Everybody say 'Namaste'

We’re more than halfway through Season 5, and finally, it feels like the stage has been set. Which is great...and discomforting. It’s great because, after episodes of flashing around, confused, askew, trying to get back to the island or trying to get the island to hold still, the group is finally reassembled in the same place (though not yet all in the same time). And it’s discomforting because now that we’re feeling settled, things are about to get really messy. You feel it too, don't you?

This week, my summary won’t include everything, but I’m going to hit some highlights and share my thoughts on each. And I’ll be sure to include the quotes and questions at the end. So here goes.

Season 5—Episode 9: “Namaste”

I knew Sun was going to hit Ben with that paddle. Knew it. But I still liked knowing that it was Sun, and not the plane crash, that landed him in the sick bay in the previous episode.

And it wasn’t long before we learned for sure that Sun, Frank, Ben, and the other Flight 316 survivors aren’t in the same time period as the Dharma folks. All it took to make that clear was one “30 Years Earlier” flash that took us back to the same scene we ended with last episode—with Jack, Kate, and Hurley meeting up with Sawyer.

It doesn’t take long for us to realize that the Oceanic 6 (or at least the 3, 4, or 5 of them—depending how and when you count) aren’t going to be invited to any Homecoming dances. Especially when Sawyer learns that Locke is dead—since I think Sawyer still thought Locke could put things right. No Locke means they're stuck with the current arrangement, and Sawyer seems to think his current life is better than whatever his returning friends have to offer.

And it's not just Sawyer. All the new DI’s—Sawyer, Jin, Miles, and Juliet—found an opportunity to put off the We-Were-Doing-Just-Fine-And-Dandy-Without-You-Here-Thank-You-Very-Much vibes.

Want examples? Well, there was Juliet leaving Kate’s name off the manifold list (accident? I doubt it…), but adding it at the last minute so that she could be the one to come in and save Kate. Why would she do that? Well, because she knows Kate and Sawyer had a little thing, and this is her power play—letting Kate know that Kate’s there because Juliet is letting Kate be there. (Sort of like Tom back in Season 2..."This is our island. You're living on it because we let you live on it.")

Miles certainly didn’t seem thrilled to see the return of the 06.

As for Jin, well, he definitely appears to be a loyal Dharma guy now, but his desire to find Sun sort of trumped everything else—even though he was still able to hold a gun to Sayid’s head when he needed to.

And Sawyer, well, we’re still learning what he’s thinking. He’s glad to see Hurley, not sure how to feel about seeing Kate, and well, not exactly ecstatic to see Jack. And that brings us to our next scene—which I think is the most important and most foreboding scene from this episode.

I don’t know how everyone else feels or has felt about Jack, but I’ve always liked him. I admire his loyalty, respect his leadership—and on an island full of twists, turns, and the likes of Sawyer, Locke, and Ben, I’ve always enjoyed knowing I could trust Jack to be constant. (I guess you could say, Jack Shephard is my constant.) So in this episode, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Jack.

First of all, he had to sit through Pierre Chang telling him that he’s been assigned to be a workman, doing custodial work, because of his scores on an aptitude test. (I bet that’s a tough pill to swallow for one of the world’s premier spinal surgeons.) And while we’re thinking about this, let’s ask ourselves where Pierre Chang got Jack’s test results. After all, Chang told Jack that his file was missing…but somehow, they still had his aptitude test results—and the results made him a lowly workman? Hmmm, now who could have arranged that? (cough…Sawyer…cough)

And then when he goes to talk to Sawyer to see what the plan is—a gesture which suggests that Jack expects to be at least on equal footing with Sawyer—Head of Security Jim LaFleur is not so accommodating.

Sure, the exchange is friendly enough to begin with. Sawyer even tells Jack to “sit down and take a load off” and offers him a cold Dharma Lite. But then again, maybe this was just Sawyer’s way of reminding Jack that the good doctor is now on the outlaw’s turf.

Jack first wants to know what they're going to do about the imprisoned Sayid.

Sawyer says he had no choice, but emphasizes that Sayid is safe. Jack surely noticed when Sawyer said, “he got caught by my people.” My people. That should have been a subtle enough hint, suggesting that Sawyer’s allegiance has shifted. Or, perhaps, that Sawyer's in charge and Jack’s going to have to live with it.

But Jack pushes his luck:

Jack: Where do we go from here?
Sawyer: I’m working on it.
Jack: Really? You’re working on it? Because it looked to me like you were sitting here reading a book.

Sawyer looks away before responding, and it seems like he is steeling himself not just for this one response, but also for the ongoing conflict that will inevitably result from it. And he certainly doesn't shy away from that conflict.

In response, Sawyer begins by saying that Winston Churchill read a book every night (even "during the Blitz"), because it helped him think. And then Sawyer channels his inner high school cheerleader with this:

Sawyer: It's how I like to run things. I think. I'm sure that doesn't mean that much to you, 'cause back when you were calling the shots, you pretty much just reacted. See, you didn't think, Jack, and as I recall, a lot of people ended up dead.

Jack: I got us off the Island.

Sawyer: But here you are... right back where you started. So I'm gonna go back to reading my book, and I'm gonna think, 'cause that's how I saved your ass today. And that's how I'm gonna save Sayid's tomorrow. All you gotta do is go home, get a good night's rest. Let me do what I do.

But here you are "right back where you started," except that now you're a Dharma workman—with no say and no influence—while here I am, the head of security. And oh yeah, you might have noticed on your way in that lady Juliet and I are busy living happily ever after, much happier than you ever were with Kate off the island...so I'll see you later, and don't let the door hit you on your way out. Or do; I don't really care.

So yeah, I don’t expect this power struggle to give way anytime soon.

When Sawyer saw Jack to the door, Sawyer stood on the porch and happened to glance over and see Kate standing on hers. He waved, almost shyly. She did the same. I admit, it was kind of cute.

A few other highlights:

1)
We met Radzinsky—the same guy who later blew his brains out in the Swan station. I feel like there were a lot of clues buried in his scenes, but I couldn’t catch them. We know he was the one putting together the model for The Swan station—which, apparently wasn’t built yet (so could it be the addition of the Swan…and maybe the ensuing Incident?…which led to the no-babies-on-the-island situation in which The Others later found themselves?). Bottom line: Radzinsky was a smart dude who kept his eyes on everything.

2)
Sun and Frank paddle over to the main island, and they find their way to a dark Barracks. And just when they decide it’s deserted, a light comes on. And who’s there? Of course, it’s Christian Shephard. Who else. Christian takes them into a building (did anyone notice which one?) and shows them the Dharma Initiative picture from 1977—where Sun sees Hurley, Kate, and Jack pictured as Dharma’s “New Recruits” (Was Jin also in the picture? I didn’t notice…). And Christian tells Sun that she has “quite a journey ahead of her,” which sounded so much like his typical “you’ve got work to do” mantra.

I wish I could comment more on this scene, but I don’t understand Christian Shephard at all, and it’s driving me nuts. Not only do I not understand his presence and significance, but I don’t get why he keeps telling everyone they have “work to do.” He says that about as often as Hurley says “Dude,” which is only slightly more often than the number of times Michael yelled, “WALT!” If I just understood it, I wouldn’t be so annoyed…but I just don't know why he cares so much.

3) Amy tells Juliet that she and Horace are naming their kid Ethan. And Juliet’s face is priceless. But Ethan’s last name was not Goodspeed; it was Rom. So is it the same Ethan? If so, then that raises another question. Ethan was born into the Dharma Initiative, but if he grows up to be Ethan Rom, then he survived The Purge. And became an Other. Hmmm.

4) After Sayid gets caught by Radzinski (and Jin), Sawyer goes to take care of it. Radzinsky wants to kill him, but Sawyer insists on taking him back to the Barracks. Radzinsky says he plans to talk to Horace about this…and Sawyer tells him to go ahead. I don’t have much of a comment on this, but I think he will talk to Horace and Horace will talk to Sawyer.

5) We learned a little more about the truce. Apparently, the truce dictates that a hostile, when apprehended or on Dharma land, must admit to being a “hostile.” Or, in Sawyer’s words:

Sawyer: My name’s LaFleur; I’m the head of security. I want you to listen real closely to what I got to say. You do that and you’ll be fine. Identify yourself as a hostile. The terms of the truce say you must identify yourself as a hostile.

It seems that they don’t like that term, and won’t admit to being such. It’s not much, but it adds a little clarity. Or does it?

6) And last but certainly not least, at the end, a little boy named Ben brings Sayid a sandwich (no mustard though, for whatever that’s worth). Ben’s interest in “The Hostiles” is evident—and I suspect (can we confirm this?) that this meeting happened sometime after Ben met Richard in the woods. This scene was fun. And it confirmed that little Ben is on the island with our group while older, weasely-er Ben is still 30 years in the future.

Summary:

Sawyer is living large and in charge. He seems pretty proud of himself. He thinks, therefore he thinks he’s a good leader, and it’s hard for me to disagree with someone who values reading so much.

But the truth is, he’d be a sucky leader without Juliet. She’s the one who’s “had his back,” supporting his decisions (which, I contend, he wouldn’t have had the guts to make without her support), and giving him ideas.

For example, when he’s trying to figure out what to do with Jack, Kate, and Hurley:

Sawyer: I gotta figure out what to do before someone else finds them.
Juliet: There’s a sub coming in this afternoon.

So while Sawyer is trying to think, Juliet is providing his answer. Without her, I think he’d be in trouble. But even if she stays by his side for the rest of the season (see how boring that sounds?), I still think things are going to start crumbling around him. Maybe it will begin when he has to explain to Horace why he brought Sayid in…I don’t know. But I do know this, opposing Jack, Sayid, and Kate isn’t smart. Especially if Jin—desperate to find Sun—agrees to help them.

The divisions aren’t clear yet, but it definitely seems like battle lines are being drawn. Should be interesting…

Quotes:

1) Frank’s co-pilot: “Is that a runway?”

2) On the plane after the crash landing…
Frank asks Sun, “Where’s everyone else?”
Ben: “They’re gone.”
Frank: “Gone? Gone where?”
Ben: How would I know?

3) Sawyer: It’s good to see you, Kong.
Hurley: Kong, I actually missed that.
Sawyer: I missed it too.

4) Sawyer: We’re in the Dharma Initiative.
Jack: What? They came back?
Sawyer: No, we came back.

5) Hurley to Jin: Dude, your English is good.

6) Sawyer: It’s 1977.
Hurley: Uh, what?

7) Ben (to Sun) why are you following me?
Sun: Where are you going?
Ben: Back to our island. Want to come?

8) Radzinsky: We shoot him.
Sawyer: I appreciate your input there, Quick Draw, but I want to talk to him first.

9) Hurley: So it’s 1977.
Sawyer: Yep
Hurley: And you guys are all members of the Dharma Initiative.
Sawyer: Yep
Hurley: You know those guys get wiped out soon, right?

10) Jack: Did you say Faraday? He’s here?
Sawyer: Not anymore.

11) Kate: The woman who told you how to come back…did she say it was going to be 30 years ago?
Jack: No, she left that part out.
Kate: So what are we supposed to do now?
Jack: I’m not sure yet.

12) Amy: When are you and Jim going to have a baby?
Juliet: I don’t know…the timing’s got to be right… (ha)

13) Sawyer: Nice suit, Doc. Not exactly island wear.

14) Jack: What do you think?
Kate: I think we should listen to Sawyer.
Hurley: I vote for not camping.

15) Hurley: What if we can’t answer questions like who’s the president in 1977?
Sawyer: It’s not a damn game show, Hugo.

16) Sun: Why are you leaving?
Ben: Why are you staying?

17) Pierre Chang: Good man, Lafleur. He runs a tight ship.

18) Frank Lapidus: Last time I was here, I was on a freighter filled with commandos, and their only mission was to get him.
Ben: Yeah, and how’d that work out for them?

19) Juliet: I’m sorry for the mix-up. I’m Juliet.
Kate: Kate.
Juliet: Hi, Kate. Welcome to the island.

20) As they’re taking the New Recruits picture…
Camera person: Everybody say, ‘Namaste’
Hurley: Nama-what?

21) Phil tells Jack that he probably shouldn’t call Jim LaFleur, “James,” adding, “He hates it.” (ha)

22) Ben: What’s your name.
Sayid: Sayid. What’s yours?
Ben: I’m Ben.
Sayid: It’s nice to meet you, Ben.

Prevailing Questions:

1) Why did Sawyer say Daniel’s not there anymore? Where did he go?

2) Why did only a few of the passengers of 316 flash back to 1977? Each idea seems to offer conflicting evidence. Maybe because Ben and Frank weren’t passengers on 815…but wait, Sun was. Maybe it’s because a younger Ben is already on that island in 1977…but wait, does the island also have a younger Frank and a younger Sun? Any ideas?

3) What kind of Dharma assignment is Hurley going to get? One way or another, it should involve fried chicken.

4) Right now people seem to be wondering if Sawyer’s interest in Kate will be rekindled, but what about Juliet—the brains behind Sawyer? Any chance she ends up standing beside Jack, not Sawyer?

5) I’m thinking young Ben is going to befriend one of our characters. But I don’t know which one. Sayid seems like the odds-on favorite right now… But I’m going to say Jack. After all, Jack is a workman. And at the time of The Purge, Ben is a workman, too. Thoughts?

6) How many episodes before Desmond shows up? I'm hoping not many.

7) If Ethan Rom (the Other) is the same Ethan born to Amy and Horace, did Ben spare him during The Purge as a tribute to Horace? According to lostpedia, The Purge happened in 1992. So that means Ethan would have been roughly 15...definitely old enough to remember his parents and his last name. Hmmm. It also means he would have been in his mid-twenties when Flight 815 crashed, which seems a little unlikely (based on his appearance). But who knows?

Next week, it's "He's Our You."

So that's the bonus question. Who is the "he" and who is the "you"?

—Thanks for Reading