The Incident, Part I

I have been watching LOST from the beginning. I could never get my husband to watch. But, I do watch it with my mom. Who is constantly lost. Thank goodness for the dvr so that we can pause it. And I can attempt to explain what is going on. Remind her (and myself) that we have seen a certain character before. Or tell her about some wild theory that I read on Lostpedia.

I hear so many people "complain" that the show is too confusing. That they shouldn't have to watch a show that requires them to do research about what they have seen. That you shouldn't have to be a rocket scientist to follow a tv show.

Well. For me. That is what I LOVE about this show. It's smart. It makes me think. It gets all my conspiracy juices flowing. And really, my benchmark for a good book is one that sends me to the computer to look stuff up. Why shouldn't a tv show challenge us as well?

Now, when Lula had the thought for this blog...I loved that I was included. But a little brain surgery took over my life. And it's rare that I come up with something interesting and original. I do have my moments though. And I am hoping that you'll bear with me while I re-cap the first 30 minutes of "The Incident" and intersperse it with a wild hair...and maybe a few bunny trails.

So when the episode opens...and we see the clay jars, the hemp sandals, the spinning wheel, and the loom. Did you just know it was Jacob we were seeing? I just knew it had to be him. And as I was watching. Especially as he works the thread up the loom. And then later in the show when he talks about creating the tapestry. It so reminded me of the Greek myth about the fates. That one is in charge of spinning the thread of life. Another in charge of measuring out the length. And the final in charge of cutting the thread. Is it relevant? Who knows.

Next we see Jacob getting a fish from his trap and cooking it on hot stones. And as he sits down to enjoy his meal, we see a clipper ship in the ocean - and what can only be the Black rock.(Hey...anyone notice that Juliet hits the bomb at the end with a black rock? Relevant? Who knows. Bunny trail number one.) Soon Jacob is joined by another man. And the symbolism screams from the tv screen. Jabob in his white shirt (but...he does have black pants on) and this guy...who I'll call Esau...in his black shirt. Jacob with his blond hair. Esau with his black hair. Light and dark. Plain as day. But. Really. Even by the end of the episode...I am not convinced of who are "the good guys."

Esau wants to know how the ship found the island...and then he realizes that Jacob has brought them here. And Esau is disgusted. "They come. They fight. They destroy. They corrupt." And that comment is the one that makes me doubt that Esau is bad. He wants peace and tranquility. Not the nonsense that people bring with them in their luggage and their psyche. And then Jacob says "it only ends once...anything before that is progress."

I have been pondering that quote for a while. I really didn't know what he meant. And I am still not sure. Does he mean that everything is progress towards the end? That "the end" is the goal?

Finally Esau tells Jacob that he really wants to kill him. And that he cannot wait to find the loophole. And then we get our second glance at the full statue. Which I think is the Egyptian goddess Tawaret - the goddess of fertility.

Our next scene is between Kate and her friend Tom - with Tom holding that toy airplane (I don't recall the significance of it. Do ya'll? I remember that it was in a safety deposit box in one episode. I think.). They are contemplating a life of crime. All I am sure due to the influence of the New Kids on the Block. "Katy" is caught by the store owner who says that he is going to call the cops and her parents. But who should appear to rescue Kate but Jacob, who offers to pay for the lunch box. While making Katy promise to never steal again...while at the same time, playfully touching her nose.

In another flashback, we are shown Sawyer at his parents' funeral. After the guests and coffins have departed for the cemetary, Sawyer is still there. Composing his letter to Mr. Sawyer. Jacob appears on the scene and offers him a pen. And touches his hand as he hands him the pen. Then Sawyer's uncle appears and asks James to move on. Not to finish the letter. Because "what's done is done." So...why do you think Jacob visits Kate and Sawyer in their youth...and everyone else when they are adults?

And the last flashback of the first half hour is Sayid's. Sayid and Nadia want to plan an anniversary...but Nadia really just wants to find her sunglasses. They are at a cross walk, and Jacob stops Sayid to ask for directions. Nadia finds her sunglassesand is struck by a car - and the driver speeds away. (Did you gasp outloud when she was hit??!) So. Here is my question for you. When Jacob stops Sayid...is he killing Nadia or saving Sayid?

Then we shift to the sub. Where Kate informs Sawyer that they have to get out of there. I just can't imagine having the cajones to think one could escape from a sub. Anyway...Kate explains about the bomb. Sawyer declines. Juliet proves she has cajones and knocks the sedative dude out so that she can swipe the key to unlock all of their handcuffs. They all proceed to the captainand ask politely if he'll surface so that they can go back to the island and save the world. Who else sees the foreshadowing of Juliet wearing a red shirt?

Did I mention that this is a choppy episode? I am trying to group like things together...

We are shown a scene of Radzinsky rushing to the Swan. And yelling at Pierre Chang for stopping the drill. Chang tries to explain that the heat was too much. That there is an insurrection going on. And that they are too close to the pocket of energy. So Radzinsky counters with some analogy about Edison and being in the dark...and then says "I came to this island to change the world..." So...how does electro magnetism change the world?

The is also the arc about the Others making their pilgrimage to meet Jacob. Richard Alpert wants to talk to Locke about how he is alive. Especially since Ben strangled Locke. Because "dead is dead." Right? But Locke counters that it's not so unusual in comparison of Richard never aging. Richard says that he is that way because of Jacob. And then he makes the leap that John Locke must be alive because of Jacob, too. And Locke says it must be so...and that he needs to thank Jacob. Locke also tells Richard that they must "deal" with the survivors from the Ajira flight.

The look that Richard gives Locke is priceless. And in this episode...Richard seems so much like a normal person (that doesn't age). He doesn't seem to have any clue as to what is going on on the island.

Then Locke approaches Ben. He knows that Ben told Richard about killing Locke. And Locke wants to know why Ben didn't tell Richard that Locke wants Jacob dead. Ben says that he will do whatever Locke says. Because his dead daughter told him to do whatever John says. Locke just beams at this good news. And then tells Ben that actually he is the one that must kill Jacob.

Okay...so far this half hour we have three character flash backs. How Kate, Sawyer, and Juliet get off the sub. The introduction of Jacob and Esau. The trek of the others to meet Jacob. Radzinsky at the Swan. And then we have a brief scene of Illana and the other "what lies in the shadow..." people. They need a cool nick name. We see them paddling their big silver crate and a knocked out Lapidus. And why did they bring Lapidus? Because "he might be a candidate." And as Frank says...ummm...a candidate for what?

And there is yet one more story being told in this first 30 minutes. Minus commercials. And that is of Jack and Sayid trying to prep the bomb - based on the specific instructions from Faraday's notebook. While Sayid is wearing his super gloves, Richard decides to have a little chat with Jack. And he wants to know if Jack knows John Locke. Richard went to meet John (just like John asked him too) - but he didn't find anything special about him. Jack tells Richard "don't give up on him."

Which now begs the question...which came first...the chicken or the egg? Look at the loop of the compass that Locke and Richard pass back and forth. Who had it first? Does Richard follow Jack's advice and that is how Locke gets to be leader?

After Sayid loads the bomb into the nuclear back pack, they all head through the tunnels to find the way out. Richard plows a hole in the wall of what is a Dharmaville basement. (Does this eventually become Ben's house...and the passage he uses to call Smokey?) And then he knocks Eloise on the head so that she doesn't place herself in danger.

As Jack and Sayid ease themselves through the house, they notice all the craziness going on outside. Including intercom messages of "if you come in contact with a hostiles, you are authorized to use deadly force..." So, they decide to escape by "hiding in plain sight." But...as they are walking away, Sayid is recognized by Ben's papa...(Hey...did Ben ever get returned to Dharmaville?) and promptly shoots him in the stomach. And the whole place errupts into gunfire. Did anyone else hear the Lone Ranger music as Hurley and company drive up in the blue VW to rescue them? I thought it might have just been me.

And that ends the first half hour. Oh my. That was A LOT of happenings. But...what I keep going back to is that opening sequence. I have watched that part over and over again. I have several theories that I am pondering. The main one being that Esau IS the smoke monster. But I think I'll leave that for another post. And for after the sussing of the entire episode. We have 10 gut wrenching months to ponder!

"Follow the Leader"

Where to begin?

Seriously. I don't know where to begin talking about last night's episode. Other than to say it was AWESOME! Uhhh... if you haven't figured it out by now, "awesome" is one of my favorite words.

Well, let's start with Locke. First, I have to point out something that was shown in the "Previously... on Lost" portion before the episode's start. One of the clips shown was of Ben (speaking to Sun) saying about Locke: "Dead is dead... you don't get to come back from that."

So what is up with Locke? Don't get me wrong... I do prefer the confident, purpose-driven Locke we see now over the depressed, lost (no pun intended) Locke we saw just a few episodes ago, in "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham". But even Richard says "there's something different about you", when Locke shows up at the Others' camp.

I wonder if Locke has really been brought back to life. Am I the only one thinking this?

The scene with Locke, Ben and Richard arriving at the beech craft... to see LOCKE walk out of the jungle... I still don't get how Locke knew to go there. And knew to bring Richard with him, and what to tell Richard to say. I know Locke said the island told him to go there... but I still don't get it.

Moving on...

Back at the beach, Locke addresses "his people", saying for years they've taken orders from Jacob without knowing his identity or whereabouts... but it's high time they get some answers, and he invites the Others to come with him to see Jacob. Richard and Ben aren't too thrilled with this idea, however...

Richard: "I'm starting to think John Locke is going to be trouble."

Ben: "Why do you think I tried to kill him?"

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, how I love Ben...

Speaking of Ben...

When the Others are marching to see Jacob, Locke reveals to Ben the biggest shock of the night...

Locke doesn't care about reuniting with his friends who are back in 1977... he tells Ben he's going to see Jacob... "so I can kill him."

Do we love the look on Ben's face after he hears this?

Yes. Yes, we do.

Now for what happened in 1977... things are beginning to unravel for our friends who are stuck in the past.

Jack and Kate witness Daniel being shot... then are captured by none other than Charles Widmore.

Meanwhile, back at the barracks, Sawyer and Juliet are handcuffed and interrogated by Radzinsky (who I now refer to as "Radzinsky the Tool"... seriously, what is this guy's problem? And him referring to Kate as Sawyer's "girlfriend" was so not cool. Not cool at all.)

Radzinsky the Tool's fist meets Sawyer's face each time Sawyer refuses to tell the truth about Kate and where they came from.

Do we hate seeing Sawyer's face bruised and bloody?

Yes. Yes, we do.

As if watching Sawyer getting beaten wasn't bad enough... Phil says he has a way to make "LaFleur" talk:

Oh, no he di'int!

Hurley, Miles and Jin are on the run, trying to make it to the beach... when they are discovered by Chang....

Remember back in "Namaste", when Hurley asks, "What if they ask me something I don't know? Like, 'who's the president?'"... and Sawyer tells Hurley to relax, "this ain't a game show"! Turns out, it was the president question that got 'em busted!

Awesome.

Know what else was awesome?

The return of Sayid!

Know what wasn't awesome?

Kate... interrupting a very sweet moment between Sawyer and Juliet! Why, Lost producers, why?! UGH! These two had just professed their love for each other... and Kate has to come in and ruin the moment. I, for one, hope that the season finale puts and end to the Jack/Kate/Sawyer/Juliet love rectangle. At this point, I don't really care if Jack and Kate end up together... but Sawyer belongs with Juliet.

OK, here are things I'm pondering after this episode...

If Locke's purpose is to kill Jacob, and not to bring his friends back from 1977... then why does he keep placating Sun, giving her hope of reuniting with Jin?


What was with all the threats of death in this episode? Radzinsky threatening Sawyer with death if he doesn't talk... Sawyer telling Phil he's a dead man for punching Juliet... Kate telling Jack if he's wrong about the bomb, the whole island dies... Locke on his way to kill Jacob..

And Richard telling Sun that he recognizes Hurley, Kate and Jack from the 1977 "new recruits" photo, because he "watched them all die"? Forgive me, but I'm starting to think this is going to happen to all of the present day folks who time-travelled back to 1977... minus those who have already died, of course (R.I.P., Charlotte and Daniel...)

Here's why:

In the last episode, Daniel said to Jack, "this is our present". I think Danny Boy had much more info to divulge... unfortunately, he was shot dead by his dear old mum before he could spill the deets.

So, Jack wants to detonate the h-bomb in hopes to undo all the misery of the past. But he won't be changing his past... he'll be changing his future.

The 2007 version of Jack has travelled back in time to 1977 BUT this doesn't mean the 1977 version of Jack doesn't exist. Case in point: Miles. Baby Miles and 30-year-old Miles are both presently living on the island. So while Jack 2007 is on the island... somewhere in the world there is also Jack 1977. It is this Jack, the one in 1977, who will board Oceanic 815 in 2004. So if Jack 2007 does succeed in detonating Jughead, this doesn't change his past... it changes the future of his 1977 self. So what happens to the 2007 version of Jack?

Have I lost everyone?

Let's discuss!

"Dead Is Dead"

After watching what can only be described as one of the most-awesomest episodes ever, the realization hit me... I will be in some serious mourning when "Lost" is over.

In my opinion, "Dead Is Dead" just proves this show is one of the finest hours of television. This Ben-centric episode was not only my favorite of Season 5... but may just be my favorite episode of the entire show (well, so far). We were treated to seeing the (all too brief) return of Desmond and Penny, more of Widmore's time on the Island... and some mighty fine acting from Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn.

Dear Emmy Voters: It is high time the brilliant Michael Emerson gets the recognition he deserves. Thank you.

Oh, another way I know it's a good episode is when I receive text messages from Lula such as:

• "So good. Loving it."
• "This RULES! So good!"
• "Dude, this is awesome!"

OK, time to get on with this recap. I want to start with Widmore. Charles was not too happy with He of the Heavily-lined Eyes for bringing Lil' Ben into their temple... Widmore didn't care that it was "just a boy" who was dying. But when Alpert said, "Jacob wanted it done... the Island chooses who the Island chooses, you know that", Widmore seemed to accept Lil' Ben would be one of them.

The next time we see Widmore, it's when Ben returns to their camp with the baby Alex. Widmore again shows no love towards kids when he orders Ben to kill Alex. Yeesh, what does this guy have against children?

Widmore's banishment from the Island was an interesting scene. We learn Widmore has been exiled for "breaking the rules" (leaving the Island regularly and having a daughter with an outsider). We know the daughter to be Penny... so this would mean Ellie/Eloise is not Penny's mother. Unless... Ellie/Eloise was also banished from the Island at some point prior to this, and is therefore considered to be an "outsider".

The last we see of Widmore in this episode is when he's received a phone call from Ben, who is at the marina in Los Angeles. Ben tells Widmore he's going back to the Island, but first he's going to kill Widmore's daughter.

Which leads me to Desmond and Penny! I was euphoric to see my favorite couple... yet anxious at the same time, afraid of what was going to happen...

Seriously, this scene was hard for me to watch...

I had to keep my hand over my mouth, lest my screams of "No! No! Nnnooooooo!!!!" wake up my sleeping children.

Before Ben can off Penny, Little Charlie appears:

Now, I do think Ben wouldn't have gone through with his plans to kill Penny. But he does hesitate, and we get to see that it was Des who beat the living daylights out of Ben.

So we've seen Ben refuse to kill Danielle and Baby Alex... and then he can't (or won't) kill Penny because of Little Charlie... who knew Badass Ben was a big ol' softie when it comes to moms and kids?

I'm going to touch base on what went down with Sun and Lapidus before moving onto the meat of the episode (i.e, Ben, Locke and Smokey).

What I found interesting about this whole scene was that Ben did not know Jack, Kate, Hurley, et al. were in the Dharma Initiative...

...but later he does remember he was healed by the Temple as a kid. Hmmm...

Lapidus is all, "peace out, crazy sauce... I'm not sticking around here with a murderer and a dead guy" and leaves to go back to the Hydra. When he gets there, Lapidus is told by a Red Shirt that Ilana and three others have found guns and have taken over. When Lapidus confronts Ilana (who is wrestling with the same crate we saw earlier in the episode), she asks him "What lies in the shadow of the statue?"

Marshallette-turned-bounty-hunter-chick say what?!

"What lies in the shadow of the statue?" has to be some sort of riddle/password. Unfortunately for Lapidus, he doesn't know the answer, so this earns him a rifle-butt to the head.

Ilana tells the other guy with her to "get everyone else, tell them it's time"... get who else? And "it's time" for what? There's more to Ilana than we first thought. Who is she really working for? What is in the crate?

One more thing about Ilana and her cronies... I think it's safe to guess these are the ones who were in the outrigger, chasing Locke, Sawyer, Juliet and the other time-trippers back in episode 4 ("The Little Prince).

Alright, it's time for the main course (also known as why Michael Emerson deserves an Emmy).

When Ben wakes to find none other than "I-used-to-be-dead" Locke staring him down, he is obviously surprised.

Locke calls Ben out on this, and Ben covers for his look of utter disbelief by saying "it's one thing to believe it John... it's another thing to see it". Then Ben admits the reason he was trying to make it over to the main island was to be judged by... "the monster".

Ben is a master spinner of tales... do we believe Ben knew Locke would come back?

The scene with Ben and Caesar on the beach, discussing Locke... I thought this was Ben, doing what he does best.  Lying, scheming... manipulating Caesar into doubting what Locke has told him about Ben...

Caesar tells Ben "I got your back" and shows he's packing heat (by means of a sawed-off shotgun).

Later, when Locke finds Ben in hopes to "talk about the elephant in the room"... the fact that it was Ben who killed Locke. Ben's explanation is that Locke had failed to convince the O6 to come back to the island, and that he had to stop Locke from killing himself because Locke had information that would have died with him. Once Ben had the critical info... "well, I just didn't have the time to talk you back into hanging yourself" ...oy, the eye roll Ben does before delivering this line is brilliant! Ben goes on to say he did what he did because it was "in the best interest of the island".

Locke's reply to this was one of the best lines of the episode: "I was just hoping for an apology."

I can honestly say that what happened next... I totally did not see coming! Locke and Ben are trying to take a canoe over to the main island when they are stopped by Caesar. Ben has already planted doubts about Locke in Caesar's mind... so Caesar goes to grab his gun, but...

BAM! Ben shoots Caesar then says to Locke: "Consider that your apology."

No one else has a problem with Ben and Locke taking the canoe... so they're on their merry way to the main island.

It's after they dock at the main island that Locke says he believes Ben is lying about being judged for coming back to the Island after he'd left (which was against the rules)... but rather Ben wants to be judged for killing his daughter.

Which brings us to Ben's judgement day. Ben does summon Smokey... but the monster doesn't show.  So Locke decides they have to go to it, and he knows just where to go.  Into the jungle they trek, finally ending up at the temple.

In the underground chamber Ben has fallen into, we see hieroglyphics all over the walls, including one very important mural:

Is this Anubis bowing down to Smokey?!

I had chills watching the rest of the episode unfold... Smokey rises out of a grate in front of Ben, swirling around him. Ben then sees memories of Alex... from taking her from Danielle, to Alex's death at the hands of Keamy.

Smokey then leaves, but reappears in the form of Alex. Ben apologizes to "Alex", finally admitting it was all his fault.  "Alex" doesn't disagree with this... then brings out her/its own inner-Ninja on Ben by pinning him to a column.  "Alex" tells Ben she/it knows Ben is planning on killing Locke again but he better think twice about doing so.  In fact, "Alex" wants Ben to promise he will follow Locke's orders, otherwise she/Smokey will destroy him. Ben swears he will follow Locke and "Alex" disappears.

The result of Ben's judgement: "It let me live."

For now, Ben... you live, for now. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Sorry, I got carried away...

OK, everyone... what did you think of this episode? What questions did this episode leave you pondering?

"Whatever Happened, Happened."

By the end of Episode 11, I realized I was mistaken in my recap from last week. When I'm wrong, I say I'm wrong. Lost proves again and again that we, the viewers, are incorrect in our assumptions more often than correct. It's why we love the show--the unknowns, the surprises, the unbelivables, the brilliant acting, and the myriad of manners in which we attempt to suss out what the heck is going on here?

Last week I mused, "We now realize part of the reason why Ben is the way he is," in reference to Roger, Ben's no-count daddy. I retract that statement, with apologies to Roger, especially for stating, "He sucks and got what was coming to him in the purge." Dang, that was harsh of me.

The crux of 'Whatever Happened, Happened" is that we now know why Ben is the way he is. The irony of it is so delicious I can barely type these words without dancing around my living room. Ben essentially becomes the man we all love to hate...because of Jack. Jin. Sayid. Kate. Juliet. And Sawyer.

I could stop right there and say, "End of story," but what fun would that be? Especially when we get to see this woman again:
Jumping right into Kate's flashback here (because the opening scenes were boring--Jin rescues Ben Junior, Horace bores his people with a bunch of lame safety talk, and Kate meets Roger...yada-yada-yada...), I confess zero surprise at seeing our gal Cass on the other side of that door. In a manner of seconds the viewer learns (a) Kate's theme music is always provided by Patsy Cline, (b) the people in young Aaron's life are seriously in love with Perry Como's "Catch a Falling Star," and (c) what Saywer whispered to Kate before his heroic helicopter leap.

Cassidy then proves she has a clue, and also earns my respect by naming Kate's game before Kate herself even realizes the facade is falling. Witness:

*Cassidy instantly knows Kate is lying--about the money, about Aaron, and about Sawyer.

*She shamelessly calls Kate out, all but saying, "Girl, the jig is up." The Eagles sang it best, "You can't hide your lying eyes, and your smile is a thin disguise..." Now this should be Kate's theme song. Why has no one else been bold enough to wag a finger at Kate's numerous falsehoods? (With the exception of the U.S. Marshall, may he rest in peace.) Rock on, Cassidy.

Back in present time...er, present as in 1977 of course, the Head of Security springs into action, dutifully checking the Dharma perimeter monitors, dismissing Kate, and dispatching Miles to place Jack, Kate and Hurley on house arrest. What a man, what a leader...yes, our Sawyer has become a productive member of society. Granted, it's Dharma's society, but still.

Juliet commences with her attempts at saving Ben's life, and we are treated to yet another gory surgery, Lost-style. (Remember the days of the Marshall and his protruding shrapnel? Boone's almost-amputation? Jack's appendectomy?)

Look at all that blood! Panicking, Juliet tells Saywer she needs a surgeon to assist her in the OR, which is code for, "Go get Jack!" Upon Saywer's summonsing of his services, Jack intones, "Dude, I'm a janitor now, so unless it's a stopped-up toilet, don't be asking me to get my hands dirty." Jack's actual response,"Then he dies," is so Ben-like in its delivery, I almost expected Dr. Shephard to bellow a hearty, "Bwahahahaha!" Or at least go all bug-eyed.

We viewers are then treated to what I hereby procclaim to be the best scenes of Season 5 thus far. Oscar and Felix's time-travel bantering was my favorite part of last night's episode of The Odd Couple.

OK, so it was really Hurley and Miles but seriously...they were The Odd Couple. And Hurley was the audience's proxy, voicing his (and ours!) confusion at all this time travel stuff. Is it similar to Back to the Future? (Did we love Hurley checking his hand to determine if he's in the beginning stages of a slow fade? We did.) Is Daniel Faraday with Doc Brown and the Delorean? And when will we hear the strains of "Johnny B. Goode," or "Earth Angel?"

When Hurley attempts to understand Miles' explanation of time travel, lamenting, "That was confusing," know that the writers of Lost just gave the audience one big wink. The conversation between these two could be a verbatim recap of what Lost fans have debated for the past couple of years. Thank you, writers and producers of Lost, for acknowledging a very confused fanbase. This was sheer brilliance:

Miles (after Hurley has asked why Adult Ben didn't recognize Flight 815er Sayid as the man who shot him as a child): "Huh...hadn't thought of that."

Hurley (arms smugly crossed): "Huh!"

Exactly.

Meanwhile Kate morphs into a pensive do-gooder, gently giving Jack a smackdown for his refusal to help save Young Ben. (Uh, Hippocratic Oath, anyone?) Jack, who minutes earlier was channeling evil Big Ben, now embraces his inner John Locke, telling Kate he's been getting in the island's way.

Kate: "I don't like the new you."

Jack: "You didn't like the old me, Kate."

You know The Good Shephard wanted to give Kate two snaps and a head shake, then twirl on his heals and sashay out of the room, leaving her looking like this:

Kate 8.0, the upgraded model, continues in her random acts of selflessness, donating her blood for Wee Ben's survival. This means Ben has Kate's blood in his veins. OK, that's just creepy, y'all. We also learn, via her conversation with Roger, that Ben's daddy is really just a meanie pants when he's drunk. Roger really does care for his son. Kate also denies having any children. Whoops, her true colors are showing again. (Y'all knew I was gonna go there.)

I also want to point out the oblique comment Roger makes regarding "LeFleur": "Bastard doesn't ask any questions he doesn't know the answers to." It's said in passing (regarding Sawyer's inquiry into the whereabouts of Roger's set of janitor keys), but I'm staking claims we were meant to notice Roger's little appraisal of Sawyer. For the record. Plus, I enjoy any appraisal of Sawyer. Sigh.

Juliet, looking like the Angel of Mercy, with the little halo-effect braids atop her head, tells Kate that Ben is going to die. Oh, but The Others can help him! The other Others, that is. (Yeah, Juliet used to be an Other. Then she rallied with the Oceanic 815ers. Now she's a Dharma Gal. So this makes Richard and his people the other Others. Got that? Good.)

Embroiling themselves in more island subterfuge, Kate and Juliet agree to get Ben to the Others. Kate, proving that she is not only a hero, but also well aware of Juliet's relationship with Sawyer, regards Juliet and the life she's built in Dharmaville over the past three years. Had she allowed Juliet to sneak off with her and Pale Ben, Kate knows "Sawyer would kill me!" Wow...has Kate found a clue about reality in just the two days since her return to the island?

Flash forward to the scene in the grocery store, of Kate losing Aaron. Kudos to Evangeline Lily! She did an amazing job conveying the feeling of despair a mother experiences when her child seems to disappear in a manner of seconds. (You mothers will agree with me--we've all been there.)

The sole purpose of this scene was to set up Kate's reasoning for returning to the island. I won't rehash the conversation between Kate and Claire's mother, Carole, because I'm certain we all ascertained weeks ago that Aaron was handed over to his grandmother before Kate boarded the flight to "Guam." Kate's farewell to little Aaron was heartbreaking, and I found myself actually feeling remorse for Miss Austen, for the very first time. This must have been the day Kate 8.0 was uploaded. Cough-cough.

Back on the island, at the Zap-To-It fence, Kate witnesses Sawyer on his trusty steed (or VW van, whatever), presumably galloping to halt her from absconding with the wounded Ben. When he refers to her as "Freckles," my heart dropped. I'm not trying to make Lost into a version of Days of Our Lives (as my brother-in-law refers to all the "relationship stuff" on the show), but I am wholeheartedly against any loving feelings between these two. They've lost that loving feeling. It's gone. Whoa-oh-oh-ohhhh.

Juliet has convinced Sawyer it is wrong to let a kid die, even if that kid would eventually grow into the Ben we all know and love/hate, and this is why Sawyer is there to help. Sawyer tells Kate, "I'm doing it for her." Her=Juliet. Me=Happy! The look on Kate's face when she realizes Sawyer really does love Juliet is utterly priceless. I almost felt badly for her. Almost. But not quite.

Back in Dharmaville, Juliet goes gangbusters on an April Fresh Jack. When he first stepped from that shower I had a Dallas flashback: "Dude, if this becomes a Bobby Ewing/it was all a dream scenario, I will shoot my television!"
Alas, it's not Bobby Ewing. Merely a gratuitous, almost-naked scene of Matthew Fox, for which I say "thank you" to Lost's powers-that-be. Yep.

For the second time today Jack is on the other end of a verbal smackdown, this one delivered by Juliet. Furious at Jack for being unwilling to help with Ben's surgery, Juliet tells Dr. Shephard that they (the left behinders) didn't need saving, and that he "better figure out why" he came back to the island. Are we all in agreement that Jack has relinquished every ounce of the leadership status he once maintained with this group of people? Here's to hoping that having Kate and Juliet up in his face will convince our doctor to grow a pair and get with the program. While keeping out of Sawyer's way. Ahem.

Back to The Saving Of Ben, 1977 Edition: After a bit of light conversation ("Dangit, I ain't fit to be your boyfriend or Clementine's daddy, but hey--in the past 3 years I've grown up, Kate!"), some gamey-looking Hostiles capture Kate, Sawyer, and a fading fast Ben. The Head of Security has no fear, however..."Take us to Richard!" he commands.

Richard saunters from the jungle, effectively answering the question we've pondered since season 2...how/why did Ben change sides, from being with the Dharma Initiative to being one with Jacob? The answer? Oh, Kate and Sawyer handed Ben over to Richard, that's how. Easy-peasy, all wrapped up nicely, no? Of course not.

Before Sawyer gives Ben to Richard, He Of The Heavily-lined Eyes states the conditions of Ben's tranfser:

1. "If I take him, he's not ever gonna be the same again." Check.

2. "He'll forget this ever happened." Good. Check.

3. "His innocence will be gone." Um...wait, what?

4. "He will always be one of us." Gotcha. Check.

I waited for either Sawyer or Kate to ask what Richard meant by Ben's "innocence" being gone. Did Richard have plans to leave Ben in a community shower and just wait for him to drop the soap? Ew. Clearly, Kate and Sawyer were not concerned...they were all, "Take the kid--peace out, homeslice!" And in that moment, I believe both Kate and Sawyer realize the enormity of the situation.

Let me break down the enormity for you:

*Sayid shoots Kiddie Ben.

*Jin brings wounded Kiddie Ben to Juliet.

*Juliet attempts to save Kiddie Ben.

*Jack refuses to assist Juliet in her efforts to save Kiddie Ben.

*Kate sides with Juliet, goes off on Jack, shares her own blood with Kiddie Ben, and becomes an ambulance driver (VW van, whatever). (She's quite the heroine.)

*Sawyer trudges through the jungle carrying Kiddie Ben, eventually handing the child over to He of the Heavily-lined Eyes.

*The equation is as follows:

Sayid+Jin+Juliet+Jack+Kate+Sawyer=Why Kiddie Ben Becomes Benjamin Linus, The Man, The Myth, and The Legend. Way to go, Oceanic 815 survivors (and Juliet)...good job!

Dismissing a random Other's warning about Ellie and Charles (!), Richard takes Ben to The Temple. I don't think they were going for a prayer service, either.

Thirty years later, Adult Ben wakes up in the Hydra Station, John Locke sitting by his bedside.

"Hello, Ben. Welcome to the land of the living."

Are you kidding me? Fantastic ending! Ben is in shock while Locke is as calm, confident, and smug as we've ever seen him. Man, I love me some John Locke. Man, I love this show.

Questions for sussing:

*What happens in The Temple to change Ben into the man we all love to hate?

*Do you believe Kate really returned to the island to look for Claire, as she told Carole? Or is this just my wishful thinking?

*What will Sayid be doing when we next see him?

*Where in the heck-ola are Bernard and Rose?

Oh my...so much to discuss. And...GO!