LOST Spoilers #314: "Expose": Die, Nikki and Paulo, Die!

Am I being too harsh in that post title? Then again I am only trying to reflect the overwhelming sentiment among fans of the ABC drama who resented the new "losties" Rodrigo Santoro (Paulo) and Kiele Sanchez (Nikki) ever since they appeared in episode #303. Are they really about to die? Is one of them gay?

Their lackluster stint on the show may now have run its course. There are spoilers (and possibly foilers) out there that claim Paulo gets shot in the head, bit by a deadly spider, buried alive or all of the above. In any event, they all agree: someone's kicking the bucket. The question is will it be Paulo? Or Nikki? Will it be both of them? Or even someone else?

According to an official press release, Hurley begins to suspect that Sawyer may be involved in an island mystery surrounding two fellow survivors, and Sun learns the truth about her past kidnapping attempt by "The Others."



What ABC hasn't told you and the spoiler sources claim is true is that Nikki and Paulo are searching for diamonds in the episode and they manage to retrieve them from the crash site.

They, however, encounter spiders whose byte can trigger paralysis as the victims appear clinically dead. After Nikki (who is a former stripper) arranges that Paulo succumbs to a spider byte, she gets bit herself. Or is it the other way around? Will Paulo be the one to set Nikki up?

As the tragic story of greed ends, the two are found by the losties, Sawyer digs up graves and they are buried alive.



Executive producer Damon Lindelof acknowledged that Nikki and Paulo are "universally despised" by fans, but said that would change, and vowed: "We had a plan when we introduced them, and we didn't get to fully execute that plan. But when the plan is executed, Nikki and Paulo will be iconic characters on the show."



Michael Ausiello of TV Guide has written: "Unfortunately, we're going to see a lot more of the dead weights on March 28 when they get their very own flashback episode. I know what you're thinking: Who wants to watch an entire episode devoted to those losers? I certainly didn't, until I found out who else was going to be in the episode: Shannon, Boone, Ethan and Mr. Artz! Plus, there's apparently a twist so shocking, watercoolers won't just be buzzing the next morning, they'll be exploding. (Please, God, let it be a double murder.)"



Indeed, William Mapother returns in the episode as Ethan Rom, Ian Somerhalder as Boone, Maggie Grace as Shannon and Daniel Roebuck as Dr. Artz. The episode will flash back to the day Oceanic flight 815 crashed on the island and tell us about these characters from a perspective we hadn't seen before.



The scene may also reveal how Ethan who ran to the crash site from Othersville mixed himself among the survivors, as well as the origin of diamonds. Dr. Artz will be warning Nikki about the spiders, which is how she will come up with that devious plan to get rid of Paulo.



Ever since the third season premiere and Kate's shower scene, fans have speculated that Mr. Friendly (a.k.a. Zeke, a.k.a. Tom) may be gay and may find Matthew Fox's Jack attractive (could you blame him?). It appears however that the gay character LOST fans have speculated about may in the end be either Nikki or Paulo.



Veteran actor Billy D. Williams will meanwhile make a special appearance in the episode and Jacob Witkin appears as Howard L. Zukerman, a 70ish, wealthy Australian TV producer who has many ex-wifes, a current wife, and a hot young girlfriend. He will presumably be tied to Nikki's flashback.



Finally, Charlie gets what he has had coming for a very long time. In the episode, Sun finally finds out who actually kidnapped her, she learns of Sawyer's involvement and the reveal of course causes problems between Charlie and Claire. She however decides not to tell Jin.



Do keep in mind some of these spoilers may be "foilers" leaked onto the Internet by the people behind the show, so do tune in to ABC this Wednesday at 10 to find out what really happens on the "Expose" episode of LOST.

This is TELEVISIONISTA