'What Kate Does' to this week's LOST

LOST’s second episode of the new season, What Kate Does, was not exactly the barn-burner that   
LA X proved to be. I’m not going to use the word ‘filler’ because if you remember the TVOvermind quote from my last article, “… everything is significant. From here on out, there is no filler.” Reviews have been mixed, however, and when Damon Lindelof got word of the discontent with this episode, he tweeted, “For those of you complaining of ‘filler.’ Seriously. PLEASE WATCH NCIS: LOS ANGELES. I promise not to hold it against you.” C’mon Damon, we’re stickin’ with ya till the end.

So what happened this week? Well, sadly, not alot as the pace has slowed since the premier. For an episode titled What Kate Does, Kate does not really do much. But of course the themes play off of Season 2’s, What Kate Did.  Much as I like Miles, I’m still seeing Jon Gosselin every time I look at him. Miles has a purpose, though (other than talking to dead people), and I’m looking forward to seeing how he fits into the big picture. Hurley is still walking around in that big red shirt that might as well have the words “human target” printed on it. And China Beach’s Dodger is helping Kate escape the law. It’s a typical day in (and out of) Dharmaville.

In the flash sideways, it’s good to see Claire again -- although I can’t see her as an ingénue any longer. Still pregnant and scared, she turns to stranger Kate when her contractions begin unexpectedly and she must be rushed to the hospital. And who is there to care for poor Claire, but the uber-creepy Dr. Goodspeed – aka Ethan Rom! Yowza. It’s curious that Kate acknowledges the mention of Aaron’s name, but nothing about Claire, herself.

Back on the island, Sawyer’s having a hard time letting go of Juliet. It’s the first time we’ve seen him shed real tears that are not part of some con. His devotion to Juliet is further exemplified when he takes out a ring he was going to use to propose marriage.  It’s not like he could run down to the local mall, however, and no explanation is made for exactly where this ring came from. Still, you feel for the guy.

Best line of the night:
Kate – “I never should have followed you.”
Sawyer – “Which time?” 

The 'infection' storyline, introduced in Season 2, was heavily visited this week. Sayid apparently now has the sickness, though we have not yet seen it come to fruition. And Claire was supposedly 'claimed' by the sickness as well.

It’s the same infection that spread through Rosseau’s crew, but left her untouched. And what do we know about the infection? It is something that is caused by the Smoke Monster. It makes people crazy and leads to death.  - Primetime Rewind

So this is what all those vials of vaccine were for in the Swan station? They can make a vaccine that prevents crazy and dead, but cannot figure out why pregnant women on the island are dying?

Crave Online calls this episode “progress at a safe speed.”  But in a season that’s supposed to be more answers than questions, those Temple scenes are nothing but questions!  Please, get Un-Locke there, stat!

Yes, I want to know what’s happening to Sayid. And, yes, I want to know what’s up with island-Claire. But the question nobody’s asking is, “How in the namaste does Dogen know Claire is Jack’s sister? How do any of the Others know the things they do about the Oceanic survivors and where did those dossiers come from on each one of them?”  Will somebody please answer that during Season 6?

DocArzt asks, “If death is the only cure to the ‘The Sickness,’ will two of our most beloved characters come to an end?”

Just remember Jack’s line to the wheelchair-bound Locke in LA X, “Nothing is irreversible.”

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Your opinion counts:  What did you think of the transition into LOST’s final stretch? Do you prefer methodical, character-driven storylines like this week’s – or the one-two punch of last week?

Examining all things LOST ... email your LOST questions or news to LOSTExaminer@earthlink.net. 

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