After its month-and-change long hiatus, Lost came back with a vengeance Thursday night. Let's discuss.
We start with the game of Risk, the game of world domination -- and Hugo's accurate, yet ironic statement that Australia (hey, that's where this all began!) is the key to the whole game. A game in which, as Ben reminds us over and over, "the rules have now changed."
And from that moment we see Hugo, Sawyer and Locke playing that oh-so-fun game, we're taken on a wild, globe-trotting ride inside the game of Lost. We see the bloodshed, the grief, the alcoholism and manipulation that results in the battle between Others ruler Ben and drunky British tycoon Chaz Widmore. 
We learn that Ben is a Jumper, a Quantum Leaper, a Stargater. Somebody, who through his mysterious closet portal, can get places -- and times -- very quickly.
We first see Ben in Tunisia, puking, hurting and sporting a Dharma winter coat. He's been to Tunisia before, which begs the question -- how long has he been time traveling? And what sort of reputation does he exactly have at that hotel? And where did he just come from, what with that heavy coat? Siberia possibly? Where Risk playing Sawyer and Locke are rolling the die on in the opening sequence?
He eventually makes his way to future, Oceanic-6 Sayid, who's in Tikrit, Iraq mourning the loss of his wife, Naomi. We see the genesis of how these two dark characters join -- the loss of women can be such a bonding force.
We also see Ben in London, paying a visit to Widmore. The two engage in a pleasant debate over who really killed Ben's daughter and the merits of whose Island it really is.
We also learn that Iraq is really "nice this time of the year." Classic deadpan Ben humor.
OK, so we're still not sure what to make of 2005 Ben. He's clearly on an out-for-justice mission to avenge his adopted daughter's death and screw Widmore to high hell. We learn he can jump around the world, has never really been out of control of any situation on the Island (how 'bout that piano-seat shotgun?) and that there's some sort of game being played with the Island the focal point.
As for on-island developments: Ben's daughter is dead, Jack has appendicitis, Claire can really take a RPG blast well, the freighter is not a rescue ship, Farrady is a liar, an alleged dead doctor floats to shore and most interesting -- Ben controls the black smoke.
I'm open to any ideas about this phenomenon. It seems like a sort of Raiders of the Lost Ark meets The Abyss mercenary-killing creature -- but it apparently doesn't kill merc leader Keamy.
An impressive amount of stuff for one episode, titled The Shape of Things to Come.
But I'm a bit saddened to learn about this time-traveling angle. I dig the concept as much as the next TV nerd, but, depending on how they logic this one out, it seems like some serious suspension of disbelief will be required going forward. As is the case with any time-traveling experiment.
Your thoughts on the episode? What does Ben really mean with "you changes the rules of the game," is the Island some sort of time traveling Hartsfield-ian hub, and what about that washed up corpse?
On to the best blogs ... around!
Sick of hearing about how "lucky" the Orioles are? Collected and Conveyed. begs you to watch some of the team's wins and marvel in how well they're actually playing. (BTW, we have a surprising amount of Orioles-related blogs. I'm impressed)
What's 513 mean to you? Well here's what it means to GoPack's Yak: Jim Thome has now passed Ernie Banke and Eddie Matthews on the all-time home run list. Impressive? You bet, considering the recent rash of PE sluggers.
If you still think the A's were fleeced in the Danny Haren trade, Matt Abedi's Sporting Universe asks you to think a bit differently. My question: Why would anybody ever trade with Billy Beane? Hell, if I'm a GM I'd start trade talks just to see who he likes in my system, then I'd get those guys up the bigs ASAP.
Octopi and Red Wings games go together like lamb and tunafish, which is why In the Crease is just a bit peeved at the treatment of Al Sobotka, the Joe Louis Arena building manger.
Klick of the Day
If you want every reference, name, historical import in last night's Lost broken down, read Doc Jensen's recap of the episode. (EW.com)
