I Wish You Believed Me

So…are you angry? Surprised? Sad?

A combination of all three?

I was surprised. Probably shouldn’t have been, but I was.

I think we all knew characters were going to start dying. What I didn’t expect, though, was to lose three regulars in such a short time. When Sayid went Kablooey!, I didn’t expect Sun and Jin to be right behind him.

And I’ll get to all of that, because I’m sure that’s what stuck with you most from “The Candidate,” but first, let’s recap Sideways World.

Jack Finds the Pieces
I felt like the Sideways storyline was lacking this week. There wasn’t a real punch. Maybe I was expecting the writers to take a bold step with the sideways plot, and instead it felt like they were just shuffling their feet.

Sure, Jack started realizing that everyone he’s encountering was on Flight 815 with him: John, Claire, Dr. Bernard Nadler (Rose’s husband and John Locke’s dentist). Plus, he’s already met Desmond (and Desmond, in the hospital, was looking for Charlie and he told Jack he was on Oceanic 815).

So I have to think Jack is going to start putting those pieces together (with a little help from Desmond, maybe?).

And we saw that John Locke’s dad, Anthony Cooper, is the same guy we saw in the original reality—only now, he’s a vegetable because Locke convinced him to fly with him on his first flight after receiving his pilot’s license…and he crashed. If he’s the same “Anthony Cooper” Sawyer is looking for, just like he was in the original reality, then I assume Sideways Sawyer will never get his revenge. Because what kind of satisfaction could Sawyer possibly get from that?

The only other notable event in Sideways world was Jack offering to let Claire stay with him:

Claire: Stay with you? We’re strangers.
Jack: No, we’re not strangers. We’re family.

Now on to the island…

Locke Monster and Widmore: Working Together
I said it weeks ago, then I changed my mind…and now I’m saying it again. Widmore and Locke Monster are in cahoots.

They’re working together…and pretending like they aren’t.

The goal: Confuse the candidates…and eventually get them to kill each other.

Sure, you can believe Widmore really locked them in the cages for their own good. Sawyer doesn’t believe it, and neither do I.

Locke Monster set this all up. He allowed Sawyer and friends to hijack his boat, knowing they’d run to Widmore. Widmore, though, locked them in cages. Locke Monster comes to break them out of the cages, and during this time, Widmore just so happened to be MIA.

Then Locke Monster is all like: “Hey, Widmore wanted us to blow up on this plane. It’s not safe…let’s take the sub.”

Maybe Widmore and Locke Monster aren’t working together, and Locke Monster is just manipulating Widmore’s efforts to his own advantage. But I think Widmore wants the candidates dead just as badly as Locke Monster does.

I think Widmore has his own motivations concerning the pockets of electromagnetism and one Desmond Hume, and I think Locke Monster might want to hinder those endeavors, but I think they all want the candidates to die.

Where Was Widmore?
When Locke Monster was killing all of Widmore’s men, where was the boss man? Hiding in one of the Hydra Island buildings? Or…maybe he took The Elizabeth (Desmond’s old ship, which Sawyer and friends used to commute over to Hydra Island) back to the main island. Why, you ask?

I have an idea…

Operation: Retrieve Desmond
Sayid’s last words were:

Sayid: Listen carefully. There’s a well on the main island…Desmond’s inside it. Locke wants him dead. Which means you’re going to need him, do you understand me?
Jack: Why are you telling me this?
Sayid: Because it’s going to be you, Jack!

So you can bet that Jack’s next course of action will be to fetch Desmond. Except, I have a feeling someone’s already beaten him to it.

That’s right, I think Widmore (and his sidekick Zoe) might have already retrieved Desmond. How, you ask? Well, remember when they showed Zoe and her team spying on Locke Monster’s camp during that scene when Kate and Sawyer were talking around the campfire?

If they have that capability, then don’t you think they could have used the same surveillance to watch Locke Monster throw Desmond into the well? Or to watch Sayid not kill Desmond?

I think Widmore was waiting for Locke Monster to come to Hydra Island so it would be safe for him to fetch Desmond.

Sawyer’s Plan Goes Terribly Wrong…Again

Really? THIS was your plan?

Effective immediately, I think Sawyer should be banned from ever coming up with a new plan. After all, Sawyer’s plans always seem to coincide with what Locke Monster wants. First, he stole the boat and led the group into Widmore’s custody.

Then, he came up with the brilliant “Jack is going to push Locke into the water” plan. Which Jack carried out to perfection. The only problem, however, is that it accomplished nothing. Pushing a smoke monster into the water? Really?

And then, when Jack was right on, Sawyer didn’t listen:

Jack: Locke can’t kill us.
Hurley: Uh, what?
Jack: This is what he wanted all along. He wanted to get us here. He wanted to get us all in the same place at the same time. An enclosed space that we can’t get out of.
Jin: I don’t understand.
Jack: Locke said he can’t leave the island without us. I think he can’t leave until we’re all dead. He said he could kill any one of us whenever he wanted. So what if he hasn’t because he’s…he’s not allowed to.
What if he’s trying to get us to kill each other?
Sawyer: Stay out of my way, Doc.
Jack: If he wanted to kill us, why put a timer on it? Why not just throw it inside?
Sawyer: I don’t know.
Jack: He can’t kill us. Nothing is going to happen.
Sawyer: I’m not going to stand here and do nothing!
Jack: James, we’re going to be okay. You just have to trust me.
Sawyer: Sorry, Doc, I don’t.

I don’t necessarily blame Sawyer for not trusting Jack. After all, it was Jack’s nuclear bomb plan that led to Juliet’s death. And Sawyer wasn’t present for the dynamite scene with Richard and Jack in The Black Rock, either. So I understand why he didn’t have such blind faith in Jack.

But I’m just saying, this should be strike 3 for Sawyer, and he should be reduced to a grunt—not a general—from now on.

What I’m really afraid of is that Sawyer will wake up and realize his “pull all the wires as fast as I can” plan led to the deaths of Sayid, Sun, and Jin (and maybe Lapidus?), and after that, he’s going to turn into mopey, sorry-for-myself Sawyer again.

Either that, or he’ll start trusting Jack. I’m hoping for the latter.

Sayid’s Heroic Exit

Man with a bomb coming through!

It’s great that his life ended on a positive note: he told Jack about Desmond in the well (so we know for certain Sayid didn’t kill Desmond, which is also a good thing), and then he ran away with the bomb, saving (at least temporarily) the rest of the group.

But was it even necessary? I rewound that explosion like 3 times, and Sayid didn’t latch a door behind him or do anything to contain the blast area. He just ran away with the bomb and it blew up…killing him. But if he hadn’t taken the time to talk about Desmond, he could have run away with the bomb, thrown it to that same explosion point, and he would have had time to run back…sure it still explodes, but then they have Sayid there to help rescue Sun (and save Jin).

Just saying, if the writers wanted to make it look like this was the only option, they could have done a better job.

I liked Sayid, and I think his death showed that redemption for him was still possible. I would have liked to see him live a little longer, but if he had to go, it was a good way to do it.

Sun and Jin Die…Together
Much like Sayid, if Sun and Jin had to go, this was a good way to do it:

Sun: Jin, you have to go.
Jin: No, I can do this.
Sun: No, no you can’t. Please go.
Jin: I won’t leave you.

Jin submerges again…

Jin: I’m going to get you out of here.
Sun: Please, go!
Jin: I won’t leave you.
Jin (in Korean): I will never leave you again.
Jin: I love you, Sun.
Sun: I love you.

They kiss.

We see their hands holding on under water…until their hands separate.

As sad as that scene was, it was the exchange right before that one that touched me most. When Jack was trying to give Jin the last breathing tube:

Sun: Jin, go!
Jin: No!

Jin to Jack: Go, I’ll get her free!
Jack: No, we can do this!
Jin: No, save Sawyer!

Jack: Take this. I can get him out without it.
Jin: No, you can’t, Jack. Just go.

Jin’s words might have been, “No, you can’t, Jack. Just go.” but what he was communicating to Jack was, “I know that it’s hopeless, but I have to keep trying. There’s no point in giving me that breathing tube, and we both know it.”

Though I’ve rarely thought about it, Jack and Jin aren’t so different. They’re both strong-willed, stubborn. And once they make up their mind, it’s not going to change. And in that look between Jack and Jin, I think Jack understood perfectly. After all, in the Sideways portion of this episode, Jack admitted that he’s not good at letting go. Though it was hard for him to let Jin and Sun go, he knew Sawyer needed to be saved. And I think he understood exactly what Jin was thinking. If Jack didn’t have to save Sawyer, I don’t think Jack would have left either.

Sad stuff. But powerful.

Kate’s Not on The List
Well, it’s time for my weekly attempt to convince everyone that Kate is important after all. Basically, Sawyer thinks Kate’s expendable because he saw her name on the cave ceiling, and it was crossed out…and Widmore reinforces that belief by saying that he had a list of names and Kate wasn’t on it.

Kate tries to tell Sawyer that Widmore wasn’t going to shoot her, but Sawyer doesn’t buy it.

I think we can go two ways with this (disclaimer: both options are heavily shaded by my belief that Kate is relevant):

1) Locke Monster and Widmore know that Sawyer can be manipulated by his loyalty to Kate. So that’s why Locke Monster let Sawyer see Kate’s name crossed out on the cave wall. And it’s why they’re perpetuating the myth that Kate isn’t important. To keep Sawyer in line.

2) Maybe they genuinely believe she isn’t a candidate…but, wait for it…she still is! I like this theory, but maybe that’s just because I’ve been holding on to the belief that Kate’s important for a long time. But maybe, just maybe, it all goes back to what Kate did or didn’t do involving that explosion that killed her dad/step-dad.

I know I’m on an island here, being the only one who still cares about Kate’s character, but I still think it’s interesting that, in her flashback, Jacob said to her, “Be good, Katie.” Assuming that had significance, then maybe if she wasn’t “good,” it would disqualify her from being a candidate….and maybe that’s why Locke Monster and Widmore think her name should be crossed out… I don’t know. I’ll quit talking about Kate now, but I just hope I’m right so I can say “Ha!” (Because I’m petty like that.)

Screwball Theory I hope is Incorrect
In Sideways reality, we learn that Locke got his pilot’s license. Well, on the island, the sub blew up, but the plane is still intact. Only we don’t know if Lapidus is still living. So if they’re going to get off the island, and if Frank is dead, someone’s going to have to fly the plane.

I hope it doesn’t involve Locke’s consciousness transferring to Smoke Monster (I don’t even think this is possible, because Locke’s real body is buried on the beach) so he can fly the plane. But I do think it’s odd that we learned in Sideways world that Locke has his pilot’s license. Just seemed like a strange (and potentially relevant) inclusion.

More likely, Jack will fly the plane. Way back in “The Pilot,” he says he took flying lessons, but it “wasn’t for me.” And Jacob says Jack has something he’s supposed to do. It could be that…I don’t think so, but it could be.

Though why anyone needs to leave on the plane, I don’t know. The characters who had the best reason to leave the island (Sun and Jin) just died. Sayid was also determined to leave, and he’s dead.

Snippets

I laughed out loud when Bernard accused Jack of flirting with Rose while he was in the bathroom on Oceanic 815. It wasn’t all that funny, but it caught me off-guard. It was a weird thing to say.

In fact, I think Bernard seemed odd throughout his scene with Jack. Why would he remember Anthony Cooper’s name?

I liked this exchange:
Locke: If we move right now, we can break your people out, run for the plane and be off this island before Widmore knows what happened.
Jack: They’re not my people. And I’m not leaving the island.

I still find it odd that Jack and the others are willing to work with a thing that can turn into a deadly smoke monster…I realize they’re trying to outwit him, but still, they run around with him as if it’s no big thing.

Loved this:

We hear smoke monster noises.
Hurley: And we’re dead…

Paging Ben Linus, Myles Straume, and Richard Alpert…Paging Ben Linus, Myles Straume, and Richard Alpert…Please come rejoin the plot as soon as possible.

That’s twice the Losties have abandoned Claire. I wonder if there will be any fallout from that…

One of the best lines of the season:

Locke: You sure you won’t reconsider, Jack? Whoever told you you needed to stay had no idea what they were talking about.
Jack: John Locke told me I needed to stay.

Then Jack pushes Locke Monster into the water.

Questions:

1) Any significance to the music box Christian left for Claire? Maybe a way of encouraging her to keep the baby? Any other ideas?

2) Is Lapidus dead? I’m assuming yes, but who knows?

3) If Jack’s right, and Locke Monster can’t kill them…then shouldn’t Sayid be alive? Because the bomb was created by Locke Monster, right? Or is it because Sawyer was the one who pulled the wires, which means that Sawyer was responsible, which is what made them vulnerable?

4) Sayid’s last words to Jack were: “Because it’s going to be you.” What does that mean exactly? Is it just me, or does that sound significant?

5) When Claire asked if everyone on the sub was dead, Locke Monster said, “Not all of them.” Does he know this because he knows he still isn’t free? The cork is still in place, so to speak?

6) What are the rules preventing Locke Monster from killing? He killed the Temple People. He killed Widmore’s people. But if Jack is right, he can’t kill them. But it’s not just the “candidates” he can’t kill, because he couldn’t kill Desmond either. So who can he kill and who can’t he? And why?

7) The three characters (excluding Sawyer for the moment) who seemed to be most interested in leaving the island just died in this episode. Jack already said he wasn’t leaving. But what about Kate, Hurley, and Sawyer? Will they keep trying to leave? Or did their plans just change? (I’m betting their plans changed when they learned Desmond was on the island. Sawyer might still want to leave, but as I said above, I think his decision-making rights should have been revoked a long time ago.)

8 ) I’m assuming Kate lives, even though she got shot. Is she just going to shrug it off, or will it factor into the storyline somehow? Will the island heal it? Will she need to be carried to the Temple’s Healing Spring (which, last we checked, wasn’t functioning properly)?

9) Did anyone else love the preview for next week’s episode? (It ties in very nicely with the theme for this blog, don’t you think?) If there are only “two sides, light and dark,” is it more likely, assuming Locke Monster is the dark side (Star Wars pun not intended), that Widmore is on the light side, or also on the dark side?

Quick Poll: Reaction to “The Candidate”

The Next Move

I don’t know about you, but “The Last Recruit” got me thinking about…backgammon. (You remember, the game John Locke taught Walt how to play way back in part two of The Pilot…when John said it’s a much better game than checkers, and that it’s “older than Jesus Christ.”) This episode felt like a game of backgammon…I think. But I can’t be sure, because I don’t know how to play backgammon. So I wikipedia’d it, and I learned this:

“Although luck plays an important role, there is a large scope for strategy. With each roll of the dice players must choose from numerous options for moving their checkers and anticipate possible counter-moves by the opponent.”

and this:

“Backgammon playing pieces are known variously as checkers, stones, men, counters, pawns, or chips. The objective is to remove (bear off) all of one’s own checkers from the board before one’s opponent can do the same. The checkers are scattered at first and may be blocked or hit by the opponent.”

I don’t know about you, but I feel like Widmore and Locke Monster just bellied up to the backgammon table. When Widmore sent Zoe to deliver his message, Locke Monster smashed the walkie-talkie and said, “Here we go.”

In other words, game on.

After that, the men started moving all over the board (er, island). Which prompts me to make even more comparisons, based on quotes like this:

“The most direct strategy is simply to avoid being hit, trapped, or held in a stand-off. A “running game” describes a strategy of moving as quickly as possible around the board, and is most successful when a player is already ahead in the race. When this fails, one may opt for a “holding game”, maintaining control of a point on one’s opponent’s side of the board, called an anchor.”

But instead of burrowing too far into this rabbit hole, since I doubt everyone else finds this as intriguing as I do, I’ll just get to the recap now…

We’ve seen ten consecutive character-centric episodes (every episode this year, in fact, except for the season premiere). “The Last Recruit” was decidedly not a character-centric episode, which made things feel more chaotic for the audience (us), because we didn’t have a character to serve as our narrative anchor (yes, an anchor…like in backgammon!).

I’d be content if none of the remaining episodes are character-centric. Sure, I’ve loved the show’s character-focused approach to storytelling, but with so few episodes remaining, I just don’t want to focus too much on any one character while we’re left wondering what’s happening to the rest of the Losties. Plus, at this point (in both realities, methinks) they’re all in this together, so we might as well see the story from all their perspectives.

And even though we’re not focusing on a specific character, we still get rich, meaningful scenes. Like the Sun/Jin reunion (finally), and exchange between Claire and Kate on the dock, Jack and Sawyer on the boat, Jack and Locke Monster in the jungle, Sayid and Desmond at the well, and so on…

Before I go any farther, I must make a confession. I know some of you read this blog because you expect me to pick up on things you missed (not all of you, but some of you). And now I must admit, I don’t even know who the “last recruit” was. Jack? Jack was the Locke Monster’s last recruit, maybe? (Even though Hurley and Sun strolled in to camp at the same time?) I guess the episode did end with Locke Monster telling Jack, “Don’t worry, it’s going to be okay. You’re with me now.”

Or wait, is he the “last recruit” because at the end of the episode he’s the only candidate with Locke. In other words, he’s the last one left. Hmmm… If anyone has a better understanding of why they chose this title, feel free to enlighten me.

Claire is Mistaken
Claire says Jack’s on “his” side now:

Claire: I never had much in the way of family, so it means a lot that you’re coming with us.
Jack: Actually, I haven’t really decided yet if I’m coming with you.
Claire: Yeah, you have.
Jack: What do you mean?
Claire: You decided the moment you let him talk to you. Just like the rest of us. So whether you like it or not, you’re with him now.

And yet, this episode featured a mass defection from Camp Smoke Monster (which included Claire herself!)…so I think it’s safe to say that Claire was mistaken, don’t you?

I did like that exchange. It built some drama. It made Jack consider things. And it made us think about the two times we’ve heard that it was necessary to stab someone without letting them talk first (first Dogen talking to Sayid about Locke Monster, and then Jacob’s enemy talking to Richard about Jacob). But in the end, I think it was just a ploy to build drama. Nothing more.

And I’m fine with that.

Sawyer’s Miscalculation
It was almost like Sawyer turned into Head of Security Jim LaFleur again. He was barking orders, cracking jokes (like saying Lapidus looked like someone out of a 1970’s Burt Reynold’s movie), and most of all, he had a plan.

But there’s a problem: the plan, well, sucks.

The plan was to steal the boat (so far so good), sail over to Hydra Island (okay…), and become “buddy-buddy” with Widmore until they can hijack the sub and get out of there (um…problem). Why would Widmore have any incentive to be “buddy-buddy” with him? Just because Sawyer originally promised to double-cross Locke Monster? Sawyer originally said he’d lead Locke Monster into a trap so Widmore could kill him. Well, two episodes ago, Locke Monster walked up to the sonar pylons himself. If Widmore wanted to kill him (or if he was capable of killing him) he could have done it then. Without any help from Sawyer.

And now Sawyer just showed up without Locke Monster…and he expected a warm response from Widmore?

Yeah, I think it’s more likely that Sawyer’s crew just became Widmore’s Locke Monster-bait.

Sayid and Desmond
Last week, in the preview for this week’s episode, didn’t we see Sayid shooting a gun that appeared to be pointed down in the well? That’s how it looked to me. But it didn’t happen. Or if it did, they didn’t show it to us yet.

But Locke Monster did send Sayid to kill Desmond, which again suggests that Locke Monster can’t do it himself. We don’t know for sure whether Sayid did the deed, but I don’t think he did. I think Desmond got in his head:

Desmond: If you’re going to shoot me in cold blood, brotha, I think I have a right to know what you got for it.
Sayid: He told me I could have something back that I lost.
Desmond: And what did you lose?
Sayid: The woman I love.
Desmond: And where is she now?
Sayid: Dead.
Desmond: And what makes you think Locke can bring her back?
Sayid: I died. He brought me back.
Desmond: What will you tell her?
Sayid: What do you mean?
Desmond: This woman, when she asks what you did to be with her again. What will you tell her?

So I think Desmond’s still alive. More than that, I have a theory about how he’s going to get out of that well.

In the Sideways reality, Desmond is helping people feel it. He seems to be retaining some knowledge of what’s happening on the island (maybe). So if one of our Losties “feels it” enough to transfer their consciousness, even temporarily, Desmond could have that person communicate to the others that he’s in a well. One of our former Dharma boys (Sawyer, Jin, or Miles) ought to have an idea about where that well is located.

Then again, maybe Desmond is already out of the well? Look at this again:

Locke: Where have you been?
Sayid: Doing what you asked.
Locke: What took you so long?
Sayid: I just shot an unarmed man. I needed a minute.
Locke: Did you kill him?
Sayid: Of course I did. Go and check, if you like.

It shouldn’t have taken that long to not kill somebody. And I doubt Sayid “needed a minute.” So what was he doing during that time? Helping Desmond out of the well? I wouldn’t bet on it, but I wonder…

Jack Jumps Overboard
Sawyer doesn’t know what to think about this new Jack Shephard.

Sawyer: I didn’t think you’d show up, Doc.
Jack: Sorry?
Sawyer: Taking orders isn’t your strong suit. Nice to see you finally came around.

And then when things got testy on the boat, Jack didn’t argue or try to fight Sawyer:

Jack: It doesn’t feel right.
Sawyer: What doesn’t feel right?
Jack: Leaving the island. It doesn’t feel right.
Sawyer: Want to tell me why not?
Jack: Because I remember how I felt last time I left. Like a part of me was missing.
Sawyer: They’ve got pills for that, Doc.
Jack: We were brought here because we’re supposed to do something, James. And if Locke, if that thing, wants us to leave, maybe he’s afraid of what happens if we stay.
Sawyer: Get off my damn boat.
Jack: What?
Sawyer: You got a decision to make. Either you’re with us, and you’ll keep that damn crazy talk to yourself, or you’re going in the water.
Jack: This is a mistake. And I know there’s a part of you who feels that. The island’s not done with us yet.
Sawyer: Well, I’m done with this island. So if you want to take a leap of faith, take it. Get off my damn boat.
Jack: I’m sorry I got Juliet killed.

And just like that, backpack and all, Jack jumps ship.

Claire’s a Bad Mum
This dates way back to season 4 (I think), but I gotta get this off my chest. Why in the world did Claire ever abandon Aaron in the jungle? At the time, I decided that she had died in the Dharma explosions, and that Christian Shephard came to summon her because she needed to move on, or let go, or whatever.

But now, we seem to be seeing Claire as a disillusioned but very human individual who has been manipulated by Locke Monster (her “friend”) for the last 3 years.

But what I want to know is: why did she ever leaving her baby alone in the jungle in the first place.

When Locke met Christian in the cabin, Claire was there, and she was all smiles when she said, “I’m with him.” So she left her son to be with the father who had never been there for her? Yeah, that makes sense.

And what right does she have to be upset about someone else raising her baby when she left it in the jungle for the wild boars (which seem to have disappeared from the island these days) to ravage.

The only thing that makes sense to me is that: Claire died and Locke Monster revived her (and she’s been his minion ever since). But even that doesn’t make perfect sense. I don’t know…

The Merging of all Things Sideways
I really enjoyed the Sideways portions of the episodes. Everything was happening quickly, but we got a lot of nice moments. Like Jin telling Sun that she, and their baby, are going to be fine (I did wonder, though, if he was lying to her). Like the conversation between Kate and Sawyer at the police station (that was fun, wasn’t it?). Desmond and Claire…and their attorney, Ilana—who Desmond never met in the original timeline, by the way.

In fact, we saw all the major Losties (and some minor ones) in Sideways World this week. Except Hurley. And they’re all coming together. Except Hurley. (Maybe he’s still canoodling with Libby. He’s waited a long time for that date, so that’s fine, let him enjoy it a little longer.)

Here’s where we left them at the end of the episode:

At the hospital we have: Ben, Locke, Jack (and David), Sun, and Jin

At Ilana’s office: Ilana, Claire, Desmond

At the police station: Kate, Sawyer, Miles, and Sayid

And how can we enmesh the storylines even more? Well, why not find an attorney to represent Sayid and Kate. And since Jin and Sun were involved in that shoot-out at the restaurant, maybe they should seek legal representation, as well. I think Desmond could recommend a good lawyer for all of them…

Don’t forget Miles, Ben, and Richard…
On the island, we didn’t see these guys at all. But that doesn’t mean they’re not doing anything. They should be loading up on explosives right about now, and you can bet that will come into play later. I’ve been thinking about these guys, because I think they’ll be a wild card of some sort.

I don’t know how it will play out (at all), but I know this: Richard and Ben know the island as well as anyone (except, perhaps, Locke Monster), and Miles can ascertain the final thoughts of dead people. If I had to guess, they’ll find some dead people on the beach. Miles will learn that it was Widmore’s doing (not Locke Monster’s), and Ben will say, “Widmore? Charles Widmore?” And then these three will head up a rescue operation on Hydra Island which will lead to a Ben/Widmore showdown, and maybe the explosion of an airplane.

Questions We Should Be Asking:
I have little doubt the writers have saved some mysteries for the season finale. They’ll reveal something that they’ve previously hidden and we’ll all be flabbergasted (one can only hope, right?). But in the meantime, as they set things up for the finale, I’m sure they’ll have to tip their hand about some things. So whenever something seems askew, I think we should be asking ourselves why. After this episode, I was mulling three elements that drew my attention:

1) Sun’s sudden inability to speak English
After hitting her head, Sun was unable to speak English. She was reunited with Jin (her long-lost husband who could barely speak English when she saw him last), and they greeted one another in English—even though this isn’t the native language for either of them, and even though Sun hadn’t been able to speak English for the last few episodes. Why would the writers do all that?

I don’t know the answer, but it seems like an odd thing to work into the plot. And I wonder if, maybe, the blow to Sun’s head made her have consciousness issues (back in “The Constant” Desmond often hit his head when he transferred to the other consciousness). In other words, maybe the Sun we saw on the island was only partly the Sun from the world we know, and she was partly the Sun from Sideways world who can’t speak English. If that’s true, then maybe, just maybe, part of the Sideways Sun’s consciousness was island Sun. If so, maybe Sideways Sun isn’t pregnant at all. Maybe it was her island consciousness making her think that she was (since she had been around that time in the other reality). Which could explain why I got the feeling Jin was lying when he said the baby was fine. Maybe there is no baby in that reality. (After all, the Jin we knew in the original off-island reality couldn’t father a child.)

That sounds very far-fetched, I know, but Sun’s inability to speak English seems like a very odd thing to work in at a time like this. This isn’t Season 3 when the writers were stalling, creating Nikki and Paolo-centric episodes.

Anyway, if that theory is even close to being right, then maybe reuniting with Jin helped Sun get her head right. I don’t know…

2) Kate says she didn’t kill anyone. Again. And again.
In the original timeline, it sure looked like Kate was the one who blew up her step-father (who happened to be her real father). And she told her mother she took care of things for her (which sounds like a confession). So why would she insist all this time that she didn’t do it? Sure, she could be lying. But from a writer’s perspective, it wouldn’t make sense to keep having a character lie when the audience knows the truth. It makes more sense for the character to lie when the audience knows the truth…when it turns out that the audience never knew the truth. You follow?

And now that Sideways Kate insisted (twice) that she didn’t kill anybody, I wonder. Why drum up this old denial again? Why make this distinction again? So it makes me wonder if we’re going to learn something new about what really happened? Maybe Kate really is innocent. If that’s true, you can bet there will be implications. I don’t know what they are, but why save that little nugget for so late in the series if it’s not going to have wider implications?

I know some of you (cough, Todd, cough) don’t like Kate. But I think there’s still something brewing here.

3) The presence of Jack’s son, David
Am I the only one who wondered why Jack’s son was attending the reading of his grandfather’s will, and then tagging along at the hospital while his daddy scrubbed up for surgery? Sure, in real life, this might happen. But in a TV show, it would have been much easier to just leave David out of the script. As far as we know, his mother had picked him up again, leaving Jack to be the integral character he has always been—without an unnecessary sidekick slowing him down.

The only explanation, if you ask me, is that David isn’t unnecessary. He wouldn’t have been in this episode at all if he isn’t important. That’s my stance. And you’ll get more on it in my theory…right now.

Theory: The Good Shephard
I’ve been saying for a few weeks now that the writers are setting something up for Jack. It’s even more obvious now. On the island, all the candidates are over on Hydra Island…except Jack. Jack (I think) is the “last recruit,” which (I think) seems to be significant—or at least noteworthy enough to title an episode that.

Jack believes the island isn’t done with them. He’s willing to listen to others. He’s apologetic. He’s not standoffish anymore. In short, like Hurley, he’s changed.

Sure, he got Juliet killed (or at least, he is accepting responsibility for it). Sure, leaving the island never worked out like he thought it would. But he’s back on the island, ready to do whatever it is he’s meant to do. Why? Because he believes he “has what it takes.”

Speaking of having “what it takes,” let’s look back at Jack’s family history.

We know the writers worked in his Grandpa Ray last season. His Grandpa Ray lives in a nursing home, but he’s tried to run away 4 times. He tells Jack that when he gets away, it will be to a place where they’ll never find him. Like say, an island that jumps through time and doesn’t exist on any map?

I apologize if I’ve said all this before, but here goes again: I think the Shephard family has been connected to the island for a long time. I can’t piece it all together, but we know:

-Grandpa Ray gave his son a watch (a watch that works on the island, even though no other watches did, with the exception of the one Jin was delivering for Mr. Paik.)
-Grandpa Ray didn’t approve of Christian’s marriage to Jack’s momma, Margo (maybe because he believed Christian’s destiny was leading him elsewhere?)
-Christian talked to Jack about not having “what it takes,” and in a bar in Australia, he bemoaned his own lack of courage and said this about Jack: “He’s not like me, he does what’s in his heart. He’s a good man, maybe a great one.” (Is it possible that Christian understood the importance of his connection to the island? And he was just too afraid to do anything about it? And is that why he told Jack he didn’t have what it takes? To discourage him from pursuing it?)
-And now, in addition to Jack, we have two other descendants of Christian Shephard in play: David and Claire’s son, Aaron (even though he hasn’t been born in Sideways World yet).

Does all of that add up to anything? Maybe not. But there were hints. David’s presence. David asking Jack how he never knew he had a sister. This response:

Jack: Your grandfather kept a lot of things to himself.
David: Is that where you get it from?
Jack: Yeah, probably.

What are the writers setting up exactly? I don’t know. But I think the Shephard family history is significant. We’ve seen too much of it over the years for it to amount to nothing. What would make a family significant? Maybe they’re Jacob’s descendants. Or maybe they were supposed to protect the island (with Jacob? or chosen by Jacob?) and someone (Grandpa Ray?) left…

John Locke: Believer, Sucker, or Both
Locke Monster and Jack had this to say about the late John Locke:

Jack: John Locke was the only one of us who ever believed in this place. He did everything he could to keep us from leaving.
Locke: John Locke was not a believer, Jack. He was a sucker.

Guess he found a use for that stick...

That conversation prompted me to post the poll question asking whether you guys thought Locke was a believer, a sucker, or both. You can find the poll here.

I have to say, I’m a little surprised by the results. Right now it’s a 50/50 split between “Believer” and “Both.”

I expected it to be split between “Sucker” and “Both.” I voted “Both,” because I wanted to give him a little credit, but I felt like I was being generous. Because there’s no question he was a sucker. He was Locke Monster’s puppet, the man who so wanted to be significant that he was willing to believe (and do) anything, which is exactly what Locke Monster needed to kill Jacob. And don’t forget that before ever coming to the island, Locke was tricked into giving away his kidney.

He wanted to believe in “the island,” but he didn’t know what he was believing in. And in the end, he was willing to believe anything (“You’re going to have to die, John.”). Or, going all the way back to early in the series, he believed Boone was “a sacrifice the island demanded.” Any island demanding human sacrifices might not be worth believing in…so, maybe, just maybe, that should have been a clue that his belief was misplaced.

I know we all liked Locke (most of you liked him more than I), but even though we liked him, in my opinion, we still have to realize he was a sucker. You can disagree if you want, but you’d be wrong. (Just kidding.) (But seriously.) (Kidding.) (But not really.)

Snippets:

Did Sawyer really just trip Sayid with a garden hose?

Wow the LAPD works fast. In the time it took Sayid to drive home and begin packing his suitcase, the LAPD found the dead bodies at the restaurant, isolated Sayid’s image on the surveillance outside the restaurant, identified him, looked up his brother’s address, and arrived in time to arrest him before he even finished packing. Unbelievable. Literally.

I like how Widmore sends a geophysicist like Zoe to deliver his messages to Locke Monster instead of being man enough to do it himself. Then again, chances are, if he were “man enough,” he’d be dead. But I’d be okay with that.

Nice to see some glimpses of Sarcastic Sawyer again.

So Locke Monster was pretending to be Jack’s daddy…of course, he could be lying. I don’t think he is in this instance, but you never know.

I liked this:

Claire: What’s going on?
Hurley: People trying to kill us again.

It’s funny that this was Sawyer’s response to Jack:

Jack: Because I remember how I felt last time I left. Like a part of me was missing.
Sawyer: They’ve got pills for that, Doc.

Because that’s exactly how Jack tried to deal with it the last time he left the island (until Ben flushed his stash), but Sawyer wouldn’t have known that.

I feel like something should be said about Jack getting ready to operate on John Locke, but I was expecting it, so I don’t have much to say about it.

Questions:
1 ) Is Jack important to Locke Monster. More important than others?

2 ) What do you think the odds are that Sawyer and Kate find themselves locked in the Hydra Island cages again?

3 ) Do we know what Jack is lugging around in that backpack? Should we be wondering about it? If he’s swimming with it on, then it must be something worthwhile, right?

4 ) Widmore’s team is shooting rockets, or something, at the island, but is that a threat to the Smoke Monster? Or are they just killing his people? But does Locke Monster even care if his followers die? If not, then what’s the point of the attack? (Unless those explosions can hurt Locke Monster…remember that episode when the Smoke Monster grabbed Locke and was trying to pull him down a hole, and Jack threw the stick of dynamite down there and suddenly Locke was free?)

5 ) When the beach started exploding, why did Smoke Monster save Jack? And only Jack? Because Jack’s important? Because he wants to manipulate him? Because he was the only candidate still with his group?

6 ) How are things going to play out in that operating room? Is Jack going to fix Locke? Completely? Are they going to “feel” it? What do you think?

7 ) What are the odds Sawyer helps Kate elude the Feds that are coming to claim her? Obviously, he shouldn’t help her, but doesn’t it seem like he’s going to?

8 ) Do you think we’re still going to see new people in the Sideways reality? Who? Mr. Eko? Goodwin? Shannon? Juliet? Jacob? Jacob’s Enemy (Wouldn’t that be weird)? Abaddon? Richard?

9 ) Did any one else get that weird vibe when Jin told Sun that their baby was going to be fine? Or was I just looking for something that wasn’t there?

Quick Poll: John Locke was…

Man of the Year

Buckle up, everybody, because the Lost saga is headed down the backstretch, and it’s going to be a wild and bumpy ride. (You know, kind of like when a car runs over a cripple in a wheelchair.)

Characters are exploding and being thrown down wells. The ghost boy is back agitating Locke Monster again. Hurley is blowing up ancient ships and using deceit to take control (based on advice he’s receiving from Michael’s ghost—who, incidentally, quit yelling at Hurley long enough to explain that he’s stuck on the island because of “what I did” and the whispers are those who, like Michael, “can’t move on”).

“Everybody Loves Hugo” was a whirlwind. And when crap hit the fan (or when pieces of Ilana sprayed our Losties), they needed someone to take control. Richard (who seems a bit frantic, doesn’t he?) wanted to get more dynamite to carry out the original “blow up the plane” plan, but Hurley—sparked by his run-in with Michael’s ghost—had other ideas.

Off the island, Hurley receives the “Man of the Year” award (from the distinguished Dr. Pierre Chang), and on the island, Hurley was the man of the hour. I must say, Hurley continues to surprise me. Remember how freaked out he was when Arzt blew up in front of him? Well, when Ilana ka-blooey-ed herself, he hardly missed a beat before he was going through her things. (Did he pocket her bag containing Jacob’s ashes? Methinks he did…)

Any chance Ilana is an amateur illusionist and this is her disappearing act? I'm betting not.

Speaking of Ilana getting blowed up, I think Ben said exactly what many of us were thinking.

Ben: Kind of makes you think, doesn’t it?
Jack: What’s that?
Ben: Ilana…hand-picked by Jacob, trained to come and protect you candidates…no sooner does she tell you who you are, and she blows up. The island was done with her. Makes me wonder what’s going to happen when it’s done with us.

I feel like the island is already done with Ben, but the writers are keeping him around because he’s too well-liked. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong, but at this point, he’s more of a sidekick with an occasional smart-alecky comment than a major player.

As for Jack, I don’t think the island is done with him. At all. More on him later. Meanwhile…

Sideways World
I’m not going to give Hurley as much time as he deserves. As sweet as his reconnection (and his belated first date) with Libby was, he’s playing second fiddle to Desmond Hume in Sideways World right now.

Desmond Hume has a plan. First, he just so happens to run into Hurley in Mr. Cluck’s. Coincidence? Of course not.

By the time the episode ended, it became obvious that Desmond is working from the Flight 815 manifest—I think. I mean, he clearly singled out Hurley, and then moved on to Locke, right?

But why did he help Hurley “feel it”…and then run over Locke with his car? He’s not working just from the flight manifest; that’s for sure. Because Desmond doesn’t seem like the guy who could run over a cripple with his car (Ben Linus, maybe, but not Desmond). Desmond wouldn’t do it without a really good reason.

I can think of only two really good reasons:

1) He is retaining knowledge from island world and he thinks Locke Monster is Locke…so he thinks he’s taking care of a problem, somehow?

2) He needs Locke to “feel it,” and in order to do that, Locke needs to have a near-death experience (much like Charlie on the plane).

Actually, I can think of one more reason, but I’m saving it for later….

Desmond in the Well
On the island, Desmond goes for a walk with Locke Monster. Locke Monster says, “Do you know who I am?” Desmond’s response: “Course I do. You’re John Locke.”

Does Desmond really believe this, or is he playing dumb? I doubt he’d know that it’s the Smoke Monster (who would assume that, after all?), and we don’t know if he even knew that John Locke died (right?), so he very well could believe it’s Locke. But considering Desmond and John knew each other, their conversation was very strange. Locke was telling Desmond all about the well and who built it…which the real John Locke wouldn’t have had any way of knowing, yet Desmond didn’t question it.

And eventually, they had this exchange:

Locke: Why aren’t you afraid? You’re out in the jungle, with me. Not a person on earth knows you’re here. Why aren’t you afraid?
Desmond: What’s the point of being afraid?

If Desmond really thought Locke Monster was John Locke, then he would have realized that John Locke wouldn’t have asked that question. Because why would Desmond be afraid of being alone with John Locke? No, I think Desmond knew he wasn’t really Locke. And Locke Monster knew that Desmond knew… Furthermore, I think Locke Monster was angry that Desmond wasn’t afraid of him.

And that’s when Desmond learned “the point of being afraid.” Because people who are afraid are wary, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll realize they’re about to get shoved into a “very old” well. And so, down Desmond went.

Before I go on, it’s worth noting that this well is not the same well we’ve seen on the island before. The well John Locke descended in the island’s past is no longer around. The Orchid Station was built over it (and, subsequently, over the frozen donkey wheel that was beneath the original well).

So this is a new island landmark. Whether there’s anything noteworthy down this well, I have no idea (although apparently that spot made compass needles spin years ago, so if I had to guess, I’d say that maybe there’s a pocket of electromagnetism down there…and maybe, just maybe, that’s one of the areas marked on Jin’s Dharma map?).

And while it’s completely irrelevant, this reminded me of my favorite episode of the cartoon Dennis the Menace. You know what I’m talking about, right? It’s the one when Dennis goes down a well in the bucket (a great message for kids, right?) and finds that there are all kinds of tunnels (and people) in the well below. He paddles around in the bucket until eventually, the water rises and he is carried out of the well. What does this have to do with Lost? Oh, I don’t know, absolutely nothing. But I enjoyed the memory and I hoped that maybe, just maybe, one of you remembers that episode as well. No? Okay, moving on…

Hurley, the Reluctant Hero
When Michael’s ghost first appeared to Hurley, he encouraged Hurley to abort the “blow up the plane” plan, saying this:

Michael: …because a lot of people are going to die, and it’s going to be your fault.
Hurley: What?
Michael: Because people are listening to you now.

The old Hurley would have shied away from this kind of responsibility, but Hurley stepped up and took charge. Not only did he blow up the Black Rock (which was crazy), but when Richard wanted to fetch explosives from the Dharma Barracks, Hurley spoke up again—pretending to see Jacob. And so his friends (Jack, Sun, and Frank Lapidus) chose to follow him…right into Locke’s camp.

Yeah, Jacob's right there...

This prompted Sun to write, “Did we make a mistake?”
Frank’s response: “Probably.”

Nevertheless, they followed Hurley, even when he admitted that he didn’t know what he was doing, that he’d made up the whole “Hey look, Jacob’s talking to me” thing.

But how much should we trust Hurley’s talks with the deceased? Before Miles wandered off with Richard and Ben (to retrieve the weapons stored in the Dharma Barracks), he had this conversation with Hurley:

Miles: That happen a lot? Dead people yelling at you?
Hurley: It happens enough.
Miles: And you just listen to what they say?
Hurley: Dead people are more reliable than alive people.

For the first time, this made me question the reliability of these dead people. Maybe Hurley’s right. But maybe not. Maybe blowing up the Black Rock wasn’t in their best interest. And maybe they really should blow up the plane.

At times, Hurley’s ghost friends have been really helpful. Jacob. Richard’s wife, Isabella. But can we trust all the dead people who talk to Hurley? I don’t know.

More on the reunion at Locke Monster’s camp later…

Oh, that smug boy standing in the woods over there? No, just ignore him…
When Locke Monster was escorting Desmond to the well, they both saw the mysterious boy standing in the woods. Only this time, he smiled a smug little smile.

When Desmond asked about him, Locke Monster told him to ignore the boy. Twice.

But Locke Monster looked frustrated, didn’t he?

This is definitely relevant; the writers aren’t just throwing a mysterious boy into the plot for nothing (a mysterious boy who unnerves the otherwise unflappable Locke Monster, no less). But what does it mean?

Here’s my guess:

When the boy first appeared to Locke Monster (and when Locke Monster chased him through the woods), the boy said, “You can’t kill him.” This boy has appeared three times. In all three occasions, Locke Monster was in the jungle with one other person: first Richard, then Sawyer, and now Desmond (all men whom Locke Monster probably would have liked to kill). I think the boy’s appearance was supposed to remind Locke, once again, that he “can’t kill him.”

And that makes sense. Otherwise, why would something capable of morphing into a deadly smoke monster merely push Desmond into the well? If he could kill him, why even walk to the well? Why not maul him and leave him in the jungle? Or maul him and then toss him down the well to hide his body? No, for whatever reason, I think the Locke Monster can’t kill Desmond.

Which means…dun dun dun…Desmond is still alive. Maybe floating like Dennis the Menace among the underground well-people…(Okay, I’ll stop. I promise.)

Anyway, I think Locke Monster was basically hiding Desmond from Widmore. He realized that Desmond is important to Widmore’s plan (as Sayid said, “They kept him under armed guard.”). And to better understand Widmore’s plan, Locke Monster asked Desmond how long he pushed the button in the hatch (in other words: “How long were you exposed to electromagnetism?”). And when Desmond revealed that Widmore zapped him with electromagnetism, Locke Monster asked, “How do you know it was electromagnetism?” Desmond’s priceless response: “Experience.”

So now, Locke Monster seems to know Widmore’s plan…and he’s stolen (and hidden) Widmore’s secret weapon. Advantage: Locke Monster.

Jack and Locke Meet Again
When Hurley led the way into Locke Monster’s camp, Locke received them amiably (or with feigned amiability, more likely)—except for Jack.

Locke said nothing to Sun or Frank, but when he saw Jack, he said, “Hello, Jack.” Which, I just realized, looks harmless when it’s written down. But his face didn’t look harmless. And Jack’s face looked…frightened.

The writers were sending a message here. Even though it was a brief exchange, I’ve been racking my brain over it ever since the episode ended. I can think of three possible explanations:

1 ) Locke Monster has retained certain memories from Locke’s life (this we already know to be true), and so he remembers Jack being his adversary, an opposing force…and he remembers Jack’s harsh words to him in the hospital…or maybe he even remembers the words Jack spoke when he was putting his father’s shoes on Locke’s corpse in the butcher shop in LA.

2 ) Maybe the Smoke Monster (Jacob’s Nemesis, or whatever his name really is) is remembering past experiences with Jack—assuming he’s the one who appeared to Jack as his father.

3 ) Maybe Locke Monster realizes that something’s changed in Jack. The old Jack wouldn’t have waited in the jungle while Hurley (of all people) led the way. And so maybe there was a little surprise (or was it anger?) in Locke Monster’s greeting because he sees that Jack is different.

Those are possible explanations for the Locke Monster’s motives, but I have a different theory about the writers’ motives. Keep reading…

Jack and Locke Will Meet Again…Again (aka My Newest Theory)
Desmond ran Locke over for a reason. I’ve already speculated that Desmond’s plan might have been to make Locke “feel it.” But maybe, he wanted to mangle Locke enough to send him to a certain spinal surgeon at St. Sebastian’s hospital…

That’s right, I think the writers are setting up a Locke/Jack meeting in Sideways World. And because these two men (the Man of Faith and the Man of Science) were such strong oppositional forces on the island, their reunion (in a more meaningful setting than the brief exchange they had at the airport) will help them both “feel it.”

Want further proof that the writers are setting something up? How about this line, spoken to Hurley:

Jack: Ever since Juliet died—ever since I got her killed—all I wanted was to fix it. But I can’t. There’s no way to fix it. You don’t know how hard it is for me to sit back and let other people make decisions. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe I’m supposed to let go.

Jack seems to be at peace with that decision. He’s drawn this conclusion…and after five and a half seasons of observing the Lost writers’ penchant for fostering ambiguity and uncertainty, we can be sure that they would never have a character say anything so definitive unless they’re about to change something.

I think that something is going to happen at St. Sebastian’s. By the way, Jin should be making his way there with a bleeding Sun any minute now…

And so many other Sideways connections are possible. Ben was leaning over Locke’s body, and he could very well choose to ride with him to the hospital. Desmond could follow to observe (like he observed Hurley’s date with Libby—like a stalker), or Desmond could be arrested…by Sawyer and Miles, perhaps. And if he’s arrested, he just might meet up with Kate at the station.

And one last, slightly-related thought: feeling “it” is going to be meaningless, unless the Sideways characters can somehow connect with “it.” Knowing that “it” is real will be useless unless they can somehow alter “it” or reconnect with “it.” Will that happen next week? Probably not, but mark my words, it’s coming.

“See you in another life, brutha…”

Snippets

What an abrupt and unceremonious way to kill off Ilana…but I suppose it was the best way to do it. If her body hadn’t blown up, they would have had to have another beach burial ceremony, and even though I liked Ilana, I didn’t like her enough to waste precious Lost time on that.

While we were watching the episode, my wife said, “Why don’t they just have Richard and Jack carry the dynamite, since we know they can’t blow it up?” I liked that. She’s a smart cookie. (Mmmm, cookies…)

Of course, now that Sun finally joined up with the Losties in Locke Monster’s camp, Jin is hanging out over on Hydra Island with Widmore’s guys. Figures.

Nice to see Pierre Chang, Michael Dawson, and, of course, Libby, making appearances this week.

When Kate had a line this week, I was like, “Holy crap, I forgot her character existed!” Seriously.

Questions

1 ) So Charlie feels it. Desmond feels it. Libby’s been feeling it, and now Hurley’s got the vibe, too…but who else? (My money’s on Jack.)

2 ) What’s going to come of the expedition to the Dharma Barracks? Eventually there has to be a Ben/Widmore showdown, right?

3 ) Did you notice that Sawyer’s been increasingly disgruntled with Locke Monster in the last few episodes? How long before he decides he’s had enough? Originally Sawyer was Locke Monster’s reconnaissance man…but now that Locke Monster’s been to see Widmore himself (and now that Locke Monster has Sayid), maybe Sawyer is just feeling left out because he realizes he’s not important?

4 ) Anyone else baffled/intrigued by this:

Sawyer: Is that gonna be a spear?
Locke: I’m not sure what it’s going to be yet, James. When the time is right, it’ll tell me.
Sawyer: You talk to wood now?

5 ) What was that book among Ilana’s possessions?

6 ) Now that Desmond’s been thrown into a well, does anyone want to run with a “Desmond is Joseph” theory? Think he’ll dabble in dream interpretation? Eventually, his “brothas” will come to him for help? Has he worn a colorful coat at any point?

7 ) Is Desmond co-existing in the two realities? We saw him walking around on the island, and we saw him very busy in Sideways world. Obviously, since they’re different realities, there’s no reason to assume there’s any congruence to the timelines (the fact that we’re seeing the events in the same episode doesn’t mean they’re happening simultaneously). So Desmond could still be cognizant in one world while he sleeps in the other…but is it possible that he’s awake simultaneously in both worlds? Is that why he seemed so docile on the island? Because part of his consciousness is at work elsewhere?

Quick Poll: What was your gut reaction to Desmond’s hit and run?

I’m working on the recap to “Everybody Loves Hugo,” and I’m enjoying it very much (so much to ponder this week!), but in the meantime, here’s a poll for y’all:

Twice Upon a Time

Talk about making one’s presence felt…

It took more than half the season for the writers to get Desmond back to the island, but once he got there, wow, they didn’t waste any time…

I’m guessing most of you loved this episode. I know I did…and I didn’t. Even though we got quite a few answers (or hints of answers soon to come), whenever the drama unfolds away from the island—and we leave our Losties in the lurch—it bothers me just a little bit. But much like “Dr. Linus,” the Sideways story was interesting enough to make up for it.

It was also nice, I must admit, to have a seamless episode—one not broken by flashbacks or sideways jumps. Sure, Desmond’s storyline was divided between the Sideways reality and the island, but in Desmond’s case, the two storylines are clearly connected—through his consciousness, anyway.

Even though part of me was reluctant to see the storyline veer away (albeit temporarily) from our Losties on the island, I think when the series is all said and done, “Happily Ever After” will be remembered as one of the greatest Lost episodes. And the greatest part about it, in my opinion, is that it can almost stand alone—much like another Desmond-centric episode, “The Constant” (which, I think, “Happily Ever After” imitates in many ways).

But before I get to all the good stuff, I want to briefly address what I didn’t like.

Zoe and the rest of Widmore’s team have constructed a electromagnetism microwave (I don’t know what it is, so that’s what I’m calling it), and to show us how powerful and dangerous it is, they show an innocent guy getting cooked. What was the point of this? To show us that this experiment is dangerous? To suggest that Desmond could (and probably should) be killed? To suggest, once again, that Widmore is heartless and concerned only with his own ambitions?

Whatever the reasoning, it was unnecessary. Because we know Desmond isn’t going to get zapped. He just isn’t. And it just felt forced to me.

Speaking of being forced, this episode had one of the worst lines in Lost history. I get that the writers were trying to emphasize the difference between Desmond’s relationship with Widmore in the Sideways reality. So when Desmond realized that Widmore was offering him a “60-year-old scotch” (MacCutcheon, of course), I get that they wanted to contrast the previous experience, when Widmore refused to share his expensive whiskey with him…but this line from Widmore, “Nothing is too good for you.” was about the cheesiest thing I’ve ever heard. I mean, if he was hitting on Desmond, it would still be cheesy, but as an employer speaking to his employee, it was just terrible. Say “You deserve it” or “You’ve earned it,” or just shrug off Desmond’s comment and pour him a drink. But don’t, I repeat, don’t say “Nothing is too good for you.”

In fact, that line should probably never be used for anything ever. It’s like something straight out of a Kay Jewelers commercial. (But now I’m being redundant, since I’ve already called it one of the cheesiest things I’ve ever heard.)

Anyway, now that I got that rant out of my system, let’s get to all the good stuff.

You All Everybody!
This episode had so many allusions to previous episodes, and a plethora of connections to be made in the Sideways World. Forgetting the Widmore scene mentioned above (but I can’t forget it, because it bothered me that much), some of the writers’ juxtapositions worked well. For example, George Minkowski. I love that he was Desmond’s driver. And it’s fitting, too, since in the Island reality, he was on the freighter, working for Widmore. So why shouldn’t he be working for Widmore in Sideways reality.

In “The Constant,” if you’ve forgotten, Minkowski was experiencing consciousness-jumps like Desmond, but like Daniel’s rat, Eloise, Minkowski had a brain aneurysm and died. And Desmond would have died had it not been for his constant (Penny) and the man who helped him find her (Daniel). So who better to ferry him around Los Angeles than Minkowski?

And George was just one of Desmond’s many Sideways encounters. The others include:

Charlie Pace
Charles Widmore
Eloise Widmore/Hawking
Hurley
Claire
Jack
Daniel
Penny
Kate and the marshal (he heard Charlie talking about them, anyway)
Charlotte (heard Daniel talking about her, or at least I assume it was her)

Also in Sideways World, Widmore’s office had at least two noteworthy things on the wall. A painting of…a scale (interesting). And a ship.

There are too many connections to mention them all, but it was interesting that Desmond found Penny running the same stadium steps he (and Jack) ran in the original reality. And, if I’m not mistaken, Penny came in a limo and met him outside that stadium in the original reality, when Desmond told her that he was training for her father’s boat race around the world.

And the icing on the Sideways Reality cake was hearing Driveshaft’s “You All Everybody” playing on Desmond’s car radio. And speaking of the drug-addicted rocker turned trippy lovesick spiritual guru…

Charlie Pace Feels “It”
Desmond was sent by Widmore to fetch Charlie Pace, because Driveshaft is supposed to be playing at a benefit dinner hosted by Mrs. Widmore (and during which, Widmore’s son is supposed to play alongside the British rock group). Charlie is released from the jail where he had been kept, and instead of going with Desmond…he walks blindly through traffic—straight to a bar.

At first glance, it seems Charlie feels he has nothing for which to live…but once Desmond sits down to chat with the careless rocker boy, Charlie reveals that he has everything to live for….only, it just isn’t part of this life. Or not exactly, anyway. During his near-death experience on the plane, Charlie saw a blond woman whom he knows he is in love with…(Claire, anyone?)…and this experience has changed him.

Charlie insists that he felt “it,” but whatever “it” is, Desmond isn’t buying any of it.

So when they leave the bar, Charlie decides to give Desmond an experience of his own…grabbing the steering wheel and careening the car off the road and into the ocean (any chance it’s the same pier where Ben shot Desmond and Desmond recovered and knocked Ben into the water?).

The car goes under, Desmond frees himself, swims up to gain his breath, and then he goes back down to free Charlie (Charlie can hold his breath for 4 minutes, remember?)…and that’s when things get trippy. Charlie looks up, puts his hand on the window—and something flashes for Desmond, and suddenly he sees words on Charlie’s hand: Not Penny’s Boat.

Desmond is freaked out, but he still manages to save Charlie. (“I’ve tried, brother. I’ve tried twice to save you, but the universe has a way of course correcting and—and I can’t stop it forever. I’m sorry. I’m sorry because no matter what I try to do you’re going to die, Charlie.”)

Desmond and Charlie are taken to St. Sebastian’s (of course), and I love Desmond’s conversation with Jack. Naturally, I assumed that this was going to be important, that Jack was going to be sucked into this Sideways story, but no, the writers duped me…instead, Charlie goes running down the hall half-naked in his hospital gown and Desmond chases after him.

When Desmond catches him, he demands to see Charlie’s hand. Nothing. He asks about Penny, but Charlie has no idea who she is.

Charlie realizes that Desmond has “felt it”…

The following isn’t transcribed perfectly, but it gets the point across.

Charlie: You think I’m going to play a rock concert after this? None of this matters. What matters is that we felt it.
Desmond: What are you going to do?
Charlie: If I were you, I’d stop worrying me, and I’d start looking for Penny.

Presumably, Charlie goes looking for the blond woman he saw during his near-death experience, and Desmond, shaken by his visions, lets Charlie walk away. And then he has to answer to his boss.

Eloise and Desmond Meet—Again
Upon hearing that Desmond lost Charlie, Widmore sends Desmond to inform his better half (who, not surprisingly, is Eloise) that Driveshaft won’t be playing at the benefit with their son. Minkowski warns Desmond about Mrs. Widmore, suggesting that she is a terror.

Mrs. Widmore (“Please, call me Eloise”), however, greeted Desmond warmly.

Desmond: I’m terribly sorry, but it appears Driveshaft won’t be able to perform along with your son. I take full responsibility.
Eloise: Don’t worry about it. My son will understand. …
Desmond: You’re not angry?
Eloise: Oh, not at all. Whatever happened, happened. Thanks for coming to tell me in person.

Desmond prepares to leave, somewhat surprised (I’m sure) at how amiable Eloise has been…when he overhears two men reviewing the guest list. The name “Penny Milton” stops him in his tracks.

Desmond asks to see the guest list, and suddenly we see a different side of Mrs. Eloise Widmore. She hustles into the picture and informs him that it’s confidential. Desmond argues and Eloise sends everyone away.

Once they’re alone, Desmond begins to apologize.

Eloise: Stop talking, Hume. I’ve heard what you had to say, and now you listen to me. I want you to stop.
Desmond: Stop what?
Eloise: Someone has clearly affected the way you see things. This is a serious problem; it is, in fact, a violation. So whatever it is you think you’re doing, or whatever it is you think you’re looking for, you need to stop doing it.
Desmond: Do you know what I’m looking for?
Eloise: I don’t know what you’re looking for. You have the perfect life. You have everything you could want, including the thing you’ve always wanted most: the approval of my husband.
Desmond: How do you know what I want?
Eloise: Because I bloody do.
Desmond: I need to see that list, or you need to tell me why not.
Eloise: Because you’re not ready yet, Desmond.

A couple things about this:

1) Eloise Widmore clearly knows some things. She knows someone has affected Desmond’s thinking. It appears she knows something about the other reality, because she mentions that Desmond has what he’s always wanted most, the approval of Charles Widmore.

2) Eloise Widmore’s last line has an interesting word in it. “Because you’re not ready yet.” So, in other words, there will be a time when Desmond is ready? Ready for what?

The Notebook
Desmond is prepared to leave Mrs. Widmore when Daniel Fara–, er, Widmore, intervenes—knocking on the window and telling Desmond, “We need to talk.”

Just me, or does Daniel look Amish here?

If Eloise had any idea what her son was up to right then, she probably would have shot him again. But since she apparently didn’t know, this conversation happened:

Desmond: If this is about Charlie Pace not being able to perform with you, then I’m sorry.
Daniel: Do you believe in love at first sight?
Desmond: Excuse me…
Daniel starts telling him about the redheaded woman he saw…
Daniel: Right when I saw her, it was like I already loved her…and that’s when things got weird. The same night after I saw that woman, I woke up and I wrote this…”
Daniel shows Desmond his notebook, in which he has drawn a diagram that says something about “light speed” and other stuff…
Desmond: What is it?
Daniel: I’m a musician…so I have no idea.

But Daniel has a friend who is a math nerd (for lack of his official title), and he identified these diagrams as quantum physics equations that very few people in the world would understand, saying that someone would have needed to study physics their entire life to come up with those equations…

While Desmond is still trying to process this, Daniel drops the “nuclear bomb” on him (in a way):

Desmond: You want to set off a nuclear bomb?
Daniel: Just listen. What if this, all this, wasn’t supposed to be our life. What if we had some other life, and for some reason, we changed things. I don’t want to set off a nuclear bomb…but I think I already did.
Desmond: Listen, mate. I don’t know what any of this has to do with me.
Daniel: Why did you ask my mother about a woman named Penny? It happened to you, too, didn’t it? You felt it…
Desmond: I don’t know…I don’t know what I felt.
Daniel: Yes, you do. You felt love.
Desmond: That’s impossible, because I don’t know anything about this woman. I don’t even know if she exists. She is…she is an idea.
Daniel: No, Mr. Hume. She’s my half-sister. And I can tell you exactly where and when you’re going to find her…

See, this is why Daniel is lucky Eloise doesn’t know about this conversation. Because she doesn’t tolerate people affecting the way Desmond Hume thinks…

And this is also further evidence that, when you combine Desmond and Daniel, you get pure magic. Seriously, find a scene with these two together that wasn’t sweet. I dare you.

When Desmond Met Penny
As I mentioned above, Desmond found Penny running the steps of the stadium. This scene was cute. I mean, how else do you describe a guy fainting after he shakes a woman’s hand? And after coming to, he asks her if she wants to get “a coffee”…how adorable is that?

But seriously, Penny, didn’t you wonder who this guy was and how he knew your name? You’re alone in a stadium at night, and a strange man comes up to you and says, “Penny?” and you just smile? Asking “Have we met?” is a start, but if the answer is “no,” then maybe a follow-up question is in order…just saying. Sure, we know Desmond isn’t a creepster, but how do you know that?

But oh yeah, about that fainting thing…when he fainted, he woke up on the island in Widmore’s electromagnetic microwave. Or so we’re led to believe, since that’s what we saw next…

There are two on-island developments that I want to review, but first, I think we need to ask ourselves what’s happening here.

In “The Constant,” Desmond would pass out (or faint) whenever his consciousness jumped to the other time/place. He could only be conscious in one place at a time. In “Happily Ever After,” the writers gave us this same impression since Widmore’s test knocked him unconscious in the aforementioned electromagnetism microwave, and since he fainted at Penny’s feet when he came to on the island. But the episode ended with Desmond waking up in Sideways World, arranging a date with Penny, and then getting in his limo…so does that mean he fainted or passed out again on the island? That would be the logical explanation, I suppose. But I wonder if he hasn’t found a way to transfer his consciousness without the loss of consciousness in the world he currently inhabits… after all, he had a plan when he got in that limo (the Flight 815 manifest).

“If anything goes wrong, Desmond Hume will be my constant”
Daniel wrote these words in his notebook in the original reality. And now I wonder, is Desmond going to be everyone’s constant? Is that why he asked George Minkowski to get him the Flight 815 manifest? Why does he tell Minkowski that he wants to show the passengers something? And how does he know Flight 815 is the key? Is he retaining (or regaining) knowledge from the island reality in his Sideways brain? Will he know which passengers are important?

So many questions…

And now on to the final two noteworthy developments on the island

Desmond’s Change of Heart (Real or Fake?)
Before Widmore had his henchmen zap Desmond in the microwave, he told Jin, “That man is the only person I’m aware of in the world who has survived a catastrophic electromagnetic event. I need to know if he can do it again, or we all die.”

So Widmore claims to have a good reason for this test, but Desmond is not a willing participant. He breaks his chair, yells, slams into the wall…and then he gets fried until he’s unconscious…but when he wakes up, Desmond is different.

Widmore: I’m really sorry we had to do this to you, Desmond. But as I told you, your talent is vital to our mission. So if you just let me explain.
Desmond: It’s alright, I understand.
Charles: What?
Desmond: I understand. You told me you brought me here to do something very important. When do we start?

Did his Sideways experience change something in Desmond? Or did he just decide to play along, to pretend to be cooperative so as to earn himself some more leeway? I don’t know why his Sideways experience would change him so completely. Sure, he met Penny…but in this life, he and Penny are together (although not currently), and they have a son together…so it’s not like the other life is preferable to him, right?

Or did he just buy Widmore’s claim that all of this was necessary to save all their lives?

Before this test, Widmore also said this:

WIdmore: I know how this looks, Desmond. But if everything I’ve been told is correct, you’ll be fine… I hate to resort to forcing this upon you, Desmond. But once it’s over, I’m going to ask you to make a sacrifice, and I hope for all our sakes, you’ll help me.

I wish Desmond would have at least asked Widmore to elaborate on all of this…

But I’m not the only one questioning Desmond’s change of heart. Zoe has a few questions of her own:

Zoe: What happened to you? 20 minutes you were beating Mr. Widmore with an IV stand, and now you’re Mr. Cooperative.
Desmond: A lot can change in 20 minutes.

Sure, a lot can change in 20 minutes, but did it? Maybe we would have found out more, if not for an untimely interruption from….

Sayid?
The Lost writers enjoy ending episodes with a sudden twist that sort of spoils the mood. A couple weeks ago it was Widmore’s sub spotting the reunion at the beach camp, and last week it was Sayid swimming up to the dock to see Desmond escorted off the sub. This week, it’s Sayid again. Only this time, he attacked a couple of Widmore’s henchmen and took control of their charge, Desmond.

But apparently Sayid isn’t completely evil. After all, he let Zoe run away instead of hurting her. Then there’s this:

Sayid: Desmond, I don’t have time to explain, but these people are extremely dangerous. We need to go now.
Desmond: Aye, of course. Lead the way…

He sounded sincere, like he genuinely cares about Desmond, but I suppose he could have just been trying to deceive him—saying what Locke Monster told him.

I don’t trust Widmore, but I trust Locke Monster even less. So if Sayid takes Desmond back to Locke Monster’s camp…I think that’s bad news.

Happily Ever After, huh?
The title of the episode alludes to the way fairy tales conclude. And fairy tales, as we all know, almost always involve a love story. So it’s no surprise that the characters who “felt it” were feeling the love that was so real to them in the other reality.

But is that the key? Love?

Of the characters left on the island, Sawyer loved Juliet. Jack loved Kate. Jin and Sun still love one another. Sayid loved Nadia. Claire loved…Aaron? (Did she love Charlie? I don’t think so.) Kate loved…well, who knows? Hurley loved…Mr. Cluck’s Chicken? I guess you could say he loved Libby, but that seems a little unlikely considering they had like half of a date.

I don’t know if any of this is significant, but for Daniel, it was the redheaded woman (Charlotte?) and for Charlie, it was the blond woman (Claire?), and for Desmond, it was “Penny.” But is there any other way to “feel it”—to connect with this other reality? For example, in Sideways World, Locke is married to the woman he loved. So he wouldn’t need to “feel it” to remember her, and he would have no reason to search for anything.

I don’t know if that makes sense or not. But I guess I’m just wondering if it’s possible for someone to feel “it” if they never fell in love in the other reality. Someone like Miles, or Frank Lapidus, or Ben Linus.

Snippets:

When did they build that electromagnetic chamber, or whatever it’s called?

In the airport, was Desmond trying to hit on Claire? Something about that felt odd.

Also, when Hurley told Desmond which luggage carousel had their luggage…was it just me, or did Desmond appear to be looking for something else?

In the original casting call for George Minkowski’s character, he was described as “Mid 40s, any ethnicity, narcoleptic, can fall asleep at the drop of a hat…” I’m not in my mid 40s, but other than that, I would have been perfect!

You know, I don’t watch Flash Forward, but I do think it’s interesting that both Charlie and Penny are currently appearing in two different shows that involve flashing forward (or sideways) in time. And Minkowski was in Early Edition back in the day, which dealt with the future in its own way (but that’s two Early Edition references I’ve made in the last few weeks, and surely that’s a violation of some kind…so I’ll move on now).

When I saw Charlie Pace running through the hospital in that gown, for some reason, he seemed like a hobbit again…(maybe I just caught a flash of another reality or something; I don’t know)

Questions:

1 ) When Desmond hears Penny’s name read on the guest list, why is her last name Milton? And if she’s Daniel’s half-sister, then which parent do they share? We assume Widmore, but that’s not her last name…so who is her other parent?

2 ) Eloise seems to know what’s going on in Desmond’s life, but does Charles know? Are Sideways Charles and Island Charles working toward the same objective? Are they aware of the other? Widmore is the one who tested Desmond, but does he have any idea what Desmond is experiencing in Sideways World?

3 ) Why did Desmond tell Claire that he bets the baby is a boy? Was that based on a memory of his, or were the writers just playing games with us?

4 ) Widmore says if everything he’s been “told” is correct, Desmond will be fine? Told by whom? Daniel’s notebook, maybe?

5 ) And what is this “sacrifice” Widmore is going to ask Desmond to make?

6 ) What is Desmond going to do with that Flight manifest?

7 ) What do you think of Eloise’s use of the word “violation”? Doesn’t that suggest there’s some sort of agreement or guidelines? A “violation” of what?

8 ) When Desmond survived his first electromagnetic overdose, he woke up in the jungle—naked. I know that was a long time ago, but I’m still wondering: why? He didn’t wake up naked after getting zapped in Widmore’s microwave, so why did he end up naked the first time?

Quick Poll: Desmond’s Sideways Encounters

War Comes to the Island (and the reunion that never comes)

The Lost writers have strung out this Sun/Jin reunion so long that I started thinking I wouldn’t care if they never saw each other again. A couple episodes ago, if Sun had been throttled by the Smoke Monster, or eaten by a hunger-ravaged Vincent (incidentally, is he still on the island?), when she was in the middle of one of her “I want to find my husband!” tirades, I wouldn’t have shed any tears.

But after “The Package,” the writers won me over again with the Jin-and-Sun-still-haven’t-reunited story. Or maybe I should put it this way: they bought themselves a little more time before I lose all interest in this would-be reunion.

In a season where most of us are expecting to be shocked and wowed, where we expect questions answered and mysteries revealed, this episode wasn’t sensational. But if you stop thinking about those mysteries for a moment, and you just sit back and watch “The Package” for the individual episode it is, if you ask me, it was entertaining.

In many ways, this episode felt like season 1 all over again. Sun is only speaking Korean again. She returns to her garden. Sawyer and Kate sit around a fire and talk about “a plan.” Dr. Shephard consults his new patient (Sun), and is it me, or has his bedside manner improved in the last three years? Of course, Sayid is devoid of all emotion, and Claire is still harboring thoughts of killing Kate…so these are new developments. But overall, our Losties are back to square 1: on the island, searching for a way out.

And I’m glad this Kwon-centric episode included a lot of action involving characters other than the estranged lovebirds. Even though the writers did a good job of reviving my interest in these two, they’re still not strong enough to carry a whole episode by themselves (in my opinion). But in the recap, we will start with them…and then we’ll get to Widmore being a…good guy? and the return of Desmond.

Sideways Jin and Sun
In Sideways world the Kwons are, well—they aren’t the Kwons. Jin Kwon was not aboard Oceanic 815 with his wife; he is traveling as the bodyguard for his boss’ daughter. And we learn close to the end, that the whole reason for the trip was, apparently, to put Jin in a position to be killed by the creepy Martin Keamy. And along with the watch, Jin was delivering the blood money himself!

Mr. Paik also cleaned out Sun’s secret bank account, probably to ensure that his daughter would return home even after Jin was executed.

But Mr. Paik’s plan hit a couple of snags. Snag Numero Uno, Jin’s money was confiscated at customs, so Jin was spared until Keamy received his payment. Snag Deux, Sun couldn’t make the payment because her daddy closed her account. And Snag 셋 (that’s “3” in Korean…according to wikipedia): Keamy’s men bit off more than they could chew with Sayid, the mercenary slayer.

After Sayid did most of the dirty work, he left Jin with a knife to cut himself free. When Sun and her translator showed up, they found carnage at the restaurant. (By the way, how’d you like seeing Mikhail as the translator? And did you love it as much as I did when Jin shot him in the eye?)

After killing Mikhail, Jin should have been free to leave with Sun. And he was, I suppose, only Sun had been shot right in the gut…which is all the more frightening since she reveals to Jin that she’s pregnant. (Hurry, Jin, to St. Sebastian’s! Post-haste!)

Locke Monster’s Obstacles
A few episodes ago, the Locke Monster appeared to be in control of everything. Now, he’s got problems all over the place. He went to fetch Sun, and he promised her exactly what she wants: to be reunited with her husband. Instead of taking the bait (which is exactly what I expected her to do), she ran away. Locke Monster ran after her, and even though he had just told Sun he would never ask her to do anything she doesn’t want to do, I thought he was about to break his word…and whack! Instead, Sun broke her face on a tree trunk.

And since no one ever takes a blow to the head without going unconscious in this show (unless it’s the Sawyer/Jack fight scene from last season when they both beat the snot out of each other and then walked away largely unscathed), naturally, Sun got knocked out. And when Ben found her, she woke up speaking Korean.

When Locke Monster returned to his camp (without Sun), he found all his followers unconscious and riddled with darts. Worst of all, Jin is gone. (Wow, just think how irate Sun would have been if she had come with him! I don’t know how she would have managed it, but I think she would have killed Locke Monster herself.)

So he wakes Sayid and they set off for Hydra Island to question the Jin-nappers.

When Locke Monster steps ashore, Sayid is no longer with him. Widmore’s men draw their guns and Locke walks up to the sonar pylons (but not past them) to have this intriguing conversation with Widmore:

Widmore: Do you know who I am?
Locke Monster: Charles Widmore. Do you know who I am?
Widmore: Obviously you’re not John Locke. Everything else I know is a combination of myth, ghost stories, and jungle whispers in the night.
Locke Monster: I think you know more than that judging by these pylons.
Widmore: Why did you come here?
Locke Monster: You took one of my people: Jin Kwon.
Widmore: I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Locke Monster: A wise man once said that war was coming to this island. I think it just got here.

Then they had a staring contest (I’m not sure who won) before Locke Monster finally returned to the main island (without Sayid).

Sayid Feels Nothing
But even though Locke Monster had his obstacles this episode, he had at least one success: He sent Sayid, his secret weapon, to discover what was being kept in the sub’s locked room…and Sayid didn’t even have to swim ashore to find out. He swam up to the dock where he locked eyes with the “package” Widmore sent Zoey to fetch: Desmond. (But more on Desmond soon.)

I don’t know if Sayid’s mission ends there, or not. Maybe he swims back to the main island to report that Desmond was brought on the sub. Or more likely, maybe Locke Monster will have him do some killing first.

But was it just me, or did Sayid’s eyes convey something when he saw Desmond? Was it just a show of recognition? Surprise? Whatever it was, it’s odd coming from a man who said this:

Sayid: When will you be back?
Locke Monster: Morning. Keep an eye on the camp while I’m gone.
Sayid: I can’t feel anything.
Locke Monster: What?
Sayid: Anger, happiness, pain…I don’t feel it anymore.
Locke Monster: Maybe that’s best, Sayid. It’ll help you get through what’s coming…

As the audience, I think we’re supposed to hope that Sayid will be able to start feeling again. Just as we hope that Claire isn’t lost forever. I had started to think that Claire might be changing, but now (with a little urging from Locke Monster) she seems to be considering killing Kate again…

Speaking of Kate
Locke Monster told Claire that her name (Littleton) wasn’t one of the names in the cave. When Claire asked whether Kate’s name was one of them, Locke said, “Not anymore.”

This baffled me completely. I thought the names were crossed out when people died. I know Lost has tricked me before, but I don’t think Kate is dead. How else can a name be crossed off? If they choose to leave the island instead of replacing Jacob? By somehow disqualifying oneself? (How would they do that?)

It’s possible that Locke Monster is lying. Maybe Kate never was a candidate. Then again, maybe she still is, but he wants to keep that a secret. Maybe he knows Kate would choose to stay, to replace Jacob (I don’t know?), and that’s why he doesn’t want anyone to know Kate is a candidate. That would be my guess, but as I said, I’m baffled by this.

Widmore, a Good Guy?
I don’t trust Widmore. And I don’t think I ever will. But it looks like my last theory was incorrect: he’s not in cahoots with Locke Monster. Could he be evil, too? Sure. But at least he doesn’t want to let Locke Monster off the island (assuming he was being honest with Jin, that is).

But before we start thinking Widmore has a noble ambition of some kind, let’s remember how his conversation with Jin began. First, he chastised Zoe for rushing his “timetable,” and he said that this (the Jin-nabbing, I assume) wasn’t supposed to happen for days. Then when Jin is brought to him, Widmore produces Sun’s camera. I’m glad that Jin was able to see the pictures of his baby girl, but this was clearly a manipulative tactic. Especially when Widmore said, “I have a daughter, too. I know what it’s like to be kept apart.” (Bologna! Like you care about your daughter, Widmore!)

Besides, it sounds like Widmore is planning to reunite Jin and Sun with their daughter…off the island.

And isn’t that exactly what Locke wants, too? To get all the candidates off the island?

Zoe, the Geophysicist

Widmore: This wasn’t supposed to happen for days. We had a timetable.
Zoe: He was leaving their camp.
Widmore: Then you should have let him leave and taken him in the jungle.
Zoe: Maybe you should put a mercenary in charge instead of a geophysicist.

So it sounds like many of Widmore’s men are mercenaries. That’s not surprising. What is surprising (to me, anyway), is that Zoe is in charge…and she’s a geophysicist. Why?

Also, we heard her say this:

Jin: What do you want from me?
Zoe (shows him a map): These are good maps that the Dharma people used to identify pockets of electromagnetism. Whoever signed these could really help me out. I know the writing is hard to read, but it looks like Jin-Soo Kwon. So is it you, or isn’t it?
Jin: If you want answers from me, I want to talk to your boss. I want to talk to Charles Widmore.
Zoe: Then you’re in luck, because he wants to talk to you.

So Widmore’s team is interested in pockets of electromagnetism? But why? For what purpose? Whatever the reason, apparently it’s important.

Richard Returns
Richard and Hurley came back to the beach camp, and Richard revealed that they’re going to destroy the plane to prevent Locke Monster from leaving.

It’s good to have Richard back, but I expected him to have a better plan than this. Jacob told Ilana that Richard would know what to do…but Ilana came on that plane. She knows exactly where it is. If the plan is to blow it up to keep Locke Monster from leaving, well, did they really need Richard to figure that out? Hopefully he’ll have some more insights to share along the way…

Jack’s Promise…and How It Will Impact How the Show Ends
After Jack brought Sun a pad of paper so she could communicate in English, the two of them had a heart to heart.

Sun: Sorry.
Jack: Don’t worry about it. You’re not the first person who told me to leave you alone… Locke, what did he say to you?
Sun: He told me he has Jin.
Jack: Why didn’t you go with him?
Sun: I didn’t trust him.
Jack: Do you trust me?
Sun nods.
Jack: Sun, come with me and I’ll help you find Jin. I’ll help you find him, and I’ll help you both get on that plane and as far away from this island as you can get. I promise.

So I’m stepping out on a limb, but I think Jin and Sun will be reunited (eventually)…and then they’ll leave the island to be with their daughter. And knowing Jack’s doggedness, I’m thinking he will be committed to this promise—doing everything in his power to get Sun and Jin off the island.

Meanwhile, if Locke Monster is to be thwarted, one of the candidates needs to stay behind and serve as the New Jacob. Of course, Jack could help Sun and Jin get off the island without leaving with them, but I’ve started thinking that Jack will leave the island.

Because I already have a candidate in mind for Jacob’s job…

Just like Jacob, only…Bigger
That’s right, my prediction is that Hurley will replace Jacob. He’s perfect for the role. He communes with Jacob’s ghost, so that makes him a pretty valuable commodity right there. Plus, everybody likes Hurley. So it’s perfect.

I also have a theory about how the Sideways Reality is going to play into all of this. Basically, I think all the candidates are going to be able to choose whether they want to transfer their consciousness to the other reality. In the other reality, Jack has a son. Sun and Jin are together (and assuming Sun doesn’t die, she might be giving birth to their child soon). Sayid still has a shot with Nadia. Sawyer and Miles are a sweet cop duo, plus he and Kate just met, so they could have each other (or Juliet, or Charlotte, or whoever the writers want to throw Sawyer’s way next).

But in Sideways World, Hurley is “the luckiest guy in the world.” In the words of Ron Burgundy, he’s “kind of a big deal.” That would appeal to most people, but I have a feeling it’s not the life Hurley would choose for himself. He’s come to terms with his ghost-whisperer abilities, and I think he’d be content staying on that island forever (assuming he still has some vats of Dharma mayonnaise and ranch dressing hidden somewhere in that jungle).

So if all the candidates were given a chance to transport their consciousness (a la Desmond in “The Constant,” which is one of the best Lost episodes ever), I think Hurley would be the one to choose to stay on the island. And maybe Kate would, too. But if Locke Monster wasn’t lying to Claire, Kate is no longer a candidate, so maybe her preference doesn’t matter.

Speaking of Transporting One’s Consciousness
I know my theory (stated above) is outlandish. But let’s roll with it for a moment. Who is the only person who has successfully transferred his consciousness between two different times and places? Desmond. And who did Widmore bring to the island in a locked room on the sub? Desmond.

And who is in charge of Widmore’s team? Zoe, a geophysicist. And what is she asking Jin about? The pockets of electromagnetic energy. And in “The Constant,” why did Daniel Faraday think that Desmond’s consciousness was able to travel? Because of his exposure to electromagnetic energy in the hatch.

Did you follow that question and answer session? If I’m right, then all of that points toward Widmore helping the candidates transfer their consciousness off the island and into the other reality. But what does Widmore get out of it? Why does he care so much?

I have no clue.

Desmond’s Back
I really don’t have anything to say about this. But I’m glad to have him back. And I wouldn’t mind a Desmond-centric episode in the coming weeks…

Snippets:

I guess I was wrong about Zoe not being important.

I love that Mikhail got shot in the eye.

I realize it’s part of the story…but everything is so much simpler when Jin and Sun can speak English.

Did you notice in the beginning when Widmore’s team was observing Kate and Sawyer, they were also able to hear the dialogue around the campfire? So I guess Widmore has a pretty good idea about what’s going on in Camp Monster, huh?

Questions:
1 ) So is Keamy still alive in Sideways World? Not that it matters…but just wondering.

2 ) Did Sayid recognize Desmond? Did he feel anything when he saw him?

3 ) Think Doc Shephard is going to treat Sun’s gunshot wound?

4 ) So Widmore is…a good guy? (Or is he lying to Jin?)

5 ) Locke Monster told Claire that he needs Kate because he’s “three people shy of getting off the island.” Who are the three? Jack, Hurley, and Sun?

6 ) Sayid says he feels nothing. But Claire feels things. It seems like she feels left out. She feels animosity (or maybe jealousy) toward Kate. And she wants to be reunited with Aaron. So why does Sayid feel nothing?

7 ) At first I assumed this episode was called “The Package” to play on plot elements in both realities. The watch/cash is a package in Sideways World, and Widmore refers to Desmond as “the package” on the island. But why would he call Desmond that? Why “package”? Well, packages are delivered…so is Desmond going to be delivered to someone?

Hell on Earth

Did you enjoy those extra 6 minutes of air time? (I hope you altered your DVRs accordingly.) Hmmm, I wonder if “Ab Aeterno” actually ran 6 minutes and 6 seconds long. After all, a 66.6 minute show would be especially fitting given the content of last night’s episode.

For those of you who didn’t lostpedia it, “ab aeterno” means “from eternity.” And it also means “since the beginning” or “for long ages.” Apparently the phrase comes from the Latin translation of Proverbs 8:23: “I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.”

I feel like I’ve been waiting for an eternity for Richard Alpert’s history. And now that I’ve seen it (with an extra 6 minutes, to boot!), I couldn’t help being a little disappointed.

First of all, the storytelling technique was…cheesy. The way they interspersed the flashbacks with the dialogue of Jack, Ilana, and the other beach-sitters, well, it felt like one of those sitcom-recap episodes where everyone sits around and says something that obviously leads in to a flashback which they proceed to relive together… For example, in response to Ben’s comment that Richard doesn’t age, Lapidus says, “And how do you think that happened?”

Never fear, Frank! You’ll never believe this, but a flashback is about to answer that very question! What a crazy coincidence that you happened to ask that right now just moments before the writers were about to provide the answer. Pure craziness, I tell you.

And yeah, anyways, that was when we flashed to the Canary Islands circa 1867, where Richard was all like, “I’m on a horse.”…okay, so maybe he didn’t say it, but he should have.

But in the past seasons, flashbacks didn’t feel so forced. Maybe all the Sideways stuff made them forget how to incorporate flashbacks; I don’t know. But the characters on the island never sat around talking about someone’s back story as a lead-in to it. We’re used to seeing on-island drama interspersed with back stories (or sideways stories), and then we can make the connection ourselves. This plot construction was cheesy (you can do better, Lost).

But we did have some on-island drama before the episode was over. And in the end, I liked this episode. I just think the first 15 minutes were weak. Even Richard’s history with Isabella made me yawn a little bit. I realize I’m asking too much of the writers: I want to know his story, but I don’t want them to take any time to reveal it to me. This late in the final season, I guess it’s just hard for me to invest in back stories when I’d much rather be watching events unfolding on the island.

All of that being said, we learned a lot in this episode. And we got confirmation on many of the things we’ve long suspected. And inevitably, it gave us a lot to ponder as we wait for next week’s installment.

Richard’s Arrival
Jacob admits he brought the Black Rock to the island, and Richard was a slave aboard the ship (because he inadvertently killed the doctor who wouldn’t provide the medicine to heal Richard’s dying wife). If we can trust Locke Monster (I’m sticking with this name even though during the flashback he appeared in his Season 5 Finale form, and not as Locke), then we also know that the Black Rock destroyed the statue.

(So apparently Jacob has the power to draw a ship to the island…but he lacks the ability to prevent it from obliterating the statue in which he lives?)

Locke Monster—in the form of Smoke—killed all of the Black Rock’s survivors (not counting those Whitfield had already bayoneted). But not Richard. Why didn’t he kill Richard? Well, we saw him giving Richard the smoke screen (that’s my name for it, anyway. Get it, smoke screen? Get it? No, it’s like he’s screening him. Well, yeah, it is more like a scan. I know, but “smoke scan” isn’t clever…no, oh, nevermind…). Whatever you want to call it, we definitely saw the smoke monster do this to Mr. Eko in a previous season. And in the smoke, if you watch it in slow motion, you can see scenes from Eko’s life being replayed like a film. And this appears to be what the smoke monster did to Richard…and he saw something he could use to manipulate him, and thus, he was spared. (I think this confirms my long-held belief that Eko was killed because the Smoke Monster wanted to manipulate him and he realized that Eko, who felt no guilt for his actions, was going to be immune to his manipulations.)

Welcome to Hell, Ricardo
When Jacob’s Enemy (yeah, I just changed my mind…it’s too confusing to call him “Locke Monster” when he doesn’t look like Locke) comes and touches Richard, he tells him that they’re in hell.

Richard believed him (after the carnage he had just witnessed, wouldn’t you?). And this is how his manipulations began. One on hand, it seems Jacob’s Enemy is a master manipulator. But you know, in a way, he also kinda sucks at it.

Before he frees Richard, he makes him promise to help him, to do anything he asks. Which, you know, probably isn’t the best way to establish trust.

Then Jacob’s Enemy skewers a boar on a spit and sits back to watch Richard eating. After awhile, he leans forward and extends a sheathed dagger to Richard:

Jacob’s Enemy: When you’re finished eating, you’ll walk due west. Once you get to the ocean, you’ll be able to see the statue…your ship smashed through it, broke it to pieces. That’s where you’ll find the devil. You only have one chance. You put this through his chest. Do not hesitate; do not let him say a word. If he speaks it will be too late. He can be very persuasive.
Richard: How can I kill him with this? He’s black smoke?
Jacob’s Enemy: No, I am.

How can he be such a good liar and so bad at it all at once? I mean, really, admitting you’re the black smoke? You think that’s the best way to earn Richard’s trust? Then again, maybe he’s not trying to earn his trust…maybe he just wants Richard to embrace his basest instincts. Because this is what comes next:

Richard: You killed the officers on the ship…
Jacob’s Enemy: I’m not the one you need to worry about. The devil has your wife; and you’re going to have to kill him if you ever want to get her back…
Richard: Murder is wrong; that is what brought me here.
Jacob’s Enemy: My friend, you and I can talk all day long about right or wrong, but the question before you remains the same: do you ever want to see your wife again?
Richard: Yes, I do.

And so, Jacob’s Enemy gave Richard the dagger, patted him on the shoulder, and walked away. And Richard set off to fight the devil.

Jacob Fights First, Asks Questions Later
Remember when Ben stabbed Jacob? Remember how Jacob stood there and took it like a (dead) man?

Well, Richard’s experience was slightly different. Jacob promptly beat the snot out of him. With no hesitation whatsoever. As soon as he saw him walking toward the statue with that dagger, Jacob went all Dogen on him (which reminds me: I miss Dogen).

Moments later, Richard was disarmed and lying on his back.

Jacob: What are you doing here? Who gave you this?
Richard: Where’s my wife?
Jacob: I don’t know your wife. Did she come here on the ship?
Richard: She’s dead.
Jacob: Then why are you asking me where she is…

That exchange made me laugh.

It was also nice to see Jacob with a little more personality. In other episodes, he’s been so tranquil, and so cognizant of everything. In this episode, he seemed like he was really at a loss.

But anyway, Richard still believes he’s in hell. And he thinks he’s dead. Jacob proves him wrong by almost drowning him to death. Richard realizes he wants to live, and Jacob lets him (that’s an understatement, huh?).

The Island isn’t Hell…it’s a Cork. Duh!
This episode provided the most in-depth course in Jacob history we’ve seen. Here it is, in Jacob’s words:

Richard: What is inside?
Jacob: No one comes in unless I invite them in.
Richard: Are you the devil?
Jacob: No.
Richard: Then who are you?
Jacob: My name is Jacob. I’m the one who brought your ship to this island…
Richard: You brought it here. Why?
Jacob (takes a drink): Think of this wine as what you keep calling hell. There’s many other names for it, too: malevolence, evil, darkness. And here it is, swirling around in the bottle—unable to get out, because if it did, it would spread. The cork…is this island. And it’s the only thing keeping the darkness where it belongs…That man who sent you to kill me thinks that every man is corruptible because it’s in his very nature to sin. I bring people here to prove him wrong. And when they get here, their past doesn’t matter.
Richard: Before you brought my ship, there were others?
Jacob: Yes, many.
Richard: What happened to them?
Jacob: They’re all dead.
Richard: If you brought them here, why didn’t you help them?
Jacob: Because I wanted them to help themselves, to know the difference between right and wrong without having to tell them. It’s all meaningless if I have to force them to do anything. Why should I have to step in?
Richard: If you don’t, he will.
Jacob (pauses): Do you want a job?
Richard: A job? Doing what?
Jacob: Well, if I don’t want to step in…maybe you can do it for me. You can be my representative, my intermediary.
Richard: But what would I get in return?
Jacob: What do you want?
Richard: I want my wife back.
Jacob: I can’t do that.
Richard: Can you absolve me of my sins?
Jacob: I can’t do that, either.
Richard: I don’t ever want to die. I want to live forever.
Jacob: Now that—I can do.

The Sword (er, Dagger) and the Stone
I don’t know if the dagger Jacob’s Enemy gave to Richard is special or not, but I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering if it’s the same dagger Dogen gave to Sayid—the same one that ended up lodged (harmlessly) in Locke Monster’s sternum.

I’m curious about the dagger but even more interested in the white stone Jacob asked Richard to give to Jacob’s Enemy. I think it’s safe to assume it’s the white stone we saw in the seaside cave. And that makes me think that the cave belonged to Locke Monster/Jacob’s Enemy, not Jacob. Perhaps that scale was representative of the struggle between the two of them—the struggle between good and evil. And Jacob gave his enemy that stone as a way of saying, “Game on.” Before Richard joined Jacob, everyone Jacob had brought to the island had died. So maybe he gave the stone to his enemy to say, “Here we go again,” and eventually, Locke Monster threw the stone into the ocean because Jacob’s death meant that the struggle between the two of them is over.

Speaking of that struggle, did anyone else think it was odd that Jacob seemed to be baffled that his enemy sent Richard to kill him? Jacob’s Enemy straight up told him (in the Season 5 finale) that he wanted to kill him. And Jacob’s response was, “I know.” That was when the Black Rock was just off the coast of the island…so when Jacob’s Enemy tries to kill Jacob only days later…why in the world would Jacob be surprised?

Even though I didn’t understand Jacob’s ignorance/confusion, I was still intrigued by their exchange at the end of the episode:

Jacob: Morning.
Jacob’s Enemy: Morning.
Jacob: I see you got my present.
Jacob’s Enemy: Don’t gloat, Jacob. It doesn’t become you.
Jacob: So you tried to kill me?
Jacob’s Enemy: Do you expect an apology?
Jacob: I guess I’m just wondering why you did it.
Jacob’s Enemy: Because I want to leave. Let me leave, Jacob.
Jacob: As long as I’m alive, you’re not going anywhere.
Man: Now you know why I want to kill you; and I will kill you, Jacob.
Jacob: Even if you do, someone else will take my place.
Man: Then I’ll kill them, too.
Jacob (gives him the wine): Here, something for you to pass the time…I’ll see you around.
Man: Sooner than you think. (and he breaks the bottle)

The line that jumped out at me: “Then I’ll kill them, too…” I assume Locke Monster can’t kill the candidates (especially whichever one assumes the role of Jacob’s Replacement), so he’ll need someone else to do it. And who will that be? My guess: Widmore. (If you’re hung up on the fact that Widmore is erecting those sonar pylons, my guess would be that’s it’s just a safety precaution to ensure that Locke Monster doesn’t kill him after he’s killed off the candidates.)

Hurley, the Ghost-Whisperer
In Richard’s flashback, we know that Jacob’s Enemy told Richard it’s never too late to change his mind. And as a token of that, he gave Richard the necklace that had belonged to his wife, Isabella. Well, in that flashback, Richard buried it (in what appeared to be a cemetery of sorts, didn’t it?). Back in the island’s present, Richard marched across the island carrying his torch (apparently it took him all night to get there, since it was daylight when he arrived at the pseudo-cemetery) and he dug up this necklace, shouting, “Does the offer still stand? Does the offer still stand?” And then, just when we expected Locke Monster to appear, we saw…Hurley? (In that moment, I had this strange thought that Hurley had been a mole for Jacob’s Enemy all along…how twisted would that be? But no, apparently Hurley followed him all the way across the island by himself, and in the dark, which is almost as unbelievable as the thought that Hurley would be a mole for Locke Monster.)

But no, Hurley doesn’t have any ill-intentions. He’s just there to play match-maker for the immortal man and the ghost of his wife (you know, just the typical Lost love-connection).

Richard: What the hell are you doing out here? Did you follow me?
Hurley: Dude, calm down.
Richard: Why did you follow me?
Hurley: Your wife sent me!
Richard: What did you say?
Hurley: I said your wife sent me—Isabella. She wants to know why you buried her cross.
Richard: How did you know that?

And this is why Hurley is a great translator:

Isabella: He doesn’t believe you.
Hurley (in Spanish): Sometimes it takes people awhile.
Isabella: Tell him his English is beautiful.
Richard: I don’t see her.
Hurley: She’s right there. She says your English is awesome.

And after Isabella leaves (does she have an engagement elsewhere, or something?), Hurley reveals one final thing.

Hurley: She kinda said one more thing—something you have to do.
Richard: What?
Hurley: She said you have to stop the man in black—stop him from leaving the island. Because if you don’t, we all go to hell.

Theme:

Eternity/Damnation
In this episode, I think we heard the word “hell” more often than Hurley says, “dude.”

We also learned, from Jacob, that Locke Monster believes man is corruptible because “it’s in his very nature to sin.” Not to get too theological, but I have to agree with Locke Monster on that one. Perhaps Jacob’s use of the word “corruptible” is different than mine. Is he referring to an eternal choice? I believe that we have a sinful nature, and I think we can be corrupted. But it’s the acknowledgment of our corrupt and sinful nature that makes redemption possible. So does Jacob think that some people are completely impervious to corruption? Or does he just believe that they can still choose to be good (for lack of a better word), whereas Locke Monster believes they can all be persuaded to ultimately choose evil (again, for lack of a better word)?

Whatever the case may be concerning Jacob’s views of mankind and their corruptibility, this episode—from the title all the way to Hurley’s final pronouncement—certainly put everything in an eternal perspective. “Evil incarnate” is trapped on this island (sort of like Napoleon and Elba), and while he can deceive, kill, and destroy willy-nilly on the island, he can go nowhere else. And that’s what he’s trying to change.

Snippets:

So Magnus Hanso was definitely the captain of the Black Rock. (Had we heard that in the show before? Or just from other Lost-related sources?)

What a crappy priest! Why even ask Richard to make a confession if you’re just going to tell him that “the devil waits for you in hell…”

Finally! We have confirmation for the whole “The Island is a Cork” theory. (Who didn’t suspect that?)

It’s funny to see Richard so bedraggled and flummoxed (it’s also fun to say “bedraggled and flummoxed.” Go on, try it. Say it again. See?)

Last week I joked about Kate and Hurley hooking up. I don’t really want to see that. But I would like Libby’s ghost to pay Hurley a visit. I mean, c’mon already! Ana Lucia’s ghost told Hurley that Libby said hi. So why can’t she just come and talk to him herself?

Questions:
1 ) Was it just me, or did Jacob’s plan seem to be really short-sighted? He brings the ship to the island…and then Jacob’s Enemy turns into smoke and kills all the survivors…(okay, so he didn’t kill Richard, but only because he wanted Richard to kill Jacob.) Jacob’s Enemy believes all man is corruptible…and Jacob wants to prove him wrong. But Jacob’s Enemy can just kill everyone whenever Jacob brings them to the island? Seems like the odds are really stacked against Jacob, doesn’t it? Seems like, in order for Jacob’s experiment to run its course, Jacob’s Enemy would need to be confined somewhere…like in a cabin, maybe? Think that might have been one of Richard’s tasks as Jacob’s “intermediary”? To confine Jacob’s Enemy in the cabin?

2 ) Now that we know Richard became Jacob’s “intermediary,” isn’t it strange that he went off the island to scope out Locke? Or to run missions for Ben—like recruiting Juliet?

3 ) Speaking of Richard running missions for Ben…when did the Others come to the island? If at one time it was just Jacob, Jacob’s Enemy, and Richard, when did the others come? And how long does it take for Jacob to “prove him wrong”? Dogen and some of the other Others had lived there for awhile, apparently serving Jacob…not his enemy. So at what point is Jacob right?

4 ) So out of the “candidates,” if only one can replace Jacob, who do you think it should be? (Jack is a good leader…but Hurley gets my vote.)

5 ) When Richard inquired about the inside of the statue, Jacob’s response was, “No one comes in unless I invite them in.” That doesn’t seem like the easiest way to answer the question, which makes me think it’s significant. But what does it mean? And is it true? (After all, Locke Monster and Ben came in unbidden—even though Richard told them that’s not how it works.)