I think Season 6 is shaping up to be the resurgence of Jack. While bros like Desmond, Sayid and Richard Alpert might be cooler, I’ve always empathized with Jack’s story the most, warts and all. Funny, considering that he was originally going to be a throwaway character played by Michael Keaton who died in the Pilot.
Needless to say, I loved tonight’s episode. Loved the Island stuff, where we see Jack through Hurley’s eyes. From Hugo’s POV, Jack is both his leader and also kind of a scary nutcase. How does Jacob, through Hurley, get Jack to do what he wants? By playing mind games about Jack’s daddy issues, of course. Jack is nothing if not consistent. It was very understated, but sweet to see how much Hurley does look up to Jack. Jack may be a total mess, but he’s their leader.
And off the Island, Jack has a son (!) from a marriage that didn’t work out here either. But maybe, after the death of Christian, this Jack is beginning to pull it together. It’s interesting to see Jack puzzling at his appendix scar, not totally sure where it came from. As with our other flash-sideways characters, it’s like our heroes are unconsciously learning from the failures of their alternate selves. “Through a Looking Glass” was all about showing us how everything went terrible wrong. The sideways-scenes this season might be about how there’s also hope that things can go right too.
Meanwhile, Claire is rocking the Rousseau gear, and, just as Dogen promised, she’s been infected with the darkness. You kinda knew she was going to kill that poor Other. But interesting to learn that they captured and tested her too, as they did Sayid. I suppose this means that Claire didn’t time jump like the other Lostaways?
I wonder if Jin really did see Aaron at the temple, or if he was just talking some bullshit to win Claire over until he could get the fuck away from her. Does Claire see the dark man as Locke, or Christian? Or someone else?
But what I really want to know is: who’s #108? Please let it be Desmond!
The little things in this episode were so amazing, I think. Shannon’s inhaler. Adam and Eve return! Kate’s on the list after all (@ #51, interestingly enough)! Phantom appendix scars? Dogen in LA! The fact that the sign at the recital/audition says “Welcome all candidates!” Jack used to read his boy Alice In Wonderland, the same as he read it to Aaron when he had something nice back home…
I’m assuming that Claire indeed sees Evil Locke there either as Locke, or… well, as someone else. If she and Sawyer are in the same camp now – and obviously Claire is now full on INSANE – I think it’s interesting that they’re well aware that this isn’t Locke, but someone wearing his image. But anyway, Claire makes specific mention of both “her father” and “my friend” as two different people.
Makes you wonder more about Malkin’s claims about how Claire had to raise Aaron, how darkness surrounded the child if he was raised by another. Perhaps it was reverse psychology or reverse intent?
But I’m guessing that no, Jin didn’t see Aaron there in the temple. He’s just trying to sneak the crazy lady back into the ancient structure where there’s hundreds of indigenous peoples with guns. And also Sayid. That’s got to be better than sitting around in a shack in the middle of the jungle with her.
And just who is Wallace? Or is that all just misdirection and unnecessary since Jacob just wanted to send Jack on a mission of soul searching and let him stare out at the ocean for a while?
And for a moment there, just a moment, when Hurley asked Jack why he came back, I wanted to see the full force of Jackface unleashed and for Jack to be all like, “BECAUSE I WAS FUCKING HIGH, man! High on that hillbilly heroin! I didn’t even realize I was back in this sweaty hellhole until like two hours ago!” And then Hurley would’ve said, “Dude.”
But then again, Jack is the kind of dude that shaves his chest, so he’s obviously playing with a whole different rulebook than the rest of us… I think.
i saw somewhere out on the interweb that #108 was a “wallace”
damn Jack. he always comes in and jacks things up.