Lost Leaders

"Follow The Leader" (Spoiler Alert) kept more balls in the air than any other episode of Lost this season. Must mean the finale is around the corner. We got to see the new Locke taking control of his people, perhaps to the dismay of Ben and Richard and maybe even Sun. We had an energized Jack finding his new purpose, much to Kate's displeasure. We saw Widmore and Ellie together on the island, dealing with the discovery of Faraday. We had the odd team of Miles, Jin and Hurley making a run for it, while Chang confronted them. We watched Radzinsky and Horace struggle for power. And finally there was Sawyer and Juliet deciding to quit the place. The only group left out was Ilana at the Statue crowd. I expect them to be back for next week's two-hour cliffhanger (they always end with a cliffhanger), though you never know--Lost has been known to introduce a thread and leave us waiting a season to see where it goes. (I will fearlessly predict they will not let Ilana's gang wait a whole season.)

It was another excellent title in a year of excellent titles. Almost everyone--Locke, Jack, Radzinksy, Ellie, Chang and others--tried to lead in one way or another, yet they all were questioned by their followers.

With so much going on that there was no time for people to stop and talk to figure what they were doing. Not that anyone on Lost ever does that. Has there ever been a series where so many people either don't willingly share important information, or are interrupted before they can? There was also so much going on that even though this was advertised as a Richard-centric episode, it didn't center on anyone. Richard gets it by default, since he figured in the story set in the past and the present, but we didn't learn that much about him--except, maybe, he knows less that we thought.

Last week, Daniel barged into the Hostiles' camp, thinking he could change the past. He couldn't even change his scene, since we get to see it again at the start of the show. (Actually, we did cut to Jack and Kate's reaction this time.) Can the past be changed? The question is still being investigated, but so far, it seems everything anyone does to change the past is simply part of the past, even a cause of the past (a common sf trope). Sayid shoots little Ben and that turns him into an Other. Faraday warns Chang and that's what makes him so abrupt when he tells his wife and kid to leave. Faraday also promised not to warn little Charlotte not to come back, but, figuring he could change things, did the very thing that she'd recall in her dying moments. The ony person who's out of this loop is Desmond, which is why I think he'll be needed to solve things.

Jack and Kate debate whether to go help Faraday, but the question becomes moot when Widmore discovers them and beats up Jack. (Everyone gets beat up pretty bad sooner or later on this show. This week, Jack and Sawyer had to take their licks.) Meanwhile, Ellie gets Faraday's journal and realizes what she's done. Or does she? That's one of the interesting things about the show--how characters are up and down. Last week, she knew everything as she guided Daniel toward his destiny. This week, Daniel knew what was going on and Ellie was confused. Ellie figures out Daniel and the captured Jack and Kate aren't Dharma people. So what are they?

But that's 1977. In the present, Locke makes his triumphant return to the Others (carrying a boar on his back) after having mysteriously disappeared three years ago. Richard has no clue what happened. He may be timeless, but that doesn't make him a time traveler.

This new Locke is very confident. Richard says he's different, and Locke admits he has a purpose now. He's so different, in fact, we have to ask if it is Locke, or some sort of Smokey skinjob?

Sun and a chastened Ben are also in tow. Sun asks Richard if he knew about Jin and the rest back in 1977. Richard says he does remember them, and notes he watched them all die. I don't think Richard is an out and out liar (some fans have said he's lying)--that doesn't seem to be his character. We've seen him be mysterious, confused, annoyed, and willing to maneuver behind peoples' backs, but we haven't seen him lie. That's Ben's department. But that doesn't mean we have to believe he's completely correct. I think he saw something--I'm guessing it's The Incident, or a close relation--and maybe they disappeared at that point. But does that mean they died? Hardly. (Speaking of which, will any major character die in the finale? They killed Faraday last week, but there are so many characters left I would expect them to take out someone.)

The revitalized Locke wants Richard to go on a mission--does he have that old compass?--and Ben can tag along. He also promises, as the old, decent Locke would, that he'll try to help Sun if he can. (You don't want to cross Sun.)

Back at the Hostiles. Jack still needs a little more beating. Once they're left alone in Ellie's hut, Jack explains he'll follow up on Faraday's plan to blow up the H-bomb and wipe out everything that started with their crash. Kate asks is it really best we never met, and Jack says most of what happened since then was misery. Ouch! That's telling Kate she's not worth it. (To be fair, back on the mainland, she was the one who dumped him. On the other hand, he's not being very sensitive to her, since, for all the problems the others on the flight had, she's still the one flying back to LA to spend the rest of her life in jail--she doesn't bring it up either because she's being discreet, or the writers would rather forget it.)

Ellie comes in and wants anwers. Unlike the DI, she's seen weird things in the past--such as Daniel in 1954, saying he's from the future. Now he came back, with a journal, featuring an inscription written by her that she hasn't written yet. Jack tells her what's going on. Earlier, when he spoke up to the tribe, Kate looked away in dismay--what is he doing? It's clear now he's ready to blow up that bomb. Kate is still not sure--this new Jack thinks he knows what he's doing, but does he?

Ellie will take them to the bomb. I (and everyone?) thought it was under the Swan, but apparently it's under the barracks, if I understand. Odd.

Back at the barracks, Radzinksy, always a hothead, has a lot of questions for Sawyer, who helped this mysterious new Kate, and locked up Phil. Horace is horrified, and I was surprised how easy it was for Radzinksy to usurp him. Rad hits Sawyer--the same guy who was tortured and wouldn't talk. Why not go to Oldham and his "truth serum"? Let's assume they still have confidence in him, though he failed with Sayid. Perhaps Dharmaville is essentially in lockdown, and with no clear chain of command, Radzinsky would just as soon control the questioning himself in the security room.

As expected, Sawyer won't talk. Until Phil starts beating on Juliet. Even Radzinksy is surprised. (Juliet tries to reason with them first--we've been here three years, we're not working against you. Not that Radzinksy is the type to listen. Interesting how in the past/future she was the one who had to handle the captured Jack with kind words and sweet reason. Meanwhile, she ran into Sawyer and simply tasered him. Actually, both Juliet and Kate were sweet on Jack and hated Sawyer at first, but ended up sleeping with Sawyer. Gals just love the bad boy.)

Sawyer says he'll kill Phil. (Sounds like a movie.) I would take Sawyer's threats seriously. His whole life was about finding a con man (Locke's dad) and killing him, which he did. He also told "Zeke" (Mr. Friendly) they weren't finished yet, and later killed him after he'd surrendered.

Anyway, the DI now see that Kate and Jack and Hurley can't be trusted, and the other three-year newbies, Jin and Miles, are nowhere to be found. (Neither is the recently arrived Daniel, come to think of it.) That's 'cause Hurley, Jin and Miles are making a run for it, back to the beach where it all started. (Hurley brings food and his guitar case--still no idea what's in it.)

Hurley wants to rescue Sawyer and Juliet, but Miles says no way. Hurley notes Sawyer would never leave them behind--a line meant to be remembered. Then Chang appears. Two weeks ago, he laughed at time travel, but has had second thoughts. He quizzes Hurley on recent history, who spectacularly fails. In fact, Hurley once again easily wins the comedy derby, first for thinking the "Korean War" is a made-up name, and second, when asked who's the President, simply admits he's from the future. (And who's the Vice President, Jerry Lewis?) Miles cops to being Chang's son. (And once again we get the long-awaited Lost reversal. In the early seasons, Chang seemed to know everything, and offered information in dribs and drabs. Now he's confused and the regular gang has all the information. Should anyone tell him at least he and Radzinsky survive The Incident?) This also means that Faraday may be right--time to get off the island. At least Chang now has a reason to move things along, rather than hang out with his grown son and get to know him. (Though why doesn't he want to save his future son as well by getting him on the sub?)

Back at the Hostile camp, Ellie needs Richard for a mission. (That's what leaders of the Others do--take Richard on missions.) Widmore knows he's seen Daniel before as well. Anyway, she's taking the Losties to the bomb. He speaks indistinctly to Ellie, but I checked the CC, and here's one thing he said: "I'm worried about you. Not in your condition." So she's pregnant! With Daniel? We don't see her with any other kids. Is she about to leave to island to raise her kid? While Widmore doesn't go with her?

Let's work out the timeline. Daniel is born in 1977 or 1978. She looks at the journal. He's got to be doing important research and meet Desmond no later than 2000, I think, and he's got to take the freighter to the island in 2004. Not much time. I don't know if it's buyable (I thought he was probably ten years older), but it does explain why Eloise had to rush him along and make sure he had no other distractions in his life. I might add this makes Charlotte (who lied about her age) six or seven years older than Daniel.

Richard tells Jack and Kate that guy is Charles Widmore. How well do they know him? He's certainly not as closely related to them as to Ben, Locke, Desmond and Sun.

Back to the adventures of John, Richard and Ben. Richard wants to know what happened to Ben. It's still odd to see John so confident and Richard confused. He wants Richard to take him to Jacob. John is becoming a pretty proactive leader. Richard is even less certain about this new John. Then, almost like a magician, he takes them to the drug plane to see the John from a while back enter with a bullet in his leg. We saw this scene earlier in the season. Richard has to meet him, remove the bullet, dress his leg, tell him to come back to the island with all his friends, and, by the way, die.

A few points. First, Locke claims he knew he'd show up now because the island told him. Pretty impressive connection there, John. He even taunts Ben a bit about how he never had the same connection, and never even saw Jacob. Is this true? Did Ben take the leader role though he wasn't supposed to? (Christian doesn't think much of Ben, but can we trust him?) He certainly ran a tight ship. Was it a long con, or did Ben believe he was supposed to lead (like Widmore). Could he have led, but he screwed up?

Second, we establish, as was hinted before, that you can look at your own former self. Locke watched from afar. We still don't know if you can meet, talk to and touch your former self.

Third, we have some time travel paradoxes when we close the loop here. We could choose a number of things, but let's look at the compass. Richard gives it to the wounded John. John goes in the past and gives it to Richard, who holds onto it for 50 years and gives it back to John. Where'd it come from in the first place?

Fourth, another Lost reversal. First time we saw this scene, it looks like Richard knew what he was doing, and John was confused. Now John (future John) knows what he's doing and Richard's confused.

Fifth, we get to see more repeated footage, mixed with a new POV.

Back at the DI, Chang faces down Radzinsky while a helpless Horace watches. At this point, Sawyer starts talking. He agrees with Chang--it's not safe, evacuate. But then he agrees to tell them what they want if he and Juliet can leave. Juliet's okay with that. Is it possible? I thought Sawyer was a new man, changing from the guy only out for himself to the one who'll jump off a helicopter to help others. Is he selling out the Losties here, or is it a ruse?

Ellie and Richard have taken Kate and Jack to a river. Gotta swim to an underground cave to get to the bomb. This is a bit disappointing. I think the underground tunnel is cool, but I thought Faraday told them to hide the bomb in cement, not just lug it to one of their subterranean temples. (Richard is coy as to how they got it down there--he says they'll get the bomb out the same way it came in--will this come into play?)

Before they can get wet, Kate, who's been disgusted with Jack this entire episode, says this is the end of the road for her. The plan is crazy. But she can't leave, says Ellie, and a redshirt Hostile aims a rifle at Kate. A shot rings out, and as we've seen in so many movies, a forgotten compatriot has returned to the scene and shot the bad guy (well, sorta bad guy). It's Sayid, who's been missing for a while. Jack explains his plan, but Sayid says you can't change the past--he shot Ben and they're still there. Kate says sorry, we saved Ben and now he's with the Others. Sayid, like Jack, is a clean-slater and is more than willing to go along. (Sayid is a great guy to have on your side, but he seems to need a purpose in life before he does anything.)

So Jack has his purpose, his destiny--just like Locke did when Jack thought he was crazy. Kate leaves, but Sayid follows the leader.

At the dock, the submarine is leaving soon. Jin, Miles and Hurley watch behind some bushes (I guess no one is heavily chasing them) as Miles learns the truth about his dad. They also see Sawyer and Juliet getting on the sub. Hurley says don't worry, Sawyer always has a plan. Uh no, sorry, it's Ben who always has a plan. Sawyer is the guy who looks out for number one. Sawyer and Juliet both seem happy to get away. I still wondered if Sawyer was about to make his move, but no, he's leaving, and says "good riddance" to the island.

Richard, Jack, Sayid and Ellie swim to the bomb. Matthew Fox does some real stunt work, swimming at least ten feet in a cave before surfacing. An underground temple with an H-Bomb. Beneath The Planet Of The Apes, anyone? Sayid follows Jack and says hey, even if we fail, at least we'll be put out of our misery. Always ready with a cheerful word.

John and his helpers return to the Others. No resting, time to leave for Jacob. Richard doesn't think it advisable, but John's in charge now. He wants to talk to the assembly first. Finally, someone stopping to talk, rather than rushing headlong into foolhardy plans. For all John's new-found confidence, you figure maybe he'd like to get to know his people better. Like, for instance, something as simple as who the hell are they? How'd they get there? Why are they so fanatical about protecting the Island, and, for that matter, having someone (anyone) to lead them. But John has no interest in that. He knows what he wants to do and that's that.

He tells all his fans who he is (they don't know?) and says for years they've been accepting orders from Jacob but have never seen him. (Good, now ask them why. Nope, won't happen.) John wants to get to the bottom of the whole thing. (So why not ask Richard, Ben and the others about him, rather than rushing into a meeting?) As Ben has said earlier, you just don't go knocking on Jacob's door, that's not how it's done. That's not how you did it is John's unspoken message.

Then, in a Wizard of Oz moment, Sun wants to know if this amazing Jacob she's heard about can find Jin. Sure, he can do anything, John replies. We're off the see the Jacob.

Is this craziness, or effrontery? Will Jacob put up with it? He's seemed pretty formidable in past meetings? John has seemed foolhardy in the zeal with which he followed his passions before, but does he get it this time? Richard, who wanted Locke to be a leader not that long ago, wonders if a mistake has been made.

Back in the sub, Sawyer and Juliet confess their love in lines that would be ridiculously hokey if they didn't say them so drily. He also makes it clear they're not going to Ann Arbor. (Not in a sub, I can tell you that.) He figures once they're back home, the DI has no authority. Maybe not, but Juliet has seen before how powerful organizations can reach out well beyond the Island. (And I still can't believe Sawyer is abandoning his friends, but I guess he is.)

Just before the scene gets too mushy, in comes a prisoner--Kate, the real reason I think both Sawyer and Juliet wanted to leave. It's not played for laughs, but it still comes across like a moment in a French sex farce.

We're then treated to the most obvious CGI shot in the history of Lost as they submerge.

Back at the temple/tunnel, Sayid has questions about Ellie's motives. Sayid is good at these scenes--it's almost a replay of him telling Jack he believes Michael has been compromised. Oddly, Jack trusts Ellie because she worked with them in 2007, and sent them back. I say oddly, because Faraday, whose plan Jack is following, told him a few hours ago that his mom screwed up.

By the way, when they get to the bomb, I have to ask, has it been leaking radiation for the last 20-odd years? Ellie uncovers it and asks "Now what?" A good question. They should all look down and say "I dunno--anyone here ever blow up an H-bomb before?" "Maybe we should hit it with a hammer." I mean, you got a lot of technically talented people here, but they really could use a physicist.

Back in the present, the Others, led by Locke, march up the beach. A clear echo of what we've seen before, only it was the Losties last time.

Ben tells Locke that Richard has reservations. This whole episode, while he's been occasionally sarcastic, Ben has generally been obsequious in the presence of the new, glorious leader. I can understand why--he was just visited by the apparition of his dead daughter who slammed him against the wall as said if he didn't do what John said, she'd destroy him. That would get my attention. But it's still hard to believe that he doesn't have a plan up his sleeve.

Locke shuts up some of Ben's small talk and says he's not interested in reuniting with his people (the Losties). So why does he want to meet Jacob?

"So I can kill him."

LOST.

Like Richard earlier, I don't believe John is lying. But is it clear what he means?

When John first met Jacob, Jacob asked him for help. Does he want to be killed? Is he trapped? Will death release him? (It sure did a world of good for John.) Second time John went in the cabin, Christian spoke for Jacob (and has spoken for him ever since, it seems), and John went along with what he said. Does John believe he's working for Jacob?

Or is this new John working for Smokey? Is he Smokey? Is he working for the Island? Are the Island and Smokey separate? Are they for, against, or neutral regarding Jacob? Is this the "war" everyone is hinting at?

Is Jacob corporeal? Can he even be killed?

Will Richard and the Others go along with this? I mean, they have a fanatical devotion, it would seem, to anyone who can speak for Jacob. This can't be what they want.

Will Ben blab? Is it possible John is playing him? I doubt it, but who knows with the new John.

In fact, the biggest revelation of the episode was the new John. Locke has probably gone through more changes than any other character, even Sawyer. From the start, he was my favorite. He had useful survival and tactical skills, would gently dispense wisdom, helped a number of people, and seemed to have a sense of humor about himself. Not that he didn't have his demons. He was always searching, and would either get so enthusiastic he'd do something foolish, or get irritated, even childish, when things didn't go his way. Much of the second season had him sitting in the Hatch, pressing the button or battling Jack for power, and then later, losing his faith. But throughout it all, no matter what else, he always seemed decent and gentle, and, while believing in the Island, truly cared about his fellow castaways. Think of how he tried to deal with Keamy in the Orchid, and how pained he was when Ben just killed the guy, meaning all the Losties on the freighter would die, too.

Compare John to Jack, who got so mad at Locke he tried to murder him (a moment I think was a mistake). Or Sawyer, who's returned to form and is out for himself. (I have to think that sub won't get far--perhaps troublemaker Kate will spill Jack's plans, and a reluctant Sawyer will commandeer the sub and get back to the action).

So I'm troubled that the new John, for the first time ever, seems not to give a damn. Perhaps he has some higher purpose, now. Perhaps he believes things will work out for the best. But for all the demons he's had to fight, I always believed he was basically kind. Being confident is fine. Being coldhearted isn't.