There are a few minor spoilers in these snippets, just in case you like your Lost unsoiled.

What we're being promised Thursday night is revelations about why present-day Jack is bearded, popping pills and listening to Nirvana.

We're also going to learn who's in the coffin at the end of Season 3, and who may be joining him/her at the beginning of Season 5. That is, in coffins. Oh, and we'll learn how to move an island, something that can come in handy living near the Caribbean.

Let me just say right off that what I love about this show is its uncanny ability to go left when you're sure it will go right. Or, just sitting there expecting right or left and they go right up the middle. Or up, or down. You understand, right?

That, and the utter wackness of it all.

In the first clip I just love that, right smack in the middle of the action, Ben gives Locke a Dharma tape to explain what's going on. Also note Ben's reference to the silly little experiments that the defunct Dharma Initiative was always doing.

Next in line is a terrific one-on-one between Locke and Jack. If there's been any weakness to this year's shows, it's the fact that Jack and Locke haven't gone mano-a-mano. But the plotting simply didn't allow it. The core of this show is faith vs. sceince, free will vs. destiny, and these two are the heart of the show.

Finally, astute viewers will notice that there's someone in the rescue chopper who shouldn't be there, someone who isn't part of the Oceanic Six. This gives us all something to ponder over the next 24 hours. Along with the recent tidbit that one actress from the original cast will be going on hiatus for season 5, but will be back for season 6.

After that, it's an 8-month drought. That is, if the screen actors don't go on strike. Which means all us fanatics will have is Lostpedia and DarkUFO
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