Ricardo

The Diva still thinks he's a hottie.

Nestor Carbonell wasn't hot on "Suddenly Susan." Probably because that show sucked balls. But hey, we got Kathy Griffin because of it, so it wasn't a total waste.

Anyway, back to Ricardo. It was a decent episode. Too much background with Richard, and not enough current action. Richard is of Spanish speaking descent. I didn't catch where he was from. Richard rides a horse, which was hot, to save his wife from tuberculosis. He accidentally kills the doctor who refused to give medicine to save Richard's wife. Richard's wife was already dead when he made it back. Before she died, she gave him her cross.

Richard is put into jail. A crooked priest tells Richard he is beyond redemption. The priest sells Richard to a slave ship, the Black Rock. The Black Rock hits the Jacob-created storm and crashes through the statue. There were quite a few survivors. The captain slays all the slaves except for Richard because of Smokey killing the captain first. Richard is still chained to the boat. Smokey returns disguised as Richard's wife, Isabella. "Isabella" tells Richard that he is dead, and they are in Hell. Then Richard sees the smoke monster take his wife. When Richard sees the smoke monster for the first time face to face, that's when it became obvious to me that the "eyeliner" look is on Richard. He didn't appear to have that look before.

Smokey returns as the Man in Black agreeing to free Richard if Richard agrees to do something for him. Smokey wants Richard to kill "the devil" Jacob. Smokey said something interesting that Jacob "took his body". I wonder what that means? Smokey uses the same dialogue that Dogen used on Sayid to kill nuLocke. They didn't work this time either. lol Jacob kicks Richard's ass. Richard insists that he is dead and in Hell. Jacob drowns him into reality. Jacob admits to bringing the boat to the island. He also admits that everyone he brings to the island has thus far died.

Jacob explains that the island is like a cork on a wine bottle. The cork prevents the wine from coming out. He says the wine is Smokey. Richard asks why Jacob doesn't get directly involved in the people he brings to the island. Jacob doesn't really answer, he just doesn't want to get involved in that way. He wants the people to make their own moral choices. He also says their pasts don't matter on the island. Richard points out that Smokey gets involved and manipulates them. Jacob concedes that point and asks Richard to be his intermediary. Richard wants something in return. He asks for his wife back. Jacob said he can't do that. I can't remember what else he asks for. Then Richard asks for eternal life, which Jacob gives him with a touch. I don't get how Jacob can grant that wish but not the others. Oh, and rude Jacob does not let Richard into his lair. lol You must be invited by Jacob which is odd since Ben and nuLocke had no problems getting in.

Richard goes back to Smokey. Smokey's bummed that Jacob is still alive. Smokey gives Richard his cross. He tells Richard he can always reconsider. Richard buries it. Later we see Jacob and Smokey. Smokey wants to leave. Jacob isn't happy that Smokey tried to have him killed. Jacob said he can't leave unless Jacob is dead. Smokey tells him that's why he wants Jacob dead. We see the significance of the white rock that Smokey threw to the water with Sawyer at the cave. Jacob gave the rock to Richard to give to Smokey. Basically it's a reminder that Jacob is what balances out Smokey on the island. This also shows too that the cave was Smokey's lair and not Jacob's since Smokey was in possession of the rock.

Back in real time, Ilana flashes back to Jacob healing her. He tells her that only 6 candidates are left for her to protect. He tells her to go to Richard for guidance. Sun tells Jack that she, Hurley and Jack are candidates to replace Jacob. Ilana doesn't know what to do. Richard goes nuts, tells them all that they are all dead and the island is fake. He runs to go to nuLocke. We find out later that Hurley is talking to Isabella. He runs off after Richard. Jack is stunned to finally find out that Locke is dead, but is among the living still. Ben talks Ilana out of going after Richard. Ben says he's known Richard since he was 12. Lapidus says, "since you were kids." Ben said he was a kid. lol But Richard was the same. Lapidus learns that Richard is ageless. Thank goodness for Lapidus. He just rolls with the punches. lol

Richard digs up his wife's cross. He yells that he wants to reconsider, and join Smokey. Hurley shows up. Hurley sees and hears Isabella. Isabella tells Richard that she is already with him. After some touchy feely moments, Hurley tells Richard that Isabella wants him to kill the Man in Black. The Man in Black hears the whole thing. Uh oh.

If this wasn't the last season, I would have really enjoyed this episode. But with only a few episodes left, the action hasn't moved along at all tonight. We're still waiting for Armaggedon.