Lost 6.16 - What They Died For
So here we are... our final regularly scheduled trip to Craphole Island before the 2 1/2 hour finale special on Sunday. It's been a crazy, multi-faceted experience, and here's hoping they go out with a bang. I know the ending is going to be debate-fodder, and I'm getting the impression that it will be on the level of The Sopranos ending. Anyways, let's deal with that when we get there. Tonight's episode, in full disclosure, was aired last weekend at a finale special, and a full synopsis came out. As a result, this has been a very easy recap to do. The big things coming out of this episode were Jack accepting the role as Jacob's replacement, Ben aligning back with Flocke (Although I think we all know where this might be going), and finding out Desmond was Jacob's own "failsafe". As a result, Flocke now wants Desmond to help him destroy the island. Back in the sideways, the biggest reveals came with Ben's story, where Danielle made her return, and Locke accepting the surgery offer from Jack.
In the sideways, we opened with a familiar shot of Jack's eye followed by the return of the cut on his neck. Chances we'll be seeing that on Sunday... pretty good. Him and David proceeded to have a discussion about David's mother (I know who it is!) before "Aunt" Claire came to join them. Jack then got word from Oceanic... I mean Desmond... about finding Christian's coffin. Desmond had other issues to deal with... namely testing his anti-Locke breaks again until Ben caught him. Desmond's beat down on Ben caused Ben to have his flash to the other reality, thus opening his eyes.
Locke came to visit Ben in the hospital, and Ben started to dish about what had happened... including the flash to the prime reality. Ben, realizing things, started taking Desmond's side and told Locke Desmond was trying to get him to let go. At the same point, Desmond came to the police station to visit Sawyer and Miles and, oh yeah, turn himself in... only to get access to Sayid and Kate.
Back at the school, Alex made an appearance, and she offered Ben a ride home with her mother... none other than Danielle. Ben even managed to get invited to dinner, where Danielle put on the charm and confirmed Alex's sideways dad was dead. She also confirmed Alex saw this form of Ben as the closest thing to a father, which again brought out how much Ben did actually care for her in the real universe.
After everything that happened, Locke finally made a trip to see Jack and talk about the surgery and "getting fixed". As a result, sideways Locke started to sound like real Locke in terms of talking about fate and things happening for a reason... thus confirming his want for the surgery.
Finally, in the sideways, we returned to the police station where Desmond, Sayid, and Kate were being transported out. Desmond's plan, though, fell right into place with Ana Lucia being complicit in the escape. Hurley then showed up as the money man (recognizing Ana Lucia in the process) and Desmond began to take Kate to Widmore's concert.
On the island, Jack was left to tend to Kate's wound as they recovered from the sub explosion. Kate, high on pain and rage, started dropping guilt to Jack about Jin and Sun, which lead to Jack agreeing to the need to kill Flocke. Jack, jumping into leadership mode, immediately charged everyone with finding Desmond in the well. The other group on the island, Ben, Miles, and Richard continued their mission to find explosives, which lead them to the barracks. Miles immediately picked up on Alex' grave, which of course started to send Ben into his own little world. Luckily, this was right at the time Zoe and Widmore showed up at the barracks... thus cementing Ben's guilt over Alex and rage towards Widmore. Widmore dropped some info about how Jacob brought him back to the island, even after his exile. Problem being is that Locke started to make his way to the barracks as well.
On the way to the well, Jack and Sawyer had a frank discussion about guilt, echoing what had happened with Juliet. Hurley, on the same path, saw the vision of young Jacob in the woods. The boy demanded "his" ashes, which Hurley took from Illana after she exploded. As a result, Hurley was led to Jacob sitting by the camp fire. Jacob, echoing a lot of people, including ABC executives, told Hurley "We're very close to the end" and wanted the rest of the group to join them. (It should be said the last episode is called "The End").
The crap started hitting the fan at the barracks as Locke made his way over. Miles, hightailed it, Widmore and Zoe ended up in the closet, while Richard and Ben went to meet him head on. Richard's strategy, well, didn't really work as he ended up being slug over the tree line. Flocke went to confront Ben and offered him the island in exchange for offing Widmore and Zoe. Ben naturally gave up Widmore, which ended real badly for Zoe. Locke then put the threat of killing Penny on the table to get Widmore to talk. Widmore gave up the fact Desmond was a last resort by way of his EM immunity. Ben, still playing the game with Widmore, pumped lead right into Charles so "he wouldn't get to save his daughter". Alex avenged.
Back at the campfire, everyone assembled and for the first time... they all could see Jacob. Kate called Jacob out on the list of names, and why they died. Jacob then dropped the bomb that when the campfire went out... one of them would have to step to the plate and become the new protector. Jacob talked about how he brought everyone to the island because of the mistake he made in turning his brother into the Smoke Monster. Jacob then confirmed no one he brought over was in a happy life and were all looking for someone... they were all lost. He then talked about Kate's name (She was crossed off because she was a mother to Aaron), and then started talking about the need to protect the source. Since he never got a choice, Jacob let the decision rest with the candidates, and Jack stepped to the plate. During Jack's "baptism", Jacob told him the source of the island was just beyond the bamboo field Jack woke up in during the pilot episode.
The episode ended with Ben and Locke noticing the empty well (I know where Desmond is!), and Locke confirming that he wants Desmond to help him destroy the island. And now it's time for "The End".
Bring on the finale!
Line of the night goes to Miles: "I've lived in these houses 30 years before you did... otherwise known as last week."