03/06/2008 - "The Other Woman"
Season 4, Episode 6
This was a Juliet-centric flashback episode wherein the LOST writer's fell back into their Season 3 device of...filler. Very. little. happened. in this episode and if it were not for the evilness which is Ben it would have been forgettable.
Ouch. I know. This is so disappointing. If you want a blow by blow of the episode you can go to ABC Online Full Episdoes of LOST where they have all kinds of LOST goodies or you can take a look right here after the jump--the story, such as it was is recapped below.
EDIT/ Jungle Whispers are here .
There was a bit of revisionist history as Juliet's flashback revealed much more than what we'd seen before from the Other's perspective when Oceanic Flight 815 went down. Specifically Goodwin, with whom Juliet had an affair also had a wife--the rather harpy-like Harper. When the pieces of the planes fell from view Ben ordered Goodwin to go find the tail section which ultimately led to his death.
Mean, creepy, cat-eyed Harper made Juliet...
...cry when she told her to quit being "The Other Woman" with Goodwin, her spouse.
Harper was not the only mean female in this episode. Charlotte Lewis appears to have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Here she is, clonking our ever intrepid Kate over the noggin'.
Kate survived. Her hair in this episode was very bushy. Kinda puzzling. Maybe it was extremely humid?
Of course, it's a different colour than it was about 100 days ago, when she first crash-landed. I suppose only her hairdresser knows for sure. ;)
John Locke, victim of character assassination by the writers, made bunny for dinner. Ben asked if said bunny had "a number on it." Har. What is it with Ben and bunny wabbits?
In other news, Claire is carrying her "baby" like a sack of potatoes. Oh, wait. Nevermind.
Crisis averted (no thanks to Juliet), so time for a smooch. From what I read most of the people voicing an opinion feel that Jack and Juliet or "Jacket" have no chemistry.
I thought she did really well with Angelina Jolie in "Gia." Maybe Angie can give Matt Fox some lessons.
Prior to sucking face with Jack, Juliet went all Rambo on Daniel and Charlotte at the poison-gas- housing Tempest station.
Charlotte is about to clonk Juliet in a second. There was a girl fight but not much on camera. <sad face>
Ben--all smug and happy. He talked John into letting him "go" in exchange for info about Charles Widmore (which the audience already knew) and the identity of who Ben's supposed mole is on the Freighter. We know Micheal is on the Freighter (Spoiler--see after the jump) and he's probably Ben's "man."
Sawyer's patented WTF? look when he sees Benjy strolling the grounds of Otherville, trilling about seeing them at supper.
Before Goodwin met his demise at the hands of Ana-Lucia--who keeps getting alluded to in S-4--is there something to that or just another of those sneaky writer's tricks? Anyway above is a gratuitous boobie shot of Elizabeth Mitchell (Juliette). Goodwin awaits her on a secluded beach.
And not a single "Walt!!!!!!" Have mercy, K? THX.
ABC Television Recap "The Other Woman"
Juliet waits in an office, playing with a miniature Japanese rock garden, when a woman rushes in and apologizes for being late. She introduces herself as Harper Stanhope and explains that today is simply a meet-and-greet. Their actual sessions start tomorrow. Juliet says she doesn't need therapy, but Harper suggests they call it "talking" rather than "therapy." Juliet has been there a week now, and Harpers asks about her least favorite part. Juliet answers being treated like a celebrity. Harper reminds her that it may feel like all eyes are on her but she's not a celebrity. They are interrupted by a knock on the door. It's Tom Friendly. He apologizes but says Ben wants to see Juliet. Harper ends their session by saying, "Welcome to the island."
Now we realize it's a flashback, and Juliet has just arrived. She meets Ben, who indicates a house in the barracks and says it's her new home. Juliet says they didn't have to go to all that trouble since she's only staying for six months. Ben pauses and simply says they wanted her to feel at home.
WHOOSH to the beach camp. Jack asks if anyone has seen Faraday or Charlotte. Jin says he saw them go into the jungle. Jack wants to know why he didn't say anything. Jin says they're friends, aren't they?
They split up and begin looking for a trail. As Juliet moves through the jungle, she hears whispers. She spins around and comes face-to-face with Harper. Long time no see. She's there to deliver a message from Ben. Faraday and Charlotte are heading for the Tempest. If they figure out how to deploy the gas, then everyone on the island dies. Ben wants Juliet to stop them. Juliet asks how Ben could know where they're going since he's a prisoner. Harper says Ben is exactly where he wants to be. He wants Juliet to kill Faraday and Charlotte. Jack comes out of the jungle with his gun aimed at Harper. Jack asks who she is. Harper says she's an old friend, and maybe Jack and his gun can help Juliet. Then they hear the whispers. Jack spins around, looking for who else is there, and when he turns back Harper is gone.
WHOOSH to a lab where Juliet sits on the floor crying. She hears something fall and break next door. She investigates and meets Goodwin. He lies and says he works at the power station and burned his arm on a transformer. Juliet tells him to take a seat, and she grabs some ointment and bandages. Goodwin notices her tears and says he heard they lost Henrietta. It's not Juliet's fault. Juliet says she's the one who's supposed to figure out why pregnant women are dying, so whose fault is it? Goodwin suggests talking to Harper, but Juliet says Harper hates her. She only talks to Harper because she has to. Plus, she gets the feeling Harper is a mean, spiteful person. Goodwin says Harper is his wife. Embarrassed, Juliet apologizes. Goodwin says don't worry about it. If she needs someone to talk to, he's around. If he promises not to tell Harper what she said, Juliet promises she won't tell anyone he lied about the chemical burn. Goodwin realizes he's busted and smiles.
WHOOSH to the jungle as Juliet and Jack trek towards the Tempest station. Juliet lies and tells Jack it's an electrical station that powers the island. Juliet asks for Jack's help to stop Faraday and Charlotte, and he agrees.
Faraday and Charlotte trek through the jungle using a hand-drawn map. Faraday asks Charlotte what happens if he can't do it. Charlotte says she knows he can do it. She's counting on him. They hear rustling in the jungle brush and draw their guns right as out pops Kate. She asks them what they're doing out in the jungle. Charlotte lies and says they're looking for their packs. Kate doesn't buy it. She searches Faraday's pack and finds gas masks inside. But Charlotte cold-cocks her from behind with the butt of her gun and knocks Kate unconscious.
WHOOSH to Juliet's lab. She explains to Ben that the problems occur sometime during the second trimester once the mother's immune system is triggered. The white cell count plummets, and it's like the immune system attacks the fetus itself. It only happens to women who conceive on the island. Goodwin interrupts them and is surprised to find Ben there. He covers and says since Ethan called in sick he had an extra lunch. Do either of them want it? Juliet already ate, plus she has an appointment with his wife in ten minutes. Ben picks up on their mutual interest.
In therapy, Harper asks Juliet about Ben. Juliet says he's smart and intense. Challenging. He's been good to her. Harper says of course, she looks just like her. But before Juliet has a chance to ask what that means, Harper asks when Juliet started sleeping with Goodwin. Juliet is caught off guard, but Harper tells her not to treat her like an idiot. She followed them. She watched them. Juliet apologizes, but Harper tells her to listen. If Juliet continues the relationship with Goodwin, there will be consequences. Harper doesn't want to see Goodwin get hurt. Juliet says she would never hurt him, but Harper isn't talking about her. She's talking about Ben.
WHOOSH to Locke bringing Ben some food. Ben asks if the revolution started yet. He says it'll start innocently enough, a question here, a comment there, but if Locke's not careful he'll have an insurrection on his hands. Especially once they realize that Locke doesn't have a plan. Ben offers to help Locke. They have the same interests, or at least a common enemy. Locke wants to know his price. Ben asks to sleep in a bed and eat with utensils, then he'll tell Locke everything he knows about the person who sent the freighter.
WHOOSH to a romantic moment between Juliet and Goodwin on a secluded beach. Goodwin tells Juliet not to worry about Ben. Ben has Goodwin working with chemicals that could kill everyone on the island if he flips the wrong switch. He tells Juliet that Ben has other things on his mind besides them. But when Ben sends Goodwin to the crash site of the tail section of flight 815, Juliet feels like Ben is doing it on purpose to get rid of him.
Later, Ben takes Juliet to see Goodwin's body. He's been impaled by a spear. They don't know what happened since there were no witnesses. Juliet accuses Ben of knowing this would happen, that he wanted it to happen. Ben tells her that after everything he's done to bring her to the island, after everything he's done to keep her there, how could she not understand that she is his.
WHOOSH to Juliet arriving at the Tempest station. She goes inside and finds Faraday at the station's control center working at the computer. Juliet holds her gun on him and orders him to get away from the computer. He says he can't do that. Faraday says he's trying not to release the gas he's trying to make it safe. Suddenly, Charlotte attacks Juliet from behind. They fight, but Juliet grabs her gun and holds it on both them. She orders Faraday to stop, but Charlotte says they're trying to disable it before Ben can use it against them. The countdown continues. Faraday frantically works to stop it. Then, with only seconds to spare, he's able to stop the process and disables the gas.
Jack and Kate catch up with Juliet and Charlotte as they're leaving the Tempest station. Charlotte takes Kate inside to explain how she and Faraday just saved everyone's life. Juliet tells Jack that the freighter people came to wage a war against Ben but Ben is going to win, and she warns Jack that he doesn't want to be near her when he does. Ben feels that Juliet is his, and he knows how she feels about Jack. Jack leans in and kisses her. Passionately. Defiantly. He tells Juliet that Ben knows where to find him.
At the barracks, Locke takes Ben upstairs to the living room, and Ben gets a tape out of a safe. It's footage of Charles Widmore beating some guy to a pulp. Ben tells Locke that Charles Widmore is the man trying to find the island and it's him who sent the freighter. Widmore wants to exploit the island, and he'll do everything in his power to posses it. The man beaten is someone working for Ben whom Widmore caught. Ben gives Locke a file containing everything he has on Widmore. In return, Locke lets Ben have his freedom, and no one is happy about it.
@Loretta
Good observations. :)
There's two other theories about who Juliet "looks just like."
One: Juliet has memory issues. Could Juliet have been the little girl the young Ben knew (and probably loved)--the one who carved the boy and girls dolls--which Ben has kept all this time? Intriguing!
Ben appeared obsessed with Juliet from the moment he saw her. Was that because it was not a first meeting but a "reunion?"
Two: Along similiar lines--could Juliet simply resemble the little girl in some way?
Guess we need to stay tuned!
Posted by: Cyn | March 08, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Ben is the guy we all love to hate! He is evil in some weird twisty interesting way that makes you watch and wonder if he's really crazy or just well planned. I agree this episode had a lot of filler of stuff we already knew, why do they always feel the need to recap. I did find Ben's possessiveness of Juliet interesting though, I'm assuming the she that she looks just like is Ben's wife who we've heard of but never seen. (Also assuming his wife may have been one of the pregnant women that died in the past....)
Posted by: Loretta | March 08, 2008 at 12:23 PM