Ji Yeon

Well, another great episode, some more twists, a dose of OMG moments, and of course, more questions.

New to this week's entry in the LOST canon was the mix of one character's (Sun's) flashforward with another's (Jin's) flashback. This seems to be in the pattern of new uses for this device this season (see Confirmed Dead). Observant viewers will have been tipped off first by Jin's ancient looking cell phone (much like Jack's Razr was a clue in "Through the Looking Glass") His behavior on the street certainly pointed to the old Jin, but the proof positive came when he told the nurse, "I've only been married for two months". Even the mention of Mr Paik had me wondering at first if he was off the island, back to working for his father-in-law, and therefore "unredeemed", as Sayid seems to be.

But the point, now that it's established, is what does it mean? There has to be a point, other than just to trick us (although that was cool). My first thought was to reintroduce Mr Paik (I still believe he is significant on roughly the Widmore level). But even that doesn't seem enough. Does it have something to do with why Jin is not among the O6? One would have to believe it does, but I confess, I don't what.

So let's talk about Jin apparently being dead. I say apparently, because, as many of you will have noticed, the date of death on the gravestone is 9/22/2004. (Here's a better close-up.) The date of the crash. In other words, a lie. So why say he died in the crash, when we know he didn't, and does this mean he's alive?

I think the date on the stone certainly is part of the lie that says 8 people survived the crash, 6 of those survived long enough to be rescued. Jin is obviously not among the six, and apparently not among the eight. I am one who assumes at least some who didn't make it off the island are still alive (the "they" in Charlie's "they need you" warning to Hurley). Presumably some or all of them have gravestones with the same date. So do we have any evidence Jin is alive or dead?

Unfortunately, there is some indirect evidence that he is really dead. On LOST, redemption is a strong theme, and it seems that when characters complete their redemption process, they die, like Charlie. While he's the best example of this, the same could be argued for Shannon, and maybe Boone. This could have been the point of the flashback, showing us the old Jin, threatening to rip someones head off for taking his cab, and the new Jin, who forgives his wife's affair, and even takes some responsibility.

It's depressing to think that characters who manage to find redemption are paid in death, and I'm not really sure that that is what's happening. It's just all I have to go on. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happened to all the non O6ers.

On island we had the Jin/Sun/Juliet drama. It probably wouldn't have occurred to me to take the step Juliet did, no matter how much I thought they needed to stay, but I can't argue that it didn't work. Since apparently it didn't ruin Sun and Jin's marriage, I guess it worked out for the best. It was still cold.

Sun's flashforward was notable mostly at the end (save for Expose being on the TV at the beginning). Of course, there was the OMG graveside moment. But most mysterious to me was the almost throw-away line by Hurley when he comes to visit Sun. When informed no one else is coming, he says, "good!" Not in relief, I don't think (some have suggested he is feeling guilty and doesn't want to see Jack). At first I couldn't help feeling he had designs on Sun. That really didn't seem to be it, either, so what was it?

I guess the main other thing to address is the identities of the O6. According TPTB, we were supposed to know by the end of this episode. Jack, Kate, Sayid, Hurley, and now Sun can be counted for sure. But who is the sixth? The only real possibilities, by any stretch, are Aaron, Ben, or Michael. It's obviously not Jin, Juliet, or Desmond.

I assume the O6 are comprised (at least nominally) of people from the manifest. Most of the above don't really fit this, but as I've pointed out before, either Michael or Ben could be using a false name. In fact, we know they both are. Kevin Johnson, however, is almost certainly not taken from an 815 passenger; it wouldn't be a good move for a spy in Michael's particular position. Ben obviously has plenty of identities at hand; why would he risk pretending to be from 815?

Even though Aaron wasn't on the manifest, it would be realistic to expect him to be born prior to rescue (always depending on what the stated timeline turns out to be, and who his mother is supposed to be), and it seems like he would naturally be included in the survivor count.

Of course, there are just too many holes right now to draw good conclusions about a lot of this stuff, and as far as the O6 goes, I'm basing my belief that Aaron is counted on Cuseloff's statement that we would know by now. If they're messing with us, all bets are off. But for the time being, that's my list and I'm sticking to it!

OK, I think that's all I have for now. Contrary to previous statements, they will be showing Episode 4x08 next week. Then a long wait till Apr 24. But hey, at least we're getting a (mostly) complete season! Yay!

Namaste!