It’s always nice when you can watch an episode of “Lost” and actually feel like you know what’s going on, and though not as many secrets were revealed as they wanted you to believe, it was still one of the best of the season.
When I realized that this was going to be a Juliet-centric episode, it seemed strange that they would do another flashback for her so soon, but then I looked back at the previous fifteen episodes and noticed that it’s actually been quite some time since we first learned about anti-Kate. Of course, if they’re going to start featuring character-specific episodes for the Others, then I’d really like to see them highlight Ben next. Plus, I’m beginning to wonder if the guy from Portland is Jacob.
Getting back to the story at hand, the flashback sequences may not have been any longer than most weeks, but they were certainly more informative. It picks up practically right where it left off, with Juliet arriving at the secret Portland company and preparing for departure to the island. Before hand, however, she’s given a quick physical and a tranquilizer-laced OJ to make the trip go by quicker. Um, I’m sorry, but the minute someone tells me that my tasty fruit drink is going to knock me out, and then doesn’t follow up with “just kidding,” I’m outta there. Nonetheless, Juliet drinks up, and when she awakes, she’s already arrived at the island – courtesy of the submarine.
Along with learning more about her purpose on the island, Juliet’s flashback (and her explanation to Jack and Kate, coincidentally) covers events from past seasons, but fills in gaps. Like how the Others know so much about the survivors (Mikhail gets all the info via some command center in Portland), or why Ethan was planted in the camp. It seems they knew all about Claire’s pregnancy, and since no woman on the island had gotten pregnant without dying, she was a bit of a medical miracle. So, Ethan began secretly administering a vaccine to keep her healthy, but when he was discovered not to be on the flight manifest, he abandoned his orders and kidnapped Claire.
Speaking of Claire, she’s not looking so good these days, and after Juliet learns of her condition, she runs off into the woods to bring back some medicine. Hours later and, wah-lah, Claire’s all better. Thanks, of course, to Juliet. And just when we’re led to believe that Juliet truly is part of the gang, we’re treated to one final flashback of her and Ben discussing how she’s really going undercover as a mole. Dum dum dum. That’s right, folks. Juliet was faking it all along, right from the minute she awoke in the woods, handcuffed to Kate. Does this mean that the Others really are evil, or is Juliet’s job related to something completely different. Like perhaps Sun, whose recent pregnancy is looking a little more dangerous now that we’ve learned the fate of past mothers-to-be. Whatever the answer, we know it’s only going to take one week…
