Commercial Interruption: Jesus Christ is not a weapon

Sometimes there's just too much television for one Channel Surfing blogger to handle.

That's when we need a break to sit back, relax and indulge in some friendly back-and-forth (via email of course, we don't actually like to speak to one another in person). With two weeks before the remaining portion of "Lost's" three-hour finale airs, bloggers Adam Reinhard and Thomas Rozwadowski do their best to keep the momentum churning while debating whether old ass saltines go better with Dharma beer or McCutcheon whiskey.

Thomas: So, the burning question from the first hour of "There's No Place Like Home" -- what misfortune can come from eating 15 year old crackers?

Overall, the episode is difficult to analyze because -- obviously -- we have two more hours to go. But as a table-setter, all you can ask is that the show gets you excited for the big bang in two weeks, and for me, everything clicked last night. I sense impending doom (as in real death, not a "fake" one) for Jin -- goodbye my old mercenary friend -- in light of Sun's awesome slow-motion walkaway on the freighter. How Sun and Aaron end up back with the Oceanic Six is beyond me, but I'm guessing that we'll get the needed clarity by season's end. If they already showed the Oceanic Six press conference, which was pretty surreal to me, then they're going to give us the full picture as to how some make it, some don't. Plus, coffin guy is coming, and man, I have chills thinking about it.

Favorite touches from last night: Jack's emotion at finding out Claire is his half-sister, Sayid embracing Nadia, and that whole family montage once the Oceanic Six are let off the flight. That's where shows typically try to end, and while watching it, I almost got sucked into believing I was watching a happy series finale. It was a great, unique TV moment. That alone was enough for me last night, though I really, really, really want to see the Orchid elevator. Like, NOW.

Adam: Agree wholeheartedly about the family reunion scene. I got a little verklempt as well. One thing "Lost" has proven to do very well -- and which I think gets overlooked amongst the mystical mumbo-jumbo and scientific fooferall -- is how sneakily it makes you fall in love with its characters. Think about it -- can you honestly say you seriously dislike ANY of the remaining castaways? Granted we've spent so much time with them, and they're already in such a sympathetic position of isolation and peril, but when Jack's mighty heart breaks at the sight of his (pretty hot, let's face it) mom, that's the stuff that makes "Lost" shine, in my book. Heck, even the sight of Cheech Marin made me smile ear-to-ear, and I never thought that would happen.

And yeah, how about that Sun, huh? We always knew she had the capability of being a real badass -- threatening Jin's blackmailing mother, pulling the gun on that lady Other -- but to buy out her dad's company? Wow, the look on his face! Frickin' sweet, and great payback for her overbearing, manipulative pop. With the resources of Paik Industries at her fingertips, could Sun be planning an expedition of her own to rediscover the island? And if so, could this be an "out" to keep Jin alive somehow?

I think you're onto something, too. After Kate's comments to Jack two weeks ago, and now Hurley's discovery last night, I think one thing is clear: Crackers are going to play a HUGE role in the outcome of this season. If not the entire series. Turns out ... this whole time ... the island was just one big Triscuit.

Thomas: Totally agree on the cast. Jack can certainly be grating at times, but it's for the purpose of establishing his Island Jesus complex, so I never feel like it bogs down the show. Plus, I'm more of a Locke guy, so you know that conflict of personalities is coming. But the powerful pull in tonight's episode was really unlike anything I've ever experienced watching a TV show before, if only because the swelling emotion was really meant to be part of a series ender. Yet it wasn't the final scene.

Watching them get off that plane was such a release because of, as you mentioned, the isolation and peril we've come to see them endure. And yet we know that Hurley unravels shortly after and Jack is going to join him soon enough. Just the way they're sticking to a singular story and can't acknowledge anyone else on the island they came to know and love ... it was really one of "Lost's" finest moments.

One minor gripe: how come no one else on the island heard the chopper flying overhead?

So ... do you have any predictions for the forthcoming two hours? Are we in a better position to judge who's in the coffin? Does Ben have another man on the freighter, which was the dude communicating with him atop the hill? It clearly wasn't Alpert and the Gang. Also, I can't imagine Ben's plan included him getting smashed in the face by Keamy's gun -- and sure, we know he doesn't die because we already saw him in the future -- but man, I love where everything is going. Even Jack's bleeding stitches -- no matter how contrived, the drama is off the charts!

Again, I can't wait to see the Orchid. And you know, I thought it was cheap that a bunch of yahoos who contribute NOTHING on the island get to be part of Faraday's first freighter contingent. Screw them. What blood have you shed? How many fish biscuits have you eaten?

Slackers. Not to be confused with crackers.

Adam: My fondest hope for the finale -- and I think the appearance of Raggity Alpert and the Hostile Bunch hints at it -- is that we'll finally see the Others' "temple." I'm even more interested in that than knowing who's in the coffin. (Although if they freaking cheat us out of the casket reveal, I'll lose it.) I think you're on the right track with Ben's Second Man (his Third Man is Orson Welles) on the freighter, because SOMETHING is jamming that boat's radar, no?

It would be unlike Ben to not have a backup plan, in case Michael had failed (which I guess he pretty much did.) Geez, who could it be, though? Are we in for a big shock, the kind that was denied us when Kevin Johnson anti-climactically emerged from the shadows? It's going to be Charlie, isn't it. Tell me now, Roz -- I know you know. You know everything. Spare me the suspense, damn you!

Thomas: What did one snowman say to the other snowman? The answer lies in that riddle, my friend. The answer lies in that riddle.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com, Adam Reinhard, lifeisfunnybutnothahafunny@gmail.com