Other none-mythology related happenings were interesting also, namely Hurley’s moment with Kate and Sawyer when they broke the news to him about Libby. Jokes aside, Hurley has likely been stood up from time to time so it was nice to see the big guys feelings spared on that end even if heartbreak was still waiting in the wings.

Speaking of Kate and Sawyer, did anyone else find it interesting that Jack suddenly has no qualms about sending her off alone with Sawyer? Has the main lostaway finally loosened his grip on the leash?

Either way, Kate’s presence added a couple interesting layers to everyone’s favorite baddie. Sure, this season spent time re-establishing Sawyer as the big bad wolf roaming the island, but no amount of tree frog carnage can erase the look of empathy on his face when Hurley asked about Libby’s whereabouts.

As if one act of kindness wasn’t enough, the big guy actually managed a second, albeit more subtle, act of good will despite his natural instincts. Even Sawyer can’t deny Jack’s needs with a dying Libby on the table.

Yet what makes "?" such an amazing addition to the series thus far is its use of parallels to advance the mythology of the island along. Returning to what is the most centrifugal thematic device in the series, we are finally pulling the loose threads weaving the faith-based duo of Mr. Eko and John Locke together.

We all shuddered when those two first collided early on in season two, and looking back things were a little different for our dear Mr. Locke. Having spent an entire season wired into his island faith, the opening of the hatch somehow deluded the vision for the journeyman. Couple this with the events surrounding Henry Gale, specifically his insistence that Locke is “one of the good ones,” seems to counter his frustrations. Somewhere along the line Locke lost his way and now it’s up to Eko to help him find it once again.

Dream sequences are fascinating, and "?" opens with one that sincerely stumps and befuddles. Ana Lucia gets a posthumous return visit, encouraging Eko to “help John” before turning the message delivering duties over to Eko’s brother Yemi. Insisting that Eko make Locke show him the question mark in hopes of helping him find his way again, Yemi finishes his ethereal message with the suggestion that Eko “bring the ax.”

Back in the hatch, Jack is just about ready to abandon Libby on the slab to go out in pursuit of Gale when, guess who, Sawyer interjects with moral implications. Eko immediately ponies up to help track Gale with the help of Locke, a former tracker.

Getting Locke alone was step one, but getting him to talk proves a bit tougher. Eventually the two men of faith rally together in search of the mysterious ? from Locke’s encounter in "Lockdown."

Their quest leads them back to the site of the Colombian drug plane. Ironically, both men have ties to this location as Eko’s brother crashed while traveling in the plane and Locke’s season one visions led him and Boone to the crash site, a trip that ultimately proved fatal for Boone. Why was Eko placed on the island? Was the island trying to show the Pearl Station to Locke back in season one? Did he misread the signs when his legs gave out, and assume that island was leading him to the plane?

If you think about it, finding the plane was the first event in Locke’s steady decline in faith, and finding the plane seemed to be high on Eko’s priorities once he learned of the Virgin Mary statuettes. These two have had their fates intertwined and its only been a matter of time before the laces started to pull taut.

So what do they find out there under the plane? Another set of steel, hatch-like doors leading to an access tunnel for what can only be described as “The Pearl Station.” Like something out of a paranoid nightmare, the Pearl consists of banks of televisions, circa late-seventies. Along with the observation panels, Eko unearths another orientation video, this time on Betamax and sporting the year 1980 in the copyright.

A familiar face hosts the tape, but this time around our dear Dr. Marvin Candle calls himself Mark Whitman instead, while boasting two arms instead of one. How, considering everything suggests that the Swan’s orientation video predates that of the Pearl? Think about it: videotape versus 8mm film stock? Or is it all a ploy to trick us?

Either way, Locke seems to remain jaded towards the end of the episode while Eko is a man reborn. The faithful rewarded with a purpose. What will it take to get Locke back on the right track, and who receives the mail chute contents?

Only time will tell what is in store for us, and with season two in full swing it couldn’t pass quickly enough.

Luckily we have clues to tide us over, and despite being tied into subLYMONal “Sprite” marketing campaigns, the Lost Experience is fully underway. This week, the pseudo-commercial offered us the Hanso Foundation phone number once again (1-877-HANSORG), and a web site to visit. Play through the puzzle and hopefully unlock clues to the heir apparent to Hanso himself.

Next: We’re on the road to what has been touted as the most mindblowing finale ever; well, at least if you’re taking J.J. Abrams’ word for it. Prepare yourself for "Three Minutes," which will hopefully shed some light on whether Michael has actually made a deal to betray the lostaways with the Others. See ya in a week!

Mario Anima