The Missing Pieces

Tropical Depression
Featuring Michael & Arzt
Timeframe: Season 1
Look, the only reason we even remember who Arzt is is because of Hurley’s memorable “Dude, you have some Arzt on you.” After the dynamite blows him to smithereens. After Arzt admits to Michael that he knows nothing about monsoons or the weather, he then cries on Michael’s shoulder about how he came to be on Flight 815 because he used an online dating service to meet someone in Australia. Turns out, he was less than honest about that as well, since he used someone else’s picture and she left after she saw him. And I’ve already devoted too much time to this meaningless clip.

Buried Secrets
Featuring Michael & Sun
Timeframe: Season 1
Michael catches Sun burying her new American drivers license she was going use to start her new life in California after leaving Jin: “Dahlia Choi 4671 Vista Lime, Los Angeles, California.” (Interestingly, the picture on the license is a season 1 shot of Sun with no bangs and long hair.) She confesses to Michael that she was going to leave him, but chickened out just before they got on the plane. Sun starts crying, “He’s not the man I married!” and Michael consoles her, saying that it is hard on everyone and to give Jin a little time. Sun then looks up at Michael and they gaze into each other’s eyes, leaning closer and closer in for the kiss….when along comes Vincent, who spoils the moment. Sun runs away and Michael looks stricken.

Arzt and Crafts
Featuring Sun, Jin, Michael, Hurley and Arzt
Timeframe: Season 1
Sun & Jin are discussing Boone and Shannon. Jin thinks they are a couple, Sun explains they are brother and sister. To which Jin asks, “How do you know, do they speak Korean?” except he says this in Korean and English subtitles appear on the screen. The Arzt comes out, complaining about Jack wanting them to move to the caves because they are moist and bugs will come and lay eggs in their mouths. “Why should we move to the caves just because Jack says so? Because he’s a doctor?” Honestly, this character is so annoying, he makes me long for Nikki and Paolo. Then the “monster” makes and appearance and wussy Arzt is all about he caves.

Room 23
Featuring Juliet & Ben
Timeframe: Season 2
Alarm bells are sounding at the Hydra Station. Others are running up and down the corridor. Ben runs up to Juliet: “He’s done it again,” Juliet tells him. “Done what again?” Ben asks. “You know.” Juliet says. Ben tells her she needs to go in there and tell him to stop doing it and Juliet tells Ben, No way, Jose, I’m not going in there and neither is anybody else. Apparently the kid behind the door in Room 23 (the same room where Carl was being brainwashed) is Walt and the Others have bitten off a bit more than they can chew with this one. They are all scared of him. Juliet wants to bring him back because she knows his father is out there looking for him. Ben says no. Juliet then tells Ben that this is his responsibility since he was the one who wanted him there. “Jacob wanted him her.” Ben replies. “He’s important. He’s special.” “He’s Dangerous,” Juliet replies. “He’s just a child!” Ben argues. “What kind of child does this?” and Juliet takes him outside to show Ben a pile of dead birds that Walt has supposedly killed. Ben and Juliet exchange worried/scared looks, music surges, then BOOM—fade to black.

Best missing piece of the bunch.

Operation: Sleeper
Featuring Jack & Juliet
Timeframe: Season 3
This is the part where Juliet tells Jack she’s still working for Ben. The only reason she’s with them right now is because Ben told her to be there. It is only a matter of time before the Lostaways figure out what she’s up to. Jack, as usual, can’t believe he misjudged someone so badly. He KNOWS Juliet is one of them because he saw how badly she wanted to get off the island. She tells Jack she was naïve to think he’d just let them go. “Let us go? Ben was in a WHEELCHAIR. John Locke blew up the sub!” “Did he? Juliet responds, with that little Mona Lisa smile and quisling voice of hers. “I have been living Benjamin Linus’s dreams for three years. THREE YEARS, Jack. It’s time to wake up.”

The Deal
Featuring Michael & Juliet
Timeframe: Season 2
In which Juliet cuts a deal with Michael to trade Ben for Walt and a boat. Juliet tells Michael she’s glad Michael is going to take Walt away from them. She thinks he is a very “Special” boy, which for some reason really ticks Michael off when she says that. Then she tells Michael about the deal she made with Ben, how he saved her sister’s life and now she has to stay there. “What’s the point, if you can’t be with her?” Michael asks. “Wouldn’t you do ANYTHING to save your son, Michael?” Juliet asks him as she walks out of the tent.

King of the Castle
Featuring Jack & Ben
Timeframe: Season 3
Jack and a wheelchair-bound Ben are playing chess in Ben’s house. Ben remarks how it must be strange for Jack to be over here with them. Jack says, “Well, I got what I wanted.” Ben then reassures Jack that he has every intention of letting him get off the island. A little debate about Ben’s meaning ensues, during which Ben tells Jack that if the island doesn’t want him to get off the island, the island will not let him go. “But there may come a day, Jack, when you will wish you could come back. And I hope if that day comes that you remember this conversation.” After which, Ben makes his final move in the chess game, checkmating Jack.

The Adventures of Hurley and Frogurt
Featuring…Duh
Timeframe: Season 2
Frogurt, AKA Neil, confronts Hurley coming out of Rose and Bernard’s tent with a bottle of wine. He wants to know what Hurley’s deal is with Libby and if Hurley isn’t going to make a move, then make room for a real man with bad teeth. “You’re never going to get past doing laundry with her, Hurley.” “Oh yeah? Well we’re way past laundry, dude. We’re going on a picnic right now.” To which Frogurt replies “Well played, Hurley. Well played.”

The Watch
Featuring Jack and his Dad
Timeframe: Just before Jack marries Sarah
Jack is tossing rocks into the ocean when his dad comes up to him and gives him a watch that his father gave him. Christina has never worn the watch because Christian’s dad told Christian on his wedding day that he didn’t like Jack’s mother. But Christian thinks Jack made “absolutely the right choice.” Then Jack puts the watch on and Christian asks Jack for a favor: “If you ever have kids, try to treat them better than I treated you.” Jack chuckles, “No pressure, right?” Then he goes back to throwing rocks in the ocean. This clip is noteworthy in that it is the only “Missing Piece” that does not take part on the island.

Thoughts about “The Missing Pieces”
None of these clips were outtakes; they were all filmed probably in the last couple of months. Sun’s hairdo is an obvious giveaway in “Buried Secrets”.

Like previous recaps/Lost specials, these mini episodes are more valuable for reinforcing what the writers feel are important characters/elements of the story.

Arzt clips are included because I think the actor was available, not because he has anything important or noteworthy to add to this added bonus feature or the story as a whole.

Emphasis on Walt and Michael. Rumor mill has it that Michael returns this season. I can’t see how they will bring back Walt or how they will explain his growth, unless it is explained away by some property of the island. In any event, in addition to the return of Michael, I believe that some answers about Walt’s “specialness” may be forthcoming this season.

The rumor mill also is forecasting the return of Libby; through what I can only assume is the magic of back-story, which would explain “The Adventures of Hurley and Frogurt”.

I cannot speculate on the amount of screen time Frogurt will get. I suspect we will see more of him this season but that he will be killed off soon.

A Jack/Christian Sheppard back-story was included for a reason.