The Other Woman (It's Very Stressful Being An Other)

So this week we're dipped back to basic flashbacks, and they are Juliet's. The present day Juliet has teamed up with Jack to find the missing Faraday & Charlotte who have disappeared. While searching their trail (what, has every one had some sort of Crocodile Dundee mystic tracking class that I don't know about?) in the rain, a very wet and snarky lass sneaks behind Juliet. Juliet knows her from her days an other. The snarky other as it turns out was Juliet's therapist and the wife of her lover Goodwyn. (The guy killed by taily Ana Lucia, who was later killed by Michael). She has been sent by Ben to order Juliet to kill Faraday & Charlotte before they unleash the toxic gas (located in a station known as The Orchid) and kill everyone on the Island. Ben sees the snarky other, but the only explanation Juliet gives him is that it's very stressful being an other.

Kate (on her way back to the beach from the barracks where she has been banished by Locke for her Scooby-Doo like shenanigans) runs into Faraday & Charlotte. When it becomes apparent that Kate sees they're lying Charlotte knocks Kate over the head. Juliet & Jack find her a half hour later, and Juliet ditches them both to stop Faraday & Charlotte on her own.

Th flashbacks reveal that Ben was in love with Juliet. In that sick obsesses way sociopaths fall in love i guess. After Ben figures out that she's in love with Goodwyn, he sets him up to be killed by Ana Lucia. He takes Juliet to the body and lets her know that she is his.

Juliet reaches the station and tries to stop Faraday from setting off the gas, but then Charlotte explains that they're trying to dismantle the system so that Ben cannot use the gas against them, or anyone else on the Island. They succeed, and everyone is safe, for now. Juliet realizes that she's been had by Ben again. She tells Jack that by being with her, he's in even more danger. They kiss. Is it just me or do they have NO chemistry?

This Weeks BIG reveal:
Meanwhile back on the barracks, Ben has sweet-talked his way into Locke's good graces, sort of, at least out of captivity. He has revealed to Locke that the person behind the freighter is none other than Charles Whitmore. That's right penny's father. That's right, Desmond's Penny.

Next week: Ben's man on the boat is going to be revealed, I think it just may be Michael...

Lost Season Premier YAY! The Beginning Of The End

Since the writers strike began back in November, we have been forced to wade through an endless sea of reality shows and reruns. It's been a long hard struggle for the average TV fan, but ABC has finally thrown us the life raft we have so desperately been waiting for, Lost has returned!
It doesn't really matter that despite fans enduring patience over Lost's eight month hiatus, it's will not be a complete season. Only eight episodes to be exact. It only matters that TV viewers can bask in the greatness that is Lost, if only for a moment.
Thursday's season premier was all that it promised it would be and lived up to every bit of its much anticipated hype. In true Lost fashion, the show answered only a few of last seasons burning questions and created a hundred new ones. Last seasons big reveal (other than Jack's beard) was that some of the survivors of Oceanic flight 815 do get off the island, (Jack & Kate among them), but not everyone. Jack desperate attempt at suicide & persuading Kate that they should go back to help the others survivors, left us wondering who was left on the Island and who escaped with Jack & Kate?
The geniuses over at Lost, before going on strike, threw us a bone in the first few minutes of the episode. After showing a future Hurly apprehended after being chased by police in LA., Hurly tells the officers that he is one of the "Oceanic 6". So Jack, Kate, and Hurly make three. This leaves us with a more specific question, who are the other three survivors that make up this "Oceanic 6"?
Future Hurly is then committed to a mental hospital (which reminds us of another question, why was pre-crash, pre-lotto winner Hurly instituted, oh the questions never end). The mental breakdown is a result of whatever lead the six to getting off the island. Not to mention Hurly begins being visited by a very dead Charlie (Lost viewers know they should always be wary of getting too attached, they will kill anyone off on this show), who is telling him that he needs to go back to the island to save the others. All to reminiscent of the sentiments we heard voiced by future Jack (AKA bearded Jack) in last seasons finale.
Meanwhile back at the beach, the survivors have reached the radio tower. Thanks to Charlie's pre-drowning heroic efforts, they have been able to use Naomi's satellite phone to call her people back on the boat. Naomi, for those of you who didn't watch the recap, is the lady who fell from the sky and claimed to be part of a rescue mission, looking for Desmond. They've been hired by Penny, Desmond's long lost love. Naomi of course, was stabbed immediately after making the call by Locke, who claims she is not who she says she is. This, being what Ben, leader of "the Others' has been claiming all along.
What the hopeful survivors don't know, is that before meeting his watery death, Charlie talked to Penny via satellite and found out that she was not in charge of any rescue mission, and had no idea who Naomi was. Charlie was able to pass this on to Desmond before drowning. Desmond's reached the beach and tells the group on the beach. The group on the beach meets up with the group heading back from the tower where the dividing begins. Some heed Charlie's warning and take cover inland, lead by Locke. The rest stay with Jack & Kate on the beach to await rescue.
After watching this show, it is clear to me that the writers are absolute geniuses. They should be given everything they are asking for in this strike, because they deserve it. At least the writers of Lost due. If nothing else, they should be given permission from the writers guild to finish the season of Lost. Regardless, after the exhilarating season premier, the next seven episodes should be just as heart pumping. Simply put, this is good television.