Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT You Spin Me Right Round Baby
By Cindy McLennan | Season 5 | Episode 1 | Aired on 01.21.2009
In the dark, Sawyer turns to Daniel (not like that). "So when are we now, Wiz Kid?" He says they're either in the past or in the future. Er...may I suggest that wherever you are will always be the present? No? Okay. I'll keep my unscientific mouth closed as tightly as my mind.
Sun, looking lovely and elegant but concerned, rides a downward escalator as she listens to her cell phone. She's in an airport, because these characters' learning curves have been replaced by flat lines. While checking in for a flight to Los Angeles no less, Sun is detained by security, at the directive and whim of Charles Widmore. When he finally reveals himself to her, she asks why he would have her detained. Widmore says, "You had the audacity to approach me in broad daylight, in front of my business associates, in public. Why did I have you brought here? Because you showed me no respect. I will be respected, Sun." Sun's all -- whatever dude, I'm the only daughter of a ruthless, hard-assed Asian businessman; I'm not afraid of any low-rent Don Corleone wannabe who can't decide if he's a Brit or an Aussie. I'm pretty sure I can muster more respect than you know what to do with -- with both hands tied behind my back, or maybe she just says, "Fair enough." Getting down to business -- Widmore demands to know what their common interests might be. Sun quietly says, "To kill Benjamin Linus." Then they're BFFs. ♥ ♥ ♥
At the hotel, Jack takes a final look in the mirror, because even he can't believe he let that beard thing go on so long, while Ben watches the news -- which is reporting that a shooting suspect -- a one Hugo Reyes -- escaped from a mental healthcare facility earlier that evening. Ben says, "Well, it looks like we have a change of plans," and walks out -- Jack following behind.
At the Rainbow Drive-In restaurant, a waitress delivers an order to Sayid who is, of course, sitting in the driver's side (top), but it's totally for Hurley, who's riding shotgun (bottom). When Sayid refuses even a French fry, Hurley says, "You know, maybe if you ate more comfort food, you wouldn't have to go around shooting people." I happen to know that's factually correct. When they arrive at a motel (or apartment complex -- I can't decide), Hurley says, "So that dude you popped outside Santa Sosa -- who was he?" Sayid doesn't care -- all he knows is the guy was armed and watching Hurley, which made him an enemy. I love ruthless Sayid. He tells Hurley he's not taking any risks since Bentham died. Hurley plays the exposition fairy for those of us who didn't break out the season 4 DVDs before this season started (like we'd planned, and dammit I'm sorry, readers) and asks Sayid, "You mean Locke?" He does, and now we're all on the same page. Hurley wants a cool code name, too. I'm thinking Hurley is your cool code name, Hugo, since its connection to Hugo Reyes is tentative at best. When Hurley asks how Sayid got so paranoid, he says that anyone who spent the last two years doing what he's been doing (i.e. being a hitman) would be paranoid. When Hurley presses him, Sayid admits to having been in Benjamin Linus's employ. Hurley's all, "Wait, he's on our side now?" because it's his turn to stand in for the fans. Sayid's expression grows grimmer still, explaining that if Hurley ever has the misfortune of running into Ben, he should do exactly the opposite of whatever Ben tells him to do. And that will serve as pretty good advice, until Ben figures it out in 2.3 seconds and starts ordering Hurley not to jump off a cliff. I'm just saying.