Eh, I thought it was a decent episode, but nothing great.
Juliet's story is all kinds of weird, did she carry an unconscious Kate across the jungle, handcuff herself to her, and then fall asleep? Did she break into Kate's room and handcuff herself to Kate, lose consciousness, and then get carried by someone else into the jungle? Or maybe she's just a plant.
Glad to see the smoke monster again. How could she have never seen it before though?
I definitely think the Others took the underground tunnels somewhere. My little pet theory is that their project on the Alcatraz island is complete. It would seem kinda silly for there to be yet another encampment.

As of right now, I'm more interested to see where Locke and Others are going than to go back to the beach with the rest of the gang.
Maybe the beach gang will all take a ride in Hurley's minivan and relocate to the Others' empty commune.

Yay! PO5 reference!

Another great recap, Greybishop! Yep, I do agree that Lost is back on track this season and I'm lovin' it!

I loved it when Hurley conned Sawyer into playing nice with his fellow Losties. And the smile on Sawyer's face (a sincere, happy smile) was priceless. I almost melted into my couch!

I don't believe for one second that Juliete was gassed and dumped in the jungle with Kate. That woman has an agenda, I'm just not sure exactly what it is yet....

And Locke joining up with the Others! Wow. He has an agenda, too. That ought to be really interesting....

I don't know about Kate being pregnant, but I definitely think that Juliette's motive is to get pregnant by Jack. I posted that on Ask Kristin and they totally deleted it! I wonder if I'm right..

I thought this episode stank. If it had come in season 1, I might have been OK with it. But after so much suckiness this season, I need waaaaaaaay more than a girls-wrestling-in-mud version of The Defiant Ones to get me back. Yes, Juliet's story sucks (good points, Merick.) No, Anonimous, given this show's sterling continuity, you can't expect to see Locke's dad probably for another six months to a year at least. Yes, it would make sense for the Losties to move into the compound, so of course they will NOT do it. And the whole Sawyer-Hurley idiot game? If Charlie looks so surprised at the idea of anyone voting on anything, just who chose Sawyer as their new leader anyway? I would personally think Sun would be a much better choice...

My theory is that the "project" the others were working on was a chance for every one of them to have a child. Now that they've acquired some new children, and some are dead, and Ben's tumor is out, they have filled their quota and can move on. Just a thought.

This was a decent episode, and I definitely think that Juliette is a plant. Sayid is already suspicious, and in the previews for next week, you see him threatening her if she doesn't tell him what he wants to know. Could be setting up a confrontation between him and Jack if he tries to torture her.
BTW, it looks like Naveen Andrews is in 'Grindhouse,' the new Tarantino splatterfest.

I thought that this episode got us back on track after that stupid pointless episode last week. I really hope that they reveal the whole Locke's Dad cliffhanger sometime soon. But the fact that they were able to get them there seems to suggest that they might be lying about their ability to leave the island and come back whenever they want. Even if the sub is destroyed. This makes me think that there might be a higher authority on the island we havent met yet. Maybe theres a complex in the middle of the island that controls everything and they want the castaways to think that they are trapped when really there is a way to leave right in front of them. I think that these revelations might be the cliffhanger of season 3 or maybe theyll reveal the location of the island from the season 2 finale. Is it in the Antarctic? Is it some kind of bubble that sustains life when the outside is a frozen wasteland. Who knows, the Dharma scientists could have succeeded at this "experiment". Also has anyone noticed that there is a pattern of bad father figures in the show. Kates stepdad was a drunk who beat her mom, Suns dad was controlling and masterminded her lovers death, Hugo's Dad abandoned him, Claire's Dad left her as a baby, and was abusive, cold and unaccepting of Jack. Sawyers dad killed his mom, and Charlies Dad never believed in him as a musician. Lockes Dad conned him and pushed him out a hotel window, paralyzing him. I mean i think the writers have some father figure issues they need to express. Also isnt it weird how most of the people that have died have been women? Colleen, Ana Lucia, Libby, "Mrs Clue", Shannon, the new blonde girl (spider bite), girl who drowned season 1, etc. I mean theres only three main female characters at the beach camp and one of the others. And why are so many of them blonde? Could Juliette be Kates mother when she was young? Is that why they look so alike? Is this some kind of time capsule? I dont trust Juliette I think she is a plant and has already lied to them (smoke monster, handcuffs, manipulating Jack.) I mean why would they leave her to possibly join forces with the castaways? Or divulge their secrets? I think that there is brainwashing goin on with those subliminal videos we saw Alex's bf watch. I think that was what the flight attendant that was captured in Ana Lucias group meant when she said "were here to watch" outside jacks cage. I think these people are smart and rich and are creating some kind of utopia and need some new people to join. Should be interesting to hear Juliettes explanations of whats going on next episode. She must know a lot since it seemed she was semi-high up on the chain of command before they turned on her for helping Jack. When will they show Rousseaus reunion with Alex?

EvilDave: I completely agree that Juliette is a plant. What, did she somehow get gassed by the same stuff as Kate, but wake up significantly earlier, drag Kate into the jungle and handcuff herself to her? I hope the writers don't come up with some bullshit to explain all that away.

takingbacksunday: I love your idea of Juliette trying to get preggo w/ Jack's baby. They're all obsessed with babies/pregnancy, and she's a fertility doctor... also pointing to her still breaking bread w/ Ben & the gang.

My Lost-watching-buddy completely disagrees with me on almost every point, but I say:
- Juliet is definitely still bad - and by bad I mean an other.
- Locke is still good (and, if you haven't caught on yet, by good I mean "not an other"), because I have faith... I think he is infiltrating. However, this is shaky because they've been hinting that locke is bad since like episode 2. However, he's going with them because they have his dad. That's been like his priority 1 in life, before the island and now... he's obsessed, of course he'll go.
- Jack still loves Kate
- Sawyer is awesome
- have we all just agreed that locke's dad is also the real Sawyer (who killed our Sawyer's parents?) Because that seems pretty straightforward, albeit a little obvious.
- WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WHISPERING? I was sick and re-watched season 1 and now I'm dying to know what the f that was... they better explain it.

Jason A: Kate and Juliet are the same age and the producers have said there is no time travel involved. Also, there is a higher authority, it's "Jacob", I assume. Or "him", if "he" is not Jacob. But they are referenced often by the others.

Mo: Sawyer is the obvious new leader, because they have made it clear that the group we have been watching is not just who WE have been focusing on, but who have actually been the most vocal and active in the camp... ie Nikki saying that they felt left out... clearly these are the people who have been taking charge. Then consider who is gone (As Hurley did): Kate, Jack, Sayid, Locke (and I guess Michael)... Hurley, Charlie, Claire, Rose (who might be dead?) are not physically strong enough to be seen as a comfort, and Jin doesn't speak English. Sawyer is left... and despite being sort of a dick, he has always been around and relatively useful in conflicts.

Ok ok... I have way more because I've done nothing for 2 days but re-watch season 1, but I'll end now. Please discuss, I love talking about this show.

ok one more

Merick: Juliet was lying about not seeing the smoke monster before... already giving herself away as bad. Because when she turned on the fences she said something, but basically like that she knew the fences stopped it.

Also, after the flashes from the monster, I was SURE that Juliet said to Kate "Who is he?" and Kate said "you tell me" or something like that... am I wrong? Can someone with Tivo and/or closed captioning confirm/deny for me?

Great recap, GB!

I didn't like the whole Hurley cons Sawyer plotline. Like you said, Sawyer has already proven he knows how to pretend to be nice when he cons people. Plus he always seems to have his guard up so he definitely isn't that gullible. He already held Aaron when he was a few days old, so why would he be that nervous now that the baby is older? And are we supposed to forget that Sawyer's voice was the only thing that would stop Aaron from crying? I know it wasn't supposed to be that serious & was just a little cutesy side story, but the writers should at least be consistent.

I agree with all of your points, Mallory. As for what Juliet said to Kate: when they first heard the noise, Juliet asks "What was that?" After they hide, she says "What the hell -" & Kate covers her mouth, then after the flashes, Juliet aks "Are we safe?" then Kate says "You tell me."

Oh, wait - there was more after the commercial break:

Juliet: Do you think it's gone? Are we safe?
Kate: Are you serious? You've never seen that?
Juliet: If you don't believe me, you could always pull my other shoulder out of its socket.

Then they go on about the shoulder & Jack.

One more point. The blast door mentioned the name Cerberus (primary nexus of Cerberus related activity). Cerberus was the 3 headed dog who guarded the underworld in Greek mythology. I thought of that when the monster appeared, because it had split into 3 parts.
Just a thought.

Kate's story was a yawn to me, though we pretty much can deduce from it that Locke's dad is Sawyer's Sawyer?

I don't know why I knew Hurley's ploy almost immediately, but it sussed out real nice, so I wasn't annoyed. My impression is that Sawyer had a hard time with each of the tasks Hurley assigned (a clue that it was a con) because, to me, the real task was not to pretend to be nice, Hurley wanted Sawyer to actually be nice. That's why Hurley kept asking "doesn't it feel good to make these people happy?" Hurley was fully aware of the hurdle Sawyer had to jump to actually connect to the rest of the castaways, especially if he was going to be the leader.

And, as far as I've read, no one has mentioned what might happen when Jack comes back to camp after Sawyer has assumed leadership. Could be trouble.

Also, there's one person who might know where the Others went: Danielle. Last we saw, she was tailing her daughter. And the wild card in the mix is Alex's boyfriend. I can't believe he just vanished.

Locke being all wet made me think that the Others escaped by the sub which he'd just hidden, but then, why were the protective fences turned off (unless Juliet had done it while dragging Kate in the forest to stage an elaborate "don't leave me behind" excuse)? It appears you can only type in the code from inside the fence. Did the Others go by land, maybe? Juliet would know since she was absolutely sure the fences were off when the nano cloud was chasing them.

Finally, a quibble. If Kate can climb a tree and get to the other side of the fence, howcum a flying black cloud couldn't just... like... fly over, too?

Thanks for the recap, GB.

When you say that we already knew that Kate's mom would call for help if she ever saw Kate again-- how do we know this? I can't remember what happened. Could someone fill me in, please?

As for wanting to know what happened to certain storylines-- what the hell happened with those Russians on Antartica/the Arctic who "found something" for Penny Widmore once upon a time?

I hope we get answers next week but I'll bet the scene we see with Sayid/Juliet in the preview is the episode cliffhanger at the end.

Again, wtg GB!

- ac

When you say that we already knew that Kate's mom would call for help if she ever saw Kate again-- how do we know this?

Cos in an an earlier flashback, Kate visits her dying mom in the hospital and mom cries "Help!"

The smoke "monster" isn't a living creature with a hunger for killing. It's machine, a guardian, and once it gets too close to the fences, it knows it's supposed not to cross it. Plus, Juliet totally knows what it is because she's trying to infiltrate the Losties. Her agenda is anyone's guess.

I actually don't think Juliet knows what the monster is. From the looks of her when they first heard it, I don't think she had any idea what it was.
As for her... She could be a plant, but who knows.
Maybe she really did come up with that stupid sceme to get the trust of Kate. It would explain why she knew the fence was off.
But then again she did say Ben liked to play mind games, and putting her in to the Losties mix would certainly fufill that!
I loved it when Juliette kicked Kate's ass.. even if it was in self defense for a split second.
GOD I've been waiting so long for someone to do it!
Kate is such a whiney stuck up BITCH! God I hate her.
Best episode ever would be if Kate, Charlie & Claire all got eaten by the smoke monster!

Kates backstory remined me more of Thelama and Louise

when juliette was going through that whole spiel about how well she knew jack, his height, weight, etc. was i the only one who thought the she was gonna say she knew his "shoe" size, too? lol

-babeblue

Alternate caption for Greybishop's Locke "Geiko" photo:

"I'm not an Other, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night."

hee hee

If she doesn't already know it babeblue, I think it's only a matter of time. And if Kate finds out, it's gonna be a bona fide "love square", for a lack of a better term.

I also thought it was a great ep. Laughed so hard at the opening when Juliet was like "enjoy your sandwich" while it's all over the floor.

I agree on the reading of Juliet going to look for Sayid first.

Show is def back on track, in my opinion.

Mallory - what Juliet said after she turned on the fence was "well, we don't know what it is, but we know it doesn't like our fence". Now "we" could have meant she and Kate or it could have meant she & the others.

Just a random side note, I'm re-watching the first season, and in Episode 4 "White Rabbit", in the scene where Jack's daddy is all "Don't try to be a hero", he's drinking whiskey.

Wonder if it's MacCutcheon?

Normally I wouldn't say anything, but the shot of that scene focused on the whiskey first. So, important? Perhaps.

And good recap, GB (=

Wow, my first comment!

Although this episode was pretty "meh" it sets the stage for some pretty awesome things to come. First off, there's going to be a power struggle or upheaval at Camp Losties. They've been without Princess Jack for some time, and the first reaction will be to turn to him. However, the presence of Juliet is going to throw things off-kilter. The losties see her as The Other aka BAD GUY (gal, whatever) and I have the feeling Jack is not going to offer any explanation other than to yell yell yell that "we HAVE to trust her!" Jack is going to come off as being a fool to blindly trust The Other....this may be Juliet's masterplan, to have the Losties lose faith in Jack.

So who steps up as Leader? Locke is gone, for now; Kate is in no position to take control because she's just going to whine and pine. Sayid is too much of a foot soldier to be the leader. So Sawyer will become "leader" by default. Sayid is more than likely going to align himself with Sawyer since they both don't trust Juliet. If Kate would wipe off her drool and take a stance with S and S, then we have the start of a cool coupe.

Oh, and one last thought; if Juliet's goal was to dethrone Jack, then having Sawyer step up is just icing on her cake. Because we all know Sun (and Jin, maybe) don't like Sawyer, and Sun might have it in her to do some revenge. Also, Locke could show up any moment with Daddy Sawyer and down will come Sawyer...

How DO the others know so much about the plane survivors? When the crash happened, the others ran from their homes in shock. Then Ethan was sent to get info. So they didn't know about them at that time, I guess.

Eggo:
"Also, Locke could show up any moment with Daddy Sawyer and down will come Sawyer..."

Yeah, like, hypothetically... but Sawyer doesn't know what 'Sawyer' from his past looks like... he never met him... so even if Locke showed up with his dad, it would require some serious coincidence and/or digging for anyone to realize that this was Sawyer.

Sharon:
The others knew plenty about each of the losties well before the crash even occurred. There were plants in both camps, the front and the tail, and they already had lists of everyones names. We don't know enough to know how they have this information, that's one of lost's major secrets.

Kate tells Juliet that even though they are stuck together, they are going back. Juliet says ‘What?! They did this to us! Why would we go back?” Kate snaps back ‘You say "they" like you didn't lock me in a cage and watch me break rocks all day!”. When she said this I literally stood up and did a slow clap. And I don’t mean in that lame way when people say “I literally shit my pants!” when they really didn’t literally shit their pants. (That is a David Cross Joke BTW, full disclosure). Anyways, I actually clapped. Goddamn Others on their high horses.

Anyways, if anyone is interested, my Lost recap should be up soon at http://www.midseasonsreplacement.com/. think of it as an apertif to Graybishops recap.