OFG, It's nice to be on the same side!

I think somehow the EM treatment was to prove that the island wouldn't let Desmond die but it was done in such laughable manner that I'm with you and doubt these writers are worth the attention we've been giving them.

Spending time to reflect on it and it's even worse than I first realized: Charlie said he didn't know what Desmond was supposed to see so how the hell did he know he had to show it to him while nearly drowning? And how does Charlie expect to find his "love" if he dies? That scene would have only made sense if the car had accidentally wound up in the ocean.

The job Desmond did in Australia wasn't revealed but it seems that "Flash-sideways-Hume" is to Widmore what original-Jin is to Mr. Paik. I believe Widmore sent Hume down-under to kill someone and who died in Australia? Christian Shepard. The result of his death was to get Jack on Oceanic 815 so, seeing the plane land safely should have been bad news for Widmore.

However, Charles and Eloise both seemed very happy which has to mean that their plans concerning the island were still on track somehow. But then, they don't want Desmond to make waves which again doesn't make sense. Charles' plans in the Losties time-line are working out because he's on the island and about to take over. In Flash-sideways, with Oceanic 815 not crashing, he would still have no clue where the island even is.