Fantastic episode. Much better than last week's two-episode opener. Of course it helped that there was no Jack and Kate and focused greatly on Desmond and Locke.
During this episode, I began wondering if there was any pattern to the time shifts, especially considering there hadn't been one for awhile (until the end of the episode, of course). I don't expect a solid explanation (and I expect it to be mostly arbitrary), but I do hope it'll be addressed on some level.
Speaking of time traveling and addressing important questions, I was VERY happy when Penny asked Desmond why he suddenly remembered the memory of Faraday at that moment in their personal timelines. Considering they brought up this question, I really hope it's something they will address at length later on because that's something that can be very confusing, even for a
Doctor Who fan like myself (where personal timelines are often quite confusing).
I fully expect Faraday and company to suddenly zap back to the time period where Richard and Ellie are because Faraday didn't fix the bomb (and as he said, the Island is still there 50 years later). Speaking of Faraday, it seems likely he worked for DHARMA at some point in his past (and I previously just assumed that he was just with the other Losties when he passed Pierre Chang in the mine shaft), but I also don't think he was always with them, i.e. he has time traveled through the Island before and was with the DHARMA folks for only short period of time. I don't think he's really old like Richard thanks to the Island's healing effects if for no other reason than I feel like that his personality is one that developed now as oppose to in the 50's or 70's, either with the US military or DHARMA.
Two tidbits that I loved:
Desmond and Penny named their child Charlie! I really should have seen that coming considering I noticed the deliberately avoided naming the kid when we first saw him. Great tribute to a missed character.
Young Charles Widmore! So he was one of the Others/Hostiles and at some point he was forced off the Island or kept away. I'm guessing there was some kind of power struggle between him and Richard and Richard has the means of kicking off the Island. Considering how old he is "now," I can understand why he's such a bitter old man about the whole Island business. More than ever, I can't help but wonder who Penny's mother is (hm...and whether Penny was born on the Island).
While Rebecca Mader is hot, I'm not all that upset that Charlotte has died because her character has been mostly pointless. She has been almost entirely defined as the women Faraday loved. We never found out why she was looking for polar bears in Tunisa.
I'm convinced more than ever by the face that Desmond is heading to L.A. that Mrs. Hawking is indeed Faraday's mother. However, I'm worried for Penny's sake because Ben and his blood vow against Widmore is also there.
Lastly, I momentarily expected Ellie to be Danielle. But who knows...maybe she is...
Also the young actress portraying her did a pretty good job with some of Flanagan's facial expressions--the harsh face and clenched jaw.
