LOST: This Place is Death

The title is ominous enough, isn't it? "This Place is Death"? We all know a lot of death happens on the island, but having it flaunted in our faces is a little creepy.

What an action-packed episode! Jin, along with Danielle's crew, encountered Smokey in 1988. He also witnessed the "sickness" Danielle referred to when her crew died. We also got our first glimpse of the Temple so often spoken of... or a least a little corner of it.

As Charlotte continued to spout blood from her nose like a geyser, she told Locke to look for a well if the Orchid disappeared. Sure enough, just as Juliet commented that it sure was lucky they landed in a time when the Orchid was still there, another white flash and the station was gone. But Locke headed down the well as giddy as a schoolboy.

Down there, he found none other than Christian Shepherd. Or shall we say Jacob? I wasn't sure who he was supposed to be. Is he Jacob in the "human" form of Jack's Dad? When Christian said that John must turn the Frozen Donkey Wheel himself, I believe it when he said he couldn't help him. Maybe he wasn't really there, in the physical sense.

And Charlotte... poor Charlotte. As her brain continued to mush, she got verbal diarrhea and revealed that she was born and raised on the island. And... here's the kicker... she remembered an "older, scary man" told her never to come back - Daniel! She then murmured something about chocolate and died.

Back in LA three years later, Ben provided proof (in Jin's wedding ring) that Sun's husband was still alive, and he brought her and Jack (along with Desmond, whom they met outside) to the church and Mrs. Hawking's lair. Whew!

Notable bits of this episode:
-If Danielle were alive in early 2005, would she suddenly remember (a la Desmond) that she met Jin in 1988?
-It appears that Desmond is poised to go back to the island with the Oceanic 6. Does this seem plausible? I guess he'd have to stay on the show, wouldn't he? Will he bring Penny? Is Mrs. Hawking going with them? 'Cause she's sort of awesome.
-I don't think this is the last we've seen of Charlotte. And it certainly sets up a time travel element for Daniel to go back in time and plead with her.
-Is it just me, or does Juliet seem remarkably calm through all this?
-Danielle's husband, just before she offs him, refers to Smokey as the Temple's "security system." This is how Danielle describes the monster way back in Season One. Apparently that stuck with her.

Same time next week! B+