Get LOST: Something Nice Back Home

Posted by Ben Piper on 05.07.2008

Wait, this isn't going to be like the one with the tattoos, is it?



Hello, my friends ! Welcome back yet again to the only 411 column solely devoted to what I truly feel is the very best show on TV today, LOST! As always, I am your favorite appendicitis suffering spinal surgeon with Daddy issues, Ben Piper.

Thanks to everyone who left comments last week, always appreciate the feedback. I'm trying to think of something to say to extend the introduction a little further, but nothing immediately springs to mind… No, wait, I've got it…

WAR KITTENS?!

Sorry, couldn't help myself. Kind of a private joke with my friends lately.

Anyways, enough with the pointless banter, lets get to the goodness of LOST, season four episode 10; Something Nice Back Home.

What We Learned: The episode opens on Jack's closed left eye, and someone offscreen calling his name. At first he is non-responsive but the voice is persistent, calling Jack out from his sleep. He finally opens his eyes to see Juliet hovering over him, but it would appear that he's not all there, based upon his blurred vision and the blank, empty look in his eyes before he finally responds and sits up. She asks him if he's okay, knowing that he isn't. Jack tries to deflect the situation by reacting to the sound of loud voices outside his tent.

Jack and Juliet head outside to find Bernard and Rose arguing with Daniel and Charlotte. Jack steps in and instructs everyone to just calm down. Bernard protests that the freighter folk are lying to them, and Jack states that he knows that. But sooner or later, their people are going to come back for them, and the Losties will be waiting for them, or so goes Jack's logic. Rose notices that Jack looks to be in a bad way and asks if he's alright. He states that he's fine and that everyone just has to be patient. After all, he's gotten them all this far, and he intends to follow through on his promise to get everyone off of the island. He then turns to walk away and passes out mid-stride as everyone rushes to his side.

Flash-forward: Jack lies in bed in only his underwear, and is awakened by a phone call reminding him of a consult he has scheduled. As he climbs out of bed, he wraps a sheet around his waist and picks up an errant pair of panties laying upon the floor, which he deposits in a nearby drawer. He heads downstairs into the kitchen, at which point he steps on something. He curses, picking the object up and placing it upon the counter. It's a toy Millennium Falcon. He proceeds to place two half-full glasses of wine in the sink before beginning to brew a pot of coffee. He picks up the paper and takes notice of the box scores in the sports section, cursing A-Rod under his breath. He heads back upstairs into the bathroom, where the shower is running. He opens the door and peeks his head in, wishing the "mystery woman" inside a good morning, which she reciprocates. She tells him that she bought him a razor, which makes him ask if she doesn't love the scruff. The shower turns off, and Jack grabs a towel which he holds open for Kate as she emerges, smiling. They kiss passionately.

Back from commercial we remain in flash-forward mode as Jack reads to a sleeping Aaron. After a moment he notices Kate watching him do this. He finishes up, closes the book, and make sure that the tyke is tucked in before turning off the light. Once out in the hallway with Kate she tells him that she thinks that he's a natural. Jack comments that his father used to read him that story, and for all his faults, Christian was a good storyteller. Kate thinks it's sweet that Jack would speak so highly of his father. Kate gives him a look, and he asks if she's okay. Kate says that she loves seeing Jack with Aaron, and that she's so glad that Jack changed his mind. They kiss, she jumps up into his arms and wraps her legs around him, as he proceeds to carry her into the bedroom.

Back on the island, concerned beach-goers sit an out of it Jack back up against the trunk of a tree. Juliet runs off to get him some water as Rose instructs everyone to take a step back and give him some air. Jack comes too and almost pukes as Jin asks him in English if he's okay. HE insists that he's fine as he gets to his feet. Kate happens upon the situation and rushes to find out what's going on. Once she learns the sitch Jack attempts to make excuses but Kate sees that he's burning up with fever. He insists that he's fine.

Back in the jungle, Claire, Aaron, Sawyer and Miles slowly make their way across the island. Sawyer asks Claire if she's okay, to which she states that while she's feeling a little woozy, she's doing better, just a bit of a headache. She says that she's just happy that she's no longer "seeing things", which raises Miles curiosity. Sawyer tells him to can it, they have to make more ground before they decide to make camp. As Sawyer presses ahead, Miles stops in his tracks. As he looks down at the patch of ground before him he hears voices crying out in pain. Sawyer notices this and asks what the hell? Miles asks who's Danielle and Karl? Miles kneels down and begins to work the ground with his hands, and before too long he uncovers the shallow graves of the French Woman and her daughter's boyfriend. Claire turns away, horrified. Sawyer asks how he knew that they were down there, and if his buddies did this. Miles emphatically states that they are not his buddies, and that this is not what he signed up for. Freaked out, Claire asks if they can go now, and a protective Sawyer assures her that once they get back to the beach, everything will be fine. She takes a little comfort in that.

Speaking of back at the beach, Jack is in his tent, self-medicating when Juliet invites herself in with the bottle of water that she promised earlier. Jack states that he hates being sick, and she asks him what he thinks it is. Food poisoning, he reasons due to his symptoms. She respectfully disagrees with him, and asks him to lift up his shirt. At first he shakes his head no, but Juliet reasons that if it is mere food poisoning, then he'll have nothing to worry about. He relents and obliges, and Juliet presses her hand against his side, which draws a painful wince from Jack. Much to his consternation, Juliet informs Jack that the problem lies with his appendix. She asks him if it's ruptured, to which he responds not yet. She states that they're going to have to take it out.

Cut to Juliet making sure that Sun remembers how to get to the medical hatch, while presenting a list of surgical items that she'll require. After looking the list over, Sun states that she has no idea what these things are or look like. Faraday raises his hand, offering to help as he is familiar with surgical instruments. Juliet states that she thought he was a physicist, but he relays the fact that he's done a fair amount of animal autopsies in his day. Both Jin and Sun call shenanigans, in the belief that he cannot be trusted. Charlotte takes a negative aspect towards the situation, and Daniel calls her out on it, stating that that's the problem, her bad attitude. He tells her that's exactly why they don't trust them. Faraday further implores Juliet to allow him to help out, stating that they are just scientists, here to help rather than hurt. She's heard enough to make a judgment so she hands the list to Faraday, while also handing a pistol to Jin, instructing him that if either of the freighter folk try to run, he's to shoot them in the leg. Daniel thanks her for the slight level of trust.

Juliet quickly moves on to tell everyone else that they require a sterile environment for the surgery, telling the beach-goers what is needed. As people scurry to make this happen, Kate catches up and asks if everything they need is at the medical station, why don't they just take Jack there? Juliet answers that if he's moved there's a good chance that his appendix will rupture, and if that occurs, he's a goner.

In the jungle, Miles watches Claire holding Aaron from a distance with a good deal of interest. What that's about, you've got me. This is broken up by Sawyer firmly instructing the guy not to even look at her. He's got a restraining order of twenty feet, he proclaims. Miles asks if he's her big brother, and Sawyer says he's the guy going to kick his teeth down his throat unless he obliges. (I'm paraphrasing)

Back at the beach, everyone is getting things prepared for Jack's operation, including Rose and Bernard. As they scrub down a flat surface they engage in some interesting conversation.

Bernard: Honey, I am sure Jack is going to be okay. An appendectomy is just about the most common kind of surgery there is.

Rose: That's not what I was thinking about. I was thinking why did he get sick?

Bernard: Why? It's just, it's just bad luck.

Rose: The day before we're all supposed to be rescued the person we count on the most suddenly comes down with a life-threatening condition and you're chalking it up to bad luck?

Bernard: Well, what are you saying? That Jack did something to offend the gods? People get sick, Rose.

Rose: Not here. Here they get better.

The point isn't lost on Bernard.

Cut to Juliet prepping Jack for going under the knife by shaving the area. He asks when was the last time she did this and Juliet breaks the tension by making a joke out of it. She states that the last time was in her residency, but assures Jack that she's done a lot of them. Jack, control freak that he is, tells her that he wants to be awake throughout the operation so he can talk her through it. He argues that they can use Lydacane (sp?) to numb the area and he can then watch the procedure and help her out. She inquires about how he's going to watch seeing as he's going to be lying flat on his back with her hand in his abdominal cavity. He retorts that they can use a mirror, and that Kate can hold it. Juliet clearly doesn't think that this is a good idea Juliet argues that if someone else is going to be present during this, shouldn't be somebody with medical experience? Jack remains steadfast in that he wants Kate present.

Flash-forward: Jack walks down a hospital corridor with once of his patients after a consult, assuring her that she's in good hands. As the patient departs, something catches Jack's eye and he does a double take. He turns back around to see an older man with salt and pepper hair walking away from him. This man suspiciously resembles Jack's father, Christian. Before Jack can put too much thought into this, one of his colleagues asks him to look at an X-ray and tell her what he thinks. Before he can give his opinion, the receptionist receives a call for him from the Santa Rosa hospital, and that it's in regards to a friend of his.

Cut to Jack and a psychiatrist walking down a hallway together in the looney bin.

Doctor: He's refusing to take his medicine and he's stopped sleeping.

Jack: What about his therapy sessions?

Doctor: Therapy's been rendered useless.

Jack: And why's that?

Doctor: Because he doesn't think I exist.

The Doctor unlocks the room and allows Jack to step inside. Of course, it's Hurley, who doesn't even bother to look at Jack when he enters the room.

Jack: Hey, Hurley.

Hurley: (defeated) Hey, Jack.

Jack grabs a chair and takes a seat opposite. Hurley continues to stare straight ahead, never once looking at his friend.

Jack: Why aren't you taking your meds?

Hurley: ‘Cause we're dead. All of us. All the Oceanic Six, we're all dead. We never got off that island.

Jack: Hurley, that is not true.

Hurley: What'd you do today?

Jack: What did I do today? I, uh, I woke up, took a shower, Kate and I fed the baby…

Hurley: I thought… You didn't want anything to do with Aaron.

Jack: I changed my mind after the trial.

Hurley: Live with Kate? Take care of Aaron? It all seems so perfect. It's like heaven.

This line of conversation troubles Jack.

Jack: Just because I'm happy doesn't mean that this isn't real, Hurley.

Hurley: I was happy, too, Jack. For a while, anyway. Then I saw Charlie. He likes to sit with me on the bench out on the front lawn. It's pretty cool, actually.

Jack clearly doesn't know what to make of this, but does his best to further the conversation.

Jack: Okay, so what do you two talk about?

Hurley: Well, yesterday he told me that you were going to be coming by. He even wanted me to give you a message.

Jack: What message?

Hurley opens a drawer in his nightstand and takes out a piece of paper.

Hurley: He made me write it down so I wouldn't mess it up. "You're not supposed to raise him, Jack."

This clearly rattles the good doctor a little bit as he gets up from his chair and paces a little.

Hurley: Does that make any sense?

Jack: No, it… doesn't make any sense.

Hurley: You think he means Aaron?

Now finally willing to look Jack in the eye, Hurley watches as Jack defiantly doesn't answer the question and chides him as if he were baby.

Jack: Take your meds, Hurley. Just take ‘em.

Jack opens the door to Hurley's room to leave but is stopped.

Hurley: Hey Jack? Charlie said someone is going to be visiting you, too. Soon.

Back in the jungle, the unlikely foursome of Jin, Sun, Faraday and Charlotte find themselves at the medical station. Jin clears away the foliage that camouflages it and Charlotte is the one that opens it up as he takes the pistol out of his waistband. She starts to head inside, but Faraday grabs her arm and stops her, saying that he should go in first to make sure that it's safe. She's in agreement with this proposal, and tells him to be careful. After witnessing this brief interaction, Jin and Sun yak back and forth to one another about it in Korean. Jin wonders if she knows that Daniel likes her, and Sun responds by stating " she's a woman, of course she knows." Charlotte flashes a brief smile their way, which clues Jin in on the fact that perhaps she understood what he and his wife were just talking about.

As they all wonder into the room where Sun received her sonogram from Juliet, Daniel wonders where the power for this place is coming from, and Charlotte comments that's another mystery to be added to the list. As they busy themselves with grabbing the required surgical equipment Sun gets all moon-eyed over the fact that this is where she first saw the baby. As Jin asks her what's wrong, his wife brings him up to speed in Korean, as Charlotte throws suspicious glances their way. Sun worries about the fact that the freighter folk aren't here to rescue them, which draws another look from Charlotte. Jin states emphatically that no matter what, he's going to get both his wife and unborn child off of the island.

Meanwhile, as Sawyer Claire, Miles and the baby make their own way through the wilderness, Claire takes a misstep and nearly falls, which causes Miles to offer up help with regards to carrying Aaron. Claire says no thanks, irregardless of Miles assertion that he's good with kids. This causes Sawyer to get in his face about the imposed "restraining order" from earlier. This confrontation is short lived as both Miles and Sawyer's attention is caught by the rustling of nearby bushes. As it gets louder and more predominant, Sawyer raises the rifle he is carrying to his shoulder, in preparation to fire. The helicopter pilot Lapidus emerges from the underbrush, carrying a medical kit. Once he sees that a rifle is aimed at him, he lets out a hearty "WHOA!" Once they who the hell are you, do you two know one another song and dance is quickly out of the way, Lapidus informs Sawyer that he and those with him really needs to hide, posthaste. Keamy is coming back, and he knows this due to the radiophone he's holding. Lapidus states that if Keamy finds them, he'll kill them, so they have to make themselves gone, as in right now. Sawyer, Claire, and Miles take the warning to heart and head off as Keamy and the surviving remnants of his insurgence force show up asking where the chopper is. Lapidus says it's about a clique back that way, before he wonders what in the hell happened after looking over a wounded merc. Keamy no-sells by telling him to do his job, and he'll do his. As the medical kit is handed over, baby Aaron hiccups not far away, and Keamy appears to have heard it.

As Claire hugs Aaron close to her in an effort to keep him quiet, Sawyer prepares to strike first as Lapidus knows that the shit is about to hit the fan. He starts talking fast in order to avoid such a confrontation. As Keamy looks around suspiciously, and as Sawyer draws a bead on him, Frank makes every genuine excuse in the book why they should leave right now, head back to the chopper, and fly back to the freighter. Keamy finally relents, to Lapudis and Sawyer's relief, and they all head off. Disastrous confrontation averted.

Back at the beach, Kate tells Juliet that everything is prepared for the operation. Juliet asks Kate if she is willing to help out in that regards. Kate doesn't think it's a good idea, but Juliet is following the alpha male's wishes, by stating that she'll only be holding up a mirror, for Jack wishes to be awake throughout to talk her through it. Kate finds this to be no big surprise and scoffs. Juliet asks what that is about, and Kate answers that she's just surprised that he hasn't taken it out by himself by now.

Just then, Jack emerges from his tent all weak-kneed. Juliet calls him to task, but he says that he doesn't need a stretcher to walk fifty feet. Kate offers to help him along his way and ducks underneath his shoulder to give him support. Juliet states that once the surgical stuff arrives, they should start immediately.

As Kate walks Jack towards the makeshift surgical tent, they share a brief intimate moment.

Kate: So, it looks like I'm going to be your nurse.

Jack: It wouldn't be the first time.

She smiles at this, an obvious reference to the first time they met in the pilot episode. He begins to state that if anything should happen to him… She squashes that notion instantly before it can be given weight with a simple "shut up". "Fair enough" he retorts…

Flash-forward: Jack sits in his vehicle in front of the Santa Rosa hospital in which Hurley is being kept, staring at the bench that his friend told him he communes with the dead at. After several long, lingering moments, Jack shakes off his doubts and fires up the engine and heads home.

Once there, he awakens Kate in the middle of the night. She stirs and sits up, asking if he was working. He states that he just needed to take some time to think about things. She inquires if there's anything wrong. He shakes his head, but he brings up the previous night, where she stated that he was a "natural" with regards to child-rearing. He asks if she really thinks that he's REALLY good at it. She smiles, tears in her eyes, and emphatically backs him up in that regard. He smiles, and sighs heavily. He then looks her in the eyes, and pops THE question. As Kate stares at him in disbelief, he produces a ring out of his pocket. As the tears stream down her face, she accepts, and he places the band upon her finger. They embrace, with Kate's face full of joy and happiness. Jack on the other hand? Well, let's just say we've been down this road before, and it's written all over his face…

Back on the beach, it's nighttime as torches are being lit. Bernard points out to Juliet that the foursome sent out to retrieve the necessary items have returned. Juliet rushes to greet them, asking if they got everything. Daniel states that they did, before asking if Jack is doing okay. For now, Juliet answers. She then instructs Sun to help her sterilize the equipment. As they head off to do that, Jin stops Charlotte and begins to speak to her in Korean. He states that he knows that she understands him, even as she continues to play dumb. When she apologizes and offers to get Sun to translate for them Jin states that if she continues to lie to him he's going to hurt Faraday by breaking each of his fingers, one by one. This seems to do the trick, as Charlotte proves unwilling to call his bluff, asking him in Korean what he wants. He says that when the helicopter returns for her, he wants his wife taken off of the island. She asks what about him and the rest of his fellow castaways? Apparently this is no longer his concern as he says to just get Sun on the copter. After a moment, Charlotte nods in agreement.

IN the makeshift surgical tent, Juliet turns on the overhead lights (What's powering them? You've got me) as Jack lies on the table before her. Kate, looking mightily afraid, pulls her hair back into a ponytail as Bernard readies the local anesthetic. As Bernard swabs the area to sterilize it he brings up the fact that some chloroform was found at the medical station and asks Jack to allow him to put him under. He asks why he wouldn't prefer to be dreaming about "something nice back home" than being awake through the procedure. Jack shakes his head, stating that he'll manage with the lydacane. Jack then helps Kate move the mirror so he can watch into the proper position. Bernard warns Jack that the shot he's giving will numb him for the first incision, but beyond that, all bets are off. Juliet asks Jack if he's ready, and she begins to cut. As she progressively cuts through the layers of his flesh, he begins to feel it as she urges him to remain still. As Juliet asks Bernard for the spreader, Jack complains that he can't see what's happening. Kate apologizes, but Juliet tells her not to worry about it as she further urges Jack to lie still. As Juliet begins to crank the spreader open, Jack yells out in pain. Instantly Juliet tells Bernard to knock him out. Jack protests, stating he doesn't want to be unconscious. Juliet correct him in that he doesn't want to be out of control of the situation, as she again tells Bernard to put his lights out. Jack begins to plead to Kate, and Juliet tells her to leave. As Jack continues to plead to Kate, Juliet continually yells for her to leave and Bernard to gas Jack, and Kate cries. Finally Bernard comes through, apologizing to Jack beforehand before stating that he agrees with Juliet as he places a chloroform laced rag over Jack's mouth and nose.

Flash-forward: Jack is in his office looking over X-rays and making notes into a mini hand held recorder. As he does so he becomes distracted by a beeping noise somewhere off in the distance. Jack stops what he is doing and leaves his office to investigate. He follows the noise to the lobby of his office, finding the culprit to be a faulty smoke detector. Jack pulls a chair underneath it, steps up and removes the battery. As he steps down he is visibly started by someone calling out his name in an authoritative tone. He turns to spot a man sitting in the shadows of the reception area. As Jack walks towards him, the man leans forward in his chair out of the shadows to reveal himself. It's his dad, Christian. A second later, another voice calls Jack's name. He whirls around to find the colleague that sought with him earlier now standing before him. As he turns back to where the old man was sitting, he now finds no one there. This whole episode really freaks the good doc out, as he reacts in a way atypical to what we know about him, as he looks to becoming unglued at the seams. As the female doctor asks if he's okay, Jack lamely explains the situation with the smoke detector whilst exhibiting classic symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. She plays off his unsteadiness as if it were nothing, and begins to leave. Jack stops her and asks her to write a prescription for him. He explains that he's just got a lot going on right now, between his case load and the fact that he's newly engaged, and that he hasn't been sleeping well. She does as he asks, and then makes the comment that getting engaged is supposed to reduce stress, not increase it. He chuckles a little and says that she's right. She suggests that perhaps he talks to someone, and he states that he will.

When Jack arrives home at Kate's house he overhears her talking to someone. Part of the conversation involves Jack's work schedule and when he won't be around. Most notably, she tells someone that she'll be able to stay at least an hour. When Jack makes his presence felt, Kate quickly excuses herself from the phone call she's engaged in, and that she'll call this person back later. After she hangs up, Jack asks who she was talking to. Kate says it was Noreen, a fellow mother that she had met at the park. Jack unconsciously gives Kate a look of suspicion, which causes her to ask "what". Jack says it's nothing, it's just that he doesn't recall the mane being mentioned before. Kate smiles and says "well, now you have" before kissing him on the lips and heading upstairs. One can already see the wheels of paranoia swirling in Jack's mind, it's written all over his face. Once he's alone in the kitchen, Jack takes out the prescription that was written for him and proceeds to throw back a couple of pills and follow them up with a beer chaser. Sheesh. With him being a doctor and all, you'd think he'd know that doing that is a big no-no.

Back on the island, as Sawyer and Miles sleep, Claire stirs to find that baby Aaron isn't nestled right up against her as he should be. This causes her to awaken with a start, at first panicked. Then she sees somebody sitting n the opposite side of the fire from her. Cradling the baby in his arms and looking at her with proud approval.

Claire: Dad?

Back at the beach, a teary-eyed Kate sits alone. A moment later Bernard shows up to inform her not to worry, the procedure went well. He imparts the message from Juliet that she can go back inside to check on Jack if she wishes.

As Kate steps inside the tent, Juliet is finishing stitching him up.

Juliet: He didn't lose that much blood. I got the appendix out and put everything back where it belongs.

Kate: You think? (sighs in relief) So he's going to be okay.

Juliet: He should be fine. We just have to talk him into resting.

Kate: Good luck with that.

Juliet: I'm sorry I yelled at you.

Kate: Don't worry about it. You had enough going on.

Juliet looks directly at Kate and sizes her up, before imparting the following info.

Juliet: You know, he kissed me.

Kate: What?

Juliet: The other day when you came back from the other side of the island, Jack kissed me.

Kate is wounded by this, but does her best not to let on.

Kate: Oh.

Juliet: It was nice. But it wasn't for me, it was for him. I'm pretty sure he was trying to prove something.

Kate: Prove what?

Juliet: (uncomfortable) That he doesn't love somebody else.

The two women share an intimate moment of forthright honesty between them.

Kate: Thank you, Juliet. Thank you for saving his life.

The tow women stare at one another for a poignant moment, before Kate departs. Once she does, Juliet painfully tells Jack that she knows he's awake, and that he bore witness to the entire conversation.

Flash-Forward: As Kate arrives at home, she is surprised to find Jack already there, lounging in a chair and spinning a bottlecap between his fingers.

Jack: Hey.

Kate looks around, surprised.

Kate: Hey. You're home early. Where's Veronica?

Jack: I sent her home. The baby's asleep.

Kate sits down.

Kate: (sighing) Good.

It is at this point that she takes notice of the ungodly amount of alcoholic beverages present upon the coffee table separating her from Jack. As Jack takes a drink, she leans forward, wondering what in the hell is going on, suspecting bad news on the horizon.

Jack: Why was she here?

Kate: I'm sorry?

Jack: (acting drunk) The nanny. She only works ‘til four. I came home at six.

Kate: I had to run some errands, so… I asked her to stay a couple of extra hours.

Jack let's this info sink in, but he nods his head as if he's not entirely buying it.

Kate: What's going on, Jack? Why are you home so early?

Jack: I went to see Hurley.

Kate: Today?

Jack: Last Friday.

Kate: Why didn't you tell me? I would have gone with you.

Jack: (Laughing) Because he's crazy, and I didn't want to upset you. (sighs) Where were you today?

Kate gets off of her seat and leans forward upon her knees before Jack.

Kate: I'm going to ask you to trust me. Trust me, just leave tit be.

He looks down at the floor, and finds himself incapable of what he's being asked.

Jack: Where were you?

Kate: (tearing up, and whispering) Jack, don't…

Jack: No, no, I heard you on the phone last night. Who were you talking to?

Kate: Just let it go.

As Kate stands and moves into the kitchen, Jack becomes more belligerent and insistant, following and pestering her every step of the way.

Jack: No, no, I want to know.

Kate: No, Jack.

Jack: I want to know where you where, I want to know who you were with…

Kate: It doesn't matter, Jack. Please.

Jack: Tell me. TELL ME!

As tears begin to spill down her face, Kate confesses.

Kate: I was doing something for him.

Jack: For who?

Kate: For Sawyer. (Apologetically) I made him a promise.

Jack: (dumbfounded) What?

Kate: It doesn't matter, it has nothing to do with us.

Jack: Then, why won't you tell me?

Kate: (tearfully) Because, because he wouldn't want me to.

Jack: But he's not here, is he? No. No, he made his choice. He chose to stay. I'm the one who came back. I'm the one who's here. I'm the one who saved you.

Jack turns his back and starts to walk away…

Kate: Jack, you can't… you can't do this. If you have problems, you need to figure them out. Alright, because I can't have you like this around my son!

Jack: Your son? YOU'RE NOT EVEN RELATED TO HIM!

This last volley hits Kate close to home. Even worse, little Aaron has been awakened by this domestic skirmish, and stands in the wings witnessing it all go down in front of him. Once she notices this, Kate walks over and lovingly picks him up in her arms and cradles the boy. She and Jack exchange painful looks at one another before they both turn their separate ways.

In the jungle, Sawyer awakens. Miles wishes him a good morning, and Sawyer responds with a quip that it's way too early for Chinese. He notices Claire is not around, and inquires where she's at, a bathroom break perhaps? Miles flatly states that she just walked off into the middle of the jungle. Instant alarm bells ring in Sawyer's mind at this, as he asks when this occurred. Miles states that it was the middle of the night. Sawyer questions him about the fact that he allowed her to go out alone, but Miles states that she wasn't alone. She left with somebody she called "Dad". Miles chooses the wrong time to joke by stating that he would have followed, but he's got a restraining order. Instantly pissed, Sawyer grabs Miles by the scruff of his collar but is diverted by the sound of Aaron crying out. Upon hearing this, Sawyer grabs up his rifle and calls out for the mom. As he follows the sound of the baby's cries, he finds the tyke comfortably nestled in the nook of a nearby tree, but his mother is nowhere to be found. As James picks up the child he yells out for Claire continuously, but she is nowhere to be found.

Easter Eggs: The book Jack was reading to Aaron was "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"… According to the headline in the sports section, cross sectioned with real sporting events (The Yankees bludgeon Red Sox in series sweep) the beginning of the flash-forward was August 31st, 2007… Jack did not bear an abdominal surgical scar in his flash-forward. Continuity error, or are the island's healing powers that damned good?… And yes, egregious Millennium Falcon sighting.

Final Analysis: This was a bit of a let down after last week's episode, but let's be perfectly honest, the previous week rocked. So a bit of a falling off was bound to take place. There's also the fact that this episode is Jack-centric. I don‘t know about you, but over the last couple of seasons, I've personally started to dislike Jack. He's arrogant, thinks he knows everything (when he clearly doesn't), is a control freak, and yeah, I'll say it… He's a bit of a prick.

Don't get me wrong. I liked him along with everyone else back in the early stages of the show when he was the de facto leader and his choices weren't being made to spite somebody and oppose them just on general principle. He actually listened to others (no pun intended) back then, even if he didn't believe what he was hearing. I guess it's been kind of a natural progression, after being on the island for so long he finally could no longer tolerate Locke's tactics and beliefs to the point that he was ready to literally kill the man.

But it goes beyond just that. I no longer like or to a fuller extent really enjoy Jack as a character on this show. He's basically his own worse enemy with the choices that he's made, and he has his head so far up his own personal you know what that I wouldn't trust him to rescue indigenous sand crabs from the impending high tide. Okay, perhaps I'm overstating a bit, but you get my point.

I think a lot of this personal animosity I have towards the character is that he's been force-fed down our throats too many times at the expense of more interesting characters such as Sayid and Rousseau. (Yes, it's official. She's a goner. No flashback love for her, it seems) I mean, seriously, last season an entire episode's flashback time was devoted to how and why Jack got tattooed, and what they meant. And before that, it was more of the same rehash of he resents his father/distrusts his wife spiel. We get the point, okay? Dude's got some issues. And did anyone really care about his tattoos in the first place? Can't say that I did.

That said, I actually enjoyed this episode a lot more than I was anticipating. One big plus was that it was an informative flash-forward. Jack's previous flashback story bled into his future tense, in that his paranoia and jealousy caused the eventual falling out between him and Kate post-island. Good character driven stuff.

And with regards to that, that right there is a sweet piece of the puzzle, my friends. Jack and Kate wound up coupled and seriously entertained the notion of raising Aaron together, to the point of a marriage proposal? Wow.

And yes, there are other factors to pencil in, but we'll get to them shortly.

I always call my good friend Larry after each episode airs to compare notes with one another. This week, he lamented the fact that now that the end is in sight there will supposedly not be any more "filler" episodes to string us along. He thought that this bordered on "filler" territory. I see his argument in these regards.

Yes, the whole Jack has appendicitis storyline looks and appears to be pure filler to simply notch another episode in LOST's run. But it also set up some stuff subtlety. First and foremost, the fact that Juliet now knows where she ranks on the totem pole. She's now out of the romantic equation, and she knows it, and acknowledges it.

Secondly, it set up some nice interaction with the benign side of the freighter folk with Jin and Sun. Faraday continues to come across as a good guy in a bad situation. The fact that he took Charlotte to task about her "bad attitude" in front of everyone else while also volunteering to trek out to the medical station to help out in any way that he can solidifies my assertion towards him in this matter.

Charlotte? Not so much, but her Korean conversation with Jin greases the wheels for what's to come with regards to that particular storyline. (I'm still leaning back to the notion that Jin is still alive on the island in the future tense until I'm proven wrong)

Same thing goes for Lapidus. After stumbling upon Sawyer, Miles, Claire, and Aaron in the jungle he not only told them all to hide quickly, but also did his best to steer Keamy as the rest of his mercenaries away from them. This proves to me that he's just another good guy, in way over his head in my humble estimation.

I was saddened to see Hurley in such a bad state. It would appear that he has given over to his own personal madness. It would appear that the island is behind his descent, seeing as Charlie now visits him frequently, based upon what he said to Jack.

Which brings us back to the central character of the show. It would appear that he had found true post-island happiness with Kate and the prospects of raising Aaron with her. But not only would it seem that Jack is not only emotionally ill-prepared for this commitment, the island won't let him.

Just as it seems like he has all his ducks in a row, roadblocks present themselves. First, He spots what looks like his father in a lobby. Then he visits Hurley, who tells him that Charlie has been in close contact, and that he can expect a "visitation" from the other side as well.

Then, Kate is caught on the phone. While she plays this off innocently enough, he knows something's up with that, which brings up his previous issues with regards to his ex-wife, Sara.

Then he clearly sees his father Christian Shepherd sitting before him after he responds to a smoke alarm, (Seriously, do I have to put two and two together for you in that instance?) which rattles his cage to the breaking point. As a result, we now know how strong and steady island leader Jack devolved into bearded, disheveled wishing for the plane that he's sitting in to crash Jack that we witnessed in the season three finale.

For the record, the "favor" that Kate was doing for Sawyer post-island? I have to lean towards the opinions of everyone else that has stepped up and provided one on the ‘net thus far. She was reaching out to Sawyer's illegitmate love child Clementine, to ensure that the little girl's okay. The person that Kate was speaking with on the phone was the baby mama, Cassidy, with whom she'd already crossed paths pre-island.

With regards to what happened to Claire? The previews at the end of the previous week's episode promised "that the island would take one of the survivors as one of it's own".

That stated, we truly have no clue what in the hell happened to her. There are some wild theories running rampant (With EW.com's Doc Jenson being one of the proponents) that Claire was actually killed in the missile attack upon her home in the previous episode. Meaning, that Claire walking around with Sawyer and Miles whilst she carried baby Aaron was an island-induced corporeal manifestation. In other words, she died in the missile attack, and the "Claire" that emerged wasn't her at all. She's a pumped up equivalent of a ghost, capable of physical contact.

Sorry, while it's a good theory, I'm just not buying into it. Even for LOST, it seems to be a bit of a stretch.

Then there's the fact that Sawyer has proven time and time again that he doesn't take slights lightly. Claire went missing on HIS watch, while he was overseeing her trip back to the beach. This means that A) Miles is in for a rather bumpy ride along the way from here on out. B) James Ford shall prove to be relentless until he finds out what happened to the single mother and he won't let up until he gets some answers and makes things right in his own mind.

One last thing before I leave you for this week. During the final post-island argument between Jack and Kate, she stated that she doesn't wish Jack to be around if he's going to be drunk and out of sorts in front of her "son". He in turn, threw out the fact that she wasn't even related to the boy.

I bring this up because it presents up one more lingering question. If he would have simply said, "you're not even his real mother" in response, everything would have remained kosher in the storylines as presented to us thus far. But he called her out for the fact that she's not related to the boy, with the insinuation that he knows that he in fact is.

Is that the case? Has Jack learned somewhere and sometime in his post-island life that he was Claire's half-brother? Or does he learn this before he departs?

That's all I've got for this week. Sorry if I've left anything out or forgotten something, but it's late, I'm groggy and need to go to bed. If anyone thinks I missed or failed to address something, feel free to bring it up in the comments section and we'll run it up the flagpole next time.

Check back on 411 next week for all the deets on LOST season 4, episode 11; "Cabin Fever", which shall be Locke-centric. I don't know about you, but the title alone has me feeling a bit giddy.

Until then,
-BP