Sledgeweb: Alright, so, you ready to talk some Jughead?

Astro: Yes...yes I think I am. are you?

Sledgeweb: I believe so. I just posted the segment ratings, and the graph there really shows what I felt during the episode... that it started off slow, but then slowly and steadily gained momentum all the way through. It was one of those episodes that feels like an experience, and that just keeps building your excitement with each new segment.

Astro: yeah, I definitely agree with that as well. I loved some of the reveals that we were given in this episode, and seeing Desmond confront Daddy Widmore with such rage made me happy.

Sledgeweb: Yeah, he really went into the lion's den there.

Astro: He needs to work on his fashion though. Was he trying to be inconspicuous, or do you think he enjoys dressing like an Italian Gigolo?

Sledgeweb: I think he was trying to pay tribute to Charlie and do his best rock-star look.

Astro: lol. Yeah, I totally just stole that Italian Gigolo line from another blog too. But its all good. So, the episode was called Jughead. Did you know the connection to the "real" Jughead H-bombs before or after the epi?

Sledgeweb: Not until after the episode, as we were doing investigations. It's a nice tie-in to the real world, but I'm not sure there is a lot of additional information we get from that.
Some details, maybe, on what type of bomb it is, but in the end, we basically still have a bomb on the island.

Astro: I agree. But I enjoy the real world connections. It impresses me a little when the writers do their homework.

Sledgeweb: What do you think of little Charlie? Do we need another baby on LOST? Are we actually going to do something with these kid storylines?

Astro: I can't really imagine that we are, and I can't help but wonder what will happen to them. I mean, is Penny going to just stay home while Desmond returns to the island? Is Desmond not going to go? Are they going to take him with them? But it was a nice shoutout that they named him Charlie. And of course, I love that it feeds into my new theory that Charlie the baby is..... going to grow up and be Charles Widmore!!! ok, that was just a joke. unless it happens. Then I totally called it!

Sledgeweb: Yes, explain that theory again..

Astro: it'll make your head hurt. Basically, if we learn that Penny was adopted and not a true child of Charles Widmore, and then at some point Desmond, Penny, and Charlie get back to the island and flash to a point in the past, say around 1920 or so...Charlie grows up on the island. When he gets older he wants to be called Charles. Him and Desmond have a huge fight, and Charlie hates his dad. Then, his mom and dad mysteriously die. Charlie buries them in the rape caves and because of his contempt for his father takes on his mother's maiden name, Widmore. And there you have it, little Charles Widmore growing up on the island. crazy, and it won't happen, but the fact that it can in the Lost world we live in now, with time travel and all, makes it interesting.

Sledgeweb: It's a nice theory, but I really hope nothing like that happens :) It would be nice if someone we knows ends up as Adam and Eve, but I think all the hardcore fans are sort of expecting that - especially now that time travel has been such a prominent theme.

Astro: it makes me wonder how many other things from the first season we might end up seeing again. So lets get back to Jughead. Daniel told Ellie to bury it and everything would be fine and dandy. The prominent theme around the web this week seems to be that Jughead is what was buried beneath the Swan Station. Do you think its that simple?

Sledgeweb: On the surface, it makes sense. Dan tells them to bury it... and later, at the Hatch, we learn that something is buried under very thick concrete. Sayid even makes reference to Chernobyl when he's examining it. But, it also raises a lot of questions.
What about the magnetic properties of the Swan Station? The 108 timer. The hieroglyphs. Etc. How does all this relate to a hydrogen bomb? And, when the button wasn't pressed, what exactly happened? It wasn't a nuclear explosion.

Astro: Yeah, that's my point. The Incident must have something to do with some kind of reaction that happened at the Swan Station. Something that turned a harmless little h-bomb into a magnetic monster that spits hieroglyphs and eats the numbers.

Sledgeweb: Yeah, I'm not fully on board with the bomb being in the Swan Station, but I admit it is a possibility. Perhaps Dharma is using the bomb in some way coupled with the island's unique magnetic properties.

Astro: So should we bring up Locke's conversation with Richard? Or has this whole time travel Locke telling Richard to go see him as a child thing been talked to death yet?

Sledgeweb: I think you just brought it up. I think there is an interesting question raised there. We saw there that Locke told Alpert when he (Locke) was going to be born, and that he should come visit him, and administer the Other Leadership field test.
Of course, we had already seen this test take place last season. So, the question is, was it always the case that Alpert tested Locke because future-Locke visited Alpert and talked to him? If so, didn't Locke know he failed the test when he told Alpert to go test him?
And further, how many events that have transpired have done so because some time travel has already taken place that we aren't aware of yet?

Astro: I think the first question may not totally apply, since according to The Rules, you can't change things. If we're to believe that then we have to assume, at least at this point, that Locke ALWAYS told Richard to go see him as a child and that was always the only reason why he did it. There was never any alternate timeline because, as Daniel eloquently put it, there can only be one street. The second question I'm not sure about yet. I haven't been able to figure out if Locke just doesn't remember being visited as a child, and what the outcome was, or if he knows, and knows he'll fail, but knows it's a necessary part of it all. at this point I'm leaning towards Locke not really remembering that test. He was a kid after all. My mom and my sister tell me things all the time that they remember vividly that I have almost no memory of until they mention it.

Sledgeweb: We have to hope it doesn't get even more complicated than this, right? But, it seems like it HAS to at this point.

Astro: Yeah, my days of dreaming of some simple explanation to the end of the show are quickly diminishing. I can't see how they could possibly wrap all of this up without a great deal more complexity. Which is great! I love it. But damn its hard to follow. but I still firmly believe that in the end this is a tale about Predestination vs Free Will.

Sledgeweb: So, while we are on the subject of time travel, let's talk about Eloise.

Astro: Yes, Eloise. Quite possibly the best part of the episode.

Sledgeweb: I agree, and one I missed initially (well, the fact that Elie was Eloise and Dan's mother). It's maybe allowable that Dan didn't recognize his mother, but a stretch to me. Will she, however, remember (when Dan grows up) that she met him on the island for a few hours long ago? Or will that memory be too vague?

Astro: I think she does remember. That's just a gut feeling though.
The reason why I loved that reveal so much is because I did figure it out during the episode, but not until near the end. When it all suddenly hit me it was one of those cool feelings that defines why I love this show.

Sledgeweb: Yes, and this was just one of those special episodes that was firing on all cylinders. One thing I didn't like about his advice to her on the bomb, was when he said it would be ok if they just buried it because everything is fine in 50 years. Is that sound reasoning? Couldn't something go wrong in 55 years? Or, something could have gone wrong long before Dan got to the island.

Astro: Yeah, I agree on that as well. Also, burying the bomb isn't going to contain the radiation forever. Like the popular mechanics article said, eventually it will leak into the water supply on the island. Maybe Daniel knew he'd have a chance, at some point in the future, to do something about it.

Sledgeweb: Yes, but they have a time-travel filter on the water supply that supplies water from the pre-radiated past. I was so relieved we didn't get into a "which wire do I cut" situation with the h-bomb.

Astro: lol. They don't even need that. Its a healing island. Surely it could "heal" its own water supply.

Sledgeweb: So, the other big reveal was Widmore Jones. I loved how it was so under-played... it was just a brief offshoot of a conversation between Locke and Alpert. Just one line, and that was pretty much it. But, it was one of those OMG! moments for fans.

Astro: I know. Didn't I tell you last week that that Jones guy was going to be of monumental importance to Lost? granted, at the time I was making a ridiculous joke but still, I should be able to claim how intelligent I was now that its true. Isn't that how it works in a fandom like this? ;)

Sledgeweb: Hrm... just throw a bunch of stuff out there and see what sticks, right?

Astro: exactly! I did have an interesting thought though. You know, back in season 2, I think it was, there were tons of theories that there were two (or 3) groups of Others who were fighting against one another. I find it interesting that we are now, pretty much, in that exact situation. We have Widmore, who was an Other and left under unknown circumstances and has been hunting for the island, and Ben for his whole life. You have Ben, who was recently exile and is now searching for the island, as well as fighting Widmore and then you have Eloise Hawking, even, who seems to be working with Ben, but I'm still unclear how she plays into all of this.

Sledgeweb: And what her relationship to Widmore might be.

Astro: Though it seems obvious she is NOT on the same side as Widmore. Versed had a really interesting theory. everyone is pretty much guessing Widmore and Eloise were lovers and Daniel is the product of that relationship. But Versed suggested that perhaps instead they are brother and sister. There was a snotty, brotherly edge to their words with each other in the Tent-city that did ring of Brother-sister bickering

Sledgeweb: I like the sibling theory better. Of course, it doesn't beat my own theory that Dan hooks up with Ellie in the 50's and is indeed his own father. ;)

Astro: just don't say the "P" word, please! I'm so tired of the "P" word this week. Its been used SO often. And not even correctly most of the time.

Sledgeweb: Ok, we'll avoid talking about that for now. I'm sure we'll have more opportunities in the future. One thing I think really needs to be explained, soon, is this whole deal with having a constant and why time travel makes some people bleed and die, and others are stuck in a coma seemingly flashing between times, and yet others seem unaffected.

Astro: I agree. That Teresa chick has apparently been flashing for years and years and years, and she doesn't have the nose-bleed of death yet what gives?

Sledgeweb: Exactly. Ok, let's move on to Alpert quickly. So, it was confirmed in this episode that he is indeed really old (and nigh-ageless) as opposed to always looking the same because he's traveling through time or something like that. What exactly is Alpert? Is he a native of the island? Or has he unlocked some secret of the island? If he is a native, is he the only one left? Were any of the people in 50's tentville natives, or were they recruits as well? We have some british accents there, obviously, so we assume there is a recruitment process going on evenway back then.

Astro: my only guess at this point, which I don't know that its a good one, is that he is one of the original inhabitants of the island. He somehow has a connection to it unlike anyone else. Maybe there are others, or maybe Jacob just keeps him stocked up with new recruits. I don't think he's unlocked any secret, because you'd expect him to have some hint of ego if he had. Know what I mean? I think its more that he's just a byproduct of the environment. The original environment.

Sledgeweb: Alpert has a unique look to him, which makes me think perhaps he is the only native we've seen.

Astro: I like that better too.

Sledgeweb: I loved his line, when Locke is telling him about his conversation with future-Alpert, "Well, I don't want to contradict myself..."

Astro: yeah, the actor that plays him, what's his name?, is fantastic. I know its selfish, but I'm so glad his other show didn't make it.

Sledgeweb: But, you are right, it seems like Alpert should be leader of the Others, right? But he seems content to stay in the background and just help out.

Astro: that makes me think more that he's an original as well. He knows his place. He knows of Jacob, but he understands that someone more special than him is required to lead.

Sledgeweb: He's such an interesting character, which also makes me glad his other show failed. More Alpert for us!

Astro: So have we forgotten anything? oh! I got something else. When Desmond demands Widmore give him the address of Daniel's mom, did you not think he gave that up a little too easily? I mean, not only did he know exactly where she was, but he didn't put up a fight at all. It was unlike him.

Sledgeweb: Yes, that did bother me a little bit. Only because, here we have two people that were on the island in the 50's, and apparently are still keeping tabs on each other. Yet, they aren't working together, and are, in fact, working against one another. I suppose Widmore could be unaware that Eloise is helping Ben, but it did seem a bit odd to me that he was so wiling to help Desmond (fresh from the island) find her. You have to think he's going to track him, don't you? He has to know that the only thing Desmond and Eloise would have in common is the island. And, obviously, that is something he is VERY interested in.

Astro: right. He has to be using him. But it did make me wonder if Widmore knows that Hawking and Ben are not only working together, but may have found a way back to the island.

Sledgeweb: Right. I think that's about it. I did enjoy Miles' scenes in this episode. It's funny to me that we have this person on the island who can talk to dead people, and that's not even a big deal. It's just a little something on the side. There are whole other TV shows that center around a person being able to talk to the dead. But, in LOST, it's just a little oddity not really questioned or examined in depth.

Astro: lol. Yeah, I hadn't really thought of that, but you're right.

Sledgeweb: I like in episode 2 when he brought the dead pig in, and was like, "oh, it's ok, it's only been dead for an hour" or whatever it was. Did he get that information from the pig itself? lol "How long have you been dead? Are you still tasty?!"

Astro: lol.

Sledgeweb: "Oh, yes! I'm very tasty, and still fresh! Try my ribs, they are excellent. As long as you have fire!!"

Astro: and a knife!

Sledgeweb: Will Miles come across Nikki and Paulo? "Tell those freaks they buried us alive"
Astro: that would be fun!

Sledgeweb: It would be cool if it was just mentioned in passing... "Did you guys know a Nikki and Paulo? They say you buried them alive."

Astro: now you're getting my hopes up. Maybe we could forward this to Damon as a request?

Sledgeweb: Make it so. Alright, so what is the biggest question you want answered right now?

Astro: I have to pick just one?

Sledgeweb: Sure. Hard isn't it? I'm trying to narrow it down myself.

Astro: lol. Okay, I'd say at this moment in time I want to know how and why Widmore "broke" the rules. but that was only for that moment in time. I have a new one for THIS moment in time.

Sledgeweb: ha. Yes, I guess for me, at the moment, it's just the whole time travel thing. It's a bit confusing right now, and it would be great to have the rules explained a little more clearly in terms of why they are moving through time, why they need a constant, etc.
But, when I asked that question, so many thing came to mind, and you have to wonder how in the world they are going to be able to answer them all...

Astro: I agree. Seems like maybe we should come up with a list of all the things that are out there, unanswered, and perhaps consider the likelihood of it being answered at this point. obviously most of it would be "who knows" at this point

Sledgeweb: Right, but we could have members place bets on which ones will be answered.

Astro: yeah, even better.

Sledgeweb: We'll charge a measly administration fee of $10 per bet

Astro: that seems fair.

Sledgeweb: We should do that. I also had a user submit that we should have members
submit predictions for how lost will end.

Astro: I like that as well. They can be as detailed or not as they choose.

Sledgeweb: Ok, let's work on that. Anything else for Jughead?

Astro: Nope, that pretty much does it for Jughead. Can't wait for this week.

Sledgeweb: This week is "The Little Prince", any thoughts?

Astro: well, initially all I could think of was Aaron. Not sure why or what it would mean. I'm pretty much 100% spoiler free on this epi, so no clue other than that

Sledgeweb: I'm with you, there. Alright, let's call it a night then.

Astro: Sounds good. Oh, Ben, one more small thing... If you run across a guy named Keamy this week, don't worry about it. Just cooperate. ;)

Sledgeweb: I'm about to turn the donkey wheel and send this whole website on a bad time trip. So, nice try Widmore Jones.

Astro: CURSES!!

Sledgeweb: Just need to grab my winter coat... why is the donkey wheel room so cold?!?

Astro: well obviously you can only turn it when hell freezes over. D'uh.

Sledgeweb: how's a donkey suppose to get along in there. all the freakin' donkeys froze to death. AH! That's why the polar bears are there. They were suppose to replace the frozen donkeys in the donkey wheel room.

Astro: OMG! That's it. Its Frozen Polar Bear Wheel!

Sledgeweb: lol. mystery solved. LOST got nothing on us. Take that, Damon and Carlton!