Can't come soon enough. I'm interested in how he left the Republican Guard (at the end of Solitary, he wasn't willing to go due to the severe consequences of desertion).

Interesting title, especially since the episode centers around Sayid. In one episode, Locke says to Boone (referring to Sayid), "We may want him on our side." Hmmmmm...

Gak! Well, my above comment made more sense before, as the original posted title of this episode was "Sides."

This episode was enjoyble, but I thought it represented some issues in a rather conflicted and unsatisfying manner. First, the issue of the terrorist cell Sayid becomes involved with. It's rather absurd that a Muslim terrorist would be troubled with the idea that every life is precious. Muslim terrorists on Jihads don't hold such beliefs ( the same day this ep aired, a terrorist attack in which 60 people were killed was in the news). A more honest view of a terrorist mentality was aired in a film on the Sundance channel (I can't remember the title, it aired a couple of monthes ago). It was about one of the Muslim men involved in 9/11 attack. The man lived in Hamburg and the film showed how a peaceful man was tranformed in a hate-filled man who would be willing to kill innocent people. I appreciate the efforts of the writer to present Muslims in a more fair light. Most of the world's Muslims, as with Christians and Jews, lead ordinary decent lives. I feel it was a bit much to try and present Muslim terrorists in this politically correct way. Terrorist don't represent ordinary Muslims.

This ep also helped me to look at Sayid in a more forgiving manner. In an earlier ep, he tortured Sawyer. I thought this was unforgiveable. In this ep, his restrained reaction to Locke ( who revealed that he lied and was the one who knocked Sayid out earlier) shows that he has a strong conscience. His effort to stop Shannon from killing Locke further supports this.

I thought the part where Jack "lost it" and assaulted Locke was a bit overplayed. I know that Jack was angry, but I expected a more cool-headed reaction from him.

Unfortunately, this ep also hints of a direction the show might take. The ep's end reveals how important the raft is. I still have trouble accepting the idea that any sane person would abandon the island and take to sea in that flimsy looking raft (it looks like it would fall apart in the ocean). Just the waves and prospect of running out of supplies (water and food) would be deterant enough. How could they navigate such a raft. It has no sails or engine. It's about as credible as the rafts built in "Gilligan's Island". I fear that next season, viewers will be treated (or, untreated) to endless scenes of survivors on a dreary raft voyage. Predictably, they'll run out of supplies and will be at each other's throats. I don't want Lost to vear into territory that's already be done before.

Geez, you miss a little and you miss a lot. I didn't return quickly enough after the break to find out why Locke had knocked Sayid out in that earlier show. I know it was only a couple of sentences, but apparently Sayid had accepted the explanation. Can someone reiterate that for me? Thanks.

If Kate was watching Jack sleep the whole time, how did Shannon get the key?

Be sure to watch the special on Friday with the interviews of the cast. Btw, I forgot to watch the rest of "The Journey" (the clip show) last week -- was anything new presented?

When Shannon was sitting with Locke on the beach, I expected her to say something like "Is that his blood?" (on his shirt) or to ask him to change it.

Don't know why, but now every time I see Walt I imagine a young Tuvok.

HOW are they going to get that raft to float? It looks like they are using metal struts for support. That would be fine if it actually had a bottom, but it looks like they are just putting bamboo or whatever on top of it. Seems like they would need an awful lot of it for that design.

About time Jin started learning some English, basic words shouldn't take that long to pick up.

I think sometimes a few "flash-forward"s would be cool. Imagine if we'd seen a preview of Sawyer reading to a baby, with his crazy glasses on, or Jack beating up Locke, etc, earlier in the season. I always kind of liked those "How will they get into THAT situation?" storylines. Oddly enough though, I avoid previews for the following week's show.

It's rather absurd that a Muslim terrorist would be troubled with the idea that every life is precious. Muslim terrorists on Jihads don't hold such beliefs... - Rona

Except that a person in doubt... seeking justification for an extremist act... might just question his beliefs.

I mean, if I follow your logic, then no man can ever change his position about anything because, well, they just don't believe that or think that way. But didn't Rommel turn against Hitler? How does that happen unless the individual questions his beliefs?

When Kate drugs Jack with water filled with crushed sleeping pills in the opening scene of Act 3, the pills worked just a bit too fast.

Whoa. So it was Locke who cold-cocked Sayid in The Moth!. I knew he was the only one with the motive, but still, it was surprising to hear, and to just have him come out and say it.

How did Shannon find out about the gun case? Did Jack and everyone else just announce it to all 45 or so people? And even if so, who in the world told her where the key was?

I found it surprising that when Jack collapses in the beginning of Act 1 after going after Locke, it's Sawyer who yells for someone to get water. This and his caring for the baby make me wonder if they're softening him a bit.

Where in the episode did one of the terrorists state that all life is precious?

As far as Jack going crazy with Locke, they made clear that he was exhausted, dehydrated, and stressed out, and we've seen that Jack is prone to over-working himself.

Ok sayid's friend I thought wasn't a true terroist but someone who had had a major loss (his love anbd family) and blamed anyone else. That let the true terroist bad guy use him as his martyr. And sayid came along and helped wake up the conscience behind the beard as it was. Sort of trying to show that not all muslims are bloodthirsty terrorsts but just humans with another point of view.

I'm not sure but I think it was when sayid and bubba where talking in the street and bubba said somethign like "the imam teachs all life is precious"

As for the sleeping pills apparently the airline buys their sleeping pills in hollywood as theya re the standard movie and tv show quick acting pills.

And yeah I like how sawyer is kinda softening up but looks like he is not having the best of times doing so.

And as for the direction things are taking. remember the message from mira. "Watch your friends" foreshadowing that something happened to her people and may happen to syaid's.

I wonder how thigns are going to be now that more people know about the doom pod. And Walt's rather dark foreboding about not wanting it opened. And speaking of walt did anyone notice the brief image on the beach where walt and his dad where near the raft and it seemed like his dad was having some kind of distress (at least it seemed like it to me)

Oh one other thing about sayid. If he hadn't cared enough for his friend to give him a proper burial he wouldn't ahve wound up on flight 815 and would probably be in CA making up with his girl. Another example of the human nature behind the mask.

Regarding the sleeping pills, it's hard to say if it's unrealistic since we don't know what kind of sleeping pills they were.

Sure, the typical over the counter stuff I take doesn't work for about an hour or so, but they've got all those prescriptions they've salvaged.

Wasn't there some prescription stuff Jack was trying to get Claire to take to make her sleep when Ethan was messing with her and Jack thought it was just nightmares? Did they say what that drug was?

I don't know why the CIA would need Sayid to get the explosives. I mean they do have Sydney Bristow on the payroll. She can swipe anything. Sure, she would've had to go about it in a different way, but she could have done it.

(And yes, despite sharing some actors in different roles, the shows are in the same universe. Driveshaft's song was playing at a party in an Alias ep this year.)

As for how Shannon got the key, well, we have to assume Kate didn't sit there the entire time Jack slept. Sure, she was there when he dozed off and there when he woke up, but surely she had to go do something else at some point, like eat or pee or even just stretch her legs.

Walt a little Tuvok! LOL, XD

How did Sayid know what heroin tasted like? And is it really a good idea to just taste an unknown suspicious substance like that? Anyway, hope Charlie doesn't come across that area.

Remember, Jack had also just given a lot of blood too.

Does anyone know if there is any kind of sleeping pill that works THAT fast?

Hey, wouldn't it be cool is Sydney Bristow showed up in a flashback has having targeted one of the castaways because it was believed he might've been a spy, or something?

Sayid worked in the Republican Guard, so he may had had training and experience with drug smugglers. And isn't that the way heroin is tasted? Or is that just a movie/TV cliche myth?

OK as for heroin. I have it on good authority from a person who used to do it. That heroin does look similiar enough to brown sugar that you can hide it in it. That heroin can be snorted, smoked or shot. And that a person can taste it and test what it is. Supposedly it has a very nasty distinctive taste/smell.

Or is that just a movie/TV cliche myth?

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcocaine.html

Granted, that's about coke, but really, the principle is the same.

This also might be of some relevence.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050218.html

Not too bad. I especially like the last scene with Sayid and Locke where Sayid admits to Locke that he's probably the one that will help them survive that island. But that he still doesn't trust him. And I cracked up when we cut to Sawyer reading the car specs to "Turnip Head".

Rona: I still have trouble accepting the idea that any sane person would abandon the island and take to sea in that flimsy looking raft (it looks like it would fall apart in the ocean). Just the waves and prospect of running out of supplies (water and food) would be deterant enough. How could they navigate such a raft. It has no sails or engine.
It's not even done at this point. Besides, I think they erect a sail in one of the next two eps.

Influx: I know it was only a couple of sentences, but apparently Sayid had accepted the explanation. Can someone reiterate that for me? Thanks.
Since I'm too lazy to do this myself, I'll just let TWoP do it for me: "Locke tells [Sayid] that he what he did because he thought it would be foolish to go to the source of a transmission that talked about how something had killed everyone on the island."

Rona: It's rather absurd that a Muslim terrorist would be troubled with the idea that every life is precious. Muslim terrorists on Jihads don't hold such beliefs.

Sayid wasn't a terrorist. He was Republican Guard. The Republican Guard held a place in the Iraqi Army similar to that of the US Special Forces (Rangers/SEALS/RECON). Definitely not a terrorist.

I think Rona was referring to Haddad, not Sayid.

Oops.