TVSquad

As amazing as Lost is, I still hate it for one tiny reason - every time a new season begins, I get terrified that I won't "get it." If that happened, it would completely deflate my enjoyment of the show. While Lost has had its fair share of WTF episodes, most of them are decipherable after repeat viewings; season five's first two installments definitely fall into that category. It's like playing the sequel of your favorite video game - for the most part, the controls and game-play are the same, but there are enough changes that it still takes you a few hours to get a handle on it.

So get a handle on this: John Locke and Ben Linus did move the island. The big question is where... or when - and to quote Daniel Faraday from "The Shape of Things to Come" - "when is kind of a relative term."

That query, along with about a bajillion others, takes center stage over Lost's double-episode season five premiere. Scheduled to air next Wednesday, January 21st , starting at 9PM, "Because You Left" and "The Lie" are arguably two of the greatest episodes of Lost to date. To call them a "game changer" would be the understatement of the year.

I actually screened the two episodes over a week ago. Then I screened them again. And again. By then, just about everyone else out there had posted their early review and I decided to hold off - just to see how much others were willing to reveal. The consensus - lips are zipped and I'm following suit. So rest assured that what follows is only a teensy bit spoilery. If you're looking for something more, check out Isabelle's Spoilers Anonymous column this Thursday.

Moving on. It's no secret that the idea of time travel was going to play a role in Lost's final two seasons. It was hinted at heavily in season four and then Ben actually did it - jumping into the future after giving the ol' "Frozen Donkey Wheel" a push. Without giving away how the plot unfolds as the season opens, suffice to say that you're pretty much not allowed to blink your eyes because it makes your jaw drop the same way that it did when we found out that Jack and Kate's "we have to go back" conversation was a flash-forward. It can be confusing at times, but once you grasp it, prepare to get a headache.

In the same way that the Oceanic Six were fragmented prior to getting off the island, they're spread just as far apart back on the mainland as season five begins. However, that doesn't last for too long as Ben (Michael Emerson is stellar in these two eps) and Jack begin what they started in last season's finale - reassembling the gang! Meanwhile, back on the island, the remaining Losties, freighties, and Others buckle up as the island takes them on what I can only imagine is the most nauseating Tilt-A-Whirl ride ever.

The premiere heavily features Daniel, Sawyer, Sayid, Hurley, Juliet, Charlotte, and Ben and one of them ends up having a major connection to an important, yet minor, character who also makes an appearance by the end of the second hour. Fans will also be happy to hear that one other favorite makes a brief return in the most unexpected of ways.

A few other goodies...

• Every other early review I've read mentions this, so I almost feel obligated - ladies will be pleased to know that Sawyer is shirtless. A lot.
• Richard Alpert's conversation with young John Locke (from "Cabin Fever") and his six items finally starts to make a little bit of sense. A little.
• Penny and Desmond fans will be happy.
• I'm going to be cryptic with this one: apparently Ben has a soft spot for a really good porterhouse steak.
• After the first two minutes of the premiere, you're really going to want to know just what the hell else Daniel has written in that notebook of his. (This video from ComicCon relates directly to what I'm talking about. A hint? Listen to the voice behind the camera before you make any assumptions.)

That's all I've got. Lost is back and it's - wait for the cliché - better than ever! No, seriously though. It is. If I can make a suggestion, re-watch the season four finale. You'll be much clearer in the head with some of that stuff fresh in your mind... even though you'll forget about all of it once you see these two new episodes.