Episode 3 -- The Economist

I thought this one was a doozey!

On the Island

1. Naomi is wearing a bracelet that says "N - I'll always be with you. RG"
2. Locke does not find the cabin (Hurley was right) and Ben says that Locke is looking for someone to tell him what to do next (i.e. Jacob).
3. Sayid makes a deal with Frank to get off the island in return for Charlotte back from Locke.
4. Daniel conducts an experiment that shows that time on the island is 31 minutes behind the time off the island!
5. Sayid finds Ben's secret room full of money and passports
6. Locke catches Kate, Sayid, and Miles
7. Trade Miles for Charlotte
8. Sayid, Desmond, and dead Naomi leave with Frank

Off the Island

1. Sayid flashforward - and he kills someone on a golf course within the first few minutes!
2. Makes contact with Elsa, whose boss he is supposed to kill
3. The boss finally contacts her, she shoots him, and he kills her.
4. She's wearing the same bracelet as Naomi
5. Sayid meets Ben in a vets office to get his wound cleaned up
6. His is working with Ben to protect his friends
7. "They know I'm coming." - Sayid "Good." - Ben

WOW. Ok - so first of all, the most important two revelations in this episode clearly are (a) Time is 31 minutes behind on the island, and (b) Future Sayid works for BEN!

My thoughts - Ben is clearly some kind of international man of mystery based on his collection of foreign currency and passports. My first assumption is that Elsa's boss must be a member of or the leader of whoever the people looking for Ben and the Island are (Widmore??).

Next, the bracelet. I am assuming that RG is some kind of big timer in this creepy organization that is looking for the Island. The seemingly sweet message of "I'll always be with you," is not what it appears to be. After seeing that Elsa was wearing the same bracelet, I took the meaning to be - Watch yourself, and don't forget that I'll always be with you (watching).

And, Sayid works for Ben. What can really be said about this?? This fact, and the fact that they are working to protect his friends hearkens back to episode one and all that "they need you" talk. So, Ben is leading a group of ex-Island freedom fighters against the forces of evil?? Perhaps, perhaps.

After asking Locke to "Help Me," why is Jacob ignoring him?

Episode 1 -- The Beginning of the End

On the Island

1. Jacob's cabin appears to Hurley and Christian Shephard is inside!
2. The Losties split up into 2 camps led by Locke and Jack. (Claire, Hurley, Rousseau, Alex, Carl, and Ben go with Locke; the rest go with Jack)
3. The first of the Freighter people reach the island in their tumbling helicopter

Off the Island

1. Hurley is off the island and a member of the "Oceanic 6" (presumably in addition to Jack)
2. He tells the police officer that he never met Ana Lucia
3. The idea that some survivors are still on the island and something sketchy is going on, is presented by Charlie ("They need you"), Jack ("Are you going to tell?"), and Abbadon ("Are they still alive?")
4. Something happens that makes Hurley believe he should have chosen to go with Jack's group rather than Locke's)

What is Important About this Episode?

I think Christian Shephard being inside Jacob's cabin will probably end up being pretty important. He's flown under the radar every since he stopped appearing to Jack in the jungle, but it's pretty important that we don't forget he showed up on the island dead in a coffin and hasn't been seen since season 1. So, if he's wandering around making friends with Jacob, that's a pretty big deal. But, without any more information to go on, we'll let that one lie for now.

Hurly being part of the Oceanic 6 is a big deal as well, especially because he seems to be going nuts again now that he's reached home. He says in the beginning of this episode that once he gets home he'll be free since all his lotto money is most likely gone, but as we can see his off-the-island life is anything but relaxing now that he's put himself back in a mental hospital and is ever-tormented by the idea that he should never have left the island in the first place.

Finally, the beginnings of a conspiracy are taking root as we are given hints that perhaps there are some secrets being kept about what really went down on the island, some people referred to only by "they" are still somewhere and in need of help, and this Abbadon dude certainly doesn't seem to be very friendly.