Okay, so now we know that the stick Smocke was whittling is to crush communication devices! All that work for that? I would have used a rock. Less work and it saves a tree. We also know that none of the women, knowing that they were returning to an uncharted island, bothered to pack a hair brush. Those slobs! Claire really needs a hairbrush and by the way things are looking, so does Kate and Zoe. What woman doesn’t pack a hair brush? Seriously, this is really bothering me! I usually pack a hairbrush, two combs and like a gazillion pins, ponytail holders and barrettes. People, these women are not normal.
There was a much anticipated (and prayed for) reunion, a whole lot of double dealing and even more back stabbing in this episode.
2004 “What If”
What if time is full of a multitude of snippets from all our LOSTIES this week.
Two ambulances converge on apparently the one and only hospital in LA. One is carrying Sun and the other is bringing in John Locke and the stretchers meet outside. Sun recognizes John Locke, but is unable to explain to Jin how she knows him. For some, I think that a traumatic event is what causes memories of that other life to surface.
Ever since last week’s episode I have been trying to understand why Desmond would run down a seemingly harmless man in a wheelchair. I have a theory on that, but we’ll get to that later.
Desmond meets up with very pregnant Claire and offers the assistance of a lawyer before she visits the adoption agency. It’s not a bad idea and he’s promised that it will not cost her a penny (even I’d jump at a free legal consultation). Were you as surprised as I was that the lawyer who was his very good friend was Ilana? AND that they seemed to be very close? It was no coincidence that she had been looking for one Claire Littleton from Australia since she was also handling the probate of Christian Shephard’s last will and testament.
Jack and his son David (who seem to be improving their relationship) arrive to hear the will and meet Claire. Jack didn’t seem too surprised to learn that Claire was his half sister. I really wanted to see David get excited about a new “Auntie” and baby cousin, but alas, the boy is an emotional android. But the reading of the will would have to wait as Jack is called to the hospital to operate on a spinal injury who happens to be John Locke.
Okay, that was quick. Now, let’s get to Desmond running over John Locke in cold blood last week. I truly believe that Desmond has a “link” of consciousness to what is happening on the island. I have spent over a week pondering his seemingly remorseless act and the reasons he could have behind it. The link is the only explanation I can come up with.
Essentially, Desmond knows almost instantly what is happening on the island. He didn’t run down John Locke to avenge himself on the island. It goes much deeper than that. I’m thinking that Jack will operate on John and repair the previous damage to his spinal chord, thus allowing him to walk again. This change in his “physical status” could cause Smocke on the island to lose the use of his corporeal form’s legs. Kind of a paradox if you think about it, but almost fitting in a way.
I know it’s far fetched, but it’s all I got with regards to Desmond and John Locke.
I’ve also been thinking about how things are very different in the “What If” time. Jack has a pre-teen son. Jin and Sun aren’t married (although they are still involved). Sayid isn’t searching for the love of his life because she’s married to his brother. Hurley, ahem, Hugo doesn’t believe he is cursed and has never been in a mental institute. On that thought, do you wonder if Tricia Tanaka will make an appearance? Miles is a cop. Pierre Chang is working at the museum with Charlotte. Daniel gets to play the piano. Eloise is married to Chuckie (I think they deserve each other) and Penny knows her half brother (I’m doubtful that she ever met Daniel in the other time).
But two things remain the same. Kate is still on the run and accused of murder (although she denies this and could very well be innocent of it) and Sawyer’s father still killed his wife and then himself. He is still seeking vengeance for that, it seems. As an aside, do you think he still killed that shrimp seller in Australia?
Kate and Sawyer were the only two survivors who were visited during childhood if memory serves me correctly.
And let’s not forget those island inhabitants! Ben’s a doctor of European History and teaches high school. Roger turned into Father of the Year (how’s that for irony?). Alex is alive and living with her mother (I wonder what happened to her father). Ethan is a doctor and is averse to poking people with needles. Will we see Mr. Friendly and will he still be gay and living with Arturo? What about Juliet. Many of my LOST friends think that Juliet is Jack’s ex-wife. Could be. What about Goodwin and his harpy fishwife, Harper? I need a spreadsheet to keep track!
2007 – Original time
Zoe, the mercenary geologist, and her team of thugs showed up at Smocke’s camp to politely request the return of their “package” and were only willing to wait until sundown for it to happen, promising an explosive retaliation if Smocke didn’t turn Desmond over. Apparently Smocke wasn’t planning to get going on his plan to take the plane just yet. Obviously Widmore wasn’t aware of the schedule. Smocke sends Sayid to take care of Desmond, who’s still down that well.
Speaking of that well, am I the only one who noticed that it isn’t as deep as it was last week? It appears to have gotten shallower since then and I was thinking that one more week and Desmond could just hop out under his own power!
Which brings us to even more fracturing of the survivors…sort of. Smocke gives Sawyer a map to the Elizabeth (remember, Desmond’s boat that Sayid, Sun and Jin used to try to ambush the Others) and tells him to meet him at the Pala Ferry dock. Sawyer, seeing this as his opportunity, then gives Jack the map and tells him to get himself, Hurley, Frank (everyone needs Frank), and Sun away from the others. Freckles, ahem, I mean Kate, accompanies Sawyer to get the boat.
How many times did Sawyer call Kate Freckles during this episode? It’s starting to be like when we used to count Hurley’s “dude”. I guess this means that he’s over Juliet enough to revert to his happy-go-lucky-nick-naming former self.
Smocke notices that Sayid still hasn’t rejoined the group and goes looking for him, giving Jack and the others opportunity to remove themselves. Claire sees this and follows. She feels a certain loyalty toward Smocke. After all, he’s the only one who didn’t abandon her. Of course, he’s also the one who led her into the jungle and kept her from rescue and her baby for the last three years. Ha! You were thinking that I missed that admission, weren’t you? Nah, I was just waiting for the right time to mention it.
Anyway, Kate convinces Claire that she’s going to take her off the island and back to Aaron and the survivors set sail for Hydra. Smocke catches up to Sayid who says he’s just killed a man and needed a moment. Yeah? When have we seen Sayid EVER take a moment to refocus himself after killing? We will see Desmond again, I’m sure. Desmond found that little teeny tiny bit of “light” within the darkness that was consuming Sayid.
But Jack doesn’t think it’s right. “We were brought here because we’re supposed to do something, James. And if Locke--that…that thing--wants us to leave? Maybe, it’s afraid of what happens if we stay.” In a scene that calls to mind Sawyer’s epic helicopter exit, Jack jumped ship and headed for the island, where Smocke was waiting for him.
Meanwhile, the boat reaches Hydra Island. Sawyer and Kate, and the others, believe they have reached safety only to be confronted by the mercenary geologist and her crew. Did you hold your breath as Jin walked across the fence line and prayed that his head wouldn’t explode? And yes, I had to wipe my eye as Sun and Jin were finally able to embrace. Reunited and it feels so good. At least until Widmore takes his turn at stabbing someone in the back. Widmore, me thinks, is either working with Smocke or, now that he had pretty well all the survivors he feels the need to continue protecting the island from the outside world. I haven’t decided yet.
Back at the beach on the big island, Widmore’s missiles make landfall and blow Smocke’s rag tag group of red shirts (yes that’s exactly what they are and silly you if you had hopes that they’d be more useful). Poor Jack is dazed and confused as Smocke tosses him over his shoulder and carries him to safety. Hey, wasn’t Claire somewhat dazed and confused when Smocke, pretending to be her father, lead her into the bowels of hell? I wonder if Jack will be just as resentful that everyone abandoned him to the tender mercies of Smocke.
I’m not sure what to make of the continuing fracturing of the people. One group splits then joins another group then decides to go their own way, then splits again. Holy crap, it’s like a biology test tube experiment gone awry as cells divide and join and divide again and join and….I’m pulling my hair out here. Just when I thought things were coming together they fall apart.
I think Jack jumping ship, so to speak, was the right thing for him to do. Again it will come down to Jack squaring off against his nemesis. Or rather, the shell of his nemesis that holds “most” of Locke’s memories and experiences. I say most because I think Smocke is not in total control of the “essence” that is/was John Locke. This may be important in the up coming episodes as we enter the home stretch.
Question?
Why does Miles introduce himself to Nadia as Detective Straum? Isn’t his father’s last name Chang? Does this mean that he still grew up apart from his father?
Why can’t Widmore’s guys hit Smocke with the missiles?
When will Frank take his shirt off? When will Sawyer take his shirt off?
Now that she’s Chuckie’s captive, will Claire go all crazy again and kill off Kate before they can get off the island?
Is Jack the new Crazy Claire?
Why did Widmore renege on his deal with Sawyer (despite the fact that Sawyer was going to double cross him)?
Did Sayid kill Desmond?
DID YOU N OTICE?
This is the first episode that Jack and Claire have met since finding out that that the are brother and sister.
We learned Ilana’s last name is Verdansky
The Elizabeth (Desmond’s boat) appears for the first time since season 3’s The Glass Ballerina
This is the first episode since season 3 that Claire has had a flashback from her point of view.
Jack’s chit chat with both Smocke and Claire happened at night, and yet they returned to the camp in daylight?
Claire and Desmond got off the elevator on the 15th floor.
QUOTABLE QUOTES:
JACK: Why John Locke?
LOCKE: Because he was stupid enough to believe that he'd been brought here for a reason. Because he pursued that belief until it got him killed. And because you were kind enough to bring his body back here in a nice wooden box.
JACK: John Locke was the only one of us that ever believed in this place. He did everything he could to keep us from leaving this island.
LOCKE: John Locke was not a believer, Jack. He was a sucker.
SAWYER: Sayid ain’t invited. He’s gone over to the dark side.
HURLEY: Yeah, but you can always bring people back from the dark side. I mean, Anakin--
SAWYER: Who the hell’s Anakin? Look, just keep your mouth shut. Don’t say nothing’ to no one.
DESMOND: This woman--when she asks you what you did to be with her again…what will you tell her?
SAWYER: Get off my damn boat.
Next week we have a rerun of Ab Aeterno and don't get a new episode until May 4th, which will be the Candidate.
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