Lost Rehash S6.8: Recon

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Sawyer, so last night’s episode was a bit refreshing.  Not one of my favorites, but still an okay episode.  Plenty of people being manipulated and moved around on the Great Island Chess Board.  Lots of build-up for what can only be the most hyped series ending of all time.

The Flashsideways gave us the detective James Ford.  Working with his partner, Miles, the two run a successful sting on a woman named Ava.  Later, at Ford’s desk, we see him calling a list of “Anthony Coopers,” looking for something.  Miles sets Ford up for a blind-date, and he meets Charlotte.  Later, Charlotte asks for a tee-shirt, and while she’s looking for one, she happens upon a folder marked SAWYER.  Inside is a photo and a newspaper clipping about a man who killed himself and his wife and their nine-year-old son surviving.  Ford walks in and furiously kicks Charlotte out.

The next day Ford is approached by Miles, telling him again that he can trust him.  Miles informs Ford that he knows he went to Australia and wants to know why.  Ford tells him it’s none of his business.  Miles says he’s no longer his partner.  Later on, after a bit of self-loathing and loneliness, Ford goes to Charlotte to apologize, but she shuts the door in his face. 

The Flashsideways ends with Ford telling Miles the truth about his past.  Just then, a car crashes into their car and they pursue the runner.  The fleeing person runs from the vehicle but Ford catches her, realizing that it’s the same woman (Kate) he helped evade detection while in LAX.

On the Island, only a few things happen.  Sawyer tells Jin that they wouldn’t leave the Island without Sun.  Kate sees the “Squirrel Baby” and Claire tells her that that’s she has.  People ask what happened to those left back at the Temple, and unLocke says that the Black Smoke killed them.  unLocke reveals to Sawyer that he’s the smoke monster, telling him it’s either kill or be killed.  unLocke asks Sawyer to go to Hydra Island and do some recon, to investigate the Ajira Flight 316 plane and return with info.  Kate asks Sayid if he’s okay, the haunted looking Sayid says no and looks empty.  Claire suddenly attacks Kate and Sayid acts like he doesn’t care.  unLocke pulls the crazy lady off Kate, telling her that he’ll deal with her in a minute.

Back on Hydra Island, a woman named Zoe tries to con Sawyer, but he sees through it and is taken to her boss, who turns out to be (to no-ones surprise) Charles Widmore.  Sawyer and Widmore make a deal about the fate of unLocke.  On the main Island, unLocke tells Kate about his crazy mother experience.  He then goes on to say that Aaron has a crazy mother, too.  Afterwards, Claire apologizes and hugs Kate and Kate says it’s okay.  Sawyer returns, tells unLocke exactly what he told Widmore, and unLocke says he appreciates Sawyer’s loyalty.  In the end, Kate and Sawyer are talking and Sawyer confides that he’s going to let unLocke and Widmore duke it out, and while their hands are full, they’re taking the sub and getting off the Island.

Thoughts and Observations

• I’m really, really excited about next week’s episode, “Ab Aeterno.”  (This is Latin, meaning something like “For a very long time” or something.)  I’ve been waiting for the Richard episode for a while now, and it’s going to be great.
• I liked seeing Charlies brother, Liam, in the police station.  Hopefully we get to see more Charlie, but probably not.
• I wonder what was locked up inside the submarine room?  Anything special, or just something that adds mystery?
• Was unLocke’s crazy mother actually referring to John Locke’s weird mom, or did the Man in Black have a crazy mother, too?  Is this show just about daddy issues and crazy mothers?
• Maybe I haven’t thought this through, but the time-travelling Island disappearing thing and Widmore’s roles are confusing a bit.  Widmore was banished/exiled from the Island sometime in the early 1990s.  He was the leader of the Others for many years before this, possibly even in 1977, when things went a little crazy on the Island.  If the Incident split things into two timelines, are there now two Widmores, one intent on returning to the Island and getting revenge, and another in the Flashsideways?  Am I not thinking right on this?
• I still hope to see Desmond coming into play again.