Lost "The Last Recruit" Talkback (Spoilers)

[Temple Fugate]

Destiny Found

Lost
Season 6 Episode 12: "The Last Recruit"
Tuesday, April 20 @ 9pm EDT/PDT
Writers: Paul Zbyszewski & Graham Roland
Director: Stephen Semel

Alliances waver as Island groups converge.

Previously on Lost:
115: Everybody Loves Hugo
114: Happily Ever After
113: The Package
112: Ab Aeterno
111: Recon
The Complete Lost Talkback Archive

Missed an episode? Watch Lost on-line at abc.com.

Please keep discussion of previews and rumors of unaired episodes in spoiler boxes.

Let the talkback begin!

[OnePark]

MiB was Christian all along. Makes sense, and I guessed that long ago.

Nice to see a heart-warming moment between Jack and Claire. Reminds me of season one, before everything got so complicated.

"You needed to find water."

[Neo Ultra Mike]

You know it's getting ridicoulous at this point how many times all or at least the main group of survivors have been captured by the enemy and are held for an episode or two before escaping. I guess this is really the last one of the season though which is thankfully a good thing. Quite frankly I thought it was annoying how easily Zoey could just stroll into campe with the "ha ha we got bombs we're going to launch at you if we don't get Desmond" line and then capturing everyone at the end. On the one hand there were a lot of good moments of the main plot: Jack and Locke's talk (at this point we can't get any false answers about stuff like Christian, so I'm glad it was revealed that was Smokey. I mean thinking about it, wasn't the last time we saw Christian Shepard appear to the survivors technically before he took over Locke's body? So yeah Christian was smoke monster so at least we have THAT mystery solved), the groups meeting up at Locke's camp, Sawyer's plan on getting everyone out (thoguh really I know it's not a large boat or anything but they are really shoehorning how little the other "survivors" of hte temple matter. Just get everyone important to the plot and try and forget about the extras. Not even mention them. I mean really why bother with extras at this point anyway if you aren't doing ANYTHING with them), Jack and Claire having a chance to talk, Kate convincing Claire to go with them (though I do see Sawyer's point, I do have to like Kate for remembering why she came to the island. And hey if Claire's followign them already might as well let her come), Sawyer telling Jack to get off his boat, Sun and Jin's reunion (spoiled by the TV Guide by that as well as why they said it'd be brief) and well... that's it. Didn't like the ending where everone else was captured, with only Smokey, extras, Sayid, and Jack around. Or Desmond and Sayid's talk (I'm sure Desmond's around but what will he do is still a mystery).

The flashsideways were rather good though. Flashsideways Desmond is still pretty creepy but I did like him trying to help Claire (though to his own end I'm sure) and then it being revealed she was there for Christan's will reading with Jack and his Son. Heh at this point I think Jack and his son have the only solid, decent parent/child interaction on this show in it's history (well Hurley's is relatively normal but that's it). And though Kate and Sawyer's scene was overly flirty (and why hasn't Kate been cuffed when she was talking to Sawyer?), I did like his scene arresting Sayid by taking him out in the back. (Yeah guess Sawyer's watched enough movies to know how many boyfriends/guy friends try sneaking out the back while the other cop talks to the lady in the house). The opening of Ben trying to talk to the dcotor was good (admitting he didn't know Locke that much got a chuckle from me) though I wonder if jack will actually be able to really fix John, and have a non island Locke actually walking around in present time. Probably not but always hope right? Okay let's see, Sun and Jin continue to be all nice and coupley, and hey Illana as expected gets to make an appearence in the flashsideways verse for all... what four fans she has I guess.

So pretty good ep. Some convulted reasoning in having our main cast end up getting captured but that's the norm for Lost. Hey at the very least now the stage has offically been set for the finale with only four parts remaining, who will get off the island, who will stay, what is the monster's actual name, and just what purpose do Desmond and Jack serve? We'll find out shortly enough. Till then good ep with a fwe flaws that make me mark it down some.

[OnePark]

Kate's left hand was cuffed to the chair.

[Jacob]

Spoiler sources had rated this episode below any other this season - but I thought it was quite good. One of the best. Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Very exciting. Lots of explosions. Yay. Hoping for more multi-centrics.

If there was one thing I hated about the episode, it would have to be the revelation about Christian. I had really hoped Christian was Jacob. John Terry was one of my favorite guest actors on this show, and I'd hoped we'd see him again. I guess we won't. I wanted Jack to have a scene with Christian, too, that would've been really powerful. Y'know, I almost think the writers did this because they couldn't get John Terry to come back or something. And then there's the season four episode "Something Nice Back Home!" Jack saw Christian after his death OFF the island, and we all know the Man in Black CAN'T get OFF the island - but Jacob CAN! AND, when MiB took over Locke's body, Locke was still in the coffin - but Christian literally opened his coffin, got out of it, and walked away! *headache*

Then we go to the flashsideways, wherein John X and Sun X are being taken to the ER. But Sun X recognizes John. She flashed to the other timeline, no doubt. Oh, by the way, Ben X, you DO know John X's first name. I specifically remember him introducing himself as John Locke in "The Substitute."

Then we go back to the island, where John tells Claire she's a bad little girl for following him, and leaves her to talk with Jack. So they talk about being siblings and such, and Claire starts to show some signs of normalcy again. Until... the end of their talk... Crazy Claire comes back and tells Jack that she's been "claimed" by John. She tells Jack he's been claimed too, and now there's no turning back.

Zoe walks into camp and tells MiB that they'll all die if Desmond isn't returned. MiB didn't even flinch when the rocket blew up behind him, that was awesome. But if I recall correctly, Smokey doesn't like explosions, does he?

Then in the flashsideways, James X questions Kate X. I honestly couldn't care less what happens to her at this point, or James X either - although I do hope he and Juliet X go out for coffee.

In response to Widmore's threat, MiB tells Sayid to go kill Desmond. And surprisingly, he shows a little bit of emotion. Is he getting his feelings back similarly to how Sun got her English back at the end of the episode? Or did he really ever loose his feelings? Was he doing this all for Nadia? By the way, I don't hate Island Desmond like I did last week. He's all right.

In Sayid's flashsideways, he is, well, captured by James X. Eh... I don't really care what happens to him either.

In Claire's flashsideways, she meets up with Desmond X again! And a quite creeper-ish Desmond X at that. And they meet with Desmond X's lawyer, Ilana X! She actually looks a lot different in the flashsideways, and acts a lot less mean. Cool.

In Jack's flashsideways, he goes to see Ilana X too! And has a phone conversation with his X-wife... and we still don't know who she is. Darn! We were so close, too. They are going to hear about Christian X's will... but that has to be postponed, of course. I wonder what's in the will? Something interesting?

And back on the island... Sawyer, Kate, Hurley, Frank, Sun, a reluctant Jack, and a whiny Claire leave! But Jack decides not to leave the island. Good move, Jack. I honestly don't want Kate and Sawyer to come back with them. I'd like it if Hurley would go with him, but Kate and Sawyer are too indecisive and would just slow him down. Good riddance, I say!

In the flashsideways, Sun X wakes up, Jin X is happy, Jack X comes to operate on John X, and notices him! Yay, I guess. Some people were hoping Jack X would make Locke X walk again. Seems a bit unrealistic at this point, but that'd still be an interesting twist.

So Jack gets back to the beach, to find none other than the Man in Black waiting for him! And then... they get hit by another rocket! And another rocket! I wonder if Jack flashed to the flashsideways timeline? Looked like it to me.

"You're with me now, Jack" says MiB. I sincerely hope MiB doesn't make Jack all crazy like Sayid and Claire. Jack has gone from one of my least favorite characters to one of my favorite characters in seven episodes, and I'd like to keep it that way. If there's going to be a new Jacob, I'd like it to be him.

------

So I really don't know what to make of the flashsideways. They're interesting, yes, but how are the flashsideways characters going to help our island characters without ruining the show?

The show is moving forward at a good pace, which, as I said earlier, is a good thing. This was one of the most action-packed episodes of this season, which makes it one of the best of this season in my book.

A+

------

6x1 - "LA X" - A+
6x2 - "What Kate Does" - B+
6x3 - "The Substitute" - A-
6x4 - "The Lighthouse" - A+
6x5 - "Sundown" - B-
6x6 - "Dr. Linus" - A+
6x7 - "Recon" - B+
6x8 - "Ab Aeterno" - A+
6x9 - "The Package" - A-
6x10 - "Happily Ever After" - B+
6x11 - "Everybody Loves Hugo" - A+
6x12 - "The Last Recruit" - A+

------

No new episode next week (4/27). We will have three more weekly episodes beginning 5/4, and the two-hour finale will air on Sunday 5/23.

[OnePark]

All in all a good episode, I must say, after watching it again. It was action packed, but it's main purpose was to set up the board for our big game of chess in the last few episodes.

[Brandon Pierce]

Brown and orange are not Zoe's colors.

Just once I wish a character in a TV show would hang a lampshade on the "when were you planning on telling me this" cliche, but I guess this'll do.

Kate: "When were you planning on telling me this?"
Sawyer: ......."Just now."

I didn't know so many spoilers about this episode was leaked. I guess it's a good thing I didn't see any before watching the episode.

"You ready to get wet?" LOL Sawyer.

[Peter Paltridge]

They're not really going to withhold the last four episodes until one night on May 25, are they? Because that's what the next preview suggested.

[Lelouch]

Yeah...I found myself wondering that also. And if that is the case then that is just plain WRONG.

As for the episode...it was alright. I liked how all of the stories in the Flash sideways are finally coming together. Yay for Illiana being there...sucks that she still hasn't done anything. I was hoping that during this episode we would finally find out who the mother of Jack's son is (whose name escapes me) but perhaps that will be for the next episode. It will be interesting to see if Jack will actually go so far as to repair John's spine...and that would be crazy awesome. I'll admit that when John was in the ambulance I felt horribly bad for him when he said "I was supposed to marry her."

As for the island...meh. I am just wondering how long it will take for the group to realize Charles...MiB...etc, can't be trusted! They are selfish people out for their own personal gain, it isn't hard to see that you can't just take a boat over to them and expect things to be fine. Oh, but I did like that Jack is now the believer, it is a nice reversal. And honestly...I really miss Locke. MiB just isn't the same and Locke just added a lot of emotional depth to the show, it isn't the same without him. And lastly I am wondering whether or not Desmond was killed...though I will assume he wasn't.

So...bets on who will die? I am thinking both Kate and Sawyer won't make it off the island alive. Claire for me is 50/50 but I bet she will survive if only to finally be reunited with her kid. Richard is more than likely going to die...and probably Sayid. Jack, Hurley, Sun and Jin are all up in the air for me. Oh and...do you guys think we will ever see Rose and Bernard again?

[chdr]

They're not really going to withhold the last four episodes until one night on May 25, are they? Because that's what the next preview suggested.

Nope. They're taking a one-week break, then resuming the normal schedule for three weeks, followed by the series finale on Sunday night (technically meaning 2 episodes will be airing that week, both on Tuesday and Sunday).

[mumbo]

If there was one thing I hated about the episode, it would have to be the revelation about Christian. I had really hoped Christian was Jacob. John Terry was one of my favorite guest actors on this show, and I'd hoped we'd see him again. I guess we won't. I wanted Jack to have a scene with Christian, too, that would've been really powerful. Y'know, I almost think the writers did this because they couldn't get John Terry to come back or something. And then there's the season four episode "Something Nice Back Home!" Jack saw Christian after his death OFF the island, and we all know the Man in Black CAN'T get OFF the island - but Jacob CAN! AND, when MiB took over Locke's body, Locke was still in the coffin - but Christian literally opened his coffin, got out of it, and walked away! *headache*

For me, the MiB = Christian revelation made a lot of sense and was what I was suspecting all season. But there is the problem with the off-island appearances. Like MiB influencing Michael's actions in Season 4 makes sense, but how did he appear on the freighter? It doesn't quite add up to me. But when we saw Claire for the last time in Season 4, sitting and laughing with Christian in Jacob's cabin, that makes sense perfectly.

Speaking of which, I wonder how MiB got into Jacob's cabin so early on. Or if that even is necessarily Jacob's cabin...

I thought the episode was just okay. Got a little disoriented at the end there, and the flash-sideways felt a little draggy. And I don't know how Jack was able to swim that distance with boots, jeans, and a backpack on

[Runaway]

At this point, I'm pretty much 95% sure that Desmond is going to revealed to be Jacob's successor in a rather short amount of time. Desmond X's recent interactions with the other characters have been so Jacob-esque. Remember when Jacob began appearing to the characters at random points in their lives, too? Also, I was happy to find out that The Man in Black was Christian Shepard on the Island all along.

[Young Justice]

So, what an episode! One of the best of the entire series for me. From the "Who the hell is Anakin" from Sawyer, to (my favorite moment on the episode) Jack's leap of faith, jumping on water to stay: "The island is not done with us yet".

Very other good moments: The reunion of Jin and Sun. How the X reality is building up together, MiB as Christian Shepherd revelation. Widmore as a villain sort of revelation.

It's a shame that next week won't be a new episode. It's a chance to review all episodes for this season and get ready for the grand finale.

If there was one thing I hated about the episode, it would have to be the revelation about Christian. I had really hoped Christian was Jacob. John Terry was one of my favorite guest actors on this show, and I'd hoped we'd see him again. I guess we won't. I wanted Jack to have a scene with Christian, too, that would've been really powerful. Y'know, I almost think the writers did this because they couldn't get John Terry to come back or something. And then there's the season four episode "Something Nice Back Home!" Jack saw Christian after his death OFF the island, and we all know the Man in Black CAN'T get OFF the island - but Jacob CAN! AND, when MiB took over Locke's body, Locke was still in the coffin - but Christian literally opened his coffin, got out of it, and walked away!

There are tons of theories about Christian/MiB/Jacob on Lostpedia.

I personally believe that all of Christian apparitions in island were MiB. With the exception of the one he helped Jack to find water (who was confirmed to be MiB by himself), all other helped in one way or another to happen the events of Oceanic Six alone being rescued, Ben leaving the island, and Locke being appointed leader of the Others, so then he would be killed off island, MiB would take his body, manipulate Ben to kill Jacob because MiB couldn't.

But there are some apparitions that are still mysterious. The one of the LA Hospital being the most of them. I think maybe it was really the ghost of Christian who appeared to Jack trying to tell him about how MiB was using his form to trick people.

For me, the MiB = Christian revelation made a lot of sense and was what I was suspecting all season. But there is the problem with the off-island appearances. Like MiB influencing Michael's actions in Season 4 makes sense, but how did he appear on the freighter? It doesn't quite add up to me. But when we saw Claire for the last time in Season 4, sitting and laughing with Christian in Jacob's cabin, that makes sense perfectly.

Speaking of which, I wonder how MiB got into Jacob's cabin so early on. Or if that even is necessarily Jacob's cabin...

I think early as the ascension of Ben into leader of the Others and the banishment of Widmore were MiB's actions rather than Jacob's. I think MiB took Jacob's cabin way back there and started to manipulate events leading into Ben killing Jacob.

I think it was MiB's that appeared to Ben as his mother, and it was him who convinced Ben to kill all the Dharma Initiative members. It was an act of brutality and cruelty. Much more akin to MiB than Jacob, in my opinion.

[Brandon Pierce]

Oh and...do you guys think we will ever see Rose and Bernard again?

Spoiler:

We will see Bernard again before the series ends. I don't know about Rose.

[Yojimbo]

"People trying to kill us again."

Loved the return of The Elizabeth yacht. Haven't see it since Season 3 when...Sun shot Colleen.

I'm warming up to Jack a lot more this season. His observation on the Man in Black was interesting. Connect that to the Candidates, he's afraid that one of them will soon manifest as the next Jacob, killing his window to escape the Island.

At this point, I'm pretty much 95% sure that Desmond is going to revealed to be Jacob's successor in a rather short amount of time. Desmond X's recent interactions with the other characters have been so Jacob-esque. Remember when Jacob began appearing to the characters at random points in their lives, too? Also, I was happy to find out that The Man in Black was Christian Shepard on the Island all along.

I like that idea, kudos for catching that parallel. Ilana Verdansky 'works' for both of them, too.

Starting to like looking for all the mirror reflections in the Sideways as much as I did with the Numbers (15th Floor!).

ABC just couldn't let us have week to week viewings of new episodes could they? May 4th...May 4th.

[The Penguin]

Long delayed, but I finally made it to this thread. Not sure what took me so long. I hope to not repeat the late posting with this week's new episode.

So to my promised personal "Lost journey" if you will...

When Lost first premiered (I believe on Wednesdays), it was against at least one, possibly two shows that I already watched so I didn't want to try to add it. One of the assistant directors at my job said she really liked it and was pretty sure I would too, but I just didn't feel like I had time to add it. Perhaps not immediately, but for the past few years (after I knew the "end date"), I've always resolved I was going to get caught up on the show and watch the series finale with everyone else.

From what I knew about it, I felt like Lost was a show that if you know how it all comes out before you've seen a single episode, you'll miss out on something. I also knew that unless I was going to hide under a rock for perhaps three weeks, I would see some show that comments on pop culture have something to say about it and then there would be the random jokes that would pop up months later.

The thought of catching up has stuck with me the last few years, but I hadn't been able to get started. One of my best friends has been a big Lost fan since day one and he has of course been encouraging me to pick it up and knew my goal to watch the series finale as it happened. He has all the DVDs and loaned me the first season in October. Being a big football watcher, it was tough to find a lot of time and I found myself stuck on on "Numbers" until January, finally finishing the first season Presidents' Day Weekend in February. After that, I worked hard to pick it up and finished season two just 10 days later. With a higher level of dedication and the seasons getting shorter, the rest just breezed by. I finished season five in April and caught all the way up a couple of weeks ago when I watched "Everybody Loves Hugo" the same week it premiered.

I greatly enjoy what I call "puzzle shows" where everything fits together into one large picture and Lost has been a thrill a minute for me. Overall, I have enjoyed every minute and it has become one of my favorite shows. A few things were ruined for me by ABC promos I remember (like Locke in the casket), but I didn't know too much. I have heard things about people being angry or frustrated with parts, but I didn't get too much of that myself. I did want to get through season four as quickly as possible because I just felt desperate to find out what happened to everyone, but otherwise I have just been enjoying and the ride and am happy to join you here.


Well that was much longer than I expected. Now for some thoughts on "The Last Recruit" (thought a lot about it and I still can't figure out what that title means)...

"This may be hard for you to believe Jack, but all I've ever been interested in is helping you."

The reveals about what Smokey/MiB/Locke have been up to since 815 crashed on the island certainly was interesting. MiB revealing that he was Christian (and probably a lot of the other people) was a big moment, understated as it may have been in context (loved "You needed to find water." though). The ease with which "Locke" interacts with these people after what he's done to so many of the people they knew is just kind of interesting. How do you take that?

When Zoe showed up at the camp and 'showed them what they're capable of' I loved how Locke didn't flinch or react in any way. "Well, here we go."

I'll be very interested to learn if Sayid really killed Desmond. I'm with Sawyer, he just doesn't seem right anymore. Of course the Star Wars reference didn't help James. "Who the hell's Anakin?"

"Sawyer took my boat, didn't he?"
Sawyer taking Locke's boat seemed like a pretty good plan as did his passenger list. Claire seems to have completely lost it and I'm uncomfortable with the idea of her being there. I noticed as I watching through the seasons that while I didn't hate Claire, she did tend to drag an episode down when she was the focus. Now she's just nuts. I guess that will happen when you have the Man in Black whispering in your ear. It would seem that they are going to have a tough time getting off the island with Zoe and her men pointing guns at them. At least Jin and Sun are back together.

I have really been enjoying the Flash-sideways timeline. I don't know what it means in terms of there still being people on the island, but this look at what would have happened to all the people we have met over the past six seasons if there was no island after 1977 is very interesting.

Desmond X does seem to remember things that he shouldn't though and seems intent on making everyone else that was on the island remember too. Hitting Locke X with his car seems to be an extreme and I hope Jack X is able to save him. By far my favorite sideways character is Ben X. I like the idea of him being a history teacher and working with Dr. Artz.

James X being a cop is a big surprise as is Miles X being one. Catching Kate X and now Sayid X shows how connected these people still are even though they didn't all end up on an island. Then of course you have Sun X and Locke X both going to the hospital and Jin X and Ben X being along for the ride.

Getting back to the island, Jack deciding that maybe this is their destiny and being concerned about Locke really wanting them to get off the island was a cool moment. He 'got off the damn boat' but with the Widmore attack on The Others on the beach, he's right back with Locke and his plans.

"Don't worry, it's gonna be okay. You're with me now."

[Jacob T. Paschal]

Ah yes, an epic journey that was. Like you, I too enjoy every moment of Lost. Being able to watch the whole thing in one go is much, much better.


Gah, I can't believe I'd gone two weeks without any Lost. Tonight shall be epic indeed!!