"One of Us" was a Mindblowing Lost Episode

First this episode called "One of Us" was one of the best episodes of the season if not of the series. It detailed Juliet's (one of the "others") coming to the island and doing experiements on the women there. It showed the reasons she was there in the first place and outlined hers and Ben's character more than anyone else. It is now partly know why the "others" went after the losties when they first crashed on the island and why Ethan, took Claire. What a reveal! Juliet used her knowledge as a researcher to help Claire during her pregnancy but also put her in danger.

As Juliet tries to win over the losties after Jack returns to the other side of the island with Kate and Sayid, she is ousted by the losties because she is known to be part of the "others". But saving helped her gain some respect and trust in the camp. Unfortunately Juliet turns out to be lying about a lot of things as the episode comes to an end and we realize that Ben has instructed her to gain the losties' trust. Fir what reason, we don't know yet. But what I do know is that there were so many things in the episode that made me stand up and cheer.

Things that made me stand up and cheer:

Tension between Jack and Sayid: When Sayid tries to find out more about Juoliet and the "others" Jack says to him "She's under my protection". What a powerful statement. Jack now truly sees himself as the leader of the group and we know then that he is not stepping down for anyone. By the end of the episode we do know that he understand s he can't control the losties but he can do his best because they trust him above anyone else. Sayid knew tjis and backed down. Even he trusts Jack, but he doesn't trust Juliet.

Jack's triumphant return: It was beautifully done. The emotion on everyone 's faces was really excellent. And in the best moment was the ackowledgement of Sawyer passing over his new-found power of the lostioes back to Jack. Jack's graciousness at knowing about Sawyer and Kate was tremendous. They shook hands and then Sawyer leaned in for a hug. He was happy to have Jack back and that is will be a historic moment in the series from now until the end. They are polar opposites and finally they've come to respect each other. Well done.

The despising of Juliet: Juliet stands alone on the sand and Sawyer is the first to see her, or to see red rather. What pain and anger they all have and she can feel it, all shooting at her. Awkwaaard! And then the meeting. Jack is in full charge. He exudes his power to convince the group that she's on of the good ones. it just shows how this has become a tribe and Jack is leader once again.

Hurley:
Hurley has a lot of depth that a lot of people miss due to his sad story. But when he sits down with Juliet, he is simple and to the point after she realizes that he is there to watch her. He says somethign to the effect of,"The last one of you guys that came over here, he kidnapped Claire. Charlie got upset. . . . .. . . . . . .We byuried him over there." And he says all of this in a very matter-o-fact way but with anger in huis eyes as he looks out at the ocean. And the point is made. I REALLY stood up and cheered at this. Even Juliet looked a bit frightened.

A frightened Juliet: Juliet goes to get supplies to help Claire and since Sawyer and Sayid are supicious they follow her. They don;t believe that she's trying to help since she is an other so they take her box of medical supplies away. But Juliet in her stiff and condescending tone relays to them both what she knows they have done in their past. And then she says that they wouldn;t want Claire to die because "the last thing you want is more blood on your hands." Ouch to Sawyer and Sayid. Needless to say, they let her do her thing.

But the best part of this episode is the ending, at least for me. The coversation that Juliet and Jack have by the shore and then when it is revealed that Juliet has not been truthful even though we have believed her for weeks. The coversation is monumental. Not only did it say a lot about the show itself but a lot about its fans and the creators. Imagine Juliet as representing the show's creators (the others) And Jack representing the true fans of the show (the losties).

The lines went something like this.

Jack: [you're ok for now] but they'll want answers. And you'll have to explain yourself. Soon.

Juliet: Why do you always say them? Why do I never have to explain myself to you?

Jack: Because you were there. When the sub blew up. I saw it in your eyes. You want to get off this island more than anything else in the world. That makes you one of us.

Then Jack gets up and leaves, and we know from the episode that he is so right. Juliet wants to leave almost more than anyone else on the island.

Explanation of the lines in terms of the creators' inside "joke" to the fans:

Jack's first line relates to how the series is going. Sayid asked Juliet earlier in the episode point blank all these questions about who the others really were and why they were terrorizing everyone. These are questions that all the Lost fans have, whether they are true Lost fans or the ones who complain 24/7. And then Jack, (the true lost fan), says that even though he believes in her (the show) that these other fans are out for blood. There only priority is to get off the island (the only priority for the comlaining fans is find out the mystery). But Jack's priority is to find out the mysteries, get off the island AND help people. But for the losties, he wants them to be patient and trust that everything will be alright. What a stupendous punch to the face of naysayers.

Juliet's response, the second line, is that of she knows what she is doing. She knows she is right in her own way and even though the losties don't like her, she still does what she does because she knows what's best. Plus, she wants things to go well just as the losties do even if they don't believe her. So she asks Jack why he (the true fan) sticks with her no matter what while the complainers and the ratings gods bash them even when they still make the show interesting and do it well (Juliet trying to save Claire and the losties didn't believe her even when she was doing something right).

Jack's response is the killer. He says she was with him and she was just as disappointed when the sub blew up as he was. Basically this is pointing out that the creators understand the fans. They want the fans to go with them and extend their disbelief so that they can continue to tell their story and help us all understand the mysteries. They have their own certain way of getting there and the fans can go along on the journey or not. If tghey don't wann go, get out of the way. if they do want to go, then keep watching.

Also, Jack's response shows that the true fans really do understand the purpose of the show (Juliet), that it is about character and drama and mystery and suspense, rather than about finding out a secret of the island. We are on this journey together and the fans want to stand hand in hand with the creators and try to get off this godforsaken island.

And the final part of Jack's response is one of togetherness. Not only do the creators want us to go along with them on this journey but they are enjoying it as artists as much as we are as we watch it. Creating something you can be proud of and that people really are into is a great feeling. Think of the creators of Superman or Star Trek. The characters will forever go down in history as icons. You can make Superman in a hundred different ways or make Star Trek however you want it to be. No one questions it. And to be a part of making history with these kinds of characters and this kind of show with this kind of following is monumental. They are part of the phenomenon as are the Lost fans. And even though naysayer Lost fans complain and snort at the show even when there's a fantastic episode like this one, they still want the fans to be a part of something that they think is great and want to share with the world.

They're one of us.