Bucking the LOST formula yet again, we get some big answers and a few new questions...and hey, it's just episode three. Here we go:
Big Arc 1: Sean Walker in the Desert, or: On the Trail of Leila
We open in a motel room somewhere in the desert, where Collier, the female FBI agent, is injured and chained to a bed, with Sean arriving to patch her up with newfound medical supplies. Bounce back to two hours earlier at the barricade in the desert, where the agents heed the barricade but a thoughtless RV doesn't, creating a convenient crash (seriously) and leaving Collier's partner equally conveniently dead. Sean unloads the same story about 514 and Leila again, but, again, Collier ain't buying it. Sean wants access to her computer, so he can run Vicki (aka DRUNK GIRL)'s image against national facial recognition technology. She refuses to give him her password, but he reveals he has it anyway, which is maybe the first time we've actually seen Sean's vaunted hacker skills in action. Sean goes to the bathroom to freshen up, and Collier manages some handcuffed acrobatics and gets to her phone. The FBI arrives, but Sean's hightailed it out of there. Back at her office, Collier watches the (FAKE) news story about 514 crashing in South America, with all aboard presumed dead. She begins to come around to Sean's crazypants story, because Sean told her all of this hours before the story broke.
Meanwhile, Sean's played Collier--he knew the facial recognition tech on her laptop would only work from a hardwired line in the building, so he hid himself in the trunk of the FBI car and breaks IN to the building (I'm learning to like Sean, btw. He's what would happen if Bill Gates and Jack Bauer had an angry kid). Sean's into the database and running Vicki's face against it, but gets tackled by agents just as her data comes up...again and again and again. "Vicki" is one of at least nine identities of the same woman. Collier begins to buy in to the whole conspiracy mess...meanwhile, Vicki and Leila are travelling somewhere in a van, which is almost like a terrible sequel to Thelma and Louise. Leila's hogtied in the back as Vicki drives...until a cop pulls them over. Vicki tries to bribe the cop, but he's an honest sort of guy, so she just decides on shooting him instead. The body gets hogtied next to Leila. Back in Arizona, Collier hunts for more info on Vicki and discovers all the info on anyone connected to the plane "crash" is unavailable. A pair of US Marshals arrive to collect Sean, and when Collier attempts to check their credentials, they open fire and kill pretty much everyone in the office with the exception of Collier and Sean, who team up, take down the Marshals, and go on the run. Finally, we cut back to Leila, locked in a dock container somewhere. Vicki arrives, and Leila reaffirms that Sean will never stop looking for her. Awww.
Big Arc 2: Planes, Presidents, and Aliens, or: What Happens on 514, Stays on 514:
The president's advisor (Sterling) and Martinez arrive in Arizona to view the aftermath of the plane crash. The bodies are being cataloged and removed, and Sterling reiterates that the public can't know about the non-humans. It's clear that the people on the plane knew they were being attacked, as some are in defensive positions or caught trying to run. Martinez chats up Sophia, who expresses condolences as she refuses to give up her people. Martinez makes a deal with the detainees as a whole: anyone who talks gets their freedom. William, a scruffy detainee, comes forward. Sterling sits him down and they go over his demands, which include freedom, protection, and the release of his lover-detainee, Maya.
Meanwhile, Simon and Sophia chat. Simon is certain that William's already spilled the beans, but Sophia's sure he hasn't...because they're still alive. Sophia warns Simon to deal with William in any way possible. The black box of 514 is recovered but wiped somehow, although Sean's name is made out on what's left of the recording. Sterling decides it's time to hunt Sean down for a conversation. William and Maya are reunited in a swanky hotel room and have a chat about feedom...which ends with Maya shanking William to death. Oops. And we end the episode with the dead of 514 being tagged...as they wake up, in front of incredulous medical personnel.
Alright, I'm sold. Sean Walker is surprisingly likeable at this point, and the conspiracy seems to be more far-reaching (and with maybe three or four different "factions") than anticipated. The passengers NOT being dead is sort of a brilliant power play by the shadowy "aliens" that are out there...with all of them waking up AFTER being publicly declared lost/dead, it means Martinez will be somehow forced to show his hand. This show just became a chess game, and I love it.
What do you think, friends? See you in seven.
