A funny, terribly fannish article on EW online today about last night's episode (plus a capsule summary of The Story So Far.) [link] I think you need a subscription to the magazine to get at the article, but no doubt it'd be up at lost-media.com, who seems to have no fear of the pesky copyright issues.

The writer obviously frequents the discussion boards, as she mentions the "Other Man" thing as well as the untranslated-on-show bits of French transmission Megan had so helpfully translated for us here. (So, TwoP, for sure, and hey, maybe she lurks here as well. Hmmm.) Her writing tells me that she's a fan first, and a writer second, which makes me happy. It appears this would be a regular post-ep feature. Yay!

I liked her quick blurbs about the characters;

Jack Shepherd Recognized group leader. Angsty doctor, on plane because his dad died in Australia.

Kate Angsty convict, on plane because she'd been caught by a U.S. marshal.

U.S. Marshal See above (dead now).

Sawyer Angsty con man, on plane because . . . ?

Sayid Angsty former intelligence officer in the Iraqi Republican Guard, on plane because . . . ?

Charlie Angsty formerly drug-addicted rock star, on plane because he was visiting his brother in Australia.

The Koreans, Sun and Jin Angsty Koreans, on plane because she wasn't strong enough to leave him, although it's blurry to me why they were flying to L.A. in the first place, and as we learned tonight, blurry is bad. She secretly speaks English.

Locke Angsty former paraplegic, on plane returning from failed attempt to go on walkabout but miraculously cured in crash. Only one to see monster face to face. Revealed in last week's EW that it looks like ''a camera on a stick.'' Since that encounter, has taken on weird/scary spiritual/evil leader/manipulator role. Has a fetish for knives.

Even quicker descriptions of the people who haven't yet had a turn:

Hurley Smart fat guy. Invented golf.

Michael Smart black guy. Invented showers.

Walt Michael's kid. Has a fetish for knives.

Vincent Dog.

Shannon Rich snotty girl with asthma.

Boone Her do-gooder lifeguard brother.

Ethan Tom Cruise's cousin, showed up last week as a former nameless extra who helped Locke hunt and gather some suitcases that contained golf clubs (see above).

Scott and Steve Former nameless extras plucked out of obscurity to work for slightly more than scale!

Yeah, I got the same vibe, Kate. Not that the baby was in danger, but that unless Claire raised it it would be dangerous.

Me too with the "Rosemary, you CANNOT let Guy and the biological father raise this baby without you!" vibe.

Interesting point that Cleolinda made about the psychic sending Claire on the flight not to ensure that she raised the baby, but to make sure that no one else got the chance.

Reading the French translation again... if Ethan is not Alex, then maybe he is Brendon, as in "Brendon took the keys". He's the only other crash-ship survivor other than Alex and Robert who got mentioned by name, IIRC.

From the EW article:

Is ''One sugarplumfairy, two sugarplumfairy'' not the cutest damn thing you've ever heard a hobbit say?

HAHAHA - I'm gonna have to stop reading this stuff at work. My sudden bursts of laughter are a dead giveaway that I'm NOT WORKING!

I really admire Hurley. In particular, his straightforward approach to Sawyer, which was appropriately rewarded. Hurley is the only guy on the island with sense. Poor lamb is surrounded by drama queens.

Hurley -- more like the fatted calf, I fear. :-)

I loved Hurley this week--last night's ep was all about Claire, Charlie, and Hurley, three characters we haven't seen much of recently. I especially liked his conversation with Locke, which ended with Hurley thinking "Oooookay..." and then turning away to run after a redshirt saying, "I know I've already talked with you, but I had to get away from him."

There will be no killing of the Hurley.

Hurley knows that Kate was a fugitive, right? I hope he asks her what she did, eventually.

So is Hurley going to be skinny by the end of the season or something? Is that part of his contract?