Because You Left / The Lie

Update: We rated this ep an 8.

Awesome. Typical Lost, an answer or two, but about a million more questions. I actually don't have a TON to say about this ep... mostly cuz there's so much information we still don't know. It's pretty clear though that Daniel Faraday will be a MAJOR character this season. And with all this time skipping and consciousness travel, I think it makes a lot more sense why Daniel was crying in that first flashback we saw of him. Anyway... I'm gonna try and group the two episodes together.

Off-Island Stuff:

- I don't think Ben and Jack are being honest with each other over what Locke/Bentham told them. That exchange seemed a little forced. It will be interesting to see.
- Who wants to find out if it's really Kate's baby? Claire's mom? Does she have the means? Widmore? Why would he want to expose the lie? Conspiracy theorists? I dunno
- What else went down in the Sun / Widmore conversation? Sounds like she's out for Ben's blood, which judging from her later conversation with Kate (she doesn't blame her for Jin's death, and couldn't have a reason for blaming Jack then), is the second person she blames for her husband's death.
- Why are people, 3 years later, finally going after the Oceanic 6? (staking out Hurley, trying to kill Sayid, checking if it's really Kate's baby) Could it be Widmore knows Ben has found a way back to the island and he's trying to make it that more difficult?
- Good to see Ana-Lucia again, even if it was a little pointless. I liked her character. Always thought she was judged a little harshly by fans.
- While we're on supporting characters... what's going on with Frank Lapidus? It wouldn't surprise me if he winds up dead. He was the only one who came back that had to account for anything. He would have to answer to Widmore, unless he;'s in hiding.
- Great moment when Hurley tells his Mom, and she believes him.

Ok, the two biggest off-island revelations for me (pretty obvious), 1)were meeting some of Ben's "people", and 2) the return of Mrs. Hawking. 1) He'd mentioned them in previous season's. But why is one of them working in a butcher shop as some sort of cover? Seems like they are all working towards the same goal of returning to the island, but why are they still helping Ben? He's not the leader anymore. 2) It looks like she is the one who has figured out a way to get back to the island, and there are some very specific guidelines. Ben seems to take a back seat to her. She seems to be in charge.

On-Island:

So the island is skipping in time... should be a interesting way for the writer's to fill in pieces from the past. I have no idea (surprise) why it's happening, how it's happening, and what the RULES are for what travels, but Juliette seemed to offer a half-hearted "explanation". Whatever they had with them came along for the ride. Ok! Hopefully we'll get more information from Faraday as the season progresses. I'll go out on a limb and say we will. (I'd also like to hear more about how Faraday got so interested and knowledgeable about the Dharma Initiative to begin with).

- The beginning was a classic bit of Lost. Very neato seeing Pierre Chang (Marvin Candle, etc.) in the flesh. Looks like he was one of the heads of the D.I. (think that baby might be Miles? He has special powers cuz he was born on the island? That's why he was selected for the team... is history with the island?)
- Faraday showing up in the past was confusing at first.. still is... but at least we have a couple of guesses. It was a flash forward to his time later on the island, when the island is still skipping (confused?). OR... it could be he really was there in the past... either way, interesting stuff.
- Wonder why the survivors move, but the Hostiles/Others don't? Juliette moves. Weird. I wonder if any D.I. guys were still alive if they would move. Probably has something to do with your history on the island.
- Seems like Richard knows what's going on. That piece with him was clearly in the future. Many questions, as always, from his brief appearance but mainly... Why would Locke have to die? And if Ben and Richard knew the shit would hit the fan if the 6 left, why'd they let them go? (Maybe that's another reason why Ben blew up the boat on purpose (by killing Keamy). He would ensure that no one left if they helicopter blew up on the boat).
- Who launched the flaming arrows? BRUTAL STUFF on Frogurt. that wasn't a quick death... that was torture!!! Looks like a couple more people ate it too! Be interesting to see if they all meet up again after splitting up in the jungle. (What if Rose and Bernard never meet up with the group and get stuck in the past or some shit, and they end up being Adam and Eve form season 1? I know that's a streeeetch but I thought I;d throw it out there.)
- Annnnnd... who attacked Juliette and Sawyer? I was hoping it was Rousseau's team. Guess it still could be.
- Looks like Charlotte is getting the "sickness", (Minkowski). Wonder is she's just the first one to show it, or if there's something special about her... like being through this before form her previous time on the island (as hinted at in the finale last year). Hope she can find a constant!

Two final things...

1)Desmond... his screwy time frame/consciousness makes him the only who can help the island right now... or the 6... or whatever.... He needs to find Faraday's Mom... ok... I'll bet it's Mrs. Hawking.

2) Faraday makes it pretty clear that you can't change the future. We sort of learned that a couple of seasons ago with Desmond and Charlie. But things WERE happening different, like Locke getting shot in the leg, and Frogurt being brutally killed by flaming arrows. (By the way... were the flames necessary? Seems like an arrow without a big light letting you know it was coming would have been more effective.) I think things can happen to our survivors because it's their present, and it's not changing the future, just their present. (although I'm still not sure how Ethan meeting Locke works. Would Ethan recognize Locke when he invades the camp later on... whatever)

Anyway that's what I got... Anything else?

Thanks for reading... all 6 of you.