As the clock ticks inexorably closer to the season premiere of Lost season 5, I’ve been trawling the net – again, because I have no life – to find out what we can expect, and joy of joys, there are some new trailers and pictures out!

Here’s the first new trailer that has a couple of new scenes as well as a few old ones…

Here’s a sneaky peek at the first episode…

The ‘garbled’ speech at the beginning is John Locke in reverse. When played forwards, he says, “Where am I?”

There’s also some new info about what we can expect in the first few episodes including casting info that gives us a clue as to the storyline. Here’s a look at them…

Episode 1 – Because You Left

Sawyer, Bernard, Rose and Juliet share a scene together. They seem to be having a conversation in the jungle and in another scene, Charlotte and Miles go back to the camp.

Also, Hurley and Sayid drive to an apartment block’s parking lot in a late-model blue 4×4 which has California plates. Sayid’s wearing a black shirt and khaki pants while Hurley’s wearing a thick, long, grey bathrobe over a blue T-shirt. Has he only just left the psychiatric institution? Hurley’s also holding a burger and a paper cup.

They sneak upstairs to the top floor, Hurley eating his food on the way. They reach the apartment they’re looking for, and after conferring for a moment, Sayid pushes Hurley aside, draws his gun and points it at the door. The door opens, and there’s a struggle inside. Sayid then throws a man over the railings to the ground, four stories below. There’s another man inside the apartment and gun shots ring out. Hurley emerges from the unit, gun in hand, and looks over at the railing in disbelief.

Episode 2 – The Lie

There’s not a great deal known about the plot of The Lie, but we do have some info about the cast. This episode will feature a character called Cunningham, who is male, mid-20s to early 30s and he’ll have scenes in the third episode as well. He’s athletic, used to living outdoors and living off the land. He’s a loyal soldier but he’s willing to compromise with the enemy to protect his men.

Michelle Rodriguez will also return, probably for just one episode. Cheech Marin is also on the guest list for this episode, so it might be a Hurley-centric one. Hurley might have an imaginary visit from or with Ana Lucia.

We’ll also meet Nigel, a Brit who’s in his late teens. He’ll appear in episodes 2 and 3. He’s ‘rough around the edges’, but mature and very smart. We’re also introduced to Darlene, a bored clerk who hates her job and looks for excitement. She’s a rock chick who plays the guitar in a band. Finally, Jill is a butcher who’s also very cool. She’s a tomboy, a bit of a searcher, but highly competent. I’m guessing this episode is likely to be based around Charlie, at least in part.

Episode 3 – Jughead

Henry Ian Cusick races into the middle of a bustling marketplace. Desmond’s out of breath, sweating and wearing an unbuttoned maroon paisley shirt that’s rolled up to his elbows. He’s holding a piece of paper, reading it as he scans the crowd frantically.

He calls out a name, over and over, but everybody in the crowd just looks on, confused. The last name of the person he calls out is Salonga. Salonga is a Filipino village doctor in a small, rural community. He has his vices but also has genuine medical skills.

Hurley has a car accident, wearing hospital-type clothing he’s speeding down the street and knocking over boxes on the sidewalk. He’s being chased by Ana Lucia in a police car. This might be a hallucination or a flashback.

Casting info: There’s a male British cleaner in his late 40s or 50s. He’s nosey and gossipy and can’t keep a secret. Abigail is also a working class Brit. She’s deeply sarcastic but stoic. She’s a loyal caregiver at heart. There’s also Theresa, who’s a blonde Brit in her 30s who suffers from dementia but also has periods of lucidity. Finally, there’s Sophie, another British woman in her late teens. She’s outwardly a prim and proper aristocrat, but underneath, she’s a tough cookie.

Episode 4 – The Little Prince

Sawyer, Juliet, Daniel, Miles, Charlotte will learn Jin’s fate. He’s to be found floating on a door in the water.

Casting info: This episode will have Dr. Evelyn Ariz, the chief of staff at a hospital. She’s attractive and has good bed-side manner, but she’s also tough and not afraid to make difficult decisions.

Episode 5 – This Place Is Death

Casting info: Brigitte is French and in her early 20s. She’s pretty and self-reliant, working as a waitress in an up-scale restaurant in Tunisia where she meets a mysterious stranger. Could this be a Rousseau-centric episode?

Episode 6 – The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham

Parts of this episode take place at a cemetery. Matthew Abbadon brings a wheelchair-bound John Locke to a graveside. When they leave the cemetery, Abbadon puts the wheelchair in the boot of the car while Locke’s seated in the back. Shots ring out and Abbadon is hit.

Casting info: Hajer is a Middle Eastern male, a local doctor who doesn’t have a traditional medical degree but does have lots of experience. He has tough bed-side manner, but he gets the job done.

Episode 7 – Title Unknown

Casting info: Hal is a white male in his 70s who’s successful, handsome and charming. Mike is a Czech scientist in his 30s or 40s. He’s very intelligent, and his latest discovery might be something big. Vicki’s a very attractive woman in her 30s or 40s. She’s charming and coy and can read a guy better than he knows himself. Rupa is an Indian woman in her 20s. She’s very sweet, but she can be tougher than she appears. Finally, there is Nandi, who is also Indian. He’s smart and professional, and has a firm demeanor because he is used to working with difficult people.

Episode 8 – Title Unknown

Casting info: Amy is a smart, attractive, charismatic white woman in her late 30s. She’s outdoorsy and adventurous and successful in her career. Her love life’s complicated because many men find her attractive and she likes the qualities of each of her suitors, but she’s looking for the whole package. Amy will be in at least four episodes.

General Spoilers

Sayid will probably get a new love interest this season.

Sawyer and Juliet are fine. Faraday is too, but he might be going insane. Charlotte and Miles are fine too.

Desmond’s creepy, all-knowing friend played by Fionnula Flannigan will be back, and she has a surprising connection.

Richard Alpert will figure prominently in Season 5. The whole notion of “flashbacks” and “flash-forwards” will be reinvented, suggesting that upcoming episodes will span multiple time periods and perspectives.

We’ll also see Claire again. Not right away, but what happened with her will be explained.

There are also lots of new cast photos around the net too that show the cast in Dharma jumpsuits featuring a spanner logo and ABC have released ‘postcards’ and a new Dharma logo…

More Lost stuff as we get it!