Some characters *within the story universe* interpreted it as "electromagnetism." Focusing on electromagnetism because the Dharma Initiative speculated on it (or "exotic matter" if you prefer) doesn't necessarily imply narrative truth. Some viewers treat Pierre Chang's words in the orientation videos as "word of…

But "electromagnetism" was the explanation offered by Dharma Initiative scientists, not necessarily the actual way the universe worked in LOST.

I didn't like the Dark Tower ending the first time through. The second time through, it made sense, especially as it was foreshadowed throughout. Just like LOST, which was clearly a supernatural story from the pilot onward.

That would explain how the US military found the Island in the early 1950s. It also explains why the names were written in pencil: as the candidates got killed off, Jacob could just pencil in new ones.

Some of the upset at the conclusion of LOST was because LOST clearly came down on the side of the supernatural, including a real afterlife. It's like the one "theme which cannot be named or explored."

A hotel is someplace in-between. You stay in one when you don't actually live in a place, usually.

Good point. What is the afterlife, other than another form of alternate universe?

The water-drinking seems pretty straightforward: it's Lethe, which in Greek mythology was a river in the underworld. Newly-arrived souls drank from it and forgot about their lives on earth.

Do we have to apologize for the LOST finale now? ;-)

Also, the hotel as a portal to the "other world."

Good point. Somebody who at least partially expects them to come back to life.

To me, the most important "human condition" point which came out of the episode was the change in Kevin's interactions with Patti, a woman who he intensely hated. He recognized Patti as a child. He heard her story, heard the things which broke her as a person. Then, after he pushed her in the well, he went down to…

LOST (besides the flash-sideways, which is a whole other topic) did have one shorter trippy dream sequence, where John Locke struggles through the Sydney airport under Smokey's direction, and pretty much learns the fate of the major characters, among other things.

I wouldn't call this episode "a detour" at all. While I favor the supernatural interpretation of things, my remarks apply either way: drug-induced hallucination, or real shamanic journey into a genuine bardo or afterlife.

You're right: at first Kevin got sprayed with windex when he gave what seemed to be the straightforward and honest answer ("I'm addicted to nicotine.") The *real* answer, the right answer for him was "To remember," i.e. the GR answer.

…or an island.

"Australia is the key to the whole game." (Sorry, couldn't resist a LOST quote here.)

There were people there who were definitely dead: Gladys, Wayne, Patti, etc. I agree that it was more like a way-station, but (if real) meant to show an ante-room to the afterlife.

In essence, the episode implies (in my opinion) that when we die we enter a realm that is part dream/part real, where different people are dealt their fate or karma to be rendered out or enacted accordingly, and which will overlap with other people's "karmic" fate.

Well he did get clobbered by ghost-Patti…