Cereal:

How much did I love Sawyer giving Kate a gun and forcing Jack to let her go with them?

I don't think Charlie was wrong. (in the context of the show) Ethan would never give them anything useful. First because he was insane, but also because he doesn't seem the type to have been impressed by Sayid's torture attempts. Charlie had no motivation to be all rational. Revenge and protecting Clare needed to take priority.

I expected to be sympathetic to Charlie over the killing, given that the guy HUNG HIM IN A TREE, but... it felt like it was all about Charlie's ego. Certainly not protecting Claire, and not even very much revenge. I'm actually kind of sorry they immediately went woobie again, not because I'm against Charlie/Claire in the long run, but because I think there are some very unhealthy vibes there.

I expected to be sympathetic to Charlie over the killing, given that the guy HUNG HIM IN A TREE, but... it felt like it was all about Charlie's ego. Certainly not protecting Claire, and not even very much revenge. I'm actually kind of sorry they immediately went woobie again, not because I'm against Charlie/Claire in the long run, but because I think there are some very unhealthy vibes there.

Absolutely. I wish I trusted the writing more on this show, because I love the idea of having a sweet, basically likeable guy who means well and whose essential sweetness makes it too easy for others to overlook how deeply fucked up the little guy really is. It's a different take on the bad guy with the (supposed) heart of gold. People theoretically know better than to trust the Spikes and Sawyers of the world, but I think the 'awww-isn't-he-cute!'ness of the Charlies can make them more dangerous in the long run.

Thanks Jeff.

Sounds like a lot of intense Sawyer looks. Yum.

That's all I got at this hour.

I didn't think the flashbacks really told us anything. I would have guessed that Charlie has used people to serve his addiction without needing to be shown it.

Also,

it felt like it was all about Charlie's ego. Certainly not protecting Claire, and not even very much revenge.

I totally felt this way. It was also the most practical solution (imagine keeping a prisoner on an island like that?) but I did think it was all about Charlie.

I accept that the plot needed someone to die, but I didn't like the way they did it. However many people they are down to by now? (45? 46?) It shouldn't be that hard to keep a group that size safe. Also, I agree with Locke that the beach was the best place because it reduces directions from which you can be approached.

Thanks to y'all for expressing some of what I was thinking about the flashbacks last night.

How much did I love Sawyer giving Kate a gun and forcing Jack to let her go with them?

Laughed so hard at that.

Sounds like a lot of intense Sawyer looks. Yum.

And how.

However many people they are down to by now? (45? 46?) It shouldn't be that hard to keep a group that size saf

Dunno. With polar bears and psychos running around, and the fact that it took them - what, a week or so - to decide to take any precautions, I'm a little surprised they haven't culled a good dozen by now.

I was totally creeped out by Locke in this eppy. (I mean, more than I usually am.) I think he's in cahoots with Ethan et al, I don't know but Major Wiggums!

I too was vaguely disturbed by the Charlie-Claire "aww" stuff coming right after he riddled Ethan with bullets. Same thing on Alias after Syd tried to kill Vaughn , and then they're all googly-eyed again as if nothing happened.

Thanks, Jeff!!! Count me as another who's been missing the Mejias.

And the more I think about it, the more I was right last night - they should have had the flashbacks be Scott's instead of Charlie's. That would have been SO mean and twisted, but in a way I couldn't help but respect.

Thanks for the warm reception.

I think he's in cahoots with Ethan et al, I don't know but Major Wiggums!

I don't get this vibe, mainly because Locke was chief among those screamning that they wanted Ethan alive.

I agree that the flashbacks weren't too well done. It seemed like they were in there because, hey, that's the format they're committed to. Although I did laugh when Charlie barfed on the copier (I expeted the machine to work right after).

I don't buy Charlie's assertion that they wouldn't have gotten anything out of Ethan. I mean, they do have "a neurosurgeon and a genu-ine Iraqi" who would be much more motivated than when they tortured Sawyer, IMHO.

True. But remember...Sayid swore off his behavior. I don't think he wants to torture anyone anytime soon.