I suspect we’re going to see that in just about every episode this season: whatever the flashsideways and “regular” characters have in common is their destiny. Flashsideways Charlie was right that he’s supposed to die — but he’s supposed to die heroically, not self-centeredly.

I am pro the return to the character-driven stories, particularly since the last half of season 4 and all of season 5 rarely were character-driven. However, the Sayid subplot, while critical, took time away from the main storyline to a degree that we would not have seen in season 1. The show needs to both be character-driven and wrap things up, but it might prove hard to find a good balance.

That’s exactly how I feel. God, I. get. it. Kate runs! James broods! Jack is a leader! Miles cracks jokes! I love this show but damn! it’s frustrating that there’s now only 15 hours of show left and they’re *still* trying to flesh out the characters. Plus I, for one, am sick of the stupid writing trick that goes like this: “I’m going to give you an answer to your question. [pause] Hahahahaha! No I’m not! Sucker!”. It was bad enough in seasons 1-3, but now it’s just lame.

Still, I have to think it was the other way around, hoping she’ll have had a better life.

But you could be right, and I would like that.

not sure how you could misunderstand that pivotal scene. he was helping her get away with shoplifting.

The sideways-flash© is the result of Jughead. Now, how can this be? Simple. Scientifically, there is a split of the 2007 reality even though the bomb did what it was supposed to do, make sure the hatch, Dharma, was negated. Even though my lost love Juliet did her job, the full effect cannot be finished until Jack, Sawyer, or BEN (Bad Ben Ben Bad – but so many of you knuckleheads love him the writers are going to let him redeem himself [although you see him the mass-murderer in the NEW 2004, and again killing Locke...SUPPOSITION, not a spoiler] you are going to be so disappointed, just like the Locke-Lovers who will soon realize ol’ John is still a tragic loser) do something in the jangled 2007 timeline.

And the final scene?

Jack opening his eyes as all the stuff we have seen up to the last episode flashes through his head, validating the past, wiped-out lives, and giving us a meaningful happy ending.

What happened, happened.

But then, something else happened….

OTOH, the temple is exactly what we haven’t seen in the previous 5 seasons, so any action taking place there does in fact advance the story.

i think you comment about Lennon is a leeetle bit defensive. for an adrenaline-addicted sci-fi junky, you sure seem to have a soft, mushy spot right where your trigger finger should be. “Epic quest for Redemption”? yeah right. what exactly was so epic about Kate’s quest?

i understand that Lost’s formula does involve character development, but i’m much more interested in development which actually advances the story. anyway, i’m glad we got the Kate episode out of the way.

OTOH, it’s entirely plausible that Sawyer would do everything he did–leave the temple, go to Dharmaville, cry over Juliet. i have no problem with him expressing emotions.

what i dont like is Lost getting all sappy with Kate scenes which are slow, plodding, and reminiscent of chick-flick 101 subject matter. i like strong, capable women, but not when they’re fake. i guess Kate just irks me. sorry but that’s how it is.

There is an important reveal dropped near the end of the episode that I don’t see anyone talking about. Kate to Claire – “Would you believe me if I told you I was innocent?”

There is no way this comment was included off-hand. I think in the LAX reality Kate’s character arc will be based around trying to prove her innocence. The title of the episode (“What Kate Does”, not “Did”) is a nod to this, implying that she didn’t actually do anything.

Instead of running away from something, she’s running towards it….using the strength she is gaining from her alternate-reality island experience to fuel her quest to get her life back. I believe she will be fighting to gain her outright freedom, instead of running from captivity. And she will achieve it through selflessness.

I find this far more noble a character arc than the one where she was running from a homicide she tried to rationalize and justify because he was a ‘bad guy.”

I’m typically not a huge Kate fan, but when I realized this was the likely arc this episode is setting us up for, I liked it a whole lot more.

Everyone seems to automatically think that if someone doesn’t like an episode that it’s because it didn’t answer enough questions. Could it just be that the episode is simply not good in-and-of itself?

Technically speaking, ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’ is PACKED with answers to long-standing questions, like what happened to Cindy and the kids. But does anyone claim that it’s a bad ep for a reason other than it’s just plain boring?

Mind you, if Sawyer no less than 2 days ago still had unresolved feelings for Kate which led Juliet to agree to bomb detonation, I am not sure if it is the crying or the mysterious engagement ring that never found its way to Juliets finger in 3 years, that got you thinking sawyer no longer has feelings for Kate. Perhaps you should wait for his centric to see his POV. This was Kates. Sawyers is ahead.

…and for those complaining about Claire getting in Kates cab? was that really the weirdest thing to you? An engagement ring under floorboards under a dresser, in a shoe box that had to be crowbard out was realistic? a poison pill that could only work if “willingly” taken, made sense to you?