Lost Recap Season 6, Episode 12 "Everybody Loves Hugo" by Jeff Bond

I have been writing LOST episode recap blogs on my own for years now. Posting them everywhere from my large email friend-base to MYSPACE, to Lost board websites, to FACEBOOK, to the blog site's of other friendly 'Losties'. This season I am honored to be posting the remaining recaps EXCLUSIVELY for Cultural Compulsive Disorder!!! Join me there each week for my futile Lost TV show ramblings, but tune in daily, no.... hourly, for an endless array of movie, TV, music, comic book, fashion, and general geek-dom that Mr. Mike D provides. Take a moment right now to make C.C.D one of your favorites, and please become a follower of the blog. Just click follow over on the right hand side, sign in using one of the accounts provided (Google, AOL IM, Yahoo, etc) and watch your picture pop up. Comments are also appreciated...

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I usually find Hugo 'Hurley' Reyes episodes to be light hearted goof-fests but, this Hurley centric episode threw us straight into the action from minute one. There's no doubt we're passed the halfway point of the final season. So let's get right to it!

On the beach, Hurley 'Hugo' Reyes visits the grave where his love interest, Libby, is buried. He replaces a wilted flower there with a fresh one and speaks to her grave marker. He informs her that a lot of crazy things have happened since she's been gone and wishes that he could speak to her in person because a lot of others have visited him since they've died. Ilana, unknowingly, interrupts to inform Hurley that she is headed to the 'Black Rock' Ship remains to grab some dynamite to use in this grande old idea (what else is 'old', Linda?) of blowing up the Ajira plane to save the world from the terrible Smoke Thing. Hurley is hesitant to join the cause but he shrugs her off since 'she is the expert'. Ilana asks about the grave he mourns at and Hurley informs her about the 'thing' he had with Libby. They were to have a picnic on the beach before she died. Ilana vanishes and whispers are heard in the wind. Similar whispers to the ones we once associated with visitations by the 'Others' in previous seasons. This time they beckon the arrival of Michael Dawson who, you'll remember, died in the freighter explosion after an entity who looked a lot like Jack's Father dismissed him from his chosen duties. Michael was having all sorts of trouble dieing up until that point. Michael is now "..here to stop (Hugo) from getting everyone killed!" Hurley points out that Michael was responsible for the deaths of Ana Lucia and his love, Libby. "None of that matters now," Michael insists. If his team blows up that plane a lot of people will die and these deaths will be Hurley's fault. Jack interrupts next, and wants to know who Hurley is speaking to. "No one," Hurley hides. Seems Jack is always wishfully thinking that he'll catch Hugo in a conversation with Jacob but that's never the case lately.

Back at the beach camp of what I've been referring to as 'Team Jacob', Ilana has returned with 4 sticks of corroded dynamite in her bolsa and insists the team make haste toward the outrigger boats to head to Hydra Island where the Ajira plane is located. They have to ensure that the plane will "..never fly!" Hurley stresses that the dynamite she unsafely wields around in her backpack is unstable. Hurley would know, of course because he along with Jack and Locke were left with a little Dr. Arzt on them after he exploded due to unsafe dynamite handling in seasons past. Ilana knows what she's doing. She's 'trained her whole life for this'. "To blow yourself up," Hurley wonders. (haha)

"With the plane gone, that 'thing' won't be able to leave the island," Ilana stresses as she roughly stuffs assorted supplies in with her 4 stick-o-dynamite lunch bag. "Neither will we and we'll be stuck here with 'it' and he'll be angry at us," Hurley points out. (Except, of course, that there always seems to be another vehicle pulling up every 3 weeks, so there is a submarine that they don't know about) Ilana says that Richard has labelled this the will of Jacob which is not exactly true since Jacob only told Richard to keep Smoke Thing from LEAVING the island, Richard took it upon himself to decide to destroy all methods of departure using unstable dynamite. "What if Richard is wrong," Hurley wonders. Jacob's never told Hurley, one of only 2 people that actually speak to the dead, he should blow up the plane. Ilana is convinced that the 'thing' is evil and god help them if he ever leaves........-BLAMMO!- My recap could never do justice to the glory that is Ilana dropping her dynamite filled backpack on the beach blowing herself to proverbial 'smithereens'. One more time form a different angle please!? No? OK fine.

Deeper in the jungle, at what I've been referring to as the camp of Team Smoke Thing, Smoke Thing in his John Locke track suit whittles away at a very long wooden stick. James appears and asks if Smoke Thing is whittling a spear. "I dunno," Smoke Thing responds, "when the time is right it'll tell me". "You talk to wood now?" James jokingly asserts, possibly winning the line of the evening. Kate arrives and wonders why they are doing NOTHING to which Smoke Thing assures her that there is a difference between waiting and 'doing nothing'. The candidates got back to the island because they all came back TOGETHER. In order to leave they will all have to leave together. So, he insists, they are 'waiting' for Hugo, Sun and Jack so that they can make their next move off this 'god  forsaken rock' as he has heard it called. Kate's not so sure they'll show. Smokey hopes she's wrong. Next Sayid pops in, fresh off his mission to secure the 'package' from Widmore's sub. The 'package' we now know is a 'who' and not a 'what'...mind-travelling Desmond Hume! Sayid wishes to speak to Smokey privately and he obliges. As they walk further into the jungle, Sayid insists he's secured 'the package' and that he didn't find it necessary to kill any of Widmore's people. (A lie at least two of Widmore's crew with broken necks could attest to) In the true season 6 spirit of the reveal, Sayid 'shows' his new leader 'the package' rather than tells him who it is....Desmond of course, secured to a nearby tree. Hurley, back at the beach, looks through the personal effects of the recently departed Ilana. He shuffles passed a Russian paperback and finds the 'sack of Jacob'. This is the pouch that Ilana scooped up and saved Jacob's ashes in after his death and cremation at the hands of Smoke Thing and Ben. Hurley ties it closed and takes it with him. Richard violently unloads more pieces of luggage to fill with even more dynamite otherwise, he insists, Ilana will have died for 'nothing'. Jack wonders if maybe Ilana died as a sign NOT to go messing around with more dynamite, to which Richard is unconvinced. He'll take the risk. Jack informs Richie that Sun has been promised that he would get her off the island. Sun, who you'll remember has been rendered pretty much mute after she lost her ability to speak Engrish when she hit her head running from Smokey. Richard will take the blame with Sun. Hugo's had a change of heart it seems. "Richard's right it's the only chance we've got," Hugo says, "Trust me Jack." He pleads. "OK," Jack shrugs and with that, the team heads to the 'Black Rock' for more TNT! Near Camp Smoke Thing, Smoke Thing himself leans in toward Desmond to welcome him. He apologizes for Sayid tying him up. They thought Desmond might make a run for it before Smoke Thing had a chance to exchange pleasantries with him. What a nice batch of undead these guys are. Desmond has 'nowhere to run' he assures him. "If that isn't THE best argument against captivity, than I don't know what is," Smoke Locke replies, cutting Desmond from the ties that bind. He's got a few preguntas for Desmond. Why did Widmore bring Desmond to the island? Desmond's not sure since he was kidnapped and brought there against his will. Sayid corroborates from what he saw of camp Widmore. Desmond informs Smokey that he was thrown into a wood shack and blasted with 'massive amounts of electromagentism' which he's familiar with because of 'experience'. "Do you know who I am," Smoke Thing asks. "John Locke," Desmond inaccurately presumes due to appearances. Smokey accepts the moniker. Identifying himself as the 'Smoke Thing' may have fallen on deaf ears with Desmond anyway since I can't recall ANY instance in which Desmond has been privy to the notion that there's a murderous puff of black smoke flying around the island wreaking havoc on those who won't assimilate. With that, Smokey dismisses Sayid and takes Desmond for a walk further into the jungle.

Jacob trudges through the jungle en route to 'Black Rock'. "Kinda makes you think Doesn't it" Ben muses to Jack (but more to himself) "Ilana was handpicked by Jacob himself, trained to come and protect you 'candidates', no sooner does she TELL you who you are than she blows up. The island was 'done' with her," he shakes off. "Makes me wonder what's gonna happen when 'it's' done with us," Ben forebodes. They reach the outskirts of Richard's ship where Richard volunteers himself to go in and collect some dynamite on his own. "Where's Hugo," Richie wonders before heading out. Just than, Hurley comes charging toward the crew from the direction of the 'Black Rock' ship. "Run," he yells as the Black Rock also blows to bits behind him. -CRACKOW!- Richard is incensed as the team picks themselves up off of the floor. "Why the hell did you do that?" Richard demands. "I was protecting us!" Hurley seems to say. (Protecting 'it'? Protecting 'them'? Protecting 'us'? WHAT The hell did Hugo say here??) "We're dead, we're all dead," Richard exaggerates. I've been paying careful attention to Richard's lines he says 'we're dead' and a lot of 'what the hell'. This sounds a lot like a man whose subtly trying to convey that he's still not sure he's not walking around in hell on earth. Miles confronts Hugo and asks why exactly he did all this. Hurley confides that he spoke to Michael who Miles only knows by a different name as a crew member of the freighter he arrived on. He informs Miles that Michael was insistent that they NOT destroy the plane. Michael is "..one of the people that come back and yell at me when they die," Hurley informs Miles. "You just do what they say?" Miles wonders. "Dead people are more reliable than alive people." Hugo insists sadly. Desmond follows Smoke Locke into the jungle. "Remind me how long you were down in that hatch pushing that button," Smokey appears to be rubbing in. "3 years" Desmond offers. Smokey is amazed that Desmond is back on the island for MORE after all that. Apparently forgetful that Desmond was brought to the island against his will. Right? "If I didn't know better, I'd say the island has it in for you." Smokey teases. "Do you?...know better" Desmond retorts. " This island has it in for ALL of us," Des insists. Smoke Locke isn't arguing with that. Just than a similar looking boy appears behind them to the one that has been appearing to Smoke Monster in previous episodes, sometimes reminding Smokey of the 'rules'. Dressed in similar tattered khaki clothing and appearing more like a older teenager, this time he just stares at the duo. "Just ignore him," Smokey demands of Desmond. "Do you know that boy," Des wonders. "I SAID, just IGNORE him," Smokey angrily raises his voice. The boy smiles a Cheshire cat-like grin at Smokey's frustration and darts off into the jungle as the 2 press on in a separate direction. Back near the remainier remains of 'Black Rock', Richard informs Jack et al. that he's not giving up his quest to destroy the plane. He's now heading to the barracks to gather whatever grenades and explosives he can find. Hurley interrupts to suggest they go talk to 'Locke'. It's not his own idea it's Jacob's, who Hugo reluctantly insists is standing right near Richard. Richard is unconvinced of Jacob's presence. "Ask him what the island is," Richard demands. We know Jacob once described the island to Richard as a 'cork' in a wine bottle holding back evil from the rest of the world. Richard insists that if Jacob is indeed there, he will know what he told him. Hurley approaches Richard and quietly alerts him that he doesn't have to prove anything to him. That Richard can come with him or continue to "..blow stuff up". Richard announces to the rest of the team that he believes Hugo is lying. "Jacob NEVER tells us what to do," he insists. Richard is going to destroy the plane with or without them, but he could use some help. He'll be getting that help from Miles and Ben, who get up to leave with him and who are surely the next to die now that they are deemed pretty useless. See ya! Don't let hatch door hit you on the way out...suckers. Jack is with Hurley...and Sun is with Jack, so I guess this team is splitting down the middle. Oh yeah, Frank Lapidus. He's with Sun. "..don't get in our way," Richard pleads respectively. Jack nods and turns to Hugo. "Aight Hurley," He says, "let's go talk to Locke!"

Sun writes on the notepad she got from Jack to help her communicate in Engrish. 'Did we make a mistake," she inquires in writing to Frank. "Probably," Frank confirms. Hurley wonders to Jack what they should ask the Wizard of Oz...err.. umm I mean Locke when they get to him. "I mean, how do we break the ice with the Smoke Monster," Hurley adds. "Don't worry about it," Jack replies, "he's gonna do most of the talking." Hurley suggests that Smokey might just KILL them all, which worries him because he lied moments ago about Jacob insisting they go speak to Locke. He didn't really speak to Jacob, Hurley just wanted everyone to listen to him. It's becoming abundantly clear how a lot of island dwellers have been able to invoke Jacob's name with impunity, and without ever actually speaking directly to him, over the years in order to get things done. Jack knows Hurley lied but he trusts in his instincts. "Ever since Juliet died, ever since I got Juliet killed, I just wanted to fix it but, I can't," Jack explains, "I can't ever fix it. You don't have any idea how hard it is to sit back and listen to everyone tell him what I should do," Jack continues, "but I think maybe that's the point. Maybe I'm supposed to let go," he finishes. Hurley wonders if letting go is going to get them all killed. Jack trusts Hurley. He really does. OK if you're taking notes, Sun trusts Jack, Jack trusts Hurley. Kate trusts James. A few more verbal instances of 'trust' being confirmed and our circle of trust will be complete. I'm beginning to dig an idea where all 6 candidates finally agree to just stay on fantasy island to cooperatively ban together and fill Jacob's shoes. The trust fest is broken up by the whispers again. Hurley calms the team by informing that he thinks he finally knows what they mean, as he heads a little further into the jungle alone looking for Michael Dawson. Michael appears and Hurley asks if Michael is stuck there on the island after his death. Michael nods, " 'Cause of what I did". Hurley now confirms for himself (and us) that Michael and others like him can't move on and are stuck on the island forced to try and communicate their will to survivors through whispers. Michael points Hurley into the direction of 'Locke', a fire about two miles forward reveals Team Smoke Monster's campsite. Hurley, sensing Michael's remorse asks if there's anything Hurley can do to help HIM. (a very selfless act seeing as how Michael is responsible for Hugo's pseudo girlfriend's death) "Don't get yourself killed," Michael responds "and if you DO ever see Libby again" Michael continues, breaking down a bit, "tell her I'm VERY sorry". "I'll be sure and do that," Hurley responds forgivingly.

Desmond and Smoke Locke approach a well that looks similar to the one Locke tumbled down in the past that led him to the donkey-wheel-island-exit-to-Tunisia. Smokey presumes Desmond is wondering how deep the well is. "You have any idea how OLD this is," Smokey asks. "Very?!" Desmond guesses. "Exactly right!" He responds. Smokey informs Des that it's so old that the people who dug it out did so by hand. They came to that spot where their compasses spun wildly and dug, not for water as Desmond incorrectly assumes, but for 'answers'...answers they never found according to Smoke Thing. The reason Smokey wanted to show Desmond this well is because of Charles. "Charles Widmore isn't looking for answers," Smokey says. (which presumably is a noble quest) "He's only interested in power". He explains that Charles brought Desmond to the island so that he could help him find what he's looking for. (What exactly is that, again?) "After all, this isn't even the ONLY well," Smokey continues. (WTF does that mean?!?) Desmond isn't as interested in this whole chat as I am. "Why aren't you afraid" Smoke Locke asks, puzzled. "You're out here in the middle of the jungle....with me" he offers. "Not a person ON EARTH even knows you're here," he continues. "What is the POINT in being afraid?" Desmond asks. And with that, Smokey looks to be enraged at his defiance. With one swoop, he charges Desmond and sends him spiralling down into the well. Smoke Thing returns back to the camp where he assures Sayid that they don't have to worry about their 'friend' any longer. James confronts Smoke Thing about where he's been, quips about Smokey 'stretching his legs' and is about to ask him something when ('Son of a bitch!') Hurley emerges from the perimeter. He wants to make sure they all will lay down there weapons to make it safe for them while they come to 'talk'. Smokey (along with James and Kate) are visibly happy and pleasantly surprised to learn that both Sun and Jack along with the Ajira's pilot, Frank have just walked right into their camp without further coaxing. "Hello, Jack." Smoke Locke greets him, as we realize this is the first time Jack is face to face with the presence that is Locke since he's arrived back on the island.

In Universe-X Dr. Pierre Chang-X, (Incidentally 'Shredder' from 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Part 2'...for real...who knew?!) who works for the 'Golden State Natural History Museum' (the same museum Charlotte-X works for) delivers a passionate speech about this year's 'Man of the Year' award recipient, Hugo Reyes-X...for his philanthropy, as we watch a slide show noting Hurley-X's humanitarianism. His proceeds from the 'Mr. Cluck's Chicken Shack' and 'Box2' companies have brought him great wealth. Hurley-X leaves the event with his mother, holding his T-Rex shaped statue, excited,also, for the award ceremony that he will be attending the following week, in his honor, to receive an award from the 'Human Fund'. (a fictitious foundation made popular by the 'Seinfeld' TV show...haha great!) '"Everybody LOVES Hugo," Hurley-X's mother comments. She's not very concerned with all of these awards, it seems. She's more concerned with the fact that WOMEN don't love Hugo-X, a conclusion she's come to based on her son's lack of female interaction. This will all change, however, once she sets him up with 'Grampatita's neighbor's daughter, RosaLita'. "She's gonna love you," she insists, "if not, we will find someone who does!" (BTW Hugo-X's father Cheech Marin is noticeably missing from the event.)

At "Spanish Johnny's" restaurant, Hurley-X nervously awaits his blind date Rosalita. A woman approaches who Hurley-X assumes is his date but we know her to be Libby-X! She's not his date but she appears to know him, nonetheless. She has something to tell him but she's convinced he'll think she's crazy if she does. "Do you believe two people can be connected....soul mates." Libby-X asks. "You don't remember me. Do you," she continues, seemingly saddened. Cue Dr. Brooks-X, who is dismayed that Libby-X 'wandered off'. He drags her away reluctantly as she blurts out to Hurley-X, "I meant everything I said!" Hurley-X follows them outside where he sees her being led into a van with other patients marked(...dum dum DUM)....'Santa Rosa Mental Institution'! Seems as though Libby might be 2 ham sandwiches short of a picnic in this universe as well. Or is she?! Stay tuned.

At the 'Mr. Cluck's Chicken Shack' (bluk bluk), Hurley-X orders a family-size bucket (Mike D. I know you're lappin' this shit up!) and waits with his call number 38 (not the 'numbers'!) Hurley-X chows down on on his massive amounts of fried chicken as DESMOND stares at him from across the room. "Have I seen you before, (brutha)" Desmond asks after apologies. Hurley-X informs him that he 'owns the place' and that Desmond has probably seen the commercial featuring him. For his inquiry, Hurley-X offers Desmond a 'Cluckateer keychain' (I can't make this stuff up, people!) Desmond obviously knows him from somewhere else, Oceanic flight 815 (...and also the island, since Desmond-X is sharing a complete consciousness with Desmond 1.0 from the mirror timeline) Desmond asks if he could join him while he waits for his order to be called. He comments on the size of Hurley-X's bucket of chicken to which Hurley-X notes "..I eat when I'm depressed!" (and happy, angry...excited, overwhelmed.....content, sleepy...etc.) "Who's the girl," Desmond inquires, as if to say all girls 'cause depression but, Desmond knows that all of his island cohorts seem to have a female 'constant' issues as of late. Hurley-X catches Desmond up on the weeks events. He tells him about Libby's Loony Tunes status and how she told him she thought they knew each other. Desmond wonders aloud if Hurley-X believes her and instructs him to go with his gut. (c'mon, 'go with his gut'? Does he go any other way?) Desmond tells him he should find out where she thinks she knows him from. "Number 42," the cluck's clerk call out. (the 'numbers'!!) "That's me brutha," Desmond informs Hurley-X, and with that, he's gone. He didn't vanish or nothin'. He just got up and got his chicken and left.

Dr. Brooks-X's office at 'Santa Rosa', (painting on the wall...THE island) Hurly-X is at Brooks-X's desk. He wants to ask him about Libby-X. He wants to SEE her. The doctor doesn't thinkthat's the best idea since she's not well, although Hurley-X points out that she was well enough for the 'Fajita field trip' Mr. Brooks-X took her on. (haha) Mr. Brooks-X takes the blame for that. He misjudged her condition...her condition with distinguishing reality. Hurley-X wonders aloud if he'd be allowed to see her if he makes a donation of ,say, 100K! Fat guys with money...a very dangerous thing.

Libby-X sits with Hurley-X. She wonders why he's there to visit her if he doesn't remember her. Hurley-X seems to be feeling this whole issue out. She informs him she saw him on one of his commercials and it was like she was hit over the head and he memory of them together in another life came flashing back to her. She informs him that there was a plane crash and she was on and island...with him. That, in her memories, they knew each other from 'Santa Rosa' where they were both patients. Hurley-X is afraid to have to inform her that he's never been there before today. (I needn't remind you that his counterpart Hurley 1.0 spent some time there after his guilt of killing a few friends at a party where his weight collapsed the balcony drove him a little batty) Hurley-X can't remember any of the things she does. he wishes he could. He also wishes he could have a meatloaf sandwich on semolina but let's stick to the topic. By the way, there's still some 'Connect Four' being played in the background in this universe, but not by the same retard that was repeating the jinxed numbers over and over and over again in season 1. Hurley-X wonders if Libby-X ever gets any leave from 'Santa Rosa' so perhaps she could join him for a date. She's checked in voluntarily so she can come and go as she pleases....so yeah, she'd like that. (So, basically Libby-X isn't crazy at all in this timeline. Her consciousness has been linked to her counterpart from the island once she saw Hurley on TV and she was just having trouble sorting this all out)

Next scene we see Hurley-X and Libby-X having a picnic date on a crowded beach. Hurley brought a lot of cheese..no wonder this scene is so cheesy. 'Everybody Loves Cheese' though, so I'll let it slide because, if you'll recall, this date is taking the place of the picnic date they never got to finish (before Libby was gunned down by Michael accidentally in the hatch after taking out Ana Lucia) Libby-X comments that some thing's a little 'off' about the date but that she must sound crazy to Hurley-X who doesn't remember a similar date ever happening with her before. They share some 'I like you mores' and in a spontaneous moment..they lock lips and do some smooching. Just than Hurley-X is bombarded with flashes of his other life much like Desmond and Daniel saw when they had their flashes. Hurley-X has now had his first awakening and we can infer he will start to remember more an more about the island universe. The Camera pans back to reveal Desmond who has been quietly keeping tabs on the two this whole time from his car and has played a small role in getting them together to realize the existence of their alternate time lines.

Finally we see Desmond in his car parked outside the school at which Ben Linus-X, John Locke-X and Dr. Arzt-X all teach. He's watching John Locke-X scooting around exhaustively in his wheel chair and not getting very far...very fast.Just than, Desmond is confronted by Ben Linus-X who asks him a bunch of questions in order to deduce if he is a pedophile. (as a normal vigilant teacher might do when they see a middle aged stranger idling in his car outside a schoolyard) It's worth noting that Desmond mentions to Ben-X that he is new in town and his son 'Charlie' will need new school. This further indicates to me that Desmond has full consciousness of his other life in which he has a son, Charlie. Ben-X, all but satisfied that that Desmond is not a baby toucher, goes on his way and assumes he will do the same. Desmond pulls out of his spot, but not to leave immediately. Instead he guns the engine and mows down the helpless Locke-X sending him flying over his car hood. He leaves the scene as Ben-X and passersby run over to John-X's aide. WHOA...just WHOA! One question answered, many questions posed! I'm annoyed and exhilarated at the same time that, in this stage of the game, there's STILL new questions!

Things I'm Pondering:

• Why doesn't Libby appear to Hurley on the island when plenty of other dead island dwellers do?
• Why does Michael insist a lot of people will die if Hurley allows the Ajira plane to be destroyed. Is anyone planning on blowing up the plane WITH people aboard? That doesn't seem necessary. Something is fishy in island zombieville.
• Is it possible, in this stage of the game, that Hurley is not speaking to the dead at all, but rather Smoke Thing or Jacob taking on the roles of dead characters to make him do their bidding. Hurley's conversation with Miles this week on the matter was very revealing. This isn't a new idea but it demands new revisiting. Whatchu say?
• Now that Ilana is dead, will we ever get some of her back story so we can finally lay to rest why she was bandaged so heavily in a Russian hospital when Jacob came to the main land to ask for her help keeping the 'candidates' safe? I'M still interested. My only hope is that her story is some how further tied to that of Jacob,MIB, Eloise or Charles' past so that we may see her again if THEY finally get 'centric' episodes before the series ends. Do you guys care about my season 6 crush at all??
• What is Smoke Thing whittling out of wood? The last time John Locke was making something from scratch, it looked like a tiny prison cell and wound up being a very cool bassinet for Claire's baby, Aaron. Something tells me we haven't seen the last of Smoke Thing's massive wood. Is this a trivial thing to be dwelling on? Either way, any guesses as to what it's final use may be? I haven't a clue but am willing to listen to any and all ideas.
• Why did Sayid lie to Smoke Thing about not killing any of Widmore's crew when we saw this with our own eyes? Is everything what it appears to be here?
• With the ashes of Jacob so physically close to the members of Team Jacob, why isn't Miles regularly receiving communications from Jacob directly? Did I miss something along the way?
• Why did Hurley have a change of heart and side with Richard after securing the remains of Jacob? Was this just all a ruse to get closer to 'Black Rock' to blow it up? Guess so (shrug)
• Regardless of whether or not the boy that appears to Smoke Monster is the rapidly aging, reincarnated, Jacob. Is he there, yet again, to remind Smokey of the rules that he can't kill Desmond, like he did when Smokey walked into the jungle with James? Is that why Smokey ultimately pushes Desmond down the well? He's not allowed to kill him but he can disengage him from the 'game board' by trapping him in a well way to deep to climb out of without help? Very interesting.Thoughts my liege?
• Why does it appear that Smoke Thing is so angry with Desmond for not FEARING him? Does he prey on the fear of the living in some odd way? He seemed like a school bully that was just more mad that he wasn't bully enough for this particular 'nerd'. This was all just kinda lost on me. I need help here. "Dey don't LOVE him, dey FEAR him..dere's a difference!"
• There's so much lost history here between Jack and 'Locke'. Jack has adopted deceased Locke's message of faith in the island after John had reportedly committed suicide when he couldn't amass the Oceanic 6 to return to the island. Jack was charged by Ben with babysitting John's body while it was prepared for the Ajira flight and it was Jack who had to inwardly deal with John's suicide note left to him: 'Î wish you would have believed me'. Keep in mind that Smokey, now, seems to wield part of John Locke's consciousness. The discussions to come between these two should be fucking EPIC!
• I am lost in trying to wrap my head around why Pierre Chang still has his hand in Universe-X. We saw it crushed just before the 'incident'. Was he able to save his hand upon fleeing the island in 1977? Is this proof that the timeline didn't split when the 'Incident' occurred, but much earlier!? Where's my 'Connect Four'? I think I've lost my checkers!
• The Russian Book found in Ilana's personal effects after she died is translates to 'Notes From the Underground'. The book clearly corresponds with other Lost book 'Easter Eggs'. Follow the link below for a synopsis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notes_from_Underground
• Hurley's blind date, in Universe-X, is 'Rosa Lita' (Little Rose)....instead he gets a visit from an old flame from 'Santa Rosa' (Saint Rose) who is dead in Universe 1.0...buried on the beach where he regularly leaves flowers for her. A rose is a rose is a rose...I'm just sayin'.
• For the life of me, I can't figure out why exactly Desmond would want to try and kill John Locke in Universe-X. Is it because of what his other conscious learns about him in Universe 1.0? Just a quick dose of revenge for pushing him down the well in 2007 on the island?

Too much excitement for one episode. if you missed it please catch it...twice. My words can't do these scenes justice! I could not deduce, from the promo, which character next week's episode revolves around. nor do I know it's title but, I did wholeheartedly dig the 'Willy Wonka' remix song attached to this weeks promo. Strap in, it's going to be a bumpy ride. What's that up ahead in the middle of the road? Oh, just more.....LOST!

Follow the link for recap of previous episode 11 'Happily Ever After'
http://culturalcompulsivedisorder.blogspot.com/2010/04/lost-recap-season-6-episode-11-happily.html