S4E03 - The Economist

Well this week's LOST episode - The Economist was a treat! It amazes me how LOST can continue to deliver a punch like this episode after three seasons, with fans that dissect every minute detail. They keep surprising us and deliver action, comedy and mystery.

Kudos to writers Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz for this episode. I loved the comedic parts and the new characters are awesome. Miles cracks me up with his "What, these guys have day care?" comment, as well as his sarcasm. Daniel is so believable as the quirky nerdy science geek, with details like bumping into a low hanging branch and his nervous demeanour. Kitsis & Horowitz also gave us "Born to Run" from Season 1 and "Everybody Hates Hugo", "Fire + Water", "Dave" and "Three Minutes" from Season 2 as well as "Every Man for Himself", "Tricia Tanaka is Dead", "Expose", "D.O.C." and "Greatest Hits" from Season 3, so they are seasoned LOST writers.

Sayid still strikes me as the only Lostie that does not so far have that huge gap in character behavior that the others have shown. He is pretty consistent, always asks the right direct questions, and answers questions well -ex: Miles asking whether Sayid believes that the Freighter people are here to save them or kill them, Sayid responds by saying "I'll let you know when I decide."

We are being introduced this season to a whole new layer of intrigue, one that is based on a cover-up and conspiracy and apparently a power struggle between two groups - the one that Ben is in, and the one that Ilsa's boss is in.

The question is who are they and what do they want? Which group involves Widmore? Which one is Abaddon working for? Which one arranged for the Oceanic 6 to be paid off for their silence? Is Ben in that group, or is that the group he is getting Sayid to eliminate? Will he then try to eliminate the Oceanic 6?

The new information we get this episode makes one's head spin just thinking about the possibilities.

Sayid is one of the Oceanic 6. We learn that he does not need to work due to a large settlement - supposedly from Oceanic, but I am guessing the check came from somewhere else. The shocker we get is that Ben is off the island and seems to be the mastermind of the group that has Sayid working as an assassin. We also find out that Ben has a secret room in his Barracks home with currency and passports with aliases from many countries - the implication being that he travels off the island with ease lots of times.
We see Sayid take a bracelet from Naomi with an inscription that reads: To N, we will always be together, R.G. Is Ben R.G.?

The same or a similiar bracelet is seen on Ilsa in Berlin. Sayid uses Ilsa to get to her boss - the 'Economist', but it appears that Ilsa and her Boss are trying to find Sayid's boss Ben. Ilsa shoots Sayid in the shoulder, but Sayid kills her.

Is the bracelet from someone we know? Is it the same bracelet? Is it a kind of organization i.d.?


Sayid goes to a veterinary clinic to get medical attention and that is when we get the shocker that Ben is apparently a Vet and Sayid's new boss.

Here is a really 'off-the-wall' idea, but would make an amazing LOST moment: What if Ben is Elsa's boss as well as Sayid's Boss? He is the master liar and manipulator. Who does he not end up using for his own purposes?

A few of the things in this episode that I think are very important:

1. Daniel's experiment that has Regina fire a small rocket from the freighter that arrives 31 minutes after it should.

This seems to confirm the theories that island time moves more slowly than the outside world. Remember how 815 looked like it came apart in slow motion when seen from the Barracks?


2. The emphasis that Frank MUST follow a specific heading "no matter what". 325 degrees I would guess.

3. The way the groups are changing and don't yet seem to match the Oceanic 6. I have a weird gut instinct that things are not how they appear to us, and we will be in for another shocker or two about who is really aligned with who. Don't be surprised to find out that Ben and Locke are partners in crime. You read it here first. (well maybe second :) )

I am betting that this Season will be focused a lot on the conspiracy surrounding the 815 disappearance and the Oceanic 6, which is complex enough that it will keep us guessing like a good Agatha Christie mystery.

It was great to see Desmond again, and yes I am also going on record to say that poor Desmond is going to be disappointed to learn that his love Penelope Widmore is a true Widmore and that Daniel and Frank probably have heard of her.

My favorite part of this episode that gave me goosebumps was the chopper leaving the island with Sayid and Desmond. Yup - that ranked up there with the opening scenes of the wreckage in the S1 Pilot.

I give this episode a 10 out of 10.