Recon

Tonight's installment of Lost wasn't bad, but I didn't find it nearly as strong as the last few episodes have been. Mostly, I chalk it up to the "Sideways" storyline. I imagine there are some people out there who think they've been a waste of time this season, a distraction from the business of answering questions on the Island. I myself have found them a continuation of what Lost does in its very best episodes -- using off-Island stories in the lives of the characters to reflect the drama happening on the Island.

That's where the episode came up short for me this time -- the Sideways storyline was neither illuminating or particularly compelling. Oh sure, it was fun to imagine what a cop show starring James Ford and Miles would be like. It was fun to see Charlotte appear again on the show. (The fact that "the girl" didn't turn out to be Juliet must mean that "bigger things" are still in store for Juliet in the Sideways reality.) It was even fun to spot other little details, such as the brief appearance of Charlie's brother at the police station, or the book "A Wrinkle in Time" sitting on top of the dresser.

But ultimately, the tale of Sideways James Ford wasn't very different from that of the true Sawyer. It may seem a strange thing to say, but it doesn't actually seem like that big a difference that he became a cop and not a con man -- particularly when he was still pursuing "Sawyer" for the purpose of killing him, just like he did in the original sequence of events.

I suppose this did all reflect on the Island story. Sideways Sawyer had not changed, and Island Sawyer hasn't either. He was still trying to run cons against both Widmore and Smokey, reverting to his old self even after really changing in his years living on the Island. Yes, there was a thematic connection here, but not a particularly illuminating one.

Actually, the more illuminating moments in the episode were tiny ones that had nothing to do with the featured character of the hour. For example, I once again found myself contemplating just how "good" Jacob might really be. If Sideways James Ford became a cop rather than a criminal, and the primary difference between the two of them was that Jacob wasn't there manipulating him any more, what does that say about Jacob?

And Sayid has gone majorly dark. He sat there with complete disinterest, not making any move at all to save Kate when Claire ambushed her and threatened to kill her. Had UnLocke not intervened, it seems clear Sayid would have just watched Kate die. Yikes.

Food for thought until next Tuesday.