LOST- Episode 29: ...And Found

  Previously on LOST- Claire found the bottle full of messages while the former rafters met the survivors of Flight 815: Tail Division.

  Well, it looks like the cave set definitely burned down or something since Claire and Sun are doing their laundry in the ocean instead of that sparkling waterfall they used to hang out by.  They talk about how long it's been since the raft launched (FOUR days) until Sun flips out because she has lost her wedding ring.  For some reason, this makes her flashback to when her mother was helping her get ready for a date that her mother arranged herself.  She also arranges how Sun will act and what she will wear.  Mom expresses disappointment that Sun did not meet someone in college, but Sun, quite the women's libber, says that she went to school to learn.

  Then proving she is truly and deeply connected to her husband, Sun proceeds to a Jin flashback where he is getting ready for a job interview.  His roommate tells him that Jin will find love this year and the book he is reading is never wrong.  Jin is more determined, however, to overcome his upbringing as a lowly fisherman's son.  Not determined enough to cut the tag off of his expensive tie, though.  He plans to return it later.  As he leaves, he says that if love calls, tell it to wait. 

  Cut to Jin in the present, who was apparently thinking about this last scene and it wasn't some supernatural quality Sun posesses.  Tricky LOST.  Though you never know with them.  Michael tells him that he will see Sun again soon, but I doubt he understood any of it except "Sun".  He nods politely.  The Tail Gang, so named for Ana-Lucia's nice tail, decides that it is time to move out and that our heroes will help them find food and water for the long trip ahead.  When Sawyer asks where, he is told they are all going back where HE came from.  You know, the society that Jack built.  Cue creepy LOST title screen.

  Out in the jungle, Sawyer says he wants to bolt, but Michael wants to hang around for more information.  Ana-Lucia splits everyone into groups.  Jin lights up at the word 'fish', so Sawyer suggests they take him fishing. 

  Back at the good beach, Sun is searching frantically when Jack comes along to save the day.  There's nothing much he can do this time, so instead he tells the tale of how he lost his wedding ring once and solved the problem by buying a replica.  Not much help there, Doc.  Sun notices that he doesn't have a ring now, so he says that it's rattling around his sock drawer at home.  Sun, the least curious person ever, asks no follow up questions.  Like 'What happened to your wife, you cryptic bastard?!'

  On the other side of the island, Ana-Lucia and Bernard are a little frustrated that Jin, supposed master fisherman, is not helping them at all.  He says something in Korean, tosses his net out and instantly catches about a million fish.  Even grumpy Ana-Lucia seeems impressed.  This makes Jin flashback to his job interview where he makes enough of an impression for the owner of a fancy hotel to take him on as a doorman.  Jin's new boss rips the tag off of Jin's tie (D'oh!) and tells him not to let people like Jin through the door.

  Out in the jungle, Michael and Libby are looking for fruit.  Libby apologizes for throwing him in the pit.  Libby says they have trust issues.  Like maybe someone has passed him or herself off as one of them and run off with all the babies?  Maybe?  Michael asks why they don't head inland to get fruit and Libby says that is where 'they' come from.  If the Others are universally called the Others, then what do the Others call themselves?

  Back at the Tail Gang's meeting point, Sawyer gets properly introduced to the big black guy, who we'll call Mr. Eko.  Can't find a consistent spelling anywhere in all my "extensive" research.  Just then, Libby comes rushing back to say that Michael has run off.  Ana-Lucia suggests they move out now, which Sawyer does not agree with.  Jin tries to make himself understood and does by saying, "Walt."

  After break, the Tail Gang packs up to move out but Jin refuses.  Sawyer reluctantly agrees with Ana-Lucia that they can't wait for Michael.  Jin tries to go through Mr. Eko, but a punch does not phase the big man.  He hands Jin a weapon and says he will help him find his friend.  Ana-Lucia says that they won't wait for him either.

  At the beach, Hurley helps Sun retrace her steps which leads Hurley to believe that Vincent ate the ring.  As they wait for Vincentto do his dog business, Hurley makes awkward small talk.  When he gets to whether or not Sun ever had a dog, he triggers a Sun flashback.  Not to when Jin gave Sun the dog, silly- we saw that last season!  No, instead she thinks back to the set-up date her mother brought her on.  As they walk into the fancy hotel, she does not even notice the strapping young doorman.  Later, the mothers leave the two youngsters alone to get to know one another.  Both seem surprised to actually hit it off. 

  Out in the jungle, Mr. Eko is very wary of his surroundings while Jin goes running off toward the first movement he sees.  Guess which one gets knocked over by a wild boar.  As Jin gets up, he is startled by an impaled corpse.  Mr. Eko says that his name was Goodwin.  Jin looks up and says 'Others.'  Mr. Eko nods.  Later, Mr. Eko notices Jin's wedding ring and to their credit, they manage to have a semi-coherent conversation. 

  Elsewhere, a frustrated Sun is tearing her garden apart and I get the distinct feeling it's time.  You know what time it is.  He hasn't had much of a chance to do it lately since he's been so hatch-crazy, but now that is settled and he has some more free time.  It's time for Locke's "Get paid for one scene, heart to heart with the focus of the episode".  Locke smiles and tells her that he found what he was looking for once he stopped looking.  As Locke pulls out his imaginary heart to heart checklist to cross off Sun, Sun uses the awkward silence to flashback to Date # 2 with the handsome, bald, hotel heir.  He tells her he is glad his parents have stopped pressuring him since he met someone in America and is going to run away to marry her.  Hope you didn't get your hopes up, Sun.  She did, but she denies it. 

  In the jungle, Mr. Eko finds Michael's trail.  He knows it is Michael because the Others don't leave tracks.  Hmm.  They hear a noise and Mr. Eko looks ominously around, even covering Jin's mouth to keep him from talking.  They take cover and watch a whole lot of feet go walking by in silence.  Dirty feet have never been scarier.  The last one by drags a teddy bear.  A scary teddy bear.

  After a break, Mr. Eko explains that 'they' didn't have Michael.  Michael was very lucky to have headed in a different direction.  Jin tells Eko to go back, but he refuses.

  Jin flashes back to the time he broke the rules to let a lowlife and his son use the bathroom inside the hotel.  Unfortunately, this happened right at the time the boss was walking out.  He reprimands Jin and tells him to go get them out, but to save his dignity and self-respect, Jin decides to hand in his gloves and quit instead. 

  At the beach, Kate finds a defeated Sun watching the waves.  She tries to comfort her, but Sun says she is tired of everyone telling her that Jin is all right.  Sun mentions the message bottle which Kate, who has to be in everyone's business, asks to be shown where it is.

  Elsewhere, Jin and Eko lose Michael's trail at a stream so Eko goes off to find it.  Jin looks up and sees Michael, who tells him to go back.  Michael runs off and Jin follows.  I guess he doesn't understand as much English as we thought.  Eventually, Jin and Eko catch up at a waterfall where they find Michael yelling and begging to be taken in his son's place.  Eko tells him the Others won't be found unless they want to be and he should come back with them.  Jin puts his hand on Michael's shoulder and says, "You find Walt, Michael."  The reverse psychology works as Michael starts to walk back with them.

  At the beach, Sun digs up the bottle and hands it over.  She is dismayed that Kate opens it up and starts pulling out the notes inside.  Kate is just upset that she didn't get to say good-bye to Sawyer, which apparently gives her free license to invade other people's privacy.  Oh, then she spots Sun's ring in the sand.  Happy happy!

  Two black guys and a Korean are walking through the jungle.  One of them flashes back to the time he met his wife by accidentally bumping into her.  I can't think of a punchline.

  In three weeks: Sawyer collapses, it rains a lot and someone dies!