The first one has to be helps, I agree. Especially with the way things look to be going next week. I just don't think that Sawyer has quite the gun experience that he's letting others believe and doesn't realize how dangerous that is.

The second pic-DUDE. Yep, that had better be on the DVD, because it explains a great deal that was bugging about the original episode. If Ethan had already had his edge worn off by tangling with Locke, then it would explain why Jack was able to take him out after he got his ass handed to him so easily in their last fight, not to mention explaining why Jack had so much rage going when he tackled Ethan. He probably thought that he was losing another one of "his" people.

I think that the Charlie backstory served to show that Charlie is deeply, deeply fucked up in ways that tripping off the heroin simply isn't going to fix and highlighted that his romance with Claire is in large part not about Claire at all, but I agree with you that the execution was off this time. I don't remember who wrote 1.07, but it seemed to be dropping the anvils around in the same way. Now, eps like 'Special', 'Confidence Man', and even 'All the Best Cowboys...' (even as I was screaming at Jack for most of it) worked the flashback because the flashback tied into the main storyline, something that I think this episode failed to do. Okay, Charlie's a little tilted in the head. That revelation could have been served in a more Charlie-centric episode, whereas this flashback could have been about Claire herself, or even be part of a transition into some episodes not having flashbacks at all while others do.

Which was all a really long-winded way of saying that I still like the flashback premise, but agree with you that this time it was on the weak side.

See, this would explain a lot....mainly why the hell it took everyone so long to come to Claire's aid when Ethan was running after her. Particularly Sawyer and Kate...they took so damn long I've seen at least two comments about them "making out in the bushes" (Gods, if only) around lj. Also, now that I think about it, I think Locke was limping when he finally turned up, which would also be explained if Ethan beat him up.

...I hope they put the cut parts on the DVD.

OMG, I know!! Even my mom was like "So, uh...where are those people that were supposed to be in contact with Claire all of the time??"

My theory:
1. Ethan goes after Locke first.
2. The others scramble off after Locke and Ethan and leave Claire stranded by herself.
3. Jack arrives too late and discovers Locke on the ground.
4. Ethan goes after Claire.
5. Jack rushes to catch up and gets his rage on, while everyone else either flails around all crazy in the wet jungle or tends to Locke.

DUDE!!! Skate-on-Skate action?! WTF!! Yeah, this really hacked me off, especially since we've seeing that screencap of soppingwetsawyergoodness for, like, EVER, and then it's not even aired?! Not to mention the Locke fight scene. Urgh. ***goes and sulks***