Even the best shows occasionally need episodes where the plot is merely pushed along and all of the actors go through the motions to keep the story moving. These are usually considered "filler" episodes, but on "Lost" I like to call them Jack episodes. Season four has been action packed and quickly paced, but in last week's episode "Something Nice Back Home" everything slowed down a little to approach a subject that no one but the shippers care about: the long overdrawn love triangle of Jack/Kate/Sawyer. There are some other little tidbits taken from the episode to consider, so it was not all a waste.

On the beach, Jack's illness catches up to him, and Juliet diagnoses him with appendicitis. If they do not remove his appendix, he will die. Juliet performs the surgery, while Bernard assists and handles the pain medication, but Jack insists that Kate also be there holding a mirror. Why would any sane person want that, you might ask? Jack wishes to keep awake during the surgery because he has control issues.

The beach is a state of shock and concern, and Juliet sends Sun, Jin, Daniel and Charlotte to get medical supplies. It turns out that Daniel has a crush on Charlotte, and Charlotte knows how to speak Korean. Jin calls her on this, and Charlotte agrees to take Sun off the island no matter what. During the surgery, Jack eventually cannot stomach the pain, and Juliet quickly takes over. She orders Kate to leave and Bernard to knock their brave leader out. The surgery goes well, and Jack is awake when Juliet gracefully bows out of the love square by saying that Jack kissed her to deny his feelings for Kate. Zzzzz.

On another part of the Island, Sawyer is determined to get Claire and Aaron safely back to the beach. Miles tags along and breaks the heart of Rousseau fans when he uncovers her dead body buried badly in the ground along with Karl. At night, Claire sees her father Christian holding Aaron and follows him off into the darkness. The next morning, Sawyer finds Aaron lying on the ground, and screams 'CLAIIIIIIRE!' in a fair imitation of Michael's 'WAAAAALT!'

Flash forward world: It's the future and appears to be not long after Kate's trial. She and Jack are shacked up playing happy family for Aaron, but after a very creepy conversation with Hurley, he starts seeing his father. This is how Jack becomes the drug addled, suicidal alcoholic from season three's finale, or at least he is heading down that path, in order to avoid the haunting and his distrust of Kate. The latter is somewhat justified, as she's been sneaking around to do something for Sawyer. Oh, the triangle lasts forever, how delightful.

Ignoring the general soap opera and fan service for Jaters (Jack/Kate fans), there were several things to pluck out of this episode, which may become important. First of all, Charlie's message to Jack in the future is 'You're not supposed to raise him, Jack,' which calls us back to season one in regard to Aaron. The psychic insisted to Claire that he should never be raised by another person, and bad things may happen if she ignored his warning. It is exciting this was brought up again, and hopefully it will lead to an explanation of exactly what Aaron means to the mythology of "Lost" and might indicate that Claire is still alive on the Island if she is supposed to be raising him. Also, it is possible that in the future Jack knows about his relationship to Claire and Aaron. When fighting with Kate, he says, 'You're not even related to him,' which might be implying that Jack actually is. Miles' ability to speak or hear ghosts comes into play, and he hears whispers that sound suspiciously like the mysterious whispers from the beginning of the show. Could they always have been from the dead?

There is additionally an interesting point brought up by Rose in relation to Jack's illness. The Island cures illnesses, like her cancer and Locke's handicap, so why would Jack be getting appendicitis just at the time they are supposed to be rescued? This is in the vein of why Ben had a tumor on his spine, and if the Island picks and chooses who gets ill and who it heals.

This week's episode is titled "Cabin Fever," and it will involve Locke's journey to Jacob's cabin.

Story by Chelsea 'Dee' Doyle
Starpulse contributing writer