Not in Portland

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“Not in Portland” is the 54th episode of the US television series Lost. It is the seventh episode of the show’s third season and aired on February 7, 2007 in the United States. The episode was written by Carlton Cuse and Jeff Pinkner and was directed by Stephen Williams. The character of Juliet Burke is featured in the episode’s flashbacks.

Plot

Centric Character(s): Juliet

The episode begins with a flashback featuring Juliet Burke in Miami, Florida, caring for her ill sister. She is seen walking along a corridor, when she passes Ethan leaving the room she is about to enter, her sister's room. She injects a drug into her sister's stomach. Later, she goes to the hospital where she works to steal more of the drug (which is in a bottle similar to the one we saw at the DHARMA station where Claire was kept), and is soon discovered by her boss and ex-husband Edmund Burke, who is with another woman.

On the island, Jack Shephard holds Ben Linus hostage in the operating room as Kate Austen and Sawyer Ford escape. Jack learns that the three have been on a second island. Meanwhile, Kate and Sawyer flee into the jungle to escape from the Others.

In a second flashback, Edmund confronts Juliet regarding the research she has been conducting on her sister, asking to be involved in the project. Juliet, however, does not give him an answer.

While running from the Others, Kate and Sawyer discover Alex, who reveals that she has a boat they may use to escape to the main island. In return, she asks them to help her rescue her boyfriend, Karl.

In the next flashback, Juliet is interviewed by Mr. Alpert from a genetics company called Mittelos Bioscience, asking her to join a firm in Portland, Oregon. It is worth mentioning that "Mittelos" is an anagram of "Lost Time". Juliet turns down the offer, however, saying Edmund would never allow it. When Mr. Alpert asks what it would take for ex-husband to allow it, Juliet says "Only if he were hit by a bus" after which she immediately apologizes and says "Sorry, that was totally inappropriate."

On the island, Alex, Kate, and Sawyer free Karl from a room (number 23, one of The Numbers) where he appears to be undergoing brainwashing. Karl is watching a film wearing strange glasses connected to his head with several distorted images, one of which reads, “God loves you as he loved Jacob.”

In the next flashback, Juliet’s sister Rachel asks about the interview, and Juliet informs her that she turned the position down. Rachel tells her that her research was a success, and that she (Rachel) is now pregnant. Juliet informs Edmund of the success, after which he is suddenly hit and killed by a bus.

On the island, Jack works to save Ben, but Ben awakens during the surgery and demands to speak to Juliet. Later, Juliet leaves and then assists Karl, Kate and Sawyer in escaping the island, but in the process kills Danny Pickett and tells Alex that she must remain.

In the final flashback, Juliet is crying and Ethan appears and hands her some tissues. Mr. Alpert introduces him as his colleague. Juliet mentions that she said "Only if he were hit by a bus" and then he was hit by a bus. Juliet agrees to join Mittelos’s team, and asks if her sister may come. Mr. Alpert says there won't be treatment for her sister there. She states it's Portland, of course they will have the treatments. Then she is informed that their research site is in another, more remote location (that is, “Not in Portland”).

In the present, Juliet informs Jack that Ben told her that she would be allowed to leave the island and go home if she ensured that Alex remained and the surgery ended successfully.

Production

This was the first episode to air after a thirteen-week hiatus. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Mr. Eko) is no longer credited with the starring cast.

Reception

IGN's Chris Carabott wrote that "if 'Not in Portland' didn't get you back on the Lost hype train then for goodness' sake the equally outstanding 'Flashes Before Your Eyes' hopefully grabbed your attention." ^[1]

References