“The Other Woman” is the sixth episode of Season 4 of Lost, originally broadcast on March 6, 2008.
Juliet receives an unwelcome visit from someone from her past and is given orders to track down Charlotte and Faraday in order to stop them from completing their mission — by any means necessary. Meanwhile, Ben offers Locke an enticing deal.
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Synopsis
Flashbacks
The Others’ therapist, Harper
Juliet treating Goodwin’s arm
In flashbacks, Juliet is waiting in a waiting room. Harper, a therapist, arrives, and begins discussing with her why Juliet is the center of attention, and why that makes Juliet uncomfortable. Suddenly, Tom appears, and wants to take her to Ben. They leave the therapist’s office — a building in the Barracks. Tom talks about his own experience with Harper, who succeeded in making him cry about his father. They arrive at a house with Ben on a porch. Ben shows Juliet her welcoming gift: her own private two-bedroom house, fully furnished with an opera music collection. When Juliet says “You didn’t have to do all this, I mean, I’m only here for six months”, Ben responds, suspiciousially, “Right. We just wanted you to feel at home.”
Juliet and Goodwin at the beach
Juliet dines with Ben
Months later, Juliet is in her office weeping (about the loss of a patient, Henrietta) when Goodwin enters and asks her to treat a burn he says he got from leaning against a transformer at a power station. She makes snide comments about Harper, who turns out to be Goodwin’s wife. Juliet tells Goodwin “Don’t tell your wife the things I said about her, and I won’t tell anybody you lied about your injury. I know a chemical burn when I see one.”
“You’re mine.“
Juliet is discussing the island’s pregnancy problem in a lab with Ben when Goodwin barges in, cheerfully yelling at Juliet. When he spots Ben, he becomes awkward and asks if either of them would like a sandwich left by Ethan. When they both decline, he leaves. Ben looks up suspiciously, seemingly now aware of a romantic relationship between the two of them.(“One of Us“)
Later that day, Harper becomes enraged during a therapy session with Juliet and confronts her about the affair she’s been having with Goodwin. She asks her when did she start sleeping with Goodwin. She adds that she followed them and watched them having sex. Harper then adds that if she continues having an affair with Goodwin, they will be “consequences” and she doesn’t want Goodwin to get hurt. Juliet replies that she will not hurt him, but Harper says that she is not talking about her, but about what Ben will do if he finds out as Ben is smitten with Juliet because she “looks just like her.”
Some time after, Goodwin and Juliet are on a private date at a beach far from the Barracks. Goodwin says he wants to tell everyone about their relationship, and that his wife already knows (he has been sleeping on the couch for over a year), but Juliet says Ben wouldn’t like it. Goodwin asks if it is because Ben has a crush on her, and reveals that everyone recognises this fact because Ben “follows her around like a puppy”. Goodwin says that he has been working with chemicals that could kill every man, woman, and child on the island if he flips the wrong switch, and that Ben has enough on his plate than to worry about the two of them. Juliet expresses that she is still concerned Ben would be upset, but Goodwin laughs dismissively: what is he going to do? The scene immediately jumps to the previously shown scene of the Barrack‘s perspective of the crash of Flight 815 including Ben telling Goodwin to go undercover. This time we see Juliet and Goodwin exchanging worried glances in front of Harper. Goodwin leaves without looking at Harper.
Ben invites Juliet to a dinner party, which turns out to be a private date between the two of them. Having tricked her into an evening alone with him, he becomes angered when she mentions Goodwin. He tells her that Goodwin cannot come back yet, and claims that he is “making a case” for Ana Lucia to join their society, adding in that Goodwin seems to have an inappropriate relationship with Ana Lucia, trying to make Juliet jealous.
In the final flash, Ben takes Juliet to see Goodwin’s body impaled upon the wood stake. (“The Other 48 Days“) Ben reveals he knows about their affair; Juliet accuses him of deliberately sending Goodwin on a suicide mission. She asks why he would do this. Ben then underlines the fact that the reason why he is keeping her on the Island is because “you’re mine.”
On Island
Harper warns Juliet
Sun approaches Juliet, who is erecting a new tent on the beach. She asks why she’d be setting up a tent on her last days on the island when Jack approaches, asking if anyone has seen Daniel and Charlotte, who vanished overnight. No one has, and Jack becomes visibly upset. Jin admits he saw them enter the jungle, but did not mention anything because “You said they are friends.” Jack and Juliet begin searching for them.
Juliet is walking through the jungle and suddenly hears the whispers. She looks around and finds Harper standing behind her, who informs her that Ben has a message for her: Daniel and Charlotte are heading toward the Tempest, and Juliet has to prevent them, using deadly force if necessary. If they figure out how to ‘deploy the gas’ everyone is going to die. As Juliet’s asks why Harper doesn’t stop them herself, Harper answers that it is Ben’s wish that Juliet does it, and says that although Ben is a prisoner, he’s “exactly where he wants to be.” Harper says that Juliet must kill Daniel and Charlotte. The conversation is interrupted by Jack who points his gun at Harper and demands to know who she is. She says she is an old friend of Juliet’s and she was telling her where the people they are looking for are headed and that Jack with his gun should go there too. The whispers are heard again, and Harper suddenly disappears.
Kate confronts Dan and Charlotte
After a bit of vainly looking around for Harper, Juliet conveys what she has been told. Jack: “The Tempest”? Juliet: “It’s safer for you if I don’t talk about it.” Jack: “No, talk about it please.” Juliet: “It’s an electrical station that powers the island.” Jack: “Why would they go there? He confronts her: “If there’s something you need to tell me, now is the time to do it.” Julietn on the verge of crying says to him: “What I need is for you to help me, will you help me?” Juliet thanks him for agreeing to help her, and she then walks away.
Locke opening Ben’s safe
Daniel and Charlotte are pausing near a stream in the jungle. Daniel has doubts about something: “What happens if I…if I can’t do it”? Charlotte makes Dan look her in the face. She says she is convinced that he can do it and that they should get going. Daniel seems convinced. Then suddenly Kate shows up. Charlotte draws her pistol but Daniel assures her that Kate poses no threat. Kate tells them about Miles, that Locke has him but that he is fine. After Kate asks what they are doing out there in the jungle, Charlotte tells a lie about a sat-phone running out of juice and that they volunteered to get some fresh batteries from the packs they threw out of the chopper. Kate looks up and sees the green light on Daniel’s phone and gets suspicious. She asks why Daniel has a large pack if they are looking for the packs they threw out of the helicopter. After discovering it contains gas masks, Kate is knocked unconscious by Charlotte.
Juliet arrives at the Tempest
Ben holding the Widmore file
Juliet at the Tempest
Jack and Juliet continue through the jungle, discussing Harper. Juliet reveals to Jack that Harper was her therapist, and he comments that she seemed rather hostile. They trade comments about things that they’d prefer to ignore from their past, and Jack comments Juliet knows all about them because of his file. She replies: “Trust me, Jack, you don’t want to see my file.”
Charles Widmore on the video
Jack and Juliet share a tender kiss
Claire approaches Locke as he is cleaning a rabbit, requesting to speak to Miles about who they are and where they came from. She reasons that since they shot one, killed one, and are holding one captive, it’s reasonable that they are seen as hostile, but that she might be less intimidating. Locke refuses, asking if she remembers what Charlie said about the boat. Claire reminds him that all Charlie said whose boat it isn’t, and asks wouldn’t he “like to know whose boat it is“.
In the basement at the Barracks, Locke brings Ben food and clean clothing. Ben questions whether the rabbit he was given had “a number on it”. Ben suddenly talks about an insurection preparing itself. Locke’s people will be very angry against him when they found out he doesn’t have a plan. He then attempts to undermine Locke’s confidence by talking about leadership. Locke cuts Ben off by revealing he knows about the discussion Ben had with Miles concerning the $3.2 million dollars, and Locke sarcastically provides Ben with his first dollar. Ben then attempts to persuade Locke to let him live in one of the houses in exchange for the information he wants. He will have to show him the proof.
Juliet and Jack stumble across Kate, who is just coming around from being knocked out by Charlotte. Juliet, looking a bit upset, offers to go get Kate some water. Kate and Jack discuss what happened, and Kate tells him about the gas masks. Jack begins to call frantically for Juliet when she doesn’t answer.
Ben and Locke discuss trust issues and that they have come to a deal. Ben tells Locke how to open the safe on his bedroom wall, revealing a file and a videotape. The videotape, marked “Red Sox”, contains footage of the man Ben says owns the Kahana and has been trying to find the island: Charles Widmore. The footage shows a blindfolded man, that Ben says is one of his that had the misfortune of being captured, being beaten up. He tells Locke that Widmore wants to exploit the island, citing an event in Florida where he says 5,000 people came to see a patch of mold that looked like the Virgin Mary; he asks Locke how many more people would come to see him since he recovered suddenly from being in a wheelchair when he crashed on the island. Ben gives Locke the file containing all the information he has gathered about Charles, saying that the information is a combination of vague guesswork and concrete facts. Locke demands one more thing: the identity of Ben’s man on the boat. Ben agrees to tell him, but warns “You might want to sit down.”
Jack and Kate trail Juliet, discovering Daniel and Charlotte’s tracks as well. Kate tells Jack about her conversation with Miles, that the people on the Kahana know she is a fugitive. Juliet approaches the Tempest, and noting the destroyed security system, she opens the pulley door and draws her gun.
Walking along the catwalk, Juliet sees Daniel in a HAZMAT suit and gas mask on the station’s computer, as warning messages blare over the speakers warning contamination. Juliet holds the gun on Daniel as he questions what she is doing there. She snatches off his gas mask, telling him that he will die with the rest if he releases the gas, but he counters that he’s not trying to release it but to render it inert. Just then, Charlotte hits Juliet from behind with a metal bar and a struggle ensues, as Daniel continues working on the computer. Juliet recovers her gun and tells Charlotte to order Daniel to stop what he is doing, but Charlotte confirms that they are trying to prevent Ben from releasing the gas to kill everyone on the island. Charlotte states “we know he’s used it before”. Juliet continues to hold the gun on Daniel, seemingly having an inner struggle, but then lets him complete the task.
Sawyer and Hurley playing horseshoe
As Juliet and Charlotte exit The Tempest, they bump into Jack and Kate. After a brief confrontation where Charlotte tells them that she and Daniel just saved their lives, Kate follows Charlotte inside to see what she is referring to, but Jack says he’ll take their word for it. Juliet also remains outside, where she confides in Jack, telling him that “these people have come to wage war against Ben, and Ben’s going to win, and when he does, Jack, you don’t want to be anywhere near me”. Jack asks her why, and she replies that Ben thinks she is his “and he knows how I feel about you”. They share a kiss, and Jack tells her that Ben knows where to find him, as he comforts her with a hug.
Hurley and Sawyer play horseshoes. Hurley makes a lucky shot, and when Sawyer is surprised, Hurley says that he’s just lucky. Then they see Ben walking freely into his home. Amid their confusion as to why Ben is walking about freely, Ben cheerfully says “See you guys at dinner!”
Trivia
General
- Juliet’s flashbacks fill in gaps between her previous flashback episode, One of Us.
- One of Harper’s diplomas has a Hanso Foundation symbol.
- This is the third time we’ve seen the crash of flight 815 from the Barracks‘ point of view, each time adding new footage or information. (“A Tale of Two Cities“) (“One of Us“)
- The song Ben plays for Juliet at dinner is ‘Un Bel Di’ (One Fine Day) from the opera Madam Butterfly. In the song Madam Butterfly is waiting for her lover to come back to her. Also, the first lines of the song refer to a plume of smoke.
- Daniel is using a map to find The Tempest
- After the countdown, the computer screen has the following text:
| “ | MASTER CAUTION & WARNING NEW ALARM TES3/31 VAPOR PRESSURE 100% CONTAINMENT BREACH IMMINENT! EVACUATE NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL >: SET VALVE BC22 = open VALVE NOT RESPONDING |
” |
- The title of this episode references that fact that Juliet is:
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- “The other woman” whom Goodwin is seeing;
- “The other woman” aside from Kate, whom Jack has feelings for; and
- “The other woman” to Ben, aside from the woman whom Juliet “looks just like”
- A woman who was one of the Others.
- Juliet, when speaking to Jack, jokingly calls herself “an Other.” This was the first episode in which any of the people the Flight 815 survivors refer to as “Others” refers to themself as such.
Production notes
- Desmond, Michael, Miles and Sayid do not appear in this episode.
- Ethan, played by William Mapother, is mentioned but not seen, despite the fact that he’s present when the Others’ witness the Plane Crash. This scene is edited to include glances between Juliet, Goodwin and Harper as Ben sends them on their missions to seek the survivors.
- The scenes of The Tempest Station were shot at the WWII-bunkers on the south side of Kualoa Ranch.
Bloopers and continuity errors
When Daniel Faraday is trying to neutralize the gas, the timer displays and audio messages do not correspond with the actual time passing in those scenes. This is most blatantly evident when the display on the computer screen shows that 20 seconds are left, and then it takes at least 17 seconds (including lots of dialogue) until a recorded audio message announces that there are still 10 seconds left. This is not necessarily an error; in fact this device is used very frequently in scenes involving countdowns in action films.
Recurring themes
- Sawyer and Hurley were playing horseshoes. (Games)
- Ben refers to Zack and Emma while talking to Juliet. (Children)
- Locke is seen cutting up a dead rabbit and then giving it to Ben to eat. (Animals)
- Ben knew that Goodwin would be killed when he sent him to the crash site of the tail section. (Character secrets)
- Goodwin and Juliet were seeing each other in secret. (Character secrets)
- Ben tells Locke the safe combination: 36 15 28. (The Numbers)
- Juliet is seen as “the other woman” coming between two people, first Goodwin and Harper, then Jack and Kate. (Relationship Issues)
- Jack chooses Juliet in the end, meaning, she is no longer the “other woman” to him. (Irony)
- Jack and Juliet are searcing for Daniel and Charlotte in the rain. (Rain)
- Ben says Zack and Emma were taken because they were on the list. Juliet says that now they have everyone from the tail section that is on the list. (Lists)
- Ben tells Locke about leadership. (Leadership)
- Black and white stones are seen in Harper’s office. (Black and white)
- Ben gives up his “last bargaining chip” to be free. (Secrets)(Cons)
- Juliet tells Goodwin she won’t tell about his chemical burn if he doesn’t tell Harper what she said. (Character secrets)
Cultural references
| Cultural references in LOST (direct references only) |
|---|
| Art • Books • Cars • Games • Movies and TV • Music • Philosophy • Religion and ideologies • Science |
- VALIS: Once again, this Philip K. Dick novel is seen, as Ben is reading it while imprisoned by Locke. (Literary works)
- Boston Red Sox: Ben opens a wall safe hidden behind a painting, and removes a videotape labelled “Red Sox“. When Locke asks him about it, Ben explains he taped the footage of Widmore over the game. That’s also a time reference that may let us know the actual events about Widmore have occured after jack viewed the tape. (Games)
- The Tempest: The name of the DHARMA station comes from the play written by William Shakespeare, which was first published in 1623. It tells the story of the sorcerer Prospero and his daughter Miranda, who are stranded on a mysterious desert island that has mystical properties. Prospero raises a storm, or tempest, which causes a passing ship containing his enemies to run aground. Using magic, spirits and a man-beast creature named Caliban, he separates and manipulate the survivors of the wreck for his own purposes. The play ends with Prospero restored to his former glory. (Literary works)
Other works with similar content
- Bible: King David sends Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah the Hittite, into battle so “that he might be struck down, and die” just as Ben sent Juliet’s lover, Goodwin, in harms way for an extended period of time among the tail section survivors to die. (Literary works)
- Empty Cradle: The name of Harper Stanhope could be a reference to the book Empty Cradle by Karen Harper. In it, a woman wanting a baby heads to a fertility clinic in New Mexico run by a Dr. Stanhope, a feminist embryologist who is stealing the eggs of her patients and using them in experiments with drugs that can cause birth defects. (Literary works)
- To Kill A Mockingbird: The name Harper may be a reference to Harper Lee, who wrote “To Kill A Mockingbird”
Literary techniques
- Harper tells Juliet that Ben is “exactly where he wants to be”, echoing Miles’s comments to Kate in “Eggtown”. (Regularly Spoken Phrases)
- There was backstory provided to Juliet’s time on the Island (Flashback)
- The prologue begins like a flashforward, with Juliet apparently off the Island and subject of much publicity like the Oceanic 6, only for Tom to walk in and establish it as a flashback to her time with the Others. (Plot Twist)
- Ben was about to reveal the identity of his spy on the boat to Locke, but he apparently did so behind closed doors, as Hurley and Sawyer saw him after, carrying linens, saying “see you at dinner”. (Cliffhanger)
- The owner of the freighter was revealed, as were his supposed intentions for the Island. (Foreshadowing)
Storyline analysis
| Storyline analysis |
|---|
| A-Missions • Crimes • Economics • Leadership • O-Missions • Relationships • Rivalries |
- Juliet tells Jack she has feelings for him. In response, Jack kisses her. (Relationships)
- Ben brought Locke‘s leadership into question.(Leadership)
Episode references
- Ben asks if the rabbit Locke killed for dinner had a number on it, referring to the Orchid Orientation film and the rabbit with the number 8 he used to con Sawyer into thinking he had been implanted with a pacemaker (“Every Man for Himself“).
- Locke tells Ben that they ran out of chickens. Locke made a chicken for his group at the Barracks and uses the last two eggs to make breakfast for Ben. (“Eggtown“)
- The alarm heard in the Tempest is the same as the alarm to indicate a lockdown in the Swan. (“Lockdown“)(“Live Together, Die Alone“)
- The video tape Locke pulls from Ben’s safe is labeled “Red Sox”, which he explains was taped over. (“The Glass Ballerina“)
Unanswered questions
| Unanswered questions |
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|
- For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: The Other Woman/Theories
- Who is Ben’s man on the boat?
- What is Charles Widmore‘s true interest in the Island?
- Does he know his daughter has also been looking for the Island?
- Who is the Other shown being beaten by Widmore?
Widmore´s victim
- Who shot the video?
- Is Harper in contact with Ben?
- How does The Tempest power the Island?
- What is the role of the toxic gases at the Tempest?
- Whom is Harper referring to when she tells Juliet, “You look just like her”?
- How is Charlotte aware of the history of the Island and the Purge?
- Who made Daniel’s map?
- How did Goodwin get his chemical burn?
- How did Harper suddenly vanish?
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