A quintessential set-up episode, with three key plot strings being wound together, and so that is how I will give my thoughts on the episode.
The least interesting is the DHARMA action:
Did we know that Radzinsky's name is Stuart? Anyway, we already knew he was unhinged, but then he goes so far as to declare a coup against Horace, who seems to be a genuinely nice guy but is a pushover (it seems even Ben feels the same way as he treats his body with respect after the Purge). What about the research at the Swan is so important to him that he snaps at Horace, Chang, and everybody else? Is he just a zealous scientist or is there something more personal about it? What do you want to bet he ends up on Swan duty as a pseudo-prison, and one that he built himself? Kind of mirrors the past Losties creating some of their own torment.
Phil hit the girl. See, I told you he was trouble. Sawyer and Juliet sell out the Hostiles location for a ticket on the sub, with Sawyer hilariously saying they'll buy Microsoft and bet on the Cowboys in the Super Bowl.
Luckily, only Dr. Chang spied Hurley stealing food, although he was surprisingly amenable to believing they were time travelers (I always expected him to believe, just not so easily after reacting so harshly to Faraday last week). I love that he asked Hurley who the president was--Hurley asked that same question when they first arrived. Good transition between Miles saying Faraday's been right about everything so far and dead Faraday.
So Kate ends up on the sub with Sawyer and Juliet. Oy. Will they be flashed off the sub? Go back to Ann Arbor and meet the DeGroots? I would ask if the sub turns around, but we know that baby Miles and Charlotte leave the Island. And as many suspected, we see that Chang kicked his wife and baby out in order to save them from the imminent calamity.
On to the Hostiles (1977):
Jack certainly was energized by Daniel's speech, and now believes that this is the destiny he was brought back to achieve. He goes on to break Kate's heart by saying that enough of their experience was misery. Seriously, Kate, how many people died? How many times did you get captured by the Others? All that so that you could dump Jack because neither of you could ever get over Sawyer? Then Kate twists the knife back on him by saying "He thinks he knows [what he's doing]". Oh well, these crazy kids will end up together in the end, regardless.
Eloise is a believer, though, and her love interest (complicated, as Richard tells Jack) Charles is not. And she seems pretty tender in observing her son's dead body, despite the cold manipulation that she will commence in order to bring him to this point.
Nice, well-timed reentrance by Sayid in order to save doubting Kate from being shot by the Hostiles. So Jughead is buried under New Otherton, and their is an entrance to the tunnels through the river. I can roll with that. First, though, the Jack/Kate/Sawyer summit is some classic Season 1 type stuff, with Kate spoiling the boys fun, wondering when it became okay to kill kids and set off hydrogen bombs. Who would have ever thought, when we saw a similar showdown between these three over torturing Sawyer, that one day they'd be doing the same re: time travel, and that the show would still resonate?
I had to root for Kate, though, as she told Jack that he sounded just like Locke and that Locke was crazy. Hearing Jack say that maybe he was wrong was inevitable but disappointing. My prediction: Jack's gone too far in the faith direction. As the Season 2 premiere title said, "Man of Science, Man of Faith". Jack's full potential will be reached when he properly combines the two.
So DHARMA built New Otherton on top of Jughead. Oops. And the bomb is in catacombs similar to those inhabited by the Monster. I guess these are the "Cerberus vents" on the blast door map. I love Sayid's straightforward reasoning in joining Jack's crusade: "if you're right, you'll save us all and if not, at least you'll put us all out of our misery" Methinks that just as Sun wants a reunion with Jin at all costs, Eloise wants to take back shooting Faraday at all costs, etc. so too does Sayid want to try to save Nadia. But I'm afraid that all of these folks are letting their desire to change the past cloud their judgment in their present.
At least Sayid is still analyzing every situation, pointing out that Ellie's desire to detonate Jughead may just be in order to wipe out DHARMA. But Jack trusts her because she sent them there thirty years later. If she'll use her own son, Jack, what makes you think she won't use you?
So how did they get the bomb down there? Can the Monster carry a bomb?
Finally, the most interesting portion of the episode: Locke and the Others circa 2007:
Richard doesn't look particularly thrilled to see Locke, and that only continues to intensify throughout the episode. When I learned this was a Richard-centric episode, I was hopeful we'd see some true Richard flashbacks. Alas, if that ever happened it would have to be a Season 6 episode, as it would be mythological overload.
We get confirmation from Ben that Richard serves as something of an advisor to the leader of the Others, and throughout the episode it seems clear that he does just that and no more, not able to stop Locke's actions, which he clearly fears.
Unfortunately, Richard tells Sun that he watched them all die in 1977. Suddenly, "whatever happened, happened" doesn't sound so good, much to my disappointment.
What an amazing reveal that it was Locke who told Alpert to expect him wandering near the Beechcraft, and told him what to say, including the "bring them back" plea. So apparently Locke himself is the genesis of bringing the Oceanic Six back, and it remains a mystery as to why he did. Certainly, Ajira 316 involved some non-Locke forces wanting the O6 back as well, so it's an open issue.
What is really wild about this scene, though, is that Richard chuckles that at least Locke didn't have to die, when in fact, he did. Ben and Richard share a look that can only be described as dread.
Ben truly looks shaken up by all this, to an even greater extent than he did when he saw Locke alive. When Locke tells him the Island told him the time to be there, Ben is stunned that the Island spoke so clearly. And then Locke drops the bomb...Ben has never seen Jacob.
We were certainly led to believe in the "Man Behind the Curtain" that Ben could hear Jacob. But seeing apparently wasn't part of the deal.
Locke addresses the Others and tells them that they are all going to go see Jacob, whom none of them has ever seen. This causes him to be greeted warmly by his people, as Richard confides in Ben that "John Locke is going to be trouble". And we are reminded that there is still a group of Others at the temple. Hmmm.
Finally the scene to end all scenes, as the Others set out on their trek. And how could there be a season finale without a trek? Ben shares with Locke Richard's concerns about his plan, offers his help to bring the Lostaways back together (as Locke bald-faced lied to Sun was something Jacob could facilitate for them), and says (with apparent conviction, although this is Benjamin freaking Linus) that his purpose now is to serve John. And the bomb is dropped: Locke intends to kill Jacob.
Is Locke seeking revenge for his own death? Is Jacob in opposition to the will of the Island, and if so, who does represent the will of the Island? The Monster? Can Jacob even be killed?
I'll try to sketch out some thoughts on how the Finale will go down in my pre-post next week, but I have no clue, and I like it that way. It should be a wild ride.
Also, an appropriate episode title this week, as we see people struggle with the decisions of the leader in each of the three plot threads. Radzinsky launching a coup met with no resistance, Kate abandoning Jack's leadership, Locke asserting his own over the Others despite Richard's hesitancy. I'm sure the writers of LOST do not share my political beliefs, but I think questioning leadership is as timely a topic as it has been in the United States in seventy years.
