Our Own Loose Ends

There were some serious set-ups for future episode arcs in '316'. If you recall, the EW article mentioned LOST leveling out and returning to it's old formula of character-centric episodes. Once it does so, it looks like we have the subject matter of the upcoming episodes. For Kate, it's what she did with Aaron. For Sayid, it's why he's in custody. For Hurley, it's how did he get out of prison and what's making him come back? And for Ben, why was he bloody? Was he after Penny? Is Penny dead?

As for Kate, I say Kate's mom or Cassidy (Sawyer's baby mama) has custody. I'm favoring Cassidy, because it would confirm most of our thinking: Sawyer asked Kate to check in with Cassidy and his daughter for him.

As for Sayid, (from the promo) Locke seems to have had contact with that dark-haired woman. Maybe he made sure she would enforce the 06 going back? Or, as she looks hispanic, is she somehow related to Ana Lucia and has a law enforcement background? Is he seriously being escorted or is this a staged ploy? Did he commit a crime? Be framed for a crime? Have a crime he did for Ben discovered? Who knows?

As for Hurley, I think it's feasible to say he saw another dead person. Because he's dressed like Charlie, we may be treated with another Charlie-sighting soon. Or, what do you think about a Libby-sighting? Could this be an oppurtunity to fill in the holes in Libby's past? Once he was motivated by a ghost, he could easily post bail.

Finally, for Ben, I'm sticking with the idea that he went after Penny. As to whether he was successful, I am doubtful, but when he saw Desmond it looked like he also saw his oppurtunity.

Speaking of character-centric episodes, where are the Sawyer and Juliet episodes? I am dying for one of those (though, not one like 'The Other Woman' which was disatisfactory at best).