While I agree that this was a strong, emotionally-centered episode, I am finding it difficult to engage with the “sideways” stories of this season. Not knowing their status–are they hypothetical worlds, parallel universes, etc.–I almost don’t care what happens in them. I felt this most sharply in the episode in which we discover Jack has a son–how can I emotionally invest in that storyline when I’ve just learned about this character? So while I find these sideways stories interesting from a fan’s perspective–what characters are going to pop up this week?–I find it hard to commit to them emotionally.

Having said that, I was truly moved by the “joyful slow motion reunion on the beach.” Yes, LOST recreates this scene a lot but the look of joy on Sun’s face as she saw Hurley come around the corner actually moved me to tears. It was lovely. And my favorite Emerson moment occurred in this scene–as everyone was embracing each other, he was just standing there, shoulders hunched, looking sad and small. It was perfect.

(And that is why I don’t have my own network TV show, obviously.)

Ben, who I thought Illana or Widmore were still going to kill possibly finds redemption? Who Knew! Stunning charater portayal by the always slimey, manipulative, and Scene stealing Micheal Emerson. Yet to see him laid bare and a defeated man without a “Go To” Lie or manipulation as he explained why he killed Jacob and why he was following Unlocke. Classic, heartful and along with the slow mo beach scene is Lost at it’s Character-driven Best. And I write this even if I am not totally convinced Ben has changed (ok, he has burned us too many times before :–).

And I agree with you this was not grandiose reveals. Still the confirmations of answers we thought we knew and set up of Widmore coming was nice for those of us who want some payback and direction for believing there is purpose to this six years of holding back information and never showing us key peices to the .

Confirming (I think based on UnLockes comments earlier in the season that it been a long time since he has seen richard out of his chains) that Richard indeed was a Slave on the BlackRock which would make him 100’s of year old as I think the ship was brought there in the late 1800.

Which begs the question if Richard has been there that long, what has been going on on the island?

And the Biggest Charater question from this epsiode I am left pondering is Where Was Richard? Is answer of “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you (given all the craziness the losties have witnessed what wouldn’t they believe?), coupled with now know he has lived for hundreds of years(I always he was time traveling but wouldn’t age in earlier times). I am wondering what key he will unviel (or if it is something as simple as I was hiding).

And Thx Jason, just as I was wrapping my mind around the sideways world would somehow become the Results and Reality world after the Island activies are resolved you go and burst my bubble :–).

Roger Linus mentioning a connect they he and Ben had been to Dharmiville was the first direct connection to the sideways world that I remember.

Alex and it was great seeing her again in this episode, I did not think about the reality timeline that theoretically should could not be around sideways world if the bomb splintered events. Yeah, I know there is a possibility that something else caused the Alterna-Reality but as you wrote, it does seem like a construct so we veiwers can see the “What If” world of our characters if the bomb or plane never went down.

Anyway I just found your posts and analysis in season six. Great Job!

Or let me go to one particular second. When Alex comes out of the principal’s office, all happy about life and Yale, Ben’s little mouth shrug is brilliant. The resignation that it suggested to me of being a very small cog in a world of larger ones and more important forces was really powerful, and told more about Ben than even his impassioned defense of himself on the island. Of course, it also had extra resonance as a teacher — he put in all this energy, and then, there she goes. So Ben’s impassioned defense would surely be the Emmy nomination reel moment, but that little mouth shrug said as much if not more about his character. I love how he can be so utterly pathetic and powerless at the same time as he is vaguely charismatic and powerful. He really is one of the best actors on television.

That said, one annoyance with the writing: why did he have to pick Alex or the principal role? Why not let the doofus write a letter for Alex, wait a month, then use renew the blackmail? (or perhaps his little act of getting history club reinstated in its old slot was meant to open the door to this possibility?).

I also really appreciate your take on how “Sundown” should be appreciated in the big picture. You helped me think about how the trajectory of episodes before “Dr. Linus” made it so much more tense: after fairly redemptive stories for Kate, Locke, and Jack, we were slammed in the face with killer Sayid, which makes us unable to sit tight when Ben is faced with moral dilemmas. In other words, without “Sundown,” I might have thought, “Oh, this is S6, so I bet Ben will make positive choices,” but while viewing I had no such comfort. Which led to Ilana’s forgiveness just about the most powerful thing I’ve seen on TV…but I’m gushing now.

Thanks for the recap!