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"Something Nice Back Home" is the tenth episode of Season 4 of Lost, and was first broadcast on May 1, 2008. When Jack's health is seriously compromised, Kate and Juliet must work together to save him; and something goes wrong as Sawyer, Claire, Aaron and Miles continue their trek away from Locke's camp and back to the beach. In flashforwards, we see Jack's relationship with Kate begin to break apart as he is given a prophetic message from Hurley and begins to see his dead father.
Synopsis
At the beach
After Juliet repeatedly attempts to awaken Jack from his slumber, he finally regains consciousness, although he seems disoriented. After standing up, he exits the tent with Juliet to find a group including Rose, Bernard, Sun, and Jin arguing with Daniel and Charlotte. Bernard confronts Daniel regarding why the satellite phone fails to get a signal, when it had apparently worked fine the night before during Morse code contact with freighter. Jack intervenes and acknowledges that Daniel and Charlotte have been lying to everyone. He reassures the survivors, saying eventually the freighter people will come for Daniel and Charlotte and when they do the survivors will be ready. Jack tells everyone to just remain patient and that he will keep his promise to get them off the island. Following this, he suddenly faints onto the beach.
Soon, Jack comes to as Kate rushes towards him. She worries, feeling his forehead and commenting that he has a temperature, but he brushes it off as need for rest.
Later, Jack is in a tent taking more antibiotics when Juliet enters. He dismisses the stomach pain as food poisoning and dehydration, but she disagrees. Jack tries to deter her, but after insisting to and feeling his abdomen, she tells him that the pain he is feeling is from his appendix. He tells her it hasn't ruptured yet, but Juliet says their only option is to take it out before it does rupture.
Juliet's list
Juliet speaks to Sun and gives her a list of medical supplies needed for the appendectomy and asks her and Jin to go to the Staff to retrieve them. When Sun tells Juliet that she doesn't know what the instruments look like, Daniel offers to help, and states that he has performed animal autopsies in the past and has experience with the tools needed. Sun immediately distrusts his offer, but Charlotte responds antagonistically. Daniel berates Charlotte about being distant and pessimistic. He asks again to help, because they're only scientists and want everyone to be safe. Juliet accepts their help, but also gives Jin a gun and tells him to shoot either of them in the leg if they try to run. Juliet tells a group to prepare a sterile environment for the surgery.
While washing down a table for the surgery, Bernard sees that Rose looks unsettled. The couple discuss why Jack got sick; Bernard chalks up Jack's illness to bad luck, but Rose thinks that it isn't a coincidence that Jack is ill because "people do not get sick on the Island".
Kate helps Jack to the sterile tent
An apprehensive-looking Jack is having his stomach shaved by Juliet in a tent where she is preparing him for surgery. He asks her if she has experience with this type of procedure, and she informs him that this is not her first time performing an appendectomy (having done "a lot of them" in her residency), but it does not seem to calm him. He asks her if she is certain, because she is shaving two-inches above where she needs to be making the necessary incision, and Juliet assures him yet again. Jack tells her that he doesn't want to be unconscious, and wants to use local anesthesia so Kate can hold a mirror so and he can see what is happening and help walk Juliet through it. She visibly doesn't like the idea, saying that if anyone should be in the tent with them during the surgery, it should be someone with medical experience, like Bernard. Jack insists that he wants Kate, and Juliet concedes.
Jin, Sun, Daniel, and Charlotte arrive at the Medical Station to retrieve the supplies for the appendectomy. As they enter, Daniel offers to go in front of Charlotte to make sure that it is safe. They exchange a grin and a nod while Jin asks Sun in Korean if Charlotte realizes Daniel likes her. Sun replies that Charlotte knows, because she is a woman. Charlotte coyly looks back at them and smiles as they all walk into the station, something which does not go unnoticed by Jin.
After entering the hatch, Daniel looks around and wonders aloud where all the power for the station is coming from. Sun goes over to the bed where she received the ultrasound, looking emotional, and Jin asks what's wrong. They share a conversation in Korean about how this was where Juliet brought Sun and where she saw their baby for the first time. Sun expresses her concern for wanting to get off the Island, realizing that Charlotte and Dan and their people are not here to rescue them. Jin promises her that he will do everything to get her and their baby off the island. During their conversation Charlotte and Daniel load various medical supplies into a bag as Charlotte continually glances back at the Korean couple.
Jack's surgery
Back at the beach, Juliet runs into Kate, and asks her for an "extra set of hands," saying that she could "use them" for Jack's surgery. Kate doesn't think this is a good idea, then Juliet tells Kate about Jack wanting to watch the surgery, expressing embarrassment. Kate laughs, and Juliet asks why, but they joke about Jack's stubbornness (Kate saying she's surprised he's not taking it out himself). Bernard and a fellow Lostie have taken a stretcher to Jack's tent, when he stumbles out of it. Seeing the stretcher, he starts walking towards the surgical tent. Juliet and Kate protest, but Jack dismisses them, saying he can "walk 50 feet." Kate offers to help him, and he accepts it, as Juliet walks off to prepare. Kate walks Jack over to the surgery tent, saying it looks like she will be his nurse. Jack tells her that "it wouldn't be the first time" ("Pilot, Part 1") ("The Moth"). Jack then starts to tell Kate, "If something should happen to me during surgery...." Kate cuts him off with a "Shut-up, Jack" to which Jack laughs and replies: "Fair enough."
Jin confronts Charlotte
Later that night when the group returns from the medical station, Jin calls Charlotte over. He says to her in Korean, "I know you understand me." While she tries to pretend that she doesn't understand him, he tells her that he knows she speaks Korean because he saw her smile when Sun was speaking to him about her at the medical station. Charlotte still tries to act as if she doesn't understand until Jin says that if she does not stop lying he will break Daniel's fingers one at a time. In Korean, Charlotte asks what he wants and Jin tells her that he wants Sun on the helicopter when it leaves the Island. Charlotte asks, "What about the others?" but Jin cuts her off, saying his only concern is for Sun and the baby. She nods and Jin leaves.
In the surgical tent, Juliet, Kate, and Bernard prepare to operate. Bernard suggests that he knock Jack out with chloroform that was brought back from the medical station (saying, "Wouldn't you rather be dreaming about something nice back home?") but Jack refuses. Bernard locally numbs the area on his abdomen and Juliet makes the first incision while Kate holds a hand held mirror for Jack to see. Jack grunts and yells as Juliet begins to spread the incision. Kate becomes increasingly upset, as Jack repeats her name, at first to get her to adjust the mirror's position and then without a clear purpose. Kate starts to cry, and starts mouthing "Jack, I--" but Juliet takes over, ordering Bernard to knock Jack out and Kate to get out of the tent. Bernard places a chloroform rag over Jack's mouth and he passes out.
Outside the tent after the surgery is finished, Bernard tells Kate that everything went fine, that Juliet did well, and is now allowing Kate back inside. She enters the tent while Juliet is stitching Jack up and she reassures Kate that he will be fine. She tells Kate that Jack kissed her the other day, and Kate looks visibly upset. Hardly looking from her work, she then tells Kate that the kiss was nice, but it wasn't for her, but for himself (Jack), and that he was trying to prove that he "doesn't love someone else." Kate thanks her, and then for saving Jack's life before walking out. Juliet tells Jack that she knows he's awake and he opens his eyes.
In the Jungle
Miles digs in search of the bodies
Sawyer, Claire, and Miles are walking through the jungle when they reach a clearing. Claire tells Sawyer she's feeling much better, but that she still has a headache. "At least I'm not seeing things anymore," she says. Miles asks her what she used to see, but Sawyer puts a stop to that conversation. Suddenly, Miles looks uneasy as whispers swirl about. He stops walking, listens, and asks, "Who's Danielle and Karl?". He starts pushing aside the brush to find both of their bodies semi-buried in mud, flies swirling. Sawyer asks Miles how he knew about the two but Miles gives no reply. Sawyer accuses Miles' team of killing them, but he denies that he is on the same team with Keamy and his men. Miles seems upset to discover the bodies as he "didn't sign up for this". Claire just wants to leave and Sawyer escorts her away, promising that everything will be fine once they make it back to the beach.
Later, Claire is caring for Aaron as Miles watches them. Sawyer approaches and tells Miles he isn't to talk to Claire, look at Claire or even think about Claire, and that he officially has a 20-foot restraining order. Miles listens to Sawyer, and retreats.
Lapidus with Keamy's team including a badly-injured mercenary
Later, while walking through the jungle, Miles tries to persuade Claire to let him help out with Aaron, because he is "good with kids". Sawyer begins to remind Miles of the restraining order command, when a sudden rustling comes from the brush. As Sawyer goes to investigate, Frank Lapidus runs out carrying his satellite phone and a first aid kit. He's very startled and addresses Miles first, while Sawyer seems surprised that the men know each other. Frank, still in a hurry tells them there is no time because Keamy and his men are on the way and if he finds them there he will kill them all so they need to hide immediately. They hide in the nearby bushes and watch as Keamy and five of his men come through, one of them seriously injured. Lapidus looks at him and asks Keamy what happened. Keamy acts evasive and changes the topic to the location of the helicopter. Frank says it's not far, when Aaron makes a little crying noise. Keamy seems to hear it, and suspiciously looks around. In an attempt to protect the people hiding, Frank urges Keamy and his men to get to the helicopter because it is starting to get dark and he will refuse to fly out on Faraday's coordinates in the dark. After a heavy pause, Keamy agrees and they head off into the jungle.
Christian holds Aaron (promotional still)
That night Claire awakens to find Aaron isn't beside her. She looks across the campfire to see Christian Shephard holding him. Claire recognizes him and asks, "Dad?".
The next morning, Sawyer notices that Claire's sleeping area is vacant. He asked Miles where she is and Miles says he saw her take off into the jungle. Sawyer doesn't believe that Claire would wander off alone but Miles says she wasn't alone, she was walking with someone she called 'Dad'. Sawyer demands to know why Miles didn't try to stop her and Miles mentions his restraining order. As Sawyer is about to rough Miles up, he hears Aaron crying. He leaves Miles and rushes off to find Aaron on his blanket at the base of a tree by himself. He picks the child up and yells around for Claire, who is nowhere in sight.
Flashforward
Jack awakens
Jack is in bed when the phone rings. It is his receptionist, Jane, reminding him of an 11 a.m. consult with Ms. Berenberg which was moved up the previous day. She indicates that she called since she knows he's not good with his calendar. He thanks her and gets out of bed, wrapping a towel around his waist. A pair of peach lace panties are lying on the floor beside the bed. Jack picks them up, smiles, and then tosses them into the clothes hamper. He proceeds downstairs to the kitchen where he steps on a Millennium Falcon toy. He reels back, curses, and puts it on the counter. He then places two partially full wine glasses in the sink, and begins making coffee. He then picks up the newspaper sports page on the counter which features a story about the Yankees sweeping the Red Sox, causing him to scoff: "A-Rod".
Jack enters the bathroom; a woman is in the shower. Looking in the mirror, Jack's appendectomy scar is faintly visible. He opens the shower door to greet her, and she tells him that she bought him a new razor. He replies, "Oh, you don't like the scruff?" The shower turns off, and Kate steps out into the towel Jack is holding for her. She smiles brightly, Jack says, "Good morning," and they kiss.
Later, Jack is reading Aaron a story from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as Kate looks on from the doorway. Jack realizes Aaron is asleep, so he turns out the light. In the hall Kate tells Jack that he's "a natural." Jack reminisces that his father used to read him that book. Kate says that it's nice to hear Jack say good things about his dad. Jack tells her, somewhat wistfully, that his father was a good storyteller. Kate softly tells Jack that she loves seeing him with Aaron, and that she's glad he changed his mind and glad he's there with her. Jack replies, "Me, too," picking her up. She wraps her legs around him as they kiss, and he carries her down the hall while she laughs.
At some time a day or so later, Jack is finishing the consult with Ms. Berenberg, giving her instructions for her surgery the following day, and they part in the hospital lobby. Jack suddenly does a double-take, seeing Christian Shepard (wearing the same blue suit Jack repeatedly saw him wearing on the island) walking through the lobby. Jack's co-worker, Dr. Erika Stevenson, calls his name twice to get his attention, wanting his opinion on a spinal x-ray, an L-4. The receptionist then tells Jack that a Dr. Stillman from Santa Rosa Hospital is calling about "a friend of yours".
Hurley in the Mental Institute
Jack goes to the hospital to meet with Dr. Stillman, who says that the patient has been refusing his medication and has stopped sleeping. Jack asks about therapy, but Dr. Stillman says therapy is now out of the question because the patient believes Dr. Stillman isn't real. Jack opens a door and enters a room in which Hurley sits on the bed. Hurley says he isn't taking his medication because he believes that he and the rest of the Oceanic 6 are actually dead, having never escaped the island, and are now stuck in "heaven." Hurley asks Jack about his day, and Jack describes his life with Kate and Aaron. Hurley points out that Jack didn't want to be with Kate and Aaron before, to which Jack replies that he changed his mind after Kate's trial. Hurley says that Jack's happy life with Kate and Aaron is proof that they're in heaven, as are his visits from Charlie, who regularly talks to him on a bench outside on the hospital lawn. He tells Jack that when Charlie visited him the day before, he had told him of Jack's visit and also gave him a message for Jack, which he made Hurley write down so he would get it exactly. Hurley reads off a scrap of paper, "You're not supposed to raise him, Jack". Hurley asks if "him" means Aaron. Visibly disturbed, Jack says he doesn't know and abruptly tells Hurley to just take his meds. Hurley then tells him that Charlie also said Jack will soon be getting a visitor of his own.
Later that night, Jack sits in his truck outside the Santa Rose Medical Center, looking at the bench Hurley described. Later that night Jack comes home to a sleeping Kate and wakes her up. She asks if he was working late, but he says he was out doing errands. Seemingly troubled, he asks her about the other night when she said he was "a natural" with Aaron. Jack asks her if she really thinks he is "good at this," to which she assures him emphatically. After a long pause, Jack emotionally asks Kate to marry him. He pulls a box with a diamond ring from his pocket and places it on Kate's finger. She tearfully replies, "Of course I will, yes!" and they embrace.
Christian appears to Jack
Jack is reviewing Ryan Laker's x-ray, stating into a tape recorder that there is an osteoblastoma on the posterior area of the lumbar and he is recommending a biopsy. He is interrupted by the persistent beeping of a low-battery warning on a smoke detector. He goes to the reception area, climbs onto a chair, and pulls out the battery. After climbing down, Jack is startled to hear his name called out by his father. He turns to see Christian Shepard sitting in the lobby, again in the blue suit with white shoes he is seen wearing around the Island. As he is still trying to take it in, Dr. Stevenson approaches him from behind and calls his name. He turns to respond to her and when he turns back toward the chairs, his father has disappeared. Jack is distracted and Erika asks if he is okay. Jack asks Erika to write him a prescription for clonazepam, stating he has a lot going on right now, including a heavy caseload and his new engagement. She reminds him an engagement is supposed to reduce stress, not create more, and suggests he "talk to somebody". He replies he'll do that and takes the prescription. When Jack gets home, he hears Kate talking on the phone. She says that "Jack's never home before eight" and "can stay for at least an hour". She quickly gets off the phone when she realizes Jack is home. He asks her who was on the phone, and Kate tells him it was Noreen, another mom from the park. Jack says Kate has never mentioned her before. Kate waves this off and kisses Jack, then heads upstairs. Looking obviously stressed, Jack gets out his new prescription, and washes two pills down with a bottle of beer.
Jack looks sorrowful after yelling in front of Aaron
The next day, Kate comes home to find Jack drunk, sitting in the living room with empty bottles of wine and beer. He confronts her about where she was and why Veronica, the nanny, was still at the house later in the day, when Kate should have been home. Kate replies she was out running errands. He presses her, and she kneels by him, asking him to just trust her. Jack tells her about his visit with Hurley, saying that he went without her because Hurley might have upset her because he's "crazy." He then forcefully asks Kate again where she really was. Kate begs Jack to leave it alone, but Jack persists. She finally admits that she was doing something she promised Sawyer she would do. When Jack asks why she would keep this secret from him, Kate tearfully tells him that it's because she knew he wouldn't want her to help. Angry, Jack yells that that he is the one who's there for her and who saved her, not Sawyer, who made his choice to "stay" while Jack came back. Kate becomes upset and says she can't have Jack drunk and acting like this around her son. Jack yells at her that she isn't even related to Aaron, just as Aaron toddles in. Crying, Kate picks up Aaron and looks sadly at Jack as he turns and walks away.
Trivia
General
- By virtue of the Yankees/Red Sox and Indians/Mariners scores in the newspaper article, only one date is viable for the publication of the paper: August 31, 2007. Article states Yankees finish their sweep of the Red Sox with winning pitcher Chien-Ming Wang beating Curt Schilling 5-0. The only occurrence of this game is the date above. However, the newspaper also lists "Angels 8 - Astros 4" but the Astros were playing the St. Louis Cardinals over these dates. As such, the newspaper most likely isn't able to indicate the correct date.
- The Angels-Astros result is from June 20, 2007. The Angels are in the American league, and the Astros play in the National. This was an inter-league game, and the first time these two teams had played against each other since 2004. The box-score is accurate [1]
- The other side of the fold of the newspaper has an article with the headline "Dodgers 8-4 win over Astros" which conflicts with the Angels-Astros box score on the opposite side of the fold.
- It should be noted that the newspaper clipping in "Through the Looking Glass, Part 1" was dated April 5, 2007. The newspaper clipping from this episode is dated August 31, 2007. If the props are correct, this implies that the events of "Something Nice Back Home" occurred after the events of "Through the Looking Glass, Part 1". Since this is unlikely, the validity of either of these dates is in question.
- The title refers to a line Bernard has, in which he asks Jack whether or not he would rather be "dreaming about something nice back home" (in reference to the chloroform he is trying to get Jack to use).
- There is a smoke detector on Aaron's bed that can be seen while Jack is reading the story.
Production notes
- The Yankees/Red Sox newspaper article is by "Gregg Bilson, Staff Writer". Gregg Bilson is the founder of Independent Studio Services, a company that produces props for the film and television industry (Bilson brand cigarette props appear in Lost). The email address marvin.mancia@studiographics.us also appears in the article. The address studiographics.us is used by Independent Studio Services. Much of the text seen in the article appears in a real New York Times article here.
- Ben, Desmond, Locke, Michael, and Sayid do not appear in this episode.
- John Terry appears as Christian Shepard but was not listed ahead of time in the official ABC press release.
Bloopers and continuity errors
- In Juliet's list of medical supplies, "forceps" is incorrectly spelled "forcepts." "Gauze pads" also appears to be incorrectly spelled as "gause pads."
- "Hard-wired" smoke detectors (as used in a hospital) do not have an on board battery. They are attached to a central electrical supply and linked together. Any malfunctioning of a commercial smoke alarm would be indicated at a central control panel, not by a beeping in the unit itself.
- Jack's labcoat spells his last name as "SHEPARD". However, the door to his office and his name in the lobby of the St. Sebastian Medical Center where he works spells it "SHEPHARD".
- When Jack is first seen stumbling out of his tent in the episode's beginning, there is a thin trail of sweat on his shirt, running down from the neckline. However, when the camera flashes back to him not more than seconds later, the entire top of his shirt is soaked.
- The examination table that Sun shows Jin in The Staff medical hatch is completely different from the one on which both Sun and Claire were examined previously.
- If the Red Sox-Yankees article is correct (August 2007) it contradicts the date of the funeral in "Through the Looking Glass" which is April 2007. It would set these events after the funeral not before which is what we are led to believe.
Recurring themes
| Recurring themes |
|---|
| Animals • Black and white • Character connections • Children • Coincidence • Death • Deceptions and cons • Dreams • Economics • Electromagnetism • Eyes • Fate versus free will • Games • Good and bad people • Imprisonment • Isolation • Leadership • Life and death • Literary works • Mirrors • Missing body parts • Nicknames • The Numbers • Pairings • Parapsychology • Parent issues • Pregnancies • Psychology • Rain • Redemption • Relationships • Religion • Revenge • Salvation • Secrets |
- The episode starts with a close up of Jack's closed eye. (Eyes)
- Rose calls Charlotte "Red". (Nicknames)
- Sawyer calls Miles "Donger". (Nicknames)
- Kate says that Jack never says anything good about his father. (Parent issues)
- Jack proposes to Kate. (Relationships)
- Jin figures out that Charlotte speaks Korean. (Character secrets)
- Miles finds Karl and Danielle's dead bodies (Life and death)
- Aaron has a black and white whale doll. (Animals) (Black and white)
- Jack's life is threatened if his appendix ruptures. (Life and death)
- Jin pledges to do everything to get Sun off the Island. (Sacrifice)
- Jack has his appendix removed. (Missing body parts)
- Rose questions if Jack's infected appendix is caused by the Island. (Fate) (Healing properties) (Faith versus science)
- Claire and Jack both have visions of their deceased father. (Visions)
- Claire seemingly leaves Aaron in the jungle. (Parent issues)
- Jack is sedated for the operation against his will. (Fate versus free will)
- Frank alerts Sawyer and his pack to hide so they won't be seen and killed by Keamy and the other mercenaries. (Deceptions and cons)
- Jack pretends to be unconscious while Juliet and Kate talk about love. (Deceptions and cons)
- Jack is awakened by his assistant calling him up, saying she has to do so because Jack has problems with dates. (Time)
- Jack asks Kate if she thinks he is a good father. (Parent issues)
- Jack tells Kate "you're not even related", when she refers to Aaron as "her son". Jack is the one related to Aaron, as his uncle. (Relationships) (Parent issues)
- Jack lies and tells Juliet he has food poisoning but she knows its appendicitis. (Deceptions and cons)
- A doctor shows Jack X-rays of someone's L4 vertebra. (The Numbers)
- Juliet sews Jack's wound with eight stitches. (The Numbers)
Cultural references
| Cultural references (direct references only) |
|---|
| Art • Automobiles • Games • History • Literary works • Movies and TV • Music • Philosophy • Religion and ideologies • Science |
- Star Wars: Jack steps on a Millennium Falcon toy. Luke Skywalker was raised by his uncle, as Aaron has started to be raised by his uncle in this episode. Star Wars also features a brother and sister (Luke and Leia) who did not know they were related. (Movies and TV)
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Jack is reading a portion of Chapter 2, "The Pool of Tears" from this novel to Aaron. (Books)
- Boston Red Sox/Yankees rivalry: Jack scoffs at the headline, "Yankees bludgeon Red Sox in Series Sweep", exclaiming "A-Rod", a reference to the Yankees' successful third-baseman, Alex Rodriguez. (Games)
- Sixteen Candles: Sawyer calls Miles "Donger", referring to a weird foreign exchange student in this 1984 coming-of-age movie. (Movies and TV)
- Nineteen Eighty-Four: When Miles asks Sawyer "What are you, her big brother?", Sawyer replies "No. I'm the guy who's gonna put a boot in your face unless you say, "Yeah. I getcha." This is a reference to a famous quote in "1984" in which the main character is told life under enigmatic dictator "Big Brother" would be to "imagine a boot stamping on a human face - for ever."
- The Stand: A minor character in this book gets appendicitis and dies during the operation because there are no doctors among the group of survivors.
- A Christmas Carol: Hurley relays a message from Charlie, a spectre, telling Jack that someone is going to be visiting him. This is very similar to a scene in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol where Jacob Marley's spirit tells Ebenezer Scrooge he will be visited by three spirits. (Books)
- Master and Commander:The Far Side of the World: In this film, a doctor needs surgery while visiting an unexplored Island. His surgery is performed in a tent and he performs the surgery himself while his best friend holds up a mirror so he can see, just like Kate did in this episode. (The incident in the movie is taken from the novel HMS Surprise .) Jack attempts to watch his own surgery and guide Juilet, but he is not as successful. (Movies and TV)
Literary techniques
| Literary techniques |
|---|
| Comparative: Irony • Juxtaposition • Foreshadowing Plotting: Cliffhanger • Plot twist Stock characters: Archetype • Redshirt • Unseen character Story: Flashbacks • Flash-forwards • Flash sideways • Framing device • Regularly spoken phrases • Symbolism • Unreliable narrator |
- Hurley mentions more visits from Charlie than the ones seen in previous episodes. (Unseen character)
- Even after the events portrayed in previous episodes, Jack and Kate eventually develop an unexpected off-Island romantic relationship. (Plot twist)
- Claire is mysteriously missing, apparently having abandoned Aaron at the end of the episode. (Cliffhanger)
- Jack, the surgeon, comes out as a stubborn patient in an operation performed on him by someone else. (Irony)
- Jack is seen taking self-prescribed pills both on the Island and in his flash-forward. (Juxtaposition)
- In the beginning of the episode, Jack has a bare torso and a previously nonexistent scar is visible, though mostly unnoticed in the scene. Later in the episode, it's clearly revealed how he got that same scar. (Foreshadowing)
- Ben didn't get enough anesthesia for his surgery; Jack didn't want to be knocked out during his. (Irony)
- Kate tells Jack to "let it go". (Regularly spoken phrases)
- When Jack trips over the toy he uses one of Sawyer's favorite curses, "Son of a bitch!" (Regularly spoken phrases)
- Kate confesses that she made a promise to Sawyer, which makes Jack angry because even after he got her rescued from the island she is still involved with him. (Unseen character)
Storyline analysis
| Storyline analysis |
|---|
| A-Missions • Crimes • Economics • Leadership • O-Missions • Relationships • F-Missions • Rivalries • S-Missions |
- Juliet tells Kate that Jack kissed Juliet to try to prove to himself that he wasn't in love with someone else. (Rivalries)
- Jack is incapacitated and Juliet and Bernard must perform surgery on him. (Leadership)
- Juliet and Bernard knock Jack unconscious during the surgery against his wishes. (Leadership)
- Sawyer imposes himself as the leader of his pack by imposing a restraining order against Miles. (Leadership)
- When Jack falls ill Juliet takes charge and makes the important decisions in the group. (Leadership)
- Even after Jack and Kate are off the island, Jack is still competing with Sawyer. (Rivalries)
- Kate learns that Juliet and Jack have kissed. (Relationships)
Episode references
- Kate and Jack are caring for Aaron together. Richard Malkin once convinced Claire to give up her child for adoption to a couple in Los Angeles, who he said were "good people". ("Raised by Another")
- Hurley tells Jack, "You're not supposed to raise him, Jack." This mirrors Richard Malkin's comments to Claire that only she can raise Aaron. ("Raised by Another")
- Jack gets the same medication (Clonazepam) as Hurley does/did. ("Dave")
- A doctor shows Jack X-rays of someone's L4 vertebra. Ben's tumor was on his L4 vertebra. ("Every Man for Himself")
- There are paper ladybug, butterfly, and flower cutouts on Jack and Kate's refrigerator, just like in Santa Rosa hospital. ("The Beginning of the End")
- After being informed by Juliet that she should assist with the surgery, Kate tells Jack that "it looks like I'm gonna be your nurse." Jack responds that it "wouldn't be the first time." Jack and Kate first meet when he asks Kate to stitch up the wound he received in the plane crash. ("Pilot, Part 1") She also made him a sling after the cave-in with Charlie ("The Moth").
- Jack has developed some scruff. He previously told Hurley that he was thinking about growing a beard. ("The Beginning of the End") Later his beard is fully grown and untended. ("Through the Looking Glass, Part 1")
- Juliet tells Kate that Jack kissed her (Juliet) more to convince himself that he "wasn't in love with someone else." ("The Other Woman")
- Juliet sends Sun, Jin, Charlotte and Daniel back to the medical station for supplies. ("D.O.C.")
- Faraday tells Juliet he has experience performing animal autopsies. ("The Constant")
- Jack lifts Kate into a similar embrace as her previous husband. ("I Do")
- Jack says to Hurley that he changed his mind about Kate and Aaron after Kate's trial. ("Eggtown")
Unanswered questions
| Unanswered questions |
|---|
|
- For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: Something Nice Back Home/Theories
Flashforward
- What was Kate doing for Sawyer?
- Why was she hiding it from Jack?
- How is Christian appearing to Jack?
- What is meant by, "You're not supposed to raise him, Jack"?
- Why did Jack change his mind about Aaron?
- At exactly what point in Jack and Kate's argument enter the room?
On the Island
- How is Christian appearing on the Island?
- Where did Christian go with Claire?
- Why did she leave Aaron behind?
- How did Keamy and his team survive the Smoke Monster attack?
External links
- ABC Medianet Press Release (04/14/08): Press Release
