Episode 8 - Recon

Hi Friends! Well I apologize for the post coming a day late but to be honest, I thought this was one of the worst episodes of the season. Also I have a job that demands my attention. So this week I promise a short summary!





SUMMARY

On-Island
Sawyer is told by Smokey to return to Hydra Island to do some recon for his team. Sawyer agrees and Smokey admits to Sawyer, who knows he isn't Locke, that he is the "smoke thing". While Sawyer is over on Hydra, he finds the plane that landed there and a pile of dead bodies. He comes across a woman named Zoe who claims to be the last survivor. She asks to come with him and Sawyer knows that she's lying. She shows him the submarine with Whidmore on board. Sawyer promises Whidmore that he will bring Smokey to him. Sawyer returns to Smokey and tells him that he saw Whidmore and that he promised to bring Smokey to him. Sawyer then reassures Kate that he's getting them off the island.
While Sawyer was on the other side of the island, Kate is approached by Claire who seems to have warmed to her momentarily, until she tries to attack Kate. Kate pleads with Sayid to help her but he does not. Kate is approached by Smokey after the incident and she tells him she knows he isn't Locke.

Off-Island
Sawyer is a police officer who goes undercover. His partner Miles tries to set him up with someone his father works with. Sawyer goes to meet Charlotte and they hit it off. Sawyer gets angry with Charlotte when she snoops around his apartment and he kicks her out when he realizes she's discovered his past secret where his parents were killed in the murder suicide plot. He returns to work and apologizes to Miles for messing things up. Sawyer even tries to apologize to Charlotte but she denies him. Miles confronts him about his recent trip to Australia when he said he was in Palm Springs. Sawyer confesses what he was up to, tracking down Anthony Cooper, the man responsible for his parents death. While he confesses to Miles, their car is hit in a car chase and they take off after it. Sawyer catches up to the fugitive on foot and it turns out to be Kate.

Wow so I didn't think I would remember all that. Not a very interesting episode.

1. So yes now with only 8 episodes left I am really starting to fear for the series. This was a very uneventful episode and not 1 secret was even confirmed! And to top it all off, they introduced new characters. Great, that's exactly what I wanted.

2. I was a little bit foolish to believe this Zoe person. So does that mean she and Whidmore's team killed the rest of the survivors? Seems a little unnecessary. Couldn't he, like Hurley, have bought out the rest of the flight so they didn't have to land there? Makes me think Whidmore really is the bad guy.

3. Sawyer as a cop I guess was a good twist to his off-island persona. People may have asked why he didn't arrest Kate when he saw her at the airport. Well the answer is my friends as we find out later, that he wasn't in Palm Springs like he said he was and arresting a fugitive would have exposed him. So looks like whatever he did in this life he still has to carry the burden of what happened to his parents. And he's still hell bent on avenging their deaths. Wonder if he'll cross paths with Locke and find out who his father really is! And is Locke's dad truly good as we expected since Locke and him are friends or did he make good on past wrong doings?

4. Claire is starting to become one of my faves just because she is so creepy! Although I'll forever detest her as Tess from Roswell, and the new movie Remember Me. Yeah, I saw it. But her way to just befriend Kate with the creepy hug only to attack her with a knife was pretty intense. And I LOVED how Said didn't move to help. I think that Kate will begin to notice the off behavior and run away to the protective arms of Jack!

5. I honestly didn't see Charlotte coming as his love interest. I saw maybe Juliet, maybe fellow cop Ana Lucia. But I do think there is a parallel between her and Juliet because he brought Charlotte a sunflower to apologize which is something he did for Juliet in Othersville. Ugh. The only thing I think that mattered from all of that interaction was how Miles mentioned she worked with his father, in some sort of sciencey lab. So I wonder if Dr. Pierre Chang is still working with Dharma. Also worthy of noting is that Miles' last name on his desk was Straume, his mother's last name so maybe the same plot happened where they left the island and Dr. Chang stayed but maybe somehow in this life they reunited and are good terms. Or it's a step-father.

6. So its becoming Clear that Whidmore and Jacob = same team and its everyone versus Smokey. So is that what the finale is preparing us for? An all out battle between the two? Snore - I hope they mix it up which usually LOST does and throw in something magical haha.

7. Oh Sawyer, is he really that naive that he thinks this plan will work? Tricking Team Smokey and Team Jacob/Whidmore into fighting each other while he escapes on the sub with Kate? And while we're at it, was THAT really the cliffhanger for this episode? Announcing he's going to escape? Weak LOST, very weak.

8. I loved seeing Charlie's brother Liam at the police station! Looks like poor old Charlie couldn't kick his drug habit! But it appears that Liam was clean ... I doubt we'll get the back story but at least its something!

9. So Sawyer returns to the infamous cages and finds Kate's old dress. How lovely. How many times does Kate have to prove to you that she loves Jack!

10. So before I stated that Jacob and Whidmore are on the same team but there is compelling evidence to make that untrue. I'm pretty sure Jacob via Ben got him kicked off the island in the first place. I think if Jacob wanted him there he could have brought him back. So maybe the man that Sawyer thinks Whidmore wants isn't who he thinks he is. Hahah that's confusing ... but it seemed like Smokey at the end knew that Whidmore wanted him so at this point in the game I don't even know what to speculate.

Alright so it set us up for next week, not exactly dying with anticipation but I'm pumped. Again sorry for the late post!

xo

B

Episode 7 - Dr. Linus

Normally I'm bursting at the seams to write about a Ben-centric episode but it fell a little flat for me. Ah well, here's my short short summary.




SUMMARY

Off-Island
Ben is the history teacher at a public school that lacks funds. We find out he truly cares for his students, one in particular Alex Rousseau. He has to cancel his history club meeting because the principal forces him to watch detention. Alex shows up at his home where Ben is taking care of his father and asks to meet early in the morning for tutoring. During their tutoring session Alex lets it slip that she needs a recommendation from someone who went to Yale and the only person she knows is the principal. She doesn't want to ask him since she witnessed him and the school nurse getting it on one time. With encouragement from Locke, Ben decided to enlist Dr. Arzt's help by checking his email correspondence with the nurse. When Ben approaches the principal with the ultimatum to give Ben his job, the principal threatens to destroy Alex's future. Ben backs down and Alex receives a shining recommendation from the principal.

On-Island
Ben rejoins Ilana's group and they head to the beach. She confronts Ben about how Jacob died revealing he was like a father to her and Miles confesses that Ben killed Jacob by listening to his ashes. Once at the beach Ilana takes Ben prisoner and forces him to dig his own grave. Smokey appears and tells Ben that he will help Ben by setting him free and has placed a rifle in the jungle for him to use against Ilana. Ben makes a run for it and when he has Ilana at gunpoint, he explains why he killed Jacob, to protect his power which was the only thing he had after he gave up everything for the island. Ilana tells him that Ben can join her group and Ben follows. Meanwhile Jack and Hurley head back to the temple but find Richard Alpert en route. He tells them he will lead them to the Temple but instead they end up at the Black Rock. Richard tells them he needs to die and Jack follows him inside. Richard explains to Jack that he can't kill himself because Jacob touched him and gave him a gift. He asks Jack to light the end of the fuse and let him blow up but Jack lights the fuse and stays with him. He explains that Jacob brought him here for a reason and that he wouldn't have come this far just to blow himself up. The fuse dies at the end and they both live. They travel back to the beach to find out their destiny and are reunited with the Losties.

Actually writing the recap made me rethink that I actually liked this episode a lot.

1. I think the most interesting thing that happened this whole episode was Ben's conversation with his father in the off-island world. He confirms that they had been to the island and that the Dharma Initiative existed. So this proves that the gang blew up the island with the nuke and the Dharma folk left the island safely. It's funny how Ben's father thinks Ben really could have made something of himself if they stayed on the island but I guess it's a matter of perspective really because technically Ben did make something of himself on the island - he was a leader of all the Others, but in reality it meant nothing whereas in the off-island reality he's actually helping people's lives for the better. Bit of irony I suppose.

2. I loved that we got to see Richard Alpert again! Oh how I missed him! And it was confirmed that he came over on the Black Rock so are we to assume that Smokey did as well or did Smokey just release him from the chains? (Alluding to his statement a few episodes back that Smokey said it was nice to see him out of his chains which could be actual chains for a metaphor for Jacob's chains). So Richard seemed to be annoyed with Jacob's death because after hundreds of years he never found out Jacob's plan for him. Interesting to find out that he too was held back by free will as it seems he has given up his and can only rely on Jack's compassion to kill him, or to rather not kill him.

3. Not only was Jack very handsome in tonight's episode, he started to finally realize his role on the island. Only took ohhh 5 seasons but the lighthouse seems to have made an impression on why he was brought here. I guess he did find his purpose for coming back to the island, even if he isn't 100% sure what it is exactly. And yay he's being redeemed and becoming the leader he's always been since season 1!

4. Was anyone else creeped out by Alex and Dr. Linus' relationship? Never ever ever would I show up at a teacher's house ever, or then gossip like a 7 year old school girl about the principal and the nurse at our private tutoring session. I mean come on lost, I know we suspend reality for the show but couldn't we have thought of a better way to convey their close relationship?

5. So I was pleased at the end when Ben chose the well being of Alex over himself because it sort of redeemed his choice of the island over Alex. And I almost teared up at the end when he was explaining to Ilana how he made the wrong choice and in the end the island left him with nothing. God those big bug eyes can do it to me sometimes!

6. It was so fun to see Dr. Arzt again! And also that they returned to where he got blown up outside the Black Rock, still a great and shocking event in Lost history. He was still as annoying as ever but so eager to commit e-mail fraud once Ben bribed him with a nicer parking spot and lab coats. Seems like even in the off-island world Ben is still manipulative, but this time he has a little heart.

7. So we found out Ilana's role, Jacob and the candidates' bodyguard, but really, did we need all the tears? I don't know, she just annoys me. I was kinda rooting for old Ben to pop up and just shoot her. But I guess she does have more information so let's see what they'll squeeze out of her.

8. So here's one of my problems with the Losties. They show up on this island jungle of mystery and EVERY time they capture an Other or anyone who knows anything about the island they don't ask a million questions. If Ben was looking for answers, it seems like Ilana maybe had them, and if Jack wanted to know more about the origin of the island it seems like he had Richard Alpert right where he wanted him. Come on Losties! Get with it!

9. Did we all see Jack's face when Richard told him that everyone at the Temple was dead?! He was SO thinking about Kate. They are going to rule the island together forever. The end.

10. So when Richard Alpert mentioned that Jacob touched him and gave him a gift, does that mean he gave the same gift to all the Losties we saw him touch? Can Jack, Sawyer, Kate, etc not kill themselves? Could explain why they were able to escape some hairy situations! But I don't think so because they seem to still have their free will in tact, unlike Richard. And it seems like Richard wasn't too please with said "gift" given to him by Jacob, but also if he died and didn't give me any answers I would also be very angry.

I'm actually pumped for next week's episode for the return of Sawyer and who knows, maybe some answers. Also, maybe after 3 years Sun and Jin will be reunited!

Until next week folks :)

xo
B

Episode 6 - Sundown

So I didn't care much for this episode. As a result, my summary will be short.

SUMMARY

On-Island
Claire and Smokey stand outside the Temple and Claire decides to enter. She is received by guns and is put in a hole where she can't hurt anyone. Sayid decides to leave the temple after some kung fu fighting with Dogen. Miles tells him that he was dead for 2 hours before he came back to life and that they tried to save him so whoever brought him back to life it wasn't the Others. Sayid decides to leave the Temple but before he goes he speaks to Dogen. Dogen tells him once outside he will encounter someone who he thinks is dead. He asks him to stab him before he speaks. Sayid leaves the temple and runs into Locke/Smokey. He stabs him in the chest and Smokey pulls it out. Smokey convinces him that he is on the wrong side and when he promises him anything in the world, Sayid agrees to deliver Smokey's message. Sayid returns to the temple and tells the camp that Jacob is dead and anyone who wants to live needs to leave the temple and join Smokey. He then proceeds to find Dogen. Dogen tells him that Jacob recruited him to the island in exchange for his son's life. He realizes that Sayid has taken a similar offer from Smokey and Sayid drowns Dogen in the water and kills the John Lennon look-a-like guy after he tells him that Dogen was the only one preventing Smokey from entering the Temple. Chaos ensues and the losties hide with Ilana in the wall. Ben tries to save Sayid and realizes he has become evil. Kate shows up to find Claire in the hole and confesses to her that she took Aaron and came back to find her to reunite them. Claire tells Kate to hide in the hole to avoid the wrath of Smokey. Outside Smokey and his new followers unite.

Off-Island

Sayid appears with flowers to Nadia's house. Nadia is married to Sayid's brother and has two children. There is still an obvious flirtation between Nadia and Sayid. Sayid's brother, Omar, comes to Sayid asking him to help him with some loan sharks. Sayid refuses saying he isn't that man anymore. Omar is mugged outside of his business and Nadia asks Sayid to go home and protect the children. Sayid agrees and when Nadia returns she asks him why Sayid pushed her towards his brother. Sayid tells her its because he didn't deserve her. Sayid is then abducted by a group of men and brought to a kitchen of a restaurant. Inside Keamy is waiting for him and tells Sayid to help his brother pay off his debt. Sayid refuses and kills all of the guards and then shoots Keamy.

Okay so I lied, it ended up being long again. Don't act surprised.

1. Okay I clearly wasn't happy with this episode because I feel like nothing happened that we didn't expect. We knew Sayid was going to turn evil and we knew somehow in his off-island life he would be reunited with Nadia. It was an interesting twist that she ended up with his brother but come one, seriously you aren't together because you don't deserve her? Puh-lease. It's even worse that they're flirting while she's married! But it's tender that he's willing to do anything to bring her back on the island, even if it means annihilating all of the Others at the temple. Somehow his vow to make up for his past deeds really aren't making any sense, but then again he did turn evil.

2. I'm really concerned for Kate with Claire. Why did she tell her about Aaron ... she's totally going to try to kill her. I'm hoping for Jack to have to chose between his sister and Kate and he's totally going to save Kate. This episode lacked Jack, although we did catch a little glimpse of him at the hospital so that was nice.

3. So I know the debate is still there, is Smokey good or evil? This episode favors him to be evil. He basically wiped out the Others without thinking twice. Did he really expect them to abandon Jacob so quickly? Then again, he is promising them the one thing Jacob wouldn't allow, leaving the island. Maybe they got bored of playing with sticks and decided to return to a place where they could shower.

4. So Dogen met his end swiftly - only four episodes. Eh, there have been worse causalities, hello Nikki and Paulo. But we learned he was brought here because it was the only way his son could live. So Jacob manipulated him to come and protect the island with him. He was also the last thing keeping Smokey out of the temple. So somehow he is more than just a man, and me thinks we haven't seen the last of him. I think it's significant that he died in the water, but then again so did Sayid. So will he wake up evil or will Jacob try to save him?

5. Claire was awesomely creepy in this episode. Acting like everything going on around her was normal. Here's my question regarding the darkness inside her. Is it like everyone else's possession and she's truly evil, or is she just being manipulated by Smokey? We never actually saw her die on screen and that seems to be a key factor in this whole being "claimed" theory. Maybe we can save her and re-unite her with Aaron. Seems unlikely.

6. The return of Keamy was awesome! He so got what he deserved but he creeps me out to the core. One thing I will never understand about the mob world since I myself have a severe lack of experience in anything illegal, is that these people always seem to know everything about everyone! How does everyone know Sayid was a torturer in Iraq! Seems to me that governments try to keep these sort of things under wraps - especially from small time money launderers. Sayid must have some reputation!

7. Oh so Jin in the closet! That was a shock! So now I'm assuming that Keamy isn't just a small time money launderer and he works for one of the big guys in this world too. Most likely he works for Whidmore which I was hoping we would see more of his involvement in the off-island world. If he isn't searching for the island as his main goal in life then what is he up to?

8. So Sayid stabbed Smokey and clearly it wasn't going to work since we know Smokey is not human. But how did he survive this attack when Jacob didn't survive Ben's attack? I'm getting frustrated not knowing how these two relate to one another!

9. So now we have to assume that Sayid has been claimed. So if he is no longer Sayid, then will he even want his reward for a job well done? Although it looks like Nadia would have to be resurrected as well and what body will she inhabit? Maybe she will inhabit Shannon's body!!

10. What will happen now that Smokey has his recruits? What is his master plan for getting off the island? Maybe once Jacob carries out his quest to find his new leader, the Others, losties, etc. will start to follow him again and they can take back over Smokey.

At this point I don't even know what to speculate which is a good thing, because if we knew the plot for the last 10 episodes I don't think I would tune in. Haha just kidding! Leave your thoughts!

xo

B

Episode 5 - The Lighthouse

So I think it goes without saying that I loved this episode, and mostly because hot-damn Jack looked pretty good throughout the entire episode! But we also got to see a little rogue Claire, Hurley and Miles, and the numbers!

SUMMARY

Off-Island 2004
Jack is giving his mother an update on the location of his father's coffin via the phone when he takes a glance at his scar from his appendectomy. He rushes over to school to pick up his son David who clearly is angry with him for being late. They return to Jack's apartment where David only visits once a month. Jack leaves to go to his mother's to help her find his father's missing will. While there he asks about his appendicitis scar and mentions how he doesn't really remember getting his appendix removed at a young age. They talk about Jack's relationship with this his son and he realizes that he has a relationship much like Jack and his father's. She finds the will and begins to read it asking Jack who Claire Littleton is. Jack returns home to find that his son has left. He leaves some worried messages and decides to head over to his mother's house to see if he's there. He enters the house with the hidden key and wanders up to David's room. Once inside he listens to his messages and discovers he's at a school tryout for music. Jack rushes over to the try out and is brought to tears (shocker!) while listening to David play the piano. He then runs into Dogen as they discuss how hard it must be for their sons to handle all the pressure. Jack approaches David outside and they resolve their issues.

Island (2007)
Back at the temple Jack and Dogen discuss how they've been honest with each other and how Jack doesn't think Kate, Sawyer, or Jin will be returning to the Temple. Hurley and Miles are clearly bored with the Temple and wander off to find food. Hurley runs into Jacob in the spring and he tells Hurley he has a mission for him and he needs to bring Jack, oh and write it down on his arm. When Hurley decides to go alone he runs into Dogen and Jacob. Jacob tells Hurley to tell Dogen he is a candidate and can do what he wants. Jacob urges Hurley to convince Jack to come with him so Hurley tells Jack that Jacob thinks he "has what it takes". Jack decides to follow Hurley through the jungle where they run into Kate. The talk briefly and part ways as Kate runs off looking for Claire. Hurley and Jack come across a lighthouse and Hurley says they need to turn it on. Once inside Jack realizes that the mirrors on the dial are a way for Jacob to watch over their lives off the island. There were names written next to each degree with only a few remaining that weren't crossed off. Jack gets angry and demands to talk to Jacob, when Hurley tells him he can't Jack smashes the mirrors and runs out to the cliffs. Jacob appears to Hurley and explains this was his plan all along.
Also on the island, Jin has been taken by Claire. He wakes up in her very Rousseau-esque hut and she fixes Jin's leg. She's also gone back for a prisoner and while she's out, the prisoner tries to convince Jin that she is going to kill them both. Claire returns to question him about the whereabouts of Aaron. Jin informs Claire that Kate took Aaron. Claire decides to kill the prisoner and Jin changes his mind about Aaron, lying to Claire that the Others do have him at the Temple and he will take her there to get him. She agrees saying otherwise she would have had to kill Kate. Her friend returns and we find out that it's Smokey aka Locke.

Wow I didn't think the summary would be that long! So just a fun fact - last night was the 108th episode of LOST!

1. Okay so clearly I love love loved this episode because I got lots of Jack! And boy oh boy did he look amazing in this episode, man looks good in a suit! haha but we got some serious insight on both versions of Jack. In the off-island world he's willing to allow himself to change with his son. He recognizes his faults and that he is becoming more and more like his father, so he decides to change and open up to his son. The island Jack however is still very stubborn, for example smashing the magical mirrors right away without thinking "hey, these are magical, maybe they can help me!". But it seems like Jacob knew that would happen anyway, I mean its not like he needs them anymore since they're all on the island, and is happy with the result that Jack is now thinking about the repercussions of discovering this information.

2. So the producers have confirmed that both realities are in fact real. This means that one is the alternative to the other, they both exist. So I think at this point the two realities have to collide and I think its beginning to happen with the deja-vu like experiences the characters are having. For example; Jack and Kate recognizing each other, Jack having a mysterious cut in the pilot episode while on the plane, and in this episode, Jack not remembering any details about his appendectomy. Each character seems a lot happier in the reality where the plane never crashed; Locke accepts his disability, Jack mends his relationship with his son, Claire decides to keep her baby, etc. I don't think the producers can exactly make us choose one or the other reality since they are so different and we've spent 5 years being invested in the island story so will they somehow have to come together?

3. The way this plot is shaping up reminds me a lot of the Matrix series. There's the obvious deja-vu moments mentioned above which are explained as glitches. There's the search for a leader like Neo = candidate = Jack! And we even have 2 realities. Now it's been a while since I've watched the Matrix series but in the end doesn't everyone die and they restart the Matrix for the last time? So Jacob is apparently searching for his replacement but let's say he does find his replacement in oh say, Jack. So Jack takes over to Jacob, but take over doing exactly what? What would be the point of Jack taking over for Jacob, so they can watch everything happen again? Would this mean that Smokey would stay as Smokey or does someone have to take his place? Again I think the only thing that can explain why the island needs a protector is we need to find out why the island is so important! Without that key factor, why do we even want Jacob to find his replacement? Whats the point of it starting all over again, unless, like the Matrix, its the last time and a winner is finally declared (humans vs. machines in the case of the Matrix and Good vs. Evil presumably in LOST). I'm still trying to work out the details on this theory but its thought provoking to say the least!

3. Rogue Claire is really something. What is with that hair?? ... I have no idea but its safe to say that this episode confirmed that Claire has actually been "claimed". And she's on Smokey's side. So I think it's also safe to say that Claire isn't Smokey, but they're as she put it, friends. So it looks like Smokey has the ability to claim people which my best guess means that they still have remnants of their former lives, but they're in fact some other being or lack of themselves that inhabited their bodies after they died, much like a zombie! Now I don't think John Locke's body has been claimed the way Claire and Sayid are looking to go, I think the Smokey has just transformed into looking like Locke since we have Smokey as Locke and Locke's actual body which was buried. Mostly from this revelation I was hoping we could finally give Smokey a name.

4. Kate almost shot Jack! That would have been a hot mess - and while their interlude was brief I'm sticking by my guns that they love each other. Kate doesn't care that Sawyer went off on his own and she knows that she will come across Jack again in the jungle. Why you may ask? Duh he's going to be looking for Claire and so is she! And Jack will save her because Claire will think Kate has Aaron and try to kill her. Also Claire will bring them together off-island because he will track down Claire who is still friends with Kate and they will also end up together then! Ha I know it's wishful thinking but it's my blog!

5. So Dogen appeared in the off-island side-flash. This has to have some significance but I can't quite tell what yet. He and Jack spoke of the pressures their young children were facing but I can't tell how it relates to their situation on the island other than to further prove that all the people on the island were destined to connect in one life or another. But it seems to be coming clear that Dogen is very much like a Richard Alpert. He follows whatever Jacob says no questions asked. He even appears to have to follow whatever Jacob's candidates say.

6. The lighthouse was really cool. It seems like its sort of like Jacob's cabin in that it can move around which would explain why Jack and the gang have never come across it. The big dial had 360 degrees on it with a name written next to each one. As we saw on the cave wall, the names and numbers corresponded. So is the dial Jacob's way of keeping track and the cave wall Smokey's way of keeping track? It seems like this was Jacob's way of keeping tabs on his candidates off the island. So I want to ask this question, does it mean he was watching them their whole lives and based on their decisions and actions they either became candidates or were crossed off? So if it was their actions that led them to the island, then why did Jacob visit them in their former lives to touch them to direct them to the island? God I have a headache just from trying to write that sentence.

7. The numbers have been appearing a lot lately and giving us a glimpse into what they mean. On the dial 108 was crossed off next to the name "Wallace" so that might be important or it might just mean candidate 108 named Wallace failed. This was the 108th episode and all of the numbers add up to 108 so me thinks he will appear somewhere. But I gotta tell ya, I don't want any new characters! I want some concrete answers and I want them now. Oh random thought, were the other numbers ever in play because if you take into account that before Rousseau showed up, the random transmission of the numbers were calling out to the losties. So maybe this too is just a trick, UNLESS the crossed out #s are from previous lives or something? But I don't think so because if I recall correctly we see some other familiar names crossed out. Just a thought.

8. So again we're seeing the relationship between Jack and his father reexamined over and over. Jack realizes he is the same way to his son as his dad was to him, but he finds a way to change it. Jack's life has been a constant struggle to prove to his father and himself that he has what it takes in life and when he is assured of this by Jacob he is determined to get an answer.

9. The bodies! This is something I've been wanting them to address forever! And it was nice that they didn't forget but I didn't get any answers. So Hurley confirmed my original thought is that they know who they are but with time travel this is where they ended up. Jack also opened up about how he found the caves, via the ghost of his dead father. I think it's safe to assume that Smokey claimed Christian so that begs us to ask the question why was he seemingly helping Jack to find the caves?
10. Free Will - it all comes back to this. Jacob had to lead Jack to the lighthouse so he could realize that he is special. Jacob points out that he couldn't just tell Jack and that some people just do as their told, like Hurley getting on the plane just because Jacob told him to. While all Jack needs to do is discover things on his own and sulk about it on a nearby cliff. So is free will the main difference between the two worlds then? Since the off-island world is arguably a world where they are free from the influences of the island then is that the correct world where their choices would have inevitably led them that way? And if they've been guided to the island in the other reality then wouldn't they not have had free will or was this tied in with their destiny? Think it over!

Okay although I thought the episode lacked in concrete answers we definitely have enough to mull over in terms of theories. But rest assured that I, like you, am getting frustrated for some answers and if I know LOST like I think I do, they will throw us a bone soon!

xo
B

Episode 4 - The Substitute

Ahhh Locke-centric episodes are always very informative! We got a new character and new revelations galore! However I am never happy when there is no Jack, damn you Locke for being too stubborn to go see him for your FREE consultation! Oh well, on to the summary ...

SUMMARY

Off-Island (2004)

Locke returns home after the flight to his fiance Helen whom he plans on marrying, with the blessing of her parents and his father, in a few months. Locke tells her about his run in with Jack Shepard and she urges him to call for the free consult. Locke returns to work where he is promptly fired by Randy when he confronts John about not attending the conference in Australia that he was sent there for. He leaves the building and runs into Hurley who tells him to contact a temp agency and that everything will work out. He goes home to Helen to tell her he was fired when his missing luggage is returned and Helen opens it to find his suitcase full of knives. She assures him that she only wants to be with him and it's his choice if he wants to fix his back or not. He goes to the temp agency to work with the head of the office Rose and she shares with him how she has cancer and has learned to accept it and how she got back to her life once she was able to overcome her denial. He then accepts his life and is placed as a substitute teacher in an elementary school where he runs into Ben Linus, the frustrated European History teacher.

Island (2007)

Ilana was getting all teary eyed in Jacob's lair when Ben finds her. She asks Ben what happened and he informs her that MIB-Locke killed Jacob and threw him into the fire as Smokey. She accepts this and tells Ben that MIB-Locke is on a recruiting mission and that he cannot change shape. She takes some of Jacob's ashes before she leaves. MIB-Locke tries to recruit Richard Alpert by telling him he has answers for him but Richard refuses. That's when he sees a young blond boy with blood running down his arms. He continues through the jungle in Smokey form and finds a drunk Sawyer in Othersville. He convinces Sawyer to follow him for answers, and Sawyer, knowing that this isn't the same Locke he's come to know and love agrees to follow him. On their travels Sawyer runs into Richard Alpert while MIB-Locke runs after the young blond child again. Richard tells Sawyer that he is lying to him and to be safe Sawyer needs to follow him to the Temple. Sawyer refuses and follows MIB-Locke to a secret cliff-cave. Inside he removes a white rock from a scale and throws it into the ocean. He leads Sawyer to the back of the cave to show him the names of all his friends written in white chalk, some are crossed out and all are written after a number. MIB-Locke explains that this is why they are all here as he crosses off Sawyer's name, to become Jacob's replacements. He then offers Sawyer 3 choices - 1. do nothing, 2. become Jacob's replacement, or 3. leave with MIB-Smokey. Sawyer chooses to leave the island.

Wowsas! Lots of info so let's get right to it.

1. The numbers finally have some meaning!! Jacob is looking for his replacement and according to MIB-Locke, he's obsessed with numbers. So it looks like it was a process of elimination for Jacob and its looking like our remaining losties that are still in the running are assigned to our favorite equation. In case you missed it, the left over numbers are: 4 - Locke; 8 - Reyes (Hurley); 15 - Ford (Sawyer); 16 - Jarrah (Sayid); 23 - Shephard (Jack); 42 - Kwon (is it Sun or Jin? We don't know!) So this is Jacob's "list" and its been narrowed down. So why is Jack on it when waaaay back a few seasons ago someone said that Jack wasn't on Jacob's list? Is there some sort of significance why Kate wasn't on the list? My big guess would be that who would ever want her to control an island? Although she does have amazing hair ... but I digress.

2. The young blond kid - who is he? When MIB-Locke first sees him he looks stunned and it also seems that Richard Alpert cannot see him. My first guess was this is young Jacob appearing to him and reminding him of something that he had done wrong. Perhaps MIB isn't the only one who can appear to others on the island in a familiar form. That doesn't answer the question of how Sawyer could also see him. But I also love that he doesn't care, haha - he's so used to weird things happening on the island. Also he was drunk. So this little boy was very intriguing - he was scary and dressed like one of Jacob's people. He told the MIB that he knew the rules and he couldn't kill him. Was he referring to Sawyer? So there's rules too for how to recruit someone? And who is this little boy! I'm glad he was the only new character introduced, it's too late in the game for too many more and I really think that this little guy was Jacob.

3. So I feel like the series wants you to believe that Jacob has been defeated and the MIB has won but it still seems like the MIB is still very worried. He is however sticking by his guns that the island isn't special and worth protecting and he just wants off but it just doesn't make sense. Because we all know the island has great powers and Jacob has gone to great lengths to try and protect it. So I'm sticking with Richard Alpert and I think he has an ulterior motive. Ilana mentioned that he is recruiting as well so is he looking to make Sawyer his successor? Is he able to leave whatever prison he thinks he is in if someone else takes his place ... is he pulling the old Genie in a bottle trick with Jafar? I think he knows that Jacob is still around just waiting to get him and he's scrambling to get Sawyer to take his place so he can leave the island.

4. Off-island Locke seems more at peace with himself and has more patience than the old John Locke but he still struggles with the difficulties in his life. It was interesting to hear Helen reference his father, so if they are friends in this life then how was John injured? Seems like it was, as Helen said, destiny for John to be like this. I think the only reason for these drastic differences in these two worlds is Jacob. If he didn't touch them in the off-island world where the island has sunk, then this is how their lives would have played out. But in the world where they came to the island, Jacob touched each individual and altered their path which led them to the island. So this would mean he caused the rift between Locke and his father which led him to the island. Still doesn't answer the question of why he chose these people.

5. Good old Randy made an appearance! And while he is a jerk, he was completely justified in his firing of Locke. But luckily Locke meets up with Hurley who helps him get a job from Rose! She's the same old Rose we've come to know, kind and at peace with what life has dealt her. This resonates with Locke and we see him places in a job as a substitute teacher. I love love love that he has to cross paths with Ben Linus again and it looks like they're going to be friends! Oh Ben, he's so disgruntled in any life he's in.

6. The best part of the entire episode was Locke's funeral. I was just waiting for him to admit that he murdered Locke! And no one could do anything about it! Why does this man not have every Emmy they can give! Also, was it just me or was it weird to see Ben in a t-shirt doing hard labor?

7. Who is this Ilana woman and why does she know so much? She seemed to think that Jacob was truly gone but could she just have been weeping for her friends that came with her? I don't think so. Nonetheless she takes some of Jacobs ashes in that handy little pouch she has. What is it with these ashes? They protect everyone from Smokey and they also can be used to test people to see if they've been claimed? Is all the ash bodies of dead Jacob's past? We all saw him get stabbed and thrown into fire, and dead is dead, but I wouldn't exactly call Jacob human, so like I said, he's gotta be coming back. If he hasn't already in bloody kid form.

8. Richard Alpert looked truly terrified of the MIB. For one moment during Locke's speech to him I almost followed him but Richard is sticking to his guns. He is 100% convinced that this man is bad and that the Temple is the only safe place. Here's my confusion with this "Temple". When the French people were there didn't they get pulled under the temple by Smokey? So if this place is protected from the MIB then how did Smokey get so close?

9. Free Will seems to be the theme throughout this series. Everyone is getting choices. It truly has to be that these people were brought here to choose their destiny, which I realize is a contradiction but also has some truth to it. Will they live forever to protect the island by giving up their free will which makes them human (as it seems Jacob and MIB have) or will they continue to live their own lives devoid of the island? Looks like Sawyer chose to peace out so MIB scratched his name off the list. If I was on the island I would choose to live forever with Jack. He's dreamy, can you really blame me?

10. An awesome scene from this episode was where we saw the island from Smokey's point of view! It was like a rollercoaster! And at the end of the ride MIB-Locke appeared! So it is confirmed at this point that the MIB is Smokey, even though we already knew that! It reminded me of when Mr. Eko was killed and I realized, hey, he was killed by Smokey. So why could Smokey kill him, Keamy, etc. and not touch Sawyer? Maybe once they're crossed off Jacobs list are they game for Smokey? Watch out Kate!!

Okay so lots to think about, post your theories and tell me what you think of mine!

xo

B

Episode 3 - What Kate Does

Phew what an episode! I'm loving these Flash Sideways ... oh how the losties are still the same no matter what time dimension they're in! On to the summary!



ISLAND
Sayid is alive! Jack wants to know what is going on but the Others want to talk to Sayid first. Their talk includes torturing Sayid by electrocution, ash, and hot pokers. They tell him he passes the test when actually, he doesn't. Sawyer jumps at the opportunity to escape and tells Kate not to follow him. She of course doesn't listen and tells Dogen that she can bring him back. She takes off with the help of Jin and two Others. Kate ditches her crew and tracks Sawyer to Othersville where he's getting weepy over his loss of Juliet. He confesses to Kate that he was going to propose and Kate reveals that she came back to find Claire and reunite her with Aaron. Meanwhile back at the Temple Jack has a conversation with Dogen in which he tries to get Jack to give Sayid a pill. When Dogen won't tell Jack what is in the pill he asks Jack to trust him. Jack goes to Sayid with this information and Sayid says he will do what Jack says. Jack calls Dogen's bluff and takes the pill himself and it turns out the pill was actually poison. Jack is rescued with a swift Heimlich maneuver and it is revealed that Sayid was unable to be saved and has been claimed, just like Jack's sister Claire. We finally see Claire at the end of the episode looking very disheveled and Rousseau-like when she shoots the Others that were accompanying Jin while he was on his way to find Sun.

OFF-ISLAND
Back in the other reality where the plane didn't crash we see Kate jumping into the cab and almost running over Dr. Arzt and making "hey don't I know you?" eye contact with Jack. She takes off after the driver abandons the vehicle and Claire is still pregnant and manages to escape any sort of police trail whatsoever. She leaves Claire stranded on the side of the road and finds someone to help her remove the handcuffs and get cleaned up. Upon discovering that Claire's bag contents were for her baby she returns to where she left Claire and offers her a ride to the soon-to-be adoptive parents of her baby that just happened to mix up the dates. Once they arrive at the house we learn that the parents are separated and can no longer provide for the baby. Claire begins to have contractions and Kate takes her to the hospital. Once there, Dr. Ethan Goodspeed gives Claire the option of having the baby now or receiving injections to delay the birth. Once the pains subside, Claire covers for Kate when police finally start poking around and Kate thanks her and suggests that she keep baby Aaron. Claire inquires why Kate is running and Kate asks her if she would believe that she was innocent because she's being wrongfully accused of murder.

I liked this episode and not only because Kate's hair just happened to be perfect, but it was an awesome play on S2's episode of "What Kate Did" which just so happened to be the big smooch between her and Jack! Okay on to the analysis!

1. So I think it's safe to say that both "realities" exist and it doesn't have to be one or the other because it doesn't look like this flash sideways thing is going away. I understand how the off-island reality can exist because if Jack did detonate the bomb then perhaps these things would truly have happened. What I'm not sure of is how they're all still existing on the island because if the bomb did go off then how are they still there? Unless the bomb went off and the mystical powers of this magnetic force somehow caused some sort of implosion and preventing the need for the button to be pushed. Oh wow, look at that, I sort of answered my own question!

2. Ahh So that's what the sickness is! You're body gets "claimed". How about NO Lost! How about you just tell us what it is because we knew this already. But I will thank you for confirming that Claire indeed has been claimed. And no apparently she's turned into Rousseau. So are we to believe that the Man in Black is "claiming" everyone? Can he claim more than one person at a time? This would explain that he's claimed Claire, Christian, Locke, and now Sayid but maybe he can't because he had to leave the room to become Smokey. And if he had claimed Claire then why is she apparently going rogue right now just like Rousseau? Also when the Frenchmen were claimed they disappeared under the tunnel and when they came out they were fully claimed. Why did it take so long for Sayid and in fact he still isn't claimed as far as we can tell. We have to wait for the darkness to take over. It's an interesting thing for sure!

3. So I've been thinking about this theory for a while, truth be told every since Ben tried to convince us that he was the good guy - but what if who we think is good - Jacob - actually is bad and the Man in Black is actually good? Bam! That could be a game changer indeed.

4. The hair in this episode I think is worthy of it's own talking point. Kate's looked beautiful, I mean it's only what I hope to achieve one day and Claire's? I mean come on - that was a straight up wig. But island Kate's hair could use a little work if I'm being honest. There's got to be some sort of brush on that island considering two plane crashes (or one now in this reality) and a group of Dharma and Others folk have lived there. Arguably this might be the biggest mystery of all!

5. So in the off island reality we're seeing a lot of similar scenes and characters being drawn together. The fact that Kate was there for the first birth on island and will be there to help Claire again off the island is significant. It shows that they're both connected to Claire's child. And then another good surprise was Ethan! He's still a doctor and still the love Child of Horace and Amy. He still happens to be extremely creepy even as a good doctor. Okay I'm going to call out a little Grey's Anatomy (aka the worst show on air today) and say that I'm pretty sure you can't give the mother the choice of whether or not she wants to baby to come now or if she wants to just have some needles stuck in her to delay the birth. I'm no doctor so I could be wrong but come on!

6. When the door opened for Aaron's possible adoptive parents I was totally expecting to see a familiar face! It would have been exciting to see another lostie or an Other, hell I would have been cool with Juliet! On the contrary an appearance I was excited to see was Mac from Sunny in Philadelphia aka Aldo. Although he was playing a super annoying character he seemed like he had some valuable information to share! Too bad rogue Claire shot him.

7. Jack - so I'm hoping this is the last episode where Jack is feeling down on his luck because he just seems so sad and beaten down. He doesn't trust himself and he recognizes, with Dogen's help, that he's hurt people in the past who have trusted him. But I still believe that Jack has always wanted to best for everyone and he'll find his way back again. Plus, bonus points to him for taking the poison pill and calling the Other's bluff. Plus extra bonus points for the tender look he gave Kate before she left for Sawyer. They love each other - and this is confirmed when she recognizes him somehow in the off island reality.

8. I can't wait for Jin to find Sun! What a tender reunion that will be! But I'm curious about when Sun went to Othersville after her plane crash and she ran into Christian who said she would have to wait. Did he know that it would only be a matter of time until Jin returned? So did Sun have to do anything besides wait? Assuming that Christian is claimed by the Man in Black this could point to the theory that the Man in Black is actually good because he was trying to help reunite Jin and Sun. I just can't say for sure!

9. How did Dogen get to the island? He said that Jack knows how he got there ... I'm going to assume that the Black Rock ship is what brought all the originals over ... like Richard Alpert and now apparently Dogen.

10. So I love Lost because they know me so well. They know I love time travel, science fiction, hot people running around a jungle, Juliet dying, and now zombies! It's been confirmed over and over on this show that dead is dead, yet we have an abundance of dead people coming back to haunt us - much like zombies! Not the gory, arms falling off kind of zombies, but soul-less, darkness inside kind of zombies and it brings a whole new edge of awesomeness and creepiness to the show!

So that's it kids - post your thoughts and theories and thanks to all those who commented last week!

Episode 1 & 2 - LA X

So, we've got one of the last 17 episodes of LOST under our belts and it was everything I expected and more! I knew we were going to have the split time line now referred to as the "Flash Sideways" and I knew they would still be asking more questions rather than giving us the answers we so crave. Looks like we'll have a new season mystery with the temple and our missing Others and one can only hope that all our answers will come at the end!

SUMMARY (its sorta long, sorry but it was 2 hours!)

ISLAND - Jack & the Gang

The gang realizes that the bomb didn't work and they're still on the island. Kate finds herself in a tree unable to hear and discovers Jack, Sawyer, and the rest of the gang down on the ground in present time post hatch explosion. They come to and Sawyer realizes Juliet is dead and takes it out on Jack swearing that it's his fault Juliet is dead. Soon after Kate hears a cry for help coming from inside the blown-up hatch hole and they work frantically to get Juliet out. Once Sawyer gets inside, we are treated to another scene of Juliet dying before she is able to tell Sawyer what she wants to. The others rush back to the aid of Sayid who is dying from a gunshot wound in the van and Jack surmises that he can't do anything for him. Hurley speaks up saying Jacob came to visit him and told him they could take him to the Temple to save him. Sawyer and Miles stay behind to bury Juliet and Miles' uses his ability to talk to the dead to tell Sawyer that the last thing Juliet wanted to tell Sawyer was that "it worked". The rest of the gang makes it to the Temple with Jin's guidance and they enter through the hole that goes underneath. Once below the temple gate they are taken hostage by the Others residing there. The apparent Temple leader comes out to address their sudden appearance and orders them to be killed. Hurley pleads at the last moment that Jacob sent them and he gives them the guitar case with the Egyptian symbol for life. The Kung-Fu man breaks it open to reveal a hidden list and once he confirms each lostie is on it they are welcomed into the temple. Hurley reveals that Jacob was dead when he came to him and panic mode sets in among the Others. They prepare for battle outside while Sayid is taken inside to the spring. They notice the color of the spring has changed and the Kung-Fu man cuts himself to see if the water will heal it. When it doesn't, the gang makes the decision for the Others to try and save Sayid by dipping him in the spring for the length of the hourglass. He shakes and struggles but ultimately the Others pronounce him dead. In a near identical Jack-saves-Charlie-after-Ethan-hangs-him-in-a-tree scene, Jack gives up trying to save him. According the the Others, they're all in a lot of trouble now that Sayid is dead but lo and behold, Sayid wakes up in the end!

ISLAND - Locke & the Gang

After Ben kills Jacob he begins to doubt that Locke is Locke they are interrupted by Ilana's gang and Flocke (Fake-Locke) escapes their attack. He returns as Smokey and kills them all. Bram tries to use the circle of ash as protection but he is derailed and killed. Ben is amazed and realizes that he may have made the wrong decision in killing Jacob since this guy was obviously not Locke. Flocke is actually the Man in Black and he lets Ben know that the last thing Locke was thinking before Ben killed him was that he still didn't understand why all of this happened. The stumble out of the foot to find Richard Alpert and Richard urges everyone not to shoot him. Flocke tells Richard that its good to see him out of his chains and beats him up.

Oceanic Flight 815

It seems as if their plan has worked and the losties are now back to being passengers on Oceanic 815. Jack makes small talk with Rose while Bernard is in the bathroom and while he gets nervous with the turbulence everything turns out fine. Boone chats it up with Locke, Hurley tells Doc Arzt and Sawyer about winning millions in the lottery, and Charlie gets high in the bathroom. Jack ends up aiding Charlie when he tries to swallow his drugs and he is arrested right after the plane lands at LAX. Kate tries to escape her bounty hunter Edward and successfully does with the help of Sawyer and Claire's cab. Jin is taken in by authorities since he failed to declare the over $10,000 in cash he was carrying and Jack comes across Locke when he's at the Oceanic Customer Service desk where they inform him they lost his father's coffin in transit. Jack offers Locke a free consultation with his spinal injury. It turns out that in this reality they were all still connected.

Wow so That was long. And I'm sure most of you skipped it as you should if you watched last night!

1. Well well, I was right with my prediction of two alternate time lines. It was the only way to make everyone happy - if the bomb hadn't gone off, then they would just be in the same place as before which would have been boring but if it did go off and they were successful then what would be the point for us watching all 5 seasons if nothing happened! Solution - alternate realities. Both situations happened and now we get to watch how they will both play out. I think ultimately one will be chosen and I choose the land where Jack and Kate fall in love.

2. Speaking of Jack and Kate in love, I hope we all noticed how she ran to Jack when she fell out of the tree and how she's always backing him up, and how they had a nice flirty glance at the end there. Yeah, I have to read this much into these things.

3. Thank you Lost for always knowing what I need. Another scene of Juliet dying! Woohoo! Now, I realize she is a good actress, brings an interesting element to the show, etc. so I do appreciate her but let me tell you why they brought her back. To let us know that the plan worked. That's it. Everyone quickly forgets how evil she was back when she was an Other! Good ridance!

4. So we've finally found out that Smokey is the Man in Black who is Fake Locke. So I think it is safe to assume that the Man in Black has been every other dead person who has appeared on the island, from Christian to Alex to Mr. Eko's brother Yumi and it seems like he has weaved this intricate plan to get possession of Locke's body and convince Ben to kill Jacob. Its apparent that neither can mess with free will but it seemed much more like manipulation rather than Ben using his free will but alas that is how he triumphed over Jacob. Ben even noticed that Jacob didn't even put up a fight and I think it has to be that Jacob knew this would happen some day. It even seems that post Jacob's death he still has a plan. Maybe he had cultivated a plan in case this happened and that explains why he went to visit the losties, to bring them to the island to end his conflict. Like he said in the beginning of the season 5 finale "It only ends once".

5. Destiny - so even if they incident never happened it seemed like the survivors were destined to cross paths. Jack still intervened to save an ungrateful Charlie and to suggest to Locke that "nothings irreversible" by offering to look at his spine. One of Jack's motives for resetting time was to avoid all the misery the island has brought them but like the theme through most of the series and to Ben's insistence, the island was supposed to be a gift to those people. So we'll see if in the reality where they never come to the island the losties are in fact happy or not. Boone never gets it on with Shannon since she stayed in Australia and they never repaired their relationship, Jin and Sun are still in a strained marriage, Rose still has cancer, Kate is still a fugitive on the run, and Jack still cries a lot. I think we'll continue to see them all be pulled together in unexplained circumstances and eventually they will all begin to have memories or a deja-vu like feeling for their life that should have happened on the island. These feelings will pull them all together to do whatever their destiny (Jacob?) tells them to do.

6. Desmond! So he was on the plane for an instant and never to be seen again. Was he having another time flash? I don't know, he seemed too calm. He somehow seems to make Jack remember something he shouldn't have, although we're led to believe that they met in LA right before Desmond took off for his boat tour ... but would he have if the island is underwater therefore there wouldn't be an island for him to crash on? Would he have even broken up with Penny therefore causing him to go on the boat tour? Would he have even met Penny if he hadn't been thrown out of the military for the weird flashes he was having? Who knows! I just think he'll stay a very important factor in the show and maybe pops up to help the losties remember their life that never was!

7. So what is up with the new Others at the temple? One looks straight out of a Kung-Fu movie which I'm guessing relates to Confucius and other ancient religious thought and the other looks like John Lennon and maybe resembles love and peace? I don't know but honestly LOST, did we really need more characters? How about bring me back some more Boone, hell he can turn into a vampire for all I care I just want more! Actually I think I like Vampire Boone more than regular Boone but I digress ... so these two seem to be Jacob's servants and fear what will happen if they don't carry out Jacob's command to save the all important Sayid. They fail, or do they??? ... Sayid opens his eyes and we're to assume he's alive. Unless he's Jacob re-incarnated (which I don't think so) or worse possessed by Smokey or just regular old back from the dead Sayid.

8. Richard Alpert - I love you. What an interesting character! I can't wait to find out more, like why the Man in Black remembers him from being in chains! When was he his prisoner, on the Black Rock? So has the Man in Black tried this plan before? Whatever the case may be, Richard looked pretty scared of this guy, so its safe to assume some sort of hellish power has been released and he fears for the island and Jacob. Here's to hoping with this revelation we get more background on my favorite eye-liner wearing guy!

9. Okay LOST, you make a ton of money, have access to the best special effects in the biz, and we have to sit through those silly graphics of the island submerged under water? For a hot second I thought we'd see the island hidden underwater in a big bubble but alas, just cheesetastic graphics with a little easter egg on the shark's tail. That has to mean that the bomb went off and sunk the island.

10. The Man in Black aka Flocke's desire is to return to his home. Woah! So the island is not his home? Is his home heaven? Or hell? Or some OTHER alternate reality? Why can't he get back? Maybe he and Richard were both prisoners on the Black Rock? Truth - i have no idea so we'll just have to wait and see where home is ...

Okay yay! I'm so happy the final season has started and we're about to get lots and lots of answers. Don't forget to add your own theories in the comments and any thoughts on what I have to say!

xo

B