Season 2, Episode 8: "Collision"

TITLE
“Collision”refers to the two groups coming together. The title implies that the reunion will not be a pleasant one, as if there will be a clashing of the two groups.

ANA LUCIA
We learn a lot about Ana Lucia’s backstory. She was a cop and was shot. Unfortunately she was pregnant and lost her baby. The shooting incident has left Ana a little paranoid. She unwisely pulls a gun out on a disturbance call. But notice that in the incident there is a baby involved. No doubt that losing her own baby has invoked a strong feeling of protection in Ana for the infant right in front of her and hence the gun drawing. (The same way she likely feels on the island to “protect” the children, after they were taken we see the same behaviors invoked in her again...it will also be interesting to see how she reacts to Claire’s baby.)

As I talked about last week, she has become somewhat of a “savage.” We see that when her shooter is finally caught she lets him go so that she can kill him herself. Just goes to show that she has a “savage” side in her rather than letting him go to jail (because he did confess). She wanted him dead. She tells Sayid about the incident but does not divulge that she killed him. Is she guilty about it? Ana joins the other survivors who have also had a troubled past such as Sawyer and Kate. Ana’s story is more closely related to Sawyer’s as he also shot a man. This could be a connecting point for both of them in future episodes. After a while Ana finally cuts Sayid’s binds and sets him free. The scene where she cuts the rope is very reminiscent of when Michael cut Jin’s handcuffs. In both instances we think a person is about to get killed but instead gets freed.

JASON
Ana’s shooter that she eventually kills is named Jason. I think also that the guy that Kate is involved with in the bank robbery was also named Jason. Could this be the same person?

MR ECHO
When Echo picked up Sawyer he said “I’m not doing it for him, I’m doing it for myself.” Was this to cleanse his own conscience for past actions? (everyone seems to have some sort of guilt out there). Locke mentions to Jack that Echo had brought Sawyer to them thus demonstrating Echo’s good faith. Once again, FAITH. Echo also seems to have a lot of faith/religious implications.

CROSSWORD
The crossword puzzle that Locke was working on may have hidden clues in it. The DOWN clues are:
37. Belgian Port
38. Robbed
40. WW II movie feature: hyph. wd.
42. Enkidu’s friend
43. Less Brazen
The answer to 42 down is Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh is from ancient Sumer. Gilgamesh is one of the oldest recorded stories in the world... Gilgamesh, two-thirds god and one-third human, is the greatest king on earth and the strongest super-human that ever existed; however, he is young and oppresses his people harshly. The people call out to the sky-god Anu, the chief god of the city, to help them. In response, Anu creates a wild man, Enkidu, (Echo??) out in the harsh and wild forests surrounding Gilgamesh's lands. This brute, Enkidu, has the strength of dozens of wild animals; he is to serve as the subhuman rival to the superhuman Gilgamesh. The two started out as enemies and became friends.

JACK
Inside the hatch, Jack gets on Locke for letting the beeping go on at the countdown. He says, “Locke...the button!” Finally, Jack has become a “believer” in the need to push the button, whereas at first he did not think it was necessary. He is starting to move to Locke’s side of “faith.”

ECHO’S STICK
The writers of the show told us to look out for clues on Echo’s stick. We saw him writing/etching something on the stick. In a closeup, it appears that he is writing the 23rd Psalm.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

Read the words and try and apply it to the show, it makes a lot more sense. We know that Echo is a religious man, he has said on numerous occasions that he will pray for this or that, he also seemed to take an interest in the bible they found in the hatch. Also “thy rod and they staff they comfort me” seems important as he has that staff with him at all times. The other staff was also what Ana used to kill Goodwin. Also the first few lines remind me of Jack. His last name is Shephard. He was found lying in the jungle after the crash (green pastures) and not on the beach with the rest of them. He is the definite “leader” of the group, also it was him that led the group to water. Also the number 23 is one of the “numbers.”

It appears that he has carved “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Look at this screen cap...You can see “I Will” and on the next line “Lord F...” here it is:
http://www.myworldonline.org/posts/48days-cap216.jpg