FLASHFORWARD RECAP

Episode: “Black Swan” (Season 1, Ep 4)

Original US Air Date: October 15, 2009

This was a meaty ep furthering several plotline for many different characters.  The curious case of Ned was interesting if not a bit “House”-ish.

“The future saved me”- for Ned and Bryce, the FFs took away fear and worry and gave them peace and hope

Mr. Ned saved another bus passenger from drowning and was calm throughout.  His FF gave him peace and confidence in the future.  Odd as his FF sounded- rockin’ leather pants and being black, it showed him how happy and confident he could be.

Whatever Bryce saw in his FF, it gave him the hope and will to live, which is a far cry from his pre-FF state, of about to commit suicide.  He uses this faith in the future in his medical decisions to help save Ned’s life.

Death is in the cards- both Demetri and Nicole need answers

Nicole, who is connected to the Benfords through Aaron’s daughter as she used to babysit for Nicole, returns to babysitting Charlie, but is still trying to come to grips with what she saw in her FF- herself being drowned by a man and feeling like she deserved it.  She wants to atone for something she hasn’t done yet and worries that God is warning her, but does not find answers at church.  When Nicole finally tells Mark about her FF, he assures her that he will use his resources to prevent this fate.

Demetri finally fesses up to Mark and tells him of the when and how he is murdered.  This knowledge is driving Dem mad, but Mark assures him that together they can prevent aspects of the future.

What is Alda Hertzog’s agenda?

Alda Hertzog, the woman caught dealing with known terrorists and a potential dirty bomb on the day of the FF, pushes both Demetri and Mark’s buttons. She sends them on a wild goose chase to Customer Choice Group where they find only a pot dealer.  Alda poses the “why” question about the FFs and taunts Mark with a ‘black swan’ metaphor (used to describe high impact event beyond human expectation) and a Sufi parable about a man who asks “Tell me where this light comes from” about candlelight and a boy who answers “If you tell me where this light went, I’ll tell you where it comes from.”  She likens Mark to the boy, unwilling to have what it takes to get the answers he seeks.

Mark might ignite war with CIA

The FBI Mosaic team is having trouble getting the intel from the CIA about the Somalia incident in 1991.  Are they covering it up?  Mark, prompted by Alda’s button-pushing, tells fellow agent, Al to contact a known hacker to get this intel.

The Dylan boomerang- Olivia cannot get Dylan out of her care

Olivia tries to get Dylan transferred out of her care, but he is boomeranged back to her.  Lloyd is puzzled at her disinterest in his son’s care post-surgery, but does get much needed advice from Olivia about learning about Dylan by going to his room to find out who he is to connect with him.

Just who is this Simon?  What have Lloyd and Simon done?

At the end of the ep, Lloyd Simcoe reluctantly answers a call from the mysterious Simon, played by Dominic Monaghan, who insists that they must talk for after all, “[they were] responsible for the single greatest disaster in human history”.

OTHER BURNING QUESTIONS:

• Who is Bryce’s girl in his sketch? (at right) Presumably, she is the girl in his FF that gave him the hope and will to live.
• Who is Celia? Al, another FBI agent, searches the Mosaic Collective website for this name.

• Could the UK passport on the Mosaic board belong to Alda?  It looks like she had many passports to her name/ face.
• Who is Nicole’s would-be murderer? (pictured at right) What did/will  she do that she thinks she deserves to die?

COMMENTARY:

• You must give FF props for a fantastic composition with the use of Bjork’s song at the beginning of the ep. That was simply beautiful and well edited.
• Another scene you must see is Mark and his daughter Charlie at breakfast at the beginning of the ep as well.  It is quite cute with Shakespearean eggs.
• Can Addison’s disease really turn skin pigment dark? Has this happened on “House” yet?
• I bet Alda is spurring Mark and Demetri onto their paths to what they saw in their FFs.

Watch the mystery unfold. “FlashForward” is on ABC, Thursdays 8/7 C.

Check out our preview of tonight’s ep here.

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