Spoilers below the image!
So, last night’s episode 316, was in my humble opinion quite the killer.
The episode opened up just like the very first episode of the show — with Jack’s eye opening, and a zoom out revealing that he is startled to find himself lying in the jungle in a pretty nice suit. What’s happening? Are we back in Season 1 for some reason? Has Jack also become unstuck in time? And then: wait! I know this scene like the back of my hand, and Jack was wearing a white shirt. That shirt looks blue! This is new! Hey, that’s not his mini vodka bottle . . . is that Hurley? Oh shit.
And it was awesome.
What else happened in this episode? Well, everything. We find out that Jack is back on the island, and Hurley and Kate at least are with him. We then flash back to 36 hours earlier, to find Jack, Sun, Ben and Desmond meeting with Eloise Hawking, or Daniel Faraday’s mother. Eloise takes them to the Lamp Post, a Dharma station that has the purpose of finding the island. She confirms the long-held suspicion that the island is always moving. Which is a pretty damn big reveal.
Desmond freaks out at Eloise and leaves. Eloise tells them all that they need to be on a flight 316, to Guam, in order to get back to the island, and they need to as carefully recreate the circumstances of the original flight as possible. She also takes Jack aside and explains that for that reason, Jack has to give Locke (or his dead body) something that belongs to his father, and also that Locke committed suicide. Another big reveal.
Jack goes home, and Kate shows up clearly distraught. Aaron is not with her, and she won’t tell Jack what happened — indeed, she makes him promise to never ask her again. Jack seems strangely unconcerned, probably because he’s so interested in doing it with her. Everyone else seems unconcerned about Aaron’s whereabouts for the rest of the episode. Jack gives Locke Christian’s shoes and reveals why Christian’s wearing those running shoes on the island. Ha! Also, Ben totally got his ass kicked by someone, but everyone seems rather unconcerned about that as well.
Sun, Jack and Kate all show up at the airport. Then, we’re rather surprised to see a really greasy looking Sayid there, too, in the custody of some kind of law enforcement official. I guess we’ve got the fugitive part of the flight recreated right there. Sayid seems rather surprised and displeased to see everyone, and yet also looks rather strangely surprised when the plane starts crashing. Slow, Sayid, slow. Hurley also shows up, but won’t say how he knows that he was supposed to be there. I think we’re supposed to assume his best-dead-friend Charlie. Oh, and Frank Lapidus is flying the plane.
Then, Jack, Hurley and Kate are on the island again. They’re about to split up and look for Sun, Sayid, Ben, Frank and other possible survivors . . . until a new Dharma van comes rolling out of the jungle! A man in a Dharma jumpsuit steps out and points a gun at them, only to have it revealed that the man is . . . Jin!
Wow, that is a lot of stuff, isn’t it?
So, on those reveals. I was pretty sure that the island was regularly in motion, though it’s great to know it for sure. It’s also good to know how Locke died, and it seems that we’re going to learn a lot more about this next episode. I was clearly proven right in my prediction last week that the island was going to move back in time, to a point where Dharma was still on the island — thus explaining why Faraday was hanging out with Dr. Candle in the first episode, and how he told Charlotte not to come back to the island. I so knew that Frank was going to come back at some point, though I was silly enough to not predict that it would happen in this way, because no one gets to just leave the show without dying.
Questions/Concerns: Where the fuck is Aaron? Did Kate know she had to go back to the island, take the message from Claire to not bring him back seriously, and give him away? Did someone take him? Why? And I know you want to do it with her Jack, but seriously, that unconcerned? Speaking of unconcerned, I know that they all hate Ben, but not a single comment on the bloody head and broken arm? And also speaking of unconcerned, why does no one seem to care what the hell Sayid is doing there? Why is Sun still so unconcerned about leaving her daughter, Ji Yeon, behind seemingly forever? Why are they unconcerned about how Hurley got there? And other than Hurley who buys 75 plane tickets to prevent more people from crashing, and Jack inquiring in passing, why does everyone seem so unconcerned about the other folks on the plane who are going to crash with them? In short, why is everyone on that show so damn unconcerned about everything? Is Desmond the only one who asks questions around here?
And speaking of Desmond, what’s going to happen with him off the island? Wait, sudden thought — is that what happened with Ben? Did he go to try to kill Penny, AKA Widmore’s daughter, like he said he would?
I don’t know! But leave your thoughts in the comments.
And speaking of Desmond, what’s going to happen with him off the island? Wait, sudden thought — is that what happened with Ben? Did he go to try to kill Penny, AKA Widmore’s daughter, like he said he would?
Maybe Ben didn’t try to kill Penny, but I’d put money on the possibility that Desmond is the one who roughed Ben up, for one reason or another.
I think Ben went after Penny since he’s ostensibly going back to the island for god knows how long.
And yeah, I’m with you on everyone being so unconcerned. It’s creepy.
I think Ben got the shit beat out of him by Sayid in the course of some complicated plan to have him arrested and taken by a marshal to Guam on that flight, hence his surprise at seeing the rest of the folks, etc.
It seems to me that Ben is not above sacrificing his bodily health to get the master plan working, and it also seems to me that Desmond is far less likely to commit violence against anyone, even Ben, than to say “Screw you guys, I’m out of here and you’ll never see me again.”
The first thing I thought once the episode was all over & we saw next week’s clip was “gosh darn it, that Cara was right!” I pronounce you queen of all things LOST and will just never counter you again.
I too was royally annoyed at how nobody was asking any questions. WTF?! I hope that all will eventually be revealed and it’s not one of those “yeah, we’re presenting new information and then totally never talking about it again” cuz that seems to happen quite a bit on Lost.
The Ben-killed-Penny theory is what seems to be floating around but that would make me thoroughly depressed. I love Penny! I realize she’s never done much, but that scene where Desmond calls her from the past/present/future/whatever STILL MAKES ME TEARY! I’m a sap, I know. I suppose it does make sense that Ben would have been trying to kill her at that point. Oy…
I think Ben got the shit beat out of him by Sayid in the course of some complicated plan to have him arrested and taken by a marshal to Guam on that flight
That is a pretty good hypothesis.
and it also seems to me that Desmond is far less likely to commit violence against anyone, even Ben, than to say “Screw you guys, I’m out of here and you’ll never see me again.”
I suppose so, but I feel like Desmond has a lot more to lose this time – he doesn’t want to be apart from Penny again, and now they have a child. Plus, I am almost positive that I remember Ben being at a dock/pier when he called Jack, so that makes me think he went to Penny and Desmond’s boat.
The Ben-killed-Penny theory is what seems to be floating around but that would make me thoroughly depressed.
Me too. I wouldn’t mind if he tried to kill her, though, just as long as she survived.
OH! And I forgot to share my favoritist moment in the episode: the look of realization spreading across Lapidus’ face when he looked around the airplane to see who was on it. Oh, that was hilarious! I couldn’t stop laughing.
I have to say the whole leaving behind of the children without commentary about their well being really bothered me. You do not invest that much time into caring and loving a child to just leave them behind.
Seeing Jin get out of that van opened up a whole new list of questions for me. I mean if we rally think about it, his appearance really disturbs the time line of events. They are going to have to be careful not to mess this up.
As for Ben, I was really frustrated not to find out who roughed him up. Nearly everyone on the show has reason to do it. I have to admit I never though that it might have been Sayid as an explanation to him being on the flight in the first place.
One other thing, and know this is going to sound wonky, but does anyone else think that now that Lockes body is back on the Island that they might use this as an excuse to bring him back to life. I was thinking that the Island gave him the ability to walk again why not the chance to live again.
One other thing, and know this is going to sound wonky, but does anyone else think that now that Lockes body is back on the Island that they might use this as an excuse to bring him back to life. I was thinking that the Island gave him the ability to walk again why not the chance to live again.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the island could bring people back to life if it wanted to. I mean, how else can we explain Christian’s (Jack’s father) presence? I doubt he’s a hallucination.
Although my money’s on the idea that Locke is not really dead, he’s faking it.
re: Sayid roughing up Ben. Possible. But I really think that if Sayid got into a violent altercation with Ben, he’d just kill him. Sayid seems pretty easy breezy about the killing, and he really fucking hates Ben. Unless, like Widmore, he now knows of some reason that he can’t kill him.
But as for Sayid being on the flight, yes, I do totally think that’s Ben’s doing.
re: Desmond roughing up Ben. Also possible. Desmond seems one of the men on the show most disinclined towards violence, but he did seem ready to kill some people when Jack, Kate and Locke showed up in the hatch.
re: Killing Penny. Yeah, if Penny gets killed, I will be fucking pissed. My dad’s convinced that Ben is going to kill Penny; my Mom is convinced that no, someone on that show needs a happy ending. I want to think that she’s right :)
re: Locke. He’s totally getting resurrected, dudes. The island heals him. It resurrected Christian when they crashed in the same way. And also the writing on the side of that van they’re carrying around in is an anagram for “reincarnation.”
And yes, Frank looking around the plane and saying “We’re not going to Guam, are we?” was priceless.
>re: Locke. He’s totally getting resurrected, dudes. The island heals him. It resurrected Christian when they crashed in the same way. And also the writing on the side of that van they’re carrying around in is an anagram for “reincarnation.”
Yeah, I don’t think this was ever really in question. I think it will be different than Christian though…Christian does not seem to be a full blown resurrection, he appears like a ghost. He’s the Holy Spirit to Locke’s Jesus. ;)
I agree with #7 frau sally: I loved when Lapides said “We’re not going to Guam, are we?”
re: Locke. He’s totally getting resurrected, dudes. The island heals him. It resurrected Christian when they crashed in the same way. And also the writing on the side of that van they’re carrying around in is an anagram for “reincarnation.”
MMM I soo missed that. Damn I have got to pay closer attention. I find every episode they drop little clues and someone is always explaining it to me after the fact.
Haha. Oh, I totally didn’t pick up the Reincarnation thing on my own. It was from some LOST site, though god knows where exactly :)
I agree Sayid would totally just kill Ben rather than beat him up. I just assumed that Ben put himself in a position to get beaten but not killed before some law enforcement somebody stepped in. Like he offered himself up as bait because he was so serious about getting everyone else on board (literally).
Ah wait, here’s a link to the Reincarnation van. That’s a really great LOST site, by the way.
I think it’s hilarious that Ajira Air let the Oceanic Six (minus one) take one of their flights, all together! I hope they’ve got a helluva lot of insurance. ;-)
Scot, I know! I said the same thing to my husband: “I love how just no one notices that 5 of the Oceanic 6 are all on one flight.” Since, you know, they’re so famous and all. WTF. I mean, I wouldn’t want to take the same flight as one of the LOST cast members! :)
Are there any characters or any plot left from the first two seasons? I’ve been reading recaps (mostly at TWoP) and it seems like Lost 2.0 is a totally different show with people who look vaguely like those fropm Lost 1.0, but have no similar characteristics.
I left in disgust after the “bridge” at the start of Season 3 and see no reason to return to what could become Lost 13.75 at any moment.
Jeff, your words make me sad. I love all incarnations of LOST! Even when I have no idea where we’ve been or where we’re going lol
The “bridge” episodes of season 3 made me sad (not as sad as Seasons 6 and 7 of Buffy, but that’s another story). It was all so dumb and unconnected. And what did it accomplish? It took the Others from fearsome predators to suburban book-clubbers (only to turn them back into attackers later, if I recall the recaps correctly).
It seems like it’s stopped being The Jack and Kate Show, so yay for that, but how a mess like Lost goes on when my beloved Pushing Daisies is, well, pushing daisies makes me think there’s something Just Not Right about the universe.
Especially when a show known for killing the fem,ale characters in rather nasty ways, and sidelining or dimishing the rest 9as well as the people of color) is flooged on a feminist blog — it makes my head hurt.
I also agree that Ben has something to do with Sayid being on the flight, along with Kate and Hurley (maybe indirectly for him). Ben has always been a master manipulator. He always finds a way to make people do things they initially don’t want to. And he’s very good at talking his way out of death. I don’t know how many times he has been threatened since showing up as Henry Gale. But somehow he just keeps talking, and the potential killer backs off. I don’t know who beat Ben up, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out that Ben cheated death yet again.
What concerns me is that Ben’s going back to the island. Didn’t Ben tell John before leaving the island that whoever moves the island cannot come back? Also, Christian told John that Ben wasn’t supposed to move the island in the first place.
As far as Christian is concerned, I’m not convinced that he’s resurrected. I’ve assumed that he and Claire are connected to Jacob ever since they were in the cabin.
Just a brief thought to throw into the mix…this one specifically regarding the kiddos. I think Aaron is w/ Ji Yeon (Sun’s daughter.) When Sun called her mother, then spoke to Ji Yeon last week Aaron was in the back seat of Sun’s car while she was on the phone. The camera focused in on his reflection while Sun told her daughter that she had a new friend for her named Aaron.
Sun was clearly up to something nefarious when she headed to LA, and I don’t think killing Ben was the entirety of it. Didn’t Kate also get upset about her having done something with Aaron last week?
I agree that it is odd (and sad) how unconcerned everyone is about the the kids not beings around (and so many other things for that matter,) but when it comes down to it these people have already been through SO MUCH weird stuff, at some point they’ve got to start rolling with whatever, right? I mean, how long has this stuff that makes no rational sense been happening to them? And I do tend to think that Sun thought either she would return from the island with Jin, or that she knows the kids will end up on the island with them.
Which, is what I think is going to happen. I don’t know how, but both Aaron and Ji Yeon will end up on the island. The importance of the kids (and them being “chosen” or highly sought in various ways) has been pretty emphasized since the beginning of the show.
I’m finally caught up on Lost episodes (thank you TiVo)!
My only question about this episode is that it makes no sense for Sayid to be escorted by a marshal on the way to Guam. I get that it recreates Kate being escorted back to LA on the original flight, but she was being extradited back to the US. Is Sayid being extradited back to…Guam? Did he kill someone in Guam while working as an assassin for Ben?
Also, will the guy who consoled Jack for his loss at the ticket counter be a new character? That was very reminiscent of Ana-Lucia’s introduction at the end of the first season, no?
At the beginning/middle of the episode, I was thinking that Jack/Kate/Hurley got “flashed” out of the plane when it flew over the island in one of those flashes that seem to love launching people through time/space with the island. I didn’t see any plane wreckage and I thought it was unlikely another plane would go down (especially with Hurley and some others being okay with it).
Now that seems unlikely because the plane seemed to be heading for a crash near the end of the episode. We don’t see the wreckage, though. But even if the Oceanic peeps got yanked out of the plane without affecting the actual plane itself, since Frank is the pilot and presumably is now on the island as well, the plane seemed destined to crash anyway. Also, having a few new people on the island from this plane crash introduces more characters, since the show is running out of people to kill off!
I’m actually glad (if somewhat frustrated) that there is still mystery about how some of the Losties ended up on the plane to “Guam.” I like the flashbacks and this gives some new material. Also, it wouldn’t be Lost if we weren’t going “Whaaa???”
I was also thinking Ben’s injuries were related to Sayid and his appearance on the plane. Ben will do anything to get them on that flight.
As for Aaron… I think Kate decided to give him to Claire’s mother. She was clearly upset when she found out Claire’s mother was near by and all the people reminding her that he isn’t really her’s combined with the nightmarea about Claire telling her not to bring him to the island probably put her over the edge. When she last told Ben off she ran to Sun’s car to take Aaron away. If someone had taken Aaron without her approval I think her reaction would be to get him back, not head to the island.
Notice that Hurley has what I assume to be Charlie’s guitar?? :)
Correct me if I’m wrong… when the Losties were first boarding the original Oceanic flight did Sayid say “Sorry for your loss” (refering to Christian) to Jack at the airport? That whole scene with the new guy just seemed familiar to me.
Ah, I think you’re right, Nikita! I knew that the “sorry for your loss” scene looked familiar — I do believe that it was Sayid who said that to Jack the first time around.
And yes, I did get the impression that the dude who said it is going to be a new character.
Soooo many little details in this show! Ah… love it.
I think Locke is faking it. I think it’s spider poison, ala Nicki and Paolo.
“Especially when a show known for killing the fem,ale characters in rather nasty ways,”
Er, what death on Lost hasn’t been in a “nasty way”? I don’t see the women dying in uniquely cruel ways while the males are dying gently in their sleep. If you die on Lost? It was most likely painful and involved suffering.
i had this thing tivoed and finally watched it last night.
does anyone else notice that whenever it’s a bad episode, kate kisses someone?
i’m totally serious, go through and think about what your least favorite lost episodes were and i can pretty much guarantee that there was some point where the writers decided to have her kiss either sawyer or jack just liven things up or something.
this was one of the worst ever, IMO. i’m worried that they’re headed down the path we’re everything is predetermined for them, and that means uncharacteristic behavior and illogical scenarios can be explained away by the island’s mystical properties.
i’m worried now.
Hey, that “sorry for your loss” (it’s actually “my condolences”), is he or is he not the Iraqi fellow that Sayid was “interrogating”?