FOLLOW THE LEADER

EPISODE 5.15

Nobody likes it when the end of the season is within site.  Still, the episodes do tend to get a bit better, a little more intense and generally more revealling.  Shhh, it’s on…

This episode opens with a reliving of Faraday’s unsuccessful mission into the Other’s camp.  Jack and Kate are captured by a cool horse-riding guy (Widmore) after Ms. Hawking back-shoots her son.  Faraday looks pretty damn dead.  Eloise seems to know that there is something more than meets the eye with their jumpsuit wearing guests and the Charles Manson look-a-like sprawled out in front of her.

The inscription to her son in her own handwriting probably gave her a clue.

Thirty years later, Locke walks into the Others’ camp and gives Richard a massive pig.  John has a purpose now.  Sun and Ben stroll into camp to join the festivities.  Sun wants info from Alpert in regard to Jin and the 70s. 

Bad news: Richard watched them all die.

Good news:  It’s Wednesday night.

Faraday really dead?  Really?  I’m curious as to why the Other’s aren’t falling all over themselves to help him—after all, they’ve done a great job with Ben’s gunshot wound…right?

Sun, Locke and Richard are having a pow-wow on the beach.  Ben is a bit pouty and doesn’t want to join the party.  Locke is full of big promises.  He, Richard and Ben trod off looking for answers.

Back in the 70s, Jack and Kate are getting their asses kicked.  In a private moment, Jack shares his optimism for Faraday’s plan.  Kate wants to talk about love and good times.  Eloise comes into the tent and wants answers.  Apparently Ms. Hawking has seen her son time travelling around the island before.  Jack wants to talk about H bombs and Faraday’s jounal.  Ms. Hawking agrees to take them to Jughead—which is now buried directly under Dharma town.

Sawyer and Juliet are being interrogated.  Horace shows up to try to calm things down and ends up leaving the dirty work to others more suited for it.   Our favorite country boy gets the crap pounded out of him.  Juliet even gets the back of Dharma hand.  Suddenly, Hurley is on the Dharma most-wanted list.

The big guy is already packick and makes a break for it.  Miles and Jin are waiting for him.  Dr. Chang shows up and wants to know more specifics about Faraday and time travel.  Dr. Chang has a special moment with Miles.  The good doctor has come around to Faraday’s way of thinking.

Daniel still looks dead.

Ms. Hawking is taking Jack and Kate to the bomb.

Locke, Ben and Richard are having a night time jungle walk.  Locke wants to see Jacob—Ben and Richard are not super thrilled about the proposed visit.  John has taken his friends to the wreck of the Beechcraft.  Locke sends Richard on a mission to help himself (Locke).  Alpert strides forth and does what he has already done before.

This is obviously a MASSIVE reveal about time travel—loops, strings, causalities are arm in arm and dancing the Macarena during this scene.

Locke and Ben are having a friendly squabble about Jacob when the injured Locke goes “poof” and disappears.  Back in the 70s, Dr. Chang breaks in on the Sawyer beat down.  Jim Lafluer is trying to talk his way out of a bad situation through bloody lips and loosened teeth.

In the jungle, Eloise, Kate and Jack are having their own kind of trouble.  In what is the coolest scene of episode so far, Sayid rises from the foliage and makes lead fly and Others die.  Jungle life seems to suit him.

The submarine is being loaded with evacuees.  Sawyer and Juliet are among the passengers.  Sawyer gives the Island a “good riddance” as he descends through the hatch.

Eloise is taking her group to the bomb via a really cool underwater tunnel.

Back in the present, Locke is returning to the Other’s camp and is eager to go for another walk—to find Jacob.  Locke decides to hold an impromptu meeting on the beach.  Locke wants everybody to come along for the fun.  Richard and Ben are thinking that having John as their new leader is going to be somewhat of a challenge.

Back at the submarine, Sawyer and Juliet are having a romantic scene when Kate shows up to make it a three-way.  Buzz-kill.

Eloise and Richard are leading Jack and Sayid into the ruins of an ancient structure.  They find treasure in the form of a big green bomb named Jughead.

Locke is leading the Others down the beach to see Jacob.  Ben takes advantage of the face time and begins to try to council and advise the latest leader of the Others.  John has a different approach to his position on top of the food chain.

Locke wants to kill Jacob.

All the pieces are in place for a fantastic season finale.  I loved Sayid’s reappearance and I seemed to find a place in my heart for the young and spicy Eloise Hawking.  Still, there are a ton of questions left (Rose & Bernard?) and only two hours of programming left for the telling.  Tonight was awesome—mostly because it has planted a seed of extremely high expectation for next weeks’ show and the chaotic thrills it promises.

 I rate this episode 8.0 out of 10 Namastes!