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Hero of the episode: Desmond Zero of the episode: N/A
Quote(s) of the episode: “Did you eat those mushrooms Jack warned you about.”—Hurley to Desmond | “Do you need me to make you a mixtape?”—Sawyer trying to get sexy with Kate
Music vibes: rising horns and strings
Little things: Hurley trying to keep a secret from Jack like he’s a little kid; Jin telling a scary campfire story; Charlie and Hurley debating who has better superpowers between The Flash and Superman; Sawyer and Jack play a game of ping-pong.
Episode notebook:
Desmond has flashes to the future again. He sees more than Charlie dying.
In the past, Desmond tried to be a monk. In the monastery, they call each other “brother.”
Desmond needs Hurley to take him to where he found the wire cable on the beach (see Numbers and Solitary episodes).
Kate is jealous of Jack and Juliet’s friendship. Feels like Juliet is taking Kate’s place as Jack’s main confidant.
This journey to the cable could lead to their rescue.
Usually, Desmond is trying to prevent his flashes from coming true, this time, he wants everything to happen.
During his studies, Desmond took a vow of silence. A fellow brother didn’t think Desmond would last.
Desmond, Jin, Hurley, and Charlie make camp when they find the cable.
They hear the sounds of a helicopter crashing, but something or someone parachuted from the aircraft before it plummeted into the ocean.
In the past, Desmond left a woman at the altar. He claimed to have had a higher calling.
Sawyer knows Kate is jealous of Juliet.
Clues to the mystery parachuter found in the jungle link to Desmond.
A fellow monk believes Desmond has a future bigger than the monastery.
In the past, Desmond and Penny met for the first time. The love story begins.
Our survivors find the parachuter.
Episode recap: Fragments of the future have haunted Desmond all season. Each flash looms with danger for Charlie, but trying to save his friend is taking its toll on Desmond. One day, Desmond won’t be around, and Charlie’s fate will catch up with him. Yet, this latest vision is full of peril and a little bit of hope. Charlie’s death is still on the horizon, but if Desmond lets everything play out, he and the rest of our survivors might be rescued.
All Desmond has to rely on are fragmented flashes—a glimpse of a buried wire cable, something red falling from the sky, walking through a rain-soaked jungle, and Charlie’s death. Hurley and Sayid have both journeyed to the buried cable, both trying to prove they were more than the shadows of their pasts. This trip has bigger implications—a way off the island. But trying to convince Hurley, Jin, and especially Charlie to come is no small task for Desmond. Hurley doesn’t understand the flashes and often thinks Desmond might be a few sandwiches short of a picnic but agrees to come. Still, Hurley agrees, even if his attempt to keep the mission secret from Jack feels a lot like a kid trying to sneak out past curfew! Jin is led to believe he’s going on a camping trip. Sure, that makes sense. Charlie, on the other hand, wasn’t fooled by the ruse of a camping trip. Charlie’s convinced Desmond is trying to prevent his death, despite denials to the contrary. Charlie must come because he’s part of the future Desmond is desperate to see, it’s destiny.
Off the island, Desmond once believed he was destined to be a monk. After leaving his former fiancée, Ruth, at the altar and a heavy night of drinking, Desmond found his calling. A monk coming to his aid and calling him “brother”—the sign Desmond was looking for. He believed God had a higher calling for him. During his studies, he managed to complete his vow of silence and became a monk. Was this the brotherhood, the calling that Desmond was looking for? Before he could fully embrace his new life, Desmond tried to make amends to Ruth only to be rebuffed. She doesn’t believe he was called to a higher purpose; he was just a coward who didn’t want to be married. The truth always hurts as Desmond once again finds himself nursing a bottle of alcohol. His destiny isn’t at the monastery, something a fellow monk points out. What’s his destiny? Desmond will have to figure that out for himself. He makes that first step upon leaving the monastery, meeting Penny on his way out. Everything happens for a reason. He had to leave Ruth and become a monk because if he didn’t, Desmond never would have met Penny—the true love of his life.
On the island, Desmond’s love for Penny is fueling this latest mission. Finding the cable doesn’t bring instant answers, but it gives the four men a chance to bond. Jin regales his comrades with a scary campfire story. Desmond gazing at a photo of Penny gives him the opportunity to tell Charlie about the woman he loves. All the warm and fuzzy feelings are interrupted by the sounds of a crashing helicopter and the flashing red light of something—or someone—parachuting into the jungle. Things are starting to click into place; they were meant to camp by the cable to witness this moment. Now, they must venture into the jungle for answers. But what about Charlie? If things unfold as in the flashes, Charlie will die and Desmond will miss out on a chance to reunite with Penny. Of course, Desmond isn’t going to let his friend die, but who parachuted into the jungle? When they find the mysterious person, it's not Penny, but the woman seems to know Desmond. What’s up with that? Please keep reading my recap for episode eighteen is posted.
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