Television Review: Namaste (Lost, S5X09, 2009)

Namaste (S5X09)

Airdate: 18 March 2009

Written by: Paul Zbyszewski & Brian K. Vaughan
Directed by: Jack Bender

Running Time: 42 minutes

The narrative arc of the fifth season of Lost initially offered viewers a glimpse of a seemingly idyllic existence during the episode LaFleur. However, in the subsequent episode Namaste, the creators demonstrate their narrative mastery by subtly reminding the audience that such blissful periods are rarely sustainable in this universe. While the show continues to explore the "happy time" protagonist Sawyer experienced, there is a palpable sense of foreboding. The writers weave hints of the nasty fate that awaits them, allusions which are depicted in previous seasons. These foreshadowing elements serve as a counterweight to the utopian veneer presented in 1977, grounding the episode in the series' trademark tension between salvation and damnation.

The episode effectively continues depicting the year 1977 as the golden age of the Dharma Initiative, a period where the organisation appears more benevolent than its later, sinister iterations. Sawyer, operating under the alias "Jim LaFleur", is portrayed as having successfully carved a path for himself to become the head of the Dharma security. His initial reaction to seeing old friends Jack, Hurley, and Kate arrive on the Island is one of genuine happiness. However, it becomes immediately clear that their arrival, with their clothes and minds being firmly rooted in 2007, creates a whole new batch of difficulty. The most obvious task is to hide them from the Dharma Initiative, but the laid-back attitudes and bureaucratic sloppiness of the time allow Juliet to smuggle the trio into the Barracks. They are introduced under the guise of new recruits who allegedly arrived on the Island via submarine, a ruse that relies heavily on the organisational chaos of the period.

It is much more of a bigger problem when the security system detects an intruder. He is revealed to be Sayid, apparently coming the same way as Jack, Hurley, and Kate. However, since his presence has been revealed to Radzinsky, a paranoid Dharma scientist played by Eric Lange who is preparing to build the Swan Station, Jin and Sawyer are forced to treat him as "Hostile", effectively labelling him as one of the Others. Sayid is taken prisoner, and in an ironic twist, he is given sandwiches by a teenage Ben Linus.

In the meantime, when discussing their further course of action, Sawyer maintains leadership of the Losties and discusses it with Jack. He points out that his more thoughtful approach proved less damaging than Jack's impulsive decisions in the past. Meanwhile, Sawyer becomes keenly aware that the reappearance of Kate could have serious consequences for his relationship with Juliet, adding a layer of domestic tension to the survival narrative.

Simultaneously, the episode begins with the reconstruction of the Ajira Flight 316 crash, a pivotal sequence that recontextualises the remaining Oceanic Six. It is revealed that the aircraft lost power and was somehow transported to the Island. Frank Lapidus, utilizing his extraordinary skills as a pilot, successfully lands it on an improvised landing strip on Hydra Island. The landing wasn't without hitches; Frank's co-pilot, played by Dan Gauthier, died tragically while being impaled on a branch. Frank tries to organise survivors, but Jin insists on travelling to the Island to search for Sun. Ben volunteers to take her there with an outrigger canoe, but Jin incapacitates him and instead takes Frank. Two of them reach abandoned Barracks where they are greeted by the ghostly appearance of Christian Shephard. He points to a photograph of 1977 Dharma recruits, which notably includes Jin. Sun then realises that Jin and the rest of the Oceanic Six have been sent into the past, and she is apparently stranded in 2007.

At this late stage of Lost, even with narrative tricks based around time travel, the audience is likely to have a good grasp of where the story is going and what is going to happen. It is how those things are going to happen that makes the show interesting. The script by Paul Zbyszewski and Brian K. Vaughan does it through the clever use of juxtaposition and irony. The irony can be seen in the Dharma Initiative, which despite all of its alleged sinister Frankenstein-like science experiments, presents and even sees itself as some sort of quasi-hippy commune. This is best seen through the warm welcome to new recruits. Other examples include Amy being revealed as the mother of Ethan Rom, a future villain, and Jack, despite being a successful spinal surgeon in 2004, being assigned to the post of a janitor by Dr. Chang following an aptitude test. These details highlight the arbitrary nature of destiny and role within the Island's mechanics. The script avoids exposition dumping, instead letting the visual storytelling and character reactions carry the weight of the time displacement.

Josh Holloway delivers a strong performance as the de facto leader of the Losties. His character has matured through actual responsibility and mellowed after domestic bliss with Juliet. This evolution is crucial for the show's third act.

The episode benefits a lot from great direction by Jack Bender, especially in the scene of Ajira 316 crash. It looks very different and original compared to the Oceanic 815 crash that began the series, proving that the show's creators were still finding new visual languages to describe their characters' plight.

Namaste shows series' ability to balance character drama with complex mythological storytelling, ensuring that even as the end approaches, the journey remains compelling. The episode solidifies the stakes by showing that while the past holds a temporary reprieve, the future remains dangerous. The interplay between the 1977 timeline and the 2007 timeline creates a rich texture that defines this season's identity, proving that time travel in Lost is more than a gimmick; it is a crucible for character development.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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