During Lost‘s fourth season finale, attentive viewers noticed a strange commercial for a company called Octagon Global Recruiting. There was something slightly off about the ad, which immediately reminded rabid Lost fans of the Hanso Foundation commercials that began airing during the show’s second season. The Octagon ad pointed to a website, OctagonGlobalRecruiting.com, which was mostly devoid of content aside from a form where visitors could register for e-mail updates. There was also a message stating that the company’s recruitment drive would take place in San Diego, California from July 24 through 27. Considering that these are the dates of the San Diego Comic-Con, it was immediately obvious this wasn’t a coincidence.
According to Octagon’s website, the company is currently seeking volunteers to contribute to an important new research project. They don’t say what that research project consists of, but they do mention that it will play a vital role in furthering the objectives of the Dharma Initiative. Knowing that Dharma is involved, it comes as no surprise that the website claims to be looking for horticulturists, neuroscientists, parapsychologists, and botanical researchers among other positions.
To further the mystery of this fake company, an e-mail went out yesterday to anyone who had registered on the website. Among other things, the e-mail stated: “We will be launching in San Diego on July 24th at Comic-Con International offering select registrants the opportunity to take an exciting aptitude test that will give applicants the chance to demonstrate their unique talents. The Dharma Initiative hopes you will be able to join us to find out more about their ground-breaking new research project. We will contact you closer to the date with more information.”
All of this is pointing us toward some big Lost announcement at San Diego Comic-Con, but what could it be? While it may be something that ties in to the next two seasons of the show, it’s likely the kick off of the latest Lost alternate reality game. The Hanso Foundation commercials ultimately tied into The Lost Experience, which was an online game designed to engage fans and expand the storyline of the series. The mysteries behind Octagon Global Recruiting are likely meant to keep viewers busy until Lost returns with its fifth season in 2009. I doubt any of it will be important to the mythology of the show, but I could be wrong.
While I’ve never gotten heavily involved in one of Lost‘s online experiences, I do think they’re extremely clever and fun to observe from a distance. If you’ve yet to delve into the world of Octagon Global Recruiting, check out the video below, then head over to the website.
– Don Williams, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of ABC)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
