Television Review: The Constant (Lost, S4X05, 2008)

The Constant (S0405)

Airdate: 28 February 2008

Written by: Carlton Cuse & Damon Lindelof
Directed by: Jack Bender

Running Time: 43 minutes

Throughout its tumultuous six-season run, the television phenomenon Lost dabbled in a vast array of genres, ranging from plain drama and action to adventure and thriller. However, one of the most easily recognisable and enduring facets of the series was its foray into science fiction. Among the myriad of instalments that showcased this genre, the credentials of which cannot be denied, stands Season 5’s episode The Constant. This particular episode explores the concept of time travel in perhaps not the most original, but consistently logical and immensely effective way, resulting in what the show’s creators have considered their absolute best episode.

The idea of time travel had been heavily foreshadowed, most notably in Season 3’s Flashes Before Your Eyes, which dealt directly with the character of Desmond Hume. That narrative groundwork is picked up in The Constant as Desmond, alongside Sayid, has boarded Frank Lapidus’s helicopter in a desperate bid to reach the freighter boat and find answers. Yet, the helicopter fails to reach its destination, a failure that likely stems from the time dilation phenomenon hinted at by Daniel Farraday in the earlier episode. The episode vividly depicts what happens to the helicopter and Desmond during this flight. As the chopper experiences severe turbulences, the plot suddenly shifts abruptly to 1996. In this timeline, Desmond Hume serves in the British Army and interprets the helicopter flight as a strange dream. Later in the episode, Desmond finds himself back in the helicopter, completely baffled and unable to recognise the people around him. He is brought on board the freighter, which is revealed to be named the Kahana. Here, Sayid meets two crew members—Martin Keamy (Kevin Durand) and Omar (Anthony Azizi)—who insist on taking Desmond to the sickbay. Desmond is subsequently thrust back into 1996, completely bewildered by the experience, only to return to 2004 to meet Dr. Ray (Marc Vann), the ship’s doctor. Whatever happened to Desmond apparently happened to at least two Kahana crew members before him, one of them being the physically and psychologically exhausted communication officer, George Minkowski (Fisher Stevens).

Desmond, with Sayid’s assistance, manages to secure a satellite phone and speaks with Daniel Farraday on the beach. Daniel informs him that Desmond’s consciousness is experiencing time travel and that it is crucial he gets in touch with Daniel’s former self. He provides cryptic instructions, leading the 1996 version of Desmond to leave his barracks and get in touch with Daniel, who is now a physics professor at Oxford University indulging in experiments with time travel using a lab rat named Eloise. Thanks to the instructions, the experiment works, but Eloise dies in the process. Daniel explains that constantly switching between the two time periods would cause the same fate to befall Desmond. The only way to avoid this is through the concept of "the constant"—a person or idea to whom Daniel is emotionally attached in both 1996 and 2004.

For Desmond, that "constant" is Penny, the love of his life. The 1996 version of Desmond takes great effort to track Penny down and find her phone number. After many logistical hurdles, he manages to meet her and asks for the number, intending to call her on Christmas Eve of 2004. The plan ultimately works; despite numerous problems with communications, Desmond manages to call Penny and, in a brief but moving conversation, establishes his constant. Back on the beach, Daniel looks at his notes and discovers that Desmond is his constant.

The Constant" was written by the show’s top writing team of Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof. By their own testimony, it was one of the most difficult episodes to develop because the consequences of its plot and concept on the rest of the series had to be well-thought out in advance. The plot utilises a quasi-flashback structure that presents events from the perspective of the 1996 version of Desmond. While the plot is very complex, it is nevertheless presented to the audience in a comprehensive and effective way, never overwhelming the viewer despite the temporal gymnastics.

The authors, by their own admission, were not too original in their concept. They were heavily inspired by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s 1969 novel Slaughterhouse Five and its protagonist Billy Pilgrim, who finds himself in the same predicament as Desmond. Another source of inspiration was the legendary finale of Star Trek: The Next Generation, All Good Things…, where Captain Picard has to shuffle through three distinct time periods. Despite these influences, the execution elevates the material above mere pastiche.

The episode is confidently directed by Jack Bender, but its greatest asset remains the acting. Henry Ian Cusick delivers a stellar performance as Desmond, managing to be very different yet the same as the character from previous episodes. Jeremy Davies also shines, playing two different versions of Daniel with distinct emotional beats. The episode also introduces Kevin Durand as the tall and intimidating Keamy, while Fisher Stevens leaves a strong impression in the role of the doomed Minkowski. Together, these elements create a tightly woven narrative that remains one of the high-water marks of science fiction television.

RATING: 8/10 (+++)

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