[D-Roc]

Ji Yeon. On first viewing I wasn't overly impressed with this episode, however on 2nd viewing it came into it's own - like most of the season 4 episodes (I'm beginning to think that the Valis reference actually goes deeper than a mere plot reference and actually relates to us viewers).

An episode filled with emotion, betrayal, forgiveness, hope, intruige and revelation..this is was fairly good stuff.

Once again Lost has developed the habbit of being able to hold a central story without the central characters being involved or focused upon - this not only leaves me excited for the rest of the season, but leaves me trembling with glee that we still have Ben and Locke centrics to look forward to.

The worst kept secret in the history of worst kept secrets was finally revealed - Michael's back, and boy am I glad to see him return. I've always loved him and Walt as characters, even when he killed Ana-Lucia I still learned to forgive him. Now I want to find out what has happened to Walt (is he dead hence ghost-like Manifestation appearance to Locke?) and why he's undercover on Widmore's boat. I thought they dealt with his re-introduction very well, i'm so glad they didn't focus an entire centric around it and i'm very pleased that they didn't leave it for a cliff-hanger reveal, because everyone knew (even spoiler-free me knew!) and to oversell it would have been a disaster. So yeah, well played on that one.

I had been complaining about the lack of Jin/Sun involvement and I had even begun to doubt just why I like Jin, butI was reminded why with this beautifully heart-wrenching display of deceit, forgiveness and love. Jules deserved her slap from Sun, but Sun deserved to be told on and Jin deserved to know - it's called KARMA, Sun. The fact that Jin had the depth to forgive her within a 12 hour period - and BEFORE he even enquired about whether he was really the father, shows just how much he loves Sun and just how far he has come. He once was an angry man..a servant of acceptance, now he's loving, affectionate Jin once more..one of the few islanders who has changed completely and utterly and for the better. No wonder he's 'dead', as the redemption types always die as we know - Eko, Ana-Lucia, Shannon, Charlie..

But is he dead..like really? Hugo was looking mightly shifty (and heavy).

The scene near the end with him, Sun and that ray of hope Ji Yeaon was classic Lost. No, I didn't cry (I'm a man, man), but i was moved despite my contempt for the woman. Jin loved her so much, so there must surely be something good about her.

The flash-forward/flash-back thing was clever - just when I thought they had run out of tricks they pull another one out of there magic box.

Although seriously, they still need to focus on small glitches in perfection - Like Jin using an American accent (WHAT!??) and Jinn 'suddenly' learning how to speak full sentances in english. Yes, I know they have to expediate the story, but please don't patronise me with that pathetic little 'let's explain why Jin can suddenly speak complete sentances in English' scene with Jack (who is really beginning to grate on me with his poncing around). Oh and the other patronising scene with Sayid explaining that Ben said he had a man on the boat right before he read the note from the man on the boat was a little insulting - we are watching Darlton!

Apart from that a strong episode with losts of little things to mull over.