As the dialogue plays out on 815, the view drops below the plane, into the ocean and the viewer begins to see some fairly familiar items: some houses strangely resembling those in Dharmaville, a branded shark, and, surprisingly of all, the four-toed foot statue, fully immersed by the water and covered in seaweed.
It appears as if we're being shown an alternate timeline in which 815 safely lands in Los Angeles, though the island is submerged with the passengers far from it. Though, what exactly caused the alt-timeline? Or was it caused at all? Maybe it always was. If it was a result of the Jughead detonation, than the Losties have certainly, unknown to them, caused a world of trouble. Considering their own wants and desires that led to the bomb going off, it seems like no one thought of any possible repercussions for committing the act. All they thought of was alleviating all the stress caused by their time on the island, and failed to consider anything outside of their own lives that would be affected.
Back on the island in the present, it seems that Faraday was correct in his theory that the bomb worked. However, instead of those of 815 having their island memories erased and lives re-set to be in L.A., an alt-timeline was created instead, where the island is uninhabited and submerged. The irony here is that their desire to have to bomb work was fulfilled, though the circumstances that followed were anything but.
Following up from last season, Jacob seems to actually be dead (hence the appearance to Hurley) though this leads to the ever-popular fan question that ironically Ben Linus shares, "Why didn't he put up a fight?" If Jacob is supposed to be this great and powerful leader, why would he just give in like that and let the MIB run amuck on the island? Does he have something left up his sleeve so he'll get the last laugh? Hmm...
Speaking of the MIB, confirming some fan beliefs, he is actually the smoke monster. Probably the most intriguing mystery of the show since the Pilot is finally solved. Well, to a point at least. The look on Ben's face when he attacks Bram and followers inside the statue pretty much sums up the faces and minds of all the people watching. What's going on here?
While the action goes on inside the statue, Jack & Co. at the destructed Swan site find Juliet still alive at the bottom of the wreck, still enough breath left to mutter, "It worked." It can be inferred that she's referencing Jughead, but you never know for sure.
When a dead Jacob appears to Hurley and insists that he take Sayid to the Temple, viewers are suprised to find that we're actually going to see the Temple (not the perimeter) for the first time after countless mentioning of this somewhat secret place. Inside, we see Cindy, Zach and Emma from 815 for the first time since season 3, showing that they've acclimated to life with the Others and are quite comfortable living there (and not too excited to see Jack, Kate, Hurley, and Sawyer).
Oddly enough, there's a murky pool of water inside the Temple, strangely resembling the water that Ben drains to summon the smoke monster in season 4. Connection? Regardless, it seems to have lost its healing effects, but strangely enough, Sayid is brought back with no recollection of what had happened. I've read some theories that Sayid's body is Jacob's "loophole" to kill the MIB, but I think it's still too early to tell. Possibly an even stronger question: if Sayid is still Sayid, how was he healed if the water is contaminated?
It's safe to assume that many of the answers that viewers seek are rooted deep within the mythological aspects and origins of the island. Being that he's spent centuries on the island, the MIB must certainly possess many of the answers that the characters and viewers alike are searching for. Though, I’m sure those are questions that, if answered, will be thinly spread throughout the course of the entire season (they’ve got to keep us watching, right?).
As if your head wasn't spinning enough, during the last moments of the episode, the MIB knocks out Richard after mentioning, "It’s nice to see you out of those chains." So, was Richard a prisoner of sorts, or was MIB speaking of metaphorical chains? I think the former. I think it fits well that Richard was a prisoner on the Black Rock, and has remained on the island since, alongside Jacob and doing his bidding.
Lastly, MIB remarks that he is disappointed in “all of you”, pointing to those in the area of the statue. Who is he referring to exactly? The Others? People in general? Seems like we can add another mind-boggling question to the ever-growing list.
Concluding the premiere, the alternate timeline proves to be interesting as well as risky. Hopefully Damon and Carlton are able to realistically pull everything together in the end in a satisfying way. Seeing old faces again was satisfying enough, but I think I speak for the majority of the fan community when I say that everyone is looking for some scenes of old regulars on the island in real-time. *cough, cough* Claire (Hopefully she’s not only back for the alt-timeline).
With the amount of ground covered and questions answered and posed, Tuesday’s episode is sure to be interesting, to say the least.
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