On the island, the Losties discuss what the dropped phone means.  Should they follow it or should they call?  Faraday calls and they hear the commandos.  No one knows where the troopers are going and they notice that Sayid and Desmond aren’t on the chopper.  FIGURE IT OUT PEOPLE…NO GOOD CAN COME OF THIS!!! 

Kate and Jack go off to investigate.  Juliet tries to stop them because Jack is still recovering.  But, with all this knowing the outcome, who cares?  Jack will live.  Writers…stop giving me superfluous dialogue.  Get to some revealing!

Faraday tells Charlotte about The Orchid being code for the secondary protocol.  He looks into his notebook and says they have to get off the island…NOW.  The way it looks, this note has something to do with Faraday’s experiment.  You know, Desmond is his constant.  So he knows something…

Find and Recover

Kate and Jack track the signal.  He starts bleeding, but keeps going.  They hear footsteps and its Miles, Sawyer and Aaron.  Sawyer tells them that Claire is missing.  Then Sawyer talks about the military group trying to kill everyone on the island.  Are they really?  They just want Ben…scare him out of hiding.  That’s all they need to do.

Jack and Sawyer argue about the next steps.  Jack wants to follow the chopper in case Sayid and Desmond are on it.  He put them in the situation, and now he must follow through.  Sawyer gives Kate the baby, and he goes with Jack.  He refuses to let him go alone.  Awww…I’m so sad.  I think Sawyer survives…he’s just not an Oceanic 6 member.  He’ll have some alternate reality existence. 

In the future, the airline’s rep goes over a slide show of where the Losties were stranded.  Seems like a lot of song and dance.  And then she continues some story about the landing on a small island, and they took a raft over to a larger island.  This was after 108 days.

The press asks each of them questions.  They all lie.  Jack describes the crash into the water completely different…even crediting the life jacket/seat cushions.  Sun says Jin died in the crash.  Hurley avoids the “looking healthy” question.  Kate answers about giving birth to Aaron and being a fugitive.  Sayid says there are definitely no survivors. 

After the press conference, Sayid gets pulled aside by the airline rep.  Apparently a woman came to see him not on the family list he provided.  And of course, it’s Nadia.  He goes to see her.   They are finally reunited.  But we know what happens to her…so that sucks.

In the ocean, Sayid takes the boat to the island.  The Losties run over to see Sayid.  He tells them the situation…ya know…their pending death by the chopper folks.  And Juliet delivers the news that Jack and Kate ran after the helicopter.  Sayid is less than thrilled.  It’s really interesting because we know Jack survives.  But each of the Oceanic 6 seems to be split apart on the island.  The reckoning day must happen elsewhere…or on the freighter. Or they end up back on the island for some stupid reason. 

Use and Destroy

Hurley, Ben and Locke are hiking up the hill to the Orchid.  Hmmm…same place as the commandos. Here they can move the island…they haven’t done it before because it’s a measure of last resort.  Ben starts uncovering some rocks.  Revealed is a trunk.  In it are saltines (15 years old), a mirror and some other random supplies.  Ben holds up a mirror and says he’s communicating.  Locke wants to know what was communicated and to whom.  But Ben is as cryptic as ever.  Richard?!?  I think its Richard and the Others.  He hinted at that…but a while back he said they have left him.  Ben is a manipulator so anything goes at this point. 

Instead of waiting for Sayid to return, Faraday offers to take the first group to the freighter.  He waves bye to Charlotte.  It seems wrong.  But Sun is on the boat with Aaron…so it’s not like Faraday is going to kill them. Jin is with her as well as other random beach folk.  Our Oceanic 6 is divided...yet they end up saved.  2 seasons left…tons can happen. 

Kate gets to the beach.  She tells Sayid she will help him find Jack and Sawyer.  He needs her help…it will take him too long otherwise.  The two of them run off and leave the rest of the Losties to follow Faraday’s lead. 

On the boat, Jin tells Sun that he told her he promised to get her off the island.  It’s cute…yet bittersweet because we know they don’t end up together.  Or maybe they do.  Maybe we’ll get beyond Jack’s suicide attempt episode…that won’t be the last scene in the future.  They will go back…maybe…I’m just spitballing here. 

In the future, Sun goes to see her father.  He is having an argument with his employees about his bank accounts being hit.  She tells her dad to stop acting like he cares about her pregnancy.  He never liked Jin.  He gets angry, and Sun reveals she used her Oceanic money to buy the shareholders majority.  Now she is his boss.  And her child will lead a wonderful life in the FAMILY business. 

And two people killed Jin…and her father is one of them.  Who is the other?  Is he really, really going to die?  I want it to be some Oceanic fake death.  I don’t want Claire to really be dead.  Or even Boone or Shannon…or Charlie.  I love my characters!!!

Hide and Seek

In California, Hurley drives his clunky car up to his family home.  The door is cracked open and he calls for his parents.  A coconut is on the floor…hmm…he hears whispering.  Is Hurley going crazy or just a TV?  He opens up a door and there is a surprise party for him.  A birthday luau.  Interesting theme for a guy who just returned from a deserted island.  Ah…who doesn’t like irony?  And the guest list is great.  Sayid and Nadia.  Kate and Aaron.  Cheech Marin with a bad dye job as Hurley’s dad.  This episode gets better and better. 

For his present, Hurley’s dad fixed the car while Hurley was gone.  When they get into the car…the mileage on the car is the “cursed numbers.”  Hurley realizes it and runs away…as fast as he can.  Which is a slow waddle…why can’t Cheech run?  Bad lungs from all that smoke?

On the island, Hurley, Locke and Ben go through the jungle.  Hurley wants to know how he’ll get off the island.  Locke says it’s too late for that.  All of the guys lean down…they have come upon the Orchid.  Ben admits that Charles Widmore knows about the Orchid.  And the guys notice that the commandos are already staking claim on the territory. 

Secrets and Lies

Guess who makes it to the freighter?  Faraday’s boat.  Desmond looks worried that Sayid isn’t there.  Sun, Jin and the random Losties get on the freighter.  Faraday goes back for the next group.  Sun and Jin are shocked to see Michael.  He fixed the engines so the ship can now move.  The driver of the freighter cannot get them to 305 bearings.  Desmond runs for assistance. 

Sawyer notices that Jack is bleeding.  He cannot believe Jack is walking around without his appendix.  The helicopter is there with Frank.  He seems excited that Jack got the message.  Now he can take a group to the freighter.  When the commandos get back…it’s all downhill from there.  They are here to get Ben anyway necessary.  Sawyer asks what will happen to the people with Ben.  And Frank says nothing good.  Then Sawyer tells Jack that Hurley’s with Ben.  Crap.  Seriously…could the Oceanic 6 spread out even more?

In the future, Jack gives his father’s eulogy.  Sayid, Nadia, Kate, Aaron and Hurley are at the church to support Jack.  Jack just gives a simple goodbye.  After the memorial service, he speaks to Kate.  Then a woman comes over to talk to Jack.  She’s Australian.  She explains that the reason Jack’s dad went to Australia was to see his daughter.  This woman had a daughter with Dr. Shepherd long ago.  And then she reveals that Claire is their love child.  AKA Jack’s sister.  Something we all knew…but now Jack knows.  So it’s crazy.  And before the woman leaves she goes over to Aaron to see him.  The woman’s grandson is right there.  WTF.  Poor lady…she should know.  I hope one day she does.

Aiding and Abetting

Michael tells Sun and Jin how he got back to New York.  And Sun accuses him of working for Ben.  He explains to her that he is trying to make up for what he did.  Then Desmond runs out asking for Michael.  All the main characters run after Desmond. They go into a room to find tons of explosives. Hmmm…wait…what did the commandos take with them?  Is that much weaponry really necessary?

Kate tracks Jack and Sawyer for Sayid.  She thinks the tracks are fresh.  They doubled behind them.  Kate lifts her gun.  Out of the brush…of course, it’s Richard.  Richard…and his Others crew. Everyone has guns pointed.  So Kate and Sayid surrender their guns.  I would love for someone to tell me Richard’s deal.  He stalked Locke as a child.  He doesn’t age.  He knows more than he lets on.  I love him…he’s one of the most intriguing mysteries. 

At the Orchid, Ben explains what Locke needs to do in the Orchid.  Ben then goes towards the commandos…”surrendering himself.”  Now Locke can get to the Orchid station because the commandos will have what they need. 

The final episode is set up for us. Sun is on the freighter that contains tons of explosives.  Kate and Sayid are trapped by the Others.  Jack and Sawyer are going into the jungle for Hurley.  Locke and Hurley are waiting for the opportunity for shutting down the Orchid station. The commandos have knocked out Ben.  And there are still unanswered questions.