6x13 The Last Recruit: Recap

2004

Locke, having survived being hit by a smiling Desmond in his car, is rushed to the hospital.  Ben stays with him.  Sun, having been shot in the stomach, is rushed to the same hospital, where she is wheeled next to Locke.  She recognizes him on sight and becomes fearful.  Later she wakes up to Jin holding her hand, telling her she and the baby are okay.  At the police station, Sawyer talks with Kate, who he has arrested.  She recognizes him from the flight, and notes that he didn’t arrest her because he didn’t want anyone to know he was in Australia.  Miles interrupts them because he has surveillance footage of Sayid with Keamy and his men.  Miles and Sawyer go to Nadia’s house and arrest Sayid.  Desmond finds Claire as she is about to go meet with an adoption agency, and persuades her to meet with his lawyer first, who turns out to be Ilana.  Ilana has been looking for Claire because she is mentioned in Christian Shepard’s will.  When Jack arrives for the reading of the will, he is introduced to Claire and finds out she is his half-sister.  Jack is called to the hospital and he and his son leave.  Jack is called in to operate on Locke, but before making the first incision, recognizes him.

2007

Hurley has just led Jack, Sun, and Lapidus to FLocke’s camp.  FLocke wants to speak with Jack, but Jack first gets the go-ahead from Hurley.  During their conversation, FLocke admits to taking on the image of Christian Shepard.  Jack asks who else Flocke has impersonated, but they are interrupted by Claire, who has come to talk to her brother.  FLocke leaves them, and when he returns to camp he is greeted by Zoe, who summons a bomb a short distance from the camp, and threatens to bomb all of FLocke’s follows if Desmond is not returned.  She leaves him with a radio with with which to contact her, which Locke destroys after she leaves.  Flocke send Sawyer and Kate to find the boat and bring it to the rendezvous point where he and the others will be waiting.  Sawyer creates a plan to utilize his deal with Widmore, and get he and his friends off the island.  He tells Jack to break away from the group when he can, and meet them at a separate rendevous point and bring Hurley, Sun, and Lapidus.  FLocke sends Sayid off to kill Desmond, who is being kept prisoner in the well.  When Sayid arrives, Desmond asks what he will tell Nadia when she asks what he did to see her again.  When Sayid meets up with FLocke later, he tells him Desmond is dead, but we never see this happen.  When Jack departs from the group, Claire sees them and follows.  She catches up with them at the boat, and Kate convinces her to come with them, taking the shotgun she had threatened them with.  On the boat, after they have traveled a bit, Jack tells Sawyer leaving the island is a big mistake, and he feels like a piece of him is missing when he leaves.  Sawyer grows angry, and tells Jack to get off the boat.  Jack apologizes for Juliet’s death, then jumps from the boat, as Kate calls out to him.  Sawyer reaches to shore to find FLocke and the others waiting for him.  Meanwhile, the boat reaches Hydra, and Sun and Jin are reunited, and Sun can speak English again.  Suddenly Widmore calls Zoe, and she holds them at gunpoint and tells them to get on their knees, while bombs are sent to the other island targeted at FLocke and his group.  Many (if not all?) of the others are taken out in the blast, and FLocke grabs Jack, who has been thrown by the blast, and rushes him into the trees, telling him “You’re with me now”

The Last Recruit: The List

Note: FS = Flash-sideways

KEY MOMENTS

• FS: Jin, Sun & baby are safe. Jack and Claire meet and find out that they’re siblings (this happens on the Island too). Jack operates on Locke. Sawyer flirts with Kate (ick!). Sawyer & Miles arrest Sayid.
•  Jack & FLocke talk (according to Claire, that means you’re “with him” now)
• Widmore sends Zoe to Flocke’s camp in order to get Desmond back.
• FLocke sends Sayid to kill Desmond; Sayid later claims the deed is done but we don’t actually see it happen.
• Sawyer, Kate, Jack, Hurley, Sun, Claire and Lapidus separate from FLocke’s camp and take the sailboat to Hydra Island to see Widmore.
• Jack thinks the Island isn’t done with them and jumps ship (literally).  Ends up alone with FLocke.
• Jin & Sun reunite! Woo!
• Widmore turns on Sawyer & co.

WTF

• Widmore turning on Sawyer & co. and holding them at gunpoint.
• Jack ending up with FLocke, alone.

MEMORABLE QUOTES
FLocke: “So nice to have everyone back together again.”

Sawyer: “You, me, Jack, Sun, Hurley and that pilot who looks like he stepped off the set of a Burt Reynolds movie.”

Sawyer [to Lapidus]: “The plan, chesty, is to land on Hydra island.”

Sawyer: “It would never work, sweetheart. I’m a cop, you’re a murderer.”

Hurley: “Hey Claire.  You look … great.”

Jack: “Does he want us off the island because he is afraid of what will happen if we stay?”

FLocke: “John Locke was not a believer, Jack. He was a sucker.”

Hurley: “You can always bring people back from the Dark Side. Anakin?”
Sawyer: “Who the hell’s Anakin?”

Claire: “What’s going on?”
Hurley: “People are trying to kill us again.”

ANSWERED QUESTIONS (See original list)
18. Where is Christian’s body and what is the nature of his character?
It was being used by Smokey before it finally took the form of John Locke.

32. When and why did the Man in Black choose Locke?
Because John Locke was stupid enough to think he was on the island for a reason and he pursued that idea until it got him killed.  Because he was a “sucker”. 

6x12 Everyone Loves Hugo: Ginger Ale Talk

That final scene
SUSAN: Shall we now discuss Lost?
RACHEL: Yes! Let’s discuss!
SUSAN: Can we start with what I think is most important?  Was Desmond trying to kill Locke?
RACHEL: That was my gut reaction.  That Sideways Desmond had knowledge of what just happened to Island Desmond, which was then his motivation to run him over.  Or that he knows somehow that Locke’s death is part of the bigger picture.  But then I thought about it some more and I started to consider that maybe Desmond might’ve been trying to wake up Locke via a near death experience. 
SUSAN: Yeah it could easily be either.  As a third possibility since Desmond has the manifest and may know Jack is a spinal surgeon, maybe he wants Locke to meet Jack and regain use of his legs? Or not meet, but, require services from since they already met. 
RACHEL: That’s another good possibility. 
SUSAN: I thought it significant that we were left with an image of Locke, on his back, staring up.  And if I am remembering correctly, there was a bruise where his telltale gash will be or blood I should say. 
RACHEL: Yes! Actually the cut on his face, wasn’t that the same cut he had from the original timeline when they first crashed?  And when he was lying there, I got the impression that he was seeing memories from his past life. 
SUSAN: Yes maybe.  His eyes were darting all around.  But if he is “connecting” to his island life, he has the least motivation of anyone to try to get that life back.  Compared to his island life, his sideways life rocks. 
RACHEL: Very true.  So you think he’d connect with his “real” self, not the FLocke version?
SUSAN: Well, Charlie seemed to know his pre-death island self so I’m assuming Locke will know his pre-death island self as well.  And I think we’ve gotten hints this will also connect to FLocke because remember when MIB first sees little boy blue? And he keeps yelling “Don’t tell me what I can’t do”?
RACHEL: Yes! I kind of felt like that line between Locke and MIB has been starting to blur a bit.  Like when MIB was visibly unnerved by Desmond and even just him sitting around the camp. 
SUSAN: There must still be some element of Locke in FLocke. 

Little Boy Blue (or rather, Blond & Brown)
RACHEL: Speaking of little boy blue, last night’s boy was definitely a different one right?  I was reading that maybe the little blonde boy is young Jacob (hence MIB’s freakout), whereas last night’s boy might’ve been young MIB (which might be why he just brushed him off).
SUSAN: Yes, I agree.  This guy had brown hair and brown eyes.  Definitely an MIB.
RACHEL: Agreed.  Do you think they’re .. ghosts?
SUSAN: They must be different from the usual ghosts Hurley sees.  Adult Jacob is a ghost so.. that means child Jacob didn’t die as a child.  So this is something else?  But it’s not only in his head.  Unless, when MIB has things drift into his head, they manifest as people? Because we know he could form people before.
RACHEL: Oh! I like that!
SUSAN: And also,  if we’re sticking with this, why is it young Jacob who has blood on his hands?
RACHEL: He seems to know and appear as everyone else’s fears.  Maybe the same can be applied to him and they manifest into these ghost-like visions.  And, maybe because Jacob was the one stabbed? Or something happened when they were kids.
SUSAN: Ohhh yes.  What if they island “protectors” are bringing about the manifestations unknowingly?
RACHEL: Protectors being the candidates?
SUSAN: Although I guess Desmond isn’t a candidate, he’s just special.

Who’s on who’s side
RACHEL: Do you think Desmond knew what FLocke really was?
SUSAN: I’m not sure.  He’s doing a good job of playing dumb.
RACHEL: Definitely.  I was also wondering if he was buying FLocke’s explanation at all, about Widmore.
SUSAN: I felt like that was for us because we’ve been going along, trying to figure out whose side Widmore is on.  So I felt like that was an argument against him, in the court of our minds. 
RACHEL: What do you think?  Jacob’s side or his own side?
SUSAN: Well I keep thinking Eloise is on Jacob’s side but, remember Bram said Widmore wasn’t on Jacob’s side? And he was obviously part of Jacob’s team.  But Eloise and Widmore work together so… I’m running in circles.
RACHEL: It’s like for every reason we find that Widmore is on Jacob’s side, we find another that suggests he isn’t.
SUSAN: He’s definitely organized.  I mean, it’s not just him.  He’s part of a group but I cannot decide the purpose of that group.  I find it hard to believe he’s being completely selfish, because of how distraught he and Eloise were about sending Faraday back to die.
RACHEL: Right.  He seems to echo Richard’s thoughts about how letting the MIB free will destroy everything
SUSAN: I got nothing. He’s obviously interested in the energy pockets so MIB is right about that.  And he even brought a geophysicist with him so I think there is some level of truth.
RACHEL: Maybe he wants to help the island/Jacob AND help himself at the same time.
SUSAN: Maybe.  I’m starting to think, and maybe this was hinted in last nights episode, not everyone’s version of the “right” thing is going to match up.  So maybe Widmore and that whole crew believe they are doing the best thing to keep MIB corked while Jacob’s team (Ilana) also believe they are doing the best thing.  And because they are human, their concepts of the best things will be flawed.
RACHEL: That kind of goes along with what Jacob has been saying too, right?

Hurley taking charge
RACHEL: What did you think of Hurley’s decision to go to FLocke’s camp?
SUSAN: I thought it was very “Hurley” of him.  I liked it a lot.  Because that’s who he is, yknow?  He doesn’t want to go on all these adventures, getting people killed.  He wants to talk it out.  And finally, he got someone to listen to him and got people to (maybe) talk it out.
RACHEL: That’s a good point.  I mean in general, I like Hurley taking charge for a change and it was good just to see them up and moving instead of sitting around the beach.  But at the same time, Hurley basically gave FLocke what he wanted, no? All the candidates (except for Jin) in one place.
SUSAN: Hmm, I didn’t think about that.  I’ve been so set on Hurley being the best one, I never considered he’d be screwing up.  I still back him cause, you know, the other thing - I think part of what we were supposed to take away last night, was that Hurley is capable.  He’s not some dumb oaf who won the lottery and had to be told what to do with it.  Because in sideways world, he earned his money by owning Mr. Cluck’s, no?  He was running his own business, and doing well at it. 
RACHEL: I didn’t think of that.  I thought he still won the lottery but wasn’t cursed by it.  I agree though, I think Hurley is capable.  But I think part of his problem is that he doesn’t trust himself enough?  Unless a ghost pushes (or yells at) him to act.
SUSAN: Yes!  But I thought that’s kindof what happened last night, he did trust himself and in doing so he got Jack to as well. 
RACHEL: I really liked Jack in this past episode - for backing up Hurley and for admitting his issues and letting go.  It made me think that’s part of Jacob’s bigger plan for Jack.  Like he had to figure out his issues on his own but once he did, he’d be ready for whatever Jacob has planned for him.
SUSAN: I think both characters really reached their enlightened point.
RACHEL: Agreed, I kind of see them as being the next Richard and Jacob.
SUSAN: Oooo, I didn’t consider that.
RACHEL: Because I was thinking, Richard wants to die now and maybe when the island is done with him, he’ll finally get that and someone else will need to step into his role.
SUSAN: Do you think that’s Hurley’s future role?
RACHEL: I think ultimately I see Hurley in that role.  As special as Hurley is, Jack has always been that character associated with leadership? So I think that’s why I keep thinking he’ll be the next protector.  Also with the way FLocke looked at him at the end, it’s like he knew Jack is important somehow.  Or maybe he just knows his history with real Locke.
SUSAN: Yeah, personally, I took that as Locke coming out for a minute.
RACHEL: I can see that as being the case too.

Minor details
SUSAN: Can I just voice as a complaint - the Whispers scene annoyed me.  It struck me as a scene from Lassie - “What do you mean boy?  The whispers are ghosts?  People who can’t leave?  I’m so glad you blatantly told me!”
RACHEL: LOL.  I’m all for getting answers.  But I just hope it won’t always be as awkwardly put as that one was.  You know what else somewhat bugged me? When Richard told Hurley that Jacob told him what the island was.
SUSAN: YES.
RACHEL: I was like, why aren’t these people demanding to know the answer to this?
SUSAN: And he’s been keeping it under wraps for what, hundreds of years? But hey, lets pull out that card now.
RACHEL: I know! And they all stand there in silence.
SUSAN: Yeah, that was definitely weird.  I loved Hurley’s renegade moment of blowing up the black rock.
RACHEL: That was great!
SUSAN: And how much of a bastard was Miles to not believe Hurley? His buddy!
RACHEL: I know!
SUSAN: I was so sad. 
RACHEL: Do you think blowing up the plane will help?
SUSAN: No, I question if what FLocke wants is really the plane or if that was just something to tell people until he could get all the candidates together. 
RACHEL: That’s a good point.  Did you notice what he said to Kate though? It reminded me of what Eloise said to them.  Like how they all came together on the plane, so they all need to leave together.
SUSAN: Hmm, true.

Everyone Loves Hugo: The List

Note: FS = Flash-sideways

KEY MOMENTS

• FS: Hurley is a well-known business man and philanthropist.  Meets Libby by chance, who he takes out on a date (even though she’s in Santa Rosa).  They remember their connection from the original timeline.
• FS: Desmond is tracking the Oceanic 815ers.  He pushes Hurley to Libby and later, runs down Locke (to wake him up or kill him?).
• Team Jacob splits into Team Richard (with: Ben & Miles) and Team Hurley (with: Jack, Sun & Lapidus).  The former wants to blow up the Ajira plane; the latter goes to FLocke’s camp.

WTF

• Ilana gets herself blown up!
• Flocke threw Desmond down a well!
• Sideways Des ran down Sideways Locke with his car!

MEMORABLE QUOTES
Ben: “It makes you think, doesn’t it. Ilana — there she was, handpicked by Jacob, trained to come and protect you candidates. No sooner does she tell you who you are that she blows up. The Island was done with her. It makes me wonder what’s going to happen when it’s done with us.”

Hurley: “Dead people are more reliable than alive people.”

Mrs. Reyes [to Hurley]: “You need a woman in your life. Especially one who hasn’t nursed you.”

Hurley: “How do you break the ice with a smoke monster?”

Flocke: “If that’s not the best argument against captivity I’ve ever heard, I don’t know what is.”

Miles: “A warning might have been nice.”
Hurley: “I did say run.”

ANSWERED QUESTIONS (See original list)
19. What are the Whispers?
The ghosts of people who have died on the island but can’t move on because of something they did.

6x12 Everyone Loves Hugo: Recap

2004

Hurley earned his money from owning Mr. Cluck’s?  His mother is disappointed he hasn’t found a girlfriend, so she sets him up on a date.  Instead of meeting his intended date, Libby sees him from across the restaurant while she is there with her group from the mental hospital, where she has voluntarily placed herself because of what she had believed to be hallucinations of another life.  Libby is disappointed when Hurley doesn’t remember her.  Not long after, Hurley, depressed, meets Desmond, who encourages him to explore why he believed Libby when she said she knew him.  Hurley visits Libby in the mental hospital, and asks her on a date.  They meet for a picnic on the beach, and when Libby kisses Hurley, he remembers who she is.

Desmond, having watched the date from his car, drives off to spy on Locke at the school he is subsitute-teaching at.  Ben comes over to talk to him, suspicious, and Desmond lies (kindof?) about having a son named Charlie.  When Ben leaves, Desmond drives his car at full speed into Locke, who is crossing the parking lot in his wheelchair.  We last see Locke on the ground with a cut where his tell-tale scar should be, eyes darting, with Ben over him calling for help.

2007

Hurley is standing over Libby’s grave, wishing aloud that she would visit him.  Michael appears, warning Hurley people will die if they continue with Ilana and Richard’s plan to blow up the plane.  As Hurley explains this to the others in the camp, Ilana returns with four unwrapped sticks of dynamite in her backpack, and blows herself to pieces, a la Arzt.  Richard decides they need to collect more dynamite, but Hurley beats them there and blows up the Black Rock, destroying all the dynamite.  Hurley tells the group Jacob has asked that they meet with FLocke.  Only Jack, Sun, and Lapidus believe him.  Richard, Miles, and Ben go off to the barracks to continue their mission to destroy the plane.  En route, Hurley confesses to Jack that he did not see Jacob, but used him to back up what Hurley thought the best route was.  Jack confesses he knew Hurley was lying, but was willing to follow him.  The overt “whispers” scene commences, where Hurley learns the whispers are the voices of the dead that are “trapped” on the island, and Michael appears, asking Hurley to apologize to Libby for him.

At the Flocke camp, Sayid leads FLocke to the jungle where he has bound Desmond to a tree.  FLocke sets Desmond free, and walks him to an old well.  FLocke explains people built the well to understand why the area makes compass-needles spin, and Widmore wants the island for this purpose.  FLocke appears perturbed Desmond is not afraid.  When FLocke asks if Desmond knows who he is, Demond replies “John Locke”.  shortly thereafter, FLocke pushes Desmond down the well.

FLocke returns to his camp shortly before Hurley, Jack, Sun and Lapidus arrive.

6x11 Happily Ever After: Ginger Ale Talk

What does everyone want?
SUSAN: Hooray Desmond!
RACHEL: Yess! Desmond! Always a good episode when it’s about him.  I read an interesting observation this morning:

“The L.A.-verse is devoid of love. Desmond’s “flash-sideways” involves him being happy and prosperous - but loveless. And indeed, it turns out to be significant that all the other main Losties are also missing out on their major love relationships. (Except for Locke, who’s got Helen. Interesting.)”
(Source: http://io9.com/5511351/15-things-we-learned-in-last-nights-lost)

RACHEL: AND remember how we speculated about Sideways Locke being the MIB? Maybe that’s why Locke gets Helen / “love” whereas the other people do not.  If the island is underwater in the sideways timeline, then there’s a chance that Smokey did get out after all.  Mostly, I just thought the point about Locke getting Helen was interesting, whereas everyone else didn’t or haven’t gotten their love. 
SUSAN: Hmm.  I think I disagree a bit.  I think Locke finally got someone not telling him what he can’t do.  Also, Jin and Sun still have each other.  I think we should figure out what each of them wanted the most. 
RACHEL: Good idea.  Who to start with?
SUSAN: Locke wanted his disability to be accepted, and to be recognized as having ability. 
RACHEL: Sayid wanted Nadia alive and safe.
SUSAN: Jack wanted acceptance from his father, and to be able to put his death behind him.  (Which I think he got from his son.)
RACHEL: Agreed.  And I think Sayid got what he wanted too, she is alive and safe.  Just not with him.  What about Sawyer/Kate? Do you think that Kate ultimately just wants to keep running?
SUSAN: No, I don’t think we’ve seen the end of Kate’s story.
RACHEL: And Sawyer?
SUSAN: Revenge?
RACHEL: I agree with that but I think he wants the revenge partially because he thinks it’ll somehow free him from the past too.  I think that’s what Kate wants too in a sense (to be free). 
SUSAN: True.  It’s hard to tell what kate really wants since her character has no depth.
RACHEL: What about Sun and Jin?
SUSAN: Well Jin only ever wanted Sun I think.  Sun…I’m not sure.
RACHEL: With Sun, I think it’s a toss up between Jin and maybe escaping her father.
SUSAN: Ah yes. 
RACHEL: Claire? She wants Aaron?
SUSAN: Well, it’s what they came to the island wanting, right?  Not what they came to want on the island?
RACHEL: That’s a good point. 
SUSAN: So she wanted to get rid of aaron didn’t she? I mean, see him raised well I guess.  That’s a better way to put it
RACHEL: Right, I think she wanted what was best for Aaron and at the time, she didn’t think her being the one to raise him was the best option. 
SUSAN: So does that mean she doesn’t get what she wants in her flash sideways?
RACHEL: If she wanted what was best for Aaron, then I think she did.  I think her raising him is what’s best, even if she doesn’t think so. 
SUSAN: True.  Or her story isn’t done yet. 
RACHEL: Or that. 
SUSAN: I guess Charlie wanted DriveShaft to be successful?  So he got that. 
RACHEL: I guess? That seems so.. superficial compared to everyone else’s wants.  But I can’t think of anything else.
SUSAN: Well I got the impression from last night, we are supposed to think these wants are superficial. 
RACHEL: Compared to? Love? Which reminds me.  There was a recent E! Online interview with Damon Lindelof and they had the following convo:

“A couple weeks ago, after I got a little intel on tonight’s episode, I floated the following theory to Damon: ‘Is it safe to say that at its very core Lost is a love story?’
Damon replied: ‘You are the very first person ever to get the meaning of the show. Yes.  It is a love story.  Always has been… always will be.’”
(Source: http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b175281_lost_redux_find_out_what_this_show.html#ixzz0kQgaUbhz)

SUSAN: I see. 
RACHEL: You seem skeptical. 
SUSAN: Not skeptical, but a little let down because instantly my mind goes to Kate and her perpetual “who do I love” saga. 
RACHEL: Please not Kate.  I want Desmond and Penny goodness! Jin and Sun! Sawyer and JULIET!
SUSAN: But in the flash sideways, I think they’re moving towards Sawyer and Kate and I think Jack will be back with his ex.
RACHEL: It does seem that way but at the same time, Kate gave Jack a (few) long looks.  One of those, I think we’ve met before kind of look.  She hasn’t looked at Sawyer that way.  She’s just bumped into him a bunch of times. 
SUSAN: Yeah, something shady going on.  Is Hurley going to get Libby back?
RACHEL: I hope so!  Oh - Hurley! We forgot about him.  He ultimately wants to not be cursed anymore?
SUSAN: See, I always thought his ultimate want would be to have things not change because he hated how everything changed.  And yet, in his flash sideways, I think things changed.  So I don’t know, lol. 

Desmond
SUSAN:  On a side note, because I’ve been waiting to say it for awhile - the MRI machine makes the exact same noise as the flash sideways noise, no?
RACHEL: Does it? I didn’t really notice.  I just noticed that the nurse/tech person asked Desmond the same questions about not having any metal, coins, etc. on him.
SUSAN: Yes, I think it’s the same noise.
RACHEL: I’ll have to watch again.  I want to rewatch it anyways :)  What about that final scene with Desmond? What do you think he’ll show them?
SUSAN: I think he’s going to help them see their other lives.  I think he can somehow serve as a link between worlds. 
RACHEL: I agree, I’m just curious as to how.  Maybe he’ll give them all near death experiences, lol.
SUSAN: LOL.  I wonder what will happen when he gets to Sayid?  If he truly has the sickness in both worlds. 
RACHEL: You think he’s sick in sideways world?  Speaking of Sayid! After he killed those two guys and asked Desmond to come with him, I was thrown off by Desmond being all, oh sure I’ll follow you. 
SUSAN: Yeah.. I think Desmond sees a larger picture. 
SUSAN: My theory is, he knows he has to kill Locke or MIB, whatever you want to call him. 
RACHEL: Unless the MIB gets to him first or rather, kills him first.
SUSAN: Des can’t die!
RACHEL: I know! I will be very upset if that happens. 
SUSAN: I think he will have to give up Penny, I think that’s the sacrifice. 
RACHEL: Yeah, I got that feeling as well.  With all these people knowing the importance of Desmond, I’m wondering if the MIB knows too. 
SUSAN: I don’t think MIB does because I think Desmond became an anomaly.
RACHEL: .. After he turned the fail safe key? Or was he always an anomaly?
SUSAN: I’m gonna go with fail safe turning, although no, because so many people influenced him before then. 
RACHEL: I’m leaning towards him always being an anomaly too.  Off-topic but do you think Penny’s mother is significant?
SUSAN: I’m going with no because I think it’s too late in the game, and it would be a major plot point.
RACHEL: Good point. 

Whatever happened..
SUSAN: Have you noticed people keep saying whatever happened happened?
RACHEL: Yes!  Eloise, in particular, made a lot of throw back comments.  The look on her face when Desmond first showed up?  She knew who he was right away.  And then her little speech to him about staying on his current path.
SUSAN: Yes, she seems to bridge the gap.  She always knows everything that’s going on.  And if she knows, do you think Widmore knows?  Is he like her?
RACHEL: Exactly! Why is that?  It seems like the two of them are always trying to keep things on track.  Especially Eloise.  I can see why Eloise would want the sideways timeline since Faraday doesn’t die. 
SUSAN: But she said Desmond wasn’t ready yet. Ready for what? And what makes him ready?
RACHEL: Maybe.. these two timeline can’t exist at the same time.  Either one will prevail or they have to merge somehow and maybe Eloise knows this. That could be what Desmond isn’t ready for yet.  Since he’s the key to.. something.
SUSAN: To merging them? And him seeing Penny merges them! Ohhh because he fainted when he touched her, because she’s his constant.
RACHEL: Right, I think that nearly drowning and the MRI may have started to trigger memories from the original timeline.  But it seemed like seeing/touching Penny really sent him over the edge.
SUSAN: Yes, because it’s like the last time when he became unstuck in time.  He had to find Penny and this time he did it again, only now he’s linked the worlds.  It’s genius!
RACHEL: It is!

Widmore’s Plan
RACHEL: I had this funny thought when I saw where Widmore was going to perform that test on Desmond.  Since it was basically just a box, it made think of what Ben once said about there being a magic box on the island. 
SUSAN: Hmm, good point.
RACHEL: It’s safe to assume that Widmore wants to create another electromagnetic event, right?
SUSAN: Yes.  I think that is required to kill Flocke.
RACHEL: I didn’t even think of that! But that makes sense. Because the pylons probably emit a similar energy and they keep Smokey away.  I was actually thinking if that will cause the two timelines to fully merge or undo what the hydrogen bomb did.
SUSAN: So I was just thinking - the Widmores wanted everyone to go back and set off the bomb, right?
RACHEL: I don’t know about the bomb but I agree that they wanted everyone to go back.
SUSAN: Well I think what I’m arguing is that they knew this alternate timeline would come about and they wanted it that way because maybe the only way to kill MIB, is to have this alternate timeline exist. 
RACHEL: I’m on board with them knowing about the alternate timeline especially Eloise since she knows everything.  But okay, let’s say that create this other electromagnetic event and kill MIB in the original timeline.  Does killing the MIB cause the original timeline to not exist and they’re left with the alternate? Do the timelines merge? Or does the alternate timeline go away?
SUSAN: Hmm..

We’ve been behind on the ginger ale talks lately but that ends now (hopefully!).  Only 6 episodes left!

Happily Ever After: The List

Note: FS = Flash-sideways

KEY MOMENTS

• Widmore “tests” Desmond by seeing if he can withstand electromagnetic blasts (for the 2nd time). 
• FS: Desmond is Widmore’s right-hand man.
• FS: Desmond’s encounters (including near death experience) with Charlie triggers memories from the “original” timeline.  Specifically of Penny.
• FS: Widmore is married to Eloise, Daniel is their piano prodigy son and Penny is his half-sister.
• FS: Desmond asks Penny out on a coffee date and tells Minkowski to get the manifest from Oceanic 815
• Desmond wakes up from his flashes ready to help Widmore but in the end, follows Sayid (back to MIB?).

WTF

• Charlie drives Desmond’s car off a pier.
• Desmond follows Sayid with a happy smile on his face.
• Desmond suddenly agreeing to help Widmore.

MEMORABLE QUOTES
Desmond: “There’s always a choice, Brotha.”

Charlie: “This doesn’t matter. None of this matters. All that matters is we felt it.”

Charlie: “I’ve seen something real. I’ve seen the truth.”

Faraday: “What if this all this wasn’t supposed to be our life? What if we had some other life, and for some reason we changed things?”

Eloise: “Someone has clearly affected the way you see things, this is a serious problem.  It is, in fact, a violation. So whatever it is you’re doing, whatever it is you think you’re looking for, you need to stop looking for it.”

ANSWERED QUESTIONS (See original list)
None.

The Package: The List

KEY MOMENTS

• Flash-sideways:  Jin & Sun are not married but still involved (which they are unsuccessfully hiding from Mr. Paik).  She’s pregnant and is accidentally shot by Mikhail.
• Widmore/Zoe capture Jin; supposedly need his help finding energy pockets on the island.
• Widmore and FLocke “officially” declare war.
• Sun loses ability to speak English.
• Desmond is the package!

WTF

• Sun loses her ability to speak English after she runs into a tree.
• Ben being nice to Sun and acting genuinely concerned for her well-being.

MEMORABLE QUOTES

Widmore: “If [the Man in Black] gets off the island, your daughter, my daughter, everyone we know and love would simply cease to be.”

Ben: “For the fourth time, I was gathering mangoes and she was already unconscious when I found her.  Why won’t you believe me?”
Ilana: “Cause you’re speaking.”

FLocke: “A wise man once said that a war is coming to this Island.  I think it just got here.”

Sawyer: “What do you need a boat for? Can’t you just turn into smoke and fly your ass over the water?”
FLocke: “Do you think, if I could do that, I would still be on this island?”
Sawyer: “No. Because THAT would be ridiculous.”

Miles: “Unless Aplert’s covered in bacon grease, I’m not sure Hurley’s tracking anything,”
Frank: “Don’t talk about bacon.”

Sun: “I came to this Island to find my husband to bring him home, not to save the damn world! So ‘understand’ this. I’m not going anywhere.”
Hurley: “I don’t think she wants to come with us.”

Widmore: “Obviously you’re not John Locke. Everything else I know is a combination of myths, ghost stories, and jungle noises in the night.”

Miles: “She hits her head and forgets ENGLISH? Are we supposed to buy that?!”
Frank: “Asks the man who communes with the dead.”

ANSWERED QUESTIONS (See original list)
No questions answered. 

6x10 The Package: Recap

2004

At the airport, Jin gets back the watch, but not the money, from customs, misses his appointment at the restaurant.  At the hotel it is revealed that Jin (Kwon) and Sun (Paik) are not married, but engaged in a relationship, and believe Sun’s father does not know.  In the morning Keamy (and Omar) arrives looking for the watch and money.  They discover Jin in the bathroom.  Sun promises to withdraw the money from her own account, and Mikail arrives to translate and escort her to the bank, while Keamy and Omar take Jin to the restaurant.  Here it is revealed the money is Keamy’s fee for killing Jin.  Sun’s account has been emptied by her father because he became aware of her relationship with Jin.  Jin is locked in the fridge, Sayid comes in and kills Keamy and his men, gives Jin the razor to free himself.  When Mikhail shows up with Sun, Jin engages him, and a few shots fly.  One hits Mikhail in the eye, another one (or more?) hits Sun, who discloses she is pregnant as Jin rushes her out to the hospital.

2007

Ilana is confident Richard will return, and know what to do next when he does.  Sun is frustrated, storms off to her garden, cuts herself, yells at Jack, ends up alone.  FLocke tries to use Jin to lure Sun, she runs, hits her head, gets found by Ben.  She can no longer speak English, she can only understand it.  Richard comes back with Hurley, wants to destroy the plane so MIB cannot leave the island, Sun gets mad but no one can understand her yelling, she storms off, angry because she wants to find Jin and use the plane to get off the island.  Jack gives her a notepad so she can communicate, promises to help her find Jin and get them home.

MIB needs to find all the candidates and get them together so he can leave the island, tries to get Sun to come with him, gets shot down.  Jin tries to run off while MIB is gone, gets shot with a tranquilizer dart, along with everyone else in the camp.  Zoe and her team take Jin to room 23 on Hydra, asks for help finding the pockets of magnetism on the island.  Zoe gets reprimanded by Widmore for taking Jin too early in the timeline, blames her lack of logic on her being a geophysicist.  Widmore shows Jin pictures of his daughter, Ji Yeon.

MIB (and Sayid) goes to to Hydra to retrieve Jin, talks to Widmore through the sonic fence.  Widmore lies about having Sayid, FLocke promises war.  Sayid stays behind, finds out the “package” from the locked room on the sub is Desmond.

Ab Aeterno: The List

KEY MOMENTS

• Jacob visits Ilana and tells her that she has to protect the remaining six? candidates.
  
• Richard ends up on the Black Rock after he’s been “bought” by Magnus Hanso who finds him in prison for accidentally killing a doctor.
• The Black Rock crashes on the Island (thanks to Jacob) and there are no survivors, save for Richard (thanks to the MIB).
• Richard has to choose a side; he picks Jacob who then makes him his “advisor” and ageless.
• Isabella communicates to Richard through Hurley and says that he must stop the MIB or they’ll “all go to hell.”  

WTF

• Jacob physically attacking Richard on the beach.
• Richard is ageless because he asked Jacob to make him so.
• The speech and dagger that the MIB gives Richard to kill Jacob?  Same speech & dagger Dogen gave Sayid to kill the MIB.

MEMORABLE QUOTES
Man in Black: It’s good to see you out of those chains

Jacob: I want them to help themselves, to know the difference between right and wrong without me having to tell them. It’s all meaningless if I have to force them to do anything. Why should I have to step in?

Jacob: The cork is this island. And it’s the only thing keeping the darkness where it belongs.”

Richard: Does the offer still stand?
Hurley: What offer, Dude?

Hurley: She says your English is awesome.

ANSWERED QUESTIONS (See original list)
1.  Who and/or what are the man in black and Jacob?  And what is the nature of their relationship?
According to MIB: Jacob stole his body and his humanity.  MIB has been trying to kill Jacob for at least 150 years, in order to leave the island.

According to Jacob: He says that the island acts as a prison for the MIB because if set free, his “evil” will spread.  The MIB believes that everyone is inherently evil and corrupt but Jacob believes otherwise so he brings people to the Island to prove him wrong.  He wants people to know right from wrong on their own.  

9.  What is the deal with Richard Alpert?
He was brought to the Island by Jacob (via the Black Rock) and becomes his representative.  He never ages because that is what he asked of Jacob in return for accepting “the job”. (So that he will never go to Hell, since Jacob could not keep him from going to Hell when he dies)  He feels/felt responsible to his wife’s death because he was unable to bring her life-saving medicine in time.

13.  What brought the Others/Hostiles to the island?
I think it’s safe to say that Jacob brought them to the island.

20.  Why was Rousseau and her crew brought to the island? (Note: Assuming all people are “brought” to the island)
See above.

21.  Why was anyone brought to the island? 
To (unknowingly) participate in Jacob and the MIB’s game/war.