If my memory serves me right, the lighthouse is at 135 degrees. You press the button on the right to drain the lighthouse, which opens up the stairs to the basement. Then you toy with the valve until you can access the chest. Once the chest is floating, you can get the key out of it which opens the lighthouse…That’s just part of my Myst flashback caused by tonight’s Lost. It was a decent episode, not as emotionally satisfying as “The Substitute” or mind-blowing as “LA X,” but at least we can always say “it was better than ‘What Kate Does.’” So what does Jack do? He comes to terms with his ceaseless daddy-issues in both 2004 and 2007. And from beyond Lost‘s loose idea of the grave, Jacob continues to move his pieces.

2004: Tonight’s Jack-centric flash-sideways set up some pretty interesting and possibly pointless WTFs. But more importantly, they helped spotlight what this parallel world is about at its core: redemption. We saw some of this theme in Kate and Locke’s flashes, but it was prevalent in Jack’s. So Jack’s alternate world appendix was taken out at age 7, although we know it wasn’t taken out until he was on the Island. Why doesn’t alt-Jack remember this? The scar also resembles the “brand” Dogen gave to Sayid and Claire, or is that just me? Speaking of, Dogen’s appearance in the flash got a dismissive wanking gesture from me. Claire is mentioned in Christian’s will. I just wanted to note that before someone called me out on it in the comments.

Jack’s has a seed named David who plays piano really well and listens to a band named “Meat Coat.” I usually loathe production design on the bedrooms of teenagers, but props to the Lost people for making up a band called “Meat Coat.” Trying not to be the shitty dad Christian was, Jack tells David that he’ll always love him. But who’s the mother?! Sarah? Juliet? I have no clue at this point in time.

2007: Now we seem to have our two big pawns in place: Locke for MIB and Hurley for Jacob. Jacob has Hurley bring Jack through a secret tunnel in the Temple and to the Lighthouse, another one of the wonders of the Lost world. The Lighthouse was a huge waste of time. We’ve never seen it before. It had numbers on its wheel – just like the cave from last week. Jacob’s reason for bringing Jack there was so Jack could smash the mirrors and find an independent purpose? That sucks. Oh, the number 108 popped up again. Who was at number 108 on the wheel? Wallace. Who’s Wallace? Where’s Wallace!?!? He’s on his way to the Island!

Claire’s been living in the jungle for three years and has no problem axing some Other fool. She’s on some Rousseau shit now. She’s “Clairsseau.” She confirms that she’s been in communication with Christian and her “friend,” Flocke.

Now, in 2007, all of the pieces are in place. The “opening” part of the game is complete and up next comes the “middlegame.” And that’s when you go to war.

- Oh Mars