3.17 - Catch-22

Title’s significance: A reference to Joseph Heller’s novel of the same name, a “catch-22” is a no-win case of “damned if you do and damned if you don’t.” In this episode, Desmond can find the parachutist (which will reunite him with Penny) or he can save Charlie’s life – but he can’t do both. (It’s also in the parachutist’s pack.)

Recap: Desmond gets flashbacks that flesh out his time in a monastery and how he met Penny. On the island, Desmond is still having grisly flashes about Charlie’s impending death, but his latest flash tells him that someone is coming to the island, so he tries to cause this scenario to occur by collecting the survivors from his flashes. Sawyer tries to hook up with Kate, but it’s obvious that she still has feelings for Jack; she gets jealous when she sees him with Juliet and ends up taking Sawyer up on that hook-up offer. In the jungle, Desmond’s team hears a helicopter approaching and crashing into the ocean, but they see a parachutist land; in search, they find the parachutist’s pack – in which Desmond finds the photo of him and Penny. Though Desmond’s flashes require Charlie to die, at the last minute Desmond saves him; they find the parachutist and cut her down. She’s not Penny, but she knows Desmond’s name.

Thoughts: Really good episode, but the flashbacks weren’t very interesting. I like this continuing “can we change fate” examination with Desmond’s character this season, and the parachutist (with very interesting echoes of “Lord of the Flies”) is one of the coolest mysteries the show’s introduced in a very long while.

Favorite moment: The opening scene is pulse-pounding and spectacular, and I loved the “Superman vs. The Flash” debate between Charlie and Hurley. That or Sawyer’s encounter with an unclothed Kate, who points to her eyes and tells him, “I’m up here.” But Jin’s Korean ghost story is classic, too.

Characters introduced (in order):

• BROTHER CAMPBELL, head of Desmond’s monastery
• DEREK, a man who punched Desmond
• RUTH, Derek’s sister and a pre-Penny love interest for Desmond
• THE PARACHUTIST

What we learned:

• Desmond took a vow of silence in a monastery, which he was kicked out of.
• All Desmond’s “brother” talk comes from his time in the monastery.
• Desmond’s flashes only present pieces of a puzzle.

Questions:

• How did the parachutist get the photograph of Desmond and Penny?
• Who is the parachutist working for?
• How does the parachutist know Desmond’s name?
• Who IS the parachutist?

Things that are going to be important in Season Six:

• We’ve gotten mixed messages this year about Desmond – does he have a great part to play in the world, or will he never do anything great?
• This episode kicks off the Freighter storyline, which we know eventually culminates in the reveal that Widmore and Ben are battling. But battling for what, and who’s going to win?