S6E1 - LA X

Before I get into the recap, let me start by addressing last year's big cliff hanger. Of course I am referring to the birth of my second child, which turned out to be... a girl! For those of you way into statistics, that brings the Hay household boy/girl ratio to a lopsided 1:3.

Though I was contemplating a labor and delivery themed recap in honor of my eight-month-old that missed last year's finale by only a few days, I would be remiss to ignore the very special day that is February 2nd...

GROUNDHOG DAY!

So, let us review this episode in terms of who did and did not "see their shadow" and what exactly that entails.

For starters, $5 to myself for coining the term "flashsideways" which is what I will heretofore refer to the final season's presumably permanent mode of storytelling. Can't wait to see if everyone's "alternate" life winds up as crappy as I anticipate.

First up, Desmond. I think he must have seen his shadow because later on in the episode he's nowhere to be found. That was the most intriguing whaaa? of the intro. At first I thought that wasn't possible, but then I realized Desmond got stranded on the island just like the Oceanic survivors did, so if the island "sunk to the bottom of the ocean" after the bomb detonated then he'd have a different life just like everyone else. That new life obviously lead him to board flight 815 at some point. I'm interested to see how that happened and I bet we'll find out soon enough.

Next is Jack who also saw his shadow because his life just kind of sucked no matter what reality he was in. On island, he thought the bomb attempt had failed and soon enough takes on the blame for Juliet's death. In his flashsideways, the airport lost his father's body. Rough. Question though, didn't he find his father's coffin in season 1? If so, that would insinuate that it had, indeed, been loaded on the plane. Of course his father's body wasn't in that coffin so who knows.

And before we get too far away from Jack's guilt, let's go ahead and talk about Juliet. I'm guessing death is about as bad of a groundhog omen you can get. Double rough. I was really thinking she'd make it. I mean, you don't almost kill someone off just to say, hey she's alive, and then really kill her. Right? But alas, they did. Unless... "It worked." What if her spirit on the island was aware that they successfully created an alternate timeline (because once you die, you totally get to know rad things like that). That's what her enigmatic message to Miles could have meant. Prediction: The LOSTies will somehow figure out the alternate reality exists and Sawyer will try to bring her back/over/across/sideways/whatever.

Let's move on to Hurley who clearly did not see his shadow. On the island, he lead the way in saving Sayid (more on that later) and in his flashsideways he still thinks he's the luckiest guy on earth. Lots of good Hurley quotes this episode. The best was when Jacob said he died an hour prior. "Dude, that sucks." Interesting that Sawyer made note of Hurley's lottery winnings. In his flashsideways, Sawyer's still the conman that crashed on the island so is not above trying to grift money from strangers.

And with that, let's talk Sawyer. The reviews here are mixed. On island, I think he totally saw his shadow because he went to a pretty dark place after Juliet's death. However, in his flashsideways, things are looking up (at least for now). He's a free man, though I suspect him killing that guy in Sydney (remember that?) whom he thought was the "original" Sawyer will eventually catch up with him.

Boone. I think it's safe to say he did not see his shadow. I doubt they'll follow him for the whole season, but living and pursuing a weird relationship with your stepsister beats dying from severe blood loss due to a broken leg any day. I especially liked his comment that if the plane crashed, he'd stick with Locke. You did, actually. And it got you killed.

And speaking of Locke, he's another mixed bag scenario. On island he's dead, his likeness stolen by Anti-Jacob or "Smokie" or whatever you want to call the dark force on the island. Big time shadow there. In his flashsideways he's still in a wheelchair (little shadow), but he's still alive (no shadow). Let's see, so that's one big shadow and a half mixed with a glimmer of hope. Sounds pretty bleak even in groundhog terminology. I wonder where his "alternate" life will take him? Very interesting how he's now potentially tied to Jack. Spinal surgery, anyone? Actually, it's interesting how they ALL seem to be tied together even if the crash had not occurred.

For instance, Jack and Charlie. Charlie did not get to see his shadow in his alternate reality, though from his comment to Jack, he was hoping to. I don't recall him being suicidal, but it doesn't surprise me after the confrontation with his brother which he had just come from. I wonder if they'll explore his alternate storyline any further this season. Though it would be interesting, I think it's enough to say that on the island he died a hero and if not for the crash he would have just been a doomed druggie.

Another potential alternate intertwine is Kate and Claire. Though we've only seen the beginning, I bet there's plenty more to show after Kate hijacks the cab Claire was in. I think Kate definitely saw her shadow both on and "off" the island. In her flashsideways she's still a wanted criminal so pretty crappy for now. Things aren't looking too good on the island either as she was kidnapped by the others and almost killed just before a last minute save from (presumably) yet another of Jacob's famous "lists." Remember that from the earlier seasons? Ben and the others were always consumed by Jacob's mysterious lists of names. Now things are getting (dare I say) a tad bit clearer. Jacob obviously has a foreknowledge of these people as was evidenced by last year's season finale when he popped up throughout their childhood and adult lives.

As for Claire, it's too soon to tell one way or the other. We haven't seen her on the island yet (though I suspect she's either hanging out at the temple or was somehow duped by Anti-Jacob). And in the flashsideways, we're just seeing the beginning of her what-if story, though I'm very curious to see what happens when she realizes there's no one in LA waiting to take her baby. If you recall, it was insinuated that the psychic made up the story about the adoption in order to ensure she'd be on the plane and thus raise the child on her own as he said she must.

Other people with a rude awakening when they arrived in LA were Jin and Sun. Especially Jin who surely wanted to duck back into his groundhog hidey-hole when the customs agent found his stash of money. Granted Jin was on shady "business" for Sun's father, but if you recall he actually hoped to start a new life in the US unbeknownst to his wife. That was what the cash was for and of course his constant reprimands to Sun about keeping buttoned-up and close to him was because of the man that approached him before the plane took off in Sydney who said point blank that Sun's father knew of Jin's "plan" and had people that would be watching him. I think that was revealed in season 2 or late season 1. Anyway, more on that what-if story line coming soon I'm sure.

Sayid was dangerously close to seeing his shadow on the island, but was revived at the last minute. I'm a little nervous about all that. Remember after Sayid shot little Ben and Richard warned that after being healed in the temple he would never be the same? Presumably it "turned" Ben into an other (whatever the heck that means these days). Now, ironically, Sayid is saved in the same manner. Does that mean he'll start sipping the other's Kool-Aid sometime soon?

And of course this leads me to Ben who caught a glimpse of his shadow, but didn't flinch, like the true bug-eyed groundhog that he is. He knows he was duped by Anti-Jacob, but he seems to still be trying to figure out what it all means. As we all are, Ben... as we all are. I don't know if we'll ever get to see him in a flashsideways since he was on the island as a lad at the time the bomb would have detonated so presumably his alternate life is being a corpse at the bottom of the ocean.

* * *

I think that covers it. I'm really digging this last season's mode of story telling and surely it will stick around for the remainder of the season. They've just shown the tip of the what-if icebergs and I'm ready to see what lies beneath. I stick with my original theory that we'll see how some (if not all) of their lives are worse off had they not crashed. So far, I'm thoroughly enjoying how some are already closely tied together even in their what-if lives.

Flashsideways Predictions:

• Jack performs an unsuccessful surgery on Locke and sprials into a drunken downslide.
• Locke commits suicide again* after the failed surgery (though I hope they redeem his character at least in reality "B" because he did kind of chump-out in reality "A").
• Sawyer tries to con Hurley out of money and winds up in jail for the death of that dude he shot in Sydney.
• Hurley winds up broke and crazy again.
• Jin is arrested while Sun files for divorce and returns home in shame.
• Kate and Claire team up, Thelma and Louise style (minus the double suicide ending).
• Sayid finds Nadia, marries her, and opens a mom & pop ice cream parlor. (Hey, it can't be ALL doom and gloom had the plane not crashed... right?)

But enough about me, what about you?

*NOTE: This would be especially fitting as it would be the third time that we learn of Locke's death.