Great ep this. The Sayid centric ones always tend to be, for a few reasons. First of all you are always guaranteed some action and after Locke he is just flat out the most intriguing character. And its a testament to Naveen Andrews who plays him, and the shows writers that no matter what Sayid does he still remains sympathetic and we always root for him. That is, until now.
On the island Sayid goes looking for some answers from Dogan who slaps the pis sout of him and is just about to finish him off when he stops himself(Why? Something to do with the rules I'm sure). He's convinced that Sayid is evil and will be better off dead, but because he can't do it himself he banishes him. Sayid is just about to leave when Claire walks into the temple and tells Dogan that Un-Locke wants to speak to him..so Dogan sends Sayid, giving him a dagger and telling him to stab Un-Locke before he can speak. Sayid does so..and nothing happens. Looks like Dogan was having one more go at getting someone else to off Sayid for him. But Un-Locke recognizes one of his "tainted" followers and instructs Sayid to go back to the temple with a message in exchange for the one thing he really wants..Nadia! Who is of course, dead as a dodo. But Un-Locke says that won't be a problem. Provided he is telling the truth, could he be referring to the alternative world in which Nadia is actually alive?(more on that later). Sayid delivers the message: Un-Locke is leaving the island and anyone that wants to go with him can, but anyone who stays is dead. They have until sundown. Panic ensues, while Sayid goes to return Dogan's dagger. He finds him sitting by the pool. Dogan tells Sayid that Jacob came to him after he drunkenly caused an accident in which his son was killed(or as good as..its not clear). He promised Dogan that if he came to the island his son would be ok, but that he would never see him again. Is this a further reference to the alternate universe where we know that Dogan's son is alive and well? Anyway Sayid listens..then flings Dogan into the pool and drowns him. Lennon comes in and tells Sayid that Dogan was the only thing keeping Un-Locke out. Sayid slits his throat and says "I know". Sayid shows no remorse ..did he even enjoy it? Sure these guys captured and tortured him but what about Claire, Kate and Miles? He doesn't seem at all worried that they will be killed too. Fortunately for Miles Elana, Sun, Ben, Frank and co turn up and get some survivors out through the secret passage. Kate manages to hide with Claire as Un-Locke(In smokey form) barges through the temple killing everyone in sight. Sayid and Claire walk out and follow Un-Locke when its all over. And Kate follows too! Is she going to end up on this side? Because now the battle lines would seem to be drawn. We don't hear from Sawyer in this one who is also following Un-Locke, and of course Jin is with him too..albeit not out of choice.
In the multiverse Sayid goes to visit Nadia..who is married to his brother! Its clear though, that even this Sayid and Nadia still have feelings for each other. His brother is in debt to some gangsters and pleads with Sayid to help him..saying he knows what type of man Sayid is. Sayid refuses and even when his brother is "mugged" and placed in the hospital, he is still going to respect Nadia'a wishes and do nothing..until of course, the gangsters pay Sayid a visit. It seems that no matter how hard he tries to stay out of violent situations, they always find him. We get a brief introduction to the gangster that is threatening Sayid's brother and its none other than Martin Keamy!(Kevin Durand in a nice cameo). Sayid kills him of course! And finds Jin locked up in a meat locker. Clearly Keamy had something to do with all that cash that Jin was carrying through customs in the first ep of this season.
In this ep we are once again brought down the path of Sayid struggling with his propensity for violence in order to try to be a good noble man, which he..and we always believed him to be underneath it all. Unfortunately Island Sayid really seems to have embraced his darker side now, and I doubt there will be any redemption from here on in. But then again, I can't help getting a feeling that this doesn't all come down to good vs evil at all. Un-locke has certainly shown himself to be ruthless and aggressive but Jacob has shown himself to be just as manipulative and incredibly smug to boot. Either way its clear that this is all coming to one final head at the end of this season.