Lost ReWatch: Tricia Tanaka is Dead
Season 3, Episode 10
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Hero of the episode: Hurley Zero of the episode: Hurley’s dad
Quote(s) of the episode: “You gotta make your own luck.”—Hurley’s dad | “Dude, you’re alive.”—Hurley to Sawyer | “Yeah, yeah, Snuffy it’s good to see you, too.”—Sawyer to Hurley | “Let’s look death in the face and say, ‘Whatever man.’”—Hurley to Charlie
Music vibes: drumbeats and strings with increasing speed as Hurley chases Vincent; joyous when the van starts
Little things: Hurley’s dad letting his son try to start the car they’re working on; Hurley misses Libby, says the only time he wasn’t scared is when he was with her; Charlie shaves his beard; Sun is only speaking English to Jin so he can learn; Sawyer teaches Jin how to apologize in English; Jin brings Sun a flower
Episode notebook:
Flashbacks to a young Hurley. His father is going on a “business” trip and gives Hurley a chocolate bar before he leaves. With such an emphasis on the chocolate bar, it’s clear paternal abandonment was the start of Hurley’s weight issues.
Charlie tells Hurley about Desmond’s flashes.
Vincent runs toward Hurley and Charlie with a skeletal arm with a key hanging on it. Hurley chases Vincent through the jungle, eventually finding an abandoned VW van turned on its side.
Hurley bought the restaurant he used to work at with his lotto money. More tragedy ensues.
Dad returns after a seventeen-year absence. Mom asked him to come. She wants Hurley to stop talking about a curse.
Hurley wants to go to Australia to trace the source of the dreaded numbers, 4,8, 15, 16, 23, and 42.
Does Dad have an ulterior motive? Dad brings Hurley to a psychic, who just happens to know about his misfortune.
Hurley, Jin, Sawyer, and Charlie work to get the van started and running.
Hurley’s dad says his son needs to find another source of hope because tracing the numbers isn’t the answer.
Kate seeks out Rousseau for help finding Jack.
Episode recap: With an episode title like “Tricia Tanaka is Dead,” it doesn’t sound like there will be a lot of joy or hope ahead. Flashbacks show a young Hurley getting ready for a day of fun with his father. They’re fixing up a classic car, hoping one day it will take them on an adventure to the Grand Canyon. But Dad suddenly has to go on a “business” trip to Vegas, leaving his son disappointed.
Winning the lottery didn’t solve his problems, as nothing but tragedy and bad luck followed Hurley. The streak of bad luck continues when reporter Tricia Tanaka, doing a puff piece on Hurley buying the chicken joint he used to work at, meets a sudden and cinematic end—a meteor crashes into the restaurant, killing her and a cameraman instantly. No one wants to believe he’s cursed, but Hurley keeps insisting he’s bad luck. Ever since he played those dreaded numbers, 4,8, 15, 16, 23, and 42, to win the lotto his grandfather died, his mother broke her ankle, her house burned down, Hurley was arrested, and Tricia Tanaka is dead. What hope is there for an end to the bad luck?
On the island, hope and good luck are in short supply. Kate and Sawyer have returned, but Jack remains a captive. Food is dwindling. Charlie is obsessing about the moment he’s going to die. But Hurley is trying to bring some hope back to the camp. The discovery of an abandoned VW van, tipped on its side, in the jungle offers Hurley a chance to recreate a moment he missed with his dad. Fixing the van could provide the group with a distraction—something fun to focus on instead of dwelling on all that’s going wrong. Although, in the end, Jin is the only one who joins Hurley in the effort.
After the death of Tricia Tanaka, all Hurley could do was worry about everything that was wrong. Going to Australia, the source of the infamous numbers is the only solution Hurley is willing to entertain. His mother thinks such a trip is madness, and perhaps the return of his dad—after seventeen years—can deter Hurley. However, Dad is just another person looking for a payout, despite his words to the contrary. Despite his anger, Hurley has always wanted his dad to return. He could have sold the classic car they once worked on, but Hurley kept it. That car was a symbol of hope, the hope that Hurley would reunite with his dad and finally take that trip to the Grand Canyon. But that hope is withering as Dad, just like his mom, insists on Hurley forget about going to Australia. If Hurley can find hope or inspiration in something else, maybe he can move on in life.
Hurley didn’t find answers in Australia, but he’s starting to regain a glimmer of hope. The return of Sawyer is met with euphoria from Hurley, despite Sawyer’s irritation over people raiding his stash. But the promise of beer from the back of the van is enough motivation to get Sawyer to help Hurley and Jin set the car upright. Now to get it moving, not an easy task considering it looks like the van hasn’t worked in years. Hurley decides to add one more member to the team. Rather than sitting on his tail feeling sorry for himself, Hurley thinks Charlie could make better use of his time trying to jumpstart the van down a steep hill—perfect pitch to a man who believes he’s living on borrowed time. However, when the car starts it’s a moment of levity and brightness—joy and triumph despite all the death and sadness.
On another part of the island, Kate offers a bit of hope in exchange for some help. Kate refuses to give up rescuing Jack. She knows the Others have a home on this island, but she needs help finding it. Danielle knows the island and what kind of enemy the Others are. But why should she help Kate? Alex is the answer. The hope of finally meeting the daughter stolen from her sixteen years ago. Please come back next week for recaps of episodes eleven and twelve.
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Thursday: Lost ReWatch Season 3 Episodes eleven and twelve
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