“Lost” Snap Recap: “The Constant” (2/28/08)
Okay, so we always knew Desmond had some special powers. Like knowing that Claire would almost get struck by lightening, that Charlie would die, but this was something totally different. We didn’t get flashbacks or flashes forward. What we got was Desmond psychically flashing through time. By the time this episode was over, his head and mine were both about to explode.
Let me see if I can capture it in a nutshell. Desmond, Frank and Sayid are on the helicopter on their way to the freighter When they fly into some thunderclouds, Desmond goes nutty. He doesn’t recognize Sayid, where he is, or what’s going on. Instead, we see him in the Royal Scots army eight years earlier. What follows throughout the episode is Desmond mentally popping back and forth from 2004 to 1996.
When they get to the freighter a bunch of burly guys who don’t talk much lock Desmond and Sayid up with the former communications officer, Minkowski. He’s strapped down in sick bay ’cause he’s going through the same thing Desmond is. When they escape and Sayid gets to call Jack on the island, we find out for the helicopter gang it’s only been a few minutes, while for the Losties a whole day has passed.
As far as Desmond’s little problem, Daniel implies it’s a side effect that has something to do with Frank not being able to keep the helicopter exactly on course. “Daniel 2004″ eventually sends Desmond to “Daniel 1996″ with a message. Daniel ‘96 tells him he needs a constant, something or someone that will anchor him. Desmond eventually finds that constant in Penny. In a wonderfully climatic scene “Desmond 2004″ finally talks to Penny and becomes anchored in time.
By the way, someone on the freighter destroyed all the communications equipment so the crew has no contact with the outside world. I wonder who could have done that? Could it be Ben’s spy? Could his name possibly start with an “M?”
A fabulous, incredibly, mind blowing episode.
These “Lost” snap recaps are meant to be quick reads, but if you’d like a more detailed account of last week’s episode, you can read it at my other blog, Megan’s Minute.
Photo courtesy ABC