I'm definitely on board, i preordered the show through itunes.

This link is a quick overview of Seasons 1-3. There will be a review of all the seasons (but mostly season 4) the hour before the premiere. Combined you could be mostly caught up. I would still recommend going back to watch the other seasons though because they are awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FRALZ62kns

Umm, they've always been major plot points.

Here's the review I read and here's the relevant piece:

This has the potential to either work or be very ridiculous to the point where people start turning it off out of spite.

But it was never done to this extent; one or two episodes, maybe, but not the core of the season. This whole "shattered in time" bit reminds me of a Star Trek: Voyager episode, and you all know how I loathe that show with a passion.

Mmm, spoilers.
I've already started my annual pre-lost troll through lostpedia to refresh my memory, catch up on the ARG's, and see if I missed anything. I love it!

It's important to remember that even though there is time travel, one can't change history. I'm really curious to see how that plays out.

I think mid season 3 was right around the time when they negotiated an end date for the show. It allowed them to not have to stall anymore.

There was some ARG stuff. I didn't really do much off it, but it was connected to Dharma recruiting again and need volunteers.

So if, say, Jack and Kate are "Adam" and "Eve" they have to die. There is no stopping it.

Also, it appears that Hurley has Miles' power and can communicate with the dead. I wonder if Jacob is dead. He does hang out with Claire and Christian Shephard.

This could explain Richard Alpert's uncanny ability to never age. But, how does Mikhail keep coming back from the dead (even though he hasn't, after being blowed up by Charlie)?

If you cannot change history, how was Desmond able to go to Oxford while he was time traveling in 'The Constant'. Is Desmond's time travel not directly related to the island? Desmond didn't physically go back in time did he? Just mentally. hrmm.

Questions questions questions.

A great start to the season, so far. I was hesitant when I heard that they were abandoning the personal flashbacks/forwards for this season... but with all the time jumping it would have become impossible to keep anything straight. As for the time travel- they're handling it really well. Though I have always loved any time-travel based story whether in Lost or other series/books/etc, so I may be biased. I mean really, what's with the temporal hating, people? In the words of Doc Brown, You've GOT to THINK in four DIMENSIONS!

Desmond was in the hatch, mere inches away from the electromagnetic anomaly the thing was sitting on top of, when it exploded. This altered him in some way which is why he became unstuck in time while leaving the island in "The Constant," traveling back and forth along his own timeline. He was able to change things because he was experiencing the two timelines at the same time- regardless of what year it was it was still his "present day." The Losties are unstuck in time but not in the same way that Desmond was, they aren't traveling through their own timelines- they're traveling through the island's timeline. Any effect that they've had on the island's history was already factored in before they started time traveling. I.E.: the events that led up to their current predicament include the results of their present and future time travel. They can't change things anymore because their actions while time traveling are already part of the island's history.

It's possible that at least Richard is able to move through time mostly at will.

It's also possible that the entire season won't consist of the people on the island moving through time all crazy-like, as it would get old soon enough and could greatly reduce the amount of real story to be told.

It's extremely possible that the Lost writers aren't complete f*cking hacks like the Heroes writers and will be able to deal with time travel in an entertaining way that keeps all the rules consistent and isn't filled with copious amounts of f*cking stupid.

It's ultra-ridiculously possible that now that the always perfect Lost is back on TV, I won't be able to sit through the garbage heap that is Heroes any more.

I'm stoked for this new season i have been an avid fan since near the begining i think the time shifting is an awesome idea if done properly and i think faraday is gonna be a huuuge part of this i cant wait to see how the hurley/sayid events play out i would like to know more on the jacob thing it has been killing me since they introduced the cabin and the neverending tree chopping guy lol forgot his name and i also think desmond is not affected because a) he was not on the plane b) the whole seeing the future events may have changed it so he is immune to the shifting c)he's desmond im in this till the end keep it up and namaste

Wow, uh, I don't want to be that guy, but you should probably check out the code of conduct thread. http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/38063.

On topic, great episode. Was Frogurt wearing a red shirt by any chance?

I was under the impression that Desmond has a special relationship to the Island Time-Weirdness because of his exposure to the Hatch magnetic-anomaly overload at the end of season 2.

My current (unfounded) theory about the "Natives" not time traveling is because they are somehow part of the island so they would not shift any more than the rocks and the trees would. No proof but it feels right to me for now.

Richard had knowledge given to him by Locke at some point in Richards past but in Locke's future. That is why he told Locke that the next time they meet he would not recognize him and gave him the compass to give to himself in Locke's future.

Zathras not of this time. You take, Zathras die. You leave, Zathras die. Either way, it is bad for Zathras.