I love the new compassionate and caring Sawyer. Since he joined up with Locke, he has looked out for his companions as he seldom did (at least willingly) on the beach. He ran to look for Danielle, Alex, and Karl when the fighting started, and he ran to a burning building to get Claire, despite warnings from Ben that there was no time and that he wouldn't be able to get back to safety. Sawyer is so protective of Claire and the baby. I'm loving it.
Jack, on the other hand, is becoming more annoying, especially off the Island when he gets involved with a woman. Yes, he's an alcoholic, yes, he has serious daddy issues, and all of that adds to his inability to relate well emotionally. But his controlling distrust of the woman that he's with, first his wife and now Kate, is a little scary. He's a boy in need of some serious therapy.
Miles' ability to see dead people is so helpful on the Island. The fact that he saw Jack and Claire's dad walk off with Claire was great. Perhaps, when/if ever Miles describes to Jack the man Claire called "dad" and with whom she walked off into the jungle, Jack will realize that he and Claire are related. Wouldn't that be the bomb.
Jack and Claire's dad is a definite manifestation of the Island, perhaps powered by Jacob. It is not a beneficent figure. Claire has finally been separated from her baby. Ben and his people could not do that. It took the power of the Island to do it, a direct intervention, if you will.
I got chills when Hurley relayed Charlie's message to Jack, that he shouldn't be raising Aaron. Jack, the alcoholic, pill popping obsessive that he becomes off the Island, should not be raising anyone.
We see the beginnings of the need for Jack to go baaaaaack.
Reading is freedom.
The mind soars, no earthly cares,
no limitations.
A Maggers Haiku, 2005
Years ago my mother used to say to me... "In this world, Elwood, you can be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
Well, for years I was smart.
I recommend pleasant.
You may quote me.
Elwood P. Dowd