The Other Woman, Part 1

Another week, another incredible episode. While it may not have been quite the mind%$#@ that "The Constant" was, it was still jam-packed. As such, I have to give you fair warning: this may be a long one.

The episode was Juliet-centric, but it seemed like it had less to do with her specifically than it did with other more general aspects that her back story helps to explain.

The first big moment came when Harper confronted Juliet in the jungle. This was a very interesting scene for many reasons. First, of course, more whispers! I'm sure the whispers (in general) are a big clue, but there aren't transcripts available yet for last night's epi. I'll post a link as soon as I find some (or anyone else who finds one, feel free to post it here). There are, however, transcripts for past episodes. If you've never checked them out, you can read them here.

Of course, Harper's appearance at all begs many questions, the first being, was she an "apparition"? I immediately assumed she was, due to her appearance being preceded by whispers. Today, however, there were questions online about whether she was really there or not. I'm sticking to my initial feeling that she was, in fact, an apparition.

It is true that apparitions are normally of people who have died, and we know Harper was alive as recently as three months ago. Juliet also didn't seem surprised to see her (as in, "what are you doing here, you're dead"). But we don't have any real evidence that apparitions are always of dead people, and Harper really being there just doesn't ring true for me.

It is true that Jack saw her too, and this is the other reason people have given for her being real. But, as has been pointed out, Sayid saw Walt when he appeared to Shannon, and Sawyer saw Kate's horse, so that would appear to not be an issue.

Rather, it seems to me to be totally unlikely that the real Harper could possibly have known where Juliet would be at that exact moment. I know the Others sometimes seem omniscient and omnipresent, but I'm assuming Harper is with Richard and the (other) Others at the temple. It just doesn't make sense that she would travel all that way to get there just in time to tell Juliet something that she couldn't know.

Which brings me to my next point. The idea that Ben sent her strains credulity as well. Ben, might very well know that the Freighties would be heading to the Tempest, and it's even possible he might have had some contact with the rest of his people, but seriously, he's giving orders from his "cell" about events that he could at best have general knowledge of?

I don't know what to think about the fact that Juliet apparently believes that Ben did send Harper, despite asking how that was possible. Is she lying? Admittedly, her motives and allegiances have not always been clear, and I did wonder again this week when she took off after finding Kate, but I'm still inclined to think she really is with Jack and his faction.

Of course, if Harper is an apparition (which is, after all, what I'm arguing), that changes things. It seems much more likely that Ben could have been told about the trip to the Tempest by the island "forces", and he could have subsequently instructed said forces to tell Juliet, etc.

It's also possible that the "forces" took it upon themselves to manipulate events, or were directed to do so by Jacob. Either way, it seems more plausible to me than if Harper and her explanation of who sent her were real.

In either event, why send someone who would likely harbor ill will toward Juliet? Other than ignorance, I can't think of a reason for the Others to do it. If the island or Jacob sent the message, why appear as Harper? Presumably it could have been anyone. I have to think there's a reason, but I'm sorry to say I don't know what it is.

I guess the biggest thing for me is the whispers. I know many people have associated the whispers directly with the Others, but I never have, and I think Juliet's reaction when she hears them confirms this. She may not have seemed surprised to see Harper, but she sure looked confused and concerned when the whispers started.

For me, this was another confirmation that the whispers and the apparitions are connected. Once again, going to the transcripts, we see in the sonic fence scene from "The Man Behind the Curtain" that the whispers appear to instructing and cuing Ben's "mother".

What exactly are the whispers and apparitions? I still don't know. There is some evidence that people who have died on the island make up some of the chorus of whispers. I don't think that's the whole story, though. Many seem to think it's gospel that the apparitions are manifestations of Smokey. I have never believed this. I think it's much more likely that they're manifestations of whomever is whispering.

We could really get into a discussion of the deeper island mythology here, but I want to rein in and get back to "The Other Woman". Or rather, I think I'll touch on a few general observations, and save the other big topic (Ben and Juliet) for a separate post.

One thing I liked was the use of the word "hostile" by Jack and Claire. Kind of a nice self-reference for the show, as well as a nod to the way the Losties are becoming like the Others.

Also, we got confirmation (as if it were needed) that Widmore sent the freighter (unless Ben is lying, which I don't think he is). The video shows Wid beating/killing one of Ben's men, then he looks directly at the camera, reinforcing the idea that Ben has been meddling in Wid's plans off-island, and this is why Wid wants to capture him. Apparently, he also knows how the Purge was conducted.

One of the most odd things was Ben telling Locke that his people don't want him. Of course, we know Ben. He is a manipulator, and as such, when it suits those purposes, a liar. So do we believe him?

It is, of course, at odds with the idea that he sent the real Harper to Juliet, but I've already said I don't believe it was the real Harper.

I don't trust it, at this point, but I really don't know. It's a very interesting statement, nonetheless.

We get another station! Namely, the Tempest, which is apparently the power source for the island, as well as a mass murdering machine, and presumably the instrument used in the Purge. The Tempest, of course, is a play by Shakespeare about a sorcerer stranded on an island.

And finally, it is becoming increasingly clear that Michael is Ben's man on the boat. "A face you thought you'd never see again"? Come on! I didn't watch next week's preview, but I have a feeling if I had I would be even more sure.

Whew, that was, as I said, a jam-packed episode. But the Ben and Juliet situation has to be explored, and I will do so soon.

Till then, thanks for sticking around to the end, and

Namaste!