After my disappointment with ‘Further Instructions’, it was nice to get back on track with more pressing concerns. ‘Every Man for Himself’ picks back up with Jack, Sawyer and Kate. Although this is a Sawyer-centric episode, all three prisoners get equal share of the limelight as we continue to explore their internment.

On with my thoughts.

1. I’ve found that when an episode focuses its attention on island concerns – and uses the flashbacks in brief bursts to underscore the latest events – the ratio seems to work out best for all. Sawyer’s flashbacks in ‘Every Man for Himself’ support that theory. There were precious few headtrips and in those few moments we learned a good deal. We already know Sawyer is a con man – and largely his flashbacks continued to reflect upon his ruse – but they also did a lot to show the decency Sawyer fights to keep within. Through his con of Munson (Ian Gomez), Sawyer procures his freedom, makes the scary looking warden (Bill Duke) very happy and earns enough scratch to set his surprise baby daughter up for life. I get the sense that he doesn’t want his daughter to know he exists – not out of disdain for having a daughter – but out of fear that he’s not good enough for her. It shows the sacrifices he’ll make for those he loves and ties nicely to his burgeoning union with Kate.

2. This episode did not lack for tense moments. Chief among them: Pickett’s beating of Sawyer – where he implored Kate over and over to reveal her feelings. “DO YOU LOVE THIS GUY!!!” Finally – Kate tearfully admitted – she does. And though she recants it all later, her heartbreak seemed genuine. Good acting all around. Besides, Kate goes better with Sawyer anyway (much better than with the Hobbit, at least.)

3. The ‘previously on Lost’ segment that aired before the show made a point of replaying Colleen’s warning to Sun – “We’re not your enemy, Sun. But if you shoot me, that is exactly what we’ll become.” With Colleen dead, I think bad times are ahead for the Losties.

4. In a quick, matter-of-fact revelation, Juliet dropped word that she’s a fertility doctor. I think this plays into the origins of the Others and fits into my theory pretty nicely. Last week, I theorized that Desmond was irradiated by concentrated electromagnetic energy – which unlocked latent psychic ability. The Dharma Initiative concerned itself with the study of the paranormal. I believe their goal was to better the human race – to unlock these latent abilities. What better way to do that than right from birth. Hence, genetic engineering meshes well with the need for fertility doctors to give birth to a race of super humans.

5. Which seems to validate Ben’s claims that he has lived on this island his whole life. Ben’s roughly 40 – yet Dharma was active between 20 and 30 years ago. What if Ben is the result of their research – a test tube baby who displays some genuine physiological advantages – yet ages differently than we do? That could explain the spinal tumor. Hence, he could be a 20 year old in a 40 year old body – his shell ages but his brain is more advanced. In fact, what if all of them are the product of this research. Juliet’s statement “It doesn’t matter what we were… it only matters what we are” underscores that. Also, next week’s episode is entitled - “The Cost of Living.” What is Ben’s ‘cost’ of living?

6. If that theory holds, I also postulate that Ben can’t leave the island. The island has a price. It makes you a ‘good’ person – yet you must stay tied to the island – the proverbial Catch-22. My guess is Ben would quickly wilt the further he got away from the island.

7. Mr. Friendly dropped a little bit of surprising intel. Just before Sawyer was operated on, he confronted Ben and said something to the effect that ever since the sky went purple, all of their comm devices have failed – meaning they are cut off from their outside benefactors.

8. Desmond continues to test his newfound abilities – with another precognitive flash saving baby Turniphead’s life. I think Desmond will be the key (the advantage) towards fending off the Others’ eventual retaliation.

9. The final shots indicate that Jack, Sawyer and Locke are on a separate island. That explains why Ben doesn’t want the survivors having that sail boat – they may not be able to get home – but they could surely stumble upon his ‘Alcatraz’.

10. Next week’s episode looks intense. I couldn’t make out what was on the monitor in that last shot. First I thought, alien? Then I read a comment on a message board that it was a guy with an eye patch. If so, that may explain that glass eye that was found in the other hatch.