Jack's appendix scar. Source: ABC's LOST
Despite going head to head with both the live version of American Idol and the Olympic telecast, this week’s new episode of LOST, entitled ‘Lighthouse,’ did well in the ratings.
We revisit the lost body “mix-up” at the airport and are again reminded that there is supposedly a darkness growing in Sayid. Island-Claire, hilariously coined on the net as Claire + Rousseau = Clousseau, is looking a little rough, but who wouldn’t be after being stranded alone in the jungle for three years. It seems, though, that Claire was not alone. More on that later.
Jack notices his appendix scar in the mirror and calls mom to see when he had that sucker out. Mom says it was when he was 7 or 8 – although we saw Juliet take it out on the island last season. Jack doesn’t remember Juliet, but he doesn’t remember surgery at 7 or 8 either. Looks like changes go back a pretty long way in the sideways timeline (as they would have to for Locke to be inviting his dad to his wedding). Jack’s a daddy to son, David, but is apparently separated from David’s mom (Sarah?) as they see each other only once a month.
Claire's creepy bassinet. Is that Taweret? Source: ABC
Island-Claire is running around in a plaid shirt much like the one island-Christian started wearing when he was suddenly no longer in his burial suit. Apparently plaid = dead and crazy. Claire believes that the Others are hiding her BAY-bee and assists a wounded Jin in the hopes that he will help her get Aaron back. We are treated to way too many scenes of Jin’s bloody stump before Claire announces that she has not been alone all this time – she has a “friend.” Clearly a few Fruit Loops shy of a cereal bowl, Claire delivers the episode’s best line: “If there’s one thing that’ll kill you around here, it’s infection!”
Hurley, still the only one who can see Jacob, starts taking notes on Jacob’s bidding and “lies to a samurai” to move forward with Jacob’s plan. At Jacob’s prompting, Hurley tells Jack, “You have what it takes” – again igniting Jack’s daddy-issues and assuring that he will follow Hurley on his quest. They run across Kate on their travels, but Hurley tells Jack that she’s “kinda not invited.” Is Hurley that interested in following Jacob’s instructions to the letter, or is he just happy to be on the chosen team this time (vs. the Pala Ferry kidnapping where Hurley’s only responsibility seemed to be going back to camp to tell the remaining Oceanic survivors never to go there)? In the jungle, Jack steps on one of Shannon’s inhalers and I wait for the other shoe to drop – but it seems to be more of a nod to Season 1 than to anything more about Shannon coming back. So far, anyway. Jack tells Hurley he was “chasing the ghost of my dead father,” and Hurley seems to relate, as if he feels better about not being the only one who can see dead people.
If this were any other season, I’d probably be stressing at this point about getting more questions than answers. But I’m finding myself more mellow as the season progresses. I’m avoiding spoilers like the plague and reading far less analysis because I just want to immerse myself in what’s left of this story and know that the answers are coming. Now when I see things like Jack & David’s photo strip or Shannon’s inhaler, my first thought is not “What does that mean?” Instead it’s “Now THAT would be a cool thing to buy at the LOST auction.” Call me crazy, but I’m putting my faith in Darlton and letting the Lucky Charms fall wherever they may because I trust that there will be a pot of gold at the end of the island rainbow (too many cereal analogies, eh?).
You and me, trekkin’ through the jungle on our way to do somethin’ we don’t quite understand. Good times. -Hurley to Jack
The island lighthouse. Source: ABC
And so then we finally see the lighthouse. It looks a lot like my college bell tower and perched atop a cliff, I can’t believe (nor can Jack or Hurley) that they’ve never seen it before. Is that tower above Jacob’s cave from last week’s episode? Jack, who’s been ignoring all the writing on Hurley’s arm up until this point, asks, “Does it say anything on your arm about the door being jammed?” He then goes all Sayid and gives it a quick kick.
Yet another donkey wheel - with the numbers! Source: ABC
The two are supposed to turn the (donkey?) wheel to 108 degrees so that an unnamed person coming to the island will be able to find their way. But when Jack starts to see reflections in lighthouse mirrors that couldn’t possibly be there, he begins to lose patience. Grabbing a telescope, he approaches Hurley and demands answers from Jacob. Still having red shirt syndrome, I worry that Jack will strike Hurley or even push him out one of the lighthouse windows. I don’t want anything to happen to Hurley – especially at the hands of Jack! But Jack instead breaks all the mirrors. Naughty, naughty ... I’m guessing he’s not a candidate any more. Jacob doesn’t seem to care, though. It was all part of his un-identified, un-explained, and un-ending plan. Sigh.
The Williams Conservatory lobby. Source: ABC
Back in the sideways timeline, Jack follows David to a music conservatory audition where the lobby sign welcomes all ‘candidates.’ A very contemporary Dogen is also there with his own son. Jack and David have a little powwow and find a comfortable place for their relationship.
Back on the island, Jacob reveals that Jack is there because he has to do something – and he can’t be told what that is – he has to find it for himself. Does it qualify as free will if you are manipulated into coming to a conclusion? And after brutally killing an Other in front of Jin, Claire announces that the MIB is her new “friend.”
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Jungle Claire. Source: ABC
Coming next time: Where’s Sawyer? If he’s with Smokey, he’ll be reunited with Jin & Claire as they head back to the Temple. If he’s still at the cave (and the cave is near/below the lighthouse), he may reunite with Jack & Hurley. And with Kate on the trail to find Claire, she’s likely to run into them as well. Can’t somebody cut Sun a break and let her reunite with Jin after two seasons? Please?
The next episode, ‘Sundown,’ airs Tuesday, March 2nd.
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