As a result of Ben moving the island, the survivors left on the island begin skipping through time. Meanwhile, three years later in Los Angeles, Ben starts convincing the Oceanic 6 to return to the island.

While Ben and Jack try to round the Oceanic 6 up, Sayid and Hurley are on the run from the law. Meanwhile, back on the island, the survivors, still skipping through time, come under attack.

Desmond returns to Oxford to fulfill Faraday's request to find his mother. Back on the island, the survivors discover that they've run into The Others 50 years in the past, but Richard Alpert is the same age.

In Los Angeles, Kate tries to find out who is trying to take Aaron away from her. Back on the island, Locke convinces everyone that they have to go to The Orchid.

In order to avoid being killed, Ben promises to offer proof to Sun that Jin is still alive. On the island, Jin meets up with the survivors as Locke reaches The Orchid and fulfills his mission.

Eloise explains that the Oceanic 6 have a very limited window to return to the island, and leaves Jack instructions to bring one of his father's items to John Locke.

John Locke, now alive again and back on the island after the second plane crash, flashes back to his return to civilization, where he is brought in by Charles Widmore and asked to convince the Oceanic 6 to return to the island.

The survivors left on the island, now led by Sawyer after Locke's departure, find themselves back in the 1970s, where they are now forced to become members of the Dharma Initiative.

Jack, Kate and Hurley wind up on the island in 1977, where they meet up with Sawyer and also join the Dharma Initiative. Meanwhile, Sun is stuck on the island in the present with Ben and the other passengers after the plane crash.

Sayid is held as a prisoner by the Dharma Initiative, presumed to be a Hostile. However, during his capture, he believes he has discovered the reason why he's back on the island.

Jack refuses to help save young Ben after Sayid shoots him, so Sawyer and Kate turn to Richard Alpert for help. Meanwhile, what Sawyer said to Kate on the chopper is revealed, as well as what Kate did with Aaron before the flight.

Ben and Locke return to the island, where Ben says he is going to summon the Smoke "monster" and atone for his daughter's death. The falling-out on the island between Ben and Charles Widmore is revealed.

Miles is chosen by Horace to transport a dead body across the island. During the trip, Miles reveals to Hurley that Dr. Pierre Chang (a.k.a. Dr. Marvin Candle) is his father, whom he resents for leaving him and his mother.

Faraday returns to the island and tells Jack that his mother, Eloise Hawking, lied to them--they don't belong on the island. He then initiates a dangerous plan to get them back home.

Jack attempts to follow through with Daniel Faraday's plan to detonate the hydrogen bomb after Faraday is killed, Locke instructs Alpert to take him to Jacob, and Sawyer is interrogated about an incriminating surveillance video.

Jack and Sayid's plan faces resistance from Sawyer, Juliet, and Kate. Locke, Richard, Ben, and The Others reach Jacob at the Foot of the Statue.

At the site of the ancient statue remains, Locke assigns Ben a difficult task that involves Jacob's fate. Jack is determined to go ahead with Faraday's plan.