LOST: Season 6 Episode 5 - Lighthouse

Hello LOSTIES!!  Another episode of the final season is in the books, and it was another really solid episode.  I loved it!  Broken record?  Maybe.  But this show just keeps blowing my expectations away with new crazy twists.  And, who is with me in anointing Hurley the MVP of the show?  Just in this episode alone had had at least 5 classic lines.  I hope I don't forget any of them.  But referencing both Indiana Jones and Star Wars within minutes of each other is a new record for awesome!   This episode gets another bona-fide WOW!!!!  from me.    And we have so much to get to that I'm going to skip my ramblings and get right into it.

Lighthouse -  I'm sure there is some deep metaphorical thought that we could put into why the episode was named this.  There is a Virginia Woolf novel called "To the Lighthouse".  It's a supposed difficult read full of looking into psychological stuff rather than having much character dialogue.   The producers hinted on their podcast (I did a recap of the podcast in the comments of the last blog) that the naming of the episode could have multiple meanings.   But, the most LITERAL meaning is what we'll be taking away from it.  And I'm really excited to discuss it!   But, we have lots to discuss before we can get there!

In this episode, we follow Jack and Hurley on a whirlwind adventure from Obi-wan KaJacob.  We also learn some very interesting things in Jack's Flash Sideways.  And, in case you were wondering what is going on with Claire, no fear, we learned a whole lot more as we continue with Jin in the bear trap and Claire coming to her rescue.  Let's dive in shall we?

Flash Sideways - Jack

If anyone still hasn't noticed, we are following the exact order of the centric stories from season 1.  Pilot Episode was kind of Jack but a few others.   The next episode was Kate  (S1 Tabula Rasa) and then Locke (Walkabout).  Jack's first full centric story where we learned of his father dying and the ghost being on the Island was next (White Rabbit).   We will continue down this path until the 7th episode which was a Charlie-centric in season 1 (Notice I did not spoil because I did not say who the 6th episode revolves around!  You can look that up on your own.).   Anyway, unlike the last 2 centric stories for Kate and Jack, some time appears to have passed from Oceanic 815 landing.  

Jack's Apartment

• Jack has just come to his apartment from work.  There are pictures of him and his father around the place.   Jack seems to be in a rush.  Getting changed out of his scrubs and putting on another shirt.  But he looks in the mirror. 

• It has taken me awhile to catch on, but it cannot be a mistake.  There has been a mirror in every Flash Sideways storyline this season.  Jack on the plane noticing the cut in LA X, Kate looking in the mirror right before finding Aaron's eventual stuffed Whale (the same one he had in the flash forward episode where Kate was taking care of him), and the scene where Locke is in the bathroom, we see his face on the mirror, right before he decides to call Jack for a consult.   He ends up hanging up the phone, but the mirror was still there.
• Add on this scene where Jack notices the scar from his appendix being removed.   We know from the timeline we have followed prior to this season, that Jack got sick on the Island and had to have his appendix removed by Juliet in season 4.  ALSO, in the "Something Nice Back Home" episode, just like Aaron and his Whale.  At the time there were questions by Rose to why Jack got sick.  She said no one gets sick on the Island, why is Jack getting sick?   Does it somehow tie into this Flash Sideways Jack?   Well, let's keep going through the scene.

• Jack's mother calls him complaining about not being able to find Christian's Will.    She is still upset about them losing the body.   Jack said the body might be in Berlin based on Oceanic the last time he checked.   Jack tries to calm his mother down and says he'll be over soon.  But then asks about when his appendix was taken out.    His mother tells him he was about 7 or 8 years old.  He collapsed in schoo and his father wanted to do the surgery himself but they wouldn't let him.   She asked him if he remembers.  Jack said "I guess I do."   
• Okay, so...WHAT?   So now, Jack isn't just recognizing things from another timeline, he is forgetting stuff from THIS one?  And again, it happened when looking in the mirror.  There's also another mirror at play later in the episode.   It has to be all related right?   Lots of theories have been going on in the blog comments and everywhere in the LOST Blogosphere about maybe the SIDEWAYS Story being how LOST ends.    It's the Epilogue to the show and due to unconventional storytelling, this is how LOST gives each character the ending they deserve.   We had a suggestion in the comments (Kudos Weasel!) that suggested maybe the Sideways Events happened BEFORE the Island events.  Maybe the Sideways LOSTIES are the ones that bring the Island up from the water, and it somehow starts up a new timeline where 815 crashes.   All very interesting and thought-inducing theories.   But now....I'm starting to think again that these stories are PARALLEL and tied to each other.  Why is Jack forgetting how he got his appendix removed in this world when it is still months away for Island Jack who wouldn't have remembered this?  (The surgery happens close to day 108 when they leave the island)   Eh, I probably won't touch on this too much more and save it for the comments.  It's all very confusing right now and I still need more information! 

Jack has a Son!?

• So back to the story, Jack sees the time (3:51 for anyone that really wants to know) and realizes he's late.   We then see him in his car that he was driving around in Flash Forward land season 3 and 4.  He goes to a private school to pick up a boy who has been waiting there for awhile.  He does not look happy to see Jack.    And we learn, that in Sideways land, Jack Shephard is a daddy!  And his son's name is David.   Woa...   We just never know where this story is going to go!   Jack's a Dad?  How old is he?  Who is the mother?  Sarah? Why are they not together now? Same reasons?  

• Back at the apartment, David is very distant from his father.  Jack keeps trying to talk to him.  He said he hooked up cable in David's bedroom so he can watch the Red Sox  (Jack trying to relate to his son with the Red Sox just like he and his father did.  Ahhh remember in season 1 when Sawyer told Jack about meeting Christian in Australia and it was all tied together by the Red Sox?  Highly Emotional stuff!  Remember when Ben showed Jack the Red Sox winning the World Series?!   WOW....and that was in that rough patch of season 3!   Well, the Sox are back in season 6!) 
• Anyway, Jack sees that David has a book in his bag  The Annotated Alice.  It is a work by Mark Gardener who pretty much analyzes Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass.   Considering we got 2 Jack-centric episodes one in season 1 named "White Rabbit" and the season 3 finale called "Through the Looking Glass" this was a nice tie-in to keep the theme alive.  Again, in that season 4 Jack episode "Something Nice Back Home" Jack reads some of Alice to Aaron.  He also mentions that he used to read it to David when he was younger.  If you recall from season 4, Jack said that his father read it to him.  And it was one of the NICER things he had to say about his father to Kate.   We get lots of themes of Jack being like his father in this flash sideways storyline so this all comes together quite nicely.   I'm sure there is more to look into here, but I'm moving on! 

• David is still being pretty distant.  Jack just wants to talk to the kid, but David said that they only have to spend time with each other once a month, so he just wants to get through it.  Ouch.   
• Jack's mother calls looking for him.  So he heads out .  David has no interesting in going over there (we find out he had other plans later).   

At Casa Shephard

• Jack and Mom are looking through all of the files.  Apparently, Christian had given his will to the Lawyers instead of his family.  Probably the last moment of this scene gives the reason why! 
• Mrs. Shephard offers Jack a drink which he declines.  She says "good for you"   Is that indicating that Jack was a former alcoholic in this sideways story already?   Or maybe she doesn't want him falling into his father's footsteps (was Christian an alcoholic?  we just don't know).   What we do know is that Christian liked the same drink that Sayid, Charles Widmore, Desmond Hume, Charlie Pace and Hugo Reyes like!   Good ol' MacCutcheon Whiskey makes a return in Sideways land.  And we know that is one expensive drink!  Anything to look more into there?  Eh, I'm not going there right now.  But I did once suggest that Christian had formerly been on the Island prior to the coffin ending up in the cave.   And perhaps Christian and Charles Widmore were acquaintances at one time.  But, we have seen nothing on the show to suggest that yet except for the linking of Whiskey now! 

• Jack and Mom have a discussion about David being distant.  Apparently, David was very sad at the funeral (which means they had it anyway without the body).  There are similarities drawn out of this between Jack and David.  Jack was quiet growing up and Christian couldn't get a word out of him.  (This sounds like it may not have been much different in Island timeline either.  We saw Jack as a boy in White Rabbit and he was very quiet. But Christian also told Jack that he "didn't have what it takes" when he fails).   Anyway, Jack's mother advises him to talk to David and make sure he doesn't feel the same way that Jack did about Christian. 
• Then they find the will.   And what name does Mrs. Shephard read in there?   Good ol' Claire Littleton!   She asked Jack if Christian ever mentioned the name to him.   While we don't see Jack's response, I would assume the answer is no.   Hmmm...looks like Jack and Claire might unite in THIS timeline as well!   I'm very interested to see where they are going with the sideways story!  It seems like everything is working towards these characters all meeting up at some point.  But for what purpose and how does it tie back to the ISLAND, Jughead and what have you!?   Oh boy, I need to stay patient! 

Where's David?  

• Jack returns home with a Pizza and David is nowhere to be found.  He leaves him a message and heads to the mother's house.  Naturally, she's not home so we don't see who it is!   Our first guess would have to be Sarah, which would beg the question of why they got divorced in this storyline and HOW did they meet?   Because Jack met her in the other storyline by FIXING her miraculously with a seemingly "Jacob-like touch".   What if Jacob didn't interfere in this sideways land?     And that boy is relatively older than when Jack would have met Sarah in the original timeline.   How long was Desmond training for his race around the world before he was marooned on the Island for 3 years?  Couldn't have been more than a year right?   That was the same episode that Jack fixed Sarah.   This kid is at least 13 years old!  So what gives?!  I guess Sarah might not be the mother.
• Anyway, Jack goes into David's room.  We see a keyboard and lots of classical music lying around.  The song is Chopin's "Fantaisie - Impromptu".  Hmmm, fantasy?  Red herring?  I'm guessing. 

• Jack listens to answering machine in David's room and finds out that David had an audition for Williams Conservatory at that time.  There was a 2nd message of Jack calling from Sydney after he found out about his father and just wanted to talk to David.  

Williams Conservatory

• I'm sure it's no coincidence that the sign said "Welcome All Candidates" when Jack showed up.  Nice one writers!

• Turns out Daniel is quite the prodigy at the piano and is having a fantastic audition.  Jack is almost moved to tears. 
• A boy tells Jack that his son is very good.  And this doesn't turn out to be an ordinary boy.  It is SIDEWAYS Dogen's son!  Woa...Dogen makes a comment about the kids being "too young to have this kind of pressure"  And says it's hard to watch without being able to help.  He talks about his son having a gift (seems like he's talking about more than the piano but I don't know).   He asked Jack how long David has been playing.  And Jack does not know.   And that's the last we see of it.   So what do we think?  Is Dogen "in the know" of what is going on in BOTH timelines?  Or is this just another coincidental meeting of Island people who are DESTINED to run into each other?   People that were all "BROUGHT" to the Island by Jacob? 

• Outside of the Conservatory, Jack meets up with David and tells him how great he was.  David was surprised Jack saw and admitted to messing up a few notes.   Jack tells David how much he scared him by running off.  David thought he could make it back in time while he was at "Grandma's".    Jack then said he didn't know David was STILL playing the piano.   David has asked his mother not to tell Jack.   Because Jack would always watch over him like a hawk.   He didn't want his father to see him fail.   This made Jack tell David about his relationship with HIS father and how similar it was.   Jack said he didn't want David to ever feel that way about him.  In his eyes, his son could NEVER fail.   He just wants to be part of his son's life.  And with this David agrees.   And then they're off to eat some pizza!  
• Awwwww another happy ending for Sideways Peeps!    It does sure seem like life is better if the Island never was in existence so far right?   Something tells me it's all a facade and as we dive deeper into Sideways land, all will not be what it seems.  I'm biting my nails and on the edge of my seat in anticipation! 

Jack and Hurley's Whirlwind Adventure

So we continue at the Temple after some amount of time passed since Jack's hero-esque pill popping incident happens.  Jack is hanging out outside fo the temple staring into the water at his reflection (should we relate this to Jack's reflection in the sideways land?  to his reflection later in this storyline?  Or just director Jack Bender's idea of ART?)   Dogen shows up to talk to him. 

The Temple - Jack

• Dogen was afraid Jack left.  Jack asked if that was even an option to which Dogen said "everything is an option, but I would have to stop you."    Jack appreciates his honesty.  Dogen then asks if Ford, Austin or Kwon are ever coming back.   Jack says they probably are not.  Dogen then appreciates Jack's honesty.   They have their "touche'" moment similar to Flocke and Sawyer last week (Sawyer not disclosing talking to Richard, Flocke pretending not to know what "boy" Sawyer is talking about) and they leave it at that for now.    
• Some time later, Sayid walks up to Jack and notices everyone staring at him.  They don't seem to have talked since Jack's discussion with Dogen and the POISON.  Sayid wants to know what Jack is hiding from him.  Jack told Sayid that the pill was poison.  The OTHERS wanted Jack to kill him.  And they said it happened to "someone" else.  They leave the scene then to show us some Claire/Jin stuff, but I would assume Jack told Sayid who this "someone else" was.   But that's the last of the Jack/Sayid interactions for the day!

The Temple - Hurley

• We first see Hurley playing a game of Tic-Tac-Toe with Miles.  This is fantastic.   First hysterical line of the night "Tie Again Dude" - Miles: "Shocker!"    What a ridiculous game tic-tac-toe is.  You do tie more often than win or lose!   Who knew LOST would throw its 2 cents in?   

• Hurley then went into the temple to get some food and sees a guy hanging out by the healing spring.   He asks if there is food anywhere.  It's Jacob and he gives Hugo some directions.   DUDE, Jacob?
• Jacob then tells Hurley he needs him to do something.  Tells him to get a pen to write a few things down.   "Someone is coming to the Island and I need you to help them find it."   woaaaaaa   Who is coming?   Naturally, we came close to finding out, but we didn't.    Popular theories so far:  Desmond, Ji Yeon (The "Kwon" candidate that wouldn't have been born had it not been for Jacob drawing Jin and Sun to the Island?), Charles Widmore, Aaron, someone we don't know?    
• The first thing I thought when Jacob is telling Hurley to help someone find the Island...well...was that we were going to see a "lighthouse" of some sort!   But the 2nd thing I thought is that maybe we'd get an answer to how Richard came and went from the Island (possibly Jacob too) so easily.   Remember when Ben asked Richard to "get the man from Tallahassee?"  which was Locke's Father?   They caused an accident and next thing he knew, Anthony Cooper was face to face with his son?    Not sure if the Lighthouse will provide those answers to me, but it seemed we were getting closer!  
• Okay, so I'm sure lots of people will want to analyze Hurley's arm.  But come on let's just LAUGH at Hurley's arm with the directions!   He couldn't find any paper, so he wrote this huge thing out on his arm?  Good times.  The most legible thing we'll see on the arm happens later.  Is this LOST's shout out to the first season (and arguably only good season) of Prison Break? 

• Hurley is sneaking down the Temple Hallways and looking at a bunch of hieroglyphic symbols that we have come to know and love on LOST.  I'll be the first to admit I am no expert and if anyone has translations for what is on these walls, by all means post them in the comments, and I'll get them up on the blog with all credit to you! 

• Dogen finds Hurley and asks what he is doing and instructs him to go back to the courtyard.  Hurley's 2nd hysterical line of the night "I'm just you know looking because I'm a big fan of Temples and like history.  Like Indiana Jones Stuff"  Ahh Good times! 
• Jacob shows up (only visible to Hurley).  He tells Hurley to tell Dogen that he can do what he wants because he's a candidate.   Hurley, then repeats this to Dogen and tells HIM to go back to the Courtyard.    Dogen wonders where Hurley heard that he is a candidate.     Dogen them rambles something off in Japanese that there is no way I can translate.   Anyone want to do the honors?    
  2/25 - Kudos to Horseman for finding the translation on LOSTPEDIA: "You are lucky that you are protected. Because if you were not protected I would cut your head off."Jacob tells Hurley he is better off not knowing what Dogen said.  
• Jacob then tells Hugo that he NEEDS to bring Jack with him.  Hurley said it's impossible to convince Jack to do anything these days.   The all-knowing Jacob then smiles and helps Hugo find a way to convince Jack.   3rd hysterical line of the night for Hurley "I just lied to a Samurai!" 
• 4th Hysterical moment for Hurley of the night.  He heads out to courtyard and sits next to Jack instructing Jack to be all cool and that he wants him to follow him 10 seconds after he gets up.  He found a secret tunnel that heads out to the jungle and that Jacob told him about it.   Jack refuses to go anywhere.  Hurley then said that he told Jacob he's say that.  So Hurley pulls out the big guns from Jacob and says "You have what it takes."    We mentioned earlier that in the White Rabbit episode, Christian tells Jack that he doesn't have what it takes.  Jack is very intrigued now.   Jacob told Hurley that Jack would know what that meant.   Now Jack wants to meet Jacob.   Anyone remember that I've been suggesting since Jacob was stabbed by Ben: maybe Jacob let himself die Obi-Wan style to become "more powerful than Vader could possibly imagine".   Well Hurley confirmed what I was thinking by another classic line tonight: "He's kind of dead.  Turns up whenever he wants like Obi-Wan Kenobi"  I love this show for putting in writing what we're thinking and usually letting Hurley get to say what the we are thinking!    Hurley then tells Jack that if he wants to see Jacob, that he is where they're going.   This convinces Jack to go on Hurley's adventure!  "let's go see Jacob!"  

The adventure begins

• Jack and Hurley are out in the Jungle and just happen to run into Kate.  This scene was kind of random.  Kate pointed the gun at Jack and then smiles and says "I almost shot you!!"    Ummm, thanks Kate, Captain Obvious!    
• Hurley doesn't skip a beat trying to kick Kate out of the group and get her to the Temple.   Kate says that she is going after Claire.    Jack tries to warn Kate that something may have "happened" to Claire based on the Temple Folk.   This convinces Kate even more that she has to find her.   Jack wants them all to go together on Hurley's mission and THEN find Claire.   Hurley "Dude, she's not invited."   (I've lost track but I have to be close to 5 classic lines and there are still more coming)    Kate splits ways with Jack and Hurley.
• Later in the jungle Hurley apologizes to Jack to "wrecking your game with Kate."  I really was laughing hysterically this whole episode!   Jack said there was nothing to wreck.  Hurley asked what ever happened between them.  Jack said he wasn't cut out to be a father (which mirrors the flash sideways story).   Hurley thinks Jack would be a great dad. awwww  

The Cave

• And then, the unthinkable happened.  We see an inhaler lying on the ground!  If anyone can recall back to Comic-Con 2009, Jorge Garcia showed up to ask the producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse (also the writers of this episode) about how they're going to answer all of the questions.  He specifically brought up if we are ever going to find out what happened to Shannon's inhaler.   It was a joke at the time because Darlton had been saying that not everything is really a question that they had planned to answer.   But what do you know, we got the answer anyway!   Turns out Shannon's inhaler had been lying outside of the Caves all of this time.  Way to look around guys instead of making Sayid torture Sawyer and have Kate kiss him! 

• As I was saying, Hugo's directions on his arm led them through the caves.  The caves Jack first found in the White Rabbit episode.  
• But first, Hurley stops by our favorite 2 skeletons: Adam and Eve!   I don't think we got our answer to who Adam and Eve were as much as they were reminding us they were still there and is a question they PLAN to answer.  As we all know, Darlton has told us that when they reveal the identities of these bodies, we will know they had a plan since season 1!   

• Meanwhile, Hurley addresses lots of season 5 speculation that the bodies are a result of Time Travel.  "What if we time traveled again to Dinosaur times, we died and got buried here?  What if they are us?"   Hysterical.   But, that doesn't mean Hurley isn't necessarily right.  Adam and Eve could indeed by 2 of the LOSTIES.  Many have argued that it's Rose and Bernard.    The problem with Dinosaur and Rose/Bernard theories is that Jack said the bodies were decomposing for 30-40 years or something like that (maybe 40-50)  So it technically COULD be Rose/Bernard but they would have had to die like IMMEDIATELY after Jughead and be brought to the caves in 1977.   I brought up that it could be the Man in Black and his significant other, but again the same issue with the dates.   We will just stay tuned for an answer!

• We then see Jack looking at his father's coffin.  He tells Hurley why he really found the caves.  He was chasing the ghost of his dead father (again - White Rabbit).   He said that Christian led him there.  And then he smashed up the coffin to pieces.  Hurley asked why.  Wait for it.....we've been wondering since season 1!    "Because he wasn't in it"     Okay, maybe we weren't wondering about exactly that.   But we were wondering if Oceanic ever put Christian's body in the coffin.   I'm still thinking that they did and that the body went missing.  And we can debate in the final storyline of this episode if Christian = Smokey or something else.  But, I'm still inclined to think something else for now! 

The Lighthouse

• Hurley and Jack continue on their way.  Hurley then delivers another great line " This is cool dude.  Very old school.  You and me trekking through the jungle, on our way to do something we don't quite understand?  Good times!"   The best part is that "GOOD TIMES" is on the other end of the quote and not me reacting to the many things on LOST!    And of course, Hurley is referring back to season 1 adventures.  I would think mainly their expedition to the Black Rock.   The producers did want us to get a season 1 feel to the final season.  Get a sense of things coming full circle.  They wanted to bring that sense of adventure and exploration back to the Island.  Well, we're getting it! 
• Hurley then asks Jack why he came back to the Island.   Jack asks for Hurley to reveal first.   Hurley tells Jack about Jacob in the cab telling him he's supposed to go back.   Jack tells Hurley that he was broken and that he was stupid enough to think that this place could fix it.   OUCH.   That Jughead "seemingly not working" Destiny mission for Jack has him in a very negative place!  
• Hurley then tells them they are close.  And before we know it, we stumble upon The Lighthouse!  And it has a very literal meaning indeed.  I mean...it's a LIGHTHOUSE! 

• Jack wonders how they never saw this place before.  Hurley suggests that maybe they weren't looking for it.  But, is that the answer?  Maybe they COULDN'T see it before?   Doesn't seem like it was very far from the caves does it?  
• Jack got a good line in on Hurley when the door was locked asking if his arm tells him what to do if the door is jammed.  Jack kicks in the door and they head up. 
• And what do we see?  We see Mirrors and a Wheel with lots of numbers and names.   Some of the names crossed off.   Hurley's arm instructed him to turn the wheel to 108.   

  

• But let's dissect the wheel for a minute.  If this is Jacob's lighthouse, then it looks like maybe he was tracking candidates on this wheel, right?   So, I hate to eat my words that I said on last week's blog comments, but maybe Flocke was lying a bit?  Even if he was lying, he was sort of telling the truth!  But maybe the wall IS Flocke's wall and not Jacob's?   Maybe they both have a list of names and are each crossing people off the list?  Maybe the battle has come down to these 6 Candidates? (5 if you don't include Locke)   We do see the same numbers associated with Jarrah, Ford, Kwon and Shephard.   But guess what?  There is also an Austin on there at 51 and not crossed off!  What does that mean?   Is this someone that maybe MIB isn't tracking and Jacob is?  Or did we just not see her on the wall?  Why wouldn't Flocke show Sawyer Kate's name?   I think we actually see a 108 too and it's associated with a crossed off Wallace.  Who is Wallace?  It could be no one important or it could be a name I am totally forgetting from past seasons.   We also see Rousseau on this list pretty close to Jack's name.  But I think we saw her on the wall too.    Here's a bunch of pictures of the wheel for dissection! 

  

• I am sure there will be lots to discuss on all of the names and the comparison to the cave wall.  
• But then, there is what happens when the wheel is set to one of the names.  Images come up in the mirror!   It looks like we passed by a couple of familiar locations.  Like was that the Korean structure near where Jin and Sun got married? (or maybe it was Japanese and Dogen related?)    Was that the church where Sawyer's parents' funeral was?   And of course, we know that Jack saw something familiar on 23, his house from growing up that we saw in the Flash Sideways. 

• Jack gets very frustrated by seeing this.  He tells Hurley he grew up in that house.  Hurley's response "weird"   Jack starts to think it over and realizes Jacob has been watching him since he was a kid.  That he's been watching all of them.   He starts demanding from Hurley to see Jacob.  Hurley just assumed he'd be there.   Jack wants to know why Jacob was watching him.  He demands for Hurley to ask him.  Hurley doesn't know what to do because Jacob isn't there.  Jack grabs a telescope and asks Hurley what Jacob wants from him.   Hurley doesn't know anything.  Jack is losing it and then he smashes the mirrors with the telescope.  ooooh boy.   And Thank you ABC for showing us that in the previews!  At least previews for next week were very sketchy.  I like it! 

  

• Jack still ain't a happy man!  But apparently, this is all part of Jacob's plan too.  We'll get there in a second.
• I guess I got so caught up in the details, I did forget to mention the NUMBERS again.  We learn a little bit more about the numbers.  Maybe Jacob just "didn't have a thing" for numbers but the numbers coincide with DEGREES on the Lighthouse Wheel.  Now, whether there is a reason that the names have to be at that particular place on the wheel?  I don't know.  But according to the podcast, Darlton told us that THIS is what they mean by providing answers to things without getting to the very "midichlorian" (star wars prequel reference) detail of things.   I'm fine with that!   

Outside the Lighthouse

• We next see Jack on a cliff looking out to the ocean pondering his next move.  Pondering probably his entire existence and figuring out some purpose. 

• Meanwhile Hurley looks on from afar and gets a visit from Obi-Wan again. 

• Hurley is not too happy with Jacob.  He asked where Jacob was and thanked him for the 7 years of bad luck for breaking the mirrors.  Classic!  Jacob tels Hurley that he has ink on his forehead.  Ahh Ghost Jacob has a sense of humor too!   Hurley argues that the mission is "UNACCOMPLISHED" and there is no way for this person to get to the Island now.   Jacob tells Hurley "THEY" will find another way.  Maybe it's more than one person or are they still trying to disguise that it's a male or female?    
• It turns out that Jacob wanted Jack to see what he saw and to react the way he did.  Jack has to "DO" something and it's going to take Jack to figure out what that is.  No one can show him the way.   Some people can be convinced in the back of a cab, others need to look out into the ocean. NICE!   Jack still does have some purpose.  And it sounds very important.  Jack is continuing back to his HEROIC self.  But just had to hit one more session with Rock Bottom!    
• Having said all of this, they seem to really be indicating that MIB is Evil and Jacob is Good.  And we have been told by Darlton to not make assumptions.   So while Jacob is still being all friendly and providing direction, it might not be all that it seems!   But it's hard not to support Jacob at this point!   This dude has a plan! 
• I love the relationship Hurley and Jacob are developing too.   Hurley tells Jacob to not keep him in the dark next time.  He hates secret plans.  Jacob seems to enjoy Hurley's perspective on things as well.  Good times! 
• But the big news Jacob delivers is that his real plan was to get Jack and Hurley as far away from the Temple as possible because someone bad is going there!   Hurley wants to go back and warn them.  But Jacob says it's too late.  Hmmm is Smokey headed that way to get his claimed man? 

Claire and Jin

When we last left Jin, he was caught in a Bear Trap, and Claire picked off Aldo and Justin with Rousseau like rifle-accuracy!   We resume there: 

Claire "rescues" Jin

• Dirtied up Claire checks Justin to see if he was alive.  He is seemingly dead.  Anyone that read last week's Cover story in Entertainment Weekly, would have known otherwise!  
• Jin asks Claire how long she has been out here.  Claire told Jin that since they all left and asks how long that was.  Jin tells her it has been 3 years.   Reminded me of Rousseau and Sayid's first meeting "16 years, has it been that long?"    Claire promises to get Jin some place safe.  Jin passes out from the pain. 

Back at Casa Claire

• This hut that Claire made for herself looks very much like Rousseau's bunker.  It even has some Black Rock dynamite in there for a rainy day!   And it would appear lots of supplies from the Medical Hatch.  The one place Claire actually had been to on the Island besides the beach, caves and the barracks.   Notice, the cradle that was in Aaron's room at the medical hatch is here as well. 

• Jin wakes up and his leg is not doing too well.  He looks in the Baby carriage and sees something really disturbing!  I don't even know where to start explaining?  I guess Claire has made herself an imaginary baby?  But it sure looks like a creature of some sort!  Is it supposed to be a stuffed animal version of Tawaret?  The statue?  God of Life and fertility?  I just have no idea.  Anyone want to throw up a suggestion? 

• Claire's demeanor is very Rousseau-like, right down to the very detail that she is missing her baby and is blaming the OTHERS for his kidnapping.  She brings Justin (alive) into the hut and told Jin that he was only pretending to be dead. 

• A lot of what follows is a back and forth between Claire and Justin trying to convince Jin what to do.  Justin was telling Jin that Claire is bad news.  Not the same Claire he knew.  She will kill both of them.   Claire is convinced that the Others stole Aaron.    Jin asks why she is so convinced?   Claire told him that first her father told her and then her friend told her.   So, we know that the last time we saw Claire in season 4 she was with Christian Shephard.  We have been trying to figure out if Christian is another incarnation of the Smoke Monster or something else entirely.  We'll tackle this more in a bit.  
• I think we were meant to think that thing in the cradle was Claire's imaginary friend for a bit.  But we sure learned otherwise later!  Claire then asks Jin if he is her friend.  And he tells her yes, of course.  
• Claire fixes Jin's wound.  Sews him up and even brings up that she had to sew herself up after the OTHERS shot at her once.  Woa... this Claire is crazy!   But at the same time, she still seems like CLAIRE, right?   Dogen said that Sayid wouldn't even resemble the person he was before.  Claire seems misdirected that The Others have her child and seems angry about it.  She develops survival skills over the next 3 years and she could be like this right?   Of course, we also know that she is "claimed" but we don't know exactly what that means either.  We don't know if she died or not.    But we did find out she was also brought to the temple and tortured just like Sayid.   So maybe she did die but not in the Barracks Explosion as we previously thought?   Well, then why would Miles be looking at her so strangely?  
• Anyway, she also said that the Others stuck her with needles too.  We haven't seen them do that to Sayid yet.    Something tells me we need a little Claire backstory.  But I'm guessing her centric episode will be a flash sideways.  This is the only thing I'm not liking about the Flash Sideways.  I hope we still get a Richard back story and a Man in Black backstory and we don't see Off-Island Sideways Richard living in the 1800's  about to board a ship that gets to its destination!    And I want to see what happened to Claire!  But something tells me we were just TOLD what they did to Claire to avoid having to see a flashback.  I'm sure the LOST masterminds have a plan! 
• Anyway, Claire is about to take down Justin with an Ax after repeatedly asking about Aaron (to which Justin truthfully admits they don't have him).   Jin, finally bursts out telling Claire that Kate took Aaron and raised him off of the Island.  He's 3 years old now.    Justin then tells Claire it's true and that he promises if they let him go he won't tell anyone he saw her.   Claire, crying, just takes the ax and shoves it right into Justin's gut.  OUCH.    That Justin sure seemed like a nice OTHER.  Oh well! 

A Friend Arrives

• Claire assures Jin that if she didn't kill Justin he would have killed her.  Based on Dogen trying to get Jack to poison Sayid, maybe this is true.  
• Claire then asks why Jin told her that Kate was raising Aaron.   Jin, thinks this over before responding and decides to lie sensing something isn't right with Claire.  Jin told Claire he was lying and just wanted to save Justin's life.   He then says the others DO have the baby and he is at the temple.  Jin says he can take her there and knows a secret way there.  
• Claire then tells Jin she is so glad he was lying because she would have killed Kate.  Oh boy...foreshadowing!   Surely, that can be how Kate meets her demise, if at all!   At this point, I guess I could say that maybe Claire was not Claire.   Something is pulling at her strings. 
• And right on cue, Flocke shows up!   Jin, very surprised to see him (since he probably was informed of Locke's passing), says "John???"    
• And Claire says that it's not John. "This is my Friend!" 

BOOM LOST!!! 

Nice!!  Okay, so smokey is definitely the one that "CLAIMED" Claire.  My first reaction to this was that maybe Christian Shephard IS Smokey.  Since Claire was with him in the cabin.  But Claire definitely could sense that this man was not John Locke.  She knew that it was something else.  Now maybe Flocke appeared to her before like when Sun and Ben were at the barracks and Flocke went away for a little while.   But Claire pointed out that her FATHER told her Aaron has been taken by the Others and her FRIEND told her.  Seems like 2 different things right?  So since Christian's body is indeed missing from the coffin (which we were reminded again in the episode), does that mean Christian's body has been CLAIMED by Smokey just like dead Sayid was and possibly dead Claire?    And this IS in fact the Zombie season of LOST?   I just don't know yet.  I'm sure everyone will have theories.  But regardless of Christian Shephard's status (who has also appeared in ghost form OFF of the Island to Jack), it would seem that Flocke is going to work on his next recruit in Jin.  And will all 3 of them head to the temple together fulfilling Jacob's prophecy of someone bad heading to the temple?

I don't know but I'm excited to find out!  Another outstanding installment of LOST.  And I will say again, Hurley for MVP!  That dude needs to be on every mission from now until the end!    Previews for next week, as I mentioned, were very sketchy but ABC assured us answers will be provided.  And I am sure Darlton would warn us that ABC gets a little ahead of themselves.   But I'm sure excited anyway! 

So that's it for this week folks.  I'm sorry if I missed anything or for any typos.  It was a busy night and morning of blogging and I am a little sleep deprived!  But as always, I look forward to our discussions in the comments.   Hope you enjoyed my ramblings and I will see you next week!  NAMASTE! 

Ending Credits

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