Thru the Looking Glass...

I honestly, really don't know what to say. On some level I liked this episode, on some level it was a letdown.

I hate to brag but once I saw Jack on the phone in his car I immediately thought his flashback was in the future and he was talking to Kate; and the Razorphone reinforced that idea (and so did Jack getting fired). But it was fun that my prediction had come true by the end.

So obviously Season Four is going to pick up where the Season Three cliffhanger leaves off, because there's not much in between the final island scene and the rescue party saving them, right? The way I see it is either this is genius or it's jumping the shark. I think what they're trying to do is find a way to set up a scenario that has the cast actually wanting answers to mysteries on the island instead of just seeking rescue. Because before, in previous seasons, Jack was solely interested in getting rescued. Now he wants to go back and be the man of faith. This is a way to solve mysteries now because they obviously have to *find* the island first, and possibly take a government organization with them.

BUT HERE'S AN INSANE THEORY THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE CRACKPOT...
What if Jack meant he wants to "go back" as in he wants to go back IN TIME??!! This could also be an amazing turning point or a stupid cop-out.

And is Christian Shephard alive? Why isn't Kate arrested? Another timeline?

Was the Penny scene before or after this cliffhanger? Did Jack hire Penny to find the island?

If Naomi is fake, why introduce the 'survivors are dead' storyline?

Was Ben right about rescue getting them killed?

Dr. Gary Nadler... Related to Bernard?

What does the season three ending mean for other flashbacks? Will there be flashbacks in future seasons?