Have I been waiting for a Hurley episode! Now you all know why I’ve been keeping track of the numbers: this is why. Aren’t they freaky? I remembered watching this episode for the first time live and I felt chills through my spine. Anyhoo, let’s get back to the episode. The numbers are a huge part of the show. It’s inevitable to think that somehow the numbers might have been involved in taking down the plane. You saw the numbers engraved on the plane. That is weird.

          I’m glad that Hurley was the first to encounter them. He adds such great diversity to the cast that he almost made the storyline with the numbers funny. I always feel like I’m going to crack a smile. He’s great. As far as his past goes, the whole thing was unexpected. I enjoyed it. Poor Hurley is an obese man living with his mother working at a fast-food place. I have nothing against obese people, but his mother never stopped criticizing him. Finally, he gets a lucky break by winning the lottery. Funny thing happens. Ever since, he’s been having bad luck: His sister-in-law left his brother Diego, his grandfather Tito died, the priest at the funeral home was struck by lightning, the house that he bought his mother caught on fire, he was arrested, and finally, he was in a plane crash. All this happened because he used cursed numbers to win the lottery. Back when he was in the psychiatric hospital, he met a man named Lenny. Lenny kept repeating this set of numbers: 4 8 15 16 23 42. What do they mean? No one knows.

          Hurley had some great scenes with his mother. She kind of reminds me of my grandmother: outgoing, loud, always speaks her mind. I like when she slapped Hurley for talking about bad luck. Priceless. I also felt terribly bad for Hurley’s grandfather Tito. The guy never knew what a vacation was. The way he died was so sudden. It’s like his life got sucked out. One has to congratulate Hurley for his courage though. He was determined to learn the truth. His scenes with Rousseau were fantastic. He’s not as worthless as he seems. He makes it a fact to state that he’s not crazy. Of everyone there, he’s the sanest. He does what he has to do. Everybody loves him. So do we.

          How weird was Lenny? He obviously had seen things that drove him to this state. All he keeps saying is those numbers. When Hurley went to visit him, he went wild. Speaking of weird people, let’s talk about Sam’s wife in Australia. She lives in the middle of nowhere by herself, still traumatized by the events that led to her husband’s suicide. She believes that the numbers have nothing to do with luck. I’m still torn though. That’s a lot of things to happen to you. I still don’t know myself if I believe in luck. I have met people who are just unlucky and others who are plain lucky. I never thought about that.

          Why was Sayid so pushy? What’s so bad about seeing Rousseau? I also have a hard time believing that Rousseau would take everything out of her hole in the ground because she couldn’t trust Sayid. How did she carry all her belongings out of there? Anyways, back to Sayid. His relationship with Shannon is weird. I couldn’t understand why he was so surprised when Shannon told him she was worried about his safety. What’s the big deal?

          We got some huge island stuff this week. For one thing, there’s this continuing reference to the Black Rock. Supposedly, there’s a radio tower close by. This is the radio tower that was sending out Rousseau’s transmission as well as the voice that kept repeating the numbers. Who was this person who had broadcasted the numbers? This show is twisted on so many levels.

Spotlight on…Hurley

-          Hurley lives with his mother. He works at a fast-food place. While watching tv, he learns that he’s won a record-high lottery of 156 million dollars.

-          During a press conference, Hurley says he wants to spend the money on his family. During the interview, his grandfather dies.

-          Hurley states that since he won the money, bad things have happened. He thinks the numbers are cursed. His mother hits him for speaking of such blasphemy. When he goes to show her the new house, his mother twists her ankle and the new house catches on fire. At that moment, the police arrest Hurley.

-          Hurley’s stocks have sky-rocketed. He owns a successful box company.

-          He goes to see a man at the psychiatric hospital named Leonard. He was once admitted there. He and Lenny were close. Lenny keeps repeating the numbers.

-          Hurley tells Lenny that he used the numbers to win the lottery. Out of nowhere, Lenny starts trembling and screaming. He tells Hurley to see his friend in Australia.

-          He goes to see Lenny’s friend Sam in Australia. His wife answers the door and tells Hurley that he’s dead. She tells him that her husband served in the navy. One night, he kept hearing the numbers. He used them to win the lottery and they found themselves in the same position as Hurley.

Tales from the Island

Hurley: I wanted some freakin’ answers. I don’t care what everyone is saying about me. I am not crazy. They don’t know what’s happened to me. They have no idea. Winning millions, then having the worst luck of my life is not fun. These numbers keep popping up. I wanted to go see the French chick. If Jack wants to do something, everyone jumps in to help. When big Ole Hurley wants to do something crazy, it’s WWII all over again. I have my answers now. These numbers are cursed. I’m not sure of a lot of stuff. I’m sure of one thing: these numbers are cursed.

Quotable Quotes

-          Hurley (to Danielle): “What? You don't know? Okay, that thing in the woods, maybe it's a monster, maybe it's a pissed off giraffe, I don't know. The fact that no one is even looking for us, yeah, that's weird, but I just go along with it because I'm along for the ride, good old fun time Hurley. Well guess what? Now, I want some friggin' answers!”

-          Charlie (to Hurley): “You're not the only one with baggage you know. Do you want to know what I was doing when the plane went down? Snorting heroin, in the toilet. I was such a junkie I couldn't even take a plane trip without having a fix.”

-          Charlie: “I know food's scarce, but, your shirt?”
Hurley: “Hey, when you find a laundromat---let me know.”

-          Hurley: (to Sayid, from Danielle): “She says ‘hey’”.

-          Hurley: “I think I can make it. I'm spry.”

-          Hurley (to Danielle): “You must be the French chick”.

-          Martha: “You make your own luck, Mr. Reyes. Don't blame it on the damn numbers. You're looking for an excuse that doesn't exist.”

-          Hurley: “You awake?”

Sayid: “I was just wondering that myself.”

-          Walt: “Why aren’t you helping?

Sawyer: “I am helping Short Round. I’m keeping watch for arsonists.”

Some Final Notes

-          Claire and Locke hanging was fun. How did Locke know that it was Claire’s birthday? I’m surprised she didn’t figure out that it was a cradle. I’m also happy that Locke somehow tries to involve Claire. She’s not worthless.

-          Sun is absolutely heart-broken. I think Jin will leave with Michael.

-          I don’t know how Michael and Jin are able to communicate. It’s fun to watch them argue.

-          What is Charlie’s relationship with Claire?

-          I loved how Hurley made sure he got the battery. That’s why we came after all.

-          Sayid found Nadia’s picture.

-          People never let Hurley do what he wants. Jack acts like his father. He’s a grown man.

-          Could the box company Hurley owns be the one that Locke worked for? I love the character connections.

-          I wonder how it must feel like to win the lottery.

-          How weird was it to hear that the priest got struck by lightning. That’s plain freaky.

Amazing episode. We need more Hurley. 4 ½ stars

-          Next episode

-          Lost season 1

-          Lost main