-- Malinda Lo from AfterEllen.com

The reviews are in — and they're practically gushing in their praise ("Oh. My. God." is how one reviewer put it). Tonight, at long last, we're finally getting back to the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, led by emotionally scarred antihero Dr. Jack, and their weird, creepy, epic battle with the mysterious forces on that unplottable island that wreak havoc with women having babies (or something). I can't wait!

Sure, there are some downsides to the return. Even though Lost on Thursday nights is now going to be an oasis of newness in a strike-parched winter, it's only going to last for eight episodes. Sob. (Thankfully, by then Battlestar Galactica will be back!) And the long-teased gay character has never appeared. Maybe this will be the year, but I'm not holding my breath.

So to while away the hours until I'm back on the island, here are some photos from tonight's episode, "The Beginning of the End." I haven't read any spoilers, so I can't actually offer you any hints as to what's going to happen. But feel free to speculate away in the comments!

Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell) looks surprisingly happy

The boys in the jungle, looking, um, lost

Sun (Yunjin Kim), Claire (Emilie de Ravin) and baby Aaron

The French woman's daughter, Alex (Tania Raymonde), looking surprisingly sexy

The French woman, Danielle Rousseau (Mira Furlan) and creepy Others leader, Ben (Michael Emerson)

Kate (Evangeline Lilly) proves that sweaty is still sexy

If you feel like you need a quick refresher as to what happened in the previous three seasons, don't forget about the 8-minute long Cliffs notes video synopsis, which I'll helpfully provide for you right here:

The fourth season of Lost premieres tonight on ABC at 9 p.m. ET. It is preceded by a one-hour catch-up clip show at 8 p.m.