Season 5, Episode 5: "316"

Wow - awesome episode! Just finished watching it, and I have a lot to write about, which I will do in the morning, but first I just wanted to note the TITLE of this episode is "316" (because they were on Flight #316). Um, hello!!! If you read the very first paragraph in my recap from last week's episode, how I wrote about the biblical passage, John 3:16. (I SWEAR that I did not know the title of this episode was going to be 316 when writing that). In fact, those of you who have been reading since the beginning will know that I've referenced John 3:16 several times in the past. But, I just had to come on here and gloat a little. Seriously, I should be writing for the show. (kidding).

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, I'm back!


FLIGHT 316
The flight they were on (#316) was on Ajira Airways. Back a few episodes ago, when Sawyer and Juliet came across the new boats on the shore, they notice a bottle of water inside one of the boats that says "Ajira" - Juliet explains it is an airline that is based in India. Obviously we knew that was a time-flash in the future...is this how the rest of them landed on the island? (And how cool that Frank Lapidus was the pilot for Ajira Flight 316. Remember he was "supposed" to be the pilot on the original Oceanic 815 flight.)


THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED A LEAP OF FAITH
When Eloise tells Jack what they have to do to go back to the island, he thinks it all sounds "ridiculous." She tells him he has to believe, and that's why it is called a Leap of Faith. Going back to Season 2, remember when Jack and Locke had the conversation about Science vs. Faith - Jack said he was a "man of science" whereas Locke told him he was a "man of faith." Locke has always believed that there was a reason for all of this, he believes in miracles, he believes in fate and destiny...whereas Jack didn't. In Locke's "suicide note" that he leaves for Jack, he writes "I wish you had believed me." At first glance, you assume he just means that he wished he had believed him about not leaving the island (Locke told him not to leave). But I think the deeper meaning there was that he wished he had believed him as far as being a man of FAITH.

Also, while they are in the church (interesting that all of this takes place in a church) - Ben points out a painting in which Thomas the Apostle is touching the wounds of Jesus Christ. He explains that Thomas needed to touch the wounds in order for him to be convinced. This is essentially the same as Jack has always been. He needs proof...he has never been able to go by faith alone. As a man of science, he always needs physical proof. But now, as Eloise points out to him, he needs to just believe and take that leap of faith. When he gets his dad's shoes and puts them on Locke, we see that he has finally taken that leap. Even though he thought the whole idea was "ridiculous" at first, he finally is willing to try it out so that he can get back to the island. There is no "scientific" reasoning that giving something of his father's to Locke will help them get back to the island, yet Jack believes it will work. After everything that has happened over the previous 3 years, Jack is finally willing to let faith lead him. Just like the note from Locke said, "I wish you had believed me." And he finally does.

I also found it interesting that, of all the things that Jack could have given to Locke from his father, he gets his shoes. In both a literal and metaphorical meaning, Locke is now walking in Jack's father's shoes. And we all know that his father, Christian Shepherd, is "Jacob" - the leader of the island. Is Locke now going to take the place of "Jacob" back on the island?

I thought this was a great episode, although it brought up a lot more questions for things we still don't have answers for:

— Who was the "old friend" that Ben had to go see and why did he come back all bloodied and beaten?

— How did Sayid and Hurley know to get on that flight...they weren't there for Eloise's explanation of how that would get them back to the island (plus they didn't want to go back anyway). Sayid seemed surprised to see Jack and the others on that flight, and who is the woman he is with? Did someone convince them to take that flight for some other reason, or could it just be FATE that brought them on that plane (because they were all "supposed to" go back). If they weren't going to go willingly, fate had to step in. Also what changed Kate's mind about going back to the island? And what happened to baby Aaron? She tells Jack she will go back to the island as long as he never questions her about Aaron.

— What is up with Jin showing up at the end in a Dharma uniform with a gun? Does that mean that Jack, Hurley and Kate "landed" on the island in the past (1970s-era when Dharma was still active on the island?) And what about Sun, Sayid and Ben? Where (or when) are they?

Good stuff! Can't wait til next week.