I didn't recognize the woman he was talking to as Claire then.
Because he wasn't talking to her. He was talking to her aunt.
In restrospect though, their foreshadowing it there didn't make it seem like something they pulled out of their asses. In fact, I prefer it this way.
With respect to the episode in general:
FUCKSHITGAHBLAHHOWWHAWHOWHATWOWIEZOWIE!!!!!!!!!!
Oh man, oh man.
You know, I dunno why it is that every time I find out it's a Claire episode I roll my eyes and every damn time it ends up being RIDICULOUSLY important/amazing/good.
Just….wow. Just so much delicious food for fanboys/girls it was a veritable buffet of badass.
Now I NEED to see a Locke flashback. Like NOW!!!!!!!
Yes Alec, I'll take, 'The rest of the Rusky's sentence' for 1000.
"Because the John Locke I knew was para-"
What is 'plegic'!!
NEED FLASHBACK LOCKE NOW!!!!
The fence was fuckin' awesome.
But by far and beyond. THE BEST part. THE BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEST part of the jungle trekker's segments, yes, even better than the final one (more on that later) was the revelation that John hasn't been a freaking Urkel for the past two episodes, what with killing the Russian and blowing the place up. The moment the C4 came out of the bag I just had to smile. The mysterious and creepy Locke is BACK BABY!!! YEE-HAW!!!
But yeah, GREAT flashback. What a surprise about Emo-Claire. The 'Angst Factory' was a little bit in overdrive in her scenes with Charlie but it's forgiveable. Compared to Seasons 1 and 2 it hasn't risen it's ugly head this year without good need so I'll overlook it.
And the end. Wow. Just wow. Just...how do you react besides that?
Fricking amazing. Episodes like this remind me of why it's easily the best show on television and IMHO the best drama/story ever to grace the small screen.