As an aside, though: Richard/Isabella? That was all right. It wasn't anything especially original, but they hadn't given us much about him before that and it didn't conflict with anything so I can't object. Richard's episode was pretty, but didn't work for me on general terms. Maybe mostly due to when it came in the series.

And I think the afterlife holds up better as Jack's personal version -- fewer holes that way -- but I still think they made it clear it wasn't supposed to be just his. I hate the implication that those who survived had nothing and nobody affect their lives in significant ways, that none of them had any other meaningful relationships or anything else to work through. The island was a big deal, I know, but... I mean, Jack got an imaginary son, for crying out loud. :/