# Lost 5.5 "This Place Is Death"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 11, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401 "2009-02-11T18:35:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/1 "2009-02-11T18:35:11Z")
Thread rules:
> [@](#):
>
> Information about all episodes aired to this point – including the current week – will be unboxed.
> Information about this week’s episode’s “next week” teasers will be unboxed.
> Information about future episodes taken from spoiler sites/inside sources, including Podcasts, will be boxed. This includes links to promo photos and screencaps from future episodes.
> Speculation based on events in episodes aired up to this point (including teasers) will be unboxed.
> Speculation based on spoilers for upcoming episodes will be boxed.
>
> Please remember, links inside spoiler boxes are readable even to those who don’t highlight.
From the on-line description for tonight’s episode:
**This Place is Death**
Locke shoulders the burden of ending the island’s increasingly violent movements through time; Ben is stymied in his efforts to reunite the Oceanic 6 and bring them back to the island.
**Some useful Café Society links are given below:**
Thread index for Season 1 Episodes: [1](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=277083) [2](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=278382) [3](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=279542) [4](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=280792) [5](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=281998) [6](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=283328) [7](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=284665) [8](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=285925) [9](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=287237) [10](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=289514) [11](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=290718) [12](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=295320) [13](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=296591) [14](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=297760) [15](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=301602) [16](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=302710) [17](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=303909) [18](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=304986) [19](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=309511) [20](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=310613) [21](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=315048) [22](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=316088) [23](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=317139) [24](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=318051)
Thread index for Season 2 Episodes: [1](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=335991) [2](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=337167) [3](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=338307) [4](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=339366) [5](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=340432) [6](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=343878) [7](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=345144) [8](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=346239) [9](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=347177) [10](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=353542) [11](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=354691) [12](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=355716) [13](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=357834) [14](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=359015) [15](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=361048) [16](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=363982) [17](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=365010) [18](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=366081) [19](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=367064) [20](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=370033) [21](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=371010) [22](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=371991)
Thread index for Season 3 episodes: [1](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=390771) [2](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=391722) [3](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=392661) [4](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=393629) [5](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=394542) [6](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=395368) [7](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=407398) [8](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=408446) [9](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=409378) [10](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=410362) [11](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=411321) [12](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=412292) [13](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=413323) [14](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=414347) [15](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=415259) [16](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=416195) [17](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=417197) [18](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=418222) [19](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=419145) [20](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=420116) [21](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=421113) [22](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=421996)
Thread index for Season 4 episodes: [1](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=453462) [2](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=454618) [3](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=455630) [4](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=456811) [5](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=457801) [6](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=458668) [7](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=459619) [8](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=460501) [9](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=465277) [10](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=466249) [11](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=467236) [12](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=468178)
Thread index for Season 5 episodes [1-2](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=502879) [3](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=504002) [4](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=505081)
[The Official Lost Jargon Thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=286221)
Official “Lost” Questions Thread[Season 1](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=284542), [Season 2](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=336040), [Season 3](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=390739)
**Here are some interesting external links:**
[The Tail Section](http://www.thetailsection.com/): Excellent site for still frame photos of key scenes, along with some good analysis. But… beware of spoilers!
[Sledgeweb’s Lost… Stuff](http://lost.cubit.net/): Pretty good site, but again beware of spoilers. I use it mainly for the Timeline section, which is an incredibly detailed breakdown of “how long since…?” for almost anything you can think of (pre- and post-plane crash).
[Door Map from Episode 2.17](http://www.thetailsection.com/uploaded_images/cleanwall-707484.jpg). A nicely cleaned up version of the diagram Locke saw while pinned under the lockdown doors. No spoilers.
[Lostpedia](http://www.lostpedia.com/wiki/Main_Page): The wikipedia of Lost information. Quite a comprehensive site, but beware of spoilers!
## [ThEmIsFiTiShErE](http://themisfitishere.blogspot.com/): The Misfit offers his whacky commentary on “Lost”. Is he a nut-case or a clever insider? Careful, though, possible spoilers.
Let’s catch up:
Charlotte, Miles and Juliette are bleeding from the nose, which is not a good sign. Jin has joined up with Rousseau’s team - and we all know what happens to them. And Sun looks like she’s ready to shoot someone. Plus the episode it titled “This Place Is Death”. So I’m thinking that it’s probably _not_ about rainbows and fuzzy kitties. Unless it’s a fake out by the producers and it _is_ about rainbows and fuzzy kitties. But I’m thinking probably not. Waddaya think?
---
### Author:  [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/2 "2009-02-11T18:44:37Z")
Rainbows, and fuzzy dead kitties? I think it’s a good time to get a glimpse of the other survivors- what are Ruth, Bernard, Vincent, etc making of this time hopping. And also bring present day Richard into play- he knows Locke visited him in the 50’s, so he probably knows that the cause of that is happening now. It would be an interesting dynamic to see Richard seek himself out- Imagine a scene with 2 Richards- creepy… Ha, or 2 Bens would be great- both trying to manipulate the other one
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### Author:  [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/3 "2009-02-11T19:35:36Z")
Well, for the first time since the beginning of Season 3, I am caught up on the show in time for the new episode. I might have to crack and watch it…all I gotta say is I HATE how they went with that totally lame cliche of “OMFG she’s got a nosebleed” … it’s giving me flashbacks to season 3 of 24 where nosebleed = death.
---
### Author:  [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/4 "2009-02-11T19:59:59Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Plus the episode it titled “This Place Is Death”. So I’m thinking that it’s probably not about rainbows and fuzzy kitties.
A new Dharma station called “The Death” is discovered, in which cuteness research is performed. Look for polar teddy bears in the background.
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### Author:  [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/5 "2009-02-11T20:47:10Z")
This thread is one of the reasons I reupped my Dope subscription. That and I’m behind a computer all day again.
Anyway, I’m salivating for tonight and hoping that soon, we flash back in time to the Black Rock days.
---
### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/6 "2009-02-11T21:11:54Z")
I’m just hoping that tonight they truly end the “time jumping” storyline. It’s not the story for the whole season, is it?
I also hope the Oceanic 6 and Ben return to the island before the season finale.
---
### Author:  [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/7 "2009-02-11T21:15:47Z")
**Mahaloth** : I wouldn’t hold your breath for that one. I have a feeling that the 6 need to return before the time jumping stops (they may have said as much—or at least insinuated it) and think it’s probably going to be a season long plot device. For what it’s worth, I’m rather enjoying it—feel as if they’re finally tying together some of the loose ends and relentless weirdness.
---
### Author:  [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/8 "2009-02-11T21:42:09Z")
Mahaloth:
> [@](#):
>
> I’m just hoping that tonight they truly end the “time jumping” storyline. It’s not the story for the whole season, is it?
I’m guessing it probably will be, as a device for exposition that will sort out most of the mysteries of the Island. Instead of mental flashbacks (or forwards), we get the characters actually travelling in time to see the history that defines their odd experiences.
If I properly understand comments made by the producers prior to last season, Season 5 will end with the Oceanic 6 returning to the island (they didn’t mention Desmond), and Season 6 will be post-return, all about the island’s ultimate fate and what the role of the Losties is in that scheme.
---
### Author:  [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/9 "2009-02-12T02:40:54Z")
That opening sequence made me damn near wet my pants. I thought you should all know that.
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### Author:  [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/10 "2009-02-12T02:59:42Z")
Say hello to my son/Sun. 😃
---
### Author:  [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/11 "2009-02-12T03:05:31Z")
So…
I got distracted for just a little bit. Charlotte is dead?
-Joe
---
### Author:  [@mshar253](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mshar253)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/12 "2009-02-12T03:07:12Z")
Yes, **Merijeek** , from all indications, Charlotte is dead.
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### Author:  [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/13 "2009-02-12T03:13:44Z")
I believe my reaction to this episode was “Ga-huhwha?”
That was a really good episode. I’m wondering what will happen to the flashes now that Locke put the wheel back on the axle. They’re still gonna flash around, since Daniel met Charlotte in the past. Maybe they’ll be less violent/sudden now.
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### Author:  [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/14 "2009-02-12T03:15:57Z")
Well, no rainbows or fuzzy kitties, but that was a pretty cool episode.
So some of the mystical island events warn that nobody should come back, this place is death, don’t you dare bring him back etc. And spooky Christian is trying to get everyone back. Does the island have multiple personalities? Or what?
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/15 "2009-02-12T03:20:46Z")
“I didn’t account for traffic”
That Ben… 😃
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### Author:  [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/16 "2009-02-12T03:21:10Z")
> [@Trion](#):
>
> Well, no rainbows or fuzzy kitties, but that was a pretty cool episode.
>
> So some of the mystical island events warn that nobody should come back, this place is death, don’t you dare bring him back etc. And spooky Christian is trying to get everyone back. Does the island have multiple personalities? Or what?
You think that Christian couldn’t help John walk because he isn’t actually physical?
-Joe
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### Author:  [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/17 "2009-02-12T03:26:53Z")
Well it is nice know for sure that Charlotte was on the island before (they certainly hinted at it before).
Sun agrees to go back – did she forget about herd?
They also confirmedhat Eloise is Faraday’s mother (also hinted since he named the mouse Eloise)
The jump from the smoke monter lair - just a few days? Did the four toed people build the temple?
Brian
---
### Author:  [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/18 "2009-02-12T03:28:47Z")
> [@Merijeek](#):
>
> You think that Christian couldn’t help John walk because he isn’t actually physical?
>
> -Joe
That’s my guess. But I have a tendency to be wrong about these things.
---
### Author:  [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/19 "2009-02-12T03:28:59Z")
I think that last turn of the Frozen Donkey Wheel (thanks to Locke) will put the Losties at the time of Dharma Initiative’s heyday, as we first saw Faraday working in the mine in the opening of this season. It will probably bring us full circle, and that’s where Daniel will bump into kid-Charlotte to tell her not to come back or she’ll die.
Looks like we can confirm the Smoke Monster has been around since ancient times. And that contact with it, changes you fundamentally (body snatchers?). We know Locke had contact from the first season. Does this mean he has “the sickness”, but nobody knows it, because nobody really knew him before the crash?
This is turning into one of my favorite seasons.
---
### Author:  [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-5-5-this-place-is-death/485401/20 "2009-02-12T03:34:57Z")
> [@cmyk](#):
>
> I think that last turn of the Frozen Donkey Wheel (thanks to Locke) will put the Losties at the time of Dharma Initiative’s heyday, as we first saw Faraday working in the mine in the opening of this season. It will probably bring us full circle, and that’s where Daniel will bump into kid-Charlotte to tell her not to come back or she’ll die.
>
> Looks like we can confirm the Smoke Monster has been around since ancient times. And that contact with it, changes you fundamentally (body snatchers?). We know Locke had contact from the first season. Does this mean he has “the sickness”, but nobody knows it, because nobody really knew him before the crash?
>
> This is turning into one of my favorite seasons.
I don’t think it’s contact. I think something happened to them down in the hole, and the same thing would’ve happened to him had he gone down the hole in the first season finale.
Also, I gave hell ya to the smoke monster breaking Frenchie’s arm.
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