Frank knocked out as water rushes in + Hurley, Kate, Sawyer & Jack escape

After Sayid explodes, everyone is thrown around in the submarine. Frank gets up off of the floor of the control room and moves towards the rest of the group. He stops at the hatch window which has started to leak water. He says "Ah, hell" then the hatch is thrust forward and he is knocked unconscious as the water rises. He is likely dead.

Jack sees Kate in the rising water and pulls her out. Sawyer grabs Hurley who is okay and Sun is pinned against a wall by a large metal box. As Sawyer goes to help Jin free Sun, Jack tells Hurley to get Kate out of there and he'll take care of everybody else. Hurley says that he has to help Sayid and Jack says "There is no Sayid!" Jack gives Hurley an oxygen tank and tells him to take Kate though the blast hole in the side of the submarine. He tells Hurley that he can do it.

As the sub sinks, Hurley and Kate make it to the blast hole as Jack goes to help Sawyer and Jin. They manage to move the large metal box, but then they realize that Sun is still trapped by some mangled metal beams.

As the sub shifts suddenly, Sawyer is knocked by some falling wreckage. Jin continues to struggle with the metal trapping Sun as Jack pulls Sawyer out of the water. Sun tells Jin to leave, but he says he's going to get her out. Jin tells Jack to get Sawyer out and refuses an oxygen tank that Jack offers him.

Jack shares parting, mournful looks with Sun and Jin, then makes his way out of the submarine with Sawyer.

Sun and Jin certainly deserve their own post, so you'll see that coming up next.

Sayid sacrifices himself, is killed by C-4 explosion

As the group examines the bomb which is still slowly ticking down, Jin calls Frank in the control room and tells him to have the captain surface the submarine. The captain has to reverse the submarine which is currently diving.

Jack tells the group that Locke put the explosives in the bag. Jin says that Locke wanted to come with them so why would he do that. Sawyer says that's why he shut Locke out. Jack tells them that Locke wanted to be shut out.

Sayid tells them that the watch has been jury-rigged to the explosives and the battery will set off the C-4. Frank tells Sawyer that it'll be at least five minutes before the submarine can surface. Sayid then says that if they disconnect two wires that are the leads from the watch, the bomb should be inert. He adds that they have to disconnect them simultaneously and then says "I'm not sure..." but is interrupted by Sawyer who steps forward.

Jack tells Sawyer to wait and not to pull the wires because they'll all be okay. Obviously, Sawyer objects strongly, saying that if he doesn't pull the wires, Locke will kill them. Jack says that Locke can't kill them and this is what Locke wanted. He says that Locke wanted to get them all in an enclosed space with no hope to get out. He says that Locke said he can't leave the island without them, but Jack thinks that Locke can't leave until they're all dead. Locke claimed he could kill them whenever he wanted, but Jack says what if he's not allowed to and he's trying to get them to kill each other.

Sawyer tells him to stay out of his way and Jack adds why would Locke put the timer on it and not just throw it in if he could kill them himself. Jack grabs Sawyer and asks him to trust him that nothing will happen. Sawyer says he doesn't and pulls the wires. The timer stops at 1:31 and everybody looks relieved. A moment later, the timer then starts again but is accelerated.

Sayid steps up and tells Jack that there is a well on the main island half a mile south of the camp they were just at. He says that Desmond is inside it and Locke wanted him dead, so Jack is going to need him. Jack asks why he's telling him this and Sayid then says "Because it's going to be you, Jack."

Sayid grabs the bomb and runs down the hallway. The bomb explodes, killing Sayid, who has sacrificed himself to give the others a chance to survive. It was quite a quick death for our original castaway from season one. I guess there's not time to left to stop and be emotional about a character who has essentially been a zombie most of the season.

We'll stop there and pick things up in the next post, but this part of the scene is heavy, with Jack once again seeming to figure out the rules of the game. So in theory, if Sawyer and the others wouldn't have interfered with the bomb, they would have lived, but since he got involved, he became the killer. So it seems that the candidates can kill each other, but Locke and possibly other people and forces cannot.

The group takes control of the submarine, Jack pushes Locke in the water

The group led by Sawyer, crouch down a short distance from the submarine. They see no one guarding the submarine, but Sawyer lays out their plan. He, Hurley, Frank, Jin and Sun will go first, followed 30 seconds later by the rest of them with Jack and Locke coming last.

The first group makes their way to the submarine and climb in with no problems. Sawyer and Frank make their way to a room on the submarine where a man sits and they detain him before he can pull his gun. They force the man to take them to the captain and once they're there, Frank knocks out the original guy. Sawyer tells the captain to get the submarine ready to go.

Outside, just after the second group heads for the submarine, Locke grabs Jack's bag that's behind him and hands Jack the one he was originally carrying.  As the two of them head towards the sub, Locke tries to convince Jack to leave, telling him that whoever told him to stay on the island didn't know what they were talking about. Jack says that John Locke told him to stay and then suddenly pushes Locke into the water. Claire looks stunned.

So we start to see the workings of Locke's real plan once he switches his and Jack's bag. The rest of this scene's screen captures and recap/analysis coming soon.

Locke tells the group they must take the submarine, not the plane

As Frank leads the group through the jungle towards the Ajira plane, Kate asks Jack if he's coming with them now. Jacks says that he's not meant to go, but he'll help them leave. Sawyer thanks him for coming back for them.

Suddenly, Sayid emerges from the jungle, causing everyone to point their guns at him. Jack tells him it's okay because Sayid cut the power so they could escape the cages. Sayid says that they should go because Locke is waiting for them.

Later, after Locke has gone inside the plane, the group arrives at the Arija plane themselves. They notice the body of Widmore's guy with the broken neck when Locke emerges from the plane and says that he killed the two men. He says that Widmore placed the two men there for show and he knew that he would kill them because if Widmore wanted to keep him off the plane, he wouldn't have moved the sonic fence.

He then says that Widmore wanted to get them all in one enclosed place so they would all be killed with the four bricks of C-4 that were wired to the plane's electronics. He pulls the C-4 from his bag and tells the group that there could be more on the plane, so they'll have to take the submarine.

Hurley objects since Richard said that Locke was not supposed to leave the island. Sawyer says that Richard's opinion doesn't count since he's not there, then he thanks Locke for saving them twice and says that he was wrong about him.

Locke says that the submarine will be heavily defended, so they'll need everyone to succeed. Jack still doesn't want to leave the island, but says that he'll help them. Claire then apologizes to Locke, who says he understands why she left with the group.

Sawyer then hangs back to talk to Jack and starts to scheme again. He asks Jack to keep Locke from getting on the submarine by getting him in the water. It seems that Sawyer believes what Locke said about not being able to cross water earlier this season.

The smoke monster kills Seamus, Jack lets the group out of Hydra cage

As Sawyer and Kate are inside the cages, Sawyer says that it feels like they're going in circles since they're back in there, but this time the gun was pointed at Kate's head.

Close by, Jin and Sun sit and Jin learns that his little girl Ji Yeon is with Sun's mother. He tells her that he saw pictures of her and she is beautiful. Sun then tells him that she has his wedding ring and then puts it back on his hand.

Suddenly, the power goes out killing the lights and the pylons. One guy from Widmore's group says that somebody killed the power and Seamus tells him to get a team to the generator. Then, the signature sounds of the smoke monster can be heard. Hurley says that now they're all going to die.

The smoke monster emerges from the jungle, and as it tends to be the case, Widmore's team attempts to shoot at it. It grabs Seamus and slams him against the cage which kills him. The monster quickly retreats back into the jungle, but can still be heard, presumably taking care of the other guys that were with Seamus.

Kate sees the keys on Seamus' belt and tries to grab them, but her arms are not quite long enough. Frank attempts to kick the cage door open with no luck.

As Kate is still reaching for the keys, suddenly a hand grabs them. We see Jack has come to let them out of the cage. Jack says I'm with him, nodding in the direction of the monster. Everyone then runs away.

Sawyer & his group are locked in the Hydra cages

At the Hydra Station, Widmore's team are setting up the portable sonic fence pylons next to the cages as Seamus and the others march Sawyer's group to them. When Seamus order Sawyer into the cage, he refuses to go back in there. Sawyer takes Seamus' gun and turns the tables, but Charles Widmore shows up and fires a gun into the air, then points it at Kate (a familiar scenario resembling season 3).

Widmore informs Sawyer of something he already knows. Widmore says that he has a list of names including Ford, the Knows and Reyes, but not Austen. Sawyer gives the gun back to Seamus, who gives him a knock in the gut with said gun (flashes of Pickett).

As the group gets in the cage, Widmore tells him that they're putting him there for their own good. Widmore asks one of his men if the sonic fence is live yet and the guy says it will be another hour. Widmore says that they don't have an hour because "he's coming," he being Locke.

So how exactly does Widmore seem to have Jacob's list? While he seems very afraid of Locke, it's still unclear exactly what his motives are.

Jin & Sun are finally reunited, Zoe takes the group prisoner at gunpoint

Sawyer and his group swim to Hydra Island after leaving The Elizabeth a short distance from the beach. Once they reach the beach, they are immediately ambushed by Zoe and three other armed guys. They stand down after they realize that it's just them and Locke is still on the main island.

Suddenly, Jin slow emerges from behind some trees and he and Sun see each other for the first time in over 3 year. They run to each other and embrace in a emotional reunion we've been waiting over two and a half seasons for. They exchange "I love yous" and Jin tells Sun that they'll never be apart again.

Zoe then gets word from Charles Widmore and turns the guns on the group again, telling them to get on their knees. We Sawyer says "we had a deal," Zoe says that the deal is off. She says into the walkie talkie that if they have a sightline on Locke, then fire when ready. The result of that order will be in the next post.

Jack decides not to leave the island, jumps off the boat

As The Elizabeth is sailing towards Hydra Island, Jack sits alone at the bow while every one else is in the stern. Frank approaches Sawyer who is at the wheel at asks what the plan is. Sawyer says they're going to get "cuddly" with Widmore until they get on the sub and then point a gun in someone's face until they agree to take them home. Frank says that he likes that plan, then goes with Sun, Hurley and Claire down to the galley to find some food.

Sawyer then goes to talk to Jack, giving Kate control of the boat. Jack tells Sawyer that it doesn't feel right leaving the island because he remembers how it felt the first time he left, like a part of him was missing. He says that if that thing pretending to be Locke wants them to leave so badly, maybe it is afraid of what would happen if they stayed.

Sawyer then orders Jack to get off of his boat. He says that he can either keep the crazy talk to himself or go in the water. Jack says that the island is not done with them and a part of Sawyer knows that leaving is a mistake. Sawyer says that he's done with the island and if Jack wants to take a leap of faith, then get off of the boat.

Jack apologizes for getting Juliet killed, then looks back at Kate and jumps into the water. Kate screams for Jack and Sawyer tells her that Jack changed his mind. Kate wants to go back for him, but Sawyer says they are done going back.

So it's interesting to see Jack's transition to being completely a man of faith. He now seems to have complete faith in the island and Jacob's plan, but it's still unknown what exactly that plan is.

Jack leads his group to The Elizabeth, Claire follows, Kate convinces her to come

As Locke is leading his group across the island, Jack asks Claire how how long she's been with Locke and why she trusts him. She says that he's the only one who didn't abandon her. It still doesn't really make sense that she blames everyone else, but not Locke who lured her away by appearing as Christian.

Locke falls back in the line and asks Sun if she's seen Sayid. Sun can't speak English and writes to him on her pad "You did this to me!" Locke says that he didn't do anything to her and moves on. He tells them to keep going and he's going to make sure no one got left behind.

Jack sees his moment and pulls Hurley, Sun and Frank aside and they make a break for it. Claire sees them leave and looks fairly pissed about it.

As Jack and the rest arrive at The Elizabeth, they board and Frank asks if they're sailing home on the boat. Sawyer says that they can't leave without a bearing. He says that Dharma used a sub to get to and from the island, so that's what they're going to use.

Then, Hurley sees Claire emerge from the jungle pointing a gun at them. Kate steps out and tells Claire that they're leaving the island. Claire asks why they are not waiting for Locke and Kate says that the man is not Locke and he's not one of them. She asks Claire to come with them so she can be with Aaron again. As Sawyer objects, Kate says that either Claire comes with them or she is staying behind too.

Claire is uncertain, but Kate tells her that she was there when Aaron was born and that she shouldn't have raised him. She tells Claire that she came back to the island to bring Claire home. Claire gives Kate her gun and joins them, but she tells Kate when Locke finds out, "he's gonna be mad."

Hurley's group arrive at Locke's camp, Jack & not-Locke meet

Locke returns to his camp to find Sayid waiting for him. Locke tells him that Desmond won't be a problem anymore. Sawyer then begins to chastise Locke when he stops cold as he sees Hurley walk into camp.

Locke looks pleased to see Hurley. Hurley says that he doesn't know who Locke is, but there are other people with him and they just want to talk without any violence.

Hurley tells everyone else to come out and Frank, Sun and Jack emerge from the jungle. Kate and Jack look happy to see each other, but then Locke says hello to Jack. They share an intense look.

This is the first time Jack has seen Locke since he put the shoes on him at the butcher shop before boarding Ajira 316.

Michael confirms Hurley's theory about the whispers, points him towards Locke's camp

As Hurley's group makes their way through the jungle at night, Sun asks Frank if they made a mistake. Frank says "probably."

As they continue, Hurley confesses to Jack that he didn't talk to Jacob earlier and Jack says that he knew that. Jack tells him that every since Juliet died, all he's wanted to do was fix it, but he can't. He says that he believes that the point is that he's supposed to let go. Hurley says that he hopes that trusting him doesn't get them killed.

Suddenly, they hear the whispers and Frank and Jack draw their guns. Hurley tells them that it's cool because he thinks he knows what the whispers are. Hurley leaves the group and goes a short distance on his own.

Hurley calls out for Michael, who appears from behind some trees. Hurley asks him if he's stuck on the island and Michael says he is because of what he did (killing Ana Lucia and Libby). Hurley says that there are others trapped on the island too and that's what the whispers are. Michael confirms this, says they are the ones that can't move on.

Hurley then asks Michael if he knows where Locke is. Michael points to a camp in the distance, towards the ocean. Hurley thanks Michael and asks him if there's anything he can do for him. Michael says "Don't get yourself killed."

As Hurley is about to leave, Michael stops him and says if he ever sees Libby again, to tell her that he is very sorry. Hurley says that he'll do that.

So that is a big mystery solved. The whispers are those who died on the island and can't move on for one reason or another. They're not always heard when the dead appear though. They're heard when Walt appears to Shannon and he wasn't dead. Also, does that mean Harper was dead when she appeared to Jack and Juliet in season 4?

The idea that only those who die on (or near) the island are trapped there explains why Richard though young Ben was special for seeing his mom, since she died off of the island. There will be more time to dissect every instance of the whispers at a later time though.

The group splits up, some go with Richard & the rest with Hurley

At the flaming wreckage of the Black Rock, Richard is preparing to go to the Dharma barracks to get grenades and other explosives. Jack wants Richard to slow down and Hurley pipes up saying that they should go talk to Locke. He says that Jacob is there now and told him that is what they should do. Richard wants proof that Jacob is there and tells Hurley to ask Jacob what the island is. Hurley tells Richard that he has nothing to prove to him. Richard says that he's lying because Jacob never tells them what to do.

Richard says that he's going to destroy the plane and asks who is coming with him. Ben and Miles both choose to go with him while Frank, Sun and Jack decide to stick with Hurley. As Richard's group leaves, Hurley looks panicked about his own plan.

It's certainly worth nothing that all of the candidates stuck with Hurley, which may not bode well for Richard's group.

Richard tells everyone the island is hell, Hurley talks to Isabella

Around a campfire on the beach, there is a discussion about how Sun, Hurley and Jack are each candidates for Jacob's job. Ilana says that Richard knows what to do next, but he just laughs. Richard says that he doesn't know what to do and that everything Jacob ever said was a lie.

Richard then tells everyone that they're all dead and that the island is hell. He says that he's going to start listening to someone other than Jacob and takes a torch into the jungle.

Sun then informs Jack that Richard is going to join Locke. This is the first time that Jack hears that "Locke" is "alive" on the island, though Ben tells him that it's not really Locke.

Jack then sees Ben speaking to an invisible person in Spanish that we later learn in Richard's late wife Isabella. Translated, we can hear him say "Why? I don't know. Yes, I can help you, but... I don't know how to find him." Jack comes over thinking Hurley is talking to Jacob, but Hurley informs him that his conversation has nothing to do with Jack.

Then Frank is the probably about the last person to learn that Richard doesn't age and he sets up the flashback saying "And how the hell do you think that happened?"

Charles Widmore returns to the island in a submarine

Just off the island, we see a distant point-of-view shot of the beach camp reunion. Out of the water, a periscope appears. We then see to the point-of-view of the periscope which pans across the beach camp.

Inside the submarine, a man looking through the periscope says that there are people on the beach and asks if they should stop. We see none other than Charles Widmore tell him to proceed as planned.

So what exactly is Charles Widmore doing back at the island and which side in the coming war will he join?

Jack, Hurley & Richard join the beach camp + Miles gets diamonds

Ben rejoins the beach camp to the surprise of the others. He offers to help Sun fix her shelter as Frank keeps a fire going and Miles looks at a diamond (so I guess he dug up Nikki & Paulo). Ilana sits on her own, crying and holding the back of Jacob's ashes.

Then we see an old school beach reunion where Hurley, Jack and Richard come to beach camp. There's a cheerful reunion between Sun, Jack, Hurley, Miles and Frank. Richard is just there since he doesn't really know anyone there that well. Jack meets Ilana and then looks behind everyone to see a slouching, defeated Ben.

It's a great scene and a bit of a peaceful moment before the likely conflict and turmoil that's likely coming.

Ilana makes Ben dig his own grave, tells Sun she could be a candidate

Back at the beach camp, Ilana is gathering bits of wreckage to later tether Ben to a tree. While doing that, she reveals to Sun that either she or Jin or both of them are candidates to take over Jacob's job and it is Ilana's job to protect them.

We then see Ben, going through Sawyer's old stash. He picks up a copy of Booty Babes magazine and the book Justice In Truth In Action by Benjamin Disraeli. There is also the book The Chosen by Chaim Potok in the stash too (a little nod to the candidates being chosen).

Ben pulls out an Oceanic water bottle and says to Frank that he remembers the plane crash like it was yesterday. Frank then reveals to Ben that he was supposed to fly the plane and the reason he didn't was because he overslept. Ben notes that the island got Frank in the end anyway.

Ilana then points her gun at Ben and forces him to the graveyard. She tethers him to a tree with the items she'd been gathering and tells him to dig his own grave.

Miles hears Jacob's last thoughts, reveals Ben killed him

As Ilana, Miles, Frank, Sun and Ben are making their way to the beach camp, Ilana questions Ben's honesty about whether the smoke monster really killed Jacob. She knows about Miles' ability and asks him tell her what happened to Jacob using the pouch of ashes she took from the four-toed statue.

Miles rats Ben out, revealing that Ben actually killed Jacob and was standing over him holding a bloody dagger. Ben tries to deny he did it and Ilana reveals to them that Jacob was the closest thing she ever had to a father. The group then continues towards the beach.

So what exactly is Ilana's relationship with Jacob? How did they meet and how long ago was that?