Wow. Really trying to wrap my head around tonight’s episode of Lost. Every episode seems to give some measure of forward movement on revealing the mysteries of the island, while at the same time adding more layers to that mystery. Tonight was no different, and I’m pretty boggled by what’s going on. As previewed earlier, this episode was Sayid-centric. I’m not going to recap the episode, just try to put down some reactions.

If you haven’t watched the episode, really REALLY don’t read any further. It’s pretty hard to tiptoe around the spoilers here.

Dogen’s conversation with Sayid recounting his background prior to the island was revealing.  As with other characters, he’s directly responsible for a death in his past.  In his case, he was driving drunk when he picked up his son from baseball, and the resulting crash killed his boy while leaving him alive.  Jacob came to him and offered him a chance to change things, but he wouldn’t be able to see him again.  Jacob had a job for him to do on the island.

“Now why’d you go and do that?” MIB/Locke asks Sayid as he pulls the bloodless knife from his chest. When Dogen initially told Sayid he had to kill the person-he-knew-who-was-dead BEFORE he spoke or it would already be too late, it wasn’t clear how the speaking would be dangerous. I assumed it meant Sayid had to kill him before MIB killed him first. In reality, Dogen didn’t want MIB to sway Sayid to his side. Turns out Dogen was correct in that assumption.

What was Dogen’s role in keeping MIB out of the Temple? Why would his death allow MIB to breach the ash barrier around the Temple?

I liked the feeling of longing that Naveen Andrews portrayed in his facial expressions when MIB/Locke asked him “what if you could?” see his beloved Nadia again.  In a parallel with Dogen and his bargain with Jacob to save his son, it seems that MIB/Locke may have given Sayid a specific job to do in return for seeing Nadia.

Dogen. Really dead, or not? I think really dead, not to return. Which is a shame on the one hand, because he was an interesting character with much to reveal. On the other hand, he had much to reveal, so killing him now probably served the story more effectively.

Sayid’s message to the Temple folk:  ”There is a man in the jungle, about a mile south of us, by the outer wall. He sent me back here to give you a message.   He wants you to know that Jacob is dead.  Because he’s gone, none of you have to stay here anymore, you’re free.   The man that I met is leaving the island forever.  Those of you who want to go with him should leave the temple and join him.   You have until sundown to decide.”  Cindy the Stewardess:  ”What happens at sundown if we stay?”  Sayid: “You die.”

I think the statement about the Temple dwellers not having to stay anymore because Jacob was dead is significant in some way.  ”You’re free.”   Not sure exactly what that means, but I think it means something.

Keamy.  I loved this part of the sideways flash.  Just as malevolent in that reality as in the main timeline, but in a different way.  Sayid is truly bad ass in the way he deals with Keamy and his men.

I really want to know just exactly what role Ilana plays and what she knows about what is going on in the epic MIB vs. Jacob struggle.  At some point we need to get a clearer picture of just what this struggle is, and who should we be rooting for.  Although MIB/Locke is clearly causing lots of destruction and death, do we really know if he’s the bad guy, or is Jacob? I can’t decide.

I’ve really got to watch this episode again.  And I can’t wait 7 days before the next episode.

Related posts:

1. Initial Reaction to Lost: 6.08 “Recon”
2. Lost: What Kate Does – Episode Recap
3. Lost Episode 6 Preview: Sundown
4. Lost Season 6 Premiere – LA X
5. What We Learned From Lost: Dr. Linus