I agree with most of your analysis, Beverly, but I also think there are other layers involved. There was one point where Sayid definitely was not listening to Jack, as he went after Sawyer once Kate was done talking to him. As Sayid was leaving, he said something to Kate about "what I did, what I wanted to do." I think if Sawyer hadn't gotten his hands free, Sayid might have hurt him a lot more.

As I was typing this, it occured to me that in that block of time, maybe Sayid was listening to Locke, instead of to Jack.

Hmm.

To Locke? You mean, in his head?

Lee, you're right, and I definitely think that was part of it. That he went into the situation, offered his skills and experiences to Jack as to his nominal superior officer, believing that following Jack's orders somehow absolved him of at least part of the responsibility for what he was doing "for the greater good." But that he didn't simply follow orders, that it--and he--did get out of Jack's and his own control was his concern, and the deciding factor in his going walkabout.

And at that, he couldn't just take a walk to clear his head, he had to have a purpose, a responsibility to the others on the island. Okay, granted, it's only logical that if you're going you might as well be mapping and useful. But still. Sawyer, and probably Jack, would have stomped off to clear his head without another thought. At least until they were in uncharted territory, where there be bears.

I may be reading entirely too much into Sayid's sense of responsibility, but to me it speaks to his training as a soldier as much as to his character.

Not so much in his head, sumi, as in spirit. Locke was clearly trying to cause more stress between the two, and made a point of giving Sayid a knife, so he could do more damage.

Beverly, I definitely think Sayid was following his training as a soldier last night, at least most of the time.

OK, since no one answered me about the spoiler policy, here goes nothing.

ETRSpoiler

Oh and BTW, that wasn't Emma Caulfield. I could have sworn it was too, but no.

Mmmmmmmmmmm, that was some good show.

If Not!Sawyer's used to conning people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time, I have no trouble believing that he could get himself to Australia.

I'm so over Kate. She can die next.

Sayid is a nummy treat, and I'm glad we're getting to his story.

Charlie and Claire are adorable, but what was with Charlie making her carry her own bag? The woman's 8+ months pregnant, man!

I have to chime in about Claire and Charlie. The blinvisible peanut butter was really sweet. When Charlie started to open his bag I was worried he'd brokered some kind of weird deal with Locke for it, but it was just his imagination and Claire liked. So yay!

This was the best scene of this episode! I had to rewind it so many times.

It's full. Full to the brim of mouth-watering, oh God, need a glass of milk, extra smooth... It's the best bloody peanut butter I've ever had.

His facial expression when he was doing this was priceless.

arby, I must have skimmed, because I missed your asking about spoiler policy. It's laid out in the FAQ, but the short answer is, spoilers go in the spoiler threads, not in here.

Sorry Jessica. I moved it to Spoilage Lite.

Arby, info like that probably fits the best in the newly-resurrected Spoiler Lite: The Electric Boogaloo.

That he went into the situation, offered his skills and experiences to Jack as to his nominal superior officer, believing that following Jack's orders somehow absolved him of at least part of the responsibility for what he was doing "for the greater good."

That's interesting Sayid characterization. Disturbing, too, when you think of how Sayid butted heads with Jack on other survival-related tasks--one alpha male to another--yet he clearly consigned Jack the leadership role when it came to inflicting calculated violence. It doesn't paint him in flattering light. (Which is fine, 'cause I like my fictional heroes flawed.)

As for Kate... they should be able to do more with the character. Hot as that kiss with Sawyer may have been, she should be more than conflicted romantic interest for three different guys. For example, I dug that she decided to stay on the beach for a reason of her own. Show that she has agency separate from the men, show her interacting with the women in an interesting way, *then* we're going somewhere interesting. The way it is now, she seems to have alienated a large bulk of the fandom (and not just the rabid Sawyer fangirls), which is too bad, because I think the actress, inexperience as she is, has potential (I was blown away by her 'count to five' scene in the pilot part 2.)