Something Nice Back Home

Another week, another episode of Lost. Another great episode of Lost.

This episode could be considered a big "answer" episode, I think. Though it certainly didn't spell out the truth behind any mysteries, it did confirm many of the suspicions that fans have developed, some going back years.

First of all, it delivered a lot of the connective tissue that was implied between the season three finale and season four premiere. It seemed as though Future Jack was going down the same road to madness as Future Hurley, and we saw the first major steps onto that road tonight. It did indeed have to do with Jack seeing visions of his dead father.

An even bigger connection in the past was finally confirmed, as it was shown to us at last that indeed, Claire and Jack are half-brother and sister. Since we still aren't quite sure what it meant that Jack saw his dead father on the island, I don't care to conjecture what it means that Claire now saw him too. But still, an interesting development.

Finally, in the present, there was evidence strongly implying that Jin doesn't actually die -- that he instead manages to get Sun off the island, while staying behind himself. Some readers here floated that theory to me when the Sun/Jin episode ran a short while back, and I dismissed it. I think I still do. But hey, here's new strength for your case!

Amidst all this, some interesting new threads. As Rose so pointedly asked, why did Jack suddenly get so sick on an island that actually heals people? I'd assume this is because he's very close now to actually leaving the island (and taking several people with him), and this is a warning to him not to do so. But is the island really capable of such things on its own, or is an actual consciousness driving that? The mysterious Jacob?

And then there was Future Hurley, who introduced the tempting "theory" that the Oceanic Six are actually the ones who didn't survive, and that those who "died / stayed behind" are the real survivors. I think you can bet that any time the writers serve you up a theory point blank like that, it's not true. But a fun little mind-screw nevertheless.

Best of all, in this swirling brew of fun "mythology" and new puzzles, there were lots of great character moments. For a change, I actually felt some interest in the Jack-Kate relationship. I certainly felt sorry for Juliet as she confessed to Kate. I loved seeing Sawyer in a sort of "older brother" role, protecting Claire from Miles. It was great seeing "Scary Jin" again.

Great, great stuff.