The outrigger chase was a shootout between two groups of time travelers, one consisting of survivors and the Kahana science team and the other consisting of sailors from the Black Rock. A time flash cut the battle short, and neither group learned the others' identity. ("The Little Prince") (Black Rock journal transcript)
Lead-up
The survivors find their abandoned beach camp.
After a time shift, Sawyer's group found themselves in daylight and made their way to the beach. They found that the camp existed at that moment, but seemed disheveled, with a number of the structures in disrepair and all the supplies either stolen or consumed. The group boarded a canoe they found at the beach and began in the water, planning to row closer to the Orchid station.
Six men from the Black Rock were also in the water, having traveled through time after leaving their main ship. Around December 15th, 1867, the Black Rock became stuck inside the pull of the Island unable to escape. The crew of the ship began showing symptoms of time flashes. The party of six people tried to row to the Island in the hope of discovering their location. (Black Rock journal transcript)
Conflict
The two groups noticed each other, and the sailors opened fire. Sawyer's group paddled harder to escape, then Juliet returned fire with a rifle, apparently hitting one of the pursuers. Before the battle escalated any further, another time shift occurred. The sailors saw the other group disappear in "a flash of heavenly light".
Aftermath
Sawyer's group found themselves in the middle of a storm, but they successfully made it back to shore. None ever saw their attackers again. One member of the party, Miles, was later present during the Black Rock's final destruction due a dynamite explosion. ("Everybody Loves Hugo")
Juliet's gunshot did not kill her target, but all but one of the sailors later jumped out of the canoe to their deaths, evidently suffering from the same "cabin fever" that plagued the Kahana's crew. The sole survivor returned to the main ship. No further parties entered the water. A few days later, however, a storm began, sending the main ship crashing on to the Island. The entire crew died there. ("Ab Aeterno")
Creator commentary
The producers originally planned to "close the loop" by revisiting the outrigger chase in season 6.[1] Incorporating the scene proved logistically challenging - according to Damon Lindelof, half the characters they'd originally envisioned as the attackers "had been killed off". Returning to the old mystery also interfered with the season's flow, said Lindelof, diverting attention from subjects that mattered to the characters. Several scenes involving outriggers appeared nonetheless. Lindelof acknowledged that fans seeking answers could interpret them as a taunt.
Black Rock Journal Entry
The attackers' identity remained a mystery even after the series finale. The answer came through supplementary material in the final DVD compilation.
Statement from Jorge Garcia
In the last episode of Geronimo Jack's Beard, Jorge Garcia claimed that a script had revealed the identity of the outrigger chase attackers but the scene had never been filmed. He announced his intention to find the old script after moving back to Los Angeles.[1]
On September 24th 2010 Beth stated through the GJB podcast that it was Ben whom was intended to be shooting at the outrigger. "Okay, so here's the deal regarding the OUTRIGGER ISSUE: We went back and looked at the scripts, but since new pages were put in that deleted the scene and the original pages were tossed, we don't know specifics on the answer to the outrigger scene. BUT, when we listened to the unedited GJB for #604, we say that it was BEN in the other boat shooting at them"
Unanswered questions
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- For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: Outrigger chase/Theories
- Who ransacked the beach camp?
- ↑ [Hitflix: Exclusive interview: 'Lost' producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse talk 'Across the Sea'] Alan Sepinwall; 05/12/2010