This episode was a very self-contained Season 2. Not many answers or revelations in the storyline of this episode. The only thing I noticed was the Locke/Eko set-up and the stupid love triangle set-up. I kind of liked how they started those story lines though. But I do I think a lot was revealed in Ana-Lucia. Even though I hate her.
Ana-Lucia Cortez. I am not a fan. I understand who she was, why she was on the island and what she gave us an example to. While watching this episode I really tried hard to watch it with Season 6 eyes. And I do think that I got more out of it watching now that the show is over. But I still don't like her. She isn't as bothersome as Nicki and Paolo, but I will take Kate over her in a heartbeat.
She is a quick and simple glimpse into the show as a whole. I can see why she was on the island. She was flawed. She was broken. It is unclear if Jacob picked her or not, but she has all of the attributes that any of the other survivors. She had things that she needed to let go of. She had parent issues. Very similar to the other ones.
To me, her issues have nothing to do with her unborn baby. She overreacts to everything. I mean, tying Sayid up after you just killed his girl? Throwing Nate in that pit. Not to mention killing everyone - Goodwin, Shannon, the guy who shot her when she was pregnant and on duty. Maybe she is in panic mode and flips out? She's scared, she knee jerk? To me, this is her real problem.
I think she was getting over this on the island. The island is an intense place where you meet these troubles in your life head on. You have to face them and get over them. She cries on Eko, she expresses remorse and opens up to Sayid. I think she is progressing. I think she does progress. In her final moments, Michael asks her to kill Ben and she cannot. And then Michael kills her. She has made her progress, let go and it was time for her to move on. This is the entire core of the show.
I am not exactly sure why Desmond said that she wasn't ready in the Flash Sideways. But I like what my friend Matt said about her - the fact that she "wasn't ready" in the Flash Sideways should tell us that there is not much reason to love her. I totally agree with this. To me, she wasn't a well-loved character. And we don't have to love her. She was an example of dealing with issues, letting go and moving on. Just like Shannon was. We see this type of cycle go down with all of our characters.
I am definitely not a fan of Ana-Lucia. But I do appreciate what they were doing with the character. I don't think she was entirely pointless. But she rubs me the wrong way and I will never like her. Sorry.
