Tuesday’s episode of Lost, entitled “Recon,”  focused on one of our favorite inherently good bad guys, James “Sawyer” Ford.

The Cop With A Secret

In the alternate, off-island universe, we weren’t too shocked to find James performing another con on an unsuspecting gorgeous woman.  We were surprised, however, when police knocked down the door, and James revealed that he was a cop trying to catch the woman’s con-artist of a husband.

After recovering from that crazy bit of information, we discover that Detective Ford’s partner is none other than Miles.  The two of them have worked together for a long time, which is made clear when Miles sets James up on a date with Charlotte, the same beautiful redhead who stole Daniel Faraday’s heart in the island timeline.

Not everything about James has changed.  In this timeline, his parents still died a tragic death, and he hides that from everyone, including Miles.  Charlotte discovers a news clipping of the horrible event among Sawyer’s things, and furious, he kicks her out of his LA apartment in the middle of the night.

Meanwhile, Miles discovers that James lied to him about his recent trip, and confronts his partner about what he was doing in Australia.  Though he doesn’t divulge the information right away, he seeks to mend fences with his partner later, revealing that he is after the man who conned his parents, Anthony Cooper, the man who was known to his parents as “Sawyer.”

A New Kind of Hero

In the island timeline, we find that James’ motivations are a bit muddled.  The man in black sends him to Hydra island to perform some reconnaissance, to discover if the members of the Ajira flight are still there.  If the coast is clear, the man in black wants to take the plane and leave the island, which certainly appeals to James.

Upon his arrival on Hydra, James discovers that the Ajira flight members are dead, save for one named Zoe.  When she asks him one too many questions about himself and his people, James realizes that she is not who she says she is.  Suddenly he finds himself taken to a submarine that houses none other than Charles Widmore.

James claims that he will tell the man in black that the coast is clear, so that Widmore can take kill him.  Funny thing is, when James returns to the main island, he reveals this to the man in black.  So whose side is he on?

In a final conversation with Kate, he reveals that he has set all of this up as a distraction.  He will let the two sides duke it out so that he, Kate and others can make their escape.  Though his plan is certainly admirable, will it work?

The Bigger Picture

This episode revealed something we already knew about James, and a few things that we never expected.  The thing we already knew?  James Ford is a good man; a bit misguided, but a good man nonetheless.  In the alternate timeline, since James is considered a “good guy,” we recognize a little more clearly his right to obtain justice against the man who ultimately killed his parents.

The alternate timeline, particularly the story of James, brings up an interesting concept.  Despite the reset, James’ parents still died a tragic death.  Despite the castaways’ best intentions, some things are simply meant to happen.  But now the real question remains: Why have some things changed, and others have not?  What is the missing link in this new timeline that has created particular changes in the lives of our favorite characters?

Find out more next week when you tune in to Lost on ABC at 9 pm!

Photo courtesy of ABC