'Lost' recap [LaFleur]: Settling into a groove - recap by Doc Jensen | p3 of 6 | Totally 'Lost' | EW.com:
From the get-go last night, Sawyer was the picture of sacrifice. The second he saw that well reappear — BAM! He was on it, ready to shimmy into the underworld. He was the man with the beach plan, and he showed admirable restraint dealing with Miles' sarcastic derision — and admirable humility when Juliet chided him privately for his stupid idea. not stupid, got to see when they are, by going somewhere w built envrnmt. plus in their place I might have assumed (though they did not) that it was likely they were now restored to their proper time. and in any case the beach would be the best place to find anyone else from 815 who had also been time-jumping (Rose, Bernard, nameless extras, lovely Vincent the dog). But publicly, she backed his plays. I loved this. I loved how in 1974, she built up his heroic character — and then in 1977, he returned the favor by rebuilding hers when he called upon her to deliver that baby. ''You're going to do great. I know you are,'' he said. Sawyer was showered with something he rarely gets: trust. And what happened? He flourished. Like a flower. LaFleur.

'Lost' recap: Settling into a groove p6:
What can we conclude about Dharma life from 1974-1977? For starters: mucho nooky. In the fields. Amy & husband Paul on picnic. In the Dharma security command center. dancing hootenanny. In Sawliet's bed. The society struck me as a well-oiled machine. Their thriving compound was an integrated Utilitarian haven, a place where meaning and satisfaction can be found by playing an assigned and useful role. The sandwiches looked yummy. And there were flowers. Beautiful, blooming daisy to be plucked and given to your true love to complete a romantic dinner.
Remember how the Island cured Rose's cancer and allowed Locke to flourish physically and spiritually; and remember Locke, Jack and all the Oceanic 6 basically disintegrated as people the longer they spent away from the Island. ''This place is death''? Well, sometimes. But other times, this place can be life.