Why do you all think Michael did what he did?

And what about poor Hurley? Man, things just started lookin' up for that guy.

On another site someone mentioned that the blonde lady that Jack's father was yelling about seeing his daughter at looked like Claire, leading some to believe that it was Claire's mother, and therefore Jack and Claire might be half-siblings....weird.

I believe Michael has been blackmailed by the Others, in particular their evil chieftan (Henry Gale, my favorite character despite his evil!). They told him "Free Henry, kill whoever you have to, make it look like Henry did it, or you'll never see Walt again."

Too bad we didn't get to hear Michael scream "WAAAAAAALLLLTTTT" about ten or a dozen times. Not really.

I thin Libby might live. She got shot twice, but neither was a direct hit. Anna Lucia, on the other hand, was pegged squarely and is deader than a doornail.

I hope she lives and rats out Michael when she comes to.

Claire Jack's half-sister? Very possible. Everyone's connected to Jack's father, it seems. Well, or to someone else.

I hope Libby lives because I need to get her backstory filled out.

"I hope she lives and rats out Michael when she comes to."

Meaning Libby.

I'm betting Libby eats it. Mainly because a few weeks ago I read that Cynthia Watros (the actress who plays her) has signed on for a comedy on another network in the Fall. So I figured she wasn't long for the show anyway.
But we do need to find out what the deal is with her in the hospital with Hurley and all that.

Now, I've also read in less reliable places that Michelle Rodriguez was ambling for the exit because producers were tiring of her difficult presence on the set. The DUI arrest didn't help, but apparently she's not well liked among the cast and crew, and this has also led to rumors that writers were already planning to off her.

So I guess it could go either way. But the Watros news is legit, not just rumor, so I'm guessing even if she survives this particular ep, she's making an exit before the season's over so she can be in this other show.
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I think Michael was probably told that he'd get Walt back if he killed Ana Lucia and set Henry free.

I'm not a big fan of all the Lostaways going evil. I was already hacked about Charlie's betrayal and ensuing antics, and I've sensed over the last few eps that Locke may be going Others-ward. Now Michael's off the deep end.
I guess as long as Jack, Jin, and Hurley stay good, I'll be okay. But sheesh.

And am I wrong, or does Paulie Walnuts need a serious beat-down, and does Phil Leotardo need to get whacked?
Wait -- wrong show.

Focused:
Based on the preview of next week's ep, do you think they'll really off Mr. Eko too?
Shrode's right: Being a Tailie is bad news.

Oh, and you gotta give props to any TV show that riffs on "Say Anything."

And when Ana Lucia and Jack's dad pull into the bar parking lot and Sawyer smacks against their window, did he not say "Hey, I'm walkin' here!"?
'Cause if he did, that's from Midnight Cowboy.

This article confirms that Watros is exiting the show to co-star in a CBS sitcom, but it also says that Rodriguez's Ana Lucia is the dead one.
http://tv.yahoo.com/news/eo/20060504/114677256000.html

So maybe Libby will live to die another day. ;-)

But the season finale is rapidly approaching . . .

I was thinking that Michael did it to frame Henry and work the rest into a lather to go after the Others. I think your explination is more plausable, that others made him do it, promissing to give walt back.

Who knows, this show has more twists and turns.

Oh, and to answer the question, yes, I was shocked. Didn't see that coming at all.

Salgoud

I've heard that theory (Michael planning to frame Henry) elsewhere, and it doesn't seem very plausible to me either. The others lostaways are already worked in a lather (Jerk Jack pulled a gun on Sawyer for crying out loud).

I think Michael's reaction - especially after offing Libby, shows that he's doing something he really doesn't want to do, but he feels he has to. And it's obvious (to me at least) that Henry's controlling Michael - that scene between them right before Michael shot himself was eerie.

My $0.02.

All that being said, there's no doubt that (provided the other Lostaways buy Michael's story here, which I'm sure they will because they haven't shown themselves too adept at adding 2 + 2 yet) they will all get in a reckless lather over this latest development.

My guess is that Jerk Jack will go bounding into the jungle again at some point like a crazy man .

This doesn't bode well.

Dolt De: Why do you think Henry's controlling Michael? How would Henry have been able to do that from the hatch?

(Your anti-Jack-ness is as confusing to me as fandom for U2 is for you, I think.)

Jared,

I don't know how. There are theories that when Henry went to "put in the numbers" he also communicated with the Others somehow through the computer. Perhaps a plan was hatched then. Henry is brilliant, and has been pulling everyone's strings.

I just know that when Michael opened the armory, Henry looked at him like "OK, you know what to do" and Michael, with fear in his eyes (his teeth were actually chattering) shot himself.

OK, I'm not totally anti-Jack, but I hate how he talks to Locke, and even to Sawyer. My tolerance for cockyness is pretty low.

But I'd be sad if Jack got offed.

Jared, I'm also hip to your theory, stated earlier, that Locke might become an Other. He's one gullible dude.

"Based on the preview of next week's ep, do you think they'll really off Mr. Eko too?"

I don't think so, only because I don't think they'd telegraph another cast death like that. I also think that, pacing being what it is, losing yet another major player before his story is "resolved" would be moving to fast. For Lost at least.

See, when I think "cocky," I think Sawyer. I don't see cockiness in Jack at all. Bossy, maybe. But I don't think he's given much choice. How else would you talk to Sawyer? That guy's the jerk, and "pretty please with sugar on top can I have the guns" ain't gonna work.

I think whatever negative qualities Jack exhibits come mainly from feeling put-upon or burdened by responsibilities. He could be all wishy washy and sweetness, but somebody has to be in charge, and since they all seemed to designate him from the beginning, he's doing what he thinks he has to do.

I dig Jack big time. If it wasn't obvious. ;-)

I read that Ana Lucia was NOT taken off b/c of her DUI. The writers said that when they signed her on she stated that she only wanted to do the show for a year. I can't remember where I read this but it sure seemed legit. I am conflicted about Michael. He seemed surprised when Ana told him that Henry was in the armory.....but we know that the Others are more sophisticated. They appear to be bad off but they what about the fake beards and such?? I am not sure if I am buying Michael's tale. Next week will definitely be interesting.

"I think whatever negative qualities Jack exhibits come mainly from feeling put-upon or burdened by responsibilities."

Can't stand the heat? Seriously, how put-upon is he? It's not like he's having to administer food, or whatever. Most of the Lostaways never even see him.

"He could be all wishy washy and sweetness, but somebody has to be in charge, and since they all seemed to designate him from the beginning, he's doing what he thinks he has to do."

I don't remember anyone voting for him. Also (and I'm not really trying to get a big debate going - I find this fun but if I'm irritating you please let me know) - I don't like the false-dichotomy between wishy washy and jerk. Since when is sarcasm a great leadership tool?

I would rather have Jack a bit more respectful, more clear-thinking, more decisive, and - frankly - wiser. These half-cocked missions out in the jungle to yell at the top of your lungs don't seem that wise to me. He's not really leading the whole group right now. Why all the secrecy?

If I was on the island, I'd be cool with having a leader, but I'd want to know things I need to know. For instance "we've captured an Other". That's important, because that means a conflict with the Others is far more likely and perhaps we all need to be more vigilant. Etc.

Jack's got his inner circle, but beyond that, nothing. I dislike the way he has this inner circle - people (like Hurley) have complained to him that they aren't in the loop.

And I'm down with his character being conflicted and complicated. I'm not expecting Aragorn here. Personally, I really like Jack when he's in Doctor mode, taking care of people (even with his poor bedside manner). I don't like him when he's in his "let's build an army" mode (another great Jack initiative that never got off the ground), or pulling guns on another Lostaway, or ragging on Kate, Locke or Sawyer.

He's handled the situation with the Others really poorly, too. He's going to get them all killed . . .

In other words, if Jack's the leader, he's doing a pretty crummy job. I wish Sayed was the leader, personally. He's far more clear-thinking.

You're right, though. Sawyer is cocky too. I'd much rather have Jack leading than Sawyer, of course.

I await max flamage.

No flamage here. I just think you're wrong on almost all of that. ;-)

[Tongue-in-cheek comment warning!]

I'm thinking that, if anything, this episode should teach the ladies of the island one thing: Don't go getting romantic with anyone or you're doomed. We lost Shannon last season, and now Libby (although I don't trust her feelings for Hurley) and then consider Ana-Lucia's romp with Sawyer. Of course, if you are married, you seem to be exempt(Sun and Rose, for example). Quick! Someone tell Kate to stay away from Jack! :o)

Interesting that the two people Michael shot were the two people arrested for DUIs (on the same night, even!). More ironic is that the episode was titled "Two for the Road".

de, de, de...

1) i think they did "vote" jack as leader. i don't have episode specifics, though. he didn't want the job, he was asked to take it and is doing it the way he sees fit.

i like jack most of time and locke some of the time. so their "balance" leadership is fine with me!

2) i'm pretty sure sayid has tortured the innocent and mercilessly beatean people half to death for "payback" (on the island, not just in his army days). not really the guy i want in charge.

Rose and Bernard for diumvirate in '06!

To Stroke, Jared, and all other love-struck Jack-fans.

I recall Sayed beating the crud out of Henry Gale. Because Sayed knew that Gale was an Other. He just knew. In retrospect, Sayed was absolutely right.

Jack, snarkily and foolishly, sarcasted his way through all that, belittling Locke about Gale and doing his typical cocky stare-down on everyone who tried to talk sense to him, the jerk.

Sayed also insisted on digging up the grave to find out if that was really Gale's wife. Thank goodness someone had the guts to do that. He's a hoss. I don't condone everything he's done, but would much rather have him running things.

He also tortured Sawyer. Which was ugly but, you know, the dude was acting like he was witholding medicine for Shannon's life-threatening asthma and they were desperate. And - I don't condone torture, but Sayed did what he did with Jack's OK. Did you forget that detail? Jack, your hero, authorized torture.

And Jack isn't leading at all. He's just going off all three sheets to the wind and reacting to everything, and he doesn't "get" the island or the Others at all.

Jack is going to get people killed. Like Anna-Lucia and Libby, for instance. He never takes time to plan. "Michael says we can take 'em [Note: in direct contradiction to every scrap of evidence they've received so far]. LET'S GO GET THE GUNS!!!!" - and we'll just leave Anna Lucia here by herself . . .

Well done, Jack. Well done . . . To be fair, Locke was probably even more to be blamed on this point because he should have known better too.

Now, if Sayed was in charge I can guarantee you one thing: Henry Gale would no longer be breathing. Which means that Libby and Anna Lucia would still be alive.

On a slightly related topic: it's ironic, I think, that Anna Lucia saved Henry Gale's life when Sayed was going to shoot him . . .

De's right. Jack's an idiot most of the time. Locke is an even worse idiot. So our two "leaders" are wacky and jealous of one another. The only one in the whole show who's shown any real leadership ability is Sayed, even if he did make the mistake of falling for Shannon. However, I think Sayed is afraid of himself and won't take the helm even if he gets the chance. Which leaves us with Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

Question: If you were one of the LOST survivors, what would you be doing right now? Whom would you follow? Are would you stage a takeover? (I'd take a bunch of food and hide in a cave until someone made me come out. It's not the best of survival tactics, but commensurate with my abilities.)

OR would you stage a takeover?

De - I think your absolutely spot on about Jack. He's a shallow thinker and arrogant. I think you've nailed him.

I don't know that Sayed is a better leader. His leanings toward tortures are pretty scary. What if he's wrong and tortures someone on a bad hunch?

Locke is thoughtful, but spineless.

Personally, I like Mr. Ecko. Thoughtful, spiritual, intelligent and he's seen the consequences of his own sin and is changed because of it. The rest have seen their sin and are running away to keep from dealing with it.

MMy chief concerns would be a) people keeping secrets about island discoveries, and b) the pride issues that fuel the unnecessary feud between Jack and Sawyer. If I were a Lostaway, I'd be scheming with Kate to try to bring those two egos together long enough to fight the real enemy. And I'd be spying on Locke to try to find out what else he hasn't told us.

Oh, and the latest Lost episode bummed me out. The ending was a bit too weird even for this show.

OK, where's the Lost post from last night?

Told ya Echo was the one to watch. :-)