LOST: Season 6 Episode 8 - Recon

Hello LOSTIES!  Welcome back to the final season countdown.   I am sure I am not the only one that may have been a little underwhelmed by this episode.  Yeah, interesting things were happening (and we will get into that), but as a whole it just felt like something was missing.   Maybe it is finding out what Sawyer's motivation is after 3 years of being on the Island.  Maybe it is still the Sideways land frustrating people.   Maybe it was meeting a cast of new characters that we can hate for joining LOST in the final season.   Eh, it could be a lot of things.  But you know me, I am always looking for the positives folks!  This is a necessary building block to get to the end game of LOST.  Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have a vision, and this is part of it.  And just what is behind that locked door?  And who is the MIB's crazy mother!?  And when did Sawyer learn how to drive a submarine?  Let's be honest folks, there is no way that I am giving any episode of LOST in this final season anything less than my WOW stamp of approval! So there it is!  But, I will say this before we get into our discussion.  NEXT WEEK's episode looks awesome doesn't it?  I won't say what it is for the 100% spoiler free (including not even watching previews), but I have been looking forward to this one for a few weeks now!

Recon - A military term, short for reconnaissance.  To go behind enemy lines and gather intelligence.   Darlton have also hinted that it could also be interpreted for this Sawyer-centric episode simply to be "To Con Again".   Ahhhh those silly LOST writers and their hysterical wit!   Well, we see both of these definitions in play in this episode.  Sawyer, Jin, Claire, Sayid and Flocke all unite as Flocke brings "his people" together after the Temple Disaster.   Flocke has a mission for Sawyer on Hydra Island.  Meanwhile, Kate and Claire come to terms with the revelations about Aaron that they each learned.  And of course, we have another Sideways Story, with another Mirror  and more interesting character crossings! Let's dive in folks!

Flash Sideways - Sawyer

Detective James Ford

We open up Sawyer's Sideways story very similar to how 2 of his flashback episodes started before.  One from Season 1 - "Confidence Man, and the other from Season 2 - "The Long Con".  In both stories he was just finished "having relations" with a pretty unsuspecting woman and she realizes that he is running late for a meeting.  The meeting is always a fake and just an excuse for Sawyer to grab his briefcase that opens up with a load of cash falling out.  And then, the woman was to invest her and her husband's money (or ex-husband's money) in the sure deal.  Yes, in the Long Con, Cassidy calls Sawyer on the bluff but it was all part of a longer con where he did get his hands on the money, but not before he fell for her.  There is one big twist in this opening scene of Sawyer's flash sideways episode. 

"You weren't exactly supposed to see that...." 

• Sawyer is working on the other side of the law.  He's a cop!  He was setting up the woman to bring him to her husband, another con man.  Of course, we eventually find out even though he's a cop he turns out to not be as different as he seems. 
• I knew I recognized the woman from somewhere.  It's Jodi Lyn O'Keefe.  She played Gretchen on Prison Break.   Pretty small role she signed up for! 

• We must note that the clock happened to say 8:42am when Sawyer did the whole "I'm late" act.  Do I even need to point out the relevance? Okay, I will!  8 and 42 are 2 of the numbers!  (for old time's sake)

• Sawyer's secret codeword to get the cops to storm in was "LaFleur", of course this was a nod to his Creole 1977 Dharma Cover Name.
• Guess who is partner in fighting crime is?  None other than his former Dharma Deputy Miles Straume!   Guess they were meant to work together in all timelines.  

• Moving on, we see Detective James Ford calling an Anthony Cooper.  We all know by now that Anthony Cooper is John Locke's father.  He conned Sawyer's parents out of some money, causing Daddy to kill Mommy and then Kill himself, all while Jimmy was laying under the bed.   Looks like nothing has changed in this timeline folks!   Hmmm, raises some interesting questions to why John Locke and his Dad are so chummy in sideways land, doesn't it?    Some speculation started last week, even by myself.  What if the John Locke in sideways land is not even John Locke?  What, if we stick with the Epilogue Theory (that everything we are seeing in sideways land, happens as a result of everything happening on the Island. Including season 6 stuff) then could John Locke be inhabited by the Man in Black still?  It sure seemed like he was pushing Ben towards a position of power with his suggestion that Ben become principal.     Of course, this is all just speculation.  I still am not a huge fan of the Epilogue theory and think something else is up.  But it is always interesting to speculate.  Why would Locke's Dad still be a con man and not con Locke out of his kidney?   Surely, he wouldn't have conned John and then they became buds anyway, right?    Darlton have stated that it's probably a safe bet that we will find out how John became paralyzed in this timeline.   Anyone also want to bet that we'll be seeing a run-in with Mr. Ford, John Locke AND Anthony Cooper all at one time?   Ahh, it will be memories of the fantastic episode "The Brig" all over again! 

• Anyway, Miles interrupts Sawyer from making his calls to every Anthony Cooper on his list.   We see a running theme about Sawyer and Miles' relationship.  Sawyer lies about everything he is doing.  He lies about going to Australia, about who Anthony Cooper is (Laker Ticket hook-up).  Miles catches him in the lie with the Laker tickets and just wants the truth from him.  But we'll get to that.  For now we need to ponder about Miles.  He was born on the Island during Dharma times.  He was an infant in 1977.   Was he still born on the Island?  Does he still have crazy ghost talking powers?  Was Pierre Chang still part of the Dharma Initiative?  Did the Island sink before 1977 causing Miles to be born OFF of the Island?   Questions will get a little crazier when we start talking about Charlotte! 
• Speaking of which, Miles sets up Sawyer on a date.  Speaking of Pierre Chang, Miles says that this woman is a friend of his that works with his dad at the museum.  So Pierre Chang works at a museum in this timeline?  Interesting... Same question, did he always work there? 
• We also find out that Miles has a girlfriend, but we don't know who.  Would it be safe to assume it's someone we know?

Date Night

So Sawyer goes out on his date and just when we are thinking he's going to meet Juliet for coffee (but why would she work at a museum?), we see a red head sitting at the bar.  And we see our second Freighter-crew from another lifetime - Charlotte Staples Lewis! 

• James and the redhead sure hit it off right off the bat.  They're all talking Archeology and whips and Indiana Jones.  She says she travels quite a bit to far off and romantic places.  Doesn't really sound like the Island is what she's referring to there! 
• Okay, so let's sidetrack for one second here.  Let's imagine that this sideways wrinkle is indeed caused by Jughead (yet to be proven).  Wasn't Daniel's whole motivation to detonate the bomb so that he could bring Charlotte back and have another chance with her?  POOR DANIEL!   I'm not woman, but I'm guessing there's no going back after a shot with Sawyer!  Granted, he does blow it in the end (Spoiler Alert)   
• The other question is again about figuring out when this Island sank.  Charlotte was a little older than Miles when she was told by Daniel to leave the Island.   Has she lived on the island before?   Her whole inspiration for becoming an archeologist was to find her way BACK to the island.   Is this motivation still the same?   
• Sawyer refers to his job comparing it to the Steve McQueen movie Bullet.  A classic movie with famous car chases, heists, and police!  I'm sure some classic movie enthusiasts will chastise my summation.  But I have never seen the movie and this is a recap of LOST, not Bullet!   Sawyer is fibbing a bit anyway.  It come back to this concept of telling the truth, which Charlotte requests.    Sawyer ends up saying that he got to a point in his life where he was either going to become a criminal or a cop.   In this timeline he chose to become a cop.  I wonder what that point in his life was?   I wonder if it has something to do with Jacob's intervention at his parents' funeral in one timeline and possibly not in the other?   But would the end result still be the same?  It seems his motivation is still the same, looking for Mr. Cooper! 
• But in this timeline, Sawyer does what he does best.  He woos his woman into bed!  Never would have imagined this pairing folks!  When Sawyer gets Charlotte some water, she wants to borrow a t-shirt and goes into his top drawer. 
• First off, we should point out that there are 3 books on his dresser.  And they all just happened to be books that Sawyer was reading on the Island in previous timelines.  Check out the Lostpedia analysis pages for each of these books to see a basic synopsis and how it might relate to LOST.   What I take from this outside of the themes that could be at play, Sawyer still loves reading books and he was going to read these books with or without the Island's help!  It seems in this one, he got a head start since it's only about a week after flight 815. 
  
  Watership Down (Season 1 - Confidence Man, House of the Rising Sun  Season 3 - Left Behind)
  A Wrinkle in Time (Season 1 - Deus Ex Machina) and
  Lancelot (Season 2 - Maternity Leave)

• But Charlotte stumbles upon a photo of James Ford and his parents and a folder entitled "SAWYER" with a news article in it about his parent's death.   Sawyer sees her looking at it and all hell breaks loose.  He wants to know what she saw.  Charlotte denies she saw anything and then he kicks her out at 3 in the morning.  Yikes, Sawyer still has his baggage!   (By the way, not sure I had to mention it, but Anthony Cooper went by the name "SAWYER" when he killed James' parents.   In this timeline, it appears that James does not take on the name of Sawyer due to the fact that he is not following the conman path.  He is simply James Ford.  But I'm gonna keep calling him Sawyer if you don't mind!)

Back at the Station

• We see a familiar face in Liam Pace, Charlie's older brother!  Unfortunately, no Charlie.  But he probably is somewhere in that prison.  He ends up asking Sawyer if he could get some information on where Charlie is.  He was arrested on the drug charges at the airport.  As we saw in the season premiere, Jack saved his life on the plane by pulling bag of heroin out of his throat.  Charlie wasn't too pleased about this!   Sawyer ends up not helping Liam because it's not his department. 

• Miles runs into Sawyer and we find out he did some investigating and found out that Sawyer didn't go to Palm Springs for vacation.  He went to Sydney.   Miles wants to know what he was doing there.  Miles is all upset that Sawyer lied to him and that he can't trust him.  And since Sawyer won't come clean he gives up on being his partner.  
• After Miles rambles on about Sawyer going to Australia and taking Oceanic Flight 815 home and then storms off, Sawyer looks at himself in the mirror (yep, a mirror!)  Frowns, gets angry and punches it.   Well kids, we're 7 for 7 on episodes with reflections.  Tell me this isn't something that will come into play down the road!?   

 Sawyer "Reflects"

• The next Sideways scene has Sawyer reflecting on his life and his actions.  He grabs a beer and watches some Little House on the Prairie (Which Sawyer mentions in season 3's "Tricia Tanaka is Dead" he used to watch when he was a kid and sick).  In this episode of Little House, the daughter is worried about losing her parents (RIP Michael Landon!).  The advice is to stop worrying about what's going to happen and just live each day.  Stop worrying about things or you'll miss half of your life.  Sawyer seems to take the message to heart and tries to go apologize to Charlotte.   But it was already too late for her.  She tells him he blew it (Told you I Spoiled it above!)  He leaves her a flower anyway.   But it may not be too late to mend ties with Miles! 

• Sawyer does run into Miles later in the episode and asks him to get in his car.  He shares the Sawyer folder with him and tells him all about what happened to his parents and how he has been hunting "Sawyer" down ever since he left the academy.  He followed a lead that took him to Sydney.   He got a name there, Anthony Cooper.   Interesting, he never got a name in the Island timeline.  He ended up killing the wrong guy.   He tells Miles he got a list of names and he has been calling them.  When he finds the right one, he is going to kill him.   He didn't want to tell Miles because he knew Miles would try to stop him.  (Which Miles agrees to)   Sawyer laughs and says "Fair enough."   Does that mean he's talked out of it?  I doubt it, but maybe Miles isn't done with his convincing.  Something tells me this story is far from over anyway based on what happens next.  
• There is a car being chased by a cop car and it slams right into Sawyer's car.  The person in a hood jumps out of the car and starts running.  Sawyer and Miles drive after them.   

• Sawyer gets out of the car and pursues on foot and outsmarts the runner.  And guess who it is?  SURPRISE!!!  It's Kate Austen!  Gotta love how Sawyer says his famous line "Son of a B____" with a little flirtation to it! 

And that's where we end things folks.  So, Sawyer takes a good hard look in the mirror and doesn't like what he sees.  He tells the TRUTH to Miles, and all seems to be right in the world.  But like I said, this story doesn't seem over.  He just caught Kate and things are getting interesting.  Will we get to see how this story pursues?  Well, maybe if we get a Miles flash sideways story.  But I really see all of these stories culminating by the end of the season into all of the LOSTIES being interwoven in each other's stories.  But what do I know?   We have lots more story to recap so let's put this part aside for now!

Island - Team Flocke Gathers

Gathering at Casa Claire

The episode opens up with Sawyer making himself some tea.  He touches the kettle burning over the stove and yells his signature line.  Then he goes into Claire's hut to wake up Jin. The excitement unfolds from there. 

• Well I guess we find out where Sawyer has been this whole time.  It's nothing glamorous.  He must have come with Flocke when we first saw him arrive at Claire's hut.   And he has just been hanging out with Jin ever since.  He apparently was letting Jin sleep to recuperate from his wounds.  Of course when he woke up all he wants to do is get away from the guy that is not Locke.   Sawyer tells Jin he is with Flocke because he promised him a way off of the Island.  
• All Jin can talk about is needing to find Sun.  Sawyer promised that they wouldn't leave before they find her.  If there is one thing that I can complain about in this final season, it is them stretching out the Jin/Sun reunion even further.  I think if they knew they were in the same time period again and Sun knew Jin was alive for sure that they'd be racing across the island trying to find each other.   Sun following this stranger Ilana and Jin sticking with Team Flocke seems a little forced.  But, I guess bigger stakes are at hand and they are willing to stay put for now.   And who knows when they do reunite if it will be a sweet emotional one if they are both supporting different sides?   
• Anyway, Flocke returns with Crazy Claire, Evil Sayid, Confused Kate, Cindy, The Kids and a cast of OTHERS (get it?).    Kate seems relieved to see Sawyer.   They have one of their intense and meaningful conversations that they always have.  Kate "Hi"  Sawyer "Hi Yourself"   Nice.

• Next we see Claire gathering a few items including some rope and a knife.  And then she takes a look over at squirrel baby.   Still as creepy as ever! 

• Kate, still not learning her lesson that Claire is nutso, goes into the hut and asks Claire if this is where she lived.  And then asks about the crazy squirrel baby.   Claire tells Kate that it was all she had, while giving Kate an evil look.   Yep, this girl fight ain't over yet!  
• Flocke gathers the troops to give a speech about what the plan is.  Flocke acknowledges that they have all been through a rough night and claims he will make himself available for questions.  But for now they need to move and take advantage of the daylight.   

• Cindy asks what happened to the rest of the people at the Temple.  Didn't she already ask Sayid that AT the Temple?   I guess with all of this commercial work she has been doing lately, it's tough for her to memorize more than 1 line?!    Flocke half lies to the people indicating that the Black Smoke killed them.   Zach and Emma look frightened, to which Flocke comforts them.  He knows they're scared and he's going to take care of them.   And Claire may look a little frightened (like a child) too.  She grabs Kate's hand.  WHAT????   

• Claire seems to be going through some intense mood swings.  One moment she hates Kate, then the next she is clutching on hoping that Kate will keep her safe from the boogie man.  Very interesting.  Meanwhile, Sayid just looks EEEEEVIL!  Is the same thing really going on with these two? 
• Sawyer checks with Kate for a status on the rest of their crew.  Kate mentions she saw Jack and Hurley leaving the temple on her way back.  (mmm hmmm when she said she "wasn't" going to the Temple! That crazy Kate!)  She wasn't sure what happened to Miles.  But we know that they're all hanging out on the beach.  Kate asks if Sawyer is with Locke to which Sawyer responds that he isn't with anyone.   I guess we should have seen his plan coming together just from that statement.  And maybe we sorta did! 
• Flocke leads his expedition into the depths of the jungle.  He points everyone towards a clearing a quarter mile away where they will make camp.  He says they will be there a couple of days to which Sawyer starts providing some frustrated commentary. 

  

• Sawyer wants to know WHEN they are leaving the Island.  It appears James has angered the beast and Flocke requests a private discussion.   This, my friends is where our stories split. 

Sawyer's Recon Mission

Flocke's Orders

• Flocke states his displeasure in being interrupted.  Sawyer sarcastically apologizes to which Flocke sighs and sarcastically forgives him.  Well, there you go, even the Man in Black has a bit of a sense of humor.
• Sawyer asks how Flocke knew to rescue the people from the "Smoke Thing".   Even though MIB is lying to the OTHERS, he came clean to Sawyer.  He takes a breath and then says that he IS the Smoke Thing.   Interesting.  MIB is all about being up front with Sawyer and it seems pretty much everyone.  We see more of Flocke defending why he has been doing things here.   He said that he gave them the opportunity to leave peacefully and didn't take it.  Sawyer wants to know why.  Flocke says that the Others that didn't follow him are convinced (and possibly the ones that did) are convinced that they are protecting the Island from HIM when all he wants to do is leave.  It's Kill or be Killed and he doesn't want to be killed.   Interesting.
• So now since we know Flocke is telling the truth about being the smoke monster can we buy his explanation?  Is the sole purpose of THE OTHERS to defend the Island against Smokey?  What has Smokey really ever done to the ISLAND?   He has killed people, yes but he has also defended the Island from threats (See Keamy and Freighter crew).  I smell a bit of a fib here.    And what about this whole "I don't want to be killed" comment?   As we see, it's no easy feat to kill Flocke.   He has been shot and stabbed and nothing seems to affect him.   After all, he is a pillar of black smoke that can take dead human's forms.   Is he even ALIVE?  All theories welcome on this one.  Truth vs. Lie vs. Mix of Truth and Lie.   Regardless to what we want to believe, by the end of the episode it doesn't seem like Sawyer really cares WHAT Flocke has to say.  
• Flocke then walks Sawyer to one of the outriggers pointed towards Hydra Island.  Funnily enough, there have been people out there wondering what happened to the rest of the Ajira folks still stuck on Hydra Island.  Flocke tells Sawyer that some of them mean to do them harm.  He wants Sawyer to go over there and do some Recon.   He also states that the PLANE is the ultimate goal.  The Ajira flight that brought his friends back is their ticket off of the Island.   I wonder if that really is Flocke's end goal?  Is he going to need Lapidus then to fly the thing?   And how does a pillar of Black Smoke just leave the Island and live a normal life?  Surely, he's not planning to get off of the Island and terrorize the world with his Smokiness right?  

• Flocke says he is not worried about anyone doing Sawyer harm because he is the best liar that he ever met.  Tell them whatever he needs to tell them to gain their trust, find out everything about them and then come back.   Ironically, in a Sideways story so full of Sawyer needing to tell the truth, everything that follows shows Sawyer telling the truth to BOTH the people on Hydra and to Flocke.  Except maybe one small detail.  And as we learned from Sawyer in "The Long Con,"  it's all in the details. 

Sawyer Returns to Hydra Island

Even uttering the term Hydra brings back some tough memories for a lot of LOST fans. It reminds us of those first 6 episodes of season 3 when things seemed to be moving at a snail's pace (no end date for the show defined and some "Stalling" was happening).  Some people are even comparing season 6 to this (to which I have to disagree).  But, we continue what we have been doing for a lot of this season on the Island.  We are revisiting all of the settings from Seasons 1-5 that made this show what it is today.  It's a chance for reminiscing and "reflection" on all that we have been through with this show, good and not as good.  (I still argue that in the big picture, those 6 episodes weren't really that bad!)  So before Sawyer runs into any humans on Hydra, he has a chance to reflect and reminisce himself on those "good times" of season 3.  Polar Bear Cages, the Hydra Station, Kate's dress (on loan from Alex) that he removed back in the day.  Maybe the dress would have looked a little worse than it did here if it had been sitting there for 3 years.

• Ahhh memories.  It must have been nice for Sawyer to see all that hard work building a runway come to fruition with the Ajira Plane sitting nice and pretty on Hydra.  It definitely will need some repairs though if anyone plans to take that thing off of the Island!  After inspecting the plane, Sawyer catches the whiff of a trail and follows it.  

• Or maybe he caught a whiff of something else because he comes to find that any passengers that were remaining on Hydra were dead and all piled up together.  Uh oh.  

• Before long, Sawyer realizes he is not alone and he runs and grabs a woman claiming to be the last Ajira survivor.  Her name is Zoe.  And then we all start thinking "Great, more new cast members."  

• Zoe continues to pretend that she was on the plane.  Sawyer tells the absolute truth to her saying that he didn't come on this plane and eventually explains more.  For now the story we get on the dead bodies is that Zoe was waiting for rescue along with everyone else.  She was collecting wood and then she heard screaming and they were all dead.  She spent 2 days dragging their bodies here to get them out of the sun. Sounds pretty incomplete to me! 
• Again Sawyer tells the truth saying he's not alone and can take her to the group of people on the main island.  We get a little shout out to thanking God to which Sawyer claims God has nothing to do with it.  Some people will probably look at this as a hint that Flocke is the Devil or whatever.   And I am sure some will find many religious themes to tie this to.    I'm just going to take it as Sawyer being Sawyer and making a comment on his current situation.  
• Sawyer asks Zoe if she thinks the plane will fly.  She says it will take some work and someone who knows how to do it.  And of course, no one knows where the pilot is.  She then asks Sawyer for a head count of who is with him.  She asked if they were all on the plane with him, asked when they crashed and asked if they all have guns.  Definitely sounded like she was gathering intelligence as well.  And Sawyer caught right on.  Of course Zoe did know that the flight was going to Guam.  But considering there was one individual who ran into Eloise Hawking last season and was last seen heading to the Island, it's not a stretch that Zoe would know that.   Sawyer turns the tables and points his gun at Zoe.  

• Sawyer calls her out on being a fraud, Zoe whistles and all of these goons pop out with guns pointed at Sawyer.  And of course, one of them looks like this.  Anyone really scared?   We do find out at least that Zoe didn't lie about her name, not like Sawyer has about his for years! 

• The goofy goons proceed to take Sawyer to their leader.  On the way, we see them putting up some pylons to which Sawyer later notes are to protect them from a certain Black Smoke.   Does this prove that Widmore is on Team Jacob?  Or is he perhaps on Team Widmore? 

• Whoops I got ahead of myself.  Sawyer is escorted to a submarine which is most certainly the sub we saw at the end of last week's episode.  Charles Widmore's sub.  I guess there were more people on that thing than we first saw.  Perhaps there are other people "locked" away on the sub?  Time will tell.  

• Inside the sub, we see it is a lot bigger than when we saw it last time.   We also notice, as does Sayer, that one door has a lock on it.  Obviously, something important is behind that door as Sawyer brings it up again to Flocke later.  Maybe it has something to do with the end game of LOST.  Maybe it is some ONE.  Could Desmond be behind that door, brought back against his will because the Island is not DONE with him?  Anyone else have any theories?  Tina Fey....errrr Zoe tells Sawyer that it's none of his business and asks him to keep moving. 

• So Sawyer finally gets to meet Charles Widmore.  Of course, he already has met him in 1954 as Charles and his buddy (which he killed) had him and Juliet captive until Locke came around.  Charles most certainly probably remembers Sawyer.  But what Sawyer knows is that Widmore sent the freighter to kill all of them which in turn caused Ben to turn that wheel and send them all traveling through time.   He does bring up the freighter part of this and refuses to shake Charles's hand.  

• Charles thinks it is sad how little Sawyer actually really knows.  Is he referring to that they had met before?  Is he referring to not knowing what is going on with the Island?  Is he referring to the people watching this show that are hungry for answers?  Or is he possibly referring to the fact that Sawyer is a candidate to replace Jacob and he is surprised how much he doesn't know?   Or, maybe, all of the above? 
• Sawyer says that he does know that they murdered all of those Ajira folk and put them in a ditch.  Of course, when he brought up the ditch part, it sounded awfully a lot like the purge of the Dharma Initiative which could most certainly be an order of Widmore's.    But Widmore claims that they didn't kill the Ajira people and doesn't expect Sawyer to believe him, which he doesn't.  Well then who did?  Did Smokey make it back over to Hydra and kill them?  Or would something/someone else have done this?  Ohhh wait a minute, could it have been Ilana and crew? That would definitely be an interesting twist and maybe reflect Jacob in a more negative light.   I guess time will tell (and no, I still am not forgetting about that whole scene in season 5 where Sawyer, Locke, Juliet and crew time traveled to the future and were taking an outrigger from the beach camp and someone was following them and shooting them!  There are more "candidates" now to make this scene happen!  I'd like to see it please!)  
• Anyway, Widmore asks why Sawyer has come to the Hydra Island.  Sawyer, again, tells the truth.   John Locke sent him.  Widmore gets a fearful look in his eye stating that Locke is dead.  Sawyer says that they both know it's not John Locke.  Sawyer says that he will tell Flocke that the coast is clear and that he didn't find anybody and he'll bring the man right to them.  Then Widmore and crew can kill him.  Do they know HOW to kill Smokey?  Is that what is locked behind that door?   
• Widmore smiles and wants to know what Sawyer wants in exchange.  1.) People on his boat don't get touched, not even a hair on their head  2.)  Widmore give them safe passage off of the Island.    (Interesting on the boat thing.  Especially if the Time Traveling Sawyer comes into play and there IS shooting at him.  I know I'm grasping at straws here but I want that scene!)    Widmore and Sawyer seem to come to an agreement and at the time it seems like Sawyer has just conned Mr. Flocke.       

The Battle of Kate and Claire

So while Sawyer is off working on his con, Kate was sitting around with the bunch of crazies at their temporary camp.   Sayid has been starting into space this entire episode and Kate finally decides to try and talk to him. 

• Kate says hey, and Sayid, with no emotion, respons with "Kate."  Kate asks if Sayid believes Locke can get them off of the Island.  He, again staring at nothing, says that he does believe him.  Kate asks if he is okay to which Sayid finally looks at Kate and says ".....No...."  Oh boy. 

• And while Sayid just sits there staring, Claire grabs Kate from behind and puts a knife to her neck.    One second Claire is holding Kate's hand now she wants to kill her again!  Kate calls for Sayid to help and he just keeps staring with no emotion.  Woa, this stuff is just nuts guys!   What is going on with these 2?  Is there any hope for getting them out of the spell they're under?  And how is Sayid even still walking around after he clearly was DEAD?  (maybe Claire too, but we still have not officially confirmed the invasion on Othersville by the Keamy and crew actually killed her)   

• No fear folks, Smokey to the rescue!  He pulls Claire off and Kate grabs a rifle and is going to swing it at Claire, yikes!   Flocke says that Kate had no choice.  Claire had disappeared and Kate took care of Aaron.  Acting like a child again Claire keeps screaming "She took Aaron she can't just do that!!!"   And then who saw it coming when Flocke smacked Claire?  Ouch!!    Then scolding her like a child he tells her "This is completely in appropriate....I'll deal with you in a minute."  

• Kate is now flipping out and crying and what not.  She runs off to a private place and cries for a bit.  And then Flocke comes to talk to her.  Flocke apologizes and takes responsibility for Claire's behavior.   He told Claire that the Others had her baby.  Flocke then asks Kate if she ever had an enemy, someone she needed to hate.  Is he talking about Wayne, her father that she killed?   He continues saying that Claire was devastated without Aaron and she needed something to keep her going.  He gave her something to hate.   When Kate came and told Claire the truth, all of the emotion was then pointed towards her.   I'm not sure I'm buying this one, are you guys?   Kate didn't seem to either with her "very insightful coming from a dead man" sarcastic comment.   Is Flocke trying to recruit Kate to his posse now and just telling her something that she can identify with to seal the deal?   Or is he telling the truth about Claire that he just "Told her" something and she isn't possessed like Sayid appears to be?  Of course, Sayid has been a changed individual after Flocke "talked" to him so who knows what is going on?   I'm sure it will all be as clear as mud eventually! 
• Flocke apologizes again and then said if she gives Claire time everything will be alright.  He promised he would keep everyone safe and this includes Kate.   Kate doesn't seem to care and wants to know where Sawyer went.  Flocke says that he will show her and offers his hand to help her up.  Kate gets up on her own.  Nice. 
• He walks her all the way to the beach where she can see Ajira Island.  She wasn't very happy since Flocke could have just told her. 

  

• Of course, Flocke wanted to talk to Kate.  And goes into a little history of the Man in Black.  He says that he is not a dead man.  If he's being honest, then I guess that answers my question above on if Smokey is even ALIVE.  Flocke says that he knows what Kate is going through because his mother was crazy.  A long time ago before he looked like Locke, he had a mother just like everyone.  She was a disturbed woman and as a result he had some growing pains, problems that he is still trying to work his way through.  Problems that could have been avoided had things been different.  He is telling her because now, Aaron has a crazy mother too.   
• Okay, well there was a brain dump of information.  We're so used to Daddy issues on this show, it's interesting when we get a Mommy issue to deal with.   But who on earth is MIB's mother?  Maybe it's the Island itself?  We know the Island is crazy!  Okay, that's ridiculous.  MIB claims to have once been a man, to have suffered loss and now to have had a mother.  Now that the mother has been introduced, it would seem pretty pertinent that we need to meet this woman in some fashion.  And I guess this goes into the question to if MIB and Jacob are related in some way.  Brothers, Cousins, whatever.  Perhaps they share the same mother?   Maybe all of these people on the Island have so many issues with their parental figures because those are the people that Jacob brought to the Island?   It's possible right?   So is Flocke genuinely concerned that Aaron has a crazy mother now?  Didn't he cause her to be that way?  
• Crazy Theory Alert (99% chance of being wrong): Hmmm, is it even foreshadowing that Aaron is somehow the Man in Black??   That would be crazy trippy wouldn't it?  The Juice Box kid becomes the Smoke Monster and somehow comes to the Island and is present in all times?    Obviously, I'm throwing ridiculous theories out there because we know absolutely nothing and as we have seen, absolutely ANYTHING is possible on this show! 
• So Kate is returning to the camp and Claire runs into her and seemingly being herself again. Kate didn't take any chances though and help up her gun.   Claire just keeps apologizing and that she doesn't know why she did what she did.  She knows that Kate just cares about her and that's why she took Aaron.   And then she thanks Kate for taking care of him.  She seems very sincere here.  And the music playing would seem to indicate it's a sincere moment too.  What is going on???   Did MIB re-wire her?   Or is she only crazy at times?  Or is she so crazy that she keeps going back and forth between hating Kate and holding her hand or hugging her?   Flocke seemed to indicate that the girl is loco.  But here's hoping she can be saved!    

Sawyer Returns to Camp Flocke

• Sawyer comes ashore and Flocke helps him get the boat onto the beach.   Sawyer asks if Flocke really sent him to check on the Ajira passengers.  And he says no.  He knew it was Widmore that would be waiting for Sawyer. 
• Sawyer tells Flocke anyway that the Ajira crew is all dead and he doesn't know what happened to them.  Sawyer then proceeds to tell Flocke the whole truth about Widmore being over there not letting anyone get on the plane without a fight.  He came over on a sub with a locked door and they brought pylons to keep the Black Smoke out.  Sawyer seemed surprised that Smokey knew who Widmore was.   He then said he told them that he'd tell Flocke that the coast was clear so Widmore and crew could kill him.  Then Sawyer says they can change up the plan and catch them with their pants down.   Flocke appreciates his loyalty.  The question is Flocke really buys what Sawyer is saying.  After all, he knows that Sawyer is the best liar around. 
• And there was one small DETAIL that Sawyer left out of his discussions with Widmore and Flocke.   And when he runs into Kate that night he tells her.  
• Kate, seems to still be on her own side and not following Flocke.  She wants to know why Sawyer is running errands for him.  Sawyer said he isn't doing anything for anyone.  He fills her in on the Plane and Widmore with crew there for Locke.  Then he says he is planning to let them fight their own battle and while they have their hands full he, Kate and whoever are going to leave the Island.  Hmmm sounds like something I had been suggesting.  Forget the Jacob vs. MIB battle.  Just do whatever is in the best interest of the LOSTIES!  But, I don't know if leaving the Island is what is in their best interest.  We have gone through so much to bring Jack and crew BACK to the Island.  It would be silly if all they need to do now is leave it again.  Then again, Sawyer never left.  And the only reason Kate went back is to get Claire.  It should get a little more interesting when you throw Jack and the beach crew into the equation.  (Ben knows Flocke and crew are all headed towards Hydra Island).  Surely, Hydra Island isn't where this final battle will occur is it?   Oh well, trust the writers!!  
• Anyway, the biggest joke of the night and the cliffhanger at the same time was when Sawyer said that they won't be taking the plane off of the island.  Kate said that neither of them know how to fly it.  And Sawyer suggests instead that they'll be taking the sub.  

BOOM LOST!!!!

That is the cliffhanger?  Sawyer can't pilot a sub!! Sure, I guess they could kidnap the driver or whatever, but THAT is the cliffhanger?  Well, every cliffhanger can't be a winner.  It was still a decent episode.  As I mentioned above, I am sure many will be frustrated with it.  But we definitely did get a few more tidbits of information to chew on.  And definitely some more pieces falling into place.  For anyone who has been waiting for a mythology brain dump, I think we are in for a large helping next week.  Again, I won't spoiler, but from what I have been reading it seems like a "Can't Miss" episode.  Not that we would miss any of them!  

Anyway, I have spoken more than enough and am now going to turn it over to you guys!  What did you think of the episode?  And have any of your theories on what is going on in Sideways Land or Island Land changed with after this?  

NOTE: If you guys are excited about the return of FlashForward this Thursday, be sure to check in on my new blog(http://www.flashforwardaddicts.com/)  that I started last fall!  It won't be as elaborate as the LOST recaps have been, at least not this season.  But we'll keep following along with the story and see where it's all going!

Hope you enjoyed my ramblings and I'll see you next week!  NAMASTE! 

Ending Credits

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