"Cabin Fever"

It's going to be a long week. I don't know if I can wait another seven days for the next installment of LOST. Then again, it will be enough time for me to think about what I just saw and to read other analyses. But what will I be thinking about?

STOP READING NOW TO AVOID SPOILERS!!!!

There are several questions that come to mind after seeing "Cabin Fever." They are, in no particular order:

1. Why is Christian a conduit for Jacob?
2. Is Matthew Abaddon really Jacob?
3. What is going on with Claire?
4. What will happen that makes Hurley regret ever choosing to go with Locke instead of Jack.
5. Does Abaddon work for Widmore, "the Island," or someone else?
6. Is something bad about to happen to Desmond?
7. How are they going to move the Island?

Of course there are many more questions, but these are a few of the ones that I can't stop thinking about.

I found it very interesting that we are being led to believe that people have been watching Locke for his entire life, evaluating him and subtly pushing him towards his destiny on the Island. Will we learn something similar about Jack in a future episode? I would be surprised if Christian was not always grooming Jack for his days on the Island. But back to Locke. I found it especially interesting when Richard Alpert visited a young Locke and gave him the "Dalai Lama" test. It was even more intriguing when Richard stormed out after Locke chose the knife.

Likewise, I was giddy with excitement during Abaddon's appearance at Locke's rehab center and their discussion of the walkabout. So did Abaddon know that the plane was going to crash on the Island? Did he know how long it would take Locke to decide to go on his walkabout? Was Locke the only one on the plane that mattered? Obviously not since Christian Shepard's body needed to be aboard. So how did all of these "important" people end up on this particular flight?

Meanwhile, on the freighter, I am getting very worried about Desmond. A few weeks ago I would have thought it improbable for anything bad to happen to him as his and Penny's story is so very touching. But after the unbelievable carnage over the past few weeks, I find myself very nervous about Desmond's well being. It would appear that all the "bad" people are off the freighter with Frank, but still, I don't have a good feeling about Desmond. But I suppose tension is key as we begin the three-part finale next week.

The biggest questions of the episode were of course related to Jacob. I was really expecting to see him this week and for all we know, we did. Abaddon made one last very cryptic statement to Locke before they parted ways at the rehab facility. He said something to the effect of, "You can thank me the next time you see me." That is very badly paraphrased, but it really makes me think that Jacob and Abaddon could be one and the same. But we don't know yet. For now we are left to ponder why it is that Christian is the front-man for Jacob. It is interesting to note that he introduced himself only as Christian to Locke. To do otherwise would have probably made Locke's head explode. Of course it almost did when he saw Claire in the cabin. And boy did she looked weird! Is she still alive or is she already dead? I have heard a theory that she died in the explosion two weeks ago and that she has been one of the walking dead ever since. It is indeed a very intriguing theory!

Sadly LOST is winding down for another nine months, but this three-part finale should be very impressive and full of things to obsess about during the hiatus. Tonight's episode was very good and I expect no less in the coming weeks!

UPDATE: Big news this morning as it has been announced that Seasons 5 and 6 of LOST will each contain 17 episodes rather than the 16 each previously announced. That coupled with the "14th" hour to make the three hour finale this season corrects the loss of three hours this season due to the writers strike. So this season will end with 14 episodes and the next two will end with 17 each. This way, I hope they have enough time to adequately tell the remaining story.