LOST 6.6 - "Sundown"

WRITERS: Paul Zbyszewski & Graham Roland
DIRECTOR: Bobby Roth
GUEST STARS: Kevin Durand, Hiroyuki Sanada, John Hawkes, Aramis Knight, Kimberley Joseph, Cas Anvar, Andrea Gabriel, Anthony Azizi, Mickey Graue & Kiersten Havelock

[SPOILERS] I like Sayid (Naveen Andrews) episodes because there's generally a pleasing amount of violence (a fight scene with Dogen was stunning here), but I dislike them because it feels like the writers have only ever had one story to tell: how Sayid's emotionally-tortured about his past as a torturer (ooh, the irony), and feels tainted by his past as a Republican Guard. It's juicy stuff, sure, but the fact it's still the basis for nearly every Sayid-centric episode is disappointing given we're a third of the way through the final season. Still, Andrews is one of Lost's more charismatic actors and handles his character's recurring theme well, and "Sundown" can eventually be chalked up as a big turning point.

X-Timeline '04: Sayid, Nadia & Omer

This week's tangent reality storyline gave us a peculiar background to Sayid's home life, from how we know things went originally. The great love of his life, Nadia (Andrea Gabriel), is married to his brother Omer (Cas Anvar) with two kids, although they share an obvious affection for each other that Omer can sense. Sayid's too honourable to do anything to hurt his sibling, and doesn't really believe he's worthy of someone like Nadia (given his past as a torturer), while making a move on Nadia would mean splitting up his nephew's parents. Trouble brews when Omer admitted to Sayid he's in trouble with a loan shark who keeps demanding payments he's already settled, imploring Sayid to harness his inner bad-ass and take care of matters. Sayid's against such an act, even if it means his brother's family face financial ruin, but as you'd expect he's soon pushed into a corner and is forced to unleash his inner beast.

As a little nod for fans, Omer's loan shark turned out to be Martin Keamy (Kevin Durand), the macho leader of the freighter sent by Charles Widmore back in season 4. After being taken to a kitchen to be intimidated into forcing his brother to resume payments, Sayid manages to gain an unexpected advantage over Keamy and swiftly disarms and kills hhis henchmen, before totally embracing his dark side by shooting the shylock dead. Interestingly, Sayid then discovered Jin (Daniel Dae Kim) locked in a cold storage cupboard, whom I assume was kidnapped for a reason connected with the money the airport authorities discovered in his luggage? It's a little vague right now, as I'm not sure how far ahead of Sayid's landing in LAX this story was taking place.

Ultimately, this storyline wasn't particularly thrilling in isolation, although Andrews always does his best with the latest tweak to the same emotional journey, and it was fun to see Keamy back – who's still a bad man, even in an alternative reality. But really, this storyline was only there to remind people that the great love of Sayid's life is Nadia...

The Island '07: Sayid, Dogen, Locke & Claire

Certainly the more interesting storyline this week, with Sayid demanding to know why Dogen (Hiroyuki Sanada) is convinced he's "evil" and needs to be killed. Claire (Emilie de Ravin) later arrived at The Temple, announcing the presence of her "friend" beyond the perimeter of ash, who apparently just wants to talk with Dogen. No fool, Dogen instead sends Sayid in his place, suggesing he can prove there's goodness left in his soul if he immediately stabs and kills whoever he meets there. Quite unexpectedly, Sayid follows order exactly when faced with the familiar face of "Locke" (Terry O'Quinn), but his stabbing has no effect on Smokey. Indeed, it seems that Dogen was perhaps hoping Locke would retaliate and kill Sayid (something he's unable to do himself, as it would break "the rules"), which in turn suggests that Sayid's condition isn't something that Jacob's Enemy is inherently aware of.

To cut a long story short, Locke apparently managed to "recruit" Sayid by offering him the chance to see the dead Nadia again – which means he's essentially drafting people by offering them things they desire (Claire, her baby; Sawyer, a way off the Island.) Sayid returned to The Temple to announce the death of Jacob, the resulting freedom of the Temple dwellers, and the fact Jacob's Enemy now intends to leave the Island and is willing to take anyone who joins him, or else they'll be killed come sundown.

In a curious twist, after Sayid hears the reason Dogen came to the Island in the first place (he accepted Jacob's deal to resurrect his son killed in a car accident he survived, the price being he'd come to the Island and never see him again), Sayid seizes a chance to drown Dogen in the pool... and his death apparently enables the Smoke Monster into the The Temple, to crush those remaining inside who oppose it. In the end, Locke has amassed a posse outside The Temple's: the majority of The Temple dwellers (who appear to be extremely fickle in their loyalty), Sayid, Claire and Kate (Evangeline Lilly). The latter's presence is a little strange, but she's apparently eager to reunite Claire with Aaron and is willing to follow the one person who says he knows how to leave the Island[*]. It was also a little strange to see that Claire, who was told by Kate she'd taken Aaron and raised him as her own, wasn't more upset, but I guess it's possible she's keeping her feelings a secret for now. Or has been told to by Locke, as a means to get Kate onside. Again, it could be that Locke's using Kate's desire to unite mother with child to recruit her, too.

In Summation

There's a popular theory that the X-Timeline is actually taking place after the current events we're witnessing on the Island, and I'm beginning to suspect that's true. It just feels like the best way to explain the relevance of this parallel storyline, as a way to provide a satisfying denouement to whatever happens in the finale. But if that's true, then does the X-Timeline point to Jacob or his Enemy having "won"? Jack, Hurley, Kate, Claire and Locke's X-stories have been relatively positive, but Sayid's was more disheartening. Maybe those who'll fight for Jacob will get their reward in the end (Jack, a son; Locke, true love; Kate, freedom, Claire, her baby; Hurley, success; Ben, a worthy purpose?), whereas those who side with his Enemy will lead unbalanced lives?

Overall, it was a shame the week's X-Timeline story wasn't stronger, but it was agreeable enough, and I appreciated getting real movement with The Temple storyline. I particularly liked seeing Sayid make a Faustian pact with "the devil", as that was the most plausible way we've seen someone be manipulated by Smokey. That said, a few things about it didn't make much sense to me -- like why the ash was so ineffective against Smokey. Still, I think it's a good sign that we've apparently left The Temple behind and will hopefully get more of an idea about what Locke's plan is. I'm also still cautious to brand Locke as a definitive "bad" guy, mainly because this episode reminded me that Jacob does some pretty shocking things for the "greater good" (killing Nadia, separating Dogen from his son) and it would be a great twist if genial Jacob was exposed as the real villain. Is that likely? Maybe not. But I'm glad there's some ambiguity.

Questions, Questions, Questions!

-- Why can't Smoke-Locke be stabbed to death like Jacob was by Ben? Is he invulnerable as a result of Jacob's demise? Or a different kind of being altogether? He did say he was human once. Was he, like Dogen, brought to the Island centuries ago to fulfil a role?

-- Can Smoke-Locke really bring Nadia back to life, as he alludes to Sayid? If so, will this be done by altering history (Jacob originally caused Nadia's death in a car accident to get Sayid back to the Island), or will he literally resurrect her (as Jacob did to Locke after his fall)?

-- Was it Dogen's death that allowed Smoke-Locke to enter The Temple, and if so how? Why wasn't the ash more effective?

-- Is there a chance Dogen will be resurrected, as Sayid was?

-- Where are Sawyer and Jin? I guess it's feasible Jin was left back at Claire's hut, but is Sawyer waiting in Jacob's Cave?

-- In the X-Timeline, why was Jin being held captive by Keamy's men, and does Sun know he's been kidnapped?

-- Who is Keamy working for in the X-Timeline? Charles Widmore?

5 MARCH 2010: SKY1 (HD), 9PM

[*] Is Kate's siding with Jacob's Enemy the reason for her position in Judas' seat in The Lost Supper promo image?