This post has been a long time coming, partially because my initial efforts have meant that the post will be the longest post ever. This show has played with the relationships between and among these characters since Jack first opened his eye in the first episode. Kate has vacillated between Jack and Sawyer as she deals with her daddy issues. In Season 2, Ana Lucia Cortez was brought in to be the first to create a quad from a triangle, but she was so disliked by fans that her character was soon permanently retired by Michael. Our current quad started in Season 3 with the introduction of Juliet.
It is my firm belief that the quad is now dead. If nothing else, the final scene of Juliet trying to set off Jughead leads me to this conclusion. I think it also notable that Jacob never touched Juliet. And let's not forget that Elizabeth Mitchell has a starring role in V.
I must admit that the original triangle could be quite tiresome, perhaps because of Kate’s own inability to understand what she wants. I know someone who calls Kate a strong woman, but she is not when it comes to Sawyer and Jack. In the first four seasons she couldn't choose between the recalcitrant Sawyer or the noble Jack. Her feelings for Sawyer are the first to be consummated, but she clearly feels guilty later and devastated when she realizes that Jack knows of it. She later returns to Sawyer’s bed (sleeping bag? Tent?) after watching Jack and Juliet together. Sawyer is no fool, but he agrees to the arrangement – any Kate is better than no Kate. Kate’s choice appears to be made for her when Sawyer whispers his request of her and jumps out of the helicopter into the ocean.
She agrees to marry Jack when they are off the Island. But her need to protect Sawyer’s secrets and Jack’s substance abuse led to the destruction of that engagement. Even when she briefly reunited with him before the “trip to Guam”, she made it clear to Jack that just because they were in the same place doesn’t mean that they were together.
Although Sawyer slept with Ana Lucia, both he and Jack clearly are attracted to Kate. Yes, Jack appeared to have feelings for Juliet, but Juliet was aware that he prefered Kate. Sawyer’s feelings for Kate were clear this past season as he dealt with his belief that Kate was dead and that he would never see her again. The cruelties of time travel led to Sawyer staring hungrily at Kate as she helped Claire give birth. Somehow, three years later, he honestly believed that he was over Kate. Just as he made this realization, of course, Kate returns to the Island, and Sawyer’s face makes it clear that he was wrong.
I was never convinced that Jack and Juliet were a real couple. She was clearly attracted to him, and he to her, but they both knew that his heart wasn’t in it. Why did Juliet accept this? What attracted her to him, anyway, besides the obvious? His skill, his desire to escape the Island, his leadership skills? Was her attraction for him part of the emotional turmoil as she escaped from Ben’s clutches amongst a group of people who clearly didn’t trust her? Or was it because he seemed to be the opposite of Ben? I don’t know.
But, in watching Namaste and Whatever Happened, Happened, I am certain that whatever feelings existed between the two of them are now gone. When Jack knocked on Sawyer’s door to be let in by Juliet, he appeared pleased to see her, but nothing more. The “shock” he felt after realizing the state of affairs between Juliet and Sawyer seemed nothing more than the narcissistic injury of realizing that a former flame is with a rival. The confrontation in the shower further buttresses my belief. Juliet was horrified that Jack refused to operate on a 12-year-old, even if that 12-year-old was the future Ben, and his explanation didn’t assuage her. She lost respect for him, and he betrayed everything that she believed in. When she stormed out of there, I felt that this relationship, in that form, was dead.
I had heard that Juliet would become a romantic interest for Sawyer, but I rather forgot it as the season started. Sawyer and Juliet started out as equals, respecting each other and looking out for each other. She was able to calm him down without denigrating him, and he was able to talk her into helping Amy give birth. For the first time in this quad, we saw a couple that were friends and lovers, and it was clear that they were good for each other. How many of us women swooned as Sawyer picked a flower for Juliet and kissed her in the kitchen? How many of us felt our hearts ripped out as Sawyer grasped Juliet’s hand, refusing to let her go down the well to her death? And who doubts that he was devastated?
Kate was surprised by the relationship, and observed it warily upon her return to the Island. Although she and Juliet were wary around each other initially, as time passed they became allies in their shared determination to save Ben’s life. But Kate still flinched whenever Sawyer referred to his feelings for Juliet, especially when he told Kate he was helping her with Ben because Juliet wanted him to. Some commentators I’ve read have expressed their belief that this conversation was the end of the affair. I’m not so convinced. Here is the conversation:
KATE: Hey. Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me?
SAWYER: When I found out Ben was gone, and Juliet told me what you were up to, I asked that exact damn question. Why are you helping Ben? And she said...no matter what he's gonna grow up to be, it's wrong to let a kid die. So...that's why I'm doing this. I'm doing it for her.
***
KATE: Is that why you asked me to take care of your daughter?
SAWYER: Did you?
KATE: Of course I did.
SAWYER: What's she like?
KATE: Clementine?
SAWYER: Yeah, Clementine.
KATE: Oh, she's beautiful. Looks just like you when she smiles. She's growing up fast. Already has a little attitude.
SAWYER: I bet you and Cassidy had a lot to talk about.
KATE: She had an interesting theory on why you jumped off the chopper.
SAWYER: Yeah, what's that?
KATE: She thought you were worried about what would happen if you didn't.
SAWYER: You and me would've never worked out, Kate. I wasn't any more fit to be your boyfriend than I am to be that little girl's father.
KATE: You seem to be doing all right with Juliet.
SAWYER: Yeah. I've done a lot of growing up the past three years.
Cassidy provided an interesting mirror to Kate, challenging Kate’s view of Sawyer as a selfless hero who sacrificed himself for her. Kate clearly can’t tell how she feels, as her attraction to Sawyer remains as strong as ever. Sawyer is apparently equally attracted, staring at Kate, and calling her “Freckles” at inopportune times. Indeed, his obvious attraction perhaps fractured his relationship with Juliet, leading her to do whatever she could to prevent their relationship from starting in the first place.
I was also struck by the fact that Jack and Kate did not continue their affair on the Island. Jack would have been justified for thinking that they were back together after their night together. But perhaps it was just mutual pity-party sex, because neither party made an effort to stay together on the Island.
So what is next? Well, I’m fairly certain that Juliet is out of the picture, at least initially. We have no idea what will happen with our Losties in the new season. Will they land at LAX in 2004, all strangers to each other? Will they end up in Locke’s time, ready to battle Esau? What memories will they have of the past five years? Will there be no memories but impressions and feelings? Of course, I don’t know. The producers can do just about whatever they want to at this point. Whatever it is, I know I’ll be watching.
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