- This article is about the episode. For the phrase, see Namaste (salutation).
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"Namaste" is the ninth episode of Season 5 of Lost and the 92nd episode overall. It was originally broadcast on March 18, 2009. The return of his old friends to the Island forces Sawyer to struggle to keep his lie concealed.
Synopsis
1977
Hurley, amazed that Sawyer is alive, greets him with a bear hug.
Jack, Kate, and Hurley greet Sawyer with excitement and hugs. When Jack asks Sawyer why he is wearing a DHARMA Initiative jumpsuit, Sawyer tells them that they are in 1977. Miles calls Jin on the walkie-talkie, asking where he is. Jin warns Sawyer that if he doesn’t report in soon a search party will be sent out and asks what they should do with the new arrivals. Sawyer decides to bring them to the Barracks. When Jack informs them that a plane crashed, and that others, including Sun were on the plane, Jin takes off, saying that he’s going to the Flame to talk to Radzinsky.
Back at the Barracks, Juliet asks Miles where Sawyer is. Looking on monitors in a DHARMA station, Miles sees Sawyer back at their cabin. When she gets back, Juliet asks him what is going on. He informs her that Jack, Kate, and Hurley have returned, and he is trying to figure a way to sneak them into the Barracks. Juliet then tells him that a submarine is scheduled to arrive that day.
Radzinsky, carefully building the geodesic dome of the Swan station's computer room.
At the Flame, Radzinsky is building a model of the Swan’s geodesic dome. Jin bursts in and begins checking instruments. Radzinsky warns Jin away, saying that only he is allowed to use these instruments. When Jin asks about a possible plane crash, Radzinsky expresses skepticism and refuses to help. However, when Jin physically threatens him, Radzinsky puts out a call to the other DHARMA stations to report in any sightings of a plane.
Juliet then retrieves the submarine manifest from Amy who is relaxing with her new baby. Amy informs Juliet that two of the new recruits had dropped out at the last minute. Juliet inquires about the name of the baby, and Amy reveals that she and Horace plan to name their new baby Ethan. Afterwards she asks when her and Jim are going to have a child.
At the Flame, Radzinsky informs Jin that the last station reported in with no sighting of a plane. He tells Jin to go home, but before they can do anything an alarm goes off. A motion detector has detected a Hostile within their perimeter. Jin races outside and into the tall grass surrounding the Flame. He sees someone moving and calls to them to stop. Getting closer he sees that it is Sayid. They greet each other happily and Jin asks about Sun’s whereabout. All Sayid has time to do is tell Jin that he doesn’t know where Sun is before Radzinsky shows up. Jin is forced to pretend that Sayid is a Hostile and forces him to kneel at gunpoint, warning him that he will be killed if he says another word.
Sawyer arrives at the Barracks with Jack, Kate, and Hurley. He informs them that they will be inducted into the DHARMA Initiative. At this point Miles arrives and informs Sawyer that Jin has a problem at the Flame. Calling Jin on the walkie talkie Sawyer discovers that Sayid has been captured and that Radzinsky is “taking care of it.”
At the Barracks, Jack is being processed in by Pierre Chang. After asking him a few questions he gives Jack his new assignment, as a workman performing janitorial duties. Meanwhile Kate is questioned by Phil, who becomes suspicious when her name does not appear on the recruits list. Before he can become any more suspicious Juliet appears with a new list which she claims to have gotten from Amy and which contains Kate’s information.
A young Ben brings Sayid a sandwich
Meanwhile, at the Flame Sawyer arrives to collect Sayid, but discovers that Radzinsky is very suspicious of Sayid, who he believes might have seen the plans for the Swan. Sawyer collects Sayid, and takes him to the Barracks.
As the group is about to get a welcoming photo, Sawyer interrupts the ceremony for the new arrivals by bringing Sayid to the Barracks. Sawyer and Radzinsky usher Sayid into an underground holding cell. That night, Jack goes to see Sawyer and finds Juliet at his house. After a heartfelt greeting she shows him inside where Sawyer is sitting and reading a book. Jack asks him about Sayid and Sawyer informs him that he’s thinking of a way to save him. After criticizing Jacks leadership style, Sawyer sees him out. As Jack walks away, Sawyer looks over to see Kate standing at a nearby house.
At the holding cell, Sayid is delivered a sandwich by a polite young boy. After a friendly exchange, the boy identifies himself as Ben.
2008
Flight 316 preparing to land on the runway.
Just before the crash of Ajira Airways Flight 316, the Oceanic Six contemplate their fate. In the cabin, the co-pilot tells Frank Lapidus that he recognized Hurley as one of the Oceanic Six, and marvels at Hurley's willingness to fly over the South Pacific again. Shortly afterward, the plane encounters heavy turbulence. Frank takes manual control and attempts to correct the course of the plane. There’s a flash of light and suddenly they find themselves in the middle of a bright, beautiful day. The plane begins giving them a stall warning. Frank tries to get the plane under control, but as they emerge from the clouds the Island looms in front of them. Fighting for control of the plane, Frank manages to miss hitting a hill. As he flies over the Island, the copilot sees what looks like a runway. Frank flies toward it and lands, but cannot stop the plane before the end of the runway. He blacks out, and upon awakening discovers his co-pilot has been killed, impaled by a tree branch.
In the cabin, Caesar checks on Ilana, who has passed out. He wakes her and informs her of the crash. After noting that Sayid is gone, she gets up with Caesar’s help. Frank then emerges from the cockpit to check on people. Sun calls to him and he goes to help her, asking where the other Oceanic Six members are. At this point, Ben informs them that the other Oceanic Six members disappeared.
As Sun is staring out to sea, Ilana comes up and asks if she had lost someone in the plane crash. Sun replies that she was traveling alone. Frank then calls everyone together and informs them that his radio is not working, but that their best plan is to simply wait for rescue. At this point Caesar asks where they are and expresses skepticism at Frank's claim that the Island is not on the maps. Caesar notes that there are buildings nearby and another Island visible across the water. On hearing this, Ben, who had been sitting near by, takes off into the jungle. Sun follows him and when she catches him Ben explains that he’s heading back to the main Island and invites Sun to come with him.
Ben then informs Sun that he doesn’t know where Jin is but that the main Island is the logical place to start looking. He convinces Sun to come with him. At this point Frank emerges from the Jungle and warns Sun not to trust Ben. She argues that she has to and the two of them follow Ben to where a trio of outriggers have been hidden. As Ben talks to Frank Sun sneaks up behind him and knocks him out with a boat oar.
Christian Shephard silhouetted in the doorway
Frank and Sun arrive at the dock at night. Walking along the dock they see debris scattered about and hear something rustling through the jungle near the end of the dock. Arriving at the Barracks they find the place destroyed and apparently deserted. The two hear the whispers, then a light goes on in one of the cabins. A door opens and a silhouetted figure greets them. He identifies himself as Christian and when Sun asks about her husband he tells them to follow him. Heading into the cabin Christian locates a picture on the wall from 1977. When he shows it to Frank and Sun they see their friends in a recruiting photo from the DHARMA Initiative.
Trivia
General
Production notes
Bloopers and continuity errors
Mysterious Woman Behind Sun
- Immediately after Christian Shepard tells Sun "but you have a bit of a journey ahead of you," there appears to be a production crew member in the frame behind Sun's left shoulder. As the scene is rather dark, this is most easily seen on high-definition screens with the brightness turned up.
Recurring themes
| Recurring themes |
|---|
| Animals • Black and white • Character connections • Children • Coincidence • Death • Deceptions and cons • Dreams • Economics • Electromagnetism • Eyes • Fate versus free will • Games • Good and bad people • Imprisonment • Isolation • Leadership • Life and death • Literary works • Mirrors • Missing body parts • Nicknames • The Numbers • Pairings • Parapsychology • Parent issues • Pregnancies • Psychology • Rain • Redemption • Relationships • Religion • Revenge • Salvation • Secrets |
- Sayid sees a young Ben. (Children)
- Sayid is presumed to be a hostile. (Others)
- Amy names her son Ethan. (Children)
- Sawyer calls Hurley "Kong", Radzinsky "Quick Draw", and Jack "Doc". (Nicknames)
- The co-pilot dies from the 316 crash. (Death)
- The numbers are heard over the radio as the plane is going down. (Numbers)
- Sun was lying about trusting Ben. (Deceptions and cons)
- Sawyer criticized Jack's leadership. (Rivalries) (Leadership)
- Sayid is imprisoned by the DHARMA Initiative. (Imprisonment)
Cultural references
| Cultural references (direct references only) |
|---|
| Art • Automobiles • Games • History • Literary works • Movies and TV • Music • Philosophy • Religion and ideologies • Science |
- "Ride Captain Ride": This song by the band Blues Image was played at the processing center. Significant lyrics include: "Ride, captain ride upon your mystery ship/Be amazed at the friends you have here on your trip." (Music)
- "Dharma Lady": This Geronimo Jackson song plays as the new recruits are photographed. It was previously heard playing in Jin's DHARMA van in "316". (Music)
- King Kong: Sawyer calls Hurley "Kong" minutes after reuniting. (Movies and TV)
- Buckminster Fuller: Radzinsky is working on a model of one of Fuller's geodesic domes as part of a larger model of the Swan Station when Jin comes into the Flame Station.
- Winston Churchill: Sawyer mentions that Churchill used to read every night before going to bed because it helped him think, even during the Blitz.
- The Muppet Show: This show plays on one of the televisions in The Flame. (Movies and TV)
Literary techniques
| Literary techniques |
|---|
| Comparative: Irony • Juxtaposition • Foreshadowing Plotting: Cliffhanger • Plot twist Stock characters: Archetype • Redshirt • Unseen character Story: Flashbacks • Flash-forwards • Flash sideways • Framing device • Regularly spoken phrases • Symbolism • Unreliable narrator |
- Jack, Kate and Hurley taking the DHARMA Initiative induction photo. (Foreshadowing)
Storyline analysis
| Storyline analysis |
|---|
| A-Missions • Crimes • Economics • Leadership • O-Missions • Relationships • F-Missions • Rivalries • S-Missions |
- Sawyer manages to imprison Sayid instead of killing him. (Cons) (Imprisonment)
- Sawyer expands his con to include the sudden appearance of Jack's group. (Deceptions and cons) (A-missions)
Episode references
- The same orientation film at the welcome center was playing on Ben's first arrival on the island. ("The Man Behind the Curtain")
- Frank references the mercenary team and their quest to find Ben. ("The Shape of Things to Come")
- Jack reminds Sawyer that he got off the Island. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 2")
- Kate asks Jack about his conversation with Eloise Hawking. ("316")
- Pierre Chang and Juliet both reference Amy's pregnancy and delivery. ("LaFleur")
- Radzinsky is building the blueprint for the Swan station. ("Man of Science, Man of Faith")
- Sayid's capture as a "Hostile" is referred to with the code "14-J." "Code 14-J" was heard on the automated phone message after Alex entered the duress code into the sonar fence control panel. ("The Shape of Things to Come")
Unanswered questions
| Unanswered questions |
|---|
|
- For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: Namaste/Theories
- Why was "Christian" in the Barracks?
- What has happened at the Barracks since Locke and Sawyer left three years ago?
- Why didn't all of the 316 passengers end up in the same year?
- Why was Sun not transported to 1977?
- Why wasn’t Ben transported either?
- What is "the long journey" that Christian tells Sun she has ahead of her?
- Where did Faraday go?
- Why was Radzinsky so concerned that 'the hostile' knew about the Swan, and particularly that he saw where it was being built?
- When and where are Rose, Bernard and the other remaining survivors of Flight 815?
- Why is Ethan's lastname Rom and not Goodspeed?
- And what is Amy's lastname?
External links
- ABC Medianet Press Release (3/2/09): Press Release