Loose And Lost

I'm not one of those whiners, ubiquitous on talkbacks, who complain that every episode of Lost doesn't answer enough. I understand that the story is still in the early stages, and the mystery drives it--big questions take time to explains. But it's getting hard to ignore the loose ends.

With a huge ensemble, they have a lotta balls in the air by necessity, but some episodes it seems they forgot what happened last time. Not that long ago (by island time--it's been months of TV time, considering how rare new episodes are), Jack, Locke and Sawyer met the Others and were told to watch out. You'd think this would be the talk of the Island, but after a mild attempt to start an Army with Ana Lucia, any notice of this threat seems to have petered out.

Then Sawyer (acting out of character?) pulled a long con on Jack and Locke and stole all the guns. (It seems to me the essence of a successsful con is when it's over, you fade away into the night, or at least your mark doesn't know he's been taken, but Sawyer still hangs around proudly--but let's ignore this.) You'd think all that Locke, Jack, Sayid and others would do at this point is put constant surveillance on Sawyer until he gives the stash back, but they all act like it didn't happen.

Then Claire and Kate find another bunker on the island, with valuable information about the Others. You'd think they'd tell everyone, and it would create a huge stir, but it seems to have been forgotten.

Now we've got the prisoner, Henry Gale, who's already been interrogated by half the regulars and seems to be on everyone's mind, but it's not even clear what Locke or Jack, his main jailers (though he was brought in by Sayid) plan to do with him.

Note to the producers: you don't have to explain the numbers, or the black smoke, or the Dharma initiative every week. Your characters don't even always have to talk to each other about the amazing things that happen to them. But they shouldn't act like each day is their first on the island.