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Hero of the episode: N/A Zero of the episode: Michael, The Others
Quote(s) of the episode: “Maybe they went out for ice cream.” –Sawyer when he doesn’t see Jack and Locke in the hatch | “The path of a man who knows where he’s going.” –Locke on Michael’s trail | “Who are we to tell anyone what they can or can’t do?” –Locke to Jack
Music vibes: frenetic when Jack runs in the jungle; somber when Jack’s marriage ends
Little things: Hurley’s budding crush on Libby | Charlie and Hurley listening to music in the hatch | “Mister Clean” –Sawyer’s nickname for Locke | John flips the tables revealing Sawyer’s real name is James Ford | Sun giving Jin a hat to wear while fishing in the sun | The bearded dude mentions Alex, our first clue that the Others still have Danielle’s daughter | Jin and Sun confess to each other they don’t like being told what to do
Episode notebook:
Jack-centered flashbacks. He’s consulting with an older male patient and his daughter. The patient has a tumor on his spine. He’s looking to Jack for a miracle.
Jack still needs to be the savior.
Michael takes a gun and locks Jack and John in the gun cabinet. He’s going after Walt.
Kate and Sawyer free Jack and Locke. They set off after Michael, but Jack insists Kate stays behind. If only she would listen.
In the past, Jack’s marriage is on the rocks.
Jack is getting too close to the daughter of his patient. Dad warns Jack he’s about to cross a point of no return.
Jack loses his patient on the operating table. He kisses the man’s grieving daughter.
Locke doesn’t see the point of trying to bring Michael back to camp. It’s not their place to tell a father not to search for his son.
Jack accuses Locke of not wanting to find Michael.
The Others, led by a dude in a beard confront Jack, Locke, and Sawyer. The beard warns Jack and co. that the island doesn’t belong to them.
Episode recap: Ever since Walt was taken, Michael has wanted to go search for his son. Circumstances beyond his control kept Michael from looking for his child. But that all changed since he contacted someone claiming to be Walt. Armed with supplies and a gun, nothing or no one will stop Michael—not even Locke or Jack. Trying to reason with Michael doesn’t work, as he locks Jack and John in the gun closet. Who are they to stop the grieving father’s quest? It’s a defeat Jack refuses to concede. He has to find Michael.
As we’ve seen over two seasons, Jack needs to fix problems no matter how impossible they seem. Now freed by Kate and Sawyer, Jack is on a quest to bring Michael back. Jack, Sawyer, and Locke set off into the jungle, much to the dismay of Kate, who is told to stay behind by Jack. In his mind, this isn’t Kate’s fight—if only she would listen. Kate gets Hurley to look after things in the hatch so she can covertly follow Jack’s hunting party.
On and off the island, fixing personal problems is Jack’s Achille’s heel—only he doesn’t realize that. Off the island, Jack is known for fixing medical problems. A new patient and his daughter, Gabriela, sought out Jack’s expertise as a spinal surgeon. The patient has a tumor on his spinal column, removing it would be more than a medical marvel it would be a miracle. The same type of miracle and medical expertise that saved Jack’s wife, Sarah, from being paralyzed for life. Jack’s dad, Christian, advises against the surgery but Gabriela implores them to try. Jack takes a chance but pays a hefty price.
We see the return of Sarah in this episode, but the aura of optimism that surrounded her and Jack in previous episodes is gone. Now, they seem like a couple that’s drifting apart. He works long hours, missing important moments like their anniversary, which doesn’t seem to faze Sarah. Jack is more consumed with his patients’ lives and their families—more than his own. Jack bounds with Gabriela, teetering on unprofessional, which his dad notices. Christian has crossed professional boundaries himself and survived but knows his son wouldn’t survive. After losing Gabriela’s father on the operating table, Jack crosses a line by kissing her—a gesture born not of grief, but of his inability to mend what's broken.
Wanting to save his marriage, Jack confesses to Sarah but that doesn’t give him the relief he sought. Sarah was already gone, already leaving him before Jack’s confession. He stopped being her husband a long time ago. After Jack “fixed” Sarah there wasn’t much left to their relationship. He will always need to fix things other than their marriage.
On the island, what does Jack want to “fix” with Michael? Is it his place to force Michael back with the rest of the group? Jack might have been thrust into the role of leader, but every good leader must know when to admit defeat. Michael might never find Walt, he might even die trying to find his son, but that’s his choice, not Jack’s. Locke tries to get Jack to understand Michael’s choice. However, the conversation is cut short by an unwelcome guest.
The bearded mystery guest is the same man who shot Sawyer on the raft and kidnapped Walt. The man, who will learn is Tom by the end of the season, warns Jack, Locke, and Sawyer that they are about to cross a line. The island doesn’t belong to the survivors of Flight 815, it belongs to the Others. If everyone stays in their respective corners no one will get hurt, including Kate. Taken hostage, Kate is used by the Others to force Jack, Sawyer, and Locke to stand down.
A bitter pill to swallow, but it saves Kate’s life. A defeat that Jack doesn’t take for long. Fueled by revenge, Jack seeks Ana-Lucia’s help in training an army. Quite a provocative way to end, but I’ve never understood why he sought her help over Sayid. He had a longer relationship with Sayid and Sayid was in the military. Yes, he’s grieving but seeking Sayid’s guidance made more sense. I also see this as another dropped storyline because that “army” never came to fruition. I love most of the first two seasons, but I still have issues with certain storylines. Please keep reading my recap for episode twelve is posted.