This week’s episode of LOST, like last week’s trip through the jungle, felt a little bit like old times. Instead of moving forward the theory-based plots and revealing more about the nature of the island or Jacob and his nemesis, the story revolved around action and adventure. Easily the most action-packed episode of the season, it hearkens back to an older kind of LOST, before we got mixed up in all these wild theories and speculations—be that what it may, let’s debrief.
Alternate Timeline
I like how the rug, which is briefly underneath our feet when we start the alternative timeline, is quickly yanked from beneath us by the brilliant writers on LOST. Sayid is returning home after being away on a business trip, returning to his beautiful wife, Nadia, who we met in previous flashbacks, and what appear to be his children. Neat! Seems like a nice enough life for Sayid. Until the children refer to him as “Uncle Sayid” and we realize that Nadia’s his sister-in-law, married to Sayid’s brother, Omer. Ah!
For the better part of the episode, alternate timeline Sayid puzzles us. He seems like a good enough guy. He’s out of the torturing business and, as he explicitly tells Nadia, has spent the last twelve years trying to redeem himself of all the bad things he’s done. He seems genuinely good (interesting juxtaposition). In this reality, it’s Sayid’s brother who seems to be the shady one. After organizing an under-the-table loan to open a new business, Omer finds himself in hot water (pun intended) when his financier wants interest payments he isn’t entitled to. When Omer is “mugged” and lands in the hospital, Sayid’s initial reaction seems to be one of vengence. However, after words with Nadia, he seems to cool down and back off, staying at home to take care of his sister-in-law’s children instead of going after his attackers. Sayid seems to be truly good, wholly redeemed, or so we think. In the end though, Sayid does seek vengence. Interestingly enough it’s Martin Keamy, the mercenary hired by Charles Widmore to capture Ben off the island, who Omer owes money to in the alternate reality. Quick-thinking Sayid manages to disarm Keamy’s henchmen and kill them, along with Keamy, without even batting an eyelash. So Sayid isn’t good after all…
In addition, in good old fashion LOST style, we’re thrown another twist: whatever business Omer was involved with, Jin seems tied up in it too (another pun!). After he “ends” his meeting with Keamy, Sayid finds Jin locked in a walk-in cooler, banging away for help. We knew Jin was involved in some shady business deals after the season premiere but what exactly he’s up to, and how it’s connected to Keamy and (possibly) Omer, who knows.
Back on the Island
Back on the island, life at the Temple is crumbling. Present-timeline Sayid confronts Dogen about torturing him at which time Dogen declares him “evil”. Supposedly, the machine used to torture Sayid can measure evil, and Sayid tipped the scales a bit too far. But our samurai doesn’t stop there, declaring that he tried to poison Sayid because he thought he was better off dead. Better off for who, I wonder. Not to be outdone, Sayid attacks Dogen and a pleasing battle ensues ending in Sayid being banished from the Temple.
Of course, in the midst of all this fun Claire bursts onto the scene, apparently using a door to just waltz into the Temple. She’s sent by Jacob’s nemesis, we see, and it’s clear that he can’t cross the ash barrier. Before being thrown into a pit, to be kept under guard, Claire passes along a message from Jacob’s nemesis: he wants to meet with Dogen, in the jungle. Dogen insists that he’s not a fool and refuses to meet with him. He also changes his mind, unbanishes Sayid, and sends him on a mission, with a ceremonial dagger, to kill the nemesis—to prove he is a “good person” after all.
Sayid’s attempt to kill John Locke/Jacob’s nemesis fails. He stabs him in the chest with no result whatsoever. It’s then that John tells Sayid that Dogen must’ved wanted Sayid dead, again. Dogen would’ve known that stabbing John wouldn’t have worked; he would’ve thought John would, in turn, kill Sayid for the attempt. But John doesn’t kill him and instead tried to strike a deal: the nemesis says he could potentially reunite Sayid with Nadia (his wife, in this timeline) in return for … something…
That something, it seems, turns out to be Sayid going on a murder spree. In cold blood, he kills both Dogen and Lennon, apparently opening the door for the Smoke Monster to attack the Temple. Interestingly enough, with Dogen and Lennon dead, the nemesis, as the Smoke Monster, seems to have been able to cross the ash.
Just about everyone at the Temple is killed or leaves to join the nemesis after being promised a way off the island. Miles escapes with Ilana, Ben, Sun and Lapidus, who arrive just in time and sneak out the same way Hurley and Jack did. And Kate, along with Sayid, join the group with Jacob’s nemesis.
Sayid’s Role on the Island
I think it’s worth exploring, at least briefly, Sayid’s role on the island and his return. Remember, while all the other Oceanic survivors chose to return to the island, Sayid did not. Hurley, remember, was asked, but it was still his free choice to say yes or no. Sayid, though, was captured by Ilana under the auspices of being a bounty hunter, bringing Sayid to some kind of justice. We know that this isn’t true: Ilana was doing Jacob’s bidding. So it was Jacob that wanted Sayid brought back to the island.
What’s more, it was Jacob that wanted Sayid brought back from the dead. Remember, when Jacob, post-death, first appeared to Hurley his instructions were to bring Sayid back to the Temple, to save him. Not only did Jacob want Sayid on the island, enough to bring him back against his will, he also wanted him alive.
What does it mean? I don’t know. Jacob seems to be more of an influence than an actor, so it’s odd, I think, that he would bring someone back to the island like that. Sayid must be important, but in what way?
Dogen, Warrior Princess
Another point worth giving a paragraph to is the fact that the ash barrier, which prevented the Smoke Monster from entering the Temple, was somehow linked to Dogen/Lennon. When the pair is killed, the Smoke Monster can cross the barrier unimpeded. Interesting. Remember, the ash barrier was used before, at “Jacob’s” cabin. The same cabin that John Locke (real, John Locke) first met Christian, who I assume to be a form of Jacob’s nemesis. Some theorize that the nemesis was locked up in this cabin; the ash barrier was there to keep him in. When John walked across it, he broke the ash barrier, therefore allowing the nemesis to escape. The link between the barrier though, and Dogen, is interesting.
Dogen’s role, in general, is interesting. He tells Sayid that he was recruited by Jacob after his son died. Jacob promised him that his son would be OK but he could never see him again; Dogen had to agree to come join Jacob on the island. He wasn’t a samurai after all, he used to be a businessman. Dogen also doesn’t seem to want to get involved directly in people’s lives, much like Jacob and the nemesis. He can manipulate, suggest, and ask but he can’t act himself. This is why he tries to have Sayid killed twice, but can’t do it himself. Interesting.
Final Thoughts
It’s clear that the island is splitting itself along lines again. In the past it’s been Dharma/Others then Survivors/Others and now it seems to be most aptly put as Good/Evil. Hmm. Jacob’s nemesis, and his gang are growing in numbers, after destroying the Temple. And then there’s Jacob’s gang, with an absent leader, hiding out at the Lighthouse, no doubt. Whatever the next episode brings, I can’t even imagine. I suspect though, a parade of previously-dead Survivors. I think the none-too-subtle reminder of Shannon is setting us up for her reappearance, in some form. I’m still betting on Mr. Eko, and Charlie.
Oh, and I just remembered, there’s one more person who didn’t necessarily want to return to the island but, like Sayid, wasn’t given a choice. I think we’ve yet to really understand his purpose, although we know he’s a “candidate”, whatever that means. He’s also a good guy. Mr. Frank Lapidus, pilot.
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