s2e19: S.O.S.

Damon Lindelof recently gave an interview where he described the season's first 19 episodes as the "calm before the storm" of the last five, which might help explain why tonight's episode was pretty blasé. The A-plot and flashbacks recognize the fact that Bernard and Rose are the only major characters not seen in flashback until this point (Libby has never had her own episode, but it's arguable how major she is as a character and she was in a Hurley flashback anyway), by showing that they actually haven't known each other very long. Which I guess explains why they don't get along or seem to have a tremendous amount in common. Whatever. Then we find out that Rose used to have terminal cancer and the island healed her, and she has a little moment with Locke where they basically exchange knowing nods, because Rose remembers seeing Locke in his wheelchair in the airport. Oh, and Bernard is really annoying for the whole episode, bossing everyone around for his S.O.S. sign which Rose hates. When Bernard realizes that Rose wants to stay, he states it very specifically for the two people who couldn't tell from the rest of the episode. "You don't want to leave? Because you think the island fixed you?" Thanks, Bernie.

Also, Alma noted that Bernard's bottom row of teeth are pretty terrible and snaggled. And this guy is a dentist? But let's be fair: maybe he's a dentist in a town with no orthodontists.

In the B-plot, Jack goes to see if the Others will trade Walt back for "Henry," even though "Henry" says they won't. The Others don't show up, but after some Jack and Kate semi-flirtation, Michael does, in a fairly predictable ending.

In the C-plot, Locke can't draw the diagram from the blast door, but then he does.

Next month, probably, on Lost: Michael says the castaways could totally take the Others. "Henry" suggests that that might not be the case when he apparently kicks Ana Lucia's ass despite being tied up; the question is, if he could escape like that at any time, why didn't he before? And some gun-having shenanigans are going down. Fun fact: in island time, Michael's only been gone, like, two weeks. Oh, and you can bet there'll be more with Locke's diagram, though possibly not in the very next episode.

Anyone else wonder if Michael isn't exactly what he seems? He's been gone for a while. Okay, I guess it's exactly like the old Michael to charge into the Others' lair, guns blazing. But maybe he's being used as a lure somehow, even if unknowingly. Someone is supposed to die in the final five episodes - would they finally go with a true "major" character (Jack, Locke, Sawyer, Kate) or would it be someone on a bit more of the fringe (Charlie, Ana Lucia, whoever)? I'm guessing the latter. Guesses as to the inevitable season-ending cliffhanger? I say it probably involves discovering something big about the Others, like some sort of headquarters, or an airplane tarmac, or something. (Speaking of which, shouldn't Jack have been a little more fazed by the revelation that the Others are playing dress-up? Maybe he just didn't believe Kate.)