SUNDOWN

Or, My Head Exploded And I think The Dog Buried My Cognitive Thinking Somewhere In The Back Yard

It is the morning after we have all seen Sundown. I am sitting in a piddly coffee shop on the main floor of the local hospital and they are NOT sharing their WIFI with me! I KNOW they have it because I have it before. I had planned to use my time here productively and re-watch online, but since Café Movito is being chintzy with their WIFI (shameless berating), I have decided to start collecting my thoughts (the ones that I can gather without using the vacuumcleaner and a metal detector) and try to find some sort of understanding to the speeding train wreck/ crossing the sound barrier sonic boom plane crash/ catastrophic Swan implosion that was Sundown (and I mean that in a good way Damon and Carlton).Considering there wasn’t too much movement or action the last couple of episodes, Sundown threw us in head first within minutes and didn’t stop until Smocke, as they are calling the combination of Locke and Smokey, calmly led the Others away from the temple. I’d like use some smart Biblical reference here about good people being led astray, but my head hurts and I the last version of the bible I read were the children’s stories and I can’t remember anyone other than Moses leading the masses. Besides, I’m pretty sure there is no comparison here.

At this point in the game I am questioning the whole somewhat shaky understanding that Jacob was good and Smocke is bad, yet I’m pretty confident that Team Darlton wants us to be as dazed and confused as humanly possible. As we are all aware, nothing is black and white or clear cut or even unquestionable when it comes to LOST and the twists and turns that its super creative (and delightfully evil) writers have produced. THANKS A LOT, GUYS FOR THE MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS!

Basically, in a nut shell (and we all know I’m nutz) Sayid in side time travels the globe translating oil contracts. His beloved Nadia is married to his brother and they live with their two kids in suburban LA. They own two “dry cleaning” shops and appear to be living the American Immigrant dream. But all is not on the up and up with brother dearest and he has taken out a loan with a very shady character (Martin Keamy you are slime in any time), and despite having paid back the loan is being forced to pay extortion money now. When Sayid is threatened things turn ugly and, yet again, Marty pays the ultimate price for his errant ways. But wait, there’s more!

This is the first time we see Jin in Side time since he was led away by the customs officials in LA X, so we can assume the “obscene” amount of cash was satisfactorily explained away and that he was able to avoid incarceration. So, off to finish Paik’s bidding and deliver that “priceless” watch post haste, right? Yes, and who could be the recipient of said watch? Either Marty was “friends” with Paik (I can totally see that, by the way, since they both exhibit such cold ruthlessness), or Jin lost the cash and was looking for more to make his escape. I’m probably wrong.

After Sayid dispatches Keamy and his minions he hears banging and follows the noise to a cooler, where he finds poor Side time Jin, tied up and silenced (sort of) with duct tape across his mouth. That had to hurt royally when he pulled it off don’t you think? I’ll bet Jin’s thoughts were not publishable in any language! I have a thought on how poor Jin came to be mixing it with the Romaine lettuce and cole slaw and I’m not sure I like it.

In original time we see the Sayid we all know and love. Obviously he has recovered enough from both the drowning and diagnosis by electrocution/white hot cattle prod, to demand some answers. There aren’t many 815ers left at the temple and Sayid feels it’s time to either win Dogen over or leave. We learn a little about Dogen and how (and why) he came to the island. Speaking of the Japanese Samurai, I was surprised that he isn’t older than I had expected. He came across as a wise and ancient soul, having collected many many years of experiences and learned important lessons along the way. Instead, we learn that he was a banker and had killed his son in a drinking and driving accident then sold his soul to Jacob in exchange for his son’s life.

Dogen sends Sayid out to kill Smocke and when that fails (and really, we kind of expected that, right?), Smocke makes Sayid an offer he can’t refuse. It’s ironic that he voices that he is a good man to Dogen and then surrenders to his evil side as soon as he is offered a sweet deal by the competition. It’s too bad that he’s struggled so long to regain his self respect only to give up in a moment of weakness. Do you really think Smocke is going to keep his promise and Sayid will see Nadia again? Dead is dead, right? Although, on second thought, she could come back as a polar bear or a Hurley Bird, I guess.

Poor misguided Claire. First of all she’s lured into the forest by the ghost of her father and leaves her baby behind. Then, when she isn’t found, Kate takes Aaron as her own and takes care of him off the island. Meanwhile, it appears her loving father has abandoned her and Smocke has befriended her (I wonder how that friend request would look on Facebook) and lies and tells her that Aaron is in the temple. No wonder she’s a bit nutty and rotating on a wobbly axis! But, she’ll do anything to get her baby back and whatever Smocke wants, Smocke gets at this point.

I know that I said I was growing to seriously dislike what Kate does a few weeks ago, and I still think she’s a loose cannon, but in this case, I think she may have done the right thing. She told Claire the truth, and in the face of certain “black freight train smoke” kind of danger, Kate could only think of helping Claire (even though she didn’t actually need it, bit it is a redeemable act). It’s what kept her alive and, I think, why Smocke didn’t kill her as he rolled over the pit or during the aftermath when they were all leaving the temple.

I’m wondering how Ilana, Frank, Sun and Ben got into the temple, since the spot in the wall we saw Hurley looking at appears to be some sort of hidden room. As an aside, I was curious about the symbol on the wall where Ilana took them to be safe and did a little research. The symbol is an ancient Egyptian Hieroglyph (I found this in a book called the Egyptian Book of Hieroglyphs no less!) that is called a Shen Ring. It is a symbol of eternity and protection, but also represents dual concepts of time. The first concept being the periodical time (based on the rise and fall of the Nile water levels, so maybe a year) and then the infinity (a life time or career?). Interesting, huh? I haven’t quite figured out if this is an inside joke by the writers, or if we should pay some serious attention to it.

Creepy things!

How creepy was Sayid’s smile when he told Ben that it was too late for him? And the haunting “Catch A Falling Star” as Sayid, Kate and Claire walk through the temple courtyard amidst the death and destruction? I still get chills.

DID YOU NOTICE?

Omar and Keamy are the first two characters to be killed in the side time and are also dead in the original time. Also, Omar was accidentally killed by a grenade tossed by Keamy in the original time and was accidentally killed by his associate in the side time. Poor dude can’t win.

The SUV that takes Sayid to “visit” Keamy, has the same license plate as Jack’s Bronco (recycling at its best).

If Kate had just stayed at the temple, Claire would have come to her.

When Dogen explains “the scale” to Sayid, he holds up his hands. One represents good and the other represents evil. The hand he uses for “evil” is covered by a black glove while the hand he uses for “good” is bare.

I know you all saw him, but just in case, did you see Jack at the hospital when Sayid and Nadia were arriving?

QUESTIONS:

Why can’t Smocke be killed the same way as Jacob? Why wasn’t there any blood on the dagger when he pulled it out of his chest?

How did Dogen’s death allow Smocke to enter the temple? What was keeping him out?

Since it wasn’t the Others who saved Sayid, who or what did? Jacob? Smocke? Another entity that we have yet to meet?

Where are Sawyer and Jin? They were last seen in the company of Smocke, so what happened to them? Have they been recruited or doesn’t Smocke trust them?

Why didn’t Richard make it to the temple to warn them? Where is he? Did he realize it was too late and go into hiding? Where did he go, the barracks, the Black Rock, the beach for a sun tan?

Why was Jin being held by Keamy? Where’s Sun in the side time?

QUOTES:

Claire: Are you going to hurt them?

Smocke: Only the ones who won’t listen.

Sayid: Since I’ve been here, I’ve been drowned, beaten and tortured at your hands. Why would I ever do anything for you?

Miles: Welcome back to the circus!

Miles: Right. Claire. She strolled in here a couple hours ago acting all weird. Still hot though.

Frank: We’ll play catch up later. You wanna live, you better move your ass! (I like this one)

Frank: You do hear that, right? You got a plan or are you gonna keep staring at the wall?

Ilana: I have a plan. (sounds like Ben, doesn’t she?).

So, I WAS wrong. I had assumed Sundown would be Sun and/or Jin centric, but instead we got Sayid. Not that I’m complaining. I forgot to take into account the fact that season one was LONGER and was comprised of several more episodes (still not pleased with that BTW).

Next up? Dr. Linus, and I can’t wait! The mere fact that Benny Boy has a doctorate is causing my curiosity and imagination to run wickedly wild.

See? Isn't that a creepy smile?

WHAT KATE DOES

What Kate Does ranks pretty low on my list of all time favourite episodes, but it did provide us with a few insights, which we'll get to a bit later.

SIDEWAYS

Kate carjacks a taxi. I found it almost comical as the driver tries to drive and keep from filling his pants at the same time, and wanted to see him trip when total cowardice overtook him. Talk about a real man who leaves a poor pregnant girl at the mercy of this crazed gun toting woman. Then, dumping a very pregnant Claire on the side of the street and paying the mechanic $200 to punch open the handcuffs.

We saw a glimpse of the real Kate when she realized exactly what she had done and went back to that bus stop bench for Claire, then helped to find her destination. The indignation on Claire's behalf when the woman said that she didn't want to adopt the baby anymore and she couldn't even be bothered to CALL? As an aside, did anyone else wonder if, in this side time, Claire had visited Richard Malkin and he had told her that the baby should not be raised by another? Did you question if the Fates were making sure that Claire kept her baby?

Poor Claire starts going into labour and Kate rushes her to the hospital, then grabs the first doctor (that was a bit of a shock) she could find, who calms Claire and takes an ultrasound.

I snickered at Dr. Goodspeed's line "I just don't want to stick you with needles if I don't have to."

Oh, the irony of that statement.

The police come and Claire lies, then gives Kate her credit card as a show of gratitude.

2007

Dogen and Lennon and the rest of the Other Others were shocked to find that Sayid in fact survived. I'm still amazed that his shirt was miraculously healed as well. Just think, the Others must have clothes from decades ago that's in pristine condition! Am I the only one who thought it odd that Jack said to get Sayid water? Really, Sayid must have swallowed at least two litres of the beer coloured swill in the spring!

Sawyer and Miles arrive, not of their own accord, and Sawyer's resentment that some people get to live while others die filled the already oppressive room. We are seeing the return of Season One Saywer. The one cares for no one but himself and who will challenge anyone and everyone. Right now he has no reason to stay and most certainly no reason to help Jack, Hurley, Jin, Sayid, Kate or even Miles. And on that note, he makes a break for it and, of course tells them NOT to follow him. Kate, of course, takes that as an invitation.

Aldo. Wow, what can be said about Aldo that hasn't already been said before. The boy has a chip on his shoulder and I really don't think he's "Other" material. He's bent on revenge for being rifle butted by sweet Kate. Poor dude just can't win and his aggression gets him in the end. Well, that and Claire, but I'll get to that in a bit, I promise.

So, while Kate and Aldo and Jason, plus Jin head out to track Sawyer, Dogen and Lennon take Sayid for "questioning". A few electric shocks and a red hot poker later they return him to Jack's custody. Just what Sayid failed, I'm not sure, but how the heck does one pass the electric shock and red hot poker test anyway? Jack, of course is not impressed and takes a walk.

Dogen explains that Sayid is "infected", which to a doctor means high fever, delirium. You know, the normal kind of symptoms for infection. So, Dogen offers a "pill" but refuses to tell Jack what is contains and what it will do to Sayid. He tells Jack: "You'll just have to trust me". Ha ha, Jack's display of trust is to swallow the little green happy pill himself, which elicits such a rapid response that I'll bet his chest completely regrets it. This is when we learn that the pill contained poison and that Sayid was "claimed".

According to Dogen, "there is a darkness growing in him and when it reaches his heart, everything Sayid once was will be gone". I can only guess that the Black Smoke Monster or MIB has something to do with this. This is also when we learn that Claire is still alive....sort of.....maybe....well, her body anyway? Is this why Ben is the way he is?

Just an observation here. In 1977, after Sayid shot young Ben and Richard took him to the temple, they brought him back to the camp to heal. HIS wound was in approximately the same place as Sayid's, but I did notice how it didn't heal as well as Sayid's did. Just an observation and a little something for you to chew on.

I used to care about Kate and what happened to her until last season, then I found myself growing more and more annoyed by her than anything else. Her constant wavering between Jack and Sawyer, even after leaving the island and they didn't really know if the others were alive or dead (really, the island DISAPPEARED PEOPLE!!) Kate was still unable (or unwilling) to love the one she was with. She has an innate ability to listen and then go and do the complete opposite.

Really, what did she hope to gain by chasing after Sawyer? The man is consumed by grief, guilt and anger and Kate only represents all that he has lost since the return of the Oceanic four (not counting Sun because she accompanied Locke's cadaver to 2007). I was glad to see Sawyer grieve for Juliet and angered by Kate crashing his little pity party. But this was a scene that HAD to happen for several reasons.

First, we needed to see Sawyer grieve for Juliet. His relationship with her allowed him to grow past the stunted resentful little orphan boy into a man able to give himself over heart and soul. Kate would never have been able to do that. Another reason this scene had to happen is because Kate needed to be shown and told that Sawyer was unavailable to her. His is a ship that sailed when he jumped from the helicopter. He had moved on while Kate was still wavering between two men. Finally, she needed to see that he did not need her, nor did he want her, to help in his grieving process.

A thought about Dr. Ethan Goodspeed and the Sideways Timeline.

Since Horace and Pierre evacuated the island, and we saw that the island is underwater, I am assuming that a return to the island was impossible. Dharma would have been forced to abandon their "foray" to the island and the people who were evacuated would have had to find their own way in the world. Ethan would have grown up without the influences of Ben, the Others and the conflict between the Others and Dharma. But it still saw the irony of his "sticking with needles" quip.

Also, since the Others did not evacuate the island, and young Ben was still in their care, I am assuming he died with them as the island descended into the great blue yonder.

Which brings me to Eloise Hawking. In 1977 she was pregnant with Daniel and if she went down with the island, we will find that his existence had been wiped out. I am thinking that it is possible that Penny still exists since she was born off island and had never been there. Things would be different for her, though, since she would not be exposed to her father's amassed wealth and it is possible that she and Desmond never meet.

DID YOU NOTICE?

Am I the only one who thought that "Claimed" Claire looked an awful lot like 1954's version of Eloise Hawking? I don't know, but those blond curls, that knowing but not sure expression...... Maybe it was just me.

The guy that played the taxi driver runs like a girl. Just sayin'

Jason really wanted share with Kate and Jin and called them "THEM", so now we have three groups. The Others, the Other Others, and Them? Elitist jerks.

Ethan still became a doctor and still has that goofy grin.

The nurse that takes Claire into the hospital is the same woman who played Aaron's Nanny in Eggtown.

QUESTIONS

How long is years? Jason said that the Rousseau woman has been dead for years.

How was Dogen brought to the island and when? Is he like Richard? Ageless?

Was the poison meant to completely kill Sayid or just what "claimed" him?

Where has Claire been since wandering off into the Jungle of Mystery with her dead but not dead father? Did he facilitate the "claiming" of her? Speaking of the walking dead, where's Christian? Did he abandon Claire once she was claimed, or did the "whatever" is is that does the claiming move from Christian to Claire?

Why do the Others call the survivors of the crash "Them"?

Now that Kate is alone, will she go back to the Temple or will she do what she promised to do and seek out Claire?

When will Miles speak up and tell Jack about the things that he is sensing? We all know that he sensed something was not quite right with Claire and again with Sayid.

When Kate was on the dock crying, was she crying for Sawyer's loss or the fact that he's rejected her?

After so long on the island, and sharing a bed with Juliet, what has she told Sawyer about the Others? I mean, I'm sure they had some pretty interesting pillow talk sessions in the quiet of the night.

QUOTES

Dogen: Please, you have to stay.

Sawyer: No, I don't.

Mechanic: I've got a steady hand, but I kind of feel like we off on the wrong foot.

Hurley: We'll be in the food court if you need us.

Kate: I'm sorry, I never should have followed you.

Sawyer: Which time?

Jack: Did I say something funny?

Lennon: I kind of doubt it. He doesn't usually have a sense of humour.

Sayid: I remember being shot.

Hurley: You're not a zombie, right?

I already know that this was a low episode in the list of favourites, but what are YOUR questions? Did you want that hour back? I know I didn't.

Next we see The Substitute. Does this tell us what Frank could be a candidate for? Does Flocke find a way to get off the island? Will Kate ever redeem herself or will we be glad if she's the next to die?

Let me know.