I kinda wish that book, or at least something set in that universe, was their big post-GoT project.

As far as shooting out the tires, IIRC they were driving a 6x6 military vehicle commonly called the 'deuce and a half'. Those tires are designed to be fairly survivable, small arms fire from the rear likely wouldn't have done the trick. Still, worth a try.

I was wondering how Shiva knew who to attack, then I had a vision of King Zeke hanging back, crouched behind a car, and hitting bad guys with a cheap little laser pointer moments before they were mauled. Would have been a season highlight for me.

good season opener…
…though I kept hoping Frank would pull a handgun at some point. In all honesty, I was kinda looking for Frank to pop up and pull a handgun in The Office tonight too. Actually, that would also spice up this local news.

Mr. Cash
How could you get more patriotic pop-culture than The Man in Black? Love of country coupled with criticisms. His concert rider required an American flag to be in full view of the audience…. and he sang about the best and worst of us… unafraid.

hack : "Also, that Command Sergeant Major had his weapons with him".

LongBalls:
Yeah, I kinda winced at the Army song too… but let me explain. I'm Air Force, but it's the same throughout all the services. At large gatherings and ceremonies, many senior enlisted leaders have this inexplicable urge to lead the group in that particular services' song. It's a pretty common practice,…

correction: the large toe is the piggy that goes to market.

@We want…

Also… a quote from Ms. Hawking (in the hospital, regarding Desmond):

@Yummsh

Hasn't history being altered already been firmly established though? Remember when Sun and Cap't Frank took the boat to the main island and met Christian in the village a few episodes back? That was in 2007, yet there was well-aged DI stuff still evident all over the place (including a gallery of class photos……

Prof. Daniel Faraday
A man tangled beyond hope in strings pulled by Others. He will be missed.

Tacos… that would explain where my tequila went. Which would explain why I can't remember my dinner. Which would be why my neighbor had to sheepishly return my pants the next morning. Afterward… those pants are what attracted that neighbor's wife. When I left those pants on the living room floor with a dismissive…

I think Michael will be back soon. His kryptonite has always been his intense, destructive compulsion to be loved; he generally seems a good bit more lucid and rational while away from those whom he is emotional invested in and working his oddball, personable charm without that distraction.

Russell - I neglected to mention that the link I referenced includes a good bit of info supporting the 'smoke-monster needs a physical body' theory. So yes, we were both right and both wrong, but you were much more correct in your point. Again, thanks for the correction.

Russell - I'm going to go ahead and take your word for that and thank you kindly for the correction… so maybe Smokey really does need a physical body to inhabit. I'm still curious about Kate's equine visions. Can we safely assume that Claire is dead now? Also, why has the very much alive Walt been poking around at…

This particular season finale title is pretty freakin' specific. You can't know it and not know what the whole rest of the season is building to. I obviously looked and will be seeing the rest of season five through that new perspective. I'm certainly not spoiler-adverse, so I don't mind.

I think the Nikki & Paulo story was also a tangent that evolved:

I seem to remember one… but don't go by me. I can't remember what I had for dinner last night.