2.22 - Three Minutes

Title’s significance: Ms. Klugh gives Michael three minutes with Walt, during which he realizes that the “plan” is the only way to save Walt.

Recap: Michael’s flashbacks cover his time chasing after Walt on the island; captured by The Others, who expressed excessive interest in Walt, Michael was given a list of survivors – Jack, Kate, Hurley, and Sawyer – to bring back with “Henry Gale” in exchange for freeing Walt. In the present, Michael tries to lead the survivors to The Others’ camp, but Hurley wants burial before revenge. Unaware of the significance of his story, Eko tells Michael that hell is not as bad as the murdered victims who wait for their murderer. Charlie gives Claire the vaccine case he found from the supply drop., while at The Swa Eko begins to push the button instead of build the church. Sawyer adds Sayid to the army (Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and Hurley) against The Others, which distresses Michael so much that he bans Sayid from tagging along. Charlie chucks the Virgin Mary statues into the sea and ends up holding hands with Claire. Before the funeral, Sawyer tells Jack that he slept with Ana Lucia, since Jack is “the closest thing I got to a friend.” Locke gets seaside contemplative while Sayid tells Jack that he believes Michael has been “compromised.” At the funeral, a mysterious sailboat appears.

Thoughts: Seriously, Michael, change the record. I don’t want to suggest that this was a bad episode – quite the contrary, I really enjoyed it. But Michael’s such a static character that his only character development depends on how long he draws out the word “WAAAAAAAAAAAAALT!”

Favorite moment: Vincent brings Charlie a Virgin Mary statue, to which Charlie replies, “Are you kidding me?”

Characters introduced (in order):

• PICKETT, an oily and ornery Other
• MS. KLUGH, an Other overly interested in Walt

What we learned:

• The gunshots that the 815ers heard came from a shootout between Michael and The Others.
• Michael was working for The Others to free “Henry.”
• The Others instructed Michael to bring four survivors to their camp.
• Sayid is suspicious of Michael.
• There’s a sailboat out there!

Questions:

• Why did Pickett take Michael’s blood?
• What station are The Others guarding?
• What’s in “the room” where Walt was being held?
• Why did Ms. Klugh choose the four survivors that she did?
• Who’s on the sailboat?

Things that are going to be important in Season Six:

• The Others are very interested in the remarkable things that Walt can do. I’m wondering, though, if Aaron is the child they’re looking for.
• The list that The Others drew up might be just pawns in the machinations of Ben Linus, but there might be something else at play here, especially because we get other lists in future episodes – even Jacob has a list. What are the lists, and do they have anything to do with being good/bad people?