Now that was a LOST episode! While I liked last week's episode a lot, especially upon second viewing, last night's episode was exactly the type of episode that I wished the season opener had been.

LOST always works best when they can combine the "human element" that grounds the show with the "what the heck" moments that propel it forward. The opener was more of a "human element" show, exploring the fallout of Charlie's death, while last night's episode was more of a "what the heck" type of show. Taken together, I view last night's episode and the season opener as a "two-parter." I think we have all the set-up we're going to need for LOST season 4.

I really enjoyed that the powers that be wasted no time in introducing us to these new characters. And I like that the new characters are interesting and carry all kinds of potential for delivering answers about the eyeland. A physicist, an anthropologist, a psychic, and a pilot. ... Yep, sounds like they're going to be able to shed some light on what's going on.

They all hinted at it last night. Daniel Faraday (Uppum from Saving Private Ryan) made a remark about how light dissipates on the island. We saw in the flashback that Charlotte Staples Lewis found a Dharma Initiative polar bear in Tunisia? We know that ghosts haunt the magic island, so we can see where Miles is going to come into this. And that Frank was supposed to be the pilot of Oceanic 815.

As I said earlier: WHAT THE HECK????

I thought that the polar bear in the desert reveal was great! What does that mean? Is that where the island is? Are we seeing the remnants of the island? If so, it's not where are we, it's when are we?

I also liked all of the Locke stuff about "following taller Walt" and the Ben interplay. Sawyer's probably right, Ben is always one step ahead of everyone and probably already has his check-mate worked out.

But at the same time, I am getting a little tired of how they keep buying into Ben's traps. It's making the LOSTies look a little naive. But then again, the LOST writers always do a good job at one-upping everyone. So yeah, they were going to shoot Ben...again. How are they going to get him out of it this time? "I have someone on their boat." UGH! LOST writers...you got me again.

My guess is that his contact is Michael. Or maybe, as some fans have speculated, his contact is the newly dropped Charlotte. How convenient that he shot her in the chest. The man is the ultimate chess-player.

Add to the fact that all of the recently dropped people are there to get Ben, it all adds up to one confused tv watcher.

Good episode, but it was a set-up. Now that (in my eyes) the two-part season opener is over, it's time for some big answers.

- Matthew