PopSyndicate.com

As the aftermath of Sayid’s escape plays out, “Whatever Happened, Happened” finally gives us a good look into the current motives of our fab four: Kate, Jack, Juliet and Sawyer.

We discover the secret mission Sawyer leaves Kate—taking care of Cassidy and Sawyer’s daughter—and Kate’s secret reason for returning—to find Claire and make things right. The lingering doubt that Sawyer might still have the hots for Kate disappears like the fog monster after a kill: he is willing to save young Ben’s life not for Kate but for Juliet. Conversely, Juliet really does seem to love Sawyer, even trusts his love for her enough to send him off with Kate. Sawyer and Juliet, who have had so much trouble with love in their pasts, seem to find redemption in each other. Jack meanwhile has no love interests whatsoever and seems to have surrendered to Locke’s beliefs in the Island—that he is there for a reason.  At last, he’s okay with just being there and not knowing why.

I enjoyed the deeper look into these characters. This is no longer the love pyramid. The story line is now about four individuals on four unique paths to peace and resolution. I especially like the fact that Kate settles into a role almost isolated from the original pyramid. I have no doubt that eventually she’ll end up with someone, but for now the moment is about Kate rescuing Claire. Sawyer’s chance encounter with “past Kate and Claire” during the flashbacks early in the season also supports this bond, reminding us that Kate underwent more than just wavering love interests during her time on the Island. The fact that Claire and her love for Aaron drew her back to the Island makes more sense than an infatuation with either Jack or Sawyer. The cross web with Cassidy also added a lot of depth to the story. Evangeline Lilly gave a brilliant performance letting go of Aaron.

And as the emotional depth extends into the sea, the tension builds as we discover how Ben became one of the Others and gained new life from the Temple. I’ve a feeling this series won’t end with a pod opening as Jack, Kate, Juliet and Sawyer approach Mars, revealing the whole series to be artificial memories. Maybe a pod will open and Richard Alpert will eat them all. Yikes.

4