Tricia Tanaka Is Dead - Season 3x10

[Kiowa Warrior]

TRICIA TANAKA IS DEAD

The tenth episode of Season 3 is Hurley’s flashback, where we learn more about his time after he won the lottery. It begins with Hurley as a child trying to fix a car with his father, who then gives him a candy bar and says that he’s going away for a while. A news piece is being done on Hurley by Tricia Tanaka about him buying Mr. Clucks – the chicken restaurant where he used to work – and as Hurley and his old boss Randy wait outside for Tricia and her cameraman to do their filming inside, a meteorite falls from the sky and destroys the building. Upon arriving home Hurley discovers that his father has returned after seventeen years and that, says his mother, means the money can’t be cursed. But Hurley is still convinced that it is, and so his father takes him to see a tarot card reader who says that Hurley is cursed but that it can be removed. But after Hurley offers her money to admit that she’s just pretending because his father paid her and she does, Hurley packs to go to Australia to find out about the numbers, with his father saying that he’ll be there waiting when he gets back.

Meanwhile on the island Vincent leads Hurley and Charlie to a crashed Dharma van in the jungle, and Hurley tells everyone that they can fix it. But only Jin accidentally volunteers to help, and they find that the driver of the van is a decomposed body in the clothes of ‘Roger Workman.’ Sawyer and Kate return to camp, and Sawyer demands to know where his stash items have gone. Arriving at the van with Charlie Sawyer is warmly welcomed by Hurley, and so Sawyer forgets his drunk whiskey and helps upright the van. As Hurley thinks about how to get the van started Sawyer and Jin drink beer, with Sawyer teaching Jin some English phrases. Hurley says that the way to get the van started is to roll it down the hill to get the engine going, and Charlie sits in with him as Sawyer and Jin push it. It seems that the van is about to crash into rocks, but Hurley keeps believing that he has to make his own luck and that there is no curse, and the van comes to life and they drive safely away.

Kate is determined to go back for Jack no matter what he says and she enlists the help of Danielle, telling her that she saw her daughter with the Others. After seeming to read the direction of the Others’ camp on Mr. Eko’s stick – to go North – Locke and Sayid accompany Kate into the jungle as well.

[Murgatroyd]

Ah. I liked that one. I was always surprised that I liked it because it's almost as fillerish as Jack's tattoos - but aside from that, it's very nicely written, it's a lot of fun and it just seemed like precisely the kind of light entertainment the viewers and the Losties needed at that point. It just had a lot of very sweet moments, like Sawyer's forgetting to be a git as soon as Hurley hugged him and everyone rallying round because it was what Hurley needed and that sort of things. And Vincent dragging an arm out of a jungle. That dog. He's such a card. Probably this episode was helped by the fact that Little Miss Sunshine was not long out and everyone was kind of in love with Volkswagon buses or something ... but it was great to see such an iconic thing turning up on the island of all places.

And Rousseau came back, which is always a bonus.

[The Wizard]

I really enjoyed re-watching this episode, it wasn't as cheesy as I remember it being first time around. Although the bit with the car going down the hill is a bit weird, because of the engine hadn't started they could have just steered around those rocks anyway.... could they not?

[JB Sawyer]

Not fussed on this one. I think I was still angry at the time that 'Stranger...' stole from my life that when this filler (and let's face it, it is) came around it didn't help. It is very good at what it's meant to be: a cosy, fluffy filler. However after the brilliant start that S3 was at the time and then 'Flashes', that perfect episode, two pretty much pointless fillers was a silly choice by TPTB. It's not as bad as 'Stranger' by any means but it is one that is instantly forgettable imo. However one plus point is the reintroduction of the musical montage at the end. I miss those montages.

Rewatch value - 6/10

[Easily confused]

Love this episode for me this is the point at which S3 truely starts and it reminds me of the good old S1 days and more importantly its nothing like Stranger in a Strange Land which can only be a bonus

I do find Sawyer's acting a little cheesy but I will let him off due to the comedy of some of his lines

The best part is of course Hurley finding some hope on the island its been a long while since anyone had some hope on the island

[lost-lover]

I din't love or hate this one really, it seemed a bit like a filler episode but at the same time I enjoyed it. There was alot of funny bits in it - like Sawyer teaching Jin some new English phrases which to me partly made up for the rest of it. But I'd have liked it alot better with some more action and continuation of the plot.

[Malion]

Oh what a great episode (it seems like I always comment on the Hurley eps here).
When I first saw it I thought it was hilarious, and possibly one of the greatest episodes, but as soon as I went online I found that little to none felt the same way. It was very frustrating.

Everything about this episode was just cool to me, I mean, it has Cheech Marin in it. What more can you ask for?

It was also very heartwarming, with Hurley and Charlie. This is like the only time where Charlie gets some time away from Mr. Yourgunnadiecharlie. Which is refreshing... although he still almost dies.

And let us not forget that this episode isn't filler, it gives us the Dharma bus, which ultimately saves all the people on the beach, don't forget that.

I give it 107 stars. (Took one off for the annoying Skate moment)

[D-Roc]

One of the more bizarrely titled episodes.

At the time I recall not loving this episode too much..since then my appreciation for this episode has grown enourmously. I really realy dig it..it speaks to me spiritually. I love the concept of Hugo (of ALL people) taking the bull by the horns and having HOPE. This is negative numbers dude we're talking about here..good on you big man, sorry I didn't give you the rightful props earlier. (still, killing people with buses is wrong..WRONG dude!)

Something which really interested me, in light of Charlie's ultimate demise, was that Fate (or the course correcting Universe) CHOSE not to take Charlie when he subjected himself to deaths door - i.e. he and Hugo both knew there was a damn good chance that they could die - Hugo even said it himself. Yet, hope, luck or whatever mechanism they were wishing on granted Charlie a stay of execution. Which begs the question - if Charlie was always going to die..then why didn't the Universe take him then? Was Hugo's 'hope' that the van's engine would work greater than the Universes will? Or is the suggestion that the Universe cannot be dictated to - that it will kill you and course correct when and how it wants, because anything else would infact be a paradox (a freewill/fate paradox)..? Yes, I think the 2nd suggestion would be the case?

Anyways,

I also liked Sawyer in this episode..well, once he ditched Kate that is. He really came to life and re-intergrated back into camp Lostie so quickly! I'll admit it, it was good to have him back

The whole Roger Workman precurser was fab in retrospect. The flashback was rather good too - Hugo's mom deserves her own show!

Overall a funny yet strange yet good episode. I think my issues at the time were mostly to do with the timing and placement of the episode. Certainly equal to, if not better than, "SiaSL".

Re-watch value: 8/10

Oh, and things are about to heat up from here on in!

[The Wizard]

Originally Posted by KoR-evo

Certainly equal to, if not better than, "SiaSL".

It took me until this quote box had loaded to work out what that meant

[Lost Lewis]

Don't care if it gets called a filler. No matter how fillery an episode is, they can be just as good as episode with lots going on. This episode was great. I don't know how it done it but it made me feel in a pretty electric mood Some hilarious lines in it too.

In 72 (I think) episodes of Lost, I totally allow room for this feel good episode