Lost is a show constantly examining the struggle of fate versus free will. No more so than in the flash-sideways world of season 6. This conflict was front and center last night in the Sayid-centric episode, which was also one of the darkest episodes in the show’s history. No matter how hard he tries to fight it, Sayid is a man of violence. It’s what he does and he does it very well. His flash was pretty depressing but the misery was balanced out with some action sequences that have been lacking thus far this season. I thought it was a so-so episode, but the final seven minutes or so gave me chills. Sides have been chosen and we’re approaching a showdown of Stand-like proportions.

Poor Sayid. While Locke, Jack, and Kate got more tolerable lives with room for redemption in their flashes, Sayid got what could be considered a living hell. His brother Omer is married to Sayid’s true love Nadia. They have two kids. He brings them boomerangs. Total bummer. He also can’t escape his life of violence. Martin Keamy couldn’t be more creepy even if he had white contacts in. He’s portrayed by Kevin Durand, a dude who manages to pull off creepy and physically intimidating at the same time – something I think isn’t done well very often.

I’m glad Dogen and Lennon were killed. Selfishly, I wanted them dead to satisfy my final season character bloodlust. Lennon wasn’t doing much for me anyway. Dogen, at least, will find some peace in death. That was a pretty depressing story he told of how he came to be on the Island. Jacob gave him a choice, but c’mon, it really wasn’t one.  Sayid got his creep on after killing them. His “it’s too late” look he shot at Ben was awesome. As was Ben’s terrified reaction and exit skamper.

So here’s what we’re working with:

Team MiB: Sayid, Claire, Sawyer (for his own ends, I’m sure), and Jin and Kate who are being dragged along.

Team Jacob: Hurley, Jack, Ben, Sun, Miles, Ilana, Lapidus, and “Wallace.”

But what spoils will go the victors? Some people are speculating that what we are seeing in the flashes is their reward. That the flash world is the show’s epilogue. Either Jacob or MiB is going to rearrange reality and give the Losties the life they deserve – not what they want. That’s why the flashes don’t present perfect realities for them. Sayid, for example, has caused a lot of pain in his life. So his reward is getting to be close to Nadia, but he can never be with her. Locke has his love, but is still in the wheelchair. I like this theory a lot.