“Maybe if you talk real slow, we’ll be able to follow you.” – Juliet

Physicist Daniel Faraday (Jeremy Davies) could have explained it as slowly as he wanted, and I’m still not sure I would have followed all the action last night. Let’s just say that the episode, entitled “The Constant,” is not only one of the series’ top five, but maybe even - dare I say it? - numero uno. Desmond needed “a constant” to help him figure out stuff. Me too. I’m not gonna lie. I’ve got a list of questions. Make sure you comment today. I think we need some help with this one!

First the Observations:

Charles Widmore, Penny’s father, is bidding at a 1996 auction on some items related to the “Black Rock” slave ship that was lost in 1845 and is now, somehow, in the middle of the island. One of the items he wins is the ship’s log. Will some of the names in the log be similar to the names of the island’s current inhabitants? Perhaps we’ll learn that Richard Alpert, the eyeliner guy, ages even better than we’d supposed.

Widmore sends Desmond to see Penny at her new address – 423 Cheyne Walk - four and 23 are two of Lost’s big numbers. Also significant is Cheyne Walk, a street in London with some famous past residents including Henry James, author of a book Desmond had in the hatch with him.

Geek Alert: The auctioneer stated that the last-known owner of the Black Rock items was Tovar Hanso, an obvious relation to Alvar Hanso and the Hanso Foundation. Also, in 1895 the ship’s captain was named Magnus Hanso.

Widmore held a towel to use the faucet and soap dispenser in the the auction house’s restroom. When Desmond touched the faucet, he flashed back to 2004 on the freighter. Seems like Widmore knew that touching the faucet would be a trigger for Desmond.

In the freighter’s sick bay, four October dates weren’t X’d out on the calendar. Could they coincide with the dates that Desmond turned the failsafe key and “the sky went purple?”

Now the Questions:

Are the writers seriously trying to keep me awake all night?

Were Gopher, Julie and Isaac on another deck waiting to welcome Sayid and Desmond on board?

Is Daniel affected by the same time perception shift as Desmond? If Desmond is Daniel’s “constant,” did Daniel’s reminder note to his future self end his time shifting?

Did the “sickness” that killed Rousseau’s scientist shipmates also kill George Minkowski (Fisher Stevens) and Eloise the rat?

Was the crew on the freighter a bit more ragtag than expected? Hadn’t you expected a paramilitary operation led by the “evil” Minkowski?

Was Juliet being protected from this effect when they drugged her before bringing her to the island?

Since it’s Christmas Eve, will the Losties have a Secret Santa party?

Is Jacob caught in this time loop? Remember his one and only line: “Help me.”

Are people who enjoy the relationship angle of Lost now totally swooning over Desmond and Penny after their phone reunion? I’m man enough to admit I got a lump in my throat.

Was the time-shift on the freighter later or earlier than the time-shift on the island? Was the crew surprised to see the chopper back so soon because it appeared to them as if it had just left?

Has Ben somehow mastered this pertime-shifting? Is he using this ability to alter the future of the island?

Will the real-world Asian tsunami that happened on Dec. 26, 2004 factor into the show’s plot?

C’mon, let’s figure out these things together - hit the comments section with ideas. And tell me: is “The Constant” one of the show’s best episodes ever? - Sean Salo