Yeah for a Sayid-centric episode! I have to say I was a little bored by this episode, until that final twist.

Well, I’m getting at little ahead of myself. In this latest episode, Sayid’s character, or rather his very nature, is examined. From the opening scene of him as a child to the final seconds, it has become apparent that he is instinctively a killer. While not void of a conscience, if he thinks or is told it’s necessary, Sayid does what it takes to get the job done.

First season, he introduced himself by saying, “My name is Sayid Jirah. I am a torturer.” This leads me to believe that he’s always recognized what harm he is capable of committing, although I think he often wishes that it weren’t the case.

“He’s our you,” showed that he’s now understands this is who he is. He may have had a father that was hard on him, but I doubt his childhood was a match for the kind of degradation Ben’s father Roger subjected him to.

In Ben’s season three flashback episode, we met the childhood version of the character. While I felt a little for the kid then, I actually felt some semblance of sympathy for the character tonight.

Now, we all know that Benjamin Linus is a manipulative manic who has no qualms either about doing away with another human being for his own gain or agenda. Perhaps years of emotional and verbal abuse set the stage for the man we’ve known since season two. A person with no side but his own.

Sayid, of course, thinks of his past, knowing that if life in the ‘70's with the Dharma remains hunky dory the way Sawyer has led for three years, fate will not change.

I’m in a continual state of confusion when it comes to the crossing time lines on the show, but thought what happened, happened. Now, the possibility that Faraday is wrong has always been there, but it didn’t seem as probable until tonight.

My question now is: Which version is reality?

When Jin finds Sayid out in the late night Jungle in the final scene and knocks him, I really wasn’t sure of Sayid’s train of thought.

Sayid’s line about (future, which is in Sayid’s past) Ben being right that’s he a killer and then shooting the child point blank was shocking.

I did not see that coming.

If Sayid feels this is his purpose, he better hope that this actually changes the outcome.

Though, if Ben’s survives and lives on as we know him, it kind of explains a lot. Even more than his torrid father-son relationship.

However, the idea that, through time travel, course correcting is possible changes (once again!) the landscape of this show.

I recall Eloise saying to Desmond that the universe has a way of course correcting. This was seen to be true in that Desmond did end up on the Island and that Charlie did have to die.

However, the idea that by going back in time (and obviously not on purpose) a murder could save the word from a psychopathic killer is certainly an ethical quandary. One that Sayid, in his nature, decided boldly and easily to take a chance on.

On a lighter note, since this episode was both in storytelling and cinematography dark, It’s quite funny that Sayid had absolutely no intention of returning to the Island and “accidentally” ended up on the same Ajira flight.

Perhaps the universe does have a way of course correcting.