L o s t s-6, e-17
 

Not all that much to get excited about last night. I did find the line Sawyer said interesting, "Trust me, God has nothing to do with it."
I thought that was kind of an inside joke. I imagine a lot of people are saying that the story is a God/Devil , good evil thing... and Sawyer's line was really pertaining to the overall story of the show.

They're handing out answers in little candy form, but they're answers that we already know (it's like they're completely sold on the idea of "new watchers"). Oh, look at that, Nemesis admits that he's the smoke Monster, oh shocking revelation! Yes, ever episode this season has been LOADED with facts that answer stuff (Richard was on the Black Rock, etc) they've all been insignificant things that the fanbase has long ago figured out.

The story is ending poorly, but the first half of Season 5 was like that as well (oh, people walking around until their eyes bleed from wild and wacky time jumps, blah blah blah) but it recovered and hammered away in the last half. Hopefully it does the same here, because they are answering the WRONG questions.

As for the "alternate" timeline, I disagree with the general consensus that it must "merge" with the the Island timeline. We have seen basically individual characters redefined in the alt timeline, but after their episode, we don't really see them again. I think that it's an independent study of the characters, and will remain so through the end. Where seeing "variations of a theme" of our characters...watching them discover/develop different sides of their psyche that exists (we've seen hints over 5 seasons), but wasn't in the forefront of their characterization.

We're also seeing the idea (not original, for sure) that even though the total Life Path that we take through spacetime is undefined (changes based on our decisions), there are certain "beacons" that each of us must cross. Those beacons are people, places, things, events...

For example, each character is traveling a significantly different path through spacetime in this alt timeline, but they still were on 815, they still keep bumping into each other, there are specific beacons along their lifepath that have not changed. so, the alt timeline and the Island timeline, though twisting through spacetime along different paths, keep crossing at the beacons.

Beyond that little study of the complexity of human personalities, and a bit of commenting on "free will in one's life", I don't think the alt timeline means anything.

Of course, I didn't think we'd ever see the 4 toed statue again, that it was just a "weird thing" the writers tossed in to make people talk...but that was before, ya know, it became something integral to the story. I'm this/close to perfect, but even i make mistakes. Rarely. :D

hey mike,
do you think they'll ever go back to Walt again? I thought that was supposed to be a significant portion of the story. The Others snagged him off the boat in season 1. He was supposed to be this special kid. Even after he left the island with dad, he appeared to Locke back on the island again when Locke was at his lowest point. Clearly the writers made him out to be a special kid... but as of late... nothing no mention at all. Did they just drop this story line completely?

The same goes for Jack's dad. Clearly he is a special character that I expect to see again in the upcoming episodes. I think he has to be an integral part of the ending.

I am look forward to next weeks episode to learn more about Richard Alpert. We'll see what candy nugget of info we get next week. :)

Unfortunately, I wonder if Walt's actor simply messed things up by, ya know, becoming a teenager. Although, I think that the viewers would suspend their disbelief and allow this 6 foot tall, near adult person pretend to be 12...if it meant finalizing his story arc.

Christian is surely still an integral figure in the story...

I felt this episode was mostly a set up for episodes later in the season.

Saying that, I still enjoyed it.