Lost at Comic-Con: Darlton Gives Back to the Fans Big Time!

It was a rock concert.  There's simply no other way to describe what went down at this morning's Lost panel.  After waiting outside, in some cases all night, under the starry San Diego sky, the doors were opened and throngs of Lost fans flooded Hall H.  Luckily, I was able to secure prime seating thanks to my new best friend Jo from Jopinionated.   As the lights dimmed, the image above hit the screen and the place erupted like The Beatles just stepped out onto Ed Sullivan's stage.  Except it wasn't the Beatles, it was better.  It was Darlton!

Damon Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse, know collectively, and affectionately by fans as "Darlton" (or the lesser known Cuseloff in some parts) took their seats in front of the massive crowd and laid out their agenda for the last Lost Comic-Con panel.  And Carlton did say "last," for those of you hoping there might be a series wrap up panel at next year's Con.

Five Comic-Cons and one massive hit television show later, Darlton said it's time to give back to the fans.  And boy did they!  First off, we were shown what Darlton described as a clip from an "old 80's TV show."  An aged, grainy ABC logo flickered on screen and we were shown a promo for a show called "Mysteries of the Universe: The Dharma Initiative."  The show looks to be some sort of documentary type news program ala 20/20, that delves into the world of "secret socities," namely the Dharma Initiative.  As Darlton revealed later in the panel, the Dharma Initiative won't be playing such a big role in season six.  "Mysteries of the Universe" featurette is something we can look forward to on DVD.

Then the duo quickly got into the Q&A portion of the panel.  A series of rather interesting "audience" members took to the mic to hurl questions at the showrunners.  One guy unvieled a velvet panting of Damon and Carlton with the polar bear nestled between them.  Another gentleman from Boston asked about Nestor Carbonell's eyeliner situation (we'll get to that in just a moment...).  Then Jorge Garcia emerged to take the mic, deafening applause ensued, and then Garcia asked Darlton the question many of us have had on our mind since the season finale.  If Jack did succeed in his mission to reset the Lostie's lives, then they never would have met to begin with and the past five seasons would ostensibly be all for naught, kinda like cheating, Jorge suggested.  Darlton assured the six thousand some odd fans and the lovable Garcia that they won't pulling any cheap stunts to wrap up the story.  We will be satisified.  Then Michael Emerson showed up and once again I felt like I was seeing Cheap Trick at Budokan.

Emerson and Garcia engaged in some humerous verbal sparring and then the portly actor revealed that it was the role of Hurley Emerson wanted from the start.  Cue Michael Emerson's "Hurley" script read.  Wearing a doo rag and a crummy black t-shirt, we see Emerson read a script side from a scene between Hurley and Sayid.   Simply hysterical stuff.

Now back to Nestor Carbonell.  Remember that dude from Boston who asked about his guyliner?  After the question was posed, Darlton announced that Nestor was in the building but was back stage in makeup.  Cue clip of Nestor Carbonell looking into a large, lit mirror at a dressing room table, applying eyeliner and then having a diva fit and bitching that it was the wrong hue.  I think he said he needs cobalt...

Immediately after the clip rolled, Carbonell took to the stage.  And Darlton revealed that we will be learning more about Richard Alpert's backstory in season six, perhaps via flashback, and we already know those will be scarce in the final season.  Darlton stated early on in the panel that each season has a storytelling theme, we've seen flashbacks, flashforwards and in the sixth and final season we'll get something else.  Of course, they wouldn't say what that is. 

Back to the fan service.  Damon and Carlton said they'd like to highlight some of the fan tributes to Lost that have accumulated over the years.  A moment later, the packed crowd is going nuts over a Lost "Dear Sister" parody which has made its way across fandom via YouTube.  We also saw a Jack and Sawyer "Brokeback Mountain" parody that had people sitting next to me in tears.  Yes, it was really touching.

Then just before Josh Halloway emerges, a bunch of great Sawyer moments lit up the big screen as Foghat's "Slow Ride" blasted over the speakers.  Friggin rock concert, I tell ya!

Earlier on in the panel, D & C addressed the often asked question of how far ahead the story has progressed in the writers' room.  To the very end, said Darlton.  And to prove their point they produced a sheet of paper which they claimed had the final scene of ethe series laid out on it.  They locked what may be the most spoilery piece of paper in television history in the box and said they'd read the night of the finale on Jimmy Kimmel Live. 

But that didn't happen.  Instead, Josh Holloway took out a taser, zapped Damon Lindelof with it and took the key to the box from around his neck.  Then Michael Emerson read what was on the paper.  It was a scene from Heroes!  Yes, Heroes!  To hear Michael Emerson say, "Sy-lar" multiple times as he read the page, pure comedy.   After reading a few more lines, he exclaimed "what the f*ck is this?"  Pandemonium again!

Can't forget to mention we also saw a few "messages from sponers."  One featured Hurley promoting "Outback Roasters" at Mr. Clucks.  The other was an Oceanic spot.  And finally, they played a clip from America's Most Wanted featuring Kate.  Interestingly, John Walsh revealed that while she intended to kill her stepfather Wayne Jennsen, she instead killed a man named Ryan Miller - his plumbing apprentice.  Darlton pointed that out after the clip rolled and in their typical coy fashion asked the audience, "what does that mean...?"

Oh and Dominic Monaghan came out at the end, after an "In Memorium" video was shown, commemorating all the red shirts and other dead Losties.   It was scored with "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye" by Boys II Men.  Classic

Other tidbits - Elizabeth Mitchell will be back, (and it should be noted was NOT seen in the "In Memorium" piece) so will Daniel Faraday and Boone Caryle and we'll learn about where the Dharma food drop comes from!  Bring it on, season six!