Let the games begin.

We’re on the homestretch, folks.

Tonight, get ready for “The Last Recruit.”

As we’ve heard throughout the season, Flocke has been attempting to recruit people to be charter members of Team Flocke. His first recruit was Sawyer, who joined up after Flocke visited him (and enjoyed a brew or two) in the barracks. For the last several episodes, the numbers on Team Flocke have increased fairly rapidly (sure, it doesn’t hurt that he can turn into Smoke and kill all dissenters). And as last week’s final scene revealed, he almost has everybody he needs. Everyone is with him for a different reason. Voluntarily (Sawyer), claimed by Flocke (Sayid), fear (Cindy), and because there doesn’t seem to be a better option (Kate).

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the roster of Team Flocke is as follows:
- Sayid
- Claire
- Sawyer
- Jin (although he is currently otherwise occupied)
- Kate
- Cindy the flight attendant
- Zach and Emma
- Approximately 15 other Others without names

So…per tonight’s title, who will be the last recruit?

The options

The final scene of last week’s episode showed Hurley, Jack, Frank, and Sun arriving at Team Flocke’s camp in the middle of the jungle. Potential recruits? I think so. And convincing each member of the new class to join Team Flocke will take different strategies.

Sun: My money is on Sun being the easiest to recruit. Reuniting with Jin is her purpose in life right now (followed by reuniting with her daughter, no? I’m a little irked that she hasn’t expressed any “Oh, I miss my daughter” woes…anyone else feel that way?). So, a simple “Join me and let’s go get Jin” from Flocke will have her sign on the dotted line.

Frank: I love Frank, but I’m not sure if his purpose for the rest of this series will be anything deeper than pure logistics. Last I checked, Flocke doesn't know how to fly a plane. Since the plan is “fly off the island on the Ajira jet,” it seems that Frank will be a key piece of this puzzle. Flocke needs Frank to make this plan a reality. Watch for phrases like “I can’t do this without you, Frank” and “You are so important and this is your purpose.”

Hurley: Hurley is in a bit of a strange place right now. If we are to believe what we saw in last week’s episode (though I don’t know exactly what to believe any more), Hurley is experiencing some traveling consciousness between the two timelines (on island and alternate). The implications? Unknown at this point. However, Hurley’s reunion with Libby in the alt-world (and subsequent realization of his love for her…yes, I said it…LOVE) will probably be a guiding force. Heading off the island and back to Libby will probably seem like a great idea to Hurley. Barring some totally opposite instructions from Jacob, I think Hurley will be a relatively easy sell.

What about Jack?

This means Jack is the last holdout. Surprised? Me either.

Last week’s final seconds set up (in the words of Miley Cyrus) a “hoedown throwdown” between the original complicated duo of Jack and Locke. And while both characters have changed and grown a lot since September 22, 2004, there was still a helluva lot of tension between the two. Flocke has to have everyone on that plane to actually get off the island, including Jack. Jack’s last interaction with (F)Locke was when he putting his father’s shoes on Locke’s body inside the meat cooler last season. Talk about confusing. Watch for some fancy footwork on the part of Flocke to calm Jack down to the point where he can explain what he needs to in order to keep the peace and keep the plan on track. How will he does this? Good God, I have no idea.

But the reality is that this episode is going to be headed somewhere: Hydra Island. Conveniently, this is where Flocke will find Jin. And wadaya know: the whole gang (minus Richard, Ben, and Miles) will be back together again for the first time in a LONG time. When was the last time everyone was together? I honestly don’t even remember. Think you do? Please leave a comment…I’m curious.

So back to the title…you really think Jack is the last recruit?

Yes, I do. Jack is a fairly polarizing character, even amongst the Dharma Blog faithful. You either love him (me) or you hate him (guess who...). However, like it or not, he has been set up from day one as the most main character this show has. It really only seems logical that in these final episodes, Jack will play a fairly significant role. And judging from the episode title, I’d say he will absolutely be the last hold out for Team Flocke…the last piece of the puzzle…the last recruit.

Disclaimers are fun!

As we race towards the series finale, we are getting a lot of answers, in rapid fire, about some very crucial characters. In light of this reality, The Dharma Blog would like to issue a simple disclaimer about the next section. The following information you are about to read is Maggie’s somewhat-insightful-and-never-completely-accurate, opinion about the Guest Stars on tonight’s episode and what might be on the horizon for these fine folks. Maggie consults a number of websites, including the press releases issued by ABC Medianet, to uncover this information and speculate, but she never consults any spoiler sites. So, if you are a Lost purist and want to know watch tonight’s episode without the knowledge of the Guest Stars or what might happen, you should stop reading now. However, if you do want to know (even if it is just to tease Maggie tomorrow about how horribly wrong her predictions were), by all means: continue reading.

Guest Starring tonight!

Andrea Gabriel as Noor “Nadia” Abed Jaseem, Sheila Kelley as Zoe (aka Dirty Tina Fey), Kimberley Joseph as Cindy (aka the flight attendant), Dylan Minnette as David (aka Jack’s son), Teresa Huang as surgeon, Skyler Stone as EMT #1, Todd Coolidge as EMT #2, Yvonne Midkiff as receptionist, Christopher Amitrano as Burditt, Kasim Saul as guard, Steve Boatright as Mike, Mickey Graue as Zack and Kiersten Havelock as Emma.

Maggie’s Predictions

Let’s see…how are these characters all connected? Surgeon…EMT #1…EMT #2…hmm. It’s coming to me. Hold on. Wait for it…got it! Sounds rather “Alt-Timeline Hospital”, don’t you think?

It is beyond likely that we’re headed to visit Dr. Jack Shepherd at his place of employment tonight. After all, we’ve had two fairly traumatic accidents in the last two episodes. You’ll remember Sun was shot in Hell’s Kitchen two weeks back, uttering the tragic words “I’m pregnant” to Jin as he rushed her out of the restaurant. And then last week’s crazy parking lot scene, where wheelchair-bound Locke was darn near run over by Desmond. Oh, and Nadia probably fits in because her husband (Sayid’s brother) is likely still at the hospital, recovering from his thug beating.

So. There’s that.

I do want to point out that David Minnette’s return as Jack’s son (aka child prodigy) is rather interesting. Take your child to work day? Waiting for Dad to finish up work and take him to piano rehearsal? Mom has to drop off son with ex-husband because she has a (ahem) prior engagement? While it certainly isn’t the biggest fish to fry right now, let’s be somewhat prepared for a reveal about the identity of David’s Mom tonight. Crucial to the storyline? Not at all. Possibly intriguing and ironic? Absolutely. Lots of theories about whom this mystery woman is, ranging from Mrs. Phil Dunphy (Jack’s ex-wife, Sarah, who is now on Modern Family…and is brilliantly hilarious) to Ana-Lucia Cortez.

Most common prediction I’ve seen: Juliet.

Yeah, I know. Crazy, right?

TV Guide says…

Alliances are forged and broken as the Locke and Jack camps merge.

Well, I could have written that one. Alliances are the name of the game from here on out. Who do you trust? Who do you follow? Jack’s entrance into Team Flocke’s camp will probably cause a few people (read: Kate) to second guess whose side they are really on. And I bet Kate won’t be the only person to consider pulling a flippy-floppy.

Team Jack and Team Flocke are geographically back together, but that’s about it at this point. And team assimilation won’t happen in five minutes. We’re definitely going to get disagreements about the best course of action (perhaps harkening back to the poignant glory days arguments between Jack and Locke in the first several seasons). I’m not sure how it is all going to shake down, but I can pretty much guarantee that the party is going to start to move to Hydra Island by the end of the episode, where Widmore is waiting and ready to fight.

Let the games begin.

Namaste,
Maggie