Is it ironic that The Flame went up in flames?

Oddly (or maybe not so oddly), since it came up last night that Patchy's
station is/was called "The Flame," I haven't been able to get that cheesy
Cheap Trick song from the 80s ("I will be the flaaaaaaaaaame!") out of my
head. I also keep hearing Johnny Storm saying "Flame on!"

So what I really liked this week is that while the flashbacks were only used
to provide character illumination (as they were with Hurley and Jack in past
weeks), the main story of the episode actually made progress on the Island
(unlike the Jack and Hurley episodes). And that's all I really want,
especially since the Island stuff was so freakin awesome.

Since Season 1, I've been ok with the show being about character development
and redemption, but I think we also need something to string us along and I
think that's exactly what last night's episode did. A nice self-contained
flashback for Sayid which did not take up a lot of the episode, a very funny
subplot for Sawyer and the beach people and some nice progress for Sayid and
his merry men.

So my first question is: Do think Sayid actually tortured that woman or was
he telling her what she wanted to hear? As Sayid is typically an excellent
judge of character, I'm sure he knew that she needed to forgive someone so
she could move on with her life. (And he also knew that admitting his
"guilt" would be the only way he lived.) But he refused to admit it to her
husband – probably because he was going to kill Sayid if he admitted it in
front of him and also because he probably didn't do it.

As amusing as the Sawyer subplot was, I hope that the next week flies by in
Lost-time, because the last two weeks (in our time), he's really popped out
some good ones. (I'm thinking of Zorro this week.) At least they didn't say
he's not allowed to be snarky, because him asking Nikki "Who the hell are
you?" was the best line of the episode.

So, on to the really good stuff, like Sayid actually asking questions - even
if he was partially (?) duped. What a novel concept, communication and
question asking on Lost.

I was happy to see wacky Ms. Klugh again, but sad that they cut her down so
quickly, even though I could tell that that is what she was saying to Patchy
in Russian or whatever language she was using. I was also amused by Kate's
reaction to recognizing her.

Originally, when I was watching the episode, I was annoyed with Locke.
Especially after the reveal that Patchy was an Other, he should have
realized he was being played. However, after having thought about it for
most of the day, I think it was pretty much exactly how he would have
reacted. At the most basic, we know he has a thing for games (Mouse Trap
from season 1) and being challenged. He also has a history of being a very
poor judge of character and believing what he wants to believe. I think he
has always been portrayed as someone who thinks he is smarter than he
actually is. And I think now, we are seeing the real Locke: someone who
really does not think about the consequences of his actions and has a
dangerous reliance on faith and feeling over logic. The Locke we met in
season one was trying to reinvent himself, but I don't think that was ever
really him, no matter how cool and badass he was (or thought he was) back
then. So today, I totally believe that Locke would have done what he did.
And I question why it was ever Jack versus Locke and not Jack versus Sayid,
who I have always thought should be their defacto "leader." Locke would be
better off as the mysterious stranger he was in season one, so he can only
fuck up his life.

Also, the blowing up of The Flame prevents Sayid's attempts at repairing the
satellite dish and keeps them on the Island a little bit longer, which (of
course) is necessary for their overall story.

I thought Patchy's patch looked very new. He was all disheveled looking, but
his patch looked like he bought it from Party City a couple of hours before
his visitors arrived. Just thought that was a little weird. (Another
costume? Maybe the Others are actually traveling performers?) When he was
tied up, I totally would have taken a peek under that thing to see what the
story was.

Speaking of Mr. Patch, what of his story do you believe? Why couldn't Dharma
coexist with the Others, if that is in fact true? (But that was kinda
supported by the chess game/Dr. Marvin Candle recording.) But if that is
true, his 11 year timeframe has to be a lie, but why he would lie about that
I don't really know. (Because I think the Dharma Initiative disbanded in the
mid-80s, so Dr. Candle wouldn't have the opportunity to make that recording
if the Others coup was 11 years ago, right?) But almost anything involving
Dharma is assumption anyway, so I don't know...

Anyway, I thought this week was much improved from the past two weeks,
because even if we don't get concrete answers, at least we moved ahead. And
I tend to think (as Stephen King once told me) that it is all about the
journey.