"What Kate Does" Online Buzz

Lost News
For awhile we have wondered whether or not Lost would take a hiatus for the Winter Olympics or not. We've heard official reports both ways. But as your DVR can confirm, there will be a new episode this Tuesday night. And, just like last week's episode, the title alone excites me.

Details and Easter Eggs
During Season 1, Claire went into false labor because of the stress after the crash. In the LA story line, she went into false labor because of the stress of losing the adoptive parents.

The adoptive mom-to-be didn't want the baby because her husband had left her and she couldn't raise him alone. In the original story line, Claire didn't want her baby because her boyfriend Thomas left her and she didn't think she could raise him alone. If the Claire in this new story line has the same backstory as the old one, hearing Ms. Baskum's sorry excuse must have stung a little.

The ultrasound picture of "in utero Aaron" had an Oct 2004 date. This poses a lot of questions. Mainly, did the Oceanic flight take place a month later in this new reality? Since I don't know how to fit that in, I'm just going to assume print out was indicating Aaron due date, or it was simply a prop error.

This episode started with the skinny Other "Lennon" running barefoot through the halls. This could have been a wink at the urban legend that surrounded the Beatles about Paul McCartney being dead and secretly replaced with a body double. When the album "Abbey Road" was released, Paul was the only Beatle on the cover who was barefoot and in a dark suit. People took this as a confirmation he was dead. If you want to read into this a little further, you could wonder if the Lost writers are giving us a clue that these Temple-dwelling Others are also dead.

Online Buzz
I've heard a lot of negative buzz (online and in person) about this episode. Many people have complained that it wasn't very exciting. Many are not too crazy about Kate-centric episodes. Many felt like it was a "filler" episode. But the most common complaint I've heard is that the writers should be answering more questions more quickly. To all those "Debbie Downers" I will use my best motherly tone of voice to say "Settle down and quit fussing!" It is true, the proverbial clock is ticking. But remember, they have known the end date for three years and have paced themselves accordingly. If you will recall every season of Lost has had the same kind of pacing as a good game of chess: First you have to set up the playing board and let a few pawns get captured early on. This allows you to get the more important pieces in place. Then you can make your big, bold, surprising moves that allow you to win the game. I have always had total confidence in the Lost writers and I will not doubt them now.

I read a great new nick name for Un-Locke: The Locke-ness Monster.

I also read a nick name for Claire now that she looks grunged out like Rousseau: Clousseau.

Many people were excited to see Aldo again. (The bitter Other) And then, after he opened his mouth, they were excited to see him go.

Online Theories
Here are a handful of good theories I've come across:

The Smokey in Locke is not the same entity as is in Christian and Claire. They are "little smokies" or agents of the big one. Maybe Smokey is trying to create an army using the dead and dying. That would explain why the Others have been very particular about the handling of dead bodies on the island.

Sayid failed the "tests" not based on how his body reacted, but because of something he said during the tests. Maybe he showed that he still remembered too much of his former self. Remember Richard warned that Young Ben wouldn't remember what happened during his trip to the Temple Spa. Incidentally, they both (Sayid and Young Ben) had the same first line after their bath: "What happened?"

Some are wondering if there is a difference between being "infected" and being "claimed." Rousseau had used the term "infected" to describe her team. And I think Desmond had asked about "infections." At first Dogen said Sayid was "infected" when trying to convince Jack to give him the pill. But later he confessed that Sayid and Claire had been "claimed." So is there a difference? And what did Rousseau have? The island crazies?

Well, time to prepare for the next episode. Based on the title, I think I'll have to re-watch "316" (S5 E6.)

Namaste!