Jack didn't blow up

I caught the last few minutes of last night's 'enhanced' version and it indicated that MIB/Flocke had recruited Kate to his side (as she leaves the Temple at the end of the episode). That didn't seem so clear to me; she'd managed to survive the attack on the place and was simply following everyone out. But I suppose she did follow them upon leaving, and perhaps that little glance from MIB indicates acceptance or something.

Ben has been devious and manipulating for so long that I still occasionally doubted his sincerity. But his explanation to Ilana and his grief over sacrificing Alex - apparently for nothing - was pretty touching. And her acceptance was a nice touch. Maybe he is good after all.

It was fun to hear his flash-sideways counterpart lecture on Napoleon's exile and desire for power - a perfect analogy for island-Ben. And in this universe he makes the noble choice for Alex. Very nice!

There was more irony in this episode: In the flash-sideways Ben gives his father a new oxygen tank, but in the island history he gassed him to death (a few seasons ago).

And this time it's Jack as the man of faith (with Richard in the Black Rock) - instead of the old Locke. And it's kind of fun to see so much of Arzt in the alternate timeline, after seeing relatively little of him in the original. And the dynamite by which the original met his demise is from the same stash that Richard wants to use.

An explanation for Richard's immortality is hinted at: a gift (a touch) from Jacob, though now he sees it as a curse. I suspect additional information will be given in the upcoming Richard-centric episode. (And the way he touched the chains on the ship made me wonder if the earlier remark about "Richard's chains" is literal and applies to his arrival on the ship long ago).

Enjoyed the reunion with Hurley and Sun and Jack. I admit I'm looking forward to the one between Sun and Jin.

Annnd....Widmore's baaaack.

On island activities had some action: Ep.4 - Smokey and Sawyer in the caves, Ep.5 - Jack and Hurley at the lighthouse + Claire, Jin and the Other in the jungle. Ep.6 - Smokey's attack on the temple. But in the LA X timeline there was a lot of focus on the characters and not so much on action.

Ethan as Claire's very caring doctor in the flash-sideways.

Sayid in at the pool in the temple after he killed Dogen.
When Ben tells him "There's still time" and Sayid turns around with that creepy face and says "Not for me". Speaking of creepy Sayid here is a promo picture of Sayid from next weeks episode:

most anything with Flocke. He has the CREEPIEST smiles!

Who are the 6? Jack, Hurley, Kate, Sawyer, Jin, and Sun? Are we assuming that Jin and Sun are both candidates?

I think that if anyone becomes the next Jacob, it will be Jack. This episode really sealed that for me. He acts so like Jacob with Richard: manipulating, trusting faith, understanding the island's rules as well as Jacob's rules. He understands Jacob and that puts him in position to fill his shoes. It just figures. He's been the leader from the start and even though he was "a man of science," he's become a man of faith, which makes him the best candidate. He's arrived at where he needs to be, but he had quite a journey to get there.

Anyway, I enjoyed this episode but not quite as much as The Substitute or Lighthouse. There was some great action, the story on the Island moved forward one move (chess-style) but there was little, (or perhaps lots? - see the Shen Ring paragraph) of the Island mythology explored. In the alternate timeline, the focus was on developing the character of Sayid.

In the LA X timeline, it seems Nadia is married to Sayid's brother (I never saw that coming). Naturally Sayid still has deep feelings for her. Uncle Sayid? Boomerangs? Hilarious stuff. I've got to say the photo he had in his bag of Nadia was a bit voyeur-ish.

In the Island timeline, Dogen tells Sayid that it would be best if he (Sayid) were dead. It doesn't seem as though he likes our favourite torturer/hit-man, does it? But I think the line more likely implies that the darkness taking over his body will d**n his soul or something to that effect, and that it would be better if he were dead.
Sayid and Dogen get in a fight - great action. Maybe Dogen is a ancient martial arts master after all? Dogen almost kills Sayid but his baseball falls from the table onto the ground, stopping him in his tracks. What is the significance of the baseball?
The MIB/Smokey/'Locke' stands with Claire just outside the boundaries of the Temple. He needs her to send a message to the Temple that he will kill everyone who doesn't listen to him. Judging by her response, she seems to know Smokey has already talked to Sawyer and Jin. Interesting. Smokey insists it is her job alone if she wishes to get Aaron back.

LA X - Sayid's brother comes to him seeking help. He's in deep with Mafia-type people. He borrowed some money, paid them back in full and they want more. He wants Sayid to put a stop to it.

Island - Claire arrives at the Temple. Awesome! She demands that Dogen leave the Temple and go into the jungle to talk to Smokey. Dogen says, no! That if he leaves he will be killed. What's this? They put her in a pit? Poor girl. Dogen calls for Jack and Hurley but they're at the Lighthouse. I think this spells trouble for the Temple dwellers. Dogen calls Sayid to his quarters and shows him an elaborate-looking dagger. He tells Sayid to kill Smokey with it, before he can say a word.

LA X - Jack gets a split-second cameo in the hospital Sayid goes to see his brother. His brother has been stabbed and is gravely wounded. Probably the Mafia-types did him in.

Island - Kate arrives at the Temple (that little lie-r!). Miles is playing Solitaire by himself (alone - 'solitary' - get it?). Kate asks what's going down, Miles replies that Claire is with them, 'acting all weird. Still hot though' (hilarious - classic Miles line).
Sayid discovers Smokey, who greets him. Sayid stabs him with the dagger to no effect. There's no blood even on the blade. First deflects bullets? Now not affected by sharp, pointy weapons? Interesting. Was the dagger special? - meant to kill Smokey or did Dogen do it as a ruse to kill of Sayid? Smokey tells Sayid to deliver a message to the Temple and that if he does he can have anything he wanted. Naturally, Sayid wants Nadia or Shannon (both 'died in his arms'). Are the sideways timeline moments our look at the reality given to the Losties by Smokey if they follow him and do his bidding? It's highly possible. At least that's what the episode has us believe. This moment was incredibly powerful. I thought it recalled the way Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, but also the way he tempts us today. Lots of lies with an element of truth.
Smokey manipulates Sayid to do his work. Sayid returns to the Temple and tells the Others to leave and join him, if they want to be free. If they stay, they will die. There are two opposing forces. The lines have been drawn in the sand.

Creepy Claire sits crouched in her pit, not unlike Gollum. She sings her own rendition of 'Catch a Falling Star'. Normally this is a nice lullaby (one for Aaron) but it takes on a sinister edge. It more closely recalls another fallen star - Lucifer, the Star of the Morning, who fell from Heaven for thinking he was greater than God. I wonder if this is foreshadowing something later on? Kate catches up with Claire. Claire is pleasant with Kate, until Kate tells her she took Aaron. Then Claire's demeanour changes to something far more demonic (or at least - dangerous). I loved this scene. It's great to finally have a scene where Aaron's two mums come together and talk. The unspoken words were the most tasty ones.
Many Temple Others don't wish to die, so they leave the Temple, Cindy and the Zac and Emily(?) are amongst them.

LA X - Sayid is intercepted outside his brother's home by a freighter mercenary from Season 4. Sayid is taken to his boss, who turns out to be Martin Keamy, the head mercenary from Season 4. He makes great eggs. I'm not sure if this is meant to mean anything but I thought it was enjoyable. Keamy is suave but has about him an underlying menace. Sayid offs Keamy in both realities. He finds Jin (wow!) in the cold food locker. Mayber Jin owes Keamy money too?

Island - We discover the significance of the baseball. It reminds Dogen of his son who loved baseball and almost/did? die in a drunk-driving accident involving his father. Dogen isn't an ancient samurai but instead a Japanese businessman from Osaka? That's both a bit disappointing and quite funny. Jacob came to Dogen and told him that he could save his son's life, if only he came to the Island and took up the job as Protector of the Temple. The downside was that Dogen would never see his son again, but he would be alive. Jacob? What are you up too. This 'bargaining' of yours is becoming more and more sinister and manipulative. Sayid is peeved that Dogen has tried to have him killed several times, so he drowns him in the ex-healing pool. No, I think he's really dead. Lennon waltzes in and tells Sayid he's an idiot for killing Dogen, because he protects the Temple and prevents Smokey from entering. Now that Dogen is dead, Smokey has full reign of the Temple. Is it possible Dogen was a candidate? Or just a proxy for Jacob?

Smokey storms the Temple, killing many Others. Miles encounters Illana, Frank, Ben and the rest - awesome! Their entrance was both unexpected (to an extent) and yes, here are the cavalry! Illana searches for a particular hieroglyphic amongst those on the Temple walls. She finds one that looks like the Star Gate (Jack and Hurley used it to lead to the Lighthouse) and presses it to open a doorway. They leap inside and shut the door moments before Smokey passes by.

The 'Star Gate' hieroglyphic is called a 'Shen Ring'. The Shen Ring is an Egyptian symbol for eternity, all time. It's name comes from a root word meaning 'encircling' - all the sun circles. It serves as a boundary for the created world, as protection from the surrounding chaos of darkness and non-existence (everything outside the physical realm - the unknown). Very interesting stuff. So the circles of ash might have been a poor-man's version of the Shen Ring to keep out the surrounding chaos (eg. Smokey). It was used to symbolise the beginning of the creator god and his creation (remember this is not Christian culture but Ancient Egyptian), the primeval serpent form of the created god (Smokey! or possibly Jacob). Also, the dual flow of time. Wow! Island and Sideways reality? The Shen Ring sometimes represented the beginning of numbers. The Numbers? Is this where the candidate numbers possibly began?
Finally, the Shen Ring was often used in funeral art, as it came to symbolise the eternal life of the deceased. Wow. Does this sound familiar? Non-existence could be applied to Smokey and his 'candidates'. They live and yet they do not. I don't think they're zombies, so much as they have/are losing their souls. Or perhaps it applies to Jacob. Maybe he will be resurrected?

The resource I used for the Shen Ring information can be found here:
http://www.recoveredscience.com/const104shenring1.htm

At the end, Claire's lullaby plays over the montage of dead Others scattered in and around the Temple. Deliciously creepy! Claire and Sayid exit the Temple to join Smokey, where he stands with his recruits. He acknowledges them. Kate brings up the rear. For now Kate wears the grey top of indecision. She doesn't wish to die but she has no-where else to go. She has no plans of joining Smokey but she'll have to for the time being. Unspoken words become important once again. The look Smokey gives Kate is one of worry and annoyance. He doesn't seem to want her there but maybe he can't touch her? Is it possible she will try to convert his people back to Jacob's side?

Claire's lullaby over the Temple attack aftermath is a very creepy scene.

Shen Ring. (Lostpedia's entry on "Sundown" happens to link to that same page). Of the 'big' classical mythologies, Egyptian is the one I know least about, so it's been fun learning more about it on the side.

And it's just one more testimony to the level of detail on this show. Most shows would likely just have symbols here and there (which is usually just fine), but here a symbol with appropriate meaning is deliberately employed. Nice.