Well, I liked it fine. Every episode doesn't have to be unrelenting mystery, or else it wears thin. The X-files fell prey to that concept, eventually bordering on self-parody. Charley is an interesting character, and while we didn't have dramatic revelations about him, we got the gaps filled in, and found him even more sympathetic.
As for the distance from beach to cave, it's still a mile through untamed jungle. We have no way of judging, but from what we've seen, the terrain is uneven once you get a certain distance from the beach. There are plenty of dangers in the jungle that you risk when travelling through it too quickly.
Poor Sayed....he's trying so hard, and he's working with IDIOTS. I consider Sawyer to be something of the boogeyman, here. His personal pride is such that he refuses to be helpful unless it's entirely on his terms...and it keeps biting him on the butt. Next episode, it looks like it will do more than that. Sawyer is clearly an ass, but he hasn't actually done anything that wrong. I find that blonde bimbo to be far more irritating and dangerous to their survival than Sawyer....but previews from next week seem to indicate that he'll cross that line more than a little.
Locke has now officially become, in my mind, the Shaman. He is the voice of the island. He has talked with it, made peace with it and speaks for it. I suspect that when something happens to Locke, the island's wrath (i.e. the monster) will return.
All of the characters, the major ones, are redefining themselves. It's a fun journey, and I'm really looking forward to where it leads.
