Recap: Whatever Happened, Happened

First off, sorry for the lateness, and now, the recap:

Whatever Happened, Happened
Until I just started typing the title of this post, it didn't hit me that the title is completely a clue. Or is it? I'm so confused on this time travel thing. I always have been confused by time travel. Even when someone explains it in the plainest english possible, it still really just flies over my head. I guess that's why I love it, because I love things that are mysterious and not entirely in my grasp.

Well, if it is a clue, then I guess whatever happened happened— regardless of what we think happened. Maybe the castaways always did go back in time to 1977 and Ben knew who they were all-along (in his adult life I mean).

Debate of the Century
Surely I'm not alone in my complete enjoyment of the scene where Hurley and Miles duke it out in a battle of time travel explanation. Obviously those clever writers set them up as archetypes of us loyal viewers. They could've been any of us, sitting there, watching the show, getting confused, thinking we've got all the rules down and then BAM your friend totally stumps you with a major exception to your rules. Clever.

Rules
Speaking of rules. It dawned on me, when Sayid failed to murder lil Ben, I remembered the conversation that Widmore and Ben had about "rules" and that there existed a rule that prevented them from killing each other. If the same rule applied to Sayid and Ben, then does that mean that they couldn't kill each other BECAUSE they have seen the future (as our castaways are in 1977 have seen and been in 2006), perhaps only a year or two in the future (so there wouldn't be any major aging or physical characteristics). Therefore they know that they're alive beyond that point in time and any attempts to harm the other would fail, just as Sayid's attempt did. What do you think?

Cassidy and Clementine
So apparently the big secret that Sawyer whispered to Kate before he selflessy (or selfishly if you ask Cassidy) leapt from the chopper was something along the lines of "Hey go find my baby mama, her name is Cassidy Phillips, give her some cash because you should get a pretty hefty settlement, anyway, I have a daughter named Clementine make sure she's living the high life, could ya do that fer me, Freckles?" and jump! I think most people assumed it was something in that vicinity. We were all just salivating for the revelation that Kate knew Cassidy and all that mish mashy connective stuff. Really, it wasn't that satisfying, I think in real life there would've been some mega flip out action and they sort of just acted like "Um yeah, I figured as much". Whatevs you guys are lame!

I am also wary of Cassidy. Sure they're friends and they have this scorned-woman bond, BUT they both have con running through their veins and cons love to con other cons, so I wouldn't put it past Cassidy to turn on Kate (possibly the love of her baby daddy's life) and at some point divulge this super secret information (all about what really happened to 815).

What Happened to Claire?!
I'm starting to think this is more pivotal information than first suspected. They totally put this on the backburner and distracted us with stuff like time travel and the undead. Tricky. So Kate has thusly redeemed herself with her true reason for going back, to find the mother of Aaron, Claire. Pretty noble and certainly a better reason than to ruin Sawyer's happy little clambake. So, I guess this means we finally get to find out what happened to Claire. I really don't have a viable explanation, was she alive or dead? She certainly acted like a ghosty in her last scenes. Also, why didn't we see when Carole (Claire's mom) first sees Aaron as her grandson? That's a really powerful reunion and I want to see it! Boo.

I Think I Hear My Island Calling Me…
So little Mr. Man of Science has magically transformed into a man of faith? Well, more like a man of extreme desperation at the end of his rope, willing to trying anything to numb the pain. Many people I've talked to have drawn the comparison of Jack's new outlook to that of Locke's throughout the show. There is a definite turning of the tables where Jack's faith is concerned. However, his particular brand of faith doesn't seem to stem from a deep-rooted connection and belief as Locke's always has. Jack, to me, seems to think of this as a last resort, and the only thing left for him to do. So, then the big quitter refused to help resesutate a kid, leaving Kate to search for other means of medical salvation…

Never Be the Same
WOOOOAAAAHHHHHH. So that was seriously cool. The kind of juicy Lost moment that I completely yearn for. When Richard told Kate that Ben would not be the same that was just so mysterious. Then when he carried him into the ancient temple, what are we supposed to assume but that baby Ben underwent some soul splicing, life-saving procedure?! Also, I'm pretty sure I smelled smoke, as in SMOKEY!! The scenes from next week definitely alluded to a satisfying visit from ol' Smokester next week. Is Smokey the devil? Did Ben trade his soul for a second chance at his wonderful Dharma life? Maybe not. All I know is that I can't freaking wait for next week's episode!! Oh and let's not forget that one of the hostiles felt the integral need to shout "Ellie and Charles won't be happy!" so that we would know that they were on the island at that time. Wonder if they've aged since Jughead, or if Richard still a lone enigma of agelessness.

Some other questions that are stewing…
• Where is Sayid?
• How is Sawyer going to explain his involvement with Kate taking Ben to the hostiles?
• Where is Sun and why didn't she skip through time with the rest?

Tired. Nosebleed.