Ooooookay! We are back!

Now, don’t get me wrong, I would definitely classify myself as an “oh no, it’s a Jack episode” guy. I typically can’t stand them. So of course, when the “Previously on” started with all that recap footage of Jack coming off the plane, I thought, “great, it’s a threepeat”. I mean, I was already going into the episode knowing it was gonna be more Temple stuff… already dreading Japanese translation and Sayid’s strange new “autistic voice”.

But man, was I wrong.

I mean yes, Sayid, had a touch of it going on, but thankfully the translation seems to have run its course. More importantly, though, Jack was specjackular… at least, that’s how I felt. I’m sure there were plenty of Jack haters out there unable to see past the open sore on his forehead. And that’s fair. I mean it’s true. That thing is really disgusting.

[the following paragraph is based on a recent tweet.]
It’s funny… we’re so used to seeing wounds on TV heal overnight, that it seems odd when someone on a series has an oozing open one for like 4 episodes in a row. I know it’s totally unrealistic, but I’m dying for that juicy thing to heal. It’s just sick. And on a show that’s seen multiple gun shots wounds heal within episodes… an appendix, a noose burn, even a back surgery… what’s up with that nasty rash?! I mean can’t Mr. Myagi at least put some Neosporin on it?

Although, maybe it’s a clue… about the healing properties of the Island itself? Maybe they’re gone.

Wait a second…….. what if drinking the water on this Island had healing properties? What if trace amounts of this Island’s water comes from the same source as the Temple Spring? From below the Island. Perhaps it was simply by drinking small amounts of it that the Losties’ bodies were able to heal faster. Maybe this wound on Jack’s forehead is suppose to tell us something. That the water is now worthless.

Whatever… it’s gross. Even just a bit of powder would make it easier to look at.

Regardless, though, I had a great time with Jack this episode. I mean first of all, he has a son in this Alti-verse! What?! And the son hates him too! Which is totally understandable, since this Jack is apparently way more self absorbed than our Island Jack. The following was pointed out by @JessTheVagabond… who notices these kinds of things:

I mean, take a look at the manscaping of our Alti-Jack! That dude was totally shaving his chest while he should have been connecting more with his son!

Okay, so I’ve heard a bit of chatter on this next theory… and yes, I think I’m in the camp that believes this is Juliet’s son with Jack. It pains me to believe it, because I’m full-on team Suliet… but there’s just no reason from a writing standpoint for that character to be deliberately left out of the episode unless it’s someone we’re not supposed to expect. We know it can’t be Kate, so the only other possibility aside from the more expected ex-wife… is Juliet.

That’s not to say Suliet can’t still happen. I mean, what juicier love triangle than one that involves a divorce. I could see that being a big-time showdown for Alti-Jack and Alti-Sawyer. But where will that leave Alti-Kate?

But here’s something else to consider: The relationship between Alti-Jack and his son is not unlike the tension between our other Jack and his father… and there’s an even more interesting similarity, I think. Alti-Jack’s son plays piano. I’m not sure if Alti-Jack plays… but we know our Island Jack definitely does. Remember in Season 3 when Kate came to the Barracks looking for him. She walked in on him playing in his house. Is it possible that Alti-Jack’s son and Island Jack share something much more profound than kinship? Something at the heart of this mystery? Something that combines parallel universes with time travel?

I mean, we definitely got a clue in this episode that time still plays an important role in the story. Last season, Hurley went head to head against the headier, but more logical theory that you can’t change the past. And he turned out to be right, despite his goofy comparison to Back to the Future.

So this week, when he pondered over whether Adam and Eve could be someone we know, trapped in all of this time travel… well… I guess now we have to take the guy a bit more seriously.

And you know, he really does seem to be turning into a leader. I can’t believe I’m even thinking it, cause I never would have during previous seasons… but I now believe there’s an amazing leader in that guy. I don’t know… it’s almost like… he’s the CEO of a really huge box corporation… who’s learned some important lessons on how to run his company by going undercover on an enchanted Island where he’s gotten to work side by side with some of his entry level employees.

Wait a second…….. that would actually…….. be a great reality spin-off for Lost!! Or Alt-reality!!! Am I right?!

Oh and I didn’t do it last week with the cave writings, but this week… I was totally guilty of pausing the video when they first showed the names on the lighthouse wheel… and yes, I felt really dumb a few minutes later when they told me pretty much all I needed to know about them.

Was that lighthouse mirror thing silly as hell? Yes. Explainable by science in any way? No… unless it’s the glass from some sort of alien computer monitor. Just plain magical? Probably. So am I starting to soften to that kind of stuff? Perhaps…. cause I kind of liked it.

It seems that this lighthouse points towards the location of each of the listed people’s homes in the real world. But I’m curious if it does more than that. Does it in any way affect that small window in the Island’s protective bubble… the one that allows ships, planes, etc. to pass through? Is it possible the mirrors reflect a particular kind of lightwave that can punch a hole in whatever part of the bubble they’re facing? That would definitely make it an effective lighthouse for this Island, right?

I’m really curious who Jacob is referring to when he says someone is coming to the Island. Is it Eloise Hawking? Faraday? Or one of our Alti-characters. My gut tells me Alti.

@DumpTruckMolly… Claire wants her baby back. Clair is acting exactly like Danielle was acting. What say you now? She clearly cares about her baby. Infected by darkness? I still say yes. Especially after seeing FLock there with her at the end.

Interesting, though, that Claire referred to FLock as her “friend”, but Christian as her “father”. So is it possible Christian really is alive?

When they showed Jack there at the end, sitting on that rock, looking out at the ocean, I couldn’t help but think about @SarahSamudre‘s theory in the comments here last week. She thinks Jack will be the new Jacob… or at least something important like him. A calm, centered… protector of the Island. Someone not unlike the Christian we keep seeing wandering around this Island.

You know, this episode really is taking me back to a theory of mine from last season. One I thought had been shattered to bits… just a worthless pile of glass… no longer able to find these Island shores…

… but now with Jack’s ueber importance to the Island… all this new son stuff… the fact that Christian is not likely to be Smokey… I’m starting to think my theory is trying to find another way to get here.

I guess only time will tell….. right?