Episode 8 of this season left me smiling from ear to ear at the marvelous display of Sawyer and clapping in astonishment at the ingenious plot. You see, the thing about Sawyer is he is like the anti-hero in the show. Since season 1, he hasn't been the most likeable guy around. He seems like the guy who is most likely to commit some act of felony, always vulgar, always insensitive, always too direct. The thought that he might get shot in the head did cross my mind on numerous occasions.

But episode 8 created this reality that audiences were hoping for. And i think it's the episode in the whole series that he's got the most screentime.

Jack and Locke are both gone, and now Sawyer is forced to take up the leadership, and he does it brilliantly. Especially that part with Richard when he revealed his 'time-teleporting' abilities with utmost coolness. It still remains a mystery to me how he managed to convince the dharma initiative people to let him stay, but to watch him come all the way ... becoming this encouraging figure and loving partner to Juliet, and just keeping faith that the Oceanic 6 might return ... it's really heart-warming.

And all the 'three years earlier/later' ... whew ...

Now i know why you are supposed to watch episodes weekly. Just watching all the revelations and suspense per episode gets you pretty brain-fried.