Due to the positive reinforcement and excited clamor "Lost" has incited for the first five episodes of season four, it is in surprisingly precarious position. Widely known as one of the best shows on television, "Lost" is loved when it is good and worshiped when it is amazing, but the tide quickly changes the instant the episodes lose a little of their shine.

The beginning of season three was openly criticized for being slow and uninteresting, and the worst part about spoiling rabid fans is how cruel they can be when disappointed. Season four has been shocking, action packed, fascinating, and compelling; thus, it has the farthest to fall.

Last week's episode, "The Other Woman," took a chance by leaving out the speed and intensity of the past few weeks and instead focusing on character development and more back story on a little group the Losties call The Others. They were the mysterious villains in seasons one, two, and three but have been mostly replaced this season with the arrival of the freighter and the new characters who have landed on the Island.

It is Juliet's turn for a second flashback, and this time it is about her time as part of the Others' camp. She is lonely, miserable, and has no one to turn to. Her therapist hates her, and Ben is drawn to her in a way that is borderline stalking, so it is no surprise when she falls for the first kind man who reaches out to her: Goodwin.

Goodwin, as viewers know, was killed by Ana Lucia in season two after he was revealed to be a spy. He was also married to the Others' therapist, Harper, and having an affair with Juliet, which was a fatal attraction as it led to Ben's plot to successfully get him killed. Juliet is claimed by Ben in a brutal, terrifying scene, and it is no wonder to the audience that she would do anything in her power to keep away from him now.

In the present day, Juliet is told by Harper that Ben wants her to follow Charlotte and Daniel -- who have gone missing -- and kill them. They have taken gas masks and are looking for a new hatch named 'The Tempest.' Any Shakespeare fan probably snickered at the name, and everyone else went running for wikipedia for a summary.

Kate is knocked out by Charlotte after running into the running Boaties, and when Jack stops to help her, Juliet disappears altogether. She catches Daniel in The Tempest, the energy plant of the Island that holds a lethal gas that could kill everyone alive. Does she trust them to save the Island or trust Ben's fear of their true motives?

I wouldn't trust Ben, considering he manages to get himself out of Locke's basement and back into his own house for revealing who owns the boat: Penny's dear old Daddy, Mr. Widmore. Sawyer and Hurley do not look happy seeing the master manipulator up and about. A word to the wise, Locke: when your troops are already doubtful of your leadership, the last thing to do is give them reason to call you crazy. Well, more reason than 'Giant Ghost Walt.'

The title of the episode is a clever play on the fact that Juliet Burke is a woman from the Others, but she is also the 'other' woman in Jack's life, as opposed to Kate. Juliet is the opposite of Kate; she is calm, well educated, and knows what she wants from Jack. He seems to like the difference, and he takes their relationship to the next level with a sweet, reassuring kiss. After the childish Sawyer-Kate-Jack triangle, this trusting, grown-up connection is a relief. It is very unlikely to end well, considering off the Island Jack is still making moon eyes at Kate, but for now it is pleasant to see him happy and not in heartbroken agony. "For now" being the key part of that sentence.

Next week the episode is named "Ji Yeon" and will be a Jin/Sun flash -- forward or back? The preview promises it will reveal the last of the Oceanic 6, so my money is on forward. Does that mean both or only one of our favorite Korean couple will escape? Tune in on Thursday to find out!

Story by Chelsea 'Dee' Doyle
Starpulse contributing writer