It’s been only three days since the broadcast of the 79th Annual Academy Awards and it appears that Hollywood still can’t say goodbye to the Little Indie That Could. How else do you explain Hurley’s sudden discovery of an old VW van turned over in the jungle, not to mention the humorous subplot involving Sawyer, Jin and Charlie helping him jumpstart the car by pushing it down a hill? I’m not complaining – it’s been a long time since the writers last delivered such a light-hearted episode – and I’m just happy to see that we’re finally back on the original island again.
And so are the rest of the survivors, apparently, as they all welcome back Kate and Sawyer with open arms. Heck, even Hurley gives Sawyer a great big hug when they meet up later in the episode. The two on-again-off-again lovers get right back to business when the return, however, and while Sawyer heads off to help Hurley and the gang with the van (not to mention teaching Jin a few new English phrases to wow the wife), Kate begins hatching a rescue plan with Sayid and Locke… which leads them to Rousseau, yet again. This time, though, she’s more apt to help after discovering that her daughter is, in fact, very much alive.
This week’s flashback was dedicated to Hurley – namely his relationship to his father (played by Cheech Marin) and the curse that has surrounded him ever since winning the money – and while we didn’t learn anything of particular interest, we did learn a little bit more about the big guy’s past. Like how his father left him at a young age, only to return 17 years later (gee, I wonder why?) Or how only days after purchasing the Mr. Cluck’s restaurant that he used to work at, it’s blown to bits (along with news reporter Tricia Tanaka) by a meteor… or an asteroid. Some kind of falling rock from space. Tough luck, kid, but at least your situation isn’t nearly as bad as Charlie’s is. Dude is very bummed, and he’s got good reason, too. Luckily, Hurley’s to the rescue, and it looks like he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to keep Charlie’s mind off his impending death.
Man, I really hope the writers don’t decide to off Charlie any time soon (the character’s next episode is only a few weeks away), especially when there are plenty of others that could just as easily go. Hasn’t he been through enough already?
