| Since we broke with the Season 1 episode | | | | of confirmations of things we were pretty sure |
| centricity and had the title fake out with | | | | we knew especially about Richard Alpert, namely |
| "Sundown," all bets are off about who will be the | | | | that he came to the Island on the Black Rock. |
| focal character each week...but this episode had | | | | When asked why he didn't age, Alpert said that it |
| no fake out. We got to see flash-sideways Ben | | | | was because he was touched by Jacob but that it |
| and he's a lot more like you'd expect someone | | | | was more of a curse than a blessing because he |
| who looks like him to be: meek. The big winner in | | | | couldn't die by his own hand. Apparently Jacob's |
| this week's flash-sideways cross is Leslie Arzt. I | | | | touch is a mixed blessing which really makes me |
| shouldn't have been as surprised as I was to see | | | | wonder about our candidates. Does this mean |
| the perennial bit-player get a role at Ben's school. | | | | that the candidates can't kill themselves either? I |
| Now that I think of it, Alex was a pretty big | | | | think we saw the Island spare Jack's life when he |
| winner too but I'm getting ahead of myself. As I | | | | let the dynamite wick burn down. |
| watched the flash-sideways story unfold, I was | | | | Everybody seems to be having a crisis of faith |
| trying to figure out if this Ben was going to be | | | | this season. If this was Jacob's plan, than mission |
| ruthless like Island Ben or if he would be more | | | | accomplished! I never thought I would hear |
| selfless. I was pleased with the answer. | | | | Richard say that he wasted his life because Ben |
| It was nice seeing Ben taking care of the still living | | | | told him he had a plan, but Alpert did just that. Of |
| Roger Linus and it was believable for Roger to be | | | | course we've known that Jack and Ben have |
| sorry that he wasn't able to provide the life that | | | | been suffering with their own crises as well since |
| he thought Ben deserved. I found it very | | | | last season. They have been trying to find |
| interesting to learn that sideways Roger and Ben | | | | meaning in their lives after feeling betrayed by |
| went to the Island as part of the Dharma | | | | the lack of direction they have gotten from the |
| Initiative but left, presumably when the | | | | Island/Jacob lately. It was quite a gut punch for |
| pre-Incident evacuation occurred, and never | | | | Ben when Miles told him that Jacob had hoped he |
| returned. I guess this is more confirmation than | | | | wouldn't kill him up until the moment that Ben |
| revelation since we saw the remains of the | | | | stabbed Jacob in the heart. And what's the deal |
| Dharmaville in the underwater shot from the | | | | with people on TV being able to dig perfectly |
| season premiere so we already knew it had | | | | geometric graves? I mean all Ben had to work |
| existed at some point. In any event, in this life, | | | | with was an oversized hunk of bamboo and he |
| Roger and Ben seem to have a good relationship. | | | | made straighter edges than Pythagoras could |
| Of course, the story would have been incomplete | | | | have done! I also found it amusing that not only |
| without Alex (I wonder how Danielle Rousseau | | | | did Miles know that Nikki and Paolo were buried |
| ended up in Los Angeles...on second thought, I | | | | with diamonds, by the end of the episode, he had |
| hope no time is wasted on that anecdote) who is | | | | recovered at least one of them! |
| still in Ben's life as one of his brightest students. | | | | I enjoyed the use of the Smoke Monster noise |
| And of course, we had a nice brief cameo from | | | | before Locke showed up to tempt Ben into |
| substitute Locke. | | | | joining his team but I hope that don't overdo it |
| When Alex confided in Ben that Principle Walter | | | | with that device. Less is more! Apparently Locke |
| Peck (not the principle's name but that's how I'll | | | | and company are heading for Hydra Island but |
| always remember the actor from his role in | | | | Ben won't be joining him thanks to Ilana's |
| "Ghostbusters") has been getting frisky with the | | | | forgiveness and acceptance. I want to think that |
| school nurse, I could see the wheels spinning in | | | | her faith in Jacob, despite his death, actually |
| Ben's mind. It was pretty evident that he was | | | | helped Ben make his choice. My wife doesn't |
| going to try to manipulate the principle out of his | | | | agree with me, but I think Ben knows full well |
| job and take his place. Unfortunately, sideways | | | | that Locke's intentions aren't good even if Jacob |
| Ben was trumped by the principle's threat to give | | | | didn't have the best track record. I loved the |
| Alex a bad college recommendation. I was not | | | | reunion scene when Jack and Hurley arrived at |
| sure if sideways Ben could do it, but he resisted | | | | the beach camp. They were so happy to see |
| the temptation to double down and be responsible | | | | Sun, Miles and Frank, and the musical |
| for the death of sideways Alex's dream, but he | | | | accompaniment really pushed me over the edge. |
| did it! I'm still wondering how these flash-sideways | | | | Michael Giacchino writes a great song! We were |
| stories connect to the world where the Island | | | | supposed to be surprised to see Charles Widmore |
| exists, but I have faith. Don't make me regret it | | | | in a submarine off the coast of the Island |
| LOST! | | | | watching the beach reunion, but I was spoiled |
| Speaking of the Island, a lot of stuff happened | | | | when I noticed the actor's name in the credits at |
| but at the same time, we didn't learn too much | | | | the beginning of the episode. Still though, we all |
| new information. As I said earlier, there were a lot | | | | had to know he'd be showing up sooner or later. |