LOST: Season 6 Episode 11 - Happily Ever After

Hello LOSTIES!!!  WOW....just WOW!!!  I still don't understand how people can be hating this season.  That episode just blew me away again.  Granted, it was the long awaited Desmond episode, and his episodes are always thought provokingly awesome!  Maybe people are going to start coming around on the sideways story now that we see it is going somewhere.  In fact, we spent a majority of the episode there.  But the difference is, it was initiated from the ISLAND timeline.  And there seems to be a LOT more going on there than originally had met the eye.  Did we get the answer to the Flash Sideways?  No, of course not.  But we got a lot more to chew on.  And as Damon Lindelof, Co-Creator/Executive producer tweeted last week "In one week, the conversations will change," I think he was absolutely correct!

Happily Ever After - an expression that we never thought we would associate with LOST until this season.     But with a lot of the Flash Sideways scenarios in the first half of this final season, we saw all of our LOSTIES seemingly living better lives than they had previously.  And it would certainly seem like this is something that Widmore is striving for with his Island mission.  There really is only one storyline to follow in this one.  We join Desmond on the Island where he is just coming around on the fact that he has been returned to the Island.  And then, the experimentations begin.  Desmond's consciousness was sent to the sideways world. Based on Island Desmond's behavior when he "woke up" it was almost like he experienced and saw everything that happened even though the sideways version of him was still slowly coming to the realization.  Lots of character crosses in the Sideways world and some very interesting reveals.  We'll get to all of it below.  I have a feeling there will be some energetic discussions this week.  Let's get to it!      

Hydra Island

Infirmary

Prior to last week's cliffhanger, the last time we saw Desmond was in the hospital after getting shot by Benjamin Linus.  We also saw Charles and Eloise have a conversation outside that very hospital.  Charles claimed that Daniel Faraday was also his son which led to us speculating that Charles and Eloise had fathered a child once too.  I'm getting ahead of myself.  We now rejoin Desmond on the Island, whom Charles Widmore has referred to as "THE PACKAGE".   Let's see what goes down.

• Desmond wakes up in the infirmary on the Island still unaware of his surroundings.  Zoe tells him that he's been unconscious for 3 days.  Hmm, not sure if this fact is important.  Probably not, but are they suggesting that it's only been 3 days since the Ajira flight crashed on the Island?  There is absolutely no way, right?  But Ben definitely shot Desmond on the day that he, Jack and crew left for the Island.  And Widmore goes into a whole explanation of Desmond getting shot and asking if he remembers (which he does).  So, it might be me nitpicking, but I was just curious to if Desmond ever woke up in the hospital prior to Widmore and his crew sedating him and getting him on a sub.  It may have been a 3 day journey to the Island for all we know.  
• Des is clearly disoriented and doesn't know why Widmore is there.   All he wants to do is see Penny.  Charles explains to Desmond that both Penny and his son Charlie are safe.  But, as for Desmond, he apologizes for taking him back to the Island.  Charles is extremely apologetic and knows how Desmond must be feeling.  Oh, but it doesn't matter.  Just as we expected, he is not one happy camper to be back there!  He went to town on Charles and beat the living daylights out of him and giving him a nice gash on the head in the process.  Desmond was restrained by some Widmore goons.

• Charles tells Desmond the same thing Eloise told him at the Lamp Post.  "The Island isn't done with you yet!"
• Meanwhile, Jin wants answers from Widmore on why Desmond is here.  Widmore claims it will be easier to show him.  Then orders them to take Desmond to the "generator" room.  Apparently, Zoe is not thrilled with the change in schedule.  Probably because the machine is not ready.  But it is interesting that they have an entire schedule of events to happen.  This is the 2nd reference to the "schedule" that has been made.  Wouldn't anyone else like to sneak a peak at the last page of it? 

The Generator Room

We follow Jin and Zoe to this generator room.  A room that we have never seen before.  There is also a chamber located outside of this big room with huge cables attached.  It seems as though some of this stuff has been around since DHARMA times, but I'm not sure if maybe Widmore's crew brought more stuff with them in the sub?  Hmmm, pylons and an Electro Magnetic Generator?  Not so sure about that.

• So Mr. Intimidator turns out to be a scientist as well.  Thank God!  He didn't really fit the bill for a GOON!   So apparently, they need to get this Electro-Magnetic field ready for Desmond pronto, but they don't want to kill him in the process, so they're going to test it on Captain Solo first Oops, I mean, a Bunny named Ångström.  Now, we all know how the DHARMA Initiative loved their White Rabbits.  And this one is certainly ironic because Desmond is about to travel down yet another Rabbit hole.  But, the naming of this one seems to be named after Andres Jonas Ångström who was very interested in terrestrial magnetism.  He even proved that the Sun contained HYDROGEN!  (hmmm, magnetism, hydrogen.  where have I heard these words before? Ahhh yes, the Swan Site!)   

• The first test of generating the magnetic field didn't work.  There was a bad breaker on the generator.  Then a guy went into the chamber to check on it.  And that didn't go so well!  Because they started up the generator again before he cleared out (by accident of course).  This was all to show us how a normal person could not survive exposure to intense amounts of electro-magnetism.  It did the job pretty well! 

• Naturally, Charles thinks this means that they're ready to try the machine on Desmond!  Desmond wasn't going in willfully.  They had to beat him and drag him into a chair and strap him down.  
• Charles apologizes for forcing this upon him but is hoping that when it's over that Desmond will agree to make a sacrifice.  What kind of sacrifice you ask?  Oh, I have no idea.  But the scariest projection would be that he would have to die!  
• Desmond naturally asks Charles what he knows about sacrifice.   Charles says his son died on the island (just like that, we get confirmation that Daniel was indeed Charles's son), his daughter hates him and he has never met his grandchild.   He says that if Desmond doesn't help him it will all be for nothing.  Penny, Charlie, everyone will be gone.  Again, he refers to the Man in Black leaving the island causing everyone to cease to exist.  Now, I'm all confused.  Is Charles Widmore trying to get all of these LOSTIES' consciousness "TO" the Sideways world including his own?  It certainly doesn't seem like he's trying to stop it from happening now.  I'm sure I'll be asking more questions like this as we delve further into the show.  And I'm sure I'll contradict myself 42 times, so be prepared!
• We should note that Desmond was asked if he had any metal on him.  Charles accused the people of being idiots when they asked him suggesting that of course he doesn't.  I guess metal exposed to the electromagnetic field wouldn't be too bright!      
• Charles also says that he was "told" about Desmond surviving a catastrophic electromagnetic event.  And he is the only man that he knows that has ever done so.  I guess Widmore did his research, but how would he know that?  Maybe Jacob told him?  Charles needs to know that he can do it again or they all die.  Why?  I have no idea, but it certainly seems Sideways related! 
• All systems are go, Desmond is in the chamber by himself.  Mr. Intimidator is scared to pull the lever to "full power" so Widmore does it himself.  Yikes

• The generator starts, Desmond breaks free from the chair but is locked in.  It starts getting really bright and powerful and Desmond steps into the Quantum Leap Accelerator and VANISHED.   (just kidding, but come on, I had to make the reference right?!)   No, apparently, Desmond was only unconscious for seconds in Island Time, but he was taken to Sideways Time for a majority of the episode! 

Flash Sideways - Desmond

LA X

• Right off the bat, we see an Oceanic Arrival Information board, and Desmond staring at his reflection.  COINCIDENCE?  Naaa, can't be right?  We should note that we see both Guam and Sydney on the board.  Both locations involved in flights that end up on the Island.   And of course, lots of NUMBERS stuff going on with Flight 815 landing at 10:42am at Gate 8 (and I believe it departed Sydney from Gate 23)  Hurley walks by and tells Desmond that the bags are at baggage carousel 4.  Hurley recognized him from the Sydney flight.   That was very nice of good ol' Hugo wasn't it?

• So, I guess we should point out the obvious:  Desmond didn't VANISH from flight 815.  Why he disappeared, I have no idea.  There was lots of speculation that Desmond could be going back and forth through the sideways reality (well, based on what we see at the end, maybe so).  But it doesn't look like his body would just vanish.  Something tells me we won't ever find out where he went.  But that's okay!  Maybe he just went back to his seat. 
• Did Desmond seem disoriented when he was staring into the reflection?   It seemed to take Hurley to snap him out of it.  Here's a crazy thought.  Maybe each time we see one of the LOSTIES look at their reflection, this is the initial point where they were given a glimpse of their sideways life?  Not TOO much of a stretch right?   We'll see!
• So at baggage claim, Desmond runs into Claire.  He helps the pregnant Aussie get her luggage.  What a nice guy!   Desmond asks Claire if she's carrying a boy or a girl.  He says she's brave for not knowing and he's not a big fan of surprises.  As we learned before, her ride never shows up (the potential adoptive parents).  She'll end up getting stuck in a car with Kate.  But we learn here that Desmond offered her a ride first.  

(just nice to see Non-Crazy Claire for a sec, right?)

• While she does reject, Desmond does predict that she's having a boy.  Was it just a gut feeling, or did he somehow remember from the Island timeline?  Probably could be interpreted either way.  But we gotta love how Desmond is seeing everyone in another life, right brotha?? 
• Next up: George Minkowski from the freighter!  He is Desmond's driver!  As we saw in easily one of the top 2 best LOST episodes "THE CONSTANT" Desmond and George both shared the fact that they both experienced consciousness time travel.  Of course, Desmond found his CONSTANT in Penny where Minkowski did not and died.  But here, he is alive and well! 

• We find out that Desmond was closing a deal for his boss in Sydney.  George offers his services to Desmond.  Anything he needs, he can get it for him.  Good eats, even good "company."  Oh my.  I guess the whole point of this was to let us know that Desmond wasn't married nor was he with Penny in this timeline (yet).  Of course, it may also have something to do with the fact that we DID see Desmond with a wedding ring on in the season premiere LA X.  When he was sitting next to Jack on the plane, I am pretty sure he was wearing a ring!  What on earth does that mean?  Damon Lindelof retweeted someone asking about the same thing.  That person's suggestion is "Bleed through of the 2 universes??"   Did Damon retweet that for a reason?  That, my friends, is very confusing!   In case you think I'm going crazy, here's a picture of Desmond's ring on the plane.

• George gets in the driver's seat and takes Desmond to the office.  So, it doesn't take us long to find out Desmond's employer in this Sideways Land.

Widmore Industries

• That's right!  Charles Widmore and Desmond are FRIENDS!  And Desmond works for the man he despises the most! 

• So this brings up a lot of things we were pondering.  Such as, was Widmore even alive in this timeline?  If he had previously been to the Island, would he have died when the Island was submerged?  Well, he certainly is alive and we have no idea if he was on the Island before.  But based on information from Eloise later, we'll have to revisit.  And we'll have to revisit Jughead when we get to Daniel.  Yikes, this episode's crossovers was nuts.  But, for now, we have to digest that Charles respects Desmond.  
• Before we get into the craziest, most ironic part let's talk about the scenery in the office.  There is still a sailboat just like in his UK office (Island timeline).  Widmore discusses with Desmond about his Solo Race Around the World in that timeline.  If he still sponsors an event like that, we don't find out. 

• We also see a painting of a Scale with Black Rocks on one end and White Rocks on the other end.  Of course, we have seen this scale before in the Jacob/MIB Cave, and we heard Dogen refer to the scale of good and evil in every person.  Not sure if this picture being in Widmore's office is supposed to imply anything about Charles Widmore himself, the sideways timeline, or just be a nod to the observant fans. 

     

• Well we find out why Charlie was going to Los Angeles in this timeline too.  Apparently, Charles's son is a musician. We all speculated he would be a piano player and never pushed into learning science.  Widmore's wife was putting a charity event together and Daniel had the idea to combine classical music with modern rock.   And the band Driveshaft was brought up, whom Desmond had never heard of.  So, it looks like Charles is going to bail him out to save the fundraiser and Desmond has to babysit ol' Charlie until it's time for the performance.  NICE! 
• Charles, ironically, tells Desmond he has "THE LIFE" since he has no family, no commitment and how great it would be to be free of attachments.  Ironic because on the Island, Charles just told Desmond how he sacrificed those things for the Island.  
• But the MOST ironic twist of all of this was that Charles pours his Macutcheon's 60 Year Scotch into 2 glasses and gives one to Desmond.  Desmond objects.  And then Charles says "Nothing is too good for you."  Wow.  The one thing Desmond always wanted to hear from Charles Widmore.  "Ah Have to get MAH Honah BAAACK!"  He has Charles' approval.  

Sideways Desmond?  Meet Sideways Charlie

• So apparently, Charlie is being released at the "Airport Courthouse".  Not sure how significant this is because the last we saw, Liam was looking for him at a Los Angeles Police Department where Sawyer works.  We also see Desmond's reflection again as he's walking towards the courthouse.   Also not sure how coincidental/intentional it all was, but the woman with Charlie was using her phone and the noise on the phone sounded very much like the beeping from the Hatch Clock.  Desmond's phone sounded very similar too.  

• Anyway, Charlie isn't very excited to see Desmond as he is released.  He walks right into traffic, as if he has a death wish and straight into JAX Bar.  Significant to Jack?  Significant to LAX?   Eh, I'm not going to try and figure it out! 

• Desmond follows Charlie into the bar and the 2 of them have a drink.  Charlie buts on Desmond a little bit calling him Widmore's babysitter.  He then asks if Desmond is happy and can tell that he  isn't.  Desmond talks about making lots of money, having a good job and traveling the world.   Charlie asks if he's ever really been in love.  Of course he calls it "Consciousness Altering" love.  Of course, we didn't know how literal he was being when he said it.  I just thought it was funny due to all of Desmond's trippy consciousness traveling over the seasons.  

  

• Charlie and Desmond discover they were both on the same flight back from Sydney.  Charlie talks about how he experienced his "consciousness altering" love on the flight.  He describes Kate in handcuffs 2 rows in front of him.  He described the Air Marshal knowing that Charlie had a stash of drugs on him.  So he went to the bathroom to eliminate the evidence and (swallow his stash).   At the exact moment he did this, they hit turbulence.  The same turbulence that Jack felt in the beginning of LA X I'm guessing.  The turbulence that made us think the plane was going to crash again but didn't.  And they just happened to be flying over the submerged Island as well.   Where am I going with this?  No Idea as always! 
• Charlie talks about choking and it was going to be over.  Everything starts to go dark, he's slipping into the abyss.  And then he sees "HER".  A blonde rapturously beautiful blonde.  He knows her, they're together.  It was like they were always together, they always will be.  It felt like LOVE.  And just as he was about to be engulfed by it all, some idiot is standing there asking if he was okay.   (this would explain why he was so mad when Jack saved him)  Clearly, Charlie saw Claire in his vision.  He must have seen a flash to the Island when they were together.  So, is there a connection to almost dying and seeing the Island timeline?  Does it work both ways?  When Juliet was dying she saw her and Sawyer going dutch on coffee.  What is GOING ON?!?  
• Desmond, naturally, doesn't believe Charlie.  But he does tell him to write a song about it!  Nice.  Desmond then gives Charlie a CHOICE.  A big theme in these final episodes.  The Losties having to make choices.  (Free Will)  Charlie's choice?  Stay at the bar and your musical career is over.  Go with Desmond, get put up in a fancy hotel right on the harbor front, and Charles Widmore (one of the most powerful men in the town) will owe him a favor.   I still find it really curious that ALL of these people from the LOST verse are established so well for themselves in Los Angeles. Maybe it was convenience writing, but after tonight's episode it seems like there is a bit more to it.  
• Anyway, Charlie doesn't see the choice in that at all (or at least appears not to) and goes with Desmond.  Desmond, continuing the choice argument says that "There is always a choice brothaaa".  I think this is just the writers continuing the "CHOICE" theme more than anything.  It's not like this version of Desmond has any inkling to what's going on yet. 

The Car Crash

• So Des and Charlie are in the car listening to "You All Everybody".  Charlie talks about his 1st single as being the beginning of everything great.  Desmond kind of shrugs it off saying he likes it for what it is.  Charlie feels sorry for Desmond for him thinking that he has it all.  Desmond inquires if Charlie thinks that none if it is real.  Charlie then offers Desmond a choice.  He can show Desmond what he's talking about or he can get out of the car.  And before Desmond can decide, Charlie takes control of the wheel and drives the car right into the marina.  

• The water is filling into the car really quickly.  Desmond can't get Charlie loose and gets himself out of the car and goes for air.  Then he quickly dives back in for Charlie.  Once he gets down to Charlie's window, Charlie looks unconscious but then he wakes up and is clearly in control.  Naturally this was bringing back memories of Charlie drowning in The Looking Glass Station with Desmond on the outside looking in.   And before we know it, Charlie puts his hand on the glass and Desmond has a Flash seeing a vision from Another Life Brothah!!  Yep, it's Charlie with his "Not Penny's Boat" written on the hand.  WHAAAAT?!?!?! 

• Of course, in this case, we cannot ignore that WATER was involved.  Neither of them seemed to be facing any life threatening situations just yet.  But was Charlie trying to put them in one of those situations?  He clearly looked like he was trying to get hit by one of those cars.  The reason I bring up water because it seemed to be involved for a majority of Desmond's flashes back and forth in "THE CONSTANT".  For example, remember when Charles Widmore intentionally left the water running in the bathroom?  I don't think Charlie really remembered that he drowned in the Island timeline because he's so anxious to get back to it.  Which confuses me to why he put his hand on the window.  But let's go with it and move on.  
• Desmond gets Charlie out of the car and they are both taken to the hospital.   

Hospital

• A doctor is checking out Desmond and asking him about nausea and all sorts of stuff.  Desmond is only concerned with finding Charlie at this point.  He needs to find out what he saw.  
• The doctor then asks if he suffered from any hallucinations to which Desmond is caught in his tracks and wasn't sure how to answer.  The Doc signs him up for an MRI.  Oh boy, more magnets!   
• Once again Desmond is asked if he has any keys or any metal on him prior to being put into the MRI machine.  And he is told about "pushing the button."  Loved that reference.  They were talking about the MRI Panic button, but it definitely was a reference to the ol' EXECUTE button in the hatch.  Good times!   
• I thought this thing might actually send his consciousness back to the Island Timeline in the present day.  But instead he sees more flashes from his other life.   We pretty much see the journey of him meeting Penny, being rescued from the Island by Penny, and then them having their first baby together.  And we even see the shot of Desmond and little Charlie talking as they arrived to London.  Desmond didn't see them in any particular order, but I put the pictures in order for dramatic effect! 

  

• Desmond begins hitting the panic button and now is even more determined to find Charlie.  When he gets to the reception desk he actually runs into Jack Shephard whom he remembers from Flight 815.  This would seem to confirm that it is the same timeline that we've been seeing all season.  So, I'm still not sure what to make of the wedding ring and Desmond's disappearance from flight 815.  Jack does recognize Desmond from the flight.  And Desmond is asking if he has seen Charlie from the flight.  Ironically, Jack had a hand in saving Charlie but I'm not sure if he ever made the connection.  Instead Jack is curious that there was another person from their flight who is now in that hospital.  Don't mistake coincidence for fate? (ahh we miss you Mr. Eko!) 

• And before we know it we see Charlie in a hospital gown running.  He is being chased but weirdly enough, Desmond seems to be the only one chasing him in the end!  When Desmond catches up to him he wants to see Charlie's hand.  Charlie realizes that Desmond saw something too now.  Charlie tells Desmond that he wasn't trying to kill him, he was trying to show him something to which it seems he was successful.  Desmond asks who Penny is to which Charlie doesn't have an answer, but he realizes that Desmond "felt it".   Charlie now thinks that everything in this world they're living is meaningless.  He doesn't even see the point of playing at the Charity Event.   None of it matters.  All that matters is that they felt it.  

• Charlie tells Desmond to stop worrying about him and start looking for Penny.  This is just getting nuts!  And that is the last we see of Charlie this episode.  I gotta say I was pretty excited he had such a lengthy role in this episode.  Of course with Desmond meeting Claire and Charlie looking for Claire, it would have been nice for the 2 of them to run into each other in sideways land.  Maybe it's still going to happen.
• Desmond calls Charles Widmore to tell him that he lost the Rock Star.  Widmore is not too happy. We begin to see his evil side again.  But even so, it seemed more sarcastic in tone with Desmond than it was in the Island timeline.  But he still was not happy and is making Desmond go and tell Widmore's wife himself that Charlie will not be making it. 

The Widmore Residence

• Minkowski takes Desmond to the Widmore home where the charity event is being held.  George offers Desmond LUCK with dealing with Mrs. Widmore. 
• Did anyone spot Daniel sitting at the piano when we first got a shot of the tent?   He was there rocking out some classical jams on the ebony and ivory! 

• I don't think it took a rocket scientist to figure out who Charles Widmore's wife would be.  It's none other than Eloise Hawking! But in this timeline she is Eloise Widmore.   And of course Daniel is Daniel Widmore.   Why on earth they all had different last names in the Island timeline, I couldn't tell you.  Did anyone catch Eloise's reaction to when she first sees Desmond?  It is of complete and utter shock. 

• Once Desmond introduces himself as working for Charles, then Eloise falls into the role and talks about how it's a travesty they haven't "met" before.  But clearly, she knows that they did.   Desmond tries to apologize for Driveshaft not being able to perform.  Eloise tells him not to worry about it.  And that it comes with the territory when hiring Rock Stars.  Then she has to go and refer to time travel stuff and say "What Happened Happened."  Was it a hint?  Was it just a nod to observant fans again?  I don't know! 

• But then Eloise parts ways with Desmond and while Desmond is on his way out he hears some of the staff reading names of attendees.  And Penny's name was mentioned (not sure if we ever heard her last name before but it is Milton).  And we find out she is coming alone.   Desmond asks to see the list once he hears her name.  And Eloise comes in to disrupt Desmond's "awakening" telling him that he may not see the list.

• Eloise asks Desmond to walk with him and they have a chat very reminiscent to their chat when Desmond was time traveling in season 3's Flashes Before Your Eyes.  But this time instead of Eloise having knowledge of future events, she has knowledge of Desmond's Island and current existence.  (Note: Daniel overheard the scene where Desmond was looking for Penny)
• Eloise tells Desmond that she wants him to "STOP" and that someone has affected the way he sees things.  She calls it a problem.  She calls it a VIOLATION.   WHAT!?!   A Violation?  What on earth does that mean?  Is this some new set of "RULES" for the Sideways Land?  Clearly, Eloise has an inkling to what is going on.  Does Charles too?   Eloise tells Desmond whatever he thinks he is looking for that he needs to stop looking for it. 
• Desmond realizes that Eloise knows what he's looking for.  And then she says she doesn't know why he'd be looking citing his perfect life and how he finally has what he as always wanted more than anything.  Charles Widmore's approval.  Yes, maybe he did want Charles's approval PRE-ISLAND, but after the Island he was content living with Penny and Charlie!   Desmond asks how Eloise knows what he wants, and she says "because I bloody do!"   
• Eloise then tells Desmond that he is "Not Ready 'YET'" which is why he can't see the list.  What?  What does YET mean?  Does that mean at some point he WILL be ready?  In fact, I share Desmond's question.  Ready for WHAT?  Does Eloise or Charles have a plan to expose things to the LOSTIES in Sideways land?  What would it accomplish?   I guess we still just have more questions than answers, but it certainly ties these 2 worlds together more than ever!  

Desmond and Daniel

• Desmond leaves for the car more confused than ever.  He asks George for some alcohol.  
• Before they leave though, Daniel knocks on the door!  Nice, I miss this guy.  He says that they need to talk.  And first, let me just say, that I love they have him dressed the same way as he was on the island.  The tie loosened and the untucked shirt.  Good times! 

• Daniel asks Desmond if he believes in Love at First Sight.   Daniel shares a story similar to Desmond's where he sees a woman that he fell in love with the minute he met her.  Why?  Well, because it was Charlotte folks!  He talks about the first time he met her she was in a museum a few weeks ago.  (oh boy, Daniel probably doesn't know that Sawyer had his way with her after that!)   Anyway, he said she works at the museum and was on her lunch break.  (As we learned in "RECON" Charlotte works for Miles' father Pierre Chang)   Daniel cites that she was eating a chocolate bar.  Remember her dying words "I'm not allowed to have chocolate before dinner" which was also the first thing she said as a child to Daniel when he returned to the Island in 1977 ("The Variable")     
• He said as soon as he saw her, right in that moment, it was like he already loved her.   Then he said that's when things got weird.  He pulled out a book that looks very similar to his time travel journal.  He said the night that he met that woman, he went to sleep and when he woke up he wrote a bunch of equations and all sorts of stuff.  I couldn't tell you what it all means, but I see words on there like SPACE TIME INTERVAL, REAL SPACE, IMAGINARY TIME.  Hmmmmm

• Daniel says he is a musician and had no idea what it was.  He showed the sketches to a friend at Cal Tech and he told Daniel that this is Quantum Mechanics and it would take someone who has dedicated their entire life to physics could come up with those equations.  As we know, Eloise pushed Daniel to dedicate his life to science instead of following his true love of Piano in the Island timeline.  All in the name of sending Daniel to the island to die at the hands of a younger Eloise.  But not before giving Jack the mission of detonating Jughead. 
• So Desmond asks what the formulas mean.  Daniel says to imagine something terrible is about to happen, something catastrophic.  And the only way to stop it from happening is by releasing a huge amount of energy, like setting off a nuclear bomb.  Hmmmm.  Before he mentioned the Nuke, I thought he was referring to Desmond blowing the hatch.  Island Charles referred to Desmond surviving a catastrophic electromagnetic event.   And he did so by releasing a huge amount of energy when turning that safe key.  But, that doesn't seem to be where Daniel is going.   Desmond laughs at Daniel and asks if he wants to set off a Nuclear bomb.  
• Daniel then asks Desmond what if all of this wasn't supposed to be their life.  What if they had some other life and for some reason, they changed things.  He then says he doesn't want to set off a nuclear bomb, but he thinks he already did.   WOA...did they just clarify that the Sideways Timeline was caused by Jughead?  Or just that Daniel thinks it was? Why would the producers go out of their way to tell us that it might not have been jughead that caused the sideways timeline if it actually was?  To get us speculating about other options?  But, if it was jughead, it would seem like this isn't the end state of things.  Tie this into Eloise saying that Desmond isn't ready YET and I'm not sure where this is going.  But I like it! 
• Desmond asks what this has to do with him.   Daniel asked why Desmond asked Eloise about a woman named Penny.  Just like Charlie he asks if Desmond FELT IT.  Charlie, Daniel and Desmond all felt love.   Desmond says it's impossible, he doesn't know anything about the woman or even if she exists.   Well, Daniel is here to save the day.  He reveals to Desmond that Penny is his half sister.  
• Not that this is a shocking revelation.  We discussed it at length after "THE VARIABLE" last year.  But, what confuses me is why Charles and Eloise are still together in this timeline and why they separated in the Island timeline.  And how Penny and the "off island" mother fit into this whole equation.  Also, were Eloise and Charles ever on the Island in this timeline? (I may have already asked his question above, but that was awhile ago!)  So was Charles just destined to have 2 children in either timeline?  Are we ever going to meet Penny's mother?  Probably very unlikely at this point and probably not important. 
• Anyway, Daniel tells Desmond that he knows the exact location and time where he can meet Penny. 

Back to the Stadium in Another Life Brotha

• Yes, where Desmond and Jack meet for the first time in the Island timeline.  Where they both are running a Tour de Stad around the stadium steps.  And where Penny finds Desmond after he is released from Military prison.....this is where Desmond meets Penny for the first time in the Sideways timeline.  Except this time SHE is running the Tour de Stad!  

• Desmond goes up and asks if she is Penny.  She acknowledges and he is so excited to meet her and extends his hand.  (another running theme in this season). Penny says hi and takes his hand. And with that, Desmond wakes up back on the Island.  Significance to the hands touching?  Maybe.          

Desmond's New Outlook on his "Lives"

Island Timeline

• Desmond wakes up and Mr. Intimidator guy is shocked that Desmond is okay.  And Charles is pleased that he is.  Desmond acknowledges that he is okay.  He wonders how long he was unconscious.  Charles tells him that it was no more than a few seconds.  
• Charles apologizes again for doing this to him but that Desmond's talent is vital to the mission.  And right when he's about to explain what that mission is, Desmond tells him he is fully onboard and that he understands!  Wait....we don't understand Desmond! Let him talk!  Desmond knows he was brought to the Island to do something very important and asks when they start.  
• Okay, so Desmond clearly experienced this sideways vision.  Is he happy with what he saw and wants to live that life?  Does he think that whatever he does on the Island will lead to living that life?  Will he still have his child Charlie?  And beyond all of that, what did Eloise mean by telling Desmond that he isn't "Ready Yet?"  Is the Sideways Timeline even a permanent existence? 
• In any case, Charles is quite happy that Desmond was such a quick convert! 

• After that scene, Desmond and Zoe are walking with a few other goons behind them.  She wants to know what happened to Desmond.  20 minutes before he was beating Widmore over the head with an IV Stand and now he's being cooperative.  Desmond says that a lot can happen in 20 minutes.  Zoe said that the thing must have fried his brain.  Desmond smiles asking "Did it?"  
• Before Zoe can say anything else, Sayid is there snapping people's necks and stuff.  He spares Zoe (not sure why), pointing his gun he tells her to run.  Zoe complies! 

• Sayid tells Desmond that he doesn't have time to explain but that these people are extremely dangerous and that they need to leave now.  Desmond just smiles and says "of course!"  Hmmm, does he think that whatever happens on this Island is going to happen and that it will all lead to him living in the Sideways World?  Sure seems that way doesn't it?  He doesn't care if he follows Widmore's plan or follows Zombie Sayid.   Are they going to pick up Jin in the process?  I guess we'll find out. 
• As Desmond is following Sayid, we hear the transition to the Flash Sideways which we didn't hear the first time.   Does that mean that Island Desmond isn't experiencing this next Sideways scene? Not quite sure.  

Sideways Timeline

• We rejoin Sideways Desmond at the stadium and he is collapsed on the ground.  Penny says that Desmond fainted right after they shook hands.  Well, that's kind of strange isn't it?  Does it remind anyone else of THE CONSTANT when 1996 Desmond was traveling back and forth from 1996 to 2004?  He was only conscious in one of the 2 times.  Is that what is going on here to some extent?   I don't think we are to assume that Island Desmond is unconscious when Sideways Desmond wakes up.   It all is very interesting, but I'm sure we'll get more information on it. 

• Penny is already joking with Desmond saying that she must have a certain effect on him.  If she only knew!  She then gets the same feeling that they have met before.  Desmond dismisses it saying that they would have remembered if they had.  Desmond then gets some courage and asks Penny to go out for coffee.   They have another one of their classic scenes.  She says she is a sweaty mess. He says he just fainted in front of her and they can call it even.  She accepts the invitation and tells her that she'll meet him at the coffee shop in an hour.  Awwwww

• Desmond then returns to the car and tells Minkowski where to go.  But he also wants to cash in on George's constant offers of getting him anything he wants.  He wants the flight manifest from Oceanic 815.  George says he definitely can get it.  And when he asks what Desmond wants it for,  he says "I just want to show THEM something."  

BOOM LOST!!!!!!

Loved it folks!  Just absolutely loved it!  So now is Island Desmond trying to get to the Sideways world and is Sideways Desmond trying to get to the Island world?  OR, does he just want to make all of the LOSTIES aware of the other timeline's existence so that they can find their "HAPPILY EVER AFTER" in Sideways land?  Perhaps Jack or Sawyer realize their affections for Kate.  Charlie will get with Claire.  Sayid with Nadia or Shannon?  Libby with Hugo?  Oh duh, Sawyer with Juliet.  That means Jack with Kate!  I'm sure all of the big mythology buffs would just love a happy LOVEY DOVEY ending for all of the LOSTIES.  I'm sure it won't be that simple.  Especially when you throw in Eloise's "You're not ready yet" and whatever they're trying to accomplish on the Island.   But Carlton Cuse, the other executive producer, tweeted last night that with this episode "a new chapter of the season begins".  I totally can see that.  I would think the Sideways Timeline, as many of us predicted, will continue to get a little more interesting!   And I can't wait until next week! 

That's all I have for today folks.  Well, until we get into the many comments that I'm sure we'll all have.  I encourage you all to share your thoughts!  Hope you enjoyed my ramblings as always and I'll see you next week.  NAMASTE! 

Ending Credits

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