mood for some Lost, actually with no plans to do so until perhaps this Sunday. However, “free will” dictated a feeling of “Why not?” And so I did, rewarded by this beautifully envisioned time travel piece featuring probably my personal favorite character of the show [besides Hurley and Jin-Soo], Desmond. 

I had mentioned a couple episodes ago how disappointed I was that Desmond’s lift off from the island on Frank’s helicopter wasn’t treated as such a big deal when it should have been. Sayid got his moment and Desmond just felt like an afterthought in comparison. And was I gifted an even better Desmond moment in The Constant when he talks with Penny (FINALLY!) thanks to Sayid’s assistance due to his technological expertise. I thought about how Sayid being there, responsible for this magical conversation, made it all even more special, just wishing he could have a similar correspondence with Shannon…if only, right? I don’t even know if Sayid being right there when Desmond and Penny get to express love to each other was on purpose but I’m truly appreciative that I was fortunate enough to experience it this evening. Maybe Sayid can no longer tell Shannon how much he loves her but at the very least he gave Desmond and Penny the chance to do so. It is no small consolation that with all the horrors he has seen, been responsible for, and experienced himself, being able, in this moment, after temporarily fixing the communications damaged on the freighter (even if briefly) so that Desmond and Penny could reach each other, Sayid paid it forward. Sometimes, despite a past full of regrettable actions (and according to a previous episode in the fourth season, future actions for Sayid), the present can allow the opportunity to help instead of hurt, and Sayid certainly did just that for Desmond and Penny.