Not once, but twice in relatively quick succession, Unlocke observed tonight that there was a lot of catching up to do. He wasn’t kidding. “The Last Recruit” moved briskly, touched on a myriad of mysteries, and served up more explosions and twists. But the delicate balance of plot and character definitely felt askew, and along with all the forward velocity, there were moments that seemed to lose traction. At the end of last week’s episode, we felt the stage was set for the final sprint. Tonight’s tale had a lot of flash, but it still feels like we’re waiting for the big show. And with a week off before the next new episode, “The Last Recruit” definitely left us wanting more.
In the flash-sideways, the inevitable collision of our wayward survivors was aggressively accelerated. Sun makes her connection with the island world when she spots Locke on the next gurney. And Jack gets his hands on Locke’s dural sack without a consult. And by the close of our multi-faceted tour of Los Angeles, Kate, Sawyer, Miles, Sayid, Jin, Sun, Jack, Claire, Desmond, Locke, and Ben are clearly interconnected. But can they all be unified and even embark on a plan in the few hours ahead?
I did like Jack’s renewed connection with David, as well as the interplay between cop Sawyer and fugitive Kate, perhaps the strongest character moments in the episode. Seeing Ilana turn up as a lawyer the week after she was blown up on the island was fun, but It still doesn’t make up for her untimely end. Desmond’s actions are again curious, though. Why was he going to see a lawyer? At first we guessed it was just a ruse to point Claire toward Jack, drawn from post-flash omniscience. But he knew Ilana, and had an appointment. Perhaps she’s just corporation counsel for Widmore Industries?
On the island, our unified camp of survivors doesn’t last long, as Sawyer executes his plan and separates Unlocke from several of his precious candidates. It serves the Man in Black right for entrusting a key part of his plan to a con man. Of course, on “LOST,” it can’t be that simple, and after another long look at the ocean, Jack decides that his work’s not done, and jumps overboard. As soon as he returns to the island, Unlocke is there to claim him.
Is Jack “The Last Recruit”? He seems pretty set on confounding Unlocke, but he is also told twice that he’s already “with” him. Claire told Jack that his mistake was letting Unlocke speak. And after Unlocke rescues a dazed Jack from a huge explosion — reminiscent of Claire’s crossing over in New Otherton — he also tells Jack, “You’re with me, now.” I’m wondering if Unlocke is now back to square one… or if there’s a chance that Jack was really the only candidate he needed.
In terms of answers, Unlocke confirms to Jack that he had appeared as Christian Shephard soon after the crash. As with the explanation of the whispers last week, though, the answer seems to bring more questions. Was the Man In Black portraying Christian in Jacob’s cabin? (Probably.) Visiting Jack off the island? (Probably not?) Telling Locke to turn the donkey wheel? (Probably.) Talking to Sun and Frank about the DHARMA Initiative? (Probably not, since at the same time, the Man In Black was Unlocke with the Ajira crew, and supposedly “stuck” in that form.) And a few weeks ago, it seemed significant that Claire described her father and her “friend” as two separate entities. Did she just not know she was in the middle of a puppet show?
And while Unlocke’s darker nature seems even more pronounced now, I’m struck by what he told Jack: he appeared as his father to lead him to water. In retrospect, it does seem to be what the vision accomplished way back in Season 1. And Unlocke also brought water and food to Richard at the Black Rock. Of course, he wanted something from Richard, and still wants something from Jack. But I found the tiny shard of implied benevolence interesting.
Jack was trapped on the island before he even got there? Absolutely. All the Man in Black wanted to do was help them leave? I’m not sure. I think Jack is right to question why he wants them gone, and just how their continued presence is a threat.
While Sawyer was ready to write off Claire and Sayid, both seemed to get a glimmer of hope tonight. Claire’s homicidal urges toward Kate seemed to subside (again) as she was welcomed aboard the escape boat, and Sayid’s hesitation after returning to Locke suggests that talking to Desmond may have reawakened some humanity within him.
Sayid’s character is definitely an empty one now, with even Sawyer dismissing him as a zombie. We’re hoping for a tragic and sad end, or a heroic final turn, but this blank-faced moping around has got to stop. At least Hurley suggests that redemption is possible, invoking what seems to be a contractually obligated “Star Wars” reference. (A reference that pop-culture wise-ass Sawyer inexplicably doesn’t recognize.) Anakin Skywalker turned against his dark lord in a climactic battle, so perhaps Sayid will do the same.
And, yes, at long last, Sun and Jin were reunited. As we’d feared, the overextended separation and the episode’s rushed pace robbed the moment of much of its dramatic power. Actually, the portable sonic fence on the beach seemed to have been purposely situated between them as they ran toward each other, and we were half expecting there to be yet another cheesy contrivance to keep them apart one more week. Fortunately, they embraced and declared their love… but the writers let Lapitas channel David Caruso with a smirking one-liner that deflated whatever emotional power was left in the scene.
Why did Widmore call off the deal with Sawyer? Why does anyone on Team Widmore think missiles are an effective weapon against Unlocke? Where has the spirit of Jacob been all this time, and what is Unlocke’s ultimate plan? And how are we going to survive two weeks before getting our next shot at answers?
- The conversation between Unlocke and Jack was a powerful one. When Unlocke said John Locke was stupid, and a sucker, at first I felt it was just adding insult to injury when it came to one of the most interesting and promising characters on “LOST.” But then I started to think (or hope) that they were actually setting John Locke up to be vindicated somehow. I hope so.
- Off the island, we learn that Locke’s wheelchair actually saved his life. Jen said it reminded her of how losing his kidney saved his life when he was shot by Ben.
- Flash-sideways Kate emphatically insists she’s innocent. And if the flash-sideways are going to ultimately suggest happier lives for our survivors, it would make sense that she is. Notice that Sawyer offers Kate an apple in the police station. A reference to Eve and the Garden of Eden? Or is it just an apple?
- Sawyer’s observation that it’s “weird” how he and Kate ended up crossing each others paths reminded us of Jack remarking to Kate in “316” that it was “crazy” to see that they were all back together on an airplane.
- We loved how cool Unlocke was when the first warning missile struck in the jungle. The huge explosion behind his unflinching figure called to mind the moment he blew up the submarine in Season 3.
- Zoe’s conversation with Unlocke, in which Unlocke says he has no idea what she’s talking about, is a direct mirror of the conversation Unlocke has with Widmore over a similar situation in “The Package.”
- Miles says his last name is Straum. So even though he’s got a good relationship with his museum-managing dad, Dr. Chang, there’s still a kink or two in that family tree.
- Ilana’s last name is Verdanski. Couldn’t think of how that might be significant, if only in comparison to Radzinski and Minkowski.
- Hurley says, “People are trying to kill us again.” Just like old times.
- Sawyer gets of at least one notable nickname: Chesty. It was funny how he referred to Lapitas as a guy who looked like he stepped out of a Burt Reynold’s movie… but it was an unusually clunky line of dialogue where “the pilot” probably would have sufficed.
- Locations: The office building where Claire, Desmond, Jack, David, and Ilana came together was Pauahi Tower in downtown Honolulu. The hospital where Sun and Jin and Jack and Locke turned up was the Rehab Hospital of the Pacific (though I think the ambulance bay and emergency entrance was Kuakini Hospital). The house where Sayid was captured by Sawyer and Miles is on Waiohinu Drive in Kahala. The “old pier” where Jack and his group boarded the Elizabeth was Coconut Island in Kaneohe Bay.
How did you like “The Last Recruit”? Favorite moments? New theories? Please comment below and join the conversation. You can also call and leave a brief (ideally, one-minute long) message on the LOSTLine at (815) 310-0808, or email us at lost@hawaiiup.com.
This is supposed to be a great episode for those of us that are into the show’s mythology…can’t wait!!!
I wonder who the Last Recruit will be?
I bet it will be Jack. Jack and Locke face off again. Locke can’t do anything if he doesn’t convince Jack.
I have an out there theory, just thought of it. It the island is from ancient times, maybe mythical God’s created the island as a magical place and Jacob and MIB are demigod’s. Haven’t thought it though at all, probably has something to do to the fact that my son is reading all the Percy Jackson books about demigods.
Just viewed the fan promo finalists, – I think this one is one that we can all relate to feeling right now. It is called “The Obsession”
http://abc.go.com/shows/lost/fan-promo-contest-vote
We were talking about Star Trek… I have one more thing to add: Live long and prosper Leonard.
Well, I am not sure if this has been pointed out but it is probably significant. I was watching the finale of S5 and I am almost sure that Locke is not the MIB. Almost at the end when they almost made it to the beach where Jacob resides, Richard stops and Locke in an agitated voice asks what is going on and Richard then says that they have arrived. Locke seems genuinely surprised. Now if it really was MIB, wouldn’t Locke know where Jacob lives, it was in the same finale that they had that discussion. Anyway, if he really is smokey then would he not know the island as he has been trapped there for ages?! Hmmmm, not sure if I am repeating here but in light of recent developments I am not following or was it just the liberty the writers took for dramatic effect?
Can’t wait for tonight’s episode although we will have to wait for 24 hours to get it from our iTunes here in Germany.
As always you guys rock!
So long….
Ilias from Germany
THE POWER OF LOVE and mirror images on LOST ~~ Season 5 Finale shows Jack and Juliet both motivated to release the Hydrogen bomb because of LOVE LOST (Jack) or LOVE unrealized (Juliet) ~~ I recall listening to this podcast last year, and Jen being pretty disgusted by this…
So now the mirror image in the Flash Sideways or the alternate universe shows Charlie and Desmond and Daniel and Hurley (so far) being connected with TRUTH (and the Island) through LOVE FOUND and realized
It makes what happened in the Finale last year not seem quite as corny and frustrating, seeing it linked and mirrored to the LOVE theme this season
Must wait two extra hours in Canada this week = so sad
@ Ilias ~ I was wondering about that too — wasn’t sure if he was faking it…
Before tonight starts, I just want to comment on a discussion Ryan and Jen had as to why Hugo is talking with dead people and not Miles in the “Everybody Loves Hugo” podcast. The difference between their abilities is that Hugo actually can communicate with the person’s spirit after death whereas Miles can only perceive the final thoughts of the person up to death. I forget the episode, but in S5, Miles provides that explanation as to his ability. So, I don’t think there’s any significance to Hugo being “chosen” in that regard. I think it’s just that Hugo can relate with the spirit (and in a sense still living) but Miles only can relate with the physical body (now dead), another reflection of dichotomies and opposites in the show.
Well, I hope there is enough pseudo science for all the pseudo scientists that populate this site. Did it ever occur to anyone that the effects of quantum mechanics can only be measured at the atomic level? I mean, just how small is this island? Small enough to be contained within the radius of an autistic child’s marble? Oh, wait, that was St. Elsewhere. Are quantum effects what you thought happened to Bobby Ewing? In a shower? Let’s be real. PLEASE! Star Trek didn’t happen. SPOILER ALERT!!!! No warp drive, no dilithium crystals. It’s TV.
The writers of Lost are not playing to the audience consisting of the ONE fan who truly understands quantum mechanics. (It ain’t me!)(PSSST! It ain’t you either!) There playing to the people who contemplate the universal constants contained within themselves. Love/Hate. Good/Evil. Belief/Doubt. Faith/Fear. That’s right, the opposite of Faith is Fear, NOT SCIENCE.
So, let’s cut them a break on the science. That’s all I’m saying.
All you need is love. Ok, now that’s ALL I’m saying.
Personally, I’m not a huge Sun/Jin fan. BUT, if they deny Penny and Desmond AND Sawyer and Juliette the happiness they deserve… I’ll personally suffer quantum effects on a macro-universal scale. That’s right: Big Bang II.
And I’ll do it on 12-21-2012.
Whose centric is this? Perhaps Locke, since the dramatic hit-and-run is where we left off? The island isn’t done with him. The title sounds as if this is the last establishing episode in terms of gathering all the players together for the possible return. You can bet it will end with an eye-opening thud though, positioned as it is just prior to the hiatus. The cast converges at St. Sebastian in the flash sideways and they all awaken to the true nature of the alternate reality.
On what He Who Must Not Be Named was carving: the staff of Moses so he can lead “his people” out of the wilderness.
@ gene e ~ you crack me up!
15 monutes … go to the bathroom, get the snacks and for some get the pen and paper…get everyone else to bed….ahhhhhh.
ready now 🙂
I keep wondering why Desmond took such an aggressive approach against Locke opposed to the gentle nudging method…but I wonder equally as much what the consequence will be.
It seems that with Faraday, Hugo, Libby, etc…they SAW something (like love at first site, a commercial with your soul mate) or had a powerful experience (such as choking on ur bag of goodies)…. which led them to become AWARE of their alternate existence…but just aware.
Whereas, a violent occurrence (not to be confused with dramatic) seems to have a different effect…not only an awareness, but a connection is made. Sun bangs her head on a tree and receives a piece of her alternate self…the ability to not speak english.
Desmond plunges into the river and we know what happened to him.
Locke gets jacked by Desmond’s car. Much more significant than a head bump…is the connection or exchange of realities equally more significant? Does it knock more than a characteristic across reality lines? Could it knock a whole self across? Which is why Desmond says with confidence….”You’re John Locke.”
Tonight, then a two week break. Then it’s home stretch. Tonight feels pivotal in many ways. I’m hoping.
Should they trust Claire or not? Should they have let her get on the boat?
OK, the episode isn’t over yet, but I have one, huge, overriding question, that I’m sure will be the key to everything:
With all of his knowledge of pop culture, why the hell is Sawyer confused about Hurley’s Anakin reference???
Commercial’s almost over – I need to get back to my TV.
FINALLY!!!! Sun and Jin find their way back to each other. What the crap? Why did unLocke save Jack?
@Z in DC — VERY interesting thoughts. New angle to me… I like it.
That was the fastest hour of television EVER.
Great to see Sun and Jin reunited at last.
In the words of the original John Locke: “We’re gonna have to watch that again.”
Woah, jin/sun reunion finally. I was thinking the pylons were gonna be on and they’d get zapped just inches from each others arms. Lol
a decent episode, but I was hoping for a bigger cliffhanger leading into the 2 week break.
Christian shows up as an apparition off the island when he goes to see Jack in his office. This is the same scene that the smoke detectors go off. If the smoke monster is Christian, wasn’t he already able to get off the island at that point? Yet, he wants to leave now? I’m confused.
Yay! Some nice payoffs in this episode. Just finished and it was good to see a bit of everyone in both worlds. As per usual LOST lots of questions remain and only 4 left. Wow, what a ride!
@ James, maybe Smokey was still tied to the Island at the time he saw Jack in the hospital because Jacob was still alive.
@Mattfromnd – That is exactly what I was thinking.
“I Love You” – Sun to Jin – perfect way to” find her voice” as Lapidus notes.
But I am left wondering if FSW Sun remembered her Island life when she saw John or not.
hmm…i really don’t know what to think about this episode. i don’t want to say disappointed…or let down….but….i don’t know what to think
Just finished watching, a couple things I was thinking…
Desmond & Jack’s lawyer is Ilana! Since last week, I said that she’d be back, most likely in the flash sideways, and once Des said his lawyer was a “she,” I instantly thought of her! Guess she had time to get her law degree since she didn’t have to train to protect the candidates!
All through the episode, I was thinking, “why is MIL trusting everyone?” If he really needed all of them to stay together, he certainly wouldn’t trust them off on their own (especially Sawyer). Even if he trusted them, there’s no way he’d let them out of his sight if it was that important to leave together. I didn’t buy his “one group travels slow” argument. Sure enough, at the end, it seems he knew they would try to leave…except Jack.
Jack now seems like the leading candidate in my eyes.
@Bonita: Maybe. But, I mean, if he could appear as other people “off-island” I don’t see why he wants to leave the island now. So he can roam around as…himself?
I hope whoever David’s mother is will end up at the hospital to pick him up.
@ James – well, something will be unleashed according to Jacob, maybe off island he can spread his WILL to the World more freely, maybe he wants to destroy the Island and this is what is the END.
Wow. Great, action packed episode. Explosions. Island Tina Fey. A sideways Illana who is friends some how with Sideways Des.
A few thoughts.
Sideways Ben’s ambulance talk to Sideways Locke was a reflection of way back when Sarah met Jack after her accident before her wedding to the guy who dumped her.
After all the hoop-la, the Sun, Jin reunion was very touching. But I half expected the two of them to get zapped like bugs by Widmore’s weirdo power grid he set up around the island to keep Smokey out.
I don’t think Sayid killed Des. I think we are going to see a turn in Sayid’s character thanks to Des’s influence. And I am now willing to bet that the woman Sayid loved who he lost and made a deal for with UnLocke will end up being returned to him but not Nadia, it will be Shannon. Sayid loved Shannon too. Since he never says her name when he talks about the woman he loved I think it could be interpreted by UnLocke or Des as someone else other than Nadia. (OK. I have to add, I’m like one of only five people on the planet who really dug Shannon.)
Big Question: Did Sayid kill Desmond?
Loved the Anakin reference by Hurley. Also, Sawyers line about Lapidus stepping off the set of a Burt Reynolds movie…LOL!!!
I balled when Jin and Sun saw each other!
I loved this episode. Sun and Jin together again. Sun getting her voice back. Finding out some important mythology. I don’t believe Desmond is dead. The island isn’t done with him yet.
I think the coffee that Juliet and Sawyer share is going to be in the hospital cafeteria. Everyone ends up there.
Loved the reveal of Ilana. That’s it for now. Can’t wait to read what you all thought of it.
I think I finally believe Kate, Evageline Lilly did a fine job selling it, that she really came for Claire.
@ Carol – it could be she comes either to pick up David (who is her son) or to help Claire, who goes into labor and arrives there and she is the OB on call (she gets to deliver LIVE babies in FSW)
After twelve episodes of going back and forward between the beach and the jungle, the show is finally picking up the pace we expected for the entire season.
Kuddos to the writers for making Jin and Sun’s reunion touching but quick. I also loved the parallels: Sawyer jumping of the chopper in season 4 and Jack jumping off the boat tonight; Jack meeting his half-sister on and off the island.. and the blunt answer provided tonight about Christian Shephard’s presence on the island. It was very intersting to see in the flashsideways so many of the characters’s paths crossing.
We can all feel the show is coming together, even if we still don’t know where to.
Mahalo, Jen and Brian for providing us with this forum where we can be a family!
Claire really creeped me out with “He’s gonna be mad”
okay, Jack says “We have something we need to do” and then goes off solo again!
who else expects Locke to open his eyes and maybe speak on the surgery table?
Big turnaround in the Jack David father-son relationship. They are best buds now.
It looks like Jack’s neck got cut in the Widmore air assault, the same spot he saw in LA X on the plane. Anybody else notice that?
Ringing in the ears, muted sound after the mortar shells is just like the 1st episode this season.
Ilana sounded very different. Can’t put my finger on it. Thought the lawyer would be Michael’s ex-wife.
@Michelle in Georgia: I think UnLocke needs Jack – he appears to have lost all the others in his group.
Sayid said “I just killed an unarmed man. I needed a moment.”
Why would Sayid “need a moment” if he feels nothing? I think MIL probably saw through Sayid’s lie about killing Desmond.
@ Mattfromnd – I second that, I thought they were Korean Toast!
@Steve, I always though Ilana had a touch of an accent on the island. Lawyer Ilana had more of a generic American accent to my ears. Maybe it wasn’t so much an accent as the pattern of her speech that was different-quicker, laid back, more upbeat as a lawyer. On island her speech seemed more determined.
Or maybe it’s her silver tongue that made her sound different!
OK, it was great that Sun and Jin finally found each other, but one thing about it really, really bothers me – given that English is not the native tongue of either of them, shouldn’t it have been in Korean? If I were reunited with someone I loved and hadn’t seen in three years, I’m pretty darn sure that we would both be talking to each other in our native language – assuming it’s the same language – rather than in a language that is foreign to both of us.