For those of you who don’t know, Hurley is my Lost boyfriend. Always has been, and always will be. His episodes are always among my favorites, and this most recent episode was no exception. Jorge Garcia really got a chance to show off his acting chops (and mutton chops! What what!) in this heartwarming episode. We got the return of fan favorites, lots of explosions, and surprises. Oh, and how about they throw in a solid answer on a series-long mystery while they’re at it? If you haven’t watched this episode yet, go grab yourselves a bucket of chicken and catch up! The rest of you move on along to the rest of the blog. Just be sure to let MIB check you out on your way by.
The Sideways-verse: Oh heeeeeeeeeeeeeey Libby!
The episode begins with a video presentation about Hugo narrated by Pierre Chang. It describes how everybody loves Hugo, which gosh golly is the name of the episode! We learn that Sideways Hugo has been blessed with good fortune since birth. He was able to turn his lifelong love of chicken into a successful career by establishing Mr. Cluck’s empire around the world. He is renowned as a humanitarian and all around good guy. Chang announces that the new paleontology wing at the Golden State Natural History Museum will be named in honor of Hugo, and he then announces him as their Man of the Year. Everyone applauds and showers Hugo with love. More importantly, they shower him with this awesome T-rex shaped award.
Score! Hugo’s mother isn’t so amused.
Carmen Reyes: Everybody loves Hugo. You know who doesn't? Women.
Hugo: Ma!
Carmen Reyes: You need a woman in your life, especially one who has not nursed you.
Hugo: That's disgusting.
His mother sets him up on a blind date with his granfather’s neighbor’s daughter, Rosalita. We next see Hugo at Spanish Johnny’s. The waiter offers to refill his tortilla chips – he has clearly been waiting some time. A woman approaches the table and callis Hugo by his name. He jumps up and greats her (thinking she is Rosalita) and admits he wasn’t expecting someone so pretty. Silly Hugo, that’s not Rosalita, it’s Libby (but of course he doesn’t know that). She says she isn’t his date, but that she had seen him from across the room. He asks how she knew his name. Libby takes his hands and asks him if he believes people can be connected like soulmates. She asks if he remembers her, but he does not. Doctor Brooks interrupts and take Libby away. Hugo follows them out and sees Libby get loaded up into a Santa Rosa Mental Health Institute van.
The next day Hugo drowns his sorrows in chicken at Mr. Clucks. He sees Desmond watching him and Desmond asks if he knows him, and then whether he was on Oceanic 815. He then points out that Hurley is eating a lot of chicken.
He eats when he’s depressed! Lay off! He tells Desmond that he met an awesome woman at a restaurant, but there is just one problem – she’s crazy! She said they already knew each other, but if that was true Hugo would definitely remember. Desmond suggests that Hugo follow his gut and try to find out why she thinks they know each other before giving up on her. He leaves when his order (#42) is called.
Hugo goes to Santa Rosa to try and talk to Libby, but Doctor Brooks doesn’t think that would be a very good idea. He quickly changes his mind, however, when Hugo writes a check for $100,000 for improvements to the hospital (man, that’s gonna be one pimp rec room). Hurley meets Libby in a super island and butterfly themed meeting room. We also see Leonard (the patient who endlessly repeated the numbers) wandering around in the background.
Hugo asks Libby why she thinks she knows him, and she admits her explanation doesn’t make any sense. She said she saw him on TV and all of these memories came rushing back from her life, except it was another life. In this other life there was a plane crash, they were on an island, and she’s pretty sure they liked each other. She also thinks she remembers him being at Santa Rosa. Hugo says he’s never been to Santa Rosa before and he still doesn’t remember anything. Regardless, he asks if she ever gets any day passes and if she would like to go no a date with him.
"It takes a lot of guts to tell someone that you are from some Bizarro Alternate Universe". ~ Hugo
Later Libby and Hugo FINALLY get to have their beach picnic! And Hugo remembered the blanket! He also brought a bunch of different cheeses, because who doesn’t like cheese? Plus chicken would have been way too obvious. Libby says being on the beach with Hugo was familiar – like a date they’d never had. Hugo asks why she would want to be with him. She says it’s because she likes him, and they kiss sweetly. While they kiss vivid memories of Libby and the island rush back to Hugo. He tells her that he thinks he remembers stuff and that she isn’t crazy after all! Desmond has been watching from a distance in his car and drives off, pretty satisfied with himself.
Now in a complete departure from Hugo’s storyline, we find Desmond who is sitting in a school parking lot like acting like a total Pedo Bear. Luckily Ben knocked on his window and it pretty much went like this:
Desmond makes up some story about being new to the area and looking for a school for his son. Ben doesn’t quite buy it, but they part ways anyway. What Ben didn’t realize is that Desmond was actually watching Locke. Desmond starts his car and suddenly, and very intentionally, hits Locke at high speed, sending him flying over the car.
Desmond speeds off like nothing had happened. Locke is bleeding and very badly hurt, but he is still alive – at least for now. Ben and others rush to his aid. Better get him to a hospital, STAT – so, you know, he can hang out with Jack who’ll totally cure Locke’s paralysis if he lives.
Original Timeline: Respect Hurley’s authority!
Hurley is at Libby’s grave, talking aloud, saying that he wishes he could talk to her
At the camp Ilana has returned with the dynamite (really? There’s some fishy timing going on around here – did she already go to the Black Rock before talking to Hurley? I’m fuzzy on this timeline) and says that they must make it to the Hydra island to destroy the plane before nightfall. She says she has 4 sticks of dynamite from the Black Rock, which makes Hurley uneasy. He says he doesn’t think that this is such a good idea, especially since the dynamite is so unstable. Ilana says that she has to do what needs to be done to protect them, but Hurley doesn’t get how blowing up a plane is going to protect anyone. She says it is the only way to prevent that “thing” from leaving the island. She reminds them that Jacob told her that Richard would know what to do, and Richard said to blow up the plane. All the while she’s been waving her dynamite filled pack around. Nothing could possibly go wrong. Until she sets the pack down.
Bye bye Ilana. Later Hurley goes through her tent and comes across a copy of Dostoevsky's Notes from the Underground in Russian and the bag containing Jacob’s ashes. He looks inside the bag and keeps it. Richard tells him that they must go to the Black Rock to get more dynamite or Ilana’s death will have been in vain.
Jack: Now what?
Richard: We get more dynamite or she died for nothing.
Jack: Maybe she died to show us to stay the hell away from dynamite.
Touché. Jack adds that he promised Sun that he would get her off the island, and Richard says he wishes Jack hadn’t made that promise. Hurley speaks up with authority and says that Richard is right and that it is the only choice they have. His eyes beg Jack to trust him. Jack agrees.
As they all make their way to the Black Rock Ben makes an astute observation.
“It kind of makes you think. No sooner does she tell you who you are when she blows up. The Island was done with her. Makes me wonder what’s going to happen to us when it’s done with us.” ~ Ben
When they arrive at the Black Rock they realize that Hurley is no longer with them. Just then Hurley comes running from the ship and yells for them all to run. The Black Rock explodes.
I am officially impressed that Hurley managed to pass them without being noticed. He must have found a short-cut when he fled from Jack and Richard's game of dynamite chicken. Richard is furious and wants to know why Hurley did it. He says it was to protect them. While Richard declares they are all doomed, Miles asks Hurley why he did it. Hurley confides in his ghost whispering friend that Michael told him to stop them from blowing up the plane. As Miles only knew Michael as Kevin Johnson, Hurley elaborates that Michael is one of the dead people who come to yell at him.
Miles: That happen a lot? Dead people yelling at you.
Hugo: It happens enough.
Miles: And you just listen to whatever they say?
Hugo: Dead people are more reliable than alive people.
Richard says that they need to go back to the Dharma barracks and to find grenades and explosives so they can complete their task. Jack thinks they should all talk this out, but Hurley says he knows what to do. They need to go and talk with Locke (MIB). Ben asks if Hurley is trying to get them all killed. Hurley points to an empty spot in front of him and says Jacob told him they need to talk to Locke. Richard doesn’t believe him and tells him to ask Jacob what the island is. Hurley walks up to the empty spot next to Richard and quietly says that he doesn’t need to prove anything to Richard. Either he can come with them to talk to Locke or go keep trying to blow stuff up. Richard calls Hurley out as a liar and says that Jacob never tells people what to do. (Sidenote: We know this isn’t exactly true in Hurley’s case. Jacob told Hurley that he needed to go back to the island, and he told Hurley that he needed to get Sayid to the temple. Then he told Hurley that he needed to bring Jack to the lighthouse. Seems to me that Jacob tells Hurley what to do all the time!). Richard days that if that thing leaves the island, everything will be over (but, you know, in a way more ominous “the world is going to end” way than that just sounded). He asks for help destroying the plane. Ben and Miles join him. Oh no, there are no Candidates on your team, Richard! Now I’m terrified for you all! Jack says that if Jacob says to talk to Locke, they will talk to Locke. Sun, Jack, and Frank all follow Hurley.
As they walk through the jungle at night Sun (who is still temporarily unable to speak English, although she can understand it) is a little concerned.
Probably, Frank replies. Hurley and Jack walk together in the front.
“So whatta think we should say to Locke when we get there? I mean, how do you break the ice with a smoke monster?” ~ Hurley
Jack says that Locke will probably do most of the talking. Hurley admits that he didn’t really see Jacob. Jack says he knows, but every since he got Juliet killed all he’s wanted to do was fix it, but he knows there is no way to fix it. As hard as it is for him to let others take the lead, he thinks maybe the point is to let go. Hurley reminds him that it is his idea to see Locke, and what if following Hurley’s lead is the very thing that leads to everyone dying? Jack says he trusts Hurley. Hurley adds that he has no idea where they are going. The whispers return and everyone looks frightened. Don’t worry, guys – Hurley’s got this one. He thinks he knows what the whispers are. He tells them to stay put and he walks off in another direction.
As expected, Hurley finds Michael nearby. He asks Michael if there are others like him on the island. Michael says that they are the ones who can’t move on. And yes, they are the source of the whispers. Huzzah! Giant mystery revealed! Was it a shocking revelation? Not so much. But at least it was said out loud! Check that off your mystery list! Anywho, Michael shows Hurley the way to Locke’s camp. Hurley asks if there is anything he can do for Michael, and Michael says to try and not get himself killed. Also, if he ever sees Libby again, tell her that he is very sorry.
MIB’s group: Well, well, well. What do we have here?
MIB is working on a large stick with his knife. Sawyer asks him if it is a spear, and MIB replies that he doesn’t know what it is yet, but when the time is right the stick will tell him. Sawyer isn’t impressed, and he’s getting mighty antsy. MIB tells him and Kate that they are waiting for Hurley, Jack, and Sun to arrive. He says that much like they all needed to be on the Ajira flight in order to return to the island, they must all be together in order to leave. Kate doesn’t think there’s much of a chance that the others will be joining them anytime soon. MIB hopes she is wrong. Sayid returns from his mission and blatantly ignores Sawyer. He asks (in his sketchy accent – still evil in case you were worried!) to speak to MIB in private.
Sayid tells MIB that Widmore did not see him but some of his people did. He said he didn’t see the need in killing all of the people who saw him since he got when he came for.
Hey Brother! MIB apologizes to Desmond for his being tied up. Desmond says it is okay – he doesn’t blame Sayid, but as he tried to explain that there was no need for the rope since he has no where to run to. MIB says that’s the best reason against captivity he’s heard, and releases Desmond from his bonds. MIB asks Desmond why Widmore brought him to the island. Desmond responds that, as he was kidnapped, that question would be better asked of Widmore. What Desmond does know is that Widmore threw him into a wood shack and exposed him to large amounts of electromagnetism. MIB wonders how Desmond could know what it was Widmore blasted him with and Des responded “experience.” After a beat MIB asks of Desmond knows who he (MIB) is. Desmond responds that he is John Locke, of course. Is Desmond truly that far out of the loop (doubtful) or is he playing some neat mind games here? MIB dismisses Sayid and says there is something he would like to show Desmond.
As the walk through the jungle MIB asks Desmond to remind him how long it was that Desmond pushed the button in the hatch. Desmond says that he did it for three years. MIB remarks that it seems like the island has it in for Desmond. Desmond says there is nothing special about him, and that the island has it in for all of them. MIB agrees, and both he and Desmond see a mysterious boy. This is the same boy who appeared to MIB and Sawyer in "The Substitute", but a little older looking and with noticeably darker hair. Desmond asks who he is, but MIB says to ignore him. The boy smiles at Desmond and runs off.
MIB leads Desmond to a well, nearly identical to the one at the orchid station. MIB drops his torch down the well to demonstrate its depth. MIB explains that the well is very old and that it was built by hand by people a long time ago who were looking for answers. He says that that the people had noticed the needle on their compasses spin crazily on spots around the island (you know, like they would when encountered with large amounts of electromagnetism), so they had dug wells like this one to try and find answers. MIB says that they wells yielded no answers. He says he has shown Desmond the well because Widmore is not interested in answers, only in power and that is why had had brought Desmond back – to help Widmore find what he is looking for. Desmond says he doubts this is the only reason MIB brought him to the well. MIB wants to know why Desmond isn’t afraid.
“What's the point of being afraid?” ~ Desmond
MIB pushes Desmond into the well and he plummets to the bottom. Spoiler alert – he lives (at least for now).
MIB returns to his camp and tells Sayid that they don’t need to worry about Desmond any more. At that point Hurley walks into the camp. He asks MIB for a truce so that no one is killed. MIB gives Hurley his word and his knife. Sun, Frank, and Jack enter the camp. Sun scans the group for Jin. Jack eyes MIB uneasily. MIB is pretty damn pleased with himself.
Eastereggs, Sidenotes, and Questions
- Jorge Garcia’s dog, Nunu, is pictured during Hugo’s film tribute.
- A light for filming can be seen in the top right corner of the screen at approx 28:42 as Hurley, Jack, Sun and Frank walk through the jungle at night.
- Seinfield Alert! Hurley refers to an award from “The Human Fund.” This is a fictional charity George Costanza makes up on the episode "The Strike" to avoid spending money on Christmas gifts.
- According to math done by someone more patient than me (but I totally could have done it if I wanted to) Desmond took a pretty long spill to the bottom of the well. It took roughly 2.5 seconds for the MiB's torch to drop in the latter well. Given that gravity is usually 9.8 mps from a free fall at sea level, the depth to the water level is around 24.5 meters or 80.38 feet.
- Hugo did not experience a mirror moment in the Sideways-verse. Perhaps his film tribute served this purpose?
- Who is the mysterious boy and why does he look so much older and less blonde?
- Why did Desmond hit Locke with his car? Does he think that he is preventing the evil of MIB from reaching the world? Did he just have a flash of MIB pushing him down the well and he’s wicked pissed? Did he see a flash of MIB doing something even worse in the future, but he isn’t able to differentiate between MIB and John Locke? Is he trying to give Locke a near death experience so that he can realize his true island soul mate is Ben Linus? Does he just really hate bald cripples?
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