Go ahead, call me a fanboy.  Tell me I've consumed too much of the Lost Koolaid.  I don't care.  This season may go down as the best one to date.  So what if it will be artificially shortened?  And I think I've already said this but I LOVE the flashforwards.  This show has already introduced countless innovations in dramatic storytelling and the flashforwards are at the cutting edge.  Think about it.  While you're watching they are providing closure on one level and adding another layer of mythology and mystery on a completely different level.  It is brilliant. Okay, I'm done jocking Darlton and the rest of the genius writers.  On to the episode...

We were not immediately shown that this episode was Kate-centric.  But when we finally went into it I knew we were going on a ride.  We had all been wondering if Kate would be granted some kind of pardon for her pre-crash activities.  She didn't.  It was time to pay the piper.

Back on the island things were pretty weird.  Ben's locked up in one of the underground cells, Locke has become a tyrant, Sawyer really really wants to play house, and Kate strikes a deal with Miles to figure out how much the freighter folks know about her.  Did she really think they wouldn't know?  Let's just say the weren't bad guys and were actually there to rescue them.  Of course they would have a manifest of the flight and know that there was a fugitive on her way back to the US to stand trial.  C'mon Kate, think! 

So she goes through all the trouble of living up to her side of the deal with Miles only to see him try to get money out of Ben in order to keep quiet about Ben being alive.  Speaking of which:  WHAT?  Who the hell is Ben?  Were his flashbacks all a load of crap?  How could someone who was brought to the Island as a kid gain so much power OFF that Island?  It's mind-boggling.

And what's all this about Sawyer and Kate thinking she was preggo?  I don't remember them talking about that before.  And the writers did a masterful job of keeping us guessing about that regardless of what she told Sawyer eventually.  I'll keep it vague for the west coasters out there, but I don't care what she called that kid at the end of the show.  We have no idea if that's her boy or not.  Don't even get me started with Jack not wanting to see the kid.  None of that makes sense right now.

On the rescue front, things aren't looking to hot, huh?  When they were finally able to reach the freighter they learned that the helicopter hasn't shown up and it has been more than a day since it took off.  Obviously, they turn up again since Sayid definitely makes it off the island but where the hell is it?  Or is Regina full of it?

I think it is safe to say that the airport meeting between Kate and Jack from last season occurred after the flashforwards we saw tonight.  For one, Jack isn't sporting his scraggly beard and hasn't started hitting the booze and pills as heavily as he was during those scenes.  We also have a good idea who Kate was referring to that night when she said "he'll be wondering where I am."  Right?

Oh, and one last thing.  I know Locke is getting a little annoying but dammit I loved what he did to that smug Ghost Whisperer!  Smarmy Miles is going to need a clean pair of pants.  AWESOME!

See you next week...

Wait! I forgot...  I know they said that another of the Oceanic 6 is revealed in this episode but right now, I don't know if we actually have an answer to that one.  If you want to argue that one the best place would be the forums.  Comments are still offline here on the main page until further notice.