This episode was so awesome!!! I love how this episode had so many references to the old seasons, but didn’t cram it down your throat like the earlier episodes.
Observations
- What’s up with the sideways flashes this season? I think the producers are using the flash-sideways to reveal insight to a character’s inherent goodness or inherent evil.
- For instance, note how Sayid’s flash-sideways, he could have kept Keamy alive, but killed him anyway. In this alternate existence, the characters are no longer a product of circumstance. They are living their lives exactly as they wish. Now, in the reality we know, Sayid has always been inherently bad, even though he’s always been a Lostie and one of the “good guys”. Remember his earlier flashbacks, when he killed that goat as a kid in Iraq. This justifies his siding with Smoke-Locke.
- Ben, on the other hand, is inherently good. In the alternate reality, look at how he took care of his father (who on the island beat him plenty), and then sacrificed himself for Alex. On the island, he had to be a ruthless murderer because he was a product of circumstance. His dad also became a deadbeat because of his product of circumstance. Sidenote – how great is it that Ben redeems Alex’s death by putting his own wants behind hers. So good!
- Hurley shows up in Locke’s flash-sideways and goes out of his way to give Locke a job. Obviously he’s good, but we all knew that. How could Hurley ever be mean?
- Is Jin going to be good or evil? He was in Sayid’s flashback (how did he get from airport security to a mafia closet?!). But what kind of test will he get in his flash-sideways? Think about how Jin was a good guy before Sun’s dad got to him. Again, in the reality we know, he sadly became a product of circumstance.
- And what about Kate? In Kate’s flash-sideways, she is a fugutive, yes. But her “test” came when she had to play good Samaritan to Claire, which she did by accompanying her to the adoptee’s house. So she is a good person, but in the previous episode, she was hauled off with Smoke-Locke and crazy Sayid. How will she escape?
- I heard a theory a while ago that Richard and Locke were former slaves. Reason being is that when Smoke-Locke sees Richard, he says, “Good to see you out of those chains.” This was justified when Richard went back to the Black Rock and told Jack that he was there once “a long time ago”. It could be that he was a slave owner, but the way he was holding on to one set of cuffs makes me believe that he was indeed a slave. There are some interesting facts about the Black Rock on Lostpedia. Some of it is from the Lost Experience game, which I never did. Is Richard one of the slaves and Smokey one of the owners – hence his inherent evil?
- Richard said that he can’t die because Jacob touched him. He explains that when Jacob touches you, it’s some kind of gift. This explains several things with the Losties:
- Jacob touched both Sun and Jin at their wedding, that’s why Jin survived the freighter and Sun was able to give birth on the island. Remember that Juliet was brought to the island because mothers would always die during child birth.
- Locke was shot by Ben and left for dead in Season 3. He explained that it was the island that kept him alive, but in reality, it was Jacob’s touch that kept him from dying (Jacob touched him after he was pushed out of his father’s apartment). Recall the in pilot episode, that the first thing Locke did after the plane crash was look at his toe and wiggle it. Maybe Jacob’s “gift” only works on the island? This explains how Locke was able to be killed by Ben off the island, but not on it. Unless the producers pull some huge 180 and reveal Locke is alive in that coffin after all, which I highly doubt.
- I don’t remember Jacob actually touching Jack, just that he gave him a candy bar. Cheryl said, maybe they touched when they handed off? If so, I don’t recall.
- Jack is now a man of faith, as evidenced by the dynamite test. Did you see how he closed his eyes when it was about to explode? There was that dramatic confrontation in Season 3 when he and Locke butted heads with their Faith vs. Reason debate. Jack obviously relied on reason. And now, through everything that has happened, Jack finally believes. Guess all it took was some mirrors and some time looking out into the ocean.
- How great was it that Ben walked onto the beach now as one of the Losties, when originally he was the leader of the group that was trying to kill all of them. The shot of him from his point of view watching them fixing their houses, was typical of Season from the Losties point of view. The irony from the producers was so amazing.
- Loved how the episode ended with slow motion, profile shots, and music – classic throwback to Season 1.
Predictions?
I think ultimately, in the end, once the producers square away who is good and who is evil, the two sides will square off in one giant rumble! Oh boy! And the Jack island dynasty will be restored once again! The producers are playing the whole Jacob-Messiah-figure a little too hard, but still can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
I think somewhere towards the end, everyone on the island will have to make some kind of choice that determines their fate. Jacob is always talking about choices, and at some point everyone will be put to the test, just like in their flash-sideways. That started tonight with Ben. He could’ve killed Ilana, but didn’t. That was his “test”. Who will be next?
Well hope you enjoyed my thoughts and predictions. Gonna head to over to check out what’s new at Gitsie Girl. Feel free to share your comments!
