My favorite Tom moment was the look of sheer astonishment when Jack nicked Ben's kidney sac. He looked dumbfounded, very human.

I like Tom, I think he really became likeable when they called him out on the docks about the fake beard and he just rolled with it. I know I would have done the same thing and just taken it off and been like, "Yeah, well, they make us wear them."

Of all the people he could be having a catch with though, Tom's not so bad. He seems to have the outlook that what he does is his job. Tom also seems to be pretty understanding with Jack and although he did kidnap Walt and hold Kate at gunpoint, he's never shot or killed anyone before (it's really pretty debatable as to whether or not he would have shot Kate) unlike some other "Others" that Jack so willingly puts his trust in.

Of all the people he could be having a catch with though, Tom's not so bad. He seems to have the outlook that what he does is his job. Tom also seems to be pretty understanding with Jack and although he did kidnap Walt and hold Kate at gunpoint, he's never shot or killed anyone before (it's really pretty debatable as to whether or not he would have shot Kate) unlike some other "Others" that Jack so willingly puts his trust in.

I would have pissed my pants if when Jack and Tom were throwing the pigskin around that they played in the background. "People let me tell you bought my best friend" ("Best Friend" by Harry Nilsson)

Yeah, but i don't think they'll just gonna give it away (since it can't return), for all we know his only way of transport along with the new sailboat adquisition

With the underwater beacon not working, they can't return to the island, but they can leave if they want according to everything we've been told.

I think Jack's just playin along but i don't think the others are buying it either.
Now... How could the others be able to keep their promise of letting Jack and Juliette go if the underwater beacon isn't working anymore, or is it another way??. Don´t think they'll give Des's sailboat to them (seems to be the last they got). Maybe Frowthy-Patch wrote it on his testament. ¬¬

I think that basically Jack is under the impression that he is actually going to go home, so he figures why not enjoy the time I have left here?? I agree with JF, who cares about if he's playing a game of catch.

.... uuurh in what episode is this??? LOL i cant remember it. O_O;; maybe we're still lagging behind here in Norway.

I think Jack is just playing along. It beats being held orisoner in a bear cage. Very good episode.

I don't really see what the big deal is with Jack playing catch. Sure, from Kate's point of view, it's unexpected, but we know better: Jack agreed to be Ben's doctor. As with all his other "I'll play along" ruses, he's working on a way out while appearing to stick to his promise. But in the meantime, it's just a game of catch.

What if jack has a twin. What if The Bad Twin was foreshadowing that one of the survivers had a twin( which I,and others thought anyway) but never,ever thought it would be Jack.

is it possible that Jack has had 3 solid days of the brainwashing video???

Nice going Sledge - great job with the Eagles line!
My thinking is that Jack is going to find himself getting comfortable but not getting close. And I also think that he has a plan for leaving Othersville which is why he told Kate not to come back. Now that she showed up, maybe all his plans are ruined (not like I know what the plan is or anything!)

Denny....Danny, I guess I don't know either, but at least you knew the guy I meant:)

I just watched it Nancy, and it does look alot like him, but that isn't Denny (I thought it was Danny all this time). It's just looks like that because it's all pixeleated and the lighting is weird.

I just watched it Nancy, and it does look alot like him, but that isn't Denny (I thought it was Danny all this time). It's just looks like that because it's all pixeleated and the lighting is weird.

Did anyone watch all the previews for next week on Youtube?? In one of them it looked like Denny, the one killed by Juliet, was holding a gun to Kate's head. Does anyone else see that, or am I confusing that man with Denny????

Doomster-they brought Jack to the Mysterious Island of Mystery from the smaller "Alcatraz" island when they left. I forget who said it, but they told him they were leaving because Kate and Sawyer had left, and they had to go to where they lived because they only work on the small island.

I agree with the idea that the others know that Kate and the other Losties are coming. I think, in true Lost form, they will go back in time and show Jack's side of what we witnessed there. What I am wondering is if the Others can tell when that security perimeter zaps something? Do they have an alarm that sounds or something to indicate that it happened? And if they do, do they send someone out to check the site of the zapping? I think "yes" to all of the above, and that is why I think the football is being "staged".

From the outside looking in,it seems like a normal,fun place to live.However,we know Otherwise.

Or they cloned Jack as in the post below....

Kate, John, and Sajid are seeing a Jack in a different time. That is the nature of the Other's locale and why they are so keen on stopping anyone who is not on the list from entering. Only a fool is trapped in time and space. The Jack they are witnessing has been with the Other's for a while.

How is jack onthis part of this island when kate & sawyer left him at the other island ? ( SUBmarine??) how about They CLONED jack!? =D and that the brainwashing episode is for the Cloned ones lol.. i donno just somethin i thought about

Jack is not suffering from Stokholm Syndrome, because he doesn't sympathize with the Others. He is also not one of the Others, the whole episode about his tattoos basically spelled it out. He is living with them, but he is not one of them. I don't think they are ever going to tell Jack their secrets. On top of that, when the oh so fugly Bai Ling said that he would be a great leader someday, I think she was refering to how the people on the mysterious island of mystery saw him, not somethng he has yet to do. Basically , Jack is their prisoner, but he isn't being imprisoned, I know there is a term for that, but I just can't remember it right now.

It's just a game of catch! A person can have fun tossing a ball around with just about anyone, likeable or not. I'm sure Jack will be back to himself again in other circumstances.

Does anyone else suspect that the Others know that Sayid and Kate and Locke are coming? They've been pretty knowledgeable so far and the communications station just exploded, I would think there's a chance the others are on the alert based on their past behavior. If this is the case, it's very possible they made Jack think they would kill Kate et al if he did not play along with the ruse. By making it look like he doesn't need help he may think it's the best chance for Kate to be left unharmed. Just my guess.

I don't think Jack is brainwashed. I think he is just biding his time until the Others get him off the island. The Others do seem to keep their word once given so why wouldn't Jack play nice??? Playing football sure as hell beats being in a cell.

First of all Sledge ... your explanation above is hilarious. ;D
Anyway the first thing I thought when I saw Jack playing football was ... he's brainwashed ... but maybe it is too early for that ... maybe Jack knows he's stuck there and he's making the best of it for now ... if he's not brainwashed maybe he is just trying to appear like he's cooperating and he really is waiting for the right moment to attack/escape ... he is known to wait for the right minute ???

Based on his past actions, I'm having a hard time thinking Jack has caved in. My best guess at this point is that he and Juliett have something going on. It would be a bit too fast for a full brainwashing (a la Alex's boyfriend) and a bit too early for Stockholm Syndrome to kick in (my opinion - never had to deal with that particular Syndrome). However, all my previous guesses seem to be wrong, so... I think Jack's new tat could give us some insight.

Based on his past actions, I'm having a hard time thinking Jack has caved in. My best guess at this point is that he and Juliett have something going on. It would be a bit too fast for a full brainwashing (a la Alex's boyfriend) and a bit too early for Stockholm Syndrome to kick in (my opinion - never had to deal with that particular Syndrome). However, all my previous guesses seem to be wrong, so... I think Jack's new tat could give us some insight.

Eggsalad, the tattoo is discussed under a thread named "Jack's new tattoo" in the Forum for this episode. But I'll cut to the chase - Sledge was kind enough to post a picture from season 1, when Jack was getting sewn up by Kate, that shows this is an old tattoo.

i'm very interested in the pic that hakke5 posted. is that a new tat on jack's arm? are there any other shots from that scene that might reveal this?

Two words for Jack: Stockholm Syndrome. I think this is starting, he is just a little confused with the apparent Juliet vs Ben fractioning.

does any one think that jack is changing into one of the others!!! yea think about it he's been a prisoner for them while doing surgery and sacrificing himself to save kate and sawyer and defending juliet and now he is seen playing football with them i mean jack looked so happy and free or maybe jack is just trying to be accepted just to see whats really goin on but i dont know im really full of questions. what do u guys think?

This island has everything. This is the icing on the cake, a new California

Finally proof Tom isn't gay. He plays football! j/k

Great writing Sledge. You have a unique angle on Lost that I don't find anywhere else. Keep up the good work.

For real, I thought Jack spotted Kate & them,....turns out he was just on a slant pattern going deep, LOL

I lol'd XD nice way of putting it. :D
The others be a cult [of Satan worshiper who listen to Hotel California all day long.] Jack did sell his soul after all.

Patchy said you can leave, but you can't get back. Why would you want to go back, you might ask? Maybe next week they'll show us the night life.