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This review may contain spoilers.

The second part of the season opener raised as many questions as it answered ... I guess we can proclaim “Lost” in midseason form then.

While this episode was a quite a bit better than the first part, when it was over, I found myself every bit as puzzled as I was satisfied.

Actually, the episode ended in a very strong fashion; Hurley (Jorge Garcia) responds to his visit from Jacob by convincing the gang to bring Sayid’s (Naveen Andrews) body to the temple. The temple scenes were a bit odd. In an attempt to save Sayid, the temple dwellers actually drown him. But in the end, he isn’t dead after all. Either that or he was dead and has now been resurrected. Either way, he's alive.

Sawyer (Josh Holloway), meanwhile, takes time to bury Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell), and convinces Miles (Ken Leung) to listen to what she has to say from beyond the grave. She passes on the message, “It worked’ but Sawyer doesn’t understand. Nobody ever said he was the brains of the operation, did they?

Meanwhile in the alternate reality, Jin (Daniel Dae Ki ) gets himself in trouble for bringing too much cash into the country, Jack (Matthew Fox) learns that his father’s body is missing, and Kate (Evangaline Lily) escapes from her federal marshal.

And last but not least, back at the statue, it is revealed that the smoke monster has been doubling as John Locke (Terry O’Quinn”) all along. The real John Locke remains dead, and his dying thought is revealed to be an awareness of the pitiful nature of the life he left behind. The monster’s goal is to return home, wherever that may be.

Overall, it was a solid episode that progressed very nicely and improved from the slightly less interesting season opener. This bodes well for the final season.

What Worked

The ending was excellent, but predictable. I did not really think Sayid was dead, or should I say I didn’t think he’d stay dead.

John Locke’s and Jack’s meeting in the alternate universe was intriguing. It shows that, had they met under different circumstances, these two might have actually been able to get along. Jack offers to give him a free consultation to fix his injured spine, saying that there isn’t anything that can’t be fixed.

Claire (Emilie de Ravin) finally makes an appearance, though it is little more than a cameo.

What Didn’t Work

Bringing back Juliet did not make much sense. After one episode, she dies, and is buried the next. Eventually, Sawyer catches up with the group anyway, so it was pointless to have her in the opening episodes at all.

Kate’s storylines are usually not very good, but her escape from the marshal is just stupidity taken to a whole new level. As much as I like Evangeline Lily, I simply cannot say the same about her character Kate. I hope her character develops in a more meaningful fashion before the season is over.

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

“Lost” stars Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Terry O’Quinn, Josh Holloway, Jorge Garcia, and Michael Emerson. “LA X" (Part 2) was written by Jeffrey Lieber, Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof. It was directed by Paul A. Edwards.

"Lost" airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.