A Stepping Stone (Lost 2.3)
Alright, tonight LOST was not as amazing as the last two episodes, but it was very necessary as a stepping stone for the next few episodes until another stepping stone episode comes along. One where characters position themselves into new situations more than do grand things, and that was what this episode was: a shifting episode. Now, onto my thoughts SPOILER ALERT...
This episode followed the Raft People, the Hatch people, and not so much the rest of the O-48 (the original 48 survivors of the flight).
The Raft People (Jin, Sawyer, Michael) were captured by some Others (if they are THE OTHERS) we don't know. They could be the official Others, or they could be untrusting survivors. One may assume they are the untrusting survivors from the tale section because the woman from Fast+Furious was in cahoots with them, but this does not entirely prove who they are, although it does lend itself to a heavy "yes, they are from the tail section." This, we don't have enough answers from yet." Again, Walt is not with them, so they could be just Tail Survivors.
The Hatch People, we finally calm down and start to get some answers, accompanied by the amazing Orientation film that I was just waiting to burn up (but it never happened). The film explained a great deal of why they are down there, but it did not get to why they need to save the world. Again, the show answers one questions and poses a few more. The Dharma project seems to be some kind of massive scientific explanation, but there is no explanation for the super natural affects of the island. So, therefore, half of the puzzle is still out there, or actually, more than half.
This episode doesn't feature much of the O-48. We see Hurley down in the hatch, to bring him closer to the food and to let him participate in the "bad numbers!" towards the end of it. Sayid is brought in to help. I think that is pretty much all we see in this episode. I mean, the other people, they don't matter right now? No, they don't. This is a a Hatch People show.
Again, this episode was more of a stepping stone/shifting episode that really sets up some great episodes (I assume) to come. That is not to say this episode was bad. The entire film that was just great, it was a very nice thing for them to give us some real concrete answers to why the science station is down there. So, considering the Raft People haven't heard anything about Walt yet, I am going to go with those people are Tail End Survivors. The 108 Countdown thing is connected to some kind of massive destruction that we will eventually see.