When we last left our favorite marooned survivors, they were about to be rescued. Jack was finally rewarded with a moment of catharsis as he pulverized the leader of the Others, Ben. And after an anticlimactic showdown with Locke, the survivors made their first legitimate contact with the outside world. However, as fans of the show are familiar with, simple resolution has never been a part of Lost’s blockbuster formula. The formula has always been three parts flashback and a quarter present (or so we’ve been lead to believe).

Tonight the show returns, after nearly a year hiatus, with eight new episodes for the fourth season. ABC plans to air all eight episodes consecutively to combat the current drought of original series caused by the ongoing writers strike. Unfortunately, for the same reason, only eight episodes are confirmed so far for the fourth season. Will it be enough to answer all the questions we’ve had since the astounding flash forward cliffhanger last season?

Is Charlie really dead? If it wasn’t Penny’s boat, then who is on the boat coming to rescue them? Who is Naomi working for? It wasn’t a flashback? Jack and Kate made it off the island? Jack wants to go back? Whose funeral did Jack attend but no one else? Free frequent flyer miles?

Lost returns tonight on ABC at 9 p.m. and begins with an hour recap episode before the fourth season premiere.