Fans on the internet went crazy for this episode. In particular, a lot of people on message boards were saying "finally things are happening!!!" And what most people were responding to was the fighting, gun play, and murder. All too often, I find Lost uses a big blow up as a convenient way to dispose of plot threads. (The perfect example of this is Isabel, the Other's "sherrif" who was introduced in the epically messy Stranger in a Strange Land, only to be killed offscreen, apparently during the season three finale.) Now we've seen dozens of faceless Others mercilessly whacked yet again. Remember when it seemed like they might be important? It seems like most of the Others are nobodies, and they're a lot of sheep to boot.
I wasn't wowed by this episode, but it was full of fitting details. With time, I may warm up to the story - especially depending on how this whole crazy series resolves.
At this point in the season, I'm still not sold on the sideways stories. I'd rather see more about the dozens of characters and concepts that have already been introduced, from the DeGroots, Alvar Hanso and DHARMA, to the Other's "sherrif", their discipline and branding of criminals, funeral pyre ceremonies and "magic box". Not to mention Ms. Hawking, Charles Widmore, Daniel Faraday, and most of all Desmond and Penny! And what was the Incident really? Remember that Blast Door Map, and Radzinski in the Swan Hatch? Geez...
Anyway, back to Sundown - there were definitely things I liked. Kevin Durand was perfectly creepy returning as Keamy, even if it was another bit-too-cute cameo. And I absolutely loved Ben slowing backing away from demonic Sayid at the end. Ben has manipulated Sayid for years, using him as a killer for hire, but he wasn't spending even one more minute with whatever is controlling him now.
Also, it seems clear that this is really Sayid somehow returned to life, as he's retained his memories and his motivations. Sundown was a fitting sideways story for Sayid. In true season one fashion, the "flash" was informing the Island story, and vice versa, in a really good way. While Sayid X felt tortured by his past and sure he was a "bad man", Island Sayid killed indiscriminately and proclaimed "I am a good man."
Season six is all about referencing season one. They had already touched on Sayid's first flashback episode with Dogen's "tests" clearly mirroring Danielle Rousseau's treatment of Sayid in "Solitary". That episode also introduced the character of Nadia, who returns here as Sayid's one true motivation.
"Solitary" was also the beginning of Sayid's journey seeking redemption for his years of violence. Sayid has been battling with the feeling that violence is his nature - that he can never escape being a torturer and killer. And even though the Island seemed to offer redemption, Sayid has not been able to escape that nature.
As Sayid was dying, he told Hurley "I've tortured more people than I can remember...I've murdered...Wherever I'm going won't be very pleasant. I deserve it." But in the sideways universe, Sayid says he's "not that man anymore." Did anyone really believe Sayid "translates contracts" for a living though? Unless that's some kind of euphemism...
But I do sort of fear that these sideways stories may be "a better place" that all the Losties get to by learning their lessons from the Island. I think it's possible they are showing us the epilogue now, as the final events are playing out. I don't know if I like the idea of a reset happening at the end, and somehow this sideways season was like a really long version of the montage you might see at the end of a movie. Weird.
It would make sense of Dogen's comments though. He said Jacob would save his son, but Dogen would never see him again. But if his son were saved in the sideways, at least Dogen X gets to see the boy. We'll see. It was interesting to see Sayid and Dogen comparing notes - both seem to have made shady deals with shady characters. Making a deal with the devil - it seems like that's what you're doing no matter which side you choose. Dogen can save his son, but never see him again. Sayid can have Nadia back, but he must give in to the dark past that makes him feel like he doesn't deserve her anyway.
It's interesting how Lost seems to be about a group of flawed people who are struggling to find redemption, but most of them fail. In fact, in many ways the show is telling us that we can't escape our fate - even in the sideways Kate is on the run, Jack has daddy issues, and Sayid is a killer.
I was glad Miles had a little something to do this week. He confirmed that Sayid was truly dead for two hours, and "Whatever brought you back...it wasn't them." We now have a clear case of the dead brought back to life, probably by the Smoke Monster. It's confusing how Sayid and Claire are different from what happened to John Locke - unless these are the three heads of Cerberus? We'll see if the Monster recruits any more "dead" characters like Christian, Charlie, even Libby or Shannon. Will he raise an army of the dead?
It seemed like Miles might be set to join the ranks of the dead himself. It was a relief to see him rescued from the Monster by Ilana, but really - what is her deal? How much does she know? It's seemingly more than Ben, ex-Leader who's been with the Others for thirty years. She just seems a little too much like a deus ex machina device for lazy writers. In a few episodes, we're promised a confrontation between her and Richard, so she can probably drop some huge details then. Can't wait to see a Richard-centric episode!
The finale was a dark twist on the happy Island montage sequences Lost used so much in season one. Pleasant music would play as the castaways settled down after a hard day of adventure: Sawyer brooding, Sayid building something, Charlie flirting with Claire, all in slo-mo. This time, set to a creepy version of Aaron's favorite song, Sayid and Claire survey the dead after the Smoke Monster's rampage.
I'm not quite sure what to make of the look Flocke gives Kate at the end. Many say it's quizzical, and indicates surprise at Kate's presence or an indication the Monster hadn't thought of Kate. I don't really see a question in his face, so I feel it's more a look of "Yeah, come on Kate. You can tag along with the Other sheep." I wouldn't be surprised though, if MiB is underestimating Kate.
Next week features one of my favorites on Lost, Ben Linus, which means more of the incredible Emmy-winning actor Michael Emerson. It sounded like ABC was spoiling the episode in their promo this week. I really hope the best for "Mr. Linus".
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