This week’s episode was entitled, “Follow the Leader”. A very appropriate title as the episode deals with some of the characters on the show who have at one point tried to be a leader or who became the leader of the island inhabitants. In this episode we have several stories being told. In 1977, Jack must decide what needs to be done now that Daniel Faraday is dead. How can he complete the plan Daniel had to detonate the hydrogen bomb on the island in order to change history and prevent the crash of Oceanic Flight 815. In 2007, John Locke has resumed command of the Others. The island is talking to him and he seems to be in complete control and calling the shots on what needs to be done.

This episode really got my blood pumping. The last few weeks of episodes have been really good, but I almost feel that they were just pieces being put into place to tell the bigger story. The bigger story really begins here as we lead up into next week’s season finale. Will Jack detonate the hydrogen bomb? What about Sawyer and Juliet? Miles, Hugo, and Jin? What about John Locke? Who is he going to kill?!?!

Spoilers….................................................................................

Last week’s episode ended with Daniel being killed by his mother Elouise. After his death, Jack and Kate are captured by the Others. Jack is beaten up by one of the Others, as they believe Jack and Kate are from the Dharma Initiative - the enemy. As they are being held captive, Kate mentions how before they were caught by the Others, Jack said they needed to put things back the way they were supposed to be. Here Jack again has taken the role of the leader of the “LOST” group as he is compelled to once again try and save everyone on the island. He believes that he will set things right by changing the past and not have Oceanic Flight 815 crash on the island; everyone who has died will live and all the pain and suffering they have gone through will be wiped away.

Kate takes offense to this and although she doesn’t come out and say it directly, she feels that although they have been through a lot over the pass few years with the island, the good thing that has come out of it has been the love she and Jack have developed. Jack says there was more bad than good and it seems that he doesn’t care if the past is changed and he doesn’t fall in love with Kate - he is okay with that. I was taken aback by that because there have been some genuine moments where Jack has shown true love for Kate. The episode “I Do” comes to mind when it looks like Kate has chosen Sawyer over Jack and Jack sabotages his operation on Ben to give Kate and Sawyer time to escape. Although she “chose” Sawyer, Jack still loved her enough to want to see her safe.

After talking with Jack and seeing her own handwriting in Daniel’s journal, Elouise believes Jack in that he, Kate, and Daniel are indeed from the future. For obvious reasons, Elouise feels guilt over what has happened and decides to take Jack to the bomb. The bomb is buried in a tunnel underneath the Dharma camp. More on that later.

In the present or 2007, we have John Locke, Ben, and Sun. They have arrived in the present day Others camp and meet up with Richard Alpert. Richard is surprised to see John as it has been several years since he’s last seen him. (He last saw him before John disappeared after the wheel under the island was turned by Ben.) John needs Richard and Ben to come with him. They arrive at a place on the island we have been to before. When the wheel was moved, the people on the island began jumping to different moments in time. In the season premire “Because You Left” there was a moment where John was shot in the leg and was sitting next to the drug plane that crashed on the island years ago. Out of no where, Richard comes and helps treat John’s wound. We see this scene again as the present John sends Richard to his past self to treat his wound and tell him in order to help his people he must die. How did John know this was all going to happen? The island told him. After this incident, John announces that he wishes to see Jacob.

Jack and Kate along with Elouise, Richard, and the unnamed Other who was beating up Jack, arrive at a pool of water. To get to the bomb they must swim to it. Kate is tired of all of this and is obviously angry at Jack for wanting to erase everything from existence including their time falling in love on the island. She is prevented from going by the unamed Other, but he is soon killed by - Sayid! Sayid pops out from behind a bush. He is brought up to speed on what’s going on and agrees with Jack to detonate the bomb. Kate leaves them and heads back to the Dharma camp. The remaining four people begin to swim and end make it to the tunnel. They find the bomb and their story ends there.

Sawyer and Juliet are being held by Radzinsky and his people. They want to know what’s going on and where are Kate and Jack located. Sawyer doesn’t tell them anything and is beaten up for it, seeing that they aren’t getting anywhere, Phil from the Dharma Initiative hits Juliet which causes Sawyer to change his tune. Dr. Chang arrives after meeting up with Miles, Hugo, and Jin. They confirm Daniel’s warnings about the Swan accident and Chang announces to Radzinsky that all non-essential personal must leave the island. Sawyer says that what the doctor is saying is true and they he will tell Radzinsky everything if he and Juliet are allowed to get on the sub as well. This scene has Sawyer pledging himself to Juliet which makes her happy as she feels that he does love her and has chosen her over Kate. This doesn’t last long as when they are on the sub, guess who arrives but none other than Kate.

I mentioned this in a previous review how Kate is starting to annoy me. She isn’t doing anything, but she seems to keep putting a monkey wrench into the love life of Juliet who I also like. I just feel so sorry for Juliet and wish that Kate would just go off and be with Jack, but I guess he doesn’t want her now either. I’m curious to see where the love “rectangle” of Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and Juliet ends this season. Will something major happen in the season finale or will a resolution be left for the sixth season.

Finally we go back to Locke as he has returned to camp and announced to the Others that he will be meeting up with Jacob and that he wants them all to come. This doesn’t sit well with Richard and Ben. “It doesn’t work that way, John.” says Ben. Ben and Richard do not like the way John is handling things now. Will they team up against John next week? Also, I mentioned early in the review that John wants to kill someone. Who does he want to kill? Why Jacob of course and we end there.

Next week is the season finale and then we go on hiatus until next year. Not sure whether the season will start in January or February. Either way its long. After that however, that’s all she wrote as next season the show ends. Then what will I do? Ugh! Great episode tonight; four stars. See you next week for the two-hour finale which is entitled “The Incident”. From several sites I’ve read we will finally be meeting Jacob. Can’t wait!