Lost Reviews and News

Key Points from "The Glass Ballerina"

Season 3, Episode 2 Episode Air Date: 10/11/06
Point 1
	Well, now we know. Sun is a ho. Granted, that's a tad harsh, but after watching this episode I can now say with no reservations that my initial impression of Jin has shifted a full 180 degrees. Remember way back in season one when Jin came across as a domineering asshole who watched over his sheepish wife like a blood-crazed wolf? Hell, in my very first "Lost" review I referred to Jin as Mr. Control Freak. Now I know better. Jin, I'm sorry. I was wrong. We all were wrong. But enough with my apologies. It's time to recap! Most of the "Lost" conversation during the long summer months revolved around two groups: Jack, Sawyer and Kate (the Other captives) and Locke, Eko and Desmond (the hatch victims). But you'll recall that a third group also played a pivotal role in the season two finale: Sun, Jin and Sayid. When we last saw the trio they had successfully sailed The Elizabeth (Desmond's sailboat) around the island as part of a planned sneak attack on the Others. But, like most Other-driven events, the plan didn't work out as intended. Sayid -- taking "an army of one" a bit too literally -- stormed the Others' beachside camp and discovered it was all an elaborate ruse. Left with little else to do, Sayid built a billowing bonfire to send a signal to Jack, Sawyer, Kate, Hurley and Benedict Michael. Yeah, remember all that? This episode begins with the same bonfire. Sun, Jin and Sayid are all sitting offshore on the sailboat, watching a great blast of black smoke arc high into the air. It's been more than a day since Sayid lit the bonfire, and Jin has wisely concluded that Jack and the crew aren't arriving anytime soon. Jin wants to pull up the anchor and take his wife -- sorry, pregnant wife -- back to the beach camp. Jin relays his wishes to Sun and Sun half-heartedly translates to Sayid. ... but, just as Sun appears to be on the verge of slipping back into her old beat-down persona, she tells Sayid that she will happily help him sail to another locale so he can light a second signal fire. Jin stirs in his anger and wishes he'd shacked up with that hot chick in the orange dress he ogled back in "... And Found." So the sailing adventure continues (sadly, there are no additional three-ton Homer Simpson feet spotted on the shoreline) and the trio eventually drifts into view of the Pala Ferry dock (the same dock where the concluding events of season two occurred). Sayid scopes the area and determines that it's been abandoned for quite some time, which, in Sayid's estimation, means it's safe. Unfortunately for Sun and Jin, Sayid is lying. See, Sayid tells Sun and Jin that he believes a bigger, grander signal fire needs to be built because the first fire may have been obscured by shoreline mountains. It's a load of hooey, but Sayid is an excellent liar and Sun and Jin initially buy into his reasoning. But, you see, Sayid is actually concocting a new ambush plan. He plans to build a massive bonfire to attract the Others, and when they show up he'll launch an attack. Yeah, great plan Sayid. Sun is the first to catch wind of Sayid's lies. She notices that he's erecting a huge bonfire; one that rivals Homecoming Weekend. She asks Sayid about the size of the fire and he launches into his "we need to make sure Jack sees it" excuse. Sun cocks her head and asks Sayid why he's lying to her. Ahh, but Sayid isn't in the mood for debate! "And what would you know of lying, Sun?" Sayid asks, stroking the whiskers in his handlebar mustache. Yes, Sun, what would you know of lying? CUE BACKSTORY SWOOSH! In this episode's backstory segments we discover that Sun -- pretty, quiet, garden-loving Sun -- is a virtuoso liar. In fact, we see the genesis of Sun's lying in the very first backstory moment. The backstory opens with a scene that travels back to Sun's childhood. We see little Sun at 8 or 9 years old, standing in an opulent room in her rich father's grandiose mansion. Sun is playing with a glass ballerina figurine -- a figurine that likely has a street value of $1.5 million. SMASH! The ballerina slams to the floor and cracks into a billion pieces. Little Sun looks on in horror, then turns and runs. Sometime later, little Sun sits by herself at a piano. Her father enters the room carrying a plastic bag filled with the broken bones and toes of the glass ballerina. He asks Sun if she had anything to do with the ballerina's untimely demise. Sun considers the situation, analyzes the various outcomes and potential punishments, and then does what any self-respecting 9-year-old would do. She blames the maid. Her father's face pulses with anger. Sun's dad tells her that if this is the case -- if the maid really is to blame -- then the maid will need to be immediately fired. With this new information made abundantly clear, he again asks Sun if she broke the ballerina. Sun blinks. We're led to believe she's about to unleash the full depths of her little girl cuteness and fess up to the ballerinacide. But that's not what happens at all. "It was the maid," she repeats. Daddy, angry that his little girl is a stone-cold liar, spins on his heel and marches from the room. Little Sun stands alone, happy to finally have that middling maid out of her hair. This pattern of lying follows Sun throughout her life. For example, in additional backstory segments we see/learn: As previously noted, Sun is a ho. I say this with vitriolic conviction because we are presented with clear and undeniable evidence that Sun cheated on Jin. Now, this is a somewhat significant development because in "The Whole Truth" we were led to believe that Sun had an affair with a rich hotel heir (Jae, aka "The Korean Kareem Abdul-Jabbar"), but we never knew if the duo consummated their relationship. Well, now we know because Sun wakes up butt-naked in bed with Jae, and it's not one of those soap-opera "we're naked but we're not lovers" moments (this happens to Sami Brady all the time). Nope. Sun and Jae definitely got it on. Since this is "Lost" and everyone's tragic backstory has to approach mythic levels, Sun's adultery doesn't end with mere guilt. Moments after waking up in bed with her lover, Sun is presented with a gift. Jae has opted to employ the Big Gift Approach as a way to pry Sun out of her marriage, but as Sun gazes upon a strand of pearls (street value: $1.6 million), Sun's guilt wells up and she tells Jae she can't accept the gift. Jin's blind loyalty only extends so far, and Sun wisely realizes that parading around the apartment with a fresh string of pearls is likely to raise Jin's suspicions. Jae protests, telling Sun that her English is now good enough to execute her long-planned escape. Moreover, Jae would like nothing more than to continue honing his own English skills with her in a hard-to-reach English-speaking country with liberal extradition laws. As Sun wonders how the phrase "English skills" became synonymous with "booty call," a hard knock sounds at the door. The pair have shacked up in the fancy-shmancy hotel Jae owns, and he's left instructions to not be disturbed while he's wooing his guilt-ridden lover. Jae, frazzled and angry, throws on a pair of pants just as the door swings open. Sun's father -- bloodthirsty Mr. Paik -- steps into the room. Jae immediately drops his angry demeanor; Mr. Paik is a bad, bad man and Jae knows he's in for a world of hurt. Sun's father rounds a corner and sees his daughter sitting up in bed, covering herself with a sheet. Sun drops her eyes. A puddle of shame forms on the floor below her. Mr. Paik orders Sun to get dressed and then huffs out of the room. Jae and Sun are officially screwed. In normal families, the revelation of adultery would typically instigate therapy and/or divorce. But the Paik family prefers frontier justice. Mr. Paik calls Jin into his office. Jin, you'll recall, has become Mr. Paik's reluctant henchman. It's a simple deal: If Jin wants to be married to Sun, Jin needs to tend to Mr. Paik's dirty work. So Jin comes in and Mr. Paik, ever the sinister slickster, shows Jin a picture of Jae. Paik tells Jin that the man in the picture -- a man Paik doesn't call by name -- has "stolen" from him. Jin asks what he stole, but Paik ignores the question. After months of working under Paik's iron fist, Jin knows better than to press the issue. He tells Paik he'll "send a message," but this angers Paik. The man, Paik says, needs to be eliminated. Jin doesn't like this at all. In his time as an enforcer he's done his fair share of punching, kicking and hair pulling, but he's never killed anyone. Paik has officially crossed the line. Jin rises and says he must quit. He politely bows and prepares to leave, but Paik springs from his desk. Paik has one last trick up his sleeve. As Jin looks on, Paik tells Jin that when he married Sun he became Paik's "son." It's a big moment for the pair; Paik has never embraced Jin like this. Jin is momentarily suspicious, but paternal acceptance from his father-in-law keeps the suspicion from bubbling over. Jin quickly becomes receptive to Paik's overtures. With Jin caught in his web, Paik says the man who stole from him has dishonored the Paik family. And since Jin -- his "son" -- is now part of that dishonored family, it's his job to make sure honor is restored. Jin comes home later that night. Sun is fidgety, but Jin's mind is wrapped in murderous thoughts so he doesn't notice the aura of guilt emanating from Sun's body. Their dinner conversation is tense: Sun: "How was work?" Jin: "Your dad is on my ass again." Sun: "You don't have to do this. We can leave! We can start a new life!" Jin: "Woman, that's crazy talk!" Jin rises. He has no time for fantasy banter. He grabs his jacket and tells Sun he needs to go deliver "a message." The scene cuts to Jin sitting in a UPS truck ... (just kidding). After leaving Sun in the apartment, Jin travels to the fancy-shmancy hotel and tracks down Jae in an empty hallway on one of the hotel's top floors. Jae sees Jin approach, but he's helpless -- the hallway blocks any attempt at escape. Jin charges! He grabs Jae by the scruff of the neck and slams his big bald head into a door. The door gives way. Jin tosses Jae into the room, drawing blood with vicious hooks to Jae's face. Jin pushes his spindly adversary into the living room and Jae's head and torso crack through a glass coffee table. Jae is down for the count. Jin grabs Jae's barely-conscious form and shoves him against the couch. Jae, his head muffled by the pillow, croaks out an apology. "I'm sorry," he says over and over. Jin pushes the pillow hard against Jae's temple and cocks his gun. Jae's muffled weeping seeps from under the throw pillow. And that's when Jin remembers that he's not a murderer. With the pillow still shoved against Jae's head, Jin tells Jae that he needs to leave the country. He needs to "start a new life" (Jin's words, which, in a nice bit of writing parity, were also Jae's words during his naked interlude with Sun). Jin shoves his own head near the bloodied mug of Jae and then offers the obligatory "If I ever see you again ..." threat. With that, Jin leaves as Jae whimpers in the background. Jin makes his way down to the valet area outside the hotel's entrance. He's sweating and his suit is disheveled, but he seems content with his decision to let Jae live. Jin takes a seat behind the wheel of his car. An odd flapping is heard in the background. flap flap Flap Flap FLAP! Jin looks up. BLAM! A body slams into Jin's windshield! Jin jumps from his seat and gawks at the hood of his car. Some loon just did a swan dive from his hotel room! What kind of nut-ball would do ... Ohhhhh Jin recognizes the nut-ball on the hood. Jae jumped! Jae killed himself! As Jin surveys the situation, his eyes move toward Jae's hand. A string of pearls is wrapped around his fingers. Of course, this means nothing to Jin because he's not privy to Sun's infidelity and Jae's gift-giving habits, but to us it signals the conclusion of Sun's infidelity. It's also a cautionary tale for anyone considering a torrid affair with a Korean hotel heir: this is what happens, people. Now you know. In a final backstory segment, Sun puts on her hottest grieving dress and sneaks off to Jae's funeral. It's a lavish affair, full of flowers and oversized murals depicting Jae's placid Kareem-like face. Sun, mindful of Affair Etiquette, stands away from the crowd in the area set aside for "Grieving Hookers & Secret Lovers." "You shouldn't be here," a man growls. Sun, spooked, whips around. It's her father, and he's come to the funeral to once again express his extreme disappointment in his daughter. He orders her to go back home to Jin and, presumably, to forget about all this affair business and accept her place as Jin's wife. Sun offers no resistance. With his message delivered, Mr. Paik turns to leave. Sun calls out to him. He stops and slowly turns. With tears welling in her eyes, Sun asks her father if he's going to tell Jin about her Secret Love. "It's not my place to tell," Mr. Paik says. He leaves and Sun revels in another victory. "First the maid, and now Jin! BWAHAHAHAHA!" And with that, the backstory ends. We now return to Island Events. Sayid's pointed question to Sun -- "And what would you know of lying?" -- seems like it's going to lead to a revelatory moment, but it really just dies on the spot. Sayid doesn't want to have a discussion; he wants to build a bonfire. So he asks Sun to continue lying to Jin about the purpose of the fire until he can get it built. After that, Sayid concludes, the die will have been cast and the truth can come out. But yet again, Jin's language skills have been mistaken for retardation. Just because the guy doesn't speak English doesn't mean he's an idiot, people! He notices the massive size of the bonfire and immediately understands that Sayid is plotting an ambush. He charges toward Sayid and demands a gun. Sayid feigns confusion and asks Sun to translate Jin's request (nice try Sayid). Sun says Jin knows what's going on. "He says he understands English better than I think he does," she says. Jin's voice softens as he speaks to Sun. Sun's eyes drop. "He knows I betrayed him," she says. (Is she referring to the bonfire or is there something more to this comment? And why would she bother translating this?) Sayid has no interest in playing Dr. Phil. He grabs a gun tucked into his belt and hands it to Jin. "Now, to use this weapon you need to ..." CLICK! SNAP! CLICK! In one motion Jin unloads the clip, reloads it and locks a bullet in the chamber. Sayid shuts his mouth. Jin tells Sun to get back on the boat because, presumably, it'll be safer (presumably). Sayid agrees that Sun should take cover, but before Sun leaves Sayid tells her there's an extra gun hidden in a tarp in the cabin. Sun, trying to play the part of dutiful wife (a part that's not within her oeuvre), says that if she needs to use that gun, it means her husband is dead and she won't care anymore. Sure Sun. Tell that to Jae. Night falls and Sun goes to the boat. She moves into the cabin and fires up the stove to make tea, but as she does she hears creaking from above. Yaaarg! The Others are storming the boat! She grabs the extra gun and hides. A blonde female Other (her name is Colleen; she appears to be the blonde woman who helped kidnap Walt) creeps into the cabin and looks around. CLICK Sun stands in a doorway with the gun pointed at Colleen. Colleen doesn't flinch. She calmly says she knows Sun isn't a killer. She also knows Sun's name, which is a surprise to Sun but not all that shocking to us because we've already witnessed the Others' uncanny research capabilities (e.g. Juliet's big "Jack Folder"). Colleen, in a measured voice, tells Sun that despite what she thinks -- and despite the fact that Colleen and five other armed Others just snuck onto her boat -- Colleen and her peeps are not the enemy. But, Colleen continues, if Sun plugs her full of holes, the Others will certainly become a formidable foe. (Sidenote: Colleen is full of crap. If the Others aren't the enemy, why did they abduct a platoon of Tailies? Why did Ethan nearly kill Charlie and try to steal Claire's baby? Why did Eko have to kill two attacking Others? Colleen needs to get her facts straight.) Sun keeps the gun aimed at Colleen. Colleen approaches, content with the knowledge that Sun won't shoot. BLAM! Colleen's contentedness was ill advised. Sun drills a shot into Colleen's gut and she falls to the floor. The gunshot sends the Others into a frenzy. A second Other pops into the cabin and takes a pot-shot at Sun, but she darts into the bow compartment. On the shore, Sun and Sayid hear the gunshots and realize they've been duped (again!). The Others fire up the boat's small outboard motor and shove off from the Pala Ferry dock. Sayid and Jin give chase, but the Others blast the dock with gunfire and force Sayid and Jin to dive for cover. In the bow compartment, Sun struggles to unlock a hatch as the boat motors away from the dock. She finally cracks the hatch and pops onto the deck. Quietly, she slides to the side of the boat, but as she does she's spotted by Zeke (or Tom, or whatever you want to call him). Zeke takes aim and fires, but the shot ricochets off the side of the boat. Sun grunts and slides overboard, crashing into the water as the boat pulls away. Jin, thinking Sun is still on the boat, sprints down the dock and dives into the water. With Olympian speed, he swims toward the boat, but the engine kicks in and it sputters beyond his grasp. He pulls up and yelps. It's a scene reminiscent of Walt's abduction at the end of season one. But this time, the captive escapes the Others' grasp. As Jin continues to yelp, Sun splashes nearby and returns his call (they're like dolphins, chattering against the night sky ... or whatever). The pair swim toward each other and embrace. And in the briny depths below, a Dharma shark curses the meal it just ate. "Too bad, they look tasty." Jin and Sun make their way back to the beach and they settle in near Sayid's massive bonfire (at least they'll be warm). Sayid takes this opportunity to apologize for endangering their lives in his wacky plan. He also says that next time Jin speaks up, he'll listen (it's about friggin' time). With his regrets expressed, he tells Sun and Jin to pack up ... they have a long walk back to camp. Right. Good idea, Sayid. Sun and Jin just got out of the water, Sun is shivering, it's the middle of the night, and you decide that this is the best time to walk back to camp?
Point 2
	Remember last week when Ben warned Kate that the next two weeks were going to be "unpleasant"? He wasn't kidding. As this episode begins, Sawyer and Kate are incarcerated in their bear cages. Sawyer has adapted quite nicely to his environment -- he's refined his "food" system and he can now produce fish biscuits and grain whenever he likes. In fact, Kate wakes up to the sound of Sawyer's food success ("Reward! Reward!") and for a brief moment, the two forget about their present predicament. Unfortunately, a day of lounging and fish biscuits is not on the agenda. Shortly after Sawyer claims his food reward, a group of armed Others walks in and orders Sawyer and Kate out of their cages. The group's leader -- Danny Pickett (we finally learn the guy's first name) -- tosses a lunchbox at Sawyer and says he should keep the food handy because he's going to need the energy. Sawyer and Kate are marched to a new location. The group enters a clearing where assorted Others are tilling soil and moving rocks (Is this a construction site? An agriculture project? Are they breaking ground on the long-awaited Others Children's Hospital?). Danny turns to Sawyer and Kate and lays down the ground rules: No talking or you'll get shocked with Danny's shocker gadget. No unapproved breaks, or you'll get shocked. If you touch my stuff, you'll get shocked. Kate, who's still wearing the sundress she was given in "A Tale of Two Cities," looks at Danny incredulously. Manual labor and hot dresses don't mix. Danny scoffs and tells her it's her choice: she can work in the dress or she can take it off. Drool collects on the sides of Sawyer's mouth. Kate opts for a different anti-labor technique. She says she won't work until she sees Jack. Unfortunately, Danny has experience working with unions. He lunges at Sawyer and digs his shocker gadget into Sawyer's chest. Sawyer drops to the ground and convulses as the current slings through him. "That was only a quarter charge," Danny smirks as Kate looks at Sawyer's sputtering body. Sawyer soon recovers from the shock incident and, because there's nothing else to do and nowhere else to go, he and Kate assume their place in the Dharma chain gang. They've been tasked with digging up rocks and moving them in a wheelbarrow. It's rough, back-breaking work, but Sawyer doesn't seem to mind. In fact, he revels in staring at Kate's almost-visible goods as she hacks away at the soil. Danny catches Sawyer mid-ogle and threatens him with the shocker. Sawyer reluctantly returns to work. As Kate digs (and tries to keep her dress from riding up), a small pebble bounces toward her from the nearby treeline. She looks up and sees Alex crouching nearby (reminder: Alex is the teenage girl who helped Claire escape from Evil Ethan; she's also believed to be Rousseau's long-lost daughter). Alex warns Kate to keep working, and as Kate does, Alex asks if she and Sawyer are being held in the cages. Kate confirms Alex's suspicions, but before Kate can ask a question of her own, Alex asks if she's seen a teenaged boy named Carl. You'll recall that Kate never actually encountered Carl; he was hauled off by the Other brigade before Kate was tossed in the bear cage. Alex expresses concern (she and Carl appear to have a "thing" going), but her attention is diverted by the dress Kate is wearing. She tells Kate the dress was originally hers. "But you keep it," Alex says. "It looks better on you." And with that, Alex concludes what may have been the most useless exchange in the history of the show. The day wears on and the work continues. Juliet arrives on-sight to discuss the excavation project with Danny. With his captors' attention diverted, Sawyer seizes the opportunity. He drops his wheelbarrow and marches toward Kate (big no-no). In one swift motion, he grabs the back of Kate's head and pulls her toward him. The two kiss with reckless abandon (really big no-no). The slurping and face sucking draw the Others' attention, prompting Danny and his Other guards to rush in to stop all this kissing business. Sawyer and Kate hear the footsteps approaching, but their tongue bath continues unabated. CRACK! The tongue bath ends when Danny slams the butt of his rifle into Sawyer's head. You'd think that would be the end of it, but Danny doesn't realize that Sawyer's skull is made of high-grade steel. Sawyer momentarily stumbles, but he quickly rises and cracks Danny across the jaw. Other guards rush in, and Sawyer does his best Bruce Lee impersonation, punching and pushing as a circle of attackers rush him. A chubby Other lunges with his own shocker gadget, but Sawyer blocks the advance and swings the shocker back toward the attacker's chest. Click ... Click ... Nothing happens. There's a safety on the shocker! Sawyer hesitates. The chubby Other cracks a mighty blow across Sawyer's chin and he sprawls to the ground. But in a serendipitous turn, Sawyer lands near Danny's discarded rifle. He pops to his feet with the gun cocked. Taking aim, Sawyer tells the assembled damn dirty apes to keep their damn dirty paws off him. "James, put the gun down." Oh. Crap. It's a woman's voice. It's a calm voice. Sawyer spins. Juliet is pointing a gun at Kate's head. Kate purses her lips in disdain (this is the second time she's been used to thwart an Other battle -- Zeke and his cronies pulled the same stunt back in "The Hunting Party"). Sawyer drops the gun. Danny shoves the shocker into Sawyer's chest and delivers a knock-out blow. Later that night, Sawyer and Kate are tossed back into their bear cages. When the Others leave, Kate asks Sawyer why he pulled the kissing stunt. Sawyer, in his typical Sawyer way, tells Kate he just couldn't help himself; she looked mighty fine in that dress. Kate scoffs. Sawyer can see she's not in a flirty mood, so he opts to reveal an underlying motivation for shoving his tongue down Kate's throat. And this is why you've got to love Sawyer. Beyond wanting to get his groove on with Katie, he also kissed her so he could intentionally challenge the guards. He tells Kate that he discovered that two guards are fighters and one has martial arts training. The guards can be beaten, he says, but Juliet is the real threat. "She would have shot you, no problem," Sawyer says. Kate's memory sparks at the mention of Juliet. She asks Sawyer why she called him "James." Sawyer sighs. "'Cause that's my name," he admits. (Sidenote: Was I the only one who completely forgot that Sawyer never told Kate his real name? This was a jarring moment, especially since Sawyer's closest confidant is Kate ... but maybe that closeness is why he never told her.) Sawyer decides to change the subject to something more pleasant. "I noticed something else too," he says with a grin. "You taste like strawberries." Kate cracks a smile. "You taste like fish biscuits," she quips. Kate pauses, then asks Sawyer what they're going to do now. Sawyer says they'll wait until the Others make a mistake. When they do, he says, chest puffed out and hand on his crotch, "we'll put them in their place." It's a lovely idea, but "putting them in their place" requires a high degree of surprise ... and Sawyer doesn't realize that everything he's just said has been monitored. As Sawyer talks, the shot cuts to a bank of old television screens. Sawyer's voice is heard through a speaker and as the shot pulls back, we see Ben sitting in front of the screens, watching Sawyer and Kate converse.

Point 3
	Jack only had two scenes in this episode, but each contained vital Other information. In an early segment, it seems that last week's event have broken Jack. He dutifully sits in the corner of his aquarium cell as Juliet comes in with a bowl of homemade soup. She sets the meal down without incident and then exits the room. Jack remains still. Juliet walks down the outside hallway and knocks on a metal door. Ben opens it. He's both pleased and annoyed at her presence. Juliet is making headway with Jack, which appeals to Ben's diabolical side, but she's also forming a bond with Jack, and Ben's wounded heart has a problem with that. Before the dynamics of the Juliet-Ben relationship can be played out, the pair are interrupted by the appearance of a female Other. It's Colleen (the Other gunned down by Sun later in the episode), and she's got breaking news. She tells Ben that Sayid, Sun and Jin have been spotted ... and they've got a sailboat. Ben is stunned. He didn't realize the castaways had a boat. Juliet is pleased with Ben's surprise -- Mr. Know-it-All-Fancy-Pants isn't as slick as he thinks. Ben ignores Juliet and orders Colleen to dispatch a team to intercept the sailboat. If the boat isn't captured, there's a chance Sayid, Sun and Jin will stumble upon DharmaWorld. "I want that boat," Ben growls. Ben's demand sets off the chain of events that eventually leads to Colleen being shot and the Others stealing the sailboat. For the majority of the episode, Ben and Jack are out of site. But then, at the very end of the show, Ben enters the aquarium cell and takes a seat opposite Jack. As this scene opened, I had no idea that I would soon be watching the Greatest "Lost" Scene Ever. (Note: Yankees fans might want to skip to the next bit ... SUCKAS!) Ben sits down and notes the irony of their situation. Just a week ago, Ben was locked in the hatch armory and it was Jack who stopped by for little visits. Jack remains mute. He doesn't like irony. Ben decides it's time to wipe the slate clean and start over with formal introductions. He rises from the chair and crouches next to Jack, who's sitting in the corner. Ben extends his hand. "Hi. My name is Benjamin Linus, and I've lived on this island all my life." WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA. He's been there forever? It's a jaw-dropping moment, but Jack, the bullheaded ass he is, doesn't pursue it. He stares straight ahead and refuses to shake Ben's hand. Ben seems hurt (the more we see this guy, the clearer his emotional issues become). He curtly stands and calls out for an associate to "bring it in, please." "It" is an old television and a VCR (the exact same A/V equipment stored in every high school in America). The Other associate rolls the TV up to the plexiglass partition. Jack ignores the TV. He asks about Kate and Sawyer. Ben icily says "they're fine" and then refuses to divulge additional information. Jack's anger grows. Ben turns and meets Jack's glare. "I'm going to make this really simple, Jack," Ben says. "If you cooperate, we send you home." Jack takes the bait. He asks what it is that he's supposed to "cooperate" with. Ben stonewalls and ambiguously says Jack's cooperation will be needed "when the time is right." Jack turns his attention to Ben's previous comment; that bit about "home" piques his curiosity. He asks Ben if "home" is where he sent Walt and Michael. "Yes," Ben says as though it's the most obvious thing in the world. Jack laughs. "If you could leave this island, why would you still be here?" Jack asks. Ben answers with a question. "Yes, Jack, why would we be here?" Jack snaps. He accuses Ben of lying. He says the Others are stuck on the island just like the Oceanic castaways. Ben doesn't have time for Jack's hissy fit. He decides to counter Jack's argument with cold, hard facts. In a rapid-fire exchange, Ben says: Oceanic 815 crashed on September 22, 2004. Today is November 29, 2004. The castaways have been on the island for 69 days. The Others have full contact with the outside world. This is how they know that during the 69 days Jack and his cronies have been on the island, the U.S. re-elected George W. Bush, Christopher Reeve died, and the Boston Red Sox won the World Series. Jack laughs heartily. The Red Sox won the World Series? Now he knows Ben is lying. Ben recaps the Red Sox' improbable post-season: The Sox were down three games to the Yankees and then came back to win four straight, and then they marched into the World Series and swept the Cardinals for the title. Jack still doesn't buy it. Ben points a remote control at the TV and the screen sparks to life. The scene that unfolds on the TV is forever etched into the memories of Red Sox fans. Crowd noise booms from the television. Jack looks up. His face drops as he realizes he's watching a baseball game. The scene cuts to the TV. It's the ninth inning of Game 4 of the 2004 World Series. Cardinals shortstop Edgar Renteria is at the plate. Sox closer Keith Foulke pitches. Renteria grounds back to Foulke (I'm getting goosebumps remembering this). Jack gets to his feet. He can't believe what he's seeing. On the screen, Foulke jogs toward first base. To quote long-time Sox broadcaster Joe Castiglione: "Swing and a ground ball, stabbed by Foulke. He has it. He underhands to first ... AND THE BOSTON RED SOX ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS! For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox have won baseball's world championship! Can you believe it!" (Yes, I quoted that from memory and yes, I realize that's not what Joe Buck said in the Fox broadcast of the game. Thank you.) Jack runs to the glass. Ben isn't lying. Ben turns the TV off. Jack hangs his head. And this is when Ben offers Jack the deal of a lifetime. "That's home, Jack. If you listen to me, if you trust me," Ben says. "If you do what I tell you when the time comes, I'll take you there. I will take you home." Jack's eyes dart. It's a tempting offer. It's also the greatest moment in Boston sports history, but I'm guessing that's not what Jack is thinking about. And that's when it ends!

Point 4
	I'll close with a few random questions and observations: As we progress deeper into DharmaWorld, we're starting to learn the names of some of the Others. The roster includes: Ben Linus (aka Henry Gale) Juliet Adam (the unpleasant guy from the book club) Colleen (the woman Sun shot) Danny Pickett (the chain gang warden) Alex (Kate's BFF) Tom (aka Mr. Friendly, aka Zeke) Carl (the kid from the bear cage) Bea (aka Mrs. Klugh, the Ms. Cleo wannabe) Brian (an unseen guy Colleen mentions) Ethan Rom (killed by Charlie) Goodwin (killed by Ana-Lucia) Did I miss any? I wonder how much ABC had to shell out for that clip from the '04 World Series. As you know, that game could not be rebroadcast or retransmitted without the express written consent of Major League Baseball. Speaking of baseball, the inclusion of the World Series footage taps into the connection between Jack and his father. Dr. Daddy used the phrase "And that's why the Red Sox will never win the World Series" when he first met Sawyer in a bar in Sydney ("Outlaws"). In the same episode, Jack's use of the same phrase allowed Sawyer to make the connection between the man he met in the Sydney bar (Jack's father) and Jack. That's it for now. Be sure to drop by our "Lost" Forum for stimulating conversation and conjecture.
Next Episode:
"Further Instructions" -- We finally see if Locke, Eko and Desmond survived the hatch incident (gee, I wonder). Meanwhile, Claire stumbles upon two castaways getting jiggy in Jack's tent. Airs: Wednesday, October 18, 9 p.m., ABC.
Review by Mac Slocum. All photos and episode descriptions © ABC Inc.

Posted by Mac on October 12, 2006 1:40 PM | Email This

Thanks Mac! Great job!

→ 1. Posted by: Mike DEE at October 12, 2006 1:52 PM

Great Review, Mac!
I have an observation. Benry claims that he's lived on this island his whole live, right? And Juliet tells Jack (in ep 1) when he asks if they are what's left-over from Dharma that "that was a long time ago" (granted, this does not confirm or deny their affiliation with Dharma, but gives the impression that these people are post-Dharma). Yet in the Orientation videos we've seen (for the Swan and Pearl) were copy-righted 1980. Is it me, or do these time-frames not add up?

Benry is obviously older than 24 (1980 to 2004), therefore must have been on the island well before the Dharma videos were made, while it's possible that Dharma was on the island for some time before the videos were made, it seems unlikely that it would be 15 years (I would estimate Benry at 40ish, am I way off?). Could Benry have accelerated growth (we've heard this before)? Probably not, seeing as he has the maturity and demeanor of a 40-year-old, as well as the appearance of one. Is he totally unaffiliated with Dharma, and if that is so, how did he end up on the island and what is his connection to the rest of the "others", are they Dharma leftovers or not?

The other people doing slave-labor with Kate and Sawyer... where did they come from (other boat/balloon/plane crash victims, maybe 'bad' others, being punished)? Who is Carl and why does Alex care what happened to him?

And speaking of Alex, how is it that Rousseau, in her 16 years on the island, never stumbles across the Others Village? Or is it possible that she is somehow involved with them?

If the Others didn't know about the sailboat, does that mean they don't know about Desmond and Kelvin and the Button? They're obviously familiar with Dharma, (whether they are related or not) do they have knowledge of the other hatches that we've seen?

Has anyone else noticed how Juliet seems to be everywhere? In the first episode we go from seeing her in the Hydra with Jack to being in the Jungle just in time to shock Sawyer, in this episode she goes from the Hydra to the work-area where Kate and Sawyer are, back to the Hydra rather quickly... are we supposed to assume that time has elapsed and the distance between these things isn't far, or should we be noting the fact that there's either more than one of her, or she moves abnormally fast?

I also just have to mention how excited I was to see Trixie (Paula Malcomson who played Colleen, she previously starred in HBO's Deadwood)! I had no idea she was going to be on the show! I wonder if she'd survive being shot by Sun... I wonder if Jack's medical expertise may have something to do with her survival/demise...

I have to admit, I'm annoyed we haven't seen anything about the Beach Losties yet, but overall, another fabulous episode!
Anyway, I know this is a lot, but I thought I'd bring up my observations. Can't wait til next week- I just know these 6 episodes are going to go by too fast.
WGNABB

→ 2. Posted by: sarah at October 12, 2006 1:58 PM

Excellent review Mac. I'm thinking the baby is Jae's...

→ 3. Posted by: Ronny B at October 12, 2006 2:05 PM

Ben said that the next 2 weeks are going to be hell... what happens after that? They go to Disney?

→ 4. Posted by: Rachel at October 12, 2006 2:08 PM

Thanks for all the hard work Mac. I was a little disappointed with last nights episode, I guess I just want more answers than more questions. And when are the good guys gouing to win another round? They are getting their a$$' kicked just about every time.

I do hope Sayid starts putting a little faith in other people, he is going to need them.

→ 5. Posted by: Gerard at October 12, 2006 2:15 PM

I'm not completely convinced that Korean Kareem and Sun consummated their relationship, it wasn't clear in the dialogue. If they did, the identity of the unborn baby's father is still up for grabs.

→ 6. Posted by: barry at October 12, 2006 2:15 PM

Ok, I have not even finished reading the recap yet, but there are somethings from last nights episode that are really bothering me.

Why would Sayid assume that the others would come from the island side. They all know that they have access to a ship as the raft (that Jin was on by the way) was assailed by another ship. So assuming that they would come from the land was a dumb mistake on both their parts. Shame on you Sayid and Jin!

Sun definitley knows that Jin was/is her daddy's heavy. So why wouldn't she tell Sayid that when he is making the capture plan? maybe because, I agree completely with Mac that Sun is a lying whore. So, would the others consider her a "good" one or a "bad" one. Or would it even matter to them since she is pregnant?

There was lots of good too, like I enjoyed the continuity that Benry gave us when he filled Jack in on current events. Even if I wasn't ecstatic to see the Red Sox win again (sorry Mac).

Sawyer is thoroughly taking advantage of his hostage status by trying to find out as much as he can about their captors even if it means he keeps getting tazered. Too bad Kate seems like so much of a wet noodle these days. Either she had something REALLY bad happen to her after her Breakfast on the beach with Benry (should be a movie title), or she has decided that it would be better to live on this island with these people rather think about going back home to jail. Could she have become a turncoat?

Hmmmmm...many things to ponder...

→ 7. Posted by: chimowicz at October 12, 2006 2:19 PM

Great review Mac, you have some classic lines such as, The scene cuts to Jin sitting in a UPS truck

→ 8. Posted by: DMB at October 12, 2006 2:21 PM

Awesome connection with the red sox and jack's dad. I had forgetten about that. It made the moment better.

Was I the only person who found the "real life" events mentioned by Benry a little jarring? Because the entire show seems so sci-fi/fantasy/not of this world/parallel universe-like, having the real events a part of the plot line seemed to shake me out of my lost world.

Maybe it's just me.

→ 9. Posted by: Leila at October 12, 2006 2:25 PM

hottest grieving dress indeed! Wow!

Sun, mindful of Affair Etiquette, stands away from the crowd in the area set aside for "Grieving Hookers & Secret Lovers."

Priceless!

→ 10. Posted by: Drew at October 12, 2006 2:25 PM

"they're like dolphins, chattering against the night sky ..."....hysterical, Mac...

A few questions:
-When did we learn that Danny's last name was Pickett?
-Will Sun have to pay for killing Colleen? Is Colleen dead?

Sarah, I agree with you about the time frame seeming off. The "I have been here my whole life" comment a la Benry didn't sit right with me either....Maybe this is a clue: As someone else posted in last week's episode forum, if you google "Benjamin Linus", you will find a link to Hanso Adoptions page at the top of the google page. Could Benry be adopted? I am not sure how this would answer the question of his existence on the island and just how long he has been there, but maybe it is a clue?

I wondered how the Others couldn't know about the boat as well. They seem to be able to monitor just about everything else, both visually and auditorily (I think they have cameras in the hatch....would this mean they knew about Desmond and Kelvin?), so how could a giant, pristine sailboat go unnoticed?

And, Mac, you are correct again...the last scene with Jack and Benry could quite possibly be the greatest Lost scene ever. I got chills watching it...

→ 11. Posted by: Vikki at October 12, 2006 2:29 PM

Nice nod to the movie Cool Hand Luke, with Sawyer throwing out a "Yes Boss!", every time he was yelled at.

I also loved the scene where Jin is yelling "Do you know why I'm here!" Oh my yes Jin, HE knows, but you don't!

What a show, it's taking three episodes just to get us 'back up to speed' with all the various players! Want to bet that Sayid and crew catch up to Hurley before he makes it back?

"Dude. It's a really long walk." :)

→ 12. Posted by: The Duf at October 12, 2006 2:37 PM

Mac, I figured you to be pleased with Ben's taste in videos, for obvious reasons. Don't lose sight of the symbolic level on which that operates, though. That line about "that's why the Red Sox will never win the World Series" was more than a simple plot device allowing Sawyer to connect Jack and his father. It was a summation of/proxy for a fatalistic world view that Jack took from his dad, in his own self-conflicted, Oedipal-complex way.

That world view has been figuratively challenged for weeks, primarily by Locke, on a philosophical plane. Now, the clever summation of Jack's fatalism has been rebuked in a completely literal fashion. Sitting in a sensory-deprivation prison cell at the bottom of the world, Jack has been robbed of his last point of mental refuge. He's got no defenses left.

→ 13. Posted by: Deep Cover at October 12, 2006 2:37 PM

Finally finished the review. Great job Mac, as always. I am not sure if I should be tickled or worried that you are a Days fan too....

→ 14. Posted by: chimowicz at October 12, 2006 2:40 PM

I see no reason to believe Benry is telling the truth when he says he's lived on the island his whole life. We've also been given plenty of reason to beleive (i.e. their up-to-date audio equipment) that even if that's true, he gets off the island from time to time to visit the malls, or at least a Best Buy and a Gap.

→ 15. Posted by: Deep Cover at October 12, 2006 2:44 PM

One, seemingly irrelevant question, but it's been bugging me since last night. Mac, you said then the Sox came back and won four straight, but I really, really thought Benry said "eight" straight. I even went back and rewatched, and am fairly certain he said 8. I commented at the time that was weird, since obviously it's the best out of 7. Was this a clue that Benry really is out of touch with the real world and baseball protocol, or did I mis-hear?

→ 16. Posted by: hookedonlost at October 12, 2006 2:47 PM

I agree with Deep Cover. Now that they have torn Jack down, what will they try to write on the clean slate? I would be willing to bet Colleen may not be dead, a gutshot is not always immediately fatal, so she could have simply collapsed from shock.

There may be doctors there, but are they surgeons of Jack's caliber? Hmm...

If Dr. Jack fixes her up... then Benry can begin to use this, especially if he does something like, oh, I don't know, tape the whole surgery and show it to Jack's friends as proof he is now on "their side"?

→ 17. Posted by: The Duf at October 12, 2006 2:47 PM

To hookedonlost: 8 straight is correct, you just have to add the TOTAL games, it was 4 -vs- the Yanks and then the 4 game sweep.

→ 18. Posted by: The Duf at October 12, 2006 2:50 PM

Anybody else get the sense Jae was had some help off the balcony?

→ 19. Posted by: debbie at October 12, 2006 2:54 PM

@debbie

That thought occurred to me, but only Kareem and Sun knew about the necklace, so nobody but Kareem would have intertwined it in his own fingers prior to his last skyhook. I don't think daddy's henchmen would have given him time to create that symbolism before shoving him into the sweet bye and bye. It's a statement that he checked himself out of the hotel.

→ 20. Posted by: Deep Cover at October 12, 2006 3:00 PM

Walt's step dad was Brian. Wanna bet it is the same Brian? They don't repeat names on this show. That may also explain how the Others knew of Walt's gifts.

It is not clear that Jae and Sun consummated the affair. It seems that she told him to stop and he is still wearing pants.

→ 21. Posted by: boharpe at October 12, 2006 3:05 PM

The Red Sox DID win 8 games in a row, 4 against the Yankees and 4 against the Cardinals

→ 22. Posted by: barry at October 12, 2006 3:05 PM

The Red Sox DID win 8 games in a row, 4 against the Yankees and 4 against the Cardinals

→ 23. Posted by: barry at October 12, 2006 3:05 PM

The Duf -

Thanks for setting me straight. I got so caught up with the Yankees part of it, and forgot about the sweep afterward. DUH!

Thanks!

→ 24. Posted by: hookedonlost at October 12, 2006 3:07 PM

@DC

"Lask Skyhook." Now THAT'S funny! -- mac

→ 25. Posted by: mac at October 12, 2006 3:17 PM

Kate knew that "Sawyer" wasn't the real name of his friend. In season 1, she read the letter Sawyer wrote to the "real Sawyer" and the the post stamp dated 1973 made her realized that the letter wasn't adressed to him. He was the one who wrote the letter and than he has decided to call himself that name. But it's true that Kate had never heard someone called Sawyer by his real name; James. But she souldn't be surprised by that.

Excuse me if my english is not perfect, I'm living in Quebec and my first language is french.

→ 26. Posted by: Perdus100lost at October 12, 2006 3:18 PM

I don't think Sun & Kareem actually did much of anything. Didn't she say stop I can't do this? And when her father knocked on the door Jae jumped up w/ his pants on.

Also, during the conversation between Alex & Kate, Alex said somthing like "they weren't supposed to use those cages" or "he wasn't supposed to be in that cage". Something like that, (sorry, no TiVo) did anyone else catch that and what do you suppose it means. I think Alex will eventually try to help the Losties.

And why does Sawyer have food in his cage and not Kate.

Just some thoughts, great recap Mac!!!!

→ 27. Posted by: DB IN BC at October 12, 2006 3:26 PM

Great review Mac. Alex is Kate BFF, nice.

Nice eye candy from Kate and Sun. I hope, for his sake, that those taser things don't make Sawyer impotent.

It seemed like Alex was in hiding? Are she and Carl in trouble with the others? For what?

Was wondering when he said it, if Benry meant by "I've been on this island my whole life", if it's some sort of born again through Dharma situation. Maybe evrybody who is now a lostie has "lived on the island their whole life".

-Chappy

→ 28. Posted by: Chappy at October 12, 2006 3:26 PM

I still think that Jae had some help in diving. Maybe he was holding the pearls when whoever it was came in and pushed him off. He's there holding them, being all sentimental, and then bam!

→ 29. Posted by: smallaxe0217 at October 12, 2006 3:31 PM

Maybe it was Sun (wearing the pearls) who actually pushed him off the deck. She might have been wearing them and tried to grab at them to prevent his fall. She could have come in all flirty and said something along the lines of I want to be with you and then pushed him. I kind of think of that being a link to the falling ballerina in the opening scene.

→ 30. Posted by: impulse6 at October 12, 2006 3:36 PM

I think Jin/Sun join the list of end of backstory people. Is there anything more that could be discovered about these two that would help? I think Jack, Rose/Bernard, and maybe Charlie are on that list along with anyone who is dead (except Libby).

→ 31. Posted by: PiecesofArzt at October 12, 2006 3:37 PM

Thanks Mac, I manage one from time to time. ;-)

I was contemplating your point about Benry's irritation with Jack passing the boundary into displaying 'issues' of his own. I definately think you're onto something there. The writers are definately about the business of painting Benry as an obsessive and a control freak, with probable delusions of grandure. Will we find out at the end that he's Scaramanga's long lost son? Will the next underground complex the losties discover be a lavish '60s art deco pad, complete with basement funhouse? Stay tuned.

Benry has an interesting passive-agressive style, though. When Colleen got the drop on him about the boat and looked too self-pleased about it, he (i) reminded her who was boss by barking out the orders, then (ii) hit her with the falsely self-effacing 'then don't waste time talking to me' line. Translation: If you're so clever to know this, why do you need my orders and permission to do something about it? Oh yeah, cause I'M THE BOSS!

Way back when, he sneered at the books Locke brought him with "What, no Steven King?" And what did we find out later? Interesting mental connection Benry makes there between Locke and Juliette. Apparently, they're both opponents in his personal mental chess games that he means to psych out by, inter alia, denigrating their taste in books.

The staring at the bank of monitors thing was striaght out of the Bond villain shot-framing handbook. If he starts wearing a grey nehru jacket and stroking a cat, we're all in trouble.

→ 32. Posted by: Deep Cover at October 12, 2006 3:38 PM

OK, I loved the Red Sox Stuff, but am I the only one who is getting annoyed with the dragging out of the others backstory? Jack was finally starting to talk like a normal person when Benry sprung the sports update on him. Enough with the double talk and pointless moving of rocks from one place to another, enough with the Ape City Zoo.

and yes I realize that if they tell us everything there would be no show. but it is getting preposterous.

I have to say that Juliet is a beautiful woman. hard to picture her getting busy with Benry the Weasel King. Small Island I guess.

→ 33. Posted by: DanLostinboston at October 12, 2006 3:42 PM

hookedonlost, I am wondering how irrelevant your observation actually is. These writers don't usually make a mistake like this. Perhaps I don't know enough about baseball, but Ben says "they were down by three and they won 8 straight". It could mean he doesn't really know what he is talking about. He also doesn't seem to understand why Jack is laughing when he tells him that the Red Sox won the series.

→ 34. Posted by: ipaintem at October 12, 2006 3:43 PM

As someone who watched every second of every game of the 2004 playoffs, I can vouch for the writers. The Red Sox did win 8 straight games (Games 4-7 of the ALCS and Games 1-4 of the World Series). I clarified things a bit in the recap because "8 straight," while correct, does seem a little jarring. -- mac

→ 35. Posted by: mac at October 12, 2006 3:45 PM

Anyone see the fake CIA commercial? A hint that the "others" are CIA?

→ 36. Posted by: Darryl at October 12, 2006 3:48 PM

@Hooked:

Benry did say that they won eight, but the line went, "They were down three games to the Yankees in the ALCS and then came back to win eight straight. . ." That is exactly what happened, the Sox swept the yankees on the back end of the ALCS and then went on to sweep the Cardinals, so yes they did win 8 strainght.

→ 37. Posted by: Mr. Grimm at October 12, 2006 3:50 PM

How stupid is Sayid? For a guy with military training, he's thinking one-sided. They know the Others have a boat (as that's how they kidnapped Walt), so wouldn't it be wise to say that the Others may come by water than through the forest?

Is that one bonfire by land, two if by sea? Geez. Think, man, think!

I agree with boharpe - it's not clear whether Jae and Sun consummated their relationship. Probably, but possibly not. Her comment was that she couldn't go on like this anymore. Perhaps they were about to do it, but didn't. If they did, that baby is probably his. If the kid turns out to be six feet tall and plays basketball - then we'll know.

And did Jae commit suicide? Or was he thrown out of the hotel window (maybe by that other assassin that shadowed Jin to show him how to do his job) Most skyrise hotel windows are sealed shut - so he'd have to be THROWN OUT, right?

MLB footage - ABC probably has a deal with them. They license to Disney and do deals with them all the time. That footage still probably cost them at least $10K, if not more (which is still CHEAP)

→ 38. Posted by: C. at October 12, 2006 3:51 PM

My bad, it's $12K per minute...

→ 39. Posted by: C. at October 12, 2006 3:56 PM

There's a subtle context not being considered, I think, about Jae's death. Does Sun believe that Jin killed him? After all, he went to "deliver the message", and then Jae was dead. No doubt Sun's father was very pleased that Jin did what he really wanted, even though (as far as we know) Jae made the decision to jump.

Even when you get an answer... there's still a question that remains.

→ 40. Posted by: The Duf at October 12, 2006 4:00 PM

Duf:

Very good points.

I believe Sun probably thought that Jin killed Jae. The question is, does Sun's father believe that Jin killed Jae? If not, is that why Jin suddenly made the decision to go to the U.S. and run away from Sun's father and start a new life away from Korea, which ultimately landed them on the island?

→ 41. Posted by: Dudelost at October 12, 2006 4:14 PM

Hooked--

The Sox did win 8 straight......four from the Yankees and 4 from the cards

→ 42. Posted by: Hey, Hooked on lost! at October 12, 2006 4:15 PM

Coming to Sayid's defense, just a bit.

Unless I missed something, the others who grabbed the boat didn't arrive in their own boat. They apparently managed to snatch the losties' boat by invoking the Sergio Leone rule of sneaking up on someone: if you're out of the camera frame, you can't be seen, regardless of how open the terrain may be.

Ebert has a great take on this aspect of Leone's direction in his review of "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly":

"A vast empty Western landscape. The camera pans across it. Then the shot slides onto a sunburned, desperate face. The long shot has become a closeup without a cut, revealing that the landscape was not empty but occupied by a desperado very close to us.

In these opening frames, Sergio Leone established a rule that he follows throughout "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." The rule is that the ability to see is limited by the sides of the frame. At important moments in the film, what the camera cannot see, the characters cannot see, and that gives Leone the freedom to surprise us with entrances that cannot be explained by the practical geography of his shots.

There is a moment, for example, when men do not notice a vast encampment of the Union Army until they stumble upon it. And a moment in a cemetery when a man materializes out of thin air even though he should have been visible for a mile. And the way men walk down a street in full view and nobody is able to shoot them, maybe because they are not in the same frame with them."

More than one episode of "Lost" relies on the Leone camera frame view rule for its own logic.

→ 43. Posted by: Deep Cover at October 12, 2006 4:16 PM

I also wonder if Sayid is somehow aligned with "the others," and that he tipped Jack on Michael and beat Benry more than others to "hide" his role. Seems like he has blown a lot of "opportunties" for them when these kinds of situations, possible confrontations with "the others" come up. Maybe Rousseau did something to him when he was captured back in S1?

→ 44. Posted by: Dudelost at October 12, 2006 4:18 PM

I think what prevents the island from being seen from space is its electromagnetic properties. I think that there is a way of escaping this electromagnetic field much like a space shuttle leaves the Earth's gravitational force and its orbit around the sun. The Others probably know how to escape the magnetic field since Ben told Michael how to find rescue.

→ 45. Posted by: Mr. Cube at October 12, 2006 4:18 PM

Was anyone able to see what the screens Ben was looking at showed? I saw the ones for Jack, Sawyer and Kate...but could not glimpse the others. Was anyone able to freeze it?

→ 46. Posted by: Rvjack at October 12, 2006 4:22 PM

To everyone who wonders if Colleen is dead, and if Jack will be the one to treat her, I found this on SpoilerFix:
Episode 3.04: Every Man For Himself: "Jack must scrub up to save an Other's life"
So this may be Colleen.

→ 47. Posted by: Christina at October 12, 2006 4:27 PM

Dudelost -

I do think that Sun's father believes Jin killed Jae. After that, he probably started giving Jin "more of the same", thinking hell, the guy is a killer, what's a few more? Not like Jin would speak up about it, in fact he probably "get's credit" for it, and his conscience is clear on the actual death, so where's the harm in taking responsibility for a man you didn't have to kill. At first, it probably felt to Jin like it had worked out for him, (twisted, but think about it) but THEN came "Ok, go kill these two, and this guy, and oh, they overstarched my shirts, so burn this laundry too..."

It was at that point perhaps that Jin realized, I have to escape my role of "murderer", before I really DO have to kill someone. Jin's knowledge of a gun and his capacity for violence are obvious, but at heart, he's not a killer, at least in my view.

→ 48. Posted by: The Duf at October 12, 2006 4:29 PM

Great recap again Mac, you've got skills brother!

I just thought I'd point out that when Jin found out about Sun's pregnancy back in The Whole Truth, Sun told him she hadn't been with anyone else. I got the impression she really did make Jae the 2nd luckiest man in the world! Was that ANOTHER of her lies?

That was a rhetorical question. I am much more plagued by the following questions:

How the hell are the producers going to explain the back stories?

How did Penny Widmore know that Desmond could be located by a polar station detecting electromagnetic anomalies?

How did the electromagnet bring down flight 815? When Locke didn't press the button at the end of Season 2 the countdown timer was crushed by the magnetism. Therefore why was the hatch found in perfect conditon shortly after it had apparantly pulled an AIRCRAFT from the sky?

Any ideas?

→ 49. Posted by: Catface at October 12, 2006 4:29 PM

→ 50. Posted by: Mr. Cube at October 12, 2006 4:29 PM

CORRECTION - How the hell are the producers going to explain the back story connections?

→ 51. Posted by: Catface at October 12, 2006 4:32 PM

How is it possible that The Others didn't know anything about 'the Elisabeth'? It seemed to me that Benry was completely shocked when Colleen told him. Perhaps they know nothing about Desmond, perhaps that's why he wasn't allowed to get out of the hatch. But then, what about the cameras in The Pearl??

A funny thing is that last week we all started to hate I'm-laughing-as-I'm-leaving Sarah and now it's the same with our pregnant liar. Curious. We all like Juliet, don't we??

Mac, great job. Suppose that final scene is just a gift from the writers for a such a good blog!!

WGNABB & Namaste

→ 52. Posted by: Mj at October 12, 2006 4:38 PM

In Sayid's defense

"How stupid is Sayid? For a guy with military training, he's thinking one-sided. They know the Others have a boat (as that's how they kidnapped Walt), so wouldn't it be wise to say that the Others may come by water than through the forest"

- didn't they give the boat to Michael and Walt to escape.

Also, what about the interaction between Ben, Juliet and Colleen. It seemed like a little love triangle or something. It appears that Ben used to be with Juliet, but is now with Coleen. Didn't Coleen make some snide remark to Juliet?

→ 53. Posted by: Charlie Salinger at October 12, 2006 4:40 PM

Charlie Salinger - They did give Michael a boat but Sayid wouldn't know as he wasn't there.

I do agree, Sayid should have known better. In one of the 1st episodes, didn't someone get killed on the beach and Sayid is the one who said they came in from the water.

→ 54. Posted by: DB IN BC at October 12, 2006 4:44 PM

@Charlie Salinger-

I also got the impression that there is now something going on between Ben and Colleen. I think she said, "Am I interrupting something". Also, I'm not sure of the details of this, we see (and Sawyer stares at) two others kissing? on the way to his work detail. Is that right? If it is, I thought it was Colleen and Danny, then at the work camp it almost seemed as though Danny and Juliet were flirting right before Juliet gave Sawyer her canteen. Did anyone else see that?

→ 55. Posted by: Amy at October 12, 2006 4:46 PM

Mac:

Great job as always. Your writing skills are still sharp as ever, even after a whole summer off. Ever consider putting your re-caps together as a compilation? Maybe writing a book on the Lost series? Anyway . . . .

I loved last night's ep. Now we know that even sweet, innocent looking Sun has a dark side. As for the baby being Jae's, we won't know for sure until we nail down the timeline between his death and their trip. He could have taken the dive 1 week before the crash of Oceanic 815, or 6 months before. So until we know for sure how much time had passed we'll just be grasping at straws.

Someone had mentioned that Colleen and Pickett were a couple because they shared a kiss, and then someone else mentioned that Colleen, Juliet, and Ben shared a tense moment (love triangle). I think Colleen is Ben's current love interest, her kiss with Pickett was more fraternal than romantic. All cheek, no lip.

→ 56. Posted by: Mr. Grimm at October 12, 2006 4:48 PM

Mac - great review. Love your snarky sense of humor.

I had a feeling Jin was going to spare Jae's life, and risk Sun's father's anger. When Jae fell on the hood of Jin's car, and Jin slowly looked up, I totally expected to see Sun up there giving him a thumbs up -- like, "I truly do love you, and here's the proof, and I couldn't take it if my father punished you for not killing Jae." But, I don't think, truly, Sun had time to get there... Also, I do think Sun is pregnant by Jae; that means there is no island "miracle" pregnancy with sterile Jin.

It did seem stupid for Sayid and Jin to send Sun to the boat, as they all know Walt was kidnapped by others on a motor boat.

I was glad to see Sun shoot Colleen. For crying out loud "We're not the enemy" Yeah, right. So, that's why you're standing on my boat with 5 armed men. Sure. I get so sick of Benry and Juliet saying "We're the good guys". Hello! If they're the good guys (with their tasers, guns, beating people up, caging people like animals) then I'd hate to see the bad guys.

It seemed clear that Ben and Juliet are ex's, with the soup comment. Maybe creepy Ben's got his eye's on Kate. And while he said he'd lived his whole life on the island, he said he'd take Jack home, so he's comfortable leaving the island.

Kate and her dress... I wish Kate had gotten into a fight, instead of Sawyer. Just because you're wearing silk, doesn't mean you can't kick some ass.

Was there really a CIA commercial?

What is is that Benry wants Jack to do? Does it have anything to do with the fact he's a doctor? And that the others are always taking blood from people?

Sorry so long...

→ 57. Posted by: lost chao at October 12, 2006 4:51 PM

Okay, has anyone talked about the kiss that Danny and Colleen shared at the excavation site before Colleen left to get the boat? Sawyer saw the kiss and gave Danny a big goofy grin. What Iâ€™m wondering is what kind of mood do you think Danny is going to be in after he finds out that Colleen has been shot. Is he going to make Sawyer and Kate work double-time?

→ 58. Posted by: Heater at October 12, 2006 4:51 PM

And let's not forget the cable Sayid followed from the beach. Where does it end up when you go the other way? If it is acting as an 'extension cord' for crazy French chicks to steal power, (so we've assumed) what is it stealing FROM.

→ 59. Posted by: The Duf at October 12, 2006 4:52 PM

Jack has been one of my favorite characters from the very beginning, if for no other reason that he is a professional (doctor) person that others (not "Others")look up to, and a person who commanded respect because of his status. Not that he asked to be considered a leader, but he handled it well for the most part.

But he is grating on my last nerve any more ... he acts like he hasn't a clue. You'd think he'd be a little more sensible about his situation. I mean let's face it - with the way things stand right now, it is going to take an act of Congress to free Jack, Kate and Sawyer, and to help any of the "Losties" for that matter. The "Others" seem to have every advantage there is.

When the greatest scene unfolded, I was awed that Benry stood up and introduced himself. I put myself in Jacks' shoes, and I must say that I'd have extended my hand - I mean what the hell did he have to lose? Surely he realizes that Benry can make things extremely difficult for him. Jack seems to have become somewhat of a fool - refusing food, trying in vain to unchain himself, curling up in a corner, and now refusing to even try to see where Benry is coming from. I still like him but he needs to change his way of thinking.

Kate was hot! Reminded me of the "washing the car" scene in Cool Hand Luke when all the chain gang guys were oogling the blonde haired girl.
Sawyer is the coolest person on the show, although Juliet is a close second.

→ 60. Posted by: ButchM at October 12, 2006 4:53 PM

One thing I haven't seen anyone mention yet was, in my opinion, one of the funniest moments in last night's show. When the other tells Kate that it is her decision whether or not she wants to wear the dress, Sawyer kind of smirks, Kate glares at him, then Sawyer looks at the other and says, "HEY!", like he's trying to defend her. It was just so out of character for him and seemed so forced that I had to laugh.

→ 61. Posted by: Amy at October 12, 2006 4:56 PM

Awesome review! But doesn't anyone else remember that we know Ms. Klugh's name? Tom called her "Bee".

→ 62. Posted by: Danny G at October 12, 2006 4:59 PM

>Mac Sez: As previously noted, Sun is a ho. I say this with vitriolic conviction because we are presented with clear and undeniable evidence that Sun cheated on Jin.

Just a sec' here, Mac. I'm only recollecting from memory of one viewing, but was there incontrovertible evidence that Sun's dalliance with the hotel heir was during her marraige?

I got the impression (admittedly with no evidence, either), that the "Sun in bed with the slim-jim" episode might have happened some time earlier - pre-marriage - and that daddy's shame was of his unwed daughter in bed with a man. (Also there semed to be some superior/subordinate relationship between daddy and slim-jim.)

Then daddy pressured his new hit-man son-in-law to avenge the stain on the family escutcheon sometime later, after the marriage.

Anybody notice any evidence one way or the other?

→ 63. Posted by: Cecil Rose at October 12, 2006 5:02 PM

Benry says he's been on the island his entire life and I'm inclined to believe him in this case.

Is it possible that the Dharma Project is based on seclusion? So much so that they would set up an ongoing "sustainance" air drop where they would deliver food on a regular basis regardless of communication. If the project needed to be isolated there would be no communication possible - so they wouldn't know if something bad happened.

This brings me to Benry. Is it possible that Benry and maybe some of the Others were either part of the project or maybe the subjects that the project was studying (or working on/with)? Perhaps they staged a revolt and overthrew the people who ran Dharma - sometime after the training video and, most likely, after Desmond killed the antagonist from Carnivale (i.e. bearded hatch man and Desert Storm guy).

This framework would enable Benry to have lived his entire life on the island (maybe born into the Dharma project somehow?) while becoming a leader. Maybe his parents were part of Dharma or were stranded back in the 50's? This paradigm would also explain the equipment they have - the CDs, the TV, etc. Maybe part of the airlift thing is that they deliver up-to-date equipment as it becomes available?

My point is that there are ways they can appear to be "connected" to the outside world without actually being connected. In the context of the survivors inprisonment on the island, this is a very powerful concept.

I don't think anything we've heard shows that they actually can get off the island and find their way "home". Everything Benry cited could have been discovered by watching tv.

Also, the information on the castaways could also have been airdropped. Maybe that's how the Dharma Project gets its "subjects"? The leadership knows about the plane crash and airdrops dossiers on all the passengers so the Dharma people can do their work. If the goal of the project is to create this utopian society wouldn't they want to be isolated from the ills of the rest of the world? Wouldn't that keep their idealistic goals from being "contaminated"?

I'm just not buying the fact that they can get off the island any time they wish. Just not buying it.

Also... is it possible that Benry wants the sailboat for reasons that don't have to do with keeping the castaways on the island? Could he want it because it is the only vessel that could conceivably sail long distances without refueling? The ferry they have could conceivably be range limited thus making an exploratory mission infeasible. The sailboat Desmond used to "sail around the world" would be a perfect way to find their way off the island if they could.

In this paradigm, the Dharma people might purposefully short-change them on fuel for their boat so they can't get homesick and leave.

I'm probably as far off as possible... but that's what my mind makes out of all of this stuff.

→ 64. Posted by: Stefan at October 12, 2006 5:05 PM

Cecil - Sun didn't start English lessons until after her marriage right. In the bedroom scene, Jae told Sun her English was almost as good as his.

→ 65. Posted by: DB IN BC at October 12, 2006 5:06 PM

They were married. When Jin mentions that he talked to her father today, Sun is terrfied that her father told him the truth. The timing of the events is no coincidence, they all happened on the same day. The funeral was the next day or two, but that's about it.

→ 66. Posted by: The Duf at October 12, 2006 5:07 PM

Maybe Benry was part of the Dharma project when he was a child and that the studies they do are on animals AND children. Could this explain why they are so interested in capturing children? It could explain, or at least confirm that Benry has been on the island his whole life. Maybe as he grew up he "took advantage" of the Dharma worker's weaknesses and overthrew them and created his own society. Maybe he's trying to recruit Jack, Sawyer, and Kate to take over for himself, Colleen, and Tom so they can get off the island. Maybe "big brother" is watching them and Benry thinks if those three replace him and his two friends that "big brother" won't notice the difference, but they need children to appease Dharma into believing they are still doing the testing....

Who knows! LOL :)

→ 67. Posted by: Dudelost at October 12, 2006 5:12 PM

When Colleen told Benry about that the Losties had a boat, didn't Juliet say "good, then they can sail around in circles" Maybe that indicates the others have tried to leave the island but ended up like Desmond, back where they started.

→ 68. Posted by: DB IN BC at October 12, 2006 5:12 PM

Stefan -- great theory about the sailboat, and the limited fuel for the motorboat. What would they care if Michael ran out of fuel on the way home. Ben seemed totally surprised they had a boat.

With Alex and Carl -- does this mean there are 2 groups of others? Or that they keep their "young" confined somewhere, and somehow Alex and Carl escaped?

I got the impression Colleen was only asking "did I interupt?" because Juliet and Ben had history. Colleen did give Pickett a nice kiss before she left for her mission.

→ 69. Posted by: lost chao at October 12, 2006 5:15 PM

Why is Benry interested in the boat and not the occupants of said boat??

→ 70. Posted by: Maxlife at October 12, 2006 5:15 PM

Do you think the Others are sterile (maybe from the electromagnetism?) and that's why they're so obsessed w/ stealing children?

Mac, you not only have skills as Catface says, you have MAD SKILLZ!

→ 71. Posted by: Connie at October 12, 2006 5:16 PM

Could it be possible that they did get to the sailboat using the boat they already had? I really don't think they just let Walt and Michael go home. Wouldn't that sort of blow the lid off their whole secret island thing? Seriously.

Unless they have a bunch of boats floating around somewhere I would think that the only boat on the island is probably pretty valuable.

→ 72. Posted by: Stefan at October 12, 2006 5:17 PM

@Connie: Skillz with a Z are the best kind. Thanks! -- mac

→ 73. Posted by: mac at October 12, 2006 5:18 PM

@DB

Great point! I felt the same way when Juliet said that.

→ 74. Posted by: ButchM at October 12, 2006 5:19 PM

The CIA commercial was around the 45 minute point, where they usually stick the fake Dharma commercials. It was sort of a recruiting commercial for the CIA. At the end, they showed the CIA seal and the CIA url (www.cia.gov). The url is the real CIA url, but the seal was not the actual CIA seal. The commercial had that sort of slightly fake, washed out look (the colors seem sort of "off" compared to real commercials) that they use in the Dharma commercials, I guess to make it easier for us to spot.

→ 75. Posted by: Darryl at October 12, 2006 5:19 PM

Maybe ALL of these people are being held on this island because they are all criminals of some kind and the CIA is overlooking all of them. Benry and the "others" are serving life sentences on the island or were born on the island and not permitted to leave because of their parents wrong-doings, so there job is to watch over other criminals the entire time they're on the island...

We all know that Kate is, Jack's crazy enough that he could have killed someone (his father, Sarah's new lover), Jin's thought to have killed people, Sun committed adultery (at least, and has a famous hitman father that could have Korean mob ties), Sayid has killed and is from Iraq (someone the CIA might be interested in), Charlie is a drug user, etc, etc, etc.

What else could ALL of these people have in common?

→ 76. Posted by: Dudelost at October 12, 2006 5:25 PM

Maybe that's why the "others" keep saying "we're not the bad people." Maybe they were born on the island and can't leave, but the island keeps the bad people on the island.

→ 77. Posted by: Dudelost at October 12, 2006 5:26 PM

Along the lines of Michael, Walt and the boat...I had a thought.
Unless Michael is a completely insensitive moron (okay, we already know this), but maybe he had a change of heart and used the boat to go back to the beach camp to get more people to take home. Any thoughts?

→ 78. Posted by: Christina at October 12, 2006 5:27 PM

I think next week the smoke monster gets Ecko. Locke goes underground to rescue him it looks like from the previews. Episode 2 was dynamite making up for the shortcomings of the season 3 opener. I think next week is gonna kick ass !!!

"we're gonna need a bigger boat"

→ 79. Posted by: thinng at October 12, 2006 5:31 PM

I wouldn't really look into the timeframe with Benry. It'll all be explained in "good" time.

As for Sun and Jae gettin busy with each other, im pretty sure they did. Jae said that he doesn't want to share Sun anymore. They've done that "English Lesson Routine" a couple times before.

Finally... So stoked for Locke, Ecko, and Desmond next week. By far my top 3 favorite characters. But Juliet is climbing her way into that list.

→ 80. Posted by: middies at October 12, 2006 5:31 PM

Christina:

I'm thinking that Michael put that boat in gear and never looked back. I doubt he would risk his chance to go home with Walt, to save a couple more people he's already severely ticked off.

→ 81. Posted by: Dudelost at October 12, 2006 5:31 PM

Doesn't anyone else hate Juliet??? I mean she's cold, calculating, extremely good at supressing all her emotions and totally manipulative! These are all the indications of a sociopath. For anyone who doesn't know what that is, they're usually very bad people. They rationalize any wrong doing they committ and never feel regret for their actions. She is going to single handedly try to tear all our heros apart!!! Starting with Jack, she will continue to manipulate them until they see things her way or turn on each other. This is not a good person. She is the evil mastermind behind everything that has gone on. Benry may appear to be the leader but I seriously doubt he would ever go against her wishes. Sawyer knows what kind of person she is. He could see it in her eyes when she was holding Kate at gun point. Thats why he said she would have shot Kate no problem.
JAC

→ 82. Posted by: JAC at October 12, 2006 5:31 PM

Oh yeah I totally forgot. Mac the Red Sox still suck. See you in 2090 for their next title celebration!!!

You're still the man though Mac. I knew you were loving it last night.

JAC

→ 83. Posted by: JAC at October 12, 2006 5:36 PM

Juliet almost seems split-personality, one minute she's making soup, then she has a gun to Kate's head, but she smiles and is SO polite the whole time.

This is why her and Benry get along, they are both master manipulators of people and their emotions, it's the old joke about why won't sharks eat lawyers?

Professional courtesy.

→ 84. Posted by: The Duf at October 12, 2006 5:38 PM

@JAC -- Ha ... Ha ... ;)

I saw the big one. That's all that matters! How's A-Rod working out for you?

→ 85. Posted by: mac at October 12, 2006 5:38 PM

The more that I think about it the more that I think we're dealing with two groups of people who have very similar interests. They also have very similar power - they're all human. So the question is how does one group appear so powerful while the other seems so weak?

I think it's all a facade.. but isn't life all a facade? Aren't we a bunch of signifying monkeys running around puffing out our chests so people don't mess with us? What makes a rich man powerful? If shot he bleeds just like the rest of us poor SOBs.

The "connection" with the outside world is the illusion that Benry uses to rule the island prison he was born into. Perception is key to the Lost story as new information changes how we see things on a regular basis.

I don't think the Others are anything special. Dharma is a project funded by wealthy megalomaniacs - probably connected to the industrial military complex. My guess is that some of the Losties' wealthy daddys have something to do with some of this. Like Desmond's woman's (Penny?) dad telling him to disappear.

One more thought - could Sun's dad have pushed Jae from the apartment. He knew that Jin was reluctant to go through with it. Is it plausible that he monitored Jin's attack and when Jin couldn't follow through he did it himself - right on Jin's freakin car hood?

I swear... too many influencial dads with power and family issues here to overlook.

→ 86. Posted by: Stefan at October 12, 2006 5:42 PM

A-fraud? $252 million and not in a World Series yet. Now that's just sad.

→ 87. Posted by: The Duf at October 12, 2006 5:45 PM

Couple thoughts...

Someone brought up the supply drop, and that's a good point. But remember that the supply drop was near the now-defunct hatch, which was the home of Desmond and ex-CIA guy. And, not to say there isn't also another drop near Losteria Lane (the Other-village from Ep 1), but it's almost like the Others weren't keeping tabs on Desmond's hatch. Otherwise they likely would have known about Desmond's boat by following ex-CIA guy.

So is something (Dharma?) dropping supplies to both the Others and "test subjects"?

I also think that the Smoke Monster is the reason Rousseau has never found Losteria Lane, and thus her daughter. (Yes, I know Alex is currently at Hydra, which is likely somewhat removed from Losteria Lane.) Remember that Rousseau referred to the Smoke Monster as a "security system"... maybe it guards the Others, scaring away anyone who comes too close to something Other-important.

→ 88. Posted by: Buck41 at October 12, 2006 5:50 PM

I was reminded of Damn Yankees (the play, not the cheesy 80's group...) at the end last night....not only the sting of having to relive the '04 series for all the Yankees fans out there, but the fact that Jack just might be on the verge of making a deal with the devil himself....Don't sell your soul, Jack! Don't!

→ 89. Posted by: Vikki at October 12, 2006 5:51 PM

Ugh! I typed up this big response in word so I could copy and paste. It irks me when people post observations before I say them...:) I read this blog before any were posted, and then a meeting, and then a traffic jam...until tomorrow.

I wanted to comment on Alex's fascination with the "other" teenager. Obviously ther will be some type of revolt planned with the others that are dissidents.

→ 90. Posted by: meg at October 12, 2006 5:56 PM

Two more quick things....

What was on the map Sayid was checking at the start of the episode?

And....Anyone see what was on the blueprints the Others were using at the chain gang site?

→ 91. Posted by: Vikki at October 12, 2006 6:00 PM

hookedonlost---the winning 8 games straight refers to the Sox coming back from being down 3-0 against the Yanks by winning the last four games and then by winning four and sweeping the Cardinals.

→ 92. Posted by: kittikat at October 12, 2006 6:01 PM

One thing I've noticed so far is we seem to be getting answers instead of more questions. This is actually a bit of a change from previous seasons, where it seemed we just kept being puzzled the more we watched. Have others noticed this? My wife commented that "It doesn't seem like Lost" this year, and I think it's because we are not used to being given so many facts!

"Old" things to still answer though:

1. Who are those kids in the jungle?
2. Just what IS Senior Smoke Monster?
(Perhaps we get this next show...)
3. A four-toed statue? Still bugs me.
4. Dharma Vaccine, good or bad?

I'm sure there are others... anyone?

→ 93. Posted by: The Duf at October 12, 2006 6:02 PM

Did Jae really jump or did Sun's father have a backup in case Jin chicken out and finished the job he did not do?

→ 94. Posted by: Dan at October 12, 2006 6:10 PM

3. A four-toed statue? Still bugs me.

No idea about the statue. That's a strange one. Maybe it signifies that the island is so secluded that a parallel race of humans evolved there without ever running into the outside world (and vice versa)? My guess is that we won't discover some secret race of four-toed island trolls and that it is there to make a point about the island.

4. Dharma Vaccine, good or bad?

Fake. Part of the illusion. Though, in the Lost Experience wasn't the vaccine intended to actually kill in order to reduce the world's population and thus affect one number of the Valincetti equation? I've read that the LE mythology is somewhat separate and unrelated from the show (as evidenced by the mention of the show as false propaganda in the LE at one point).

Just my thoughts as I try to procrastinate another day away.

→ 95. Posted by: Stefan at October 12, 2006 6:11 PM

For me, the key thing to consider is, what were Benry & Co. doing there before the plane crashed?

So they were living in a little island suburb, which I think was separate from the whole Dharma thing. It looks to me as if they were there amongst the remnants of the Dharma sites. I say this because all the obvious Dharma sites are in disrepair and have not been kept up, while the island suburb looked well-kept.

They did not expect the plane crash; they seem to not have known about the Swan or the importance of entering the numbers and the impact of not doing so. They did not know about Desmond's sailboat or apparently, him. While they had found the Hydra and other sites, perhaps they had not found the Swan.

What were they doing before the crash then? Some sort of construction/excavation/archaeology project using slave labor; people who have happened upon the island.

They seem to have a sort of militaristic training and organization. When they learned of the sailboat, Benry asked who quickly Colleen could put together a team.

I don't think there is any one unifying answer to all the puzzles. Instead, I think we have layers of island history and we're uncovering piecemeal. We think all the pieces have to tie together, when instead, each piece makes sense only within its own context.

→ 96. Posted by: Darryl at October 12, 2006 6:29 PM

The knife-and-fork symbol in the bear cage indicates that the mechanism was designed to be operated by humans, or by creatures that were once humans -- perhaps had human brains transferred, or minds transferred or were being "operated" by humans.

There is no way, no matter how intelligent, that a bear would grok the meaning of the knife-and-form symbols.

→ 97. Posted by: Damian at October 12, 2006 6:40 PM

I defintaly think that Jin is the father of Sun's baby. Think about...they've been on the island for 69 days...since the scene that we saw of her in bed naked its been even more than 69 days. If she got pregnant at that time then she would have been showing by now

→ 98. Posted by: girlie at October 12, 2006 6:43 PM

Damian:
Why isn't it possible for bears (or maybe genetically-enhanced super-smart bears) to read symbols? Dolphins and primates have been known to do it.

→ 99. Posted by: Christina at October 12, 2006 6:54 PM

Christina:
Fair question -- but how would they know how to interpret a picture of a knife-and-fork? These are very abstract symbols that would mean nothing to a human from (say) 3000 years ago -- let alone a non-human animal..

→ 100. Posted by: Damian at October 12, 2006 7:07 PM

Damian, maybe the bears were trained, like dolphins, to recognize the fork and knife symbol, and that it meant getting a food reward when they pushed the button.

→ 101. Posted by: Christina at October 12, 2006 7:14 PM

Unfortunately, those are REAL CIA commercials. They're recruiting cause our homeland defense is so sad.

→ 102. Posted by: jeff at October 12, 2006 7:22 PM

@JAC- I totally despise Juliette and everything she stands for. Furthermore, while mourning the loss of a great Yankee, it was rough to watch the BoSox victory for the 1000th time...on my favorite TV show EVER, no less!

That being said, this forum should not be debating which MLB team is superior. (Since New Yorkers are quite clear on that fact already.)

Has anyone seen the previews for next week? The Canandian preview had Locke being mute...but in the preview from immediatly after last nights' episode, he spoke to Charlie and Hurley. Any thoughts?

→ 103. Posted by: Sillygirl0630 at October 12, 2006 7:27 PM

Hi everyone,

Just a few things:

Does anyone else get the impression that Sawyer and Juliet know each other from "before" the island? I realize that the others know all of the losties names, therefore referring to Sawyer as "James", but the way that they look at each other and the seemingly intentional pauses lead me to believe they have a prior connection.

I'm confused by Benry stating that he has lived on the island forever. For some reason, I feel as tho he was "created" there.

Did Benry say "YOUR country re-elected George W. Bush", meaning the USA isn't his country? That truly was an amazing scene!!

For all of you Yankee fans out there, sorry about Cory Lidel. It is a very sad, tragic situation.

For all of you Red Sox fans out there, Mac included, I strongly feel that it will happen again - - before 2090, as some other person posted. :-)

Thanks to Mac for yet another awesome recap! Your wit is a true gift!!

→ 104. Posted by: Sara at October 12, 2006 7:39 PM

Mac - GREAT job as always. I look forward to this blog every week as much as I look forward to a new LOST episode.

I think Sun's father or designee could have been in Jae's place "just in case" Jin did not follow through with restoring Sun's Dad's honor. I think Jae got help to land on Jin's car (come on!).

Remember that Jae was going to America to wed someone? Jin and Sun were headed to America to deliver a watch for Sun's Dad. Is there a connection in all of this?

→ 105. Posted by: DJR at October 12, 2006 7:41 PM

@Damian - Brain transfers - makes me think of Steve Martin in "The Man with Two Brains."

Bo Sox winning eight straight - with a couple of shots of JD in between - yeah, baby!

I think Juliet may fall for Jack and turn on Benry...

→ 106. Posted by: Connie at October 12, 2006 7:45 PM

Hmmmm/Just a thought or two:
Could it be that Alex and cage-boy are lovers? If so, and if Alex is pregnant, that would complicate matters for her. She knows what the Others "do" to pregnant women and their babies--that's why she helped Claire escape before she gave birth. So she would feel she would have to get free of the Others, too. Who will she go to for help and protection?

Something is nagging me about Jin/Sun--in the airport just before Jin and Sun see each other and he gives her the rose, Sun is supposed to be going to America on her own, right? We don't know why, just that she has no other options left and feels she can't stay. So maybe she IS pregnant at that time.

I agree that the Jack-operates-on-Colleen-and-saves-her scenario is coming, but I bet he discovers something earthshaking when he does it. Like maybe a birthmark that they both have, or maybe that she shares with Sarah??

Just have a feeling that the little boxes made of ticky-tacky suburb was designed by the dharma folks to be a Garden of Eden: it's purpose is to keep the Others alive to start the human race again, when all is LOST in the rest of the world because of the V. equation.

The Others are probably already vaccinated to protect them when the world ends, but maybe a little glitch in the formula left them sterile. So they realise that they need infusion of other fertile women in their isolated group or their project is down the tubes, so to speak.

Namaste--

→ 107. Posted by: stontilam at October 12, 2006 8:27 PM

one thing:

weren't pickett (danny?) and that colleen girl making out when they brought kate and sawyer to the rock-filled place? that will probably matter later, like pickett'll get mad that Sun killed her, bla bla bla, long soulful looks and apologies...
correct me if i'm wrong.

→ 108. Posted by: kerdan at October 12, 2006 9:05 PM

Mac - you rock! GREAT RECAP! I LMAO at some of your descriptions! One thing about the show - is it getting too bodice-ripping-bosom-heaving-angsty or is it me? Some of the storylines are terrific and you want to see more/more/more and then they go and well -- cut you right off. Ouch.

→ 109. Posted by: Sheridan at October 12, 2006 10:56 PM

Mac - thanks GREAT Review. A few thoughts from the comments 1. I think Jin knew that Jae was w/Sun - remember he's not as dumb as he looks; 2. I think Sun's father sent someone to finish the job that Jin didn't finish - he didn't jump; and 3. I didn't see CIA commercials - I saw NSA commercials - maybe cause they are only 15 min from me and maybe its regional... but I did think that was interesting.....

→ 110. Posted by: Toni at October 12, 2006 10:59 PM

Totally agree Toni. It didn't dawn on me that Jae committed hari-kiri I was actually surprised when they said he did. I was thinking right away - who threw the guy over? And will Jin get in trouble with Dad-in-law for not finishing off the job?

By the Way Mac - the recap and blog are way more fun than the show. If it wasn't all so convoluted I would love it if you did a "watching live post" like they do with some of the soap ones! (I still miss Dave and his GH blog...)

→ 111. Posted by: Sheridan at October 12, 2006 11:08 PM

Sillygirl0630,

Don't be hatin' on Juliet, After all, she listens to Petula Clark, reads Stephen King, sticks toothpicks in grilled cheese sandwiches (even if she didn't make it), make soup, and hates Benry. Plus, she looks to be a helluva an ass-kicker (like Kate used to be), and she ain't overly hard on the eyes. Course, she'll probly turn out to be Jack's half sister. She is after all named after one half of the greatest star-crossed lovers of all time. There are no coincidences on this show. So she and Jack'll probly have the same fate. Just a working theory, mind you.

As an aside, my personal sympathies to Yankee fans everywhere.

→ 112. Posted by: ransomjackson at October 12, 2006 11:25 PM

Colleen says "We're not the enemy."
Benry says "We're the good guys."
Oh yeah? Well, if a plane crashed near a good guy's house, the good guy would take care of the crash survivors, give them medical care and food and help them go home. Good guys would not throw them in cages, kidnap their kids, shock them with stun guns, force them to break rocks, etc. etc. These are NOT good guys!

As for Walt and Michael, the producers stated in an interview that we'll never see them again.

→ 113. Posted by: Luke Cordoba at October 13, 2006 12:03 AM

Thanks, Mac, for the reviews. Magnificent for Lost junkies who can't wait til season 3 is aired here.

I haven't seen the first 2 eps of season 3 (I guess we won't see them til next year in Australia and my PC isn't au fait with downloading programs) but from what I've read here, it seems to cloning theory is still viable. ie, the 'Others' are all (or mostly) clones (a la the Scarlet Johansson film 'The Island').

Why? Because:

- Wasn't one of the many projects of the Hanso foundation researching cloning?

- Benry says he's lived on the island all "his" life. As a clone, he could have been 'brought to life' as a 30 (or so) year old.

- people who are supposedly dead or who are supposed to be elsewhere keep showing up on the island (their clones, maybe?)

- There is reference at various points throughout season 2 of 'Others' being either "the good ones" (clones that worked out well) or "the bad ones" (clones that didn't).

- the presence of monitoring around the island (via screens, etc) - researching whether the clones will behave like 'normal' humans, whether they will press the button, how they will react in certain situations, etc

- no children, save the one's kidnapped. Why do they want the children? Again, maybe it's for more scientific testing on younger humans, to see if they clone better or will age, behave, etc the same as 'normal' humans?

- The clone village in the opening scenes for the start of season 3 - (again, similar motif to the film 'The Island')

I'm sure there's been othe cloning hints that I can't think of right now, but given cloning is a hot policy topic right now, it would make sense that the writers/creators might want to comment on this.

Anyway, just my 2 cents. What do you think? Or has the cloning theory been discarded?

Cheers,
Claire

→ 114. Posted by: Claire at October 13, 2006 12:18 AM

Why dig rocks? It seems pointless. Could it be uranium? Are the Others building a nuke?

→ 115. Posted by: h at October 13, 2006 12:25 AM

Well, that was a fun ep last night wasn't it?

I'll try not to rehash things but quickly get to a couple of main points.

1) Benry - Could he be a survivor of something like the Black Rock slave ship? He's too young for that, but there were people on the island predating Dharma. Also, it's possible he could only remember living on the Island, but lived elsewhere before the age of 5 or so (I can't remember much before then, can you?) All in good time, as others have said.

2) I think The Others consist of remnants of the failed Dharma project + some 'others' (?), led by Benry, who is obviously sort of a sociopathic totalitarian Dear Leader. Maybe they have something on Dharma/Hanso that results in Hanso continuing to provide supplies to the island. Hard to say. I do find it amusing that Ben was so surprised about the sail boat - since he obviously prides himself on being all knowing, he obviously didn't know the sailboat returned (or existed?). Maybe they don't keep track of what goes on in the other hatches... still, when the hatch exploded at the end of season 2 he seemed totally unconcerned.

3) Children & The Others. I think the Children are held seperately and "conditioned" to participate in Other society, based upon their strengths (hence some are combat trained, some not). I think Alex and Carl may be rebellious, Alex might've freed Claire to keep her baby from being delivered into their imprisoned existence.

4) The Others + The Birds and Bees. There may be something odd about reproducing on the island, but they may also be struggling with trying to sustain their little civilization, in terms of creating enough genetic diversity to be sustainable over time without too much in breeding. This may be why they took blood from Jack, Sawyer & Kate - to determine their genetic similarities for "breeding" purposes. Would also be why they steal children and why it seems like the Others camp is Swingers Central, with perhaps strict rules about PDA. All controlled by Benry, of course. I wonder if he's a David Koreshian style guy who has to procreate with all his female "flock"... I digress.

5) The Shocker. Mac, I gotta tell you, there's another usage for the word Shocker out there in the vernacular, and it made the review a lot funnier than you intended in parts, I'm sure. :) But seriously, the first thing I thought was that the guy looked surprised that he wasn't shocked - and it made me think, maybe only SOME of the tazers are functional, and his was a dummy. After being tazed a few times, the threat of force would be all that is needed, so maybe only a few "trustees" are given *real/armed* tazers, other stupider/likely-to-be-overpowered Others get duds.

6) Stupidity. Why does our Iraqi friend make such tactical blunders? Why does Sawyer reveal his cunning plans in the open? Why doesn't Sun go ahead and shoot the guy who pops his head into the boat's cabin (smooth one, bud) in the face? Why are our Losties getting their butts kicked so repeatedly? Is it wrong of me to want to see the Losties win one for a change?

Props to Mr. Cube, I think the "escape velocity" boat theory is dead on. Also, I don't think that puddle was shame, mac... ;)

no skinner, and it's still a long post,
biohazard

→ 116. Posted by: biohazard at October 13, 2006 12:49 AM

@Claire - I just don't think cloning has much to do with it. Cloning of humans still hasn't been achieved, and I think there are simpler explanations for things than that. Remember there won't be a Grand Unification Theory (GUT) of Lost that explains everything.

Also, in addendum to my previous post, my idea about the children being held separately also explains why you don't see any kids in the Village when they come out to look at flight 815 breaking up, and why you don't see Alex until she appears in the bushes (slipped away from Others Kid Kamp?)

biohazard

→ 117. Posted by: biohazard at October 13, 2006 1:00 AM

Has anyone commented on another Wizard of Oz similarity: when Benry tells Jack "...then I'll take you home" - this is close to what Dorothy was told just before she got into the hot air balloon to go back to Kansas! Also, just because Benry said he's lived on the island his whole life, doesn't mean he never left it temporarily to visit some place or some one.

→ 118. Posted by: Gail at October 13, 2006 1:24 AM

on the GUT , think again biohazard...

" we're gonna need a bigger boat "

→ 119. Posted by: thinng at October 13, 2006 2:03 AM

Re: Clones -

I get your point, Biohazard. Maybe the theory IS too much of a GUT. But the clones idea doesn't explain everything - just the presence of SOME of the people on the island (eg, it doesn't account for the connections between everyone in the back stories, the black smoke 'security', the magnetic power of the island, etc) And just because humans haven't been cloned in our world doesn't mean they can't be in 'TV land' (or even on a mystical island such as this one) :)

The "good ones" could also refer to the real people and the "bad ones" to the clones (or vice versa, depending on which side you're on).

Have the writers/creators said there won't be a Grand Unific


Web	Filmfodder