Did anyone else want to punch Kate in her stupid Chicklet teeth?

So my biggest problem with last night’s ep? Stupid Kate. While I have never been a fan, her reaction to seeing Locke and denying affection for any of the Left Behinders really angered me. I truly hope that she is not the Eve of the Adam and Eve skeletons, because she deserves to die sad and alone, with people spitting on her grave.

It’s hard to come up with any concrete theories after last night’s ep, because Liar 1 and Liar 2 are liars and I can’t trust anything that either one says. So I’ll start with some observations and questions:

- It seems like Caesar and Ilana have been on the Island before – he seemed familiar with the room he is in (which we find out is the Hydra station). And they found the Hydra station awfully quick, so maybe they knew it was there all along.
- Good ol’ Frank came through and landed the plane. I couldn’t tell if it was actually on a runway or not, but it was definitely on Hydra island where the runway was being built.
- My reaction to the opening scene: Well, that was quick! I expected Locke’s resurrection to come at the end of the episode, right before the LOST (whoomp!)
- Just like Jack’s return to the Island mirrored his first time there, so to did Locke’s – he was very serene, contemplative, staring into the distance – and eating a fruit.
- Part of my confusion with everyone’s motivations: Based on episodes past, Jacob (ostensibly) wanted Locke gone, and tonight, we found out that Widmore wants him on the Island. But it seems like Ben wanted him there too, so I just don’t know.
- Episode reminded me of “Meet Kevin Johnson”
- Abaddon being shot shocked the shit out of me – I did not see that coming at all. A bit disappointing, because I really did like him, but from that moment on, the ep really moved into high gear. (I’m also glad they didn’t leave his murderer a mystery.)
- Seeing Abaddon again showed me even more how Lance Reddick’s talents are wasted on Fringe.
- The car accident was really well-staged.
- I was a little disappointed in Locke’s meeting with Walt, but I think they can effectively close the book on Walt’s future appearances now if they want to. I wanted Walt to have more to do, but if the show doesn’t have a future with him, I’m glad the door is closed now so we don’t have his “ghost” hanging over the show. And I do understand Locke’s point of view on this – just 4 months ago or whatever, Walt was a kid he played backgammon with and now he visits him to see he is a seemingly well-adjusted teenager, so not wanting to rip him out of his stable life is ok with me.
- However, if they eventually want to explain Walt’s time in the Others’ captivity (which I think they should) the show can do it without Malcolm David Kelley.
- Jack’s facial hair was done very effectively.
- Helen died on April 8, 2006 (4/8)
- So Sun left with Frank on one of the boats and that’s how one of them gets to the Island for the future encounter with Sawyer and company. I guess a group follows them later to get the other boat there, and maybe that group is the one that shoots at Sawyer, etc.
- Where’s Sayid?
- Quotes of the night: Widmore: “Because that’s the exit.” and Locke: “The timing would just confuse you.”

So there were two great, great scenes toward end of episode really saved it. Not that I disliked what happened before, but it turned an ok episode into a very good one.

It started with Abaddon’s death and the car chase and then Locke arrived in the hospital – then Terry O’Quinn and Matthew Fox shared their greatest scene ever. Matthew Fox really was off the charts fantastic. I’m a bit of a Jack hater, but the last few weeks, I have felt more sympathy toward him. And tonight it was the ultimate showdown between the man of science and the man of faith, with each trying desperately to hang onto their beliefs and convince the other to listen. Just really fantastic.

Then we move to John’s dirty apartment and you could feel his desperation and depression through the TV screen. Terry O’Quinn is always great, not matter what my opinion on Locke is, but tonight was a truly a showcase for him. I did think that he was going to do it, that he was ready to kill himself, but then Ben shows up and what follows is a scene even better than the Jack and Locke scene.

Michael Emerson has some great reaction shots – you can see him thinking, the wheels turning in his head. Starting when he mentions Jin and then when he says Eloise Hawking. As soon as Locke mentioned Hawking, I knew what Ben was going to do, but it still was powerful and painful. But why? If Ben didn’t want him to go to Hawking, why did Ben go to Hawking? Is he playing her? I just can’t keep it all straight and it makes my head hurt.

Could Ben’s actions be as simple as Locke had to be murdered if he was to return – was that his destiny? Would it not work if he made the choice to kill himself? And when Ben said that he would miss John, does that mean that resurrected John Locke is not the same as the John Locke we have known for so long? (Or does Ben somehow not realize that Locke will be reborn?)

This episode did seem to be about creating (more) confusion and misunderstanding. And it does get frustrating, but perhaps it has to be. Maybe it’s a flimsy excuse, but maybe Ben/Widmore have to be intentionally mysterious because they are not allowed to outright interfere with destiny. Of course, this explanation is a bit of a cop-out, but the show is lately concerned with destiny and what has to happen, but it also has often emphasized that you have to WANT to take part in your destiny.

Maybe what we’re talking about isn’t truly written – it’s not exactly destiny – things can change, like Desmond choosing to propose to Penny would have changed his path, but with catastrophic consequences for the world. (According to Hawking, who is perhaps a liar like Ben/Widmore, but I digress…) So maybe there is a path that is already laid out, and it can be changed, but it SHOULDN’T be changed.

I also wonder if this ties into characters’ desires. Like Jack had to want to save Ben in season 3 – his destiny was to save Ben, but only if he truly wanted to do it. I also wonder if this might explain what happened to those on Flight 316. Could it have to do with their desire to go back to the Island? Maybe those caught in the flash to the 1970s were being manipulated to go back and those who landed truly wanted to go back. Jack, Kate and Hurley were eventually convinced that they had to go back, but maybe they truly did not want to. Ben, Locke and Sun all truly wanted to go back and all the other passengers were just unwitting pawns. We don’t know about Caesar and Ilana yet, but they didn’t seem to upset to be there and we don’t know where Sayid is. Or maybe it’s all just dumb luck and I’m overthinking things as I tend to do.