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Sometimes, things aren’t as they seem.

So far, this season has been peppered with answers to long unanswered questions that slowly developed in other seasons. This particular episode gave me a mix of answers and more questions that continue to intrigue me as I think back on the episode.

Everyone who knew that Michael was the “spy” on the boat, raise your hand. My hand is raising high to the sky as the media (especially tvguide.com) had already said he would be reappearing this season. You know, if they had kept this a secret a little better, it would have been one of the best twists all year! It is apparent that he and Walt made it off the island and out of the weird elements protecting it, but at what price? What happened to Michael and Walt? Why is he helping Ben? Can he really be trusted? What does Ben have to do with all of the mystery surrounding the island? I’m sure we will find out soon.

One of the most intriguing elements this week was revealed almost in passing and I believe it will become a major twist later this year. That second mystery is: Why was the Oceanic 815 flight wreckage staged underwater as a total loss and who is behind this cover-up? We don’t know why yet, but we know who: Ben! How did he do that from the island? Who IS Ben really and why does Charles Widmore want him so bad that he deploys a boat out to get him from an island that no one knows about? How does Charles know Ben? How does he know Ben staged the fake crash site? I’m dying to know more about Ben. Also, are we going to get to hear what is on the flight black box that the ship captain has? Interesting, to say the least…

The big revelation this week was who else is a part of the “Oceanic Six.” (SPOILER ALERT) Answer: Sun. Unfortunately, this answer came with a price: Jin, who is the big death being teased in this week’s previews. Is Jin part of the “Oceanic Six” or did he not even make it off the island? What a twist to know that Sun and her baby make it, but Jin doesn’t. What I found interesting in this episode is how we believe until the end that Jin made it off the island by juxtaposing Sun in the future and Jin in the past. It was a great way to use the newly exposed flash-forward story device. I found it fascinating and hope they use the flash forwards and flash backs in more creative ways like this. Second, I found the fact Jin forgave Sun for her former affair heartbreaking and beautifully played. I never expected him to go fishing, talk to Bernard and conclude it was all his fault. What a sacrifice for your family - and then he doesn’t even make it? Bittersweet.

As for the rest of the story, besides the flash forward and back on Jin and Sun, we met the boat captain and learned they had no intention of saving anyone on the island. We also saw the ruthless side to Juliet, who exposed Sun’s secret affair to Jin in a moment of desperation.

I’ve been enjoying the big twists and turns of this roller coaster season. I was worried that Lost would start out a little slow like it did last year and we would have to wallow through new characters and uninteresting flash backs. What a surprise this season is turning out to be, with more of the veil being pulled back and the new time elements that defy even the most normal time lines. It has been one great ride after another. This is the show I most look forward to on a weekly basis now. (To be fair, it was Friday Night Lights, but it is on hiatus… cancelled?) I can’t wait to see more this week. What will be revealed next? More about Michael? If anyone else made it off the island? The Charles-Ben connection? Will we have more questions as the answers are revealed?

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