Lost Reviews and News

Great Review Mac.

Juliet's handcuffing to Kate is a ploy.

Could there be a better ep than Kate in a wet t-shirt, girl fight in the jungle, and a romp in the mud?! I have to watch again in slow motion.

"Sitting on a beach, collecting 20%"...I think that was Hans Gruber's plan. Didn't work out so well.

@meg I

Sorry about the not first thing this week. There's always next week...

@Josh: Nice catch. That's exactly what I was shooting for. -- mac

GRAA Mac,

Yo Meg...what up? Getting old?

Locke's leaving with no explantion caught me by surprise...can't wait for that explanation/episode.

Loved the girl-on-girl mud wrestling. Yeah, it was manipulative and contrived as hell, but hey, I'm a guy.

Juliet gave Kate a righteous ass-whupping. Made Katie look like she was standing still. Practically superhuman she was...almost robotic...cyborg-ish...

I thought Kate's nom de con "Lucy" had more to do with her outlandish schemes than anything else. And Cassidy needs to go back to Con School. Can't sell gold necklaces to rubes in Iowa? Criminy...

Loved Smoky...I thought he/it sounded a lot like a JP T-rex.And why couldn't Smoky go OVER the fence? Afraid of heights?

Did anyone else notice the use of the words "good" and "bad" throughout the episode? For example, Locke said to Kate something like "I thought you were good... but the others told me about your past" something like that. Then I believe Juliett also said something similar. Off and on throughout the episode I noticed the words "good" and "bad." Anybody with a Tivo want to count them? Point of this whole posting, good/bad, black/white, rain/mud? Also good to reveal the reason for the perimeter fence was to keep ole Smokey out, not harmless little bunnies and boars and losties. And 'they' don't know what Smokey is either? Waz up with dat?

The code Juliette typed in to activate the fence was 1623. I saw the video in slowmo.

The whole thing with Juliet was strange because despite not seeing anyone actually leave the compound, Juliet knew she had been "left behind". When she returned to camp, she also knew that Sayid and Jack were there, but she didn't mention Locke...as if she knew he was gone. We already know the she has no problem lying and she’s a total flip-flopper

Can’t wait to find out what happen with Locke’s Dad, obviously something important was explained to Locke for him to decide to go with them to another part of the island. I also think part of the reason why they are leaving is because in the last episode, Locke implied that the reason Ben hadn’t healed was because they lived comfortably in houses and with food – Ben didn’t deserve to be there.

What were those flashes from Smokey?? If Juliet was telling the truth about no knowing wearing it came from, then Smokey can’t be what Ben meant the “magic box” She could be lying though. Why couldn’t it just fly over the fence????

At last but not least Paulikki did not rise from their gruesome deaths. YAYYYY!!! Good Episode

Mac, your analysis of Hurley's is very smart. I would say you used at least three-fourths of your ass, not just "half".
RWS

Wait a second.

So, Kate and crew were able to go over the fence safely without any harm. But the smoke monster couldn't?

Come on. Did they overlook this? The smoke monster has been high above the ground before. Hell, it pulled the pilot out of the plane that was still in a tree.

I thought one of the best lines was when Sawyer tried to smile at Jin and said, "I don't have the Korean vote, that's for sure."

This espisode was okay, not the best and definitely not the worst. I wish they'd showed more about Locke and his dad. Also, I think Juliet is not really on the other side now. She had the key which shows she is part of the mind game. Unless they planted it on her, but that just doesn't make sense.

I restrained myself from being "first", and I sure hope Jon is FOUND appreciates this..:)

Comments on this episode:

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o Why the sudden departure of the Others?

Because it's all ruined now that the Losties know where Losteria Lane is and have proven they can get in? Or totally unrelated to the Losties? Hostiles, perhaps?

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o Is the departure temporary or permanent?

They certainly seemed to be leaving suddenly, taking only what they could carry on their backs, leaving a lot of infrastructure behind.

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o What can wee infer from the fact that they took Locke with them?

One of them all along? Converted? Useful? Whim?

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o Or from the fact they knocked out, but didn't otherwise harm the Left Behinders?

Benign intentions? Really are the good guys? Leaving permanently and so indifferent to the Losties?

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o Why gas the people being left behind on Losteria Lane?

The only explanation that makes sense to me is so they wouldn't see just HOW the Others left. Dharma helicopters, perhaps? Operating off that nice cleared field Kate and Sawyer were working on?

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o What kind of gas was that, anyway?

My first thought was tear gas, but tear gas wouldn't knock people out, and would leave them nauseous.

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o The future of Losteria Lane.

Any reason the Losties should (or shouldn't) move in to Losteria Lane and avail themselves of the facilities?

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o Smoky!

OK, so here we have a clear indication that the Smoke Monster is NOT an artifact of the Others, not in their control, and is actually hostile to the Others, the the extent that they feel they need to defend themselves against it, and is stopped the 'acoustic energy field fence". What does this tell us of the nature of Smoky? Was the true reason for the fence to defend against Smoky, and who/whatever he/it represents? And what were those flashes as Kate and Juliette cowered in the tree?

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o Juliette.

So apparently she is not considered "one of us", at least not completely, by the Others. Unless, of course, this is a ploy.

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o POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW - SKIP IF YOU DON'T WATCH THE PREVIEWS

Did you see the sub conning tower in the previews? It was really brief and strangely lit, but in the magic of DVR stop motion was pretty clear. So is this:

(1) A second sub?
(2) Evidence Locke DIDN'T destroy the sub? or
(3) A flash back?

Mac -- "I hope they make out!" Sayid squeals ... and "Girls Gone Wild" references --- HILARIOUS!

Here's my thoughts on last night's episode....

* Juliet is toast. Seriously. Only two people have been "scanned" by the smoke monster to date: Locke and Ecko. Locke has proven to be special. When he looked into the "eye of the island", he saw beauty. When Ecko looked, he was thrown against the trees and killed, after confessing to the manifestation of his dead brother that he did the best he could with what he was given in his life. Last night Juliet was scanned by the smoke monster. I don't know what actress Elizabeth Mitchell's contract calls for (1 or 2 seasons of LOST?), but I'm seeing that writers have set her up to [possibly] die. Also, another Juliet note: She's dislocated her arm 4 times ??? Jeez, what the heck is she doing (or hanging out with) where she's dislocated her arm so often?? I've *never* dislocated my arm. I think that was a "story seed" that will pay off later.
* Locke. Wow. He seemingly drank the Others Kool-Aid. Strange. What the heck??!
* Rousseau. It's been posited on other LOST fan sites that Rousseau (last seen hiding in the forest) helped Locke hide the submarine. That the submarine was not blown up. That Locke pulled a fast one, which is why he was wet on the dock during the episode "The Man From Tallahassee". I thought Locke's reaction to Kate this week was telling. When she asked about where Rousseau was, Locke paused and I almost sensed that he had something to say about that. Interesting, no? Also, I wonder if the reunion between Alex and Rousseau has happened?! Offscreen of course -- to be revealed later. Is it possible that since both Alex and Rousseau were in the forest at the same time, that somehow Locke got them to submerge the submarine? And they're both underwater right now getting to know each other better?
* The Others Leaving. Huh? What the heck? There is another story happening that we haven't been told about yet. Why would they abandon their homestead? Why so fast? The Beach Losties should move into the Others' barracks now that they have left! All the comforts of home and a sonic fence to keep the smoke monster out!
* Kate's Flashback. The Cassidy/Kate connection is interesting. And this episode seemed to be all about Kate and her relationships with women (Kate & Cassidy; Kate & Juliet; Kate & her mother).

I see a parallel between what Kate learned from her mother vs. what Kate learned from Jack. Kate's mother said (in a nutshell) that Kate's actions (killing her step-father) were selfish. You can't help who you love! Kate said she did it for her mother!! Kate's mom said, "You did it for yourself!". Hmmmm. Meanwhile, Kate apologizes to Jack for ignoring his request to leave him. The dialogue could have, but didn't, read the same. Kate said she came back for Jack. She really came back for him because of what *she* needed/wanted.

* More Kate Observations: Kate, during the real-time story this week, was being held captive in the game room. Those Others (especially Ben) love games! I noted, however, that when Locke entered the room to speak with Kate that Ms. Kate was playing ... backgammon. LOST fans will remember that this is the game Locke played with Walt in season 1. Locke had some sort of dialogue that went like this: "Two opposing forces, one good, one bad ..."

* Meanwhile Back at the Beach... The writers have definitely been rehabilitating Sawyer, trying to change him for the good.

* More About Juliet & Jack: Last night left me with a feeling of unease regarding Juliet and Jack. First, Juliet pulled another manipulation with Kate -- the handcuffs. Juliet is a lier-lier-pants-on-fire! Some things don't change. This season has been called by the producers "the snake in the mailbox". I take that to mean that one reaches into one's mailbox with comfort that everything will be like it always is ... and one is shocked to discover that a poisonous snake is in there instead! So ..... The show seems to imply that Juliet will change her evil ways and become a Lostie. Of course, the promos for next week show that not all are accepting of her presence. My point is this: Could Juliet ... and Jack (!!) ... be pulling a con? Infiltrating the Lostie group? Jack's work with Ben seems to be done. He removed the tumor. However, it was implied that Jack would serve a larger purpose with the Others. Confusing .... Where are they going with this? I just can't believe, though, that Juliet was left behind and "excommunicated".

* LOST Thematic Thoughts... What's confusing me on this show is what stance the writers are taking on the topic of redemption?

Obviously some themes of the show are: change, redemption, atoning for past "sins". With Sawyer last night, the word "amends" was used -- which is a concept of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.

But, to me, the morals on the show are a bit extreme. For instance, Ecko is killed by the smoke monster when he denounces his past sins as the result of making the best of what he was given in life.

And Locke sounded downright judgmental with Kate last night when he mentioned her past.

And then, describing the Others, Locke used the word "unforgiving".

So why are the forces on the island and the Others so darn severe in their judgment?

What are the writers saying here?

To me, it's a notion of perfection that we cannot live up to! What is required of us, as humans, to get past our former "sins" and become "good" people?

It seems like the show is saying we MUST FEEL BAD AND REPENT over our past mistakes. Ecko did not show remorse, but instead accepted that he did the best with what he had --- is this not an acceptable answer?

LOL. Sorry to be so deep, but I'm really trying to understand this super-theme that the LOST writers have been revealing to us slowly over the last few seasons.

Thanks, Mac! I luv coming here the day after the show airs!!

WHAT IS WRONG with you "first" people of the world? Where do you COME from? Nevermind, it's really not so compelling a mystery.

Kate should have looked over Juliet's shoulder for the sonic fence code.

Juliet (undoubtedly trained by Benry) is far sneakier than Kate could ever aspire to be, and I don't trust her for a second. Spy! Spy!

And yeah, running water? A/C? Drywall? Pool table? Chicken? Piano? Pack it up, Beachies and head to the 'Burbs.

@Mac --
Could the map Sawyer discovered in "Tricia Tanaka is Dead" outline a tunnel system rather than roadways?

Wasn't that Sayid's map, found at the Flame or am I getting my episodes run together and need a reread of your reviews? :D

@Neal: Actually, there are two maps. Sawyer discovers a map in the back of the VW van and Sayid later found an electrical/wiring map in the Flame.

Great Post Mac, I <3 U!

The Smokey not going over the fence thing will bug me for all eternity unless someone does some 'splainin. I swear that I even had a dream about it last night. I don't even need a plausible explation but it needs to be addressed. I'm hoping Sayeed brings it up during next week's interrogation.

Also, was I the only one bothered by the Dharma "A-1" sauce? I mean, the bottle actually said A-1, a brand name, and not "Dharma Steak Sauce" or something like that.

Whatever Smoky is or is not, those flashes are a critical key/clue. Maybe Smoky's got a photo album?

"Mama don't take my Kodachrome
Mama don't take my Kodachrome
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away"

Much like the Alien didn't chomp on Sigourney in Alien 3 b/c it knew she was soon to become an Alien mommy, Smoky knew not to harm Juliet for a similar reason. Either she's "good" or she's a clone or she's a cyborg/robot or she really needed a bath…whatever.

I feel like the writers got a little lazy in this episode. Kate and (maybe) Juliet are gassed, and wake up within a minute of each other. They then traipse through the jungle, spend the night in the bush, and finally get back to Losteria Lane the next morning. JUST IN TIME for Jack and Sayid to awaken from their own gas-induced blackout!

I know the writers needed to create the Kate/Jack moment, but they could have done better.

Of course, when I mentioned that Jack & Sayid were knocked out much longer to my wife, she simply noted "that's why we have the babies"!

One more thing... is it just me, or is this two degrees of separation thing starting to bother anyone else?

I really think Juliet is such the con-artist! She is definately playing everyone. I don't think she was unconscious in the beginning at all- just faking it. She's very tricky, that one! Who knows what she's got up her sleeve. But she most definately knows more that she's letting on, to anyone, Jack included. The whole smoke monster thing. I think she knows she's done for (since the thing "read" her and all).

And I have wondered, too, why everyone doesn't just come back to the neighborhood to live. I mean, they are obviously not getting rescued anytime soon. And why not enjoy some running water for a while. And I really don't get why Kate and Juliet don't want to get a shower ASAP. Puhlease!

Just for the dislocating of the shoulder comment above...

Once you dislocate a shoulder (or other joint), it becomes easier and easier to have it dislocated. This is why many people get pins in their joints.

Everybody vote for Mac at the Hugo Cup link above.
We love these recaps and want everyone to know that Mac is the best Lost blogger out there on the planet!
Razzle frickin' Dazzle!

Bennsylvania, that was too funny.
My other question about the episode....
Kate and Juliet filthy with mud, why not stop and take a shower????? What's the hurry, come on, five minutes folks.

I take no credit for Bennsylvania -- that was generated by the creative regulars. -- mac

WHAT I SAW TONIGHT (11:10 EST - 4/04/07)

As a composer, I know that every piece of music contains a myriad of streams that circle and elaborate on a central theme, therein giving that apparent singular subject a multifaceted “personality”. Multifaceted, in that, no piece of music can be made up of ONLY dissonance, or ONLY consonance. Every good composition, AND story, has a equal share of reiteration and contrast - some drama, some comedy, some joy, some sadness, some angst, some spirituality, on and on.

I think that’s why, when others are “pissing and moaning” about how a certain episode is “useless” or “doesn’t move the plot along”, I tend to simply enjoy it as a “facet” of a larger picture. And obviously, LOST has given us a myriad of distraction this “second” season - from Hurley’s joy-riding VW bus saga; to Kate’s posse going to the rescue of Jack in that three episode serial featuring a good recipe for “Fried Russian”; to last week’s “sit on the edge of your chair screaming at the top of your voice that you can’t believe what you’re watching!” Hitchcock-noir episode!

And then, there’s tonight - an episode I found baffling at first, but with a few minutes thought, I’m thinking that we are on the crest of a major “information wave” in next weeks apparent “Sayid and Juliette have a heart-to-heart” episode. I’m glad they show previews immediately following the show. It actually helped clarify my thoughts about tonight’s chapter.

And tonight? What’s the REAL story of John Locke? Is he running his own agenda? Does he mean MORE to the “others” than even he knows? Has he JOINED the “others” or does it just appear as a possibility? What’s he hiding from ALL of the folks on the island?

Has anybody really ever counted HIS toes?

And poor, poor Kate. How much anguished emotional stress can we heap on one character? Cry me a River! You reap what you sow! If nothing else, it was quite the “morality play” tonight!

And of course, this was obviously a Kate-centric episode, but JULIETTE was indeed a MAJOR player tonight! Obviously, Ben is not the ONLY mind-game-playing “Other”!
DIDN’T know about the smoke monster. Uuuuhhh, DID know about the smoke monster. DIDN’T have the key - whoops, DID have the key. Fence? What fence?
Oh....THAT fence. DE-fence! DE-fence! Played every card in the deck tonight - Little Girl Lost, Shock and Awe, Lovelorn Advisor, “Catty” Other Woman, Take Charge Rescuer!

(In the midst of that, I must thank the writers for the “Charlie’s Angels handcuffed girls race through the jungle falling into the ONLY major mud hole within 50 miles” moment! - Obviously there was no way to work a tub of jello into the story line!)

And on the other side of the island - Let’s give it up big time for Hurley!!!!! What a marvelous con - Forcing out the “softer side of Sawyer”. I don’t know, but I think I actually “giggled” at a couple of those moments - Can guys “giggle”?!? (Actually, there was a good tie-in in the backstory . . . Cassie is pregnant with Sawyer’s child, and WE ALL KNOW that Sawyer did the RIGHT THING for his little girl way back in season two.) Obviously, he still has to work on the “Korean vote” . . . but I’m not too worried.

LOTS of future plot possibilities (and questions) opened up tonight:

Kate-Jack-Juliette? There’s a trifecta worth watching!

The “Others” lost-colony exodus?

Do you think CFW is “tailing” the fleeing villagers?

Did they order a “scoot-around” for Ben for that overland escape?

Kate’s Mom moved from Florida to Iowa? Iowa!?!

Who IS John Locke?

Are Locke’s eyes getting “shiftier” every week?

Anybody even considering the whereabouts of that mysterious “third” group - the “Hostiles”? Sooner or later . . . ? . . .

Is Oceanic Airlines stock coming back up on the NYSE?

OK writers: We did the “mudhole” thing - so why wasn’t there the proverbial “girls in prison shower scene” before leaving camp?

Who is “Steve” and why is he the ONLY guy carrying the water to the beach?

Can’t wait to see what “mac” and the rest of the longtime blog-friends have to say tomorrow! At least it was an episode without the adrenaline-rush-ending tonight - we should all be able to go to sleep quicker than last week . . .

Cheers.

DRH

My first impressions after last night:

The other's were raptured... everyone else was Left Behind.

raptured = enlightened to whatever the Other's enlighten themselves to.

smokey = decides who is enlightened

Kind of alludes to a purgatory theme. Not really sure it's supposed to *be* purgatory, but the series seems to be using the island as a metaphor for purgatory...

@ Cecil Rose "What kind of gas was that, anyway? My first thought was tear gas, but tear gas wouldn't knock people out, and would leave them nauseous."

@Razzle Dazzle "Also, was I the only one bothered by the Dharma "A-1" sauce? I mean, the bottle actually said A-1, a brand name, and not "Dharma Steak Sauce" or something like that."

There was another real roduct too. (unless it is an elaborate hoax by TPTB - which I wouldn't put past them).

You could make out the name of the company (ALS) and their web address on the smoke cannister:

alslesslethal.com

(add to above to get apparent specific product)/SpecsHtm/psg272.htm

@Buck41 "Kate and (maybe) Juliet are gassed, and wake up within a minute of each other. They then traipse through the jungle, spend the night in the bush, and finally get back to Losteria Lane the next morning. JUST IN TIME for Jack and Sayid to awaken from their own gas-induced blackout!"

I don't think that Sayid was still out when they arrived. He had already had time to check and know that everyone was gone and had taken everything with them. They did place TWo cannisters of gas next to Jack so I guess we were to believe that he got doubly gassed? Yeah, kinda lame.

OK, So I've done a bit of back-tracking and discovered that, yes, Kate does come from Iowa . . . somehow I had Florida on my mind . . .

So the question changes: Kate's Mom moved from Florida to Iowa? now becames:

Why would Kate's Mom STAY in Iowa?

Just a joke! Just a joke! My home town is not THAT FAR from the Iowa border!

Cheers again.

DRH

I think there is NO WAY it's a coincidence that Juliet mentions Ben's admiration of mind games and she JUST HAPPENS to have the key to the cuffs. We didn't NOT see her (sorry for the double negative there...) with a mask on, so why should we believe that she didn't don a mask, get Kate out, drag her to the jungle, then cuff them together? We should know by now not to take anything for granted in this show. Sure, she doesn't want to be left out, but maybe she intended to be left behind, all under the direction of Benry, and all for the reason to infiltrate (again) the beach. Sadly, I think Jack is in on this, but not to betray the survivors...I think it's Juliet who will get hers in the end.

About ol smokey...it did indeed appear to scan Juliet, so if the Others do know about this thing, how did she not know what it would do to her? Should we believe her just because she says they know about it but don't know what it does? Who's to say that the Others didn't create this thing themselves, in collaboration with the "magic box"? Maybe they understand what it is capable of, hence the fence. Maybe it had never scanned an Other before because they prevented it from doing so. Either way, I do agree with whoever said it up there....looks like, if anything follows suit here, Juliet might Smokey's next victim, a la Eko....foreshadowing? We shall see...

@Mac--
Thanks for your review- as always. hows baby? mine crawled today for the first time! yea!

2 things--

1. favorite line-- Sawyer " I dont 'do' amends"

2. the "thicket" of trees is actually one tree --its a banyon tree its sprouts go to the ground and root and create a maze of above ground roots. theyre cool and are all over hawaii--the largest (in the world?)being in Lahaina, Maui. just so you know. theyre great trees and part of the reason i love "lost" -- the hawaii-centricness (hows that for a made up word!)

anyway- good luck with the cup!

@ GUV re: WHAT IS WRONG with you "first" people of the world? Where do you COME from? Nevermind, it's really not so compelling a mystery.

Why is it that the 'first' people take a mere 'second' to annoy a 'third' party after an April 'fourth' show? So we can metaphorically hi 'five' each other!

WHY CAN'T SMOKEY JUMP THE FENCE?

First off, let's agree it didn't know it was going to hit the fence at first. So, there was no reason to start it's attack by going over something it didn't know about. I thought, as it "hit" the fence, that it was being disrupted! Was I the only one who thought it might suddenly get zapped somehow or dissipate, if only temporarily? (After being blown up, we know it can reform) But instead, it looked like it was spinning around in circles, out of control for a bit. At that point, I think it was so rattled, it decided a retreat was the best option for now. Ever touch a lightbulb while changing it and get zapped by the current? Similar thing, it rattles the nerves in your arm for a few minutes.

I think it could easily have "learned" from this encounter, and it might not work again. However, Juliet did say something like "it doesn't like the fence", implying previous contacts, so who knows for sure. I do think rattling it up a bit kept it from trying anything else though. Loved the polaroids it took of Jules brain, but I agree with the earlier poster who suggests this bodes ill for her, I agree completely. And with at least one stone cold shootdown to her credit, I don't think Juliet will be judged good anytime soon.

Ever wonder how the monster makes -any- sounds at all? Does it form speakers in mid air? :D

@davidrh: I think guys "chuckle."

@bcre8ve: Maybe they also bonked Jack on the head just to make sure he wouldn't wake up early. But then why didn't Sayid try to wake him, to help explore?

I'm pretty jacked up for the prospect of next week delivering some much needed answers. It looks like it'll be Juliette's backstory of how she came to the island (standing on submarine) and what she was brought there to accomplish (Ethan shushing her, saw a needle or two in preview - mommy-tummy injections for all!). If anyone can convince her to confess it's Sayid. A couple bamboo shoots under the fingernails 'ala Sawyer would do the trick.

What's bothering me is that I'm sure that Ben wants all this to happen.

And how 'bout the ballsacks on the Others? Ben intentionally gets caught and pro'ly knew he'd get his heine kicked. Now they send Juliette to the beach, right into the mouth of the lion. Only a cunning clan of super ninjas could pull off such a feat.

And ya, Smokey not going over the SDF is a bit of an oops....that is unless Juliette knows exactly what it is and how it reacts/moves and also it's purpose. The Others gotta know.

And thanks to the producers for the trip in the mud for my two gals. Dirty, Dirty girls!

I think one of the bigger revelations of this ep is that when kate's mom gets splatted with chili and the sawyers gal starts apologizing the mom replies with "No worries". This is NOT an Iowa saying it is an australian saying so she has some connection to australia. Maybe Kate was in australia looking for this connection when she got caught by the marshall before they got on the plane. Convenient that the marshall knew she was there? Mom is such a snitch.
And Juliette is a snake and always will be ... bury her next to Poopy and Stikki!!!

As always, great review Mac. I'd vote for your blog 100 times if I could.

Why didn't Smokey just go over the fence? Because the writers didn't want him to. I'm sure we'll never get a good explanation for it. It's the first thing I thought of too though!!!

GREAT scene with Locke telling Kate goodbye. Great acting and great setup to keep us salivating for the next Locke-centric ep.

I'm going to be really peeved if they don't ask Juliet every question they ever wanted answered about the Others. Kate should've been more chatty with her while they were walking through the forest...but only wanted to talk about Jackie-poo?

When they arrive back at the beach it will be the perfect opportunity to figure out exactly what the heck is going on with the Others. Although, if Juliet really is just a plant then any answers she gives would be suspect. Still, if she's really an ex-Other then she shouldn't have a problem with spilling the beans.

The Losties won't migrate to Bennsylvania. Hope springs eternal...they'll want to stay near the beach for a potential rescue. Plus they've seen what the Others can do, and the average beach comer wouldn't want to be potentially any closer to the Others than necessary. And they've already proven with the 1st hatch that they don't give a squat about having the luxuries of home!

@MAC

The code for "electric fence" was 1623 (not sure if anyone else posted that already)

Here are my various thoughts/theories:

Juliet has been "planted" among the Losties by Ben to spy on them and/or learn more. She did not get gassed, hence it's why she "woke up" just after Kate. This is all part of a master plan, and she has specific instructions on what to learn from them and more importantly what to tell them.

Juliet and the others know about Smokey and probably created and/or control it, and that Juliet is just pretending she doesn't know much about it. To prove her point, the Smokey into the fence scene was orchestrated by the Others, which is why it didn't go over the fence. They wanted it to appear like they are afraid of it, and what better way than to use the fence to show they have protected themselves from it.

When Smokey "read" Juliet, it's possible that "could" have been controlled by Ben to "read" her thoughts to ensure she is still complying by the plan. Alternately (if the Others don't control the monster), Juliet saw "bright light", just like Locke (whom it did not kill), thus implying she is good, not bad. However she also saw black smoke (although that could have only been from Kate's point of view), so maybe Juliet is both good and bad, and things could go either way for her.

Does anyone notice a resemblance with Kate's mom and Juliet or her sister?

During Alex's talk with Locke while they approached the submarine, she told him that Ben likes to play mind games. Locke took this opportunity to deceive Jack into thinking he blew up the sub. Instead he hid it and this is how the Others left.

Locke is part of the whole Other/Island mystery. When he was rejected to take the Walkabout, I think he was approached by someone to go to a very different walkabout - an island with healing powers - where he can do great things when he is one with the island. While relieved, I don't think Locke was surprised when he regained the use of his legs after the crash; he knew it would happen. He knew his purpose there was to work with the island and it's powers. This was foreshadowed in Expose: "It was you all along".

Thoughts, anyone?

@hurling . . .

"chuckle" it is. I'm feeling much more manly now. Thanks.

DRH

Did anyone else notice that Kate's baseball cap (from the flashbacks) said "Cowboy Up"?!?!

Gotta get me one of those...

FIRST (not first as in "FIRST!" but as in "first of all") I think the gas used to knock Kate, et. al. out was nitrous oxide. Anyone who's ever done a "whippit" before will recognize the telltale way Kate's eyes bugged out of her head just before losing conciousness. Oh, yeah. Good times. ;)

I don't think Juliette's been marked for death by Smokey like Eko. Remember when he and Locke were discussing their differing visions of the "eye of the island" Locke says he saw a huge bright light which was beautiful, but Eko said that was not was he saw. Apparently, seeing a big, bright light like the one shone on Juliette is a good thing. Perhaps when it scanned her, it decided she was one of the good ones and therefore won't kill her....yet. Kate, however, should definitely watch her back.
That made me think that perhaps Smokey is one way they "recruit" people. First (there's that word again!) it scans them. Eko wasn't afraid of it (remember when Mikhail said they weren't on the list because they were afraid, etc.) so he passed stage #1. Then, when it came back as Yemi and demanded he atone for his past sins, Eko refused, ergo Game Over. I could be way out there on this, but it made sense to me at the time.
And mac noted the lack of greeting between Sayid and Jack, but there was a brief one there. It was like a "Glad you're OK, man, we'll get caught up later."
Something tells me Ben knows all about Smokey, but he's one of the priveleged few. It's one way he keeps them scared so they don't leave.

Mac, great comparison of Kate to Hurley. Kate's a beauty, but her character has been LOST for some time. She's just been an extra for most of the trips and advantures.

Hurley has become the glue for the non-important/revolving cast that we see at different times on the beach.

Juliet points:

Definitly a setup. Her having the key should have cleared up the ruse, but we're talking Kate here. Did it seem like Juliet was getting alot of information from Kate? Asking about Smokey when she already knew, asking about what she knew of Jack, watching to see if Kate could track her way back to Bennsylvania?

I think the Others are finished with Jack, surgery complete, and plotted the exodus, great word, to "cleanse the camp". I'm betting they will be back.
Leaving Juliet behind to "guide" the Losties to rescue Jack and Sayid. And get them out of the camp.

And if they really don't control or know what Smokey is, what does? Or do they? Did Smokey not chase over the fence to allow Juliet to go with Kate to learn more? Another Juliet ruse to gain Kate's trust?

And next week, does Juliet become the new "Others" spy at the beach? Check her bag. I sure as heck don't trust her, and neither does Sayid. But I love her character.

Great post!

Loved this paragraph Mac:

"What's Locke up to? Is he joining the Others, or, will he use their resources to construct an eight-story building that will eventually be used as a launching pad/retribution center for his father?"

You're a comic genious!

Some of these 2 degrees of separation things have been revealed (Sawyer telling Jack about meeting Dr. Daddy in the bar), some are important and will come out later in the story (Claire being Jack's 1/2 sibling), and some aren't important and are just fun to put into the story (Kate hanging out with Cassidy who was Sawyer's con target/baby mama, Ana-Lucia hanging out with Dr. Daddy).

Jin will find out Sawyer/Charlie planned and performed Sun's abduction attempt, and he will beat the crap out of them both. It's coming.

I know it's been said that a Rose/Bernard-centric ep is coming soon (so they ARE still on the island) but it was strange to not see them at all during Sawyer's boar roast party.

Now that Jack is coming back to the beach, Sawyer will have no trouble reverting back to his conning/rotten/nicknaming ways.

Staying with the good/bad topic, most of the characters past lives can place them in either the good/bad category (with a few ambiguous exceptions):

BAD:
Kate
Sawyer
Sayid
Jin
Nikki
Paulo
Eko
Ana Lucia

GOOD:
Hurley
Claire
Locke
Libby
Boone
Walt

AMBIGUOUS:
Jack
Sun
Shannon
Desmond
Michael
Charlie

I put Charlie and Sun under ambiguous because I'm not sure if their transgressions off the island are worthy of bad status (drug use & infidelity respectively). Shannon and Desmond I'm not sure about either. Is being a bitch enough to put you on the bad list? And Jack is point of confusion because it seems to me that his treatment of his father helped propel him over the edge to his drunken, Australian death. But then again Jack and Claire's daddy brought most of that on himself.

I had an issue with the time Jack woke up vs Kate/Julliete, but as someone else mentioned they may have used two cans for Jack??

I also had a HUGE issue with the way jack/ Sayid greeted eachother as they saw eachohter for the first time in forever, it was like hey..no hug or really any kind of real exchange. What was that all about?

Why did the others not tortue Sayid like he did to Ben? Not that I wanted them to but was wondering if they just do not belive in an eye for an eye?

And for God's sake someone please tell me where Rose and Bernard are? Are they ever coming back? What is goning on with them?????

Someone mentioned above (again) about the three groups on the island. We know of the Losties (and Tailies) of 815. We know of Dharma. We know of "The Others." Rousseus was first to use this term to the Losties/Tailies, as she was the first (known) non-member of flight 815 (Ethan wasn't revealed until later to be an Other). We now know of "The Hostiles." This term was first used by Kelvin, who was a self-proclaimed member of the Dharma Initiative, to Desmond. It was also used by Candle/Wick in the communication computer at The Flame. If we take out the 815 survivors for the moment, we are left with Dharma, The Others & The Hostiles. I think it is apparent that the Others (Rousseau's word) and the Hostiles (Dharma's word) are the same group of people. There are no savages on the island -- only people pretending to be savages. The same ratty-dressed group of individuals we saw walking silently through the woods are the ones who kidnapped the tailies. We know for sure now that this was the Others, as those pepople were with Cindy at Jack's cage, especially the child Emma and her brother. Why Dharma would refer to them as "Hostiles" has yet to be revealed, but I think, because of what ben said, that it is because the Others have been there for some time, LONG before Dharma arrived. Either that, or they were originally Dharma members who left Dharma to form their own society, and then eventually overthrew Dharma to take back control of the island. Clearly the Dharma initiative IS still up and running, otherwise there would be no food drops. So either the heads of Dharma aren't aware they have lost control, or the Others are Dharma, and there is a group of "Hostiles" we have yet to be shown...

One more thing...Desmond is by far the sexiest guy on island, I really wish he's have a larger role then just a weirdo who sees the future and gives weird looks to people all day!!! C'mon Des you can do it :)

It is getting annoying about major inconsistencies happening in the same scene.
if those left behind were all gassed, why did Kate and Juliet get moved outside the perimeter fence, while Sayid and Jack were left unconscious at the compound?
when Juliet gets to the fence post, the box is on the outside of the active sonic fence. She disarms it, tells Kate to cross the plane of the fence line, then rearms the fence and crosses over. . . should not have Juliet been whacked like Patchy after she reactivated the fence?
If Smokey can recreate matter, human beings, and horses at a molecular level, surely Smokey can get thorough sonic sound waves.
Why was Jack the only one left behind who was beat up before he was gassed (remember his room was tossed)? Jack and Sayid should have woken up BEFORE Juliet and Kate arrived.
When the group was leaving the compound, Jack states that they should look around for any supplies/equipment before leaving for the beach, but what do they do?--- they immediately start marching to the jungle.
At the beach pork roast, I counted only about a dozen "survivors" at the party. Should not all the remaining surviviors been around that boar, partaking in this feast? Or were Nikki-Paulo in charge of the invitations?
If you are trying to figure out the big picture Lost storyline, then the show may have hit the RESET button because you are repeating the Ben-Juliet-Others camp dynamic (two groups, leadership issues, a "purge" amongst the Others) with Jack-Juliet-Beachcombers new camp dynamic.
While finishing the post, I had a random thought about would have beat up Jack when the Others vanished quickly. Sayid had said he searched and found no trace of them - - which infers he was awake longer than Jack; what if Sayid interrogated Jack?

Just a few followup points after reading all the great posts.

1) Why do you think there is anything remotely close to a central theme here? Is it just me or does it seem like these guys make this up as they go ?

2) Everything we see, EVERYTHING, has a purpose. From the backgammon game to the reappearence of Ol Smokey, to the "backpack only" travel gear. If Juliet was as afraid of Ol Smokey as her shivering body was revealing, then why did she LOOK IT IN THE FACE? Her hand was up as if she was going to cover her eyes, but she didn't. Did she look so she could be scanned by the flashes so it would not hurt her and leave her be? The Others have proven to know everything, again EVERYTHING, about the Losties. Do you think they know they climbed the fence? Do you wonder why Juliet did not budge when Ol Smokey hit the fence? Cause it's their pet. (haha, just a guess) But I agree, Kate is an idiot unless they let this (the fact that Ol Smokey could have climbed the fence if it wanted to) "comeback to her" while on the beach and she goes after Juliet once more. How about in the ocean this time instead of the rain and mud.

3) You cannot believe a word any Other says. Period. Really big Period! Why were they wearing masks to begin with? The ones we saw don mask took off. But the only people to get gassed were Kate, Sayid, and Jack, and maybe Juliet. Weren't they all in closed-in spaces? Why the gas masks?

4) And why was Jack out so much longer than Sayid? Sayid looked liked he's just returned from a spa treatment.

I think the writers read some of this stuff and purposely throw us off, which is fun. But the deeper we try to get into this show, the more they change it.

If Ol Smokey takes shape, like Eko's brother, then if it really wanted thru the fence, it would have taken the shape of Ben or Jack, and followed them in. Ol Smokey not getting thru the fence should have been the most obvious "tell" of the show, but we're talking Kate here.

Never the less, what happened between Locke and his pappa will be brought out. They would not let that go wtihout some visual closure. If there is closure. The man got push thru a window for goodness sakes.

Overall, a good episode.

Normally, I'm one of the non-posting multitudes, but this week, you've got me rolling:

"Or, do they simply need an outsider bad-boy to show them that dancing isn't a sin?"

It's right on point. Just the right amounts of ridiculous and subtle that makes your reviews the best. Thanks for the reviews MAC.

@rich - Good one! Didn't realize I still had it in me to create such a ruckus! (sp?)

Juliet said something like, "Kate, you have to come through here." Possibly that explains the fence problem.

Which episode is supposed to be Rose and Bernard centric? Is that a rumor or confirmed?

I would definitely be moving into Losteria Lane - sleeping on the ground can't be good! Also, taking a shower would be the first thing on my list after some Dharma grub.

I am starting to believe that Locke did pretend to destroy the sub, and that he is the leader of the Others somehow.

@trexl: Happy to oblige. It's a good day when I can work in a "Footloose" reference ;) -- mac

@ rich "Why is it that the 'first' people take a mere 'second' to annoy a 'third' party after an April 'fourth' show? So we can metaphorically hi 'five' each other!"

And thus Rich proves to the group that his posts do count. :~p

Re: "I'm confused by this handcuffing thing. Juliet claims that she was gassed by the Others, but if this is true, how did she get to the pool hall and shackle herself to Kate? How did she drag Kate into the woods before passing out? Is that right? Am I missing something here?"

I had the impression that it was only the handcuff key that Juliet was holding back on. She had a key because handcuffs appear to be regular jewelry around Otherland.

@welh

Juliet told Kate she could go through the fence, because it was off. kate refused, so Juliet unhooked her, crossed the fence, hit the code and turned the switch from red to green.

Kate gets moved outside to bond with Juliet, so she has 2 "ins" tot he beach camp (Jack and Kate). Sayid is too smart to fall for that crap.

There wasn't exactly a group photo at the boar roast. People could have grabbed food and left...it wasn't exactly the Last Supper (i.e. everyone sits at the same table)

Some random thoughts...

As far as the lack of greeting between Jack and Sayid...I think it might be one of two things - I do think that Jack is playing the Others as much as they are trying to play him (and I don't trust Juliet for one cotton pickin second because we saw she is in cahoots with Ben from the very first second when they spied on Shepard in the Pearl station....remember they said they would exploit his weakness to get to him...what is his weakness? Being viciously loyal? Lovin the ladies? Both of them have been pretty exploited, especially when you add the Queen of Mean herself, Juliet, into the mix....sorry, I digress...), so maybe he had to play it off as though he was not as excited as we expect him to because he is trying to keep his "Others game face" on in front of Juliet....OR....he and Sayid are in cahoots and have been since Sayid's arrival on Losteria Lane...there is some time unaccounted for as far as viewers go - like the time between Jack seeing the sub "explode" to when Juliet brings Kate lunch....during this time, if I am not mistaken, the viewer is lead to believe that Sayid is handcuffed to the swingset...what if he and Jack managed to scheme and we just don't know it yet?

And now to something completely different (cue giant squashing foot...)

Is it me, or does Sun seem significantly more mad at Sawyer than Charlie for the whole kidnapping thing? I mean, granted, it was Sawyer's idea, but it was Charlie who actually snatched her, right? So why is she seemingly more willing to forgive Charlie but not Sawyer? Maybe it's because the baby is Sawyer's??? She did shoot him the most evil death ray when she caught a glimpse of him holding Aaron....and she has cheated on Jin before, so it's not completely incomprehensible to even think it. Now, I know that's way out there, but figured I would toss it in the mix...

O.K. This episode defintely got everyone's juices flowing again as evidenced by all the super long comments. I believe that the writers are putting in a lot more meat in the pot than they ever plan to use, (i.e smoke monster/fence, Jack/Sayid/Juliet and the supposed smoke canisters; we only saw Kate get gassed) MAC, I'm sorry and to whomever said they did not like this theory. CLONES;) ((( Jack, Sayid, Juliet ))) Let's see how they interact with the other beach losties when they get back.

I swear, sometimes I feel like a hamster running in a damn cage when it comes to this show...just running around in circles and circles and circles and getting NOWHERE, but loving EVERY minute of it!....After re-reading my last post above, even I can shoot some holes in my own freakin theories....duh! They BRANDED Juliet for Pete's sake, I guess implying that she is indeed an outcast with them, so it might not be so unbelievable that they left her behind, I realize that now. BUUUUUT I do still think that she is an Other at heart, and there is no reason to trust her at all....or to sensuously rub aloe on her back, JACK! IMHO, it should be:

Jack -n- Kate 4 eva! TLF!

BTW, has anyone ever read the Shirley Jackson short story "The Lottery"??? The Others society really reminds me of that story...from the dot on the paper (like branding Juliet) to the public stoning of the outcast (like leaving Juliet behind) to the norms of the society in both (incredibly hard for anyone besides the members to understand), the two seem very similar to me...

Well, I wouldn’t trust Juliet with anything she says, however, ‘a spy’? – why would they plant her with the Losties, when they already know everything about them! If it is to monitor their moves – then they need the ability to communicate that.

Maybe, someone could bring the universal translator online, then we may understand what smokey is saying. How come no one has told us about seeing images or faces in the cloud this time? Did you look?

@ Vikki: Yes I read that story (and watched the made-for-TV movie, too). It was some f**ked up sh*t! But it really makes you question why you do things (because it's the right thing to do or it's just the way it's always been done). Perhaps it's parallel to the Upper Management of Other society.

Juliet's a spy. Early, she said "they" when she referred to the Others. Kate called her on it and she explained she was out.

When she turns the fence on, she says "WE don't know what it is, but it does not like OUR fence."

She is an Other

The only thing that could translate what Smokey may be saying is....C3PO. After all, he is fluent in over six million forms of communication!

This was easily in the top 10 best episodes of Lost ever.
Anyone watching 24 ? It is getting weak while Lost is getting stronger !!! Have not read Mac's review yet or the posts. Just had to get my 2 cents in before you all everybody bury me.

"we're gonna need a bigger boat"

@Mac: Awesome review as always! Loved the "Footloose" reference.

Re Jack, Sayid: When Kate & Juliet returned to Losteria Lane, Juliet said Sayid was "behind" one of the buildings. That led me to believe that he was still cuffed to the swingset, & was therefore not gassed, or if he was, the effects of the gas wore off pretty fast in the open air. Perhaps the Others only needed him to be unconscious for the few minutes necessary for them to disappear into thin air. Jack's pad was trashed as though there had been a fight—I wish Kate had asked about that, as she certainly noticed it when she went in, but Jack still seemed to be pretty out of it. Perhaps he had been both gassed & whacked on the head. As far as the lack of greeting between Jack & Sayid, I don't see either of them being terribly sentimental about the other, & as soon as Jack said that Juliet was coming along, Sayid's "something's wrong" radar went into high gear. I would think that Sayid was already wondering about Jack based on what the rescue party saw of Jack's behavior w/Ben, Juliet, et al. while hiding in the woods.

I got ahold of C3PO and sent him the audio of Smokey from 'Left Behind'. Here's his translation:

Smokey: AAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOO, click-click-click, swoooosh, AAAAAOOOOO = "I really appreciate you two ladies getting all mudded-up for a change. All I've seen lately is dudes! My parrott downloaded the dude-thing from the fat one at the beach."

@Red...Neck...Man

LOL

I WATCHED AGIAN IN SLOW MOTION AND COULD NOT SEE ANNY GIRLS GONE WILD CAMERAS-----WHAT WAS THE TIME POINT ON THE SEEN THEY WHERE IN?

My first impression was that kate was actually smokey, using juliet to get thru the fence(I also want to know why he can't go over it). But why would smokey have kate flashbackes? And we know smokey can appear as people/animals, is he solid to the touch?
In any case, how - who - why did kate and juliet end up in the jungle.

@ BOBBY - watch the all caps please...check the rules at the bottom of the page.

Which episode is supposed to be Rose and Bernard centric? Is that a rumor or confirmed?

Guess I should've marked that with

"*****SPOILER******"

...but it was confirmed to be coming soon this season in the weekly podcast by the Lost producers.

Upon further reflection...I think Juliet's ousting from the Others is legit. She was planning on going home with Jack. She wanted out. When that couldn't happen anymore Ben considered her disloyal, so wanted her banished...wanted to punish her for wanting to leave. So I don't think she's in cahoots with Ben anymore, I think she really is stuck with the Losties.

Whether she was gassed or not, and whether she drug Kate to the forest herself or not, it's not so far fetched to think that she handcuffed herself to Kate to "not be left behind again." She realizes now that the Losties are her only potential source of human contact and food source etc.

Juliet hasn't been loyal for a while...remember the INXS poster-board video she showed Jack about killing Ben on the operating table? She has only been on the island 3 years, and it looks like she never thought she'd be there forever, so it's easy for me to think she was truly ditched by Ben and is not undercover for the Others right now.

Plus, she's got a thing for Jack so wants to stay near him!

Juliet's motives are still cloudy. She asks Jack to kill Ben but then negotiates her own escape. She kills Danny (in "Not in Portland") to let Kate and Sawyer escape but then handcuffs herself to Kate (which is my assumption; she had a key after all) to "bond" with her. She can't be trusted and Jack or Sawyer or Kate should have killed her the first time he laid eyes on her.

My question is, why is she still so loyal to Ben and the gang? If she really wants to get out after three years Juliet should team up with the 815ers. It's her best chance to survive.

re: Smokey

I'm not sure but it seems to me that whenever Smokey has had to do something up high, it swells and grows taller. i.e. when it killed Eko it made itself bigger and slammed him around. I don't know if it actually leaves the ground or close proximity with the island when its done those things. So I think for whatever reason, Smokey may not be able to separate itself enough from the island because its a part of the island. It doesn't jump up to reach up high, it grows taller.
Also its possible that the fences irritate it so much that it panics and runs rather than rationalizing that it can go over. That's all I can think of that could explain Smokey not going over the fence.

GRAA, mac
Okay, good episode, enjoyed most parts of it. One thing that I caught was what appears to be a continuity error. Juliette opens up a can on Kate, and Kate is down for the count trying to relearn how to breathe, cut to beach scene. Locke says goodbye to Kate, cut to beach scene. Kate sees flys on her sandwhich, struggles to get up, and starts to eat. I think those last two scenes should be switched. Locke saying goodbye has no bearing on the sandwhich scene.
I also do not think Juliette carried Kate to the jungle. I figured that other Others helped plant Kate and Juliette out there, then cuffed them together. Juliette 'woke up' too quick, I do not even think she was gassed, IMHO.
Another blog, yes I am hooked enough to read more than one, had a post about two separate monsters. We do not see smokey in the first encounter, just see from its point of view when it takes pics of Juliette. That could be monster #1. Smokie could be monster #2. It is certainly an interesting idea.
Lastly, do we have any indication how long Pauikki have been buried? Sawyer making ammends, hunting boar and cooking it takes time, and all this happened after the burial. Can we dare say that Pauikki are true red shirts and have died? I certtainly hope so, but the island has done much stranger things.
Vote early, and vote often...for mac's site.

re: smokey and the fence...

The only reason that I saw that might justify Smokey not going over the fence is the fact that it was after Juliet and she stayed pretty close to the fence (ie didn't run like Kate did) thus keeping the fence between her and Smokey. It seemed to be taking the most direct path toward Juliet but it did attempt to go left and right but not up or down. Kinda reaching here, but anyway...

So is Smokey more animalistic in nature than intelligent? Eventually, after several attempts, even an animal would find a way around the fence. Brings to mind the bear cage and the treat that Sawyer figured out (more slowly than the bears I might add.) Hmmmm...

Is it possible that Dharma was experimenting with Artificial Inteligence and Smokey got out of hand? Talk about a walking pig!

@Trinity "And mac noted the lack of greeting between Sayid and Jack, but there was a brief one there. It was like a "Glad you're OK, man, we'll get caught up later.""

Yes, those of the chuckling gender do not need long winded greetings. They say it all in a single glance.

Those that giggle, however, tend to weave perpetual tapestries of exquisite colloquy sprinkled with such linguistic ambience as to give the very birds of the field, God's great emissary of song, reason to pause and reflect on such beauty of articulation and promulgation.

(I apologize for the above sentence - my thesaurus fell over and spilled all over my post.)

First-rate review Mack, as usual, a point of clarification, I don't think Juliet handcuffed herself to Kate, I think she was gassed and handcuffed and Ben made sure the key to the cuffs was put on her. After she woke up she tried to play dumb with Kate in order to earn her trust, but when death was staring both of them in the face, she knew their only chance was to drop the subterfuge, which of course will make Kate even less likely to trust her, but I don't think Juliet is a mole. The whole surgery showdown with Jack and the private pow-wow with Ben showed that, plus the fact that Tom didn't seem surprised when Jack told him that Juliet wanted Ben dead, add to that Ben wanted an out to prevent Jack and Juliet from leaving on the sub, which was furnished by Locke's C4. If you combine all of these things plus the branding it shows that Juliet has been exiled by the Others. Juliet's problem is that for three-plus years she has been playing in Ben's sandbox of duplicity and deception, but that won't work with 815'ers who are naturally suspicious of her motives because she's an Other. But if she can learn to trust people again and the survivors start to trust her, they will finally be able to start unraveling some of the island's mysteries

@ bcre8ve - I agree w/ your animalistic comment...but I would think that Smokey has been there for quite a while and has encountered the SDF before. Which would afford it the opportunity to 'learn' how to go over it. I would assume that the SDF had to be erected after Smokey 'got out-of-hand'. And also, why wouldn't Smokey have been able to realize that the SDF was not on all of the time. I would think that by accident it would pass by and be able to go through it.

hmmmm . . . Did I just get dissed?!?

A thought about the fence--maybe it shorted out, or was inactivated in some way when Mikhail ran into it. The Losties went over it, but maybe they didn't have to--was there evidence that the fence was still on when they went over? This could explain why the smoke monster couldn't get past.

Thanks for another great review mac!

Was Sayid even gassed? Do we know that? How did he get free? Why did he stick around? Did he know Kate and Jules were coming back? Why didn't he wake Jack? He knew where he was and just left him there? Did he make sure Jack stayed asleep longer for some reason? I'm not sure what was going on with Sayid during this episode.

Ok, check this scenerio...

The Others don their gas masks knowing that the are getting ready to gas some fresh Lostie meat. They gas Kate first (shout out to meg) knowing that they will have to take her to the jungle. They take Kate to the jungle and handcuff her to Juliet either complicitly or against her will.

They come back and gas Sayid and then Jack, giving Jack a double dose as he fights back (thus his being in the hallway as opposed to being at the piano composing "Heart and Soul" wannabee songs.) Due to the fact that he is outside and the gas disburses faster (as mentioned above) Sayid wakes before Jack and explores the area.

Plausable, I guess, but it seems that the Others would simply split up and gas them all at the same time so they don't see anything, take Kate/Juliet to the jungle and meet up elsewhere.

Anyway, it's my best gas - er, guess.

excellent posting mac, your posts are sorta like a cigarette after a good night (of watching lost) ...

getting to the smokey conspiracy, perhaps the reason the smoke monster cannot go over the fence is because it cannot leave the ground.

If we remember back to season 1, was it not the smoke monster who attempted to bring Locke into the bottom of a pit via dragging him across the ground till jack saved him?

At least it would tie in why the fence is useful against negating the monster, it also casts doubt on some theories i read about scanning locke and 'accepting' him but not "call me meeester eko". the monster just might be in the underground, which also could explain where the others went (i.e. the map sawyer found)

thanks to whomever posted about 1623 being what turns the fence on, does that mean 4815 turns it off? perhaps if kate took two seconds to think she'd have noticed.

last lost thought: the magic box - does this help explain random memories appearing on the island. Jack's father, hurley's crazy friend, kate's horse, and now Locke's dad. Seems that what's on their minds is what appears. Though with eko it was the smoke monster, so they could be one in the same.

ok sorry if this is long but it's my first post ever and i've been reading mac's stuff for 8 weeks now

I didn't read thru every single comment above, but in the first scene when the Others are donning gasmasks, I believe you can see Juliet putting on a mask. She has same color hair and same blue tee-shirt on as she has in the rest of the epy. Sooo, she IS conning Kate, et. al. to believe she was 'left behind'.

As a side note... I would like to say that I have noticed a whole herd of new posters this epi and am happy to see it. Welcome!

Words out - mac's the best!

Another comment on the sonic fence.
I do not think the fence was active when the two girls gone wild came up to it. Jules was going to activate it, and Kate was on the wrong side. Kate crosses over, Jules arms the fence and smokie gets angry. Just another one of my crazy theories.

APologies if this has been said, but WHY didn't Smokey go OVER the fence?
Also, in response to Mac's question about how Juliet got Kate to the woods, handcuffed herself to Kate and then passed out, maybe she wasn't gassed at all, but pretending. After all, she "woke up" pretty quick when Kate got the knife out. She was just waiting for the perfect moment.

@davidrh "hmmmm . . . Did I just get dissed?!?"

No diss intended. Just a simple observations of the different communication styles of the sexes (chucklers/gigglers). You made it clear in your followup post that you are a chuckler.

@becre8ve - Great gas theory. Maybe this is all a test for Juliet. I know she went against the group before, yet the mind game continues. As Ben said earlier, he finds someone's weakness and exploits it. She was cuffed to Kate because Jack loves Kate and she loves Jack.

Also, I noticed the parallels with the side story - Kate befriending a con artist who helps er. I was trying to form a connection there.

Where is Jon is FOUND? I'm still waiting to see how old he is...:)

Just a small point:

"Kate decides that a return to Bennsylvania is the best idea... it's the only spot on the island with running water ..."

As I believe Paulo demonstrated, the Pearl has a fully functioning plumbing system.

Did he live, flush, and die in vain!?!?

oops - bcre8ve! That's why I hardly ever speak directly to anyone - my spelling suxs! :)

@ meg I "Also, I noticed the parallels with the side story - Kate befriending a con artist who helps er. I was trying to form a connection there."

Good call. Kate's flashback is, as you said, "Kate befriending a con artist who helps her." That's what she is forced into in the jungle. Juliet, con artist, and Kate work together (though reluctantly) toward a common goal (mom/Jack) both of whom she (Kate) has disappointed. Will she meet the same end in her raltionship with Jack that she did with her mother?

Interesting... I don't know what else that could be read into it.

Maybe she is in fact having Sawyer's baby (Kate), just like the con artist she befriended.

@ rich "Why is it that the 'first' people take a mere 'second' to annoy a 'third' party after an April 'fourth' show? So we can metaphorically hi 'five' each other!"

And thus Rich proves to the group that his posts do count. :~p

→ Posted by: bcre8ve at April 5, 2007 03:01 PM

Or perhaps tomorrow we can "deep six" the whole idea :>)

Can someone please run me thru the process of how to vote for mac's site?

I was on the site but didn't understand how to vote .... probably old age catching up with me. But I gotta vote for the man, so help me out, y'all.
Thanks

Side note - perhaps they should call Juliet “Lilac” - she can lilac crazy.

@ButchM . .

Side note - perhaps they should call Juliet “Lilac” - she can lilac crazy.

groan.

I am thinking Ben is using Juliett as a Trogen Horse to inflitrate the Lostie camp. Ben has manipulated people in the past beautifully (deliberately sending Juliette to take care of Jack, bringing Kate and Sawyer along with Jack to force his hand, death threats to Sawyer to force Kate to mate with Sawyer). Juliette grabbing Kate's hand just in time and her having the key of the handcuff in her pocket, etc proves that she was not gassed at all. Others might have left much after Kate was gased and gased Jack & Sawyer just before leaving which explains why they were sleeping when Kate went back.

I agree that the smokie is such a wonderful creature and can tower up to sky while killing Mr.Eko it can surely cross the 12 feet height of the fence. I also don't believe what Juliette told about the smokie - they don't know what it is.

I think the Others left the fence off when they left Losteria. No reason to leave it on since they were gone and it provided an easy way for Juliet to get back in.
As for their disappearing without a trace, there definitely are tunnels and that was most certainly their means of leaving.
Don't know why they didn't check the place out more before they left. Given time I'm sure Sayid could find the tunnel.

It sounds like meg gonna lose it if someone doesn't FIND Jon soon!

Did anyone hear Juliet tell Kate the fence was off? How would Juliet know that if she was gassed and dragged out to the jungle?

Also, Juliet's ex was hit by a bus after making a comment about it. Did someone make that wish into the "magic box" on her behalf or does Juliet have some sort of Walt-like wishing powers??

Last question for me....If Sayid checked the compound, why didn't he find Jack? Did Sayid tear apart Jack's room but not even bother to wake him?

-Locke's hand is bandaged because he is the one who KO'd Jack. I figured Locke as a Yankee fan the whole time. Love that Southern drawl them Iowan's have.

@ButchM-Can someone please run me thru the process of how to vote for mac's site?

I was on the site but didn't understand how to vote .... probably old age catching up with me. But I gotta vote for the man, so help me out, y'all.

I needed to register before it accepted my vote. After registering(@ right),go back and click the large number with the word vote below it. You can also post a comment about Mac's Lost Blog at the bottom. You always have something nice to say.

I'm glad I've never used 'Trogen' condoms.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

When will we know the winner (mac) of the Hugo Cup?

Did not read all the posts, so apologies if anyone already brought this up.

Locke did not drink the Others Kool-aid, the Others drink the Locke Kool-aid. Led by Ben, Ben sees Locke as having some sort of communion with the island. Locke is the prophet, the messiah to lead the Others to the promised land, whatever that is. Locke's the man and the Others know it. They abandonded Dharmaville for the woods because Locke says they are living all wrong out of touch with the island.

Later on, great review as always. I wish you had more time to write your reviews this season, I miss your style of writing from previous reviews.

Very first thing I noticed about this episode -- Kiele Sanchez and Rodrigo Santoro have been removed from the opening credits. Guess what -- they're dead for good...

@ Crispy Seaplanes: 100% they left the fence off so Jules could get back in.

@ lostaddict: kudos for noticing Juliette saying that the fence was off and they'll be aiiiiight. TRUE!

@ jion: I love Kool-aid..well said about the Others view of Locke. BRILLIANT!

@ ButchM: After all that I could use a 7-up. ; LOL at lilac crazy!

@ mac: I'm your 'Question of the Week' replacement for lost_me. e-mail me son!

@ Mac - "Back in the Others' camp, Jack and Sayid munch on Doritos and watch the fight via closed-circuit cameras. "I hope they make out!" Sayid squeals." Now that was some ROFL sh..stuff. AND my Hugo Cup vote went to you! Just a couple of things:

@ Matt DC -
More Kate Observations: Kate, during the real-time story this week, was being held captive in the game room. Those Others (especially Ben) love games!

---Locke's into games as well. (I posted this observation on some other blog page last week. Sorry Mac). Remember in "Walkabout" he played military games with his office friend? They even had code names! He worked in a toy store - demonstrating to a kid how to play mouse trap. In one scene while talking to phone-bone Helen, there’s military type stuff hanging on the walls. (I also think Helen was in on the con with Locke’s dad, Anthony Cooper.)

---Although Jack is the leader of the Losties camp and Sawyer the interim, I think Hurley is definitely the Mayor!

---I’m going to hold out until the season finale praying that Locke will be a force to reckon with. I just hope he’s not with the Others when all hell breaks loose.

The reason the fence kept Smokey out -- is that the fence was primarily DESIGNED to keep Smokey out! All other effects are secondary. The reason the codes could be punched to get through was that the fence was DESIGNED to facilitate that -- with time delays or whatever.

Before turning on the fence, Juliet says to Kate something to the effect of "you're going to want to be on this side." This is AFTER she has removed the handcuffs and Kate has the chance to run wherever she wants. In that moment, she TRUSTS that Juliet is not lying to her, and that trust is well placed. I think that they were both gassed, however Juliet woke up before Kate. Waking up with no idea where she was, she realized her only hope was Kate. So she handcuffs herself to Kate (knowing she has the key all along) to make sure that she does not get left behind by Kate. Thus Kate is forced to take Juliet with her no matter what until Juliet decides that she either doesn't need Kate anymore, or needs to prove to Kate that she can trust her.

As for Sayid, I believe it doesn't matter if he was gassed or not -- he was chained outside and Juliet freed him when she and Kate first got back to Otherville. Once Juliet freed him, that's when he checked out the camp and found no one else (with or without Juliet I'm not sure -- I doubt they would do it together based on his "she's not coming with us" comment). Then both he and Juliet met back up with Kate and Jack, and the foursome proceeded down the yellow brick road back to Oz, or, uh, the Losties camp...

Hi guys,

Full details on the Hugo Cup are available here:

http://tinyurl.com/2ufx9s

It's sort of an odd set-up. The voting process that's currently going on doesn't have a direct effect on the actual finalists (although I'm sure a site with a lot of votes will probably have a subconscious effect on the panelists). An esteemed panel of "Lost" community people will then select the finalists and a *second* vote will take place after April 22.

The winner will be announced on April 30.

Hope that helps! -- mac

@jion: Sorry, those days are long gone. What you see now is all I've got to offer. -- mac

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but did anyone else think Smokey was taking pictures of Juliet? The way the light flashed.....
Just a thought.

Time Time Time.........The Others must be able to manipulate time. The last few episodes have all had weird variations of time in them. I have said it before starting with TMFT when the clock in Bens house was change with every scene to, the weird timing of when Paulo found the ? verse when Locke did, and then this episode when Kate and Jules wake up hours before the boys.

The Others can control Time and Smokie!

Vote for MAC it does take a Minute but all worth it for the best reviewer ever.

Thanks Mac as usual

@Stocky

Great insights on the three groups on the island! This is exactly what I have been thinking, but didn't know how to say. Actually, I'm kind of thinking the "others" are the "hostiles". But you gave me a lot to think about.
Thanks!

Greetings Mac...I´m a long reader of your blog..and finally I have a theory (a weird one) to tell...
what if...Locke ..isn´t locke...what if the good one locke, the conned locke...the good intended Jhon is HIM,how? think about it..maybe a some losterian magic box interchanging bodies with the boss and Jhon...when,why and other things...remains as a mistery...
It´s the only explanation for the memories of the Jhon past life, and the strong desire for the others to make Jhon one of them again..

Does anyone remember the scene (I don't know the name of the episode) where Kate is in the really pretty dress and Ben & her have a breakfast by the beach. I remember thinking Ben said something really important to her becasue she came back really sad. But to this day she has never mentioned it to anyone...do you think we'll ever find out what went on there? Ben/others don't like Kate becasue she did "bad" things, so why did he choose her for that meal?

Hey Mac,

Another great recap ! ! ! Great Job ! ! !

@welh:

I didn't notice any inconsistencies. When Kate and Juliet arrived at the Sonic Death Fence, Juliet tried to pull Kate through to the other side, Kate resisted and Juliet pulled out the handcuff key and released herself. Then she ran to the opposite side of the fence and opened the control box. Then she told Kate that she was going to want to be on her side in a second. Lastly she punched in the code twisted a lever and the fence was activated. My point is that from start to finish the actions where consistent with the fence already being turned off and Juliet turning it back on in time.

I found it very believable that smokey couldn't get through the SDF, a sonic barrier can be felt as a physical thing. What I had trouble with was the fact that Smokey didn't just fly over the top. Of course it may not be that smart.

mac...seems odd that there have been no posts since last night...happy easter all:)

@Amy
There were certainly more things that went down at the 'breakfast on the beach' than we saw. Re: Kate's wrists were red and raw. It has been mentioned, but not lately. I think that the details will be revealed in some future episode.

@Iheartdez,

i'm gonna have to disagree and say sayid is by far the sexiest man on the island, especially when he's about to torture someone. he gets all manly,brooding,low-key and smooth talking and it just gives me goose bumps!!

....sorry,back to reality. :)

I'd like to know: Just how did Jules know the security fence was off? She must have had prior knowledge or else she would have been fried by passing thru. I believe she is a plant - just to keep track of the 815ers. The walkie left behind and found by Paolo will become Juliette's means of communicating with her "other" friends. All she has to do is convince everyone at the beach that she is on the 'up and up', gain control of the walkie via false pretences, and use the device to make reports to Ben.

Any thoughts?
Len