LIGHTHOUSE

As soon as I heard the title for this episode I started thinking about what it meant.

A lighthouse is a tower, building, or framework designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire and used as an aid to navigation and to pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Lighthouses are used to help guide the way for those who are lost. Do you like my pun? Okay sorry, but you can't blame a girl for trying.

I'm not going to detail what happened on this episode. YOU already know what happened and watched it the same time as I did and probably as many times over as well.

Who the heck would EVER have guessed that Jack had a kid? But I don't think the existence of his son, David, is as important as what Jack does with his son. We see a very troubled relationship between father and son. Neither are skilled communicators and neither really knows what to do about the other. Sure Jack does the "parental" stuff because that's what he HAS to do, but really, even then it's only once a month. What's up with that? No wonder the kid is distant and cold.

Anyway, there a few things we can learn from this side time. Jack is still struggling with the loss (literally and figuratively) of his father. His mother is still a needy, demanding cow. One way or another, Claire Littleton will meet her brother (and Mommie Dearest Margo is not going to be very happy about that), and Jack will learn that his father wasn't the pious father he tried to make everyone believe he was.

In side time, Jack had broken the circle and taken steps to be a better father. This is important, because the changes he makes in that world will eventually spill over into the "original" world and Jack will have his answers and his purpose.

Ever since LA X we have seen the Others popping into the Losties' lives. Ethan is a doctor. Ben is a teacher. Dogen is the father of a gifted boy. I have a thought about why the Others are showing up in the side time and why certain things (Jack's appendix, for one) have been changed. Something Dogen said to Jack at the conservatory sort of made things click.

"It is hard to watch and be unable to help"

Since the two side by side (almost) times were first revealed (thanks Team Darlton for yet more confusion), I've been wondering how it would all play out. Why have the writers given us this other time (thankfully no time travel as of yet), a sort of "what if" view of how the survivors' lives would have turned out had the plane landed, but changed details of their lives and pasts? And I just couldn't get that book title "All That Rises Must Converge" out of my head (remember, I shared some thoughts from my friends?) and started thinking about what must happen before our Losties, and the island, find a somewhat peaceful purpose in their lives.

Other than the obvious learn to play in the sand box together nicely, I realized that in both times the characters were floundering, no matter the differences in their lives. You and I know it, too. Something has to happen to bring our characters to a point of enlightenment. At some point, I think we will see the characters from the side time and the original time merge and become one. Only then will they know what they are doing and why. I think the Others are off the island to help bring them to that point, just like on the island the survivors are slowly learning what it is they need to do.

Of course, I am probably sitting on that non planet Pluto with this one, but that's the charm of LOST. It enables us to think things up and be creative as we try to find that which is LOST.

I wonder what Jack was thinking as he looked into the pond at the temple... He's been doing a lot of introspection lately and trying to find his answers within. As Jacob explained to Hurley, sometimes you just gotta sit and look out to the sea. Ya think?

When was the last time we saw Jack sit and look out at the ocean? Think about it. Think about what happened just before he parked himself in the sand and lost himself in the rolling waves. I'll let you work on that and discuss.

Speaking of the sea, I need to mention that lighthouse. As soon as I saw it I thought of the Lighthouse of Alexandria (nice picture, eh?). For some time I have suspected that Jacob was watching not only the people he has touched, but others as well. I rationalized that he had a way to see the appropriate time to enter into their lives. I just didn't think of this. I like this! Each degree is a possible candidate and he can look into their lives to see how they are doing. What I didn't like was the thought that Jacob has been manipulating everything in their lives with the sole purpose of bringing them to the island. It really destroys that whole "Everything is an option" thing that Dogen was talking about right before he qualified it with, I'd have to stop you. Nice guy.

Of course, Jacob's revelation that there was danger on its way to the temple has alarmed me. Sayid and Miles are still there! In Jacob's eyes Flocke is the "someone bad", I'm sure. And he's bringing CWAYZEEEE CLAIRE along for the ride!

Here's a question for you. Did Claire naturally just start going loopy on her own or do you think she's has a nudge, shove and push along the way? I can think of two "almost" people who would do this to her. Well, actually one because I'm pretty sure one is the pretending to be the other.

If you can't see where I'm heading I'll give you a hint, but only one. Christian and MIB. I can't tell you any more without giving it all away. Sorry.

And poor Claire. Sheesh, this girl just can't catch a break, can she? First her mother is in a coma for I can't even remember how long. Then her lover leaves her because he can't handle the thought of being a daddy. Funny how some people try so hard to be grown up but run at the first sign of responsibility, isn't it? Oh, and I think Thomas is an Other, BTW. Back to Claire. She tries to give the baby up for adoption, and you can't blame her there, survives a plane crash, is kidnapped and injected, traumatized by the that, she goes and gives birth on a deserted island with a fugitive to help her. Do you see where I'm going with this? There is no reason on Earth this girl SHOULDN'T be crazy! And let's not get started on the whole Charlie thing. That's just painful.

I'm not liking Jin too much right now and was disappointed that he failed to mention how they found the baby all alone in the jungle, saved it's life and, when the chance for rescue came, they took him with them. Those are some pretty important facts to leave out of the conversation, Jin! Then to tell her that Aaron is at the temple? What is he thinking? I really don't know where they are going with that one and I'd hate to see the Kwon name crossed out.

I think this episode shows us that change is possible. We saw Jack's life completely different and are left wondering how he can have his appendix removed twice. There are definitely some changes that go farther back in time than the explosion of Jug Head in 1977, if it did indeed explode in 1977. Could it be possible that it was "flashed" to a totally different time and the rubble under which Juliet died was from the implosion of the Swan a second time?

Man, I just LOVE how LOST leaves me dazed and confused!

DID YOU NOTICE?

The theme of black and white is again prevalent. Jack's apartment had black and white furnishings and there was a long shot of David's hands playing the piano.

In the Annotated Alice, Alice has two cats. Kitty and Snowdrop. One cat is white and the other is black.

The poster on David's bedroom wall was for a concert dated on the 19th. That's the date of the Purge and Ben's birthday.

In case you missed the shot up there ^..... the sign at the music conservatory said "Welcome All "Candidates"".

The chain that Hurley used to move the mirrors was nice and shiny.... almost brand spanking new, in fact!

The name Shephard at 23 degrees is written in much darker than all the other names.

I had speculated that Kate's number, if she had one, was 108. I was wrong. Her number is 51 and hasn't been crossed out. Wallace (crossed out) was at 108.

Just a note. From what I was able to read of the crossed out names on the disk with the mirrors.

Pryce - 14

Rousseau - 20

Brennan - 35

Stanhope - 48

Burke - 58

Faraday - 101

Friendly - 109 (I'm assuming this is Tom)

Linus - 117

Dawson - 124

QUESTIONS:

Did Claire flash through time like everyone else left behind or did her "condition" keep her feet firmly planted in 2004 (and her loopy brain)?

How long does it take to be fully "claimed"? Dogen said that once the darkness reaches the heart there is nothing left of who that person was, yet Claire can remember Jin.

If Claire had a friend, why didn't they bring her a hair brush?

Since Sayid was shot and Claire said she was shot, does the darkness that claims a person need an open wound to enter the body? If so, is Jin next?

Who's coming to the island and can they find their own way, as Jacob said?

QUOTES:

There were some good lines in this episode that I'm having a difficult time choosing a few. Most of them were from Hurley.

My fave?

Hurley to Jacob: I just lied to a samurai.

Jack: I don't understand. How is it that we've never seen it before? Looking at the lighthouse.

Hurley: I guess we weren't looking for it.

Jack: Does it say anything on your arm about the door being jammed?

Hurley: Uhm, no.

Jack kicks in the door.

Hurley, mostly to himself: "I guess they used mirrors because electricity hadn't been invented yet....."

Claire had a few good lines too. My fave?

"If there's one thing that'll kill you around here, it's infection" Hahahahahahahahaha, that's irony for you considering Dogen says she's infected.

Hurley to Jack after encountering Kate: "Dude, Jacob said just you and me. She's kinda not invited"

Hurley, to Jacob: "Jack broke your lighthouse, dude. Mission UN complished!

Jacob after telling Hurley about the bad person at the temple: "You can't warn them, Hugo. I'm sorry, it's too late"

Dogen, in Japanese: "You're luck I have to protect you. Otherwise I'd have cut your head off"

Of course, that's if my friend translated is correctly for me. She has been known to give me false translations before.

Next week, Sundown.

I suddenly have Gordon Lightfoot singing in my ear....

Sundown, you better take care.......